Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket. Wish I did though. :)
CHAPTER 5
Seconds turned into minutes which turned into hours. Every so often Hatori would check to see if Tohru was better or if she had gotten a fever. The only time anybody left her side was to get tea.
In the early hours of the next morning Shigure was the only one awake in the room. Tohru's conscience absence left the house empty and cold. Seeing that she was shivering, Shigure got a blanket from the closet and tucked it around her petite body. She flinched and he saw the pain etched in her face. The color drained from his features as he saw the struggle in her movements. She shifted a bit to get comfortable and, giving up, opened her eyes.
"Shigure!" she exclaimed, "What are you doing here?"
"Watching you, little flower." He said, brightening that she was awake.
"But...but it wasn't supposed to work out this way! You're supposed to be happy and laughing! It...It looks like you were crying..."
"You scared us Tohru. We thought you died." He said lightly.
"I was supposed to!" Tohru exclaimed, seemingly mad at herself. "The curse is supposed to be lifted! I'm supposed to be dead! I'm so sorry, I'm supposed to be dead."
She was crying and Shigure looked down at her helplessly.
"Flower - we wouldn't know what to do if you left us. Believe me, we would rather have the curse and you than nothing at all. We love you Tohru, we would die if you died."
"I'm sorry," she said weakly and lifted up her arm and winced, "It hurts."
"Do you want me to get Hatori-san? He could give you something to ease the pain."
Tohru shook her head and pushed herself into a sitting position. "It's just a little sore," she glanced at the clock, "Shigure-san, it's late. I should go get breakfast, then get ready for school." She threw the blanket off of her and began to stand up. Shigure gently pushed her down and said, "No school for you today, you need to rest."
Tohru looked at the ground in defeat. She was too tired to argue. She looked up at him and with a tired smile said, "At least let me make everybody breakfast. They may be hungry when they wake up."
Shigure shook his head and said, "Allow me. Just think of today as your day off. It'll be Tohru's Super Duper Princess Day!" With that he bowed and walked out of the room. Tohru felt alone in the room as thoughts overcame her. "Who ever saw a princess with cuts on her wrist?" she thought grimly to herself.
She glanced around the room at the sleeping men beside her. Yuki was sprawled out on the couch next to the door; Hatori was sitting on the computer chair, arms and head lying on the desk; and Kyo was lying on the floor next to the couch Tohru was on. Tohru placed a blanket over him and carefully stepped over his body. She walked out of the room and headed towards her bathroom. She quickly took a shower, redressed, and headed downstairs.
Hatori and Shigure were talking in hushed voices and when Tohru walked in they stood up. "Are you feeling okay?" Hatori asked worriedly.
Tohru nodded and said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen. I wanted to help you. I'm sorry - I mess everything up."
Hatori shook his head and patted her hand. "I'm glad you're alive," he said, "We wouldn't know what to do without our little flower."
Little flower. Tohru let the words sink in and blushed. Hatori had never called her "little flower" before; that had only been Shigure's nickname for Tohru.
Shigure grabbed his chest in pain and jokingly said, "Stealing her name now, eh? Well, I say: a battle to the death!" Shigure pulled a pair of chopsticks from the table and playfully poked Hatori. Frustrated, Hatori pulled a syringe out of his pocket and warned, "Any closer and I'll use you as a human dartboard."
"Do you keep spares in your pocket?" Shigure mocked.
"Occasionally." Hatori answered as he gently poked Shigure with the empty syringe.
"Tohru! Hari hurt me!" Shigure wailed as he jumped behind Tohru. She couldn't help but laugh and her face broke into a big smile. She clutched her side and carefully eased her way down into an empty chair causing Hatori to ask, "Are you okay? How do you feel?"
Tohru thought for a few minutes and then quietly retaliated, "Empty."
Her stomach quivered and she felt like she was going to cry. She felt guilty, twisted, and confused. Akito had given her specifics; she wasn't supposed to be here. She felt weak deep inside. She had not only failed Akito, but also the Sohma's and herself. It wasn't supposed to be like this, she thought. It wasn't supposed to end this way!
Is this the beginning or the end? A voice challenged. She didn't care. She failed. She failed...
"I'm tired," she said, getting up. "I'm gonna go lie down in my room."
Shigure and Hatori nodded and when she was out of earshot, Hatori mumbled, "She won't be the same now, you know that, right? Things are going to change."
Shigure nodded, "I know. My flower is wilting."
