Manga Time: after ch. 111 but before ch 117, but without regard to the chapters that follow it. Also I've messed with the time line just a little. Ch. 111 takes place before summer break 2000.

Actual time: After winter break say…January-ish and then the final semesters of school. Graduation is in March. For later chapters let's say this starts in early 2001. There are reasons for this. One of them being that I'm nit picky about that sort of thing.

Meaning the same things happen, but for different reasons, at different times and with completely different results. Meaning some spoilers if you haven't read that far.

Of course none of these characters are mine, just this strange plot I made up.


Chapter 1

Kyou was lying in bed staring at the ceiling. He'd woken up and couldn't get back to sleep. It wasn't that he wasn't tired, but his mind just wouldn't shut off. He kept thinking about Tohru. She was always on his mind, lately he just couldn't get her off his mind. His time was running out and he knew it. He looked at his alarm clock and sighed.

It was 2 am.

He felt wide awake.

Finally he couldn't stand it anymore.

I'll go down to the kitchen get a glass of milk maybe turn the TV on, not that there's ever anything on this late at night besides the weather channel, but you never know. Filled with purpose, he willed himself out of bed and downstairs. On the way he passed her room. He paused for a moment. He had the crazy impulse to walk in and see if she was awake thinking of him.

That's stupid there's no way she's thinking of me. He found that his hand was nearly knocking on the door without him realizing it. His heart skipped a beat. If I wake her up and she finds me here, what will she think? That I'm some sort of creep standing outside her door in the middle of the night?

No, he should just go and do what he came out to do.

As he went down the stairs he thought he heard someone already in the kitchen, he stopped, Intruders? He crept cautiously down the stairs and went towards the door the night light was on and he could see someone's shadow.

"Please don't let it be Shigure" he begged silently "or Yuki for that matter". As he approached the door he felt apprehensive and his heart felt funny, he was actually sweating. He didn't want to admit to himself but he really wanted to turn the corner to see Tohru but that would never happen. He took a breath to steady himself (he had to stop watching those horror flicks) and turned the corner slowly.

It was Tohru.

His heart really started skipping beats now and he must have been holding his breath because he let out a small gasp. Tohru looked up suddenly and turned around, seeing him she jumped and let out her own gasp, but calmed quickly once she saw how it was.

"Hello Kyou"

"Hey"

There was a short silence. Kyou felt his face growing hot he looked down and panicked, what should he say? He'd just get his drink and go that's what he'd do. He moved forward with this intent.

"Can I sit with you?" His insides cringed with horror, did he just say that? There was no way he could have just said that.

No! I should walk away now! Just turn around and walk away! What if Shigure or Yuki comes down and they find me sitting in the dark with her? But his body wasn't listening, it walked towards Tohru and sat down.

NO! He screamed on the inside, but it had no effect. Tohru had gotten herself a glass of water and was sitting at the table drinking it.

"Did you come down for a snack Kyou? Would you like for me to make you something?"

"No!" the no that had been trying to get out finally made it. Tohru got a slightly worried look on her face. Crap, that wasn't meant to come out like that! Kyou tried to get his emotions in order.

"I meant no, I can get it myself don't get up". Great that didn't sound much better.

Getting up again he walked to the fridge and took out the milk carton. He brought it back to the table and began drinking from it. The two sat in silence for a moment. Kyou stared at the table trying to put a coherent sentence together. Tohru broke the silence first.

"I guess you couldn't sleep either, I've had so much on my mind with exams and all, I had come downstairs to try to get away from it all. Is that was bothering you too?"

Despite himself, Kyou's expression fell, she hadn't been thinking of him at all. Tohru looked at him worried again and seemed to come to a realization

"Oh no! Did I wake you up? I'm sorry I didn't mean to! I thought I was being extra quiet! I didn't mean to and now you probably can't get back to sleep so you'll be tired the rest of the day and it's my fault. I'm sorry Kyou."

At the same time Kyou started to say yes then he actually heard Tohru's apology, and switched to no.

"I had stuff on my mind too" he didn't want to elaborate what could he say that he'd been thinking about her? That whenever they were together he prayed they would never be apart and that when they where apart all he could think of was being with her again? Then I really will sound like a creep. He stared at the milk carton.

"Kyou…" Tohru was worried again.

He heard himself cut her off saying "let me walk you back to your room" he had no choice but to stand up. What's with me today?

Tohru look a little startled and then smiled "Thank you Kyou! I'll just put my glass in the sink! You are so thoughtful!"

Kyou shrugged, I must seem like such an idiot.

Tohru happily put the glass away and came back to were Kyou was standing desperately wanting the floor to swallow him whole. They walked up the stairs silently together and when they got to Tohru's room they stopped. Tohru opened her door and turned to Kyou to say goodnight. For a moment their eyes locked and Tohru hesitated.

Kyou, who had leaned against the wall felt another wave of panic, does she expect a good night kiss? It's not like we're getting back from a date.

Tohru broke the look first and stared at the floor as her face turned red. She turned and took a step inside. Great she must have read my expression. Why am I so stupid? Kyou opened his mouth to say something then remembered that everyone else was asleep. He muttered a goodnight and turned to go back to his room. Once in bed he stared at the ceiling again.

That could have gone better.

It was now almost 3.


Let me know what you think, I'd really appreciate it!