(Chapter Three: Haru's Gift Idea)
When Yuki and Tohru arrived home they were surprised to see Hatsuharu sitting at the table in the sitting room, reading another one of Shigure's books. He closed the book with a smile when he saw her enter the room.
"Ah Tohru" he replied jumping up, "Just the girl I wanted to see."
"What are you doing here Haru?" Yuki raised his eyebrow and looking around, "Are you alone?"
"No. No." Haru laughed and shook his head when he saw Yuki's expression, "Shigure let me in. He's in his study."
"Oh" Yuki sighed in relief; "You scared me for a minute there" he walked back out of the room to hang up his coat.
"Any way" Haru shook his head again, "As I was saying. I've been waiting for you Tohru."
"You have? What for?"
"Well I wanted to ask you if you would like to go for a walk with me so I can discuss something with you. Do you think that would be all right?"
"I don't see why not" she smiled, "Okay then. Let's go grab your coat and then we will go for a walk."
"Great" he nodded sprinting to the door grabbing his coat in the process.
(Next Scene)
Tohru and Hatsuharu walked into the woods and talked about a lot of things. But mostly they talked about their relationships.
"Yea" Hatsuharu nodded after her question, "I finally asked her how she truly felt about me."
"And what did she say?" Tohru said interested.
"Well" Haru chose his words carefully, "She told me that she didn't love me anymore."
"Oh Hatsuharu" Tohru frowned sadly, "I'm sorry."
"Oh no" he shook his head, "You don't understand Tohru."
"Huh?"
"She lied. To protect me still."
"How do you know?"
"I just do. I always knew when she was lying. And she was lying then. I know she still loves me she's just afraid to say it. So I am not giving up. In fact I have a favor to ask of you."
"Do you want me to talk to her?"
"Oh no. Nothing like that. You see. Rin's birthday is coming up and I want to do something special for her. It's her sixteenth so, it has to be really good."
"That's awful sweet of you Hatsuharu, but if you do something like that in front of Akito, won't that be a bad thing."
"I don't care" Haru frowned, "I really don't care how he feels about our relationship. It's none of his damn business anyway, oh I'm sorry excuse my language."
"Of course" she nodded.
"Besides" he continued, "I want her to know that I am not going anywhere, and that no matter what my feelings will never change. So I was hoping that you would assist me."
"Assist you how?"
"By helping me perform a song at her birthday party."
"A song?" Tohru replied excitedly, "But we haven't done that in a while."
"I know" Haru nodded, "I have the perfect one all picked out all ready. Oh please Tohru" he begged, "Say you'll do it?"
"Okay" she nodded with a smile.
"What?" he replied a bit shocked at her answer.
"Okay" she repeated, "I will sing with you. When would you like to practice?"
"Oh. Um let me see" he scratched the back of his head, "How about Friday after school?"
"Sounds good" she nodded again, "I will walk home with you and Momiji."
"Okay. Oh no wait" he stopped, "Actually it's just going to be me. Momiji is doing something that afternoon."
"Okay" she agreed, "Now let's head back to the house and I will go get us some hot tea."
"Great. Oh and Tohru thanks for doing this" he smiled.
"Are you kidding?" she smiled back, "I want more than ever for you and Rin to get back together."
"Thanks" he smiled sweetly, "I would give anything to have my Suzu back too."
"Your Suzu?"
"It's a nickname I gave her when we were first going out" he started to say as they walked back to the house, him telling Tohru all about how it used to be with her.
(Next Scene)
"You're gonna be helping him alone?" Kyo replied.
"Uh huh" Tohru nodded as she cleared the dishes and Kyo helped her, "I've done it before."
"Yea I know" Kyo said shrugging his shoulders, "But it was different then. I mean now you're my girlfriend and I kind of don't like it when you're with other guys alone. Besides" he wrapped his arms around her waist, after she had put the dishes by the sink, " I wanted to spend as much time with you as I can for our last two months."
"Oh Kyo that's sweet. Well why don't you come over too?"
"What?"
"You know. Come on over and watch us practice. We'll still be spending time alone together that way."
"Yea I guess" he grinned, "Okay. I'll come over with you that afternoon."
Tohru smiled again and left the kitchen to check on the laundry while Kyo filled the sink up with bubbles. Yuki appeared in the doorway and cleared his throat.
