I meant to update sooner. I apologoze, These past couple weeks have been INSANE. My sister moved, so I've been busy beyond all explainable reason. But now I'm back and updating. Enjoy! There's a little bit of character development in this chapter. Kinda takes a look at the other ways Kyo and Kimini interact with each other. It's not always shy girl and guy trying to talk. Sometimes, they can be a bit…well…bolder with each other.

10: Two Days Without It

Kimini glanced around the cafateria at lunch, searching for her lunch date, Ryo. She breathed out a sigh. He wasn't there. Either he wasn't there, or he was hiding from her.

"It was all a trick." She mumbled and sat down at the nearest empty table, "I should have known. A little makeover didn't do a thing. That guy didn't want to sit with me...now I'm by myself. I can't even find Tohru or Yuki or Kyo or anybody."

Kimini's stomach lurched in anguish. Crushed didn't describe how she felt at that moment. Humiliation and Defeat: Now those words were much more suitable for the emotions swimming inside her.

Stupid though it sounds...maybe he'll just show and say 'Oh, sorry I'm late' and laugh like the cute guys in movies do.

Kimini pushed the tray aside and laid her head down, letting out another sigh, "Why did he just blow me off?"

The metal clang of lunch tray slamming down on the table brought Kimini out of her moping state and into one of more awareness. She looked up and saw Kyo drop his bag down on the floor and sit down, not looking at her for a minute. Kimini blinked a few times.

Tick

Tock

Tick

Tock

Tick

"Knew there was somethin' up with that guy." The cat finally mumbled after a good five minutes.

"What d'you mean?"

"He stood you up, right?" Kyo took a large bite out of his roll, "And the way he was talkin'. He didn't give off a very good vibe. He's a jerk. Instead of sitting her moping about it, you should have found Yuki or Tohru or something."

"I did look for them. And you." Kimini sat up, slightly offended, "I couldn't see any of you."

"Tohru and her friends are sitting right over there." Kyo nodded towards a table near the left wall of the cafateria, "Yuki and the student coucil are over there." He nodded towards the right wall, "I just got here."

"Well, this place is crowded. To many faces to sift through." She mumbled, still attempting to hold her ground.

"Whatever." He grumbled and took another bite of his roll, "Could've tried harder."

"Well, I'm fine here, thanks." Her voice rose, "And if you're just going to sit here and go on about how stupid it was of me to not find anyone, then you can just go."

Kyo slammed his roll down, grabbing the attention of the students at the table near them, "I was just trying to be polite here and you're yelling at me!"

"I'm not the one yelling." Kimini replied, her voice, though a bit louder, still at a somewhat normal level, "You're the one making noise."

Kyo opened his mouth to speak, but he realized his anger had elevated along with his voice and he sat down slowly, took a deep breath, and looked Kimini in the face, "Look, I warned you about that guy. I told you right when we met him that I had a bad feeling and you ignored me."

"I thought you were just being paranoid!" Kimini snapped and stood up "Tohru and I both thought you were."

It was at the point where Kimini stood up that Tohru overheard the argument and stood up to watch, contemplating whether or not to interrupt. It didn't take her long to come to a decision and she quickly made her way over to them.

"Guys, calm down, please!" She pleaded, "Don't argue!"

"Tell that to her! If she'd just listen to reason—!"

"Reason?! What reason?!." Kimini said, picking up her bag, "Ryo blew me off. I get it. He was a jerk. I got it. I figured that out before you sat down. The least you could have done was try to offer me some sort of comfort, but you didn't!"

Kimini looked at Tohru, "I'll see you in class, Tohru. Tell Yuki I'll be seeing him too."

And with that Kimini walked off. Tohru watched her as she left, then turned her attention to Kyo who was getting up as well.

"Kyo," She said softly, "Did Ryo really stand her up?"

"Yeah." The cat grumbled as he yanked up his bag and held it tightly over his shoulder, "I knew there was something up with him. He's a jerk. I tried to explain that to her, but she just got all puffed up and ran off."

Tohru sighed a little, "Kyo, when someone's hurt, you don't point out their wrongdoings. The person is already down and upset enough. Reminding them of the bad things won't make them feel any better. That's why she stormed off like that. She wasn't being unreasonable or anything."

Kyo's eyes drifted from Tohru's face to the floor as her words helped her realize his own wrongdoing. He let out a sigh and the grip on his bag loosened.

"You've been doing so good with her so far, Kyo. Don't mess it up."

"What're you talking about?" Kyo mumbled, "What's wrong with you? All of you? Shigure, Ayame, Yuki, even Hatori. You're all acting like…I don't know. I don't even know! You've been treating me different ever since Kimini fell into our laps and I don't know why. And I wish you'd stop!"

