(In the hospital)

"You should be going home in two to three days. Remember, straining yourself wont help your condition," the doctor told Yuki for the fourth time that day. (A/N: it's the next day) Yuki nodded – he didn't like the doctor and didn't want to say anything that may trigger him into a conversation.

Kyo sat pouting in the corner on one of the chairs. He couldn't sleep well seeing as it was made of wood and the cushion was stuffed so much that there wasn't enough air to compress it. A lot of the staff asked him if he wanted them to examine his wounds but Kyo got so mad at their constant nagging that he punched a wall which scared off the flock. The doctor left, leaving the two Sohmas in an awkward silence... again. "What happened to Miss Honda?" Yuki asked. He couldn't really see her at all – not since the encounter with Akito. "Is she still hurt?"

"How should I know? I've been stuck her in this dump with you."

"Listen, you stupid cat, I didn't want to be her in the first place and I certainly didn't ask for you to accompany me, did I?"

Kyo shot up from his chair in anger. "Hey, I had to come! Shigure had something to do, we couldn't let your idiot brother come along and Hatori had to stay to look after Tohru!"

"That's exactly what I'm asking, numbskull! How is Toh...?! I mean... how Miss Honda is?" he hesitated.

The cat folded his arms and shrugged. "She was fine last time I saw her. Actually... there was something wrong; I think she sprained her shoulder and Hatori was carrying her around so I'm guessing she couldn't walk either."

Yuki felt incredibly uncomfortable in the hospital bed with the thin sheets. He'd been stripped of his shredded clothes and slipped into the patient's gown. It was strange to Kyo; Yuki was always stronger than him but looked a lot frailer. It's like, the weaker he looks, the stronger he actually is. Plus he had nearly everything a normal guy could wish for; good-looks; any girl he wanted; popularity; high grades.

Yuki had had a guilt cloud over his head since he'd found out why Akito kidnapped Tohru. Just because he and Kyo had refused to return to Sohma house, the head of the family had decided to take out all of his anger on someone as innocent as Tohru. It wasn't fair.

"You're gonna have to tell her sooner or later," Kyo mumbled, staring out of the window. "She's not going to remember anyway so you might as well."

"Tell her what?" Yuki asked.

"You know, that you like her; it's a little obvious. And I'd bet the only reason Tohru hasn't figured it out yet is coz she's so damn simple and stuff."

"And what about you?" the rat said. "You like her too. That's why you're not as heartless to her as you are to others."

"Shut up! What do you know, anyway? She's in to you more than she is to me..." his voice trailed off as he began to lose himself in his thoughts.

"What makes you think she likes me more than you?" Yuki actually liked the fact that Kyo had admitted that and deeply hoped it was true but then again, he also admired the cat's honesty and would feel guilty if he were to do nothing but bring him down. "She treats us both exactly the same. And the cat's always been her favourite, right?"

"Yeah, but you're smarter and, let's face it, all the girls worship you, why would this one be the only one to have no attraction to the Prince?"

"... Because she likes another, perhaps?" he suggested, hinting that he meant Kyo.

The two boys suddenly stopped in silence, realising that they'd just been nice – well, remotely – to one another. They turned away from each other quickly and fell back into their pool of hatred.

-star- -star- -star-

Tohru was made to stay sleeping in Hatori's bed. Shigure refused to leave Sohma house without the other three and Ayame... well... he had nothing better to do. It was already late afternoon and the Notorious Trio all gathered to keep Tohru Company. Actually, Hatori was giving her a check-up, the other two just tagged along. "We should be able to get rid of most of your bandages soon, Tohru," Hatori said.

"Oh, that's good!" she beamed at him. "Can we go see Yuki-?"

"I second the notion!" Ayame jumped up in excitement.

They all ignored the snake, who pouted. "I'll need to find out if they're allowing him to have visitors... then I'll have to decide whether or not I'll have the two idiots to accompany you."

"Don't worry, Ha'ri!" Shigure said with pride. "Ayame and I will go with her instead of them!" they both gave him big cheesy grins, obviously not understanding the concept of the doctor's sentence.

"Thank you, Hatori," Tohru smiled.

There came a knock at the door. The dragon sighed and asked one of the other two to get it. Ayame hopped over - Aya hopped! - To the door to find Hatsuharu waiting on the other side. "Is Tohru here?"

"Tohru!" he sang/called. "You have a guest!"

Haru walked straight in and grabbed a chair beside Tohru. "Uh, hello, Hatsuharu!" Tohru beamed.

"Hi, Tohru," he said without a smile – as usual. "The damage isn't too bad, is it?"

"Oh, no! It's mostly just cuts, bruises-"

"Sprains, minor blood loss, slight concussion..." Hatori carried on, knowing she probably wouldn't mention those things so as not to worry him.

"I'm sorry I couldn't get there earlier, Tohru," Haru said.

"No, there's really no need to apologise at all! It wasn't your fault!"

"But if I did get there, you'd probably be less injured... I only came to check up on you so if you'll excuse me, I promised Kisa I'd take her and Hiro out to the movies. Goodbye." (A/N: I know, a bit of a pointless visit)

As soon as Hatsuharu left, the girl remembered. "Ah! Shigure! I need to get home to cook you something to eat!" she threw the cover aside and swung her legs over. "I'm so sorry! I completely forgot – AH!" as her legs touched the ground, a shooting pain panged up through her, causing her to stumble.

"Tohru!" Shigure said, reaching his arms out to catch her.

POOF!

Tohru ended up hanging over the canine's back, her arms dangling down helplessly as she awaited the aid of the doctor. "I'm sorry, Shigure..." she squeaked as she was lifted back onto the bed.

"No, not at all, Tohru. It was very sweet of you to think of me, though!" he wagged his tail rapidly. "Excuse me..." he gathered his clothes in his mouth and made his way out, shutting the door. There came another loud 'poof' but this was one of the rare occasions when Tohru had no reason to shriek and turn.

He re-entered the room.

"Gure, should we go and grab our grub?" Ayame smiled. "Hey! I made alliteration! Ha!"

"Ah, it seems I have a creative writing rival!" Shigure laughed.

"Hot and tender, sweet or sour, what would you like Tohru, our little desert flower?" Ayame bowed as if to royalty with one hand behind his back.

Tohru gigged. "I'll have anything not too expensive, please!"

Shigure copied his friend. "Anything for you, the beautiful Tohru!"

"Oh! No! I'm... I'm not beautiful, really!"

The doctor sighed. "Stop embarrassing her and go get the food already!"

Ayame decided to give him a taste of his own medicine by ignoring him. "Such modesty, so rare these days..."

"... but you're beautiful no matter what you say!"

Tohru blushed and gave them a modest smile. Hatori's anger pulse was now clearly visible and, if the poets would shut up, slightly audible. "Just go, would you?!"

They gasped loudly, huffed and turned. "Fine! We know where we're our poetry is not wanted!" Ayame said.

"Come, Aya!" said Shigure. "From now on we shall be known to the world as the Mabudachi duo!" they slammed the door behind them.

"Idiots..." Hatori mumbled.

"a-aren't you upset, Hatori?" Tohru asked, slightly confused.

He shook his head. "No. They'll come crying to me at the end of today saying it's not the same without me..."

"How do you know?"

"This is the seventh time they've said that to me this month."