Continuing from chapter 10: we go back to Kyo and Tohru

Tohru and Kyo walked up to the vacant shop. Kyo opened the door and they walked in. After searching the wall a moment, Kyo found the light switch and turned it on. They blinked as bright lights flooded the room, revealing two couches and racks of fabric. Kyo led a very tired Tohru over to one of the couches, and they sat down. Kyo looked at Tohru, who was hunched over, her hands clasped around the tissue box Hatori gave her, her hair falling around her face. "Hey… Tohru…" he started awkwardly, not sure what to say to her. She looked up at him, her tired eyes looked like they were brimming with tears again. Kyo wanted nothing more than just to hold her in his arms and tell her that it would be all right, that he loved her and that the worst was over. But, because of the curse, he just sat, not knowing what to do or say. Tohru put the tissue box on the table, and looked at Kyo. "What Kyo?" she asked quietly, drawing her knees up to her chin, hugging her legs. "I know what you're going to say, it's what everyone says 'don't worry, it'll be fine', 'we're here for you, so you won't have to approach Akito alone' etc. But Kyo, right now, at this moment, it's not ok. I don't know what's going on with anyone, I don't know if Uo, Hana, Shigure, Yuki, Kisa, or anyone else is hurting because of this. Because of me…."

"NONE of this is your fault!" Kyo punched the couch. "Tohru, stop blaming yourself. It's not your fault that any of this happened, it's not your fault that we're doing this, it's not your fault that Akito's an evil bastard who want to destroy everyone….that's just the way he is. He probably felt like he was losing control of his precious rat as well as everyone else, so he tightened his grip, but Tohru, listen to me, I will fight him for you if he ever threatens you again. I will not leave your side until all this is over. Do you understand? I'm not leaving you alone no matter what happens." Kyo was now standing, looking at Tohru, all his muscles tense.

"But… Kyo…" she started, as a tear fell down her face. Kyo reached out and gently brushed the tear away.

"Stoppit, I hate it when you cry." Tohru grabbed his hand and he helped her stand up. Tohru wrapped her arms around him and with a puff of smoke he transformed into the cat. She held up the orange fur ball to her face and cried into him. At first, this rather surprised Kyo, but he didn't really mind Tohru holding him. "I'm sorry… Kyo I'm so sorry." Tohru cried…

"What did I tell you about blaming yourself?" Kyo asked, putting his paw on her nose.

Tohru tried to giggle and looked at him, tears still falling from her eyes, "no no, for turning you into a cat. I just wanted to hug you."

"don't worry about it." Kyo said. Tohru hugged the cat again and sat down on the couch. Kyo curled up in her lap. She stroked his fur, and soon he fell asleep in cat form. Soon after, Tohru put him down beside her and fell asleep herself.

Kyo rudely awakened when he transformed back into a human and fell off the couch with a crash. Tohru, who was completely exhausted, remained asleep. Kyo put on his pants and looked at the clock, 5:45, it was almost morning, but he had a feeling that they'd be asleep for a while longer. He got up and turned off the lights, and saw the sun peeking out over the horizon, giving off a pinkish glow to the store. He sighed, looked back at Tohru. He found a piece of warm fleecy material, and laid it over Tohru, he looked down and watched her sleep for a while and felt a pang of sadness. "Who would have thought this was how I'd spend my first night alone with Tohru…" he thought, but quickly banished where that was going from his head. "No. No, I can't be thinking this, we're in the middle of an all out family war here. But, I can't allow her to be any more hurt than she already has been. I need to see her smile again, and soon." He bent down and kissed her forehead, "Good night Tohru, may you sleep well." Then, grabbing a piece of fleece for himself, he curled up on the couch across from hers.

"GOOOD MORNING!" Both Kyo and Tohru woke with a start at the loud voice emanating from the doorway, as Ayame burst into the shop. "Oh Tohru, you look absolutely Dreadful! Here, let me show you to a room where you can clean up, and maybe you can wear one of our dresses and wash your clothes…"

"Dammit Ayame, Shut Up!" Kyo said, rubbing his eyes.

"And Kyo, where is your shirt? You need to be cleaned as well! Come now, I won't have two filthy bodies in my shop while customers may come in…OOH by the way, what do you think of it? Isn't it just Fabulous? I particularly like the way it looks in the morning, when the rising sun comes peeping through the window and…"

" Good Morning Ayame! Oh Tohru, good to see you again, and…who are you?"

