Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Prince ❯ Chapter 6

Dark Prince

 

 

 

Chapter Six

 

 

 

“Tohru-kun, are you sure you'll be alright by yourself?”

 

Tohru gave Shigure a reassuring smile, clasping her hands in front of her. “I'm positive, Shigure-san. Besides, it will only be for the weekend, right?”

 

Shigure gave her a skeptical look. She'd never been left alone for this length of time and he was concerned for her safety. Tohru was too kind for her own good and wouldn't recognize trouble if it came knocking on the door.

 

“I don't know,” Shigure hesitated. “With me going away for this conference and Kyo-kun off training with Kazuma, there'll be no men around to protect you.”

 

Tohru frowned, putting a finger to her chin as she thought about the dilemma. After a few moments in which they both thought about a possible solution, Shigure's face brightened.

 

“I'll call Hatori and see if he'll stop by and check on you, how's that?”

 

Tohru nodded her head, a bright smile on her face. “Sounds great!”

 

“Good!” Shigure said, happy that he wouldn't be leaving her completely alone. As he headed towards the door, he ticked off a list of things for her to remember.

 

“The number for the hotel I'll be staying at is on the fridge, and there's extra money in the box in the bottom drawer of my desk, and…” Tohru giggled as he rattled on, nearly running into the door. Before she had an injured novelist on her hands, Tohru quickly opened the door, standing aside as he walked out.

 

“And remember to keep all the doors and windows locked.”

 

Tohru nodded and shooed him toward the waiting taxi. After assuring him that she'd be just fine, Shigure finally left. Once alone, Tohru decided to get a little cleaning done. Since no one was there, it was the perfect time to get around to many of the things she wouldn't normally have time to do.

 

As Tohru set about scrubbing the floors, her thoughts turned to a certain hot-tempered young man. She realized she'd been doing a lot of that lately, thinking about Kyo. Ever since the night of the graduation party, Kyo had been acting differently toward her.

 

She couldn't help that smile that spread over her face. Not that she minded being treated differently. He was kinder and gentler with her, surprising her every now and then by throwing an arm around her shoulder or holding her hand when they walked into town. She knew he was trying to get closer to her, trying to show her how he felt, but…

 

Tohru leaned back and rested her hands on her knees. As much as she liked the attention Kyo was showering on her, there was a part of her that resisted the special treatment. She frowned as she resumed scrubbing the hardwood floor with renewed vigor.

 

Here she had someone who wanted her, wanted to be with her and she was hesitating. She knew the reason for her hesitation, but didn't want to say it out loud. Saying it out loud would only cause her more sorrow and she was determined to be happy. And if that meant giving Kyo a chance, then it was what she would do.

 

//

 

Yuki stood just on the edge of the small garden he'd tended since he was a young child. He'd expected it to be overrun with weeds, the vegetables and fruits long since rotted. Instead, he was surprised to find the garden just as he'd left it.

 

Everything was still in order, each vegetable and fruit in its own neat little row. He kneeled down and flicked the leaf of a strawberry plant.

 

`So she planted the strawberries...'

 

He knew this had to be Tohru's doing. Shigure didn't know where the garden was and Kyo wouldn't have bothered to keep it up. So that left one person.

 

A frown touched his lips. Why did she care? Why would she go through all the trouble? He rose to his feet. Whatever her reasons, they didn't change anything. The damage had already been done.

 

The sound of cracking twigs signified someone was coming. Yuki quickly moved behind a tree, hiding himself from view. He peeked around the edge of the tree, waiting to see who it was. He shielded his eyes as the sun shifted, momentarily blinding him. When it passed, he lowered his hand, his breath catching in his throat.

 

Her hair was longer, swinging gently down her back with each step. Those azure eyes that had haunted him in his dreams were as hypnotic as ever, drawing him in. Yuki had to fight the urge to call out to her as he closed his eyes tightly, leaning his head back against the rough tree bark.

 

`Tohru.'

 

The name rang through his head like a bell, causing his strong determination to falter. Seeing her again, here of all places, weakened his resolve. He desperately wanted to go to her, take her in his arms and hold her.

