Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ The Lost and Forgotten ❯ Prologue thru middle of ch. 12 ( Chapter 1 )

'Tohru!' screamed Kyo, as he fell into a puddle of muck.

Akito grabbed the neko by the collar of his shirt. 'She isn't here, Kyo. She never was here. She hates you, neko!'

'That's a lie!' screamed Kyo. 'Tohru loved me, me more than anyone else!'

'It's her fault you are dying, neko! She asked me to bring you here!

At that moment, Tohru tumbled down the muddy hill. 'Kyo?' she panted.

'Tohru! How did you get here so fast?'

'Enough said, neko! I called her here to finish you off! Honda! Use the power in your mind!'

'No!' screamed Tohru, 'I won't!'

'Then you leave me no choice, Honda-san.' Akito raised clenched fists and a dark essence of hatred flowed from the reaches of Akito's mind.

Tohru felt that Kyo was being destroyed and was dying, so she ran to him. She grabbed him and hugged him close to her chest. Innocent love radiated from her, and it clashed with Akito's fury and abhorrence.

Kyo glowed bright red, and his bracelet snapped off. He transformed into his true form, and sparks exploded from him. The ridge was set on fire, and the neko beast floating in the air exploded and disappeared.

'Damn it!' yelled Akito, changing from Akito's usual personality.

Tohru was confused. She had no idea what happened to Kyo, or why Akito was angry. She wasn't sure if she should smile or cry, so she just walked back to the Sohma house with Akito.

 

*AT THE SOHMA HOUSE*

 

'So you think you've saved Kyo, Tohru-san?' asked Akito, pacing around Tohru, 'You most certainly have not. Back in the valley, you destroyed the neko! Kyo Sohma is dead thanks to you and only you!'

Tohru lay (is it lay or lied?) on the ground, shivering, trying not to believe Akito's words, even though they were seeping into her heart like poison. She screamed at Akito with what was left of her strength, but Akito just smiled bitterly.

'You have meddled with this family long enough. Now that the neko is gone, you have no reason to be a part of the Sohma family anymore. Your memory will be erased! Hatori!' called Akito.

'What is it, Akito-san?' asked Hatori, more than a bit apprehensive.

'Erase Honda-san's memory! NOW!'

'No.' said Hatori, with neither defiance nor resignation.

'Then I will have to do it myself.'

Before Hatori could think about what Akito said, Akito had grabbed Hatori by the arm and forced his hand upon Tohru's forehead. Tohru let out a piercing scream and dropped to the ground.

Her eyes filled with images of Kyo, and her heart overflowed with feelings that she had never told anyone about.

From the deepest reaches of her soul, she pulled out her most passionate, most heartfelt thoughts. Her words would have moved a person of purity, but to the cold, bitter Akito, they sounded like gibberish. 'Poor, poor, mindless Tohru...' laughed Akito.

Tohru ignored her and whispered, 'I love you, Kyo...' then fell into a dark, dark sleep....

***

'Kyoko! You're alive!' Tohru woke from her coma to see her granfather's kind face in front of her.

'Where am I?' questioned Tohru, rubbing her eyes.

'You're in the hospital, Kyoko. We've been so worried about you!'

'How long have I been here?'

'About six months. The doctors were about to give up on you, but I knew my Kyoko would pull through!'

'Six months?' Tohru bolted upright. 'But how did I end up here?'

'A kind doctor... Sohma was his name, delivered you here after you fell into your coma. He wouldn't tell me what happened to cause it, though...'

'Sohma-sensei? Where have I heard that...' An image of a flailing seahorse flashed through her brain. 'Am I going crazy?' she thought.

'So, Kyoko, are you going to live with those men again?'

'Granpa? I was never living with any men, I was living in a tent.'

'So do you want to move back in with your aunt, cousin, and I?'

'Yes, grandpa, that would be nice.'

Therefore, Tohru stayed with her grandpa for a few days after she woke, until she was ready to go to Kaibara High School again.

 

*At Kaibara High School*

 

When Tohru arrived back at school, she was instantly tackled by her friend Arisa. Saki drifted after them, and all three girls hugged.

'Where were you, Tohru? We called your house like a billion times but you were never there!'

'Gomen, Uo-chan, I was in the hospital.'

'For six months?!? God, Tohru, I was so worried! Why didn't you have someone call?'

Tohru's face fell. 'I was in a coma, Uo-chan, Hana-chan. I don't even remember what caused it...'

'That's horrible, Tohru-kun... but you're better now, right?' asked Saki, stepping into the conversation.

'Yes, I feel much better now, thanks to you two!' Tohru hugged both of them again.

'Hey, Tohru, how about we celebrate after school at that new American restaurant? I'll bring Kureno, and you can bring Yuki!'

'Yuki Sohma? The Prince?'

'Yeah, of course! Unless he's got student council...'

'Or you could bring Kyo-san...' Saki put in softly.

'Huh? But Kyon's been missing as long as Tohru has. How can he come?'

Saki's voice dropped. 'You may not feel him, but the denpa waves tell me that he is still here.'

While Saki was talking, a waterfall of memories crashed through Tohru's head. Memories of a terrible, horrifying creature, a fire, a hand on her forehead. An overwhelming feeling of guilt.

'I didn't do it!' screamed Tohru. 'It wasn't me!'

'What is it, Tohru-kun? You know! IT WASN'T YOU, TOHRU-KUN!' screamed Saki in a voice that wasn't hers.

Arisa looked concerned.

'I'm sorry, Hana-chan, Uo-chan, I don't think I'm feeling well...'

'Well then, Tohru, why don't we walk you home?'

'Oh Uo-chan, I can't miss another day of my senior year! With the six months already and...'

'Tohru, come on, let's go!' shouted Arisa. She grabbed Tohru's arm and they headed to the Sohma house. When they arrived there, it seemed deserted. 'Is there anyone home?' asked Saki.

'What is this place?' asked Tohru. She looked up at the roof. She remembered lying up there with someone , strange feelings... a cat (AN: no, I'm not saying she slept with Kyo).

Tohru was shaken out of her memories by the emergence of a tall man with black hair from the seemingly deserted house. 'My little housewife!' he said, 'Are you out of the coma yet?' (AN: Shigure is ever so stupid!)

Something clicked in Tohru's brain. 'Shigure-san! I remember you! How are you?'

'My flower, I was soooo worried about you! I checked up on you at the hospital. Haa-san said you might be okay, but even he wasn't sure...'

'Oh Shigure-san, I feel great now, thanks to Uo and Hana! They're great friends and they've always been there for me when I'm down.'

Tohru and Shigure talked for about ten more minutes, until Saki felt dark denpa waves spread through the house. She stood up and said, 'Tohru, I think you should stay with your grandfather tonight...'

As Tohru and co. left Shigure's house, Akito and Hatori entered.

'Shigure... you have disappointed me seriously...' Akito's body moved closer to Shigure's. 'Messing with Honda will only get you and her into trouble... and we don't want trouble, iei?'

