Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Tainted Choices ❯ Checkmate ( Chapter 10 )

Tainted Choices

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or its characters. They belong to Takaya Natsuki

Chapter 10

Checkmate

 

 

Up on the roof, Kyou watched them leave. The more he saw them together, the angrier he became. He had to figure out a way to get Tohru back. He wanted to be Dad for Tohru's child...even though Yuki was the biological father. He couldn't believe he had let Tohru slip through his fingers. He had become complacent. Secure in the fact that Yuki was too socially inept to tell Tohru how he felt. He was upset that he had allowed himself to underestimate his opponent. Something he knew from his training in martial arts almost guaranteed failure in any fight. He could bear to lose this fight though. Tohru was the only person who had ever really cared about his feelings and understood him. She could see past his rough exterior and appreciate the `Kyou' within. His own Mother couldn't even do that. If he couldn't have her back, he didn't want to live anymore. He had thought of killing himself several times in his past. He had gone over all the possible ways he could accomplish the feat. He had decided that if it came down to being locked up for the rest of his life or taking his own life on his own terms, he would choose suicide. He wasn't the type of person who would allow someone else to decide his fate. Last night, as he lay in the cradling branches of the giant evergreen looking up at the stars, he had decided. He would allow himself to slip from this world and into the next, off the boughs of the tree he had climbed since he was a little kid. But, he hadn't given up all hope yet…most of it…but not all of it. He would try to be civil to Yuki in front of Tohru. He would be on his best behavior so that he could win her heart. The first thing he would do is buy her a present. He wasn't sure what kind of gift to get her but he would ask Kagura's advice. As much as he cringed to admit it Kagura did have good taste. He jumped down off the roof and went inside to call Kagura. If they hurried they could get the present tonight.

 

Tohru bent over the freezer case and was trying to pick out some ice cream for desert. Her bottom bobbed up and down as she reaches to examine the different flavors.

“Hmm…Yuki-kun, what kind of ice cream do you like? Strawberry? Vanilla? Chocolate? I don't know which to choose. They all sounds so good…” “I…ummm…vanilla. I like vanilla.” Yuki stammered as his heart raced.

Yuki was watching her from behind and he liked what he saw. He felt a little dirty.

“Jeez, what I am turning into? I am thinking like Shigure.” He thought to himself in disgust.

He looked away and pretended to be interested in a box of cereal. He could feel his cheeks growing red and something else growing too.

Silently he thought, “1 + 2 = 3, 2+3=5…” trying to cool his body down. Finally he felt the rush subsiding and so he turned back to Tohru.

“What are we having for dinner Honda-san?” he asked casually.

Tohru, a little hurt because Yuki had reverted back to calling her Honda-san, answered quietly, “I thought we might have red snapper, onigiri, yakisoba, and pickled vegetables. Then for dessert, I thought we could have vanilla ice cream with some of the strawberries we grew…if that sounds good to you.” Yuki nodded in agreement and said, “Yes, that sound wonderful, Hon-I mean Tohru…I am sorry, I am so used to calling you Honda-san. I want to use your name…it is just a habit. And it is one habit I will be breaking soon. I promise.”

Tohru blushed, had Yuki noticed she felt slighted by his mistake or could he read her mind? She felt little quivers in her heart and a blush spread across her cheeks. Embarrassed, she tried to cover her face and Yuki took her hands in his and pulled her close to him, making sure to keep their arms between them, and kissed her. It seemed like it lasted forever for both of them. Finally, they parted and Yuki noticed a tear tracing down one of Tohru's cheeks.

“Are you okay? I didn't mean to hurt you…I am sorry…I…”

Tohru reached up and put her finger on Yuki's lips. “Shhh…its okay, they`re happy tears….”

And she took his hand and they carried the groceries home together.

 

Kagura was lying on her bed when her phone rang. She knew it was Kyou calling because she had programmed a special ring tone for him. Rin had laughed when she found out about it saying, “I can't believe you made Kyou's ring tone “I'm too Sexy…” She remembered punching Rin for that comment. She thought it fit Kyou perfectly.

She stretched for the phone and answered, “ Moshi, moshi?”

It was Kyou. He wanted to know if she would help him pick out a gift for Tohru.

