Chapter Three: I Love Her!

Kyo wandered out into the hall after his workout and leaned against the wall stretching out his back legs. Kazuma came from around the corner with a glass of water in his hand.

"Here you go" he handed it to him.

"Thanks Master" he replied breathing a little harder than usual.

"Good workout?"

"I guess. I got to get home. Tohru's probably got dinner started by now."

"Why don't you come home with me tonight and have dinner Kyo?" Kazuma replied.

Kyo looked at his master like he was crazy.

"You know the answer to that."

Kazuma laughed.

"Well actually I wouldn't be cooking."

"What we're going to order out?"

"No. Kunimitsu made something."

"Oh that's right, he's living with you now. Well okay" Kyo agreed, "As long as you're not the one cooking, I guess I can come."

"Good. You can call Tohru from the house."

"Okay" Kyo nodded shouldering his bag, "Let's go."

(Next Scene)

The phone rang at the house and Yuki who was at the door answered it.

"Hello Sohma residence" Yuki replied.

"What are you doing answering the phone, you damn rat!" Kyo retorted.

"What do you want stupid cat" Yuki said angrily.

"Put Tohru on the phone, I didn't want to talk to your dumb ass!"

Yuki sighed furiously and turned to the kitchen.

"Miss Honda!" he called, "It's for you."

"Oh okay" she replied taking the phone from him, "Have a good time!" she said as he exited the house.

"Oh thanks Miss Honda" he smiled as he departed.

"Hello. Oh Kyo. What's up? Uh huh. All right. Have a good time. See you later."

Tohru hung up the phone and walked into the sitting room where Shigure was still reading his paper.

"Who was on the phone Tohru?" he asked interested.

"That was Kyo. He's going to be eating over at his Master's tonight" she replied as she sat down.

"And Yuki is going out. That means I get to have dinner with you all by myself huh?" he smiled stroking his chin mischievously.

"I guess so" she nodded.

"Oh I almost forgot, it won't just be the two of us. Aya is coming over tonight."

"Ayame is coming?"

"Mhm. We haven't spent time together since your birthday party, was the last time I believe."

"Well in that case I'll make an extra plate tonight."

"Thank you Tohru. You truly are an angel."

"Oh it's no trouble" she smiled entering the kitchen.

"Ah" he breathed, "It's so nice to be able to say that without getting a dirty look or get hit on the head. Although I have to admit I do kind of miss that."

(Next Scene)

Kyo walked into the sitting room of Kazuma's house and sat down at the table, which was already set for dinner. Kazuma came in and sat down on the opposite side.

"Isn't Kunimitsu going to join us?" Kyo asked.

"Actually no. He's going out tonight. But he was kind enough to make dinner for us."

"Oh."

"Well dig in," Kazuma said with a grin.

Kyo ate very slowly and the whole time he did Kazuma watched his expression. When Kyo had placed his chopsticks down and had picked up his cup, Kazuma cleared his throat.

"Kyo I don't mean to be nosy, but is there something bothering you?"

"No" Kyo shook his head, "Why would there be something bothering me?"

"Well, it may be my imagination, but you have been practicing an awful lot more this week then normal. I just thought perhaps you want to talk about it. Is it about your father?"

"Why would I care about that bastard" Kyo spat angrily.

"All right so it might be about your father. You've always confided in me Kyo. I would hate to think that you would stop confiding in me. But I understand if you don't want to talk."

Kyo sighed heavily and leaned into his right palm with his head.

"You really want to know what's bothering me?"

"I wouldn't ask if I didn't."

"Okay. Well it happened about a week ago."

"What happened? Did you see your father again?"

"No no no" Kyo said irritated, "I try to avoid him as much as possible, but what's bothering me does have something to do with him."

"Go on."

"Well, mind you it was a rough week. First I found out that Tohru knew about me being locked up."

"Mhm."

"You say that as if you already knew that?"

"Well I sort of did."

"And you didn't tell me?"

"Well Kyo I knew that you would be upset."

"Okay fine whatever, the point is she knows. And I took it badly. But I apologized for it. And then later in the week she had discovered something else. Something I didn't know until now."

"Which is?"

"We both knew each other's mothers. I met Tohru's mother many times and she met mine once."

"Well that's not hard to imagine. I mean they were friends. So?"

"Once that was discovered. Tohru gave me a letter."

"A letter?"

"Yea. It was a letter written to her mom from my mom before she died. And it tells the real reason that she committed suicide."

"The real reason?"

"Yea" Kyo nodded.

"And that is?"

"Well it ain't my curse that's for damn sure. Mom committed suicide because she was dying. Dying from leukemia. And she didn't want me to suffer any more by watching her die slowly before me."

"Really Kyo?" Kazuma looked at him with a shocked face.

"Yes" Kyo nodded again.

"Do you still have the letter?"

"Yea" Kyo walked over to his bag and unzipped it, "I have it here with me" he pulled the envelope out and walked back over to the table, "Here" he handed him the envelope.

Kazuma held onto the letter for a minute and then took out his glasses. He opened the envelope and unfolded the letter to read it. After reading over it a couple of times he folded the letter, placed it back in the envelope, put it on the table, and took off his glasses.

"Well" Kazuma sighed, "That certainly explains it doesn't it?"

Kyo nodded sadly.

"But it doesn't explain why your father is so set on you being locked up. He knew the truth, why would he lie about that?"

"I don't know. And quite frankly I don't care."

"I'm sorry Kyo. I had no idea. But it must have been hard for you to go through."

"Yea well, I wasn't alone so" Kyo shrugged his shoulders.

"I imagine. Having her there must have helped a lot."

