Black Roses
After that kiss, it was clear to them that they were in-love with each other. They sat beside each other, holding each other's hand.
"There is only one type of happiness in life…" Tohru sighed. "It is to love and be loved." Her head rested on his shoulder. But she took precaution because Yuki might accidentally turn into a mouse.
"So it's okay with you if you're my girl and we have to make it official with your grandpa first." Yuki playfully added, "I want to ask him if it's alright to take his granddaughter away for good."
Tohru looked at him with wide eyes. "You're not marrying me yet. Let's just take it easy, okay? We'll tell Grandpa once we're ready. But most of all, we have to clear things up with Akito and the rest of the Sohmas."
Yuki frowned a little. He knew that Akito would do anything just to break both of them up. "Don't you think that we shouldn't tell Akito? We could tell the others, of course but not Akito."
Tohru held his cheek and made him look inside her eyes. "We shared a special moment a few moments ago. No one loves you like I do. And with that love, we can overcome anything."
"You're the one I can't live without, Tohru." Yuki replied, "I'd cheat with destiny just to be near you if you went away. I don't want Akito to hurt you and take you away from me."
Tohru went silent for a moment. But then, she smiled at Yuki. "Okay. Just promise me that you won't keep things concerning Akito and us, okay? I want to help you in every way."
Yuki nodded. He took her hand and clasped it with his hand. "The reason God put spaces between your fingers were so that I could fill them up. No one can change that, okay."
Tohru nodded. "Always you and me…"
Yuki inched forward and kissed her again. He wanted to wrap his arms around her but he knew that he would instantly change into a mouse if he did. But something unexpected happened. Tohru wrapped her arms around his neck. Miraculously, he didn't turn into a mouse.
Tohru noticed that and she stopped hugging and kissing him. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hug you…" Then, she stared at Yuki. "Why didn't you turn into a mouse?"
Yuki replied, "When you hug me, I don't turn into a mouse. But if I hug you, I turn into a mouse." The logic seemed correct to both of them.
Tohru suddenly shivered. "It's getting cold. Why don't we go home now? Shigure might be worried."
Yuki laughed mentally. Shigure never worried. He still worried about things but not about them. He'd start worrying when Akito was concerned.
Shigure was writing his manuscript. (Big surprise…!) He was happily waiting for the return of the 'two lovebirds' as he described them. A few weeks ago, he decided to write a story about them. As of that moment, he was stuck. He can't write something fictional when the story was true. So he had to wait.
Kyou was up in the rooftop, waiting for their return. He watched the stars and muttered, "I know you don't love me so why am I even trying?"
Then, Kyou heard footsteps. He stood up and looked below. It was Yuki and Tohru, chattering and smiling. They were even walking hand-in-hand. When he saw that, he felt that he was torn into a million pieces, that his world finally ended, that he died. "I'm holding into a dream that won't come true…"
Shigure ran to the mud room and opened the doors for them. "Welcome back, lovebirds! Do you want a room?" Tohru blushed and for once, Yuki didn't beat the crap out of Shigure for making that naughty remark. He just blushed as well. Shigure continued, "Aww… You two should really get your own love nest. I might disturb both of you…"
"You better stop that, you stupid dog." Kyou was leaning on the wall. "Hey, you…" He pointed at Tohru. "Why didn't you at least make us a considerable dinner before going out on a date? I had to eat unbearable Chinese food a few hours ago. And it doesn't agree with my stomach…"
Tohru immediately stammered, "I'm sorry… It won't happen again… I promise…"
Yuki slapped Kyou on the face and warned, "Don't you dare point your fingers or yell at her, you stupid cat…" He grabbed his collar "… or you'll have to answer to me."
Tohru touched Yuki's shoulder and said, "Don't hurt him on my behalf. It's mainly my fault…" Yuki looked at her and let Kyou go.
Kyou smirked. "Suddenly, you're controlled by her, huh?" He didn't get his expected remark because Yuki walked away, holding Tohru's hand. They were smiling at each other, as if the brawl never happened. He decided to retire for the night and to rest.
The next morning, Tohru woke up early and decided to cook a special breakfast for Yuki and the others. She made some pancakes and fried some bacon and eggs. Yuki appeared in front of the kitchen door. He still looked asleep but he rose due to the succulent smell of the delicious food. "Your cooking woke me up…"
Tohru grinned at him as she placed two heart-shaped pancakes on a plate and handed it over to Yuki. "I made that one especially for you."
