A/N: Hi! I hope you enjoy, lovelies.

Chapter title from "Fall to Pieces" by Avril Lavigne.


One block.

Tohru has a block to prepare herself to see Uo-chan.

It's not enough time.

Her legs are shaking, and she's honestly worried her knees might give out. She knows she should come up with a plan about what to say, about how to plead her case, but she can't even think clearly. So she feels herself resorting back to her default state of mind: just smile and be cheerful, and everything else will fall into place. Probably.

When she opens the door to the cafe, Uo's in their usual spot, and she waves Tohru over.

"Hey."

"Hi, Uo-chan!" Tohru forces herself to chirp out.

Too much? Uo knows her too well for this. Tohru's already convinced she'll see right through her. But...would that really be such a bad thing? If starting to see Kyo again has taught her anything, it's that there are times when holding all your cards close to your chest does you no good.

Uo raises an eyebrow, but doesn't say anything about Tohru's tone. They exchange small talk like they always do, sharing horror stories from work that week and chatting about fun things they're looking forward to. Kureno is coming into town next weekend to see Uo, and Tohru shares in her joy. Talking about a Sohma might be a good segway…

Maybe, just maybe, Uo will share in her joy, too.

But as soon as Tohru opens her mouth to say it, Uo says, "Hey, so Asahi told me things didn't work out."

"Oh, uh...no, they didn't."

"What happened? Really just no spark, huh?"

Deep breaths.

"W-well, actually...I started seeing someone else. Maybe. Sort of."

Uo hums in obvious surprise. "Yeah? Well, details, please."

"Okay, uh...so...he makes me happy," she blurts, then mentally curses herself—just saying his name and getting it over with would be so much easier. But she digs her heels in, hoping it will give her even a second longer to prepare herself. "And he's kind to me. And he's smart, and hardworking, and thoughtful."

"Sounds good so far." Uo sips at her water, then makes a "go on" gesture.

"He's also someone you know."

"Okay, now this is so vague that it's getting a little weird. What's his name?"

Tohru chews at her lower lip. Even after the extra time she bought herself with that buildup, she's not ready. Briefly, she considers lying just to settle her nerves. She knows she's gotten good at that lately. She might be able to pull it off. Then there's always next week to tell her the truth. But...is that really the person she wants to be? The kind who lies to her best friend, lies to everyone else about her feelings?

No. She wants to be better. Kyo makes her want to be better than she has been recently.

"I started sort of seeing Kyo-kun."

A thick silence sits around the table. Tohru wants to run and hide. She'd rather die than disappoint anyone, especially someone she loves so dearly. But she knows she can't. No lying, no running away. It wouldn't be right.

"Are you kidding?" Uo asks finally.

"No."

"Tohru," she groans, "you seriously gave up a good guy for someone who totally destroyed your trust? Right after we agreed it would be better not to?"

"Uo-chan, I love him."

"Are you sure?"

"What?"

"Are you sure you still love him, or do you just feel like he's 'the one who got away' or whatever?"

Tohru feels her willpower start to crumble. What's the point in arguing her case when Uo's clearly already decided the outcome her end of the conversation will have? She clenches her fists on her lap under the table. The feel of her nails digging into her palms grounds her enough to be able to speak up again.

"Why is it that you think Asahi is such a good person?" she asks, fighting to keep her voice steady. "You only know him from work."

"Well he's already treated you better than Sohma did."

"How so?"

"Well, Asahi didn't abandon you after you fell off a cliff, for one. And he's not the kind of guy that ever would, either."

"Well, if you like him so much, maybe you should just date him yourself!" Tohru shoots back, then smacks a palm across her mouth. Not only was that childish, it was also just mean.

Where did it come from? The feeling bubbling up in her chest is strange. She knows how to identify it when other people are exhibiting signs of it, but it's usually much harder to pin down on herself, after a life of being docile to live up to the expectations of others. But right now, she understands it almost instantly—she's angry. This is the person who's supposed to have her back, and instead Uo is just trying to talk her out of her feelings. It almost feels like a betrayal, and after knowing Uo for so long, it's a devastating blow to realize that.

