YAY!! I am so glad that you guys like this fic! ^_^ I am having so much fun again! It is so horrible to say but I was really depressed writing the KxT one. I just felt horrible for Yuki and Kagura so this new one is cheering me up! (I will post the new chapter of Innocent Love today too though.) Thanks for all the nice reviews and I hope you continue to enjoy! *HUG*

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Without You
By: FayeValentine00 (Sarah-chan)
Chapter 2




"H-How are you?" I turned back to Yuki with a shy smile.


"Fine. How have you been?" He spoke softly and didn't quite meet my eyes. I suddenly felt like we were two children who were meeting for the first time and that was definitely not the case so I tried to lighten things up.


"Great! I've missed you so much!" I flashed him my best smile and walked over to the couch to have a seat.


"I've missed you too." His confession was really very simple but something about the soft, shy way that he said the words made me blush.


"How is everything at Shigure's house?"


"Well, Shigures last book did really well and Kyo and Kagura actually seem to be getting along rather well when you consider everything."


"That's great. ... How have you been?"


"Alright. ... It's too quiet in that house without you." He sighed a little but then seemed to change emotions and turned to me with his most princely smile. "How's your job?"


"My job?..." Bad memories of Mr. Fujisawa crossed my mind but the moment that I realized that I had begun to frown, I plastered a new smile onto my face. "My job is fine."


"Are you sure?" He eyed me suspiciously and I couldn't blame him since I'd reacted so strangely to a very simple question.
"Y-Yes. It's alright. I guess I'm just a little homesick."


"Well, we all miss you too." He smiled at me again and I finally felt like it was old times again. Being able to talk to Yuki again was like a dream come true and I'd have to remember to thank Momiji for it.


"I just can't believe that you're here. Did Momiji tell you that I was coming?" Yuki asked me with surprise returning to his voice.


"No, but I am really happy. This was such a wonderful surprise."


"I agree. ... There's something that I want to tell you."


"What's that?" I blinked at him with no clue of what he could have in mind.


"Well, I wanted to say that I---"


"Yuki! Tohru! Let's go swimming! It will be fun." Momiji ran in loudly, interrupting Yuki's words.


"You don't swim in the hot springs." Yuki turned to the boy who was one year his junior with an annoyed look on his face.


"I do!" Momiji laughed and stuck his tongue out at his cousin before he turned to me with a big smile. It still amazed me how he hadn't slowed down at all since the day I'd met him. He had more energy then anyone that I knew. "Tohru, are you coming too?"


"Not with us!" Yuki blushed brightly which caused Momiji to laugh even louder.


"Of course! ... What are you thinking?"


"Momiji, I---" Yuki looked at his cousin with a serious expression so I quickly jumped to my feet.
"I'd love to go relax in the water. Besides, we can still talk over the fence like before, right?" I smiled and although I knew that talking to men through the fence was not exactly the most appropriate behavior, I didn't care. It'd been far too long since we'd all spend time together.



I stepped into the hot spring gingerly and was happy to realize that we had the place to ourselves which I hadn't noticed when I'd first arrived. I found the spot where the cool water flowed into the spring and sat there to keep from overheating.


"Tohru, how is the water?" Momiji voice called out.


"Fine!" I smiled to myself as I called out my reply. "Oh Yuki, what did you want to talk about?"


"Ummm ... I'll tell you later." He sounded a little uncomfortable.


"Yuki, Why are you blushing?" Momiji asked with humor in his voice but Yuki didn't reply. At least not in a way that I could hear.


"Oh, okay." I was a little confused but decided to let the subject drop for now.


"Yuki, did you tell Tohru who was coming tomorrow?"


"No, I didn't have the chance."


"Oh? Who's coming?" My interest was immediately peaked.


"Kyo and Kagura. Shigure and Hatori said that they'd try to make it up as well." Momiji answered matter-of-factly.


"That's great! I can't wait!" My heart seemed ready to burst with happiness. I was going to get to see the others too! "Do they know that I'm here?"


"Nope. It's a surprise for everyone!" Momiji's excitement could be felt all the way on my side of the fence. "Besides, if I had told everyone then the whole family would have come."


That idea didn't really upset me but it was nice to get to have time to relax with some of my very closest friends.



