Chapter Two: Something To Sleep To
She puts on her make-up
The same way she did yesterday
Hoping everything's the same
But everything has changed
'Today went by like a breeze. This morning Shigure saw Yuki, Kyo, and I to the door and wished us a good time. School was normal. Nothing out of normalcy happened, but the day's not over yet! There's bound to be some adventure somewhere.
'Last night, Miss Yukanna was at my work to pick someone up. I plan to look for them tonight. Maybe they can tell me more about Yukanna.'
"Miss Honda?" It was Yuki's gentle voice. "Hey, the bell's rang." Kyo told her. Tohru looked up from her paper. "Oh! Sohma-Kun! Kyo-Kun!" she exclaimed as though only then noticing their presence. Yuki smiled. "Class it out." He said softly. Tohru nodded. She gathered up her books and walked with the boys to the door. "Bye Uo-Chan, Hana-Chan!" Tohru waved. Her friends returned their wave. "See ya tomorrow." Uo called. Tohru smiled. "You better hurry if you don't want to be late." Kyo pulled her attention back. If he hadn't, Tohru would loose track again completely. Tohru's eyes widened. "You're right! I've got to hurry!" She sped off, all the while shouting out good-byes and directions for their dinner. Yuki smiled. Tohru really had a kind heart. Kyo watched her blankly, groaning a bit. What a dope…
"Scrub, scrub, scrub. Scrub, scrub, scrub." Tohru chanted as she cleaned. It was nearing dark now. The room was sparkling. Earlier she had kept an eye out for any new co-workers, but to no avail. She had even asked a few of the elders but none of them had seen a new cleaner. 'I guess they don't work here… If she doesn't, could she be a Sohma? Or is he a Sohma? No, that can't be. Momiji would have said so and she said her name was Kosu. Aww… I wanted to ask about Miss Yukanna.'
"Yes, a Tohru Honda. I hear he works on this floor. Where might I find him?"
Tohru paused. She stood up and looked towards the door. 'Why is someone looking for me?' She wondered. Nearing the door, she spotted an elderly employee speaking to a girl in her mid-teens. She obviously wasn't a worker. This girl was fair-skinned, bright-eyed, and delicate. Her eyes were a soft brown. She had long, long hair down to her waist. It was that long even though it was tied into two high ponytails! It was a silky silver-lavender. A few locks of hair escaped the ponytails. They curled atop her breasts. She wore a daisy yellow shirt layered over a white one, a long tropical green skirt with olive-colored leaves and yellow petals trailing vertically downwards. Her shoes were white and lime Scorcher sandals.
"Excuse me," Tohru interrupted. The girl now looked to Tohru, blinking through flower-shaped sunglasses. She didn't reply, but rather blinked curiously. "I'm Tohru Honda." The eyes beneath the tinted lenses widened briefly. "You're Tohru Honda?" she squeaked. Tohru nodded and bowed. The other girl also bowed. Not caring to hear their business, the woman left them to their selves. Quickly rising up, the girl offered her hand. "Hi! I'm Setsuna Kosu! It's so great to meet you!" Tohru took the hand and shook it, finding her self dumbfounded.
Setsuna glanced around. "Is your shift almost over?" she asked. Tohru checked the clock. "Yeah… In fact it just ended." Setsuna giggled happily, practically bouncing in place. "Oh, how perfect!" An anime-condensation mark slipped down the back of Tohru's head. Who was this bubbly girl?
After changing back into her uniform, Tohru joined Setsuna into going outside. "Umm, Kosu-San?" Setsuna giggled. "Oh no, no, no! Just call me Setsuna." Tohru nodded slowly. She was smiling, as it seemed hard to not smile when watching this girl. "Can you tell me about Yukanna-San?" Milk chocolate-brown optics blinked momentarily. She then smiled over at her newfound friend. "What would you like to know?" She said that, but then hopped about. "Oh! Let's play a game! You ask a question about Lady Yukanna or me, and I'll answer then you answer the same question about yourself!" Tohru laughed softly. Though Setsuna appeared to be the same age as she, Tohru couldn't help but think she had the personality of a ten-year-old's.
