(Part Two)

It was a few moments till Kyo and Yuki turned back to Ayame and looked at him straight in the eye.

"That is really our best option?" Yuki asked.

"Undoubtly" Ayame replied, "It is the best way to convince the other students that you dear little brother are absolutely thrilled about the fact that Tohru and Kyo are a couple. Don't you agree Tohru?"

"Well" Tohru looked at the two boys nervously, "It does sound like a very interesting concept. They won' t be expecting it."

"Exactly."

Yuki and Kyo looked at each other once more as Mine walked back into the room.

"Excuse me" Mine replied, "Ayame, Mr. Awayuki is on the phone and he is insisting on talking to you."

"Oh" Ayame stood up, "Please excuse me," he said to his three guests, "Mr. Awayuki is one of my best customers. I have to take this call. But I shall return."

"Take your time" Tohru called as he exited, "So what do you guys think?" she asked the other two.

"I don't like this idea" Kyo stood up and crossed the room, "I mean. Pretending to like the damn rat for a whole day. I don't think that I could do it" he leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.

"Look stupid cat" Yuki replied cynically, "I don't like the idea of being nice to you any more then you like the idea of being nice to me, however my brother's idea is not a bad one. Would it kill us to try to act like we like one another for one day?"

"I don't think I can do it" Kyo repeated, "I hate you. And there is no way I can pretend otherwise."

"Well it's either this or we spend the rest of our school days hiding in offices and behind bushes" Yuki stood up crossing his arms, "Which would you prefer?"

Kyo glared at him and as Tohru rose, her hands pressed together he sighed and pulled away from the wall.

"I guess it wouldn't be too hard. I mean. If this is our only option, I guess I can pretend for one day that I like you" he once more leaned against the wall and grumbled, "But I still protest."

"That's fine stupid cat, as long as we are in agreement. Tomorrow we will spend as much time together as possible to prove to the school that everything is kosher between us. That means walking to class together, smiling, and maybe even having lunch together" he winced as he said the words.

"Please tell me you're joking?" Kyo raised an eyebrow angrily.

"Tohru!" Ayame called, "Can I see you for a moment?"

"Oh uh sure" she nodded, "I'll be right back you guys" she left the room.

Yuki looked at Kyo and saw him scowl and sighed heavily.

"Listen Kyo if you won't do it for yourself at least do it for Miss Honda. She doesn't deserve to be going through this any more then we do."

Kyo gazed at the entranceway that Tohru had departed from just moments ago and sighed again. He pulled away from the wall and walked over to Yuki standing right in front of him.

"All right rat boy. Tomorrow we'll put your brother's idea into play."

A couple minutes later Tohru came back into the room with an outfit that Mine had made just for her. It was a beautiful pale purple dress with trimming. Tohru thanked Mine for the dress and Mine blushed. Ayame came out from the back room with a grin on his face.

"Well now" he replied, "Have we decided?"

"Yes brother" Yuki nodded, "We are going to take your advice and see what happens."

"Excellent" Ayame beamed, "You won't regret coming to me I guarantee it. Mine will show you out, oh and Yuki."

"Yes" Yuki looked back as Kyo and Tohru followed Mine to the door.

"Do come back again. You don't know how much it thrills me to see you."

Yuki said nothing but simply nodded and walked over to the front door, bowing to Mine as he left. Ayame joined Mine at the front door and leaned his head happily on her shoulder. He sighed contently and the two of them went back to the back room once more.

(Next Scene)

That night, as they had done about a year before, Kyo and Yuki practiced their routine on what they would do the next day. Once more Yuki was the coach leading the way and Kyo was doing his best to follow. When they were finished, tired and worn out they both went to bed. Tohru had been watching all night from her bedroom window, unable to really concentrate on much else. As she saw them come back inside she closed her window and got ready for bed herself. Before climbing under the covers, Tohru stopped at the picture of her mother and gazed lovingly at it.

"Mom" she replied, "Please let everything go well tomorrow. Not for myself but for Kyo and Yuki. This whole situation has got them worried. I don't like seeing either of them this way, but hopefully Ayame's idea will work. Well anyway, Good night Mom" she walked away from the frame, turned off the light, and climbed under the covers.

Kyoko, who had been cleaning herself on the floor, jumped onto the bed and delicately walked across the covers, rubbed her face on Tohru's hand and purred as Tohru gently petted her. She lay down next to her master and she and Tohru slept a most peaceful sleep, despite all the worries that still remained in Tohru's head. One in particular that had nothing to do with the situation at school.

(Next Scene)

The following morning Tohru, Yuki, and Kyo walked into the school grounds together laughing and talking quite animatedly. The first thing the students noticed was the fact that Yuki and Kyo were walking side by side while Tohru was on the other side of Kyo, him being in the middle. Kyo walked to his locker and his friends followed.

"Good morning Kyo Kyo" one of the boys said.

"I told you guys not to call me that" Kyo replied shortly.

"What's the deal man?" another one spoke up, "How come you and Yuki are being so friendly with one another? Don't you hate him?"

"No. Whatever gave you guys that idea" Kyo slammed his locker shut, "Why would I hate the guy who convinced me and Tohru to reveal how we felt about each other? Come on" he said as the two boys stared at him dumbfounded, "We're gonna be late for class."

For the remainder of the afternoon Kyo and Yuki were in close proximity of each other. They were partners in a class assignment, and they even had lunch together. Plus the story that Kyo had told his friends about Yuki's matchmaking was already all around the school. Not one person came up to Tohru or Kyo with ideas of hate. Not one person was sympathetic towards Yuki anymore. In fact as Tohru strolled over to talk with the both of them while they ate, people completely abandoned the idea of the rumor altogether.

"I hate to say it" Kyo replied to Yuki and Tohru as another group of astonished students came by, "But your brother's idea was pure genius."

"Yes" Yuki nodded, "He was right. It worked."

By the end of the day, Yuki, Kyo, and Tohru felt a great sense of freedom lifted off their shoulders. They walked home when everyone else left and they were all smiling in relief as they walked through the door.

"So did Aya's idea work?" Shigure asked at the front door as they took off their shoes.

"Yep" Kyo said, "And the best part is now I can go back to hating the damn rat all over again."

"Well" Yuki added, "It was no picnic for me either."

They both walked upstairs while Shigure grimaced a bit while Tohru continued smiling.

"Those two" he sighed, "Hopefully one day they will learn to get along. You must be relieved that it's all over Tohru."

"Yes very much" she nodded, "By the way Shigure, what are you doing standing in the hall like this? Usually you're sitting in the sitting room reading your paper."

"Oh thank you Tohru" Shigure grinned, "I almost forgot. Here" he handed her an envelope, "This came in the mail for you today. I just wanted to give it to you personally."

"Thank you Shigure" Tohru replied but her face fell when she saw the front of the envelope.

"Is there something wrong?" he asked with concern.

"Oh no" she shook her head smiling once more, "I'm gonna go change" she walked over to the stairs leaving Shigure confused and shrugging his shoulders.

(Next Scene)

Tohru opened the door to her room and sighed. She looked at her desk and then looked down at the envelope in her hand.

"Not another one" she thought as she placed it on her desk on top of another envelope that was an exact duplicate, "I don't understand" she shook her head.

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Okay guys! That's part two! See you next time for Chapter Four!

Next Chapter: Machi and Yuki

Yuki and Machi get to know one another better while Tohru is dealing with a very difficult obstacle!