IT BLOSSOMS, hatori sohma [Fruits Basket]

Chapter Fifty One

Kyo clenched his teeth in frustration, his fingers clenching into fists. The one thing he despised more than anything was his helplessness when it came to protecting Ryu from Dragon's possession. No matter how diligent he was, her sly nature always managed to slip through his grasp, leaving him powerless.

Kyo's jaw tensed at the memory of those summers spent with Dragon's younger self. While the younger version had been annoying and disruptive, the adult version was even worse—intrusive, out-of-pocket, and downright infuriating.

Kyo's mind flashed th moment when he returned home, only to find Dragon sitting with Shigure, Yuki, and Tohru, all of them enjoying tea together. The sight set off a mixture of annoyance and disbelief within him, his anger flaring at the nonchalant display.

His heart sank as he saw the defeated look on Tohru's face, a wave of guilt washing over him for ever suggesting she should avoid Dragon at all costs. The realization further fueled his anger towards Dragon for causing such distress.

Utterly drained and feeling discouraged, especially considering the exhaustion brought on by the scorching summer heat, Kyo had no strength left to argue with the seemingly endlessly energetic Dragon. In resignation, he retreated to his room, seeking the solace of solitude.

Dragon, despite her naturally playful demeanour, felt a pang of guilt over Kyo's disposition. She bid farewell to the group and made her way to his room, even going as far as to knock politely on the door instead of barging in as she might have done otherwise.

Softly rapping her knuckles against the door, Dragon waited patiently for his response, a flicker of remorse in her eyes. She wanted to mend the rift she had caused with Kyo, even if it meant suppressing her playful impulses.

After a few moments, she heard the faint sound of movement from inside the room. The door slowly creaked open, revealing Kyo standing in the doorway, his expression a mix of annoyance and tiredness.

Kyo's weary eyes met Dragon's remorseful gaze, his annoyance evident. Letting out a weary sigh, he didn't say a word, silently inviting her into his room with a reluctant nod.

Dragon gave him a small, grateful smile as she entered the room, carefully closing the door behind her. Despite the tension in the air, she attempted to diffuse the situation with a light-hearted comment.

"I didn't scare you with my knock, did I?" she teased, her tone gentle.

Kyo's irritation flared momentarily at her attempt to lighten the mood. His eyes rolled as he leaned against the wall with a weary sigh.

"No, but your mere presence is enough to make anyone's blood boil," he retorted, his voice laced with sarcasm.

Dragon chuckled softly, slightly amused by his response. She leaned against a nearby dresser, her arms crossing defiantly.

"Oh, come on. You can't deny that there's a certain charm in my annoying nature," she replied, a hint of a smirk playing on her lips.

Kyo's eyes narrowed, his annoyance not entirely erased by her charm. He grumbled under his breath, his arms crossing stubbornly as he leaned back against the wall.