Later that night, I sat on the porch of the building and watched the stars in peace and quiet. This relaxed atmosphere was such a welcome change to the hustle and bustle of Tokyo life. That city never slept and it was starting to wear me down. This weekend felt like an answered prayer.


My thoughts trailed off to Monday morning, when I had to return to work. Mr. Fujisawa made it very clear to me that he intended to take what he felt that I owed him for letting me have the weekend off. I didn't want that. That man disgusted me but I needed the job. I couldn't allow the Sohma's to take care of me forever. I felt helpless. I bent my knees up to my chest and hugged my legs protectively.


I buried my face in my knees and sighed. Images of yesterday in that office, where he sealed what he viewed as my fate with that harsh, emotionless kiss, replayed over and over in my head until I felt a light sob escape my throat. To make it all worse, it was my first real kiss and it really seemed to ruin the magic that I'd always associated with a kiss. Coming here made me realize how good I'd had it and how much I really disliked city life. It all just overtook me and I allowed my tears to flow down softly onto my pants.


"Tohru? ... Are you okay?" Yuki came over and sat down next to me with heavy concern in his voice.


I quickly wiped my eyes on my hands and looked up at Yuki with the most convincing smile that I could muster. "I-I'm fine.


He gave me an unconvinced look but put his hand on my shoulder supportively. "I don't believe you. Everyone worries about you. ... I worry about you."


I put my hand over his that was on my shoulder and smiled up at him sincerely. "Thank you. I'm just happy to be able to spend the weekend with you and the others."


"Alright." I could still tell that he was worried about my tears but he seemed to let it go. "Tohru, I---"


"Yuki, Tohru!" Momiji came running out to us, interrupting Yuki for the second time that day. "Kyo and Kagura will be here in a few minutes. Let's go surprise them!"


"B-But I thought that they weren't coming until tomorrow!" I jumped up in surprise.


"Heh heh!" The younger man laughed playfully. "I tricked you again!" He took me by the arm and pulled me towards the door.


Yuki sighed loudly and slumped his shoulders in defeat. "I'll tell you later, Tohru."


"Okay!" I called out behind me as Momiji drug me into the house.



I stayed in the living room while Momiji and Yuki went outside to greet Kyo and Kagura.


"HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" I heard Momiji call out loudly to the new guests.


"Oh God! The loud one is even louder then usual." I heard Kyo groan.


"Hi Momiji, Yun-chan!" Kagura called out excitedly. "Sorry we are so late but Kyo got us lost."


"I did not! You had the directions!" Kyo screeched loudly and I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing when I heard a smack that I assumed was Kagura whacking Kyo because it was followed by a moment of silence.


"Come inside! I have something to show you!" Momiji spoke with incredibly energy as I heard them approaching the door.


About 30 seconds later, I saw the door fly open and Kyo and Kagura stepped into view


"Good Evening!" I smiled loudly, causing both of my friends to blink in surprise.


"Tohru?!" Kyo spoke in shock while Kagura threw herself into my arms and embraced me tightly.


"We've missed you so much! It's not the same without you at Shigure's house."


I returned Kagura's embrace with a smile on my face. "I missed you both too."


Once she let me go, I turned to Kyo with a smile. "How are you?"


"Good. Why haven't you come to visit sooner?!" He gave me an annoyed look but I could see happiness in his eyes.


"I'm sorry. I promise to come and visit more often if Shigure will let me stay at the house."


"Of course! What are you thinking?! We haven't even touched your room since you left!" He yelled loudly but I knew better then to take it too seriously. It was just Kyo's way of letting me know that he cared.


"Alright. I'm sorry. I promise to come and visit more."


"Okay then..." He was still frowning but he finally met my eyes. "I guess I'll forgive you this time."


"Don't be so rude, stupid cat." Yuki spoke softly to his cousin.


"Shut up, Damn Mouse! You're the one who's been miserable and moping around the house since the day she left!"


"I said, shut up!" Yuki eyes Kyo dangerously.


"Do you wanna fight or something?!" Kyo ran up right into Yuki's face.


"Why? Do you want to loose again?"


"I swear I'll---"


Kyo's words ended abruptly when I couldn't contain myself any longer and burst into laughter.


Kagura eyed me in confusion for a moment before she spoke. "What's so funny?"


"Nothing, really. It's just really good to be together with everyone again."



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Next chapter - Talking to Kagura! ^_^