"Thanks, hon…" Yuki kissed her on the cheek.
"My! My! My! Isn't it a little too early to be lovey-dovey?" Shigure snickered. Then, he asked, "Did you make heart-shaped pancakes for me, Tohru?"
Tohru handed him a plate of round-shaped pancakes. "I'm sorry. I only made those for my love."
"What did you make for me, then?" Kyou entered the kitchen, angry as usual.
"I made you some bacon and eggs." Tohru added, "I wasn't sure if you like pancakes…" Tohru showed him a plate of bacon and eggs. The eggs were sunny side up and the bacons were just right.
"Tohru, you didn't have to make a special breakfast for him." Shigure said, "He eats anything."
Kyou looked at the plate and said, "I don't want to eat with anyone of you…" He turned around and walked away.
'Kyou…' Tohru thought, 'I wonder what's wrong…'
Seeing Tohru's frown, Shigure assured her, "He'll be okay… He's always like that… He'll come around."
Yuki told everyone else, "Let's eat…"
Tohru did the spring cleaning inside the house. Yuki helped Tohru while Shigure left and passed a manuscript to his publisher. Of course, that thought surprised Tohru and Yuki. They thought he was sick or something.
Shigure reasoned, "I'm just turning over a new leaf, that's all." Inside Shigure's real reason was, 'It's because I wanted to leave you two alone…'
Tohru started to clean the rooms first. She took out the futons to air them out. Yuki took out the books and aired them out as well. They looked like husband and wife, cleaning out their house to Kyou.
Kyou was watching over them. He was seated on a branch on a large tree beside the house. "Just to see you smile like that hurts me even more because you're with him." It really does hurt him deeply. Then, he decided to go away for a while. He went to Kazuma's place.
Kazuma's dojo wasn't that far. When Kyou got there, Kazuma was sweeping some dust. Kyou ran toward Kazuma and hugged him. That was when he started to cry. "Why? She was the only one for me. Why can't she see that I love her more than anything in this world? I gave her my heart and she doesn't even know that she has it…" He continued to sob.
Kazuma's face softened. He patted Kyou's head. "Sometimes the person you love just doesn't understand how much you love them, Kyou."
"I wish that falling out of love is easy as falling in it." Kyou sobbed a little softer. "Shishou, you know that I'd give my live for her."
"You love her that much? Let's go inside and talk about it more." Kazuma let him go and led him inside. They sat on the cushions and Kyou related his story to Kazuma.
Kyou ended his narration with questions. "How many times can a heart be broken before it needs repair? How many times can a heart be fixed before it isn't there? How many times can one be dumped before it doesn't hurt? What did I do to deserve this pain and tis feeling of sadness I have in my heart?" He calmed down a bit. He was now talking straight; he doesn't choke after all that crying.
Kazuma placed his hand on Kyou's arm. "This is unlike you, Kyou, but I can give you one great piece of advice." He stood up and got something from his cabinet. It was a black rose. "See this rose?" Kyou nodded. "You see, I once loved someone but the problem is that she doesn't love me. You know what I did? I gave her a black rose, secretly. Through that, I was able to let go of my love slowly." Kazuma handed him the rose.
Kyou took the black rose. He inspected it. It was still fresh. "So who was your girl?"
"Rin Sohma…"
"Oh…" That was Kyou's only remark. He was surprised that someone like Kazuma would fall for Rin Sohma.
"I have a batch of black roses in the back." Kazuma added, "You can have them."
"Thanks, Shishou." Kyou said, "Thanks for being there for me…."
Tohru and Yuki made the house squeaky clean. Through their teamwork, they finished cleaning the house in one day.
Tohru made tea for both of them. "Here's your cup of tea."
"Thanks, Tohru." Yuki answered her. He sipped some tea and just watched the wind blew by with the girl he loved.
Kyou went back to Shigure's place. Kyou got one of Kazuma's black roses in hand. He saw Tohru and Yuki together, drinking tea in the living room. He snuck in but Yuki sensed him.
"What are you up to, sneaking around like that?" Yuki suddenly asked him.
Because of Yuki's question, Tohru looked behind them. "Hi, Kyou!" She smiled at him.
Kyou hid the rose behind his back. "Hi. I got to… uhm… go to my room now." He quickly ran up the stairs.
