Chapter 11: Test Day

Disclaimer: I do not own Furuba or any of its characters.

Hope everyone enjoys this chapter. Until I can piece some stuff together chapter 12 will be set to come out in a couple of days.

Kyo and Yuki re-awoke the next morning restlessly. The look of irritation on their faces made Tohru a little afraid to say anything to them. After getting to school though, they were all talking happily. Then, out of nowhere, Mayu-san walked into the class that was almost in a complete uproar with everyone yelling across the room to their friends.

She slams her hands on the desk that sat in front of the entire class. Everyone quickly stared ahead, all of them quiet. Tohru was smiling politely at the teacher as she always had. Kyo couldn't believe that she was so cheerful on such a day. Then it hit him, "She forgot didn't she…" his eyes were a little wide as he looked down at his desk and muttered this out.

"Everyone get a plain piece of paper on the desk as well as a pencil. I trust you all studied for your test today!" Mayu exclaims so that the entire class could hear her speaking. "Hurry up! Your teacher is annoyed and this test will more then likely determine if you pass this class!" Her voice was overpowering the quiet chattering of students in the back. Each and every desk had a blank piece of loose-leaf on it and a sharpened pencil with an eraser.

Out of the corner of Kyo's eye he could see Tohru's blank expression. She did forget about the test. They had only just studied the night before. How could she forget this? Could she have had such a great dream that the test had just slipped from her mind and out of her ears? He was confused for a second. Since when is Tohru not constantly trying to be ready for a big test? Was she in some kind of stupidity trance or something? There was no mistaking the fright that grew on her face when she heard that the test meant either passing or failing. He couldn't believe that she didn't remember anything from last night. Its impossible to study for almost three hours and not retain anything. She'll do fine, Kyo thought to himself reassuringly. His irritation was carefully building up inside of him as he saw Tohru beginning to calm down. Did I just get fricken worried for nothing! He exclaims in his mind. Then, calming down, he picks up his pencil and heads the top of the paper with his name and date.

Mayu slowly walked around the room letting drop stapled papers on to each desk. The test itself was two pages long; seventy different questions dating back to as far as the beginning of the term. All of it had to do with different people in Japanese history places. Some of it was comparison. And there were 'What happened in yada yada' kind of questions as well. Kyo went through the test very slowly. It was the same with Tohru who seemed fairly stumped. Then, there was Yuki. He looked to be zooming through the test with ease. Kyo and Tohru sighed and mumbled under their breath, "How did he remember all of this stuff from last night?"

He couldn't believe that Yuki had remembered more then him. It seemed so strange that just last night Kyo was the one helping the both of them, then, BANG! Yuki knows the answer to all seventy questions and finishes about two hours before Kyo and Tohru. Was it even possible to think that he had tricked Kyo into thinking he didn't know anything they were studying just so he would explain and drain him of what he knew? Who knew what was going on at the moment. The only conclusion they were to come to was that they had entirely forgot everything they had studied for. Though they both seemed extremely confident with whatever answers they chose or wrote. Not that they were positive that they were correct though.

At almost the same instant, Tohru and Kyo got up and placed their papers and tests on the teacher's desk, then sat back down at their own. Dropping his head onto the desktop, Kyo groans quietly under his breath. He was now under the influence that he had completely flopped on one of the biggest tests they were going to have that whole term. Kyo was already failing one Ancient Japanese history class, if he were to fail the classic literature class that Mayu-san taught then he might not be able to graduate with everyone else in his year. Even though they were in a classic literature lesson they learned a great deal more about Japanese history then about what the class is actually meant for.

By the time everyone had finished with his or her tests in Mayu's class, more then half of the school day had already passed over. It was actually quite a surprise that the classes didn't last nearly as long even though they had taken tests in those classes too. After today ends they'd get the rest of the week off (Thurs., Fri) plus the whole next week. When that short vacation ends they'll come back just to freshen up on some skills they learned and be told if they are to graduate or have to repeat the grade.

On the way home, Yuki went in a different direction, leaving Kyo and Tohru to walk home alone again. For what it was worth, it looked to be like he was walking in the direction of the Main Sohma estate. He most likely got in with ease cause they never saw him following near or far behind them.

Approaching the few steps up to the front door of Shigure's home again as always when coming back to the house, Kyo and Tohru sat down on them. The both of them stared at the trees and the little stream that had created itself to the side of the shrubs behind the trees. They sat there for a few minutes; clearly they were redoing the test in their head as if by doing that it'd reset their answers to all of the correct ones. Suddenly Kyo got up and walked inside leaving Tohru by herself on the steps. She smiles gently then gets to her feet as well and glances at the trees once more then follows him inside.

