Day 0- The Day before Quarantine
"Mandatory Covid Quarantine will be in effect starting tomorrow for 14 days to combat the new covid variant. Schools and most businesses will be required to close during this time. The government requests all citizens to please remain indoors unless it is an emergency."
Tohru vaguely listened to the news from her balcony as she sat at her easel. It was a beautiful day. A perfect day, really. Like the world wanted to give them a great day before everything shut down again. A few clouds, the sun shining, the temperature was perfect, and there was the lightest of breezes, but nothing strong enough to disrupt her as she continued painting, finishing the mural a friend had commissioned for her. It had come out beautifully, and they were coming by in a few hours to pick it up, wanting the piece before the mandate set it.
"Good morning, Tohru." Tohru looked around her easel as her neighbor greeted her with a coffee mug in his hand, an immediate smile springing to her face.
"Good morning, Kyo-kun!" He had just moved in a month ago next door, and Tohru couldn't help always smiling when she got to see and talk to him. She felt so obvious about the attraction she had felt towards him. He was just so handsome and immediately she had wanted to sketch him, but she had yet to build up the courage to ask him to model for her. Or to ask him over. Or ask if he was seeing anyone. "Beautiful morning, is it?" He simply nodded as he drank from his mug. "And how were your classes yesterday? Last ones before the mandate, am I correct?" When they talked, it was about normal stuff: their jobs, her classes, interest in music, food, what was going on around the neighborhood, but never anything too personal. The most personal thing she knew about him was his age which had surprised her that he was just five months older than herself.
"Yeah." Kyo sipped his drink as he looked over at his beautiful neighbor who always smiled so cheerfully at him. He needed to figure out a way to get them past this friendly neighbor stage because lord knew, he definitely didn't want that with her. No, he wanted so much more than that. Not that he didn't thoroughly enjoy their talks. "The younger kids were the most upset, but they all promised to practice still. Told them we'd have a little in-house tournament once the mandate was over so they had better keep up their training if they wanted to win." Kyo smiled as Tohru giggled at that. "So, how's the surprise painting for Machi coming?"
"Just finished, actually. Wanna see?" And he nodded and as she turned her easel around towards him, Kyo caught sight of what she was wearing. Always in her damn skirts! Always showing so much of her creamy legs as she sat on her stool. Legs that looked so impossibly soft, that was begging for him to touch, that he dreamed about wrapped around him. But that wasn't the only thing that caught his eyes today. Her shirt was more low cut that normal and more form fitting, unlike what she normally wore when painting: a baggy paint-covered shirt over her skirts or some paint-covered overalls. But this was new. It wasn't that he hadn't seen her in normal clothes before, but it had always been in passing, him heading to the dojo he taught and trained at, she coming and going from parttime jobs or her college classes. And this shirt was hugging her very closely and Kyo couldn't let the opportunity to gaze over her form this close up pass him by. She was just so beautiful. Tohru was small but she definitely had a woman's figure. Her breasts small but pronounced, her hips a gentle curve to them and since her shirt hung down, he got to see more of that soft creamy skin of hers, just the top of her breasts. "What do you think?"
"Absolutely beautiful." Tohru couldn't help the blush that entered her face. He wasn't looking at her painting, she could tell that much. She'd wore this more revealing shirt on purpose today, hoping she would see him in the morning like she normally did, Kyo always coming outside to drink his coffee while she was always drawing or painting in the morning. And she hoped she'd be able to catch his attention, glad the cute low-cut blouse was doing the trick. Thank you, Isuzu-chan! She sent the mental thanks out to her best friend.
"Yeah, it did turn out well, I'm glad." Kyo watched her uncross her legs before crossing them again before looking back at her face as she turned her gaze back to the painting. "I think Machi's going to really like it. Shame her birthday celebration got canceled because of the mandate. Would you have been able to go, Kyo-kun, if it hadn't?" It had been interesting to know that they knew so many of the same people, that she too hung out with many of his cousins and friends, although Tohru was closest mostly to Machi and Isuzu, the girlfriends of Kyo's two best friends and cousins, Yuki and Hatsuharu. Even now, he found it weird that they had never ran into each other until he moved in next door
"Yeah, I had been planning to. Would have been nice." Leaning on the half wall that divided their balconies, taking another sip, Kyo decided it was time to try to get a bit more personal with his neighbor. "Would you have been going to her surprise party with anyone, say a boyfriend or someone?" Tohru was hidden back behind her easel, probably touching something up on her painting, but he knew she heard him by the small jump of surprise by his question.
