Dooms Day: The High School Reunion

By: Ochako107

Standard Disclaimer

Chapter 1 - I am Going

I listened for the door chime and my head popped up from under the counter. "Hello! Welcome to Honda Flowers!" Sometimes I wonder if I should come up with something else to say when a customer comes in.

I smile to the middle aged man before me. He looks a bit stressed out like his boss has him running around town like a mad man. "Hi, I'm here to pick up flowers for Hiko-san. I think it's a vase of Irises?"

I continued to smile. Hey, it's my job to be nice to customers. "Of course! What color ribbon does Hiko-san want around his vase of flowers?" The man looked mildly confused as I walked to the back to get the vase of flowers he requested. I brought it over to a counter with rolls of satin ribbons. I waited for him to tell me a color but it didn't look like he had the slightest clue.

Once again I smiled. I'm surprised my cheeks don't hurt! "Are you not sure?"

"Ah… I—I'm afraid I don't know… it's for his wife you see…"

"Oh! What kind of woman is Hiko-san's wife?"

A bit of color returned to the poor man's face. "Well…"

This is my day in and day out. My mom owned a flower shop but when she passed away, the responsibility was passed onto me. It's a good job that puts a roof over my head and food on my table. Besides, mom always loved flowers!

In the end the man and I chose a mint green ribbon and he seemed pleased with his choice. He even sighed with relief as he paid for the flowers and went on his way to attend to the other things on his list. "Thank you, miss."

"Any time!" I said with a bow.

The bells chimed again as the man exited. From behind I heard a pair of foot steps shuffling toward me as I cleared the counter space previously covered with ribbons and fallen leaves. I turned around to my best friend Arisa Uotani. Just looking at her I could tell she threw her alarm clock at the wall again.

"Oh shit, sorry I'm late, Tohru! Totally lost track of time!"

"No, it's okay; you came in early yesterday so we'll call this even."

I watched Uo tie her green apron around her waist expertly as she nudged her head to the counter where she tossed a brown paper bag. "Hey, I picked you up a little snack. It's like an act of forgiveness. It's Mochi, I hope you like it."

"Oh, Uo-chan! Thanks so much!" Really, I have the greatest friends. Uo laughed and turned around to go over a list of orders we already attained. Ohmigosh! Did she get a hair cut? "Uo-chan! Your hair!"

Uo touched her head and ran a hand through her short locks. She grinned while sitting up on the counter. "Yeah, thought I'd go short. It hasn't been like this since middle school."

"It looks so mature on you!"

"We could go down to Kisa's hair salon and get your hair cut all stylish if you want," Uo said pulling at a strand of my long hair, "She gave me a great deal too!" I pulled back and shook my head. I couldn't cut my long hair! She already knew what I was thinking. "Come on, Tohru, it won't do you any harm. Hell, you'll stop looking like you did in high school anyway!" She slapped a hand over her mouth as my skin went cold.

High school! Oh those horrid times…

Uo got off the counter and put a hand out toward me. She looked worried. I hate it when my friends worry over me. "Hey, Tohru…"

Suddenly the door chimed again and there was Hana, dressed in her everyday black, standing in the wake of the flora surrounding her. Hanajima you have good timing!

She walked toward us saying, "Did you check your mail yet?"

"Nice to see you too," Uo muttered.

Hana turned to her and a smile formed on her beautifully painted red lips. "Good morning." Uo and I laughed and returned the greeting.

I shook my head to Hana's first question, "No, not yet. Why, what's up?" I turned to Uo who was still looking uncomfortable. It wasn't that high school was horrible… just a certain person I preferred to not talk about. I wanted to tell her I was fine but I didn't want to lie either…

"Well," Hana held up a piece of paper between her fingers, "I received a letter from Karabara High. This will be our first high school reunion next Saturday."

"WHAT?!" Uo and I both shouted.

Hana closed her eyes, "Yes, I cannot contain my excitement either."

"What the hell? It's been ten years already?" Uo screamed running over to Hana to read the fancy letter herself. "Wow, I can't believe this!"

Hana grinned noticing the shortness of Uo's blonde hair. "Nice hair cut."

