Runaway Kid-RK- Thanks for your comments! Yes, Kyo is red headed...or maybe orange would be the better word!

rinkurocks- Yes, I agree, the pairing is great! Love Hatori-Tohru pairings! Too bad there's so little of them!

faerie-kittie306- Good to know that you enjoy my stories!! Pls R&R this chappie!

"Ugh...what happened?" Tohru asked, feeling her head pound and her mouth feeling as if cotton was stuffed inside.

"You fell ill...you silly girl...why didn't you rest?" a voice came from the side.

Tohru squinted in the dark room, trying to see who was talking.

The light flicked on and Tohru winced as the light glared.

A cool hand gently stroked her hot forehead.

Looking up, she smiled weakly.

"Shigure..." she said simply.

Shigure looked so serious as he looked down at her.

"You didn't have to push yourself so hard..."

Tohru smiled gently and shook her head.

"No...it's the weather...and I guess the excitement of being home made me feel...tired." Tohru said, smiling.

Oh, Tohru, why do you always have to pretend to be so strong?

"Rest now..." he said, gently pushing the blanket to cover her.

"But..."

"Rest." His tone allowed no argument and Tohru sank down into the soft pillows gratefully.

Closing her eyes, she sighed softly and before long, she was asleep.

Shigure shut the door softly and then padded off to the living room to sit there.

Where was Hatori?

Seeing Tohru back after 3 years...

Tohru, their savior...

3 years ago, they met her...

How she changed their lives...

She taught them that even during rainy days, there's always hope...especially after a rainy day, the sunshine seems to be even more beautiful as the rainbow appears.

Imagining life without Tohru...was like life with no sunshine.

The Sohma family were like small children wanting candies as Tohru spread her love and her affection around; they couldn't get enough of it.

Akito...even he didn't manage to chase her away.

"I want to stay with you! I want to...I want to get to know all the Sohma's! I want to stay with them!" Tohru said, her eyes determined and her cheeks flushed with colour.

Akito looked shocked at the declaration, falling back slightly at the girl's words.

"Why?" he managed to choke out.

"Because I love all of them...even you, Akito-san. You were always there for them, Akito-san, even though you are cruel. But you're cruel...because you love them. You're afraid for them! You're afraid for yourself! It must have been hard for you, Akito-san. To know that all these people depended on you...looked up to you..." Tohru said, her eyes filled with compassion, taking a step forward.

Akito stepped back instinctively.

"LIAR! What do you know? A mere chit of a girl! An OUTSIDER! You'll never know the pain or the fear! You don't know how it feels to know that you were born to die!" Akito shouted, enraged but stopped at his last words.

Born to die...

Tohru looked down, her fists clenched.

The silence was unnerving in the small, dark room.

Shigure felt the hair at the back of his neck stand as Akito looked triumphant.

Say something, Tohru, Shigure pleaded in his mind.

Tohru looked up and for a moment, Shigure felt a pain in his heart.

She was looking at Akito...with love...and desperation...for Akito.

"You're wrong, Akito-san! No on was born to die! No one! If you thought you were born to die, then why do you still live? Why does your heart beat?" Tohru said, moving forward and nearly collapsing in front of the frozen Akito.

Gently taking his hand, she placed it over his chest.

"Listen...I can feel your heart beat...can you? If you were meant to die...then why does your heart beat so? If you thought you were born to die, then is it not a miracle that you have lived this long? But what pains me is that all this time, you were blind...blind to everything around. You thought you were dead but this proves wrong! Your heart is beating strong and true! Why do you waste your time inflicting pain? Why can't you see the love and the respect your family have for you...maybe you don't understand...maybe all you can see is hate in their eyes for you...but I can see something else, Akito-san. They really care for you...how can they not? You're their Leader...you're the only one who'll always be there...they love you but they are afraid..."

Shigure felt his train of thoughts scatter when he heard the door open.

Looking up, he saw Hatori looking at him, his expression expressionless.

He stubbed out the cigarette he was smoking onto the ashtray and got up.

"What are you doing here, Shigure?" he asked, his voice cold.

"Hatori...Tohru's very important to us...you of all should know this..." Shigure said, looking into his best friend's eyes.

Hatori just simply looked at him.

"Take care of her, Hatori...I don't think Yuki and Kyo are going to be very happy when they find out she's sick..." Shigure said but before he could finish his words, Hatori was already halfway towards Tohru's room.

Hatori felt his heart in his throat.

Damn!

He should have known...

He never should have let her sleep on the porch!

He never should have...

The regrets choked up his chest, making it hard for him to breathe.

She was sleeping...

She looked so peaceful.

Still so much like a child.

Gently walking towards her, he sat on her bed, being careful not to jostle her.

His fingers gently pushed back her fringe and she gave a soft sigh, making him freeze.

He relaxed when she didn't open her eyes.

"I'm sorry..." he whispered hoarsely and he turned to walk out when he felt small hands grab at his fingers.

He looked down, shocked, to see her awake.

Her eyes were glazed over with the fever.

"Don't...go..." she whispered huskily, her eyes shiny with her unshed tears.

Hatori felt his heart wrench.

Even now...he still made her cry.

He sat down softly beside her, taking her hands in his and gently stroked her cheek.

She closed her eyes and leaned against his cool hands.

Hatori felt the wetness of her tears as she leaned against his hand.

Wiping them away, he turned away to hide his expression.

"I...thought you...weren't coming back...I thought...you left..." Tohru said, quietly sobbing into her pillow.

His heart constricted as he heard her cry and her words.

"Tohru...don't cry. Hush...don't cry...I'm right here...I'm...here..." Hatori said, choking on his words.

"Promise me...you won't go...away?" she asked, looking up at him with her tear-streaked face.

How can I promise you that when I myself am afraid that you'll leave me?

"I promise..." he whispered hoarsely, kissing her hands.

Tohru wrapped her arms around his neck and held him close, relishing the feeling of being able to finally hug him. She could smell his cologne and the cigarette he had smoked. It made her feel safe and she snuggled even closer, her tears wiped away at his shirt.

"I...love you, Hatori..." she said sleepily, the little crying session wearing her out.

Hatori held her as she fell asleep.

Gently, he let her fall back against her pillow again and covered her with the blanket.

Turning back, he saw Shigure looking at him.

"Why didn't you tell us, Hatori?" he asked seriously.

"Her feelings are simply a child's infatuation..."

"Not her feeling...we always knew she loved you...why didn't you tell us you loved her?" Shigure asked.

Hatori looked at Shigure, shocked.

Him?

Loving Tohru?

"You don't know...you don't know..." Shigure said, incredulously, seeing Hatori's expression.

"You were in love with her and you didn't know..." Shigure said, repeating his words.

When did I fall?

When?

I love her?

I love her!

When?

Was it when I first saw her azure eyes looking at me?

Or when she saw me in my zodiac form?

Or when she told me that snow always turns into spring?

When?