The Cats' Love

The Cats' Love

It was raining outside. As Kyo Sohma, 'The Cat', lay in bed, hands behind his head, he listened to the voice of Tohru Honda, hurrying into the night to collect the laundry she had left out to dry. He wasn't sure what she was saying, but he recognized her sweet voice, talking to herself in that dopey way that she had. Kyo couldn't help but smile when he thought about her.

She was his everything. She was like a lullaby that helped him sleep. His dreams were filled with her love, his nightmares full of life without her. He yearned for the day she realized just how much he loved her. Kyo sighed. This was all a dream, just a dream.

Kyo rolled over on his side, propping up his head with his hand. He closed his eyes and imagined that she was with him. He held her hands, he ran his fingers through her hair, and he kissed her tenderly. He opened his eyes, and she was gone.

He rolled out of bed, rubbing his tired eyes. He had to see her. And he had to see her. And he had to see her now. He tried standing up, but the weather was taking its toll on Kyos' body. His legs felt weak and he could barely keep his eyes open. Somehow he found the strength to go on.

He dragged himself to the door, his face creased with pain. He reached out a hand and tried to turn the door knob. He just couldn't seem to turn it. It was either the rain or maybe he was just tired. Using both hands he focused on the handle and finally managed to turn it.

Exhausted already, he staggered out the door. He had no idea how he would make it upstairs to Tohru's room. He had taken a few steps before realizing he didn't have to. She was outside.

Kyo was only wearing his trousers, but that wasn't the reason behind his shivers. This was really happening. After two years, he could really tell her how he felt. Breathing deeply, he stumbled out the door, into the rain.

Tohru was standing in the rain. She had recovered the washing, but was mesmerized by the night sky. The beautiful deep blue sky was littered with stars occasionally it was ripped apart by bright flashes of lightening.

She thought back to when her mother was alive. There had been a storm just like this. Tohru had been scared. Well, she had been little. Her short nightdress was soaking wet and sticking to her, giving her no warmth. She snapped out of her goofy trance, shivered, and turned to go back inside.

She stopped in her tracks. A figure was staggering towards her in the rain, head drooping. The small walk from the house to the garden was obviously causing him a lot of pain. The figure abruptly stopped. He slumped over, kneeling in the mud. Tohru gasped.

"Kyo-kun!" she cried.

She ran over to him, gasping for breath. He looked up at her, his eyes wet with tears and rain. He reached up to her shoulders and gently pulled her down to her knees in front of him. He had to talk to her face to face.

"Tohru, I need…to tell you something." He gasped, his teeth gritted with effort. Tohru nearly cried. He was putting himself in such pain, all for her. She felt her heart beating fast.

"Kyo-kun! You need to get back into the hou…" she started. He put a hand over her mouth, and then he stroked it across her cheek tenderly.

"Please!" he whispered irritably. He loved her deeply, but she could be a real pain in the ass! He looked up at her face. Her sweet, beautiful face filled him with bliss whenever he saw it. He ran his fingers through her long, auburn hair.

"You have sat by me…when no one else…would." He said, straining with the effort. "You want to listen…to all my troubles. But wouldn't ever…think about burdening anyone…with yours. You cry…when I am ill. You smile…when I smile." he stopped breathing heavily.

"Kyo-kun! Please don't hurt yourself!" she whispered fretfully. She wished she was brave enough to take his hands for comfort, for herself if not for him. Kyo was determined to carry on.

"I want…to have the strength…to do all that…for you. I want to…protect you...when you're being hurt. I want to comfort you…when you cry. I want more than anything else." He had to stop, bowing his head. He couldn't go on right away. He was running out of energy. Damn rain he thought.

"Kyo-kun!" Tohru started desperately. He put his arms loosely around her neck, but not enough for him to transform. Tohru felt a shiver run down her spine. She had never seen Kyo act like this. It scared her. What was she going to say to him? He interrupted her trail of thoughts by continuing his confession.

"More than anything…I want you to love me…as much as I desperately love you." He gasped. Tears slipped down his cheeks. After all this time …he had finally said it. All the times he had looked at her goofy happy-go-lucky smile. All the times she had calmed him, comforted him. All those times…and she finally knew! Now that the rain had stopped, Kyo seemed to find more strength.

