(Chapter Five: A Genuine Concern)

Shooting on the next Saturday was cut short due to some problems on the set with two of the adult actors. Since they both were refusing to do any more scenes until they settled their differences, the rest of the cast was given the afternoon off, so Tohru spent it with Kandis and her cousin Rebecca. They had gone to lunch and to do some shopping downtown. After that they all returned to the girls hotel room. Funnily enough it was the same hotel that Tohru had met her grandparents several months before, so the guy behind the desk recognized her and said hello.

Rebecca went into the bathroom to take a shower while Tohru and Kandis remained behind in the living room to talk.

"How old is your cousin Kandis?" Tohru said.

"Oh she's about nineteen. So she's a lot older than me."

"Oh I see."

"So Tohru, are you enjoying the movie so far?" Kandis asked.

"Oh yes" Tohru replied, "Immensely. But still it is a little weird playing a character so close to home."

"I know" Kandis grinned, "How did the guys take it?"

"They were a bit surprised needless to say. Considering how close the script is to the real thing."

"I imagine. It's nice to see that you and Kyo have remained together."

"Yes" Tohru nodded but then became sad, "But."

"What is it?"

"Oh it's nothing."

"Come on?"

"No really it isn't. It's nothing I can't handle any way."

"Okay."

Inside the bathroom Rebecca had just finished her shower and had opened the door a bit to let out the hot air. As she cracked it open she listened a little bit on what Tohru and Kandis were discussing.

"As long as it's not that big of a deal. Because you know I am very good at keeping a secret."

"I know" Tohru nodded, "And it's nice to have someone to talk to about this. I can't even tell Uo or Hana, but since Yuki was the one to tell you any way about the Zodiac curse."

"Zodiac curse?" Rebecca whispered to herself confused.

"I really didn't break my promise" Tohru finished.

"Very true" Kandis said, "But you were upset by the whole thing."

"I couldn't help but be. Kandis the Zodiac curse is not something one would understand. Or maybe the correct term would be people. A person can understand, but people, they're a different story. And since Kyo, Yuki, and Shigure have had the curse all their lives they know how people would react."

"I can't imagine what it would be like really to not be able to hug someone that I cared about, if they were a guy. But hey you can hug Kyo now. How did that happen?"

"I don't know" Tohru shook her head, "It just happened. He fell into my arms one day while we were on vacation and didn't transform into a cat. And when I hugged everybody else in the family who was male, they didn't transform either."

"Well maybe they're not cursed anymore?" Kandis suggested excited.

"No" Tohru shook her head, "Because later that day Kyo wanted to test that same theory, so we went into town and he bumped into a woman. He transformed just like he always does."

"Huh? So you're the only one it doesn't happen around?"

"Exactly. And Hatori can't explain why either."

"Weird. Oh well. At least you can be closer to your boyfriend then you were before."

"Right" Tohru smiled as Rebecca came in with a weird look on her face.

"The Zodiac curse is real?" she said slowly and Tohru and Kandis looked at each other.

"Why did you say that?" Kandis asked her.

"I overheard your conversation. Is that true Kandis?"

Tohru and Kandis stood up.

"Tohru I" Kandis stuttered.

"You do what you have to do Kandis" Tohru placed a hand on her shoulder gently.

"Huh?"

"I trust you. Whether you decide to tell her or not" Tohru picked up her purse and walked to the door, "It's all up to you."

"Wait Tohru!" Kandis called and walked over, "Are you sure that's okay?" she whispered to her, "I mean I promised."

"True. But if you think that she can be trusted with the information then tell her. I know better than anyone that it's hard to keep such a secret. As long as I am not the one telling, I feel fine if you do. Besides she's not young enough to believe that what she heard was just pretend. She heard everything I'm sure, and just like in the movie when Tora decides to tell her friends she weighs the possibility of whether to trust them as well. So I leave it to you. I have to get home anyway."

"All right" Kandis nodded opening the door to let Tohru out, "See you tomorrow."

"What was that all about?" Rebecca asked.

"Rebecca" Kandis replied, "I think you had better sit down, I got a long story to tell you."

(Next Scene)

At school the next week everything was bustling as everyone prepared for the cultural festival yet another year. Even Tohru was helping out despite how tired she was. And she was too. Yuki noticed it. As well as her friends. Even Momiji and Hatsuharu acknowledged how exhausted she looked. Between school, the movie, and now the cultural festival, Tohru was busy during all her free time. That evening when it was getting close to dinner time Kyo wandered into the sitting room.

"Hey Tohru" he called out, "Huh?"

He spotted her laying her head on top of several of books as well as her script. She was fast asleep.

"Tohru" he shook her gently, "Tohru sweetie. Are you all right?"

The only sound that came out of her was a tired murmur. Kyo shook his head and scooped her up in his arms, moving past Yuki who was coming in the door. Yuki stopped and watched as Kyo carried her upstairs. Shigure came out of his study and noticed Yuki right outside.

"What's going on?" Shigure asked.

"I don't know" Yuki replied back.

Kyo slid open Tohru's door and walked over to her bed, laying her down. He covered her up with her covers and then brushed his fingers through her hair. He sighed as he knelt down still stroking her hair.

