Fun to write, and the least serious of the later chapters. ________
They all ate without saying much. Momiji slipped a little of his fish into Yuki's rice when Hatori wasn't looking, and Yuki was very grateful. They had some little cans of coffee Hatori brought with him, but Yuki had to content himself with water. Kyou avoided the soup, because it had onions in it, but he could stand the smell better than leeks. Hatori wrapped up some of the food no one took very carefully and put it in his refrigerator, even though he wasn't supposed to.
"I can't let Tohru-kun's food spoil," he said, "I'll replace the supplies and scrub the refrigerator when this is over,"
"What are we going to do about sleep?" said Kyou.
"Well, I have to stay in here in case anything happens. That means you two are sleeping here as well."
"With Tohru-kun? Together?"
"Not on the same mattress, obviously. The mouse will have to be cautious that if she turns over, he doesn't fall off in his sleep. I have my own bedroll. Momiji, can you get your own and another if there is one?"
"Yah, I've got a guest bed! I'll run and get it! I love sleepovers!" He leapt up and ran with his arms out like an airplane toward the hall and the front door.
"What about getting up?"
"I'll set an alarm. Momiji is hard to wake, but I do fine if I get enough sleep. I'll be on watch most of the night, but I will sleep a little. Unlike, Yuki, I know you wake up and fall asleep very quickly. If we are slow to rise, shake Momiji and I a little. I'll set the alarm to 3:45. We should go to bed as soon as Momiji returns, with that early a rising."
Momiji protested some at the early bedtime, but really, everyone there was too tired to turn down sleep.
"We'll sleep in all our clothes tonight, even if mine aren't good to sleep in," said Momiji after he accepted his fate.
"That's a very good idea, Momiji," said Hatori. Kyou agreed.
"Good. Allright, everyone go to the bathroom before lights out." Momiji and Kyou left, and then Hatori. Yuki briefly scurried outside and back. After that, Kyou, Momiji and Hatori set up their beds, but Hatori did not sit on his, but rather in his desk chair.
"You gonna do paperwork in the dark, Ha'ri?" asked Momiji.
"No, just keeping watch. You both sleep, and I'll go to bed after a bit. Kyou wakes up easily, so if he's here, Tohru's still not alone with me."
Kyou grunted. Yuki glared at Kyou, not trusting Kyou would do more than turn over if there was a suspicious noise.
"We trust you Ha'ri, and Kyou and I are here so no one can say anything else about it!" said Momiji,
"Goodnight, children." Hatori said and turned off the desk light.
Kyou woke up a couple times when the wind picked up. Hatori hadn't moved either time. It was too dark to see if he was keeping watch or asleep.
------
Kyou woke with the alarm, and Hatori had stood up. He hadn't moved from the chair all night. Momiji groaned and rubbed his head as he sat up. Yuki didn't wake, but had stayed on Tohru while he slept, and so, thankfully, was still a rodent. Hatori walked to his cabinet and prepared a needle.
"What's that for, Ha'ri?" asked Momiji blearily. When Kyou had seen Momiji was awake, he dashed to the toilet.
"Just in case." Hatori said. He got only a very little of a yellow drug from a bottle that was in the refrigerator, then got out an I. V. bag and pulled a some of the saline out of it.
Hatori walked over to Tohru and prodded Yuki.
"Mouse, wake up, you have to move. We're leaving."
Yuki opened his eyes and mumbled, "Whazzit?"
Hatori put his finger over his his lips and stared hard at Yuki. Yuki remembered his situation as a mouse, and tried to scurry away. Hatori caught him by the scruff.
"No, the mouse will sit on Tohru's leg while I prop her up. She's calmer if he's there for some reason." Hatori said. Yuki sat on her leg obediently.
Hatori patted her face.
"Tohru-kun? I'm sorry but you have to get up. You've overextended yourself and are sick, but now you have to get up."
"Mom.............?" she muttered. Hatori helped her sit up.
"No, she's not here. You're with us, here in my clinic. We have to leave now."
"Hatori............?" she said, a little louder. Everyone froze, including Kyou, who had just come back.
"Yes, It's Hatori-san. I'm here."
Yuki bit back the words, but Kyou said them out loud, "Since when do you know her well enough for her to call you by your first name?"
