AN: I had been working on OB,S and JaMR, but I had a nightmare a few nights ago about my *suspicions* that I was..hurt in the same way as Tohru when I was too young to remember so I needed to vent. My subconscious tends to lock away my bad memories for years until they come back as dreams, and one of my immediate family members has said some pretty questionable things to me and looked at me in places he shouldn't all my life so... Yeah let's just say I'm doing what I can to move out since he's been rather bold this past year. But that's enough blabbering lol.

Enjoy! It's short but this is a mini story of sorts so the chapters pale in comparison to my other stories.

I want to say thank you to Killer Disco Queen and iloveanime1322 for being such awesome and loyal readers! It always makes me smile reading your reviews, I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to reply personally!

"Don't touch me! No!" "Go away!" "Please don't touch me!"

"Tohru-chan! Wake up!"

Terrified jade eyes opened wide to stare at him, the brunette panting hard as she stopped writhing. Green orbs glittered with fear, panic, absolute dread and horror. It was a punch in the gut for the rat.

"Yuki-kun..." Her eyes closed and her teeth clenched. Sparkles of wetness appeared on her lashes before twin tears fell down her cheeks. She had started screaming in her sleep, thrashing her arms and legs wildly. He couldn't wake her up immediately; she screamed for a good minute as he shook her shoulders and said her name repeatedly. It was heartbreaking, unable to get through to her for what felt like an eternity and watching her struggle against an unseen enemy. It was even more so gut-wrenching having a good idea of what was going on in her head, seeing those tears stream down her face... And he couldn't help but feel like he was at least partially responsible for this sudden attack.

The girl wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close, burying her face in his neck as sobs escaped her. The rat's heart stopped, feeling as though cement blocks had been tied to it weighing it down. But he couldn't let himself break down, he had to be strong.

Thin yet strong arms wound around her, pulling her close as he sat up. She clung to him, leaning into him and choking back cries. It was devastating to his resolve...

"Shhh... You're safe now, Tohru... I got you. I'm here."

"Yuki..."

"It's okay... No one's going to hurt you ever again..." Not over his dead body. He would never again let her go off anywhere alone. How foolish he had been for not realizing the danger before... She was just always so cheerful with a "can-do" attitude so coruscating that he believed her, that she could handle herself and maneuver from threats... How stupid that he didn't-...he didn't... How did he not... Apprehend that... There were so many perils...so many hazards... And she had fallen victim to one of the very worst if not the absolute worst because of his indiscretion. He pulled the still sobbing girl closer to his chest, refusing to let his own grief and emotional suffering show. She needed his strength more than ever. She needed him to be her unwavering pillar of stability and fortitude. And by God he wasn't going to fail her now!

Yuki wanted to do more, wanted to do something to comfort her and make her forget her dream and what had happened, but he knew that despite what he may hope all he could do was be there. He could only cradle her crying naked form as she weeped and huddled herself as close as she could get to him. Perhaps...Hatori could erase her memories of what had happened?

No. She had told him a fair number of times, no matter what life threw at her, no matter how devastating things may seem, she didn't want any of her memories to be erased. She wanted to grow from them... Still, he'd keep that idea in his mind.

"Yuki-kun?..." Tohru's small, quivering voice drew him from his internal battles.

"Hai?"

"G...gomennasai..." The rat curled even more so around her protectively. She really thought she needed to apologize?... What on earth for?

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Tohru-chan..."

"I...I'm so stupid... I shouldn't have tried to come home alone...in the rain... Hana-chan offered to walk me home... She warned me!" Her crying picked up yet again, her entire body convulsing with her harsh sobs and gasping. She tensed as she burrowed closer to him. He could feel the wetness of her tears against his chest...and it took all of his mettle to not break down with her. "She warned me that she sensed something bad would happen! I was a fool... That part of town isn't safe... I should've- I should've fought harder when he grabbed me and threw me into the alley!" Her body curled as her weeping wracked her violently. "I should've thought faster! I should've used the fighting moves you taught me! I should've-"

"Tohru-chan..." The gray haired man pulled her impossibly closer, ghosting his mouth over the top of her head. "It isn't your fault. There is nothing that you could do. Don't blame yourself..."

"But-"

"Shhh... It isn't. And I promise, he will be convicted and given the death sentence if I have to give my dying breath to make sure of that." Arms tightened around him in an almost suffocating hold. He felt his spine pop.

"Don't talk like that... Yuki-kun..." He felt her head tilt further down, a choked sob escaping her. "I'm not worth it anyways..."

