Chapter Eight: Playing One of the Other

Tohru walked slowly through the woods heading back the other house. As she walked she spotted Rin coming towards her with a curious frown on her face.

"Rin what are you doing out here?" she asked surprised and stopping.

"I came to find out if you're all right? Everyone back at the house is worried about you."

"Oh I didn't mean to worry everyone. I'll get back right away" she walked past her.

"Hey Honda!"

"Hmm?" Tohru stopped again and looked back.

"What were you doing there anyway?"

"Oh uh Akito wanted to see me."

"So you went voluntarily? By yourself?" Rin said her eyes wide.

"Yes he asked me not to tell anyone."

"Do you know how stupid that is?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean being alone with that man. No one should be alone with him especially if you're a girl."

"I don't understand."

"He's dangerous, and. Oh never mind" she stopped herself with a huff, "Get back to the house, so everyone will be happy that you're all right."

"Okay" Tohru replied still confused, "Thanks for coming to look for me."

"Yea whatever" Rin said sitting down on a stump, "Go."

As Tohru left Rin sighed and placed a hand on to her forehead.

"What on earth is he up to now?" she thought.

(Next Scene)

Hatsuharu once more walked onto the deck.

"Kyo."

"Is she back?" Kyo spun around.

"Yea. She's on the porch" Haru nodded.

"Thank goodness" Kyo sighed as he flew past Haru and headed to the door.

He walked out onto the porch where he saw Tohru sitting on the bench with her face to the ground.

"Tohru" he walked over with a concerned look on his face.

"Kyo" she looked up as he sat down.

"Are you all right?"

"Yea I'm fine. I'm sorry I worried you."

"That's all right. It's just I'm glad to see that you're okay. Where were you?"

"Oh. I went for a walk this morning" she lied.

"A walk?" he raised an eyebrow.

" Mhm. I told Kagura I was going."

"Yea. I went for a run, but I didn't see you."

"I must have gone a different way."

"Right. Tohru are you okay?"

"Yes I'm all right" she nodded.

"You don't look it. You look upset."

"No really I'm okay. Really I am."

"Tohru!" Momiji appeared with a smile on his face.

"Momiji?" she said surprised and with a smile.

"We're going to look for stag beetles now. Are you interested?"

"That sounds like fun. I'm in."

"Great! How about you Kyo?" Momiji asked turning to him.

"Uh no" Kyo frowned confused at Tohru's sudden smile, "I don't think so. I'll pass."

"Okay" Momiji nodded, "Well Kisa and Hiro are all ready to go."

"Sissy" Kisa appeared with a sulking Hiro, "I'm so glad that you're here we were worried about you."

"I'm sorry I worried you" Tohru smiled taking her hand making Hiro frown even more then he was, "Let's go hunt for stag beetles."

"See you later Kyo!" Momiji called as they departed and Shigure was approaching the house.

"Bye!" Kyo waved.

"Hello Shigure" Tohru smiled as they past.

"Good morning Tohru. Sleep well" he smiled back.

"We're heading out to hunt stag beetles" Momiji said proudly running past.

"Have fun!" Shigure called, "While they can I mean we're leaving in the morning" he said to himself.

"Why so early?" Kyo replied coming over.

"Hmm? Oh Kyo I didn't see you there."

"Why are we leaving so early?" Kyo repeated.

"Well Akito is leaving tomorrow and so is Hari. Aya needs to get back to his shop, so tomorrow seems natural."

"So why don't you guys leave tomorrow and let us stay another day. I mean Haru can drive us back."

"Hmm. That's true. But don't you have school?"

"Not till next week" Kyo retorted.

"Uh well all right. You kids can have an extra day."

"We'll come back on Sunday" Kyo suggested.

"Sounds good. I just came over to get something for Aya. Why didn't you go with them?"

"I don't go beetle hunting. Besides I uh need to do some thinking" Kyo looked away.

"Oh all right. See you later Kyo."

"Yea whatever" Kyo crossed his arms as Shigure entered the house and sighed, "I wonder, what is on her mind right now?"

(Next Scene)

Kureno walked to Akito's room and knocked on the door. Just when he was about to enter in Akito came out all dressed up like he was going out somewhere.

