I am so, so , sooooo sorry !!!! Things were going crazy in my life: exams, friends, family, etc, and the last thing on my mind was continuing my fics. SOOOOO sorry !!!
Then, I had some ideas/brainstorms for other fic ideas, so I was developing them for a while as well, and afterwards there was the usual writer's block. For a while I lost interest in this fic, but now I'm back !
Usual disclaimers apply.
Chapter 7 – Shigure's Big Day !
The sun shone weakly into Tohru's room, illuminating the neat shelves and absence of dirty piles of clothing, which were always found in Uo-chan's room. On the bed, Tohru struggled feebly against the comforter, her mind still clinging to the remnants of that beautiful dream.
"Yuki-kun !" Tohru cried gleefully, as she was twirled in the air by a pair of strong arms. She delightedly landed against the muscled chest of the silver-haired youth, her eyes shinning with laughter. Yuki's arms snaked around Tohru's tiny waist, pulling her tightly against him. Slowly, he lowered his face, and gently pressed his lips to hers. Tohru's eyes fluttered shut, and she moaned softly, as the youth deepened the kiss, his tongue intimately plundering her mouth.
When the kiss ended, Tohru kept her eyes shut for a moment longer, savoring the heady feeling that Yuki's kiss instilled in her, the nearness of his body, his lingering scent of sandalwood…
Tohru's eyes shot open – and instead of Yuki holding her close, she stared into the vermilion eyes and tanned face of Kyo.
Tohru groaned lightly, when her alarm clock started its infuriating beep-beep-beep. Rolling over, she pressed the OFF button – this was one day she didn't want to wake up to. It was Shigure's birthday.
Immediately berating herself for the uncharitable thought, Tohru jumped out of bed and started getting dressed. It shouldn't matter that today was the first day since the incident on the roof, that she'll have to stay in close proximity to Kyo – nothing happened, nothing will happen.
Resolutely, Tohru squared her shoulders and exited her room.
* * *
Kyo didn't want to wake up. It wasn't just because it was school today and that they'd have two tests, heck, in wasn't even Shigure's birthday which made the cat reluctant to face the day. He didn't care a rat's ass about the stupid inu; it was the possibility of seeing a certain brown haired someone, which deepened the frown on Kyo's face.
She'd been avoiding him, he could tell. She found excuses not to sit with him and Yuki during breaks, and magically changed her work schedule so that he wouldn't ever meet her going home. (Kyo has martial arts training nearby. Let's pretend he does, anyway.)
Thinking of the nezumi made Kyo's frown become a grimace, and a small snarl passed his lips. Yuki was oblivious to his girlfriend's sudden behavior change – or he seemed to be oblivious, anyway. He still treated Tohru with that unusual formality, even though they've been a couple for three years. (Kyo thought this was beyond strange)
The neko wanted to give his cousin a good, hard shake, for being so insensitive. If Tohru had been his girlfriend, he'd have been worried sick about her behavior !
Unbeknownst to Kyo, Yuki was extremely worried; but he didn't know how to show it. It had always been Tohru who would have shown concern, who would ask him if he was alright. She'd always read him so well, that he'd found no need to express himself in words or gestures – Tohru always knew. However, recently she'd been avoiding him; not obviously, of course, but the way her eyes wouldn't focus on his face, and her reluctance to eat lunch… a small frown appeared on Yuki's pale, beautiful face. He wanted to ask her what was wrong !
* * *
Tohru sighed tiredly as she doggedly continued on the well-worn path to the Sohma mansion. Clutched in her right hand was a canvas bag filled with herbs and spices, while in her left, she held a big, colorfully wrapped present.
She had run from work to the supermarket, and now she was pretty much exhausted, but she'd promised Shigure that she'd cook his birthday dinner. If Yuki or him were to cook, it would surely turn into pandemonium.
Suddenly a voice hailed her. Impeded by her load, Tohru couldn't discern the person before he was right next to her. It was Kyo.
"Konnichi wa, Honda-san." He greeted her, a distinct coolness in his usually warm voice. That, and the formal way in which he addressed her, were like a slap in the face. But later, she realized that he'd meant well to distance himself from her after those intimate moments they'd shared.
Tohru gave him a forced smile, and responded. Kyo, after her flustered declination, took the bag out her hands anyway. His fingers brushed hers, and she jumped. The rest of the journey back to the Sohma residence was spent in silence.
* * *
"Tohru-kun !" Shigure greeted the onigiri enthusiastically as he opened the door, "Kyo, you're home, too !" The author exclaimed happily as he caught sight of the young man behind Tohru.
Tohru reddened slightly when Shigure shot her a sly grin; he obviously thought there was more going on between her and Kyo, something which she denied fervently. Hiding her blushing visage, Tohru looked at Kyo from under her bangs. He looked non-plussed (very unlike Kyo) and deposited the bags onto the kitchen counter.
