The Sohma Institute
By Lady of the Ink
Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket, but you knew that. I hope. I do own this story, and all the plot twists it contains.
Chapter Nineteen
Part of the Job
It took all the discipline that Tohru could muster to make it out of the office and into the hallway. She knew that she had to leave the room and face the Sohmas, but she wasn't sure she could do it while maintaining the professional air that was expected of her. There was just too much on her mind. The intrigue of it all swirled so thick, she felt like she was drawing it in with every breath that she took. Instead of filling her lungs, it settled itself inside her chest, a warm weight growing heavier with each new fact she learned, each new question she uncovered.
And now there was another aspect added to the mess. Kagura Sohma had gone out her way to deliver what Tohru was convinced was an important message. She didn't think it was too much of a stretch to believe the other girl wanted her to take action. Why else would she have mentioned Haru letting things slip when he was angry and then passed along a comment certain to bring about that exact reaction?
She had assumed that the entire Sohma family was involved in the matters at the Institute. The large number of them among the staff had helped her to that conclusion; but now she wasn't so sure. Momiji's mother had definitely not been a willing participant to anything, and now Kagura was imparting clues, an action of someone who wanted things to change. Was it possible even some of the Sohmas themselves were helpless witnesses to whatever was going on? And if so, why hadn't they stopped it?
Unless they couldn't stop it. What if there was something holding them back? Some power that kept them from changing things that maybe they didn't agree with.
The endless swirling of her thoughts was building a headache behind Tohru's eyes. Trying to ease it, she forced herself to take a calming breath. She could worry and wonder all she wanted, but neither of those actions were going to do anyone any good. The time for thinking and hoping that the answers would come to her was over. She couldn't walk away from this situation without knowing that Yuki, Kyou, Momiji, and Haru weren't in any danger, and she couldn't be sure of that until she knew what was actually going on. Idle investigating had gotten her as far as it could, but now she was going to have to take steps on her own.
In that instant, Tohru decided to use the information that Kagura had given her and every other item at her disposal to find out what she wanted to know. If that meant incurring Haru's wrath and dealing with Kyou's attitude, so be it. If it meant facing Momiji and having to confront the sadness she knew he had inside of him, she would do it. If it meant drawing Yuki out of his shell and making him speak with her, somehow, she'd manage it.
Her earlier bravado replaced with an abundant determination to do her best, Tohru yanked open the door and stepped into the empty hallway. As she moved to her first destination, her mind shifted to the last time she had seen Yuki. He had been so pale and weak looking, it had almost broken her heart.
She paused once more just outside his door. If he wasn't doing any better now, she doubted she would have the nerve to make him do anything. But that didn't mean she had to give up her plan, she decided. If Yuki was still unwell, she'd simply move her "confrontation" with him to the end of the list, giving him time to recuperate. And, if the other boys proved more helpful than she was expecting, she might not need to bother him at all.
With a firm nod directed at herself, she continued on. Opening the door about a foot, she leaned forward to peek inside. The lights were off, the only illumination coming from the hall. It was just enough for her to make out the form laying motionless on the bed. From what she could see, Yuki was in the exact same position as he had been during her last visit.
Tohru stepped into his room, quietly pulling the door closed behind her. She crossed the floor to the side of his bed in order to get a good look at his face. The memory of his appearance days before had stuck with her, invoking worry at the thought that he might be worse.
A feeling of relief washed through her as she noticed a decided improvement rather than the decline she had feared. The skin beneath his eyes still held shadows, but they were nowhere near as dark as they had been before. There was also a hint of pink in his cheeks; not feverish, but adding color to his otherwise pale countenance.
She found herself studying his features closely, unsure of why and yet unable to look away. It was more than just the usual aide/patient relationship that had her doing it, and she knew it. There was something about him, something indefinable and enigmatic that called to her. Looking at him made her think of times when she was young, wrapping herself in her mother's voice as she drifted off to sleep. Yuki was both the fairy tale prince and the magic of make-believe born into a living person.
Shaking off the out of place thought, Tohru stretched out a hand. Her fingers had barely brushed against his forehead when his eyes suddenly opened. There was no warning, no fluttering of eyelashes or furrowing of his brow. One moment she was looking at a frozen, unresponsive face; the next she was trapped by the mysterious violet depths of his eyes.
