Disclaimer: Hello everyone! I'm trying to write at least one fanfiction chapter a week. I hope you all get wait that long! Anyway here's Chapter 15. I own nothing
Chapter 15 Copper Centers
That night wasn't easy for anyone. Tohru had originally planned on sleeping with Uo and Hana, but had to sleep with other girls in the class, thankfully not the prowlers. Hana had stayed with Uo all night, and eventually fell asleep, but she woke up hearing rustling,
"You're still awake" Hana replied blandly rubbing her eyes. There was no reply from Uo, who was sitting up in her sleeping back looking out the tent window. She could still see the flickering and dying flame from the fire in the center of the camp.
"You didn't mean those things you said to her. I know that Uo. I can sense your unhappiness. What's wrong?"
"Hana.." Uo replied with a growl, sometimes Hana's gift could be annoying, she could pry into her emotions "You're right I did lie"
"But why?" Hana asked confused
"I'm just worried for her"
"So why don't you tell her that, instead of calling the Sohmas idiots and bastards. Tohru is right though, you are afraid of losing her. I think you hurt her, more than you realize"
"I am afraid of her leaving. She's slowly drifting away from us, her life is focused completely on those Sohmas."
"The Sohmas are her new family. That's normal. She does still care about us, that's why your opinion mattered so much, and that's why she's still crying"
"How do you know she's still crying?" Uo asked turning around to face Hana.
"I can feel her tears against my own skin, and I can feel her aching heart. She doesn't know what is right anymore" Hana replied unemotionally
"Oh."
"You must fix this. Don't ruin her joy. She deserves it more than anyone we know. She's worked and lived alone for so long, and now she has people who really love her"
"Will the Sohmas take care of her?" Uo asked uncertainly
"Yes. They all love her a lot. They can't bare to be away from her, her voice, her smile, her eyes, everything about her is special to them in some form."
"Hmm..." Uo didn't know what else to say, instead she just rolled over and pretended to go back to sleep.
"Just fix it. Let the tears stop, and put away your pride" Hana replied blandly turning back over.
The Next Day
Tohru had, as usual, cooked the whole class breakfast, and she seemed happier this morning. The class gathered at the camp's center, sitting on long logs eating, and enjoying the morning campfire.
"Good Morning Class!" Sensei Honda called walking over to them.
"Good Morning Sensei!" They class called
"Lets see, we have a lot of things to do today. After breakfast, meet me right back here, I want you to have on sturdy hiking boots, and your backpacks. This is going to be a group activity. You and your groups, will be assigned one animal to find here within the preserve. Directions to the preserve will be given to you in clue form. Once you find the animal, which will be docile and not skittish, you'll draw it. Simple as that"
"Hai!" The class shouted, they all then scattered and soon returned.
Tohru met up with the Sohmas by their tent, afraid to go find Uo and Hana. Tohru decided she would avoid Uo today, and give her time to cool down. Tohru badly wanted to go and talk to her, but she wanted to listen to what Haru had told her last night.
"Hey Tohru" Momiji replied happily as he wore a little hat and dressed in a vested shirt.
"Aww don't you look so adorable" Tohru replied laughing cutely.
"Nature is so my thing!" He replied proudly "How are you feeling Tohru?" he asked gently
"I'm fine silly."
"Are you sure?" He asked suspiciously, poking her in the side like a younger brother.
"I'm sure you silly" She replied ruffling his hair
"TorTor?"
"Yes Momiji?"
"Can I call you sister now, even if we are only cousins. You feel more like my big sister, even if we are the same age" He asked pleadingly
"Momiji" She replied smiling. She kissed his cheek and ruffled his hair again "Of course you can. You'll always be a brother to me Momiji." She said softly smiling.
Momiji grinned ear to ear. Momiji really did love Tohru, and he loved her like a sister. At first, he really had thought he loved her like romantically, be he found his fondness more like her company. He couldn't see them like that, he liked more just being around her.
Momiji blushed as Tohru kissed his cheek, and he wanted so badly to hug her, he hated this curse, and he frowned slightly. "Do you think our curse will be lifted one day?"
"I know it will be. I know it will" She replied gently.