"This totally overshadows my hair, Hana. Check it out; we're going to our first high school reunion! This will be interesting." I watched Uo's mouth curl into a certain kind of smile. You know— when you're doing something bad but don't care. "We'll see how all those bozos are doing now. Ha, I bet those Prince Yuki fan girls are still gaga over the guy."

"Do you suppose they will attend?" Hana asked.

"Sure they will! The Prince of our high school will be there!"

"Won't it be a pity if Yuki Sohma grew ugly?"

Uo laughed hysterically, "I've gotta see this!"

"But Tohru…" Hana said with hesitation.

Both of my friends turned to me with serious looks to their faces. Crap, I know what they're thinking: 'She won't go.' The funny thing is that's what I'm thinking too.

I put my hands up with a small smile as I started walked back to the counter. "Well, you guys can go…"

"Ohhhh no you don't, Tohru," Uo said grabbing my wrist before I could huddle to the safety of behind the counter. "This will be the perfect time to face your fear!"

My face went blank. I know it did because Hana frowned and Uo sighed tiredly. They both knew how I felt about high school.

"It was ten years ago, Tohru. It'll be okay," Hana tried to reassure me.

I could feel my heart pounding and my face already flaming red. "Hana! How can it be okay? I can't face those people at high school ever again! That was humiliating! I don't belong there!"

"Come on, everyone will be so happy you went. Won't it be nice to see our old classmates?"

"Everyone but HIM."

Uo and Hana exchanged glances. They knew how I felt about 'him'. Oh, the pain that man caused me. Even ten years after what he did to me, I don't think I could put it past me. And the likeliness of him attending our reunion was high since he was so popular at our school.

Uo took me to a chair and Hana went to the front door to turn the sign to 'closed'.

Uo sat me down. "Tohru."

"I won't forgive him," I instantly respond seriously.

"Wow, I don't think I've ever heard you say that," Uo said with a laugh.

"I'm serious." Hey, I can act this way, I'm twenty eight! In high school I was super nice. I mean, I still am a nice person—nicer than a lot of people maybe—but over the years I've grown and learned to talk about my feelings more openly. I like people; I find the good in every person I meet…

…except Kyo.

"Tohru it wasn't… I mean it was… but it couldn't have been that bad," Uo said.

I shook my head and put my head in my hands, my long hair curtaining my face from my friends' worried faces. I hate to worry them but I don't think I could ever get over Kyo. "It was bad though. I'm sorry… I just can't go to that reunion."

It would be too painful.

Flashback

Tohru smiled to Uo and Hana. It was their senior year and prom was just around the corner. "He's going to ask me I know it!" Tohru said. "Well… actually I don't, but I over heard some girls talking and they are all disappointed because Kyo-kun was going to prom with his friend."

Uo and Hana both grinned. "Gosh, it was about time that guy asked you to prom!"

Tohru sighed, "I hope I'm not making Kyo-kun feel obligated to go with me. What if he really wanted to go with someone else?"

"What are you talking about? You guys have been an item forever!"

"No they haven't," Hana said slowly. "But still, the first time Kyo saw Tohru-chan he looked totally smitten."

Tohru smiled. She felt like she was on cloud number nine. Her feet felt hot with excitement as the bell for lunch sounded. "I'm going to meet Kyo-kun for lunch as usual. I'll see you guys later!"

"Go get him, you little rocket!" Uo called as Tohru briskly made her way to the tree she met Kyo at for lunch.

Tohru always liked Kyo. When she met him in middle school he seemed really angry but she was surprised that after having to do a frog dissection with him as a class project he was not that bad. He was a very kind person under the tough mask he wore. After that, Tohru always greeted Kyo in the morning. He seemed embarrassed by it and never said anything in return but one day a bunch of boys in their class were teasing Tohru about it. They teased her so much she cried and they laughed at her. Kyo came to her rescue and yelled at their classmates to leave her alone.

She could remember Kyo handing her a hanker chief, telling her to dry her tears since her crying looked unnatural.

