Chapter Seven: The Bargain!

The next morning Tohru woke up bright and early and looked around the room.

"Good" she thought, "Kisa is still sleeping, and so is Rin. But I don't see Kagura. Oh well" she said to herself as she climbed out of her bed and got dressed quickly.

She walked downstairs and looked around the living room, not a soul was awake so she sighed in relief. Just as she was about to leave Kagura entered the room from the kitchen.

"Good morning Tohru" Kagura smiled brightly.

"Oh Kagura. I didn't even know you were awake" Tohru replied startled.

"I've been awake for hours. What are you doing up so early?"

"Oh I was. I couldn't sleep anymore" she grinned sheepishly.

"You don't say. Well would you like some breakfast?"

"Actually I was going to go for a walk."

"By yourself?"

"Mhm. You know just to think about some things."

"Oh. Tohru you're not upset about yesterday are you?"

"Upset? No" she shook her head, "I just need to go for a walk" she walked over to the door.

"All right! Have a good time!"

"Thanks I'll see you later!" Tohru replied as she exited.

Kagura frowned a bit as Kisa entered the room.

"Kagura where's Sissy this morning?" Kisa asked, "She wasn't in the room."

"She just went for a walk" Kagura smiled, "Want some breakfast?"

"Okay" Kisa nodded as they both walked into the kitchen.

(Next Scene)

Tohru walked slowly to the main house, not sure what to expect. From up in their room, Rin had just awakened and walked over to the window. She watched as Tohru moved closer to the house.

"Now why is she going there?" Rin thought with a concerned frown on her face.

(Next Scene)

Tohru entered the main building and saw Kureno sitting in the hallway in front of two large doors. As she approached he stood up abruptly.

"Miss Honda you're here early?" he replied quite stunned.

"Yes I hope that's not a problem. I mean if Akito is asleep, I can come back later?"

"No he's awake" Kureno shook his head, "I'll tell him that you are here. You can sit there if you want?" he pointed to the bench before entering the large doors.

"Thank you" she replied slowly as she sat down.

While she waited she stared at her feet and gazed around the room. Kureno returned moments later.

"Go right on in" he said.

"Oh" she nodded standing up, "Okay."

She entered the large, somewhat dark room and peered in. Akito was nowhere to be seen.

"I guess he'll be here in a few moments" she thought to herself as she walked over to his chair and knelt down, "This room isn't any much different then the one back at the main house" she said to herself gazing around at the architecture.

From a corner door Akito entered in. He was smiling somewhat as he walked over.

"Miss Honda" he replied, "Early and prompt I see."

"I hope that's not a problem?" she said, "Coming too early I mean."

"Not at all" he smiled sitting down in his chair, "I like people who are early and prompt. I don't like to wait."

"Oh. Then it's okay that I came this early then?"

"Of course" he nodded, "You're probably wondering why I asked you here?"

"Well yes. You said it was important."

"It is very important. You might even say vital."

"What is it?"

"Miss Honda, tell me, you'll be graduating soon correct?"

"Yes" she nodded, "In the spring."

"I wonder. What will you do after you leave Shigure's house?"

"Do? Oh you mean where will I go?" she grinned somewhat, "You don't have to worry about that I have somewhere to go."

"Yes I figured you would. But there is question that has plagued me for some time. I was hoping today that you could answer it."

"I'll do my best" she nodded.

"Tell me. When you leave, and you have to leave them behind. I suppose what I am trying to say is how do you feel about all of them? The ones you live with I mean?"

"I don't think" she started to say.

"Well let's say Yuki for example? What is your exact feeling about him?"

"Yuki?" Tohru looked up at Akito and then smiled, "Well Yuki is a very special person to me."

"Oh" Akito raised an eyebrow and frowned slightly, "How so?"

"Well, he's always been there to look after me. Like a big brother. He is a few months older then I am. I look at him as my protective big brother. And Shigure" she smiled, "Shigure is like one of those funny uncles you have. He's wonderful to be around."

"And what about the monster?"

