-Chapter 8-

Tohru

"Aw… These little guys are so cute too!" Tohru was smiling and looking into a cage that had a few mice inside.

Yuki nodded and laughed. "They don't seem to have rats though."

"Uh huh, but-"

"Tohruuu! Kyo hit meee!" Tohru was interrupted by Momiji's voice ringing out through the store. He was running towards her like he always did when Kyo hit him. He looked upset and had a few tears in his eyes that she suspected were fake, he usually just cried to get attention... And it worked… "He hit me! He hit me!"

"What did I just say about yelling?" An angry looking Kyo was following not far behind Momiji.

"Er, what did you just say about yelling?" Tohru asked patting Momiji on the head since she couldn't hug him in the store.

"I told him not to!" Kyo glared at Momiji, who was looking a little happier now. He turned to Tohru and his gaze softened, but only slightly, he looked he was trying to decide something. "I was just standing there and he started yelling some nonsense in my ear."

"It wasn't nonsense! I was tel-" Momiji stopped suddenly and threw a slightly nervous glance in Kyo's direction. "I was just talking to him!"

"Whatever. Are we leaving soon? It's about the time we get home from school." Kyo pointed up at a clock and, sure enough, it was 3 o' clock.

Tohru nodded quickly, suddenly nervous that they would al get in trouble for cutting class. "Yes! We should go then."

"I'll go get Haru," Momiji said cheerfully, walking over to the counter where Haru was still arguing with the woman.

When they came back Haru said, "She told you all to keep it down. The yelling is disrupting the other customers."

Momiji said another quick apology then grabbed Tohru's hand and pulled her out of the store at a run.

"Momiji, what's the rush?" Tohru asked when they were well ahead of the others.

"Well," Momiji said, talking quickly and finally slowing down some, "Kyo wants to talk to you, but I can't tell you what it's about, because I said I wouldn't, but you should ask him if he wants to talk, 'cuz he's too afraid to actually start the conversation and tell you what he wants to tell you." He took a deep breath and finished, "But you should probably wait to talk to him until he's not so mad at me, coz you know how he takes his anger out on other people."

Tohru nodded, not really understanding at all. After she had some time to sort out in her mind what Momiji said she asked slowly, "Kyo wants to talk me, but he's too... Afraid?" Kyo was hardly ever afraid... She had no idea what it could be. "Is it important?"

Momiji nodded enthusiastically. "Very!" He looked behind him at Kyo, Yuki, and Haru. Momiji and Tohru had stopped so they were catching up. "But remember, wait."

"Wait for what?" Kyo had caught up first, Kyo and Haru were still a little ways away. He was looking at Momiji with a faint trace if dislike.

"Don'tcha remember what we talked about earlier?" Momiji said easily. "I was reminding her to wait to be sad." He stuck his tounge out at Kyo and started off down the street again, leaving he and Tohru alone.

Tohru started following him, but Kyo put his hand on her shoulder, stopping her. And there it was again.

For a while now, Tohru's stomach would flip whenever Kyo touched her and wherever he touched her seemed to tingle... She couldn't figure it out.

"Tohru, will you wait with me for a minute?"

She nodded and they let Yuki and Haru walk ahead of them then Kyo cleared his throat and said as they started walking again, "Tohru... I need to- I- Do you-" He looked away, his face a little red. "I mean- I don't think I- But... I mean-" He made a sound crossed between a growl and a groan and said , still not meeting her eyes, "Nevermind." He looked back over, opened his mouth, and shut it again.

The uncomfortable silence that followed lasted until they reached the entrance to the inside Sohma houses. They said there goodbyes to Haru and Momiji and Kyo, Tohru, and Yuki started back to Shigure's house.

"How was school today?" Was the first thing the three heard when they walked into the house.

"Okay," Kyo said.

"Uneventful," Came from Yuki.

And Tohru just shrugged, not wanting to lie to Shigure, she had already caused enough trouble for everyone today.

His arms were crossed and he was standing in the middle of the hallway, blocking their way into the living room. "Don't bother lying, your teacher clalled wondering where you were and Yuki, someone from student council called because you missed a meeting."

Kyo opened his mouth for the first time since he failed to talk to Tohru, but Yuki stopped him.

"Shigure, now isn't the time to act like a parent. Besides, it was my fault. I didn't want Kyo to do anything else stupid, so I convinced him and Tohru to cut class, but I guess I shouldn't have. Sorry."

Shigure shrugged and looked over at Tohru. "You don't have to cook tonight,I'll order something." Yuki's comment about being a parent had made him drop the subject.

"Th-Thank you!" Tohru said, bowing quickly. "I'm going to go work on my homework then." She hurried up the stairs to her room, feeling guilty that Shigurie was doing something else for her after doing so much already.