Disclaimer: No, i don't own fruits basket. :(
Cured
'It is part of the cure to wish to be cured'
Chapter 11: Burned
It's been five years since she has been with Katsuya. Five years since she left her daughter struggling by herself. All alone. Sure, Tohru had her two friends, thankfully, who helped her get through her lost the best they can. But it was never going to be the same after Kyoko had passed on.
Kyoko and Tohru's relationship went beyond an ordinary mother-daughter relationship. They were friends. In a way, they supported each other.
The only reason Kyoko was able to keep alive after Katsuya had died was her little smiling girl. That smile of her daughter was worth it all, it gave her the courage to move on. It made her not only want to keep living for her, but also live as vivaciously as she could. And she did, until the accident.
Kyoko was then joined with her true love, where she could only hope that her daughter would find someone whose smile was worth living for. Just like she relied on Tohru to move on. She hoped Tohru too would find a person to rely on too.
She came back to find that her daughter has lived independently. Kyoko was proud of Tohru. She was strong in a way Kyoko couldn't be. But she wanted Tohru to have what she had with Katsuya, to live along side some one she loved, someone she could depend on every once in a while. She didn't want her daughter to walk down the streets late at night all by herself, like Kyoko had found her the first time. Unfortunately, this was far more complicated than Kyoko had imagined. If anything it seems that ever since Kyoko had come, things are getting worst rather than getting any better. Sure, Tohru wasn't alone anymore, but for how long?
Kyoko didn't know or completely understood this, but she knew for sure that she couldn't stay long. Her existence in this world was only restricted as it is. She can't even touch Tohru. Heck, when Arisa and Saki came last night, she couldn't do anything but observe. She was a ghost. She didn't belong here. She belonged with Katsuya.
Now, Kyoko sat back and watched Tohru surrounded by her friends and those Sohma kids, yet she still looked so detached. There was no doubt where Tohru's mind was at, and it was making her physically ill.
What should I do Katsuya? You would've known! Kyoko thought desperately. She looked down at Yuki and noticed the way he looked at Machi and how both of them would turned beet red after any sort of contact. She let out a deep sigh. Thinking about Yuki for Tohru was pointless. Not only because of Machi's presence, but Tohru obviously has no feelings what so over for Yuki. If anything, she'd be the first to congratulate Yuki and Machi if they're relationship ever progressed.
The only way is to let Tohru find someone she's interested in herself…
"Full house!" Arisa exclaimed triumphantly, when she revealed her cards.
Momiji had kept his promise and came the next morning to take them to the common room after Hatori gave Tohru her medicine. In their way, Tohru kept looking in all directions hopefully, only to look down disappointedly. At one time, she spotted Yuki, and invited him to come along. Yuki was hesitant at first, but finally agreed to come after he called Machi to come along too. Kisa and Hiro came to the room too, and now all of them sat around playing the card game Arisa had brought to 'entertain' Tohru, except for Kisa and Machi who just settled with watching.
"Oh, Arisa you're really good at this game!" Tohru applauded, while Yuki, Kisa, Momiji all nodded in agreement, even though poker mostly relied on one's luck, rather than their skills. Machi, who was sitting behind Yuki remained with a blank expression on her face just like the one Saki wore. And Hiro, who just joined the game when Kisa had insisted to stay and hang out with Tohru, continued exhaling uninterestedly.
"But you're good too Tohru," Kisa assured Tohru earnestly, noticing that Tohru seemed a little disappointed. She stood behind Tohru and pointed to her cards, "look, you have a lot of cards with pictures on them, and they're all the same color!"
"I don't think you're suppose to say that out loud," Momiji said, laughing, and everyone laughed together, except for one person who frowned even more, if that was possible.
"I'm sensing jealousy vibes," Saki whispered to the frowning Hiro next to her.
"W-what the hell are you saying?!"
"Hey kid," Arisa began—
"I'M NOT A KID!!" Hiro immediately snapped.
"Riiiiight. well, you should take whatever Saki says seriously. She can sense electrical waves, you know?" Arisa said teasingly.
"Indeed…" Saki closed her eyes, and nodded thoughtfully.
"That's…uh, interesting," Yuki commented nicely but rather unsurely.
"There's still Saki's turn left," Momiji said, when Arisa had begun to take all the candy that was in the pot. Yes, they were using Momiji's candy as the ante (what a card player puts into the gambling pot before cards are dealt).
"Yes, that's true," She flipped her cards, to reveal a ten, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace, all of the same suit. She leant forward to collect the candies.
