Chapter 09: Aftermath

Okaasan, was everything that happened awhile ago all a dream?

Did the Prince Yuki transform into a rat in front of my eyes?

Is it possible, okaasan?

"Tohru-kun, snap out of it!" a voice ordered.

She opened her eyes and saw Shigure looking down at her, shielding her with his umbrella. She checked herself. She was still kneeling on the ground, clutching Yuki's clothes. The mouse had run off ages ago.

"Shigure-san, Yuki-kun..Yuki-kun.." She was on the verge of tears.

"I guess the time has come for you to learn about our most-kept secret."

"S-Secret?" she echoed.

Amidst the crashing sounds of thunder and flashes of lightning, the mouse Yuki ran, not knowing its exact destination, but just wanting to run away from her.

His mind was in turmoil. His heart was in despair.

Now she knows. Now she hates me. Now she fears me. Now she finds me disgusting.

He felt himself transform back to human, but it didn't console him.

I hate myself for being a Sohma mouse. Why? Of all animals, why the Juunishi rat?

He could remember very well the look of shock in Tohru's face when she saw his alter-personality. He could never forget that look.

I hate myself. I hate myself.

He wearily sat down behind the tree, deciding to use the time to think what he should do next.

Tohru was shocked, to put it mildly. Her housemates transform into Juunishi animals when hugged by the opposite sex or when they get nervous!

"Now you know, Tohru-kun. I shall not ask anymore what you feel about us. The question is, what would you do next?" asked Shigure grimly, waiting for the girl before him to freak out, faint, or run away.

"I'll go after Yuki-kun!"

Shigure was surprised. "Huh?"

"If he is still in his mouse form, then he might get stepped on or something!" cried Tohru. "I'm taking him home. He might get sick with the chill."

"Tohru-kun, how about your fear of rats?" asked the man.

She smiled bravely. "I-I'll think of something. All I want to do know is to find Yuki-kun." She looked down. "But how? He could be anywhere!"

Shigure smiled. "Hug me then, Tohru-kun."

"Perverted old man!"

Tohru and Shigure turned around and saw Kyo looking at Shigure with annoyance. "How can you think of those things when we have a situation here!" yelled the neko.

"Ha ha! I didn't know your mind is that dirty, Kyo! I was suggesting that so I will become a dog and use my extra-sharp senses to find Yuki-kun," explained the man.

"Yeah right," muttered Kyo.

Tohru nodded and hugged Shigure.

Poof!

"Achoo!" Yuki sneezed. His bronchitis was acting up again because of the chill. Being barenaked does not help too.

"Maybe you should go back to them now," a gentle voice advised him.

He looked up and found a white-haired guy sitting on the treetop, looking down at him serenely.

"You might just catch cold out here," the mysterious boy continued.

"I don't care why you should care."

"Maybe I shouldn't, but Hatori-san told me that some girl might care about what happens to you," he shot back.

Yuki tucked his knee in. "I just lost that girl."

"Really?" The boy sounded surprised. "But she's coming this way, with Shigure-san and the neko."

Yuki was stunned. Tohru? He didn't dare to hope, but his heart was starting to beat excitedly.

At that moment, he heard a familiar voice.

"Yuki-kun!! Yuki-kun, where are you?" called Tohru worriedly. "Come out now or you'll get cold!!"

"Honda-san!" He stood up, and the boy on the tree threw him a jacket.

"Cover yourself, or you might freak her out," said the boy. "Not that your body isn't great but-"

"Shut up!!" yelled Yuki, his face burning.

Tohru heard him. "Yuki-kun?" She dashed madly towards the bushes. "Yuki-kun!"

Yuki turned around and saw a happy Tohru looking at him tearfully. "Yuki-kun! " she said.

He was stunned. "Honda-san, are you.." mad at me? Afraid of me? He couldn't voice his fears out.

" I'm glad you're safe," she said. She walked towards him and gave his clothes.

Yuki looked at Shigure inquiringly. Does she know already about the Juunishi curse?

The man nodded and smiled.

"Come back with us now, Yuki-kun. You might get sick," she said, holding his hand.

"Honda-san.."

"A-Are you still mad at me, Yuki-kun? For all those things I said about rats?" she asked in a small voice.

He shook his head smilingly. "No."

Her eyes lit up. "Then let's go back! I'll prepare you a delicious meal as a peace offering, ok? What do you want to eat?"

He clasped her hand and started to walk with her. "Leek soup."

Kyo burned. "What the-"

Haruhatsu Sohma looked at the girl walking beside Yuki. The girl with the dancing brown eyes and hair.

"She calls him by his first name…that could only mean she's not just an ordinary person in Yuki's life."

"I must know more about her," he decided. "I shall live with them. I'll ask Hatori-san. He must be in the drugstore right now, buying medicine for Momiji." He jumped down the tree and looked up the sky.

"The storm is over..for now." He continued to walk and then paused.

"I wonder which way is the drugstore again? Left or right?"

That night, Tohru was clearing the dishes when she heard a knock on the door. She dried her hands and was about to leave the sink when Kyo's head peeked in. "Hey Tohru, there's an old man looking for you outside."

She nodded. "I'll see him now."

Yuki, who was just walking down from the stairs, looked at his cousin disdainfully. "How rude. You didn't let Honda-san's guest inside the house? Cats are so ill-mannered."

"Why you damn mouse, we may be ill-mannered but at least we are not snobbish jerks!" Kyo shot back.

"Honda-san, I'll prepare the tea for you. Go see your guest," said Yuki smilingly, ignoring the burning Kyo.

"Dammit, mouse! Look at me when I'm talking to you! You're the one who's ill-mannered!" yelled Kyo.

"I take back what I said awhile ago…cats aren't ill-mannered. They have no manners at all," said Yuki before heading to the kitchen.

"Damn you!!!"

Tohru sighed and went outside to see who was her visitor. "Konbanwa-" She stopped.

"G-Grandpa!" she exclaimed.

"Tohru!" He hugged her tight. "It's ok to come back now. Your aunt doesn't live with me anymore. Come back to our house now."

"Grandpa!" She jumped when she heard a tray fall down behind them.

She turned around.

Yuki and Kyo were watching them, stunned.

To be continued

Unusually short, huh? Time constraint. Anyway, the chapter length shall be back to normal next chapter! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, minna-san!