(Chapter Two: The Rumor)

As Tohru and Kyo walked in hand in hand the courtyard was a buzz with whispers. From the sidelines the Prince Yuki fan club watched astonished. Hana and Uo spotted them coming in and looked on in both surprise and suspicion. Tohru and Kyo walked over to them and Uo was the first to speak.

"What's going on Tohru?" Uo asked as Kyo stood idly by watching his friends make eyes at him.

"Well, Kyo and I decided to make it official. We told each other how we felt at the summer house."

"You mean you're a couple now?" Uo replied as Hana looked like she would cry, "Is that true Orange top?" she turned to him.

"Yea uh" he said nervously looking around him, "Listen Tohru, I'm gonna go to my locker. I'll see you in class."

"Okay" she nodded as he sprinted to the doorway with his friends and a few of the other boys following him, "I guess everyone is surprised."

"Yea" Uo nodded, "But congratulations. I'm so happy for you Tohru."

"Thanks Uo" Tohru smiled, "Hana you haven't said anything."

"I" Hana replied, "I am very happy for you Tohru. I'm glad that you told one another. I also feel like I'm gonna cry."

"Hmm?"

"Oh it's nothing" Uo replied in a rush, "Come on let's go to our lockers and get our books. The news about you and Kyo should be all over school by now."

(Next Scene)

Uo didn't know the half of it. By the end of first period, everyone was talking about it. However it wasn't the worst thing. The worst thing was about to come. At second period as Tohru sat down a bunch of her male classmates came over asking for her phone number. Before she could answer the Prince Yuki fan club led by Minami Kinoshita pushed their way through to her desk.

"Tohru Honda!" Minami shouted as the boys backed off and the small group of girls surrounded her desk.

Hana and Uo heard the commotion and walked over.

"Is the rumor I hear true?"

"Rumor? What rumor?" Tohru looked at her confused.

"Oh come on" Miho said, "It's all over school."

"The rumor that you dumped our beloved Prince Yuki for that orange headed cousin of his?" Minami continued interrupting.

"What?"

"That's ridiculous. And back off" Uo replied.

"If you know what's good for you," Hana added dangerously.

The fan club girls took one look at Hana and took a step back.

"You wicked girl" Minami said as they moved away, "You'll pay for breaking Prince Yuki's heart."

"But I" Tohru stuttered.

"What are they talking about?" Uo replied with a frown.

"Who knows?" Hana said, "Tohru are you all right?"

"I don't know. I don't understand."

Tohru wasn't the only one having a hard time. At break time the Prince Yuki fan club threatened Kyo quite a bit, as well as some of the other boys in his class. Several girls came up to him asking for his number as well. It was pure pandemonium. The students in the school were hounding Kyo and Tohru and finally they had no choice but to run away from it. Kyo in one direction and Tohru in the other.

"What am I going to do?" Tohru replied to Hana and Uo who were with her.

A group of girls were coming her way. An angry looking bunch of girls.

"I tell you what. Do you have a place you can run to?" Uo asked.

"Yes" Tohru nodded, "I'll go to the student council office to find Yuki. Maybe he can help me with this mess."

"You go then Tohru" Hana replied, "We'll take care of the crowd."

"Thanks you guys" she dashed away, "I owe you one!"

(Next Scene)

Meanwhile on the other side of the building Yuki was also having problems. The girls were chasing him much more then usual and he ran to his office, dug out the key from his pocket, and slid inside as fast as he could. He caught his breath for a minute as he heard the cries of sympathy outside.

"I can't believe this."

"Yun. Yun" Kakeru Manabe appeared from the back room.

"Kakeru?"

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to escape the crowd out there," Yuki said short of breath, "Mr. Manabe."

"Yea."

"I'm gonna ask you a question and you better answer me correctly" he looked him straight in the eye, "Did you or did you not start a rumor around school involving me, Miss Honda, and Kyo?"

"Uh rumor? Oh that rumor. No I didn't. Not in this case, and usually I am the person who starts stuff like that."

"Okay" Yuki sighed in relief but then heard knocking on the door, "Oh no. I'm not here" he ducked behind his desk.

"I'll get it" Kakeru smiled and opened the door to find Tohru also out of breath, "Oh. You're Tohru Honda aren't you?"

"Yes" she nodded fervently, "I'm looking for Yuki is he here?"

"Come on in. Yun Yun! You have company."

"I told you I don't want" Yuki started to say but stopped, "Miss Honda? Are you all right?"

"Not really. That's why I came here."

"Well sit down. I guess you're having as much trouble as I am. Kakeru get her some water."

"Roger" Kakeru saluted and went to the back room.

"Thank you Yuki. I am so sorry to put you through this."

"No I'm sorry Miss Honda. I thought this was going to solve the problem. Instead it has just made it worse."

Suddenly someone else knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" Yuki called out nervously.

"It's just us" Momiji and Haru stuck their heads through the door.

"And a cat who needs shelter" Haru added with a smile.

"Shut up!" Kyo replied sauntering in.

"Kyo" Tohru said surprised as she rushed to his side, "Are you okay?"

"Ah. This is nuts. Who would have thought that making it official would make it be this crazy."

"So that's what's going on?" Momiji replied.

Everyone looked at him and noticed he was now sporting a boys uniform but they didn't say anything, since Kakeru came back into the room with Tohru's water.

"So you and Tohru decided to make it official huh?" Hatsuharu said, "And this is what happened."

"Ridiculous rumor," Kyo grumbled, "What are we going to do?"

"What exactly is the rumor?" Momiji asked, "I mean I heard bits and pieces but not everything."