"Tohru." He grabbed her chin and tilted her head to look at him. Her face was damp, her eyes red and puffy from crying. His heart shattered. "You are worth so much more than you realize. Without you, my life - and others I'm sure - would be so dull and lifeless. I know I would never have a reason to smile. I wouldn't know happiness. Ever since you came into my life, I haven't been able to keep a smile off my face for long in your presence. You light up my entire world. You are the sun that illuminates my darkness, dries up the rain that falls on my heart. You are so important to me, and I will do whatever it takes to prove it..." He hovered his lips near her own, gazing into her eyes and searching for any hesitation or fear. None. Before he could move to close the space, she did for him. Her jade eyes fluttered closed as she pressed her soft petals to his. He sighed into the kiss and closed his own, relief washing over him as she seemed to let his words soak in. His hand shifting to the back of her head, he pulled her closer but without the slightest bit of force, instead the barest of nudges that she acted upon herself.

The riceball pulled away, green eyes opening to meet his violet gaze. "Arigatou...Yuki-kun... I... I can't be..that special..." She dropped her eyes, tilting her head down. The rat smiled tenderly and pressed a gentle kiss to the exposed top of her head.

"But you are, Tohru-chan. You are very special. No one could ever replace you or even compare to you..."

"I...I feel the same way about Yuki-kun..."

A demure sigh escaped her lips as she curled up comfortably against him, seemingly forgetting they were both completely naked, but he himself couldn't find it in him to care. He stroked her hair, curling his fingers in her strands. Gently, he guided her back down into a laying position, keeping her securely against him. His arm stayed wrapped around her waist protectively, the other bending under his head as he watched her nuzzle into his chest. He glanced up for a second to peer at the clock on the bedside table. 3:49AM. He hummed, curling around his riceball protectively and closing his eyes. She was already deep in slumber, her side rising and falling with her even inhales and exhales. In the morning, he would attempt to make her a breakfast fit for a queen. He could only hope it wouldn't turn into charcoal or set the entire house on fire...

As soon as Yuki heard the shower start for Tohru's morning wash, he set to work cooking. After digging around in the cabinets for an embarrassingly considerable period of time, he finally gathered all of the ingredients to make miso soup: miso paste, tofu, onions, and water. Following a recipe he found scribbled on notebook paper in Tohru's handwriting that had been left in the cabinet, he wasted no time combining the paste and water, allowing it to boil on the stove. Once the consistency was even, he stirred in the tofu and the separated onions. The aroma wafting from his concoction surprised him. Inside of being absolutely disgusting or smelling of burning matter, it smelled rather pleasant, edible even! He gave himself a mental pat on the back as he poured the soup into two bowls. He had actually managed to cook something from scratch! He hoped Tohru would like it. He wasn't a master by any means, but he prayed it would be agreeable to her tastes. He just wanted her to be happy...

His timing couldn't have been more perfect. Just as he set the bowls on the table, the object of his affection walked in, her hair wrapped in a towel on top of her head.

"Yuki...what's this?"

He smiled warmly at her surprised expression. "I made miso soup for breakfast. I do hope you like it, Princess..."

Confused emerald eyes simply locked with his for a brief second before what he said hit her. Her face flushed as her eyes widened and she went into one of her adorable frenzies. "Ah! Y-You didn't have to! Oh I do hope it wasn't too much trouble-! I know you don't like cooking too much! I could've -"

"Tohru-chan." She froze. "I did it because I wanted to. I wanted to surprise you with a warm healthy breakfast... Unfortunately I wasn't able to make a more proper meal..." He looked down shamefully. He could've at least made some toast or rice to go with it...

"Oh! No no! It's great, Yuki! Thank you! Really thank you so much. You're so thoughtful." He met her eyes, unable to keep himself from smiling. She herself was smiling so genuinely and warmly... It was the happiest she had looked in nearly two weeks. Thank God... He had missed that radiant expression so much he could almost cry! But he wouldn't. Instead he could only bask in overwhelming joy that he had affected her in such a way. It was HIS actions that brought back that beautiful smile.

"You're welcome, Tohru-chan."

They sat down to eat, and the rat watched the onigiri take her first bite (sip?) of her soup. Her eyes widened immediately and she froze, looking down at her bowl silently. Panic immediately gripped the former Jyuunishi. Panic, humiliation, self-chastisement. It must be horrible... He brought a spoonful to his mouth, immediately scrunching his nose. It could've been worse... But it certainly didn't have the same taste her soup did-

"It's delicious, Yuki-kun! Better than any I've ever had!" He turned his amethyst eyes to her, stunned by her sudden exclamation, even moreso by the fact she actually liked it?

"It...is?"

"Mm hmm!" As if to emphasize she brought another spoonful to her mouth. She sighed happily. "You should cook more often, Yuki!"

"W-well..." He blushed and turned back to his own dish, absentmindedly stirring his spoon in it. "I'm very glad you think so, Tohru-chan. I just feel like it's missing something."

"Hmm...dashi?" A mental slap on the forehead. Of course that was it! How could he have forgotten- "But it is still amazing! It's unique!" He thought over her words for a moment before smiling gently at her.

"It makes me very happy to know you think so."

She smiled warmly at him, her eyes closing as that angelic innocence radiated from her. She looked so happy... The entire room felt warmer and the air lighter as the two talked and laughed as they ate, and for the first time in what felt like ages, Yuki felt truly relaxed and content.