Chapter Eight: Tom's Obsession

Shigure frowned as Yuki told him everything that had happened at lunch. He folded his paper and laid it on the table. He removed his glasses and crossed his arms.

"To tell me the truth it made me and Kyo very nervous to hear him talk about it."

"I imagine so. Well he seems to be just a nosy American. I don't think you have anything to worry about."

"No Shigure" Yuki shook his head, "I really don't feel comfortable about this. And worst of all I'd hate to think that Miss Honda would have to quit because of it. Or even worse than that if Akito were to find out, he might just have her memory erased."

"I don't think you will have to worry about that either Yuki" Shigure said continuing to frown, "We simply won't tell him. And if this gets out of hand, let me deal with it."

"But Shigure how could someone over in America know about this? Even if he is of Japanese descent."

"Well I suppose it could be something to do with our past as well. You remember the old days? It was a lot harder keeping the secret. Perhaps someone found out."

"I hope that's not the case" Yuki replied.

"We're home!" Tohru called.

"We'll talk about this later" Shigure said as he picked his paper back up, "Tohru. Kandis. Welcome back" he replied with a smile as they entered the room.

"Thank you Shigure" Kandis said with a smile of her own as they both sat down.

"How did your first day as a professional actress go Tohru?" Shigure asked as Yuki stood up and left the room to go into the kitchen.



Tohru began to tell Shigure everything that had gone on while Kyo leaned against the wall. He noticed Yuki in the kitchen looking in the fridge. He quietly walked in there and stared at him.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Shh" Yuki urged, "Come in here."

"Okay. What's with the covert operation?" Kyo frowned.

"Kyo I think it best, that only one of us go to the set when Miss Honda's filming. Or even better, neither of us."

"What are you talking about? What did Shigure say?"

"He said we don't need to worry about it, but I'm not so sure."

"It's not like we can go down to the set everyday anyway. You got Student council and I got Martial arts."

"Yea you're right. I think we should stay as far away from that man as possible."

"You worry to much."

Yuki looked at him angrily then walked over to the doorway.

"You know Kyo, this goes beyond everything we know. It goes beyond Cat vs. Rat. I mean do you even get that?"

"Yea I get that. I still don't get what we need to worry about though."

"You're hopeless" Yuki sighed.

"What!" Kyo shouted as he exited the room.



That evening Tohru made another delicious dinner. Yuki was extremely quiet, while Shigure added his touch at dinner with his animated talk. Kandis finished her rice and then turned to Tohru.

"Tohru I've been meaning to ask you. Do you think that maybe it would be possible for me to visit your high school a day, while I am here?"

"Oh. Really? Well I guess Yuki would be the best person to ask since he is Student Council president after all. Right Yuki?"

"Huh?" he looked up.

"Kandis was just wondering if she could come to Kawaii High for a day?"

"Oh. Well I'm sure it will be no trouble. Just let me ask the headmaster and we'll see if you can come later in the week."

"Great! Thanks" Kandis smiled.

"I'm going to clean up now" Tohru replied picking up her plate.

"Here let me help," Kandis offered.

"It's so nice to have two lovely young ladies look after us" Shigure grinned, "Isn't it boys?"

Kandis blushed and giggled as she and Tohru entered the kitchen. Kyo and Yuki just frowned at him for his remark.



Over the next couple of days, Tohru was glad to get back to her normal life at school. She told Hana and Uo about the movie and they both offered to come and watch one weekend. Yuki found out from the headmaster that Kandis could visit on Thursday of that week. Kandis was really thrilled when she found out on Wednesday. She and Tohru were on their way to another shoot at the stage. Tohru only had two scenes to do that afternoon. So when she was finished, she went over to her chair to read up for the next shoot, which was on Friday. Matt Aritomo came strolling over and sat right next to her.

"You're really starting to get the hang of it," he said with a smile.

"Oh thanks."

"Listen uh. You doing anything for dinner?"

"Dinner?"

"Cause Kandi has a lot to shoot and I just finished, so I was wondering if you wanted to accompany me for a burger or something?"

"Well I don't know" Tohru replied nervously.

"Oh don't worry" Matt held up his hands, "I know you're dating Kyo. We'll go as friends."

"Well. Okay" she nodded finally.

"Great. I'll get my jacket," he said jumping up.



He walked to his trailer and found Tom waiting for him. He was sitting in a chair and looking over his Chinese zodiac notes.