"Here okay ?" He asked her casually. Tohru blushed even more violently when he addressed her. His beautiful ruby eyes were regarding her in that peculiar, concerned expression, which made her stomach do summersaults and her knees feel as weak as water.
"H-hai." She stammered.
"Need any help in the kitchen ?" Kyo asked her wryly, a small smile on his lips, "things might move quicker if I help – not that my cooking skills are anywhere near yours."
"Iie, I'm sure that Kyo-san's cooking is excellent !" Tohru exclaimed, her nervousness overcome by the need to see the goodness in everything, " Kyo-san's cooking outstrips mine, I'm positive !"
"Then let me try prove you correct. Let me work with you today." Kyo suggested smoothly, the purring quality to his voice making Tohru feel that heady sensation again, and the blush in her cheeks intensified once more. Subconsciously, she realized that Kyo might have goaded her into accepting his help, but that was quickly forgotten when the red-haired youth stepped closer to her, and his musky scent of sandalwood invaded her nose. His eyes were hypnotic, she couldn't look away … he was so close …
"Tohru-chan ?"
A high-pitched voice penetrated the house - and the mood within the kitchen. Tohru's fogged-up brain slowly began to work again; Kyo quickly stepped back from her, and his expression again became neutral, like as if their last intense interlude had never happened.
"You wanna start getting this stuff ready ?" He asked gruffly, his voice belying his passive exterior.
"H-hai." Tohru stammered once more.
* * *
Yuki passed his hand over his brow in a gesture of uncommon weariness. 'This week has been tough,' the silver-haired youth acknowledged to himself as he, for the hundredth time pondered over his *koi's bizarre behavior.
It had started when Kyo arrived, Yuki thought, Kyo was causing the strange behavior. Kyo was trouble; not only was he destroying the relationship between Tohru and himself, but his popularity and grades have waned since the arrival of his fire-haired cousin, as well ! Kyo was handsome, charming, kind, and people loved him – something which Yuki had to work so hard to gain.
His hand clenched so tightly that the knuckles became white. 'I don't understand !', Yuki yelled savagely in his mind. How could Kyo be so popular and loved without trying ?! And now Tohru was under the spell as well. 'I'll be damned if I let her go to the likes of you, baka neko ! She's mine !' And with an unexpected burst of speed, Yuki took off into the direction of home, trying to outrun his jealousy.
* * *
(still Yuki here)
He burst into the house, his breathing jagged and lungs on fire. Shigure, who was in the process of greeting an equally stunned Ayame, jumped.
"Yuki-kun ?" He asked cautiously. Haru poked his head into the room.
"What's gotten into you, Yuki ?" The white haired youth enquired monotonously, as Momiji looked at him worriedly. Yuki tried to inconspicuously wipe the sweat from his face and regulate his painful breathing.
"Nothing." He said shortly, "where's Tohru-chan ?"
Shigure smiled innocently, "Cooking in the kitchen with Kyo."
"Nani ?! She's alone in the kitchen with the baka neko ?!" Normally level-headed Yuki spat out furiously, his eyes narrowing dangerously and his hands balling up into fists.
Ayame gave Yuki a very startled look.
"What is the matter with you, Yuki ? What's wrong with Kyo and Tohru working together in the kitchen ? Kyo only volunteered to help a little; it's not like as if he's going to destroy the meal."
If anything, this incensed Yuki further. He'd heard nothing after the word 'together'. 'Together, them, together ?!'
"Kuzo bakayaro neko !!!"* The nezumi screamed as he charged into the direction of the kitchen. He burst into the kitchen as Tohru was showing Kyo how to roll the riceballs; her hands were lightly resting atop Kyo's, to guide him. Yuki took one look at their touching hands and charged the neko.
His first punch connected painfully with Kyo's cheek, as the latter's head was thrown back from the force. Kyo's eyes widened drastically as he took in his cousin's disheveled appearance: sweat-soaked shirt (he ran home, remember ?), dilated pupils and the usual shinning silver hair was tangled in knots.
"What the hell is wrong with you ?" Kyo spat out as he held on to his violated cheek.
"Yuki-kun ?" Tohru whispered timidly, appalled by her boyfriend's violence, "what's the matter, Yuki-kun ? Why did you hit Kyo-kun ?"
Yuki's only reply was to hiss out, "Bastard !", before launched himself at the red-haired youth again. This time, Kyo was ready and blocked Yuki's frantic uppercut while executing a perfect roundhouse, and sending his opponent skidding on to the floor.
"Stop it, baka !" Kyo said calmly, "you're in no state to fight, and you're scaring Tohru-chan." He quickly glanced at the ashen-faced young woman, "it's Shigure's birthday, too."
