A/N: Lol. Last chapter, some person (i'm sorry, i can't remember who) reviewed and said that now that I started school, all my oneshots would probably turn angsty again (because school sucks the life out of you)

. . . . . . . well, s/he was sorta right.

don't shoot me! T-T it was the first thing that popped into my head after all.

and momiji has no curse at this moment. this is the BIG momiji. ^^

mehhh . . . i kinda lost interest towards the end. can you tell?

5# Rumors

". . . I always had this suspicion about her."

"Someone told me that she actually lives with three of the Sohmas, all men."

"Well, she's got no mom, right? Money issues might lead the empty-headed to sell themselves."

Tohru stood there, pale hands clutching at her bag, dull eyes staring above her.

"Mom or no mom, does it matter? I heard her mom was in a gang anyway."

"And she always seemed so nice . . ."

"It was obviously just a ploy."

Tohru was finding it hard to breathe. A wall of people surrounded her, and yet she was utterly alone due to the safe distance they separated themselves from her. As if she had a disease.

"No wonder she was so close to the Sohma boys at school."

"You never see her hanging out with female Sohmas. I wonder if they all hate her."

"Or do they even know that the Sohma family has their own closet pet?"

"I always had this suspicion about her. I really did!"

"Oi, Honda!" One of her sempai actually broke the circle and approached her. She did not meet his eye, but he didn't seem to notice. He was too busy getting out his wallet. Wafting a twenty in front of her nose, he grinned bitingly and said, "I ain't anything compared to those rich Sohmas, but I'm sure even this is enough, right?"

The girl broke.

Bursting out into tears, Tohru ran the other way. The wall of smirking students parted for her, but then she ran into someone that held her tight. Her head snapped up in shock and she caught her breath. Suddenly she found herself face to face with Momiji.

"T-tohru?" he stammered, caught off guard. His brown eyes took in her wet cheeks for five full seconds and then strayed over to the wall. Momiji's mouth slowly fell open when he saw it. A long banner. Messily written in red paint were the words "TOHRU HONDA IS A WHORE." Other vulgar commentary and crude drawings had been added to it over the course of the day.

"No way," Momiji breathed out, stunned.

Tohru cried harder, burying her face in her hands.

"This has Prince Yuki club written all over it," someone said darkly.

A chill went down Momiji's spine as he felt two distinctly murderous auras approach him. Hanajima and Uotoni flanked him, glaring up at the banner as if their eyes were flamethrowers. A little nervously, Momiji held Tohru tighter. For the most part, he liked her two best friends . . . but they were terrifying when they were angry.

"Momiji," Uotoni growled.

"Y-yes?" he replied, suppressing a shudder.

"Take Tohru-kun outside."

"This could get messy," Hanajima deadpanned.

Uotoni barked out a laugh, and now all the spectators were shifting around uneasily and making excuses to leave as well. "I'm impressed, Saki. You're not one to usually care for leaving evidence."

Hanajima's lips tightened into a grin, and she let out a single chuckle that was more frightening than any word she could have spoken in reply.

Taking the hint, and wanting to get Tohru far away from the disaster, Momiji hurriedly ushered Tohru outside. He led her to a deserted courtyard and sat her down on the edge of the fountain. She was still crying, but quietly now.

"Tohru?"

Tohru ducked down so that he could not see her face.

Momiji ran his hand through his hair, feeling awkward, and he sighed out as he plopped down beside her. His eyes kept darting over to her, but he didn't touch her. He didn't know what to do. After all, what do you say to a person at a time like this?

After flicking at a leaf for a bit, Momiji angled a little away from Tohru and cleared his throat. "Was it true?"

Tohru shook her head wildly, her hair flying. "N-no," she stammered. "Heaven forbid, no."

"Then I believe you," Momiji stated simply.

"Eh?" Tohru threw a discreet glance at Momiji's back.

"And there's no doubt that Hanajima and Uotoni believe you. Only an idiot wouldn't, to be honest."

"Momiji . . ."

But Momiji kept talking. "And Yuki will probably estrange himself from any Prince Yuki fan club member who thinks otherwise. And if guys give you any crap, Kyo will be there to beat them up. Haru might too, but that be bad if he turned 'black' and wound up murdering someone."

Tohru winced.

Momiji fidgeted a little. "And I—well, I can't do all that much." He laughed ruefully, scratching the back of his neck. "But . . . you're more than welcome to come running to my arms anytime. It's not a burden or anything like that."

Slowly, their eyes met. They held each other's gazes for a moment before Momiji turned his head and fished out something from his blazer pocket. Tohru tensed for a moment, thinking of the boy who had pulled out his wallet. But she needn't have worried. "Here," Momiji said, offering her a handkerchief with pink bunny print. With a wink he told her gently, "Your face is a mess."

For a moment, it looked like Tohru was going to start crying again. But she only sniffed and took the handkerchief, mopping at her eyes. "Th-th-thank you," she said.

Momiji stretched and then let an arm alight down on Tohru's shoulders. He slumped against her lazily and sighed, "Ahhhh, but now I don't really want to go class. Wanna skip with me?"

Tohru blinked in surprise. "I don't—"

"Awww, but we can go get ice cream or something!" Momiji whined playfully.

A soft smile spread across Tohru's lips. "W-well . . . I don't think one day could hurt."

"Yay! Let's go, let's go!" And Momiji snatched up her hand and dragged her away. And just like that, with Tohru's eyes still red and puffy, they got ice cream. Momiji paid extra so that Tohru could get an extra scoop.

Tohru decided that ice cream had never tasted as good as it did that day.