A/N: I'm sorry I haven't updated in forever. School is a pain. Please accept this chapter as my Xmas present to you. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: My name is not Natsuki Takaya. Don't sue. :(
Chapter Five
Tohru seriously contemplated going home the next day after school. It was the day of Kagura's dinner, a perfect time to tell the Boar of her hopeless infatuation with the Cat. And since Kyo had gone to the doujo after school, there would be nothing to hinder her confrontation with the girl. Tohru immediately felt queasy.
What was the point of going home again?
"Honda-san, are you ready to go?" Yuki's smooth voice called from the end of the hall. The Yuki fan club swooned at their Prince's gentlemanly behavior, even if it was for someone as plain and ordinary as Tohru Honda. What was it with that girl? She seemed to have all the Sohmas under her spell. The Yuki fan club scowled at her approach.
"Hai, I'm ready, Yuki-kun," she responded. Her face looked pale and a thin sheen of sweat covered her skin.
Yuki dropped his bag at the sight. "Tohru!" he exclaimed, forgetting all honorifics and calling her by name. He pressed a cool hand against her cheek, nearly sending the on-looking Yuki fan club into an uproar. Tohru winced as his fingers brushed against her clammy skin. His purple eyes held deep concern. "What's the matter? I thought Hatori said you were fine."
She couldn't comprehend. The room was starting to spin. "Wha?" She turned unfocused eyes upon his handsome face. She didn't want to go home. She didn't want to face Kagura. She didn't want to face him. She swayed slightly.
Yuki held her steady. What was he supposed to do?! "I'll get you to the nurse's office immediately, Honda-san. And then I'll call Hatori."
Tohru clutched his shoulders for support as he tried his best to make their upper bodies not touch. They were still inside the school after all. "Th-Thank you, Yuki-kun," Tohru managed a weak smile. "It's just that I really…just really…don't want to…"
But the dizziness was too much and darkness overwhelmed her.
* * *
Tohru awoke in a strangely uncomfortable bed. She sat up quickly, causing the blood to rush to her head and spots to dance across her eyes. "Oh…" she swayed slightly and pressed a hand to her forehead.
"Honda-san?"
The voice was deep and calming. It seemed familiar. Tohru turned her unsteady eyes to the man sitting next to her bed in the nurse's office. "Hatori!" she exclaimed as the doctor lifted an eyebrow in amusement. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same," Hatori responded curtly, indicating her present situation.
Tohru shifted uncomfortably. "Where's Yuki-kun?" That was the last thing she remembered, holding onto Yuki desperately as she slowly lost consciousness. Her eyes widened. "Oh gosh! He didn't transform, did he? Is that why you're here? Did you have to erase so many memories?"
"It was nothing like that," Hatori answered before the adorable brunette could worry further. "He had one of his friends help carry you to the nurse's office and then he phoned me. I arrived as soon as I could."
Tohru appeared confused. "Oh."
Hatori raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" he frowned.
"It's just…why isn't Yuki here now?" Everything Hatori said had made sense. But why would Yuki just leave after all that? He didn't have any student council duties tonight and his garden was doing just fine. What reasons would he have for leaving?
"I made him leave," Hatori explained. "He argued with me for a good while about it too. I just thought that in case your fainting spell had something to do with a certain…issue…you might not want him around for the explanation."
Comprehension dawned on the girl's face and she turned bright red. "Ah," she squeaked slightly. "I see. Well, thank you, Hatori, but I should get going. I don't want to worry the others too long."
"Stop, Honda-san," the doctor ended her attempt to leave so rapidly. She sat down on the edge of her bed and tried not to look so nervous. She knew what he was going to ask and she wanted to avoid the memory at all cost. "As a doctor, I need to find out what brought on the dizzy spell. Do you have any recollection of when or why it started?"
Tohru stared at her feet. She didn't want this. She didn't want to remember.
…doesn't belong to you…
I wouldn't want to lose him.
…my Kyo-kun.
"N-No," she tried lying. She was a horrible liar. The answer sounded false even to her own ears.
Hatori gave a quiet sigh. "Alright, then I'm going to go through standard procedure and ask you some questions. Did you eat lunch?"
"Yes."
"What did you have for lunch?" Hatori prompted.
"Udon and…and sweet pickles," Tohru continued to stare at a spot between her toes. She felt bad for making Hatori go through all of this. She knew exactly what made her feel faint.
"Anything else? Did you drink enough water?"
