(Chapter Two: Feelings of Suspicion)

That evening Tohru walked slowly to Kyo's room and knocked on the door. He moved equally slowly to answer it.

"Tohru" he replied, "You okay?"

"Um we need to talk Kyo," she said.

"I know" he nodded, "Come on in" he sighed allowing her to pass and closing the door.

She sat down on Kyo's mattress while he sat on the floor Indian style.

"So I have to ask," she started, "What do you think about all of this?"

"Well to be honest, I don't like it. Something's not right about this whole thing. However, I do have to admit I don't like the idea of you staying here any more than that."

"What do you mean?"

"It's our first New years together" he looked at her directly in the eye, "As a couple. I don't want to be apart from you for three whole days, and I certainly don't like the idea of you being here all by yourself. So I guess what I am saying is, I would rather you go then stay here. I can't believe I said that. But that's the way I feel."

"Why don't you stay here with me?" she suggested.

"I can't" he shook his head, "It's the fourth year. I have to go. Everybody will be there. Even my old man."

Tohru sighed as he took her hands.

"All I'm saying is you make your own choice on this, like you did before. Ultimately whatever you decide I'll stand behind you."

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Uh huh" he nodded, "I'm positive."

"Okay" she stood up, "Thank you Kyo. That makes me feel a lot better. I got to go get dinner started."

"All right" he replied, "Go on" he said walking her to the door and closing it behind him with a sigh and a frown, "I don't like this" he thought, "I really don't like this."

(Next Scene)

The next morning Tohru heard someone knocking on the door, as she was cleaning up the kitchen, so she went to answer it. Standing outside with a grin on her face was Kagura. And next to her was Kisa.

"Kagura? Kisa what are you doing here?" Tohru asked surprised.

"Well Tohru" Kagura said, "Kisa and I were talking and we decided to take you out shopping today."

"But why?"

"Well you're gonna need a new outfit for the Sohma New years party."

"How do you know about that?"

"Oh well it's all over Sohma house. You know Momiji, he can't keep a secret very long."

"Oh well Kagura to be honest, I haven't made my mind up about that yet."

"It's okay Sissy" Kisa replied, "We'll take you out anyway."

"Yea and maybe by the end of the day we would have convinced you to come" Kagura added.

"Well all right" Tohru nodded, "It does sound like fun. Let me just take my apron off and let Yuki know, he's the only one here."

"Okay" Kagura and Kisa nodded, "We'll wait right here in the hall."

Tohru said goodbye to Yuki quickly and then she and the other two girls departed for the city. Kagura and Kisa took her to many fancy shops around the area looking for the right dress. While Kisa looked at different designs Kagura talked to Tohru alone in the dressing room.

"You know Tohru" she said, "I'm really hoping that you do come."

"Why's that Kagura?"

"It's your last year with us. Plus my mom has been dying to meet you. So have a lot of the other families."

"Really?"

"Mhm. Ever since Haru's mom told my mom all about you, she's just been so interested."

"Well I would love to go Kagura, but I'm worried."

"You mean about Akito?"

"Yes. How did you know?"

"Like I said, Momiji can't keep a secret. In fact most everyone knows about his little outburst four months ago."

"Oh" Tohru's face fell a little, "I see."

"What does Kyo say about all of this?" Kagura asked.

"Well he's very supportive. He says whatever decision I make he'll stand behind me."

"That's Kyo for you."

"He also said that he'd rather I'd go then stay home."

"Then that's settled" Kagura smiled, "You should come Tohru."

"Well I don't know" Tohru said uncertainly, "I'm still not sure."

"Hey Sissy" Kisa interrupted, "How about this one?" she held up a lavender dress.

"Um it's beautiful dress Kisa" Kagura nodded, "But I think Tohru should be in something more like, red or green since they are more winter colors."

"Oh" Kisa replied, "In that case, I have the perfect dress. Wait here I'll be right back" she ran off.

Kagura smiled and then turned back to her companion.

"Think of it this way Tohru, this will be your last new years with all of us. It will be special. And I know that everyone would love to see you. Haru, Momiji. All of us."

"Thanks Kagura" Tohru smiled a bit teary eyed.

