Chapter 1: Locked In
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"Baka neko."
"Kuso nezumi."
"Baka neko."
"Kuso nezumi."
Honda Tohru laughed at their mild banter. She could see from the lack of heat in the conversation that things were mellowing out once again. It had been a matter of days since she had went to see Akito following the exposure of Kyo's secret.
Since she was finally allowed to be a member of their family.
Things hadn't changed too much. Shigure was still a pervert, yet he had began looking at Tohru with a sisterly affection. Hatori was still stiff and quiet, but he opened up more. Ayame still talked too fast for anyone to really understand what he was saying, but he had relaxed a bit. Hatsuharu didn't go black so often, Momiji was genuinely cheerful, and Kagura didn't try to destroy stuff so much. Ritsu didn't apologize as often, although he still dressed like a girl.
Everyone had changed just a bit.
Barely enough for someone who lived away from them to notice.
The biggest changes however, had been seen in Yuki and Kyo.
The boys arguments were less heated, and Kyou's temper wasn't so bad. Yuki however.
Tohru glanced towards him, smiling faintly. She could see a small smile turning up the corner of the boy's mouth. There it was. He was smiling more and more often. He had begun to accept that his brother would always be at least mildly insane, and would periodically go with her to his shop to see something they were working on.
They entered the school yard and as they began walking towards their class, a hand gently wrapped around hers. She blinked in surprise, and a faint blush covered her cheeks. She was pulled to a stop by Yuki, who waved everyone else to class.
"I need to talk to Honda-san." He said simply.
Half of the school yard was staring at them.
She glanced towards him and then around them. "Y-you want to talk to me?"
He noticed they were the center focus and smiled a bit. "Let's go someplace more private, okay?" He asked, seeing the blush splashing across her adorably beautiful face. He drug her towards the building, hearing people following them, people in the form of his stupid, irritatingly obsessed fanclub.
Tohru glanced behind her as they jogged into the building and then looked back a Yuki. He had a grim smile on his face and just as they entered the building and the door swung shut behind them, he pulled her into a broom closet, closing the door and putting his hand gently over her mouth.
"Be quiet, okay?" He whispered. He saw her wide blue eyes and blushed a bit at his forward actions. "Gomen, we'll talk when they're gone, okay?"
Seconds later, the sound of people running passed them and when the last footsteps passed them, he removed his hand.
Tohru stared at Yuki, then lowered her eyes shyly. The closet was VERY small and both of them had to stand very close to each other. "Y-you wanted to talk to me, Sohma-kun?"
He rested his back against the wall, sighing heavily. "Yeah." He said, then looked at her, his face serious. He slid down the wall, sitting carefully. He watched her do the same thing and smiled a bit. "We don't get a lot of aportunities to talk without being listened to."
She nodded in agreement. Why did he bring me here? She looked at him, blushing faintly.
"Honda-san, I know you like cats a lot..." He began, looking at his hands.
She blushed. "I like mice too..." She offered, blushing when his eyes jerked back to hers. She bit her lip, looking down.
He smiled faintly. "But do you like them as much as cats?"
She flushed. "I like them equally as much." She smiled. She wasn't missing the analogy, he was talking about Kyou and himself. "You know, Sohma-kun..." She began. "I like all animals, but I think the mice and cat are my favorite."
He shifted, looking at her perplexed. "You did something wonderful for Kyo." He said softly, wishing there was an easier way to go about asking her something this embarassing. "You saved him, you know..."
She looked at him, eyes wide. "You did too."
"How I felt didn't matter." He said evenly. "He didn't care what I said. It was how you responded that saved him." He looked down, smiling a bit. "You've saved everyone, and you don't realize it yet..."
She smiled a bit, secretively. "Have I saved you, too, Sohma-kun?"
He looked up at her in surprise. "Of course."
"I'm glad." She smiled brightly at him.
He paused, wondering what to do. He didn't know how to ask her. He didn't know what to say. He liked her a lot, but he just couldn't find the words to express himself. He examined her face closely, from her big blue eyes down to her soft-looking pink lips. He heard the stampede returning and watched her mouth begin to open again and he quickly put his hand over it. "Sh!" He said.
She blushed, listening to the people searching for them.
"YUKI-SAMA, WHERE ARE YOU!"
He cringed. Stupid fanclub! He scooted closer to Tohru, still searching her face. Her eyes were wide with surprise, and her face was flushed slightly. He put his other hand on the wall behind her to steady himself, keeping himself from falling against her, something that would inevitably trigger his transformation.
