Disclaimers: I own no part of Furuba, OR the Korean Show.
A/N: yay! Lotsa reviews! Thanks tons to all who reviewed. I luvs ya so muchos! Oh, and answer to xyz's question, I'm from the red and white country of Canada. But I was born in South Korea. So I understand Korean and stuff. And yeah, I was considering Yuki as the lead guy, but then I realized, I'm not ready to write a Yukiru yet. Maybe later. And besides, if I STRICTLY stick to the Korean show, it'll be boring, right? ^_^
Anyways, here's the next chapter. Enjoy! ~_^
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Suddenly, a piercing screech echoed in the air, as he saw Rin's face turn white, staring towards Kyou. Was she that scared of me? He thought. But his theory proved to be wrong. Hasegawa screamed in terror. Citizens mumbled fearfully. And everyone passing him froze, staring behind him.
Kyou turned around abruptly. A yellow bike was trashed, jammed underneath a truck. He looked on. Locks of brown hair was entangled within the gears, as a pale hand lay limp beside an equally lifeless body. The autumn breeze no longer tangled her locks, and there were no smiles greeting it.
He witnessed two blue ribbons flutter to the ground.
"TOHRU!!!!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Footsteps echoed in the hallways of Tokyo hospital. Kazuma was running as if he had never run before, his wife Miyako trailing behind him like a dog.
The two paused in front of a room, where a surprised, angry, and sad boy sat, in front of a white door. His fists were clenched in a tight ball, his shirt wet with tears, and his crimson eyes reflecting every bit of guilt that this boy possessed.
"Kyou. . ." Kazuma began.
He looked up. What Miyako saw in her son broke her heart. Kyou was crying his heart out, his cheeks damp from tears. His once charismatic eyes were now pathetically ill, and his orange hair lay flat on his head, drenched from sweat. "Okaa-san. . ."
"Oh. . . Kyou. . ." Miyako said, as she pulled the boy up, planting his head on her shoulder. "It's okay. . . Kyou. . . It's okay. . ."
Kyou pulled back from his mother's warmth. "No. This is all my fault. She. . . called after me, but I kept going. If I had stopped. . . If I had looked back. . . this . . ."
"Kyou." Kazuma replied. "It's no use, thinking about the past that way. Tohru will be okay. You know how strong your sister is."
Kyou planted a fist deep into the hospital wall. He continued to weep, diamond tears streaming slowly from his red eyes. Miyako turned around to her husband and also cried. Kazuma, after comforting his wife, turned to Tohru's doctor.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Will she be alright?" Kazuma asked, worry clearly shining in his deep voice.
"She will be fine, sir." The doctor answered. "Nothing required, except for some stitches."
"Thank god." Kazuma whispered.
"However," continued the doctor, "we have found some very surprising results."
Kazuma was led into a blood testing room, where Miyako was seated, pale from exhaustion. Kyou was not in the room. "Kazuma-sensei, I understand that both you and your wife have blood of O Positive."
"Yes, sir." He replied.
"Well," the doctor said, surprise triggering in his voice, "Tohru, your daughter, seems to have a B Negative, which is not possible under any circumstances between two parents with O positives."
Horror was written all over the Sohma parents. "There. . . there must be a mistake," voiced Miyako. "Tohru . . . she's our daughter. There must be a mistake."
"I'm sorry, ma'am. Your daughter is confirmed to be a B negative." The doctor said.
"Well, it's gotta be a mistake. She's our daughter." Kazuma repeated.
"Well, sir, if you are really that certain, why don't you take a blood test?" suggested the doctor.
"No." Miyako thrusted, forcefully. "No. We don't need to. This is all rubbish. Kazuma, Tohru is our daughter. Right? No matter what, right?"
Kazuma looked on, dumbfounded. "RIGHT?" his wife pushed.
He swallowed hard. "We'll. . . we'll go for another blood test."
Tears strode down Miyako's pale face.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Come in."
Kyou strode into the room, changed from his school uniform. It had been a long afternoon. His parents had gone for a blood test, for whatever the reason, and Tohru's operation had been taking place. He was dressed in cargo, a simple black t-shirt, and a loose white sweater hung at his shoulders. "Hey."
"Ohayo, Kyou-kun!" Tohru beamed, sitting up. Kyou felt a new wave of guilt wash over him. Her head was wrapped in a bandage, and a bandaid stretched over her arm. "Ah. It's not morning any more, is it?"
Kyou chuckled. He sat down beside his sister, passing her her favourite book. "Here."
"Wai! Sugoi, Kyou-kun!" She yelled in happiness. She clutched the book to her chest, sheltering it from any harm. "Arigatou gozaimasu, nii-san."
She then launched into conversation. She described the student council election that had taken place earlier that day, the volleyball game, and how her team won. She then tried to dive in to the next event, only realizing too late that it would trigger certain bad events for her brother. She looked up into Kyou's red eyes apologetically. "Gomen-ne, nii- san."
"No." Kyou replied, taking his sister's bandaged hand. "I should be the one. To say sorry. I. . . couldn't. . . protect you. With your weak health and those skinny wrists of yours, you couldn't ride a bike in a million years."
Tohru smiled. Kyou's eyes had saddened, losing its glow. Her brother was usually harsh, and it was very rare to see him so soft and apologetic. Even though he was a lot of fun, she could hardly remember any sweet moments with him. Yet she loved her brother so very much. Tohru placed a weak hand on her brother's soft orange hair. She stroked it tenderly. "I forgive your sin."
Kyou smiled back. He patted his sister on her arm, and left the room. He felt tears swell again. Dammit. Dammit all. How could he hurt such a special person?
A few paces away from his sister's room, he met up with a worried mother. "Okaa-san. I brought Tohru her book. She should be fine now."
"Thank you, Kyou." His mother said, barely audible. She slumped into the room with a box of strawberries. Kyou was worried about his mother. Usually she was a strong woman. But he shrugged it off. The only person he needed to worry about right now was Tohru.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"The test results are out, sir." The doctor said, stepping out of the blood room.
