DISCLAIMER - This gets depressing after awhile. Refer to chapter 1.

"So, you're saying Tohru and orange-top have gone on a trip or somethin'?"

"Well, actually, Shigure and I are going as well, but we decided it would be a good idea to let the teachers know about our absence. Seeing as the two of you are Miss Honda's friends, I thought you should know too. She wouldn't want you worrying about her."

Yuki Sohma, Arisa Uotani, and Saki Hanajima were seated by the window during a break in class. The rat decided this would be the best time to pitch his story to the two. And what was even better was that the yankee and electric-girl both appeared to believe him. Satisfied, he bid them farewell as he left school to start his "trip".

'Hmm, that almost seemed too easy.'

When Yuki was out of sight, Hana turned to Uo.

"I'm sensing very disturbing electric signals coming from that boy."

"Aw, he's just mad cuz he's gotta spend all that time with orange-top."

"Maybe."

Back at Shigure's house, Kyo Sohma was trying his best to stay calm. Tohru had tried to stand up, but to no avail. She fell right out of bed before Kyo could catch her.

"What do you mean you can't feel your legs?!"

Tohru laid face down on the floor. At hearing Kyo's comment, she used her arms to roll over on to her back.

"It feels like there's nothing there. But it's probably only temporary! They're just asleep because I haven't been walking on them! No need to worry!"

'Is she serious? Does she really think they're just numb from not walking?'

His thoughts were interrupted by the sight of Tohru trying to pull herself back into bed. Her arms were weak from blood loss, however, and she slid back down to the floor. And tried again.

'Dammit! If it weren't for this stupid curse I could help her. But I can't even pick her up and put her back in bed! I'm so useless....'

"I'm al....most..... there......"

THUNK!

'Maybe.... maybe I can grab her legs and swing them around while she holds on to the bed....'

"One...more......huh?"

Tohru felt herself move upwards. She looked down to see Kyo pulling her legs up onto the bed. If she could feel them right now, she'd probably be blushing. Kyo rarely touched her, except for a poke in the head or a grasp of her hand. It was surprising he hadn't pulled away when she'd grabbed his hand. He'd probably just wanted to avoid hurting her feelings.

"There," he said. "Now pull your upper body up with your arms."

Tohru obeyed, and managed to finally make it back into bed, exhausted.

"If they don't have any feeling after a while, I'll see if Hatori can give me a prescription for something. Kyo, would you mind taking my money to the store for me if he does?"

"First of all, I'm calling Hatori now!"

"Oh no, Kyo! Don't make him go to all that trou----"

He cut her off. "And second, the damn dragon better not give you something you have to pay for or I'll knock him through the roof!"

"But...."

"Stay here!" Kyo said as he made his way down the stairs to the telephone.

Hatori Sohma had just finished his appointment with Akito and arrived back to his office when the phone rang.

"Sohma residence, Hatori Sohma speaking..................................... I see.............. Yes, I'll be right over."

The dragon quickly grabbed his coat and medical kit and rushed out the door.

'Numbness in the legs. Did the bullet hit a nerve? This is serious. This is very serious.'

"I'm home!"

Yuki removed his shoes in the entrance way and stepped into the den. It was unusually quiet. Those two couldn't still be sleeping at this hour, could they?

THUNK. "Tohru, dammit, cut it out!"

The sounds came from upstairs. Yuki made his way up to Tohru's room and when he slid the door open, he saw Tohru laying on the floor with Kyo standing over her.

"What did you do to Miss Honda, stupid cat?"

"Nothing, ya damn rat! She can't feel her legs and she keeps trying to walk, alright?!"

"Miss Honda..... you.... you can't feel your legs..?"

Tohru looked up from the floor into the rat's worry-filled eyes.

"No, but they're just asleep! Nothing to worry about! I've been trying to walk to get the circulation going. But, they're taking a little longer than normal, probably because I'm so tired. That's all."

The concern on Yuki's face only grew with Tohru's comments. Did she really believe that?

"Either way, it would be best if you stayed in bed until Hatori can take a look at you," he said. "Let us help you."

With that Yuki held Tohru's arms and Kyo once again grabbed Tohru's legs and the two of them managed to place the girl back in bed without transforming.

"Well, I see you two have managed to work together for something," a deep voice said from the doorway.

Hatori stepped into the room and walked directly over to the bed. Tohru didn't notice, but to Yuki and Kyo the look of sheer uncertainty on Hatori's face was frightening. He obviously didn't know what was wrong or what to do to fix it.

"Let me take a look at your legs for a minute," he said. "Yuki, Kyo, could the two of you leave us for a few minutes? I'll come get you when we're finished here."

Yuki grabbed Kyo by the arm.

"Come on, stupid cat. Hatori doesn't have all day."

"Damn rat.." 'Hatori better fix her. What's she gonna do if she can't walk? She'll be devastated...'

Twenty minutes after he had sent the boys away, Hatori called Yuki and Kyo back upstairs.

When they entered the room they found Tohru in bed and the dragon seated in the chair previously occupied by Kyo. Her face was cheerful. His was remorseful.

"Her condition seems to be related to her injury, rather than lack of use of her legs," he said. "It could only be temporary, and in that case, she should be able to fully walk again in a week or two with practice. I'll be back next week. Call me again if something comes up."

