AN: Bold italic words are Kyo's thoughts…Regular is everyone else's.

Chapter Two

"He's still here?" Kyo demanded angrily. Hatori sighed and Tohru answered,

"Hatori's staying for dinner, Kyo." Kyo's eyes narrowed.

I hate that bastard, Kyo thought savagely to himself. They love each other, it's so obvious. How did I not notice it before? It was foolish of me to love her! Damn it, Hatori!

"I'm eating upstairs," he snapped. He picked up his plate and stormed away.

"Um," Tohru said softly. She sat down at the table. Although it was just Shigure, Hatori and she, she was not uncomfortable.

"Tohru, did you hurt yourself?" Shigure asked, staring at her bandaged finger. She gave a start and then looked at her hand. She looked briefly at Hatori and then at Shigure.

"Yes, but Hatori took care of it for me," she smiled. Shigure looked at Hatori and saw that he was staring at Tohru with a sheepish smile Then Shigure looked at Tohru and smiled to see that she was drinking her tea, oblivious to Hatori's smile. They were so cute together! How was he going to get them to admit their feelings? Aya would find a way.

Shigure watched them carefully throughout the dinner/ Every few minutes, Tohru would glanced at her hand and then look up, blushing.

His hand felt so nice around mine, she thought gladly, so protective, so…loving. She looked over and saw Shigure staring off into space. Hatori caught her eye and they smiled at one another.

Her hand was so small, Hatori was thinking. It was so delicate and warm. I wish that I could hold it more often. Or hold her. It had taken all that Hatori had not to have pulled her into his arms in the kitchen.

"Oh!" Shigure suddenly exclaimed. Tohru squealed and Hatori jumped. "I just remembered something. I'll be back in a few minutes." Shigure stood up and went to his office. Tohru looked at Hatori and found that he was staring at her oddly.

"What?" she asked puzzled. Hatori grinned.

"You know, I don't believe I've ever heard you squeal before," he laughed. Tohru laughed with him.

"I guess you've never been around me when I've seen a spider," she told him.

"You're afraid of spiders?" Hatori asked, watching Tohru's face. Amazing…a girl ho isn't afraid of losing her memories, yet is scared of a mere spider. Her face twisted into dislike. "I'll take that as a yes." They laughed again.

Shigure's POV

I don't understand why they won't just tell each other that they love each other. It's obvious in every way possible. I mean, it's not like it's that big of a secret. Yet oddly enough, they seem to be oblivious to each other's feelings. Aya would know what to do in this situation. That's why I called him. He would give me good advice on what to do. I tease Hatori mercilessly about loving Tohru, and I suppose that I shouldn't, but I can't help it. His reactions are just too funny to miss out on. I wonder what they're doing right now.

Oh good, they're laughing, that's good. Spiders? What an odd conversation topic. Whatever floats their boats, I guess. I'm so close to going out there and forcing them to confess. I keep telling myself that it will happen all in good time, but I'm antsy. They're so cute together. Tohru always leaves Hatori happy. The day they admit their feelings will be a very happy one indeed.

Regular POV

Shigure walked back into the room. "I've returned!"

"We noticed," Hatori said dryly. "Where were you?"

"I told you, I had an urgent call to make to, er…Mii," he replied. "Is there dessert?" His eyes were hopeful.

"Shi-," Hatori started to say. But then Tohru smiled.

"Of course there's dessert! What kind of dinner would it be without dessert?" Shigure sighed contentedly. She stood up and walked to the end of the table. "Just let me take care of all these dished and dessert will be right out!" She piled up the plates and bowls. She stacked them on top of each other and walked to the kitchen. The door was shut and she stopped. "Eh heh heh, I forgot to open the door again, oops!"

"Let me help," Hatori said, opening the door for her. She's so sweet! No! Stop thinking that way!

Shigure gave a slight cough in Hatori's direction. He ignored Shigure and walked back into the kitched.

"Thank you again, Hatori," Tohru said, looking up at him. Wow, he's kind of tall, she thought, craning her neck to see his face.

She's so small, he thought, looking down at her, it's actually pretty cute. He closed his eyes, wishing he wasn't thinking that way. It will only end with sorrow.