This was the first time Kyo had ever asked her something personal. Glad to have her easel hiding her enormous grin as she fixed a small section in the upper corner, she replied. "No, I was going to be attending it solo. Just me." She peeked around the painting, catching his gaze. "There is no boyfriend or somebody else, Kyo-kun." And she went back to her painting, not seeing the grin the spread across his lips at her reply. But Kyo taking that step gave her the courage to do the same. "And yourself? Would you have been attending the party with someone yourself?"
"No. There is no one." Haven't been for over a year. "However, there was someone I wanted to ask to go with me." Tohru peeked around her easel again at that, surprised. He was interested in someone? Who? But he was always so busy. Had she waited too long? "An artist that lives next door to me." Kyo smiled as a blush set in her face when Tohru realized he was talking about her, hiding herself back behind her easel. "I wonder if she would have accepted."
She was so happy. So excited Kyo seemed to be feeling the same way for her that she was for him. "Oh, I'm sure she would have, Kyo-kun. Sure, she would have very happy to go with you." Looking over her painting once more for anything she needed to touch up, Tohru decided it was 100% complete before signing it and taking it off the easel to rest in the shade. It would dry quicker outside, but she didn't want the sun damaging it.
"When is Yuki coming to pick it up?" Kyo let his gaze fall back to her body as Tohru stretched, her form fitted shirt rising a bit, giving him a glimpse of her smooth stomach. Damn she was going hard on him today. He knew she was wanting his attention, and he was all too willing to give it to her. Since they had met a month ago, there had been this obvious attraction between them but taking that next step wasn't easy when he was always running off to the dojo for training for tournaments and teaching classes and she was always having to work at her bakery job or going to her college classes. Their schedules just didn't align well. This morning time was the only time they got to see each other.
"Yuki and Machi are coming over around 11 for an early lunch before going on an outing before the mandate sets in." Tohru smiled sweetly as Kyo's gaze lifted back to her face.
"You don't have work today?" Kyo had already been considering himself lucky for how long this conversation was going. Sunday was normally the day he wasn't running off to the dojo but she would be, working at the nearby bakery for some extra money.
"No." She walked over towards him as he placed his mug down on the wall. "I won't be working there until the semester is over if I do at all. I got some commissions thanks to the small showcase I did last semester so I'm going to be using this mandate and spring break to finish those up." She smiled up at him before she lifted herself to sit on the wall separating their balconies. Willing herself not to get embarrassed, she turned herself so that her legs were dangling on Kyo's balcony side. Would he do something now that she was this close? Isuzu had told her it would be okay if she took a bit of an initiative if she wanted this attraction to proceeded faster. Let him know she was interested and that started by getting closer. Physically and asking for his time. "Then I only have a month to finish up my senior showcase before I graduate." When Tohru scooted over a bit to get closer, she smiled as her thigh accidently grazed his hand that was resting on the wall. "Think you might be able to spare a moment from training to come by the campus to see it. The pieces I have completed have been getting a lot of positive feedback from the professors. They're already sending samples out to some companies and studios so I might be getting some more commissions soon."
"I might be able to spare some time. I don't know the layout of your campus though." He smiled back at her as he rested his hand on her knee. If she wanted him to touch her, he was only too willing to do so. "So, I might need some assistance finding your showcase." Very slowly while watching her expression to see any signs of hesitation, Kyo shifted himself a bit closer, placing both on his hands on each of her knees and squeezing them gently. Finally this was happening and he was so eternally grateful to the universe in this moment.
"If it means you'll be there, Kyo-kun, I don't mind being your guide." She wanted to touch him, but she wasn't smooth like Kyo was, as his thumbs gently massaged small circles on the inside of her knees, causing her to sigh at the gesture. And almost like she had a magical fairy godmother granting her wishes, Tohru noticed a dandelion seed float into his hair. His beautiful gorgeous orange hair. It had been the first thing she noticed about him and it had taken her breath away, seeing it in the sun as he moved boxes inside a month ago. "You have something in your hair, Kyo-kun." Lifting her hand up, she brushed the seed away but once it was gone, she didn't remove her hand, letting the beautiful copper strands run through her fingers. "You know, I really like your hair. Like a lot." She couldn't help it. She always wanted to touch it and now she was. It always looked soft but her imagination failed in comparison to its actually softness.
