Chapter 12: Friends

Tohru skipped, well half skipped on the way to school. She woke up earlier than Uo and Hana. Hana usually waited for them in their apartment and walked with them to school. But, today, Tohru felt like she could use the time to enjoy walking to school by herself. Everything seems to fall right into place with her cheerful mood! The birds were even chirping with her while she hummed!

Then she realized the tune she was humming under her breath. It was the song from last night that…Tohru blushed. Yuki requested it for her and asked if she could forgive him for acting like that. Some people looked at her and waved at her. They knew her since she walked with Uo and Hana on the street everyday.

Tohru smiled and walked over to one of the old lady who told her to come closer to her, "My, my, Honda-san! You seem to be in such a cheerful mood it's quite contagious." The old lady and smiled.

"Eh…well…" Tohru replied scratching her head.

"That's alright, my dear. You've been very lucky these past few days. My word, winning a date with Kyo-san! Is that why you smile from ear to ear?" The old lady asked.

"Not really baa-chan, I'm happy because--!" Tohru was cut off as the old lady's son interrupted her. He smirked, "I know why Tohru-chan is happy! I was listening to the radio last night, kaa-san, and someone requested a song for her."

"Ah-hah-ha! What are you talking about?!" Tohru asked uncomfortably.

The young man laughed, "Tohru-chan, it was a guy who requested it for you! Do you maybe have a secret BOYFRIEND?" He asked with his eyebrows going up.

"Honda-san! Is it true?" The old lady asked with interest.

"Of course it's not true, and for your information, he's just a friend apologizing! I'm happy because it's such a beautiful morning!" Tohru replied with a smile

"That's my girl! Now go on to school." The old lady said proudly. Tohru bowed and left. The old lady's son looked at his mother, "You knew I was right, kaa-san." He said.

A moment later they heard a scream, "MY NOTEBOOK!?" Coming from the direction Tohru walked off to. The old lady smiled knowingly, "That's Honda-san for you."

-=-

Yuki looked around, it was still early, and so he guessed that he could walk around for now. Shigure was still asleep from staying up too late. Yuki didn't usually wake up around six in the morning, but since he didn't find himself sleep when he woke up (which is miracle!), he decided to start his day early. Besides, he still did have some recordings to make.

He walked through the forest path to the street pass the old lady and her son beside her. They waved at him. He smiled at them and waved. The young men beside the old lady's jaw drop as he realized whom it was who just waved to him.

Yuki shrugged and saw a newspaper stand nearby, he grabbed one and paid the vendor. He read a magazine called "The Star Weekly." He glanced through the pages and saw some images from Kyo's show yesterday. He chuckled when he saw a picture of him making his way through the enormous crowd. Man, was I stupid! But I'd do it again! Which reminded him of the girl on the other page.

There she was, clad in white looking like a celebrity herself. She was looking at Kyo and Kyo was looking at her—there was something about that picture that disturbed him enormously.

He turned the page again and saw himself looking cocky for barging in on Kyo's show. He examined the picture again, "I need a haircut." He said to himself and saw something that caught his eyes, "From the comments of the host, Eboshi, 'I felt an air of familiarity between Prince and the beautiful Tohru Honda. Maybe this explains why Prince suddenly showed up on the show, and maybe he was just jealous to see the girl win a date with Kyo.'"

"Me? Jealous?" He muttered. Yuki turned to the last page where the horoscopes were put. He looked for the year of the Rat.

"The Rat…okay here it is, 'Watch out for unexpected people that may bump into you. The circumstances may hurt'."

Yuki didn't really believe in the horoscopes, but it was fun reading them. He kept reading the magazine when suddenly…

"AAH!"

Yuki looked over the magazine he was reading only to see someone crash onto him. He fell to the ground and so did the 'unexpected person'. He rubbed his head that also hit the…girl?

"Excuse me? Are you okay?" He asked the girl who landed on him.

"Ouch…I can't believe I tripped…" The girl opened her eyes and revealed her surprising green eyes, "Yuki…? Oh! Oh gosh I am so sorry! I must be heavy! This is really unexpected!" She said getting off him.

"It's okay, are you hurt? I mean I saw you really falling." Yuki replied not believing that the unexpected person to bump into him was going to be Tohru.

"Eh-he-heh…I was in a rush trying to find my notebook." Tohru said.

Yuki sat up and picked up her fallen bag, which had opened, "Uh…you mean this notebook?" He asked and Tohru fell over. Yuki looked at her twitch on the ground, "Why do these things happen to me?" She asked herself.