Uo just stares at her for a minute, face blank, then says, "Wow. You're mad."

And...Tohru figures that, since she's already snapped, she might as well own up to it. "Yes."

"I...kinda like seeing you mad, you know," Uo laughs.

"...Huh?"

"You don't get mad much, so when you do...well, that's how I can tell something's really important to you."

Tohru honestly can't remember the last time she got mad around Uo-chan, and wonders if she ever actually has. But then again, this is the person who knows her best; Uo's probably always been able to see what Tohru feels, even when she doesn't quite understand it herself.

"O-oh…" she mumbles, still a little taken aback by the route this all has ended up taking.

"Tell me this, at least—has he changed?"

Tohru takes a second to seriously consider how to word her response to that. Kyo still has a lot of growing to do, but so does she; they can grow together. But even more important than that…

"He doesn't run away anymore," Tohru says.

Uo nods a little. "And you're safe and happy?"

"Yes. I really am. I just...don't want you to be disappointed in me." And then she's crying, her face buried in her hands to try and hide the sudden onslaught of tears. The next thing she knows, Uo is at her side, arms wrapped around her shoulders.

"Hey, never. I'm sorry...I didn't ever mean to make you feel like I'm disappointed in you."

"I-it's okay."

"Listen, I'm always in your corner, alright? If it works out, then I'm happy for you. And if it doesn't, well...then I'll be here to help you start over again, because I love you."

"You're the best, Uo-chan," Tohru squeaks out, moving her hands away so she can look at her friend.

"Nah," Uo says, then stands up and heads back over to her seat. Tohru can see that she's sad, maybe even a little ashamed about how she'd acted. But it's really okay now. They're okay.

"So, how'd this happen, anyway?" Uo asks.

Tohru smiles a bit, wipes at her eyes, and recounts the story of making soup for Kyo and then just kissing him. They laugh about how spontaneous that was ("You're usually so anal, Tohru!"), and talk about their first date, and how they haven't put a label on anything yet.

"Why not? Aren't you guys like, dating? It sounds like it to me."

"I hope so."

"So why don't you just tell him that?"

"Because, I…" she starts, then pauses in hesitation.

Tohru's going to sound like a hypocritical idiot if she says what she's thinking. Even though she just said that Kyo doesn't run away anymore, he's obviously had a track record of doing that. Any time something spooked him, he would take off. It caused trouble not only for him, but also for everyone else around him. Tohru doesn't want to lose him again.

"I don't want to scare him off again," she finishes, voice a whisper.

"I get it."

"You do?"

"Well, yeah. You wanna get it right this time. So, I don't think there's any shame in taking it slow for a while. Besides, who needs labels? We're not in high school anymore."

Tohru laughs lightly. "True. Although, I do remember a certain someone getting annoyed when Kureno said the same thing a couple years ago."

Uo groans and slumps back in her chair theatrically. "I was so dramatic back then."

"Then?"

"Can it!" Uo laughs.

It had been terrifying, trying to speak her truth just now. But, now that she's done it, she feels powerful. And Uo had been on her side, after all.

So nothing's quite as scary anymore. And that's a really good feeling.


Kyo's been on this bench for what feels like a lifetime now. He keeps dozing off. He and Tohru spent a lot of the night cuddling and talking, and as fantastic as that was, he'd also ended up sleeping on her couch. That doesn't really make for good rest. He knows he'll probably end up spending the night again tonight, and he really wants to. But, after she'd seemed so ashamed about having a guy in her bed just recently, he also doesn't want to ask to go anywhere near her bedroom. He doesn't want her to be embarrassed or feel any pressure. She'll invite him in there when she's ready, he figures. So for now, the couch it is.