Her hand in his hair was like a part straight out of one of his dreams about this woman. Now, if only she was grasping it desperately while calling out his name in ecstasy, they'd be getting closer to his actually dreams of her. Gently Kyo added pressure to her knees to separate them, and she allowed his hands to spread them, letting him get closer. Yes, this was more where she was thinking. She just couldn't help it. She liked Kyo a lot and he was just so attractive; it burned her alive thinking about him. And as Tohru lifted her other hand to his hair, Kyo pulled her closer, wrapping one arm around her waist as the other lifted to her face stroking those luscious lips of hers that were always smiling brightly towards him. "I really like your smile." And her eyes. And her legs that were currently wrapping themselves around his waist like he had always wanted. And every damn thing about her. Kyo's voice had dropped and was breathy in anticipation for what he knew was about to happen, what he knew was always bound to happen since he first met Tohru.
"Thank you, Kyo." She had something else to ask him but for the life her, Tohru couldn't remember what it was because all she wanted in this moment was this kiss. Ever since the day he moved in and she'd greeted him happily, and him returning her greeting with as much enthusiasm, and each morning that followed filled with brief special moments, she dreamt about kissing him and touching him and so much more. She wanted him. Desperately. But unfortunately, the world didn't want to be kind to her anymore as Kyo's phone began ringing as he started bringing her face towards his. She giggled as he cursed before picking up his phone, and when he tried to move away from her, Tohru tightened her legs around his waist preventing his departure, causing him to smile again at her antics as he stayed put. If she wasn't going to get her kiss right now, she'd at least get to enjoy him up close for a bit longer.
"Yeah?" Kyo hoped he sounded annoyed because sure as hell was. Whoever this was just ruined a perfect moment. A moment he's been dying to have happen for a whole damn month, if not longer if he was being honest.
"I'm waiting outside your apartment building." It was Yuki. How could the person who had once tried to set him up with Tohru now be the biggest cock blocker?
"Why?" Kyo had a very kissable neighbor with her delicious legs wrapped around him at the moment. Why would he want to leave that for Yuki, even if it was his best friend?
It was too early for Yuki to be dealing with Kyo's forgetfulness. "You said you needed to go to the store for groceries and stuff before the mandate and it would probably be too much for your bike to hold, so I'm here like you asked, you asshole!" He had to leave to comfort of Machi's naked body to do this for Kyo, and he was sounding annoyed at HIM.
Oh shit. That was right. "Sorry, I was preoccupied." Tohru giggled at his words as she made little circles on his chest. The sound of a female voice snapped Yuki more awake.
"Are you with someone? Like right now?" Kyo had only been talking to him about Tohru for a month since he moved into that apartment. The stroke of fate had blown Yuki away. What were the odds the girl Yuki had once attempted to set his cousin and best friend up with two months ago ended up becoming his neighbor? Talk about some universal assistance!
"Yeah." Tohru brought her hands up to his face, squishing his cheeks, laughing at the face she was making him make. He smiled as he grabbed her cheeks in turn, making her pucker her lips at him, and he began laughing as she blew a fishy kissy face at him as she crossed her eyes. "I'm with Tohru."
"Oh okay. Well now I feel bad." Yuki knew how much Kyo wanted to progress their relationship into something more, and from the sounds, he must of just ruined a perfect moment. "But Kyo if you want any luck at getting some groceries, you better hurry. Even going this early, I don't know how much you're going to find."
"Yeah okay. I shouldn't have waited until the last minute." Kyo stroked Tohru's smiling lips once more before lowering his head to her shoulder. He wanted to kiss her. Was burning to do so, but Kyo knew just one wouldn't be enough. He'd want more and he really needed to get to the store. He had been so busy these last two weeks that he barely had anything in his apartment. "I'm on my way." And with that, Kyo hung up. "I have to go." Wrapping his arms around the petite woman, he hugged her closely. Ugh, there was just not enough time for the two of them.
