Author's Note: Whoo hoo, two updates in a week. This chapter is a little longer because more time is covered in it. I hope you guys like it, and as always thank you for all of your responses. I love reading them and taking feedback into consideration. For those of you who are worried, though it does seem like I may be slighting some characters, they will definitely all get some face time at one point or another. Haha, some might even get some "saving face" time ;).

Chapter 9

"Baby, please don't go. (Please don't go.) Stay right by my side"—Immature.

Hatori was always 10 minutes early. Yuki had learned that at a very young age. If Hatori said he'd arrive at nine sharp, it meant have the coffee fresh and ready to serve at 8:50. At 8:45, Yuki was watching the coffee perk on the counter. Tohru had slept in that morning, and Kyo had gone to the market and the bakery. Hanajima wandered the house like a ghost in a knee-length floral print skirt and white blouse. Her blue tooth was stuck in her ear and she murmured something every now and again. Yuki wondered if she was talking to Gavin.

What was Gavin like? He had to be… strange to not be put off by Hanajima, but then again Master Kazuma hadn't been put off by her either. But this Gavin was a supposed ghost hunter, so Yuki would bet money that he was strange. He didn't think he'd be accepting any dinner invitations from that couple. Hanajima felt waves; they both thought they saw ghosts, and maybe Gavin levitated tea sets in his spare time.

He glanced at the clock, 8:49. He went to the window and scanned the street for incoming cars. Yuki waved at Mr. Todo walking his dog, and Noriko and Kano as they jogged by. The whole neighborhood was like clockwork. He went back into the kitchen and poured 4 cups of coffee, one for him, one for Hanajima and the other two for Ayame and Hatori.

"There's a car in the driveway, Yuki."

Yuki nearly jumped at Hanajima's voice by his ear. He placed a hand to his chest and whirled around to face her. "Make some noise next time."

"I did. You were lost in thought," Hanajima said with a weak smile. Her eyes were hollow and red rimmed. "Gavin says hello."

"Hello Gavin," Yuki said, then proceeded to the back door, opening it before Ayame could knock.

"Darling!" Ayame wore a cottony white shirt with poet sleeves, tan linen pants and sandals. Yuki blinked at how normal he appeared. No costumes, no frilly sleeves, no gaudy jewelry. Ayame swept him into a hug and Yuki gasped as the air was crushed out of his lungs.

"H—hi, Ni-san," Yuki said, getting his breath back.

"What a charming little house!" Ayame stepped around Yuki, entering the kitchen. "Oh my, look at this kitchen! It's like stepping into a home making magazine! Oh my dear, I remember you! You were Cinderella in my sweet little brother's school play! You look marvelous!"

Yuki shook his head and moved outside to see Hatori, looking lean and tan, getting suitcases out of the trunk.

"Yo Hatori," Yuki called, going to help the older man.

Hatori gave him a half smile and an appraisingly look. "Hello Yuki. You're looking well." He set the suitcases on the drive and reached in to pull out two smaller bags, rolling his eyes at Yuki as he did so.

"Let me guess… one bag is yours, the rest are Ayame's," Yuki said.

"How did you guess?" Hatori shut the trunk. Yuki grabbed the two suitcases on the drive, leaving Hatori with the two bags he'd just pulled out. "Are Tohru and Kyo inside?"

"Tohru is, she's sleeping in this morning, but Kyo's out. He'll be back in a bit, though."

Hatori nodded. "I'll check on Tohru after I've put away the bags…." He trailed off, gazing at Yuki's look. "Is there a problem?"

"When you say check on Tohru, what do you mean?" Yuki asked.

Hatori frowned. "I want to give her an examination, Yuki."

"I told you that she's not seeking treatment anymore."

"But as a doctor and a friend, I won't have peace of mind unless I've seen to her. That doesn't mean I'll write any prescriptions or tell her what to do, I just need to… to see. Kyo called me… oh months ago…asking what I knew about oncology, and I told him not much. If I had known he was asking for Tohru…." Hatori shook his head. "Stupid boy."

Yuki sighed. "Yeah, but really, was there anything you could have done to help?"

"Offered referrals, come to stay here. Honestly, what does Kyo know about taking care of anyone?" They stepped over the threshold into the kitchen and Hatori's eyes widened as he gazed around.

