Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ The Butterfly Effect ❯ Starting in Passion ( Chapter 11 )

Author's Note: From this chapter on, there will be adult situations in the story. They won't be graphic, but if you are underage or don't wish to read about sexual situations you may not want to read any farther. As for the really long quote this chapter- I think this is one of the best descriptions of sexual desire ever. Best of all, it's over two hundred years old :)

Quick Vocabulary:

kuso nezumi- damn rat

kaisou- seaweed salad

chibi-onigiri- little riceball

Romaji- Roman alphabet (normal English alphabet)

Chapter Summary: Two guys, one horny butterfly and a confused Tohru. Plot? What plot?

Disclaimer: Fruits Basket belongs to Natsuki Takaya/HAKUSENSHA - TV TOKYO - NAS - Fruba Project. And because I probably should have said this a long time ago- Butterfly is mine.

Warning: Rated R for language, implied rape, torture, and adult situations. This chapter- mild adult situations, non-graphic.

-Chapter 11: Starting in Passion-

-Tell me what love is, what can it be

-What is this yearning burning in me?

-Can I survive it, will I endure?

-This is my sickness, is there a cure?

-First this obsession seizing my brain,

-Starting in passion, ending in pain.

-I start to shiver, then I'm on fire,

-Then I'm aquiver with seething desire.

-Who knows the secret, who holds the key?

-I long for something - what can it be?

- Lorenzo da Ponte, trans. "Voi Che Sapete" from 'The Marriage of Figaro'

Kyou turned out to have more ability to predict the future than he probably had imagined. It is taking 'some time to get used to it'. The boys seem to be avoiding each other even more than they would normally and when they do meet, they glare at one another. Fortunately, the start of school has allowed little time for any of them to mope around.

Tohru was accepted into the cooking program with an emphasis on traditional Japanese preparations and both Kyou's and Yuki's programs were accepted by the university. With only one car between the three of them, they have to perform a complicated dance to make sure that everyone gets where they need to go at the right time.

Typically, Tohru prepares all three meals in bento boxes before they leave for classes. Both of the boys run classes from mid-morning to early evening and home suppers are now impossible during the week. In the morning the boys drop Tohru off at the trade college and park the car at the university campus. Because of his double major, Yuki has the longest overall day, so Kyou picks Tohru up in the afternoon after her classes. Then Tohru either has to sit quietly in his emergency response class or help him 'study' in the university library until Yuki finishes class.

*Got to love that studying in the library.*

Ah yes... Tohru is very, very grateful that, so far, Yuki's classes haven't gotten out early.

-###-

Kyou and Tohru are currently in the farthest corner of the library, well out of sight of the other students or librarians. Tohru tries not to feel nervous, but every time they have sat in this corner they have ended up kissing at some point and she really needs to prepare for tomorrow's classes.

They are good for about half an hour. Tohru carefully reads through the preparations for the next day and Kyou does his practice math problems. When he reaches down to grab his biology textbook, Tohru makes the mistake of meeting his eyes.

Kyou reaches over to her chair and smoothly pulls her onto his lap, pressing his lips to the base of her neck. "So- want to help me study human anatomy?"

*Gods, that's even worse than Yuki's line.*

Tohru would answer Butterfly but she's far too busy fumbling with the zipper on Kyou's hoodie.

Kyou seems to be ignoring her shirt buttons altogether. His hands are pushing her top up while he gently nips at her ear lobe. Tohru gives up on the zipper and pushes Kyou back while he shrugs out of his sweatshirt. He isn't wearing anything underneath.

Tohru can't resist- she runs her hands over the toned muscles on his stomach as they jerk under her fingers. Suddenly Kyou has turned her in his lap so that she is straddling his legs and her now half-bare chest is pressed tightly against his. She wraps her arms around his neck as he gives her a kiss that threatens to turn her entire body to jelly. She vaguely realizes that they are rocking on the chair, but a particularly hard movement pulls her out of her lust-induced haze.

"We... we can't do this in the library and Yuki-"

Kyou pulls back instantly.

*You sure know how to kill the mood.*

"Is that kuso nezumi always going to be there when I touch you?"

"I can't go any farther with either of you until we've all decided how this going to work. It wouldn't be fair to any of us."

Kyou sighs and cradles her against his chest. "You're right, but I still don't have to like it."

Tohru kisses his shoulder. "I love you."

They straighten out their clothes quietly and by the time Yuki shows up they are the picture of respectability. If only Tohru didn't wish that she hadn't stopped Kyou.