"Here it is Sissy" Kisa came back, "The perfect dress."

"Why Kisa" Kagura beamed, "It is perfect. Tohru you simply have to try this one on" she handed it to her and steered her towards the dressing room.

"Oh all right" Tohru nodded.

A few minutes later Tohru stepped out in a beautiful long-sleeved forest green dress. She looked just like a princess going to a ball.

"Oh Sissy" Kisa smiled, "You look so pretty."

"What do you think Kagura?" Tohru asked as she looked at herself in the mirror.

"It's perfect" Kagura cried, "Just perfect."

"But it is a little expensive" Tohru said looking at the tag.

"Oh don't you worry about that" Kagura shook her head, "This ones on me."

"But" Tohru protested.

"Consider it a late Christmas present" Kagura insisted, "After all, you gave each of us one."

"Oh all right" Tohru consented.

"Now come on" she said steering her back into the dressing room, "Let's pay for the dress and go to lunch. I'm starving."

As Tohru and Kagura remained seated, finishing up their French fries, Kisa talked with some friends from school.

"Kagura" Tohru replied.

"Mhm."

"I can't thank you enough for this afternoon. And you helped me make up my mind."

"Really?"

"Mhm. I have decided that I want to spend my last new years; with the people I care about the most. I'm gonna go."

"Oh Tohru I am so glad" Kagura smiled taking her hand as Kisa came over, "Guess what kitten?" she said to the small girl, "Tohru's decided to come."

"Really Sissy?" Kisa asked with a grin.

Tohru nodded as Kisa embraced her.

"Yea!"

(Next Scene)

That evening when Tohru got home she told Kyo her decision. He smiled with a nod of his head and said that he was glad that she was coming. Then she walked to her room, to make out her reply. Downstairs Shigure was waiting in the hall with the other replies as she came down.

"Here you go Shigure" she handed it to him, "Here's my answer."

"Thank you Tohru" he grinned as he looked at it, "So you're coming?"

"Mhm. I'd much rather spend new years with the people I love the most then at home by myself."

"That's rather sweet of you Tohru. Well" she sighed, "I'd better get these to Sohma house" he departed.

"See you later" Tohru closed the door behind him.

(Next Scene)

Kureno entered in Akito's room that evening with a tray.

"Akito I brought you your dinner" he replied, "Oh and the responses to the invitations just arrived tonight too. Shigure just dropped them off."

"Hand them to me" Akito said.

"Yes sir" Kureno nodded handing him the small envelope.

Akito looked through all of them and smiled. Then he turned to the stunned man at his side.

"Well Kureno" he replied, "This is going to be a wonderful party. Full of many surprises."

(Next Scene)

The following weekend Yuki and Shigure were packing up the car to head to the lake house. Tohru put Kyoko in her carrier and came out to the car, handing Yuki the carrier.

"Is Shigure driving?" she asked.

"No" Yuki shook his head, "Hatori is supposed to be driving."

"Not only that" Shigure replied appearing with his bag, "Aya will be here too."

"What?" Yuki said angrily.

"You're kidding me," Kyo added.

"Sorry you two, he had no where else to ride. Now let's get in."

A couple minutes later Ayame and Hatori arrived and climbed in. Hatori started up the car and they headed for the Sohmas lake house. It was a rather noisy ride all the way up, so by the time they arrived Yuki was most anxious to get out of the car. Hatsuharu greeted them as they arrived. He frowned a little when he saw Tohru exit the car as well.

"Well I leave you kids here" Shigure said saying goodbye.

"Where are you going?" Kyo asked.

"I'll be staying up at the main house with Aya and Hari. So you kids will have this house all to yourself. Have fun tonight and we will see you all tomorrow for the party" he climbed back in.

"Good bye Shigure!" Tohru waved as Yuki and Kyo merely stared as the car took off, "Hello Hatsuharu" she replied sweetly carrying her purse.

"Hey Tohru" he grinned.

"Tohru" Momiji appeared, "You made it! Come on I'll show you to your room" he took her hand as Yuki followed behind with the luggage.

Hatsuharu grabbed Kyo's arm as he walked up the stairs.

"What did you bring her here for Kyo?" he asked.

