A/N: Umm, okay, here's my response to some reviewer's comments and suggestions. I don't remember some of their names, gomen but I think you'd know who you are. ^_^

Some reviewers have been suggesting that I kill off Tohru-- well, I honestly considered doing that while I was writing this chapter so why don't you read on and find out how I managed this story? I think that how this chapter ended, is what's best for Heaven on Earth.

There were also suggestions that I use Gensomaden's song and another J-pop song, thank you for your suggestions! I love "Open Up Your Mind" and I'll try to see if I can fit those two songs in before this story ends. (Yes, just two more chapters. ^_^)

And yup, I agree with my reviewers, Gano is creepy and I had the misfortune to encounter someone like that in my lifetime. I'm still trying to get rid of him. *Jo-chan shudders* Agent Cloud Summer (Is this right?), yup, gross talaga! Hehehehe. Hi Kababayan!

Another big hug to all my reviewers and readers, you guys rock!!!! ^_^ *Jo-chan grabs a hankie and bawls her head off* Please read and review my story, suggestions will seriously be appreciated and perhaps even be used! Remember, just two more chapters before I end this wonderful journey. ^_^

Chapter 7- Choices

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Tohru slammed hard against a wall and had to fight against losing consciousness.

Blood oozed down from the cut on her right cheek and her white sweater had more rips and tears than she could count. But injury seemed inconsequential now as she faced the madman determined to have her. Her lacy bra was showing where Gano managed to cut her shirt. There was a shallow cut on her collarbone where he had sliced her.

"Damn," cursed Tohru as she began to run once more. She's been running and hiding from the Minister of Trade for the past hour now and thankfully, the warehouse was big enough to protect her but it was too big for her to find out how to escape.

Gano's raspy voice rang out, "Come out, come out my angel! This place is closed off, you can't escape from me. Why don't you just face your destiny? You and I are meant to be. I know you love me, you're just being coy and the reason why you're avoiding me is because you're afraid to admit your true feelings."

Tohru pressed her hand against her mouth to stop herself from yelling and gagging in disgust. He's crazy! There was no possible way she ever encouraged him to think that she loved him but his mind was so twisted in his reasoning that whatever she said that went against what he believed in seemed like an outright lie. She felt her stomach rebelling in fear and revulsion but she fought the impulse to vomit.

/ Yuki, where are you? / she thought desperately as she shifted her location. She had to fight back! If Yuki's not going to save her, well then--

"I found you!" shouted the Minister as dropped down from the cargo boxes he was standing on and threw himself at Tohru, pinning her to the ground.

The wind got knocked out Tohru's stomach and her vision darkened. She felt the Minister's hairy hands groping her chest and with all her strength, she pushed him away and raised her knee up to kick him as hard as she could in his groin.

"ARGH!" moaned the Minster, rolling over in a fetal position, clutching himself.

Not wasting her time, Tohru kicked away the knife Gano had dropped and kicked him in his ribs. "Bastard!" yelled Tohru before she sped away, limping slightly as she overexerted her injured ankle. She looked around wildly, where's her Uncle? She had to get him away from her while Gano's still down! / Where's a man when you need one? / angrily thought Tohru as she tried climbing down a rusty ladder, wincing in pain every now and then. And where the hell is Yuki?

Tohru jumped down, not bothering to descend the last 5 steps. She nearly cried out in pain but stopped herself, not wanting to alert Gano of her location. She found herself at the basement and if it was possible, it was darker and creepier down here. / Damn, why did I go down? / mused Tohru as she looked around the surroundings.

"Give in to me Heaven... you're mine. Your Uncle would want you to just be honest with your true feelings, so why don't you stop running and admit that you're madly in love with me and that Sohma doesn't mean anything to you," spoke Gano as he joined Tohru below in the basement. He made a clucking sound with his tongue when silence met his announcement.

He trailed his knife against the brick walls, creating a high screeching sound. His loafers made a distinct sound in the pavement, raising Tohru's anxiety to a fevered pitch. "I know how much you love me, stop pretending you're indifferent Tohru," cajoled the Minister as he drew closer to Tohru's location.

