Like Falling off a Horse
"Good job, Kureno. Keep telling me all that you know. You may go," said Akito, with a sly smile.
"Why is it that meeting Miss Tohru is such a sour thought to you, Akito-sama?" Kureno dared to ask.
"She is a threat to me... to all of us. That's all I'll say to you about the subject. Now, you must go," replied Akito, changing his smile to a grimace.
Kureno's shadowy figure exited Akito's room.
"Tohru Honda, the others may be influenced by your ways but I will not move from my place. You give them false hopes of normality, which will only serve to hurt them more when they find out the truth. If you dare to try and use your influence on my sister, you will be punished severely. This time, I will not be as lenient as before," growled Akito.
Kureno had heard Akito's words about Tohru.
"Is this Tohru Honda person that bad? Or is he more worried that she might be able to accomplish what he could not," he asked himself.
Shigure finally exited the Sohma estate to see Tohru still waiting for him.
"You haven't gone home, yet?" he asked her, curiously.
"No, we came together. So I thought we should leave together. Besides, I was worried about you," replied Tohru a little unsure.
"Oh, you're so considerate, Tohru-kun," praised Shigure.
"Shigure-san? I know that Kyo-kun and Sohma Yuki-kun are okay with talking to me if there's anything weighing them down. Even though you are older than them, it doesn't mean that you can't be allowed to be the same and know that you can lean on me for support if you need me to," said Tohru, smiling again.
Shigure didn't say anything but then spoke up;
"You are a genuine and good-natured person. I assure you that I won't let bad things get to me the same as the others do. Thank-you anyway, Tohru-kun," he said to her. "She really is a lot like you, Tama-chan. I just hope she doesn't meet up with the same type of misfortune as you have," he thought as the two walked.
Back at Shigure's house; Tohru cooked while Yuki and Kyo fought. The four of them ate their diner and then went to bed.
"Tomorrow, I have school and then work. I don't know if I'll be able to concentrate with everything that happened today. I found out more about the Shigure and Akito as well as meeting Tama-chan but I can't help but feel sorry for them. I feel awful about what happened. Shigure-kun.... Tama-chan.... Akito-san...." Thought Tohru as she drifted to sleep.
The next morning Kyo and Yuki were arguing over something, while Tohru served them breakfast and they quickly stopped. The phone rang and Shigure who was closer to it, picked up the phone.
"Hello, Sohma... oh, hi Tori-san, what's up? What?! No, way! When was that? Oh my, that is.... Yeah, Kyo-kun and Yuki-kun don't have anything to do today afterschool but Tohru-chan has work. Yes, right... I'll let them know right away. Okay, thanks for the update," said Shigure to Tori on the other side.
When Shigure hung up the phone, he saw all the others were hiding around the corner. They were curious about the conversation he was having with Tori.
"Okay you guys, you can come out now and I'll tell you what happened," he announced to them.
Tohru appeared around the corner with a sheepish look accompanied by Yuki and Kyo.
"What was that all about on the phone?" Yuki asked him.
"Well apparently, Tama-chan fled the coop again during the night and they haven't seen her since. Now Akito is in raving hysterics while all of the Sohmas are desperately searching everywhere for her. I'll join the hunt, too and since you and Kyo don't have anything afterschool today; I'm volunteering you to help," replied Shigure with a laugh of amusement.
"This isn't funny! Akito in hysterics! Then you go and volunteer us!" shouts Kyo, angrily.
"Well Que Se Que Sa, just do it okay?" commented Shigure.
Kyo growled in defeat and Yuki had a sweatdrop in defeat. Tohru didn't know what to say or do. Later that night, Tohru was walking towards her workplace. She checked her watch as the sun was setting in the distance.
"Oh, I'm kinda early tonight. Maybe I'll just take my time and look around," she thought. "Oh I know, I'll go to the river close to where my tent used to be! It was such a nice place, I'd love to see it again," she decided.
So she walked down the road where her tent used to be and where the mudslide still remained. She kept walking until she heard the familiar sound of running water by the river.
"Ah, it's nearby!" she cheered.
Just then, she heard a strange noise. It was a loud sound that she didn't recognize. It was a neigh from a horse and when she looked over a hill to view the river below, she also saw a horse wading in its water. It was the same horse from the day before and she realized who it was.
"Tama-chan!" she called out to her and clumsily slide down the hill over to the river.
Tama was scared that she was found and back away to turn and flee.
"Wait! Don't run away from me, please! I'm just glad to see you again! Momiji told me everything so I know about you. I'm sorry that all happened and I want to see you happy and free again," begged Tohru.
Tama paused from running away and inched up closer to Tohru.