"That's alright, since I get to see you, Honda-san." Yuki said looking over her.

Tohru blushed and stood up abruptly, she laughed uneasily, "Ha-ha-ha! I mean…I…would you like to walk with me to school? I mean I know you're very busy but—"

"That'd be nice. It's alright, I'm scheduled to go to the studio later anyway." He replied.

"Oh…okay, but what if there's a lot of fan girls and they rabidly…" Tohru trailed off finding no heart to finish off the sentence. Who knows what those girls could do?

"It's a little early in the morning. I should be asleep myself too." Yuki said and laughed a little as they started to walk towards Tohru's school.

Tohru smiled softly, love…? I think so…she blushed at the thought as Yuki talked more about how he doesn't do too well during the mornings leading to how he'd become so famous.

-=-

He leaned back on his leather chair going through the papers. If his plan is going to work, then all must be done precisely correct. Everything had to be planned out. His little pawns are doing quite a job, but he had to take over everything. Yes…everything to get his wish…

They will never know what hit them and when they wake up, they're going to be in his world. His alone…and everyone will feel what he will feel…

"There is no exception…" He whispered in the dark gripping the paper documents tightly.

-=-

Kyo walked into Sohma Corp casually. He saw Kagura chatting happily with a few female co-workers. She was his long distant cousin, and yet they were very close to the fact they were engaged. He really didn't have a say to it…but he actually wouldn't mind if Kagura was less aggressive.

Kyo made his way into the elevator when someone walked in before the two doors closed. She smiled up at him.

"What?" Kyo asked angrily at Kagura.

"Nothing. Just glad you're here." Kagura said and hummed to herself.

Really, he wouldn't mind her if she wasn't so…so…lovey dovey on him. She had been with him through everything and stuck with him even if Sohma Corp had rejected him at first, she had been there and told him it didn't matter if she would be rejected too.

--"It's alright, you're here with me…that's what's important."--

Stupid girl…he thought. She would've thrown away everything for him. He looked at Kagura, and his sudden angry façade fell. She was okay…

He sighed. Kagura noticed and a look of concern was on her face, "Kyo what's wrong? Are feeling okay?" She asked.

"Yeah…" He replied as the elevator doors opened to his floor where he was going to shoot some commercials. Before he could go though, he took a look at Kagura one more time.

"I appreciate everything you've done for me, Kagura. Thanks for everything." He said to her and hugged her all of a sudden. As fast as he hugged her, he let go and walked out of the elevator leaving a surprised Kagura.

So? So what if I do love her? No big deal…He thought and put both of his arms behind his head. But, before all this begins, he had to do something for her…

"You'll just have to bare with me the following days. I know I'm going to hurt you really bad." Kyo muttered to himself already feeling sorry for Kagura. He had a few more days till he meets Tohru again…he had time.

-=-

"Really? That's how you became a star? I didn't know you could be tricked so easily!" Tohru said and laughed, "I mean you're the type of person who wouldn't even budge if asked that question!"

Yuki looked at the laughing girl and smiled with her, "I guess so." He replied. Tohru nodded. It was hard to believe she was walking with him again! She smiled wider and then said, "Yuki? Thank you for the song last night."

Yuki blushed and looked away, "I…I…it was corny wasn't it? I mean I wanted to apologize right away, but I didn't know what to do so I asked Shigure, and that weirdo had your personal profile, I don't know why, and it listed all your favorite things…and yeah…" He said quickly.

Tohru laughed, "I remember that paper! I was wondering why Hana wanted me to fill that out!" She said.

So it wasn't her that entered the contest! It was her friend who did it for her. Yuki thought coming into conclusion.

"Well…I should be the one to apologize. I acted very immature myself. I just saw you and all sort of different emotions jumped out. When I saw you doing that to Shigure I just didn't know who you were. I had no right to be judgmental when I don't even know you. I had no right…I'm sorry." Tohru apologized.

Yuki stared wide-eyed at Tohru and then his usually expressionless face turned soft, "Honda-san? Then…if you want, we can get to know each other more and be very close friends."

"Friends?" Tohru asked. Friends…

Yuki nodded. Tohru felt a little numb. He wanted to be friends. Just friends. Very close friends. She kept a small smile on her face.

"Uh…yeah, have I told you? I've never had a real friend. I'd always keep my distance from people, and when I did want to get near them someone…someone always holds me back. You, you just can't make me run away from you and now there's no one bound to me…" He confessed remembering his childhood.

"Then…" Tohru said making the decision right there and then, "Then you can consider me a very close friend! I'll always be at your side!" She said cheerfully masking what she truly felt.