"H-hello," she managed to stammer, self-consciously drawing back her hand and taking a step away from the bed. She dropped her eyes, listening to the rustling noises as he pulled himself into a sitting position. It was only when silence fell once more that she dared a glance in his direction.
He was leaning back against the headboard, his hands laying stacked in his lap. His head was tilted to one side as he looked at her with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "Hello again," he said with a slight smile. There was a slight roughness to his voice that hadn't been there before. Since he hadn't been sick long enough for it to come from disuse, she supposed it was caused by the attack itself. She wondered exactly what sort of illness it was, and if she dared to ask.
The question that raised reminded Tohru of her purpose and she offered a slightly shaky smile in return. "I'm glad to see that you're feeling better. I was worried when Ms. Almont told me that you weren't feeling well. I checked in on you, but it looked like you needed your rest."
Remorse flickered across his face. "I'm sorry to have worried you. It's really not that serious, just an ailment I've had since I was young."
Before she could talk herself out of it, Tohru voiced a question she normally wouldn't have for fear of being rude. "What kind of illness is it?" She silently congratulated herself for taking the first, albeit small, step in the direction she wanted to continue by asking something she usually wouldn't have.
Yuki didn't seem to mind as he answered right away. "Severe asthma. It's gotten better as I've gotten older, but I still have problems with it sometimes when I get too agitated."
Tohru's mind immediately flew to the time they had spent in the lunchroom. She remembered the conversation they had had as they potted the plants. She remembered how he had smiled as he explained how everything was done. Even at that time, she had thought it startling at how quickly he had come out his shell. Yuki had gone from not speaking to carry on a full discussion in one afternoon.
Her first thought the next night when Ms. Almont had told her that Yuki wasn't well came back with a vengeance. She had worried then that she had been the cause, and now her fear was reborn. Ducking her head, she gnawed on her lower lip for a moment before gathering enough courage to ask him outright. "It . . .wasn't because . . .I kept you . . .up that night . . .with the gardening, was it?"
There was a long moment of silence that allowed Tohru time to more and more sure that that had been the cause. Her chin dipped deeper and deeper towards her chest, which was why she never saw it coming. She started when his pale hand came to rest on her own clasped hands, then her eyes flew up to meet his. With a sincere expression on his face, Yuki spoke urgently.
"It wasn't you. I . . .I had fun talking to you. More fun than I've had in a long time." He paused, a blush tinting his cheeks as he redirected his gaze to a spot on the floor. Tohru felt an answering wave of color rise up her own face as a slightly embarrassed delight filled her. "The attack came after . . .because of . . .someone else."
Watching as his brow furrowed a bit, Tohru remembered another aspect of that night. A meeting in a darkened hallway, three shadowy figures. The soft hissing voice that had spoken in a manner meant to be obeyed. Without thinking, the name that the one man had said spilled from her lips. "Akito."
Yuki's reaction was instantaneous. His soft gasp was loud in the practically silent room. The color that she had just been admiring in his face blanched away, leaving him nearly as white as the sheet behind him. The hand that was resting on hers convulsed, squeezing almost painfully before he pulled it away.
"Where . . .how did you hear that name?" he asked, his voice lower than before, making the raspy quality more prominent.
"I saw him, in the hall that night. He was coming from your room. He was with Dr. Hatori . . .Sohma and someone else I didn't recognize." She hesitated before mentioning the last name of the man she now knew to be his cousin.
Yuki didn't seem to notice. He muttered something under his breath that sounded like "Kureno" before grasping each of her hands in one of his own. "You have to stay as far away from him as possible. Promise me, Miss Honda."
The intent look on his face was almost frightening, and she didn't doubt for a moment that what he was asking was very important. Wanting to calm him, but still unsure of the reasons behind his request, she gave an emphatic nod. "I promise. But why? What's so bad about him?"
Before he could answer, there was a loud noise in hall and the door flew open to reveal an alarmed looking Momiji. His brown eyes were wide and his blonde hair was more tousled than usual as he panted for breath. As he stood in the open doorway, the sounds of an argument drifted into the room, followed by more thumps and bangs. Momiji looked at Tohru, then had to swallow before he could manage to speak.
"Miss Tohru, come quick!"