Shigure touched Akito's shoulders and smiled. 'My dear Akito... I would never forsake you for Tohru-san, she means nothing to me...' He pulled Akito close to his chest and kissed Akito full on the lips.

They ran their hands all over each other and kissed passionately, like a couple on their honeymoon, until the ever strong Akito shoved Shigure away. 'I know your ways, you inu! You are a dog! Don't think that you, you with your honey coated lies and sensual movements, can sway my support to your side!'

'But my Akito-san...'

'Quiet, inu! I have treated you kindly, and how am I repaid? With your tongue and no respect? Believe me, Shigure, I will know if you are talking to her. I will know, and you will be punished!'

'Fine, fine, Akito-san. I will stay away from Tohru-kun. But you must promise to keep from her also.'

'I give you my word, Shigure-san. And my word has failed no one.'

Akito stepped out of the house and motioned to Hatori, who started the car without comment. Akito ran a clawlike fingernail, filed to a point, across Shigure's arm. Even though it was just a scratch, it drew much more blood than it should've, and was very painful.

'Inu, believe me, if you tell her, both you and 'our little Tohru-kun' will have an accident. Perhaps several. And it will have been all your fault.'

Akito climbed into the car as she and Hatori drove off through the silent woods.

Shigure stared in disbelief at his arm, and though he never thought of himself as weak, he cried for the first time since his dream of Akito's birth...

 

*Thirty minutes later*

 

'Shigure, what's going on?' asked Yuki, who was off student council duty and home earlier than usual.

'It's nothing, Yuki, nothing.'

This worried Yuki. Shigure was hardly ever serious. There must have been something that happened to him, or the family. 'Shigure, I know something happened. Tell me.'

'Yuki, trust me, you don't want to have anything to do with this.'

'Shigure. I want to know!'

Shigure sighed. 'Okay, Yuki. Tohru-kun came back to the house today.'

'WHAT?!?' yelled Yuki, 'Why didn't you call me?'

'She was only here for about half an hour, and then Akito-san showed up...'

'Akito was here?'

'Yes...'

'What happened between you two?'

'Listen, Yuki. For Tohru-kun's sake, don't try to find her at school. Don't talk to her again. Akito-san said he would hurt Tohru if any of the juunishi saw her again.'

Yuki was speechless.

'Tohru-kun doesn't remember you, and it's best it stay that way. Akito got mad at me for just saying a few words to her (AN: 30 min= few words?).'

'I could never let Honda-san forget us... she means so much to our family! I'm going to talk to Akito right now!'

'Yuki, you shouldn't go. There's no way Akito will give into your demands. You'll only end up hurting yourself and Tohru-kun.'

'Look, Shigure. I'll deal with Akito. I don't care what he does to us or any of the juunishi, but if he messes with Honda-san... he'll have to answer to me!'

'Fine, Yuki, but don't blame me. It'll be a shame if you end up like Kyo.' While Yuki wasn't looking, he chuckled to himself. He couldn't wait to reintroduce the rat and the cat.

***

Kyo had given up on finding Tohru. She had been gone for six months, and he was almost certain that she was being held prisoner at the Sohma house.
He could go back, but if Akito found him, he'd be locked up. He felt like such a coward. If Tohru could handle Akito, he could.
But what if Tohru wasn't there? He'd be sacrificing himself all for nothing.
He was taking a short walk when he chanced upon Tohru's grandfather's house. He climbed up onto the roof of the porch and looked through the second story window.
He jumped through into Tohru's room, and climbed into her bed. He hadn't rested in 3 days, and he was tired...
*AN HOUR LATER*
'OMG WHAT IS A GUY DOING IN MY BED?!?' screamed Tohru's cousin, Sakura.
She grabbed a potted plant from the window sill and smashed it on Kyo's skull with considerable force.
'Stupid bitch! What the hell are you doing in Tohru's room?'
'You mean my and Tohru's room. Anyways, you broke into our house! I'm calling the cops! Unless...' Sakura looked at Kyo with an impish grin.
'Hell no, you psycho! I wouldn't... do that with you! I don't sell myself out to any crazed bitch that asks!'
'You were going to with Tohru, though, weren't you? You were waiting for her to show up. I can promise you she knows nothing about sex. Me, on the other hand...'
'Look, bitch...'
Sakura picked up the phone. 'Hello, Tokyo police, there's a man in my house that...'
'Okay! Just put down the phone and we can maybe talk this out?'
'No. I know what I want from you, and I will get it, Orange-san. Now let's get down to...'
Luckily for Kyo, Tohru stepped into the room. 'Sakura-san? Why are you home so early?'
'Oh, I skipped history. So what? Your orange-haired friend was here to see me. We were just about to...'
'Don't listen to your bitch of a cousin, Tohru! She's lying! She was 'about to' call the cops on me!'
'But Sakura-san, why would you do that to him?'
'You're so naive, Tohru. He came in through the window!' Sakura stormed out of the room, disgruntled.
Tohru frowned. 'Who are you, orange...-san?'
'Tohru, don't you remember me? I'm Kyo, the cat who hates leeks? The cat of the zodiac?'
'Kyo...-kun? Is it really you? But where... where are the beads?'
'I'm free, Tohru, I'm free! Thanks to you and only you.' In that instant, Tohru's memories spun. She recalled everything that Akito had forced her to forget. The curse, the juunishi, Kyo...
'Kyo-kun! You're alive!'
She grabbed him into a hug without even thinking.
'Gomen, Kyo!'
However, the apology wasn't necessary. Kyo hadn't transformed!
'Kyo... what happened?'
'I told you, Tohru! That night in the valley... you freed me from the curse!'
'That's wonderful, Kyo! Spectacular!'
After their initial exhilaration over the subject faded, they quieted down.
'Well, Tohru, what happened since you saved me?'
'Hatori-san put me into a coma...'
'That bastard! I'll...'
'But Kyo-kun... I think it was really Akito-san's fault...'
'Oh, Akito... so this is all his doing...'
'Kyo-kun... does Akito know you're alive?'
'Tohru... you know he doesn't... he would want to know, though... I would avoid Shigure's and the Sohmas' house if I were you... we'd both be destroyed if the Sohma head knew I was alive...'
'Does anyone else know? I mean, that you're alive?'
'I think Shigure may be the only one. Besides you, of course.'
*So...* thought Sakura, who had listened to the whole conversation from outside the door. *The head of the Sohma family would like to know that Orange is still alive...* She picked up a directory.
'Let's see... S... So... Sohma... what was his name again? Aha! Sohma Akito.' Sakura picked up the phone and dialed.
*RING*...*RING*...*RING*...*RING*... The phone rang, but nobody answered. The answering machine played.
'You have reached Sohma Akito's residence. Please leave your name, number, and business, and we will try to get back to you as soon as possible...' crackled a low, male voice.
'I am Honda Sakura, and I believe that I have some information regarding the affiliations of my cousin, Tohru, and some Orange-san, that you may find helpful to your cause. Please call me back at 7274211. Thank you.' (AN: She can speak nice when she's being EVILAGE!!!)
Sakura smiled an evil smile, thinking of the trouble and pain that she would cause the refusing neko and his naive protector, and pondering (considerably less) what reward she might receive for her information. She sat down on a loveseat, pulled out a trashy magazine, and waited for Akito to return her call.
-*-*-*-
Twenty-five minutes later, the phone rang. Sakura picked it up before Tohru could answer on her line.
'Hello, Honda Sakura-san. I am Sohma Akito. If you would like to discuss Tohru-san and her... affiliate, to say, come right now to the Sohma house on second and Maple. And come alone.' Akito hung up before Sakura even had a chance to talk. Sakura ran out the door, put on her shoes, and headed to the Sohma house.
However, halfway through Akito's call, Tohru picked up her phone, wanting to call Arisa. She didn't want to eavesdrop, but she was becoming worried about Sakura.
'Kyo!' shouted Tohru. Kyo lifted his head off Tohru's bed. 'What?'
'Kyo... I think one of the Sohmas is going to... hurt my cousin, Sakura...'
'What makes you so sure of that?'
'Someone called her and told her to go alone to the Sohma house.'
'So? Why should you give a damn about that bitch?'
'Kyo... I don't want anyone else to get hurt. Not after what happened to us...'
'No one will...' whispered Kyo, then he said aloud, 'While I'm here for you, Tohru, nobody will ever suffer, not at all.'
With those words, he pulled Tohru to him, closer and closer, until she could hear the beating of his heart, feel the warmth emanating from his fiery core. She stared into his crimson eyes, burning with a passion and longing that scared Tohru. It scared her because she knew that Kyo could see it in her, too, and it made her feel weak and naive. She wasn't willing to face Kyo's desire just yet. 'Kyo, we should really go out and try to save Sakura...'
Kyo realized what Tohru was feeling. She wasn't ready for him, not yet. She had yet to realize that her passion was natural, and that it would guide both of them. Anyways, Kyo was sure that now she would be unable to resist him. He prepared for the day when Tohru would realize her potential.
***

