In the bathroom Tohru let her façade go. She leaned against the door shaking. Her breathing was ragged. The uniform and towel she had in her hand slipped and fell to the floor but she didn't care. Now that she was out of Kyo's presence the pain was coming back. The shame of what happened. The fact that she was broken was returning.
Kyo lay in bed for a minute before he decided to get up. He threw on his uniform minus his tie and he left his shirt open exposing the black shirt underneath. He knew Tohru was faking this morning. She did every day so he didn't expect today to be any different. When he headed downstairs he saw Yuki sitting at the table watching TV. Kyo sat beside him and tried to pay attention to the screen but his thoughts kept wandering to Tohru. It was obvious that she was getting worse. He hadn't seen her eat in days and he knew she wasn't sleeping well. She always looked tired and she wasn't so enthusiastic about anything anymore. It was as if she lost interest in life.
"How is she?" Yuki's voice brought Kyo out of his thoughts. He turned to Yuki who had his head forward but his eyes were cast downward.
"Worse. It's getting worse but we have to keep trying." Kyo sighed.
"She loves you. I hope you know that."
"Yea I no. She told me last night." Yuki's eyes got wide but they slowly closed. It wasn't that he was jealous. It was the fact that he looked at Tohru like a mother and how would any son react to his mother loving a man. Yuki was happy for them he was just hesitant in letting his 'mother' go. He was protective over his bestfriend.
"I'm happy for you both, truly I am, but if you hurt her I will kill you."
"I know and I promise I'll try my best to be with her. I know what she means too you and I wouldn't take it from you." With everything said both boys turned their attention back to the screen and remained silent.
Tohru stared at herself in the mirror and looked herself over. She had washed her hair and washed and shaved her legs until they were silky smooth. She left her hair down and natural even though Hanajima would probably curl it later. When she looked over her uniform she noticed how short her skirt was. Had it always been this short?
'I'll just ask the boys I guess. Or maybe that's not a good idea. They might think I'm a slut! Oh no.' Tohru screamed inside her head. She shrugged it off and left the bathroom. In the living room the boys were watching TV.
"Good morning." Her voice came out a whisper. Both boys smiled at her and said their greetings.
"Good morning, Tohru." Yuki greeted with a small wave and smile.
"Morning babe." Kyo gave a two finger salute and smiled kindly at her. The pain returned only stronger. When she was near Kyo it would hurt. If he ever found out it would only break his heart. He was so happy and she didn't deserve him. As she made her way to the kitchen to make breakfast she was vaguely aware of her surroundings for the pain was blinding. Lost in her thoughts she was scared by a hand on her shoulder and let out a small scream.
"Tohru I'm hungry. What's for breakfast?" Shigure whined like a small child rather than an adult. Shigure was always one to be like that and yet he was considered the adult of the house. That so wasn't true. Tohru spun around and faced the whiny adult.
"Eggs, bacon, and pancakes." Her voice came blank and void of emotion. It was a western style breakfast but it was simple and easy to cook. Shigure looked at her funny and slowly backed out of the kitchen. The new Tohru scared him and he could never imagine her to ever be scary.
After breakfast Kyo was walking to school. He was walking beside Tohru. He was walking on her left and Yuki on her right with her in the middle. Kyo has insisted that he walk closer to the street. They were walking to school and Kyo was currently holding Tohru's hand while the other was shoved into his pocket. His eyes wandered to Tohru and he looked her up and down. He noticed how her legs looked extra long, her hips got wider, her waist was smaller, her chest had developed and her shoulders were slim. Her long brown hair swayed gently in the breeze. This morning she hadn't eaten breakfast and was very quiet. She hadn't kissed him all day and looked deep in concentration.
When they arrived at school everyone immediately started to point and whisper. This confused Kyo needless to say. He and Yuki glanced at each other and then at the girl between them. She had tensed and stiffened. Her eyes very blank and unsurprised as if she knew this was coming. She simply let go of Kyo's hand and walked forward to their classroom. Yuki and Kyo looked at the other with a look of pure confusion. They noticed that her walk seemed dead. There was no bounce to it. Her hips didn't sway with vigor and her shoulders sagged slightly.
This Tohru was dead. She wasn't alive. She had no emotion and no life. It was as if she was a heartless being that breathed. She had no enthusiasm and no love. She was broken and ragged. This was not the Tohru who stole his heart. This was not the girl he fell in love with or that had his heart. The one that he wanted. This was not his Tohru. He didn't know who this creature was. She was nothing but a stranger. A stranger who walked among them and refused to search for her soul. A shell of a former life and one that was long forgotten. She was nothing but a whisper on the wind and was slipping farther from Kyo each day.
