Disclaimer: I do not now, nor will I ever own Fruits Basket or the characters from it.
A/N: Hey everyone. I'm back from Japan. I'm sorry it's been awhile but I couldn't update from the computer I had in Japan (the note was actually written by my brother). This chapter is not really a happy one but I promise things get better in chapter 14.
Roses of Glass Chapter 13It was close to an hour before Kyo and Tohru moved. Even then, neither really wanted to. For Kyo, the experience of being held and comforted was something he had been so deprived of that he didn't want to lose it now that it came to him. And Tohru was happy to finally be able to be, more actively, there for Kyo.
But, as much as they would like it to, time did not stand still for them. As time passed, both became aware of the fact that neither of them had eaten anything that day. When Tohru's stomach began to growl, they finally decided to go grab some food. They decided against eating at the hotel restaurant, because that was where Shigure was likely to be and Kyo didn't really want to run into him.
When they had finished eating, Kyo had returned to his normal self. He decided he wanted to try the challenge of ice climbing. Tohru, being slightly less adventuresome, decided to spend the day around the hotel. It was Christmas Eve, after all. She would make sure that everything was ready and perfect for the following day. She spent the afternoon making sure they had reservations for meals, and decorating the hotel room. She ran to the store and bought cocoa mix and a small cake. Then she checked on her present for Kyo. It was safe and sound in its hiding place.
By the time she had completed all of her tasks, Tohru's stomach was beginning to growl again. Surprised, she looked out the window and noticed it had grown dark. Deciding it was time to eat, Tohru went off in search of Kyo. She headed to the lounge, since that's where everyone went after their outdoor activities, due to the existence of the fireplace. She glanced around the room. Kyo was nowhere to be seen. Slightly disappointed, Tohru want to check with Yuki and Shigure.
When Yuki answered the door, Tohru asked, "Have you seen Kyo? Is he here? I'm looking for him to go to dinner."
Yuki shook his head, "No, I haven't see him since he stormed out of here this morning. I thought he was with you."
"What's going on?" asked Shigure, coming out of the bathroom.
"Apparently," Yuki answered, "Kyo has gone missing."
Tohru jumped in, "He left after lunch to go ice climbing. He hasn't been back to the room, unless he came while I was at the store, and I can't find him anywhere."
"Hmm. I don't like the sound of that," Shigure said, then, after thinking for a moment, "but it could work well in a novel. Young lovers on a romantic holiday until one of them has a tragic accident and is never heard from again."
Catching Tohru's worried expression, Yuki scowled at Shigure and hit him over the head. Turning back to Tohru he said to her, "Don't worry. I'm sure nothing like that has happened. Shigure just lets his imagination run wild and he doesn't think before he speaks."
But, having the idea put into her head, Tohru was not so easily calmed.
Shigure, having regained some sense of what was appropriate, added, "Yes, sorry. I'll tell you what, Tohru; we'll go and explain the situation to the hotel staff. We can ask if any of them have seen him. And if not, I'm sure they can do something to help us find him."
Looking slightly calmer, Tohru nodded and followed Yuki and Shigure to the reception area. She and Yuki waited in the lounge as Shigure explained the situation. After a few minutes of talking with the staff, the older man approached the two youths, "None of the staff has see Kyo since he left. They'll try paging him and if he doesn't show up, they will call the local search and rescue squads and get a search party going."
At that moment they hear the page calling for Kyo. When Kyo didn't show up after a few minutes, Tohru's eyes began to well up. She grew pale as she began to imagine the worst.
"Tohru," Shigure ordered, in an uncommonly serious voice, "Go sit down. You don't look well and Yuki and I can't catch you if you faint."
As Tohru moved towards the sofa, Shigure grabbed Yuki's arm and pulled him aside, "I'm going to go out and help look for Kyo. I want you to stay here with Tohru. If something bad has happened, she shouldn't be there to see but she also shouldn't be alone right now."
Yuki wanted to argue that it should be Tohru's decision whether she stayed or searched, but Shigure's face told him not to try. Instead he nodded reluctantly and said, "Tell them all to bring him back safe, for her sake."
Shigure ran off and Yuki turned to Tohru with sad eyes. He walked slowly towards her, not really wanting the task that had been assigned to him. He surprised himself by thinking that he would much rather be out searching for Kyo, also. Maybe he was finally learning not to feel such animosity towards his cousin. Maybe he just hated to see Tohru so upset. Maybe it was a little bit of both. But, for whatever reason, he found himself wishing he could switch places with Shigure. Then, thinking about how Shigure might handle the situation, the decided maybe it was better this way.
He sat down next to Tohru, "Look, I'm sure he'll be all right. If anyone can handle himself in the great outdoors, it's Kyo. He may not always act like the smartest guy in the world, actually he never does, but he does know what to do in the wilderness. He did train in the woods for moths before you met him, remember?"
When he got no response, Yuki glanced down at Tohru. She had cried herself to sleep. He took the throw blanket off the nearby chair and placed it over her, praying that when she woke up, it would be Kyo sitting beside her.