"Good Morning Mine! This is Kyo, one of my cousins; I believe I've mentioned him before to you! Kyo, this is Mine, my steadfast, skilled, and beautiful assistant, Mine."

"Oh Ayame, I'm not nearly as skilled as you."

"Such compliments this morning Mine!" Ayame laughed. Kyo had a look of great confusion and mild annoyance on his face. Tohru was fighting to keep her balance, as she was still half asleep. Ayame ran over to her and ushered her out of the room with Mine to get her cleaned up. When he shut the door behind them, he turned to Kyo, his face suddenly turning serious. "They're worried about her. Hari asked me how she's doing."

"She'd be doing better if you let her sleep."

"But…"

"Jeez, you're too much to handle at…" Kyo looked at the clock, "6:30! In the morning! I've only had 2 hours of sleep, no wonder I'm so out of it!"

Mine walked back into the room, "Tohru's resting on a pile of old material in the back room. I think it would be best if we let her sleep for awhile. She's had quite a night."

Kyo cracked his neck, "Can I go crash in there with her?"

Mine's eyes flashed, "NO! I will not allow you to be sharing a room with her more, you will go home…"

"I won't do anything! I promise, and I'll sleep on the other side of the room, just as long as I get sleep, it's not like I could…never mind…I'm going to go sleep now" Kyo walked half asleep to the backroom. He saw Tohru's sleeping form and curled up on a pile of fabric in the corner closest to her. He lay awake watching her a while, and thought that he could hear her sobbing slightly and muttering to, he assumed, her mother, he noticed that she did that sometimes. He stayed awake in the dimly lit room for a moment longer just reassuring him that Tohru would be ok. Then he turned his back and fell asleep himself. His dreams were tormented with thoughts of Tohru being wrenched from him by Akito, and woke up a few hours later, not refreshed at all. He decided he didn't feel like dealing with Ayame, so he just stayed in the room. He heard the door open and instinctively curled up again.

"Are they awake Mine?" he heard Ayame say, trying to whisper, but not really succeeding.

"Hmm..not yet. They've gone through quite a lot last night if what you told me was true; let's let them sleep a bit longer Ayame. By the way, how's Yuki doing?.." Kyo couldn't hear the reply as Mine shut the door. But he did hear a rustling from Tohru's direction before she let out a blood curdling scream. He was by her side in an instant, and grabbed her shoulders, "Tohru! Tohru, are you ok?" he said, looking into her panicked eyes. "It's all right, I'm here, it'll be ok." The door to the room was flung open "OOH LOOK MINE THEY"RE UP!" Ayame sang out. "You startled the customers, I think it's safe for you to return to Shigure's now, Hari's here for you!"

"Tell him we'll be out in a minute…" Kyo said, not looking away from Tohru, who was shaking. He heard Hari call for Ayame, and the door shut and they were along again. "…what happened? What's wrong? You scared the shit out of me!"

"K…Kyo… you are here." Tohru started, looking around confusedly, "I… I dreamt that I was back at Akito's house, woke up and couldn't see anything and panicked…I forgot where I was and so I… I'm so sorry."

Kyo relaxed, "No, no, It's ok. You did scare me, but I'm glad you're ok. That's all that matters right now…" He bent over and kissed her, she almost put her arms around him, but before she could, he pushed her away. "Someone's at the door, " he said, standing up and helping Tohru up as well. He felt her hand in his and smiled. He turned to look at her "Besides, of course I'm here, I told you, from now on, you're not going to be alone." Hari walked in, "Are you two ready to go? Shigure and Yuki are both eagerly waiting your return…" He noticed that they were holding hands, "… be careful you two. You may be in for a bigger war than you think."

"Yeah, we know." Kyo said, pulling Tohru with him through the door and out to Hari's car. Tohru waved good-bye to Ayame and thanked him for use of the shop as she was dragged out to the car. "I can't stand that Ayame…especially in the morning" Kyo said, slowing down when they got out of the shop.

"I know, I think it was very kind of him to let us use his shop though." Tohru said in her usual voice, but her face still looked sad.

"Hey… you should smile. I miss your smile." Kyo said, leaning on Hari's car.

"Kyo…" Tohru looked up, not really knowing what to do.

"Dammit smile! I can't stand to see you so upset all the time. It makes me feel so helpless, so know that you're taken care of and smile already! If not for me, smile for everyone else who right now is stronger because of you. I won't be able to relax until I know that you're ok, so smile again!" by this time, Kyo was yelling.