'Konnichiwa, Honda Sakura-san. I believe you have a proposition for me.'
'Yes, Sohma-san. It's about my cousin, Tohru.'
'Well what is it, Honda?'
'I overheard a conversation between her and this orange-haired man...'
'Honda is living with you? And who is this man?'
'I believe his name was Kyou.'
'So, he's still alive... but I am not one to blame a messenger for her tidings (AN Thanx Garth Nix for that). What would you like in exchange for your information?'
'I was thinking... is there any way... orange-san... is he taken?'
Akito started to shake but calmed herself down. This girl knew nothing. She would suffer for her insolence, but not until Akito could get every scrap of valuable information from her. *Best to let her think she can have him while she's still useful.*
'Sakura-san, I assure you that will be dealt with, as soon as we catch them. Where are they now?'
'At my house. I'll show you the way.'
While Akito and Sakura drove off to Tohru's house with Hatori, Kyo and Tohru headed off for the Sohma house.
'Tohru, you're such a worrier. I bet it was nothing.'
'But Kyo, it really sounded serious.'
'Which juunishi do you think was calling, anyway?'
'It sounded like Haru- or maybe Yuki? I don't think it would be Yuki, though...'
Tohru heard running footsteps and turned around. 'Kyo, there's someone behind us!'
Tohru sprinted off down the street, grabbing Kyo's arm. They ran for a while until they thought they had lost their pursuer.
'Guten Tag!' shouted a familiar voice.
'Momiji-kun! You scared me!' panted Tohru.
'Oh, Tohru-kun, Kyo, you have to go!'
'Go where, Momiji? Why?'
'At the house... Akito knows!'
'Knows about what?'
'He found that Kyo is alive... I never knew until now...'
'But where, Momiji-kun? We're just a couple of teenagers!'
'Don't worry Tohru, I know just the place!' Momiji pulled out a cell phone, pulled up his address book, and called a special someone that might be able to take in Tohru and Kyo.
He talked for a few minutes, then hung up. 'Good news, Tohru, Kyo, he's able to take you guys in!'
'But where does he live?' asked Tohru, not even wondering who he was. For some reason.
'Oh, he's going to send someone to pick you guys up in about 10 minutes.'
'Yes!' Tohru grabbed Kyo into a hug.
Momiji looked confused. 'Kyo?'
'Ha! I'm not cursed no more!!!!'
'Great...' Momiji's cheerful ambiance faded.
*10 minutes later*
A limousine (AN that right?) pulled up in front of the bus stop. A tall man with black hair stepped out of it. 'Are you Sohma Kyo and Honda Tohru? And...' his eyes wavered over Momiji.
'Oh, I'm Kyo's cousin. I was waiting with them to see them off.'
'Well, say goodbye to your friends.'
'Bye-bye!' Momiji waved as hard as he could to Tohru and Kyo.
'Momiji-kun, we haven't even gotten into the limousine yet!'
'Well then, get in!'
'See you, Momiji!' Tohru waved to him while closing the back door.'
The driver started the car and they all drove off to an unknown place.

