A/N: Thank you so very much to my readers. I am deeply flattered and always happy to hear that you are enjoying my story. Also thank you for your patience. I won't bore you with details of what keeps me so busy, so without further ado:

Chapter 2: Troubled Hearts

The small white dove perched delicately on Akito's long, pale finger and Shigure sat on a cushion in front of him with unblinking eyes..

"Is that so... the little trio is heading to Kazuma's for the summer? I see... this could prove to be interesting."

--

"Come on." Kyo opened his sliding door and Tohru blinked at him in a confused manner. He turned away so she couldn't see the red blush adorning his face. "I'll help you with dinner." Her smile grew as she stood up to full height and slowly made her way down the stairs with Kyo behind her. "This is so wonderful!" she exclaimed, "You must be excited, Kyo!"

He shoved his hands in his pockets and, though he couldn't help smiling, he kept his usually tone of voice: "I guess..."

Yuki looked up from his book. "Ms. Honda."

"Yes, Yuki?"

He eyed Kyo wearily and frowned. "What are you staring at, cat?"

Kyo's cat ears perked up on his head and little fangs sprouted. "Nothing you damn rat! I'm helping Tohru with dinner!"

Yuki looked surprised and laid the book down. Standing up he said he would too in a matter-of-factly way.

"Oh, but Yuki... I'm sure you have a lot of work to do with Student Council and all and-"

"Not at all Ms. Honda. I called them just a moment ago to say I would be preoccupied this summer at a training dojo. No use in telling them which one though, lest they come to disrupt the peace."

"Ehh... never mind him, Tohru. Come on. I'm hungry."

"Well, uh, actually..."

Both boys stopped and looked at her.

"Thank you both very much. Really... but I'm quite all right. Please, go pack or do something and enjoy yourselves. I'll call when dinner's ready."

Kyo 'mmm'ed and said something about being on the roof.

He lay on the tile and stared at the ebony sky above him plastered in shining beads of light. He sucked in the sharp, cold air and allowed his amber eyes to absorb the masterpiece above him. He didn't know how much longer he'd be able to live like this. No matter what he did, he couldn't get Tohru out of his head. He turned over and looked at the black and white beads hanging loosely off his wrist. He felt he had been lucky until now, but if he told Tohru about this strange feeling for her that had engulfed him, he might loose her for real this time. He restlessly turned on his other side and stared at the wind, soundlessly weaving between each leaf in the forest. If he didn't, would Yuki win her? Could he bear that? No. But did Tohru feel for either of them? It was true she was, in a word, ditzy most of the time... but that was really part of her charm. He smiled and reassured himself. The next day they would venture to his Master's dojo: and Yuki or not, there would be Tohru.

Tohru hummed a happy little ditty and chopped the zucchini and squash. Yuki wordlessly padded across the floor to her and started the rice.

She glanced up, surprised. "Oh... Yuki... but I already said..."

"I know what you said."

She blinked. "Huh?"

"Heh... Ms. Honda. Let me help you anyway."

"...Okay!"

Running his hands through the cold water from the faucet he savored the moment: having Tohru near him and them being completely comfortable with each other... and yet, he still felt trapped. Somehow, there was still more for him, he felt leaden with regret or fear... he wasn't quite sure, but somehow Kyo, despite his curse, had reached this enlightenment which Yuki was starved for. Glancing from the corner of his eye, he knew he could find the comfort he sought in those warm depths of her eyes. Yuki wasn't ready yet to completely open his heart to her and reveal his secrets, but he wanted to, slowly, bit by bit. Slowly, he wanted to take in her acceptance, because her rejection would ruin him utterly.

The faint sound of a car pulling up the driveway and the shadows cast over the house by the headlights brought Kyo to attention and he flattened himself on the roof and observed with his sharp eyes the people below. It was Shigure. Kyo furrowed his brows. He didn't even know he had gone out... and the driver... Akito?! Suddenly, the warm reassurance and the image of himself at the dojo with Tohru and his master dissipated. He had the urge to jump down, right in front of Shigure once the car had pulled out but he restrained himself. The dog had to be up to something. Letting him know that he knew only gave away his advantage.

Quickly Shigure changed from his suit to his loose brown kimono. As though nothing had happened, into the kitchen, "Tohru... is dinner ready yet? I'm starving!" In his mind he felt a tinge of sadness? Guilt? "I hope this doesn't cause you any more pain my little flower, I'm sorry."

"Oh, Shigure! Of course... why don't you get Kyo for me and I'll start setting the table!"

He beamed. "That's what I like to hear!"