"It must be awful to be stuck as animal when you're really a human. How people look at you like you're nothing more than some horse. Horses are known to have a wild spirit and love being free. You used to be the same and then all of a sudden, you find yourself trapped in a room. It must've been so lonely there and only your faint existence known during New Years. No one allowed to look at you, making you feel like you're not a worthy creature to be concerned with. Then, a door to freedom was opened to you and when you took it, you felt how good it was to be free again. So naturally, you'd want to be free for good. Not just physically but emotionally as well. I won't do anything to take you away from that but Akito is really worried about you. You can't just run away from your family, you have to learn to compromise with them. Then you'll finally be free," said Tohru gently.
Tama had tears in her horse eyes and nudged Tohru with her nose. She walked into closer so that Tohru could hug around her neck.
"Tama-chan, I want to help you but I can't tonight. I have to go and work. I promise that tomorrow , I'll come by and be with you. We'll play together and you'll have fun for once. Just promise me in return that you'll go back to the Sohma estate that night, okay?" suggested Tohru.
Tama thought for a moment then nodded her horse head in agreement.
"Okay, then I'll see you tomorrow! Bye for now!" waved Tohru, walking away. Tohru walked hurriedly to work while thinking "I hope she stays. I want to help her and everybody be able to live happy lives together as like a real family should,"
The next day Tohru had breakfast already on the table when everyone arrived.
"Why are you in such a hurry today, Miss Honda?" Yuki asked her, curiously.
"Oh... um, I'm going to go with Hana-chan to the mall and then we're going to go over to Ou-chan's house," lied Tohru, nervously.
"That sounds boring," commented Kyo.
"So Yuki, do you have any plans today?" Tohru switched subjects.
"I do have a Student Council duty to attend to this afternoon but for today, not really," replied Yuki.
"We still have to look for Tama-chan, she hasn't come back yet," reminded Shigure.
"It doesn't seem like she wants to return... I don't blame her. Considering the way that Akito treats her, I wouldn't want to go back either if I was her," commented Kyo.
"Oh no, it's not like that!" interjected Tohru loudly, standing up.
"What are you getting so upset about, Tohru?" Kyo asked her.
"Well, she's just confused. Maybe she just wanted another taste of freedom for a little bit longer. She's a strong-willed person, she'll go back and face the Sohmas again. I just know it," she declared, firmly.
Shigure thought for a moment then rested his chin on his hand.
"I think Tohru's right. Still, we should look. She hasn't been outside of the estate for years and she could get lost," he said.
So when breakfast was done and Tohru cleaned up, she left the house. Yuki was not too far behind when a thought crossed his mind.
"Wait, that's not the way to the mall. She's heading to where her work is. If she's working them why didn't she just say so?" Yuki asked himself. "Shigure, I'm going to look for Tama-chan now! I'll see you later!" he called out to the house.
"Okay, come back soon!" replied Shigure's voice.
With that settled, Yuki followed Tohru far behind. She walked in the same direction she did the other day and led him to the river. She nervously looked around her to make sure that no one else was there and so Yuki hid quickly. She then slid down the hill and to where the river was flowing.
"I'm here like I promised!" she announced out loud. "Tama-chan, you didn't leave did you?" she wandered nervously.
A minute later, Tama's horse form appeared from the other side of the river. She then galloped through the river and to where Tohru was standing. Yuki who was overlooking the scene from the top of the hill, realized what was going on.
"Tama-chan... she's been with her," he gasped.
He suddenly stepped on a branch, which cracked underneath his weight. The sound made by the branch alerted Tama and she looked up to see him standing there. She backed up spooked and started to run away.
"Tama-chan, wait! Yuki-kun, what are you doing here! I didn't tell you anything!" Tohru cried, upset by the scene.
"Honda-san, I'm sorry! I followed you because I was curious, I'm sorry Tama-chan I didn't mean to see you!" replied Yuki quickly, sliding down the hill gracefully.
"Yuki-kun, please keep this secret. Don't tell anyone, please? I promised that I would come by today and spend time with her. In exchange, she promised that she would go back to the Sohma estate tonight. Please, this might be the only chance she has of being free and happy," begged Tohru.
Yuki thought for a moment and then nodded his head in agreement.
"Okay, I understand. I've always hated the fact that I felt as if I was in a cage when I've been with the Sohmas, but Tama-chan really has been in a cage. Is it okay if I stay with you two?" Yuki asked.
Tama nodded in agreement and Tohru smiled happily.
"This will be even more fun with you here, Yuki!" she cheered.
So, that's the end of chapter 3.. In chapter 4;Tohru, Tama and Yuki run around and have fun.. it pays off in a big way! Then, Tohru takes Tama back to Akito. What will Akito's reaction be? Why is Kyo negotiating with Yuki? Is there any way that Tama can be freed from her own prison, without the cost of her new friend's life?