Kyo jerks his head up again, for the upteenth time. He doesn't like to make a habit of drinking coffee, but if he doesn't ingest some caffeine immediately, he thinks he's going to actually pass out on this park bench. He honestly has no idea how long he's been out here, but he's sure Tohru and Uo won't be done for a while still, so he's got time. He stands up and meanders out of the park in search of a convenience store or vending machine, and when he sees a shop just down the street, he heads that way.

"Welcome in," a voice calls from behind the counter.

Kyo doesn't pay much attention, just nods in the direction of the employee and makes his way to the cool cases of drinks. He picks up some iced-coffee-something-or-another and sets it on the counter.

"Oh," the employee says.

Kyo looks up and meets eyes with Asahi.

Asahi's existence doesn't exactly make Kyo's blood boil or anything, but he's definitely not Kyo's favorite person, either. Because ever since Kyo met him at Tohru's a bit ago, all he can do when he comes up in conversation is think about that. About the two of them in her bed, Tohru under him and making those same little gasps that she lets out when Kyo kisses her, but probably even louder because, well—

No use in being jealous over it.

"Oh. Hey, man," Kyo says back, then hurries to dig in his back pocket for his wallet. As little conversation as possible, please.

"300 yen. How's Tohru?"

Kyo slides a 500 yen bill across the counter. "Good."

Asahi's quiet as he hands back Kyo's change. Just as Kyo turns to leave, starting to think that this interaction had been easy (almost too easy, maybe), Asahi asks, "You two together yet?"

Shit.

Kyo pauses and turns back toward the counter. "No," he says, because no matter how bitter the word tastes, it's the truth. They're not really together. They're on their way there, maybe...probably. But for now, they're whatever this is—whatever it means for them to kiss until they're dizzy, and for him to sleep at her house, and for them to brush their teeth side by side in the morning.

"Really? Huh."

Asahi's tone makes Kyo feel like he's being baited.

And for some reason, he bites.

"What's that mean?"

"She seemed totally into you. And it just seems like she's the type to go fast."

"Fast?"

Asahi chuckles, but it sounds a little bitter. "You know."

Kyo takes a step closer. "No, I don't. Or I wouldn't have asked.'

Asahi clicks his tongue before speaking, almost like he's reluctant to have to say it outright. "She slept with me on the second date."

That's it? That's what this moron is going on about?

"So?"

"So, Tohru seems kind of easy, is all I'm saying."

Kyo can't remember the last time he wanted to punch someone this badly. But the idea of going to pick up Tohru with bruised and swollen knuckles and seeing a look of horror on her face isn't exactly to his liking. He should just walk out. It's what Tohru would want. She'd tell him not to worry about her reputation. But still, despite knowing all that, he reaches across the counter, grabs the collar of Asahi's shirt, and yanks him closer.

"If you're gonna say stuff like that, keep her name out of your fucking mouth."

For a guy as skinny as Asahi is, Kyo's surprised that he doesn't seem fazed in the slightest. "Eh? It's not like I minded, clearly. It's just the kind of girl she is, I guess. It's whatever"

"She can do whatever she wants. If she wants to have sex with someone on the second date, it doesn't matter. And if you slept with her after the second date, doesn't that make you just as 'easy' as she is, jackass?" Kyo forces out from between ground teeth.

He lets go, giving a little shove as he does so . Asahi stumbles back a few steps before catching himself. Kyo turns back to the door, and without even looking back says, "Stay away from her, or I'll make your life hell. Got it?"

When he finally makes it outside, he turns the corner in a hurry and literally runs into Tohru. She squeaks and stumbles, and he grabs her arm to keep her upright.

"Hey, you."

"Hi, Kyo-kun! I was looking for you. I didn't see you in the park, so…"

"Ah, yeah. Sorry. Came to get this." He holds up the bottle of coffee. Tohru tilts her head to the side in curiosity as she reads the label.

"Ooh, that sounds good! I think I'll go buy one, too."

"Wait," he blurts, grabbing onto her hand. His voice trembles a little bit. He hopes she didn't notice, but he can tell by the look on her face that she did. "You...you can just have this one."

