Pre-A/N: I revamped this fic and took out all of the random Japanese. I didn't actually edit it, though. (Don't have time for that.)

A/N: I was actually gonna wait till I finished this story until I put it up, but I've decided otherwise. I so love this fic cuz Kyou/Kazuma is my absolutely fave non-couple relationship ever. It's just so cute! Anyway, I'll explain this now so no one gets confused. Every year will be in a different POV. The first year starts out as Kazuma's POV, next is Kyou's, and then back again. It'll go back and forth. I find it very interesting to write it like that because it's quite a challenge to write in a young man's POV and then jump to a little kid's. I hope you all like it.

Disclaimer for whole story: Yeah, I'm being lazy and uncreative. So I'm only saying this once. I do not own Fruits Basket, so no suing. It has been said.

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Many of the Souma came today, I'm surprised. -1- I walk through the crowd to leave, hearing whispers everywhere.

"You hear it? The boy killed his own mother."

"That child should be locked up."

"It's all the boy's fault his mother died."

"Look, he's not even shedding a tear."

I stop, realizing that the entire time, I hadn't even seen the boy. I got here late, maybe that's why. As I look back, I see the crowd start to part. Curious, I walk back a little and see what they're backing away from. It's the boy. I hadn't realized how young he is. He look's no older than six. It crushes me to see them treating him like a monster. It reminds me of how I treated my grandfather way back when. After he's gone, everyone starts talking again and fill in the path the boy walked down. Pity residing in my heart, I walk outside to where the boy is.

I stop when I hear him yelling at himself.

"It's not my fault! None of this is my fault!"

My heart wrenches, and my lips turn into a deep frown. The poor boy . . . I believe his name is Kyou. It is now that I remember hearing that the father wants nothing to do with him. Where will he go? Who will take care of him? Maybe . . . maybe I should take him in. Why not? I have the room and I think I'd make an okay father. I understand his pain, and I want to help him. But I'm being selfish, too, for I wish to take the boy in to ease my own pain and guilt. That's okay, though, right? As long as he has a good home and a caring guardian, it's okay, isn't it?

Walking over to him, I say, "That's right." He snaps his head at me. I try not to cringe when seeing the heartbreaking look on his face. "I know. Nice to meet you. I'm Souma Kazuma."

He looks forward and immediately starts denying it again. "It isn't my fault! It isn't my fault! It's not my-"

I kneel and cut him off. "It's alright. It's alright. I know." He starts crying, wiping his eyes in a desperate attempt to erase his tears. "Kyou, why don't you come live with me?" It's a daring question, but he stops and looks at me in surprise. I smile at him in reassurance and he nods slowly.

Asking the boy's father for permission was no problem at all. The man was glad that I took him off his hands. It still gives me chills when I remember what he said to me.

"Take it, get it out of my sight. I was going to get rid of it anyway."

I actually had to try to restrain myself every time that man referred to Kyou as 'it'.

But now, Kyou is in my home, safe. He looks nervous, but I expect that. He probably-no, he didn't-expect anyone to ask him if he wanted to live with them. After opening a window, I look back and see him peeking behind the corner. I smile at him, trying to make him feel comfortable.

"This will be your room. I hope you don't mind sleeping on a futon."

He shakes his head and slowly walks in. I can see his eyes scanning the room, his body becoming a little less tense.

"Would you like to talk? I think we should get to know each other better."

Without a word, he walks over to his bed and plops down, then looks up at me with hopeful eyes. What does he hope for, I wonder? Following suit, I sit down in front of him and smile again. I'll wait to see if he speaks up first.

After a few seconds of silence, Kyou says softly, "You like cats?"

I'm surprised by his question, but find it funny. "Yes, I think they're very nice animals. But you won't have to worry about transforming into one since I'm a guy."

I catch a small smile creeping up his lips. But before it becomes too noticeable, his expression becomes impassive again. He's silent now; I don't think he's going to speak up again.

"Tell me what you like."

That's a safe place to start.

"What-what I like?"

"Yes, what are the things you like?"

He looks up, appearing to be thinking about it. He's such an innocent child, quite cute even. That might be odd for a guy to say, but it's true. Kyou is very cute. I don't understand why his mother didn't see that. Why couldn't she just look passed the curse and see him for what he truly is?

"Well," he says, "I like to go outside and play. My mom didn't let me do that much, but when she did, it was fun. -2- I like . . . " Then his face lights up and he smiles freely. "Oh, I like the snow! Snow is fun. One of the times my mom let me go outside, it was snowing. There was a lot of snow on the ground, and I built a snowman. Then I built a snowcat."

I laugh. "A 'snowcat?'"

"Yeah, it was the size of a real cat, but made of snow. It was the snowman's pet!" He's very cheerful now, completely lost in his memory, it seems. "Oh, but then . . . " His smile fades and he looks down. "Then my mom told me to smash it. She didn't like cats very much. And when I said I didn't want to, she gave me this scary look and did it herself. I couldn't go outside when it was snowing after that."