"You're overexerting yourself again" he said softly, "You keep this up. You're gonna get sick. I need to talk to your uncle. I wonder if he's still around" he leaned over and kissed her forehead and then stood up, "In the meantime. You get some rest."

He walked over to the door, opened it and Kyoko came bounding in.

"Hey cat" he replied, "You keep her company."

"Meow" Kyoko jumped onto the bed and snuggled next to Tohru just as Kyo closed the door.

He walked back downstairs where Shigure and Yuki were still at the bottom of the stairs.

"Is Miss Honda all right Kyo?" Yuki asked.

"Yea" Kyo nodded, "She's just exhausted. She's doing too much again. Which means Shigure, order something out. She's taking a break from cooking tonight."

"You got it" Shigure saluted making Kyo sigh with a grimace as he headed for the front door, Yuki right behind him.

"And where are you going in such a hurry?"

"I have something to do. I'll be back later. Keep an eye on Tohru for me."

"Okay" Yuki agreed as Kyo left the house, "I wonder where he is off to?" he thought.

(Next Scene)

Kyo wandered downtown till he came to the movie set. He gazed around the set looking for Kentaro. Instead Matt Aritomo spotted him.

"Hey Kyo" Matt replied, "Tohru's not here tonight."

"Yea I know. I came here looking for her uncle."

"Her uncle?"

"Yea I got to talk to him about her schedule."

"Is something wrong?"

"I think she's working too hard" Kyo and Matt sat down, "I mean she's got school, and this. And now even the cultural festival at school. It's a lot of work. And tonight I found her passed out at the sitting room table, on top of all her study books and script."

"Whoa. That does sound like she's really tired."

"Yea and the problem with Tohru is, is she will work until she is sick. And I don't want her to get to that point."

"No" Matt shook his head, "I doubt Kentaro wants her to either. He's over in his trailer. Oh but one more thing Kyo. Not to add more worries to you or nothing. But it's just something to think about."

"What is it?"

"I would definitely come to the set more often then you have lately."

"Why's that?"

"Because of Aiku Fukuda, the guy who plays the cat of the Zodiac."

"Yea?" Kyo raised an eyebrow.

"Well he is known to be interested in every female lead in his movies. In fact it is a well-known fact that he ends up dating them to keep up his reputation. And I have noticed some strange things lately."

"Such as?"

"He's been hanging around her a lot. And when we have a rehearsal, he is always her partner. No ifs, ands, buts about it."

"Hmm?"

"Just like I said, take it into consideration to be here whenever she's working."

"You're right. She doesn't need that on her shoulders. Thanks man" Kyo shook his hand, "There's her uncle, I got to go."

"See you later Kyo" Matt waved as he took off.

(Next Scene)

Kyo walked over to Kentaro as he was saying goodnight to Jill.

"Mr. Miyoshi" he replied.

"Kyo? What are you doing here?"

"I needed to talk to you about Tohru."

"Okay" Kentaro nodded, "Something the matter?"

"No" Kyo shook his head, "Nothing too serious. However, I'm concerned about her. She's been working so hard lately."

"Yes she has and she's been doing a wonderful job."

"I know, but I'm worried she might be working too hard. I mean with school and this and the cultural festival. It's a lot for her to handle. And Tohru she works hard until it about breaks her. So she becomes ill."

"Mhm. I'm not surprised. Just like her mother" he smiled, "When she was young. Well you're in luck Kyo. I've been talking with Tom and Jill and we've agreed to give the kids a week off."

"Really?"

"Mhm. But I am glad you came to me Kyo."

"Oh thank you Mr. Miyoshi" he shook his hand.

"Kentaro Kyo."

"Oh right. Kentaro. I really appreciate this."

"No problem. You really are a wonderful young man Kyo. I feel very glad that you're my niece's boyfriend. It's obvious that you really care about her."

"I love her."

"Yes" Kentaro smiled.

(Next Scene)

When Kyo came home he heard laughter coming from the sitting room. He walked in and saw Yuki, Shigure, Tohru, and Ayame all having take-out.

"Hey you. What are you doing up?" he asked as he sat down next to Tohru.

"I guess I couldn't sleep anymore" she grinned, "Where have you been?"

"Oh I went down to the set to see your uncle."

"What for?" she asked confused.

"I wanted to talk to him about something. But guess what?"

"Hmm?"

"Your uncle informed me that he's giving you guys a week off. So you can catch up on your sleep."

"Really?" her face lit up, "Oh that's good news. Oh this one's yours" she handed him his dinner and chopsticks.

"Thanks" he replied but then noticed that Yuki was smiling at him, "What?"

"Nothing" Yuki shrugged his shoulders as Shigure and Ayame continued to laugh as they drank their sake.

"Then stop staring at me," Kyo growled as he looked down at his meal and began to eat.

Yuki just shook his head and continued to smile, amazed at how much Kyo had changed. I mean really changed.

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Hello everyone! Here is the first chapter of the day! Oh and to all my new reviewers to the Rice-Balls series, Welcome!!

Next Chapter: Kazu Oversteps his Bounds

The cat of the Zodiac does and unthinkable thing to the unsuspecting star! What will Kyo's reaction be and who will come to her rescue? Find out next time!!!