HEy! I am so so so sorry this took so long to put up. I got sick twice within like...2 weeks (which is probably why Kyo gets sick for this chapter) Any ways, I did make it longer than usual, so I hope that that makes up for a bit. Thanks for the reviews!

Firevein, thank you! ^^ I plan on them writing more letters that will (hopefully) eventually get more emotional and touching. I just didn't want it to go too fast, so I'm sorry if it's a bit slow now

lavillalover, I'm sorry! I know it's painfully slow and annoying if you're trying to wait for a story update. I will do my best and hopefully get better. With research papers and finals and all I'm afraid I've been really busy. But hopefully I'll have a bit more free time soon! :D

the anon who commented, thank you so much! That was really sweet, I'm deeply flattered you felt my story worthy of a comment then :D


It had not occurred to Kyo that Yuki might have responded until Tohru hinted at it while he helped her make lunch a week after he had written the first email.

Yuki was out tending his garden and Shigure was off on some errand or another of his own. It was a cloudy Saturday that seemed to promise storms later. Like a habit his body simply couldn't break, Kyo felt tired and lethargic. His whole body ached as he heard the distant thunder.

"Yeah? You think he would?"

"Mmm, he doesn't say anything about it exactly, he's just been asking about my 'friend' recently." Tohru said.

"Hmm." Kyo responded and started the rice cooker. They both remained silent as Tohru cut the vegetables and Kyo prepared the fish. "You think you'll write him back?"

"Wasn't gonna." Kyo responded temporarily pausing from his daydream of sunny days and open spaces. "Oh." Tohru said, clearly disappointed.

Kyo sighed and pulled himself completely out of his happy daydream to put his full concentration into their conversation. The tiredness was rapidly increasing and he was starting to feel quite warm.

"You think I should?"

"Ah, it's your decision and if that's what you feel you should do then you shouldn't. Or…wait…."Tohru tried to sort out her sentence as Kyo sighed.

"But you think I SHOULD."

"Well, I …yes." Tohru said. She blushed and blushed and looked to the floor. She didn't like telling people what to do, but sometimes it seemed to be the right thing to do. Or if not tell them, at least strongly suggest it.

Perhaps it was the weather, or perhaps it was Tohru's blushing face, or maybe the heat that was getting unbearable and the annoying scratch in the back of his throat….or maybe for something else entirely, but whatever the reason Kyo simply nodded and said he'd try.

After getting some help logging back into this email (he still didn't have it down on his own) he saw Yuki had indeed written. He blinked tiredly at the screen and clicked on the email.

Dear Friend,

Your email was greatly appreciated. It came at a time that I really needed encouragement. Thank you so much for your kind words. They really did mean a great deal to me. I understand if you'd like to remain anonymous, but I'd really love to meet you. Perhaps we could get coffee some time?

-Yuki

"Geez, so formal" Kyo grumbled. He yawned and reread the short email. Like hell they'd meet. Kyo had to remind himself that he was kind and caring as he typed his reply.

Once finished he started to close his computer when he remembered he had a paper due that coming week. Usually he just used the computers at school as they had preset settings and even if something was wrong a teacher was never far off if needed for help. But now that he was actually using his computer he figured he might as well put it to good use for school.


Yuki finished in his garden as quickly as possible. It was going to rain and it was hot and muggy out. Not a good combination for his lungs. He made it back to the house just before the first drops began to fall. He was slipping his shoes off when he heard a loud groan from the next room.

"Stupid firggin computer." Kyo's head was resting on his computer and a stream of incoherent curses streamed from his lips.

'Kyo's using a computer?...'a question began to form in his mind, but it was discarded before it even had a chance to fully form. Of course it wasn't Kyo.

Despite this, curiosity drove him to see what was wrong with his loud cousin.

Kyo had not heard any one come in. He had been struggling with his paper for awhile without any success. He would have gone to Tohru but she had left to get a forgotten ingredient for their lunch.

He was just gonna give up and nap. Now that his face was pressed into his keyboard he realized his laptop was quite warm. He could sleep like this; the paper wasn't due till later anyways.

He was jarred from his napping thoughts by a soft voice above him.

Kyo jerked up and barely missed slamming his head into Yuki.

They stared at each other for a moment before Kyo said, "Err…what?"

"I asked what was wrong."

They stared at each other again. Kyo tried to organize his thoughts that seemed to get fuzzier and fuzzier with each passing moment.

"….I uh, screwed up the spacing on my paper…I don't know how to fix it."

Without really thinking about why he bothered, Yuki knelt down to take a look at the screen. Kyo stiffened. Yuki was extremely close.

Despite his discomfort, Kyo couldn't help but notice Yuki's scent. He smelled earthy like the plants in his garden….he smelled really good. Kyo blushed at the thought.

"Here," Yuk said pointing at the screen. "Click this tab, see? It gives you the different options here." Yuki began, taking him step by step through fixing the paper.

Trying to ignore his fuzzy, silly thoughts as well as Yuki's scent, Kyo paid close attention and managed to salvage his work. Once finished explaining, Yuki stood and cracked his back.

"Lunch ready?"

Kyo's thoughts had turned silly again and he was too busy wondering if there was a close mimic cologne of Yuki's scent as he had already started to miss it.

"Hey!"

Kyo snapped out of his thoughts and looked up.

"What?"

"I was wondering if lunch was ready yet."

"…Almost. Tohru should be back soon."

As if on cue Tohru walked through the door slightly damp from the light rain. She beamed at them and held up her grocery bags.

"Are you hungry yet?"


As they ate Yuki and Tohru talked about school and the garden. Kyo, meanwhile, could feel his head slowly drooping. 'Why is it so bad today?' he wondered and listened to the rain outside.

