Author's Note:

This is one of my random Zodiac moments. Its Tohru and Kyo.

Like a lot of these chapters in the story, it was originally a oneshot sitting on my pc. I thought if this situation arrived it'd be fairly funny. They might seem a bit OOC. This is completely K+.

Hope you like :)


Chapter Two:

|| You Keep Me Safe ||

xxx


Tohru had left earlier before to supply their food stores and fridge, leaving Kyo to his own devices.

Kyo was enjoying himself, having met the owner of the dojo days before and now exploring the new area he and Tohru were to live.

He walked back to the house, wondering why Tohru had taken so long. It was past lunchtime, but he figured they had enough food to make lunch, so he had set back towards home to make them both something.

Kyo and Tohru had settled into their new home nicely. The house was small and quaint, but large enough for the both of them, and after Tohru's administrations, it had become very familiar.

The fact that they were now living together as a couple hadn't bothered them since they had lived together for the last three years. The only difference was the apartment had only one bedroom.

Kyo chuckled when he remembered the bedroom's discovery.


Kyo had checked out the kitchen and the backyard, while Tohru flitted around, admiring the rooms as she went.

"The garden is cool. We'll have to look after it though. Lots of space for exercise. I like it." Kyo had called out to her.

"It's really nice; the living room reminds me of Shigure's house." Tohru told him. She moved from the room, to the one next to it.

"Tohru, what room are you looking at now?" Kyo asked her, making his way back inside.

He frowned when he didn't receive a response from her. "Tohru? Tohru where are you?"

When Kyo found her, he gently knocked her over the head. "How come you didn't...Oh." He finished, glancing at the room.

It was simple in design, spacious enough for a closet and a desk. The striking feature was the large double bed in the centre of the room.

Kyo placed his arm comfortingly around Tohru, hugging her to him.

"Hey, don't worry. I'll sleep in the lounge, doesn't bother me." He told her.

Tohru seemed to snap out of her original shock, her expression changing to confusion and worry.

"What? N...No, I couldn't ask you to sleep in there." Tohru stammered.

Kyo placed his hand on her head gently, grinning at her.

"Come on, can't be as bad as sleeping in the mountains." He chuckled.

"But you live here too. And we're a couple. It's not right for you to be kicked out of your own room."

Kyo sighed, knowing she would fret over it for days if he stayed in the living room.

"Tohru, it's just a bed. Pick a side, and I'll stay clear of it, if it makes you happy."

"Oh, okay." She sounded dispirited, but obeyed, moving to the right side of the bed. Tohru sat, her expression strained.

"See, that settles things." Kyo announced and walked out of the room, bored with the situation.


Kyo cursed when he almost cut his finger, while cutting slices of fish for lunch.

The bed situation hadn't changed since the few days they had lived at the house. It was a mutual agreement to sleep, with as much space between the two as possible.

Kyo didn't mind. He was unconcerned with the idea.

He was still coming to terms with the fact that he was a free man, no longer the most cursed of the Zodiacs, and that he had managed to win over Tohru. He had years to spend with her in any way they wished. Besides, living with her for a long time had allowed him to understand her emotions and responses. He knew she wasn't assertive with her affection; she still flushed pink when he gave her a kiss on the cheek.

But Kyo had a quality with Tohru that he lacked in other aspects of his life: and that was patience.

If she didn't feel comfortable with moving forward in any way, he would just accept it.

The fish cooked with a satisfying sizzle, as Kyo placed them into a pan to grill.

The door creaked slightly as Tohru made her way in, hands full of shopping. She almost hit a wall, unable to see where she was going.

"Idiot, give me some of that." Kyo scolded her, although his words were affectionate, taking most of the bags out of her arm with ease.

Tohru gave him a deflated expression, but knew it was better to let him take care of it, being bigger and stronger than herself.

She stopped worrying about it and sniffed the air tentatively.

"Kyo, what are you cooking?" She asked eagerly, moving over to see what he had been making.

"Fish. I've cooked it, but I don't know what else I should put with it." He told her, beginning to put away the shopping.

Tohru smiled, it looked good, but Kyo could get rather blocked when it came to creativity.

The worked in a peaceful silence, while Tohru made a sauce to go with the fish along with some rice, and Kyo made sure all the groceries were placed away.

The two sat down to eat their lunch.

Tohru ate happily, loving the taste and smell that filled the home.

"So what took you so long?" Kyo asked her, meeting her gaze.

"I passed this cafe on the way home. It looks nice enough, and they are looking for an assistant, to do multiple jobs. I wondered if I should apply there, so I went inside to look around, and I liked it." Tohru explained; a flush of excitement evident on her face.

Kyo smiled warmly at her. "It sounds perfect."


The sink clanged and clattered with the familiar sound of pots being cleaned, as Tohru washed them diligently. She had sent Kyo to bed, knowing he was tired from working. Besides, it was only a small amount of dishes to be washed, since the cutlery could be cleaned using the dishwasher.

The rest of the afternoon was quiet for Tohru. Kyo had gone out again to the dojo, while she sat at home, fixing up her resume to hand in to the cafe tomorrow.

She dried the last pot with a cloth, placing it back in its cupboard where it belonged.

