A/N: Well, Kyou has two people to worry about now: Uo and Tohru! Moreover, Yuki has to be careful or he could end up hurting Kagura! And WHAT is Shigure doing? Argh, it took me awhile to update. XD;

Chapter 3: Heartbreak and Anguish!

Momiji spun around on the office chair impatiently, waiting for Hatori to finish writing up some paperwork. 'I need to talk to Hatori about Kyou… I wonder what could be wrong with him.'

Hatori finished the needed work, and put the large folder away. He turned around to look at Momiji, who was absentmindedly spinning around in his chair, looking a little green in the face. Hatori sighed, and walked over to him.

"Momiji, let's go talk somewhere else."

Momiji perked up, excited, and jumped up from the chair, following Hatori like a puppy.

Hatori led Momiji to his office in the main house, the place where he had originally warned Tohru to stay away from the Sohma family. When he thought back to those past events, he was glad that Tohru didn't heed his warnings. Maybe the curse could be lifted if she continued to heal everyone. Even if it was slowly… Hatori could live with that.

"Momiji, you said you had a problem. What's wrong?"

Momiji gave Hatori a semi-serious look, and proceeded to tell him of the conversation he had had with Kyou.

Kyou pulled his jacket closer to his slim body, hoping that the Yankee would get there quickly. It was freezing outside, and she was already 10 minutes late! He mentally decided that if she wasn't there in the next 5 minutes, he was going back home.

However, he didn't need to worry. He saw Uo running around the corner, panting fiercely.

"Sorry Orange Top! I missed the bus!" She grinned up happily at him, and Kyou felt a light blush on his cheeks. He loved Tohru, but Uo had a cute smile. Though he'd rather die then admit that to her.

"So Orange Top, um, what did you want to talk about?" Uo put on an innocent smile, though all she could think about were her deep feelings for this handsome boy standing before her. Before he could say anything, Uo started to talk again.

"You know, Kyou…"

Kyou looked at her, surprised. She never called him Kyou unless it was serious. Did she know of what he felt?

Uo continued to speak, her voice growing softer each minute.

"Ever since you first came here Kyou, I was extremely interested in you. At first, I thought you were exactly like me, serious with a love of fighting. Then, I saw your happy side. Each time you let a smile slip, I would inwardly cry 'Hurray!' However, I realized soon… that I… Kyou, I l-"

Before Uo even had a chance to finish, a certain girl's voice could be heard.

"Hello Kyou! And Uo! What a pleasant surprise!"

Uo looked at Tohru with a bit of anger in her heart though she wouldn't let it show on her face. Kyou looked extremely pleased.

"Tohru! What are you doing here?"

Tohru grinned happily and held up the grocery bags she had been carrying. "I was buying food for dinner tonight. Codfish onigiri and some beef stew with white rice!"

Kyou smiled at Tohru. "That sounds… delicious Tohru." He looked down at all of the heavy bags, and looked back up at her. "Would you like me to help you carry these back home?"

Tohru blushed and swung the bags around in protest. "You don't have to! Really, I can carry them!"

Uo inwardly glared at Tohru, but smiled. "It's alright Tohru. I'm sure our conversation can wait for another time."

Kyou looked at Uo, then back at Tohru. "Alright Tohru, let me help you already! Uo, we'll talk about this more tomorrow!" Kyou took two of the large bags into his strong hands, and walked next to Tohru. Uo glared at Tohru's back, though inside she knew it was not her fault. She sighed sadly, clutching the soft gloves in her coat pocket. 'I guess this will have to wait until tomorrow then…'

Shigure looked up at the clock and put his pen down gently on the new manuscript he had been working on. He leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes. All he could think about was the fact that Tohru had been living there for more than a year, and yet Kyou and Yuki had yet to DO anything!

'If they don't step in soon, I might have to encourage them a little.'

Shigure was about to try to formulate a plan when he heard a knock coming from the newly repaired door. He blinked, bewilderment written on his face, and stood up. He strolled towards the door, and sighed before opening it.

