Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Incomplete ❯ Something for Tohru ( Chapter 7 )

Tohru stared out of the door for a few minutes, and then began to gather up Koutsu's clothes. She turned as a small piece of paper floated down from the pants. Picking it up, she found that it was a photograph of, what she presumed to be him and a beautiful girl. She blinked at it, tracing the lines of Koutsu's face, saddening.

 

“Do you think he'll be okay?”

 

“Don't worry; he'll come back when he's hungry.” Muttered Kurokin. Tohru nodded and sat tracing her knuckles, fidgeting sub-consciously. Mikaku noticed this and sighed, moving closer to her and placing his hand on her shoulder.

 

“Koutsu-san will be fine, he's done this many a time before. He'll come back.”

 

“I…I guess so…but…the storm.” She said distantly, looking out of the window. A thunderstorm was raging outside, making the window screech as high winds tore at it, trying to seep in. She had to look away, as images of Koutsu floated into her head, of him drowning or being blown into something by the wind. She held her hand to her face, trying to hide her worry.

 

“Tohru-san…he'll be alright. Tell you what; if he doesn't come back within two hours we'll go look for him alright?” Tohru nodded glumly and looked down at her knees. Two hours….isn't that too long? Something could happen in that amount of time…it could be too late if we leave it that long….He's done this before…maybe I'd better just wait…like they told me.

Tohru stared out of the window, unable to contain herself. The other's had started to get ready, but then stopped when they opened the door. Mikaku turned to her and shook his head.

 

“Tohru-san, it's too violent out there. It would be foolish to go out.”

 

“B-But! Koutsu-san!”

 

“There's nothing we can do Tohru-san. Koutsu-san will be fine, he's strong, and small- he'll be hiding in a hole somewhere.” Tohru's eyes stung, her heart pounded. She wanted to find him, wanted to make sure he was alright.

 

“I…I can't just leave him out there!” she shouted, pushing through Mikaku and Kurokin, rushing out into the storm to find Koutsu. She couldn't see because the wind was whipping at her, stinging her cheeks and stealing her breath. The rain felt like tiny stones hitting off of her body, bruising her through her clothes. She screamed Koutsu's name, and couldn't hear herself, she wondered if he could hear her if she couldn't even herself. Wandering around she found a small clearing, with a circle of white cherry blossoms, tightly compacted so that there was only a little space in the middle. She crawled into the space slowly, coughing, her body aching. Her head was throbbing and her heart beating quickly, she found that she couldn't move, so she lay there in that spot, shielded and safe. A small head lifted from the trees near her, and a few moments later she saw a white creature in front of her. It stared at her, its red eyes flickering. Tohru couldn't focus, she closed her eyes. Koutsu stared at her, at her blazing red cheeks and her rapid breaths. Why is she out here, out in this terrible weather? He asked himself, as he leaned into her face, his whiskers brushing her gently. Brushing his claw against her hand, he turned back into his human form; he shivered, not having thick fur to protect him. With a slight moan, Tohru coughed again. Koutsu tried to ignore his own ailments and tended to Tohru, turning her and lifting her, so that she was cradled in his arms. She opened her eyes briefly, giving a smile and uttering his name as she saw his face from above her. She tried to reach out and touch his face, but her hand fell limp and she passed out. Koutsu leaned in so that his face was close to hers. You…came out here for me…didn't you…With that he stood, with Tohru in his arms, he made his way back to his home. Mikaku jumped as the front door was slammed open at frightening speed.

 

“Kout-Koutsu-san!” he muttered as Koutsu stalked by him, holding Tohru close to him.

Koutsu sat in the corner, staring intently at Tohru lying asleep in his bed. He didn't move when Mikaku walked in, closing the door behind him. He leaned down to Tohru and put his hand on her forehead.

 

“She did it for you, I hope you know.” He said quietly, not being distracted from what he was doing. He took a small cloth and dipped in a bowl of cold water, then daubed her head. Koutsu remained silent. Mikaku looked up trying to think of something to sway him.