"Huh?"

"Kyo? How do you feel about him?" Akito smiled.

Tohru stared at Akito and then down at the floor. How was she going to answer that question?

(Next Scene)

Meanwhile back at the other house Kyo came downstairs and was startled by Kagura.

"Good morning Kyo!" she said in a singsong voice.

"Uh! Kagura. What are you doing down here?" he said rubbing his eyes.

"Making breakfast. Want some?"

"No thanks. You seen Tohru anywhere?"

"Tohru? She went for a walk this morning."

"What? By herself?"

"Mhm. She's been gone for twenty minutes. Kyo where are you going?"

"For a run. Maybe I'll bump into her" he walked out the door after having put on his shoes.

"Hmm?"

(Next Scene)

Akito waited patiently for Tohru to answer. He stared deeply into her face, almost boring into her.

"Uh" she looked up again astonished, "I knew this would come up today" she thought, "I knew this. I could feel it all morning. Still I can't lie. I can't lie of how I feel about him. We just told each other how we felt. No. I have to say it. I don't have to reveal how he feels, just me" she looked once more in Akito's eye, "You want the truth?"

"That's all I ever want Miss Honda. You can tell me. I won't get angry."

"Then to be honest, truly honest. I love Kyo."

"Oh?"

"Yes, I love him very much."

"I see. So that's your answer. I have to say I had my suspicions for some time" he stood up and walked over to a nearby bird cage, "It must pain you then, to know that he is being locked up after high school?"

"Yes" she nodded, "That gives me a great deal of pain. I think it's unfair and I believe he deserves to be free. Just like everyone else, despite his appearance. I've seen the other him. I don't think he would be anything like the other cats of the zodiac. He is too gentle for that."

" Indeed. I myself don't like it very much. It is his father's wish. And it is tradition. And one doesn't exactly go against tradition. Even if they are the head of the family" he paused, "Tell me Miss Honda. If I could find someway to prevent it from happening, would that make you happy?"

"You, you could do that?" she asked astonished.

"I can do anything. Of course convincing his father will be quite difficult" he walked back over and sat down.

"Yea" she nodded sadly, "You're right."

"However I am willing to give it a try."

She looked up hopefully.

"But I won't do it for free."

"I don't understand."

"It's simple" he said out loud then thought to himself, "This is too easy. I can find out the truth, and I may have to do something not within my nature. But it will be so worth it in the end" he looked her directly in the eye, "Miss Honda, would you do anything? Promise anything to make that unfortunate outcome ever occur?"

"Would I do anything? Of course. I would. In a heartbeat. I'd do anything to make sure that, that didn't happen."

"I'm glad to hear you say that" Akito replied leaning back into his chair, "That shows that you really care about him, "All right then. If you give me what I want I will convince Kyo's father to not lock him up. Do we have a deal?"

Tohru thought for a few moments and then nodded her head.

"What is it you want Akito?"

"You ask that, even though you don't know what you are giving up in exchange. I could be asking for you to move out of Shigure's house or other things, and yet you're still agreeing?"

"Yes" she nodded, "I would do that. I would move out of Shigure's house. I would do anything to make sure Kyo would be free."

"Anything? You're quite certain of that?"

"Yes" she nodded, "Tell me Akito, what do you want? And you shall have it."

He smiled, his dark hair falling over his face as he looked at the floor. Then he looked up and looked directly into her eyes.

"I will talk to Kyo's father, but in exchange you have to allow me to kiss you."

(Next Scene)

Kyo returned from his run and saw Momiji at the front door.

"Hey there Kyo!" Momiji grinned, "Have a good run?"

"Yea" Kyo said out of breath, "Momiji have you seen Tohru?"

"I haven't seen Tohru all morning."

"Damn" Kyo replied, "I thought she'd be back by now. I got to get dressed. Will you let me know when she gets here?" he walked over to the steps.

"Sure" Momiji nodded, "I wonder where Tohru is anyway?"