"Hello Shigure."

Shigure screamed pitifully before crouching on the ground, covering his head with his hands. "Please don't hurt me!"

Hana looked down at the pathetic, cowering Shigure and took her black cloak off. She sighed and tapped him on the shoulder gently.

"It's just me Shigure. Besides, I won't hurt you unless you give me a reason to."

Shigure opened his eyes slightly and peeked behind his hands. He gave a huge sigh of relief and patted Hana on the shoulder heartily. "I don't know what I was so afraid of!"

Hana stared at his hand for a moment, and looked back up at him, glaring. "I'll give you something to be afraid of if you don't move your hand."

Shigure shivered and removed his hand quickly, moving across the room. He glanced at his watch and smiled. It was about time for the newspaper to arrive.

"Please excuse me Hanajima! I need to go check for the newspaper and tip the poor lad for bringing it to me!" He raced to the front of the house, Hana following him slowly.

Shigure opened the door and greeted the newspaper boy happily, as though glad to have an excuse to get away from Hanajima. "Hello! Thank you for bringing me the paper! Let me get you a tip!" As Shigure turned around to get his money, the lurking figure of Hana frightened him. He screamed and raced away, leaving Hana to deal with the now frightened paperboy.

"…"

"Um, here's your newspaper miss!"

"…"

"N-No tip required!"

"…"

"KYAAA!"

The newspaper boy raced away, dropping the tabloid behind him. Hana bent down and picked it up gingerly, throwing it on a nearby table. She closed the door and walked back to Shigure, grinning.

"That made me feel somewhat better. Thank you."

Shigure looked up at her from his fetal position under a chair. He climbed out from under it and gave her a weak smile.

"Oh, um, uh, you're welcome?"

Hana patted him on the head tentatively and picked up her cloak from the floor. She buttoned up the top and gave him an evil-looking grin before exiting.

Shigure shakily stood up and looked around, confused. "What just happened?"

Kagura looked from Akito to Yuki and back again. Akito stepped by her, pushing her away as he walked. He stopped in front of Yuki and looked down upon him. He bent down on his knees so he was now at eye level with Yuki, and he took his chin gently in his hands. With a smirk on his face, he slowly started to talk, his breath becoming ragged.

"So Yuki, how about you show us why all the Rats are good at everything. Or why you're always considered the number one animal." He let go of Yuki and slowly stood up, glancing over at Kagura.

"You better be careful, boar. He's going to get you one day." His eyes seemed to glisten for a split second before he walked inside. Kagura followed the sound of Akito's footsteps as they faded away, and turned back to Yuki and watched as he started to shake.

"Yuki? Yuki! Yuki, are you all right?"

Uo stormed into her house, throwing her coat angrily down on the couch. She walked into the kitchen and threw the refrigerator door open. She saw one of her father's beers and her eyes lingered on it longingly, but she shook her head and quickly pulled her hand away.

'No Arisa. You can't give in to temptation. You can't become like your father.'

Tohru put down the grocery bags and wiped her forehead. She stretched her arms out and turned around to Kyou, a big smile on her face.

"Thanks for helping me carry stuff Kyou!"

Kyou smiled back at her faintly, and started to put away some of the milk he had picked up.

"It was nothing…"

Tohru looked over at him with a look of concern and walked towards him.

"Is something run Kyou? Are you sick? You don't sound very well. How about you go up to bed and rest and I'll make you something to eat!"

Kyou looked down at her and watched as she continued to panic about his well-being. He could feel something stirring in his heart, and he couldn't help but grin a little. He patted her on the head gently.

"It's ok Tohru. I'm fine. Just worry about yourself more often why don't ya?"

End of chapter 3

A/N: Wow! Ok, long chapter. XD; Now, I can't wait to start writing the next one! Please review! Let's hope Yuki's ok! And that Uo stays away from the beer!