Tohru said dreamily, "Oh, I'm sorry, that was rude, Hatori-san, I just..... I just............" "It's quite allright Tohru-kun, I'm not offended. You don't have to make excuses when you don't feel well. Would you like a glass of water and a very little rice? We don't have time for more, I'm afraid."
"Water would be good............ I feel too..... tired to eat anything."
"Go get her some water, Momiji." Momiji nodded and grabbed Hatori's mug. Hatori took the cap back off the syringe and flicked it, holding the chamber up to his right eye. Then he pushed a little of the liquid out.
"What the hell's that!?" said Kyou.
"Tohru-kun, this is a very dangerous drug," Hatori leaned over her and patted her hand, "I've diluted it a lot, but it's still not very safe. You will still be tired, but you won't worry as much about it. Just focus as much as you can, and listen to what Kyou, Momiji and I tell you to. If you have more trouble breathing or your chest hurts or feels funny, tell me right away. Everything will seem strange, but keep clam, and it won't be scary. You understand?"
"Y-yes."
"Good. Can you sit up for a little without help?"
"I think so....." Tohru said, but Hatori decided not to risk it.
"Kyou, help her sit up for a second." Kyou did what he was told.
"Let me see your arm, Tohru-kun. No, the other one, I've already used your left, I'm sorry to say. Just breathe deeply,"
Tohru held her arm out, and Hatori inserted the needle into the crook of her elbow. He pulled out a little of her blood into the chamber, and kept the needle in the vein. Kyou and Yuki choked a little, and Tohru gasped form the pain.
"Sorry, I have to take a little out to make sure the drug kicks in quickly, among other things. It's like tempering an egg when you cook. You like cooking dishes like that?" he asked. He was waiting, just to be safe, before pushing the plunger in.
"Y-yes. They're desserts allot.............. I've heard of a..... wonderful chocolate cake like that. If you don't heat the egg up....... before putting it in something hot, the egg.......... scrambles before it can mix in. But in some soups..... they...... . don't temper the eggs before adding them, and those can......... be delicious," she said.
"I particularly like egg drop soup, myself. Especially if it's got hot peppers in it." Hatori said, and pushed in the plunger. Tohru's breath caught in her throat for a moment, and then started again, a little quicker.
"Are you feeling any of what I told you about? Anything strange?"
"I feel a little...... light. It isn't bad but.......... I'm not sure I like it. Everything's a little glowy."
"Yes. It's an amphetamine, so you may be a little divided in how you feel. Remember you are tired, and if you want to run or something strenuous, you will run out of steam quickly. There's nothing worse than being wide awake with your muscles too tired to obey you."
"Yes, that doesn't sound fun," She looked around.
"Oh, is that you Yuki-kun?" she said looking at the gray mouse on her leg. The mouse shook it's head no furiously. She looked very confused at him.
"He says he isn't," said Hatori, "And Yuki wouldn't lie about not being Yuki." Kyou and Yuki looked at Hatori, who was, from what they could tell being serious. Hatori stood up and threw the needle away.
Tohru followed his logic muzzily, "Yes. If Yuki-kun says he isn't him, then Yuki-kun can't possibly be Yuki-kun." Hatori nodded.
"Did I miss something?" Yuki said.
"If you did, then I must have," said Kyou.
"It sounds like Yuki-kun......" said Tohru.
"I thought so too, but I am by no means fooled. Mice obviously can't talk." said Hatori.
"That's right, not unless it's Yuki-kun!" Tohru said happily.
"And I'm not Yuki?"
"No. We just established this, Yuki. You're just a mouse." Hatori said.
"Right!" said Tohru.
"Can you eat a little?" asked Hatori.
"I think I should. I don't know how long it's been since I have."
"I'm back with Tohru's water! The tap water was all gross!"
"That's just rust in the pipes, Momiji, it would have run clear if you waited. There wasn't any need to make Honda-san wait." said Yuki.
"What....... is Yuki.............. can he....?" Momiji stuttered.
"I'm not Yuki."
"And mice can't talk." said Hatori.
"But, then how could......?" Momiji said.
"The stupid mouse is obviously lying if it says it can talk." said Kyou, beginning to catch on. Yuki glared at him.
"Yes, Yuki-kun wouldn't lie about not being himself so Yuki-kun's just a mouse! And mice can't talk, so even if he claimed to be Yuki-kun now, I couldn't hear him." Tohru said.
