Chapter Seven: Making Choices

Tohru walked towards the garden once more. It was evening and she was certain she would find Takara there. Sure enough she was there, and was playing her harp with a content smile on her face. Tohru watched as she played until she saw Kiyoshi approaching her.

"Takara" he said loud enough for her to hear.

"Kiyoshi" she replied excitedly as she stopped playing, "I was wondering when you were gonna get here."

"I'm sorry. I was talking to your brother."

"About the edict?" she placed the harp down and walked over to him.

"Yes" he nodded with a slight frown, "Takara can we sit for a moment?"

"Sure" she agreed as they both sat down, "What's wrong?"

"Well first off I have a question for you, but before I ask it, I don't want you to think that I am asking it because of what I am going to tell you first."

"What?" she said with a confused expression.

"What I mean is, what I am going to ask you has nothing to do with what I am going to tell you."

"Okay."

"Well" he sighed, "About the edict. The good news is Ushida no longer wants to marry Aya."

"Really?" her eyes shined happily, "That's great. I'm so happy."

"Takara" he replied looking her directly into the eye, "I said that was the good news."

"Then there's more?"

"Mhm."

"Well naturally" she said angrily, "What do they want this time?"

"I'm trying to tell you. Takara, Hayoto Ushida no longer wants to marry the older princess this is true. He has set his eyes on the younger one instead."

"What?" she stared at him, "Me?"

"Mhm. He said in the edict in a few days time, he's coming for you. Apparently that little stunt you pulled the other day impressed him."

"How stupid of me" she replied angrily, "How could I have been so reckless. It makes sense now, why he has been looking at me so funny. It's a good thing it's not Aya anymore, I'd gladly take her place but."

"Takara you don't have to worry about it."

"Huh?"

"Do you think I am ever gonna hand you over to the likes of him? I will never let that happen. And with that said, I'm going to ask you my question now."

"Okay" she nodded slowly as he knelt before.

"Princess" he replied, "I want to ask you to marry me. Will you Takara be my wife?"

"Kiyoshi? I don't understand. How can I? I mean I am a princess and you are nothing but a soldier."

"Takara do you remember when I said I loved you."

"Mhm."

"Well I meant it. Every word. Every thing I have said up to this point has been true, except one."

"What's that?"

He sighed and then looked into her eyes.

"Most of my life I've been chased, pursued by many woman. It comes with the territory I suppose. But I hated it."

"Kiyoshi you're not making any sense."

"I know you know what I am talking about don't you? How it feels to have so many lords interested in you, and being the younger brother of a lord myself growing up wasn't easy."

"What?"

"Yes Takara" he nodded, "I am not who I said I am. I am not just some simple soldier. The truth is I am not any different then Yotaro. I am the Lord of the Sohma clan in the west."

"You're a lord?"

"I am sorry I deceived you. But I wanted to know what it was like to be loved for myself, not for my title. Pretending to be a soldier was deceitful, but originally I had no intention on finding a bride. Even though I knew there were two eligible princesses here, it didn't even cross my mind. Until I met you that is. My only intention on coming here was originally my mission and nothing more. But when I met you, that all changed. I met someone who I admired and respected and who was unlike any other woman I have ever known."

"Kiyoshi" her eyes softened.

"I fell in love with you because you were yourself. You didn't try to hide the real you like I did. I just wanted to be loved for myself. Is that crazy?"

"No" she shook her head happily, "Not at all."

"But like I said in the beginning, I am not asking this because of the edict that was sent this afternoon. I had every intention to ask you this evening. The edict just came as a surprise. I love you Takara. For you. And no other reason. I want to marry you simply for the fact that I love you, and I hope that even though I have now told you the truth that you still feel the same about me."

"How can I change my feelings for something small like that?" she smiled as she leaned into his chest, "But with this edict does that mean you want to take me back to your kingdom now. Do you want me to leave here?"

"Takara" he pulled her away from him so he could face her, "I do want to take you away from here eventually. I want to take you with me. I don't deny it, that the thought has come across from your brother. Especially when I asked him if I could marry you."

"You asked Yotaro?"

"Yes. And he asked if I could take you and Aya back to my kingdom. But I told him I wouldn't ask that question of you. I respect you too much for that. But if you did come back with me, Aya would get the best medical treatment possible. We have excellent physicians there."

"Really?"

"Yes. And then you and I can get married."

"There's something I don't understand about this though Kiyoshi. Why did you leave your kingdom when you are lord?"

"My mission of course. I volunteered to do it, along with Hiro. Besides my kingdom is much better off then yours. We have more soldiers and it's well protected. Not only that I have a lot of trusted advisors who are taking care of things while I am gone. But I should return. But when I go. I want you to go with me. Say you'll marry me Takara? I don't know what I will do if you don't. You have eased this prince's vengeful heart this past month. You have taught me that there is more to life then just revenge."

"What about your mission?"

"I will continue it after you are safe."

"Then I see no reason why we shouldn't get married."

"Huh?" his eyes became wide.

"Kiyoshi, I love you my lord. I accept your proposal. I will marry you."

"Takara" he embraced her tightly as the tears ran down her cheeks.

Tohru watched happily and wiped a few tears from her own eyes.

"It's almost like Kyo's proposal to me," she thought but then she realized that she wasn't the only one watching.

To her right, Aya was watching the same thing, and her face held such a bitter frown.

"What's she doing here?" Tohru thought as the wind picked up around her, "What's going on now? No not yet. I don't understand."