'Why are we in the business district?' asked Kyo, looking out the window. 'Shouldn't we be in a residential one?'
'Eh? I don't know. Maybe he's a shopkeeper...'
'I bet we're gonna have to work in a factory, shop, whatever. Low wages, long hours, the works.'
'I don't think our new guardian would do that to us.'
'You know him?'
'No, but if Momiji knows him, he must not be that bad.'
The limo pulled up to a shop with a snake encircling a woman motif over the door.
'Kyo, this looks familiar... but I don't remember very well.'
'Well there's only one way to find out.'
The chauffeur took that as a hint to open the door. 'Thank you for driving with Sohma limo service, have a nice day.'
'The Sohmas own a limo company, too?' asked Tohru as she and Kyo walked through the doorway.
'Yah, our family owns about everything.'
As they stepped inside, the chauffeur/doorman walked back to the limo and drove off.
'Oh, Kyo, I remember it now! I remember! It's...'
She was interrupted by the arrival of a black-haired woman wearing a mint nurses' outfit with knee-high socks. 'Tohru-san, Kyo-san, welcome to your new home!'
'Our new guardian is a woman?'
'Iei, silly Kyo, I'm not your guardian!'
'Then who is?'
The lights in the shop started to dim, and hidden speakers in the corners of the room began to play extremely loud orchestral music. A spotlight shone on the staircase to the residential half of the shop. A (AN: very sexy) man wearing a shimmering butter-yellow shirt with a slit showing a white shirt underneath, and tight black pants. 'Oh, my beautiful Tohru-kun, lucky Kyo! What a pleasure it is to act as your guardian!'
Tohru could see how hard Kyo was trying to hold in his anger. He was really, really, pissed because of his new guardian. Too bad he had to let it out.
'Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!' screamed Kyo at the top of his lungs, causing Mine to leave the room in distaste.
'So Tohru, Kyo, let's discuss what it means for you to be my little children.
'It means that you will treat me as if I am your father. Which of course, I will be.'
Tohru started to cry. 'Why...'
'Look what you did now, damn hebi! You made Tohru cry! First day, and it's all hell!'
'No, Ayame-san, it's not you, it's just... it's just... I never really knew my father... and then my mother...'
Tohru got up. 'I'm going to go clean up.'
'Tohru...'
'Kyo!' said Ayame, once Tohru left, 'Obviously Tohru-kun has had a very hard, stressful day. Maybe we should go out and do something fun with her.'
Kyo looked at the hebi warily. 'Okay, you, nothing perverted, or I swear I will kill you until you die!'
'Fine, fine, lucky Kyo. You may have Tohru-kun all to yourself. Just don't do anything perverted...'
'Damn hebi! I'm NOT a perv like you! I just want to...'
'What do you want to do?' asked Tohru, back from the restroom.
'Yes, Kyo, tell Tohru what you want to do with her.'
'SHUT THE HELL UP!!!'
'Oh, yes, Tohru, Kyo has been telling me everything about you two. I seriously had know idea what teens these days do with each other...'
Tohru blushed profusely. 'Kyo? What did you tell him?'
'I didn't tell him anything, Tohru!'
'Oh, so you two DO do things together!'
'Not THAT kind of thing!'
'Well, lucky Kyo, remember what we BOTH were going to do with Tohru-kun?'
'You perv! A threesome?!?'
'So you want only me to do it with Tohru?'
'That's not what I meant!'
Tohru interrupted nervously. 'Excuse me, Ayame-san, what were you two going to... do with me?'
'Oh, before Kyo came in with his perverted thoughts, we were talking about taking you out somewhere.'
'Ayame-san, that would be too generous of you! I can't!'
'Come on, Tohru-kun, I'll be there to protect you from the pervy neko beast!'
'I AM NOT A PERVERT!'
'In denial.' Ayame shook his head at Tohru. 'Well, Kyonkichi, you can either go with me and Tohru or stay at the shop with Mine. The choice is yours.'
'I think... I'll go with you. For Tohru's sake.'
'Well, then, we're off!' yelled Ayame.
'We're inside.'
'So let's go wait, outside!' Ayame pulled the two teenagers out by the curb, where Ayame's new car was waiting.
'You passed the test?'
'Let's say I passed *through* the test.' Ayame said, winking at Kyo, which confused Tohru.
It took Kyo a little while to realize what Ayame was saying. 'You didn't! That is not right...'
'Well, let's be off, then!' Ayame jumped into the front seat while Tohru headed for the back. Kyo almost called shotgun, but hesitated and sat in the back with Tohru. Ayame smiled.
Ayame and the two teens drove off into the evening in Ayame's new red Jaguar.

'Wow, Ayame-san, your car is so nice!' said Tohru, as she and Kyo settled into the back seat. 'It's so... fancy!'

Kyo liked the car, too, but he'd never tell Ayame. Then he would start to think Kyo liked him, too. 'It's all right...' he said.

'Oh, you are much right, Tohru-kun! I got it from an old friend of mine from high school. She was desperate to get me back, but all I wanted was the car.'

'So you just took the car from some poor woman?' Kyo asked, 'And you can still call yourself an honest man after that?'

'Who says I call myself an honest man?' asked Ayame. 'I prefer to live dangerously.

'Well, Tohru, Kyo, let's head off to Gure-san's house!'

'Why Shigure's house?' said Kyo, speed lines dragging down his face, 'I thought we were going somewhere fun!'

'Patience, Kyonkichi. We are going to pick up a certain... thing of mine that Gure borrowed from me.'

'What is it?' asked Kyo, apprehensive.

'Can't say in front of you two children.'

'Do you always have to do that? Always...?'

'Okay, lucky Kyo, enough chatter.' Ayame started the car. 'And we're off!' He put it in drive and pushed down the accelerator. The car screeched loudly, and raced down the street at 20 miles over the speed limit.

'Don't you know how to drive, damn hebi?!? You're gonna get us all killed!!!'

'Don't worry! I know exactly what I'm doing! You just wait.' Ayame sang as he raced down the street.

'WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!? THE COPS ARE GONNA BE ALL OVER US IN A FEW MINUTES!!!' Kyo screamed.

'Kyon, just listen to me, we're almost there!'

By then, they were the only people on the road. Everyone else had pulled over to save themselves. 'Ayame-san... someone is probably going to call the police...'

'Don't worry, Tohru-kun, just one more turn!'

Ayame screeched down the road and stopped just in time. The car came to a halt barely two centimeters in front of the gate to their property. The three stepped out of the car. 'Okay, Kyon, you stay here with Tohru while I go pick it up.'

'Heck no, there could be perverts out at this time of night.' said Kyo, but what he was really thinking was *I have to see what he's picking up!*

'You wouldn't leave Tohru-kun by herself here, would you?'

'It's okay, Ayame, I can come with you!'

'Okay, so we're headed off to the house!'

They walked down the mountain trail for a few minutes when Ayame stopped. 'I hear something... it's coming from the house. It sounds like music...'

'I don't hear anything.' said Kyo. 'Stop lying, hebi.'

'Maybe it's snake senses? Can snakes hear well?'

'Oh yes, it seems Tohru-kun is the bright one (besides myself, of course) in this company.'

'Shut up, hebi.' muttered Kyo.

As the three approached the house, the music grew louder. Finally, when they were at the front step, it was blasting hard and loud into their ears. They could hear talking, and people laughing, and sounds that Tohru couldn't recognize, but Kyo could from movies, and Ayame from experience.

*What the hell is going on in there?* thought Kyo and Tohru, though Tohru obviously didn't think the word 'hell'.

'Well, there's only one way to find out!' said Ayame, and pranced into the house.

'Shit.' Kyo threw his head down. 'What the hell are we going to do?'

'About what?'

'About everything, Tohru! Our driver's gone into that madhouse, and Kami-sama knows what's going on in there! And where's Shigure if HE's not there!'

'Why don't we just go in and get Ayame-san?'

'Tohru, you are so naive... do you have any idea what could be in that house?'

'Huh? It sounds like a party.'

'Tohru, have you ever BEEN to a party your whole life?'

'Yes, I went to Uo and Hana's birthdays, and a swim party with Yuki!'

'Those aren't the same. Trust me, Tohru, you DO NOT want to go in there.

Kyo slumped against a tree. *Who's hosting it? Is there booze? Am I overreacting? Would Tohru...* Kyo thought, without even noticing Tohru open the door. He got up. 'Tohru, I'll go in there. You just stay out here and wait while I get the damn hebi.'

He waited for the 'Jai' that he knew would come, but he didn't hear it. 'Tohru?'

He looked at where Tohru had sat down, and noticed it was empty. 'SHIT!' he yelled at the top of his lungs, and he heard the people in the house stop talking and moving to crowd around the window. He got out of the way before anyone could see him, and everyone got moving again. Kyo pulled open the door and stomped in.

He saw Tohru, who was talking to Haru. *Damn it, too late!* He rushed over to her. 'Tohru!'

'Oh, hey Kyo! So, you came in, finally? This is Haru's party. He told me all about it.' Haru nodded as Tohru spoke.