"Shopping, I heard. Waited a bit late, Kyo-kun." Tohru smiled aa she stroked her hands through his hair again. "But you were very busy lately." Then an idea hit her, the question she was going to ask him earlier. "Hey, why don't you come over for lunch with Yuki and Machi-chan. Isuzu-chan and Haru should be stopping by too because I'm using them as models for two of my commissions." She smiled as he lifted his head. "That is, if you want."
"I'd like that." Gently, he unraveled her legs from around his waist and honestly, it felt like a sin to do so. "See you in a bit." And he stepped back from Tohru's embrace as she turned back around to her side of the balcony, hopping down from the wall.
"Great! I'll see you at 11 then Kyo-kun." And she smiled brightly at him as she waved before entering her place. Dammit, he wanted her so badly.
The store had been packed like Yuki said but Kyo had been able to get enough groceries to last a while. He might be struggling through the second week but he'd be fine for the first at least, no problem. There were a few restaurants that were going to be open that delivered so he'd probably have to do that.
Yuki had stayed in his car, taking the opportunity to make a few calls and when Kyo came back, he had been grinning like an idiot as Kyo entered the passenger seat. "What's got you all happy?"
"Oh, just that I came up with the most perfect way for you to spend more time with Tohru during this mandate." He felt bad that it came at the expense of Haru and Isuzu, but after he talked to them about his idea, they hadn't minded, had been just as excited about it as him. "Mind if we make one more stop. The ring for Machi is ready too."
"You still going to do that on her birthday?" Yuki nodded. They'd been together since the end of high school and now that they were about to graduate, Yuki felt it was time. He'd known for years he wanted to marry Machi but they'd both agreed to get through schooling first. "So what's this idea of yours?"
"I'm going to get Tohru to ask you something at lunch. But first, how comfortable are you with the idea of modeling?" Yuki grinned at Kyo's confused expression.
"Like posing? Doesn't seem hard." And he was very comfortable with his body.
"And holding a pose for an extended time?"
"Once again, that doesn't seem too hard." What was Yuki planning?
"Good." Yeah, this was definitely going to work and be the perfect opportunity to start those two off. Yuki always knew they'd be good together. "Hope you picked up a lot of condoms. You're going to need them. Lord knows if you are alone with 14 days with just Tohru, you're bound to jump her eventually."
"Asshole." Kyo turned away from Yuki as he laughed at his embarrassment. But he had because he felt it. This mandate was the perfect opportunity to finally make Tohru his.
Tohru looked up from the stove as a knock came from the door. It was a bit early than she expected but she never minded the company, and she was ever more delighted when it turned out to be Kyo. "Kyo-kun! Come in. What brings you by early, not that I'm not happy about it."
"Thought I might offer my assistance with the meal." He smiled as she lit up at the idea. "Unlike Yuki and Machi, I can actually be helpful in the kitchen." That had Tohru laughing.
"Oh, they really are terrible. Yuki more so though." She pulled Kyo into the kitchen and got out some vegetables she needed peeled and cut up. "They paid me to make them a lot of reheatable casseroles for the mandate. I told Machi-chan to be sure she was the one to reheat them, or else with Yuki's luck, he'd burn them all."
Kyo laughed as he started peeling. "Have you ever had to eat one of his concoctions?"
"No, I just saw the aftermath." Tohru laughed remembering how horrific the meal had looked and the state of his and Machi's kitchen. "I immediately offered to make the meal." And clean up the unsightly kitchen. The couple had felt awkward about the whole thing, but Tohru wouldn't take no for an answer.
"Word of advice, never eat it. I was sick for three days." That surprised Tohru as she turned towards Kyo.
"That bad?"
"That bad." Finishing up with the vegetables, he took notice that Tohru had changed her outfit. She wore a pair of jean overall shorts and a colorful striped three quarters sleeved crop top underneath. Once again showing more skin. "I'm finished." And with her hair pulled up in a bun on top of her head, her beautiful neck was exposed too.
"Mind rinsing them off for me and just leave them in the sink. I am almost done with this." Finishing up the fish too and placing them in the broiler before getting a wok to sauté the vegetables in, she could feel his eyes on her again and smiled to herself, getting the vegetables ready to season. Isuzu would be proud. It only took many years of their friendship and a lot of convincing to get Tohru into a crop top. And honestly, Tohru loved them now.