"Uh… how are you and Yukanna related?" Tohru asked. Setsuna giggled, placing a bounce in her step. "We're cousins, well technically she's my aunt. But we all just call her Lady Yukanna." Tohru faltered slightly. 'Related? But they don't look anything alike!' Setsuna turned to Tohru. Her face was stained red. "W-what's your relation to Yun-Chan?" she whispered. Her cheeks brightened with embarrassment. "Yuki?" She nodded. "I live with Sohma-Kun along with Kyo-Kun and Shigure-San." Setsuna seemed a little more relaxed now, but still unsure. "But what's your relation?" she pressed. "I'm a permanent guest… Kind of like a live-in housemaid." Tohru told her. This caused Setsuna to smile. "You brave soul." The two giggled and stepped outside.
The building doors swung shut behind them. Tohru's smile broadened. "Hello, Kyo-Kun." Tohru greeted. The orange-haired boy glanced at her, but his eyes never moved away. Instead the orbs widened. "Setsuna?" The pig-tailed girl wailed in turn. "Why are you here!" she cried. Kyo sneered. "I came to pick her up." He growled. Setsuna gasped. "Kyon-Kyon is escorting Tohru-Chan home? How sweet!" Tohru watched as a vein began to throb on Kyo's brow. "K- Kyo-Kun…"
"Why do you have to be here?" More veins began to pulsate. Setsuna sighed. "Oh pooh, I'll just have to visit Sensei tomorrow." Kyo's eyes flared. "I don't think so! It's bad enough to have one rat in the house!" Tohru's eyes widened. "Rat?" Setsuna squealed. Immediately throwing on her cover, she willed herself to blush. "Oui! Kyon you do care!" Kyo's shock had faded, but came back as cat ears spontaneously combusted. "Stop calling me Kyon – wait… WHAT?" Setsuna twirled about before striking a pose. "You knoooooow… How can you forget that I am the Mousie Princess!" Tohru blinked at the insanity taking place. What in the world was going on?
Kyo groaned, but it was too late. Setsuna was in a rosy bliss of teenage dramatics. "I am Setsuna Kosu, the Mousie Princess. I am called so because I am a shy timid creature but so adorable and cuddly. Yet due to my birthright, I must stand aghast the mob of men to make a stand! I love roses and horses and all things glittery. Love me, adore me, for I am your princess!"
Tohru laughed. Maybe Setsuna was younger than she looked… 'What an adorable girl!' Kyo turned his back to them. 'She's still a kid…' Setsuna pounced on Kyo, taking his hands into her own. She stared up at him with a smile on her face. "I'll come see you tomorrow, okay?" Kyo blinked down at her. Setsuna's brown eyes stared deep into his, reminding him of a time long past. )( It's not your fault, Kyo… You didn't do anything to deserve this. I don't hate you and I certainly don't blame you for anything." )(
"Do whatever you want. It's not like anyone's stopped you before." Setsuna beamed proudly. "Yay!" She turned and clasped Tohru's hands. Kyo shoved his released hands into his pockets so Setsuna couldn't grab them again. "So what time should I drop by? Should I bring anything? Classy or casual dress?" The self-proclaimed princess continued to spew out questions. Tohru laughed, wondering how someone could be so energetic so late at night.
Setsuna waved to the two and bounced away. A huge smile was plastered on her face. 'Tomorrow will be a great day! Thank Buddha that it's Saturday. They won't have any school! Oh, I can't wait.' She squealed inwardly.
Kyo walked alongside Tohru. Her face was complacent, not sure if she would be eager or worried about Setsuna's visit. The day before Shigure seemed a bit nervous at the mention of Yukanna, and just before Setsuna nearly hugged Kyo. But… Kyo didn't refuse the girl. Did that mean there was nothing to fear? She glanced over at the cat-cursed boy. He didn't look nervous, but anxious… or maybe comprehensive. Tohru beamed a smile. 'Mom always said to not fear what's to come, but to anticipate and wait. It'll all work out.'
In my mind
Everything we did was right
Open your eyes, I'll still be by your side
How could I ever have been so blind?
You give me something to sleep to
Something to sleep to
-Michelle Branch