"Oh Tori, isn't it wonderful?" Ayame gushed, his voice coming from the living room. "It's like a gingerbread house… only I would have used a butter cream here instead of this yellow…"

"He's already redecorating," Hatori said dryly.

"That's Ni-san for you," Yuki said.

Hanajima was nowhere to be seen. Yuki figured she'd gone back to her room, not wanting to be bothered with more company.

"Let me take you to your room," Yuki said, gesturing to the left, toward a short hallway. The second guest room, formerly made up for Uotani and Kureno, had been refreshed for Hatori and Ayame by Yuki. He hadn't added Tohru's touch of a welcome note, but he thought it looked nice. Hatori nodded at the room and placed Ayame's bag in the closet Yuki had set the first two suitcases in.

"This is very nice," Hatori said. He looked through the open picture window into the garden. "Very nice, indeed. Kyo and Tohru did all right for themselves."

"Yeah," Yuki said. "You should see their bakery, and Kyo's students at his dojo win all sorts of regional competitions. They're…" he was going to say doing great, but they weren't, were they?

Ayame's laughter echoed throughout the house and Yuki gritted his teeth. His dumb brother was going to wake Tohru—or worse, have the neighbors coming over nosy for gossip.

"Look at you, Little Flower. Still pretty as ever, and what a beautiful scarf!"

Tohru was up? Yuki looked toward the door, then back at Hatori who was also looking through the door. He strode out and Yuki followed, praying he wasn't about to upset Tohru.

In the living room, Tohru's was wrapped in Ayame's arms as he rocked her and sang her praises for her home and decorations. Tohru was all smiles and energy as she hugged him back and thanked him.

"Tohru," Hatori said, his voice bland.

Ayame released Tohru and she stepped back to beam at Hatori.

"Hatori-san!" Tohru said, going to him and giving him a hug. Hatori held her close for a moment before letting her go and looking her up and down. His eyes, which had been so sharp before turned sad. He touched the top of her head and shut his eyes for a moment.

"There's truly nothing else anyone can do?" he asked.

"No," Tohru said.

"Are you taking anything to be…kept comfortable?" Hatori asked.

"Just a little codeine," Tohru said. "I want a clear head."

Hatori nodded and hugged her again. "I'm so sorry, Tohru."

"Don't be," Tohru said. "It's all right."

"No it's not," Hatori said, "but…." He sighed. "Sometimes being a doctor is an awful job."

"Oh, I bet it is!" Tohru said with an enthusiastic nod. "I could never do it. I'll stick to cooking. Oh, breakfast. I meant to wake up early enough to at least have breakfast started." Tohru bounced into the kitchen. "I hear that you, Ayame-san, like custard. Do you like eggs, then? Would you like a quiche?"

"A quiche? How wonderful! And who told you I like custard—was it my precious baby brother? How sweet of him to remember." Ayame winked at Yuki and followed Tohru into the kitchen. "You must tell me about all of these… tools… Do you use them all to cook, and what are all of these spices?"

Tohru laughed and chattered with Ayame, her voice animated and gay.

Yuki smiled. Ayame, annoying at his worst, but just what a person needed at his best. After sleeping through dinner and then most of the night, Yuki thought Tohru might be in a darker mood than usual. Kyo certainly had been. He'd barely greeted Yuki as he breezed through the door, hair still wet from the shower, grunting that he was late and going to miss the best mangos at the market.

Yuki hadn't been able to coax Kyo off the couch that night and Hanajima had ended up sleeping in the second guest room. Perhaps it was good that both Kyo and Tohru slept so soundly last night, though it was a deep sleep that made Yuki uneasy.

Hatori moved past Yuki to sit on the couch and relax. "Can you bring my coffee to me, Yuki?"

"Sure," Yuki said. He went into the kitchen to grab two mugs of steaming coffee. He added cream and sugar to his, but left Hatori's black. Tohru had the fridge open and gestured to each shelf and drawer as Ayame exclaimed over their contents.

It was funny how Ayame could get so excited over food and cookware when his only culinary specialty was scrambled eggs and toast. Mine did the cooking, although, for someone who wore a maid's uniform like it was going out of style, her cooking wasn't all that much better than Ayame's. When Yuki came to visit, they went out.