 

“You know, she really cares about you. We weren't going to come out and get you, but she ran right out, refused to leave you.” He smiled to himself. “When a girl worries that much about you, you know you're very dear to her.” He heard small movements, Koutsu shifting seating position, like he had gained interest.

 

“It's…my fault she's sick then?” he asked.

 

“I suppose it is.” He turned to face him “I think you should be doing this, to make it up to her.” He said, holding the cloth out to him, he took it and he moved out of the way to let him take his place. Koutsu did as Mikaku had done, dipping the cloth into the bowel and squeezing it before daubing Tohru's head. He then moved down to her inflamed cheeks. He rested his hand on her cheek, his head falling.

 

“I…made her sick.”

 

“Well yeah. We warned her not to go but she went anyway. She did it because she cares, and all you do is treat her coldly.” Koutsu took a deep breath, held it, and then let it go slowly.

 

“What do I do Mikaku-kun…how can I…make up for this?”

 

“Well, do what your heart wants. Don't fight against it Koutsu-san, she wont hurt you. She deserves some affection from you.” He added sharply. Koutsu nodded and continued to daub her skin. What….my heart wants…

Tohru's eyes fluttered open to the light streaming in from the window. The room wasn't hers, she knew this because of the smell and the bare walls, it didn't smell like the room she had been living in, and her room was full of pictures. She turned her head to the side slightly to see a dosing Koutsu. He was kneeling, his head forward and his eyes closed. He opened them slowly and looked up at her with a smile.

 

“Ah, you're awake…Tohru-chan.” Tohru was surprised at the calm gentle expression on his face. She reached out and touched it gently, and found that her hand was soon clasped by his.

 

“I'm sorry…Tohru-chan…I made you ill.” He said, his soft eyes gazing at her guiltily. Tohru shook her head and smiled widely.

 

“I'm just glad you're alright! I thought someone terrible had happened to Koutsu-san!” she said, placing her other hand on top of his. Koutsu smiled, giving a small blush. He was tired and felt weak, but intensely happy that she was alright. He felt tension oozing out of his body, and being replaced by exhaustion. Closing his eyes for a moment, he felt some of the tiredness leave, enough so that he opened them but he found himself on Tohru's lap, her worried face above him.

 

“Koutsu-san! Are you alright?!” she stammered. Koutsu smiled and nodded, burrowing his head into her stomach. He wanted to be close to her, make it up to her. Do what his heart wanted.

 

“…Tohru….” He murmured. He felt himself become small, his legs coming away from the ground and onto Tohru's lap. He groaned softly, he had turned into his other form. He heard and felt Tohru running with him, and then grinding to a halt.

 

“Kurokin-san! It's Koutsu-san! He…” Kurokin smiled and patted her head. He was surprised to see Koutsu being so calm.

 

“He's exhausted it seems, well, it's to be expected really. He was out in that rain a very long time. Not to mention he brought you back here as naked as the day he was born, in that same rain.” Tohru blinked and looked down at her small, fluffy bundle.

 

“He was….naked?” she asked, a blush forming on her face.

 

“That's right. He ran out there as a dragon so he had no clothes to change back into.” He smirked and walked away from her, giggling. Tohru smiled and stroked Koutsu's head with her free hand, he made a gurgling sound.

 

“Kurokin-san!!”

 

“Hai?!” blurted a shocked Kurokin, she had partially jumped on him.

 

“He's making sounds!” Kurokin leaned down and listened to the small gurgles and pops. He made an exasperated expression and smiled.

 

“Don't worry, he's not dying. It's like….a cat purring.” He said happily. “He's purring that's all.” Tohru grinned and thanked him, walking back to Koutsu's room. She sat on the bed and gently stroked a small dimple between his shoulder blades. Koutsu responded by flicking his long whiskers and making another gentle noise. She smiled and lifted him down from her lap, onto the bedding. Wrapping him up, she found that he was staring at her with his red eyes, intently. She smiled and patted his head, then rose. Koutsu hissed and made coughing raspy chokes, snapping the air, his whiskers very high. Tohru swatted down.