Yuki smiled having no clue of the show Tohru was putting on, "That's really nice." He said. Something made his chest squeeze. Friends? Is that what he had been feeling all this time? Was that why he barged in like that during the show? Was that why he kept coming back to the coffee house?

He felt confused. A silence hung between them that usually weren't there when they were together. Tohru saw her school coming into view and as they reached the empty gates she faced Yuki who still holding her bag.

"Yuki! Um, you don't have to walk me very far anymore since were here." Tohru said, by the gates again. Is this how far we'll always walk together? Is this how far we'll be—no! I should be supportive of the idea! He never had a real friend…I should provide as one. I shouldn't be selfish.

"Oh, this is your school?" He asked and Tohru nodded.

Yuki looked at her, how could one person make his whole exterior shake? The exterior he had up like a steel wall?

"Well then, maybe if you aren't so busy we could chat Yuki! I really have to go." Tohru said reaching out for her bag touching Yuki's hands.

"O h! Sorry, it almost seems like I want your bag." Yuki laughed and handed it to her, "Thank you for the walk Honda-san." He said.

"No, thank you…" Tohru said and walked into her school.

He watched her again as she walked into another door and until she was gone he walked away.

--"… Who is this girl that troubles you so much that it shakes up you're whole exterior?"--

Her name is Tohru Honda. Something made his chest hurt once more. Did he come for her all those times because he wanted a friend for so long…all these times?

He shook his head. The more he was thinking about it, the more he was getting confused and lost. He took out his cell phone from his pocket and dialed, a man answered the line, "Hello? Bob? It's Yuki. Pick me up in front of Kaibara High School." He said.

"Yes, sir…oh and Shigure-san wants to talk to you." Bob replied.

"Shigure's there already?" He asked him.

"YEAH! I'm here! WE HAVE SONGS TO RECORD, SO GET YOUR BUTT HERE NOW!!" Shigure screamed.

"You see, I would, but I don't have a car." Yuki replied coolly forgetting about his train of thoughts.

-=-

Tohru looked down from the third floor of the school. She saw Yuki talking on the phone looking as cool as possible. Love…? Impossible…

Yuki needed a friend more than anything, and she was going to be one no matter how much it hurts her. She'll be there for him like she promised, and she'll wait that maybe one day…maybe one day he'll feel the same way as her.

Tohru sat on a desk and laid her head down alone in the empty cold classroom.

-=-

Author's Notes: Yuki's confused right now, so yeah. I'll explain on way later chapters what happened to him when he was younger as well as with Kyo. And what Kyo's going to do for Kagura, hee hee that's on the next chapter. As you can see things are getting more serious and yeah more complicated for Tohru and Yuki…let's just say it'll be more complicated when side stories come along. I wrote a new fan fiction called "Emotional Distress" but then all this marvelous crap started to happen! First, fan was experiencing heavy traffic and I wasn't sure if the second chapter got loaded or not, and then so I just deleted it and made a new one, and now I just uploaded the third chapter…ugh so confusing! Anyway, it's angst/drama about Kyo. What? He's one of my favorite characters! No worries, it's Kyo and Kagura pairings! Oh, it's really angst…different from first angst fic I wrote.

Thank You(s):

Garnet-Crystals- Thank you!!

R Junkie- Well, I hope it clarified why Tohru acted the way she was. Why was the date pulled back? Kyo need the time. Time for what? You'll find out on the next chapter! Thank you!

Chassandra- LOL! Thank you!

Summrpnkprncess9- It's okay! Thank you anyway!

Sweet-mel- LOL! Yeah! Thanks!

Pinkclove- LOL! It seems like it! Ha-ha-ha! It's my favorite too!

Bradybunch4529- Really? (flattered) Thank you so much! (cries)

Elriel- Thank you I'm glad!

Kyoskiten- Heheh! That's because Shigure loves high school girls!

Defafaeth Mechqua- Well I've felt the same way that's why! Everyone wants a song requested for them!

Starfires- Haha! Thanks!!!

Valese- Same here! Like a boy like Yuki will ever exist! If there were one like him and looks like him, I'd so be all over him! Hahaha!

KohakuOtaku- Yes! Kyo was devious wasn't he? He has a reason for the revenge his going to pull off! I'll explain once again in later chapters!

C.B- That's true! I called to request a song for my friend but the lady DJ never played the song! I was so mad!

Hitaru- Hee-hee! You'll have to see…actually that's coming soon!

Mike- LOL! Yup!

Paruety Redal- LOL! Thanks! Haha, well this story has to end someday.

Please review and thank you!