The Sohmas baited their breaths. The doctor flipped through the clip board. "And, sir, and ma'am, the results are same. There is no possible way that Tohru, is your biological daughter."
"Oh my. . ." Miyako muttered, before fainting. Nurses approached her, putting her quickly on a stretcher. Kazuma was struck by lightening. Tohru? His beloved, angelic, sweet Tohru was not his daughter? Then who was? Where was she? How come they got switched? "Then. . . doctor. . . who. . . who could have been switched with Tohru?"
"I'll call in the hospital for you." He replied shortly. "It will be a little while."
Kazuma had paced the halls nervously. No. it couldn't be true. Tohru? He had lived with her for almost 15 years now. She was sweet, caring, and most of all, lovable. She had been the perfect daughter anyone could ask for. Incomparable in beauty and courage, Just a little short in the intellectual side, his daughter had been a dream come true. Tohru and Kyou were the two most adorable siblings when put together, and he was not prepared to lose his gift from heaven.
Two hours later, he spotted his son, slouching in front of his sister's door. It pained him to see his son so attached to his sister that way. He couldn't split them. No. Kyou had grown attached to Tohru in the most friendly way. His headstrong, shy son had not opened up his heart to anyone until his sister. He still remembered Tohru, smiling at Kyou, through his other, cursed form. Even though she was crying, at such a young age, she had accepted her brother for who he was. She loved him for his curse. She loved him for HIM.
"Sir." The doctor called him. Kazuma wheeled around. "I've got news for you."
"So." Kazuma said, in a slight whisper.
"Apparantly, there was one other female born on the day of Tohru's birth." The doctor said, sympathy in his voice. "Her name is Honda Rin. And sir, her blood type is O Positive. She is your daughter."
Kazuma almost passed out himself. Tohru. Tohru. His Tohru. She. . .
He accepted the address and phone number of his child's house. He didn't want to believe it.
But he had no choice.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Okaa-san!" Tohru greeted, happily, sitting up once again. She was reading "Loveletter", a melancholy love story.
"Reading that book again?" Miyako said, trying to sound cheerful. She placed the strawberries on a cat plate, handing it to Tohru. "Here you go."
"Arigatou, Okaa-san! Everyone is being so nice to me! I can't believe I'm not repaying your kindnesses!"
"Don't worry about that Tohru." Her mother smiled. This girl was her light. Her only light. If she was taken away from her. . . no. You mustn't think like that. It's all a mistake.
"She's not ours."
"Kazuma. . ."
"This girl here. She's our daughter."
"No. I'm not going to listen."
"Miyako. . ."
"Stop it! I'm going to Tohru. I. . . she loves strawberries."
"Ne, Okaa-san," Tohru called. Miyako looked up. "This story. . . it's so sad, ne?'
"Well, I don't know, Tohru. I haven't read it yet," Miyako said, interested.
"The lovers. . . they can never be together." Tohru said, dreamily. "Death. It has to set them apart."
Miyako smiled. Sounded like Tohru. Always interested in love stories, but even though the book was sad, she never cried. She smiled at the beauty of it.
"Demo, Okaa-san. . . I think . . that love will persevere no matter what happens. No matter what comes. Love has no boundaries. It can penetrate any wall, and it will reach the one high up in heaven that death had picked. Love can do anything, even though hardships occur. With love, anything is possible." Tohru rambled on, reciting her normal lines.
Miyako stared at her daughter. She is so bright. Even though she does not get the good grades that our whole family gets, she is undoubtedly the brightest star in the sky.
Tohru shook her head, her brown locks brushing her pale robe. "Gomen, Okaa- san. Me getting all mushy and all." Then she laughed. "But our family does need some humour. Father's so strict, you're strict, Nii-san too. Ne, Okaa- san? Maybe you found me under a bridge! Maybe I'm not your daughter! Us being so different and all."
Suddenly Miyako got up. Surprise occupied Tohru's eyes. "I'll . . . get you something to drink," her mother murmured, as she stepped out of her daughter's room. Once the door separated her and her kin, she let tears flow freely, damping her dark, black hair. It couldn't be happening. Not to her. Not to them. Not to Kyou.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tohru was dismissed from the hospital a day later. She decided to take one day of rest at home, spending her precious day off with her favourite god, Kyou. They sat in the yard, eating strawberries, spraying each other with the few leaves that had littered the ground. October had recently begun. Kyou had two weeks left before the big art competition. A week before his mother's birthday. And he had two days left before Tohru's birthday.
"Ne, ne, Kyou-kun," Tohru said, halting her plunge into her book. "We should make Okaa-san's birthday present."
"NOW?" Kyou said, a little tired and weary from raking leaves, with his little sister clinging on to him, asking him for a hug. "Hush and finish your book you onigiri."
"Wai! But I have a perfect idea!" Tohru replied. "Cups!"
"CUPS!?" Kyou screamed, a blush leading up to his tanned face.
Tohru laughed, throwing a strawberry at her brother. "You perverted freak! No, Kyou-kun! Real cups that you drink out of!"
Kyou blushed even more, in embarrassment. "Oh. Um. . . I knew that."
Tohru laughed. "We could put all of our faces on it! Symbolizing our FAMILY!"
Kyou shrugged. It didn't seem like a bad idea. He had clay left up in his drawing room. He had permanent paint left as well. "Okay. Fine."
"Yay!" Tohru cheered, but stressed her muscles and she winced in pain. "Ow. . ."
"Hey. . . er. . . are you okay?" Kyou asked, extremely worried.
"Silly kitty!" She said, plastering a smile on her face, pulling out Kyou's old name. "Just go get the materials. I'll be waiting."
Kyou stormed off, but in a content, not-very-angry way. His sister was too cute to resist. She picked a perfect time to do this. Their parents weren't home, supposedly visiting an old friend, and they were both bored, and to do this would be fun.
Today was going to be a good day.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Sohmas walked down the deserted, un-cleanly ally. Cats dominated this place, and sludge could be found oozing around all over the buildings. "I never knew there was a place like this in Tokyo," Kazuma voiced, "And I can't believe that she. . . she. . ."
