Konnichiwa!!!!!!!! I am really happy! My Internet finally works! Anyway, not much to say, so on with the fic!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter Ten
The arrival
It was a really long drive to the beach house and by the time they got there, there were no snacks left. Shigure pulled into the driveway, and to the right, was the ocean.
Tohru jumped out of the car and ran to the edge of the grassy hill. Eyes sparkling from the sun.
"Oh, wow. It's just like I always imagined! It's so beautiful!" Tohru said excitedly. Kyo and Yuki both came up on each side of her and stared out at it.
"Yes. It truly is beautiful." Yuki said smiling at her. She smiled brightly back at him and then turned to Kyo.
"It's not so bad."
"We better go put our stuff away in a room before the others get here." Tohru said rushing off to the car to help Shigure unload and bring them into the house.
"It's not bad was all you could say?" Yuki asked.
"Shut up!"
"You could at least have said it was nice." Yuki growled.
"I don't care about a stupid body of water! Just leave me alone you damn rat!"
"Shut up you stupid cat and go help with the luggage." Yuki said lazily.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY! THAT'S IT YOU ARE DEAD NOW!" Kyo threw his fist out but Yuki blocked it and flung him over the hill and into the ocean.
Tohru came running over to see what was going on.
"(Gasp) Kyo! Kyo are you alright!"
"Damn it, I'm fine!"
"I'll go get you a towel!" Tohru ran over to the luggage and went into a bag and took out a towel. She ran back over to the hill and slowly persisted on going down.
"Ms. Honda, be careful!" Yuki shouted to her.
"Don't worry Yuki, I'll be fine." Tohru said happily. She finally reached the bottom and…SLIP, SPLASH. Tohru had fallen into the water as well, landing on Kyo. POOF. (Domino effect)
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" Tohru cried, her head in her hands.
"It's alright, stop crying. I'm fine." Kyo said. The towels were dry though, only because she had dropped them before she fell into the water.
"Oh no, your clothes are soaking wet. You'll catch a cold!" She stood up and grabbed his clothes, then went to shore. She picked him up and wrapped him in the towel.
"There." Tohru smiled lovingly at him as he curled up. But suddenly realizing that Yuki was watching them he stopped and hopped out of her grasp. The towel still half way on him when POOF! Tohru turned around quickly. Kyo wrapped the towel around his waist and went around back to the door. Tohru had not yet wrapped her self in the towel. She was carrying it though.
"Are you stupid. You're so worried about me but you never worry about your own health!" Kyo walked up to her and took the towel from her hands, wrapping it firmly around her before turning back around and forcing the door open.
"Kyo I…" Tohru started.
"Don't worry about it. You didn't do it on purpose." Kyo said softly.
"Yeah, alright." They walked into the house and up the stairs to their luggage. Shigure had already chosen their rooms for them and they found them quite easily.
Tohru dressed in a white short sleeved halter-top and a red mini skirt. Kyo dressed in a black T-shirt and cacky jeans.
"Listen, Kyo I…"
"Flower, are you alright?!" Shigure came running over to them.
"Yes Shigure, I'm fine. Don't worry about me." Tohru said happily.
" I know I shouldn't flower but…well, I can't help it." Shigure said. Tohru smiled and kissed his cheek.
"I'm fine. I…"
"Ms. Honda! Are you alright?!" Yuki asked running towards us, closely followed by Haru and Momiji.
"TorTor, are you all right? We saw you fall, but Shigure wouldn't let us come see if you were all right until you were dried off and dressed.
Tohru looked at Shigure questionably.
" I didn't want them to walk in on you flower." Shigure said in defense.
"Thank you Shigure. Are the others here yet?"
"Hatori called, he said they would be here in a few minutes."
"Oh, that's wonderful. I can't wait to see him, and Kisa, and to meet Hiro. Oh and Mr. Kazuma! I am dying to see him again. This is going to be so much fun!"
"HELLO!" Came a holler from the doorway downstairs. Tohru gasped and ran down the stairs, followed by Momiji.
"Shishou!" Tohru cried. She hugged the man tightly.
"Hello Tohru. How have you been?" He asked her in his kind, gentle voice.
"I'm just fine, and you?"
"Couldn't be better." Kyo slowly walked down the stairs to them. Kazuma watched intently.
Yuki walked swiftly towards them and got to Tohru and Kazuma first. Kyo stopped in his tracks, turned around, and ran back up the stairs to his room, slamming the door.
"Shihan-san. It is very nice to see you again. It has been far too long."