Yuki reentered the living room, balancing both cups of coffee. "Can you get the coasters under the table?"

Hatori sat up straight and reached for the shelf under the table, locating the clock shaped container of wooden coasters, each shaped like grandfather clock faces. He set out two, and Yuki plopped their coffee atop them. He sat on the couch next to Hatori and reached for his cup again, blowing away the steam before taking a sip. Hatori did the same. They were quiet, staring out the window at the children playing in the street.

"I thought you were going to examine Tohru," Yuki said.

"I did," Hatori said. He sipped his coffee and stared off into the distance.

"But you didn't touch her," Yuki said.

"I didn't have to. I only had to look at her." His voice was a shadow of its usual timbre. "She doesn't have long."

Yuki frowned. Tohru, although thin and pale, never looked like she was dying to Yuki. She hadn't looked that way to Uotani or Hanajima either… but Hatori was a doctor. He'd seen death.

"She's wasting away. She's probably been wasting for months now," Hatori said, clenching his coffee cup between his fingers. "The doctors that kept treating her probably knew there was nothing they could do long before they told her."

He could tell all that from a look? Yuki blinked back tears. "Does she look that bad, Hatori? I… I guess I don't know what to look for."

"It's in her eyes," Hatori said. "A patient always knows when they're dying. Their body tells them so, and they have this look about them, a knowledge behind their eyes. And her body, her thinness, the hollow set of her cheeks, the tremor in her hands."

Yuki swallowed and set his coffee down, not wanting anymore. "She told me last night that she wanted to know how she would feel when it's her time."

"Everyone feels different," Hatori said. "But she'll know."

"Her other doctors said that, that she'll know," Yuki said. "I… I just want to know what to expect."

"Sadness," Hatori said. "It's always sad to see a light go out, especially such a bright one, but you won't be alone." He tapped his chin. "I suspect Shigure and Akito will be calling sometime this afternoon to see if it's all right for them to come visit. They'll only stay for a bit. I've told them that too many people in the home might upset the balance."

"Oh." Yuki ran his hands along the wooden coffee table, feeling grains of spilled sugar from the last tea or cookie someone had had at the table. "Have you told Momiji or Kisa or Haru?"

Hatori pinched the bridge of his nose. "Kisa's mother says she's been crying since she found out, and I cannot reach Momiji. Haru's been trying."

Yuki nodded. Momiji had chosen to go to university in Germany and study music. He seemed much happier in another country, away from his parents and sister, and Yuki was happy for him. Momiji was in a better place, one where he wasn't reminded every day that he'd been unwanted or that his true identity could ruin his immediate family. It made Yuki angry and thankful at the same time. His parents had been rotten, but at least he was acknowledged, and he had Ayame. Momiji could have Momo, but his father wouldn't let it be, and for some reason Momiji loved the man too much to go against his wishes.

"Kagura is quite upset. She wants to plan a trip here, but thinks Kyo might not like it," Hatori said.

Yuki cringed, thinking of Kagura pounding holes in the walls and breaking Tohru's ornaments in a tantrum. "Uh… Perhaps her thinking is right."

"Rin has been very quiet," Hatori said. "She may come with Haru when he visits, though."

Yuki nodded. Rin and Haru, still in love but with no commitment to each other. Yuki expected them to marry right out of high school, since neither of them had chosen to go to college. Surprisingly they didn't. They didn't even live in the same city, but they dated exclusively.

"And Kureno told me of his brief visit," Hatori said.

Yuki sighed. "It would have been better if they'd never planned to stay."

Hatori nodded his agreement. "He tells me that Kyo looks like he's been hit by a bus."

"Maybe not a bus," Yuki said. "Maybe a compact car."

Hatori didn't laugh. "I'll examine him as well. Spouses sometimes empathize so much that they fall ill themselves."

"Good," Yuki said. "Check him out, give him sleeping pills, give him vitamins; give him a sedative. He needs something."

"It's that bad?"

"It's that bad," Yuki said. "I wanted to ask you some things. Ayame said he'd talk to you about some of it in the car, but…."

"Kyo's uncomfortable with the after death procedures. I'll perform them. Kyo's also uncomfortable with Tohru dying in the house. Perhaps something else can be arranged. We could go on a short vacation and rent a small house. We could go to the Sohma lake house. I'll speak with her."