-###-

Tohru tries to put the library sessions out of her mind during the day. There is a lot of work involved in becoming a professional chef and Tohru needs to use all of her focusing abilities to try and keep up with the rest of the class. On top of the many techniques that she needs to learn, Tohru has to avoid any accidents in the kitchens. She thanks Kyou daily for her martial arts lessons because most of her class is male and the last thing she needs to do is to transform in the middle of a boiling pot or a chopping board. And it is a lot more difficult to avoid transformations than she would have thought. Tohru has never thought of herself as pretty, but she assumes that the men in her class are looking for potential wives as well as becoming chefs.

*Sweetie- I don't think 'wives' is the word that you're looking for.*

As she avoids her third attempted grope of the day, she feels a whole new sympathy for Yuki and his ever-present Fan Club.

*Hey, he was never surrounded by lots of sharp, pointy objects when they chased after him! They hug us here and we end up as Butterfly-kabobs!*

Tohru has also developed a whole new appreciation for Butterfly, who seems to have a sixth sense for when someone is trying to grab her.

*I can't believe I'm turning down potential action, but when my life's on the line.... Just promise me that I'll get something sooner or later?*

Tohru avoids a fourth grope while she tries to create the proper presentation for her kaisou. It is going to be a long day.

While eating her pre-packed bento box, Tohru starts to feel depressed. She doesn't dare eat with any of the men in her class and she is far too shy to approach any of the girls. Now, sitting by herself on the front lawn, she really, really misses Hana-chan and Uo-chan. A lump forms in her throat as she realizes that they probably don't even remember her. What makes her feel even more guilty is that she is quite willing to have her two former best friends forget her if it means that she can stay here with Yuki and Kyou. It has been two weeks since classes started and she is ashamed to admit that she misses the boys more every day. She had gotten used to having their full attention. Now, she only sees Kyou for a few hours in the evenings during the week and Yuki hardly at all. She is so intent on trying to snap out of her misery that she misses the person coming up behind her until masculine arms appear around her waist.

*Oh shit.*

Tohru closes her eyes, waiting for the pain of the transformation, but it doesn't come.

"You know, you need to pay more attention, silly. Anyone could sneak up on you."

Tohru half-turns in his arms, a bright smile on her face. "Kyou... It's so good to see you!"

"It's not the same having lunch without my favorite silly girl. I looked at your schedule and I noticed that our lunches were at the same time-"

He is cut off as Tohru presses a hard kiss to his lips. Kyou seems to be more than happy to return the favor and they are soon enthusiastically wrapped around one another. Kyou pulls back with a slight smirk. "I'm glad to see you too."

Tohru smiles happily, her earlier depression forgotten. "I'm so happy! I get to eat lunch with you and maybe now the men in my class will leave me alone."

Kyou almost instantly stiffens underneath her. "Are people bothering you? Just point them out to me...."

Tohru gulps. "N-n-no, no. It's all fine. I'm sure that everything will go smoothly now that they know that I have a boyfriend."

But it is too late; Kyou is already glaring suspiciously at the various men spread out over the front lawn of the college. Tohru gulps a second time. One of her more persistent would-be-gropers has apparently decided to take Kyou up on his challenge and is walking over to them.

"Hey Tohru-kun, is that punk bothering you?"

Kyou bristles instantly. "How dare you speak so familiarly to her!"

Tohru decides that something needs to be done before they all get kicked off the grounds. Butterfly is no help whatsoever.

*He's fighting for your honor! And he's so hot when he's sweaty and dirty!*

Tohru can't really disagree, but she would rather not be expelled just to see hot and sweaty Kyou.

"Kyou...." She places a restraining hand on his arm and turns to her classmate. "This is Himura Kyou."

The man's eyes widen. "But you're Himura Tohru...." Without another word, he turns and walks away.

Tohru is nervous about facing Kyou- she's not sure how he is going to react to her slight misdirection. She needn't have worried. Kyou pulls her against his chest and whispers into her ear. "That was brilliant... but if I'm going to be your husband doesn't that mean that I get special privileges?"

Tohru gives him a playful smack on the side of his head and burrows back into his arms. She could get used to this.

-###-

Later that evening, Tohru wonders if she's allowed to claim Kyou as her husband when he's not about to get into a fight. If Tohru's class has too many guys, Kyou's class has way too many girls. It hadn't been so bad in the previous classes, but tonight the women seem to be intent on making her as upset as possible.

'That tall one just ran her hands up and down his arm!'

*Easy does it, sweetie. We can kill her on the way out.*

Tohru tries to be generous. 'That's okay Butterfly- I'm sure that they are actually very nice people and- What is she doing to his leg?'

*Don't worry- we'll make it a painful death.*

Tohru fumes in the corner for the rest of the class, trying unsuccessfully to concentrate on her work for the next day. The announcement of the next part of the course almost makes her act out.

'If one of those... ask him for help with the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation....'