'That stupid smile of yours looks better…'

Then in their first year of high school, Kyo gave Tohru her first kiss! It was the talk of the girls in her grade that if you were kissed in your first year of high school, you'd add five years to your life! Of course this wasn't true but it seemed that everyone already had their first kiss that year, even Uo and Hana! She felt like she was the only one who had never been kissed before. Tohru felt embarrassed about it but didn't tell anyone. Kyo noticed her blushing every time one of her friends squealed about her first kiss. He asked her about it and she shyly told him. She didn't know why but a few moments later she felt Kyo put his lips on her and quickly run off after that.

It was the day Tohru knew Kyo was a true friend.

And the day Tohru realized she had a crush on that boy.

Tohru stopped at the tree reminiscing on how much she liked Kyo. She couldn't contain her excitement that Kyo would ask her to the dance. She was so sure it would be a blast. The perfect ending to their last year in high school! She waited.

And waited.

Yeah... he never did come.

She walked back to class after lunch, disappointed that Kyo wasn't present for their afternoon ritual. Maybe he got caught up in something? Maybe he was studying for a test, he went to the office, he got in a fight with the Prince of their school, or he went home early or something like that…

… Or he could be locking lips with another girl.

Tohru shrieked as she turned the corner to see Kyo pinning another girl up against a locker as they kissed. There was as small group of other kids that were cat calling and hooting but Kyo heard over all of that. Hearing her scream Kyo instantly broke away from the girl to stare wide-eyed at Tohru. Her hands flew to her mouth as she caught a glance at Kagura, one of the popular girls of their school. Even though she was popular, Tohru thought they were friends…

"T-Tohru…" Kyo said taking a step to her. "It's not what it looks…" Kagura grinned and looped her arms around Kyo's waist, Tohru drinking in the sight of a girl hanging all over him like that. How could it not be what it looked like?

"How could you?" Tohru asked. "I… I thought we were…" She choked on her sob, "I… I really liked you Kyo…" she whispered. She watched Kyo stare at her and then Kagura who was still smiling.

Kyo turned on Tohru with a different nature. He grinned the way she always swooned over but seeing it now made her heart shatter. He looked of pure cruelty. He pulled back from her with a chuckle. "Ha! You seriously liked me? Come on, Tohru."

"You were my first kiss…"

Kyo rolled his eyes and turned around to walk hand in hand with Kagura. "I only kissed you because you were desperate. I think it was the worst kiss in my life."

"Wasn't there that silly joke that if you were kissed you'd add five years to your life? Haha!" A girl in the crowd laughed. Suddenly the entire group howled with laughter as Tohru felt her face burn. She never felt so humiliated in her life.

"Add five years to a hopelessly stupid girl like Tohru? What a joke!" Someone hooted.

"Kyo-kun! Kyo-kun I know you're not like this!" Tohru called. "Kyo-kun, look at me!" She pleaded. She needed to see his eyes… she needed to see the truth in his eyes. He wasn't heartless like this! He just wasn't!

"Hey, Tohru, didn't you know?" Kagura called while walking with Kyo. "Kyo was just using you to get closer to me. Oh that and I hear your lunches are great, but boy do you talk like a chatter-box!"

"Bet she was nervous with such a cutie like Kyo!" Someone said. "She had to bribe him with food!"

Tohru looked down at her shoes and felt hot tears welt up in her eyes. 'Don't cry… don't cry… don't cry…' she mentally chanted.

"Please," Kyo's mocking voice rang out above everyone else's, "Who would waste their time with a girl like that?"

It broke her young heart. Those stinging words felt like a sword rammed right through her heart. She was at a loss… completely mortified and full of an exploding hurt. Everywhere she looked there were people laughing. She shut her eyes and the tears poured from her eyes.

"You… you're terrible, Kyo-kun!" Kyo stopped and turned around but she didn't see. She felt tears follow her words as she spun around, running the opposite way the couple were. She buried her head in her hands and ran, bumping into people and tripping all over the hallway. She should have known she and Kyo would never be. How foolish of her. How very very foolish to give her heart so easily.

End Flashback

I shook my head negatively. I could never forget that moment. I didn't even go to prom; I was embarrassed to no end. I remember that night I cried like the day I found out my mom died. Inside, something did die.