"But you can't…"

"Make it seem like it's something Kyo wants or that you told me anything, yes, I understand," Hatori said. Yuki started when he felt Hatori's hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll smooth things over for you, and Kyo, and Tohru."

Yuki waited for the words "Everything is going to be fine" but Hatori didn't say them.

He sank back into the couch cushion and reached for his coffee again. The ceramic cup was no longer warm and the milky substance inside no longer steamed. He sipped his lukewarm coffee and watched the children as did Hatori, listening to Tohru and Ayame's voices merged in laughter.

Everything is going to be fine.

Kyo returned after 10:00 with a cloth grocery bag slung over his shoulder and a brown paper bag tucked under his arm.

"Kyo!" Ayame exclaimed as Kyo crossed the threshold into the kitchen.

"Ayame," Kyo said with less enthusiasm. He set the groceries and the brown bag down to accept Ayame's brutal hug.

"How are you?" Ayame asked, pulling away from him and looking into his eyes as if he really meant it.

Kyo shifted uncomfortably. "I'm fine. Uh… you been here long?"

"Oh, Tori and I got here just before 9. You know Tori, always early!" Ayame had set up shop at the kitchen table and was reading fashion magazines. Tohru and Hanajima had gone for a short walk around the neighborhood, undoubtedly stopping in to visit several of the neighbors who would beckon them to their doorsteps at seeing them pass.

Yuki came to the table, lifting the grocery bag onto his own shoulder and poking at the paper bag. "What's in here?"

Kyo snorted. "Sayu, Ryu and Megumi's cooking experiment. They tried to make a raspberry crumb coffee cake, but ended up making muffins instead. They're pretty good. They wanted me to bring them to Tohru and the family."

"Hn." Yuki looked at the bag with interest. He'd never eaten anything made by Sayu and Megumi, and didn't know if he wanted to put anything in his mouth Ryu had a hand in. But Kyo had tasted some and seemed to be okay.

Yuki set the grocery bag on the counter and began emptying it. A week in this house taught him how to put away its groceries and clean its surfaces. There were methods and procedures for everything when it came to the kitchen. The number one rule though, was that Yuki was never to touch anything that used heat unless it was the coffee maker or tea kettle. Kyo even looked at him cross-eyed when he attempted to use the microwave or toaster oven. 'Back away from the toaster oven, Rat. Just back away.'

Hatori drifted in from the living room where he'd been napping on the couch. "Kyo."

"Hey Hatori." Kyo's reception of Hatori was less awkward. Ayame being kind and seeming concerned was new to him, whereas Hatori always treated his family members the same.

Hatori came to Kyo, stopping before him and frowning at his appearance. "It seems Kureno did not exaggerate. Sit."

Kyo blinked. "What are you…"

Hatori backed Kyo into a kitchen chair. Ayame sat back down and pretended to resume reading his magazine, though his golden eyes kept glancing over the pages to peer at Kyo and Hatori.

Hatori's hands went to Kyo's throat, massaging it; then moving upward to feel his cheeks and forehead. He timed Kyo's pulse and asked him to hold out his hands so he could inspect his fingernails.

Kyo submitted to Hatori's wants without a word, though he glanced at Yuki every now and again, begging for a save. Yuki shook his head and began to whistle. He didn't miss the dirty look sent in his direction after that.

"Are you ever dizzy, light-headed, drowsy, anxious…" Hatori fired questions at Kyo that nodded and shook his head at. Hatori hummed and nodded and poked and prodded, then sat back.

"Are you done?" Kyo asked, sounding irritable.

"Yes," Hatori said, ignoring the tone. "You're anemic. I can tell that without taking blood, and you're exhausted."

Kyo shrugged. "I slept for most of the day yesterday and overslept this morning."

"It wasn't enough," Hatori said. "I'll stop by the pharmacy to get some things for you."

"Hey, this isn't supposed to be a house call," Kyo protested.

"It's not a house call, it's a concerned older relative not interested in having you pass out cold during his visit," Hatori said. "You do know that if you continue on like you're doing, you'll be too ill to help Tohru?"

Kyo looked away. "I'm fine."