(Next Scene)

Tohru sat stunned for at least ten minutes not being able to speak. Akito once more waited patiently for her answer.

"What did you just say?" she finally found her voice, "You want to what?"

"Kiss you" Akito repeated, "It's not too large of a request I hope. And I don't mean a kiss on the hand. I mean a real kiss."

"Why? Why would that be something you want?" she said nervously.

"Well let's just say, I've never had one and I'm curious of what it's like."

"But surely, you could kiss any number of girls. Prettier ones. You don't even like me."

Akito chuckled.

"Miss Honda who ever said that?"

"You mean you don't hate me?"

"No" he shook his head, "Quite the contrary. You make my family happy. And when they're happy so am I. I am quite grateful for you for that. Also I did say you were cute before so how could you think that you're not pretty? Of course I do understand that you're tormented, being that you're in love with Kyo. So if you decide not to, that's all right. Of course I can't keep my end of the bargain either. You understand?"

"Allow him to kiss me?" Tohru thought, "I have dreamt of the day when Kyo would be the first to do it. But if I don't do this. If I don't agree, Kyo will be locked up forever. This is my one opportunity to save him and make sure he's free and happy. Oh what do I do mom? Do I agree? If I do, it's just one kiss right? It doesn't matter. It's not like he's asking me for something worse. It's just a kiss. That's all."

"Have you made your decision?" Akito asked his arms crossed.

"What do I do?" Tohru thought, "What?"

(Next Scene)

Hatsuharu walked onto the back deck where Kyo was leaning against the bar.

"Kyo?"

"Is Tohru back yet?" Kyo looked back eagerly and a bit worried.

"No" Haru shook his head.

"Well don't bother me until she is" Kyo snapped.

"Okay" Haru nodded leaving him once more.

Yuki walked sleepily down the stairs and noticed Kyo outside with his shoulders scrunched up.

"Hey good morning sleepyhead" Hatsuharu replied cheerfully coming over.

"Morning. What's with the stupid cat?"

"Oh he's just worried about Tohru."

"Miss Honda?" Yuki looked up in surprise, "Where is she? What's going on?"

"Kagura said she went for a walk this morning, but she hasn't come back yet."

"That's weird" Yuki replied, "It's not like her to go off on her own."

"That's exactly what I was thinking" Haru said with a frown.

"I don't like this."

(Next Scene)

Tohru finally raised her eyes off of the ground and looked at Akito.

"If you keep your end of the bargain, then you have a deal Akito."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yes. I'm very sure."

"All right then. Wait right there" he moved from the chair and walked slowly over and then knelt down before her.

Tohru took a deep breath as he moved his face closer into hers. His lips pressed hers gently at first but as she thought he would pull away his lips became even tighter and she tried to pull away but he placed his hand on her arm tighter so she couldn't move, as he continued to kiss her passionately.

"It's for Kyo," she kept telling herself over and over as her heart cried, "It's for him."

Finally Akito pulled away with a smile and stood up. Tohru sat there completely stunned, eyes wide, scared to death.

"Thank you Miss Honda" Akito replied, "I will do everything I can to keep my end of the deal. You can go now."

Tohru stood shakily up and walked over to the two double doors, desperate to get out of the room. She walked out of the room and Akito sat back down.

"Now it's only a matter of time till she runs and tells him" Akito thought, "And then the real fun begins. Still" he felt his lips, "I had no idea that kissing her would be that much enjoyable. Perhaps there is more to Miss Honda than meets the eye."

(Next Scene)

Tohru stood outside the door for a few minutes holding a hand over her mouth, trying to stop the tears from falling from her eyes.

"I can't tell him" she thought as she cried, "I can never tell Kyo about this" she dashed out of the house, "It will break his heart!"

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Hey guys! Good morning! Here's the first chapter of the day! Akito is pretty evil in this chapter for using Tohru like he did, but he does have a motive, I promise you! Find out what it is in the next chapter!

Next Chapter: Chapter Eight: Playing One off the Other

Akito uses Tohru against Kyo as he tries to discover the truth!