"I'm scared to confront Kagura!" she blurted out quickly. Wow. She really was too easy to crack.
Silence. Hatori opened his mouth.
"Tohru, what did this have to do with-"
"I got really nervous after school," Tohru explained rapidly. "I was so nervous I started feeling nauseous and then I got dizzy. Very dizzy, and then I guess…well…you know…"
Hatori rubbed his temples and then stared down into his clasped hands. "Tohru, I am very sorry," he provided at last.
The brunette gaped. "For…for what? Hatori, you didn't do any-"
"I've made you feel like you must confess your feelings. For that, I am sorry. I thought it would alleviate the stress you've been placing on yourself. But it seems that it has only made it worse."
Tohru floundered. What could she possibly say? Hatori was only trying to help her. He hadn't done anything wrong.
"Gomen ne, Hatori-san, for making you feel that way." Tohru felt ashamed of herself. She had let this crush be blown out of proportion. It was time she stopped. "I…it was good advice. I'm just…don't worry about me. I'll be fine."
Tohru smiled brightly up at the doctor. He shook his head. Her smile did not erase the worry and fear etched deep into her brown eyes. "Tohru…" he began.
"No, really!" the girl cut him off. "Please, Hatori-san, I will be perfectly fine."
* * *
It seemed like ages until Hatori finally agreed to let her go. It took even longer to convince him that she was well enough to walk home by herself.
"Really, Tohru, just let me drive you to Shigure's house. It's quicker," he had insisted.
"Walking is fine. I need the fresh air."
"What if you feel faint on the way home?"
"I'll stay to the busiest paths. And I'll call you when I get home."
"I'm calling Shigure to let him know you're on your way."
Tohru sighed deeply. She appreciated everything that Hatori had done for her, even going so far as to keep her secret about liking Kyo. She hadn't even had the chance to tell Uo and Hanajima yet.
The girl shivered as a gust of wind blew down the trail. A car ride would have been nice but it meant getting home quicker. And try as she might, she still felt like she wasn't ready to talk to Kagura about Kyo yet. What was she going to do? If she dawdled too long she would worry everyone in the house.
She would just have to work up the courage. There was no other way. She started feeling sick again.
"What are you doing out here?"
Tohru jumped at the voice. Oh gosh. No no no no! Not now. Why now? She recognized that voice immediately.
"K-Kyo-kun!"
"Tohru, I thought you didn't work today. Did that stupid Dog make you run errands again?" Kyo frowned as he walked up beside her. His backpack was slung across his back and his shoulders sagged slightly, most likely from a tough work-out at the doujo.
Tohru's face broke out into a smile against her will at the sight of him. "Shishou must have put you through a lot today. You look exhausted."
He rubbed the back of his head and gave a shy smile. "Yeah, I guess so. He's been working me extra hard the past couple lessons."
"But, Kyo-kun, you're already so good! Shishou couldn't be more proud of you!"
"Tohru…" Kyo's ears were turning red.
"Oh, I'm sorry! We should probably-"
Tohru's stomach growled very loudly.
Kyo's mouth quirked up in one corner. Amusement danced in his amber eyes. Tohru was embarrassed beyond belief. "Er…"
"Are you…hungry?" Kyo smirked.
"N-No!"
Another lie and very obvious. But hunger meant food. Food meant going home. Going home meant facing Kagura. Although now that she thought about it, she couldn't really do anything with Kyo in tow.
"Tohru," Kyo confessed. "You're a horrible liar. We could go grab something at the ramen stall down the street and bring food back for the others. You deserve a break from cooking all the time. What do you think?"
Kyo smiled and Tohru was lost. Her heart soared at the prospect of Kyo inviting her to do something as simple as getting ramen because it was an invitation to spend time with him alone. The thought was so lovely. What reasons did she have to say no? Oh yes. Right. Kagura was currently slaving away in the kitchen preparing dinner for him. And she needed to call Hatori soon before he started to worry. Hm, how could she forget such things? Blasted crush.
Tohru shook her head. "I'm sorry, Kyo-kun, but we shouldn't keep the others waiting."
Kyo sighed. "Fine, it was just an idea…"
"Oh no! It was a lovely idea! I was just worried-"
"Tohru, seriously. It's fine," he cut her off, though he did seem mildly put out. "I just was avoiding…never mind."
Now Tohru looked up in interest. "Eh?" He was avoiding something?