"No." Miyako said, shaking her head vigorously, "We're only here to make sure. Nothing's confirmed."
"Of course." Kazuma replied, unwilling to provoke his wife's anger.
The two stopped in the middle of the alleyway, voices startling them. "You old hag! How dare you! You'll pay!"
"Ah, shut up! Get out of my place!" A woman replied, throwing water on to the other woman lying down on to the floor. She stepped out of an old restaurant, holding a metal tray. She was fairly skinny, and was holding a cigarette in one hand. Short, light brown hair dominated her right eye, shielding it from the Sohma's view. "This is my turf! My restaurant! You don't like my food? Then get outta here!"
The woman was obviously scared to death. She ran away, met by furious cursing from the gangster-like woman. After a while, she turned around. She spotted the two Sohmas, staring at her from an awkward distance. She stared back. They had fancy clothing, the woman was holding an elegant parasol to shield her from light. Kyoko looked at herself. She seemed so different, so much lower than her "guests".
"What are you looking at?" She spat, jealousy taking over.
"Ano. . . are you . . . Honda Kyoko?" Kazuma said.
"Yes. And who might you be?"
"We. . ." Kazuma said, swallowing hard. "We are here to talk about your daughter."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Go Kyou-kun go!" Tohru cheered, fashioning herself in a timid white skirt, a pale blue blouse, and her hair dangling off her shoulders in pigtails. "Come on! Nii-san! We must finish soon!"
"Oh shush," Kyou spat, as he finished the last dabs on Tohru's cup. He had drawn a riceball, much to the dismay of Tohru. But she agreed fairly quickly, noticing that Kyou placed an adorable kitten on his cup. "I'm finished now."
"Wai! That's great Kyou-kun!" Tohru laughed, as she spun around. She untied her pigtails, letting it fly in the wind. The sun stroked every even strand of her semi-curled hair, mixing it in with the sky. Her tender fingers brushed through it, making it shine brilliantly in its radiance. Even to him, his sister was very pretty.
Tohru sat down again, dropping her pom-poms that she had used to cheer Kyou on. "Our present is finished!" She cried, gleefully.
"OUR present? You mean MY present!" Kyou barked. Or, meowed.
"Well, you made it. . ." Tohru thought, thoughtfully, "But I came up with the idea. And I cheered you on!" She said, putting on a cheering pose.
Kyou let a laughter escape. His usual serious, brash way of acting melted around his bubbly sister. "You're so queer, Onigiri."
"Nani?" Tohru said, pretending to be furious. She chased after Kyou in their wide backyard. The orange head continued to tease her as they frolicked amidst the leaf-littered yard. Eventually Tohru caught up with him, clinging on to his arm for support before she tripped. A loud *pung* sounded as Kyou sat, enraged, as an orange cat. Tohru laughed. Kyou smiled back.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The switch was evident. Honda Rin, and Sohma Tohru, were in the wrong places, under the wrong parents. Miyako almost passed out once again. Kyoko was outraged. Kazuma and the temperamental mother locked in a fight, yelling at each other. Kyoko was not about to let them take her Rin. "She's my daughter! Mine! You have no right!"
"Tohru is also our daughter and we love her with all of our souls! But. . ." Kazuma paused, "we would still like to see Rin."
"No! Get out of my house you fags!" Kyoko cursed, picking up her metal plate. "You have no business here anymore!"
"Kazuma, let's go. . ." Miyako urged, trying to heave her husband out the door. "Let's go. . ."
While the commotion occurred inside, Rin stood outside the doorway, smirking like crazy. Kyoko wasn't her mother? They weren't family? The Sohmas were actual parents of hers? Thing were beginning to light up for her. Yes yes. . . an adorable brother, rich home, beautiful clothes, tons of friends, and no chores. God had finally sent her her wishes.
Kazuma and Miyako furiously marched out of the restaurant, Kyoko at their tail. Rin watched her mother from a distance. Well, her ex-mother. She watched the handsome car drive away from their pathetic block. She could have been riding along in that car.
Rin watched the sun set. She would approach their house after dark. When all would be seemingly calm. She would put up an act that would force them to accept her. And that mother of hers. . . she'll leave her in the cold. She never wanted to see her again.
"Rin?"
Rin swerved around. Fake, hot tears began to stream into her eyes. This was her chance, to rid of her poverty and join richness and fame. "Is. . . is this true?"
"Rin. . ." Kyoko sounded worried and calm, for the first time in her life.
"IS THIS TRUE?" Rin shouted, tears choking her. "How come. . . how come I didn't know? How. . . Why . . ."
"RIN!" Kyoko shouted, before the black haired girl swerved around, in the direction of the car. Kyoko fell to her knees. This was just too much. She had just lost her daughter.
And she knew that she was never getting Rin back.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It was dark. The Sohma parents had returned, and even Tohru had been devastated to find the looks on her parents' faces. Kyou tried hard to ignore the tenseness that hung in the atmosphere of their house that night. They had a quiet dinner, Tohru trying to brighten the mood, but to no avail. Later, Tohru quietly slipped out of her room, messaging to Kyou that she was going to give her mother an early birthday present. Kyou nodded his approval. Something just had to be done.
It was at that moment when the doorbell rung.
"Ding. . . dong. . ." It sang.
"I'll get it," Kyou mumbled, before rising from his comfortable position on the couch. He yanked the door open, and turned on the lights, and found an ugly piece of garbage lying down in front of their door. It was the Rin girl.
"What are you doing here," Kyou spat, "Get out before I run you over."
Rin looked up helplessly. "I. . . I. . ."
"Shut up and get out, Rin!" Kyou growled.
Rin?
Kazuma approached the door. Miyako was right behind him. "Kyou. Let the girl in."
"Ottou-san!" Kyou said, dumbfounded. He had explained very clearly what had happened on that day, with Tohru and her little incident with this girl.
"LET HER IN." Kazuma finalized. Kyou obeyed, incredibly reluctantly.
Rin crawled in, soaking wet. It had been raining outside. No wonder Kyou had felt moody all day long.
