AN: Kill me now. I am SO sorry for the late update. Again. I need to stop setting dates for updates, so that it won't feel so bad when I can't make them. Argh. I'm about to miss my schoolbus, though, so I'm updating this really quickly. I just barely managed to get it typed. I have no idea when the next update is.

Chapter Twenty- A Pressing Matter

"Finally," said Kyou, "we're back..."

The Onigiri grinned, "That was actually quicker than normal! Exhilerating (AN: I don't know how to spell that...)!"

"...speak for yourself, love..." (AN: Ignore that phrase. It's for my own amusement, and I don't care if it's out of place.)

"Eh...?"

"It was because I carried you that it went so quickly..." he sighed, "My back hurts..."

"Oh, Kyou!" she rushed to his side, "Are you okay? I shouldn't have let you carry me! This is all my-"

"Stop."

She was confounded, "What?"

"From this point on, it's never your fault, okay? Stop blaming yourself."

"O-okay..."

"I don't care how many sore backs I get. You are staying safe. The only one at fault here is the one who isn't. Yuki." (AN: If the phrasing confuzzled you, it meant that the only one who wasn't there was at fault, and Yuki wasn't there.)

Kyou's eyes widened as he glanced at Tohru in dismay. She was crying. He couldn't tell if they were tears of joy... or sorrow... "Tohru... what did I say?"

She sobbed, "You're so kind... and yet..." he winced, "You're so cruel... speaking of somebody whose outlook in life is bleak, when you once held that position, in scorn... I know that you still don't like Yuki, Kyou. Even if your curse is gone/ but he still means something tp me, even if he was what started this..."

Kyou sighed. She was so emotional, sometimes... but she was almost always wiser in her words than he. "I... see what you mean... would you allow me to apologize?"

Tohru sniffled, wiping her eyes, "I forgive you, silly!" she grinned once more, looking happy as ever, even through her swollen eyes and reddened face.

The former Neko was not only nearly depressed, but very confused, now. He sighed...

The Onigiri blinked, as if trying to remember something. Kyou raised an eyebrow.

"Oh yeah! Hatsuharu-san wanted us to visit Yuki!" she didn't even seem like she'd been crying a moment before. Tohru was excited and happy- just like normal.

The former Neko sighed once more. Nothing would ever be the same again... "Well... if you really want to... I guess we could. But let's make sure we go when Akito's out or sick. I sure as hell don't want you near him now..."

"Are you going to go see the damned one?" Shigure popped his headinto the room. "I'll come, too. If only to make sure Tohru's safe!"

Kyou put his arm around her protectively. "You sure as hell won't! I can take care of her!

The Onigiri spoke up, "Speaking of taking care of me, when should I move out, anyway?"

"Eh!" Kyou turned to her.

"Tomorrow!" grinned the Inu.

"What!"

"You, two, Kyou!"

"Why!"

"Okay!" smiled Tohru.

"Why!"

"I don't want you doing anything dirty in my house..."

Tohru went crimson as both she and Kyou shouted, "It's not like that!"

AN: I'm not out of chapters, yet! Good for that.