Chapter 17: When My Heart Beats This Fast…

Tohru, carrying the script awkwardly, knelt before Kyo. "It's ok, fair maiden. They're gone."

Kyo gulped, then said, "Who are you?" he whispered shakily.

She glanced at the script for a moment, then returned to her mighty prince mode. "It doesn't matter." She gently helped him up and caressed his cheek with the back of her palm. "Take care, Princess."

He looked down at his script. It called for him to hug her!

"Kyo?" she prompted in her usual naïve way.

"I-I…" He cleared his throat nervously. "I'm suppose to hug you."

"Then do it!" she said cheerfully. She held out her arms expectantly.

"B-But I'll turn into a cat!" he protested.

"Ah, I love cats!" she exclaimed.

The comment made his face flame. "STOP SAYING NONSENSE!!!"

"But it's the truth!"

Haru appeared from the back. "If you don't want to do it, then I'll do it." Haru cleared his throat and in a high-pitched voice, said, "When will I see you again, my valiant knight?" He reached out for her and hugged her.

Poof!

Moo!

Kyo rolled his eyes. "That was utterly stupid."

Haru sighed. "I can't help it. I like cute people. And she's so huggable."

"You're just as bad as Momiji and Shigure," said the feline.

Yuki read his lines again - the part when he was supposed to rescue the princess from the wild animals. Somehow, Tohru managed to brainstorm his experience before! It was like magic!

There was this little girl who was crying. I couldn't forget the paralyzed fear on her face. I just had to help her, even if I was scared of the consequences if Hatori sees me helping a normal human.

She had the largest, most expressive eyes that I've ever seen, and I could clearly see myself reflected in their moist eternity.

I can never forget her.

He smiled. It was his first time to feel such concern for a girl that he thought he loved her.

But then…

…she came along.

He looked up when he heard two knocks on his door.

"Yuki-kun, dinner time!" announced Tohru brightly.

"Coming!" he said before putting down the script.

Tohru watched as Kyo and Yuki ate silently, not glaring at each other the way they usually do.

It's kinda scary not seeing them bicker. As if Jupiter just decided to bump Mars off its orbit and take its place beside Earth!

"More rice, Honda-san," requested Yuki, handing the bowl to her.

"Tohru, do we have any more rice?" said Kyo at the same time, handing his bowl to her.

Silence.

"Not again," muttered Haru.

Ayame watched the two expectantly.

Shigure licked his chopsticks. "Hmm, who should you serve first, Tohru-kun?"

"Ah…!"

"I think I should be served first, Kyo," said Yuki in fake pleasantry, making the neko mad.

"Oh, and why is that?" he asked through gritted teeth. "We are both hungry, but I'm hungrier. So I should be the first one to be served."

"So you're using your stomach as an excuse, huh?" said the nezumi. "I'm more polite than that, especially when in front of Honda-san."

"Don't involve Tohru here!" shouted Kyo, toppling the table. Shigure, however, was quick enough to save his bowl of rice. He continued eating obliviously afterwards.

Ayame clicked his tongue in mock regret. "I think it's only right to call that fighting. And as our agreement says, I get to take Tohru-chan anywhere I want to!" With that, he took Tohru by hand and led her out of the house.

"Where are you taking her-" The two boys tried to stand up, but were stunned to see that they were bound by pantyhoses!

"Aya's idea," said Shigure nonchalantly. "He knew that one of these days, you will both blow the fuse. Haru did a good job on predicting what exact day and time it will be."

"All in a day's work," said Haru, shrugging, as he threw the excess stockings away.

Kyo and Yuki looked at each other, scowling.

They gazed at each other testily for a few minutes more before Yuki sighed. "OK, let's work together and save Honda-san from my brother."

Kyo blinked. "Ah…right."

The goddam mouse swallowed his pride and took the first step to make a truce!

That proves it. He loves her.

"Get up already!" snapped Yuki, "or else I'll fall down!"

"Coming! Coming! Geez, goddam mouse!" he muttered under his breath.

Tohru was stunned to find themselves in front of a dress shop bearing the name of Ayame. "T-This is where you work?" she asked.

Yuki's brother shrugged modestly. "I own this dress shop."

Tohru clasped her hands together and looked at him admiringly. "Wow, that is so cool! A man who is not afraid to admit that he owns a clothes shop!"

"Why, of course! I make them!" He opened the door for her. "Come in, Princess, and I'll tour you inside."

"One, two. One, two. One-"

Kyo wiped a sweat off his brow. "This is so damn embarrassing!"

"You can say that again," agreed Yuki as he and his cousin tried to walk in synchronized rhythm. The pantyhose proved harder to untie or even break than they thought.

"The material used in that pantyhose was especially chosen by Aya himself," said Shigure as he watched their futile attempts in tearing the material binding their legs. "It won't break apart unless he does it himself."

"The people are watching us," said Kyo, somewhat self-consciously. "If they don't stop staring, I swear I'll attack them!"

"Don't. You'll drag me into your stupidity," snapped Yuki.