"Rin. What brings you here?" Kazuma asked sternly.
Rin looked up, eyes as pure as a horse's. "Is. . . is this all true?"
Miyako froze. She had overheard their conversation.
"Is it?"
Kyou listened. What in hell was going on?
"The switch. . . Is it true?"
Kazuma replied. "Rin. . ."
"Is it true that. . . I belong here? And not Tohru? Am I a part of you?" Rin said, loud and clear, in a sad voice.
Kyou couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was this bitch completely crazy? Belong?
"IS IT TRUE? Is it true that it's not Tohru, but it's me? Is it true that I'm a Sohma? IS IT TRUE THAT I'M ACTUALLY SOHMA RIN!?"
A brief nod passed from Kazuma. Miyako turned around, not able to face her. Kyou looked like he had just been stabbed.
A clatter of boxes sounded from the stairwell. Everyone swerved around. Tohru looked fear-stricken. She clutched her hands over her weak heart. Her blue eyes looked agonized, surprised, disbelieving.
"Tohru . ." Miyako whispered.
"Is it true?" Tohru squeaked, her eyes widening further. "This. . . Is it true?"
No one answered.
"Ottou-san? Okaa-san?"
She looked towards her last hope.
"Kyou-kun?"
All Tohru found was a blank expression. No words were needed to explain the reality.
Clasping her hand over her rosy lips, Tohru rushed out of the house. "TOHRU!" Kyou screamed, running after her. Miyako turned around and wept. Rin crashed to the floor, sobbing. Kazuma bent down, gather the crying girl in his arms.
To his surprise, black smoke illuminated the room.
Rin had been turned into a horse.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Kyou ran. He ran. He ran great strides. Never had he done this much exercise during a rainy day. He was glad that the downpour was slowly stopping. Tohru would easily catch a cold.
He knew where she was. This hide-and-seek game was too simple for him. And that Rin, she was a crazy bitch. No matter what she said, no matter what happened, Tohru was his sister. His only sister. He would never accept Rin. Never in his life.
All he needed was Tohru.
He remembered her, placing her soft, small hads on his ugly body, whispering into his stench, those words of love. He remembered acceptance. He remembered belonging.
He remembered love.
Kyou continued to run up the dusty little road. His bare feet felt the damp earth underneath his flesh. Finally, he reached the middle of the road. He made his way through the tall grass, reaching the neighbouring farm. It had been deserted for sometime now, and he and Tohru had played Hide-and-seek there for quite a while. Knowing her, he found her crouched underneath a small panel, a sad excuse for a rain shelter.
"I found you," he hoarsely whispered.
Tohru continued to cry. Kyou knelt beside her. The rain was starting to die away. "Tohru. Look at me."
"No. . . I'm scared . ." Tohru whispered, snuggling herself into a tighter ball. "I'm scared, Kyou-kun. . ."
Kyou was enraged. He stood up again. "Scared? Why should you be? There's nothing to be scared of. Nothing's changed. We'll always be together. Always."
"You heard them . . I'm not . . . you're not . . . we're not family . . ." Tohru whispered, before breaking into a sob. "I'm not your sister . . . I'm not your onigiri . . ."
Kyou felt himself choke. Those words she said, those things she did. . . everything tugged on his heart strings. He wanted to die, right now, right there . . . but he wanted to protect Tohru, reassure that nothing would happen. But he was mad, too. "You're right. You're not my sister, Tohru. My sister, she doesn't behave that way. She's beautiful, she's smart, she's strong. She never gives up. If you act like that, you're no where near my sister. MY SISTER, Tohru, is someone that can look out into a barren wasteland, and spot an oasis. MY SISTER, NEVER gives up so easily! LISTEN TO ME, TOHRU!"
Tohru looked up. She saw Kyou crying. Strange . . . Kyou never cries. "Kyou- kun . . . I'm sorry . . . I won't give up."
She stood up. And she clutched her brother's hand. Rough, calloused, tense, but still warm nevertheless. "And Kyou-kun . . . even if we aren't . . . you will always, ALWAYS, be with me."
Kyou resisted the awful temptation to wrap his sister in his arms, protecting her from the horrible world. Instead, he squeezed her hand tightly, and led her from underneath her shelter. "Let's go, Tohru."
She smiled. Weakly, but still, enough to emit her light. "Okay, Kyou-kun."
They started to walk on their dust road. The walk was silent, but peaceful and tranquil. Suddenly, Tohru lost balance. Kyou caught her. Fortunately, she didn't make him transform. "Oi. Are you okay?"
"Un." Tohru whimpered. Kyou was worried. "You want a piggy back?"
"EH? Kyou-kun, are you insane?" she laughed, and Kyou was glad. "We haven't done that since we were 10!"
"It's okay." Kyou said, stooping down, "As long as you don't put your arms around me."
After hesitating, Tohru climbed onto her brother's sturdy back. She placed her head between his shoulderblades, where she knew it wouldn't hurt. She curled up her hands on his shoulders, grasping the firm bones. Kyou slowly stood up. The body heat from her brother and the soft scent from the autumn breeze called Tohru to sleep.
Amidst the soft chirping of nighttime birds, and the soft sound of Kyou's feet dragging along on the earth, Tohru whispered to her guardian, "Nii- san, I love you."
Kyou was pleasantly surprised. He felt her body go limp, as sleep carried her off.
A few paces later, Kyou smiled. He was glad to be with Tohru, and he would never want to leave her. He would protect her always, as her brother, as her friend.
"You know what, Tohru?" he whispered, into the serene, peaceful night. "Me too."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
OKAY! Next chapter will be the last of their childhood. Sorry, I'm rushing !!! So many important facts to squeeze in, so little time! ^^ R&R! Or I shall sick my friends on you!
Oh and please read my friend's fics. BaKaBaBi (Case Wide Open, Missing Love) and Capheine (Blue Moon, One More Time)'s stories ROCK DA HOUSE!! Their writing styles and mine differ so much, that it composes such an intricate (I1) balance. Napolion Icecream! (inside joke. Don't ask.)