Tohru looked like she was going to cry. Kyo sighed, "dammit I suck at this.." he said, "Now I've made you cry!" He raised his fist to punch the car.

"Do not put a single dent in my car or else.."
"I'm not gonna break your car Hatori... c'mon Tohru, get in." He opened the door so that Tohru could climb into the back seat. Kyo sat with Hatori in the front one. "So, what are we in for when we get to Shigure's?" Kyo asked.

"Well," Hatori started, "both Shigure and Yuki are quite beat up at the moment...(he saw Tohru's worried face through the review mirror) but do not worry about it as they have both suffered worse. You two just look out for yourselves, and Tohru, once again, this is not your fault, do not be burdened with it or else you will make yourself sick again."

Tohru nodded, not entirely convinced.

"Yeah!" Kyo looked back at her and smiled, "Besides, if Shigure, Yuki or Akito do or say anything to upset you, I'll kick their asses for you, so you really need not worry..."

"Ah but you have yet to beat Yuki, isn't that correct Kyo?" Hatori pointed out.

"After all this Akito crap is over and done with, I'll definitely be able to beat him!"

Hatori pulled up at a red light and they both turned to look at Tohru. She has a small smile on her face, something they haven't seen in awhile. Relieved, they continued on their way to Shigure's house. When they arrived, they walked up to the house together. Kyo walked into the house first, followed by Tohru, who immediately went to the kitchen to make something to eat. Kyo and Hari found Shigure and Yuki hanging out in the living room watching television.

As Hari and Kyo walked into the room, Yuki automatically stood up "Where's Tohru you stupid cat?"
"In the kitchen, damn rat" Kyo said, mildly annoyed. "She's cooking lunch, leave her alone for now." Yuki sat back down. Shigure turned off the TV and looked at Kyo,

"Soo, how did it go? Your first night completely alone.." He could not say anything else because at that point a pillow from across the room hit him in the head. Hari looked sharply at Yuki,

"Although I am not generally averse to such antics, both of you need to rest, and Yuki, and Kyo, I'm going to ask that you not beat upon each other or Shigure..."

"Or my house!" Shigure added, rubbing his head where the pillow hit him.

Tohru came into the room, everyone stopped and looked at her, "Umm.. lunch is ready." she said, then walked out of the room. The lack of enthusiasm in her voice and the sort of slouching posture she had stunned Shigure and Yuki.

Yuki turned to Kyo, "What happened to her?"

Kyo answered, "She only got like maybe 3 hours of sleep, that's all, and she's been rather stressed lately with all this shit that's going on."

Yuki turned to him, "why only three hours of sleep? How late were you two up? What were you doing?"

"It's not my fault damn rat!" Kyo kept his voice down, but it was very tense, "It's your damn brother's fault for waking us up at 5:00!"

Since Ayame was mentioned, the conversation died as they sat down to eat. Tohru looked like she was going to fall asleep in her food.

"You really should get some rest, why not go up and take a nap after lunch?" Shigure asked.

"No, no, I need to get a bath, and call Uo and Hana and make sure they're ok, then I need to make dinner..."

"YOU NEED TO SLEEP!" Kyo shouted, banging his fist on the table, "I'm not letting you do anything else today until you've had a nap, you look exhausted, and Hatori's right, you are going to make yourself sick, which would just make everything worse! So, as soon as you're finished eating, sleep!"

"Umm... Ok..." Tohru was slightly startled by the punching of the table, but she was sort of used to that.

"I hate to say this, but Kyo's right Tohru, you need sleep." Hari agreed, although in a much more calm tone of voice.

"Sounds like the cat needs a nap too,..." Shigure started..."He's more ornery than usual..."

"No I'm Not!" Kyo shouted back.

"Yes, my point exactly, Yuki, Hari, and I will take care of the dishes, you two, TO BED!" Shigure commanded, pointing at them with his chopsticks. Kyo and Tohru headed upstairs, too tired by this point to care about Shigure or Yuki.

"I assume by 'Yuki, Hari and I" you mean me and Yuki, while you do nothing but writhe in your hypothetical pain right."

"Oh Hari, I cannot do the dishes with my side hurting like it is, pain pain... but seriously," his face became serious, "I want to know what you've been up to. How are Kisa and Akito? They stirred up quite a mess from what Yuki's told me, and we're going to have to be very careful in the next couple weeks."

Whoot Chapter 11 done! makes me happy. Hope you're enjoying it.

Misty