With nothing left to say, Kyo stormed out of the cafeteria as well and down the hall in the opposite direction Kimini had gone. Tohru sighed and sank into the seat.

"Seems like they still have a while to go, doesn't it?" Came a male voice

A hand fell on her shoulder. Tohru jumped and turned to see Yuki standing above her. Tohru nodded and turned her attention back to the door.

"Yeah…."

(After School)

"Well, we're off." Kimini said, closing up her bag and handing it to Kabuto to put by the door.

When school was over, Kimini promptly headed back to Shigure's house with the others so she could get her things and leave. Her house was back in order and all that was left was to clean it, a task Kimini and Kabuto had to perform. Shigure sighed a little and stood up.

"You sure you don't want to stay an extra day?" He questioned, "We'd love to have you."

Yuki looked over at the dog, arching an eyebrow, "Why does it sound a little…wrong when you say it?"

Shigure pouted, crossing his arms over his chest, "Yuki! I swear, none of you trust me. I have no mischievous plans or anything, and yet you all believe I do."

Kimini giggled a little, "No thank you, Shigure-san. I have to get home. My mother will be returning soon and the house needs to be fixed up when she gets there."

"If you say so." Shigure smiled, "Don't be afraid to call on us if you need any help, alright?"

"Okay." Kimini nodded and turned towards the door, "Bye! Yuki, Tohru, I'll see at school on Monday!"

The rest of the occupants of the house (excluding Kyo who was up on the roof) waved and smiled at her as she walked out and shut the door behind her. Shigure let out a satisfied sigh and crossed his arms over his chest.

"I'm proud of her."

Tohru looked up at him, "What do you mean?"

"She's so talkative now. She doesn't seem as shy and resistant as when she first got here the other day."

Yuki nodded, "You're right. I believe Orinozuka-san is beginning to come out of her comfort zone."

Meanwhile, Kimini and Kabuto were making their way home. From the Sohma's house, it was only about 15 minutes away on foot. Kabuto, who was holding his bag and his father's memory box, looked behind him and, at seeing the Sohma house was completely out of sight, let out a sigh. Kimini glanced down at him.

"What's the matter, Kabuto?"

"I liked being there. At the Sohma place." Kabuto mumbled.

"It was nice. They were very kind, but now that everything's in order at our house, it would be wrong to stay any longer. We'd be overstaying our welcome. Besides, we need to fix the house for mom."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Don't have to remind me."

Kimini just smiled as they continued walking. They hadn't gotten but so far after the exchange that Kimini stopped dead in her tracks. There was a tickle in her throat and she coughed. The tickle was gone, but only for a moment as it returned again. The cough was louder this time, and her chest began to hurt. She coughed more and more. Her bags fell from her hands and she collapsed to the floor in a fit of coughs and weezes. Kabuto panicked and knelt down next to her.

"Kimini. Kimini! Kimini, relax! Take a deep breath."

But she couldn't breathe at all, and it was beginning to show by the paleness of her skin. Kabuto, realizing this, felt his heart stop out of panick. His eyes watered. His sister might be dying right in front of him.

"Kimini, please breathe! Kimini, don't do this! Please don't die on me right now."

She tried to speak, but instead she rolled over onto the ground. Her coughing continued for a little bit longer, and it soon stopped, but her chest was heaving.

"Kimini, when was the last time you took your medicine?" Kabuto questioned softly.

"2…2…days ago. Wendsday before the floo—"

And the coughing started again. It wasn't long after that Kimini looked ready to pass out. Kabuto got to his feet.

"Hang on, Kimini, I'm gonna go get help! Please be alive when I get back."

The only place Kabuto could think to go at the moment was the Sohma house. He made a mad dash there, praying all the way that Kimini was still alive. Still gripping for life. He banged on the door when he approached.

"Open up! Help! Shigure, Yuki, Kyo! Help, please!"

The door flew open and Kyo stood in the doorway and looked down at Kabuto.

"What the hell are you yelling about?"

"It's my sister! It's Kimini!" Kabuto was now on the verge of tears, "She hasn't taken her medicine since Wednesday!"

"W-what?"

Soon, Yuki, Shigure and Tohru were at the door.

"Kyo, what's going on?" Shigure questioned, "Why is Kabuto here?"

"Please, help me with Kimini. She can't breathe! She's out there not far from the house. If we don't get her to a hospital or something soon, she'll die!"

I know, tragic right? lol. Anyway, I apologize again for taking so long to update. Reviews are love, critique is welcome and flamers will be sent to their own firey graves.