"When you first........ how did you know it was Yuki those other times?" asked Momiji. "I told her I was me. Honda-san trusts me not to lie."
"That's right, I do, Yuki-kun! I'm glad you know that!"
"As fascinating as Yuki's miraculous non-presence in this room is, we are a little behind schedule. Drink the water, and have a few bites of rice, then get dressed. Your underclothes should be dry by now."
"Why would they need to dry?" Tohru asked.
"Because they were wet," Hatori said.
Tohru's eyes lit up in realization and she hit her palm on her forehead, "Of course! They would have had to have been wet to dry out! Silly me!"
"Why's Tohru-chan so silly now, Ha'ri?" Momiji said.
"She's still sick Momiji, so I gave her medicine and she isn't thinking very straight."
"Nnnnnnope!" She agreed. She ate quickly and less politely than normal. Tohru had a little cold fish and the whole bowl of rice, despite Hatori's warnings on time. It was four-thirty already before she was dressed, went to the toilet, was ready to walk out the door.
They all walked down the path to the gate. Yuki, still as a mouse, ran ahead so he'd be out the gate before he transformed. Hatori, Kyou and Momiji walked together, Tohru wobbling merrily along beside them. Momiji carried Yuki's clothes for when they caught up with him and he changed back. They walked past the where Hatori's car was parked, but he kept going without getting it. The round window on the main building came into view, and they all avoided looking at it, except for Tohru, who was looking around at everything she could too fast to take in anything she saw.
When they were obscured from the window by a tree, Hatori turned to them and said, "If she passes out or starts having a seizure, yell for me. Don't bother being discreet, and don't leave her behind, just yell as loud as you can. I'll come running. Understand?"
"Yes," said Momiji and Kyou nodded.
"I get it too!" Tohru chirped cheerfully.
"Yes. Good. I'll meet you out front."
The rest of the way to the gate was short, and they waited just outside. Yuki was sitting nearby, still furry.
"Oh there's Yuki-kun! Or are you just a mouse?"
"I........." Yuki didn't know if he was in the clear with Hatori yet, or if they had to go back for some reason, ".... I'm not sure yet."
"Oh. Let me know when you've decided, Okeh?
"Sure."
Tohru yawned a little, "Mmmmnnn. I'm getting tired again. I'm just going to lean against the wall."
"Hey, you allright?" Kyou asked.
"Yup. I still feel awake, just...... sleepy. You know? Not exhausted like I was."
"Should we call for Hatori?" said Yuki.
"No," said Kyou, "he's got the car by now, unless somethings wrong," Yuki and Momiji tensed up, "No use to worry if it has. If we call him and he is in trouble, then he'll be in worse trouble and won't come. If she's standing then we can't risk she's fine and he was delayed in getting the car, so he has to run back here."
"Yah. You're right Kyou. If she falls over, we'll yell then." Momiji said.
"I won't fall over. I'mmmmm super now!" she started to slide down the wall, but Momiji grabbed her arm, and helped her up again.
"Sorry, Tohru-chan, we have to keep standing. Go ahead and keep leaning on the wall, okeh?"
"Okaaay!"
They heard a car come to the gate and Hatori call to them, "Open it for me, so I can drive through!" The non-rodent boys swung open the gates and Hatori drove out.
"Get in."
"What about-" began Momiji. There was a pop of gray smoke and up stood Yuki.
"Hello Yuki-kun!" said Tohru. She hadn't screamed when he transformed back. She was looking straight at him unashamed, as if he were wearing clothes, "I'm so glad you're you! I've missed you, you know!" she said, smiling. Yuki turned bright red, but didn't revert.
"O, How surprising to see you, Yuki, etcetera. You get in too; shotgun, so you don't have to get dressed next to Tohru-kun," Kyou had already gotten into the front seat, and climbed into the back grumbling. Tohru got in back and Momiji handed Yuki his clothes when he got in. Tohru was in the middle seat, smiling.
"Buckle in, it's at least a fifteen minute drive. We're taking some back roads."
"Right!" Tohru said, and put hers on. Yuki was buttoning up his shirt as they went underway, and buckled in when he was done.
"That was an eventful day!" Tohru said yawning.
"We haven't been up an hour!" Kyou said.
"No. It's been an hour and forty minutes." said Hatori. The sun, though not up, started to make the sky glow, "We'll be at Shigure's by 6:00 at the latest."