"He's really something." Tohru sighed. "I wish I could understand him though."
"No one understands him, except for Kazuma-sensei and Kagura." Yuki added, "He's not a bad guy; he's just misunderstood." He looked into the horizon.
The wind suddenly blew by and Tohru's braids swayed with the wind. She sighed once more. 'I just wish I could understand Kyou.'
Kyou silently entered Tohru's room. It was clean. Everything was sparkling. "Whoa. That girl is really clean." Then, he smirked, "After all, girls are like that, especially her."
He approached her desk. There were books on one side and a pen holder on the other. There was a piece of paper on her desk. He placed the rose on her desk and scribbled a few words on the paper, using the pen on the pen holder. A few seconds later, he placed the pen back on the pen holder and left the room.
Shigure came back with food that night. This time, it was Italian food. He said, "I got this for free from Mayu…"
Shigure entered the publishing house. It was the first time he had been there. Everybody stared at him as he made his way towards the publisher's office.
"I promise you that I'd get his manuscript soon." A voice from the publisher's office said, "He needs a little more time."
There was another voice inside that room. "We gave him enough time in the past. Can't he pass a decent manuscript in time?"
Shigure
just came in and said, "I have the next manuscript here." He
showed them a very thick brown envelope.
Mayu's eyes were welling up with tears. "Shigure… Finally, God has answered my prayers." She knelt down and thanked God.
The
other person in the room asked, "You are Shigure Sohma, I
presume."
Shigure
nodded. "I just came by to pass my latest manuscript. I don't
want to disappoint Mayu." He smiled at Mayu. "Well, I got to go
now. Bye." He left the room but then, he stopped. "Please send
the check to my house. Thanks." He went outside. Mayu went
out of the room and called, "Shigure, wait!" Shigure stopped and
looked at her. "I want to treat you to dinner tonight."
"You
didn't have to do so." Shigure smiled at her. "Maybe you could
just treat me into an Italian take-out. I'm bringing something for
my relatives."
Mayu nodded. "Italian, it is."
They ordered pasta, fettuccine, and garlic bread at an Italian restaurant in the city. By the time Shigure got back to his house, it was already night.
"That's the reason why I got home tonight with Italian." Shigure added, "You don't have to cook tonight, Tohru." He showed them the boxes again
Yuki asked Shigure, "Where's Mayu? Doesn't she want to join us?"
"I invited her over but she said she had something to take care of." Shigure looked at Tohru, "Why don't you prepare dinner, Tohru. I need to talk to Yuki, alone."
Tohru nodded and took the boxes of food from Shigure. "Okay." She left the room and went inside the kitchen.
"What is it that you want me to talk about?" Yuki asked Shigure.
Shigure answered, "I want to talk to you about Tohru. I know you love her…" Then, he slipped himself nearer Yuki. He had that sly look on his eyes. "I want to know if you did anything today except for cleaning, of course."
Yuki knew what the heck Shigure was talking about. He gave Shigure a punch on the face. "Don't talk about Tohru and me like that, you pervert." Shigure moved a little. Yuki didn't give him a very hard punch.
Tohru came back with plates of pasta and the garlic bread. "Dinner's here!" She glanced around and saw that Kyou wasn't there yet. "I'll go and get Kyou, okay?" She placed the plates on the table and left the room.
She went upstairs and passed by her room. The door was open. "Why is my room's door open?" She went inside and saw a black rose. She picked it up. "A black rose…" Then, she saw the letter.
To my darling,
I give you a black rose as a symbol of my dying love. I don't want to hold on something I can't reach because it's starting to kill me.
I just want to tell you that no matter what happens; I'll be always there for you.
Always…
She looked at her door and whispered, "Kyou…"
Author's Notes:
Hi! Thanks to the reviewers, you know who you are.
This is Chapter 3: Black Roses
I changed the title from the last preview. Black Roses sound so much better.
You might ask me why Tohru thought that Kyou was the one who wrote the letter. Well, the answer is that Kyou is the only one who could have possibly done it. She's not that smart but she can pick up the idea.
If any of you likes to read Chobits, Card Captor Sakura, Naruto, Shaman King, and/or Harry Potter, I have other fics. I would love to see a review from you in my other fics.
Preview for Chapter 4: True Sadness
"Kyou… I saw the letter and the rose…"
"You saw it…"
