The Concert: An Embrace

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Two chapters in one day hehe!! It's the weekends so I figured I'll make it up to you guys for not posting so long...and I really wanted to finish the concert and get on with the story...

Please review!!

~Maeven~

Yuki rubbed his neck tiredly. "One more song to go," he sighed. He closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. A pair of cool hands wrapped around his neck and his eyes shot open. 'Akito!' He twisted around, sucking in his breath deeply.

Tohru stared at him, alarm evident in her eyes. "Ah, g-gomen, Yuki-kun! I - I saw that you were so tired and I - I thought a little massage might help...I'm so sorry for startling you! Uh - I'll go now and let you rest -" She turned but before she could take a step, Yuki's hand shot out to hold the girl's wrist.

"I -I'm sorry...I thought you were someone else...uh, hehe...you know, like if it was Ayame...I'll twist his neck around at a hundred eighty degree angle. Please stay...I'll really appreciate your help..."

The girl turned around and smiled. Yuki's face heated up a little and he cleared his throat, turning back in his seat. Her hands hesitantly touched his neck and as she worked her fingers over the boy's shoulders, he felt his tense muscles loosen. He closed his eyes. "Honda-san...thank you so much...it really feels wonderful..." He felt himself redden again and thanked god she couldn't see him.

Her soft voice washed over him as she cheerfully responded, "Ah, well, mother always came home really tired and every night, I would give her a massage."

"I see...she must have really loved it."

The girl giggled, "Actually, she always fell asleep halfway. Every time when her head would suddenly loll forward lifelessly, I would think I had applied too much strength and strangled her to death...but she always began snoring a minute later."

Yuki smiled, "That's probably because you're so good at this, people can't help but relax."

Tohru blushed and a nostalgic note entered her voice as she continued. "It was really the least I could do...mother worked so hard after all. If it wasn't for me, she could have spent every day resting in bed...instead..."

Yuki comforted the girl gently, "Honda-san, when someone loves somebody, they'll never regret doing anything for them...rather, they'll try harder and harder to see that person happy...and by being happy, he'll be happy. Therefore, never think that you're a burden...your cheerful smile makes a lot of people glad to have you by their side...sometimes, all the work in the world would never match the value of one smile..." He tilted around in his chair and grinned at her. Tohru's face reddened and she beamed back.

"HAHAHAHA!! That was so moving, so beautiful!!" Ayame popped out of the closet with a huge grin on his face.

Shigure crawled out after him. "Yes! I must say, that have got to be the best pick-up line ever! I must remember it...let me get some paper to note it down. What was it again, Yuki-kun? Something about your smile is the most valuable thing in the world?"

A vein throbbed in Yuki's head. "What in the world were you guys doing in the closet?!"

"I locked them in. Too bad they didn't suffocate. (Ayame *pout*: "That's mean!!" Shigure: "Yeah!! You're lucky we know how to pick locks from the old high school days!" Hatori: "Maybe next time, I should chain up the closet and throw it into the river." Yuki: "Please do.") By the way, Yuki, you really shouldn't be having such a private conversation here," Hatori walked in from the adjoining room with Momiji, Kisa, and Hiro following him.

Momiji grinned, "But it was really very beautiful! Tohru!! Your smile is very precious to me too!!" The girl and Yuki flushed, avoiding each other's eyes.

*BAM* The door to the changing room was flung open and Kyou leaned against the doorway. He passed his eyes over Tohru and fixated them on Yuki, glittering coldly. He drawled, "Let's go. I have no time to listen to the stupid mouse spout idiotic poetry." He trudged to the door and turned his head a little. "But, uh, Tohru...even though your smile can be dazzling...no way can it compare to the pureness of your heart..." He cleared his throat uncomfortably and walked out hurriedly.

Hiro snickered. "I don't believe it...first Yuki, now the neko...is this Valentine's Day or something?"

Yuki darted a glance at the subject of attention. Tohru stared at the empty doorway, shocked at Kyou's simple yet striking words. Her cheeks were rosy and a smile touched her soft lips. The nezumi got up and walked out.

Momiji tugged on Tohru's sleeve and she looked down to see him grinning. "Ahem! I want to make up a poem for you too, Tohru!! But, uh, due to lack of time, it'll be improvised...but I ensure you!! It'll be just as emotional and moving!!"

She smiled and everyone stared at the boy, amused. He backed off a little and cleared his throat expectantly. In a loud dramatic voice, he dictated:

"Roses are red,

violets are blue

your eyes are the color

of, uh, green fondue!!"

Everyone sweat dropped. "T-thank you, Momiji-kun," Tohru stuttuered.

"Oh god," Hiro smirked. "This is too funny. Fine then, since we're all in such poetic mood...here, this one matches you even more...