'Great to see ya, neko. So you heard about the party?'

'Come on, Tohru, let's get Ayame and get out of here!'

'Hey, Tohru, don't go, I was having a great time with you and Kyo!'

Kyo grabbed Tohru's arm and pushed her toward the door. 'I'll get the hebi, and then we'll leave, before Haru goes black.'

'Too late for that, Kyo.' Haru smiled at him evil-ishly. It's time for the cat to say goodbye to his girlfriend.'

Haru grabbed a clock off the fireplace mantel and threw it at Kyo. 'Catch, neko!'

Kyo ducked just in time. 'You asshole! I'M GONNA KILL YOU!!!'

'That's all you can say, isn't it? WELL, JUST SHUT UP, CUZ I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOU WHINING ANYMORE!' Haru blocked a few quick punches from Kyo, and threw him a hard one in the face.

Kyo looked surprised. 'So the cow can hit me? IT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN AGAIN!!!' Kyo grabbed a chair from the breakfast table and ran at Haru, who was knocked over from the impact. Haru bled from a fresh cut on his shoulder bone.

'You're gonna pay, neko, you're gonna pay real good!' Haru slumped to the ground and closed his eyes.'

Everyone in the room turned to look at Kyo. 'Murderer...' someone whispered. Then louder: 'Murderer...' Soon, it was up to a chant. 'Murder-er! Murder-er! MURDER-ER!' Kyo turned away from Haru to look at the crowd and that's when Haru got up, sneakily walked up behind Kyo, and kicked him in the back of the knees as hard as he could.

Kyo fell to the floor, and tried to deal with the humiliation. The pain was throbbing horribly, but now everyone would remember that the cow had brought down the cat. And they would laugh. He hoped that the injury wouldn't affect him, hoped that he and Tohru could still...

Kyo straightened up. 'Tohru! Where is she?'

Haru, who had luckily (for himself) turned back to white, said, 'She's upstairs.'
'Tohru!' screamed Kyo. 'Where the hell are you?' He stomped up the stairs, muttering, 'stupid cow, damn snake...'
Kyo pulled open the doors of his former bedroom to find a couple on the bed that luckily for him did not contain Tohru. 'Get the fuck out of my room!'
Shigure and a red-haired woman quickly pulled on some clothes and ran out. 'Kyoooooo!!!! Why me?' called Shigure.
*He's home? Why the hell is he letting Haru have a PARTY in the house?* thought Kyo, as he headed to Yuki's room.
The door was locked, but that alone couldn't stop Kyo. He kicked the door down. Yuki was on his laptop, looking at some pictures. He closed it before Kyo could see what he was doing.
'What are you doing here, baka neko? I thought you were dead! Shigure told me you were dead!'
'I think the question is what are YOU doing! And what have you done with Tohru?' Kyo grabbed Yuki's laptop and opened it.
'You sure are a pervert, kuso nezumi! I never even catch Shigure doing that!'
'At least I'm not busy trying to get Honda-kun in bed with me.'
'Where the hell did you get that from?'
'You're looking for her, so obviously you want something from her. And you never catch Shigure because you're too scared of him to get near enough.'
'Hey! It's not bad to have a healthy fear of maniacs!'
'Whatever.' Yuki grabbed his laptop back and started to type in a new website. 'Get out, baka. Go find your girlfriend.'
Kyo stormed out of Yuki's now doorless room, and headed to the last room upstairs. Tohru's bedroom.
He clasped the knob and turned. He was shocked by the sight he saw, so much he couldn't even curse.
TOHRU AND AYAME WERE ON THE BED TOGETHER!!! Ayame was moving closer to Tohru, and she was backing off. The hebi would occasionally shout a few mumbled, disconnected words before resuming to head towards Tohru.
'How much have you been drinking, hebi? Get away from her!'
As if spurred on by Kyo's words, Ayame grabbed Tohru's head and forced her lips onto his. In his moment of temporary insanity, he grabbed Tohru and transformed.
Tohru sighed with relief. 'I was so scared... Kyo... what if he really had...?'
'I think he's been drinking.'
'My mother once said that too much could turn even the most respectable man into a demon, and she was right... I never dreamed that Ayame-san would do such a thing!'
'Well, just leave him here, and we'll think about how to get back WITHOUT letting him drive. Kami-sama knows his driving is bad enough when he's sober.'
*10 minutes later*
'Damn it, it's been ten minutes and I STILL can't think of anything. We can't sleep in the woods or the car, we can't walk back, not at this time of night, and we sure can't stay awake through the rest of the party either. There's only one solution, which is not really a solution at all. It's...'
'That we could spend the night here?'
'Yeah. Ya see, that's not gonna work. There's no way. If we go to our rooms, .... 'someone's bound to find me... or you alone.'
'Well we could sleep together, Kyo-kun, couldn't we?'
Something in Kyo's body was telling to say yes, a part of him that he couldn't control, his inner beast. But everything in his mind and heart was screaming 'No!'
*There's no way she really means it... not that way... if she does, though, she'll be hurt if I say no... However, if I say yes, she'll think I'm trying to take advantage of her naiveté. What if this is a test? What if I say the wrong answer? Will she ever forgive me?'*
Kyo's beast finally clawed up through his throat. 'Yeah Tohru, that'd be great.'
Tohru's face lit up. 'Okay Kyo-kun! I think most of my clothes are still here, and yours too, I bet.'
'Yeah, Shigure never bothers to clean, and neither does that damn rat.'
Kyo walked to his room and opened the chest of clothes that used to be his. 'SHIGURE!!!!' he screamed. 'What the hell have you done this time?!?'
The chest was filled with lingerie, obviously Shigure and his new lady friend were getting closer, and using Kyo's room as their 'love nest' as Shigure himself applied to other situations.
The strange thing, however, was that it all seemed too small for the woman Shigure was with. Even stranger, all of it was unused and still had tags on. Kyo dug around, slightly embarrassed, checking if any clothes of his were still in there. He felt a slip of paper. It was a delivery receipt, addressed to Yuki Sohma.
*What is Yuki doing with a box full of lingerie? Does he have a girlfriend?* Kyo thought.
Kyo walked back to Yuki's room and just walked in, seeing as there was no longer a door.
'What do you want, neko? You change your mind?' Yuki turned the laptop toward Kyo.
'No, you gay rat, what are you doing with that box of... ladies' stuff... in my room?!?'
Yuki turned a bright shade of pink. 'That's none of your business.'
Kyo laughed. 'I bet you're wearing it, kuso nezumi. Always wished you could be a girl. Too bad you can't get enough money...'
'They're for Honda-kun, baka neko!' Yuki looked surprised at his own words and covered his mouth. 'Kami-sama... I didn't say that, did I?'
Kyo was shocked. 'You're saying... saying that those were just waiting in there... for her to come back?'
'I told you, baka, it's none of your damn business!' Yuki grabbed a lamp, ready to throw it at Kyo. 'By the way, I know where all your clothes are. And what you and Honda-kun are going to do tonight!
'She was mine, Kyo, I had her there, and then you took her away from me! She wants what you have, Kyo. So I have to have what you have, only a thousand times better! That's why I'm looking up all this crap on the Internet! I have the one friggin' thing you don't have for Tohru.' Yuki took a panting breath.
'I love Miss Honda, and you only want her body.'