"Yes, it has." Tohru was still staring at the stairs before she got up and excused herself.
"I'm going to go check up on Kyo. We fell into the water earlier and I want to go check on him." Tohru explained. She scurried upstairs and knocked on Kyo's door.
"Kyo? It's Tohru, may I come in?"
"Whatever." Came his reply and she slide the door open.
"Why didn't you say hi? I know you miss him."
"I can't." He said simply.
Tohru looked puzzled at this.
(Knock, knock, knock)
Someone slide open the door and in stepped Kazuma. Kyo stood up and walked towards Kazuma. Tohru became very interested in what he was going to do, mostly because Kyo asked her to watch him and Kazuma-san earlier.
"Kyo." He said simply and Kyo threw out his right fist, nearly clipping Kazuma-san's jaw. But Kazuma caught it before it reached his chin.
"You're getting better." Kazuma said kindly.
Kyo started to laugh.
"I've missed you very much Shishou!" Kyo exclaimed. Kazuma ruffled Kyo's hair. Looking at the way they acted, you would have never guessed that Kazuma-san was not Kyo's real father.
"I've missed you too Kyo." Kazuma said. Tohru watched with a loving smile on her face. Kyo looked over and smiled, too.
"So, I'm guessing Yuki doesn't know about you two yet." Kazuma said. At this Kyo and Tohru looked to the ground, suddenly becoming very interested in the hardwood floor.
"I'll take that as a yes. Why don't I tell him. That way I can let him down easy." Tohru's gaze shot up at Kazuma.
"Oh no! You can't. He…He'll hate me. Not to mention he will be so mad that he might…" Tohru stopped her sentence. She looked at Kyo and then back at the floor.
"I see. So your biggest fear is the Sohmas hating you. They are your family now."
"That has always been my fear. That Kyo and Yuki will hate me. That Momiji would hate me. That Haru and Shigure would…and Hatori, I haven't even thought of what Mr. Akito would say. He would probably have my memories erased. And that is what I fear the most. Is forgetting. I don't want to forget…cause if I do…I will never be able to smile again. I would have nowhere to live…my friends would think I was crazy…I would have no father or mother to see. And I would probably be living with my grandfather, aunt and uncle for the rest of my life. Never knowing what joy I felt with the Sohmas. Never knowing that I was being missed, if they would miss me at all. Just the thought of it…gives me a feeling that I never want to have. Just the thought of forgetting…makes me feel empty." Tohru said not looking at any of them. Kyo stared at her with a sort of sad look. Unable to hold her, unable to feel her and comfort her. It was more than he could bare. Only Shishou would be able to do something like that. He wished so much that he could get ride of this stupid curse. But the only problem is…no one in the Sohma family knew how too.
"Tohru." Kyo finally spoke. Tohru looked over at him with a tearful smile. That look in her eyes ripped his heart in two. She of all people did not deserve to look like that. It wasn't the curse that was breaking her down…it was the threat that at any moment, Akito could take her memories away.
"I'm alright Kyo. Really, I just thought that I should get that out. I am very happy here. I don't want to run away from it. I told you…I want us…all of us…to be together. Share our problems and complaints, so…this was just one of those times. Anyway, I shouldn't feel upset about this trip. This is a vacation, we should be having fun."
"Tohru, Hatori and the gang is here!" Came Shigure's voice. Tohru walked downstairs with Kazuma and Kyo.
"See, the only thing that could make this better is…" Tohru stopped on the stairs and her sentence. There stood Kisa, Hatori, Hiro, and…
"M-Mr. Akito?" Tohru stuttered.
"Hello Tohru Honda. It is very nice to see you again." That look in his eyes was there again, that look of pure hatred.
"I-it is very nice to see you again too, Mr. Akito."
"So, Shigure, were is my room?" Akito asked.
"It is upstairs Akito. I will take you up there if you like." Shigure asked.
"That would be nice." He walked over to Yuki and placed a hand on his cheek.
"Yuki, been a long time. How come you never come and visit me? Do I have to put you in that room again?" Yuki's eyes filled with terror. Tohru walked over to them and smiled.
"Mr. Akito, is there anything special you like to eat? I could make you something." Tohru said distracting Akito. He turned towards her and smiled.
"I do like onigiri." Akito said. Tohru smiled and nodded.
"Yuki, would you like to help me make Mr. Akito's onigiri?" Tohru asked.
"Oh, yes Ms. Honda. I would love to help you in the kitchen." Yuki said as he stepped past Akito and walked into the kitchen with Tohru. Soon Kyo went into the kitchen.