"No, but you will be after I pick up some iron and sleeping supplements," Hatori said. He eyed Kyo's meager frame. "And perhaps some nutrient drinks."

Kyo muttered, "I can take care of myself."

"Sure you can," Hatori said, "after you've had some proper rest and vitamin supplements. I'm sure Tohru will agree, if I let her know…"

"No!" Kyo jumped up from his chair. "Don't…"

"Ah, you don't want her to know?" Hatori feigned innocence. "But Kyo, if you don't…."

"Oh fine, fine, get the stupid pills and stuff. I'll take it all just don't go blabbing to her about anything, okay. Dirty seahorse." Kyo grumbled to himself as he stomped toward the fridge, staring at the dry erase board stuck to it. Tohru wrote grocery lists and daily menus on it. The menu read beef stew, French bread and blueberry crepes stuffed with egg crème. Kyo hummed and went to the pantry.

"Where's Tohru?"

"Out on a walk with Hanajima," Yuki said.

Kyo returned from the depths of the pantry with the makings for fresh bread. He went into the fridge for the dreaded yeast. "Hm." Kyo washed his hands.

"Kyo, are you baking?" Ayame shouted from the table. "Tohru said you did, but seeing and hearing are totally different!"

"Your brother's still crazy," Kyo muttered, watching warily as Ayame climbed to his feet, presumably to come over and watch.

"Yes, but he means well," Yuki said. "Give him a chance."

Kyo grunted and Yuki smiled as Ayame approached to watch the bread making process.

Over the course of a week, Saki Hanajima returned home, and calls from the Sohma family flooded the phone lines. Shigure and Akito had come to spend the night, then left to make room for Haru and Rin and Hiro and Kisa. Everyone promised to return with pained looks of regret and sorrow on their faces that said they probably wouldn't. Tohru bid each of them farewell with warm smiles and baskets of new goodies she'd created. She tried several new recipes a day. Kyo was always at the market, though Yuki and Hatori volunteered to go in his place. Kyo practically ran through the door every morning Tohru slept in, claiming important errands.

Yuki sighed, sitting on the back porch staring at the garden. He was sweaty and grimy from yard work. He relaxed on a wooden recliner, wide-brimmed sun hat pulled low over his brow, sunglasses in place. He wore long sleeves and overalls to keep the sun from burning his skin too badly. He didn't know how Kyo had kept up with all of the household chores on his own before. Just doing the backyard had Yuki ready to toss in his towel and call it day, but he had promised to mow the front lawn and tend to the flower beds and hedges as well.

He supposed he could have asked one of the neighbors to help, but on mornings when Tohru slept in, Yuki found he also needed an excuse to leave the house for a while. She was going to bed earlier and waking up later, often not rising until after 10 or 11. Her tiny feet dragged and her large eyes were tired and ringed with dark circles that said she hadn't slept well. The pain medicine she was taking wasn't doing enough for her. Hatori had made a comment about it, but Kyo had shut him down before he could say more.

Each car full of family that came to visit for a day and left, begged for Yuki to climb in too. He wished he was saying "I'll be back", when he really didn't plan to return. He jumped when something cold touched his fingertips and bolted to an upright sitting position.

"You need to cut back on the caffeine, Rat," Kyo said. He smirked at Yuki. In his hand was a glass of lemonade with a straw. Yuki took it eagerly, taking a long, slow sip.

Aaaah… it wasn't peach, strawberry, it was tangerine and mango. Delicious. "Thank you."

"No problem." Kyo shielded his eyes with one hand and peered at the back yard. "Looks good for someone who's never mowed a lawn in his life. You don't have to do the front though. A truckload of my students pulled up a little while ago. They're talking to Tohru now, but they're gonna do the front yard and wash my car. I drew the line at them fixing dinner, though."

"Oh?" Yuki was halfway done with his lemonade. "You've got some great students. Are they the ones I met in the bar?"

"Yeah, they're all here and some others, and don't let them fool you. They plan on raiding the kitchen after they're done. Uh…that's why I'm out here. I'm probably making dinner tonight. Is there anything you want?"

Kyo was making dinner tonight, not Tohru. Tohru always made dinner if they didn't go out. "Uh… no, you can surprise me, but…"

Kyo continued to squint out into the yard. "Tohru's tired."