Tohru huddled against the wall, wanting to disappear. He was so close! She had no idea if she can surprise him again long enough to disarm him. Her strength was fading and her wounds hurt badly now as the cold air in the basement stung her skin. / Where's a convenient gun or weapon when you need one? / thought Tohru in hysterical frustration. She tensed when she heard the Minister say "aha".

"DON'T TOUCH HER!" shouted Tetsuya as he jumped from the stairs and knocked the Minister down. There was a loud impact of flesh against flesh and the distinct sound of scuffling and pushing. The two men rolled around, locked in a deadly embrace. The two men turned, trying to fight for the control of the blad e until they crashed against a stack of precariously piled cargo boxes. Tetsuya screamed in pain.

Tohru ran out from her hiding place, fear making her forget her injury. She heard the Minster laugh in triumph and saw her Uncle's leg buried under heavy wooden crates. There was blood gushing from his shoulder and the minister stood above him, ready to stab Tetsuya with his knife.

"YAMETE!" screamed Tohru, stopping 3 meters away from the pair. She was breathing hard, her hair straggling down and her clothes dirty and bloody. The minister stopped the knife's descent and turned to Tohru with a smile twisting his dark face.

"You came out! You love me!" Gano exclaimed happily, his wide dark lips grinning ecstatically.

"I don't love you," burst out Tohru before she could stop herself. She screamed when Gano's features twisted in rage and stabbed Tetsuya in the back.

"STOP PLAYING GAMES WITH ME!" screamed Gano, pulling out his knife angrily. Tetsuya collapsed and lost consciousness, his leg still trapped under the boxes.

Panting in fear and dread, Tohru bowed her head. Tears flowed down her cheeks now as she surrendered, not wanting to put Tetsuya through more pain. "I'm in love with Yuki, Gano-san. But if you'll let Uncle and Kosen live... I'll-- submit.. to you," said Tohru, choking on her words.

A wide smile nearly split the Minister's face. His grip loosened on the knife before he frowned, his heavy brows scrunching together. "Submit?" he echoed softly. He appeared to ponder on what Tohru said before he crossed his arms over his chest. "Why don't you prove it to me? Kneel down in front of me Heaven," Gano said softly.

Tohru said nothing, afraid to provoke another fit of rage from the Minister. Her Uncle might be dying from his wounds! She choked back her sobs and carefully knelt down, bowed her head and ignored her wounds.

Gano stepped in front of her, his hands going immediately to Tohru's disheveled hair. His groin was at Tohru's eye level and Tohru averted her eyes. He wrapped a fistful of curls against his fist and jerked Tohru against him, his eyes closing in euphoria. "You know Heaven-- I'll never hurt you..."

Tohru's chest heaved in ire and disgust and she tried to turn her face away from where Gano was pressing it.

"Sohma doesn't love you. He never did. He just wanted to own you, like all the other men in the world Heaven. But I'm different, I care for you, so much that I would kill anyone who would try to take you away from me. Sohma is one cold bastard, he doesn't care about you even from before. All he wants is your name, your body now that you're someone famous," said Gano tenderly, stroking Tohru's hair.

"I don't care about her! She can go to China for all I care! She's nothing but a guest at Shigure's house!"

"That's quite all right. I didn't really want you anyway."

"You know, my mother used to tell me that for all its beauty, pearls are very sad. Because-- pearls symbolize tears," narrated Tohru.

Yuki looked down a moment and then glanced away as he said, "That fits us perfectly then..."

Tohru closed her eyes, her heart finally understanding. / Yuki doesn't love me... he never loved me... I can never make him happy even if I give him all of me... /

"Say you love me Heaven... let me hear it and I will consider your request," coaxed Gano as he raised Tohru's face so that he could look down at her features. Tears flowed steadily down from Tohru's eyes even though they were closed. Her lips were trembling as she opened her mouth to speak. She kept her eyes closed.

"-- I- love--" began Tohru shuddering in disgust when Gano ran his thumb over her lips.

"Choose," said Gano Ikeda softly as his knife hovered behind Heaven.

Tohru's eyelashes fluttered open and she revealed for the first time the emotions swimming in the depths of her blue eyes. Her eyes were filled with such pain and hopelessness even Gano took an automatic step backward.

