Episode Two: Tense

Ayame and Tohru were eating breakfast as Mine served them. Suddenly the Sohma asked her out of the blue what she thought of Yuki.

"Eh? Why would you want my thoughts on him, Ayame-san?" asked Tohru, surprised.

"Let's just say, I'm curious," he said.

"Well, he's too judgmental," she said, carefully choosing her words.

"Dig deeper."

"Eh? I just met him!"

"Good point," said Aya. "But I want you to comment on his looks."

"Uh, he looks just like you, Aya-san!"

Ayame laughed. "I don't know if you are dodging my question or you're just plain too naïve."

"W-What do you want me to say then?" she asked, pausing from her eating.

"Well, is he good-looking?"

"Aya-san is very handsome, therefore-"

"It's hopeless asking someone like you, Tohru-kun," laughed Ayame. "Anyway, I will take you today to the Sohma house because we're going to get the measurements of my relatives for the wedding wardrobe."

"Wedding? Who's going to get married?" asked Tohru excitedly.

"My cousin, Sohma Kagura, is going to marry my other cousin, Sohma Kyo. They're going to get married at the end of this month," explained the Sohma.

"Oh!"

Ayame smiled. "Actually, Yuki is suppose to be the one whom Kagura would marry, but on the day of the wedding, Yuki disappeared. Kagura then announced that the one she really loves is Kyo. When another wedding date was set, Yuki appeared again."

"Why, he left Kagura-san at the altar! That's mean!" said Tohru. But then again, at least Kagura-san was given the chance to tell the world whom she really loves.

"In fairness to my brother, the wedding was arranged by our clan head, and Yuki objected to that. He was not heard, so he took matters into his own hands," explained Ayame. "But there's another buzz in the clan…it's about my brother's gender."

"Huh?"

"He doesn't show interest to the opposite sex, and never had any kind of relationship with females, platonic or romantic. That's why, he is rumored to be a…"

Tohru's eyes widened. "Is it true?" She then covered her mouth. "I-I'm sorry!"

Ayame laughed. "I don't know. We aren't exactly close, you know. But from what I heard from Shigure, Yuki concentrates merely on his studies and extracurricular activities. His life revolves in school, but he has no time for his family and social life. That's where the rumor started."

She then remembered the face of Ayame's brother. Striking violet eyes and ebony hair that dramatically contrasted with his smooth pale skin, with the natural beauty of a woman…no wonder he was thought of as a gay!

She shrugged. It's none of her business anyway.

"I want to help him, Tohru-kun."

"Eh?" She looked shocked. "After the way he treated you yesterday, you still want to help him?"

"I deserve that treatment," said Ayame slowly.

"H-How can that be?" she asked. "You are the kindest elder brother I've ever met!"

Aya looked touched. "Right now, I'm torn between telling you my past and destroying that respect you have for me, or come clean to you so you would understand why my brother treats me like dirt."

"Aya-san?"

He shook his head. "Don't mind me." He sighed melodramatically. "Alas! Sentimentality comes with old age!"

"I don't think you're that old!" Tohru said, laughing. "You can still paint the town red!"

Mine joined in the hearty laughter in the dining room.

"'Gure, I'm hoooomeee!" called Ayame gaily as he and Tohru stood in front of a traditional Japanese house.

Immediately, the door slid open, revealing a kimono-clad man in his late twenties. "Welcome!" The man called out as he held out his arms, running towards them.

"'Gure, I miiiiisssseeeedddd youuuuuu!!!!!!!!!" called Ayame too, running towards him, but the man sped past Ayame and ricocheted towards the blinking Tohru.

"Welcome, beautiful flower! My name is Sohma Shigure, and I own this house. I'm a writer, and my size is-"

Ayame pulled on the sleeve of Shigure. "Er, excuse me? Don't scare my assistant."

He blinked. "No way!" He turned to the wide-eyed girl, then back at his cousin. He slapped Ayame at his back. "You're a pedophile!"