***

`I love Tohru-kun.' Kyo couldn't get it out of his head. `You only want…'

`SHUT THE HELL UP!' panted Kyo. `You don't know anything about her!'

`Oh, I know about you two. I know. So you, just take these and go. And take all of the pain with you.' Yuki thrust Kyo's camouflage pajamas at him (AN: He wears them in volume 9 of the manga).

Kyo looked into Yuki's eyes and saw the soul of a man who had lost true love to someone close to him. He almost felt bad, until he convinced himself it was a façade. The rat could never love Tohru, he was incapable of feeling. The rat was just as his zodiac animal, cold and deceptive.

However, the sorrowful look on Yuki's face made even the hot-tempered Kyo leave the room out of sympathy.

***

When Kyo walked into Tohru's room, she was wearing pajamas he'd never seen her in before. The top was a tight black tank with a picture of a bored-looking orange cat on it. In small white font under the cat, it read, `Whatever.' (AN: Ya it's little-girly but Tohru does sort of act like one)

The shorts were what really caught Kyo's attention, though. They were printed with the animals of the zodiac, all but the cat. That really got to him.

Tohru noticed that Kyo was staring at her and blushed. `Kyo, you're making me feel funny.'

Kyo laughed and punched Tohru's arm lightly, `Hey, don't make me out to be a perv like Shigure. I'm just looking at those pajamas. Are they new?'

`I don't know! They were just in with my things, and they looked cute, so I tried them on. Do they look okay on me?' Tohru blushed. `Do they make me look funny?'

`No, they look great on you.'

'Arigato, Kyo-kun.' Tohru's face turned bright as a tomato.

Tohru and Kyo stood there for a moment, at opposite sides of the bed, staring at each other.

Tohru wasn't dull enough not to notice the lust in Kyo's eyes. She could tell that he wanted something with a burning passion, and weakly tried to convince herself that she was not what consumed his soul with fire.

Kyo wasn't an idiot, either. He knew that if he didn't say something soon, Tohru would figure out his feelings for her. 'Uh, Tohru...'

'What is it, Kyo-kun?'

'I think... I think I'll sleep on the floor.'

Kyo saw relief rush through Tohru's body and knew he had done the right thing. She still wasn't comfortable with him. He wasn't sure if she ever would be.

Kyo grabbed some linens and a mat out of the closet and spread them out next to the bed. He propped his head up on the pillow and sank into a dream of the woman he loved...

'Kyo-kun?' Tohru whispered softly. 'Are you asleep already?'

Kyo subconsciously heard her voice and reached for her, but she pulled away. 'I guess so...'

Tohru walked to the door and shut it. She climbed under the covers, but couldn't sleep. She was too busy thinking of her life, of the events that just came at her at lightning speed.

She was about to grab a book when she heard a faint noise in the woods. She opened the window, and it grew slightly louder. It was a beautiful, yet haunting melody. It took Tohru all her power to keep listening, all her heart not to break out weeping. She had to go to it.

She slipped out from under the sheets and took a quick glance at Kyo. He was still sleeping like a log. She creaked open the door, and sneaked out of the room.

Tohru crept her way down the stairs, and saw various people lying about on the floor and the furniture. She was careful not to trip on Haru as she opened the front door.

The noise outside had definitely gotten softer. Tohru had to fully strain her ears to hear it. It was coming from the edge of the property. She would have to walk about a half mile to get there.

*This is insane*

Tohru took a few steps.

*Why am I doing this? Who knows what could be out here at this time of night?*

Tohru sped up to a fast walk.

*I have to hear it, but at what price? What if it's a ghost or a yasha...*

Tohru sped into a moderately fast jog, looking behind her every few steps. The music grew louder.

*What if I die listening to this?!?*

Tohru started to run with all the force she could muster, and ran straight into a small pond.

There was a small pop, and the music stopped. There was a violin floating in the middle of the lake, with a small creature that Tohru didn't recognize balancing on it.

*It's a demon... it's here to destroy me...*

Just then, the creature on the violin spoke. 'Miss Honda?'

'Yuki-kun? What are you doing here?'

'I could ask the same myself, Honda-san.

'You see, whenever I'm feeling sad, I come to this pond and play the violin to the moon.'

'I never knew you could...'

POP! A cloud of purple smoke appeared and Yuki sank into the pond, which thankfully (for Tohru) covered most of his lower body.

'Honda-san, did you by any chance happen to see...'

'No! I didn't see anything!' Tohru blushed ferociously.

'...where my clothes went?'

Tohru turned even brighter. 'They must have fallen into the pond...'

Yuki sighed. *Great. First she sees me as a rat floating on a violin, and now I'm diving around nude in a pond looking for my clothes.*

*I must be embarrassing Yuki, seeing him like this... but what did he mean by when he's feeling sad, he comes here?*

Yuki came up for air, carrying his pants. 'I found them, Miss Honda.'

'Okay... I guess... I guess I'll just go into the woods while you put them on...' Tohru stumbled off into a thicket as Yuki desperately tried to wring out his pants, and in desperation, he simply put them on soaking wet.

'You can come back, Honda-san, I'm done.'

Tohru walked back into the pond's clearing and proceeded to turn red again. 'Did you find your shirt, Yuki-kun?'

Yuki's voice came again, but with a worried tone. 'Does it seriously bother you, Miss Honda?'

'Nnn..No, Yuki-kun, gomen if it sounded that way...' In fact, Tohru couldn't keep her eyes off Yuki. He was sitting there with no shirt, his wet pants clinging to him in places Tohru couldn't help but looking at, no matter how hard she tried to avoid it.

'Have a seat, Honda-san.' Yuki pointed to a rock directly across from the one he was sitting on. Tohru collapsed onto it with more force than you would want to collapse onto a rock with.

Yuki rushed to her. 'Miss Honda, are you okay?'

Tohru sat up straight, though she was feeling slightly dizzy. 'Thank you, Yuk... I'm... fine...'

He sat down next to her. 'You can tell me what you're feeling, Honda-san. I don't think it should make you uncomfortable. I want to know what you're thinking right now. It would make me very happy.'

Tohru shifted uncomfortably in her rock chair. She wasn't ready to tell Yuki her feelings, not yet. She needed something to say, something that would clue him in but not shock him.

'You...'

Yuki looked both surprised and expectant at the word. Maybe he knew she was desperately in love with him? Maybe he loved her, too.

'Yuki... I wouldn't care... if you just called me by my given name...'

She froze and looked at his face. She had tossed a bomb. There was only surprise in Yuki's eyes, and a hint of relief.

'Toh... Miss Honda... are you sure?'

She looked at him with worry and pain. 'Would it make you happy, Yuki-kun?'

Yuki smiled, a sad half-grin. 'All the happiness in my heart has already been stolen away.'