"Tohru?" Kyo asked. Both Yuki and Tohru turned around. Yuki in a lovely frill pink apron. Kyo had to muster all his strength to keep from laughing.
"Oh, Kyo. Is there something you need?"
(grumble) Kyo's stomach growled loudly and he blushed with embarrassment.
"Oh, I guess you're hungry. If you want to wait a minute I will make you some Onigiri as well." Tohru offered.
"(Mumble) Thanks…Tohru." Kyo said softly mumbling his thanks. He really didn't want Yuki to think he had gone soft.
"You're welcome Kyo." Tohru whispered to him.
As soon as Kyo left Yuki turned around, going back to the rice ball he was making.
Tohru, it's been a long time since I asked you how you felt and which one of us you would choose. So, I guess what I am asking is…have you come to your decision?" Yuki asked not looking at her.
Tohru dropped the rice ball she had been working on. It fell to the floor splattering its contents all over. Yuki looked over at her shocked.
"Ms. Honda!"
Tohru looked over at him, her eyes sad and scared.
"Ms. Honda."
"Yuki I…I don't want to choose! It's not right for you to make me choose. I…I don't want to loose neither you nor Kyo for my choice. It wouldn't be fair. If I choose one, the other will hate me. If I choose the other, he will be in despair and pain for life and shut himself off from the world. It's not fair to you and Kyo. I don't cause no matter what I decide…the other will despise me for ever." Tears came to Tohru's eyes as she spoke, instantly making Yuki feel ashamed.
"But…If I had to choose…If it was a matter of life or death…"
"Ms. Honda, I won't hate you if you choose Kyo." Yuki said. Tohru looked up at him in surprise.
"I may be a little ashamed of myself but I won't hate you. I will still go on being your friend. But…it would give me great joy…if you were to choose me." Yuki said. He had turned his gaze from her. Tohru felt horrible inside. It was tearing her heart in two. No matter what she did. It would tear the other apart.
"Yuki…I can't do it. I can't choose, because…I've already chosen." Tohru cried. She fell to the floor in tears.
Shigure and Kazuma came rushing into the kitchen after hearing Tohru's heart shattering sobs.
"Flower…"
"Yuki, I'm so sorry, I've already decided. My heart has always and forever will be with the cat! I'm sorry! I don't deserve to be your friend. (Sob, hiccup) I'm really sorry." Tohru sobbed, her head in her hands. Kyo rushed down the stairs and into the kitchen. Tohru kneeling on the floor, crying her heart out about telling Yuki she had chosen him over Yuki. Yuki knelt down next to her.
"If that is how you truly feel, there is nothing I can do to change that. So all I can do is be your friend and support you. That is what being family is about right? Even if you are not blood family, I can still help you can't I?" Tohru looked up at him with surprised puffy red eyes.
"Oh Yuki, you're the best." Tohru said happily smiling again. Shigure and Kazuma both nodded. They had been waiting for her to work up the courage and tell him herself, and it finally came.
Little did everyone know, Akito was standing in the background of the shadows listening to the entire thing.
'Hm, she's weakening. A little bit of a push and she'll never want to remember anything. She will be begging to have her memories erased.' Akito thought.
(A/N Oh how wrong he is. (Everyone shakes head) anyway…)
Later that day…Kyo was walking down the hall, thinking to himself, not watching where he was going until…
"Kyo." Came a stern voice from in front of him. Kyo shook his head and looked ahead of him to see Akito, smirking with as much evil as there was in his eyes.
"What is it?" Not even Kyo would be so bold as to take an attitude towards Akito.
"I know what you've been hiding. I know how you feel about her. And apparently, she feels the same way. Though, I wonder what would happen if she would see your true form?" Akito said.
"To late, she's already seen it and excepted it. It doesn't matter what form I take, to her, it's all the same." Kyo said triumphantly.
"Yes, but does she know that you are the one responsible for your mother's death?" Akito asked.
"That's a lie and you know it!" Kyo growled.
"Is it? So it wasn't your fault that your poor mother committed suicide? It wasn't your fault that she couldn't stand to live anymore?"
"Shut up! I didn't do anything!" Kyo shouted. Uh oh, Kyo had done it. No one ever shouted at Akito, and got away with it.
"Insolent boy! How dare you talk to me like that!" Akito reached around and backhanded Kyo so hard it sent him flying into the wall.
Alarmed Tohru rushed up the stairs to the hallway. Seeing Kyo lying against the wall unconscious scared her.
