(Chapter Four: Alone with the Cat)

That evening when Tohru, Kyo, and Yuki were sitting down to dinner, Tohru told Shigure all about the movie and how fun it had been. Shigure smiled and said he was glad that she was enjoying herself. She smiled back and then gathered the dishes to take into the kitchen, Kyo assisting her. As Shigure turned to his paper, Yuki cleared his throat.

"Is there something on your mind Yuki?" Shigure asked peering over the top of the paper.

"Maybe" Yuki said with his eyes closed, "Have you seen the script yet Shigure?"

"No" Shigure shook his head, "Can't say I have."

"I have my suspicions" Yuki eyed him, "I wasn't sure. But now I have to ask you."

"Yes?"

"What exactly did you talk to Mr. Quincy about when you came to our supposed rescue?"

"Now Yuki I think that is something that is between Mr. Quincy and myself don't you?"

"Don't patronize me Shigure" Yuki seethed, "I'm not in the mood."

"I simply told him that his research was a waste of time. I told him he should put his efforts in a more positive direction."

"Another direction like script writing maybe?" Yuki said cynically.

"I never said that as a suggestion. He stated that he was an amateur script writer, so I told him to go ahead with that."

"In what way did you give him that little push Shigure?' Yuki replied sarcastically still eyeing the novelist while he placed his head on his hands, "Not giving him certain ideas for his Zodiac curse movie right?"

"Certain ideas? I can't recall. He did want to know my research as far as the Zodiac curse went however so I was more than happy to give it to him."

"All right Shigure I've had enough of your games" Yuki said angrily, "There is only one way he could have known all that stuff about us. The whole beginning of that movie was so accurate it was scary."

"It couldn't have been that accurate" Shigure scratched his head, "I told him to change the scenes around a little."

"So you did have something to do with it then?"

"All right Yuki calm down" Shigure held out his hands, "What is so terrible about him taking a few ideas from our real life drama?"

"What is wrong with it?" Yuki looked perplexed, "Shigure can you honestly say that you are proud that you did this?"

"Why yes. I could say that. This is the easiest way and the safest to get our story out without really telling the world. Isn't that right?"

"Uh. But."

"Don't worry Yuki, No one is ever going to think it's real. Let's just call this as my way of telling my secret for a change."

"Shigure."

"Well I'm off to my study. See you later" Shigure stood up and left the room, leaving Yuki still with many questions in his head.

(Next Scene)

The next few days went by very smoothly. Kentaro was able to shoot a lot of scenes without Tohru there, till the weekend of course. Momiji had taken the note to her work, and actually had given it to his father who consented graciously for her request to take three months off from her job. On this particular day after school, Momiji was in his office, spending some rare time with him.

"So how is school going for you Momiji?" his father asked as Momiji looked back with a huge smile on his face.

"It's going good Papa. I really like it there. But Papa I have to wonder."

"What is it?" his father looked back at him with his caring brown eyes.

"Is it normal for you to give people so much time off like you did for Tohru?"

"Well no" Mr. Sohma shook his head, "You could say that she is a special case."

"Special case?"

"Momiji, tell me do you think Miss Honda is a good worker?"

"Oh yes" Momiji nodded, "Tohru is an excellent worker."

"That's what I get from her boss as well" Mr. Sohma smiled, "He says that she's very dedicated to her job, and for a girl in high school that's pretty rare."

"Tohru is a rare person Papa" Momiji said, "She's one of the nicest people that I have ever known."

"Yes" his father nodded, "Well that would be the other reason I gave her the time off."

"Huh?"

"I can see how much your spirits have improved since she became your friend. And I very much appreciate that."

"Yea" Momiji agreed, "She has done that, for all of us. She accepted us for who we were and eased our pain in her own way."

"Even you Momiji?"

"Mhm. I told Tohru all about Mama and my situation and she understood. She understood everything. That's what kind of person she is Papa. Very compassionate and she cares about others very much. She never thinks about herself. Only the way we feel."

"Mhm. I've been thinking about that for some time Momiji."

"About what Papa?"

"Well about her future here in my building. I have sort of decided to move my operations here. So this will be my main office."

"Oh. So what did you have in mind?"

"Oh we'll talk about that later Momiji. Some other time, it's time for lunch" he stood up from his desk.

"Okay Papa" Momiji nodded, "I hope Tohru's doing good today. This was her third day to work on the movie."

"How is that going by the way?" he said grabbing his coat.

"Good so far."

"That movie is one of the reasons I wanted to refrain from telling you my idea."

"What do you mean Papa?" Momiji replied a bit concerned.