*Good girl. Don't worry- you're the only one Kyou's been watching. If you undid a few buttons on your blouse, I bet he wouldn't be able to concentrate at all.*

Tohru actually has to tell herself that undoing her blouse is a bad, bad idea. Fortunately, Kyou comes over before she loses the struggle.

"Hey Tohru, mind if I borrow you for the next part?"

The instructor frowns when Kyou brings Tohru back to the group. "Normally we just use the inflatable dummies to practice resuscitation."

Kyou gives her a charming smile. "But since my wife is here anyways, wouldn't it be much more beneficial to practice on a real person?"

*Oh, I like how he thinks.*

Tohru has to agree.

Kyou whispers in her ear as he counts breaths. "Thank god you're here- I thought I'd never get rid of those harpies." His smile is almost devilish as he leans over top of her. "Plus I get to cover your mouth with mine for course credit."

*You know, the boy has a way with words.*

-###-

While things are progressing very quickly with Kyou, Tohru hasn't seen all that much of Yuki. His double course load consumes all of his time during the week and, even on weekends, he seems overwhelmed with homework. Really the only time that Tohru gets to see Yuki and talk to him is when it is his night to sleep beside her. She knows that he basically just needs comfort and a sympathetic ear on those nights, but it is frustrating to not be able to touch him like she touches Kyou. About all that she is able to do is give him a massage to relax some of his tense muscles. Strangely, he sometimes seems tenser after she finishes than before she started.

Somehow, what had been meant as a temporary solution to Tohru's nightmares has become a permanent sleeping arrangement. The boys still alternate sleeping nights beside her on the bed, but now they are much more comfortable with slinging an arm over her waist or snuggling up against her as they sleep. After Tohru told them that she wasn't ready to move farther until they both worked out what they wanted, they both keep the touching in the bed relatively chaste. What is puzzling her is that both of the boys now get up long before she does on the nights that they share her bed. Tohru has always been an early riser, but even Yuki seems to be up and dressed before she is when he sleeps with her.

Tohru feels a little neglected when she wakes in the morning to an empty bed, especially since she is starting to feel insecure about Yuki's feelings. She is shifting around, trying to go back to sleep, when she hears a soft moan coming from down the hallway. Tohru panics.

'What if one of the boys is hurt? I hope that I get there in time!'

She quickly gets out of bed and paces down the hallway, only to stop, frozen, in front of the partially open bathroom door.

Yuki is standing in the bathroom, his eyes closed, with one hand bracing himself against the wall. The other hand leaves little doubt as to what he is doing. In front of Tohru's horrified, fascinated eyes, Yuki's hips suddenly jerk. "Tohru...."

Tohru pulls out of her shock and runs down the hallway back to the bedroom.

*On the bright side, you don't need to worry about his feelings anymore.*

'What am I going to do?'

*Well, his birthday is coming up....*

'Oh my goodness! I almost forgot Yuki's birthday!'

And with that, Tohru tries to put what she saw out of her mind and gets down to some serious panicking.

'He mentioned needing some new pruning shears for his green house course work. Maybe I can get Kyou to give me a ride to town tonight instead of studying? And I can pick up some ingredients and make that 'Devils' Food cake' that we tried in our dessert elective-'

*Breathe. Everything will work out. I still like my gift idea better though.*

'Not thinking about it... Um... are they all so...'

*Big? Nope- you're one lucky chibi-onigiri.*

'Not thinking about this, not thinking about this-'

"Kyou! Could you take me to town after class today?"

-###-

Tohru is excited. Yuki's birthday falls on the weekend, which means that she may actually be able to spend some time with him. In the effort to surprise Yuki, she didn't mention his birthday at all. She even asked Kyou to wake her when he got up on the morning of the birthday so she could bake the cake.

Now she is trying to prepare the cake using her very weak English skills to understand some of the Romaji words. "Well, happy birthday to me. And here I'd thought you'd forgotten." Yuki is leaning against the entrance to the kitchen, his aura glowing red.

"Y-y-yuki! You're not supposed to be up yet!"

Yuki has a very predatory smile on his face. "I smelled the chocolate from upstairs. Woke me out of a very pleasant dream. Do you know what it was?"

Yuki is beside her now and Tohru couldn't move if she tried. Her voice comes out as a breathy whisper. "What was it?"

Yuki leans in behind her, his mouth above her ear. "Actually it was more of a memory. A memory of someone standing and watching me."

'Oh no!'

*Oh yes!*

Tohru is fairly sure that she is the color of Kyou's hair. She tries to speak, but suddenly her throat is as dry as sandpaper.

Yuki's arms wrap around her waist. "You've got chocolate on your face." And he licks her cheek.

Tohru can't breathe. She really hopes Butterfly can keep her lungs working.

*Oh don't worry about me, sweetie. I'd be much more concerned about those noises you're making while he's kissing your earlobe.*

"What the hell?"