"A royal flush?! How come you didn't say anything before?!" Arisa said, impressed, while Saki just gave back a smirk that was somewhat…dark.
"She cheated!" Hiro pointed an accusing finger at Saki, "how do we know that she didn't use her electrical signals or something or whatever the hell it is?!"
Saki turned around to face Hiro with that same dark smirk on her face. Tohru thought that she never saw Hiro looking more uneasy than he did now.
"I only sense what's already known," she said calmly. Now, the whole atmosphere felt eerie, and nobody said a word. Tohru knew now would be a good time to go check on the food in the kitchen.
"Umm… excuse me, I'll be going to the kitchen," Tohru stood up, and headed to the kitchen. When she stood up she could almost feel that the floor under her was slanting rather than straight, because it took all the strength she had to keep straight, and not fall to the side.
This feeling must be dizziness, She thought, holding on to the kitchen stool. I hope nobody noticed from the way I walked. She found a glass, and poured herself some cold water. She can't be gone—she just couldn't, Tohru thought, drinking some more water. Even though she was rapped up in thoughts about her mother, she still managed to flavor a fish, put it into an over, and start preparing the salad. Cooking after all was like second nature to her, and she didn't need to concentrate at it. Even if she wanted to now, she wouldn't be able to. I didn't say goodbye to her the last time she left me, and now…now…NO! Tohru couldn't let herself think that. She bit her lip, and fought with all the force she can muster to hold the tears back in her eye.
Even though she knew that Kyoko's comeback was like a dream, she didn't want to wake up. Not now.
When all she had to do was wait for the food to get cooked, Tohru decided to sneak out and look around out side. She wouldn't get too far, just in front of the entrance. As she was walking to the door, she looked to her side and saw Arisa laughing quite…audibly at Hiro, and everyone else was looked like they were enjoying themselves. She felt a sense of detachment as she looked at them, even though she was just there laughing with them, and she was sure if she went now, they'd be more than happy to welcome her.
I need to find my mom, Tohru thought decidedly. As she stepped outside, she saw that there was nothing but the enormous trees in front of her, and the small trail cracking in between. She let out a sigh, and was about to enter back inside, before she heard a certain noise. It's not coming from inside, Tohru tilted her head upwards, it's coming from above, but there is no second floor. Just as she realized that it was coming from the roof, she remembered seeing a ladder right beside the door. Maybe it's… Before she even continued her thought, she ran towards the ladder, and started climbing eagerly. Just before she reached the roof, she saw a hint of orange hair, and before she knew it, she was calling out excitedly,
"Mom! Mo…."
Oops.
Tohru felt that she walked on a forbidden area—that she had just broken some sort of eminent federal law. She wanted to go back down as fast as she could, but she was frozen at her spot at the top of the ladder. Her gaze was locked with the stare of fiery red eyes, that definitely didn't belong to her mother.
Kyo, who was sitting on the roof deep in thought just seconds ago, was staring with horror at the girl that just startled him. He was staring at her with horror for more than one reason.
First, he wasn't expecting anyone to show up at the roof—it was his spot. His alone, where Kagura couldn't find him.
Second, if a person showed up, he didn't want it to be this girl. This girl who he yelled at her and treated her like crap, and didn't even apologize to. He wasn't sure he could face her after what he did.
Third—which he still wasn't sure had heard right—she call him 'mom'.
"I-I thought…" Tohru started, panicked. She couldn't tell him she thought he was her mom! He'd definitely get mad. "I thought you were…someone else."
"WHAT THE—WHO—" Kyo stopped himself from yelling any further, because as he looked at her troubled expression, he was flooded with immense guilt. He added curtly with a barely audible voice, "never mind. You think whatever you wanna think. If you wanna go on the roof, you can too."
Tohru was still panicked. Part because she was still embarrassed that she called him 'mom', and part because she was surprised at his sudden transformation. She also felt a surge of disappointment somewhere deep in her, but she watched, distracted, the conflict of expressions on Kyo's face, and she was…curious.
Besides, she was starting to feel imbalanced standing in that position on the ladder, and so she crawled on the roof carefully, and sat down, making sure there was a reasonable distance between her and Kyo. Before she knew it, she sunk back in her thoughts about where Kyoko might be.
Now why the hell did I ask her to stay?! Well, technically I didn't do that, he reasoned with himself. But she is here anyway! Why don't I just say it and get it over with?
Kyo peeked at Tohru, and saw that she was staring way off at the trees. She looked frail, and lifeless. It didn't feel right.