"Akito?" Kureno said surprised, "Where are you going?"

"For a walk. Alone Kureno."

"Okay. Have a safe trip."

"I'll be fine. I decided to go sit on the beach. I'll be back later."

"Yes sir" Kureno nodded with a bit of a frown as Akito left the hall.

Kureno watched as he walked out the door, sighed and moved down the hall to the end where he stopped at a door. He entered in and saw Hatori sitting at a desk with his head bent over papers. He walked slowly into the room and leaned against the wall. He slid to the floor and placed his hands onto his knees.

"Kureno" Hatori looked over as he sighed again, "What's wrong?Is it Akito?"

"No" Kureno shook his head, "He's gone for a walk on the beach."

"So what is it? What did you come here for?"

"I actually came here to see if you needed help?"

"No I'm fine" Hatori shook his head, "But your sigh indicates that you need something. To talk maybe."

"No" Kureno shook his head, "Maybe I just want the company."

"I see. Then you're welcome to stay. As long as you like."

"Thanks" Kureno smiled.

(Next Scene)

Kyo walked back into the house and saw Haru sitting by his keyboard.

"Hey Kyo. Did you see Tohru?"

"Yea" Kyo nodded, "She's out with the other kids looking for beetles."

"And" Haru stood up, "Where was she?"

"She said she went for a walk."

"And you believe her?"

"Well no. But if she doesn't want to tell me, I'm not going to force her to."

"That's good. I have to say I have my suspicions about where she was though."

"Yea. Where? Do you think maybe she ran into Akito during her walk? That would make her late getting back."

"No" Haru replied, "I think she was at the main house, talking with him."

"What makes you think that?"

"Come on Kyo, he pulled her to the side last night to talk to her, and this morning she disappears. I think he asked her to come over there."

"Why would he ask her alone?"

"That's the way he is" Hatsuharu said sitting in front of his keyboard once more, "I mean even the other day he wanted to see us all separately. And knowing him, he probably told her not to tell anyone either."

"Yea" Kyo nodded slumping onto the couch, "That is like him. It's just like him."

"I wouldn't worry about it Kyo. She seems all right, right?"

"I guess. Yea. She seems okay. But I'm not so sure. I'm gonna go for a walk" he stood back up, "I'll see you later."

"Bye" Haru replied as Kyo grabbed for the doorknob.

But it was opened by Rin who was coming in from outside.

"Walk much?" she said.

"Nice to see you too Isuzu" Kyo replied angrily.

"It's Rin. How many times have I told you that?" she said back with a frown on her face.

"Why can't you just accept your real name" he said before departing.

"Idiot" Rin scoffed but stopped when she saw Haru rise, "Haru?"

"Rin."

She began to dash towards the stairs.

"Rin don't!" he called out, "Don't walk away."

She stopped at the stairs and turned around slightly.

"What is it Haru? What do you want?"

"I just want to talk to you."

(Next Scene)

Kyo walked along the beach, the wind blowing his hair softly, Tohru deep in his thoughts. He knew something was bothering her. The question was, what? As he got to the center he noticed someone sitting there and frowned a bit when he realized it was Akito. He slowly began to walk past him, which Akito looked up and smiled.

"Kyo" he said loud enough for him to hear, "Fancy meeting you out here."

"Yea" Kyo replied back, "I'm sorry I interrupted you. I'll go now."

"You don't have to leave. I mean I know we said we wouldn't see each other anymore, but that's in meetings."

"No that's okay. I got to go anyway."

"Tell me something Kyo" Akito stopped him again making Kyo sigh heavily.

"Yes."

"I was wondering, were you worried?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm sure that you must have been wondering where she was this morning."

"Who?" Kyo said not even turning around.

"Tohru Honda of course."

"Um the thought did cross my mind but she came back so it's okay."

"I see. What if I was to tell you that she was with me this morning."

"Was she?"

"Yes we had quite a morning. I asked her a question. One that's been bothering me. And do you know what she said Kyo?"

"No" Kyo shook his head.

"She told me that she was in love with you. Quite surprising. I thought it was Yuki she was in love with."

