A/N: Sorry for the wait! But I have an important announcement before you get to read this chapter: IF YOU WANT ANY SAY IN THE PAIRINGS please review telling me who you'd like to see Tohru with. Any Sohma male is okay (except, of course, for Akito, and Hiro—he's for Kisa ) I won't guarantee a pairing—the story goes where it takes me. Anyway, enjoy!
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Eventually, Torhu brought out dessert, and the Sohma's reached for more of her cooking ravenously.
"So, Yuki, how have your classes been going at the university?" Tohru asked, turning to address the rat.
Yuki blinked in surprise. "Oh, very well, Miss Honda." He paused. "May I ask how you knew…?" he trailed off.
"Akito told me," she replied, as if any other answer would have been absurd. A sad smile touched her lips at the mention of the recently lost leader.
"So Akito has been in contact with you since you left?" Shigure inquired.
Tohru nodded enthusiastically. "He let me know when you completed a new novel; and he kept me up to date on how well Hatsuharu, Momiji, Kisa, and Hiro were doing in school. And he told me how Ayame was doing with his shop, and that Hatori was spending more time relaxing with Ayame and you." She paused, putting a finger against her cheek and tilting her head slightly in though. "Let's see, what else. Oh, yes! He told me that Kyo and Kagura spent time training in the mountains with Kazuma, and that Ritsu was considering taking over for his mother at the hot springs," she finished cheerfully.
"Well," Shigure laughed into the stunned silence. "It seems you know everything that we were doing while you were away. What about you? I hope you did more than work."
"Oh, uh huh," Tohru was quick to reassure him. "In fact, I started reading your books, Shigure."
Several eyes turned to glare at the dog. He laughed nervously. "Not all of them, I hope."
Tohru shook her head. "No, I haven't gotten to the ones like Hana was reading when she first came over, yet."
Sighs emitted from several of those gathered around the table.
Tohru just gave an uncertain smile. Then, noticing the empty plates, stood to gather the dirty dishes.
"Yuki, are you honestly going to let our little flower do all the work? She just returned, after all," Ayame chided playfully.
Yuki glared at his older brother before standing to assist Tohru. "Here, I'll help you, Miss Honda."
"No, no. It's all right, I'll do it. It's been so long since I could help you all." She gave him a reassuring smile. "Why don't you all go watch TV, and I'll join you as soon as I'm done."
"Okay, Tohru," Momiji said, bouncing up before anyone could protest further, and heading for the remote.
Hiro still got to it first. "What do you want to watch, Kisa?"
Tohru left for the kitchen with a smile as Kisa tried to decide, the plates balanced gracefully from her experience working at restaurants.
As the others left to watch television, Kyo hesitantly followed Tohru into the kitchen, where she was already meticulously washing the dishes.
"Hey."
She turned around and greeted him with a large smile he hadn't seen in months. When he didn't say anything more, her smile dimmed slightly.
"Was there something you wanted, Kyo?" she asked, setting aside the bowl she had been cleaning.
He remained silent, averting his eyes, unsure of how to start.
But he didn't have to.
"I'm sorry," Tohru said quietly.
His gaze returned to her only to find that her eyes had dropped to the floor.
"I'm sorry, Kyo," she repeated, her teal eyes rising to meet his crimson ones. She took a step toward him, not noticing the small puddle until it was too late.
She slipped, and Kyo unthinkingly reached to catch her.
Tohru found herself in Kyo's arms, and both of them braced for the resulting poof of their contact that would turn Kyo into his cat form.
One second passed, then another, and Kyo remained human. Both of their eyes widened in surprise. Suddenly an orange cloud appeared with a resounding poof, and Kyo was a cat.
Tohru caught herself before she fell from the sudden lack of supporting arms, and knelt before Kyo.
"I'm sorry, I did it again," Tohru said quietly, head down.
"Forget it," Kyo tried to reassure her.
When she looked up at him, tears were in her eyes again. "I'm so sorry," she said, yet again.
He took an unconscious step towards her, unsure why she was so upset, worried that he was the cause of it.
Hoping he wouldn't mind and needing the comfort, Tohru picked up the orange cat and held him against her. "I hadn't wanted to leave, but Akito promised he wouldn't hurt any of you if I left. I wanted to say goodbye, I really did. But he was going to lock you up if I ever saw any of you again," she admitted through her tears. "I knew you'd be angry with me, but I missed you just as much as the others, Kyo," she said, hugging him as his fur became damp from her crying.
"Oh! Sorry." She finally realized his wet coat and guessed he was probably uncomfortable in the hug. Sniffling back her remaining tears, she picked up his clothes and put them in a separate room for him.
As she was finishing up the remaining dishes, Tohru heard the poof that signaled Kyo's return to his human form.
Tohru was putting away the last of the dishes when Kyo stepped back into the kitchen.
"Ready to go watch TV with the others?" she asked, her cheery manner only slightly dampened from her earlier crying spell, the only signs of which was her slightly reddened eyes and the lingering trace of salt that only Zodiac animals with an excellent sense of smell could sense.
