BTSB
By Yori Hayashi
I don't own Fruits Basket. Fruits Basket, of course, belongs to the wonderful Natsuki Takaya- sensei!
A/N: I appreciate all of the support, you guys. Pick up with the reviews, though, please! Haha. I hope that now, since I'm getting into the romance, there'll be more. I mean, who doesn't like romance. (sigh's dreamily, remembering the old days when she thought romance was gross.) Anyway, please enjoy. Wow, this story is going to get pretty high in chapters. O.O
Chapter nine
"I saw the "doodle"… that said you loved me…" Kyou said.
Tohru put her fingers in front of her face and moaned sadly. It was too late to cover up the blush- her whole body was turning blood-red with embarrassment; but, she couldn't let him see her cry over this. She began to heat up so much that her body shook. It couldn't get much worse.
Kyou was beginning to regret bringing it up. She looked so scared- of him, no less. He couldn't stand seeing her frightened of him.
He stood and moved towards her. He took her hands away from her face and wiped a tear on her cheek. Unknown to the two of them, a certain blonde- haired boy was watching them jealously from behind the wall.
"Tohru, I know you're nervous," Kyou put his face so close to hers that the feel of his breath on her face made shivers go down her spine. "I know, but we need to talk about this. Sooner or later, you know I'm going to get you to talk."
"…Kyou-Kun-"
"DISHEEEEES! I need the disheeees!" Momiji jumped into the room and ran into Kyou with enough force to knock him away from Tohru. Then he stuck his tongue out playfully and sprinted back out of the room… without any dishes. It didn't take much thinking to figure out that he just did it to break the two of them up.
"Runt!" Kyou yelled loudly.
Tohru looked away again. "Kyou-kun, I'm so sorry for doing that. I know… It' must be so bothersome for someone like me to want to be with someone like you. I just beg you not to be angry with me. I'm so sorry!"
"Tohru, no!" Kyou stared at her incredulously. What had he said to make her think he didn't like her back?!
"Hey." Isuzu cut in, overhearing the bad direction the conversation was taking. Tohru desperately wanted out of that room, she could tell. "Tohru needs to have a bath now. We can't let her wounds get infected, now can we?" She picked Tohru up with a grunt and carried her away quickly, ignoring Kyou's "just a minute" pleas. He sounded like a kid that wanted extra time to sleep.
"Well, that was rough." Isuzu told Tohru. "I suppose it could have gone worse, though."
"Yes." Tohru said. Nervously, Tohru changed the subject. "Ah, I'm sorry that you have to carry me like this. It must be very tiring for you.
Isuzu growled in her head. She was extremely curious about her and Kyou, and was slightly annoyed at Tohru for changing the subject like that. But, she respected Tohru enough to let it be. "I don't really care. You're way to skinny, anyway."
"Oh." Tohru giggled.
Seconds later, they were in the bathroom. Tohru stripped into her undergarments as Isuzu had ordered and Isuzu filled a bucket with water and dipped a washcloth into it. "We'll get the soap later," she said.
She started to rub Tohru's back with the cloth, and Tohru shivered. "Well, the water's warm, Isuzu-san, but when you move the cloth, it gets so cold. Like, when you get out of a swimming pool!"
"I know."
Tohru and Isuzu then fell silent. Isuzu was only curious about the subject of Tohru's "romance." Tohru didn't want to talk about the subject of her "romance." Therefore, in the room, until there was talk about the subject of Tohru's "romance", all was silent.
Tohru piped nervously, "I'm scared to see Kyou-kun again, Isuzu-san… I mean, can I face him after what happened just now?"
"Well, why couldn't you? Isuzu suggested. "You've embarrassed yourself a few times before, right?"
"No. Not like this, anyway." She felt ashamed and hung her head. "I don't know what to do anymore, Isuzu-san. I love Kyou-kun so much, but I know he can't be with me. I'm so happy that I can see him again, but can I face him now!? This is absolutely awful."
"…Mm." Isuzu nodded.
The bathroom entrance opened slightly, and Isuzu stood with a start. "Hey, don't come in here! Knock, you idiot! There's a naked girl in here." She snapped, thinking that the intruder was a male. However, it was only Kisa, and Isuzu sat back down, glaring at the little girl all the while.
"I-I'm sorry." Kisa mumbled. "I brought Onee-chan some crutches. Kazuma-Ojiichan had them…"
"Thank you very much, Kisa-san!" Tohru smiled kindly in order to make Kisa feel more comfortable. Kisa blushed.
"Ah… Yes. Well, I'll go now so that you two can finish talking." She bowed nervously and made for the exit. Isuzu watched her leave, following her every move with a wary gaze.
"She's such a sweetheart." Tohru said. Isuzu nodded nonchalantly and moved down to the next dreaded cleaning spot. Tohru's ankle.
