The walk to the base was silent but Yuki smiled at Tohru just the same. When they arrived the wind was picking up and Tohru knelt to look at the garden.
"Wow" she replied, "Everything looks so healthy."
"Yes it does" Yuki agreed kneeling down next to her, "But I have a confession to make."
"Hmm?"
"I didn't bring you here to look at the garden. I wanted to talk to you, alone."
"Okay" she said confused sitting down completely and wrapping her arms around her knees, "What about?"
"Well, first of all I want you to know how I feel."
"Feel?"
"Yea" he sat down, "Miss Honda I think that you are truly an extraordinary person. If not for you I wouldn't smile the way I do, or I never would have done things I would have done. Do you see what I am saying?"
"Uh huh" she nodded, "I feel the same way about you Yuki."
"But, I also want you to know that for a time, and I mean a time my feelings for you were different."
"Different?"
"Yea. In the beginning I convinced myself that perhaps it was possible. That it was a possibility that I was in love with you."
"Oh" she suddenly frowned, "Yuki, I."
"No let me finish Miss Honda" he held up his hand, "But I discovered that the love I felt for you wasn't the kind of love between a man and a woman. But the kind between two friends, or a brother and a sister. I used to think of you as more of a mother figure than anything. I realized sometime down the road by not telling you how I felt has been a sort of problem for you, a painful thing."
"Painful? What do you mean?"
"I know you Miss Honda" he grinned, "I know you are the type of person who despite how you feel, really feel, you would keep it inside in case if you were afraid of hurting someone. I've known pretty much for a long time now, that you yourself have feelings for someone, and I don't want to be the obstacle that stands in your way of happiness, when I'm not you see."
"Oh Yuki" she had tears forming in her eyes, "Do you really mean that?"
"Yes. All I've ever wanted for you Miss Honda is for you to be happy, and even though it's him, and even though I might not like it very much because it's him I think more than anything that you should tell him how you feel."
(Next Scene)
Meanwhile Kyo was walking through the woods. Shigure had informed him that Tohru and Yuki were somewhere out here and he needed to talk to her. He wanted to clear the air with her once and for all. As he approached the base he saw them sitting next to each other smiling. He ducked behind a tree and stared jealously at them.
"Miss Honda" Yuki continued, "I love you. I love you very much."
"I love you too Yuki."
His fears had been confirmed. He had heard the words and his heart sunk. He pulled away from the tree and walked back to the house.
"Damn it" he thought, "I'm too late."
Taking off like he did he didn't hear the final conversation between Yuki and Tohru. Tohru took Yuki's hand and smiled.
"So now, that we got that out of the way brother" she replied with a grin and he smiled back, "What do you think we should pick before we go?"
"I don't know sister" he added, "Your call."
(Next Scene)
Back at Shigure's house Kyo stood in his room with his head bent.
"Damn him. Damn that rat! Doesn't he have enough? I hate him! I hate him!" he pounded the pillow.
As he stood there pounding the pillow over and over he heard Tohru and Yuki returning. He looked out the window angrily and saw Yuki smiling. Kyo grimaced as he dashed out of the room and headed towards the roof.
Tohru walked to her room and Yuki, who saw Kyo heading to the roof decided to talk with him. He climbed the ladder and saw the boy staring angrily at the moon.
"Kyo, what's the matter with you?" he asked.
"As if you didn't know" Kyo spat, "I guess the best man won after all."
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't play innocent. Don't you have enough? Isn't enough that every girl at school worships you? You couldn't let me have this one could you? No. You had to be Prince Yuki once more and swoop in."
"Okay before you start accusing me of anything stupid cat, would you mind telling me why you're saying this?"
"I said don't play dumb."
"No you said don't play innocent."
"Same thing. What the hell were you doing out in the woods with her anyway?"
"Oh" Yuki said with a sigh and placing his hand to his head, "You were spying on us weren't you?"
"I wasn't spying. I was looking for her to talk to her."
"What did you hear?" Yuki asked crossing his arms.
"I heard you say you loved her and I heard her say she loved you back."
"Is that all?" Yuki said cynically.
"Yea so?"
"You know if you had been there five minutes before that, you would have heard me say something like I think of her as my younger sister."
"What?"
"That's right Kyo. You can stop being jealous now."
"I'm not jealous" Kyo looked away, "Why would you say something like that?"
"I'm not in love with her Kyo. And if you would open up your eyes for once stupid cat you would notice that she feels the exact way that you do."
"But she said I love you back to you?"
"Mhm" Yuki nodded, "And after that she called me brother. She doesn't love me Kyo. She loves you."
"She does?"
"Yes. Heaven knows why, but she does. And I know that you love her too. So I told her it would be best if she revealed how she felt."
"You told her that?" Kyo raised an eyebrow.
"Yes."
"Even though it's me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because Kyo I want her to be happy. And if you're what makes her happy then so be it. Which reminds me, before I go I have one more thing to say to you."
"What's that?"
"After you both tell each other how you feel, I want you to keep this in mind, I gave you my blessing, but heed these words. If you ever, and I mean ever hurt her in any way Kyo I will kill you. Understand."
"Yea" Kyo nodded slowly as Yuki began to descend the ladder, "Hey! How can you say that and say you don't love her?"
"I do love her" Yuki replied looking him straight in the eye, "Just think of me as the concerned older brother and then you'll understand. Good night Kyo" he disappeared.
"I'll be damned. That may be the first time we have ever talked like that" Kyo said out loud to himself, "Uh I hope that never happens again" he sat back down in disgust.
(Next Scene)
As Tohru got ready for bed she thought about her earlier conversation with Yuki and smiled as she climbed under the covers, Kyoko jumping up beside her.
"Well" she thought, "I've been given a sign. But do I follow it or do I keep this special feeling all to myself. Mom" she looked at the photograph, "Help me to decide. Help me to find the answer."
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Okay that's the end of Book Seven! In answer to your question Kushuneko, I have every intent on finishing this series, so don't worry. And to Amaya Hanyou I would be delighted to have my stories on your website. Just two things, I want my credit and please e-mail me the name of your site! Okay with that said and done I hope you enjoyed the seventh book in the riceballs series. I know some of you are disappointed by the Kyoru outcome but they are by far one of my favorite anime couples. I also loved in this chapter the way Yuki so candidly put how he felt to Tohru. I always saw him more like a brother figure to her anyway the way he is so protective of her. But don't worry Yuki fans he won't be alone for long! See you all next week for Book eight!
Next Book: Book Eight: Summer Vacation
It's time for another fun-filled vacation planned by Momiji. You know what that means? More hunting for stag beetles, playing in the ocean, and building sandcastles. Not to mention a new discovery and another unexpected visit with Akito! Don't miss a minute!