Tohru stared up at him, blushing furiously. His face was so close! What was he doing. She could hear them opening and closing doors and watched as Yuki removed his hand, locking the closet they were in. Moments later, the handle began to rattle and she almost squeeked, but his hand was back over her mouth.
He looked at her insistantly. He shook his head when he heard them moving to the next door. He relaxed a bit, before letting his head rest against hers. "Gomen." He whispered, removing his hand from her soft lips. His hand was warm from her breath and he rested his hands on her forearms. "Honda-san-"
She saw he was fighting to express himself. She smiled a bit, shaking her head. "It's okay, Sohma-kun!" She said softly, smiling at him, for him, trying to encourage him.
He paused, frowning a bit. "Ne, Honda-san...why am I the only one you call 'Sohma-kun'? We've known each other longer, right?"
She blushed, nodding. "Demo-"
The corner of his mouth twitched. She didn't want to call him by his name? Why? He lowered his gaze, sighing softly. "It's okay, Honda-san. Don't stress yourself about it. It was a stupid idea-"
"It wasn't stupid..." She said softly.
He looked at her in surprise. "Honda-san?"
"I..." She looked at the ground as though it were interesting. "I did not think that it would be appropriate...you are the school prince, you know..." She teased softly.
He searched her eyes. "Then I renounce my crown." He said softly.
She looked at him in surprise. "Oh, no, I could never ask that!" She said in surprise.
"I don't want elevated into the clouds like a god, Honda-san." He said. "I..." He held her upper arms tightly. "I'm not a prince. I'm...I'm just a boy. Just the same as Kyo." He saw the shock on her face and blushed. "Is it too much to ask that you call me by my name?"
She looked at him for a long time. To call him by his name, something she never thought that she would ever do after...
She looked at the ground, remembering that one time. He'd been flushed with sickness, and she had shyly uttered his name, and before her eyes, he changed into a mouse, without her ever touching him. "It's not too much...Y-yuki-kun..." She whispered.
His eyes widened and he looked at her in surprise. He hadn't expected her to actually do it. Her soft words caused his heart to jump up and close off his throat. He felt a much unwanted blush cover his cheeks and he smiled. "Arigatou..." He said softly.
"But if I do, you have to use my name, too." She said, smiling at him brightly.
He looked at her in surprise. "Hontou? You want me to?"
Sne nodded. "Hm."
He smiled faintly. "Okay, Tohru-san..." He said, relaxing his grip on her arms and slowly began to pull away. He liked the taste of her name on his lips. He blushed a bit, looking at the ground, dropping his hands completely.
She smiled at him shyly. "Arigatou, Yuki-kun..." She said softly.
He began to stand up and reached down to help her. She was light, so he hauled her easily to her feet. When she was standing, he heard the bell ring and reached for the handle. "We're going to be late." He said softly.
She nodded shyly.
He reached for the door knob and tried to turn it. It was locked still. He reached down, turning the lock, and tried again.
It didn't budge.
His eyes widened and he began shaking the door harder.
Had he been outside, he would have seen a dog and a snake give each other a high five. But he wasn't, so he had no idea that the two were even there.
He sighed, looking towards Tohru, who looked very confused. "Gomen, ne?" He smiled his small smile and tilted his head to the side. "It looks like we are stuck here til someone finds us."
Tohru blushed, looking at him. He had such a nice smile. "P-pretty..." She whispered.
He heard her softly whispered words and froze. He frowned a bit. "Ano..."
"Ah!" She blushed, realizing her heard her and covered her mouth. "Gomen nasai, Yuki-kun!" She whispered.
His mouth twitched. Why was he always associated with 'pretty', anyways! Boys aren't pretty! He frowned a bit, looking out the window. "Ne, Tohru-san..." He said softly. He didn't continue, choosing instead to wonder in his head. She doesn't actually see me as a boy, does she...
"Eto..." She shifted, turning and facing the wall. "I meant that Yuki-kun is pleasing to the eyes..." She said softly. "He is very nice to look at. I didn't mean to offend you..." She felt his eyes on her and began tracing a small circle on the wall.
"Why does everyone associate me to pretty?" He asked softly, looking at the ground, wearing an annoyed expression.
Tohru turned, looking at him, surprised. "Yuki-kun?"