 

From now on…together…together…I want to be with you.

 

Reality came rushing back to him, the cloudy haze that Tohru's presence had brought dissipating. Opening his eyes, he watched as Tohru walked over to the garden, basket in hand. She stopped just beside the strawberries and bent down, reaching out to feel the ripeness of the fruit.

 

Yuki couldn't help noticing how nicely Tohru's form had developed. Her girlish figure was replaced with womanly curves, giving her an air of innocent sensuality. Yuki grit his teeth against a wave of desire that washed over him, leaving him tense. He wondered if Kyo had already soiled Tohru's innocence, the thought instantly making him irate. He was about to make a fast exit before he did something he'd regret, when her soft voice stopped him.

 

“Isn't the garden coming along nicely?”

 

Yuki froze, not turning around. Had she seen him? What was he going to do now?

 

“I honestly didn't think I'd be able to tend to it as well as…as well as Yuki had, but,” he heard her sigh. “I couldn't bear to see it go to waste, not after all the hard work Yuki had put into it.”

 

Yuki realized that she hadn't seen him and she wasn't talking to him. He turned slowly, frowning. Who was she talking to?

 

Tohru wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her chin on the top of her knees. “You understand, don't you mama? You understand why I couldn't let something that he…loved so much wither away.”

 

Yuki leaned against the tree, lowering his head. Conflicting emotions swirled within him. He wanted to be rid of his feelings for Tohru, to go on with his life, but…hearing her talking to her dead mother touched something deep down inside. He immediately knew that Tohru's innocence remained intact. She was still as pure and loving as before.

 

“I…miss him.”

 

Yuki's eyes widened at this. He looked at the young woman kneeling by the garden, her hands clasped in her lap. Her eyes were closed and her face wore a pained expression.

 

“I wish he would come home,” Tohru whispered, a tear slipping down her cheek. A mild breeze rustled through the trees, toying with Tohru's coffee-colored locks. She opened her eyes and smiled.

 

“I know, mama. No tears.” She said, wiping the tear away. Yuki watched as she plucked a few strawberries from their stems, placing them in the basket. When she was satisfied she had enough, she climbed to her feet.

 

Yuki turned away from her, listening as her footsteps retreated.

 

I…miss him.

 

The words echoed around him, confusing him. He wanted to be angry at her for betraying him, but…hearing those words weakened him.

 

`They mean nothing. She still doesn't want you!'

 

No, she wanted Kyo, not him. Nothing had changed.

 

//

 

Tohru yawned and stretched her arms over her head. She had just finished drying the last load of clothes and was ready to call it a day. The house was spotless, every possible nook and cranny cleaned and polished.

 

She untied the pink bandana that was wrapped around her head and shook her hair loose. She went through the rooms turning off the lights and checking the locks, just as Shigure had asked her to. He'd called so many times throughout the day that she'd lost count. But she knew he was just worried about her, checking to make sure everything was ok.

 

As she walked toward the front hall, a knock at the door stopped her in her tracks. She was instantly on alert, remembering Shigure's dire warnings.

 

She frowned, recalling him also saying that he'd ask Hatori to stop by in his absence. Tohru hesitated, not knowing what to do. It wasn't too late in the evening for the doctor to make a surprise visit. If it was Hatori, then he'd be alarmed by her lack of response and things would just get worse…but if it wasn't…

 

A knock sounded again. Tohru bit her lower lip, trying to decide what to do. Deciding that a robber or molester wouldn't bother knocking, Tohru hurried to the door, slowly unlatching the lock.

 

She was prepared to apologize to Hatori for keeping him waiting, but the apology died on her lips as she swung the door open. Her legs instantly turned to jelly, barely able to support her as she gripped the door for support.

 

“Y-you're…here,” she whispered, thinking that her eyes were deceiving her. The figure standing in the doorway was a bit older, but it was him.

 

“Yuki.” The words left her lips in a breathless whisper as her legs gave way, buckling beneath her.

 

`He came back! He finally came back!'

 

Tohru smiled at the thought as her eyelids fluttered closed, blackness engulfing her.

 

*end*