She had failed.

Tohru sat petrified to her chair. She had failed! She had tried so hard and yet she had failed! Shock made her body ridged. She couldn't move, even when kyo and Yuki, along with Uo and Hana came up beside her. She just sat there with tears welling up her big blue eye. Her hands clenched as rebellious tears leaked free.

"Hey... Tohru?" Uo said as she saw the trickle of tears running down her face despite her efforts to try to stop them. Uo's curiosity got the best of her and she had to glance down to see what she was crying over. Her eyes turned to shock as she read what was written on the top of her test. Hana couldn't help but to see over Uo's shoulder and when she did, her eyes widened with shock as well. Hana put her hands on Tohru's shoulders as Tohru started to sob, now with tears freely running down her pail cheeks.

"Don't worry Tohru," Hana said as she now gave Tohru a giant hug, "I'm sure it's not as bad as you think."

Tohru still just sat there, her eyes downcast and her shoulders hitching gently with sobs of frustration and sadness. 'How could have I have failed the test and disappointed mom?' The thought of disappointing her mother just built upon her sadness.

"Come on Miss. Honda" Yuki said gently as he held out his hand, "Let's go back to the house"

Tohru finally managed a small nod as she took his hand and stood up.

"Maybe we should we should go with you..." suggested Uo

"N-no! No! I-I'm Fine it was just a bit of a shock that's all! Really! Maybe if I talk to the teacher Monday, She'll give me an e-extra credit or something..." Tohru said as she wiped the tears from her blotchy face. Hana just nodded and smiled a small smile; it hurt her so much to see Tohru in pain.
The two of them (Hana and Uo) watched there friend walk out of the classroom with tears still shining on her cheeks. It took them a long time after they had left, to leave themselves. However, as they started to leave the classroom Hana suddenly stopped and stiffened.

"Something isn't right...," she muttered to herself. She dispelled the thought with a shake of her head, as she turned and left with Uo.

"I-I'm really sorry about all that. I-I really didn't mean to worry you or anything, i-it's just that I was surprised that's all and...um," Tohru continuously apologized the whole trip home. Neither of the boys could say anything. They were as much surprised as Tohru. They had grown so confident the she would surely pass the test that they never thought that she would have failed. After an awkward walk, the three of them finally reached the house.

"Oh! I'm so glad that your back! How was your da...?" Shigure suddenly stopped when he saw the boy's sullen faces and Tohru's puffy eyes, "What's wrong?"

The boys looked at Tohru from the corners of their eyes. She suddenly snapped from her train of thought and smiled at Shigure with a big smile.

"Nothing, it's just been a hard day that's all. Now if you please excuse me, I need t-to go put some things in my room"

Tohru bowed and slid past the worried Shigure as she headed towards the stairs. Soon after there was a noticeable click from her bedroom door, Shigure motioned the two young boys into the next room. They all sat down around the table, neither of them looking at one another. After awhile Shigure broke the silence with a heavy sigh.

"So," he said with a rather uncharacteristic serious tone, "Why was Tohru so upset?"

Nobody said anything for a long time. Shigure was about to ask again when Kyo intervened.

"She failed the test" Kyo finally muttered Kyo as he stared at the table.

"And what does that mean exactly?"

" It means," Yuki said grimly, "that Miss. Honda will be staying back a year in school."

" No, I'm sorry I must have herd you wrong," said Shigure doubtfully as he shook his head, "I thought you said..."

"CAN'T YOU GET IT THROUGH YOUR THICK HEAD," Kyo angrily yelled at his Cousin, "SHE'S STAYING BACK!"

" Now now, there is no reason to yell. I'm sure there must have been some kind of mistake." Shigure said as he waved his hand in the air, "She couldn't have possibly failed; you studied with her did you not, Yuki?"

" Yes, that is true." Yuki replied. 'And' he thought to himself, 'the questions I gave her were almost exactly like the ones on the test.' Then a thought hit him. 'If she didn't fail the test then how do you explain the grade?'

The whole time that Yuki was thinking, he never once noticed that the eyes of his counterparts were upon him.

"If she didn't fail the test, and she still got a bad grade then someone must have done this on purpose. We know that this meant too much to Tohru, so someone must have done something to her test"

This last statement filled everyone's heads with new questions. Why? Who?
Unfortunately, a loud band upstairs interrupted their thoughts. They all looked at one another. Shigure and the others finally got up after a moment of silence. They walked quickly up the stairs and towards Tohru's room.

"Tohru?" Shigure said as he knocked on her door, "Are you okay?"

When no reply came, he slightly opened the door a crack. A horrible sight met his eyes. He flung the door wide open as he ran to Tohru who had collapsed onto the floor. Kyo and Yuki followed soon after. Shigure carefully picked Tohru up, so not to transform, and set her on her bed. His eyes filled with worry as he checked her breathing. Shigure sighed with relief as he felt her gentile breath agents his hand. He surveyed her with his eyes looking for some explanation about why she had fallen. His hand soon came to rest upon her forehead and quickly held it away. Her skin was so hot that he could feel it inches away. Behind him, Yuki and Kyo were waiting to hear what had happened. Shigure, suddenly remembering that they were there, straitened up, and turned towards the boys.

"She collapsed from a high fever. I think that all this stress has taken a toll on her." Shigure regretfully informed the two of them, "It would help if you would look after her for a while, just incase she gets worse. While you do that I'll call Hatori"

Shigure quickly walked down stairs. Yuki and Kyo just stood there as they gazed at the fever stricken Tohru. Guilt ran through both of their minds. They blamed themselves, even though they knew that they couldn't have done anything to prevent this. Kyo looked at Yuki and Yuki stared back. A silent agreement was made between them, and Yuki went down to get a cold cloth for her. Kyo just pulled up a chair and sat down beside her. Yuki soon came back and laid the towel across her forehead. The two said nothing for hours as the just sat and waited. Finally, they herd a soft crunch of a car entering the driveway. Below them, they herd the door open and close. After a moment, three figures appeared at the door. Shigure, Hatori, and much to Kyo's displeasure, Kagura.