Hope in Reason

Um…I'm sorry? Don't hate me? Thank you to all the lovely reviews! I read and treasured them all.

This chapter is dedicated to loretta537, who sent me many a pm trying to get me to put this chapter out before next year.

Disclaimer: I don't own.

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Chapter Five

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No, that was improbable. Not only that, but it was downright impossible. The chances of both of them coming, of finding the exact room where she and Haru-

Yuki and Kyo, staring, shocked -no, beyond shocked, beyond any expression she had ever witnessed. And then at last, the rat had uttered a rather quiet "Tohru…?" As if it couldn't possibly be her. Never, not in a million years.

Her mind's processes slowed, freezing every limb, every breath. She couldn't move. Wouldn't dare to move, for fear of finding reality. Haru moved though, pulling his jacket over her exposed body in one swift tug. But his eyes weren't on her -they were on them. Dark, sparking recesses of pure emotion, pure Black, no trace of light to be found.

When Tohru found her breath at last, it was to utter a cry of horror. It had been Kyo who lunged first, but Haru had been the one to make contact -a split of fist against skull. It sent him reeling backwards, nose bloodied and mouth red. Haru smirked in a moment of satisfaction, like an animal protecting its property.

"You know how long I've been waiting to have her again? And then you little shits come barging in." He said, practically growled it.

"Haru!" Tohru exclaimed, dread welling up. No - no no no!

"What…?" Kyo's fists clenched as he bit out every word. He was shaking too. He was horrified, angry. "Again? You bastard -I'll kill you!"

"It wasn't like she didn't enjoy herself."

Tohru shut her eyes tight, scrunched herself under that jacket, trying so hard to disappear. This wasn't happening. How could they find out -how could he say…how could he! Things weren't supposed to be this way. They weren't…

"She was so enjoyab-"

He was cut off, so abruptly that she opened her eyes immediately. He had been knocked back, silenced mid-sentence, but not by Kyo.

"S-Stop! Stop it!" Tohru stood, shouting at them as Yuki stood, leg poised where it had made contact. Haru, even in his Black form, barely stood a chance. The entire room was being torn apart, boxes breaking beneath three tussling boys, splintering from dodged punches and parried kicks. Kyo grabbed him from behind, around the arms; Yuki grabbed Haru's silver chain roughly and pulled him up.

"Why!" He demanded. "You raped her! Why!"

She shook her head. "No-"

"Because." Haru's eyes strayed to Tohru briefly, meeting her confused expression before flickering back up. "Because I could."

No…that's not right. It was my choice. I told him! Her mind screamed, but the words just wouldn't surface.

His wounds had re-opened, every single bandage, every carefully placed patch. His body sagged slightly, giving up some of that fiery resolve. He shut his eyes in submission, all remaining traces of Black draining from his system completely.

"We should get her to see Hatori right away." Yuki said quietly.

Kyo was silent.

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It hurt. Though the strings of her heart were taught, tugging with worry and fear, all that was evaluated on that doctor's table was her physical self. They pitied her. They filled their minds with the lies that Haru had told them, lies that at first confused her, and now made all too much sense. He fabricated a rape scene to save their image of her -of a Tohru who was innocent and perfect and altogether sinless.

Now, she was alone in her room, and she could still feel the sensations of his touch despite. It was proof that the Tohru they envisioned no longer existed.

Thinking back to the conversation she had overheard earlier, it was obvious where they'd taken him.

But what could she do? They would never believe her, even if she told them now. It would be seen as her way to protect him, it would be seen as a lie as well…

Her expression suddenly hardened as some of that fiery spirit returned. She didn't want to be protected anymore. She didn't want to lie, didn't want to cover this up for fear of Kyo, Yuki, or even Akito. Her hands moved deftly among her things, stashing clothes into a backpack with hurried strides. Once, he had come to her when she most needed it. Even now Haru was watching out for her. Always.

Now it was her turn to do something to help him.

And so in the stillness of that sleeping house, Tohru snuck away. Past Shigure's room, slipping by Kyo and Yuki's, where soft sounds of breathing could be heard, she stole away into the night with a only a lone sack as her companion. The weight on her back was heavy, filled unnecessarily with things she was sure she's never need. But it was reassurance. It was the only thing weighting her to this world, speaking in loud, violent hisses…

Go to him!

Her feet hit the ground roughly.

Go!

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CONTINUED

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Incredibly short. Don't kill me. D; For now, this is my peace offering till a bigger chapter can be produced…

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Please?

foxmagic