"Anything else?" He wanted to touch her. God, he wanted to touch her.
"Setting the table, if you don't mind. Plates and bowls are in this cabinet." And she gestured to the cabinet right above her prep area, gasping when she felt his hand on her side as Kyo leaned past her forwards the cabinet.
"Watch your head." A shiver went down her spine as he whispered that in her ear, feeling his warm breath tickling her ear and neck. Having him so close froze her actions of mixing her blend of spices for the vegetables. That could wait. This was what she wanted. Feeling his chest against her back as he slowly took plates out of the cabinet as his other hand gently stroked her side.
"Do you need me to move, Kyo-kun." Her voice was already breathless. Kyo finished getting out six plates and bowls before he let his other hand also grab onto her waist as Kyo began trailing his lips lightly along her neck. She knew this is how it would be for them. Maybe that's why she had always kept that wall between them because the attraction she always felt towards Kyo was so overwhelming, so unlike anything she had ever felt for anyone before that at first, it had scared her. Scared her that she could want someone so completely and strongly so quickly. But she did. She wanted Kyo. Wanted his bright smiles. His kind words. His rich laughter. His confident demeanor. His fiery gazes that constantly raked over her body lighting her body a blaze. And now that she finally got to feel it for the first time this morning, she wanted his strong, rough hands on her body, searing his essence into her.
"Stay as you are, Tohru." His voice was so raw as he spoke against her skin. Finally, he gave in to a bit of temptation as he latched his mouth onto the base of her neck, finally allow himself a taste the tiniest bit of this woman who had been on his mind constantly. What would she think if she knew? Knew that person who had bought the photo of her from Yuki's junior photography showcase last year was him. Knew that the person Yuki had been trying to set her up with a couple of months ago before he moved here was him. It had been pure luck that he ended up being her neighbor, but Kyo just took that as the biggest sign from the universe, that this, the intense pull he felt towards her was just meant to be.
"Kyo." He hadn't realized he had ground himself into her, but hearing her moan out his name so desperately was enough for him to do so again. God, he wanted her so badly. And from the way she was meeting his grinds, tilting her head to give him more access, grasping onto his hands on her waist, moaning out his name, he knew she wanted him just as badly. Just as desperately. He knew once they finally took that next step past just neighbors this would happen, that they would be consumed by the intensity of their attraction towards one another. "Kyo, won't you kiss me?"
Why did she have to do this to him?! Ask him so lustfully to kiss her. Hell yeah, he wanted to kiss her. Kiss her until she was gasping for air and still coming back at him. Mark her up with his mouth so that every inch of that creamy skin of hers screamed that she was his. Wrap those legs of hers around himself as he drove home into her over and over and over again as she screamed out his name, cried out her release to him. She should just bar herself away from him and his crazy aggressive desire for her, yet here she was, meeting it. Wanting it. Wanting him. And it would be so easy for them to fall over that cliff together and forget about everything else, and dammit, he wanted so badly to fall with her.
Luckily and not so much at the same time, a knock came on her door, reminding Kyo that this still wasn't the time. Slowly he turned her around to face him, bringing his hand up to her lips to stroke. And as he looked at her gaze, he almost said fuck it with the amount of desire she looked at him with, with the way she grasped onto the front of his shirt. "Tohru, when I kiss you, I'll not going to stop, so be prepared for that." She nodded but couldn't stop herself as she kissed his thumb that was on her lips, causing him to inch closer towards her for a moment before he caught himself. Almost. "I'll get the door." Kyo placed a chaste kiss on her forehead before heading to the door. That was right, she had more guests coming. And honestly, when they kissed, she didn't think she'd be able to stop either. Wouldn't want to. Just like she didn't want to now. Trying to shake her head out of her desire crazed state, Tohru turned back to vegetables, finishing prepping them. But the knocking continued as Kyo appeared back in the kitchen, looking slightly confused. "That's not Yuki and Machi or Rin and Haru." Hearing the knock again, Tohru groaned at the thought of who it was. Why now?!
"Did you open the door or make any noise?" Maybe he'd go away if Kyo had been quiet. That's normally what she did.
"I grabbed the doorknob before I looked through the peephole. I think he heard that." Kyo watched as Tohru leaned against the counter thinking over her options. "Who is that?" She looked concerned, and immediately Kyo knew this wasn't someone she wanted here.