Tohru's mind race as his statement suddenly clicked. Wait! He wasn't supposed to know about Kagura's visit. Is that why he didn't want to come home right away? Is that why he went to train at the doujo after school? But Kagura would be so upset if Kyo didn't show up!
"No!" Tohru exclaimed. "You must go back to Shigure's house. Kagura-chan worked so hard for you!"
Kyo stopped in his tracks horrified. "WHAT DID YOU SAY?!!"
Oops. Maybe he didn't know.
"A-Ano…" Oh gosh. Now she'd ruined it. She had to fix the situation somehow!
"Wait just a minute!" Kyo looked terrified. "Do you mean to tell me that woman is going to be waiting for me at the house?! Hell no I'm not going back!"
"Um…no?" Tohru tried meekly.
"Oh of all the-"
"No, Kyo-kun!" Tohru cried. "You must go! I'm sorry. It was supposed to be a surprise and now I've ruined the whole thing and if you don't show up Kagura will be so sad!"
"How do you expect me to-"
"Please, Kyo-kun?" Tohru pleaded. She had to convince him. She just had to. Even if it tore her heart, she'd rather be the one hurting than to see Kagura's crestfallen face. She would already have to deal with the girl later when she confessed her own feelings about the Cat. "Please? I don't want Kagura-chan to get hurt."
Kyo's face softened. "Tohru…"
"Please, Kyo-kun?" she looked at him desperately. His eyes held hers in a captivating gaze. She could almost feel herself starting to fall into the amber depths. "If it was me, I would be d-devastated if you didn't show up!"
Kyo's face changed slightly. She couldn't tell how, but it did. He reached out to brush away the tears that were running down her face. Funny. She hadn't even known she was crying. "Tohru," his thumb caressed the side of her cheek. His eyes looked down at hers with an emotion she couldn't place. It caused her stomach to dance with butterflies. Standing here with him alone was so…wonderful. "I would never-"
A loud groan suddenly erupted from farther down the path. Both teenagers turned their heads to see a small, disgruntled boy with spiky hair. The boy frowned.
"Geez, so this is why you're taking forever? Stupid! Kisa's worried sick since you're not home yet."
"H-Hiro-kun!" Tohru looked down at the boy in surprise. Her shock was so great that she didn't even realize Kyo was still standing so close to her.
"And why are you two standing together like that? Were you being indecent?"
"What the hell?!" Kyo glared at the Ram. "Indecent?! Are you always making up wild stories in that small brain of yours?"
Hiro scoffed. "You're one to talk," he muttered under his breath.
"What did you say, runt?!"
"Ano…Kyo-kun?" Tohru sweatdropped. "Maybe we should just head home. Hiro-kun's right. We don't want to worry Kisa."
Kyo seemed hesitant. No doubt he was contemplating having to deal with Kagura versus Tohru's recent outburst on the matter. "Please, Kyo-kun? She's waiting for you." Tohru turned her big brown eyes upon him.
Hiro raised an eyebrow. Interesting. Tohru's statement could imply that Kyo knew about Kagura's surprise dinner. If this was the case, Kyo would surely run away.
Tohru continued her doleful expression. Hiro sensed Kyo's uncertainty. The Cat's leg twitched as if he wanted to flee. Kyo readied himself like he'd come to a decision. "Fine! Let's get this over with," he yelled and stomped off towards the house. Tohru looked surprised for a moment and then put on a smile and followed.
"Are you coming, Hiro-kun?" she called from up ahead.
What the hell just happened? Hiro thought to himself. Certainly Kyo did not just willingly agree to a dinner date with the Boar? That was ludicrous. That went against all the laws of nature. Just because some airhead batted her eyelashes at him? That girl was not that special. He scowled.
No. Wait.
She's waiting for you.
That could mean Kisa. Of course! It certainly meant Kisa, which meant that Kyo didn't know about Kagura. Hiro smirked at his own genius. Kyo didn't know what he was walking into and Tohru Honda was not special.
Hiro headed back to the house. He didn't want to miss the complete look of terror on Kyo's face upon seeing "his beloved" cooking dinner. It was one reason why he'd chosen to come over. The other was, of course, to accompany Kisa. There was no way he'd let her walk around with so many perverts (namely one Dog) in the area. But as Hiro neared the front steps to Shigure's house, one troublesome thought crossed his mind.
Kyo never asked why he and Kisa were here.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Please review. Your comments make writing this story worthwhile. Happy Holidays! Eat lots of sugar cookies and spend quality time with the fam! \(^o^)/