A/N: yay! Lotsa reviews! Thanks tons to all who reviewed. I luvs ya so muchos! Oh, and answer to xyz's question, I'm from the red and white country of Canada. But I was born in South Korea. So I understand Korean and stuff. And yeah, I was considering Yuki as the lead guy, but then I realized, I'm not ready to write a Yukiru yet. Maybe later. And besides, if I STRICTLY stick to the Korean show, it'll be boring, right? ^_^
Anyways, here's the next chapter. Enjoy! ~_^
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Suddenly, a piercing screech echoed in the air, as he saw Rin's face turn white, staring towards Kyou. Was she that scared of me? He thought. But his theory proved to be wrong. Hasegawa screamed in terror. Citizens mumbled fearfully. And everyone passing him froze, staring behind him.
Kyou turned around abruptly. A yellow bike was trashed, jammed underneath a truck. He looked on. Locks of brown hair was entangled within the gears, as a pale hand lay limp beside an equally lifeless body. The autumn breeze no longer tangled her locks, and there were no smiles greeting it.
He witnessed two blue ribbons flutter to the ground.
"TOHRU!!!!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Footsteps echoed in the hallways of Tokyo hospital. Kazuma was running as if he had never run before, his wife Miyako trailing behind him like a dog.
The two paused in front of a room, where a surprised, angry, and sad boy sat, in front of a white door. His fists were clenched in a tight ball, his shirt wet with tears, and his crimson eyes reflecting every bit of guilt that this boy possessed.
"Kyou. . ." Kazuma began.
He looked up. What Miyako saw in her son broke her heart. Kyou was crying his heart out, his cheeks damp from tears. His once charismatic eyes were now pathetically ill, and his orange hair lay flat on his head, drenched from sweat. "Okaa-san. . ."
"Oh. . . Kyou. . ." Miyako said, as she pulled the boy up, planting his head on her shoulder. "It's okay. . . Kyou. . . It's okay. . ."
Kyou pulled back from his mother's warmth. "No. This is all my fault. She. . . called after me, but I kept going. If I had stopped. . . If I had looked back. . . this . . ."
"Kyou." Kazuma replied. "It's no use, thinking about the past that way. Tohru will be okay. You know how strong your sister is."
Kyou planted a fist deep into the hospital wall. He continued to weep, diamond tears streaming slowly from his red eyes. Miyako turned around to her husband and also cried. Kazuma, after comforting his wife, turned to Tohru's doctor.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Will she be alright?" Kazuma asked, worry clearly shining in his deep voice.
"She will be fine, sir." The doctor answered. "Nothing required, except for some stitches."
"Thank god." Kazuma whispered.
"However," continued the doctor, "we have found some very surprising results."
Kazuma was led into a blood testing room, where Miyako was seated, pale from exhaustion. Kyou was not in the room. "Kazuma-sensei, I understand that both you and your wife have blood of O Positive."
"Yes, sir." He replied.
"Well," the doctor said, surprise triggering in his voice, "Tohru, your daughter, seems to have a B Negative, which is not possible under any circumstances between two parents with O positives."
Horror was written all over the Sohma parents. "There. . . there must be a mistake," voiced Miyako. "Tohru . . . she's our daughter. There must be a mistake."
"I'm sorry, ma'am. Your daughter is confirmed to be a B negative." The doctor said.
"Well, it's gotta be a mistake. She's our daughter." Kazuma repeated.
"Well, sir, if you are really that certain, why don't you take a blood test?" suggested the doctor.
"No." Miyako thrusted, forcefully. "No. We don't need to. This is all rubbish. Kazuma, Tohru is our daughter. Right? No matter what, right?"
Kazuma looked on, dumbfounded. "RIGHT?" his wife pushed.
He swallowed hard. "We'll. . . we'll go for another blood test."
Tears strode down Miyako's pale face.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Come in."
Kyou strode into the room, changed from his school uniform. It had been a long afternoon. His parents had gone for a blood test, for whatever the reason, and Tohru's operation had been taking place. He was dressed in cargo, a simple black t-shirt, and a loose white sweater hung at his shoulders. "Hey."
"Ohayo, Kyou-kun!" Tohru beamed, sitting up. Kyou felt a new wave of guilt wash over him. Her head was wrapped in a bandage, and a bandaid stretched over her arm. "Ah. It's not morning any more, is it?"
Kyou chuckled. He sat down beside his sister, passing her her favourite book. "Here."
"Wai! Sugoi, Kyou-kun!" She yelled in happiness. She clutched the book to her chest, sheltering it from any harm. "Arigatou gozaimasu, nii-san."
She then launched into conversation. She described the student council election that had taken place earlier that day, the volleyball game, and how her team won. She then tried to dive in to the next event, only realizing too late that it would trigger certain bad events for her brother. She looked up into Kyou's red eyes apologetically. "Gomen-ne, nii- san."
"No." Kyou replied, taking his sister's bandaged hand. "I should be the one. To say sorry. I. . . couldn't. . . protect you. With your weak health and those skinny wrists of yours, you couldn't ride a bike in a million years."
Tohru smiled. Kyou's eyes had saddened, losing its glow. Her brother was usually harsh, and it was very rare to see him so soft and apologetic. Even though he was a lot of fun, she could hardly remember any sweet moments with him. Yet she loved her brother so very much. Tohru placed a weak hand on her brother's soft orange hair. She stroked it tenderly. "I forgive your sin."
Kyou smiled back. He patted his sister on her arm, and left the room. He felt tears swell again. Dammit. Dammit all. How could he hurt such a special person?
A few paces away from his sister's room, he met up with a worried mother. "Okaa-san. I brought Tohru her book. She should be fine now."
"Thank you, Kyou." His mother said, barely audible. She slumped into the room with a box of strawberries. Kyou was worried about his mother. Usually she was a strong woman. But he shrugged it off. The only person he needed to worry about right now was Tohru.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"The test results are out, sir." The doctor said, stepping out of the blood room.