"Oh, good. I'll be able to go to sleep..... in my own......... bed.............." Tohru's head dropped, and she leaned over onto Kyou, who transformed. The seatbelt kept her from falling any farther. Kyou climbed out of his shirt as Yuki, Momiji and Hatori rolled down the windows to let the smoke out.
"You should have had her take a window seat." Hatori said, speeding the car back up.
"Really? So this means I have your permission to be Kyou, Hatori?"
"Shut up." said Hatori and Yuki.
"Sorry Kyou. Come sit with me so you don't get jerked around when we stop and stuff!" Momiji said.
"No way! I'm not transforming back in your lap, Momiji, and you're sick for even suggesting it."
Momiji sniffed, "I was only trying, - to be, - nice. I don't want you, - to get, - hurt." tears began to stream down Momiji's face.
"Sit with him, Kyou, or else you'll fly through the windshield if we crash. My depth perception isn't what it used to be, even with my glasses." said Hatori. "Got to hell!"
Hatori stopped the car and turned around. "You can sit with Momiji, or you can sit with Yuki if he'll take you, for all I care. It's either that or walk home from here. And I won't let you take any of your clothes."
"Gaaaaah!" grunted Kyou and jumped on Momiji's lap. Hatori started the car again. Momiji grabbed Kyou and hugged him tightly.
"Agggh, leggo of me! Just keep me from getting knocked around, don't bear hug me! And don't stroke me either, I'm not a house pet!"
"Ohhhhhh, but you're so cute, Kyoooooou!"
"Don't say that, you little brat!"
"For God's sake, I'll take him, just to shut you two up." Yuki said. Momiji picked Kyou up and handed him forward.
"You think about asking me!?"
"Kyou, if you don't keep quiet while you sit here, I'll throw you through the windshield myself," said Yuki.
Kyou shut up for the long ride, and Yuki wrapped his arms around Kyou's sides, so that Yuki's arms still touched his lap. When Hatori stopped to let a fox pass, Yuki brought them up to hold him back, and Kyou stayed in place. Kyou knew it was necessary, but still resented it. He dug his claws in a little deeper than he really needed for grip.
They all ate without saying much. Momiji slipped a little of his fish into Yuki's rice when Hatori wasn't looking, and Yuki was very grateful. They had some little cans of coffee Hatori brought with him, but Yuki had to content himself with water. Kyou avoided the soup, because it had onions in it, but he could stand the smell better than leeks. Hatori wrapped up some of the food no one took very carefully and put it in his refrigerator, even though he wasn't supposed to.
"I can't let Tohru-kun's food spoil," he said, "I'll replace the supplies and scrub the refrigerator when this is over,"
"What are we going to do about sleep?" said Kyou.
"Well, I have to stay in here in case anything happens. That means you two are sleeping here as well."
"With Tohru-kun? Together?"
"Not on the same mattress, obviously. The mouse will have to be cautious that if she turns over, he doesn't fall off in his sleep. I have my own bedroll. Momiji, can you get your own and another if there is one?"
"Yah, I've got a guest bed! I'll run and get it! I love sleepovers!" He leapt up and ran with his arms out like an airplane toward the hall and the front door.
"What about getting up?"
"I'll set an alarm. Momiji is hard to wake, but I do fine if I get enough sleep. I'll be on watch most of the night, but I will sleep a little. Unlike, Yuki, I know you wake up and fall asleep very quickly. If we are slow to rise, shake Momiji and I a little. I'll set the alarm to 3:45. We should go to bed as soon as Momiji returns, with that early a rising."
Momiji protested some at the early bedtime, but really, everyone there was too tired to turn down sleep.
"We'll sleep in all our clothes tonight, even if mine aren't good to sleep in," said Momiji after he accepted his fate.
"That's a very good idea, Momiji," said Hatori. Kyou agreed.
"Good. Allright, everyone go to the bathroom before lights out." Momiji and Kyou left, and then Hatori. Yuki briefly scurried outside and back. After that, Kyou, Momiji and Hatori set up their beds, but Hatori did not sit on his, but rather in his desk chair.
"You gonna do paperwork in the dark, Ha'ri?" asked Momiji.
"No, just keeping watch. You both sleep, and I'll go to bed after a bit. Kyou wakes up easily, so if he's here, Tohru's still not alone with me."