"Who said she was there?" Kyo looked at him in surprise.

"I don't have to guess Kyo, I pretty much know that was her. Right?"

"Yea okay. It was her. She was the one by my side."

"I knew it."

"Master, that photograph I used to carry around, is it still here?"

"Mhm" Kazuma nodded, "Oh you mean the one like I gave Tohru?"

"Yea" Kyo nodded, "Where is it?"

"It's on the shelf," Kazuma pointed towards the bookcase.

Kyo stood up and walked over while Kazuma watched him.

"You know Kyo, I've been thinking about something lately."

"What?"

"Well don't you think it's time? Time to reveal your feelings?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I mean about Tohru."

Kyo froze at his last words.

"You know she's not going to be around forever Kyo. You only have a short time left."

"I don't know what you're talking about" Kyo said nervously facing the shelf.

"Come now Kyo. You forget I know you better than that."

Kyo began to hear echoes of the words he had heard from other people for months. First Kagura entered his mind.

(Flashback)

"You love her don't you Kyo?"

"No I don't!" he shouted.

(And then Hatsuharu)

"Anyone with eyes can see it. You care about that girl. You're both so head over heels in love with her that it's obvious."

(And even Akito)

"You're in love with her."

"Kyo?" Kazuma snapped him back.

"Huh?"

"Are you all right?"

"Yea I was just thinking. What are you basing this on? Your insinuation?"

"Well" Kazuma smiled since he was still denying it, "For starters she accepted you for what you are Kyo. She didn't run away."

"So?"

"And there's the fact you fought a boy in a martial arts tournament to defend her honor. Not to mention you told her of your own free will about your mother's suicide. So what else am I to think?"

Kyo stood there in silence for a moment. And then turned around to face his master.

"You're right" he said slowly, "I can't deny it anymore. I do have feelings for her. I" he sighed, "I" he stopped and his eyes went wide as the realization came into his head, "I never thought much about why I protected her from that creep, or why I would get so upset if some guy was coming onto her? It's clear now. It wasn't as before, but it is now. I love her. I'm in love with Tohru."

Kyo sat down and looked towards the floor.

"But it doesn't matter. I'm the cat of the zodiac. I'm a monster. She deserves to be with someone else. Besides I'm not going to be even around" he crossed his arms.

"You're giving up awful quick don't you think?"

"Master. Don't do this. Don't tell me that I have every right to tell her how I feel. I don't. I can't" he stood back up.

"Because of a little competition you're backing down Kyo?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You know what I am talking about. Yuki."

"Don't mention that damn rat" Kyo huffed.

"That is your competition isn't it? That's what your afraid of?"

"I'm not afraid of that damn rat."

"No. You misunderstood me. You're afraid to tell Tohru the truth, one because of your curse and two you don't think you're as worthy as he is."

"Well look at him!" Kyo shouted, "He's perfect. Perfect Prince Yuki. Who wouldn't want him?"

"Don't you think that you're assuming a bit too much? You haven't even asked the girl how she feels, how can you make that assumption."

"Trust me Master" Kyo replied, "I'm not the type that a girl is going to fall for."

"Maybe not. But isn't she worth that risk? Look Kyo, I'm not telling you what to do. But if you are going to do something, now is the time. You have very little time left. Use it."

Kyo stared at Kazuma and nodded his head slowly. Then he happened to glance at the clock that was above the mantle.

"It's late" he said shouldering his bag, "I got get back. I'll see you Master."

"Goodbye Kyo. Remember what I said" Kazuma replied as he exited.

"I will" Kyo nodded with a half of a smile.

(Next Scene)

As he closed the door and walked down the street he did think about his Master's words. He bent his head as he walked. The sun was just starting to set.

"It's impossible," he thought, "It'll never happen. No. I have to keep this to myself.

(Next Scene)

When he arrived home he saw that Ayame and Shigure were in the sitting room, drinking sake and laughing humorously about something. He rolled his eyes and placed his bag on the floor. He walked into the sitting room at the same time as Tohru did with another tray of tea.

"Welcome back Kyo" Tohru smiled.

"Oh Lucky Kyo come and join us" Ayame raised his cup.

"I don't drink you moron, I'm only seventeen. And don't call me that again!"Kyo retorted.

"Oh pish tosh I was drinking when I was fifteen" Ayame added dramatically.

"Well I'm not as stupid as you are. I'm going to the roof."

"Are you hungry?" Tohru asked in concern.

"No thanks" Kyo said as he walked towards the ladder.

Tohru watched as he exited. He climbed the ladder and sat in his favorite spot, to gaze at the moon since it was starting to come out. Kyoko hopped onto the roof and walked over to him.

"Hey cat" he replied as he petted her, "What are you doing up here?"

"There she is" Tohru said with a smile coming up the ladder, "You found her."

"Actually she found me" Kyo replied picking her up and handing her to Tohru who came walking over.

"Are you okay Kyo?" she asked as she sat down.

"Yea I'm all right. Why?" he nodded.

"You seem upset."

"No I'm all right" he replied looking at her with a smile on his face.

He looked up at the moon and once again heard Hatsuharu's voice inside his head.

"Time is a very precious commodity. But for you guys, time is almost up. Don't waste it. Because in the end it's you who will be sorry and you'll hate yourselves for it."

"Ain't that the truth" Kyo thought.

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Hey guys! It's me! I am writing these two chapters today since they will be doing work on the website on the day I planned to write. So I hope you enjoy this chapter and the next one will be written tonight. See you then!

Next Chapter: Meeting Machi's Father

Yuki meets Kakeru and Machi's father when he is visiting her house for a student council meeting.