The Sohmas baited their breaths. The doctor flipped through the clip board. "And, sir, and ma'am, the results are same. There is no possible way that Tohru, is your biological daughter."
"Oh my. . ." Miyako muttered, before fainting. Nurses approached her, putting her quickly on a stretcher. Kazuma was struck by lightening. Tohru? His beloved, angelic, sweet Tohru was not his daughter? Then who was? Where was she? How come they got switched? "Then. . . doctor. . . who. . . who could have been switched with Tohru?"
"I'll call in the hospital for you." He replied shortly. "It will be a little while."
Kazuma had paced the halls nervously. No. it couldn't be true. Tohru? He had lived with her for almost 15 years now. She was sweet, caring, and most of all, lovable. She had been the perfect daughter anyone could ask for. Incomparable in beauty and courage, Just a little short in the intellectual side, his daughter had been a dream come true. Tohru and Kyou were the two most adorable siblings when put together, and he was not prepared to lose his gift from heaven.
Two hours later, he spotted his son, slouching in front of his sister's door. It pained him to see his son so attached to his sister that way. He couldn't split them. No. Kyou had grown attached to Tohru in the most friendly way. His headstrong, shy son had not opened up his heart to anyone until his sister. He still remembered Tohru, smiling at Kyou, through his other, cursed form. Even though she was crying, at such a young age, she had accepted her brother for who he was. She loved him for his curse. She loved him for HIM.
"Sir." The doctor called him. Kazuma wheeled around. "I've got news for you."
"So." Kazuma said, in a slight whisper.
"Apparantly, there was one other female born on the day of Tohru's birth." The doctor said, sympathy in his voice. "Her name is Honda Rin. And sir, her blood type is O Positive. She is your daughter."
Kazuma almost passed out himself. Tohru. Tohru. His Tohru. She. . .
He accepted the address and phone number of his child's house. He didn't want to believe it.
But he had no choice.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Okaa-san!" Tohru greeted, happily, sitting up once again. She was reading "Loveletter", a melancholy love story.
"Reading that book again?" Miyako said, trying to sound cheerful. She placed the strawberries on a cat plate, handing it to Tohru. "Here you go."
"Arigatou, Okaa-san! Everyone is being so nice to me! I can't believe I'm not repaying your kindnesses!"
"Don't worry about that Tohru." Her mother smiled. This girl was her light. Her only light. If she was taken away from her. . . no. You mustn't think like that. It's all a mistake.
"She's not ours."
"Kazuma. . ."
"This girl here. She's our daughter."
"No. I'm not going to listen."
"Miyako. . ."
"Stop it! I'm going to Tohru. I. . . she loves strawberries."
"Ne, Okaa-san," Tohru called. Miyako looked up. "This story. . . it's so sad, ne?'
"Well, I don't know, Tohru. I haven't read it yet," Miyako said, interested.
"The lovers. . . they can never be together." Tohru said, dreamily. "Death. It has to set them apart."
Miyako smiled. Sounded like Tohru. Always interested in love stories, but even though the book was sad, she never cried. She smiled at the beauty of it.
"Demo, Okaa-san. . . I think . . that love will persevere no matter what happens. No matter what comes. Love has no boundaries. It can penetrate any wall, and it will reach the one high up in heaven that death had picked. Love can do anything, even though hardships occur. With love, anything is possible." Tohru rambled on, reciting her normal lines.
Miyako stared at her daughter. She is so bright. Even though she does not get the good grades that our whole family gets, she is undoubtedly the brightest star in the sky.
Tohru shook her head, her brown locks brushing her pale robe. "Gomen, Okaa- san. Me getting all mushy and all." Then she laughed. "But our family does need some humour. Father's so strict, you're strict, Nii-san too. Ne, Okaa- san? Maybe you found me under a bridge! Maybe I'm not your daughter! Us being so different and all."
Suddenly Miyako got up. Surprise occupied Tohru's eyes. "I'll . . . get you something to drink," her mother murmured, as she stepped out of her daughter's room. Once the door separated her and her kin, she let tears flow freely, damping her dark, black hair. It couldn't be happening. Not to her. Not to them. Not to Kyou.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tohru was dismissed from the hospital a day later. She decided to take one day of rest at home, spending her precious day off with her favourite god, Kyou. They sat in the yard, eating strawberries, spraying each other with the few leaves that had littered the ground. October had recently begun. Kyou had two weeks left before the big art competition. A week before his mother's birthday. And he had two days left before Tohru's birthday.
"Ne, ne, Kyou-kun," Tohru said, halting her plunge into her book. "We should make Okaa-san's birthday present."
"NOW?" Kyou said, a little tired and weary from raking leaves, with his little sister clinging on to him, asking him for a hug. "Hush and finish your book you onigiri."
"Wai! But I have a perfect idea!" Tohru replied. "Cups!"
"CUPS!?" Kyou screamed, a blush leading up to his tanned face.
Tohru laughed, throwing a strawberry at her brother. "You perverted freak! No, Kyou-kun! Real cups that you drink out of!"
Kyou blushed even more, in embarrassment. "Oh. Um. . . I knew that."
Tohru laughed. "We could put all of our faces on it! Symbolizing our FAMILY!"
Kyou shrugged. It didn't seem like a bad idea. He had clay left up in his drawing room. He had permanent paint left as well. "Okay. Fine."
"Yay!" Tohru cheered, but stressed her muscles and she winced in pain. "Ow. . ."
"Hey. . . er. . . are you okay?" Kyou asked, extremely worried.
"Silly kitty!" She said, plastering a smile on her face, pulling out Kyou's old name. "Just go get the materials. I'll be waiting."
Kyou stormed off, but in a content, not-very-angry way. His sister was too cute to resist. She picked a perfect time to do this. Their parents weren't home, supposedly visiting an old friend, and they were both bored, and to do this would be fun.
Today was going to be a good day.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Sohmas walked down the deserted, un-cleanly ally. Cats dominated this place, and sludge could be found oozing around all over the buildings. "I never knew there was a place like this in Tokyo," Kazuma voiced, "And I can't believe that she. . . she. . ."