"She told you that?" Kyo said with no emotion in his voice but he thought, "She actually told him? Of course she did. She would never lie about that."

"Yes she was quite honest about her feelings about you" Akito stood up and walked closer to the ocean, "In fact she's quite tormented about the thing that is going to happen to you after high school."

Kyo said nothing, just kept his back to Akito while he continued his prying.

"I asked her if she would do anything to prevent that from happening. And she said yes. She would. She would do anything for you to be free. Isn't that sweet. She loves you that much."

Kyo's eyes became wide but he kept his cool.

"He's trying to figure out something" Kyo thought to himself, "He's trying to get me to confess how I feel but I won't. Still what happened I wonder? Will he tell me?"

"It's pretty amazing the lengths she'll go for you" Akito replied.

"What did you do?" Kyo said slowly.

"I told her that I would speak with your father and try to convince him to not have you locked up in exchange for something that I wanted."

Kyo still didn't turn around.

"What did you do?" he repeated.

"Oh I asked her for something. Really trivial. Nothing worth mentioning. However you might be interested."

Kyo held his breath and repeated the question one last time.

"What did you do to Tohru?"

" I asked if I could kiss her."

Kyo felt his heart cry. His eyes became even wider and his shoulders tightened.

"You know she has very soft lips. Like silk really. I hadn't expected that. What's wrong Kyo? Are you angry now? Like I know you are?"

"He's lying" Kyo thought, "He's got to be lying? He's just trying to. I won't" Kyo thought shaking his head, "Why would I be upset?" he replied out loud.

"Excuse me?" Akito frowned.

"So you kissed her? Big deal. If anyone would be upset it would be Yuki."

"You mean. Wait a minute. You mean you're not affected by this at all?" Akito shouted.

"Why would I be. It's none of my business. I think I've stayed to long. I have to go."

"Wait a minute!" Akito shouted.

"Yes" Kyo looked back over his shoulder.

Akito stared at him wondering why his little plan didn't work.

"He should be foaming at the mouth right now" he thought, "But he's not. He's not even upset."

"Well. You told me to wait."

"Never mind" Akito replied, "You can go."

Kyo bowed his eyes and then departed the area leaving Akito completely stunned and confused.

"That was not the way it was supposed to go" he thought, "What went wrong?"

As Kyo walked down the beach his heart hurt.

"Why? Why would she keep this all to herself? Why does she want to suffer alone? If it is true, I shall wait until she tells me herself. Then I'll believe it and only then."

(Next Scene)

Yuki wondered out onto the porch and sat down. As he sat he noticed that Momiji and the others were returning. He stood back up and smiled as Tohru came over.

"Hello there Miss Honda. We missed you this morning."

"Hello Yuki. I'm sorry I worried you."

"Oh that's okay. Did you have fun?"

"Yes although we didn't find any beetles."

"Nope" Momiji replied, "Kisa did find a beautiful butterfly though."

"That's good" Yuki smiled at his smaller cousin, "Lunch is ready inside."

"Okay" Kisa and Hiro nodded going in.

"Where's Kyo at?" Tohru asked.

"Uh I think he went for a walk. That's what Haru told me anyway."

"Oh. I'll go look for him."

"I'll go with you" Momiji suggested but Yuki pulled him back.

"Mnm Mnm Mnm."

"Oh right" Momiji grinned sheepishly, "Never mind."

"Huh?" Tohru looked at them confused.

"Don't worry about it Miss Honda. You go and find Kyo."

"Okay" she nodded walking towards the beach while Yuki and Momiji stood on the porch.

(Next Scene)

Meanwhile Kyo was on the beach trying to make a sandcastle. But it kept crumbling.

"Darn it" he replied, "I'm not doing a very good job at this. It keeps falling apart."

"Maybe you should add water to it" Tohru said walking over.

"Tohru? What do you mean?" he looked up with a smile as she knelt down.

"Well I've been researching about sandcastles since our last trip. Apparently" she took some of the water from the ocean, "If you dab a little water into it, it will stay together a lot longer."

"Huh? That's a good trick. Have any luck? Looking for beetles I mean?"

"Oh no" she shook her head, "No beetles. But Kisa did find a butterfly."

"Oh. And are you doing okay?"