"Well apparently" Tohru began.

"Allow me Miss Honda. Uh Kakeru do you mind?"

"Aw come on Yun Yun let me stay," he pleaded.

"Go please."

"Okay" he jumped off the desk he was sitting on, "I'll go tidy up the back" he left the room.

"Yun Yun?" Kyo smirked at him.

"Anyway" Yuki frowned at him, "As I was saying. Apparently they think that Miss Honda dumped me for Kyo. And now they all feel sorry for me. I keep getting sympathy notes. From girls and guys."

"And I'm either getting hate mail or open invitation for dates" Kyo replied.

"Me too" Tohru nodded, "What are we going to do?"

"Anybody got any ideas. Haru you're usually the idea man, you got one?" Yuki asked.

"Not this time" Hatsuharu grinned, "But I'll probably have to come up with something."

Someone knocked on the door.

"Oh great" Yuki said putting a hand to his head, "Come in."

Machi Kuragi entered the room.

"Machi?" he replied surprised.

"Hey? What are you doing in here Yuki?" she asked with a frown on her face staring at everyone in the room.

"Uh discussing, how to squash the rumor that's going around."

"Rumor? So it's a rumor?"

"Yes. You thought it was true."

"Well I wasn't sure."

"Oh man. Well it's not true. And I would hate to think that you of all people would think it was" he stopped himself blushing a little.

"Why's that Yuki?" Momiji asked with a mischievous grin.

"Yea Yuki do tell?" Haru added.

"Better yet" Yuki replied changing the subject, "Miss Honda, Kyo you should be getting back to class."

"How are we going to do that?" Kyo said, "The whole school will be looking for us."

"I have an answer to that one" Hatsuharu spoke up, "Tohru goes one way, you go the other. You come with me Kyo. And Momiji will go with Tohru."

"Sounds like a good idea" Momiji nodded.

"But going with you means I have to go the long way" Kyo grumbled.

"Hey would you rather bump into people?"

"No. Okay let's go" he sighed, "I'll go out first."

He and Haru departed while Tohru and Momiji waited.

"I'll catch up with you later Miss Honda" Yuki replied.

"Okay" she nodded as she and Momiji left the room.

"What's going on Yuki?" Machi asked after they left.

Yuki sighed.

"I'll explain everything."

(Next Scene)

As Tohru and Momiji walked down the halls they noticed that it was empty. Tohru turned to Momiji and finally asked the question that had been on her mind since he had entered the room.

"Momiji I couldn't help but noticing, but you're wearing a boys uniform now."

"Yea" Momiji nodded sadly, "It was Akito's idea. He said I need to dress more like a boy from now on. No actually he ordered me to."

"When?"

"Up at the summer house. You know that day we went to visit him? We all saw him individually. Anyway I have to wear the boys uniform from now on. I guess it's about time anyway."

They arrived at Tohru's class just as Kyo arrived with Hatsuharu.

"Well we'll see you guys later" Momiji said with a wink and departing with Haru.

"Good luck" he smiled as he walked away.

Kyo and Tohru watched them leave and then looked at each other.

"I guess I'll go in first" she replied.

"No" Kyo shook his head taking her hand gently, "Tohru we have nothing to hide. Let's just go in together."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive. We'll think of something" he said but then thought as they entered, "I hope."

(Next Scene)

For several days it went on like this and it got so bad that Yuki, Kyo, and Tohru had to wait after school until after everyone left to leave themselves. Hatsuharu and Momiji waited with them.

"Coast is clear" Haru said shouldering his bag, "This really can't go on."

"I know" Kyo replied appearing, "But what are we going to do?"

"He's right. This is crazy" Yuki added, "Miss Honda do you work tonight?"

"Not till tomorrow."

"Then we have to think of something."

"Well I might have an idea" Haru replied, "You should talk to Shigure about this."

"Shigure?" Kyo raised an eyebrow.

"Yea" Haru nodded, "He knows how to get out of tough situations. I suggest you talk to him."

"What do we got to lose Kyo?" Yuki looked at his cousin meaningfully.

"I guess nothing. Of course this means we have to tell him about Tohru and me. But" he sighed, "I guess it's about time."

"It's either this or running away and hiding for the rest of your school lives" Momiji replied, "Go talk to Shigure, he'll be helpful."

"I think we should" Tohru said taking Kyo's hand.

"Okay then" he nodded leading the way, "Let's go."

Momiji and Hatsuharu watched as they left the school grounds.

"What a mess huh Haru?"

"Yea" he nodded, "But we should be used to this chaos by now."

"True" Momiji agreed, "We should get home, we're late enough as it is."

Hatsuharu nodded once more and then followed Momiji, striding behind him with his bag flung over his shoulder.

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Hey guys! I told you that it would be longer. I know it seems a bit unrealistic everything that happened because of the rumor but I wanted to make the news of it more fun, and it seemed to me that Kyo and Tohru being chased around the school by everyone was a lot more exciting then just Yuki getting hounded. Any way it's my story and that's how I like it so there! Just kidding. Well I'll see you all on Thursday for the next two chapters!

Next Chapters:

Chapter Three: Ayame's Idea

After seeking Shigure out Tohru, Yuki, and Kyo get advice from the most unlikely of people. What will he offer as advice? What will Kyo think of his unusual shop? Will the rumor cease to exist? All these questions will be answered next time!

And

Chapter Four: Machi and Yuki

Kyo and Tohru have gotten together but is there someone out there for Yuki. Could a night alone with a pretty council member be the deciding factor?