Please keep in mind, if you are kind enough to read this author's work, that the author does not claim to own these characters, That said: The author knows that Natsuki Takaya owns the characters and original storyline. No infringement is intended.

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A/N I've had it brought to my attention, that I use some Japanese words that may be difficult to understand Sumimasen minna-san! I will make a list here!

Yokatta: I'm glad, I'm relieved, Thank goodness

Wakatta: I understand, I know

Wakarimasen: I don't understand

Tadaima: I'm home

Okaeri: welcome home

Daijoubu: A way of asking if someone is all right

Daijoubu da yo: The response to the above question, indicating that they are fine

Iie: no

If there's anymore that I forgot, please let me know. I would certainly hope if I can use them appropriately, I will be able to let you know what they are!

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Kyo watched the goings on around him with little interest. Even though he cared for Tohru, he refused to let the mouse see that this change of events had affected him as anything but positive.

It was getting difficult to fight with him all the time, even though he always wanted to beat the mouse, he felt badly for him. After that day, he felt sad for the mouse.

He knew that the mouse loved Tohru too, and sacrificed a lot for Kyo - someone that Yuki despised. Or did Yuki really despise Kyo? He grabbed his head in frustration. This was so confusing. He didn't like it at all!

His sudden grunt seemed to catch Tohru's attention. "Daijoubu?"

"It's nothing" His face turned bright pink as he saw Yuki's pained face. He never realized that it might not feel good to beat Yuki.

Yuki closed his eyes for a moment and then turned to Tohru and Kyo, he slightly bowed his head in farewell. "I have to go, Ja" He turned on his heel and quickly walked away.

Tohru held out one hand as she tried to follow. "Yuki-kun..."

Kyo put his hand on her head to stop her. "Just leave him, Tohru, just leave him..." Why couldn't he say something more to her? Something better, something uplifting, like she always said to them to encourage them. He knew why of course.

He was no good with words.

"But, Yuki-kun..."

He frowned. "He wants to be alone right now. There is nothing that you could say that would make him feel better." 'Except that you love him' But, as uncomfortable as he was with this new feeling of understanding, he wasn't sure that he wanted to surrender Tohru. She was the one person that understood him, besides Shishou. He had never believed that someone could love him...especially a girl. He was an outcast, someone that people avoided. But Tohru, Tohru never ran away. Even though he sometimes became agitated with her na•vetŽ, and he was rude, and unthinking - and uncaring...she was still Tohru. She behaved exactly as she wanted to behave, never once expecting the same behavior from the other person. She was the most unselfish person he had ever met. And now. And now, he was selfish.

He didn't understand why she said what she did - was it something that Yuki had prompted her into saying - was it meant friendly, or did it truly come from her heart?

He was too scared to ask.

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Tohru watched Yuki run away. Kyo stopped her from following. She felt odd inside. It was a feeling that she had never had before, so she couldn't place it. Was Yuki hurt? She felt tears filling her eyes, warm stinging, bitter tears. She lifted her hand to her face to wipe it away.

Restrained by Kyo, she wasn't able to follow Yuki, even though she wanted to. Her mind replayed Kyo's words again...'Just leave him...just leave him' She didn't understand.

She turned to face Kyo, to find him staring at her. She became flustered under his intense gaze. "Ahahahaahaha Kyo-kun! What's wrong?"

Kyo started. "Ah! It's nothing." He scowled when he saw her teary eyes. Lifting one finger to catch a tear that was about to fall, "I should be asking you that question. Why are you crying?"

"Yuki seems upset over something..."

Kyo looked at where Yuki was standing, as he bit back his sudden irritation with the girl standing next to him.

Tohru looked up at Kyo, her wide eyes showing her concern and fear.

"Let's go. I'm hungry."

"Ha-hai!"

Kyo followed a little bit behind Tohru, biting his lip.

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"Kagura-san, are you sure that this is all right?" Shigure looked concerned, his normal light voice, low with emotion.

The girl sitting beside him nodded, her face down. Her hair was covering most of her face, so Shigure couldn't tell if she was being honest. He knew that he had no choice but to believe her. "It is ok. I know that I'm not the one for him, I never was. But I was hopeful... I hope...I hope..." her voice trailed off, as tears fell onto her lap.