"Yea. Why wouldn't I be?"

"No reason. Anything you want to talk about" he patted the castle.

"Well now that you mention it. I do have a confession to make."

"Oh what is it?" he asked.

"Well um, this morning when you asked where I was I told you I went for a walk."

"Uh huh" he nodded.

"But the truth is, I went to see Akito."

"Akito? You went to see Akito?" he stood up and brushed the sand off his hands.

"Yes. I didn't mean to lie to you. But he told me not to tell anyone."

"That's like him. So that's where you were?"

"But there's more. I mean more to the story."

"Okay. Go ahead. I'm listening."

Tohru sighed and then thought.

"I can't keep this to myself. I have to tell him. Even though it will kill him, I have to tell him the truth."

"Well. What is it?"

"Um. I went there and he asked me about my feelings about everyone and I told him how I felt about Shigure, and Yuki and even you. I told him that I was in love with you."

Kyo nodded.

"And then he asked if I was upset about you being locked up after school."

"Oh no" Kyo thought in his head, "It is true. He wasn't lying."

"And of course I said that I was in a lot of pain because of it, so he offered to talk to your father and try to convince him otherwise in exchange for something he wanted."

Kyo clenched his eyes and sighed.

"And what did he want?"

"He wanted to give me a. To give me."

"Tohru" Kyo knelt before her as her lip trembled in fear, "Listen it's okay" he placed his hand in hers.

"What is?"

"You don't have to say it. I already know."

"You know?" her eyes went wide as the tears began to form, "How?"

"He told me. About an hour ago. He told me everything. Tohru it's all right."

"No it's not all right. I mean I just told you how I felt and I just betrayed you in the worse possible way."

"How?"

"I let another man kiss me. I have done a terrible thing."

"Tohru" he shook his head, "You did that for my sake right?"

"Yes I did."

"Then don't worry about it. What you did was the most selfless, heroic thing. It wasn't terrible and it wasn't your fault. Akito made you do it. And you know why? He was trying to get me to admit how I feel about you."

"What?"

"That's right. That creep was trying to make me angry and furious, which I am. But I didn't let him see it. I was very calm and didn't give in. Tohru listen to me, I'm not angry with you. I have no reason to be. You did the sweetest thing for me. And I'm sorry you had to suffer with this all by yourself."

"You mean you're really not mad at me?" she asked the tears falling down her face.

"No" he shook his head, "Of course not."

"Oh Kyo" she fell into his arms, "I was so scared."

"You're shaking all over" he said as he held onto her, "It's okay. I'm here."

(Next Scene)

Hatsuharu and Rin sat on the back deck in silence. Rin stared in front of her while Haru glanced over at her now and then.

"Well what did you want to talk to me about? We've been sitting here for a long time."

"I forgot what I was going to say" he replied.

"Then I'm leaving" she stood up.

"Wait Rin please" he stood up, "Don't go."

"What do you want Haru?" she asked.

"Is it that hard to believe that I just want to spend some time with you? Or talk with you. It's been months Rin. Do you think I started playing music for the fun of it? No I started because of the situation with you. I play so I don't go black. Don't you understand I miss you? I miss being with you and holding you in my arms."

"Stop it Haru!" she shouted crying, "Just stop it! Don't talk like that! It doesn't do any good!" she let the tears slide down her cheek which made Haru cry himself.

"Rin baby don't cry" he pleaded.

"Don't call me that! I'm not you're baby anymore! It's over! You better get used to it" she dashed inside.

Hatsuharu watched for a few moments and then in a fit of rage he punched the deck with his bare hands, the tears sliding down on his own face.

(Next Scene)

Rin ran upstairs and flung herself on the bed, not being able to control the tears any longer, but sobbing harder then was humanly possible.

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Hey guys! That's it for this week! I will see you all next week for the last two chapters of book eight! I'm kind of emotionally drained right now from this particular chapter so see you later! Hope you enjoyed it!

Next Chapters:

Chapter Nine: Departure

Akito leaves the summer house and Tohru and the Sohmas spend one more day of fun!

And

Chapter Ten: Two Person Decision

Tohru and Kyo have a quiet moment to come to a decision!