The FURUBA ROUND ROBIN PROJECT
Chapter Sixteen: Tea and Some Light Reading
by Neko-san
First Posted: Fruity Robins ML on Feb 7, 2005

Tohru had wanted nothing more than to follow Hatori upstairs, but she knew she would just be in the way. She bothered with straightening up some things in the kitchen that didn't really need straightening. Anything to keep her mind off what had happened the night before. She replayed the scene over and over. He should've transformed.' Her mind told her. He should've transformed from knocking into you, or from exhaustion if nothing else. And you know it.'

She groaned to herself. It was true, something was very wrong, and she was doing Yuki a disservice by keeping information that could be related to his health from he and Hatori-san. With a decisive nod, she takes off her apron and hesitantly makes her way to Yuki's room. It looked as though the lights were off inside… and just standing in
front of it, she felt a cold draft. I wonder if Yuki-kun left a window open?'

"Is that you, Tohru-san?" A soft voice came from inside. "Ahh! Oh! I'm sorry…Did I wake you?" She tried to bow in apology, only to accomplish bumping her head on his door. How could he have known she was there? She hadn't made any noise, had she? Oh, she'd probably done something clumsy without realizing it. A quiet snicker from beyond her vision and then the soft voice again. There was something about it that was so unfamiliar to her. "Tohru-san, please come in… "

"Damnit Shigure… " True worry was seeping into the usually cold doctor's voice. Shigure had a pulse, but it was sluggish, and his skin was off color. He wasn't responding to anything Hatori had tried.

Pranks were one thing, but this wasn't like Shigure, to upset Hatori so much over a simple prank. His condition seemed almost comatose. He looked up and searched the immediate area. Something had to have caused this. On the night stand there was… a lamp, one of Shigure's other' novels, as they were so often referred to, some magazines… reviews of his novels it looked like. Hatori couldn't fight a smirk through his worry. Shigure was so vain. And under that was… Hatori ran his hands through his hair. Didn't Shigure worry that Tohru would attempt to clean his sea of filth? Leaving one of… those' magazines sitting out like that. He put on one of his surgical gloves and placed
it in a drawer.

He shook his head and catalogued the contents of the drawers, when the tea pot and cup caught his eye. Tohru made Shigure tea every morning and evening. He vaguely remembered this fact from one of Shigure's ridiculous precious flower' speeches. But that didn't make any sense. Tohru would never do anything to hurt anyone… let alone Shigure. He examined the tea and brought it just under his nose. There was no odor, but he knew that meant nothing.

Kyo and Haru had attempted to go back to their sparring after Hatori's arrival, but curiosity had kept them from focusing. It didn't take long before Haru stopped responding and plopped down in the middle of one of Kyo's attacks.

"What the hell is wrong with you? You weren't blocking! If I hadn't been paying attention, I could've kicked you right in the head, you stupid cow!" Kyo seethed. He wouldn't be the one responsible for anyone's demise other than that damn rat. Part of his mind told him he was being stupid… for one, he would never beat him. And for another, he would never kill him… Tohru was too fond of him. That thought alone caused him to growl.

"I want to know what's wrong with Yuki." Came Haru's quiet voice. "I want to know what Honda-san isn't telling us."

"Eh? What are you talking about what she isn't telling us'? She wouldn't keep something from us." Kyo dismissed the very idea.

"Hmm." Came a noncommittal response. "Kyo… did you notice how Yuki addressed Honda-san?"

"Addressed?" He searched his memory, trying to remember through the cloud of annoyance that hung over him since he'd had to carry the stupid Nezumi or how he addressed' people. Then it hit him. He had called her Tohru-san in that oh so creepy way. He'd used her first name. Something was definitely wrong. He stood without another word and made his way to the house, Haru was close behind. Maybe he'd hit his head when he passed out?