"Lets go find the rest of those lug heads" Momiji replied smiling again grabbing her hand and pulling towards the center of the campsite.
Momiji and Tohru entered the base, finding that Kyo, Haru, and Yuki were already there.
"Good Morning Yuki, Kyo, and Haru" Tohru chirped waving.
"Hey,"
"Good morning Miss Honda."
"Hn" Kyo's reply, he wasn't a morning person
Tohru then peered around looking for Uo and Hana, when she was tapped on the shoulder. She turned around quickly, hoping it was them, but found it only Kei, she was disappointed but smiled anyway
"Good morning Kei-kun"
"Hey. You look perky like usual" he replied grinning.
"Well you seem happy too. Excited to be able to paint and draw some lovely animal?"
'Yeah I'm really excited" he replied grinning again
"Okay class. I will give one student in each group their first clue. The clues are all different, you won't be able to follow your friends" Sensei walked over to Tohru and handed her the envelope.
In the back round stood Uo with Hana. Uo didn't say anything to Tohru, and them, the Sohmas, and Kei all gathered around her. Tohru opened the letter gently and read it aloud.
"In the shadows where I hide, two copper eyes. Watch me dart about, the forest hears me graceful feet. Sly and mischievous, visit the shrine, and I'll guide you through"
"What animal is that?" Kei and Haru asked looking at each other stupidly. Kyo only shrugged in the back round while Uo and Hana remained silent.
"It's a fox" Yuki answered, nodding to himself.
"A fox?"
"Foxes were known to be mischievous creatures, and are famous for copper eyes. It isn't much of a first clue, they probably get harder"
"SO what about the shrine?" Kei asked confused
"The fox was said to lead you either to the exit or despair. The shrine is dedicated to a famous demon Yoko, a magnificent warrior" Yuki replied confidently
"Of wow! That's amazing!" Tohru replied happily. "Does anyone know where it is"
"I figure its on the map right?" Yuki asked
Kyo opened up his bad and pulled out a map and looked around of the map key.
"Okay..." Kyo replied running his finger across the map "Hmm...here it is! Its only about a five mile hike from here. That shouldn't take more than an hour."
"Do you think the animal we get to draw will be a fox?" Ask Momiji
"I don't think so, that's too much of a give away" Kei replied sounding disappointed.
"Well lets go!" Yuki replied starting to lead the way, Tohru shuffled after him walking with him.
"Wow Yuki that was really amazing. I didn't realize you knew so much about legends" Tohru replied with a twinkle in her eyes of excitement
"Well, its just a hobby. In turn I did a lot of research on our family, so I came across quite a few stories"
"That's still remarkable!" Tohru replied beaming "You must teach me one day."
"It shall be my pleasure" Yuki replied with a smile.
The group then continued on towards the shrine. The walk was a long one, and Tohru stayed near the front with Yuki and Momiji. Haru, Kei, and Kyo took up the middle, and Uo with Hana purposely in the back. Everyone was consciously trying to keep the two apart, and all the two girls wanted to do was talk to the other.
The scenery was lovely. The group was shaded by a canopy of exotic trees, flourished and plentiful with leaves. The underbrush was covered with scattered flowers. Momiji at one point picked a flower for Tohru, and she smiled at him tucking it into her hair humming.
The Sohmas would occasionally send Uo this startling death glares, all saying "See, Tohru's perfectly with us, so don't be such a bitch". Uo sighed sadly and continued walking.
The day went by slowly, and finally they all arrived at Yoko's shrine. Tohru and Momiji scampered up the steps laughing. Tohru winning at the last minute out of breath
"Ha I win!" She replied giggling
"I'll be you next time Sister!" Momiji teased panting.
The rest of the group followed after them and Yuki walked over to the fox statue in the center of the abandoned temple. He stared at the statue, and from the fox's mouth pulled out a note and opened it up quickly.
"Congrats to those weary travels who found this clue. Because the journey at first was long, you will only have one more obstacle to conquer, but no journey is too simple. Past this temple, there is a bridge over the rushing waves. Solo walks fate by the wind, and no net to catch beneath. Cross the bridge, another mile south, and there you will meet your destination"
"Well it looks like we have to cross a bridge" Haru replied blandly.