That shocked Tohru. 'Are you... married? Do you have a girlfriend?'

Yuki snorted. 'I wish. The one girl I've ever loved was taken away from me by someone I hate.'

Realization dawned on Tohru's face. *It can't be me! Yuki can't possibly like ME! But what does he mean, Kyo stole me?* Tohru remembered the lust she saw in Kyo's eyes earlier that night and it clicked.

'Demo, Yuki-kun...'

'Please don't remind me, Honda-san. I'm happy for you... that you finally found someone you love... someone who can fill your heart with pleasure...'

'Listen, please, Yuki... I don't want to hurt you... or Kyo... I'm not his wife... or his girlfriend... or anything...'

Yuki looked up. 'I'm sorry, Miss Honda... I'm a rotten person. I'm sorry for myself. Sorry that you don't love me... the same way as I do you...'

Tohru took a deep breath, and decided she was going to do it. 'Yuki-kun, I'm sure I love you more... than I've ever loved anything else my whole life.' She scooted closer to him and moved her head towards him, but didn't have the courage to start.

The two sat there for an awkward moment, both staring into each other's eyes, until Yuki grabbed Tohru's shoulders and pulled her into a gentle kiss.

She was startled for a second, but quickly snapped out of it, enjoying the feeling of Yuki's soft tongue caressing hers. She tried to remember her dreams, the one with Yuki, the ones with Kyo as well. They were full of moments like this, but the dream Tohru wasn't afraid to reciprocate. She was strong, and unyielding.

Tohru began to move faster, twisting her tongue with his, and the two became involved in a silent, passionate dance. As Tohru moved, Yuki's tongue chased hers until they met. It became sort of a game, whenever one of the coupling began to invent a technique, the other would attempt to replicate and revise it, turning even the simplest flick of the tongue into a beautiful choreography, with the most beautiful and talented dancers performing the steps. It was like music, the sound of their happiness, mixed with their panting breath and the sound of night birds and the small insects on the water. The couple was becoming wrapped up in the kiss,

They came to feel like they knew everything about each other, from this one kiss. They learned secrets from the tastes and touches of each others' lips, and began to realize the truth in each of their hearts . A sense of exhilaration came over them, and their movements became more rapid, swirling and turning with the destructive force of a hurricane. What seemed like hours passed by, and not a word was said between them. But such was the power of their kiss that words were unnecessary, they only had to be together, for this one night, this one blissful, joyous night.

After what seemed like hours, Tohru and Yuki were exhausted. The onigiri fell off the rock and simultaneously began to snore peacefully on the ground.

*It's like a melody, her snore.* thought Yuki, smiling. He had no energy left to continue or go further, even if he was the kind of guy to build up a serious relationship in one night. He climbed down onto the ground, soft from the pond, and fell asleep touching Tohru's hair.

***

Tohru stirred, grabbing at the covers as an alarm clock buzzed raucously in her ears. She opened her eyes a crack, and checked the clock. 3 PM!!! She had to make lunch! Tohru bolted out of the futon and tripped over a chair, one of many articles of furniture skewed across the floor.

*Where am I? My room isn't like this, is it?* She glanced around her, analyzing. The stacks of books, computer, and total lack of organization clued her in.

`Why am I in Shigure's room?' She asked aloud. *Of course, silly. Yuki must've moved you into here last night, after...*

Tohru carefully stepped over the furniture and opened the door to Yuki's worried face.

`Tohru-kun, are you all right? I heard someone fall, and thought...'

`Oh, Yuki, I'm so sorry for worrying you. I just tripped over a chair, that's all.'

`That's good. I wouldn't have subjected you to that, but Ayame was in your room, and it wouldn't do for you to stay with me or Kyo...'

Tohru smiled, `You're such a gentleman, Yuki-kun.'

He became slightly uncomfortable, and changed the subject. `Kyo and Nii-san both left the house this morning... would you like me to drive you back to the shop?'

`If it wouldn't interrupt you, please. I don't want Kyo-kun or Ayame-san to wonder if I'm okay, ne?'

`We better get going, then. I don't mean to rush you, but Akito is bound to turn up today, what with the noise from the party and all...'

Tohru's bright smile faded. `I'll get my clothes... then we can leave.' She ran upstairs, changed into a checked skirt and a lacy blue blouse, and quickly dashed back to Yuki. `I'm ready.'

He took her arm and walked her out to his car, a Jeep Cherokee. Not fancy, but a good enough car for its purpose. He turned the key in the ignition and drove, in a quite responsible manner, to his brother's shop.

*One uncomfortably silent car trip later*

The teens stepped out of the car, Yuki obligingly leading Tohru to the door. He pulled the handle, and reflexively contorted his body to protect Tohru from his brother. Quite unnecessary, seeing as she was living in the man's shop.

The elaborately carved door opened, and the two were `welcomed' by an angry, fuming Kyo.

`WHATTHEHELLYOUTWOWEREYOUDOINGWHERETHEHELLLASTNIGHTDAMNYOUSONSOFB ITCHESYOUAREGOINGTOEFFINGPAYFORTHIS!!!' he screamed, his face scarlet with fury.

`Kyo, be rational. Could you please speak to poor Tohru-kun here in a more civilized manner.'

`I don't need your crap, nezumi.' Said Kyo, although he did follow Yuki's instruction. `Where were you and Tohru last night, and what were you doing?!?'

Tohru looked as if she were about over the edge, so Yuki answered. `Tohru simply went outside, after hearing my midnight violin concert, and after we encountered each other, I escorted her up to the house, and let her sleep on the futon in Shigure's room.'

Kyo thought for a moment, but couldn't find too much at fault with the story, which he was sure was a lie. However, he also couldn't attack Yuki, or Tohru would be sad. Finally, he settled for fuming quietly. After all, he WOULD find out what happened eventually, and Yuki would pay!

 

 

 

Chapter 10- Girl Talk

(AN: This is a short chapter that leads up to Kyoru in the next one.)

`Come now, don't be so glum!' Ayame grabbed Kyo's face and laughed. `Didn't your little girlfriend there just arrive back home? It's a time for celebration! For joyous song and merry dance!'

Kyo slapped Ayame's shoulder and stormed away. `DAMN HEBI! Why do you ALWAYS ruin my life?!?'

Tohru's face got a bit paler. `But Kyo-san... wait!' Too bad for her he was already out the front door.

`Tohru-chan?' called out a soft voice.

`Mine-san?'

`Is something wrong?'

`It's about... about Kyo-kun and Yuki-kun...'

`I think I understand. Do you want to talk a bit?' Asked Mine, and Tohru nodded in response.

`Aya-chaaaan could you please leave me and Tohru-kun for a minute sir?'

`Aw... and miss the talk? Why, that is much to ask of me!' However, Ayame respected the women and left the room anyways.

`So, Tohru-kun,' started Mine, after Aya's departure, `What exactly is this boy problem you've been having?'

`It's really complicated.. You see, I think I'm in love with Yuki-kun... but I'm breaking Kyo-san's heart... he was so happy last night, before... well... but now his anger problems are back, and he's cursing like a sailor again...'

