Left Field

by Adria

Kyou first learned of it when he heard the psychic girl and that yankee talking about it.

"He asked her out? You're kidding."

"I'm not."

"Wow."

"Indeed."

"When?"

"On Saturday. They're meeting at the station at one."

"Maybe we should join them?"

"....."

"Yeah, you're right. If he sees us and gets nervous, she would get upset."

"Still, it's difficult to believe it."

"I know what you mean. But you seem to be taking it pretty well."

"....."

"It's about time somebody got up the gonads to ask her, though."

"Indeed."

"Never thought Tohru would be the first of us to get asked out on a date! Go Tohru!"

What the hell? Kyou couldn't make out the rest; his ears were filled with a loud buzzing. Tohru...date...Tohru...date...was all he could think. Who? When? How? He was always around her, protecting her. He was always aware of her. When would anyone have an opportunity like that without him noticing? The only time he wasn't really around her was when she was with Yuki...That kuso nezumi!

Yuki first learned of it just before dinner.

"Shigure-san?"

"Hai, Tohru-kun?"

"Ano, do you mind if I go out with a friend on Saturday?"

"Saturday? No, no, by all means go and have fun!"

"Arigatou, Shigure-san. I'll make sure all my chores are done before I go..."

"Tohru is such a good girl to think of us!"

"Eh?"

"By the way, who are you going to see? Uo-chan and Saki-chan?"

"Ie, I'm meeting another friend from school..." Of course, both Yuki and Shigure noticed she hadn't named the friend.

"A...boy friend, Tohru-kun?"

"EH?!"

"Tohru-kun is going on a date!"

"Ie, ie, it's not like that. We've been friends a long time and, well, he knew about that paper I have to write about constellations and he offered to go with me to the planetarium."

Paper? Planetarium? Yuki knew she had the paper to write; he'd helped her research for it. Who would have had the opportunity to ask Tohru out? Yuki spent so much time with her. And when he couldn't because of his student council duties, Kyou was with her... That baka neko!

Kyou retreated to the roof after the meal. Tohru had chosen... and she hadn't chosen him. He shouldn't be surprised. She spent so much time with Yuki-she even helped him tend his garden. Try as she might, she simply wasn't as ardent about martial arts as she was about gardening. Kyou sighed, gazing up at the stars. Those cursed constellations! Why hadn't he though of the planetarium?

Yuki was in the living room, trying to concentrate on the drama playing on the television. Tohru had chosen...and she hadn't chosen him. He shouldn't be surprised. His school duties had taken so much of his time lately. Kyou had been around her so much more than he had. He sighed, thinking of the time they'd spent in the library studying. Why hadn't he thought of the planetarium?

Kyou left at noon on Saturday. If nothing else, he could make sure Yuki didn't try anything. He was Ayame's brother, after all. There was no telling how alike they really were. His feet ate up the distance as he walked, lost in his thoughts. He made it to the station in twenty minutes. Not seeing anyone he recognized, he went to a newsstand near the entrance and prepared to wait.

Yuki followed Kyou when he left. If nothing else, he could make sure that baka neko didn't try anything. They'd been spending so much time together...who knew what Kyou would try when he and Tohru were alone together. He paced Kyou, trailing a half block behind him. Of course, Kyou didn't notice. Kyou slowed as he neared the station, looking around him intently. Tohru hadn't arrived yet. Yuki watched Kyou make his way to a newsstand and pick up a martial arts magazine, obviously waiting.

Kyou's ears perked up when he heard a soft step pause beside him. He cursed mentally as he realized he hadn't worn a cap or anything to conceal the distinctive color of his hair. He glanced over and saw a familiar head of shaggy, dove gray hair bend to pick up a gardening magazine.

"You're early," he commented, his voice low.

"What do you mean, baka neko?"

"Aren't you meeting Tohru here at one? How punctual of you! What'd you do, follow me?"

"Of course." What was Kyou talking about?

"Of course what? Your meeting time or following me?"

"Following you. You're so dense you didn't even notice."

Kyou saw red. He grabbed Yuki by the shoulder, turning the nezumi to face him. Icy eyes met fiery ones in a fierce glare.

"Oh, it's on now, kuso nezumi!"

"What, you're going to pick a fight with me just before your date with Honda-san?"

"What?" Kyou shot back, nonplussed. "I'm not meeting Tohru! You are."

"No, I'm not."

"Of course you are! Who else would ask her?"

"I could ask you the same question. You've been spending more time with her, baka neko."

"I have? No, I haven't! She's been helping you with your freaking garden and all those study sessions...how do you figure that?"

"It doesn't matter." Yuki turned away, ending the conversation. His eyes lighted on the station entrance, where he saw a familiar fall of honey brown hair, sides pulled back with yellow ribbons. "Honda-san!" he hissed, quickly raising his magazine to shield his face. Kyou did the same, cursing under his breath.

The pair watched the girl as she walked by, head swiveling to and fro, looking for whomever she had agreed to meet here. By her crestfallen expression, both boys realized her partner hadn't arrived. Yuki wanted to go to her, comfort her, but he also wanted to see who she was meeting. Besides, she had chosen. Hopefully this boy could make her happy...Kami knew he probably couldn't.

Kyou also fought the urge to approach the girl. He couldn't remove himself from his emotions like Yuki could...sometimes he wished he could. Like right now. He wanted nothing more than to go to her. Talk to her. Whisk her away from whatever lothario was coming to take her. But she had chosen. Hopefully this guy could make her happy...Kami knew he couldn't. She deserved to be happy.

Both watched as her face lit up. She jumped to her feet, hands clasped in front of her in her excitement.

"Toooohru!" A familiar voice called out. Tohru walked over to the boy, her eyes lit with joy.

"Momiji-kun!"

"Momiji?!" Kyou and Yuki exclaimed in surprise. Tohru and Momiji turned as one at their outburst.

"Kyou-kun! Yuki-kun! What are you doing here?"

"Uh...er..."

"We followed you to make sure you got here all right, Honda-san." Yuki said, thinking quickly. He smiled his polite smile at the blonde-haired boy, who grinned back. Kyou still stared, blinking in shock.

"That was so kind of you! Thank you so much!"

"I-it was...nothing." Kyou replied, finally recovering.

"Truly, it was nothing, Honda-san."

"Thanks for looking after her, Yuki, Kyou!" Momiji said. He turned to Tohru. "We should go, Tohru! The show starts in fifteen minutes."

"Ah, hai!" Tohru turned to the two boys once more. "Thank you again, Yuki-kun, Kyou-kun."

"It's nothing...I was going to go to Shishou's anyway." Kyou said shortly.

"Yes...and I have some student council business to attend to..." Yuki trailed off. They turned as one, heads bent at identical angles as they left the station.

"Talk about a shot out of left field..." Kyou muttered as he turned towards the dojo.

"Indeed." Yuki replied before he, too, went his separate way.