Shigure sighed. He knew someone else that might not take this news very well. But he felt unprepared to give comfort to this girl, who had chased Kyo around like a possessed woman. But now, this situation was so serious. He had often knowingly joked about Kyo and Tohru, but little did he know then just how many lives and hearts would be affected. And now-

"Tadaima!" Shigure's thoughts were interrupted by two voices ringing out the familiar greeting.

Shigure turned to watch the two walk into the room. It was difficult, but he was able to manage a convincingly light grin on his face.

"Okaeri!" He welcomed them home.

His smile almost faltered as he nodded to the girl sitting on the other side of the table.

Her dark brown hair hung against her shoulders, but twirled around her face, as she turned to look at the pair. Huge brown eyes showed pained surprise at first, but that quickly faded into a peaceful resignation.

Tohru bowed respectfully, she noticed the girl staring at Kyo. "Kagura-san!!" She rushed to where Kagura was seated and bowed to her.

"Oi, Kagura" Was all Kyo could muster. This felt awkward for him. He half expected Kagura to turn psychotic on him and chase him around the house with glowing eyes. But when he looked at her, he didn't see anger, or jealousy, no there was something deeper there... like pain.

Kagura looked from Kyo to Tohru, changing her look from sadness to happiness as quickly as she could, so as not to show Tohru how she felt. She knew that if Tohru knew how much this pained her, that Tohru would give Kyo up for her. And she knew that Kyo was happy.

"Tohru-kun" Kagura stood up and embraced Tohru, "Take care of Kyo-kun."

"Eh, hai" Tohru felt this girl in her arms tremble slightly. "Kagura-san, Daijoubu?"

"...hai.." Kagura knew it was a weak reply, but then again, she had felt that she was prepared to see Kyo with Tohru...but now that she was face to face with them together - she wasn't so sure that it was smart for her to have come.

She had had a long talk with Hatsuharu about this earlier that day. She wasn't sure if she should come so soon, and Haru agreed.

*"But, if you go...it will be too hard. Too much too soon, just to get it over with is no reason to go!"

"But Haru-kun, if I don't go now - I don't know if I would ever be able to face him again." A tear started to fall down her cheek, but she caught it in time with her sleeve.

"Sou ka. You have to do what you feel is right. I just want you to know what you're doing. What you're going to be doing to yourself." Haru sighed. He found out from Kagura about the events that had transpired less than a week ago. His heart ached for Yuki. Much as Haru tried to protect him from this, much as Haru had tried to let Yuki know that he loved him...Haru had known that Yuki's heart belonged to Tohru. He could understand why, she was the first person to actually bring a smile to Yuki's face - the first to try to understand the pain behind those eyes. In that soul. Haru frowned. How Yuki must be hurting. But he also knew that he couldn't go to him. Not yet. The pain was still too near - and Yuki didn't need someone to pity him. No, he should be alone right now.

"Ano, Haru-kun? Daijoubu?" Kagura looked up at the young white haired man.

Shaken out of his reverie, Haru closed his eyes thoughtfully,
'Heh, Kagura, it seems like we're both in the same boat here. If you go to see Kyo and Tohru, you have my permission...And my ear if you need it."

"Arigatou gozaimasu, Haru-kun!" Kagura gave a weak attempt at a smile, and then turned to leave.

Haru watched her walk away; 'I have a feeling that there are going to be a lot of tears over this match'. With this thought, he turned on his heel and walked towards the field where he normally could be found, laying and staring at the sky. *

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"Kagura-san, Kagura-san, Daijoubu?" Tohru looked at the girl that still had her arms wrapped around her shoulders. She was staring into the wall behind Tohru.

Choking back emotion long enough to sound happy and untroubled, Kagura leaned back, "Daijoubu da yo"

"Yokatta, I'm so glad!" Tohru hugged Kagura tightly, not realizing that Kagura was growing stiff.

When Kyo met Kagura's eyes, she turned away abruptly. Detangling herself from Tohru's arms, she turned to Shigure and bowed low.

"Arigatou,Shigure-san." She looked meaningfully at the novelist.

"iie, iie." Came the lighthearted reply.

Kagura turned to Kyo and Tohru and gave her apologies for having to leave so soon after they arrived.

Tohru thought something might be wrong and was concerned, but at Kagura's insistance that she was fine, Tohru was relieved.

But Kyo... For some reason, Kagura's reaction bothered him. He felt his eyes trail after her retreating figure.