17

The girls watched them until they were out of sight and then they slid the door open and joined the others in the back yard to help clean.

"Well, Tohru, that was an excellent party!" Shigure exclaimed. "It's a pity Hari couldn't stay longer though," his voice trailed off, "but at least he did get to have some of your delicious cake!"

"Yes I think so too…oh but not about the cake!" Tohru quickly added, realizing that the others may have thought she was complimenting herself instead of wishing Hatori had been able to stay longer.

"Did you have a good time, Kisa?" Yuki asked while gathering up the neatly unwrapped wrapping paper.

"Oh yes! I haven't had so much for or been so happy since… umm… I don't know really."

"I'm so glad!" Tohru exclaimed from under the picnic table where she was putting fallen trash and food into a little bag. "It was Hiro's idea, I think he wanted it to be his gift to you, Kisa, but…" as she was finishing her sentence she tried to stand very quickly but she forgot that there was a table above her head. The others rushed to the table as a very loud 'thud' and then silence suddenly replaced the sound of her voice.

"Miss Honda!"

"Sisy!'

"Tohru!" Yuki, Kyo, and Kisa shouted in unison; Shigure had run to the phone the instant he heard the thud, anticipating the need for Hatori. Kyo and Yuki quickly fell to their knees and pulled her out from under the splintery table.

"Miss Honda? Can you hear me?" Yuki asked, the fear and concern in his voice obvious to the other two.

"Tohru? Hey c'mon! Snap out of it!" Kyo demanded, equally concerned. When there was no reply, Kisa ran to Shigure with tears in her eyes.

"Grandpa Shigure! Grandpa Shigure! Sisy's unconscious!" Shigure bent down as Kisa ran to him and held her tightly with his free arm.

"Did you hear that Hari? Okay. Yes. Yes, please hurry. Alright." He put down the receiver and tried to comfort Kisa. "It's okay. She's going to be just fine. At worse she'll have a little concussion."

"But… aren't those… dan… dan… dangerous? " Kisa choked out between sobs and sniffs.

"No, no. Tohru is going to be ok." He continued reassuring her until Kyo passed by, carrying her in his arms. Shigure noted the very angry looking Yuki who was following. Kisa let go of Shigure and ran up the stairs after them. Yuki heard her footsteps behind his own and reach out his hand. Kisa put her own tiny hand in his and he gave her a big squeeze to show that he was worried too but also to comfort her. Rather than join the tiny procession Shigure went out onto the front porch and lit a cigarette. He had known something would go wrong. 'I had thought Akito would be the one to cause the problem, not Tohru,' he thought with a little laugh 

18

Kisa let go of Yuki's hand and ran ahead of Kyo and into Tohru's room. She pulled back her sheets and blankets and rushed to her dresser where she pulled out a very soft pair of pajamas. Kyo entered and lay the girl down on her bed; Yuki took off her shoes and then reached to cover her but Kisa stopped him.

"Wait! We can let Sisy sleep in her party dress! She needs pajamas." Kisa held up the blue nightgown she had picked out. Yuki and Kyo looked at each other.

"If we step outside could you do that, Kisa?" Yuki asked. She looked terrified to have any kind of task assigned to her.

"What if I hurt her? Or make it worse?" Kisa asked.

"It's ok. I don't think you can hurt her by putting on her pajamas," Yuki gently reassured. Kisa nodded and Yuki and Kyo stepped outside and shut the door.

A few minutes later Kisa called out that she had finished and the boys returned. Kyo put his hand against her forehead.

"Ahh! She's burning up!" He rose to get her some cool water and a cloth but Yuki had already dashed downstairs. He heard a little whimper come from Tohru- she looked like she was in pain and very distressed. It was too much for him. He sat down in her desk chair and looked out the window. All he wanted to do was climb onto the roof or run to Kazuma but, he sighed, he couldn't leave her. He wanted to cover his ears to block out Kisa's nervous little whimpery sobs and the soft noises of pain and fear that emanated from Tohru but that felt like abandonment too. 'Damn! She saved me. She said just what I needed to hear. She accepts me even in original form. Why can't I do anything for her?' "DAMN IT!" he yelled, the feeling too strong to keep in his thoughts; Kisa cried harder. He opened his mouth to apologize but he was cut off.

"Stupid cat. If you can't be helpful or quiet just go away. You're not helping!" Yuki had returned and was ringing out a cloth in the cool water before placing it on Tohru's head. Kisa had nearly collapsed on the floor now and he lifted her up and put her next to Tohru.

"It will help her if she knows you're here beside her," he said softly to the little tiger, encouraging himself at the same time.

"We're all upset but don't be angry. She needs us now," he said in a soft and controlled voice that implied much anger. He didn't show it though; he brushed her hair out of her face and enveloped her soft hand with his own. Then, to his own surprise, he brought her hand to his face and gave it a tiny kiss. 'Please, please be ok' he thought as he held her hand tighter.

Tohru began to move around a lot- Kisa threw her arms around her shoulders and Yuki held her hand even tighter. Kyo, who had now re-approached the giant bed reached out and caught her right hand which was flailing in the air. "It's ok, Miss Honda. It's ok. We're all here and you're going to be just fine. Can you hear my voice? It's Yuki. I'm here. I've got you. I won't let anything happen to you. I promise." At this she stopped and calmed down into a peaceful sleep. Kyo couldn't take it.

"Damn it! I'm here too! Me! Kyo!" he dropped the hand he was holding in anger but wished he hadn't; her head turned in the direction of his voice and the now empty hand groped at the air in search for his fingers. Her fingers, however, clamped down on Yuki's hand; then she released her grip and lay still and silent.