"KYO!" She ran up the stairs, followed by Kazuma.
Tohru fell to her knees and leaned over him.
"Kyo! Kyo, please answer me! Are you alright?!" Tohru asked frantically.
"Ugh…Tohru? Tohru! Get away!" Kyo shouted urgently. Kazuma was standing over Tohru glaring down the hall. Tohru looked in the direction to see Akito grinning.
"Young Ms. Tohru Honda, why do you insist on causing this family pain? You are the reason I do this to them! You are the reason they get beat up. Do you really want them to suffer because of you?"
"Don't listen to him Tohru. He's trying to play tricks with you. He's trying to get you to leave!" Kyo said urgently.
"No, Mr. Akito. I don't want them to suffer because of me. But…I don't want to loose the memory of them either. I don't understand you or the curse very much. But why…why do you insist on hurting them? Why is it that you are the only one who feels miserable? You don't have too. I… I can help you. I don't want any of the Sohmas to suffer. None of them deserve to suffer. And that includes you. You don't deserve to suffer. I would love for you to come more often. It might even help heal you. We are family now. I know I'm not blood related but family…family looks out for one another not hurt them. No family suffers its individual problems alone. You shouldn't have to suffer alone either." Tohru said. Akito looked at her in surprise, taken aback by her kind words.
"I do not need your pity Ms. Tohru Honda. I did not ask for it." Akito said.
"I don't want to pity you. I just want to help. I want you to get better, so we can all be a family." Tohru explained.
" Why? Why would you care what happens in this family?"
"Because…I love this family. I would gladly die for them if it meant their happiness, if it meant they would not have to suffer anymore. I would do the same for you, Mr. Akito." Tohru said smiling. Akito backed up. Her words penetrated him.
"Why would you do that? For a family you just became part of."
"Because…That is just how I am I guess. I would do the same for my friends. Cause I know they would do the same for me. Everyone in this family is kind to me, and they treated me like part of the family even when I wasn't yet. They take care of me when I'm sick, when I'm down or in trouble. Even you, have some good in you. You can beat this illness you have, and get better. The only thing that you need is…"
"HOW WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT I NEED! You, Tohru Honda, know nothing of my illness or what I need!" Akito shouted.
"I admit, there isn't much that I know about you, but I do know something that everyone needs, even you."
"AND WHAT PREYTELL, MIGHT THAT BE!" Akito's voice thundered through the hall.
Tohru smiled lovingly at him and answered simply… "A friend." Tohru said calmly and softly. Akito was taken aback by her words. No one had ever offered to be his friend.
"A…friend?"
"Uh huh, everyone needs a friend. It's what makes us…us. Everyone deserves a friend. Someone they can share their troubles with, someone they can talk to when things get tough, someone they can go to for advise. A friend is a very powerful and special thing. I will be your friend, Mr. Akito…if you like." Tohru said. Kyo stared at her. Somehow, no matter what she did, everyone, ended up smiling at the end. She would always be able to get through to people who had been deemed, "hopeless causes" such as himself. She was even getting through to Akito.
"Ms. Tohru Honda…"
"Please, Mr. Akito, please call me Tohru."
"Tohru, if you are willing to be my friend, them I will try and be one as well." Akito said. Tohru smiled. Kyo watched with one eye on her, the other wincing because of the pain. She kneeled down next to him and placed her hand softly on his cheek.
"I don't want any of you to suffer, not alone." Tohru said stroking his cheek. Akito watched her with interest.
'How…how is this girl so…influencing, so caring. How can she sit there and act as if nothing is wrong with this family. How is it that she can handle the burden of our curse and not go crazy? She doesn't seem any different from other humans, yet she treats us as if there is nothing wrong, as if we are just normal people with no curse or anything. This requires extended observation.' Akito thought.
"Um…Mr. Akito, your rice balls are done. If you would like to have some now you can." Tohru said smiling. Akito stared at her for a moment and then nodded.
"I think onigiri sounds just about right." Akito said walking swiftly past Tohru and Kyo.
"Kazuma, is there something you want?" Akito asked.
"No." Akito walked down the stairs and into the kitchen.
'All according to plan.'
Once Akito was gone Kyo started.
"What's wrong with you! You could have been seriously hurt! What were you thinking!?" He yelled at her. He stared into her eyes. Tohru could tell he had been worried. His eyes were full of worry and a tiny trace of anger.