Of course she was.

"Your idiot brother and the sea horse are still on the boardwalk. There's some kind of show going on. I asked Tohru if she wanted to go check out, but… her back hurts."

Yuki set down his lemonade and frowned up at Kyo who stood like a scarecrow, planted in one place but wavering in the wind. "Hey Kyo, sit down with me a minute."

"Nah. I gotta open up the garage so the guys can get at the hedge tools and the mulch and shovels." Kyo started toward the garage but Yuki reached out to grab him around the wrist.

"I said sit down a minute."

Kyo's shoulders slumped. "Walk with me instead, okay? I'm not in 'sit down' mode."

Yuki studied his cousin's back and tense stance. "All right." He grunted as he stood up, bringing his lemonade with him. He followed Kyo into the garage. All of the doors were open, because Yuki had been dragging lawn tools in and out of it all morning. A blue wheelbarrow with a large bag of unopened mulch was parked beside Kyo's car with several shovels leaned against it. The hedge clippers were still mounted to the wall of the garage with Kyo's other tools, and the lawnmower sat in the driveway with the grass trimmer beside it.

The smell of freshly cut grass and fading gasoline fumes filled the air. Kyo stepped into the garage and went to pull down the hedge clippers. "Maybe I should get out the ladder. I should probably check the roof. It's been a year since I was up there."

Yuki placed a hand on Kyo's back. "Kyo, maybe we could rent a movie for tonight and order in. Your students can gorge themselves on leftovers and leave before our dinner gets here."

Kyo shook his head. "No, I want to cook what she had in mind tonight. I like to keep my hands busy and I like going to the market."

"I've noticed," Yuki said. "Kyo, is everything all right. Is Tohru all right?"

Yuki's insides quivered. He hadn't asked Kyo about how Tohru behaved when they were alone lately. He'd been too scared to hear the answer now that Tohru was starting to act and appear ill. Kyo was starting to get tight-lipped about his feelings. He gave Hatori vague answers and tolerated Ayame's probing with small smiles. He even took all of Hatori's vitamin supplements and sipped the nutrient shakes without complaint. He didn't look so hollow anymore as a result, but he refused to take the sleeping pills.

Kyo shook his head. "She's been crying at night, Yuki. She's scared. We might go to bed at 9, but she doesn't sleep until 3, and she might have a nightmare that wakes her up at 6."

And when do you sleep?

"What does she say to you?" Yuki asked.

Kyo cleared his throat and inspected the wheelbarrow's tires. "That she's afraid that despite what everybody says she's not gonna know—you know—when she's gonna die or I'll be too far away for her to call me. And I tell her not to worry, and that I'll never be too far away, but Yuki if I don't leave the house at least once a day, I'll go nuts."

"Did you tell her that?" Yuki asked.

"No," Kyo said. "I can't tell her anything anymore. Everything makes her cry."

Yuki frowned. Tohru always seemed cheerful.

"She listens to you guys, and then comes to bed and cries," Kyo said, "and I just sit there and hold her. Each night it seems like there's less and less to hold, and each night she's freaking out more and more. Maybe her body's telling her something, you know? Maybe it's almost time. I mean, it's almost been 3 weeks."

Kyo ran a hand through his hair. He didn't have a tie to pull it back and it hung freely around his face. "So... I think that we need to start getting ready. The house needs to look good, because we're going to have a lot of company soon. I don't want her worrying about things like that."

"I doubt the house is the least of her worries," Yuki said. He took Kyo's shoulders and spun him around. Kyo's eyes wouldn't meet his. "Your students can find what they need on their own. Come on."

Kyo let Yuki drag him out of the garage and toward the house. Through the back window, Yuki saw Tohru in the kitchen now, smiling at a few college-aged young men and setting out a plate of brownies. Yuki opened the door and stepped inside, pulling Kyo in behind him.

"Yo! It's sensei's cousin!" The annoying one named Kai crowed. "Yeah, you definitely look like a guy now."

Yuki hid his real expression and dealt Kai a smile. "Why thank you. Guys, the tools for the yard are in the garage. We need to borrow Tohru."

"Oh?" Tohru blinked and tried to look at Kyo behind Yuki. "Is anything wrong?"