She began to get the dinner ready with the remains of the food Kyo had bought when they last visited Kagura at the hospital. So far they hadn't heard any news. Good or bad. All they knew was that Kazuma-dono was still staying with her in her hospital room to keep her company. For all they knew she was in a coma or she was awake every minute of every day since they left.

x

Meanwhile, back at the Sohma estate, Yuki was getting closer and closer to entering the house that Akito and Kureno lived in. His fists close feeling a roaring anger rip throughout him. All he was thinking about at the moment was: How dare she come into my room… and then tell me to keep my mouth shut about such important things. His mind was everything at the moment except clear. The only reason he cared about what Akito had said the night before was because he knew that if this were to happen Tohru would be hurt. Since, there was no denying the fact that she loved Kyo and not him. He couldn't bear to see what she would be like if that ever happened. The thing that bothered him the most was that Akito had most likely been planning this for years ever since she made the deal with Kyo.

Lifting up his right arm Yuki knocks on the door that was in front of him. From where he was standing he could hear the gentle tapping of approaching footsteps. He stood still almost feeling completely numb. The door carefully swung open to reveal Kureno standing emotionlessly in front of him. "Where is she…?" Yuki says almost demanding an instant response.

Kureno tilts his head trying to act like a confused dog. Then as if he could read Yuki's aggravated thoughts, he answered, "Akito is sitting in her room. She's quite ill." Hearing this, Yuki ran in passed him and searched the house quickly.

Then as he got to the final door that he had yet to open he turned the knob. Pushing it, he walks in to find Akito standing behind a set up paper wall. She was changing into a newer kimono. Yuki turns around full of hatred and disgust. Walking out from behind the wall, Akito smiles happily as if she knew she had said something to get Yuki to come back to her. "My dear, dear Rat-san." She whispers unnoticeably. "So you decided to come back to me Yuki?" Akito asks curiously, pulling her kimono back onto her shoulder as the sleeve began to fall down.

He turns around and looks at Akito in annoyance. "I didn't come back to you!" Yuki exclaims quickly glaring at her. "I HATE YOU!" He yells furiously as he stomped toward her.

An evil grin slips onto her face hearing Yuki's last statement. Her fist found its way into Yuki's chest. He lunges forward in aching pain, coughing many times as he gasped for air. Laughing quietly under her breath, Akito pulls her hand away from Yuki's chest and watches him hit the ground, his arms wrapped around his torso. She stomps on his back hard and laughs proudly. "You don't hate me Yuki!" Akito shouts, stomping on him again. "WITHOUT ME YOU WOULD HAVE NO ONE!" exclaims Akito kicking him in the side as he rolls over in pain.

Dragging himself to his knees, he feels the anger inside him become a sense of excruciating pain. Looking up at Akito he slams his fist into the ground. "Let … Let me make a deal with you too, then…" the words sputtered from his lips before he realized what he was saying. He received an interesting stare from Akito and knew that she was now going to pay absolute attention to whatever he says. Her eyebrows raised waiting for him to continue, as she was now entirely curious in what he would add after making the last comment.

"If… I graduate with a higher grade then both Tohru and Kyo averaged together… then.. you have to leave them both alone. If… I don't then you'll have both me and Kyo as your little mindless minions." He finishes, breathing extremely heavily. Yuki's voice was a little sore from lack of air. It was actually becoming so bad that he couldn't catch his breath.

Akito calls Kureno in and he carries Yuki out of the room and over to Hatori's house. After being shortly examined, Hatori puts a mask over Yuki's nose and mouth to allow air direct access into his body. His heart was beating very quickly as if it was trying to help frantically search for oxygen. The air got to his lungs after a short second and he starts to inhale and exhale regularly.

Softly gazing down at him, yet another grin crossed Akito's face. "What is this Yuki…. your seventh test of the day?" She questions almost trying to taunt him. "It seems your grade his dropped. As of course," Akito smirks, "you just failed one." Grabbing his hand she squeezes it hard making him wince a little, then she walks out of the room where he was laying in, in Hatori's house.

x

Yuki's eyes slowly flicker shut and Hatori gathered him up in his arms and exited his home through a secret door. Walking into the forest he seeks out Shigure's home. After reaching it he knocks on his door gently. The door swung open and Haru was standing there. Clearly he had been so worried about Yuki not arriving home with Kyo and Tohru that he came to Sensei's house and waited for him to return. So naturally, when he saw Yuki just lying in Hatori's arms like he was some type of bride he was fairly shocked.

Walking into the house slowly passing Haru, he rests Yuki on the couch in the living room. All of them had eaten dinner except for Yuki of course. Tohru had placed his dinner in a box so that when he got home there would be food all ready for him. Entering the living room with Kyo, Tohru's eyes get wide when she sees that Yuki was apparently sleeping on the couch with bruises on his sides. His shirt had been removed earlier so that Hatori could make sure he was breathing properly. Running to his side, she kneels down and looks at him full of anxiety. Even Kyo was a little surprised to see Yuki so bruised up. He too walked over to the couch and stood beside Tohru, looking down at him.