"Kyo, what was I supposed to do? Stand by and watch Mr. Akito hurt you like he was? You could have been seriously hurt! I don't want that! I won't just stand by and let you get hurt, I love you too much to do that!" Tohru said in defense. Kyo was taken aback, Tohru had never yelled like that. She had been extremely worried about him.
"I'm sorry Kyo. I shouldn't have yelled. I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking when I stood up to Akito like I did. I shouldn't have…"
"Will you just shut up. You're not hurt and neither am I so we're fine. Quite apologizing." Kyo said trying to control his temper. Tohru smiled at him and nodded.
"Are you alright? (Gasp) Your cheek, It's bleeding! Stay right here I will go get some medicine and bandages." Tohru said rushing down the hall to the bathroom. Kazuma laughed and shook his head. He sat down next to Kyo and shook his head some more.
"What?" Kyo asked.
"She has got to be your guardian angel or something. She looks after all of you so well. And she is always smiling. Nothing gets her down." Kazuma said.
"Except when she's worrying."
"Yeah, but she does have an angel like quality."
"Shishou, I have something to tell you. Just for you and me. Tohru…she is an angel. Everything about her…when she sings to Momiji, it sounds like…heaven. When she smiles, somehow, I always feel myself smiling too. It's strange. You and her are the only ones who can make me smile. And she…she is the only person, besides you, who has ever accepted my third form. When she first saw it…I scratched her and told her to go away and never come near me again…but she…she came back. She said she wouldn't be able to bare it if I never came back. I…I love her, more than anything. I don't want anything to happen to her."
"I know Kyo. But that's why you are here. She is the key to saving you and the rest of them." Kazuma said.
Tohru ran back over to them. She kneeled down and started dabbing his cheek with the cloth.
"I'm sorry Kyo. It's all my fault that Mr. Akito did this."
"What are you talking about. I yelled at him that's why he hit me. Ow!" He hissed as she rubbed his cheek with the cloth gently.
"Kyo…" Tohru sighed and stopped cleaning the cut. She stroked it gently. Kyo grabbed a hold of her hand and rubbed it with his thumb, staring straight into her eyes.
"I'll leave you two alone." Kazuma said walking back down the stairs to the kitchen to join Shigure, Hatori, Akito, and the others. Though Kisa, Momiji, Hiro, and Haru stayed in the hall. Kazuma said for them to wait till Tohru and Kyo came back downstairs.
"Tohru, why do you do things like this?" Kyo asked.
"Like what?"
"You would do anything for this family, even give your life. But if you did that…we would all suffer even more. None of us would be able to smile again. We all would suffer and be in more pain than this curse, or Akito could ever do to us. So why do you do things like that? Don't you get it? We could care less if Akito beat the living hell out of us, if it meant protecting you. I would…I would be in such pain…I don't even want to think about what I would do if you were to…" Kyo wasn't going to say it. It brought back memories of his mother. Though he didn't know why.
"Kyo…Don't worry. I will not do anything stupid. Besides, with you and Yuki always around me, I can't do anything such as give my life for anything. Neither one of you would allow me to. Besides, I really would…if it came to that." Tohru said barely above a whisper. Her face became serious and Kyo didn't like that look. He lifted her chin with his fore and middle fingers. Leaning in, he kissed her rosy lips and savored every moment. Tears started falling from her eyes and she leaned into the kiss.
"Kyo…I don't want you to suffer anymore. I don't want any of you to suffer anymore." Tohru sobbed silently.
"Until we can find a way to break this curse, we will continue to suffer from not being able to hold you or any girl." Kyo said.
"But it isn't fair to you. All of you are such kind people, why is it that you have to suffer?"
"Hey, we'll get by. At least I can still kiss you, even though I can't hold you." He said trying to cheer her up.
"Yeah, I guess your right. And I feel much better know that Yuki knows. I don't feel like I'm lying to him anymore." Tohru said cheerfully, smiling again. Kyo smiled and help her up off the ground.
As they walked down the stairs Tohru was swarmed by Kisa, and the rest.
"Sissy are you alright?!" Kisa asked anxiously.
"Hey! What about me!" Kyo yelled at them. They all looked at him and then back to Tohru.
"You're fine."
"Whatever." Tohru laughed at Kyo and the Sohmas. She couldn't be any happier, being surrounded by family again.
Hey! Another chapter of "What's a Girl to do?" is kaput. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I have been working on it for a long time. And I'm really sorry for not updating sooner, But we had some "Technical" problems. Anyway, I'm back and ready for another chapter of "What's a Girl to do?" Sayonara.