The poor kid. "Well, the next time it snows, we can go outside together and we'll both build snowcats."

He looks up and says, "Really?"

I nod, and he looks happy again.

"What do you like?" he asks.

Laughing, I answer, "I like martial arts."

"I already know that. You are a martial arts teacher. What else?"

"Hmm, well, I like to read."

"I like to read, too!"

He's excited now, that makes me happy. He must be feeling more comfortable. "Really? What kind of books do you like?"

"I like, I think they're called adventor books."

"You mean, 'adventure'."

"Yeah, them."

Typically for a boy his age. "I used to read those when I was a kid. But I read more serious books now." I would suppose he'd read, what else was there to do if he couldn't go outside? Not only that, but I'm sure that kept him out of his mother's way. "Okay, now what don't you like?"

"Rats."

"Rats?" I'm a bit confused by that one.

"You know, the legend of the Juuniji." -3-

"That's, 'Juunishi'."

"Right, well, the rat tricked the cat. And that's why the cat isn't a part of the Juunishi."

"I see." That would make sense, but I wonder if he's met the rat? I think his name is Yuki. "Well, my grandfather was the cat before you, you know. So I understand all of that."

He looks surprised. "Your grandfather was the cat before me? What happened to him?"

Should I tell him? He might be a bit too young to understand. "He died of old age. I didn't know him well, but I heard he was a great man." No, I can't tell him . . . not yet, at least.

"Hmm." He doesn't seem suspicious, he just has this pensive look on his face. "What don't you like?"

"That's easy, cooking. I've been told that I can't cook even if my life depended on it."

He laughs a bit, then a strange noise emits from him. Putting a hand on his stomach, he says, "I guess that's not good news cuz I'm hungry."

"Well, it's alright because I have already made food here. We just have to heat it up."

He smiles. "Good. Oh, and Kazuma-san?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks."

Smiling back, I reply, "Your welcome." I know what he's talking about.

It's the next day, and Kyou has already started feeling comfortable with his new home. Though, it was quite funny watching him trying to remember where everything was in the kitchen. It took him a couple minutes to find the bowls, and then a couple more to actually figure out a way to get to them since they are up so high. I offered to help, but he didn't want it. He seemed to be very determined to do it himself. That's what I'm learning about him, he's very independent. That's odd for someone his age. But this made me feel he was ready.

"Kyou, how would you like me to teach you martial arts?"

He's looking for a snack at the moment. He said that he always has a snack after lunch, though, I don't think he'll find much. I still have to go food shopping. Young boys eat different foods than young men.

Turning to me, he says, "Really? You'd teach me now?"

"Sure."

He smiles and closes the 'frig door. "Could you start right now?"

I laugh at his eagerness. He seems really excited. "Of course! I don't have any classes today, so you'll have your own private lesson."

Kyou runs out of the kitchen to go to, most likely, the dojo. I had showed him where it was late yesterday. Though, if he runs all the way there, he'll be too tired to train. I follow and find him sitting patiently in the middle of the empty room, panting slightly. I always found it odd when this room was empty. And everything echoes so much more than when it's filled with my students. Before I walk over to him, though, I go over to the closet and pull out a uniform that looks like it would fit him. I turn around and look down in shock to see him standing right in front of me.

"Oh, you startled me."

"How? You're a martial arts teacher. Shouldn't you be able to . . . sense me, or somethin'?"

"Well, I wasn't exactly paying attention. But, here, take this."

I hand him the uniform and he looks at it as if was made of gold. Then he quickly runs off to change. I smile to myself, realizing that he'll fit in perfectly here.

As he returns, I point to the middle of the room. I'll teach him some basics for today. I want to see if he's a fast learner or not. But as soon as I start showing him the moves, I can see that he's intently watching, all his focus on me. When he tries to copy the first move, he's a little tense. Apparently, he's knows what he's supposed to do, but he doesn't know how to loosen up and flow. You can't be rigid in martial arts. But he's just learning now, so I'll let it slide. I am impressed that he can remember everything. I've taught him five moves so far and he's got every one down in his head. That's a good trait in a martial artist.

"Okay, that's enough for today. You're struggling a bit with loosening up, but, other than that, you're a fast learner. Very good." I give him a pat on the head and he smiles up at me shyly. "Now if you want that snack, I suggest you find one. Don't worry, though, I'll get more food tomorrow. You just have to let me know what you like."

"Okay."

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1- There are no plurals in Japanese, so "Soumas" just sounds weird to me.

2- Kyou's mother didn't let him watch TV either. Boy, was she messed up.

3- "Juuniji" means "twelve o'clock." (Kind of hard to take this one out. The translation would be awkward.)

So how was it? Review me and let me know. And I do take constructive criticism, so feel free to point out any flaws. Gokigenyou!