"A guy from my college that won't leave me alone. He lives over there now, I think." And she pointed out her patio door to the apartments across the street. "I've spotted him a few times watching me when I'm painting outside." This was getting old now. She'd rejected him countless times and he still wouldn't leave her alone and somehow had found where she lived a couple weeks ago and moved nearby. She hated when this happened. Was she going to have to move again?
"Mind if I handle it?" So, this was the stalker Yuki told him about.
"You don't have to, Kyo-kun. I can always just call the landlord. That's what I normally do." This was her problem. Maybe this time the landlord would ban him from the property.
So, this wasn't the first time this has happened. "I got this." But it was going to be the last hopefully. And he headed towards the door with Tohru hiding behind him. Cracking open the door, Kyo noticed the shocked expression on the guy's face. "Can I help you?" And Kyo didn't hold back any of the disdain from his voice.
"Oh, do I have the wrong apartment?" He looked at the number again and frowned. No, it was the right one.
"What do you want?" The other guy tried to appear taller but Kyo had a good few inches on him. And he was squirming under Kyo's glare. Good.
"I'm looking for Tohru." Who was this? Tohru never had guys over. Tohru was never around any guys except Yuki and Hatsuharu and they had girlfriends.
"She's busy." And before the guy to chime in, Kyo added, " Indefinitely." The stalker didn't like that answer.
"Who are you to decide that for her?" And that was all the encouragement Kyo needed as he grabbed the guy by the collar, pushing him back out from Tohru's doorframe as Tohru called out for Kyo to be careful. Like this fucker would be a challenge for him, but the sentiment was still endearing.
"And who the fuck are you that you think it's fine to stalk her after she asked you to leave her alone?! And why should I not beat the living shit out of you for the amount of stress you have put her through?" Kyo shoved the weak guy away from him. "She's not interested. She will never be interested." The stalker's eyes widened in horror as he fell to the ground. Kyo walked slowly over to him, kneeled next him and the idiot guy tried to throw a punch at him which he caught only too easily. "I'm shocked you don't know who I am, given how much I was on the television the last two weeks. And most people recognize me because of this." And Kyo pointed to his orange hair. "But since you obviously live under a rock, I'll tell you." Kyo threw the guy's fist back at him with so much force that he hit himself in the nose, causing a nosebleed. "I'm Kyo Sohma, the current number one ranked martial artist in Tokyo, and hopefully soon, Japan. So know this, in order to get to Tohru, I'm the one you have to deal with from now on. The one you have to try to take her from. And I can tell you this, ain't no one taking Tohru away from me, that's for damn sure." Especially now that he finally had her.
Kyo grabbed him by his collar again, lifting the poor guy easily as he rose to stand back up. "I-I will just come back another time." The guy was shaking as he stated that, and obviously had a death wish.
"Oh, I wouldn't advise that, because you see, if I ever catch you here again, if I ever hear you've come near her again, I won't be as nice to you. Just go look at the videos on YouTube to see what I do to my opponents. It's entertaining." Kyo smiled as he lifted the guy up, and he struggled to not be strangled by Kyo's grip before Kyo threw him down the hall. "And I'll know if you do appear before her again. Not only from Tohru. Not only from my cousins, Yuki and Hatsuharu who are always by her at school." Kyo unlocked the door next to Tohru's to further drive home his point. "But also because I'm right here." And he had a hidden camera where the peephole should be to picked up anything that walked by his apartment and since Tohru was at the end of hall, everyone had to walk by his door to get to hers. But this guy didn't need to know all that, so with that, he locked his door before going back to Tohru's. Not giving this guy another look, though he did hear him scurrying away. If he was smart, he'd listen and not come back. If he decided to be dumb, that was on him. Whatever he did, was his choice but he wasn't going to bother Tohru again, Kyo would make sure of that.
When he opened the door to Tohru's again, he was surprised by her immediately wrapping her arms around his waist. "Thank you, Kyo-kun. I was afraid I'd have to move again." She liked this apartment building. It was close to campus, to her job, to her parents. And most importantly, Kyo was here.
Wrapping his arms around her, he couldn't help focusing on what she just said. "Again? This guy has bugged you so much you had to move?" That pissed him off. Letting her go, he turned back to the leave. "I'll be right back. I'm going to end him. Permanently." He had been too nice, giving him a chance to choose differently. "Guys like that deserve the beatings coming to them."