Even though she was her rival, Kagura found herself liking Tohru and if she couldn't have Kyou, Tohru was the only person she would trust him to…so she said, “ Sure, where do you want to meet? Oh...by the copy shop…yeah…okay…see you soon! Ja ne!”

She fixed her hair the best she could and sprinted out the door.

She had to meet Kyou by the copy shop in ten minutes.

 

She neared the copy shop and she saw Kyou leaning against the brick. He looked haggard, like he hadn't slept in days. His face held lines that weren't there last time she had seen him.

“Kyou-kun? Are you all right? You look like you aren't getting any sleep…do you need me to come over and feed you some warm milk in a saucer?” Kyou's eyes lit up with annoyance and said smartly, “No…I don't like warm milk and I don't like you treating me like your pet!”

Kagura frowned and pouted al little bit with her lower lip sticking out pathetically. “Mah…Kyooou-kuun…don't be so mean…!” She whined.

“Whatever! Let's get going! We need to hurry. The store I am thinking about closes soon.”

And he turned on his heels and hurried away, forcing Kagura to run after him. He ran up to a pink Victorian detailed storefront and went inside, holding the door for Kagura.

“Wow! Kyou-kun, this store is so kawaii! We're sure to find something in here that Tohru would like.”

Kyou scowled and said gruffly, “ I hope so!”

Kagura looked into the glass case at the front of the store. There on the middle shelf was the perfect gift for Tohru, it was a citrine ring, the stone was shaped like a cat and it has tiny ruby eyes. It looked just like Kyou. Kagura knew that Tohru didn't wear a lot of jewelry but she asked the woman behind the counter if the ring could be made into a pendant.

“Yes, Miss. We can make this into a pendant for you, at no extra charge.”

Kagura jumped up and down in excitement, “Kyou! Kyou! You have to see this! It is perfect for Tohru!”

Kyou leaned over her shoulder and saw the ring. It was cute and it would remind Tohru of him that was for sure. The shopkeeper carefully turned the ring into the bale for the pendant and reset the stones. Then she placed it in a tiny box and wrapped it carefully in orange tissue paper, tying it with a red ribbon. Kagura paid and Kyou grabbed the box and ran out the door with it not even stopping to say `Thanks!' to Kagura.

 

Shigure heard Yuki and Tohru come down the path towards the house. His hearing was excellent due to his enhanced canine senses. She could hear that they giggled lightly together and seemed to be closer than ever. He was slightly disappointed because he had hoped that Tohru would get together with either him or Hatori. He wanted Hatori to be happy and he knew Tohru could give him that. He also wanted her for himself; he actually wanted her for himself more than anything. Many times, he had seen her hanging laundry or scrubbing the kitchen floor and he thought he should take her, right there. Not caring about the consequences. His animal lust drove him, more than once, into his office to release his need himself instead of ravishing Tohru. He wondered if some day he might just snap and have his way with her, whatever the results. Just the thought of his previous transgressions made him hot for her. He better get himself into his office before things got too out of hand…

 

 

Yuki and Tohru carried the groceries to the kitchen and unloaded the bags. Tohru set Yuki to work cleaning the strawberries and she started roasting the fish. This would be a delicious dinner. Just then, Kyou rushed in and he was carrying a small box covered in orange paper. He blushed and handed it to Tohru.

“Here you go…something to apologize for running off yesterday.”

Tohru pushed the gift back at him.

“It's too much! You don't have to apologize to me! I can't possibly accept it…” She waved her arms around in her usual comical manner.

Kyou flashed serious eyes in her direction, quieting her, and said, “You will accept it. I bought it especially for you.”

Tohru unwrapped the tiny treasure, Yuki peering curiously over her shoulder; she opened the lid and squealed, “Oh…how cute! Kawaii Neko-san! It is perfect to remind me of you Kyou! I will treasure it forever!”

Kyou smiled and said, “Here let me help you put it on…” he reached around her and helped her to fasten the minuscule clasp.

She ran over to the mirror in the washroom and admired the little kitty.

“Perfect…it even has red eyes like you! I love it! Isn't it cute Yuki-kun?” she squealed in delight.

Yuki looked as though he would puke but managed to force a smile and say, “Yes, Tohru. It is quite cute.”

Then he glared at Kyou coldly.

Kyou smiled back at the Rat and whispered, “Checkmate.”