He holds out the coffee, her watching him with those big beautiful eyes of hers, eyes that are full to the brim with worry right now. He hates it.

She takes the coffee, then sets it down on the ground. Once she straightens back up, she grabs both of his hands. She clings to them, like they're her lifeline. Or maybe, like she's his lifeline.

"You're shaking, Kyo-kun," she says softly. He lowers his eyes to the ground. She's quiet, waiting for him to say something, but he doesn't know where to start. So he just lets her hold his hands, and he counts the cracks in the sidewalk they're standing on to distract himself.

He's embarrassed. Ashamed might be a better word. He doesn't want to be the kind of boyfriend who gets jealous over exes. Tohru had loved other people before this, and that's fine. It really is. It would be selfish to try and ignore, or erase, that part of her past.

And really, as much as he thought he'd been "defending Tohru's honor" or whatever, back there in the convenience store...that's so stupid. Who is he kidding? Tohru doesn't need that shit. She doesn't need him to be a knight in shining armor. She's always been her own knight, and she can slay any dragons herself.

"I just love you," he murmurs. "So much."

"I love you too."

Kyo forces himself to meet her eyes. Yeah, he'd made a list of the things he needs to get better at in order to deserve Tohru, sure. But never once on that list had he written that he needs to be gentler, less impulsive. He's realizing that that's a big thing to have left off.

"Do you want to go back to my apartment?" Tohru asks. He nods. She doesn't let go of his hand as she bends down to pick up the drink. She doesn't let go of it on the way to the station, or on the train, or on the walk back to her apartment. She just never lets go.


At the apartment, they split the single coffee up into two glasses and lie on the couch. Tohru presses herself against Kyo's chest and lets him hold onto her.

She presses lazy kisses to his collarbone. She nuzzles her nose against the side of his neck. She doesn't ask about what had happened back at the convenience store.

And he doesn't tell her. Not yet, anyway.

"What do you usually do on Saturdays?" she asks, clearly just trying to make conversation. She kisses his jaw once and sits up all the way, in order to look him in the eye properly.

He's felt himself starting to relax since they got back here, and he welcomes it. He loves the warmth that spreads out from Tohru and into him. He's happy to absorb it and forget about everything else, because really, nothing but her even matters.

"I don't know," he says.

She giggles. "How do you not know?"

He chuckles back and reaches up, taking a strand of her hair and twirling it around his finger. She watches him, eyes looking absolutely captivated by his movements. He doesn't know what to think about the fact that she looks at him with such reverence that he doesn't deserve.

"I just kinda do whatever. But this is way better than anything else I ever do."

She bites her lip, cheeks reddening. He takes his thumb and presses it against her mouth.

"Let go," he says softly. She obeys, and he leans forward to slant his own lips against hers. She responds eagerly, just like she always seems to when he kisses her, and it makes him tingle in a million different ways that he doesn't quite know how to explain.

When they part, he asks, "Do you forgive me?"

"Forgive you for what?"

"For...for being such a coward back then?"

Tohru's quiet for a few long moments before taking her face in his hands and whispering back, "Don't do that to yourself."

"Huh?"

She presses their foreheads together, knocks her nose against his affectionately. "You're spiraling," she says simply. He knows what she means by it, too.

"Yeah," he admits.

"It's okay. You're here with me right now. I love you, and I know you love me. It's okay."

He nods a little and lets his eyes fall shut as she presses kisses all over his face, basking in the feeling. Nothing's really as big a deal as it might have previously seemed. Not when Tohru's straddling his lap and kissing him all over. Her touches are light and gentle—just enough to let him know she's still here, that she's not going anywhere. He wraps his arms around her waist and clings to the back of her shirt.

"I love you," she whispers. "I love you, I love you, I love you."

And then, at those words being repeated over and over again, something strange happens:

He sort of starts to believe that he might be worthy of Tohru Honda's love.