 

“Do you…want me to stay?” a nod from the small dragon made her smile.

 

“Tohru-san! I was wondering if- oh dear, poor Koutsu-san.” Said Mikaku as he ran into the room, he kneeled down and tried to touch Koutsu, but he snapped at him, hissing and trying to bite. Mikaku sighed and stood up, giving Tohru a pained look.

 

“I'm sorry about him Tohru-san; he gets pretty nasty in his dragon form. He has since…well.” Tohru nodded and knelt down.

 

“He hasn't been nasty to me.”

 

“Really? Hmm, he must really like you then Tohru- Ow!” Mikaku was interrupted as Koutsu bit into his ankle. Tohru covered her mouth with her hand, shocked to see him do this.

 

“Koutsu-san! I was kidding! Ah, that really hurts!” whined Mikaku as he tried to prize him off, but only getting scratched as a reward for his efforts. Koutsu growled and snarled, biting harder as Mikaku had a grip on his back legs.

 

“Koutsu-san! Stop!” Koutsu's eyes widened and he glanced over at Tohru, who had tears running down her cheeks. He stared at her, releasing his grip and staggering away from Mikaku, collapsing a few feet from him. Tohru walked over to him and lifted him - not heeding Mikaku's warnings -.

 

“Tohru-san…don't be angry at him, it always happens.” Mikaku pled, his hands wrapped around his ankle. “It's not that bad anyway, because he's so weak at the moment it didn't penetrate very far in.” Tohru nodded absently. She was doing something that Mikaku couldn't see, a repetitive movement of her hand and gown. She turned to face him, Koutsu's mouth was white again, and Tohru's gown had streaks of pink/red on it. She had wiped Koutsu's mouth out, so it didn't taste of blood.

 

“Tohru-san…please forgive him.”

 

“It's okay Mikaku-kun; I know…that he's tired and irritable. I'll keep him with me so that doesn't happen again.”

 

“Hai sounds good. You know, he really does like you. Koutsu-san has never let anyone touch him in his dragon form. Not even me, as you can blatantly see. We usually have to wait until he's unconscious to turn him back.” He smiled and stood, walking over to Tohru and resting his hand on Koutsu's head.

 

“Maybe he'll come to like his Dragon form? It's a possibility.” Tohru smiled, somewhat worried about Mikaku's hand.

 

“When will he turn back?”

 

“When he sees fit I suppose, it's always been pretty quick, usually right after he recovers. Because it's induced, he can turn back himself. Maybe if you teach him that it's nice to be in his form, he'll stay in it for longer. You see, if he was more comfortable in his form, he wouldn't be so aggressive…and bitey…” he said with a nervous smile. Tohru laughed and hugged Koutsu close to her. I'll try…to make him enjoy it.

It had been almost a week since the incident with Koutsu, and he was still a dragon. When he wasn't with Tohru, he would lie on the wooden porch outside the front door, basking in the sun until Tohru came home from work.

 

“Hi Koutsu-san!” Tohru shouted as she ran the last few feet to meet Koutsu, who was standing on his hind legs ready to be picked up.

 

“Ah, not right now Koutsu-san, I have some work to do.” She said, scratching under his chin gently. When she had walked into the house, Koutsu slumped and fell forward, reverting back to lying half asleep on the porch.

 

“Koutsu-san?” sang Senji as he approached from behind. Koutsu replied with a growl.

 

“Uwaa? Come now Koutsu-san! Don't you want to help me do something for Tohru-chan?” Koutsu turned to look at him.

 

- (What can I do to help Tohru-chan?)

 

“I know what you're thinking! You're thinking, `Gee, how can I help Tohru-chan?'”