"What do you want?" Kyo snarled at him.
"You're going to go to Sohma house intentionally?" Yuki replied, "You hate going over there. Almost as much as I do."
"Yea" Kyo nodded, "So? I guess it doesn't bother me that much since Tohru will be there."
"Huh? I guess that makes sense" Yuki nodded also; "Don't forget we have to work on that project this weekend?"
"Yea. Yea." Kyo frowned again, "You don't have to remind me."
Yuki sighed and left the kitchen and Tohru walked back in. She smiled at Kyo as she handed him the dishtowel and she began washing the dishes.
(Next Scene)
On Friday afternoon Hatsuharu was surprised that Kyo had joined Tohru with them but he just shrugged and led the way to Sohma house. He opened his front door and took off his boots, while Kyo and Tohru did the same. Then he walked over to his box of music and began rummaging through it. Kyo sat on the couch while Tohru walked over to the keyboard that was set up near the piano.
"Okay" Haru pulled out the sheet and handed it to her, "The truth is the song I have in mind will require more instruments so in the next couple weeks or so, I will be looking for members for a band. You know a guitar and drums and stuff. Rin's birthday is at the end of the month, so I want to be prepared by that time."
"So that's why you're doing this all of a sudden?" Kyo said from the couch.
"Yes" Haru nodded as he sat down to his keyboard, "And I'm glad that you're here Kyo, because it's pretty good to have an audience. Okay Tohru."
"Mhm."
"We're just going to practice the song a few times until you get it down, and then we will really go for it. Okay?"
"Okay" she nodded with a smile.
Hatsuharu started playing and then the two of them started to practice, Kyo smiling as he listened to her beautiful voice. When it was getting closer to dinnertime Tohru had the song down perfectly, and Kyo was frowning a bit. As Haru finished playing he noticed Kyo move uncomfortably on the couch and wince as his side ached.
"All right" Haru smiled at Tohru, "I think we got it down."
"I think so too" she smiled back, "It's a beautiful song Hatsuharu. Don't you think so too Kyo?" she turned to him.
"Huh?" he replied absentmindly, "Oh yea. It's great."
"Well" Tohru turned back to Haru, "Kyo and I should be getting home. I have to start dinner soon."
"Okay" Haru stood up as Kyo did and they all walked over to the door.
As Tohru was putting on her shoes and Kyo was about to Haru stroked his chin and turned to his cousin.
"Say Kyo. How about sticking around for a little bit longer? I need to talk to you about something."
"Oh I don't know about that Haru" Kyo shook his head, "I mean it is almost time for dinner."
"It will only take about fifteen more minutes."
"Kyo" Tohru looked at him, "You should stay. Don't worry" she kissed him on his cheek, "I'll have dinner ready by the time you get home."
"Well okay" he finally agreed with a shrug of his shoulders.
Tohru smiled, put on her coat with a little help from Kyo, said goodnight to Hatsuharu and walked out the door. Kyo turned to his cousin, sighed, and walked back over to the couch.
"Okay Haru" he replied as he sat down, "What's up?"
"Actually Kyo" Haru sat on the opposite couch across from him, "I was wondering what's going on with you?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean how are you feeling? Are you in any more pain?"
"Nah" Kyo shook his head, "They're just a couple of scratches. No big deal."
"No big deal huh? It didn't look like no big deal when you came back to the house."
"Look Haru drop it. I'm fine. It's over and done with. Just let it be."
"Okay. But I have to wonder Kyo. What happened to you out there? I mean after Yuki and I left."
"I'm sure you know by now" Kyo said, "All of Sohma house does don't they?"
"Well yea" Haru nodded, "I know what I heard, but I want to hear your story."
"My story?" Kyo looked up at him, "Really?"
"Uh huh. They say that you threatened Akito, is that true?"
"Well. Yes and No" Kyo stood up and walked over to the window.
"What do you mean?"
"Haru" Kyo sighed, "I said some things I shouldn't have said. I mean they needed to be said, it's just I don't think I should have said them. I was rude, arrogant and very obstinate towards him."
"And you should have been" Haru backed him up, "After everything he tried to pull with Tohru."
"Of course that's what I thought during the time too. But afterwards I did feel kind of guilty. After I yelled at him a bunch of times I finally calmed down and I made a deal with him."