Kyou grunted. Yuki glared at Kyou, not trusting Kyou would do more than turn over if there was a suspicious noise.
"We trust you Ha'ri, and Kyou and I are here so no one can say anything else about it!" said Momiji,
"Goodnight, children." Hatori said and turned off the desk light.
Kyou woke up a couple times when the wind picked up. Hatori hadn't moved either time. It was too dark to see if he was keeping watch or asleep.
------
Kyou woke with the alarm, and Hatori had stood up. He hadn't moved from the chair all night. Momiji groaned and rubbed his head as he sat up. Yuki didn't wake, but had stayed on Tohru while he slept, and so, thankfully, was still a rodent. Hatori walked to his cabinet and prepared a needle.
"What's that for, Ha'ri?" asked Momiji blearily. When Kyou had seen Momiji was awake, he dashed to the toilet.
"Just in case." Hatori said. He got only a very little of a yellow drug from a bottle that was in the refrigerator, then got out an I. V. bag and pulled a some of the saline out of it.
Hatori walked over to Tohru and prodded Yuki.
"Mouse, wake up, you have to move. We're leaving."
Yuki opened his eyes and mumbled, "Whazzit?"
Hatori put his finger over his his lips and stared hard at Yuki. Yuki remembered his situation as a mouse, and tried to scurry away. Hatori caught him by the scruff.
"No, the mouse will sit on Tohru's leg while I prop her up. She's calmer if he's there for some reason." Hatori said. Yuki sat on her leg obediently.
Hatori patted her face.
"Tohru-kun? I'm sorry but you have to get up. You've overextended yourself and are sick, but now you have to get up."
"Mom.............?" she muttered. Hatori helped her sit up.
"No, she's not here. You're with us, here in my clinic. We have to leave now."
"Hatori............?" she said, a little louder. Everyone froze, including Kyou, who had just come back.
"Yes, It's Hatori-san. I'm here."
Yuki bit back the words, but Kyou said them out loud, "Since when do you know her well enough for her to call you by your first name?"
Tohru said dreamily, "Oh, I'm sorry, that was rude, Hatori-san, I just..... I just............" "It's quite allright Tohru-kun, I'm not offended. You don't have to make excuses when you don't feel well. Would you like a glass of water and a very little rice? We don't have time for more, I'm afraid."
"Water would be good............ I feel too..... tired to eat anything."
"Go get her some water, Momiji." Momiji nodded and grabbed Hatori's mug. Hatori took the cap back off the syringe and flicked it, holding the chamber up to his right eye. Then he pushed a little of the liquid out.
"What the hell's that!?" said Kyou.
"Tohru-kun, this is a very dangerous drug," Hatori leaned over her and patted her hand, "I've diluted it a lot, but it's still not very safe. You will still be tired, but you won't worry as much about it. Just focus as much as you can, and listen to what Kyou, Momiji and I tell you to. If you have more trouble breathing or your chest hurts or feels funny, tell me right away. Everything will seem strange, but keep clam, and it won't be scary. You understand?"
"Y-yes."
"Good. Can you sit up for a little without help?"
"I think so....." Tohru said, but Hatori decided not to risk it.
"Kyou, help her sit up for a second." Kyou did what he was told.
"Let me see your arm, Tohru-kun. No, the other one, I've already used your left, I'm sorry to say. Just breathe deeply,"
Tohru held her arm out, and Hatori inserted the needle into the crook of her elbow. He pulled out a little of her blood into the chamber, and kept the needle in the vein. Kyou and Yuki choked a little, and Tohru gasped form the pain.
"Sorry, I have to take a little out to make sure the drug kicks in quickly, among other things. It's like tempering an egg when you cook. You like cooking dishes like that?" he asked. He was waiting, just to be safe, before pushing the plunger in.
"Y-yes. They're desserts allot.............. I've heard of a..... wonderful chocolate cake like that. If you don't heat the egg up....... before putting it in something hot, the egg.......... scrambles before it can mix in. But in some soups..... they...... . don't temper the eggs before adding them, and those can......... be delicious," she said.
"I particularly like egg drop soup, myself. Especially if it's got hot peppers in it." Hatori said, and pushed in the plunger. Tohru's breath caught in her throat for a moment, and then started again, a little quicker.