Sighing with appreciation, Tohru made her way to the bedroom, picking out a shirt and shorts to sleep in, since it was a very warm night.

She trudged to the bathroom, putting on her pyjamas and then brushing her teeth.

When she was finally ready to sleep, the phone rang.

It wasn't too late, but she wondered who would ring anyway.

"Hello?" She answered sleepily.


Kyo sat up in bed, awake from the phone's ringing. The phone was near the kitchen, so he couldn't hear Tohru's voice.

He didn't know how long he waited, and he was tempted to get up and see who it was. But he stayed where he sat, figuring Tohru would come to sleep soon anyway, and he'd eventually find out.

Kyo shook himself when he heard her footsteps approaching, having dozed off for a bit.

The light was dim, so he couldn't see her, and he shifted to the lamp beside him, turning it on.

For a moment the light was blinding and he blinked a few times to adjust his eyes.

Then he saw her, framed by the lamp's light, crying silently.

He moved to get up immediately, sensing a problem, but she waved his efforts away, making her way over to him, collapsing on the bed, sobbing loudly now.

Kyo was at a loss. He had seen her cry so many times before, but he didn't know whether it was something really serious and couldn't bring himself to ask her yet.

Tentatively at first, he embraced her, hugging her close.

She cried for a long time, Kyo didn't release her until she began to calm, eventually out of tears.

He gave a long sigh, relaxing his grip on her, tilting her gaze up towards him.

"Tell me what's wrong." He ordered.

Tohru gave a final sniff, wiping her eyes with her hand and shrugging dismissively.

"It... It's nothing."

Kyo wasn't fazed by this. Tohru was a sensitive person, especially to those around her. By 'it's nothing,' she meant, 'it won't mean much to you, but it means a lot to me.'

Kyo's gaze was serious. "Tohru..."

She caved, knowing he wouldn't give up until he found out what had upset her so much.

"Uo... Uo called. She was worried, because she hadn't heard from me." Tohru's eyes welled with tears once more, threatening to fall.

Kyo sighed, rummaging through the bedside table's drawers to find a tissue or cloth.

He found one, bringing to Tohru's face, and gently ridding her of the tears.

She gave a small laugh, "Thanks."

He embraced her once more, resting his head on top of hers.

Tohru snuggled against him, feeling safe.

"I miss her. I miss Hana. I miss them all so much. And I can't visit them; when they call, it saddens me, because I'm that far away." She whispered.

"You can always go back." Kyo suggested, half heartedly. "If you miss them that much..."

Tohru sighed. "I can't, you know that."

"I'm sure Master and Hana would like you to stay with them."

Tohru smiled. She knew he was trying to distract her.

"Kyo, I'll always be a little saddened by the fact that I can't see my friends. I just need reminding of why I chose this, every once in a while." She told him quietly.

"But I don't get why you did this, I mean all of them are back there. So is your mother's grave." Kyo murmured.

"Do you want me to tell you?" Tohru asked him, smiling up at his face.

Kyo made a slight humming sound.

"It's worth it since I can be with you." Tohru whispered, involuntarily feeling her face flush pink with embarrassment at her boldness.

Kyo hugged her tighter, letting his head rest on hers, smiling.

Eventually he pried her body from him, running a hand through his hair. "It's going to be like this for a while. But you know they are always thinking of you."

Tohru smiled shyly. "I guess you're right."

She shifted away rubbing her eyes wearily. "It's pretty late." She mumbled and glanced at Kyo curiously, her eyes widening. "What are you doing?"

He pulled his shirt off, throwing it to the floor.

"You soaked it." He explained.

"Oh." Tohru's face went pink once more.

"It'll be fine, just can't sleep in it." Kyo told her. "You need some rest. Go to sleep." He ordered, pushing her lightly across to her side, a grin on his face.

She laughed as Kyo lay down, leaning over to turn the lamp off.

"No more phone calls at night." He muttered, resting his arms behind his head, and sighing contently.

Tohru sat up, hugging herself. The darkness reminded her of loneliness, and on impulse, she shifted over to Kyo's side of the bed.

Kyo raised his eyebrow when he felt her arms go around him, hugging him tightly and burying her face against his chest.

"Uh... Tohru?"

"Do you mind if I sleep here?" She asked, with her voice obscured by Kyo's chest.

"No, as long as you're ok with it."

Tohru smiled and Kyo could feel it, as well as tears.

Regardless of the dark, he pulled her face up to his. "Don't cry again." He murmured.

Tohru gave a weak laugh. "I'm sorry."

Kyo hand touched her cheek softly, tracing the side of her face. Tohru gave a small sigh of contentment.

"Sleep, now."

"Okay..." Tohru's voice was cut off by a yawn. She was exhausted.

Kyo chuckled, getting comfortable with this new situation, while Tohru began to drift off to sleep.

"Tohru?" He asked hesitantly.

"Mhm?" She mumbled, turning her head in the direction of his face.

"I love you."

But she was already asleep, her breathing slowed to a normal pace.

Kyo shook his head in wonder at her, still amazed that she loved him enough to leave her best friends behind, just so she could be with him.

But he knew he would do the same for her.

He wrapped an arm protectively around her, kissing her forehead on instinct rather than purpose.

Kyo closed his eyes and fell asleep, feeling more at peace than he had in days.