Chapter 1 – The Risk
Under the red sky, I watched the sunset in pure tranquility. We had returned from the main house today. Tohru went to see Akito. I'm guessing everything went okay in there because she's still smiling, but I can't help but wonder what really happened. What did they talk about? Was Akito okay with it? Was she allowed to stay with us for as long as she wanted? Did he hurt her? Did he threaten her? Did they talk about me?
So many questions swirled around my mind, and not one could be answered…
"Kyo-kun!"
"Oi!" I jumped back from surprise.
She looked over to me sitting on the roof from the top of her ladder. Her big eyes regarded me with concern. Why did she always have to sneak up on me like that?
"Aren't you hungry, Kyo-kun?" she asked from the roof's edge.
I gazed at her, absorbed in her round eyes that once cried for me. An image of her fluttered in my mind like the wings of a dove…
She held my arm gently in her arms as she cried silent tears that fell like raindrops down her cheeks. She was crying and I didn't know why…. I didn't want to see her cry, but she was crying helplessly. "…I want to be with you. Eating meals with you. Studying with you. Be worried together…"
It seemed too good to be true….
I found myself blushing, and tore my eyes away from hers. How could she always say the things I wanted to hear? How did she seem to know exactly how I was feeling, when I didn't even know myself? Why did she cry for me? Why did she care?
I shut my eyes tightly, taking a deep breath to pose the question. I couldn't look at her… I might chicken out or get tongue-tied. "Tohru…" I muttered. Too late, my mind went completely blank.
"Hai?" she asked. She quietly made her way to me and sat down next to me. I could smell her delicate scent lingering in the air around her. I opened my eyes.
Her brown hair shimmered in the golden light of the setting sun. Her eyes sparkled like radiant stars waiting to shoot across the sky on a clear night where the moon was full and the fireflies danced. She was beautiful.
I lowered my head so that my hair was covering my eyes and my burning cheeks. "Did you mean… all those things you said the other day?"
She blinked as she watched me intently.
"Did you… did you really want to be with me?" I questioned softly. I looked into her eyes, searching for a reaction, a sign, a thread of hope that everything she said was true.
A blush crept to her cheeks and she looked away with embarrassment.
It's true…
"K-Kyo-kun is being so serious! I-I do like Kyo-kun…" she stuttered bashfully.
I touched her cheek adoringly with the palm of my hand and turned her blushing face to gaze at mine. Her eyes were wild with fright and yet… anticipation. Her chest rose hastily in short, quick breaths as I drew her closer to me.
"B-But, what about Akito-" she stammered, her lips trembled as her eyes searched mine.
"Forget about him," I whispered with desire. My heart pounded in my chest. I wanted so badly to touch her lips even if it was just this one time, this one precious moment together. "I'll protect you. I promise."
Her lips met mine and I kissed her softly. My heart burst with happiness. It was so gentle, magical…. Why had I waited so long to finally do this, to finally kiss her? Why did I not tell her how I really felt sooner? She quivered as I pulled away, my lips tingling from her touch, her eyes brimming with tears. My eyes searched hers with concern.
Why are you crying, Tohru?
"K-Kyo…"
"Don't cry, Tohru," I said softly, looking deep into her caring eyes. "I won't let anything bad happen to you."
I promise.
I embraced her, and in that short moment of warmth, I felt love for the first time. She didn't expect that, just like she didn't expect me to hug her that fateful day at the pond. My cat eyes looked up at her from her lap. She smiled as she picked me up and placed me on her shoulder. I snuggled into the curve of her smooth neck as she held me in her arms. Such tenderness I have never felt before…. I could hear and feel her heartbeat against me. I breathed in her elegant scent and cherished this moment.
So this is how it feels…
In the glowing light of the sunset, I told her, "I love you" in her ear. And I meant it.
…
"So, what did you two do up there?" greeted Shigure with a grin when we came down from the roof. He was sitting down at the table reading a newspaper. "You certainly took your time. It must have been at least half an hour."
Tohru reddened. "A-Ano…"
I grasped her hand in mine and squeezed it encouragingly. She looked up at me, her eyes wide and her cheeks rosy. She saw that I was finally making a stand for her. I would speak up and say what was on my mind rather than just sitting back and doing nothing about the situation. I was the one who had to speak up and take care of her. Things had to be said, and I was the one who had to say them. "We need to see Akito," I announced confidently.
Shigure raised an eyebrow.
I saw Yuki standing in the doorway through the corner of my eye. He heard and saw everything. I didn't care if that damn rat heard and saw it, the sooner he saw how much I loved her and how she felt about me, the better. It was time for his dream world to come to an end.
Tohru chose me, kuso nezumi, I thought with a small grin of triumph.
"I see…" said Shigure looking intently at me, seriously for once.
Yuki lowered his eyes to the ground and disappeared out of view.
"Shall I call Ha-san and tell-"
"No," I interrupted suddenly. "I'll call him."
Tohru's gaze on me never faltered, as did Shigure's. This was a change that they have not seen in me. I was taking control for once. I wanted to. I wanted to prove to everyone that I could make good decisions and take care of Tohru. I could do it and I would do a better job than that damn rat ever could. I had to do it for her. I loved her.
Shigure blinked absentmindedly, but nodded in agreement.
I gave Tohru's hand a final squeeze in reassurance and left the room. I walked down the slightly darkened hall in silence and dialed Hatori's phone number to the main house. I waited until Hatori picked up the phone. "Moshi moshi?"
"Hatori, Tohru and I need to see Akito," I said, getting right down to business.
"Kyo?"
"Yeah, Tohru and I want to see Akito," I repeated. "Would tomorrow be okay?"
There was a moment of silence. I waited impatiently. What was he doing? Was he going to see if Akito was in a good mood to see us? He already saw us today; would that be pushing it too soon?
"Kyo… why do you want to see Akito?"
Were you just sitting on the other line, just to say that? Gah!
I brushed my hand through my orange hair uncomfortably. "We… we want to talk to him about… about…"
"Kyo…" he sighed with a hint of concern, "are you aware of what you're risking?"
I swallowed. I didn't want to think about what horrible things could happen. But… I really wanted to try and… and make things work so that Tohru and I could be together.
'From now on… together… together… I want to be with you.'
That's what she wanted, to be together. She had said that. I had to do something that might help us be together… I had to…
"Yeah," I replied. "Yeah, I know what we're risking."
"… Alright. I'll see you tomorrow."
I sighed with relief. "Thanks Hatori."
I hope I'm doing the right thing…