Kyo nodded and they started towards the TV room together. "I missed you, too," he said, making Tohru look up at him. "I—I'm glad you're back," he added, looking slightly nervous and uncertain.
Tohru's eyes shone with unshed tears, and the smile she gave him was filled with true affection and happiness.
When they joined the others, Kisa could tell Tohru had been crying. She stood up and gave Tohru a hug. Kagura did the same, sensing her friend needed the comfort.
"Sissy, are you okay?"
Tohru nodded, and hugged the younger girl tighter. "I'm fine, Kisa. Thank you for worrying."
Something about the way she said the words made the Sohmas think that Tohru had not had anyone show such genuine concern for her in a long time—perhaps not since she had left them.
"Kyo," Shigure decided to change the topic, "Were my ears deceiving me, or did I hear you transform a moment ago?"
Both Kyo and Tohru blushed.
"I slipped, but Kyo caught me," Tohru explained quickly.
"Are you all right, Miss Honda?" Yuki asked. Tohru was quick to assure him she was fine.
"It was strange, though," Kyo said, surprisingly.
"What was strange?" Hatori inquired.
"A couple minutes passed before I changed."
Shigure, Hatori, and Ayame exchanged glances, but said nothing. The others remained quiet from shock.
Tohru, wanting to break the awkward silence, spoke up. "Um, Shigure? I was wondering, what happened to your old house?"
"Oh, it's sitting alone, by itself, unlived in and uncared for," Shigure said theatrically, streams of counterfeit tears pouring down his face.
"You know you could move back in, now that Akito's gone," Hatori announced.
"That's true," Shigure replied, sobering himself. "I had thought about it a while ago, but…" he trailed off with a quick glance at Tohru, it wouldn't have been the same.
The phone rang, startling them all. Shigure rose to answer and the others remained silent until he returned.
"That was one of the servents," he said to their questioning looks. "He simply called to inform us that Akito has been buried. And he mentioned that some of the family was going to gather there tomorrow morning to pay their final respects. We don't have to go, but—oh, how did he put it?—Ah, yes: he 'especially recommends' that we attend, us being so close to our former leader as we were."
"Sounds as if we don't have much of a choice," Hatori commented. The other Sohmas nodded in agreement.
Tohru cleared her through slightly, bringing her back to their attention. "Um, I think I'll head back to my apartment now," she said as she stood up. Several faces dropped, but no one spoke. "Would it be all right if I came back tomorrow?" she asked hesitantly.
"Of course!" Shigure said.
"Yay!" Momiji exclaimed.
"Goody!" Kagura cried, squeezing Tohru in another hug, quickly followed by Kisa.
"Okay," Tohru said with her old smile, making the others smile as well. "I'll see you tomorrow!" She waved as she left. Her smile did not dim even as she readied herself for bed that night.
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To my reviewers:
lhuntathraeil: Thank you! I really am sorry for the wait!
Katarina: I'm sorry it took so long! Thanks for the review!
Demon Girl: Thank you very much. Sorry I didn't update sooner.
Ariyana: No problem, I don't mind answering questions at all. As to your comment about Tohru's new maturity: I've found that setting the story in the future allows for slight changes that can make the story more believable when there are gaps in what is already given knowledge. Did that make any sense? Sorry, I guess I was rambling. Thank you so much for the compliment, it's nice hearing from you.
Elriel: Sorry it took me so long to update! Akito seems like he's a good character to 'tweak' if you get my meaning, but it worked best that he died in this fiction. Anyway, thanks again, and I hope you liked the chapter!
CrazyInsaneAnimeFanGirl: Well, I already know what your vote is for pairings. The result will mostly depend on where the story itself decides to go, but also on the polls. So I'm sorry I can't make any promises. Thank you for the review though!
summrpnkprncess: I'm glad you like the story, thanks so much for the reviews! I'm sorry to say that I haven't gotten the chance to read your stories yet, and with school starting my free time will probably be even less, but I will try. Thanks again!
hoshiyoshi: Sorry this chapter took so long. You probably finished your manga and many more while you were waiting. I am pleased you like my story. Thank you very much for the review!
i love athrun: I'm happy you like my story, and I am extremely sorry this chapter took so long. I hope the wait was at least partially worth it.
Darkness Sweetheart2000: Thank you so much for the reviews, I'm really happy you like the story. I'm so sorry about how long it's been taking me to update. Thanks, again!!
Defafaeth Mechqua: I'll take it that means you like the story Sorry I've been taking so long to update!
Ana Denali: What you said was true, but I didn't want to put too large of a gap of time before she came back. I hope you're questions were answered. If not, or if you have more, please feel free to ask. Thank you very much for the review!!!
Raha: Thanks for the compliments!! I hope you continue to enjoy my fiction!
Lady Literature: Thanks so much! I'm glad you like it and I hope you keep on liking it. Thanks, again!
Brittley: Thank you so much for the review! I'm glad you like my story, and I hope it continues to meet your approval. I love the series very much.