"Um, are you okay, Hatori?" Torhu's worried voice asked. Hatori opened his eyes, feeling a slight blush move into his face. He coughed embarrassedly.

"Ahem, um, yes, I'm fine. Thank you for worrying," he said, smiling. The smiles came much more naturally that they had in previous months. Her hands moved quickly along the water, washing the dishes. Hatori watched her hands, mesmerized by the efficiency and grace with which they moved. Looking for a reason to hold her hand again, he told her,

"Let me look at your cut. I want to make sure it's not infected." Normally he would've felt bad for lying, but he longed to feel connected to Tohru again.

"Okay. Let me just finish these dishes, alright? Things bug me when they're left half-done," she laughed. Hatori nodded and rolled up his sleeves.

"Let me help you."

Kyo's POV

I hate Hatori. I hate that sick bastard. He's almost ten years older than Tohru, and yet he still loves her. Is that not just…wrong? I know that he still loves Kana slightly, and I know why he loves Tohru. He's trying to look at Tohru as Kana, but she isn't. And Shigure, damn him, he's trying to get Tohru and Hatori together! He's sickening! She's not even eighteen yet! I hate them both. I hate them with a passion. They're sick people. I understand why he loves Tohru, but he shouldn't.

And what's worse, Tohru is obviously in love with Hatori. It pisses me off so much! Does she have no realization of the feelings of those close to her age? I loved her; I loved her for a long time. When I realized that she didn't love me back, I gave up on her. I guess that she's sick, too. Loving someone so much older than her? Isn't that wrong as well?

I'm lying to myself. I guess I'll never truly stop loving her.

Regular POV

"That dinner was delicious!" Shigure exclaimed, smacking his lips. "And dessert was, if possible, better than any dessert before!" Tohru blushed (are we surprised she blushed?) and shook her head.

"Oh, no, it wasn't that good. Really, I've made better!" Hatori smiled at her blush.

She's so easy to make blush that it's almost sad, he thought laughingly.

"Um, I'm going to go check on Kyo, okay? I'll be right back." Tohru rose and walked up the stairs. Hatori watched her go, a slight feeling of envy settling in him.

Knocking lightly on his door, she asked, "Kyo? Are you in there?" There was a light thud and then the door opened.

"Yeah, what do you want?" he asked, running his fingers through his hair distractedly.

"I came to talk with you. You weren't at dinner, so I thought I would come and talk with you." He opened the door further and let Tohru in. "Are you okay, Kyo? You look upset." Quietly, Kyo asked,

"Do you love Hatori?" What a stupid question, of course she does, it's obvious!

"Oh, um," she trailed off. Well, this is an uncomfortable topic to talk about with Kyo. What should I say? If I say no, I'll be lying, but if I say yes, I might make him angry or hurt his feelings, and that's something that I don't want to do! Oh, what do I do? This is hard! Let's see here, what can I say? "Why do you ask?" There…it's not even an answer, so I shouldn't feel bad, should I? Oh, I'm so confused! Kyo's eyes narrowed.

"It just seems like whenever he's here, you only have eyes for him. So, do you?" he asked again. I will get an answer out of her, dammit!

Here it is again, that unending question. Should I just come out and say it? Wouldn't that be a little weird, though? I'm sure he doesn't want to hear my deepest feelings. "I don't know," she said. That's considered lying too!

Why is she lying to me? Is she afraid that she'll hurt my feelings? I guess she will hurt my feelings, but I'm good at hiding my feelings. "Okay," he said. He knew that he wasn't going to get any more information from her.

"Will Kyo join Hatori and Shigure and me downstairs?" Tohru asked. Kyo shook his head and turned away. Tohru took it as her cue to leave. "Oh, alright then," she said quietly. She walked slowly back down the stairs.

Crap, now I've hurt her feelings! Kyo thought angrily.

"What was the kitty up to?" Shigure asked when Tohru came back down.

"He wasn't up to anything," she replied. Shigure nodded and went back to his book, but Hatori locked his eyes with Tohru's. He walked up to her.

"Are you okay?" his worried voice asked in her ear. He took her hand and pulled her into the kitchen. "Talk. I'll listen." His eyes were soft, but worried. Before she knew what she was doing, she was telling him everything.