Her Gift
By Mayumi Takanashi
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or any of its characters.
Author's Note: Once again, it's late Sunday night and tomorrow's school, so it's angsty and depressing! Just keep that in mind as you read. There will be a really sweet ending, and I'm planning on making it three chapters long, because I have a thing about doing things in odds. You know, things go in odds, like let's say you have three snowmen decorations. It looks better in three's than it two's or four's! See what I mean? Sorry…it's 9:45 pm…Also, just to warn you, Tohru is called "Princess Tohru" by someone. It may seem a little strange, but it was taken from the episode where they go to the hot spring and Yuki gives "Princess Tohru" and ribbon for White Day. Remember, she feels like a princess surrounded by Sohma princes and stuff…so, like…yeah…Strange, this note began as one sentence and now it's the longest author's note I've ever written…GO ME!
Yuki could not bear to see Tohru in this much pain. She needed someone to comfort her right now, but what could he do? Embrace her? Hold her? Wrap his arms around her? Turning into a rat would probably make her more upset. She already freaked out every time someone turned into their Zodiac animal!
He couldn't take this much longer. How could he leave her when she needed him most? Tohru was always there for him, and it was time to return the favor.
Slowly, cautiously, quietly, he slid open the door and strode over to her bed. Her face was buried in the pillow, so she couldn't see him. Her sobs drowned out all noise, so she couldn't hear him.
Yuki kneeled beside the bed and gently touched her hand. Startled, she jerked her head up just inches from Yuki's face. They stared at one another for a moment, and then he leaned up and kissed her forehead. Stroking her soft, brown hair, he spoke to her.
"I'm here, Princess Tohru, I'm here," he breathed.
Tohru simply stared wide-eyed at the boy in front of her. His kindness touched her heart, and she felt some of her grief ease away.
"Thank you," she whispered softly. The tears came again, and Yuki sat down on the bed beside Tohru, stroking her cheek and wiping the tears away.
-Her Gift-
The next day at school, Shigure allowed Tohru to attend school. Hana and Uo had been dying to see her, since the last time they talked was at her mom's gravestone. It was awkward because they had seen her in tears of pain, which they had never seen Tohru cry that way.
Also, Momiji and Hatsuharu had heard of the events that had recently happened: Kyo's transformation, the visit to Akito, and Tohru's fits of tears. Momiji had been looking all around the school this morning in his search for Tohru. Haru obediently followed. When they saw her, Momiji immediately bounded up to give her a hug, but one menacing glare from Kyo and Yuki was enough to make him stop in his tracks.
"How are you feeling, Tohru?" asked Momiji in a kind manner.
Her lip began to quiver, and after a few moments was lead away by Yuki to a tree across the yard, leaving Kyo, Momiji, and Hatsuharu to gaze after them.
"Please, you don't need to cry, I'm here," explained Yuki in a soothing tone.
Tohru kept on sobbing.
"All he wanted to know was if you were feeling alright."
"Um, I think I'd like to be alone now…" she said, the tears running down her cheeks.
"I understand, go right ahead."
She sprinted across the grass, her hair whipping behind her, her tear-stained face hidden behind her hands.
Yuki saw Uo make to chase after her, but then heard a distant Hana telling her, "She does not want company at the moment."
-Her Gift-
Yuki strolled to the boy's bathroom to splash himself with cool water. It felt refreshing, as if he was washing his problems and concerns down the drain. He wondered when the time would come for Tohru to experience this feeling.
When he strolled back out to his group of cousins, he noticed Shigure striding up the pathway to the main entrance of the school. Yuki caught up with him.
"What are you doing here?" he asked him.
"A teacher called me to come and get Tohru," he responded in an urgent tone.
"Nothing has happened to her, has it?"
"No, it's just that they told me that she looked distraught, and thought that she shouldn't have come to school today."
"Tell her I'll get her homework again."
"Sure. I'll see you after school," said Shigure, walking into the Principal's Office.
The bell had rung, and Yuki headed to class. He purposely took a seat next to the window so he could see Shigure escort Tohru to the car. They drove off and disappeared behind a cherry blossom tree.
Author's Note: Was that okay? I thought I should add a little TohruxYuki romance. It made me so sad at the end of the series when they didn't hug or kiss or do anything! The series led up to a non-existent love relationship! Does anyone understand my pain? Please let me know, for we can sit in a world of Fruits Basket despair together! I want more episodes! Who's with me?