Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Reaching Out For Love ❯ Part Three: Confessions ( Chapter 3 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
Reaching Out For Love
Authors: foxmagic07 and DuosAngel (Chapter Three brought to you by foxmagic07 ^_^)
Rating: R (This is in no way rated R right now…hmm, maybe DuosAngel can fix that for us…)
Pairings: Haru/Yuki, Kyo/Tohru, hints of Shigure/Ayame (Focusing on Kyo/Tohru this chapter).
Warnings: extreme sappiness, yaoi, het, humor, romance, angst, POV, and some Akito bashing thrown in for good measure.
Disclaimer: I, nor my partner in crime, own Fruits Basket. Isn’t that sad? Feel our pain.
Part Three: Confessions
~Kyo~
“& #8230;huh?” I yawned loudly and stretched my limbs. “Where is everyone?”
The house was unusually quiet. I must have fallen asleep after Shishou left, because I didn’t even notice anyone leave. Oh well, the less people at home the better.
Getting off my bed, I made my way downstairs into the dark living room. Wait…dark? Why is it dark? What the hell happened to all the lights? Did that ass forget to pay the light bill again?
Suddenly a voice spoke, making me jump about ten feet.
“Hello, Kyo-kun.” I turned around and thought I could make out the form of Tohru.
“T-Tohru?” I asked hesitantly. It was too damn dark to see anything.
The cat spirit inside me was scarcely able to follow her form in the pitch-blackness. She was moving towards a lamp. Then suddenly, the living room was illuminated by a dull light. That’s when I was able to see Tohru more clearly. Oh yes…I could definitely see her now.
“There you are, Kyo-kun. It’s a lot better now that we have a light, isn’t it?”
I should say so.
My mouth hung open in surprise. I couldn’t believe what she was wearing. Sure, her school uniform granted the occasional peep show when she bent really far over or a huge gust of wind blew…but for this, all you had to do was sneeze.
It was somewhat reminiscent of a sailor outfit, like the ones the girls wore at school. Except, this had a shorter skirt (if that’s even possible) and lower V-line. Plus it was way snugger, hugging her curves tightly.
Listen to me, I sound like a pervert. I hope Shigure isn’t rubbing off on me.
“Is something wrong? You look sick.” Tohru sounded a bit worried. “Let me feel your forehead and see if you have a fever.”
The only thing I could think about at that moment was how my legs didn’t seem to respond when I told them to move. I stood there, stunned, as she came closer. Her face was so innocent…but that outfit…yeah….
I felt myself fall back onto the couch as she leaned in, her breath tickling my face, hand planting itself firmly on my forehead. Close up, I could actually see that she had put on some make up. Hmm…has she done that before? I’m not sure.
“Tohru!” My voice is caught in my throat. Oh great. “I’m…I’m fine! I don’t have a fever!”
It took everything in me to remind myself that I didn’t want to be in this situation. I had made up my mind to stay away, in order to have more time to think about it all. Sure, Shishou’s conversation with me had an impact. But I just don’t know…
“Where is everybody?” My words came out unsteadily.
“They all went out, we’re alone tonight. Isn’t that great? We can have lots of fun!”
Wha…WHAT?! FUN? What the hell…
Noticing her blush at my intense gaze, I quickly looked away. This was all too much. She was right here…right here with me. And yet…
“Kyo-kun…please tell me what’s bothering you. I want to know. I want to help.” Tohru moved closer so that our noses were almost touching, forcing me to look up. In those eyes I saw it again –I saw how much she really cared.
“Nothing is wrong.” I insisted.
I thought that might make her sad, me not wanting to open up. But instead…instead she gave me the best smile she had. It sickened me. Why was I being like this? I knew it was tearing her apart inside to have to deal with my selfish attitude…but hadn’t I told her before that I didn’t want to hear it? Hadn’t I told her to stop? A lie though it was, she took it rather seriously before. What made Tohru change so suddenly?
She spoke. “Kyo-kun always says stuff like that, doesn’t he? Saying that nothing is wrong, just to keep others from being worried. You don’t like people to worry over you. But it’s okay…it’s okay if I’m worried, isn’t it? Isn’t it normal to feel that way about those you care for?” Her voice was so soft and gentle. “A wise person once told me that it was alright to complain once in a while. He said that it was okay to be selfish…if only for a little bit.”
Selfish. Hadn’t I just called myself that? Man…I really need to learn to practice what I preach.
“You’ll only find pain if you say crap like that.” I found myself speaking against her. “You want me to be selfish? If I was really selfish I would…” My mouth shut immediately.