"What happened to Yuki-kun?" She asks looking at Hatori.

Not wanting to lie, Hatori responds truthfully, "Akito-san attacked him. I'm not completely sure what their dispute was about but it had obviously angered Akito." Tohru's attention by the time he had finished was back on Yuki. Her fingers were intertwined with his. Seeing this, Kyo immediately ran upstairs and slammed his door shut, and laid on his bed full of pure fury. Tohru tried to call him as he spun around to leave but he didn't listen to her and went upstairs completely ignoring the current situation. She sighs and rests her head on the couch, waiting for Yuki to reawaken.

Hatori had left without further word. He was only shown out by Shigure since they were friends and apart of the 'Mabudachi Trio'. They spoke with each other for a mere moment and then the door closed and Shigure came into the living room. He plainly sighs and looks at Yuki sadly. Haru and Tohru were sitting side by side near the couch. They knew he was already because Hatori had told them so just minutes before he left.

Meanwhile upstairs, Kyo was now sitting up on his bed, knees pulled up to his chest. He now knew he had to shut himself away from everyone. The one person he loved more then life, the only person he knew that would forever offer to be by his side other then Shishou, seemed to care too much about others to recognize his love for her. Though it didn't mean he would stop trying to beat Yuki, because he wasn't prepared to give up before graduation came in about two months.

Opening his window, he climbs out carefully and pulls himself up the side of the house with the help of a small ladder over his window. After getting to the roof he lays back and looks up at the moon, hands folded behind his head as he attempted to act like he wasn't bothered by anything.

Back in the house, Yuki was finally beginning to stir a little. Haru and Tohru's faces began to beam happily and they both grabbed hold of his hands and sat him up. In the same moment the two of them asked, "Are you okay Yuki-kun?" The only person he was surprised by was Hatsuharu who had added '-kun' at the end of his name. It just plainly freaked him out for a second.

"I'm…. I'm just fine." He replies quietly, getting off the couch and walking away from them.

Entering Shigure's workroom slash bedroom, Yuki glares at Shigure. Out of nowhere he tackles him and punches him in the face viciously. He howled in pain and pushed Yuki off of him. There was no doubt whatsoever that Shigure was just blankly confused at the feeling of pain. Clearly he believed he had given Yuki no reason to attack him the way he did.

"DAMMIT SHIGURE!" He exclaims getting back to his feet after he had been pushed away. "YOUR ENJOYING EVERYTHING AKITO IS DOING AREN'T YOU!" Yuki continues to yell only to hear the door open and be restrained by Haru as he went to go at him again.

"Yuki stop this!" says Haru quickly, as his arms lock under his to keep him from going back to Shigure. "You're going to hurt Sensei!" he adds quietly to Yuki as he tosses him out of the room, knocking the door down.

Shigure quickly mourns. "My house… its gonna fall down today isn't it? Just because I am a part of a cursed family…my house gets cursed…" He whispers to himself sadly as he gets to his feet, rubbing his red right cheek from when Yuki punched him.

Seeing Yuki on the ground and Haru standing in front of him, Tohru became quickly perplexed. Nothing came to mind as she watched Ox-san get in Yuki's way whenever he tried to storm back into Shigure's room.

"SHIGURE YOU BASTARD! HOW COULD YOU BE DOING THIS?" Yuki yells over Haru's shoulder as he is held back. Grabbing Haru and throwing him to the side he runs up to see Shigure almost eye to eye. "You! You know all about Akito's little messed up attacks and plans don't you?" He asks quickly, looking completely furious with him. When Shigure doesn't show signs of opening his mouth, Yuki takes hold of the collar of his shirt, pushing him against the wall. "DON'T YOU!" He repeats becoming extremely annoyed. "What kind of person puts people through tests, huh Shigure? Why is Akito testing us in every way possible?" Yuki questions once more.

Suddenly the door is knocked to the side. Tohru, Shigure, Haru, and Yuki all turn around and look.

Comments:

This chapter was fun to write. And for information if you are confused about the time the graduation comes read just below.

When the vacation begins the next day in the fanfic it'll be two months until graduation. After that chapter ends one month and twenty-two days will pass. The chapter following it will be set five days prior to the graduation ceremony.

Thanks:

Ultimate-Furuba-Freak: Thanks for another...interesting review in which you threaten me?lol. Its all cool though, they're fun to read. haha.. Well, I hope you enjoy this chapter while I begin to type chapter 6 of Hagaren No Baka to give me a little break on this fic. But I'm pretty sure I have lined up my ideas the way I wanted so you can expect some pretty good chapters coming soon.