But he felt her arms wrap around him again as she pressed herself up against him, feeling and hearing the laughter coming from her. "No. This one didn't do that. He's just a bit creepy. Just constantly asking me out after I refuse, coming by the bakery, and recently, knocking at my door."
So, this wasn't the first time this has happened to her. There were worse cases, times where she had to move because guys wouldn't leave her alone. "How long has stuff like this been happening?"
"Since I moved out of my parent's house two years ago." She stepped back from him, looking down as she fiddled with her hands. She had wanted to be more independent, but she just only seemed to cause problems. "I was living with some friends at first, but they would get harassed by guys following me so I moved in by myself and only invited my closest friends over."
"But some would still find you?" Why were there such terrible people out there? Tohru nodded.
"I felt bad the first time I had to break a lease, so I started looking for places that had monthly options."
"Doesn't that make your rent higher though?" He had a yearly lease on his place but it shocked him to know Tohru just did month to month. Not only that, but these apartments were pretty nice with two bedrooms in each, their own washer and dryer and a balcony. They weren't exactly on the cheap side.
"Yeah, just a bit. That's why I have to have the part time job. To pay for the extra." She got a lot back from the school from all her art and academic scholarships and her parents helped when they could. But they weren't exactly rolling in money.
Gently he lifted her gaze up to meet his. She was just doing so much just so she could live how she wanted. It was so precious. "How about, from now on, you just tell me about these creeps and I'll handle them for you, Tohru? Don't let guys like that control your life, okay?"
"Okay." And she wrapped her arms around him again. "And thank you, Kyo-kun." It was nice that there was someone she could go to about this, who wanted to protect her from guys that wouldn't take no for an answer. At school, it was easier because she was always surrounded by friends, when she left the security of her friends, that was when they liked to show up. And she really didn't want to move back home. She loved her parents and her younger brother but she was an adult now and enjoyed living how she wanted, having so much space and time to do her art when she wanted, however long she wanted.
"No need to thank me. I don't mind at all." And he hugged her tighter as another knock came from the door. Looking at the time reading eleven, he need it had to be Yuki. "I'll get it. And I'll check before touching the knob with time." Tohru laughed as she went back to the kitchen, to finish plating.
"Well, I didn't expect to be greeted by you." Yuki laughed as Kyo opened the door.
"I came early to help with the meal." He grinned as the couple took off them shoes before he grabbed them in a hug. "You know since neither one of you can." And they all laughed at that.
"I've gotten better, I swear." Machi spoke up. "I can now by trusted to reheat meals from Tohru."
"But has Yuki?" Kyo knew the answer to that as they walked into the dining room where Tohru was putting dishes of food out before smiling as she pranced over to Machi, hugging her tightly before giving a quick one to Yuki as well.
"I'm so glad you made it. Now we just need Isuzu-chan and Hatsuharu and we can begin." And she turned to get cups for everyone as Kyo put out the plates for everyone.
"Actually Tohru, they wouldn't be coming." Yuki pulled out a seat at the dining room table for Machi before sitting next to her, watching Tohru and Kyo stop their movements. Already, they moved around each other like they had been together for years.
"Oh, is everything okay? Are they okay?" They didn't catch covid, did they?
"They are fine. They had dinner with Haru's parents three days ago and it turns out his mom had covid." Tohru gasped at the news. "They both got tested today and were both negative but they just wanted to be on the safe side and quarantine themselves early."
"Is Haru's mom okay?" It was always worse the older they were. Though she was sure his mom was only in her mid-forties, but she was also a nurse.
"She's going fine. The vaccine made it so that it's not as painful. Haru said she only had light symptoms but she's still taking it seriously. Staying in a spare room, away from his dad. Taking immune system boosters. Tons of fluids and tons of sleep." Tohru sighed in relief.
"That's good." But now she had too much food. And they were going to be her models. What was she going to do about the commission? She needed a loving couple for one set of pieces and another company wanted a muscular man so she couldn't use Yuki, he was more slender than muscular. Her gaze went over to Kyo. I wonder...