"No." Miyako said, shaking her head vigorously, "We're only here to make sure. Nothing's confirmed."
"Of course." Kazuma replied, unwilling to provoke his wife's anger.
The two stopped in the middle of the alleyway, voices startling them. "You old hag! How dare you! You'll pay!"
"Ah, shut up! Get out of my place!" A woman replied, throwing water on to the other woman lying down on to the floor. She stepped out of an old restaurant, holding a metal tray. She was fairly skinny, and was holding a cigarette in one hand. Short, light brown hair dominated her right eye, shielding it from the Sohma's view. "This is my turf! My restaurant! You don't like my food? Then get outta here!"
The woman was obviously scared to death. She ran away, met by furious cursing from the gangster-like woman. After a while, she turned around. She spotted the two Sohmas, staring at her from an awkward distance. She stared back. They had fancy clothing, the woman was holding an elegant parasol to shield her from light. Kyoko looked at herself. She seemed so different, so much lower than her "guests".
"What are you looking at?" She spat, jealousy taking over.
"Ano. . . are you . . . Honda Kyoko?" Kazuma said.
"Yes. And who might you be?"
"We. . ." Kazuma said, swallowing hard. "We are here to talk about your daughter."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Go Kyou-kun go!" Tohru cheered, fashioning herself in a timid white skirt, a pale blue blouse, and her hair dangling off her shoulders in pigtails. "Come on! Nii-san! We must finish soon!"
"Oh shush," Kyou spat, as he finished the last dabs on Tohru's cup. He had drawn a riceball, much to the dismay of Tohru. But she agreed fairly quickly, noticing that Kyou placed an adorable kitten on his cup. "I'm finished now."
"Wai! That's great Kyou-kun!" Tohru laughed, as she spun around. She untied her pigtails, letting it fly in the wind. The sun stroked every even strand of her semi-curled hair, mixing it in with the sky. Her tender fingers brushed through it, making it shine brilliantly in its radiance. Even to him, his sister was very pretty.
Tohru sat down again, dropping her pom-poms that she had used to cheer Kyou on. "Our present is finished!" She cried, gleefully.
"OUR present? You mean MY present!" Kyou barked. Or, meowed.
"Well, you made it. . ." Tohru thought, thoughtfully, "But I came up with the idea. And I cheered you on!" She said, putting on a cheering pose.
Kyou let a laughter escape. His usual serious, brash way of acting melted around his bubbly sister. "You're so queer, Onigiri."
"Nani?" Tohru said, pretending to be furious. She chased after Kyou in their wide backyard. The orange head continued to tease her as they frolicked amidst the leaf-littered yard. Eventually Tohru caught up with him, clinging on to his arm for support before she tripped. A loud *pung* sounded as Kyou sat, enraged, as an orange cat. Tohru laughed. Kyou smiled back.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The switch was evident. Honda Rin, and Sohma Tohru, were in the wrong places, under the wrong parents. Miyako almost passed out once again. Kyoko was outraged. Kazuma and the temperamental mother locked in a fight, yelling at each other. Kyoko was not about to let them take her Rin. "She's my daughter! Mine! You have no right!"
"Tohru is also our daughter and we love her with all of our souls! But. . ." Kazuma paused, "we would still like to see Rin."
"No! Get out of my house you fags!" Kyoko cursed, picking up her metal plate. "You have no business here anymore!"
"Kazuma, let's go. . ." Miyako urged, trying to heave her husband out the door. "Let's go. . ."
While the commotion occurred inside, Rin stood outside the doorway, smirking like crazy. Kyoko wasn't her mother? They weren't family? The Sohmas were actual parents of hers? Thing were beginning to light up for her. Yes yes. . . an adorable brother, rich home, beautiful clothes, tons of friends, and no chores. God had finally sent her her wishes.
Kazuma and Miyako furiously marched out of the restaurant, Kyoko at their tail. Rin watched her mother from a distance. Well, her ex-mother. She watched the handsome car drive away from their pathetic block. She could have been riding along in that car.
Rin watched the sun set. She would approach their house after dark. When all would be seemingly calm. She would put up an act that would force them to accept her. And that mother of hers. . . she'll leave her in the cold. She never wanted to see her again.
"Rin?"
Rin swerved around. Fake, hot tears began to stream into her eyes. This was her chance, to rid of her poverty and join richness and fame. "Is. . . is this true?"
"Rin. . ." Kyoko sounded worried and calm, for the first time in her life.
"IS THIS TRUE?" Rin shouted, tears choking her. "How come. . . how come I didn't know? How. . . Why . . ."
"RIN!" Kyoko shouted, before the black haired girl swerved around, in the direction of the car. Kyoko fell to her knees. This was just too much. She had just lost her daughter.
And she knew that she was never getting Rin back.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It was dark. The Sohma parents had returned, and even Tohru had been devastated to find the looks on her parents' faces. Kyou tried hard to ignore the tenseness that hung in the atmosphere of their house that night. They had a quiet dinner, Tohru trying to brighten the mood, but to no avail. Later, Tohru quietly slipped out of her room, messaging to Kyou that she was going to give her mother an early birthday present. Kyou nodded his approval. Something just had to be done.
It was at that moment when the doorbell rung.
"Ding. . . dong. . ." It sang.
"I'll get it," Kyou mumbled, before rising from his comfortable position on the couch. He yanked the door open, and turned on the lights, and found an ugly piece of garbage lying down in front of their door. It was the Rin girl.
"What are you doing here," Kyou spat, "Get out before I run you over."
Rin looked up helplessly. "I. . . I. . ."
"Shut up and get out, Rin!" Kyou growled.
Rin?
Kazuma approached the door. Miyako was right behind him. "Kyou. Let the girl in."
"Ottou-san!" Kyou said, dumbfounded. He had explained very clearly what had happened on that day, with Tohru and her little incident with this girl.
"LET HER IN." Kazuma finalized. Kyou obeyed, incredibly reluctantly.
Rin crawled in, soaking wet. It had been raining outside. No wonder Kyou had felt moody all day long.