The doctor was headed out the door when Yuki stopped him.

"Hatori, may I speak with you before you go?"

"Of course. Let's go downstairs." And the rat and dragon disappeared.

Tohru looked at Kyo and smiled.

"See, it's only temporary! They'll be good as new in no time," she said, patting her legs. Kyo sat down in the chair.

"Well, just like last time......... I can cook........ and stuff....... and the damn rat can do the housework. He looks like a little French maid anyway with his girly face. Just hurry up and get better. Or I...... or I don't know what I'll do."

"Oh don't worry! I'll be back to cooking and cleaning in no time, so it won't be for long!"

'That's not what I meant......'

"And if it's not just temporary?"

Yuki and Hatori were deep in serious conversation about Tohru's condition. As Yuki feared, Hatori wasn't letting on all he knew.

"Then she very well could be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life."

Yuki turned his gaze to the ground.

"How much of a chance does she have?"

Without answering, the dragon avoided Yuki's gaze and walked out of the house. He was met in the driveway by Shigure. The two men talked, nods were exchanged, and the dog went to his study without a word.

Days went by at the Sohma residence as normally as could be expected. Yuki cleaned, Kyo cooked, Shigure wrote, and Tohru tried to make her legs work again in her room. Everyday she would try to stand and everyday she would fall, never giving up hope. Never letting go of her smile.

Kyo and Yuki felt helpless. They couldn't help her without transforming. So they were forced to continue with their day as usual, wincing at every THUNK heard from upstairs. Kyo was getting anxious.

"Take a break before you kill yourself!" he said, closing her door behind him.

Tohru looked up from the floor.

"Oh, hi Kyo! "

"How's it coming?"

"Oh, I still can't feel anything but it's probably because I haven't been practicing as much as I should. Silly me!"

'I can't do this..... I can't watch her go through this...... It......... it hurts too much......'

"I feel so horrible for causing you all so much trouble! I'm not earning my keep laying in bed all day."

'How can she smile like that...... when it's so hopeless..... how?'

"But I am trying to hurry and get better just like you said!"

Kyo couldn't take it anymore.

"Dammit! If you're so damn sorry then quit talking and start walking!"

He stormed out of the room leaving Tohru confused on the floor.

'I'm sorry, Kyo...... I'm trying.....'

That night Shigure and Yuki left the two alone again to head to the main house. They had been updating the younger Sohmas on Tohru's condition throughout the week, as well as letting Hatori know of her progress.

Kyo layed on the roof, his mind on the little onigiri trying so hard to walk again.

'Dammit. Why do I always have to say things to hurt her? Why can't I just tell her how I feel? This bizarre feeling.... like my heart is going to explode whenever I'm around her. Geez.... I'm such a damn idiot....'

His thoughts were interrupted by slight girlish grunts and the sight of the ladder moving.

'What the hell?'

He peered over the side of the roof to see Tohru Honda, dangling halfway up the ladder by her arms.

He grabbed her arms and pulled her up onto the roof.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?"

'You're walking?'

"I wanted to sit with you, Kyo!"

'No..... not walking...... but then how did you...?'

"How did you get up here?!"

"I pulled myself around with my arms! They're getting stronger, you know!"

'You drug yourself out of the room, down the stairs, outside, and up the ladder?'

Kyo snapped.

"ARE YOU STUPID OR SOMETHING? YOU KNOW IF YOU DO THAT YOU COULD KILL YOURSELF! YOU REALLY ARE AN IDIOT, YOU KNOW THAT! WHAT MADE YOU THINK TO DO SOMETHING SO STUPID LIKE THA-----"

"Kyo......"

"WHAT?!" 'Huh?' He looked down to see her head buried in her hands. Tiny, trembling hands that were resting on his knees.

"I'm...... sorry....... It's just......"

'No..... oh God..... I didn't just.....'

"It's just......." she started to cry. "I'm so scared..... so scared..... "

'She really is hurting. I really am an idiot for thinking she was ok.......'

"I was all by myself...." she said, sobbing into his knees and trembling.

'This hurts....... Tohru....... I don't know what to do...... Master.... what can I do?'

"But..... it was selfish of me......... I shouldn't be bothering you with my troubles......."

'They're my troubles too....'

"Or crying like this....... like a child....."

Kyo placed his hands on Tohru's shoulders.

'She really is trembling.... I'm sorry...... I'm so sorry.......'

"You need to..... to let go....."

Tohru looked up into Kyo's crimson eyes. They seemed so full of pain. Had she hurt him with her childish tantrum?

"Kyo?"

"It's ok to cry....... I..... I'm here for you....."

"Kyo...." Tohru squeaked, gripping his knees and lowering her head again...

"I........ I can't give you a shoulder to cry on...... or hold you...... but you can cry on my knees....... I'll stay here with you....."

'Because I think I love you.....'

"Thankyou.............. Kyo......"

The orange haired boy held the crying girl's hand with one of his, running the other through her hair....

'I think I love you...... Tohru...'

Yay! More emotional stress! I put in some Kyoru here, but more is on the way! It's not over yet. Will Tohru ever walk again? Please R & R! I love ya'll!!!