"Oi."

Yuki turned around at the voice. "Hai, Uotani- san?"

"Kyon told us you went to the main Sohma house yesterday. We know that the Sohma family is somehow involved in what happened to Tohru. We're not saying anybody in your household had anything to do with it-" Uo leaned in- "but we do want to know what happened, and what you plan to do about it."

"Ano…"

"Uo- chan!" Tohru rebuked mildly, coming up behind them.

"Let me take your bag, Tohru." Uotani said, turning her attention away from Yuki, much to his relief.

"Oh, it's fine! My arm isn't that bad; I don't even need a sling, see?"

"You should still let me carry it!"

"It's fine!" Tohru protested again as they headed for class.

"What did you find out?" Hanajima asked. Yuki barely kept himself from jumping; he hadn't heard her approach.

"Not much." he lied.

Hana gave him a sharp glance but let it slide. "Did Kyou tell you about our conversation with him yesterday?"

Yuki suddenly wished he hadn't gone straight into a fight with Kyou when the other boy had asked him how things had gone at the main house. "Um, well…"

"If Tohru- kun's environment does not improve, and we do not believe it is safe for her, we'll either have to remove her from your house or modify it until we are no longer concerned."

A sweatdrop greeted this proclamation. "Erm…"

He was saved from having to make a reply as Momiji streaked past them. "Tooooohru!"

She stopped and turned; he was only prevented from flying into hugging her by a well- timed fist from Kyou. Momiji spared much less time for whining at the blow than he usually did. "Tohru, are you all right?"

She smiled. "I'm fine!"

"Your arm!" Momiji cried, lifting it gently.

"It's fiiiiiiine!" Tohru singsonged, presenting him with a pen. "You can even sign it, see?"

Momiji took the pen but kept hold of her hand, looking up at her with concerned brown eyes. "Are you sure it doesn't hurt, Tohru?"

She crouched down to meet him on his eye level. "I'm sure."

"Okay!" Momiji grinned blindingly, signing his name with a flourish and adding a cute little bunny. "Now you can look at that, and think of me, Tohru!"

"I will!" she laughed, only to jump up as a bell rang through the corridor. "The warning bell! We need to get to class!"

-

None of Tohru's friends, Sohma or otherwise, learned anything in school that day. Instead they kept careful watch over her, grouping together when school let out and deciding that Momiji would keep an eye on her while she was at her beit, and the rest of them would take turns walking her home afterward. Tohru protested their intention, but it was no use; and secretly she was glad to have the assurance of their company. She'd been dreading going back to work that night.

-

"Tohru?"

"Hai, Momiji- kun?" She looked over quizzically.

"You're not going to- you're not going to leave us, are you?"

Like your mother. she realized sadly. "Not if I can help it, Momiji- kun."

He threw himself on her in the hug he hadn't been able to give her in school that day, nuzzling into her stomach. "I was- I was so scared, Tohru, when I heard you'd been hurt!" The rabbit turned tearful red eyes up to her. "Tohru, if Akito's behind this, would you still want to stay? Even if it would be safer for you to leave?"

She considered her answer before giving it to him, picking him up and snuggling him against her. "I don't want to leave, and I don't want to lose my memories. I've had such a wonderful time getting to know everyone… it's truly been one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. The only thing that could make it better would be if Okaa- san were still here… but then I wouldn't have met any of you, so I suppose things turned out for the best, ne?

"If it were safer for me to leave… I don't know what I would do. But I can tell you this, Momiji- kun… I won't leave you unless I have to."

The bunny made a small, sad noise, but knew that it was the best answer; and so he took what he could get, pressing himself against her as tightly as he could and savoring what time they had.