"TOHRU!" shouted Yuki as he jumped down, kicking Gano away from Tohru. Tohru collapsed, tears falling down but she immediately stood up and ran over to her Uncle. She didn't have to look at the battle to know who would be emerging victorious.

"Bastard," cursed Yuki as he followed after Gano, fury propelling him to move as swiftly as lightning. Gano's eyes opened wide in fear because his background investigation also yielded the information that Sohma Yuki was well-versed in martial arts and is unbeatable in combat. Yuki aimed an uppercut, nearly breaking Gano's jaw. He followed it with a punch that made Gano spin and land against the wall.

"You're sick," said Yuki through gritted teeth as he pursued the Minister.

Gano tried to wield his knife, clumsy because of his blurring vision. Yuki calmly evaded the knife thrusts and ducked under the Minster's arm, gripped his right shoulder and using the heel of his hand, dislocated it.

"ARGH!" screamed the Minister, spittle flying out of his lips. He dropped the knife and Yuki quickly picked it up and sank the blade into Gano's thigh ruthlessly.

Yuki lashed out with a high kick that sent Gano into the wall and Yuki gripped Gano's throat, cutting off his circulation. "Don't you ever hurt Tohru," warned Yuki dangerously, his hand tightening.

Gano gurgled, drool landing on Yuki's hand. He opened his mouth despite the pain and smiled at the younger man. "She'll never love you... you're not man enough for her," gasped Gano.

Rage blinded Yuki and with one quick motion, the Minister slumped down, quiet.

Slowly, Yuki turned and saw Tohru cradling Tetsuya's unconscious body. Tohru never looked at him, not once and Yuki feared that the Minister's words were true. He gazed at his hands. / I am a monster... /

"Heaven-san?" weakly asked Kosen as he stood at the door, his face pale as he stared at the devastation around him. He staggered over to Tohru and helped her remove the crates pinning Tetsuya's leg. Weeping, Tohru clung to his hand, "Thank you..." whispered Tohru, trying to staunch the flow of blood from her Uncle's wounds. Yuki's head bowed as he observed everything.

Tetsuya groaned as he opened his eyes and saw Heaven's face hovering above him. "So-- so sorry," he murmured before falling unconscious once more. "My father did this?" asked Kosen, his eyes full of pain.

Tohru felt her eyes filling with tears and she turned her head away, giving a quick nod. She impulsively gave Kosen a hug which the young man savored, his broad shoulders shaking with grief.

"Honda-san..." said Yuki, making Tohru look up at the man who saved her, his purple eyes dark and unfathomable. He stood so far away and now Tohru understood why.

Yuki took a hidden breath and offered his hand. "Choose Honda-san. Me or Tetsuya?" He was asking Tohru where her heart truly belonged, if she loved him or loved her new life.

Tears clouded Tohru's eyes as she slowly shook her head. "It was a mistake from the start Yuki-kun... I was so blind I never saw--" said Tohru before she broke off.

Yuki's hand dropped back to his side. "You made your choice. I've always known you'd leave me even if I offered the world to you... I'm still not a man in your eyes," said Yuki flatly as he turned his back. He took out his cellphone to call for help. He almost didn't hear Tohru's last words.

"You can't buy my love Yuki..." whispered Tohru as she bowed her head.

And in the distance, the sound of other people coming in the warehouse to make a belated rescue filled the air.

TBC

***

Author's Notes:

WAI!!!! I hope you guys enjoyed this part (although I find that hard to imagine). Yes, the creepy Minister is gone! *Sobs* But poor Yuki, poor Tohru!!! AGH! Gano may not have gotten Tohru but he made sure he wrecked the possibility of a future for the pair!

Please don't forget to review this chapter, it would really help me out when I write the last two chapters. Yes, this story is ending, so make sure you tell me how you want it to end because frankly, I have no idea what's gonna happen next! You can email me at kooriyoru@yahoo.com for longer comments and if you want to ask me some stuff. REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! This fic is drawing to a close, don't get left behind and let your voices be heard! ^_^

Next chapter, "Say Goodbye". If you let my reviews reach 130+ I will seriously upload this special chapter the week I get those number of reviews. *evil laugh*