Kyo was very strong and very much in shape, he'd walked outside one morning last week without a shirt on and she had almost fell off her stool at the sight. Yeah, he would fit the commission perfectly. And if she got to sketch him instead of just using photos like she had going to with Haru and Rin, it would come out even better. So much better. And since the mandate was going to be in effect, it's not like he had a lot of plans. But would that be something he'd be interested in? And what would she use as her appreciation? Rin and Haru just wanted a copy of the couple paintings, which was easy. But what could she do for Kyo? It's not like she had much money to spare. That's why she always used friends because she could pay them back in art work, or cleaning. Or cooking.
"So, Kyo, Yuki told me you weren't able to get many groceries today when you two went to the store." Hearing Machi snapped Tohru out of her daze. "Sorry you had so busy these last two weeks to prepare for the mandate like everyone else." Yuki patted Machi's leg under the table. They needed to get Tohru to ask Kyo to sub in for Haru and he had the perfect plan for her other commission.
"Yeah, but I got some things. I'll be okay for the first week I think." He looked over to Tohru who had been staring at him a moment ago in a daze. What was going on in that head of hers, Kyo wondered curiously but she snapped out of it rather quickly, bringing the table a pitcher of tea for drinks.
"Oh, and Tohru, I still got the camera for you to borrow if you need it still. And I brought its tripod too. Just in case." Everyone began eating with light conversation as Tohru thought about her options. If she asked Kyo, she could offer to cook his meals during the mandate. That would work. She would get the model for her commissions she needed and he wouldn't have to worry about stretching his groceries out for two weeks. And she'd get to spend a lot of time with Kyo. She guessed she could use myself as the female model with Kyo on the second commission. And the client had wanted a taller guy with a shorter female and Haru and Rin weren't very different in heights so that would work out best for the client. Yes, it would be perfect. Clients happy, more time with Kyo, finally getting to draw Kyo so she'd be happy. It was a win-win for everyone. Tohru spent most of the meal gathering her courage to ask him. She needed to, needed to ask him herself. So, as the meal came to an end and she started gathering up the plates, she did.
"K-kyo-kun, what are your plans during the mandate?" She could do this. And she really had always wanted to get Kyo to sit for her anyways. This really was the most perfect opportunity.
"Nothing much really. Was mainly going to use this as an opportunity to relax a bit and since tournaments are going to be postponed for even awhile after the mandate, I thought I'd think over my lesson plans for the kids I teach and figure out the in-house tournament I promised them." There was real promise in some of the younger kids. A few already wanted to start competing.
"Oh well, if you don't might, Kyo-kun, if it's something you'd have time for, would you mind sitting in for Haru for the commissions I need to work on? I could make all your meals during the mandate too as a way to pay you for your time." Tohru started washing the dishes as she asked, needing something to do with her jittery hands. She wanted him to say yes so badly. Not only for her art but because he'd be coming over every day and she really wanted that. And wanted this thing between them to really take off.
Kyo looked at the couple still at the table who were nodding enthusiastically at him. So, this is why Yuki asked him those questions. He knew about Haru and Rin and knew Tohru would need a new model for her work, and the two of them were once again trying to help steer him and Tohru together. Though it was annoying how nosy they could be, he couldn't help be grateful for them at the same time. "Do you just need to take photos or would it intel something else?"
Tohru looked up at that. She could do it with photos but she liked it so much more if she was seeing the person up close. "We could do photos if you are more comfortable with that. But if you don't mind posing for periods of time and have enough time to spare, I like not using the photos and prefer to sketch people in person. I feel I'm able to get more details that way. And of course, I'll give you breaks to sketch and move."
"Yeah, that seems very possible for me. I don't mind posing." And Kyo smiled as she lit up. Yeah, he was very thankful to this mandate. It was exactly what he needed to make Tohru his.
A/N: Another story! Kinda got inspired by all the covid story you'd see on tiktok and other social media platforms the last couple of years, so bam, adorable, hot Kyo/Tohru coupling! This is just a teaser chapter, the first chapter. I'm still working on the layout and the other chapters but this one just makes me smile so much that I couldn't stop myself from uploading it. I'm not going to say I'll be able to upload this one as fast as the other ones because I just started writing this one like a week ago so I don't even have any chapters to edit.
Anyways, follow, favorite, review, whatever you wish to do. Be kind, have a good time, and always let your love for Kyo and Tohru shine!~~~ cithara0211