"I love you with every fibre of my being. It's not enough for me to be the one who shares a home with you! I want to be the one who gets to hold you close and never let go. I want to be the one who gets to be with you for the rest of your life. The one who you love the most…" Kyo stopped again, his voice trailing away. Tears were running freely down Tohru's cheeks. Kyo shuddered.

"I made you…cry." He stated. He wiped a tear away with the back of his hand. She savored his touch, knowing after what she was about to say, she would never feel it ever again. She put her hands against his bare chest feeling his breath. She looked up at his face to see the love and concern in his eyes.

"Kyo-kun, I…I…really care about you. But…" she started to cry again. She took his hand in hers, "Yuki-kun…"

That was enough. Kyo understood. He wrenched his hands away in disgust, looking at her maliciously. He shook his head in shock. The sensation of his heart tearing in two was too much. He had figuratively, given his heart to her on a silver platter, and what had she done with it? Tossed it aside because it wasn't as good as that damn Yuki's! That rat really pissed him off. Now though, it was deeper than that. He didn't just hate Yuki. Now, he loathed him.

Kyo stood up. He looked down at Tohru. She sat there shivering, her arms wrapped around her waist for warmth and comfort. She looked up at him with pleaing brown eyes. He held her gaze for what seemed like a lifetime, until he could face her no longer. He turned and ran back inside the house, leaving Tohru alone in the dark and the cold.

Kyo collapsed on the porch just out of Tohru's sight. He crouched low, slamming his fists on the wood, leaving fist-shaped holes. He let out an anguished scream, clutching at his bleeding knuckles. How could she? How dare she? I love her! I love her…

"If you're going to throw another tantrum, could you at least do it when people aren't trying to sleep?" said a voice from inside the house. Kyo stood up stiffly to face Yuki. He said nothing. Yuki stood there, rubbing his tired eyes. He would have been a lot drowsier, had he not been awake for several hours. He suddenly became aware of the fact that Tohru wasn't with him.

"What have you done to Honda-san?" he asked accusingly, "Trust the cat to have been as rash as ever. Baka neko." He muttered scathingly. This was the last straw. Kyo flung himself at Yuki, pummeling him with a rally of punches.

"You bastard! Try and weasel your way out of this one you damn rat!" spat Kyo, his orange eyes turning red with pure hatred. This rat had to die! Yuki fought him off effortlessly. He delivered one final punch to Kyo's jaw, before the cat finally gave up, panting heavily with rage and exhaustion. Even when his heart had been broken, and he was giving it his all, it wasn't enough. He looked up to see Tohru standing in front of him, broken hearted and soaking wet. Yuki rushed over to her and kissed her forehead. As if adding insult to injury, he gently put his arm around her, leading her inside.

An hour later, Kyo was still sitting on the porch. He laughed to himself. So…he had confessed his love. But the rat had obviously gotten there first. It was too late. He had already lost her.

Don't I deserve to be loved? There must be someone for me. Kyo suddenly realized. She was the one. Tohru. And she's gone. I have nothing left. Nothing…

The room was pure white. The light seeping through the curtains was blindingly bright. Kyo couldn't move his arms or legs. It was an effort to even look around the room. Straining his eyes he turned to see Kagura sitting in the chair next to his bed. Her eyes were red and puffy from where she had been crying. He expected her to be overwhelmed to see him. Too bad he had lost the use of his limbs; he wouldn't be able to protect himself against her.

She reached over and lifted his arms so he could see the bandages wrapped tightly around his wrists.

"Why Kyo? How…?" she stopped. How could she even begin to explain how hurt she was? Kyo looked from Kagura to his wrists. He remembered crying for Tohru, taking out the razor, watching his life slip away. He gazed into Kagura's distressed eyes. He remembered her as well. How she had always been there for him. How she had accepted him when no one else would.

He reached out and stroked her cheek. Struggling, he sat up in bed, so that he could look into her eyes and show that he was sincere. He threw his arms around Kagura. How could he have been so selfish? Kagura was so surprised. He hadn't treated her like this since they were young. Her heart nearly burst with happiness as she squeezed him tightly.

"It's OK Kyo. We can start again. Another chance….."