"Good job, Kureno. Keep telling me all that you know. You may go," said Akito, with a sly smile.
"Why is it that meeting Miss Tohru is such a sour thought to you, Akito-sama?" Kureno dared to ask.
"She is a threat to me... to all of us. That's all I'll say to you about the subject. Now, you must go," replied Akito, changing his smile to a grimace.
Kureno's shadowy figure exited Akito's room.
"Tohru Honda, the others may be influenced by your ways but I will not move from my place. You give them false hopes of normality, which will only serve to hurt them more when they find out the truth. If you dare to try and use your influence on my sister, you will be punished severely. This time, I will not be as lenient as before," growled Akito.
Kureno had heard Akito's words about Tohru.
"Is this Tohru Honda person that bad? Or is he more worried that she might be able to accomplish what he could not," he asked himself.
Shigure finally exited the Sohma estate to see Tohru still waiting for him.
"You haven't gone home, yet?" he asked her, curiously.
"No, we came together. So I thought we should leave together. Besides, I was worried about you," replied Tohru a little unsure.
"Oh, you're so considerate, Tohru-kun," praised Shigure.
"Shigure-san? I know that Kyo-kun and Sohma Yuki-kun are okay with talking to me if there's anything weighing them down. Even though you are older than them, it doesn't mean that you can't be allowed to be the same and know that you can lean on me for support if you need me to," said Tohru, smiling again.
Shigure didn't say anything but then spoke up;
"You are a genuine and good-natured person. I assure you that I won't let bad things get to me the same as the others do. Thank-you anyway, Tohru-kun," he said to her. "She really is a lot like you, Tama-chan. I just hope she doesn't meet up with the same type of misfortune as you have," he thought as the two walked.
Back at Shigure's house; Tohru cooked while Yuki and Kyo fought. The four of them ate their diner and then went to bed.
"Tomorrow, I have school and then work. I don't know if I'll be able to concentrate with everything that happened today. I found out more about the Shigure and Akito as well as meeting Tama-chan but I can't help but feel sorry for them. I feel awful about what happened. Shigure-kun.... Tama-chan.... Akito-san...." Thought Tohru as she drifted to sleep.
The next morning Kyo and Yuki were arguing over something, while Tohru served them breakfast and they quickly stopped. The phone rang and Shigure who was closer to it, picked up the phone.
"Hello, Sohma... oh, hi Tori-san, what's up? What?! No, way! When was that? Oh my, that is.... Yeah, Kyo-kun and Yuki-kun don't have anything to do today afterschool but Tohru-chan has work. Yes, right... I'll let them know right away. Okay, thanks for the update," said Shigure to Tori on the other side.
When Shigure hung up the phone, he saw all the others were hiding around the corner. They were curious about the conversation he was having with Tori.
"Okay you guys, you can come out now and I'll tell you what happened," he announced to them.
Tohru appeared around the corner with a sheepish look accompanied by Yuki and Kyo.
"What was that all about on the phone?" Yuki asked him.
"Well apparently, Tama-chan fled the coop again during the night and they haven't seen her since. Now Akito is in raving hysterics while all of the Sohmas are desperately searching everywhere for her. I'll join the hunt, too and since you and Kyo don't have anything afterschool today; I'm volunteering you to help," replied Shigure with a laugh of amusement.
"This isn't funny! Akito in hysterics! Then you go and volunteer us!" shouts Kyo, angrily.
"Well Que Se Que Sa, just do it okay?" commented Shigure.
Kyo growled in defeat and Yuki had a sweatdrop in defeat. Tohru didn't know what to say or do. Later that night, Tohru was walking towards her workplace. She checked her watch as the sun was setting in the distance.
"Oh, I'm kinda early tonight. Maybe I'll just take my time and look around," she thought. "Oh I know, I'll go to the river close to where my tent used to be! It was such a nice place, I'd love to see it again," she decided.
So she walked down the road where her tent used to be and where the mudslide still remained. She kept walking until she heard the familiar sound of running water by the river.
"Ah, it's nearby!" she cheered.
Just then, she heard a strange noise. It was a loud sound that she didn't recognize. It was a neigh from a horse and when she looked over a hill to view the river below, she also saw a horse wading in its water. It was the same horse from the day before and she realized who it was.
"Tama-chan!" she called out to her and clumsily slide down the hill over to the river.
Tama was scared that she was found and back away to turn and flee.
"Wait! Don't run away from me, please! I'm just glad to see you again! Momiji told me everything so I know about you. I'm sorry that all happened and I want to see you happy and free again," begged Tohru.
Tama paused from running away and inched up closer to Tohru.
