4) Discuss everything with her. She should feel that you value her opinion and never put it across in a harsh way if you do not agree with her opinion, but it will be a gentleman like if you politely tell her your view of seeing it. This make her open and trust you better.

"Good morning, Tohru-kun!" Shigure greeted happily.

"Eh? Is it morning?"

"Hai. Please get up and hurry, or you'll be late!"

"Late for what?" she sat up sleepily.

"Your father will arrive in ten minutes." He blinked.

"Why didn't you say so?!" She got up and shoved the dog away. "Privacy!"

"Y-yes mistress!" Shigure sweatdropped. "So much for being a butcher…"

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"He'll be here in any minute." She said excitingly as she sat on the stairs and stared at the front door. The other Sohmas looked at her confusedly.

"Shigure, why is she so excited?" Yuki asked.

"Today is her stepparents' wedding anniversary. Since the old woman died, her stepfather decided to prepare a surprise for her." He explained. "He'll be home in a moment, Yuki-kun."

"Do you need the car, Tohru-kun?" Kyou asked and she shook her head. "Then, I'll take it to the car wash."

"Pathetic driver." Yuki uttered. "You were given the responsibility to take care of the car and all you could do was to spend money to wash it. Why don't you just wash it yourself?"

"I hate water, kuso nezumi." His cousin glared.

"Please no violence!" Kagura demanded.

"Shut up!" the neko shouted.

Twitch. "What did you just say?" Kagura waved her fist.

"K-Kagura-san…" He was suddenly tortured by the maidservant.

"WHO ARE YOU TO YELL AT ME LIKE THAT?! DON'T YOU LOVE ME, KYOU-KUN?!" Kagura shouted. "DO YOU LOVE THE CAR BETTER THAN ME?!"

"Eh?" Tohru sweatdropped. "Ano…"

"It's okay." Yuki looked at her worried face. "It's a way that Kagura used to do to show affection." He smiled.

"Okay…" she smiled weakly.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I just had a bad night." She explained.

"What happened?"

"Huh? Oh…" she quickly smiled. "Don't mind it. I'm just worried that somebody might kill me while I am sleeping, that's all."

"Really?" Was she like this every night? It must be hard for her.

"You don't have to worry, remember?" he asked.

"Yes but---" Yuki raised his finger to silence her.

"I have a duty to protect you." He said. "Once you need anything or you have a bad feeling, just tell me."

"Thank you." She smiled.

That again, he thought, is another one silly innocent yet cheering smile.

I hope HE would never attack her on person.

If he does, nobody can defeat him.

Not even I can.

"He's here!" Kisa shouted as she glanced at the window. "I can see him walking towards the front door!"

This is not right. Yuki wondered. The merchant should be accompanied by men for his protection. And he should also have a car but… how come he's walking. "Be careful, mis--"

"Really?" Tohru stood up excitingly, completely ignoring Yuki's warning. She went towards the door and opened it for herself. "Fa---" then she stopped. All of them became worried. Her smiling face

disappeared and what replaced was a mask of shock and pain.

She's not smiling… "Mistress?" Yuki called. Tohru looked over her shoulder. "They…got me… Sohma-kun…" she whispered as she collapsed. "Mistress!" All of them shouted. Tohru looked up for the last time and she saw Yuki's face.

And she remembered the assassin's face.

In some way, she wondered before she lost consciousness. He looked just like Sohma-kun…

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"Please, Tohru-kun, open your eyes." Shigure cried. "If you were there earlier, we could send her to the hospital sooner." Kagura glared at the neko. "Are you blaming me?" "ARE YOU YELLING AT ME?!" "K-Kagura-san.." "No fighting please." Kisa asked and they calmed down. "It was good that we have a punctual doctor." Haru said. "If Hatori wasn't there in his office, we might as well lose Tohru-kun."

"We're lucky that you remembered the way to Hatori's house." Hiro grinned.

"You're trying to say something else." The cow grinned back.

"Nothing…" Hiro sang. Suddenly, the door opened and Ayame came in.

"Where is it? Where is it?" he asked frantically.

"What is it?" Shigure asked. "Our princess is still inside. Hatori and Yuki is also inside."