"Over water" Kyo replied glumly. He gulped slightly, anime drop, but was surprised to see Tohru take his hand and squeeze it gently, but no one had seen it.
'It's okay, I know you don't like the water, I'll be right behind you."
Kyo looked down at Tohru, who was smiling sweetly, and he too smiled gently. "Thanks Tohru" he whispered. Kyo and Tohru were the last two to leave the shrine, the others about a hundred yards ahead of them. Kyo didn't let go of her hand, squeezing it fiercely as the sound of rushing rapids could be heard. Tohru tried her best not to giggle, and he gave her a squeeze of reassurance.
Uo had been farther up, turning her head to see those two walking hand in hand. She scoffed and looked to Hana miserably. "Those Sohmas will never let me get near her so I can talk." She sighed
"Opportunity arises soon, be patient" Hana replied her eyes flashing from a purple to a black then back again.
The forest was still deep. When they met a bluff, they all looked down seeing the fast moving waves. Kyo nearly fainted at the sight, shuttering, wetness, oh the wetness! Tohru giggled, watching him drip with sweat.
Everyone else was excited, and Yuki found himself captivated by the water. The water was so unobtainable, much like Miss Honda. Yuki sighed, watching the water. Yuki had promised himself to talk to Tohru before this week was over. It would be the best time, alone time in the wilderness with her.
Haru, Momiji and Kei were all fighting over who would go first.
"I want to go first!" Momiji whined
"NO way Squirt let me go" Haru replied pulling towards the front
"Hey best buddy, don't you think you should let a pal go" Kei replied creeping towards the front. The three continued fighting until they were nearly leaning over the edge until Tohru cleared her throat.
"Uhh guys, don't you think it'd be smarter if we actually found a bridge?" Tohru asked raising her finger in suggestion
"Uhh...yeah..."
"That might be smart"
"Guess we could" The three replied, trying to act all cool about it. Yuki only slapped his hand against his head and mumbled to himself "How are we related?"
Tohru looked to Uo's back. Uo had been whispering to Hana all day, and Tohru was so miserable. She really just wanted to talk to her, and Tohru was unaware that Uo felt exactly the same way.
"Lets go" Yuki replied pointing to a path upstream. Everyone followed, Tohru almost having to drag Kyo, but her being too weak made it a funny sight. She pulled with all her might, and Kyo just stood there sighing with his head down. He finally gave up, too disgraced by Tohru and walked forward with her.
Tohru only felt victorious, since well, he was walking at least. Better then him sitting down on the ground, that would've been impossible. All the time she laughed and smiled, and Kyo just snarled rolling his eyes. He walked beside her, hands in his pockets staring at the ground
At last they had found a bridge. Kyo wasn't very happy to see this sort of a bridge. There were three ropes, in a V formation. The lower section of the V is the tight rope you walk on, and the upper part of the V on each side was a rope to guide you.
Haru and Kei quickly took off across it. Momiji pulled Yuki along with him, Yuki himself being surprised to see such enthusiasm in Momiji. Momiji all the time singing. "Who is walking through the forest? The birds and the bees sing Mo-mi-ji!" ((haha its from the DVD))
Uo and Hana silently took off after them. Tohru looked to Kyo, who was trying to stay bland, not showing his nervousness. It was a long bridge to cross, at least a quarter of a mile long, but too him it stretched on forever.
"Kyo, you go before me, and I'll be right behind you" She replied pushing him forward
"Tohru, I hate water!" He growled
"Its not like you'll be falling in! You're just walking above it!" She replied pushing him forward, this time him actually moving, weird how productive it is to push rather than to pull
"You better not do anything to scare me" He snapped
"I won't silly! Just trust me I'll be right here behind you" Tohru replied stopping as Kyo was now faced with the bridge. Kyo looked back to Tohru with unease, but she only nodded.
Kyo took his first step onto the bridge, and felt the ropes shake slightly, like it would usually because there is no permanent support. He let out a deep sigh, and then took another step soon more. It wasn't so bad, he thought to himself, and he looked forward, and definitely not down.
They were about a third of the way out when Kei and Haru made it to the other side.