"It must be awful to be stuck as animal when you're really a human. How people look at you like you're nothing more than some horse. Horses are known to have a wild spirit and love being free. You used to be the same and then all of a sudden, you find yourself trapped in a room. It must've been so lonely there and only your faint existence known during New Years. No one allowed to look at you, making you feel like you're not a worthy creature to be concerned with. Then, a door to freedom was opened to you and when you took it, you felt how good it was to be free again. So naturally, you'd want to be free for good. Not just physically but emotionally as well. I won't do anything to take you away from that but Akito is really worried about you. You can't just run away from your family, you have to learn to compromise with them. Then you'll finally be free," said Tohru gently.
Tama had tears in her horse eyes and nudged Tohru with her nose. She walked into closer so that Tohru could hug around her neck.
"Tama-chan, I want to help you but I can't tonight. I have to go and work. I promise that tomorrow , I'll come by and be with you. We'll play together and you'll have fun for once. Just promise me in return that you'll go back to the Sohma estate that night, okay?" suggested Tohru.
Tama thought for a moment then nodded her horse head in agreement.
"Okay, then I'll see you tomorrow! Bye for now!" waved Tohru, walking away. Tohru walked hurriedly to work while thinking "I hope she stays. I want to help her and everybody be able to live happy lives together as like a real family should,"
The next day Tohru had breakfast already on the table when everyone arrived.
"Why are you in such a hurry today, Miss Honda?" Yuki asked her, curiously.
"Oh... um, I'm going to go with Hana-chan to the mall and then we're going to go over to Ou-chan's house," lied Tohru, nervously.
"That sounds boring," commented Kyo.
"So Yuki, do you have any plans today?" Tohru switched subjects.
"I do have a Student Council duty to attend to this afternoon but for today, not really," replied Yuki.
"We still have to look for Tama-chan, she hasn't come back yet," reminded Shigure.
"It doesn't seem like she wants to return... I don't blame her. Considering the way that Akito treats her, I wouldn't want to go back either if I was her," commented Kyo.
"Oh no, it's not like that!" interjected Tohru loudly, standing up.
"What are you getting so upset about, Tohru?" Kyo asked her.
"Well, she's just confused. Maybe she just wanted another taste of freedom for a little bit longer. She's a strong-willed person, she'll go back and face the Sohmas again. I just know it," she declared, firmly.
Shigure thought for a moment then rested his chin on his hand.
"I think Tohru's right. Still, we should look. She hasn't been outside of the estate for years and she could get lost," he said.
So when breakfast was done and Tohru cleaned up, she left the house. Yuki was not too far behind when a thought crossed his mind.
"Wait, that's not the way to the mall. She's heading to where her work is. If she's working them why didn't she just say so?" Yuki asked himself. "Shigure, I'm going to look for Tama-chan now! I'll see you later!" he called out to the house.
"Okay, come back soon!" replied Shigure's voice.
With that settled, Yuki followed Tohru far behind. She walked in the same direction she did the other day and led him to the river. She nervously looked around her to make sure that no one else was there and so Yuki hid quickly. She then slid down the hill and to where the river was flowing.
"I'm here like I promised!" she announced out loud. "Tama-chan, you didn't leave did you?" she wandered nervously.
A minute later, Tama's horse form appeared from the other side of the river. She then galloped through the river and to where Tohru was standing. Yuki who was overlooking the scene from the top of the hill, realized what was going on.
"Tama-chan... she's been with her," he gasped.
He suddenly stepped on a branch, which cracked underneath his weight. The sound made by the branch alerted Tama and she looked up to see him standing there. She backed up spooked and started to run away.
"Tama-chan, wait! Yuki-kun, what are you doing here! I didn't tell you anything!" Tohru cried, upset by the scene.
"Honda-san, I'm sorry! I followed you because I was curious, I'm sorry Tama-chan I didn't mean to see you!" replied Yuki quickly, sliding down the hill gracefully.
"Yuki-kun, please keep this secret. Don't tell anyone, please? I promised that I would come by today and spend time with her. In exchange, she promised that she would go back to the Sohma estate tonight. Please, this might be the only chance she has of being free and happy," begged Tohru.
Yuki thought for a moment and then nodded his head in agreement.
"Okay, I understand. I've always hated the fact that I felt as if I was in a cage when I've been with the Sohmas, but Tama-chan really has been in a cage. Is it okay if I stay with you two?" Yuki asked.
Tama nodded in agreement and Tohru smiled happily.
"This will be even more fun with you here, Yuki!" she cheered.
So, that's the end of chapter 3.. In chapter 4;Tohru, Tama and Yuki run around and have fun.. it pays off in a big way! Then, Tohru takes Tama back to Akito. What will Akito's reaction be? Why is Kyo negotiating with Yuki? Is there any way that Tama can be freed from her own prison, without the cost of her new friend's life?