"What sort of deal?"
"I told him" Kyo turned around and looked at Haru once more, "No I implored him. That I would carry through with our deal as far as me being locked up goes. I promised to do something in exchange if he would please leave Tohru and me alone for these last two months."
"In exchange for what?"
"I would take the punishment meant for you, the damn rat, and Tohru."
Haru gasped and looked at his cousin, shaking his head trying not to believe what he was saying.
"And that is why you are all bruised and banged up the way you are?"
"Uh huh" Kyo nodded, "This is the result of talking back to Akito three times too much."
"But Kyo" Haru said, "What if he goes back on his word? I mean what if he has no intention of leaving you and Tohru alone?"
"Well that is where the threat comes in. You see before he beat me I gave him an ultimatum."
"An ultimatum?"
"Yea. I told him that if he dares go back on his word and comes after her again that I would kill him."
Haru stared at him in disbelief his mouth open a little in shock.
"Not in my cursed form like you think, but me. With my own bare hands" Kyo clenched his fist.
"And did you mean it?"
"Of course I meant it!" Kyo said but then he saw Haru shake his head, "I couldn't help it Haru. I snapped! Literally snapped! I was so tired of him playing games with her that I just lost myself. I let my temper get the better of me like I always do. You would have done the same for Rin if you had been in the same position."
"You're right about that" Haru stood up and walked over placing a hand on his shoulder, "In a heartbeat I would have been there to protect her from him, that day she was pushed out the window. Kyo I am not mad at you for what you said. I'm just surprised is all. One of us was bound to snap one day and tell Akito off."
"Yea" Kyo nodded solemnly, "It had to be me too. The one who always loses his temper over the tiniest things. Any way, now I have nothing to worry about. Tohru and I will get our last two months."
"Wow. Two months. That's not a whole lot of time" Haru replied, "How do you feel about that?"
"How do you think I feel?" Kyo walked over to the couch and plopped down, "It sucks. I'm doing everything I can, so that doesn't happen. I go to the dojo everyday to practice. I just gotta beat that damn rat. I just gotta."
"I know what you mean" Haru sat next to him, "Is that why you looked so down when we were singing today?"
"Yea" Kyo nodded, "You know I have often thought about running away. Leaving Sohma house and taking her with me. Some place far where Akito could never touch us and I wouldn't have to put her through all this. But that would be the cowardly way out and I am no coward. I'm not giving up without a fight."
"Yea" Haru agreed, "But I'm surprised Kyo. I thought you always wanted to be part of the Sohma family. It was like your fondest dream after you beated Yuki.
"I know" Kyo nodded again, "But lately I realized that if the Sohma family doesn't want me involved why did I bother all of those years. It's not like I need them as badly as I think I did. I mean it's just like my old man. He didn't want me. They don't want me. So why should I care. It's their loss. The only person I care about losing now is Tohru. The one person who has been there for me when I was at my lowest. I have a new dream now Haru. I want more than anything to spend the rest of my life with her" Kyo stood up and walked over to the door to put on his shoes.
"Are you serious Kyo?" Haru asked as he walked over, "You want to make Tohru a part of our family? Marriage and all?"
"Yes" Kyo nodded, "I gave Tohru a promise ring, and I intend to keep that promise. Any way I can I am going to beat that damn rat and become free. And then and only then will I be worthy enough to ask her to marry me."
Kyo stood up and Haru opened the door. He shouldered his backpack and turned to his cousin.
"Thanks for the talk Haru. It helped a lot."
"No problem man. Oh and Kyo."
"Yea."
"I hope you get everything you want."
"Thanks" Kyo left and Haru closed the door with a satisfied sigh. Then he walked over to the piano and began to play the same tune he had played all afternoon on his keyboard.
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Hey guys! Here's the first chapter of the day! I'm sorry it is so late. I couldn't get into the log in for some reason. So here it is today. I will try to finish the last one later on today! Hope you enjoyed it!!!
Next time on Rice-Balls in a Fruits Basket:
Chapter Four: Tohru Spills the Beans
Kyo is not the only one upset. While alone one day Tohru encounters Kandis and decides to tell her friend all of her secrets about Kyo's true form. Find out Kandi's reaction next time!!