 

- (…I've got to admit…that's too close for comfort)

 

“Oh don't give me that face! I'm sure that it'll work! First of all…we need you to be human….” He said, bending down to touch Koutsu's paw. In a moment, Koutsu was standing on two legs again, staring down at Senji. Senji would have been intimidated, had he not fallen side-wards.

 

“Koutsu-san?” he managed through the giggling. Koutsu sighed slowly through his nose and managed to get into a sitting position.

 

“Hai, hai, very funny. Now get me some clothes.” Senji nodded, toddling away quickly, trying to hide the laughter. Koutsu's legs had become stiff, and he wasn't used to standing/walking on two legs. He was surprised at how strange it felt not to have his arms for support. He stared at his hands, tightening and releasing them. He was startled when Senji tapped his shoulder, handing him his clothes.

 

“C'mon Koutsu-san! We're going to do something nice for Tohru-chan!”

 

“Something…nice?”

 

“Hai! You see, she said that she loves the Sohma's?”

 

“Hai.”

 

“Well, she said that she'd love to see them all together again! So…” drawled Senji, pulling a small pink notebook out of his pants pocket. “I got her phonebook!”

 

“Senji-kun! That's stealing!” shouted Koutsu angrily, grabbing him by the collar. Senji squirmed and giggled.

 

“It's okay Koutsu-san! We'll put it back when we're done. What we're going to do will make up for it!” Koutsu looked down and released him, sitting next to the phone and staring at Senji.

 

“So what are we doing?”

 

“We're going to call all the Sohma's in her phonebook and arrange a reunion!” Koutsu frowned at him, a puzzled, anxious look on his face.

 

“Hai….why are you doing this? This is too nice for you…”

 

“Haa~ Koutsu-san is so mean! But hai, it was Mikaku-kun that suggested it.”

 

-Hah I knew it…

 

“What?”

 

“Nothing , nothing…” Senji squinted at him and then gave him the phonebook. Koutsu stared at him as he got up to go away.

 

“Senji-kun? Aren't you helping?”

 

“Are you kidding?! I have better things to do!” he said with a grin. Koutsu muttered under his breath and glared at him, before looking at the notebook and flicking through its many thin pages. She has such nice handwriting, he thought as he came across the first Sohma. It was Kyo. He hesitated for a moment, he'd only met him once before and hadn't made a good impression. Sighing, he picked up the phone and started to call the number, somewhat hoping no one was home.

 

-Hai? Residence of Sohma Kyo.

 

Dammit…he thought and gritted his teeth.

 

“Hai, this is Hitsuki Koutsu.”

 

-Hitsuki Koutsu?

 

“Hai…we haven't really been introduced, I met you once when I was with Honda-san.”

 

-Ah, hai I remember. So why is it that you call?

 

“I'm planning a get-together, I would like to invite you to it. It'll be next week, Thursday afternoon.” The silence on the other end worried him, Tohru liked Kyo, and if he couldn't come it would surely dampen her spirits.

 

-….How did you get my number?

 

“Honda-san gave it to me.”

 

-I doubt that. Listen, I'm not interest-

 

“It's for Tohru-chan! She….really wants to see you again, all of you, together again. Even if it's just this one time…she really wants this. This is for no gain of my own, only for Tohru-chan.”

 

- (Tohru-chan….)……..Hai…I understand…I'll be there. What time and where?

 

“Arigato Sohma Kyo-san. It should be around 2pm. At the park near our region, Sakura National.”

 

-Hai, I got it. Sayonara.

 

“Sayonara.” He put the phone, waiting a moment to catch his breath, his heart was racing, and it had been difficult to do, more difficult than expected. He sighed and hoped it wouldn't be the same for the others. Scanning the book once more, he came across his next caller.

 

-Hai? Sohma Yuki speaking.

 

“Hai, Sohma Yuki-san. I am Hitsuki Koutsu; I have a favour to ask.”