"Well? Did you ask her?"

"Yes I asked her," Matt said slipping on his jacket, "We're going out right now."

"Don't be too obvious."

"I know how to handle a girl. However Dad I don't feel right about using her like this."

"You're not using her. We don't know if she has the information. But her boyfriend could be one of them. Just find out what you can."

"Okay I will. But if I can't you do your own dirty work, and leave me out of it."

"Agreed."

Matt sighed then walked out of the trailer. Tom placed a pipe in his mouth and began to smoke it. He smiled as he puffed away and looked down at his notes once more.



Matt and Tohru walked to a nearby café and ordered some burgers and fries. They sat down and talked a little bit about the movie.

"What made you decide to take the part?" she asked him.

"Oh um. Well I've played a lot of characters before, but never a vampire" he took a bite of his burger, "But not only that, I found the story fascinating. I mean a simple girl falls in love with a guy. She doesn't know him. Her father gets transferred over seas. Her family has a weird past history, and he's involved, my character. But through it all the message of "love can surpass anything". I like that."

"That is a good message. I just hope it's well received."

"It probably will be. It'll be good for all of us. Of course most of us have something to fall back on. Tom for instance he's not only an actor but he likes to write screenplays too."

"Another one of his hobbies?"

"Yea. In fact he's writing one based on the Chinese zodiac."

Tohru froze as she sipped her coke.

"Speaking of which, I noticed that your boyfriend and friend were acting very strange after he was talking about that. They seemed very nervous."

"Oh I'm not sure why that is."

"You're not?"

She shook her head.

"It just seems silly to me to get so nervous about something that doesn't even exist."

"Yea I guess that is funny. Well maybe there is a reason."

"Oh?"

"Not one I'm aware of."

"Oh."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Hmm?"

"You seem interested in it too a little bit."

"Do I?" he said nervously, "Well he's told me all the stories he's heard. I guess that peeked my interest a little."

"What stories?"

"Um let's see. There was one he learned from his grandfather, about a young woman walking home one day and she bumped into a young man. But when she looked up he was gone and she saw a rat scurry under a fence. It doesn't make much sense to me, but" he coughed, "You know."

"Uh huh" Tohru nodded.

He scratched the back of his head.

"You know what I can't do this" he replied with a sigh.

"What?"

"I can't lie to you. I have a confession. Tom Quincy is someone very close to me and he put me up to this."

"Up to what?"

"He wanted me to take you to dinner and pump you for information on your boyfriend and Yuki."

"Oh."

"But I can't. You're too nice a girl. The truth is Tom is my father."

"Your father?"

"Uh huh. He's absolutely obsessed and crazy. And I only went along with this because I wanted to spend a little time with you. But this is wrong. I'm sorry. We should go back."

"Matt" Tohru pulled at his hand, "Please sit back down."

He complied and she looked him in the eye.

"Thank you for telling me the truth. I appreciate it more than you will ever know. And I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful to you."

"It's none of my business anyway. It's none of my father's business. Can you ever forgive me? For doing something so stupid?"

"Yes. And I would like it, if we could finish our meal. I promise I won't mention this to Kyo or Yuki. It's between us."

"It never happened."

"Never" she agreed, "You know Matt you're a nice guy. Some girl is going to be very lucky to have you at her side."

"Thanks" he smiled, "And Kyo is a very lucky man. That he found you."

"Well thank you" she smiled as they continued to eat their dinner.



When Matt arrived back at the set he said a quick goodnight to Tohru, getting a look from Kandis in the process, and walked back to his trailer. Once again Tom was waiting for him.

"Did you find anything out? Tom asked eagerly.

"Nope" Matt said hanging up his coat with his back turned, "And you know what Dad, I came here to do one job. And that's to act. Not to be your personal spy. So if you'll excuse me. I am going to take a shower now."

He walked out of the room and into the bathroom and closed the door. Tom stood there dumbfounded and shrugged his head.

"Well than I guess I will have to take matters into my own hands," he said to himself.



Authors Note: Well Matt turned out to be a stand-up guy. Real sweet really. But don't worry Tohru isn't going to fall for him. Oh and I know I changed the title for this one but I just switched the titles for Chapter eight and Nine. That's it for this week. I'll see you guys all again on Monday!

Next Chapter: Kandis Visits Kawaii High

Kandi visits Kawaii High and Tom makes his move!