"Are you feeling any of what I told you about? Anything strange?"
"I feel a little...... light. It isn't bad but.......... I'm not sure I like it. Everything's a little glowy."
"Yes. It's an amphetamine, so you may be a little divided in how you feel. Remember you are tired, and if you want to run or something strenuous, you will run out of steam quickly. There's nothing worse than being wide awake with your muscles too tired to obey you."
"Yes, that doesn't sound fun," She looked around.
"Oh, is that you Yuki-kun?" she said looking at the gray mouse on her leg. The mouse shook it's head no furiously. She looked very confused at him.
"He says he isn't," said Hatori, "And Yuki wouldn't lie about not being Yuki." Kyou and Yuki looked at Hatori, who was, from what they could tell being serious. Hatori stood up and threw the needle away.
Tohru followed his logic muzzily, "Yes. If Yuki-kun says he isn't him, then Yuki-kun can't possibly be Yuki-kun." Hatori nodded.
"Did I miss something?" Yuki said.
"If you did, then I must have," said Kyou.
"It sounds like Yuki-kun......" said Tohru.
"I thought so too, but I am by no means fooled. Mice obviously can't talk." said Hatori.
"That's right, not unless it's Yuki-kun!" Tohru said happily.
"And I'm not Yuki?"
"No. We just established this, Yuki. You're just a mouse." Hatori said.
"Right!" said Tohru.
"Can you eat a little?" asked Hatori.
"I think I should. I don't know how long it's been since I have."
"I'm back with Tohru's water! The tap water was all gross!"
"That's just rust in the pipes, Momiji, it would have run clear if you waited. There wasn't any need to make Honda-san wait." said Yuki.
"What....... is Yuki.............. can he....?" Momiji stuttered.
"I'm not Yuki."
"And mice can't talk." said Hatori.
"But, then how could......?" Momiji said.
"The stupid mouse is obviously lying if it says it can talk." said Kyou, beginning to catch on. Yuki glared at him.
"Yes, Yuki-kun wouldn't lie about not being himself so Yuki-kun's just a mouse! And mice can't talk, so even if he claimed to be Yuki-kun now, I couldn't hear him." Tohru said.
"When you first........ how did you know it was Yuki those other times?" asked Momiji. "I told her I was me. Honda-san trusts me not to lie."
"That's right, I do, Yuki-kun! I'm glad you know that!"
"As fascinating as Yuki's miraculous non-presence in this room is, we are a little behind schedule. Drink the water, and have a few bites of rice, then get dressed. Your underclothes should be dry by now."
"Why would they need to dry?" Tohru asked.
"Because they were wet," Hatori said.
Tohru's eyes lit up in realization and she hit her palm on her forehead, "Of course! They would have had to have been wet to dry out! Silly me!"
"Why's Tohru-chan so silly now, Ha'ri?" Momiji said.
"She's still sick Momiji, so I gave her medicine and she isn't thinking very straight."
"Nnnnnnope!" She agreed. She ate quickly and less politely than normal. Tohru had a little cold fish and the whole bowl of rice, despite Hatori's warnings on time. It was four-thirty already before she was dressed, went to the toilet, was ready to walk out the door.
They all walked down the path to the gate. Yuki, still as a mouse, ran ahead so he'd be out the gate before he transformed. Hatori, Kyou and Momiji walked together, Tohru wobbling merrily along beside them. Momiji carried Yuki's clothes for when they caught up with him and he changed back. They walked past the where Hatori's car was parked, but he kept going without getting it. The round window on the main building came into view, and they all avoided looking at it, except for Tohru, who was looking around at everything she could too fast to take in anything she saw.
When they were obscured from the window by a tree, Hatori turned to them and said, "If she passes out or starts having a seizure, yell for me. Don't bother being discreet, and don't leave her behind, just yell as loud as you can. I'll come running. Understand?"
"Yes," said Momiji and Kyou nodded.
"I get it too!" Tohru chirped cheerfully.
"Yes. Good. I'll meet you out front."
The rest of the way to the gate was short, and they waited just outside. Yuki was sitting nearby, still furry.
"Oh there's Yuki-kun! Or are you just a mouse?"
"I........." Yuki didn't know if he was in the clear with Hatori yet, or if they had to go back for some reason, ".... I'm not sure yet."
"Oh. Let me know when you've decided, Okeh?
"Sure."