"So where do we find her?" asked Kyo, trying to act diplomatic for a change.

Things I'll do for that girl.

Why do I love her so anyway?

And that damn gay! I'll wring his little neck once I find him!

Kyo paused from thinking when he heard a little boy's voice.

"Mommy, Mommy! Look at those two men! They don't know how to wear pantyhoses properly! And they're sharing it!" said the lad, pointing at him and Yuki.

"Ignore them, Sonny. Some people would just do anything to get a good laugh at themselves," said the boy's mother, glaring at them pointedly.

"You think they stole that from the nice old lady beside our house?"

"Maybe. She did complain it was missing."

It was all Kyo could do from scratching everyone's cells to death.

"Ah, your shop is so wonderful, Ayame-san! And the clothes!" gushed Tohru, starry-eyed.

He seemed to enjoy her continuous praises. "Ah, and that's not my best work yet!" He went to the left corner of the shop and raised the curtain covering a mannequin. "Voila! My masterpiece!"

Tohru's jaw dropped. "Wow!" She excitedly ran her hand on the silk material of the blue Prince costume. "It's beautiful!"

"Only the best for my brother," shrugged Ayame, but he was evidently happy by Tohru's reaction.

"Oh, Yuki-kun is lucky to have a brother like you!" said Tohru.

Ayame smiled sadly. "Now if only Yuki knows that."

"This is it. This is the shop the man told us," said Yuki, looking at the piece of paper then at the Ayame shop in front of them disdainfully.

"Eew," groaned Kyo, shivering.

"Let's go in," said Yuki. "This is our only hope."

As soon as they pushed the door open, Ayame burst towards them. "Welcomeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!" He charged in full speed, arms wide open.

"Nyaaaah!!!!!!" Yuki avoided his brother just in time, but the pantyhose prevented Kyo from running to the other side. Ayame's arms wrapped around Kyo, and he kissed the pissed neko affectionately.

"You found me!" cried Ayame happily.

"Let go of me, you crazy homo bitch!" yelped Kyo.

"As you wish!" The snake instantly let go of him, sending the neko out of balance. He landed on someone from behind and then poofed into a cat.

Mine looked at Kyo in horror. "Oh goodness, I'm sorry! I didn't know we have visitors!"

"Now you know," groaned the cat crossly.

Ayame smiled. "Kon kichi Kyo, you'll be glad to know who came to visit my shop."

"Huh?" That doesn't sound good.

"Kyooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The neko gasped then ran for the door. His feet were then free from the pantyhose. Just as he stepped out of the shop, Kagura emerged from another room and proceeded to follow him.

Yuki sighed. "Goodness, why didn't I think of that solution before! Transform into our Juunishi forms so we can free ourselves! We made fools out of ourselves on the streets awhile ago."

"You mean you walked a three-legged race up to here?" said Ayame, amused.

"It's not funny!" shouted Yuki. He was about to wring his brother's neck when he heard a familiar angelic voice.

"Ayame-san, who's there?" Tohru stepped out from the dressing room and gasped. "Ah, Yuki-kun!"

Yuki paused too, stunned.

Tohru was wearing a big felt prince hat, plus a prince costume. Her porcelain complexion was complemented beautifully by the soft baby blue color of the costume, and the form-fitting costume showed her curves.

"Ah, Tohru-kun, you are so cute!" gushed Ayame, laughing. "You are a charming Prince Charming!" He turned to his brother. "What can you say?"

"Ah…"

Tohru blushed. "I'm sorry, Yuki-kun. I liked your costume so Ayame-san told me there's no problem in trying it on."

Yuki couldn't still find his voice.

They then both heard something explode outside the shop. Ayame got up obligingly. "I'll check on Kyo and Kagura first. They might do some heavy damage on my shop, and I can't afford that, since I still have to pay my credit card charges." He winked at Tohru then shut the door.

"Ah, Yuki-kun, did you like the costume Ayame-san made for you?" she asked shyly. "He slaved over this day and night because he said he wanted nothing but the best for you."

"Oh!" His eyes softened. "He said that?"

"Uh-huh!" nodded Tohru eagerly. She rotated around, showing off the costume. "So what can you say?"

"Cute," he murmured.

"Hmm?"

"Very cute," he said, purple eyes twinkling. "Anything will look cute on you, Honda-san."

"Ah!"

Yuki-kun…

Yuki-kun thinks I'm cute!

Oh my, I'm going to faint!

Yuki then clasped her hand and brought it to his lips. "You are so cute, Your Highness." Smiling, he put her hand down and opened the door for her. "Let's go check on Kagura."

"R-Right!" Her eyes followed him as he went out of the shop.

I'm cute…but did he just say that in jest?

Or that outfit was so cute that he thought I was cute too?

Ah, Yuki-kun, how can you send me into such confusion with mere few words and gestures?

She touched her heart.

Kyo-kun touches my hand this way too, but I do not feel my heart dance this way when he does.

When my heart beats this fast…

Does that mean…

tsuzuku