Tohru woke with a start, the sweat dripping from her brow and gasping for air. She turned to look at her clock and realized that the sun would be up soon.

"What was that all about?" she wondered aloud as she leaned back on her pillow.

(Next Scene)

Kyo tapped nervously at the table the next morning as Tohru cooked breakfast. Shigure was reading his paper, while Yuki finally annoyed turned to him.

"Do you have to keep doing that you stupid cat?" Yuki said cynically, "It's really distracting."

"Be quiet" Kyo mumbled back.

"Okay guys" Tohru said as she came in, "Breakfast is ready."

"Thank you Tohru" Shigure grinned as he placed his paper down, "It looks good."

As Tohru placed the food on the table Kyo watched as she yawned and then sat down. He sighed as he turned to her.

"Okay Tohru" he replied gently, "What's going on?"

"What are you talking about Kyo?" she asked sweetly.

"You've been acting strange lately. And you haven't been sleeping. Don't think I haven't noticed."

"Well I" she looked at Yuki who merely shrugged his shoulders, "Actually Kyo there is something I want to tell you" she sighed.

"Okay?" he raised an eyebrow at Yuki who ignored his frown.

"But go easy on her Kyo" Shigure replied as he took a sip of tea, "It's not that big of a deal.

By the time that breakfast had been consumed, Tohru had told Kyo about the Zodiac archives, the cat's journal, and all the dreams she had been experiencing. Kyo nodded his head in understanding and then turned to Yuki.

"What makes you think that you will be able to solve the Zodiac curse you damn rat?"

"I don't know. Just a hunch I guess" Yuki said, "I haven't had much luck. But Miss Honda seems to be the one getting it. And those dreams are the proof of that."

"That's another thing. This book sounds dangerous. Is Tohru going to get hurt by this?"

"No Kyo" Shigure shook his head, "They're only dreams after all."

"He's right Kyo" Tohru replied, "Nothing happens to me in the dreams at all."

"She's correct. Nothing happens" Yuki agreed.

"How do you know?" Kyo demanded.

"Oh yea I forgot to mention it" Yuki said realizing, "The other day when Miss Honda read a little bit of the cat's journal to me and Momiji all three of us found ourselves in the same dream."

"All three of you?" Kyo replied incredulously.

"How interesting" Shigure said leaning forward, "All three of you huh?"

"Mhm" Yuki nodded, "It doesn't hurt at all. It's kind of like watching a movie on television only we're watching people who look like us. Kind of weird actually. Miss Honda did you have another dream last night?"

"Yea" she said solemnly, "It didn't make a whole lot of sense. Although there was something interesting in it, that I thought you should know about."

"What's that?"

"Well, Hayoto Ushida isn't interested in marrying Aya anymore."

"Let me guess" Yuki replied with a frown, "He wants to marry the younger one? The one who looked like you."

"How did you know?" Tohru asked.

"Lucky guess. I could tell by the way he was looking at her that day. I've seen that look before."

"Hold up! Did you just say Ushida?" Kyo replied angrily.

"Mhm. Come to find out, the Sohma clan is fighting against the Ushida clan. And this is even more interesting, the figure who is Hayoto Ushida looks exactly like someone else we know."

"Tai Ushida" Kyo seethed angrily.

"I hate to admit it, but he's right" Tohru nodded sadly, "He does look like him."

"This is very fascinating" Shigure grinned, "Of course I already knew about the history of the Ushidas and the Sohmas."

"You what?" Kyo and Yuki said at the same time.

"Naturally I knew about it" Shigure replied, "I have researched the family tree very far back."

"So I guess they were all bad apples then" Kyo frowned as he looked at his watch, "Oh man I am going to be late if I don't go now" he stood.

"Oh yea me too" Tohru nodded picking up the dishes, "Yuki I guess I will see you this afternoon."

"Okay Miss Honda" he agreed with a smile, "But like I said I will probably be a little late."

"All right. Kyo wait up I will walk you to the door!" she called.

"Have a good day you two!" Shigure replied picking up his paper once more.

"I'll see you later" Tohru said to Kyo at the door.

"Just be careful okay" Kyo replied picking up his duffel bag and a cell phone that was on the nearby table.

"I will" she nodded, "Besides Yuki and Momiji will be with me the whole time. I'll be fine."

"Okay" he said kissing her cheek, "Call me if you need anything. And I'll see you at Master's tonight all right."

"Mhm" she agreed as he walked out the door.

"You're going to Master Kazuma's tonight?" Yuki asked as he came into the hall.

"Mhm. Kyo and him want to show me the apartment tonight. So we're having dinner there. I'll go over there after I am with you and Momiji."

"Okay. Miss Honda one more thing before you go?"

"What is it?"

"Are you going to tell Momiji about yesterday?"

"Oh" she replied suddenly frowning sadly, "Yea. I'll tell him this afternoon."

"All right" he replied scratching the back of his head, "I'll see you later at the Zodiac archives then."

"Bye Yuki!" she waved as she walked out the door, "Have a good day."

(Next Scene)

The small car stopped at the main gate of Sohma house. He climbed out of the car and stared at the gate with a frown. He looked down at his watch and grinned menacingly.

"Only five more hours to go" Rei Sohma said to himself.

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Okay. I am doing it again. I have to have an even amount of chapters even though six had five parts. So the next chapter will be the kidnapped chapter!

Next Time on Rice-Balls in a Fruits Basket:

Chapter Eight: Kidnapped!

You'll see!