Kagura ran all the way from the kitchen to Hatori's office. She panted as she reached inside and Hatori slowly looked at her. "What's the rush?" he asked.
"Why is there a red X mark on the calendar," she panted, "which is today???"
"Wow, new record. Now I'm happy that someone noticed that mark. It must have been a week since I marked that." He folded the newspaper and got up with his briefcase. "Today is Tohru's birthday. I asked Momiji about that information on her birth certificate."
"TOHRU'S BIRTHDAY?!" she yelled. "She never told me about that!"
"And I haven't told Yuki about it either." He grinned.
Kagura banged her fists on the table. "WHAT?! But I always thought that Yuki was the first to know!"
"Well, not anymore. News spreads quickly, so I think it'll reach Yuki in no time. In the meantime," he gathered his coat and his hat. "I have an appointment back at the village. Take care of my phone calls, Kagura."
"You got it!" she saluted as he walked away from his office.
When the coast is clear, Kagura used Hatori's phone to call Momiji. "Have you heard the news?"
"Yeah," his voice rang on the other end. "It's Tohru's birthday today and Yuki has no idea about it."
"WHY AM I ALWAYS THE LAST ONE TO KNOW!!!"
"Listen, can you come over here? I need someone to cook for Tohru's breakfast."
"But it's nine in the morning!" Kagura said. "Tohru should be up by now!"
"Yes she was. She just left to do some shopping." Momiji explained. "But she hasn't taken her breakfast yet."
"Ok, I'll be right over." Kagura said. "Wait a minute, do you think Yuki will do it?"
"Do what?"
"The 'P' thing?"
"You mean propose?"
"HEY, I'M USING CODES HERE IF THIS LINE IS NOT SECURE!" Kagura yelled.
"I don't know. It's up to Yuki to think about that… after what he had done to her…" Momiji whispered. "Do you know about that?"
"What?"
"The 'K' thing?"
"AHH! He killed her?!" Kagura panicked.
"No, silly!" Momiji yelled. "I think this code this doesn't work at all. He kissed her."
"HE DID?!" Kagura gasped. "THAT lucky dog…"
"Hey, he just did. If he's planning to propose tonight as his birthday present, he's got a lot of guts."
"…I hope he does the right thing…" Kagura sighed.
"Tohru's birthday is today???" Yuki almost squashed the tomato on his fists.
Haru motioned his hands to stop Yuki from ruining his morning. "Hey, I was told not to tell you. But my conscience speaks and I need to tell you."
Tohru's birthday…"Hatori's planning to make arrangements at this fine restaurant for all of us and Tohru to celebrate." Haru explained calmly.
The best time to tell her…"I believe that everyone's coming, including Ritsu. But Hatori had problems in contacting him. He must be somewhere far… like China…" The cow continued. "Anyway, what are you planning to give her?"
"I believe that everyone's coming, including Ritsu. But Hatori had problems in contacting him. He must be somewhere far… like China…" The cow continued. "Anyway, what are you planning to give her?"
Yuki looked up to his cousin. "A present?"
"Yeah, I'm planning to give her a black and white sweater. I just saw it on sale at the village." He nodded. "So, what are you planning to give?"
Yuki remained silent as his hand reached his pocket. Haru noticed that and whispered, "Are you planning to do it?"
"Do what?" Yuki coldly replied.
"To propose on her birthday." He winked.
Yuki looked away. "I think it's inappropriate to do that on her special day."
"But this is a special gift! It is completely appropriate to do this on her special day!"
"Maybe… but what if she doesn't want to." Yuki mumbled. "What if she might freak out… after I kissed her---"
"You kissed Tohru?!" Haru yelled.
"Opportunities." Yuki grinned.
Haru stared at him. "Do you think that a proposal is an opportunity?"
Yuki thought for a while and his head slowly nodded. "Good." Haru smiled. "I guess you're going to do it then."
"…yeah." Yuki grinned. "I think I am… I think I will…"
"GOOD MORNING~!!!" Ayame sang as Tohru came in his shop.
"Ohayo…" she smiled and greeted him as well.
"What can I do for my favorite princess?" the snake bowed down lowly in courtesy. "Your beauty is so radiant for my day to begin."
"Eh… Ayame-san, I only want to say hi." She smiled.
"Oh, you're not going to buy anything?" he asked. "Well, I might as well treat you out for today. Where do you want to eat?"
"No, thank you. I just finished doing the grocery." Tohru said. "I need to go back now before the meat warms up."
"I see. Well, see you again, princess." Ayame dramatically spoke.
Tohru blushed, "well actually, I'm here to ask you for something…"
"Really?" Ayame eyed her. "A princess in need for counsel? Just like the fairy tale moments." He motioned her to come to him. "Come child, and let the flood gates open."
"Um…" she shyly started. "What should I do when I get my first kiss?"
The snake almost stumbled at his place. "KISS? Does this mean that my sweet little innocent Tohru-kun has already a date?"
Tohru blushed lightly. "N-No, Ayame-san! It's just that---"
"Hush, child. Let the counselor enlighten you with his experiences." Ayame whispered. Tohru snuggled closer for her to listen.