"No! I'm looking for the dress! THE DRESS THAT SHE WORE!" he cried. "I need to see it! I shouldn't let a useless thing be put to waste! I should fix it immediately!" "I just washed it." Kagura snorted. "You silly boar! A small rip can destroy the dress once it is not treated!" Kyou punched him on the back. "Ne, what are you really worried about, Tohru or your masterpiece???" "Well, I'm worried about both." He smiled foolishly. "Ayame-san, you never fail to admire your works." Hiro scratched his head. "Oh yes, I'm here for something else." Ayame looked at the Sohmas seriously. "I received a word from the master." Shigure grinned. "Which master, Aya?" "The merchant." He replied. "He said that somebody threaten him that someone will kill him once he leaves the office." "I see, so that's why he never left." Haru said. "Is Ritsu okay?" "Yes, he is." He giggled. "Once he knew that he can get involved as the merchant's right hand, he began to apologize every person he knew for his sins." "Well, that never changed Ritsu." Kyou laughed. "Are there any other news from the other master?" Shigure asked mysteriously. "Yes, there is also. He reminded me to remind you about the 'reason' why we are here." He grinned. "This is stupid." Kyou crossed his arms. "Are we still going to follow him?" "We don't have a choice, Kyou-kun." Kagura said sadly.  "But what about Tohru-kun?" Hiro asked. "What will happen to her once we---" "Please don't!" Kisa cried. "Don't expect the worst for onee-chan!" "Kisa…" "She's right." Aya smiled. "There must be a way out of this." "Right." Shigure nodded. But that's one thing we haven't figured out. Once he attacks, even Yuki cannot stop him. What are we to stop him anyway? We do have a choice… but there's a backfire once we followed it. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"Are you okay?"

"Hatori-san, you asked me about ten times already!" Tohru giggled.

"I'm just ensuring your safety, Tohru-kun." He looked at her seriously. "This might be tough for you but as an adviser of your family, I would suggest that you should stay at home and stay away from

the windows."

"Not again."

"Please understand, mistress." Yuki pleaded. "Even I can't protect you once in a while. I'm sorry."

"I understand, Sohma-kun." She replied.

"You were hit on the shoulder and this dart has some sleeping fluid in it. It's not a bad sign." The doctor explained. "It just put you to sleep, that's all."

Tohru sighed. "I'm relieved. I'm not yet dead."

"Why do you always expect a tragedy?"

"That's what I always expect for three years. What can I do?" she explained sadly. "Maybe I should surrender to those people. It might end everything."

"No it won't." Yuki said quickly. Tohru looked at him.

"How would you know?" she asked. He looked out of the window, ignoring her gaze.

"Mistress," Hatori cut in. "Please rest for a while. I need to talk to my cousin about something."

"Wait." She smiled. "I need to talk to him first." Yuki looked at her worriedly. What is she after?

"Yes." Hatori gathered his things and left the room. Her protector sat on a chair and held her hand.

"What is it?" he asked.

"I saw the assassin."

"Really?" he smiled. "What does he looked like?"

"Actually, he looked exactly like you." She answered. "I don't know if it's an illusion or my hallucination but he indeed looked just like you, except he's a few inches higher."

"I see…" It might be him. He can't…

"Do you think he'll attack me again next time?" she asked worriedly.

"Huh?" he asked and smiled. "I don't think so. A great warrior never does the same technique on the same opponent. Because once he does, the opponent can defend it."

"I see. SO the rumors are true…" she giggled. "That you're very wise."

"Really?" he laughed. "Do they also say anything else?"

"Yes, that you can knock out anyone with your bare hands." She smiled.

"Really…" he looked at her sadly. Anyone but him.

"Are you okay, Sohma-kun?"

"Eh… yes, I'm fine. I was just…." He stared at her. "Mistress, would you promise me that you won't tell your father about this, even this conversation or any conversation between you and the other

Sohmas?"

"I would do anything to keep my father out of trouble." She replied and nodded. "yes, I will keep this as a secret."

"Thank you." He stood up and smiled at her. "Please rest well, Honda-san."

She was stunned. "You just called me…"

"Yes. I decided to be a little warm on you." He grinned. "Please rest well."

"Yes and thank you." She tucked under the sheets and went to sleep.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"What do you mean?"

"He almost blurted it out." Hatori smirked. "He's getting carried away."

"It's alright. Yuki won't fail me." The stranger grinned.

"Master, you just… showed up…"

"I hope I didn't hurt her much… because it's only the beginning." He looked outside. "Hatori, please try not to fail me."

"Why would I?" the doctor asked. "As long as you promise me not to hurt her again."

"Kana?" he grinned. "Kana left you--"

"Not her," Hatori looked at his master seriously. "Tohru-kun."

"Hmm, even you, Hatori…" he looked at him. "You're beginning to turn away from me."

"Promise me."

"Of course." The stranger whispered.

"Thank you." Hatori got up and left the room. Just then, the strange man in kimono laughed.

"Maybe, that's something I couldn't promise." He grinned evilly. "She's thorn, anyways, a spoiled fruit in basket… and I think Yuki is already beginning to spoil…" he looked out of the window. "I might

as well need to 'pick him up'."