"No," Yuki said with a smile, "but I do need you for a moment in private."

"Okay," Tohru said. "Um, you boys help yourselves. You're welcome to the fridge and the pantry. There are dumplings and noodles on the bottom shelf." The last of the food brought by the neighbors, perhaps they'd finally get rid of it all today.

"Oh yeah! Thanks Miss Tohru! Sensei, we'll do you proud!"

"Hey, should we back your car out of the garage and wash it first?"

"The keys are on the hook," Yuki called to them as he steered Kyo toward his bedroom. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure Tohru was following.

"What's the matter Yuki, Kyo?" Tohru asked as soon as they passed through the door and Yuki closed it.

"Both of you sit," Yuki said.

Kyo sat on the bed, staring at his folded hands and Tohru sat beside him.

"Tohru, there are some things that Kyo needs to talk to you about, before he makes himself sick or has a melt down. He thinks that he can't, but I think that he can."

"Baby?" Tohru stroked Kyo's hair behind his ear.

Kyo blinked a few times before turning and burying his face in her neck. Yuki stared as Tohru quickly turned around, trying to hold him. Kyo's mass dwarfed her. "Sweetie, Sweetie don't cry… please don't cry. You're making me cry."

"Don't die, Tohru. Please don't die," Kyo murmured.

Yuki's heart clenched and his hand came up to cover his mouth. His eyes watered and he reached for the door, ready to leave the room.

"Kyo, don't do this to me! It's not a choice!" Tohru pushed Kyo away and Kyo jerked back from her, staring at her in horror. "Do you think I want to die?"

"No." Kyo wiped his eyes. "No. I—I'm sorry. I… I'm gonna go get the ladder to check the roof. I haven't done that in a year. And—and I'm gonna go to the market for—for—what were you gonna make tonight? I forgot."

"Shrimp-crab crepes in wine sauce," Tohru said, not looking at Kyo.

"Right." Kyo was on his feet, but Yuki blocked the door.

"Uh-uh," Yuki said, pushing Kyo back toward Tohru, who wasn't looking at either one of them. Her face was pink and streaked with tears.

"I need to go, Yuki. I've got work to do," Kyo said. His red eyes were lifeless.

"Sit down." Yuki shoved Kyo onto the bed, and reached out to stop Tohru from rising. "Tohru, please."

"Yuki, I don't want to talk about this now," Tohru said. "I'm tired."

"No, Tohru," Yuki said softly. "I know you're tired, and nobody wants you to do anything you don't want, but honey we have to." He'd never called her by a pet name before. He grabbed one of her hands and stroked her fingers and she snatched it back.

Tohru covered her face with her hands. "Kyo-chan, I can't help what's happening. I know you're not okay, but I can't fix it, and if I can't fix it, I don't want to talk about it. Can't you just—just…."

"Just what, Tohru? What do you want him to do?" Yuki asked, sitting between them. He wrapped an arm around Tohru, and gave Kyo a look as he tried to slide away from them.

"I just need him to hold me," Tohru said. "I'm so scared, Yuki."

"I know," Yuki said, holding her tight, "and he knows, too, but Tohru… he has to be able to talk to you. Don't you want to talk to him as much as you can?"

Tohru wept.

"Yuki, leave her alone." Kyo switched sides, moving beside Tohru, ready to gather her into his arms, but Yuki stopped him.

"No." Yuki said. "You tell her how you feel."

Tohru looked up at Kyo, her face distraught. "Kyo-chan?"

Kyo bit his lip and looked away from her.

"Kyo-chan?" Tohru's voice rose, sounding panicked. "You—you're not—you don't want to leave, do you? Everyone else left…."

"No!" Kyo swept her into his lap, hugging her and kissing her head and cheeks and neck, any surface of her his lips could reach. "No, no, no and never. But… but…"

Yuki watched. Would Kyo tell her? If he didn't, Yuki would make him by starting to tell her himself. This had gone on far too long, and though Hatori said he would propose suggestions to Tohru in Kyo's best interest, Kyo being the one to tell Tohru felt right.

"Tohru…"

"Yes?"

"I… I want to sell the house."

What? Yuki blinked. No, he wasn't supposed to say that.