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

Your reactions are

As slow as a mule!"

"Hiro-chan!" Kisa cried out.

"Oh, all right. I'll take that back...your reactions can't even be compared to those of a mule," Hiro sighed.

"Oh..."

"And I'm right yet again," Hiro sneered.

* * *

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!!! JYUUNI!! JYUUNI!!"

Kyou picked up his golden guitar and as he bent up, he caught the eye of Yuki. They stared at each other frigidly and turned away. In the crowd below them, they caught sight of Tohru and she waved at them cheerfully. Both the boys grinned.

~A simple embrace

can mean anything...

friendly comfort,

maternal love,

passionate emotions

all rolled into one...

and yet what can I do

when I know I can never

feel you?

Never get close to you,

Never embrace you...~

Tohru beamed at them encouragingly. They smiled painfully back at her as they continued crooning the song into their mikes. The words hit closer to their hearts than people would ever anticipate.

~In dark shadows

you pulled me out

your caress a velvety

comfort but when

I tried to hold you closer

And when I tried

To pull you nearer

In a flash, you're gone from me.

A simple embrace

Is all I ask for

A simple hug

Is all I need

I want to feel your arms around me

Holding me down to earth closely

So afraid I'll lost myself

So afraid I'll float away

But all I can do is hold

On to you by a string...~

Haru pounded his drums quickly as Momiji deftly flew his fingers over his keyboards. They stared at their cousins and they knew the pain they were feeling inside.

Tohru stared up at the stage and bit her lip. The boys both had their eyes shut tightly and she could hear a note of anguish in their voices. Their eyes suddenly flew open and she blinked as two pairs of intense eyes sought hers. Yuki's dark velvet purple eyes and Kyou's vivid scarlet ones bore into her own emerald pair, imprinting themselves into her memory, branding a mark onto her soul.

~But even if I can't hug you

I hope you know I still

Love you...

And no matter where you go

You'll still have a hold on me...

And even if I can't squeeze you to me

And even if I can't hold you to me

I hope you know I'll always be yours...~

Their eyes softened and she relaxed under their scrutiny. She grinned and held her thumbs up.

* * *

"Amazing! So great! You boys have really made this old man's dreams come true!" Shigure clasped his hands together as tears streamed down his face.

"Good...then I suppose you can die now?" Kyou retorted.

"Meany!" Shigure's lower lip protruded and he turned to Tohru. "Ne, my precious flower, since everyone had such a poem fest before, I took the liberty of composing one myself during the boy's song!"

"Really? How does it go?" the girl asked.

"Ahem...

O Tohru! Tohru!

My beautiful Tohru!

How you soothe

This old man's heart!

You are an angel

sent down from heaven

To bless us all...

Never before have I

Felt such bliss...

And yet this loyal servant

Of yours will be doubly

Blessed when dear sweet

Tohru would venture

Into his bed!!

O Tohru! Toh -"

Yuki and Kyou slammed the man through the wall. "Stupid hentai pervert!" Loud squabbling ensued afterwards and the room was once again full of noise.

Yuki shook his head and went outside for some fresh air. He leaned against a wall and closed his eyes, rubbing his temples tiredly. A pair of cool hands touched his shoulders and he smiled. "Thank you, Honda-san...you're really...great."

The hands encircled his neck lightly and soothingly; then with a hard yank, the boy was pulled backwards. Yuki's eyes flew open with a gasp and a chill ran down his back as a familiar voice hissed in his ears. "Shame on you, Yuki-kun. Here I am, going through all this trouble despite my ill health, just to see you perform and all you can think about is that dirty little girl. Here I am, trying to help you and you can only think of that slut. Have you forgotten all about me? Tsk tsk...how heartless of you. Maybe I should remind you..."

The hands tightened around Yuki's throat and he gasped weakly. Spots danced in front of his eyes. "A-Akito..."

"Akito!" Hatori's alarmed shout finally loosened the death grip the Sohma's clan head had on the mouse.

Yuki collapsed to the floor weakly, coughing. "Yuki-kun!" Tohru fell to her knees besides the boy. "Are you okay?"

Shigure asked seriously, "What brings you here, Akito?"

The tall boy shrugged. "Just wanted to see my dear family...it's been so long since I've seen you all so happy." He smiled coldly. "And I also wanted to tell you all about a little...surprise...I've planned for you in a month or so. I really do hope you'll like it. Well, I'm feeling a bit weary so I guess I'll take my leave now...Yuki-kun, come visit me sometimes...wouldn't want you to forget about me again, would we?" He turned around but before he walked off, he stared frostily at Tohru. "I'll see you soon, Honda-san."

Everyone stood around Yuki, pale and quiet. Whatever surprise Akito had in store for them, they were sure they weren't going to like it.