"What are you talking about? She was invited."

"I know. But I thought that you of all people wouldn't want her to be here. With everything that has happened."

"Look Haru" Kyo wrenched his arm from his grasp, "I didn't like Tohru being home all by herself for three whole days, besides I don't tell her what to do. She made her own decision."

"What about Akito?" Haru asked as they entered the house.

"She's gonna be fine. In any event I've decided that if he wants his answer he's gonna get it."

"What? What do you mean by that?" Haru said in a loud whisper.

"Look Haru Tohru was not shy telling him how she felt and I'm not gonna be either. I am not ashamed of how I feel. If Akito really wants to know, I'm gonna tell him" Kyo trudged up the stairs while Haru just shook his head with a frown.

"I admire your courage Kyo" he thought, "But is it really the right time?"

(Next Scene)

Meanwhile upstairs Tohru was talking with Kisa, Kagura, and Momiji all about the party and the Zodiac banquet. Kisa informed her that Hiro was doing the dance this year and that she couldn't wait to see it. As they talked Rin walked by, but stopped when she saw Tohru.

"What are you doing here Honda?" she replied in surprise.

"Oh hello Rin" Tohru smiled at her with a bow of her head, "I was invited so I came."

"I see" Rin frowned even more walking away.

"Did I do something wrong?" Tohru asked everyone.

"Don't mind her Tohru" Kagura replied, "She's just upset because she had to come."

"That's Rin for ya" Momiji said with a sigh.

(Next Scene)

Rin walked over to the boy's room and walked in. Kyo was placing his clothes in the drawers when she approached him, startling him in the process.

"Geez" he replied, "Did you have to scare me like that?"

"Sorry" she said, "But are you stupid or something?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Letting her come here. How could you allow something like that you stupid cat?"

"First of all Isuzu" he said succinctly, "It's none of your business and second of all let her? What am I? Some kind of a Neanderthal?"

"But I just thought" she started to say.

"What?"

"Nothing" she shrugged.

"Oh I get it," he said plopping down onto the bed, "You think I'm like Him don't you? Well I'm not" he replied when Rin said nothing, "Tohru and I don't have that kind of a relationship. There's no way I would ever be like that bastard! I saw how it affected my mother. I'll never be like. And you have no right to think that I will either."

"I suppose you're right."

"And who are you anyway? Telling me how I should handle my own relationship. When you should be dealing with your own."

"I don't have a relationship."

"Bull. You know despite what you think. He loves you. He can't love you any less. I know it."

"That's none of your business" she said angrily, "What happened between me and Haru is over."

"Why? Because of Akito? You know he said something once to me. Haru did. Something that made a lot of sense, and something that is true. Yea Akito is the God, but he isn't God you know."

"What?"

"When are we gonna start fighting back huh? When are we gonna stand up for ourselves."

"You know that is impossible Kyo. You know that better than anyone."

"Well maybe I don't," he shouted as Yuki approached the door listening, "You know. Maybe I'm sick of it. I intend to do what I can to make my dreams come true."

"That's impossible like I said" she scoffed, "You know what's happening after high school don't you?"

"Yes" he nodded, "I haven't forgotten. Why do you think I've been training so hard?"

"What?"

"I got to beat him. I got to beat that damn rat."

"What?" Yuki thought his eyes becoming wider.

"If I don't, then I can never be with her. And that's just something that I won't accept."

Yuki walked away from the room and headed downstairs.

"So that's it," he said to himself, "That's why he always challenges me. Why he's been challenging me since we were kids. It's not because he hates me. He made himself hate me because it was easier for him that way if we weren't friends. It makes sense now" Yuki slid down and sat on the steps, "All this time, it was so he could he be free. And now Kyo is fighting for not only himself, but for Miss Honda's sake as well."

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Okay folks! There's the first two chapters! I hope you enjoyed them! See you next week!!!

Next Chapters:

New Years Party

Tohru attends the party and meets the parents of many Zodiac members, including Yuki and Momiji. See what happens next time!

And

Zodiac Banquet

The party is still underway as Tohru joins all the Sohmas minus Kyo at the Zodiac banquet. What sorts of surprises await her when she gets there? You shall see!