Back in high school, my phone rang and rang. The answering machine kept answering the calls; most of them were from Kyo. I was so upset I pulled the cord out of the wall. I didn't want to talk to him. I didn't want to see him. I just wanted to stay away from him. I didn't do anything mean like put hate mail in his shoe locker or anything. (Uo did, I think, a few times though…) But I thought it would be better to just stay away from him. He devastated my heart.

I gave my friends my biggest smile hoping to hide my real pain under it. "I don't want to go! You two go, I know you'll have a blast. You'll be able to see all our old friends: Hatsuharu, Momiji, Rin, Yuki, Kagura, Machi, Mannabe, Kimi and everyone else!"

"Tohru!" Hana exclaimed. "Do you honestly think we would go without you?"

"Yeah," Uo added, "We couldn't. You know that. We stick together thick and thin! Everyone would love to see you again, Tohru. Come on, it'll be fine. If Kyo comes around I'll pull my lead pole on him."

"Yes, I'd love to mess with his electric waves again. It may prove to be quite entertaining…"

Sometimes my friends were so nice in a scary way. Not that I blame them for wanting to hurt Kyo. They were always there protecting me. When they found out that Kyo broke my heart I thought they would have sent him to the bottom of hell if I didn't insist that they don't hurt him. I know they were only caring for me but still…

…I don't think I could face Kyo. I mean look at me! I'm a twenty eight year old florist, I haven't gotten a new hair cut since high school, I'm not the most 'womanly' figure you'd ever seen and and and…!

I stared at my friends as they both looked away from me lost in their own thoughts. If I didn't go they didn't go. That's the way it went. I couldn't be selfish! I sighed and stood up. "I'll go."

Uo turned on me with an enormous smile. "Are you serious?"

"You're not doing this just because we desperately want to go, are you?" Hana asked slowly.

"Well don't manipulate her!" Uo scolded Hana.

I laughed and gave both of them a hug. How could I make them miss such an event? It might be good to see all my old high school friends again. I had to go for my friends… and for myself.

The weekend rolled around and it was my day off. Uo, Hana, and I decided to go dress shopping for our reunion. It might be nice to buy something new for a bunch of old friends. Ironic isn't it.

"Hey, let's stop here," Uo said pointing across the street. "I hear they have cute dresses for cheap." She looped arms with Hana as the three of us crossed the street. I stared out at the other cars wondering how many of them were going to the high school reunion. Did anyone look the same anymore? What jobs did they all have now? I felt myself blush and stare down at the pedestrian cross walk. Would anyone think I'm the biggest loser? I was a bit of an air head in high school (well I still am but not as much) so I wonder if anyone will even remember me. Will my existence at the reunion really matter all that much?

We walked into the store as Hana instantly disappeared into the isles and isles of dresses. "Oh! Hana-chan!" I called out to her.

"Don't worry about her, Tohru. We'll know where to find her."

"The 'blacker-than-Akito's-soul' isle?" A sinuous voice asked from behind.

Uo and I spun around to see Rin. Her hair used to be so long in high school but now it was hanging over her shoulders, short, and high-lighted red. Amazing, it was so fitting of her! "Rin-san!" I quickly went in to hug her but she side stepped me and I went crashing into a rack of sequenced puke green dresses. "Uwah!"

"Don't come at me so quickly! I thought you were going to attack me!" Rin screamed as my eyes swirled.

"Yes!" I answered back while holding my head. Rin stared down at me and was it just me or did I see the fraction of a smile?

"Still the same Tohru I see," She said while hauling me off the floor. Rin turned to Uo and the pair exchanged smiles. "And still the same Uotani-san but with a pretty sharp haircut."

Uo laughed, "I could say the same for you Rin-san. What's up? Still a bitch?"

Rin huffed and crossed her arms which were decorated with many dark colored bracelets. "You know it. Just be lucky you're basking in my ambience."

Both girls kept grinning at each other. I wasn't sure whether to laugh at how strange they looked just grinning at each other or be scared how easily Uo called Rin a bitch. I just watched instead.

Uo clapped Rin's back, making the taller girl almost fall over. Uo started laughing. Gosh, I didn't think they'd stop grinning. "What are you doing in a place like this anyway?" She asked.