`Sounds like you have a real dilemma on your hands.'

`I don't know who to choose. If I run to Yuki, Kyo will suffer. But if I go with Kyo, Yuki is bound to do something drastic...'

`Just go with your heart, Tohru. Do what it tells you, and you'll be fine.'

`But I'm not sure what it's saying!' Tohru slammed her fists on the table. `I know any choice I make will kill the other.

`Oh, Kami-sama, how I love them both!'

`Tohru. If you won't listen, nothing good will happen. I guarantee.

`I suggest you try going out with both of them and choose afterwards. That way you won't alienate either one as much. Anyways, men are much less fragile than you think, Tohru-kun.' And with those parting words, she left the table.

 

Mine had managed to reserve a spot for the coupling in a slightly upscale seafood restaurant downtown. Tohru was sitting in the back of Ayame's Jaguar, waiting for Kyo. She was wearing a short, butter-yellow dress and a fancy pearl necklace she borrowed from Ayame, and nice silver earrings that Mine loaned her. She looked extremely nervous, turning her eyes here and there, expecting Kyo to show up at any second. It was 6 `o clock, and he was supposed to be here by now...

***

`Kuso hebi... Kuso nezumi...

`Kami-sama, what am I gonna wear?' All that Ayame had in the closet were his women's `designs' and the clothes the tailor always wore, which Kyo refused to even try on. After a bit of frantic digging, he found a pair of dress pants similar to those Ayame had worn last night, but they felt even tighter on him than they looked on the older man. He pulled on a blue striped shirt and tie he had pulled off a mannequin, and took off running for the car.

`Good luck.' Said Mine, as he passed her.

`Thanks,' replied Kyo. He was going to need a lot of luck to get through this day.

He stepped out he door, with just a bit of reluctance in his step. The Jaguar's window rolled down and Ayame called out, `Kyonkiiiii-chi!!!' trilled Ayame, `What took you so long, were you...?'

Kyo blushed profusely. `It wasn't THAT, you pervert!' he raged, `It's just so damn hard to find a decent set of clothes around here!'

`Really,' chuckled Ayame to himself.

Kyo looked at Tohru in the backseat, in all her calm, shy, innocent glory. How could she stand Ayame? In fact, why did she put up with him either? Did he really deserve a woman such as Tohru? *I'll make myself worthy.* determined Kyo. *I'll show her why we're meant for each other.*

They arrived at the restaurant, called Nan Tz Han Gao Wan (AN: my little perverted joke, if you know Chinese), a pleasant place with a large courtyard, a fountain musically gurgling and bubbling in the background. Several people dressed in festive garb chatted as the crisp breeze blew around them, swishing women's dresses and pushing young men's hair into their eyes.

`This is really nice, Kyo-kun!' gushed Tohru, staring wide-eyed at the elegant restaurant before them.

`Remind me to thank Kuramae-san when we get back.' Said Kyo, smiling.

`Oh, I certainly will!'

They walked to the greeter, who guided them to a nice table overlooking the courtyard. It had a centerpiece of fresh monthly roses and snowblossom, which gave off a distinct fragrance smelling somewhat of a pleasant summer garden. Two white candles added to the overall romantic ambiance of the setting.

`Your waiter will be here shortly.' The greeter confirmed, `But in the meantime, would you like anything to drink?'

`I'll just have some water, please.' Tohru replied politely.

`And what for you, sir?'

`Hmmm... any specials tonight?'

`The Firecracker Dragon. It's a...'

`I'll take it.'

`But sir...' Kyo cut her off with a sharp glare.

`I'm sorry sir. May I please see your I.D.?' Kyo lazily handed her his driver's license.

`I apologize, sir, but you must be 21 years of age to order that.'

`Why? Whatever... just get me some water then.'

`Thank you, sir and ma'am.' She left with her nose upturned.

`Um...Tohru?'

`What is it, Kyo-kun?'

`Could you watch the table for me? I have to go to the restroom.'

`I'll guard it with pride and power!' Tohru said determinedly.

As Kyo walked through the maze of tables and waiters, he heard a familiar voice.

`I realize that, Miss Hyobanshi. In fact, I am quite knowledgeable in the veterinary field, and could possible come over tomorrow and give little Jima-Jima a check-up...'

`Hatori?'

The doctor looked startled. `Kyo? What is your business here tonight?'

`I could ask the same of you.'

`I am meeting a client, Hyobanshi Ukita.' A young woman, perhaps in her mid-twenties, with curly blonde hair nodded, smiling.

`And you, Kyo-san?'

`On a date.'

`With who?'

`Tohru.'

`Oh, Tohru-kun. Kyo, make sure to treat her carefully. She's been through a lot, and doesn't need any more stress put on her.'

`I know!' snapped Kyo, losing his temper.

`None of that, Kyo. It's not very becoming, and certainly won't please Tohru.'

`Yeah, I know. It's just SO HARD to control myself... like I still have a little of the cat's spirit left in me.'

`What!?!' Hatori's calm demeanor slipped away.

`Calm down, I'll explain.' Kyo outlined to Hatori almost everything that had happened since he disappeared to their arrival at Ayame's, leaving out the party and a few more personal details. `And then Kuramae-san set us up for a date here, and that's how it happened.'

`So there is hope for the Twelve...' muttered Hatori.

`Oh crap, Tohru!' Kyo ran quickly back to the table. Tohru had her hands clasped and her eyes turned to the ceiling in anxiety. She saw Kyo's face and hers lit up with a bright smile.

`Kyo-kun! You're back!'

`Yeah. Has the waiter come yet?'

`Mmmm... Kyo-kun? I hope you don't mind, but I ordered for us already.'

`I'm sure it'll taste great.'

`Okay...' Tohru looked doubtful. `Well, Kyo-kun, how was your day with Ayame-san?'

`Umm...' Kyo thought about what to say. `It was pretty nice. He showed me some of his designs... and they're not all that bad.'

`Did he show you `The Thing'?'

`No... he didn't.'

`Oh, it was the prettiest dress!'

`I'll have to see it sometime, then.'

`Maybe... oh, Kyo-kun! Our food's here!' The waiter was approaching them with a large silver tray, expertly balanced on one hand.

`The Salmon with Butter Sauce and Asparagus?'

`That's Kyo's.' said Tohru cheerfully, smiling as she saw the neko's mouth water.

`And the Baby Shrimp Salad must be yours, miss.' The waiter set down both plates. `May I get you anything else?'

`That'll be all, thanks.' Said Kyo, waving the waiter away.

The two ate in silence for a few minutes, until Kyo spoke up, `So how's your food?'

`It's wonderful! I've never tasted food this good before!'

`Mine's awesome, too. How'd you know what to order?'

Tohru blushed, `I make salmon all the time for you, but I thought you'd like some that's better tasting.'

`Yours is great, too.'

`Ari-arigato!' Tohru thanked him embarrassedly.

`So did your mom teach you how to cook?'

`Oh yes! She would...'