"No, I'm not! You are," said the designer good-naturedly. "By the way, this is Honda Tohru, my assistant in the dress shop. She's good in designing male outfits, and she provides me a perfect complement. I design women fashion, and she sketches male fashion designs."

"She can design my undergarments," said Shigure, but Ayame quickly nudged him.

"Don't poison her young, innocent mind, dear Shigure," said Aya, laughing. "So, can we get inside already and take your measurements?"

"Sure, sure!" Shigure placed an arm around the blushing Tohru. "Come in, Tohru-kun. Oh yeah, how young are you?"

"S-Seventeen."

"A high school girl! Just my luck! It's been quite a while since I last chatted with a girl like you," said the novelist cheerfully.

Sohma Kyo flew into the living room just as Yuki entered, looking grim.

"Baka neko, if you dare challenge me again, be sure that you can live up to it. You just wasted my time yet again," he said.

The orange-haired Sohma, oblivious of Shigure and the guests, yelled, "I'll beat you yet, you goddam mouse! I swear!"

Shigure cleared his throat. "Excuse me fellas, but we have guests."

The two looked up and saw smiling and waving Ayame with Tohru behind him. Kyo blinked while Yuki scowled.

"You again?!" said Yuki. He was referring to Tohru, but it was his brother who stepped forward.

"My beloved brother!" Ayame ran towards him, but Yuki quickly took a broom and posed it in front of him like a shield. "If you dare step closer to me, I'll pound you with this until I pulverize you."

Ayame laughed. "OK, I understand if you do not wish to show the public our display of affection."

A vein popped into his head. Ignore him. Ignore him.

Tohru took out her measuring tape quietly. "Who's going to get measured first?"

Kyo's blood boiled. "For the wedding? No way!" He instantly got up and left the room.

Ayame smiled at Shigure. "I'll take your measurements, 'Gure."

The writer nodded. "Sure, then we can catch up the events of our lives. It's been quite a while since you last visited us." The cousins went to Shigure's room, arm-in-arm. "You've been busy with your little assistant, huh?"

"You bet!" said Ayame as the door shut, leaving Tohru standing alone with Yuki.

"How busy were you and my brother?" asked Yuki.

Tohru's face flamed. "Do you still think I'm romantically linked with Aya-san?"

"The thought never left my mind," said Yuki, stepping closer towards her. "That, and another thing."

"E-Eh?" Without Ayame, she suddenly felt like her strength deserted her. "What's the other thing?" she asked, stepping back, He took another step closer, and she stepped back again, but felt only the wall against her back.

"That you slapped me," he said, his arms blocking her left and right. She had no escape!

"I-I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't know you were Aya-san's brother."

"Really? I don't think that matters anymore," he said his voice husky as his face leaned closer towards hers. "Because the damage is already done."

She shut her eyes tight.

What is he planning to do with me?

"In romance novels, when a woman slaps a man, he kisses her," murmured Yuki, sending electricity up and down her spines.

Tohru's eyes flapped open in surprise and found his lips just inches away from hers.

"No doubt, I would do that to you. If only to know why you were able to bewitch my brother so…"

She jolted back to reality when she remembered Ayame. She shoved him away from her with all her might.

"I hope you'll stop thinking that way about Aya-san and me," she said shakily. "He's my brother…my only family after my parents died. He's my father, my brother and my best friend." Her eyes welled up with tears. "Punish me as you like, but don't insult Aya-san."

He exhaled sharply and turned his back on her. "Alright."

Silence.

Tohru then spoke up. "Sohma-kun?"

"Yes?" he asked curtly.

"M-May I get your measurements now, please?"

He paused as he digested what happened. He nearly kissed her, and then the air was filled with tension, and her icebreaker was this?

He nearly laughed out loud if only the circumstances were different. Instead, he frowned. "Make it short," he said. The shorter time we spend together, the better for my sanity.

"T-The measurements?" she asked feebly.

That did it. He laughed out loud, and the door opened, with Aya and Shigure peeking into the living room curiously.

"What the hell-" said Shigure, clueless.

Ayame smiled.

That's my girl! Go Tohru!

tsuzuku