Tohru yawned a little, "Mmmmnnn. I'm getting tired again. I'm just going to lean against the wall."
"Hey, you allright?" Kyou asked.
"Yup. I still feel awake, just...... sleepy. You know? Not exhausted like I was."
"Should we call for Hatori?" said Yuki.
"No," said Kyou, "he's got the car by now, unless somethings wrong," Yuki and Momiji tensed up, "No use to worry if it has. If we call him and he is in trouble, then he'll be in worse trouble and won't come. If she's standing then we can't risk she's fine and he was delayed in getting the car, so he has to run back here."
"Yah. You're right Kyou. If she falls over, we'll yell then." Momiji said.
"I won't fall over. I'mmmmm super now!" she started to slide down the wall, but Momiji grabbed her arm, and helped her up again.
"Sorry, Tohru-chan, we have to keep standing. Go ahead and keep leaning on the wall, okeh?"
"Okaaay!"
They heard a car come to the gate and Hatori call to them, "Open it for me, so I can drive through!" The non-rodent boys swung open the gates and Hatori drove out.
"Get in."
"What about-" began Momiji. There was a pop of gray smoke and up stood Yuki.
"Hello Yuki-kun!" said Tohru. She hadn't screamed when he transformed back. She was looking straight at him unashamed, as if he were wearing clothes, "I'm so glad you're you! I've missed you, you know!" she said, smiling. Yuki turned bright red, but didn't revert.
"O, How surprising to see you, Yuki, etcetera. You get in too; shotgun, so you don't have to get dressed next to Tohru-kun," Kyou had already gotten into the front seat, and climbed into the back grumbling. Tohru got in back and Momiji handed Yuki his clothes when he got in. Tohru was in the middle seat, smiling.
"Buckle in, it's at least a fifteen minute drive. We're taking some back roads."
"Right!" Tohru said, and put hers on. Yuki was buttoning up his shirt as they went underway, and buckled in when he was done.
"That was an eventful day!" Tohru said yawning.
"We haven't been up an hour!" Kyou said.
"No. It's been an hour and forty minutes." said Hatori. The sun, though not up, started to make the sky glow, "We'll be at Shigure's by 6:00 at the latest."
"Oh, good. I'll be able to go to sleep..... in my own......... bed.............." Tohru's head dropped, and she leaned over onto Kyou, who transformed. The seatbelt kept her from falling any farther. Kyou climbed out of his shirt as Yuki, Momiji and Hatori rolled down the windows to let the smoke out.
"You should have had her take a window seat." Hatori said, speeding the car back up.
"Really? So this means I have your permission to be Kyou, Hatori?"
"Shut up." said Hatori and Yuki.
"Sorry Kyou. Come sit with me so you don't get jerked around when we stop and stuff!" Momiji said.
"No way! I'm not transforming back in your lap, Momiji, and you're sick for even suggesting it."
Momiji sniffed, "I was only trying, - to be, - nice. I don't want you, - to get, - hurt." tears began to stream down Momiji's face.
"Sit with him, Kyou, or else you'll fly through the windshield if we crash. My depth perception isn't what it used to be, even with my glasses." said Hatori. "Got to hell!"
Hatori stopped the car and turned around. "You can sit with Momiji, or you can sit with Yuki if he'll take you, for all I care. It's either that or walk home from here. And I won't let you take any of your clothes."
"Gaaaaah!" grunted Kyou and jumped on Momiji's lap. Hatori started the car again. Momiji grabbed Kyou and hugged him tightly.
"Agggh, leggo of me! Just keep me from getting knocked around, don't bear hug me! And don't stroke me either, I'm not a house pet!"
"Ohhhhhh, but you're so cute, Kyoooooou!"
"Don't say that, you little brat!"
"For God's sake, I'll take him, just to shut you two up." Yuki said. Momiji picked Kyou up and handed him forward.
"You think about asking me!?"
"Kyou, if you don't keep quiet while you sit here, I'll throw you through the windshield myself," said Yuki.
Kyou shut up for the long ride, and Yuki wrapped his arms around Kyou's sides, so that Yuki's arms still touched his lap. When Hatori stopped to let a fox pass, Yuki brought them up to hold him back, and Kyou stayed in place. Kyou knew it was necessary, but still resented it. He dug his claws in a little deeper than he really needed for grip.