His throat was starting to seriously hurt. He sniffled and tried to concentrate on his lunch.

Kyo's behavior did not escape Tohru's notice. She didn't want to say anything since he seemed so sensitive when it came to these things, but even as she chatted with Yuki she kept sending worried glances in his direction. Finally she could take it no longer.

"Kyo, are you alright?"

Kyo's brow furrowed as though he had to think deeply on the question.

"I think….I'm gonna lay down." He made a move like he was gonna get up but seemed to change his mind and instead flopped onto the floor.

"Perhaps your bed would be more comfortable?" she coaxed as she moved to help him up.

"No, here is fine." He mumbled.

She felt his forehead. "Oh, Kyo, you have a fever, have you taken anything? Can I get you something?"

He shook his head.

Tohru sent Yuki a pleading look.

Yuki walked around the table towards them. "Alright, come on. Get up." He said pulling Kyo up by the arm.

Kyo mumbled what sounded like something inappropriate but got up. He shrugged Yuki off of him and stumbled his way towards the stairs and his room.

Tohru watched him leave with worry clouding her eyes.

"He'll be fine, Miss Honda. He probably just needs to sleep it off."

She nodded but still looked worried. "I'm gonna make him some soup before I leave for work…will you make sure he eats?" She said turning to Yuki.


After Tohru left, Yuki ignored Kyo. Dinner wouldn't be for awhile and he had only promised Tohru he'd make sure the boy would eat. He hoped Shigure would get home before dinner. Tohru had given him specific instructions on reheating their food, but he figured it was possible to even screw that up. Actually, now that he thought about it, Kyo usually saw to dinner when Tohru was away.

As Yuki decided what he wanted to do it began to thunder and what started as a few droplets of water turned into a downpour.

His first thoughts were that of concern for Tohru. He went to the phone and dialed.

It rang exactly two times before it was answered.

"Hatori? Hey, I was just wondering if you could pick Tohru up in your car after work since it's raining so hard?"

"What time?" came Hatori's stoic voice.

"Around ten-thirty."

"I'll pick her up."

There was a pause.

"Anything else?"

"um, Kyo's sick. I mean, it's probably nothing but-"

"I'll check on him when I drop Tohru off."

There was another, longer pause.

"OK, well, thanks."

"Are you well?"

"Huh?...Yeah, I'm fine."

"I'm glad to hear it.…Alright, I'll see you tonight then. …Bye."

Yuki hung up and let a sigh. He really hated Hatori. Well, perhaps hate was too strong word, but he didn't like him. He knew it wasn't right. Hatori was a good person, really, but all his memories involving him were bad.

Yuki pushed the thoughts and the awkward conversation out of his mind and instead grabbed a book he'd been meaning to finish.

It wasn't until about eight O'clock that Yuk put down his book.

He stretched his stiff joints and yawned. His stomach growled. It was only then that he realized how late it had gotten.

As he fixed his dinner (thankfully without ruining anything) he also realized he hadn't heard anything from Kyo since he had conge to bed at lunch. Slight guilt swept over him as he thought of Tohru and how she had probably counted on him to at least check on Kyo every now and then.

The guilt was not so strong, however, that he couldn't finish his own dinner first. After he was through he warmed Kyo's soup and brought it up to him. He didn't bother knocking but instead uncharacteristically kicked at the door since his hands were full.

Kyo was sprawled out across his bed covered by a thin sheet. It was obvious from his appearance that he still had a fever.

"Hey." Yuki started quietly, nudging the bed.

Nothing.

"Oi!" he said quite a bit louder, nudging Kyo's foot this time.

Kyo groaned and curled up in a ball.

"Hey, I brought your dinner."

"Not hungry."Kyo buried his face into a nearby pillow. Yuki hesitated and considered leaving, but was stopped when he once again remembered Tohru. If she got home and Kyo hadn't eaten she would be deeply worried.

"I don't care, you're gonna eat."

Kyo poked his head up slightly from the pillow. His face was flushed and his visible eye was bright from the fever.

Yuki stifled a gasp. Kyo looked really….attractive. Had he always been? Surely not.

He cleared his throat and held the tray out in front of him towards Kyo.

Kyo looked at him a moment longer before grumpily sitting up and taking the food.

For a few minutes they both remained in an awkward silence. Yuki stood wondering if he should leave while Kyo looked sleepily down at his soup. Yuki wound leaving but returned shortly with his computer.

"Whadda ya doin?" Kyo mumbled.

"Making sure you eat, so…eat."

The food was starting to look good and Kyo could feel his stomach growling. So instead of arguing he picked up his bowl and began to eat.

"Hatori's coming over tonight." Yuki said as his computer came to life.

Kyo groaned again.

'Apparently he doesn't care too much for him either.' Yuki thought to himself.

As Kyo ate Yuki checked his email. Once again, several of the letters in his inbox were from Kakeru. But Yuki smiled as he noticed an email from his unknown friend.

Hey,

I'm glad my note was so inspiring to you. You do seem a little happier recently. I've even seen you smile. It's a good look for you. I'm sorry but it's probably best we didn't meet. I guess it's weird but I'd rather stay anonymous like you said.

Kyo noticed an odd mixture of emotions run across Yuki's face. He seemed happy but he also looked confused and a little disappointed. He desperately wanted to ask, but he couldn't seem to make the words form. So instead he drank his soup as Yuki began to compose his reply email.


sO, a bit longer like I said...but with probably way more mistakes, for which I am terribly sorry. I triple checked it but I'm sure there's probably still some I missed. Sorry if it seems too out of character. Once again, suggestions and the like are so so appreciated. So please let me know what you think and stuff. Thanks for reading!