Woops, can’t believe I almost said that. Damn, I really am losing it.
Tohru harbored a look of confusion for a brief second, and then her expression brightened. “What is it that Kyo-kun wants? What does he wish for?”
I stared incredulously at her, not entirely believing that she understood what had just come from her mouth.
“I want you to tell me, Kyo. Tell me what you want…be selfish. I’ll listen. After all, you have always been there to listen to me. You’ve always been there…and I love you for it.” With this said she leaned herself forward, touching my own forehead to hers. And she beamed. A smile so sweet…just like she always had.
Suddenly I couldn’t remember what in the world had brought me to hurt her as I did. Why had I recoiled at the thought of her loving me? It was something I had always wanted. I think…I was afraid. Afraid that in the future I would have to leave her…and she would be all alone. But she would never be alone. Tohru didn’t have just me. As much as I hate to admit it, everyone else holds a special bond with her as well. So even if something did happen, she would never truly be alone. A strange new resolve welled up inside me. No, she wouldn’t be alone. I would fight if I had to…
She told me to be selfish, just as I had said to her once. She said to voice what I wanted. Now all I want…is for her to be here with me.
Unable to bear it no longer, I quickly closed the gap between our faces. My lips met hers and I felt Tohru nearly topple over from the abrupt shock of it all.
This is what I had desired to show her for so long. I’m not good about talking to others…I lose my temper a lot…
But in this way…
I can tell her more than words ever could.
******
~Tohru~
When I had turned the light on, I could tell that Kyo was very much surprised. I still could feel the shyness from wearing such an outfit. But I had already decided on trusting Ayame-san, so trust him I would. Still…the fact that Kyo-kun is staring at me funny makes me want to reconsider. What? Do I have something on my face? Hmm, maybe he doesn’t feel well.
I leaned in to check his forehead, the whole time his face turning red. It looked like a fever, but I didn’t know for sure.
He backed away, falling onto the couch. “Tohru! I’m…I’m fine! I don’t have a fever!”
It was almost like he was avoiding me. Kyo-kun kept his gaze down while we talked. I tried to ask him what was wrong, but he wouldn’t say much.
“Nothing is wrong.” He insisted.
I knew it wasn’t true. I knew that it was just his way of saying there were many things wrong. He was always like that -never wanting to be a burden on anyone. He wanted to get by on his own; he thought he needed no one’s help. How could I make him see…
Unconsciously I let a small smile slip, while voicing my thoughts. It was a smile only for him.
He averted his eyes, keeping silent for a moment before answering. “You’ll only find pain if you say crap like that. You want me to be selfish? If I was really selfish I would…” His mouth shut immediately.
“…?” Hmm, I wonder what he was going to say…
I shook my confusion off and replied. I asked him what it was that he wanted. Simple…yet it forced him to think. I could tell that there was an inner battle going on inside him.
“I want you to tell me, Kyo. Tell me what you want…be selfish. I’ll listen. After all, you have always been there to listen to me. You’ve always been there…and I love you for it.”
I love you for it…
I meant it too. With all my heart I meant it.
And then it happened. It was so out of the blue that I almost fell backwards. I had definitely never expected a reaction like that.
Kyo-kun had leaned in and kissed me.
It was my first ever kiss. Nothing anyone had ever said about it could have prepared me. It was short and very gentle…maybe it was Kyo-kun’s first kiss too. Closing my eyes, I let the brief feeling of our touching lips consume everything else I was thinking of. Then as quickly as it had come, it ended.
He pulled back, eyes searching my expression for any disproval. I was in shock, so I couldn’t really assure him any. I think he knew somehow, anyways.
“Tohru…” He lifted my chin. “You’ve always been there for me. Even when I’m an ass, you’re still there encouraging me. I know I won’t ever be able to express myself right…but…I think…I think I love you too.”
“Kyo!” Tears fell down my face, dropping onto his arms. I hadn’t heard him right…right? That had to be it, it was my imagination. I had hoped for the longest time that he would say something like that. And even though it wasn’t the eloquent speech used in fairy tales…it didn’t really matter. The feeling behind it was still the same.
“Oh, Kyo-kun! I’m so happy!” I could resist no longer…all my emotions were welling up inside me.
I tackled him, wrapping his body in a blissful hug before hearing that all-too-familiar sound.
‘POOF’
Yeah, that one.
I got up, looking underneath me to find that orange cat I had forever known and loved.
I smiled.
It was a smile only for him.