"Rin. What brings you here?" Kazuma asked sternly.
Rin looked up, eyes as pure as a horse's. "Is. . . is this all true?"
Miyako froze. She had overheard their conversation.
"Is it?"
Kyou listened. What in hell was going on?
"The switch. . . Is it true?"
Kazuma replied. "Rin. . ."
"Is it true that. . . I belong here? And not Tohru? Am I a part of you?" Rin said, loud and clear, in a sad voice.
Kyou couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was this bitch completely crazy? Belong?
"IS IT TRUE? Is it true that it's not Tohru, but it's me? Is it true that I'm a Sohma? IS IT TRUE THAT I'M ACTUALLY SOHMA RIN!?"
A brief nod passed from Kazuma. Miyako turned around, not able to face her. Kyou looked like he had just been stabbed.
A clatter of boxes sounded from the stairwell. Everyone swerved around. Tohru looked fear-stricken. She clutched her hands over her weak heart. Her blue eyes looked agonized, surprised, disbelieving.
"Tohru . ." Miyako whispered.
"Is it true?" Tohru squeaked, her eyes widening further. "This. . . Is it true?"
No one answered.
"Ottou-san? Okaa-san?"
She looked towards her last hope.
"Kyou-kun?"
All Tohru found was a blank expression. No words were needed to explain the reality.
Clasping her hand over her rosy lips, Tohru rushed out of the house. "TOHRU!" Kyou screamed, running after her. Miyako turned around and wept. Rin crashed to the floor, sobbing. Kazuma bent down, gather the crying girl in his arms.
To his surprise, black smoke illuminated the room.
Rin had been turned into a horse.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Kyou ran. He ran. He ran great strides. Never had he done this much exercise during a rainy day. He was glad that the downpour was slowly stopping. Tohru would easily catch a cold.
He knew where she was. This hide-and-seek game was too simple for him. And that Rin, she was a crazy bitch. No matter what she said, no matter what happened, Tohru was his sister. His only sister. He would never accept Rin. Never in his life.
All he needed was Tohru.
He remembered her, placing her soft, small hads on his ugly body, whispering into his stench, those words of love. He remembered acceptance. He remembered belonging.
He remembered love.
Kyou continued to run up the dusty little road. His bare feet felt the damp earth underneath his flesh. Finally, he reached the middle of the road. He made his way through the tall grass, reaching the neighbouring farm. It had been deserted for sometime now, and he and Tohru had played Hide-and-seek there for quite a while. Knowing her, he found her crouched underneath a small panel, a sad excuse for a rain shelter.
"I found you," he hoarsely whispered.
Tohru continued to cry. Kyou knelt beside her. The rain was starting to die away. "Tohru. Look at me."
"No. . . I'm scared . ." Tohru whispered, snuggling herself into a tighter ball. "I'm scared, Kyou-kun. . ."
Kyou was enraged. He stood up again. "Scared? Why should you be? There's nothing to be scared of. Nothing's changed. We'll always be together. Always."
"You heard them . . I'm not . . . you're not . . . we're not family . . ." Tohru whispered, before breaking into a sob. "I'm not your sister . . . I'm not your onigiri . . ."
Kyou felt himself choke. Those words she said, those things she did. . . everything tugged on his heart strings. He wanted to die, right now, right there . . . but he wanted to protect Tohru, reassure that nothing would happen. But he was mad, too. "You're right. You're not my sister, Tohru. My sister, she doesn't behave that way. She's beautiful, she's smart, she's strong. She never gives up. If you act like that, you're no where near my sister. MY SISTER, Tohru, is someone that can look out into a barren wasteland, and spot an oasis. MY SISTER, NEVER gives up so easily! LISTEN TO ME, TOHRU!"
Tohru looked up. She saw Kyou crying. Strange . . . Kyou never cries. "Kyou- kun . . . I'm sorry . . . I won't give up."
She stood up. And she clutched her brother's hand. Rough, calloused, tense, but still warm nevertheless. "And Kyou-kun . . . even if we aren't . . . you will always, ALWAYS, be with me."
Kyou resisted the awful temptation to wrap his sister in his arms, protecting her from the horrible world. Instead, he squeezed her hand tightly, and led her from underneath her shelter. "Let's go, Tohru."
She smiled. Weakly, but still, enough to emit her light. "Okay, Kyou-kun."
They started to walk on their dust road. The walk was silent, but peaceful and tranquil. Suddenly, Tohru lost balance. Kyou caught her. Fortunately, she didn't make him transform. "Oi. Are you okay?"
"Un." Tohru whimpered. Kyou was worried. "You want a piggy back?"
"EH? Kyou-kun, are you insane?" she laughed, and Kyou was glad. "We haven't done that since we were 10!"
"It's okay." Kyou said, stooping down, "As long as you don't put your arms around me."
After hesitating, Tohru climbed onto her brother's sturdy back. She placed her head between his shoulderblades, where she knew it wouldn't hurt. She curled up her hands on his shoulders, grasping the firm bones. Kyou slowly stood up. The body heat from her brother and the soft scent from the autumn breeze called Tohru to sleep.
Amidst the soft chirping of nighttime birds, and the soft sound of Kyou's feet dragging along on the earth, Tohru whispered to her guardian, "Nii- san, I love you."
Kyou was pleasantly surprised. He felt her body go limp, as sleep carried her off.
A few paces later, Kyou smiled. He was glad to be with Tohru, and he would never want to leave her. He would protect her always, as her brother, as her friend.
"You know what, Tohru?" he whispered, into the serene, peaceful night. "Me too."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
OKAY! Next chapter will be the last of their childhood. Sorry, I'm rushing !!! So many important facts to squeeze in, so little time! ^^ R&R! Or I shall sick my friends on you!
Oh and please read my friend's fics. BaKaBaBi (Case Wide Open, Missing Love) and Capheine (Blue Moon, One More Time)'s stories ROCK DA HOUSE!! Their writing styles and mine differ so much, that it composes such an intricate (I1) balance. Napolion Icecream! (inside joke. Don't ask.)