"Well, it is her future after all. She has to make that decision. Let's go" he walked out the door.

"Coming!" Momiji called running after him, but still very confused.

(Next Scene)

"Aw man am I starving" Kandis flopped onto the couch in Tohru's dressing room, "Let's order some lunch before we have to go back onto the set huh Tohru?"

"Sounds good" Tohru nodded but heard someone knock on the door, "Oh let me get that" she walked over and opened it, "Kyo?"

"Hey" he replied nicely as he entered in.

Kandis smiled and stood up.

"I know. I'll leave you alone."

"Huh?" Kyo's eyebrows rose.

"Well you want to talk to her alone, don't ya?"

"Uh I guess."

"Good then I'll go get us something for lunch. I'll be right back Tohru."

"Great. Thank you Kandis" Tohru bowed her head as she exited, "So Kyo are you enjoying it?"

"Uh" he said nervously scratching the back of his head, "Well it's a little better today then it was yesterday."

"Oh uh yea. That whole scene with Tora and Yosai that was interesting."

"Did that really happen?"

"Oh uh huh. Yuki transformed the time he came to pick me up for work the first time. This afternoon we'll be working on the visit from my friends after I tell them where I am living. I mean it's not totally the same thing. I mean I didn't officially live with you guys till after I went back to my grandfathers. So it's not exactly the same."

"Well that's true. So when do you um" he cleared his throat, "Do your next scene with the cat?"

"Oh Aiku?"

"Yea" Kyo frowned.

"Tomorrow I think. Tomorrow after school. Tonight I'm supposed to stay here though with Kandis and the others to rehearse my lines. My dialogue is absolutely off."

"You'll get the hang of it. So Kandis will bring you home."

"Matt and Kandis. What's the matter Kyo?" she asked when she saw his nervous face.

"Um I can't stay that long. I've got some homework left to do. I mean I'd love to stay, don't get me wrong, I would love to stay" he added once more hopefully.

"You know what" she shook her head, "You've been here all weekend at the stage with me. You should go home and take some time to yourself."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes I'm sure. You should probably go now, before we start again."

"Well, I don't know. I don't like the idea of leaving you here."

"I'll be all right. My uncle's here."

"True" Kyo nodded with a hand behind his head, "And Kandis. And Matt. I guess that is more than enough people to look after you for me."

"You worry too much Kyo" she smiled as she embraced him.

"I can't help that. I can't help feeling that someday someone just might take you away from me."

"That'll never happen" she shook her head again, "Not ever."

"I know but the feeling is still there just the same" he sighed, "I mean I lost everyone who was important to me. It's just kind of hard to believe that I won't lose you too."

"I understand."

"But I'll give you your space. I'll go home now" he pulled away from the hug, "I'll meet you at the corner where the limo usually pulls up."

"Okay" she nodded, "I'll see you tonight."

"Oh wait I forgot something" he turned back around.

"What?" she asked looking around her.

"This" he leaned in and kissed her lightly on her lips, "Just something to remember me by."

"Thank you Kyo" she said blushing, "But I can't forget you."

"Just in case" he shrugged his shoulders as he opened the door.

"Bye."

"Bye" he closed the door behind him while Tohru felt her heart skip a few beats.

She sighed happily and sat down in her chair, which said Tohru Honda.

(Next Scene)

Evening fell and the days shooting was done. Kentaro gathered all the actors for rehearsal that evening. Since Tohru was shooting a scene with Aiku the next day, he was her partner, much to Kandis and Matt's chagrin. From where he sat, Matt watched him as he rehearsed with the young girl who played Haru's character.

"You ready to begin?" Aiku asked Tohru.

"Oh yes" she nodded, "I must say I feel so out of place here."

"What do you mean?" he said.

"Well. I'm no actress."

"Ah come on."

"I'm not. I mean I'm no famous star like you or Kandis or even Matt. I'm really just a simple girl."

"Yea but you ain't far off from being a pretty good actress yourself."

"Really?"

"Really. I mean I have worked with a lot of people and you really have talent."

"Thank you. But you're too kind. Should we rehearse?"

"Sure" he smiled, "You want to take it from here" he pointed.

"That sounds good."

"You know."

"What?"

"I just thought of something. How would you approach this scene? I mean I walk into you or do we run into each other or what?"

"Oh" Tohru replied, "Well I do have a suggestion if you're interested?"

"Sure what is it?"

"Well if I was walking home late one night, and you're supposed to be a cat right? Cats are naturally sure-footed animals. It would make a lot of sense, the eeriness of the area for you to kind of sneak up on me, but not really mean to."