After dinner Shigure gave a huge speech about how he'd miss them, what he'd do, etc. The two boys twitched and Tohru just watched with large eyes.

"Uh... so I think that we'd all better make sure we're ready for tomorrow!" Tohru got up and cleared some of the dishes. Shigure smiled and left, Yuki went to do just as Tohru had suggested and Kyo lingered. The summer with Tohru... He stood dumbly staring into thin air. Tohru came up and very lightly hit him on the shoulder.

"Oh... huh?"

She laughed good naturedly. "Wake up, silly."

Without thinking he slung an arm around her neck and put the other hand on her head, causing her to laugh even more.

"You're one to talk."

She clicked her tongue and looked up at him and he eased his arm from the headlock and patted her head. "Go on and finish Tohru. You need to get ready for tomorrow too."

She nodded. "Yes!" and hurried into the kitchen. Kyo soundlessly made his way to his room, hoping never to return to this house after that day.

Yuki was deep in thought as he monotonously shut the small suitcase and sat on his bed. Tohru knocked lightly on his door and he quizzically looked up.

"Yes?"

Tohru opened the door so it was ajar and peeked in. "Hi Yuki. May I come in?"

"Oh, of course Ms. Honda! What is it?"

She tried to seem as cheery as possible, though deep inside anxiety and fear crept through her veins.

"You seemed kind of down, so I thought I'd see if you wanted to talk about it."

He closed his eyes: how like her. "Yes, I'm perfectly all right.... I'm just thinking about tomorrow."

Tohru frowned. "But, that doesn't seem like you! It's just..." she sat down next to him and looked at her clutched hands, "I feel like, there's a wall you're hiding behind... one where I can't reach you, Yuki- and I want to! If you'd let me... I just... I want to understand you."

He wasn't sure how to answer her. "What do you mean?" It was true he was holding back, but...

He hadn't noticed she had gotten up and opened the door.

"I'm sorry." she muttered, "I didn't mean to pry. Good night, Yuki."

She slid the door shut and returned to her own room, carefully selecting what she'd need to bring with her for the dojo. "Maybe I shouldn't have said that." she thought, "Maybe, I was prying and I made him feel bad. I don't know why, but I feel strange. Somehow, my heart is collapsing- I don't know what to do."

She slipped on a plain black coat and knocked on Shigure's work room. "Shigure, I'm going to see Hana! I'll be back soon!" With that she made her way to the train station. Yuki and Kyo watched her through their windows wondering, holding themselves back from following her.

Hana poured the tea and sat on the cushion.

"Tohru, I'm so glad you came to see me. A trip sounds good for you. I hope you'll enjoy yourself and call me during your stay."

"Of course!"

"But please, do tell me. What is your real reason for coming all this way at this time of night? And don't lie. If it was to tell me where you were going, you could have simply called me."

"...Oh. You're right... to be perfectly honest, I'm not exactly sure myself."

Hana continued to feel sad. Tohru was her dearest friend and Hana just wanted to be there for her, to watch her and help her when she needed it! And yet, she knew that if Tohru was to face her destiny, Hana would have to let her do it alone.

"Yuki and Kyo's waves are in chaos, Tohru. It deeply troubles me."

Tohru's eyes grew huge and she placed her hands on the table in front of her. "What?!"

"They must both face their inner demons. They are able to do this only because of you Tohru: should you pull away from them, what do you think might happen?"

Wells of tears built in Tohru's eyes. "I don't understand Hana! What do you mean? I love Yuki and Kyo. They're like my family. Why would I leave them?"

Hana told herself she must be strong. The hardest thing to do would be to be hard and honest with Tohru, whom she longed to be gentle with and confide. "Tohru, it's time to face the truth. Yuki and Kyo, they love you, but their hearts are in chaos. What would you do if one of them, or maybe both, told you that they loved you?"

Tohru wiped her eyes. "Hana... don't be silly. They don't love me like that." She chucked sadly. "Yuki's my friend and Kyo isn't interested in dating at all as far as I know."

Hana stood up. "But you don't know, Tohru! You can't see it." Tohru felt scared. Hana sighed. "Please Tohru, think about what I said. I'm really tired now. You should go home and rest for tomorrows trip."

Only two or three people were on the trains this late now. Tohru thought hard and deep. Hana must be stressed out or over worried to say such things. If Yuki or Kyo felt that way, Tohru was sure she'd know about it. When she got home, she collapsed on her bed and slept straight through the night. In the morning, everyone ate breakfast and as the sun rose in the sky Kazuma came and welcomed the three into this home with open arms. In the pit of each ones stomach, each could feel the wheel of destiny turning.

A/N: Please watch for the next chapter!