"Prepare for your doom, Tohru." She only half joked. Tohru took her completely seriously and did her best to tense her entire body. However, that made the rest of her injuries painful, and she had to release some of her muscles. It would do no good if she couldn't tense her foot, anyway.
The pain shot though her entire body like a bullet right as soon as Isuzu touched her ankle with the cloth. It felt almost as bad as when Akito first snapped it. She arched her back and clenched her teeth. She didn't care anymore if the rest of her injuries hurt. This was far worse than the lot of them. She did her best not to screech, and Isuzu almost laughed at her.
Then, as soon as she finished, Kazuma's voice rang through the bathroom, still muffled by the door. "We have to leave this place soon! It is beginning to rain, you two! You know how Kyou gets."
"Yes sir!" Tohru said.
"Wonderful. Now we're going to have to deal with Mr. Issue." Isuzu went to the window and opened the curtain just enough to see outside. "It really is about to rain…" She looked at Tohru and raised an eyebrow. Tohru jokingly returned the expression. "You're hair is a little oily. You can't go out looking like that. You know what? Maybe no one will be able to tell as long as your hair is wet."
"Eh? But, my hair is completely dry!"
Isuzu lifted the bucket, and with a completely serious expression, she poured all the water over Tohru's head. "Not anymore, it isn't."
xxx
Kyou had the job of wrapping Tohru's leg to hold it in place when she used Kazuma's old, but sturdy, crutches. He would have continued the conversation that they had earlier, but everyone else was in the room.
He wanted to be alone with her. Why couldn't he even have five stupid minutes with her? It probably wouldn't do much good at the moment, anyway. After all, the rain had him in a foul mood. It wasn't a good time for him to confess his feelings for her. He might end up making her sad again.
She blushed as he touched her ankle, and Momiji watched the two of them carefully, ready to butt in at any moment. Despite himself, he was beginning to get upset. He wanted Tohru to be his, not Kyou's. Still, he knew Tohru didn't want him back.
"All done." Kyou patted Tohru's knee to throw an "it's okay" sign at her, which she didn't catch. He sighed. "Here are your crutches, Tohru."
Kunimitsu, Kazuma's child-like assistant and student, came into the kitchen and gasped at everyone. "Kyou! I haven't seen you for a month or more! What are you-"
Kazuma raised his hand to stop Kunimitsu's words. "We are all leaving, Kunimitsu. I need you to watch the dojo, and don't tell anyone about this. It's a secret that could lead to life or death. Even for you." Kazuma gave Kunimitsu an unusually cold stare, and Kunimitsu almost fell backwards in fear.
"U-uh…"
"I cannot risk giving you anymore information than that. You understand what I'm saying?"
"Y-yes!"
Kyou pushed past Kunimitsu, annoyed. "Let's go already!"
"Yes, let's go everyone." Kazuma held out his hand for everyone to exit the house before himself. Then he looked back at Kunimitsu with a friendly expression. "I hope you have a nice day!"
"…Scary man…" Kunimitsu said, waving at him.
xxx
They took a train to the mountains. It was a very relaxing trip for everyone, and the service was very nice. Tohru distracted herself from the handsome, orange-haired boy asleep in the seat beside her by staring at the scenery. However, it couldn't distract her for long. As soon as she turned back around, she was immediately entranced by his face- no, it was his lips. She desperately wanted to kiss him. It was true that she hadn't wanted to sit by him, but this was making it so much harder on her. Why did Hiro have to be so protective of Kisa? It wouldn't have been so hard for her to share a seat with her.
"We're almost there." Kazuma reached across the gray isle and tapped Kyou on the shoulder. "Wake up, Kyou."
"…Nyahh. Shut up, dad." Kyou said. Suddenly, his eyes shot open, and he sat stick straight. "Shishou- I meant to say Shishou!"
Kazuma ruffled his son's hair and smirked. "I'd prefer that you call me dad."
Kyou blushed. They all boarded off the train, and started the long walk towards Kazuma's cabin. Tohru had to stop twice on the way to rest, but when they reached their destination, it was all completely worth it.
The cabin was very large, and the wood was dark. It was surrounded by trees and beside it was a sparkling blue lake. It was truly a sight to behold, and Tohru was taking in every moment of it.
"How romantic!" Tohru smiled dreamily, thinking about Kyou. She just didn't realize how embarrassing she looked. Isuzu rolled her eyes at Tohru, realizing what was on her friend's mind.
Momiji grabbed Kyou and pulled him away from everyone else. He whispered to him in a serious voice, "I need to talk to you alone. About Tohru."
End
A/N: Nyahaha. What will Momiji say to Kyou? Why's he acting so serious? Will he ever get his pep back!? Haha. I promise, Momiji won't be like this for too long. But he needs his serious moments, too. I think the next chapter will be shorter, since it just revolves around the triangle with him, Tohru, and Kyou.
Please review!
-Yori Hayashi