Yuki stops whatever he is doing to her ear and neck and turns a very black look on Kyou.

Kyou and Yuki seem to be communicating strictly by glares. Kyou looks away first. "Happy birthday, nezumi. I think that I need to go into town to check out the local dojo and see if I can't practice there. Have fun." Kyou doesn't even look at Tohru as he walks out of the kitchen and exits the house.

Yuki resumes nibbling Tohru's ear. "Best birthday present the neko could give me."

Tohru swallows hard. She didn't think that baking a cake was going to be this difficult.

-###-

Eventually the cake does get done and Tohru sticks it aside to cool until they can all have a piece. Kyou still isn't back when Tohru brings Yuki his present to open.

Tohru hands him the wrapped shears. "Happy birthday, Yuki. I still have to finish writing your card though."

'Because you distracted me so badly this morning that I wasn't able to get anything other than the cake done.'

Yuki opens the shears with a smile of genuine pleasure. "Thank you Tohru, these are perfect."

He walks towards her and suddenly Tohru feels like a very small animal faced with a very large predator.

"I'll just go get that card now."

Yuki says nothing, but flashes her the same smile he gave her that morning. Tohru is breathing hard enough to have run a marathon by the time she finally reaches her room.

*What are you so afraid of?*

'I'm not afraid exactly, it's just I've never seen Yuki like this and it's confusing and a little much somehow.'

*You've just described every relationship since the beginning of time. Just let things go their own way- neither of the boys would ever intentionally hurt you.*

Strangely, this calms Tohru down enough that she is almost anticipating the next move in the day's game of cat and mouse.

She is sitting on the bed trying to write Yuki's card, when Yuki himself comes into the bedroom. She doesn't even notice him until she is wrapped in his arms and pulled back against his chest. His mouth is right above her ear as he whispers and Tohru shivers.

"Happy birthday to me."

Almost instantly, Yuki has gently pushed her onto her back, hovering over her as he kisses his way down her face. He straddles her legs, looking down on Tohru for a few minutes before he moves. Tohru shivers again- Yuki's eyes are so dilated that they seem completely black. Then he places his hands on her thighs, slowly moving them up and under her blouse. Tohru stifles a moan as he brushes over her bra, kissing her breast through the blouse even as he touches her underneath. He moves his mouth back up to hers and she tangles her hands in his hair, pulling him in for a better angle. Yuki has gotten much, much better at kissing. Tohru feels like she is moving in a fog- she doesn't remember putting her hands up under Yuki's shirt or Yuki removing her blouse entirely. It is only when he thrusts his hips against hers that Tohru comes back to her senses.

"Yuki... we need to stop."

Yuki is panting, his eyes squeezed tight. "Just... Just give me a minute."

He moves off her, turning to lie on his side facing away from her. "I'm sorry Tohru- I didn't mean to let things get so out of control."

Tohru lies down behind Yuki and puts her arm around his waist. Yuki tenses for a minute before relaxing back into her embrace. "I'm sorry to be so confusing, but I need to talk to both of you before I go any farther."

There is only silence from Yuki.

Tohru feels a sudden surge of panic. She moves her hand so that it rests over Yuki's heart.

"I love you."

Yuki covers her hand with his own. "Happy birthday to me."

-###-

Tohru must have fallen asleep, because when she wakes up she is wrapped in Yuki's arms, her blouse still lying on the floor. Kyou is standing in the doorway, his face expressionless.

"This can't go on like this."

Yuki stirs behind Tohru. "I completely agree, neko. You and I need to talk. We need to figure out how this going to work- with your permission of course, Tohru."

Tohru half-turns in his arms so that she can face both of them. "I told you that I would let you two decide how this was going to work as long as I could be with both of you. As long as you both agree on who starts to take things farther-" Here she can't help but blush, but she manages to rally again. "On who starts to take things farther, then I will go along with whatever you decide."

Kyou and Yuki look at each other. "Come on nezumi, let's get this settled before we all go up in flames."

-Reviewer Responses-

panthera: I'm really glad that you're enjoying the story. Hugs and kisses are always appreciated :) I hope that you continue to enjoy the new chapter.

Miko no Tears and Aya: I'm sorry that you were confused at the beginning and I'm glad that the story makes sense to you now. I really wanted to try and find a few more sides to the boys' and Tohru's personalities and I'm really happy that you think they have more going on than showed up in the anime. Shall I add you to the list of Evil Butterfly Minions? Thanks for taking the time to review and I hope that you like the rest of the story.

Runic: I'm so glad that you took the time to review again ;) -shuffles feet- I hate to admit it, but my favorite part of that chapter was when Butterfly started talking to her again too. Just don't tell anyone, okay? I hope that you continue to enjoy the story!

-Updated 12-06-04-