He wanted to hit something. He glared at the wall, considering brutalizing it, but he didn't want to show that side of himself in front of Tohru. "Boy's don't like being called 'pretty'." He grumbled, feeling disgruntled, maybe a bit insulted. He felt a soft hand on his cheek and blinked, looking over at Tohru, who was smiling faintly.
She gently touched his face, running her fingertips across his cheeks, his forehead, his nose. A tiny smile turned up her lips. She could see surprise in his purple eyes and gently, she covered his lips with her fingertips. "Perhaps Yuki-kun is right." She said softly, tilting her head and smiling brightly. "Pretty is the wrong word. I think..." She paused, blushing faintly. "I think Yuki-kun is very handsome." She said softly.
He stared at her in surprise and then smiled brightly at her. If he could have hugged her without becoming a nezumi, he would have done it. Instead, he gently brushed a strand from her face and rested his forehead against hers once again.
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Kyo was getting annoyed. Tohru and Yuki still were nowhere to be found. He walked through the halls, Hana and Uotani walking with him. Now and then, Hana would pause and head in a different direction. "Can't you do this any faster!" He complained.
"I think I've located them." She said, stopping in front of a closet door.
He looked at her incredulously "Oi, don't mess around! Why the heck would they be in there!"
"Maybe they're makin out." Teased Uo-chan, who ruffled Kyo's hair.
Hanajima frowned, trying to turn the handle. It was locked. She dropped to her knees, examining the lock. It was locked from the outside.
"They're locked in." She said, looking at Uotani. "Uo-chan, will you be able to unlock it?"
Uotani snorted. "Of course. What to you take me for?" She reached into her pocket, pulling out a lock pick. It didn't take her long to jimmy the lock free. When it was done, she turned the handle, peeking in. Sure enough, they were there. She gave a small smile, closing the door again.
"They're sleeping." She said. "They must have been hiding from his fanclub and hid here. I wonder how they got locked in."
Kyo growled. "I smell the work of a dog..." He grumbled. "Let's wake 'em up."
Uo-chan shrugged, opening the door to Kyo's view.
He winced a bit. They slept leaning against the wall, Tohru's head leaning against Yuki's shoulder. "Oi, Nezumi, class is almost over. Wake up."
Yuki opened his eyes slowly, seeing Kyo leaning over them, wearing a strange expression. Why was he glaring at them? Suddenly, the weight on his shoulder caught his attention and he turned his head, feeling a blush spread across his face like wildfire.
Tohru heard Kyo's voice and opened her eyes, wondering what was that comfortable thing she'd been resting against. She straightened up and saw Kyo and her two best friends looking at her. "Eh, Kyo-kun? Hana-chan? Uo-chan?" She asked softly, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"Class is about to end and unless you want Yuki's fanclub to know of this cuddly-cute little scene, I suggest you get out of that closet." Uotani teased.
Tohru looked confused. She glanced over and saw Yuki with a faint blush on his face, looking down at his knees. She blushed, jumping to her feet and quickly leaving the closet. She heard Yuki follow her and forced herself to look at the ground.
Hana-chan frowned, examining the pair closely. There was something strange about Tohru's vibes today. They felt similar to the Sohma cousin's vibes. She was about to open her mouth to discuss it, when Uotani gave Tohru a playful shove.
Torhu, not expecting it, was unable to keep herself from falling into Yuki's chest.
Kyo couldn't stop it, Yuki didn't notice until it was too late.
POOF!
Yuki was the first to notice something was wrong. He didn't feel any different. He opened his eyes and saw he still had ten fingers attatched to human hands. So then was it Kyo?
No, Kyo hadn't changed either. He was also counting fingers and reached up, finding no ears.
So then who changed?
"KYAA!" Uo screamed. "MOUSE!"
"Huh?"
As the smoke cleared, Yuki looked down, seeing a small brown mouse attatched to his uniform. But...how had this happened? Where was Torhu? Big blue eyes stared up at him in shock and it suddenly hit him. "Tohru-san...?" He asked weakly.
Hanajima carefully plucked the mouse of of Yuki, frowning deeply. "Tohru-chan?"
"WHAT!" Uotani and Kyo both cried.
The bell rang.
It went unnoticed.
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AN: So, what do you think? This idea came to me a LONG time ago, and It's only now getting put down on paper. It's been slowly progressing and changing and this is the final result. The title is kind of a play on words. Tohru and Yuki are 'Locked In' a closet, but Yuki is also having a lot of trouble expressing himself, so you could say his emotions are also 'locked in'. Anyways, love it, hate it, but please review it.