"How do you mean?" Aiku leaned on his arm interested.

"Well. I'm walking home from a long days work, in a forest that's said to be creepy. And I'm a girl. Not a very brave one either. So if you were to sneak up on me I would do what every girl would do."

"Which is?"

"Hit you with my bag. And then I would realize it was you and then freak out. It makes sense then why I am freaking out."

"Oh I see. I come to pick you up, but you don't know it's me and you defend yourself by hitting me somewhere, and then you realize it's me."

"Right. Talk about déjà vu."

"Huh?"

"Never mind. So do you think that's a good approach?"

"I think that's an excellent approach. But you know" he stood up and walked over to her chair, "This is terrible place to practice it. Why don't we go out back? There's more space there."

"I don't know."

"Well we could go over to the forest set. That's over there," he pointed to the spot farthest from everyone.

"That might be all right" she stood up, "Let's go."

They walked over to the forest spot, Tohru taking her bag with her.

"Okay. So the scene is you're coming home from work" Aiku said, "Then I surprise you. You ready?"

"Mhm" she nodded and began walking.

Tohru moved slowly across the set, while Aiku trailed a few feet behind her. As soon as he got close enough Tohru swung her bag back, but Aiku ducked. Tohru stared at him confused.

"I know that was supposed to hit me, but I didn't want to get a concussion just yet."

Tohru laughed.

"You got a beautiful laugh" he stared into her eyes.

"Oh. Thank you. I think we got it. I really have to be getting home soon."

"Your boyfriend picking you up?" he sat down on a stump.

"No" she shook her head, "I'm going home with Kandis and Matt."

"You really been going out with him for five months?"

"Yes" she nodded uncertainly.

"And you're wearing a promise ring. Isn't that a little fast?"

"Well Kyo and I have known each other a very long time. We were friends before we were a couple. Our parents knew one another. That sort of thing."

"And what do your parents think of him?"

"Actually both my parents are dead."

"Oh. Just like your character in the movie."

"Yes" she nodded, "So it's not really hard to play that."

"I'm sorry" he replied.

"No it's okay. I'm fine now."

"Tohru!" Kandis called, "It's time to go."

"I'll be right there! Thank you for everything Aiku."

"No problem" he nodded as she grabbed her bag and turned her back, "Tohru!"

"Hmm?" she looked over her shoulder.

"I look forward to our scene tomorrow" he grinned.

She nodded slowly with a half smile and walked over to Kandis and Matt who were waiting. From where he stood Eichi came over to talk to Aiku.

"Looks like you got no where buddy" he smirked.

"On the contrary my friend" Aiku smiled evilly, "She's a very vulnerable girl. I don't want to move into quickly."

"Yea right. Don't forget our bet."

"I'm not gonna forget, because I don't intend to lose" he walked away, "Besides I got a lot more riding on this bet then any other bet I've ever had" he thought.

(Next Scene)

"I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!" Kyo's voice rang through the house.

"Would you lower your voice" Yuki replied.

"I will not. I cannot believe that this happened to me. This is what I get from listening to your stupid brother."

"It's not that big of a deal Kyo."

"It is that big of a deal you damn rat! I mean why did they ask me when they could have asked just you. I don't do this kind of crap."

"It was because of that day, that they thought that we would make a good choice stupid cat. So get used to it. I'm not exactly fond of it either. But we have no choice. We're roped into this and we can't get out. Not now. Not so close to graduation."

Kyo snarled and sat back down.

"I had to leave the set early today because of this stupid thing with you."

"You had a choice you know."

"I had no choice."

"Shut up stupid cat" Yuki replied back, "Let's just try to get this finished."

Kyo grumbled again and turned back to the paperwork in front of him. Outside Kyo's door Shigure was listening and as he walked downstairs he shook his head.

"I have to wonder on what they are working on in there," he said to himself as he slid into his study, "Still Kyo and Yuki spent a whole afternoon together. Alone. Who would have ever though that in some time or place that the rat would spend time alone with the cat?"

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Okay folks! Here is the second chapter, sorry it is so late, but I hope you enjoyed it. Oh and I know Rebecca was supposed to find out in this chapter, but I decided to put it later! See you on Monday for the next two chapters!!

Next Chapters:

Chapter Five: A Genuine Concern

Kyo starts to really worry about Tohru when she is working too hard and he hears from Matt that things are fishy around Aiku and Eichi!

And

Chapter Six: Kazu Oversteps his Bounds

The cat of the zodiac does an unthinkable thing to the unsuspecting star! Find out what next time!!!