"Hey, ABOUT…" Kyo began rather forcefully, making Tohru jolt out of her idleness, and look at him confusedly. Why is this so hard? Kyo gulped, and then continued more gently, "…I mean about the other day…" he trailed off, losing his words as she blinked once more in confusion.
"Huh…?" she said slowly, tilting her head to one side, the summer breeze flittering her long brown hair.
"That day…" he mumbled.
She continued to stare at him innocently.
Damn, why does she has to look so cute! As soon as he thought of this he felt the blood rush to his face, and he turned hurriedly to look down, ruffling his hair so his bangs would cover at least part of his blushing face.
"Sorry," he stuttered out, still looking down, "I'm sorry I pushed you, and yelled at you."
There was a moment of silence, in which he kept looking down. He slowly turned to face her, and saw that she was smiling—a smile far from being called lifeless. Kyo felt himself blushing even more, looking at that smile. He scratched the back of his head, not knowing what to say.
Tohru watched as Kyo's eyes wandered in different directions uneasily, and couldn't help but smile. Perhaps, it was her first real smile that day. It was just so…surprising! She could hardly believe it was that same guy that kept yelling at her just the day before. Behind that angry face, there turned out to be an awkward, possibly a very nice guy too. She watched him look at her suspiciously, and she chuckled helplessly.
"What?!" Kyo shouted, suddenly self-conscious. "What the hell are you laughing about?!"
"It's nothing," she said, still smiling slightly.
"Laughing with no reason. Are you stupid?" Kyo asked intending to be teasing, but apparently his words didn't come across as he had meant.
She had made him upset again, Tohru thought nervously. "I-I'm sor—"
For some unknown reason, Tohru suddenly just stopped. Something inside her just flicked, and she frowned at Kyo—well, the closest thing to a frown. She pulled on a straight face, clenched her fists, and stared directly at a confused looking Kyo. She just felt a sudden urge to prove that she can be tough, and not apologize for once. Maybe it was remembering how much she had apologized to him the last time. All she knew was that he should see that she can be 'tough'.
"I'm not stupid!" She announced with all the toughness she could muster, and was surprised too see the look of astonishment on Kyo's face lasting so long.
He just stared at her feeble attempt to fight back, astonished. She just can't. She's incapable of being that way… He thought amusingly, shaking his head.
"I'm…not," she murmured, already feeling weaker, but pouted once she saw his lips curl to one side into an amused smirk. Even though she felt a bit indignant, she couldn't help but notice that he looked very attractive with that smile. Not that he didn't look attractive before…
What?! What am I thinking?! Tohru immediately looked down, feeling herself blush.
As Kyo witness her cheeks turn a soft shade of pink, he felt the heat rising to his own cheeks, and was very thankful that she wasn't looking at him now.
For what seemed like hours, but were actually only a few moments, they sat tensely at their spots, not uttering a word to each other. Well, that was until a sudden strong smell of something being burned filled the air. They both faced each other apprehensively.
"Do you…" Kyo hesitated.
"I don't know—OH!"
Kyo watched in surprise, as Tohru's expression transformed from a puzzled one into a frantic one in a matter of seconds. Tohru started repeating words that were completely incomprehensible to Kyo. Some of he wasn't exactly sure of but sounded a lot like 'fish'. She got up hastily, and walked to the ladder almost tripping a couple of times. Kyo out of concern automatically followed. And sure enough, when Tohru had reached the ladder and turned around to start stepping down, one of her feet slipped, and she was about to fall, when Kyo got hold of both of her arms.
"Aah! I'm sorry…" Tohru mumbled, staring at Kyo with frantic eyes, and regaining her balance back slowly.
"Are you okay?" He demanded, gripping her arms even more than before.
Tohru wanted to speak, but she couldn't. His grasp was so strong, and for some reason she could somehow feel it through every inch of her body. Just thinking about it made her whole face turn a dark shade of red. She nodded in answer to his question. He loosened his grip, but his eyes remained just as demanding.
"B-but the f-fish…"
Kyo raised an eyebrow, and wanted to have a clue what on earth the girl was talking about!
"It's burned."
A/N: First, I wanna say sorry for the chapters' length inconstancy :S, and hope this is not too long. Not really sure what people prefer... And I wanna thank everyone who reviewed for previous chapters again!
I wanted to give an insight into Kyoko's mind at the beginning, so people who found her being a lil...annoying could maybe understand her more, i hope it helped. And as always I'd be more than happy to know what you thought about this chapter! So, please don't forget to submit a review after reading. Thank you.