She'd only just set foot in his room before she felt a knot in the pit of her stomach. It wasn't that she hadn't been in Yuki's room before… she had a few times, when they were studying, or he was ill. It was just the feel of it… something in the air that she couldn't explain. It was like a warning. But that couldn't be right, because Yuki would never be dangerous to anyone. Well' She corrected herself. Maybe just Kyo-kun.'

He smiled and beckoned her closer. She smiled in return and sat on the edge of his bed. "How is Yuki-kun feeling?" Her voice trembled a little. Maybe their closeness, or maybe her being ridiculous and having that knot in her stomach making her antsy. "Ah…So much better now that Tohru-san is here to keep me company." He whispered, leaning
in close to her ear.

"AHH hahaha…ha…" Her face was the color of a rose, and her heart sped up out of surprise. "Y-Yuki-kun doesn't mean that..hah…" She found herself sitting a little further from him on the edge of the bed. Had he just called her Tohru-san? Hed never done that before…shed never once heard him use her first name…. "Oh but I do…" He leaned lose to her again, causing her to scoot even further back. "What man wouldn't be thrilled to have someone so cute sharing their bed?"

For a moment, He studied her face. At first, there was no sign of comprehension, only her obvious strain to appear comfortable while only half sitting on the bed. The next moment however, it looked like the light bulb in her head had gone out. Or.. More accurately, exploded. Her eyes refocused and her face took on a confused stupor.
He couldn't stop the smirk from creeping onto his features. She really was quite adorable. She hadn't moved, so he brought his hand to her face, watching her shiver at the cold. Goosebumps appeared wherever he touched. "Ahh…" It wasn't quite a positive reaction, but he was far too enthralled by being able to touch someone to notice or care.

He watched his hand, that wasn't really his, slide down her jaw, onto her neck until it met her collarbone. Her skin's reaction followed his path, and her blush spread from her face to pass the neckline of her top. Bitterness crept into the wonder he was feeling. It really wasn't fair… dying so young, and missing out on so much that everyone
else gets to have. This closeness for example… he froze as he realized where his hand was going and felt as though someone had poured hot water in his chest. He wasn't used to real feelings', and being confronted by Yuki's was setting him on guard again.

His eyes became hooded and he watched her face. Her eyes looked confused, a little scared, and her frame was tense. Apparently his host had never made a move, no matter how much he seemed to feel for her. He mentally shook his head, and downstairs, Neko-boy was standing up for her honor and doing things just for her. Nezumi really needed to get a move on, and he planned to see that he did.

The rest happened pretty quickly. He had forgotten real life cause and effect, and his place in it. Tohru slid off the bed and clunked to the floor, with a yell of surprise and a wince of pain. He leaned over and offered his hand, helping the girl back up. There were tears in her eyes, although it was hard to tell if the fall had really hurt that much, or if she was embarrassed… or maybe the confusion? There were footsteps on the stairs, yelling. No doubt Neko had heard the fall. Honestly, he was the loudest , most obnoxious creature Hiroga had ever encountered.

He couldn't let this opportunity go to waste. He didn't have a life, so no one could fault him for using someone else's to enjoy himself, at least this once. He felt Yuki trying to stop him from his place in the corner of his mind. It was for naught however, because it was only a second before he'd pulled Tohru forward with their joined hands and
leaned back.

Her arms had come up to support herself in her clumsy panic, now resting on either side of Yukis head, and they were frozen in time, Tohru braced over Yuki's chest and faces barely an inch apart, as the predictable voice came with an even more predictable line.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?"

Author's note: Fu Fu Fu..hides face behind a fan There's my Yukiru contribution. I couldn't for the life of me figure out what to make wrong with Shigure TT I'm really really sorry you guys had to wait so long for this. I just wanted to make sure it was right before I turned it in. It started out even shorter than this. bows in apology
I hope it's good enough, and doesn't cause any trouble for you Ashley

Ashleyà . I don't really have a challenge to go with the next chapter… although I would be curious to see how Hiroga reacts to Yuki's student council and fan club. He could have lots of fun with that. But it's really up to you, and as I said, not an official' challenge

End of Chapter 16