"My dear, when you just received your first kiss from a person whom you think will be your future husband…" he slowly said, "this could only mean one thing: proposal."
Now it was Tohru's turn to wince at her place. "P-Proposal?"
"Most guys prefer young women… like you…" Ayame grinned. "But, I think it wasn't so bad. A proposal is something that shouldn't be ignored because it is an opportunity for both men and women!"
"But Ayame-san… how come you're still single?"
"Alas, my sweet innocent Tohru-kun, I prefer to live a solitary life. This is what I wanted to be… and this is what fate gave me…" he sighed. "Don't look up to me. There's always more to life and you shouldn't waste it like me."
"By the way," he eyed at her. "who is this guy anyway?"
"Um…" I just can't tell him about Yuki. He might freak out!
"Well?" Ayame grinned.
"I can't tell you." She said finally.
"Oh sure, but if he hurts you in any way, I swear to you that I will beat him up!" he declared dramatically. Tohru giggled at the Sohma's pose.
I'm sure you won't do that to him, Ayame-san…
"Go now, my dear. You said that you needed to hurry home, right?" Ayame lead her to the door. "Go now, you're wasting the food!"
"Hai!!!" she nodded. "Thank you, Ayame-san!"
"Come back again, princess!" he yelled as she left his shop. When he went back to his office, his phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Aya-san!" Kagura yelled.
"Hello, dear cousin--"
"Did you know what happen yesterday? What Yuki did to Tohru?" Kagura said with haste. "The 'K' Thing?"
Ayame gasped loudly. "WHAT?! He… killed her?! Then who is the Tohru that I met earlier? Maybe…" he gasped again, "She's a GHOST!!!"
Kagura slapped herself. Momiji was right about that code thing…
Tohru was happily walking back at Momiji's house when a car stopped at her side. The car window at the back seat rolled down and a person smiled at her.
"Meiko-san!" she greeted and stared at his car. "WOW! You must be rich!"
"Well, family savings," he said with a smile. "Do you need a ride?"
"No, I think I can walk from here, thank you." She replied kindly.
"But this is the least I can do for a woman like you."
"Meiko-san, you just save my life---"
"And to return the debt," his eyes suddenly flashed as he grinned, "You should follow my wishes."
"Eh?" Meiko-san seems very… weird today. His eyes are darkening… I wonder…
"Tohru-san, I'm waiting." He said firmly.
Yuki was walking towards Momiji's house carrying a bouquet of white roses. He's wearing a warm smile on his face and somehow, he felt very confident in facing Tohru.
But before he reached the road leading to Momiji's house, his eyes caught a car nearby with a woman beside it. To his surprise, both were very familiar to him.
"That's Tohru…" he whispered to himself, "and the car is…"
His eyes widened at surprise. Akito's car… and he's taking Tohru!
Tohru got inside unaware of what is going to happen. Yuki dropped the roses and ran towards the moving vehicle. "Tohru! Wait!"
The car was moving fast and, because of Yuki's sickness, he wasn't able to reach it in time. The vehicle disappeared at the end of the road and Yuki dropped down to his knees and panted heavily.
Tohru… it can't be… Akito… You shouldn't… harm…
Hatori's carriage stopped at Yuki's side and the doctor got out hastily. "Yuki! Are you ok?" he knelt beside his cousin.
"Hatori… Akito…" Yuki was grasping his chest and trying to catch his breath. "Tohru… in the car… Akito's car…"
Hatori's memories suddenly came rushing unto his mind. Just like what happened to…
"Where are you taking me?!" Kana yelled. Two men were dragging her in a car.
"Just shut up and get in!"
"You can't do this! Let me go!" she yelled. They pushed her inside the car and they started the engine.
Kana looked up and saw another person inside. His dark eyes were staring at her. "Hello Kana…"
"Akito…" she whispered.
"Happy Birthday." He grinned at her.
Hatori was on his way to Ayamei's house when he saw Akito's car zooming away. After that, Gure and Aya went out. "Tori!" Shigure called. "They got Kana!!!"
Tohru looked outside the car window and to Meiko. "Um… where are we going?"
"Somewhere where we can celebrate your birthday."
Tohru smiled at him. "You know already?"
"Everyone knows…" he coldly replied.
"Meiko-san, I think we should go back. I need to cook something for---"
"Let them wait." Meiko said firmly. "I still need to talk to you…"
"About what?" she asked.
He stared at her and slowly loosened the buttons of his shirt. "About us." He whispered.
Tohru gasped as she confusedly stared at him. What does he mean about us?
"Keep driving." He ordered his driver as he grabbed Tohru by the hand and pulled her to him. He then cupped her face and kissed her hungrily.
Tohru was paralyzed at her place and slowly, she felt dizzy. She knew that she just swallowed a drug when he kissed her. What… Why…
Meiko was kissing her neck. "Go to sleep and I'll just visit you in your dreams." He whispered as he loosened his grip.
She gave up completely to him as he tried to undress her. But there was one thing that came into her mind.
Help me… Yuki-kun…