"OYE what takes you so long Kyo!" They called to him
"SHUT UP" Kyo shouted back.
"What's the matter? Afraid of a little water?" They called taunting
"SHUT UP YOU ASSHOLES!" Kyo called back
"Oh what's this Haru? He's calling us assholes!" Kei replied evilly
"What should we do about it?" Haru asked snickering
"I do wonder what?" Kei replied grabbing hold of the ropes.
"DON'T YOU DARE" Kyo screamed now sounding nervous
"Dare you say? You dare me to?" Kei asked taunting
"Guys stop it!" Tohru called back innocently
"Oh looks I slipped" Haru replied pretending to fall onto one of the ropes and shook it. Kyo gripped the handles so hard. "STOP" He called out.
Everyone grabbed the roups, finding themselves shaking. Everyone was more towards the end of the rope, close to the other side. Only Tohru and Kyo weren't even half way across
Kei and Haru exchanged mischievous glances and shook the ropes harder, everyone struggling to maintain their balances
"KNOCK IT OFF" Kyo screamed, growing some what afraid, but not showing it. Tohru walked up so she was right behind him, the two practically touching
"Don't worry Kyo, I'm right here" She whispered to him.
Kyo jerked his head slightly seeing Tohru. "Tohru..."
"You think they're having fun?" Kei asked laughing darkly
"I think they are" Haru replied sarcastically as he shook them harder.
"PLEASE STOP IT YOU TWO" Tohru pleaded gripping the bridge's banisters, trying herself not to sound scared. She couldn't let Kyo know she was frightened, or he'd become afraid, and that wouldn't be good. "Just keep walking Kyo" she whispered to him and Kyo nodded taking a few more steps. Yuki and Momiji just jumped off the ladder
'You think they've had enough" Haru asked
"NO way" Kei chirped
"ENOUGH ALREADY" Tohru called out weakly. Just as she begged them to stop Tohru had taken another step after Kyo did and lost her footing, she let out a frightened scream and at the last second grabbed hold of the bottom rope
"TOHRU" Haru and Kei replied letting go of the ropes. Yuki and Momiji stood at their spots on the bluff's edge screaming out to her as well "Don't let go Tohru!"
Tohru dangled from the rope by one hand, gripping it as tautly as she could, but she could feel her grasp dying. Tohru didn't know what to do, she couldn't bring her other hand up, in fear it would make her drop the other.
"TOHRU!" Uo turned around to see her friend dangling there, and Hana too was in shock, they both looked to Kyo, who had just turned around "KYO DO SOMETHING!"
Kyo turned and looked down at Tohru. Kyo was only about a five steps ahead of her, from all his stumbling forward, and he gripped the ropes feeling the wind. He could see Tohru from a far, and panic filled her eyes, like a deer in the path of two headlights.
Tohru squirmed trying to regain some of her grasp. Kyo quickly began to walk towards her, and was stopped by another gust of wind. At that moment Tohru's grip slipped again, her only surviving on her four fingers, and not the thumb's locking support
"Kyo...help please" There were tears in her eyes. Kyo looked down at the rapids and water. He scampered closer, halted again by the wind. There was no luck, Tohru couldn't hold on any longer, and her grip finally slipped.
Uo and Hana let out terrified shrieks, and the boys all yelled as well. Kyo had only missed her by a millisecond, maybe a second more and he most definitely would've had her. Tohru fell from the bridge to the water down below, instantly pulled away by the water. Everyone looked downstream for her head, and it popped up at the surface, but she was dragged under again, they waited another moment, but she didn't come back up. Everyone had been so focused on Tohru, that they hadn't seen Kyo jump from the bridge, and they all turned around in shock hearing a splash.
No one knew what to do.
Author's Note
Well looks like Tohru and Kyo are going for an unexpected swim. Thought I'd leave you in suspense. Everyone please REVIEW it! And please give me suggestions on what to do one their camping trip, this is only day two! Five others left!
Uo and Tohru will make up, a few kids complained Uo was being too mean, this chapter explains why. Aww isn't Momiji so cute with his song? The love competition has been cut down to Yuki, Haru, and Kyo. Lets see who wins her heart!