Rin shrugged Uo off and raised an eyebrow. "What? I can't come in here to shop for my high school reunion dress?"

"So you're going too!" Uo exclaimed. "Awesome! I didn't think high school reunions were you're kind of thing though."

Rin glared but a tinge of red graced her cheeks. "Shut up. It isn't my kind of thing but Haru wants to go."

Oh now that was interesting. "You and Hatsuharu-san are still together? That's wonderful!" I said honestly.

Rin huffed. "Yeah we're married actually."

"SAY WHAT?" Uo exclaimed. "SHUT UP YOU LIAR!"

"I'm not lying you nasty bitch!" Rin yelled back. "We've been married for four years already!"

For some reason, Uo and Rin always talked this way to each other. It's what their conversations were like in high school.

"Where's your wedding band?" Uo asked still in disbelief.

"Here!" Rin pulled her hand out from under a few dresses she was holding to show us her rock. Wow, it was amazing. Hatsuharu's got the Benjamin's.

"Rin-san, that's wonderful. I'm really happy for you!" I said. Hatsuharu and Rin were boyfriend girlfriend since middle school. It was bound to happen but wow—what timing to meet Rin before our reunion!

Rin nodded to me. "Thanks, Tohru." She stared down at her dresses and then blushed. "W-what are you guys doing? Looking for a dress too?"

"Yeah, I was thinking of getting Tohru something sassy."

"Sassy? Tohru's never been the 'sassy' kind, Uotani."

"Whatever. I say she needs something with an extra pop to impress everyone there."

"Oh." Rin turned side to side and pulled off a rack a low cut pink dress that barely covered the legs. "How about this? I kind of like it… if it was black," she added quietly.

I already saw Uo burst a vein. "Tohru's going to be cute and sassy, not slutty!"

Rin glared at Uo and gripped the dress in her iron fists. "Who's calling this dress slutty?!"

"I am!"

"We all can't go around wearing long skirts like some weird gang member!"

If I didn't interject things could get out of hand! "Oh please you two, don't fight!"

"Aren't those the most pleasant electric signals you've ever felt since high school?" Hana asked coming up behind me. I shook my head while laughing.

It did feel good—as odd as it sounded—to hear familiar voices arguing. It was fine anyway; Uo and Rin were never serious while cursing at each other. It felt warm to know that they still felt this comfortable around each other.

"By the way, Tohru-chan," Hana said turning to me, "I picked these two dresses for you. Why don't you take a look to see if you like them or not?"

"Oh thank you, Hana-chan!" Phew, if it wasn't for Hana, I'd be swimming in dresses all afternoon. I never know what to buy and if I like it, it's too expensive or the other way around. Oh well. I looked at the dresses and smiled. Hana knew my taste in clothes at least. That's why she became a fashion coordinator! She picked out a light pink, almost white, dress that was simple with a criss-cross of ribbon going down the back. The other dress was an orange-red halter that looked strapless through the gauzy material. Bright, plain, simple… but grown up looking, that was my style. I look back on what I used to wear in high school sometimes and wonder what I was thinking.

I turn back to Uo and Rin who stopped 'talking' and were now reminiscing on old times. Maybe this reunion will be fun. I can ignore Kyo if he's there and just have a blast with all my old high school friends. I smiled at Hana who looked pleased with her findings before she began shoving toward the dressing room.

"I feel like one of those people on the fashion network. How fun," Hana giggled as she closed the curtain behind me for me to change. "Tohru-chan, you'll knock everyone out wearing either of those dresses."

"Hana-chan…" I muttered embarrassed.

"I bet Kyo-san would also be floored with amazement. He'll feel so terrible hurting your feelings knowing what a beautiful girl he left in high school."

I pulled my shirt off knowing that I was beat red. And I bet Hana knew it would make me blush too.

To be continued...

A/N: Hey everyone! I'm back with something new! Like it? Please review and let me know! The characters might seem weird but I'm making them this way since it's ten years in the future of when they were in high school. Wouldn't it be interesting to see Rin and Uo in high school together? Anyhow let me know how you like it! Peace out peeps! Ochako