"After you go—I can't live here without you," Kyo said, his voice breaking. "I can't sleep in this bed, I can't work in that garden, or cook in that kitchen, or bathe in that tub, or sit on that couch…."

"Oh Kyo-chan this is our house! You'll forget me!" Tohru cried.

"I could never forget you; when you… there's gonna be a hole in me, forever," Kyo said. "I'm gonna hurt every day, and this place will only make it worse."

"What about the bakery? You want to throw that away, too? The dojo?" Tohru demanded, pulling away from him. "No—no! Kyo, you can't!"

Yuki scooted away from them in disbelief. He supposed Kyo wanting to get rid of the house was understandable, but Tohru's reaction shocked him. He thought she'd cave and do as Kyo liked, but no. Tohru was shouting. Yuki had never heard her raise her voice in anger. He'd never seen her angry.

"I'm not going to give up the bakery or the dojo; I don't have to sleep in those places," Kyo said. "Just the thought of being here without you makes me feel like I can't breathe. This was supposed to be us until we're old, until we had an army of brats and grand-brats and great-grand brats, and I can't stand it! I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

"No!" Tohru hit him with the flat of her hand in the chest. "No!" She jumped off the bed, backing to the door. "You can't do this to me, not when I'm about to die! You promised!"

She opened the door and stormed out.

Yuki looked to Kyo and immediately reached out to him, but Kyo batted his hand away. He staggered to his feet, and Yuki thought he was going to run after Tohru, but instead he ran into the master bathroom. Yuki closed his eyes and chest tightened at the loud retching that followed. He got to his feet, wanting to go after Tohru and wanting to go to Kyo at the same time.

This was his fault. He'd made them talk—but they needed to, but… Tohru could have died happy not knowing—but Kyo would have lived and been miserable. Had he made the decision to save Kyo over Tohru?

No. He hadn't chosen one over the other. This was about their relationship, the most beautiful thing Yuki had ever seen and it was being spoiled by secrets. Yuki had tried to fix it; he did fix it. Once they talked again, once Tohru calmed down and they talked Kyo into keeping the house, things would be better than ever.

Yuki cringed as Kyo heaved again. Tohru probably needed time alone. She was probably in the kitchen making cookies or tea…and… Yuki was a coward. He didn't want to face her just yet. She might think that Yuki was on Kyo's side, and he was in a way, but the house…. He didn't think Kyo should sell the house either.

Yuki entered the bathroom. Kyo was on the floor in front of the toilet, clutching the porcelain bowl as tightly as he'd hold Tohru, contemplating his next heave. He gave another forceful retch and Yuki went to the small linen closet next to the glass shower. He pulled out a small towel and ran cold water from the sink onto it, before sitting down beside Kyo on the floor. He gathered Kyo's damp hair in one hand, pulling it off his face and out of the line of fire, and pressed the cold towel to the back of his neck.

Kyo didn't seem to notice him he was so lost in his misery. He choked and heaved until nothing came up and continued to dry-heave. Yuki sat, staring at Kyo's damp neck, at a loss. What should he do now?

There was a soft knock at the door. Yuki didn't acknowledge it, but he gazed up at the cautious footsteps approaching the doorway. One of Kyo's students, dressed in dirty jeans and a white t-shirt stood there with thick gardening gloves over his hands. "Uh…"

"What?" Yuki knew he sounded mean, but didn't care. This was not a good time for them to be asking if they could eat stuff off the second shelf of the fridge too.

"Miss Tohru just tore off in Sensei's car. It's still got soap all over it, and she ran over the trimmer, and she looked… she didn't look right. I just—I didn't know if Sensei knew…and…"

"Oh my gods." Yuki stared at the boy in horror. "Oh my gods." He looked over at Kyo then back at the boy. "You—take care of him." Yuki jumped up, letting the damp towel fall on the floor. He waved the boy in, and gestured for him to sit by Kyo, then ran out of the bathroom and to his guest room, grabbing up his cell phone. He skipped the notices that he had missed messages and punched in Ayame's number.

"Hello, hello!" came the perky answer.

"Ni-san… help."

Author's Note: Well, what did you think? Liked it? Hated it? Didn't care either way? Well, anyway you liked it, let me know. Please review!

Immature. "Please Don't Go." We Got It. Fontana MCA, 1995. CD.