From his position on the floor, the silver-haired Sohma shot his cousin a look of utter loathing and jealousy.
"If I find out you've laid one hand on her…" He growled menacingly, yet keeping his voice only hearable to Kyo, "I'll cut it off, understand ? You better not dare…" With a light heave, Yuki was on his feet and swiftly exiting the kitchen.
~Complete reversal of roles, I know, but I thought it might be interesting. (and Yuki had VERY bad week, as in VERY bad! One cannot always be an iceblock.) ~
* * *
Kyo exhaled angrily as he watched the departing back of the hated nezumi. He gave a sudden start as his bruised cheek began throbbing. Suddenly a hand tenderly touched it. The neko was shocked to find a silently crying Tohru examining his bruise.
"K-kyo-k-kun should p-put some ice on th-th-that, " She hiccupped, as she opened the freezer.
"Tohru-kun…" The fiery-haired youth began.
"N-no, I apol-l-ogize f-for Yuki-k-kun's behavior." She shook her head confusedly, as more tears silently poured down her cheeks, " I don't k-know what is w-wrong with him. Yu-uki h-has been so distant lately. I…"
"It's ok, Tohru-kun." The neko said tiredly, " I don't need you to explain Yuki to me. And you needn't apologize for his actions, either."
"B-but -"
"No, seriously, it's ok." Kyo gingerly placed the icepack that Tohru was holding out to him, on to his throbbing cheek, "Come on, let's get it finished !"
* * *
The blood was still pounding deafeningly in his head after the fight. He wanted to forget Tohru's horrified expression and tears, but all Yuki could see were her hands laying atop the baka neko's. With all his might, the young man forced himself to breathe slowly and regain control of himself.
Gradually, he became aware of his disheveled appearance and decided to take a quick shower.
* * *
Everyone was sitting in the living room, chatting and munching on the goodies that Tohru and Kyo had made, when Yuki rejoined them. There was a sudden/brief hush, and then Shigure, to cover up, laughed loudly and the noise level resumed; only Kyo and Tohru continued to look tense.
"Yuki-kun ?" Tohru asked timidly as she approached her beau. From across the room, Kyo glared at his silver-haired counterpart.
"Gomen nasai, Tohru-chan,"* Yuki said softly, before his sweetheart could start asking him questions, "I don't know what came over me. I must have overworked myself."
Yuki chuckled darkly.
"For a minute, I actually thought that Kyo and you…" He let the sentence trail away delicately, but nevertheless, Tohru blushed furiously at the implication. How close Yuki had gotten to the truth !
* * *
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you ! Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you !!!" All the occupants in the living room yelled as Shigure blew out the candles. With a big, goofy grin and tears in his eyes, he looked back at them.
"Arigato gozaimasu, minna !!! You don't know what this means to me, to be able to celebrate my XXth birthday with such wonderful company !" He hollered over the noise of the singing of "And you're a jolly good fellow", " especially, I wish to thank Tohru-chan, who's been an invaluable help in keeping the Sohma household together, and cooking us such a wonderful feast !!!" Everyone clapped loudly, as Tohru blushed as red as a tomato.
"T-thank you, minna !" She said, Yuki coming up next to her and giving her a soft hug.
"You're truly something special, Tohru-chan, especially to me."He whispered in her ear, but she barely heard because from across the room, Kyo was looking at her with those intense and stormy eyes- and then he smiled and she as lost in its shine.
* * *
After everyone had gone, and all the rubbish had been cleaned up, Yuki and Tohru were sitting out on the front porch, admiring the night sky.
Tohru stole a glance at the silver-haired youth. He was magnificent, with the subtle highlights on the night lights giving him an appearance of surrealism – he resembled a mythical ice prince.
"Yuki-kun ?" She asked softly.
"Hai ?"
"Do you remember a similar night, three years ago ?"
Yuki smiled softly, " Hai, the day we admitted our love."
Tohru blushed lightly, "And do you remember what I said to you afterwards ?"
The young man looked puzzled, " No, what was it ?" he asked.
"I told you that whenever you needed someone, whenever you needed a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen or simply the warmth of another human being, I am here, trust in me." The brunette said softly, her eyes averted, " If there's anything that you want to tell me, please, I am here."
She met his eyes now, searching, but they were, as always, blank. Nothing. She could find no trace of emotion in those eyes. It saddened her.
For three years, she had tried to open Yuki up, to help him trust people and show him that to experience the greatest happiness, you had to let the good in with the bad. Yet he still ignored all those efforts, and showed her nothing more than gentleness and love. At first, it didn't matter to Tohru that Yuki expressed nothing more; she was overjoyed that he loved her, but over time, she felt that she barely knew him. He was always kind, polite, sweet and loving, but where was the rest of him ?
Where was the real Yuki ?
