AN:  Yep everyone… WE'RE BACK!  9 reviews telling us to continue…. That more than inspired us.  We were couldn't decide whether we wanted to write more or not, but all you loyal readers convinced us!  Anyways, we hope you like this.  As a reminder, this is a story written by two different authors.  The most obvious place is when we switch POVs… We do different things to indicate a scene change etc.  Hope  you all enjoy the story, and most of all, the angst!

Dedication:  This is dedicated to Little Red Dragon.  Thanks for all your support!  We love you, and we hope you have a speedy recovery to whatever you're having done!

Disclaimer:  Don't own anything that's in the story… yadda yadda yadda… No more depressing talk.  Save it for the story!

AN:  HERE WE GO!!

Sweet Nothing

Chapter 2:  Something I Need to Do for Myself

"Suri kirete ito tadori nagara

Boku wa kimi e to tabi o tsuzuke

Dakishimeru hi o nagai nagara

Tooku tooku tooku"

            (Though you've searched for years in vain, you still continue on

               So to prove my love to you, I'll follow ever on

               Though I try to hold you tight you simply ran away

               So far, so far, so far)

"Hai kyo no machi o

Yasashiku hato ga tobu"

            (All that's left are memories

               And the hopes I'll see you once again)

Tohru's POV

I knew the journey to find myself wouldn't be easy.  Clutching my mother's picture, I wondered aimlessly.

"Okaasan," I said to my mother's picture.  "I know that you want me to graduate.  There's only a year and a few months left.  I'll make it through somehow…"

I could almost hear my mom's laugh as she would reply, "That's terrific.  Just be yourself, and take things slowly, and you will succeed.  I know you will!"

"Anything for you, Okaasan," I told her as I put up a tent and crawled in.  "Did you know that you're my hero?" I asked her, falling asleep before I could imagine the answer.

***Yuki's POV***
I can't believe Tohru left!  I thought to myself sadly, my broken heart not mending at all.  My only comfort being that I would see her at school.

At least she'll find herself and she'll come back to me.  I wont give up on her so easily!  I thought, wishing I'd never let her go.  What if she's hurt?  What if she needs help?  Oh, Tohru…why'd you leave us?  We need you here!  As I was thinking, I didn't even notice the wall until I ran into it, but I no longer cared about walls or boundaries, I could only think of Tohru and her well being.

Tohru's POV

            As I woke up the next morning, the events of the past few days swirled around me.  I managed to avoid a confrontation with Yuki or Kyo.  I knew if I met with any of the, I might weaken and give in to return home.

            Home,  I thought bitterly.  How quick I was to call the Sohma house, "home."

            But it was.  It was the only home that I knew since my mother's death.  When I lived with my mom, I knew where my place was…where I fit in.

            At the Sohma house, things were different.  It just left me confused.

            After I dressed, I needed to go to school.  As I crawled out of my tent, I came face to face with Yuki.

            I quickly stood up, blushing furiously.  It felt the same way as when he and Shigure had first found me.

            "Sohma-kun!" I said out of instinct.  "I…how…you…"I stuttered.

            "Sohma-kun?  Before you called me Yuki.  Why the sudden change?  We're still friends, aren't we?" Yuki said with a smile.

            "I suppose…" I replied still looking down.

            Silence fell over us, and I chewed my lip nervously.

            "Why are you here?" I couldn't help but ask.

            "I thought we could walk to school together, you know, like old times," he said, a little too cheerfully.

            "Um…sure," I told him.  "Let me just get my stuff and we can go."

            I quickly grabbed my school bag, feeling Yuki's eyes following me, and we made our way towards school.  I felt so awkward.  I looked at my feet the whole time.  I didn't have the nerve to look at his face.

            "So…how have you been?" he asked me.

            "I've been fine," I replied.  I felt that I should have said more, but when I thought about the words, I couldn't get them out.  Finally, I just said, "How did you find me?"

            "A little kitty told me."

            "Oh I see…"I said softly to myself, missing what I now saw as a hint to who really told him.

            Then Yuki moved ahead of me, and cut me off, causing me to look up at him.

*****Yuki's POV*****

            "Tohru, you shouldn't live in a tent, you'll get sick…" I said, trying to keep my concern out of my voice.  My heart breaks to see you like this… I thought to myself.

            "I wont get discouraged!  I'll get through this somehow…And I'll find myself!" She said, giving me a slightly sad smile.

            "Tohru, I-I want you to come home!  We need you there!" I said, almost giving away my feelings for her, but catching myself before I could.

"Yuki-kun…You're only saying that to make me feel better.  Please, let me find myself, before it's too late for me to do so."  She said, looking at me with pleading eyes.  It seemed she'd cry, which I didn't ever want to see her do.

"Tohru…I'm sorry…I shouldn't ask you to do anything you don't want to do.  I'll support you in your endeavor to find yourself, and if I can help…please don't hesitate to ask me." I said, keeping the emotion out of my voice as much as I could.

Tohru's POV

            I smiled at his comment.  I appreciated his support, but still there wasn't anything he could do to help my journey.

            "Sohma-kun…" I started and I saw him wince again at my formality.  "I appreciate the support that you have offered me."  I paused.

            "But?" he added, knowing that there was something afterwards.

            "I told you that this was something that I must do for myself.  In order to truly find myself, I need to do this on my own.  If I don't, then I might not actually of truly found my purpose. I'm sorry," I replied shakily.  I never felt so unsure in my entire life.

            "Oh I see.  I understand," he told me.  There was a pause.

            "I'm glad," I said, not really meaning it.

            We arrived at school.  He turned toward me, and smiled brightly.  "Welll, then.  I wish you all the luck in the world.  I hope things go well for you.  Take as much time as you need, but come back soon, ne?" he told me and he turned and walked toward his first class.

            "Thank you…" I whispered and I walked away.

To be continued

AN:  That took forever to get the last part out… sorry.  It was my fault (I'm Bombay, the person who does Tohru's POV).  We had finals… and finals… and well… finals!  That's what took so long.  Studying took up a lot of time, so expect the next part out a little bit sooner than we got this one out… but that's no guarantee.  Bye!

Bombay and Balinese