Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket. I do own quite a few scarves that I've crocheted. I'm such a freaking old lady…with a rockin' scarf collection. Jealous much?
Again with the Aqualung, "Brighter than Sunshine" due to continuation from last chapter.
Tohru blinked, her jaw going slack as she stared into eyes of such shocking color that she couldn't break away her gape. He stared back at her, not seeming able to break his gaze from hers as well; he seemed forlorn and lost.
Such…a pretty display… of sadness…
He needed her.
Tohru dropped the umbrella and started towards him. The rain didn't matter any longer.
"Please… are you okay?" she asked, leaning over the box.
The boy with the cat ears stared at her. His beautiful, wet face was upturned to look into hers openly, his matching eyes and hair a deep contrast to the pale pallor of his skin tone.
Tohru's heart clenched in her chest, twisting painfully at the sad look etched into his face.
"Are you lost, too?" Tohru whispered, feeling the duality of the question.
The rain fell between them in a light sheen. A drop of water meshed a clump of his eyelashes together.
Beautiful.
The boy with the cat ears didn't make a motion, but the emotion that flickered in his eyes briefly let her know the truth.
Tohru, without hesitation, held out her hand. "Please. Come home with me. I can help you."
The boy, with his stunning pale face and sad eyes, stared at her for a moment before slowly reaching up and placing his hand in hers. Tohru felt tears prick at her eyes at the contact; he was cold and wet.
He stood within the box. Tohru couldn't tear her eyes away from him. He was a good two heads taller than she was, his clothing wet and sticking to his thin frame. A black shirt and khaki pants seemed to be the only things in his possession; no shoes or socks adorned his feet.
"Come, I can help you," Tohru repeated, coaxing gently, leading him out of the box. She stepped backwards, tugging on his hand gently. The boy stepped one foot out over the other, his crimson cat ears relaxing to the sides as he left the lonely confines of the brown box.
Tohru broke contact from his eyes for a mere moment to bend down and retrieve her dropped umbrella. She immediately placed it over his head, shielding him from the falling sheen of rain.
As she turned to look up at him, Tohru paused. She suddenly experienced an epiphany: she still had no idea where she was at.
An embarrassed blush spread across her cheeks prettily.
Turning to him finally, she found the boy gazing down at her, his intense stare making her blush even more. His sweet little cat ears were twisted to the side; being wet most certainly did not make him happy.
Tohru smiled up at him. "I'm a little lost myself, to be honest. I'm just going to back track and hope to find my way home. I mean, our way home since you're coming with me."
Looking into his eyes, an emotion flickered across crimson depths and Tohru knew he was grateful to be going to a place called home without him having to say a word.
Actually, Tohru thought to herself, I'm pretty grateful myself…
Taking his hand while holding the umbrella in the other, Tohru guided him away from the bright walkway and into the night.
"Home, sweet, home!" Tohru sang, relieved to finally be turning the key into the lock of her apartment and opening the door.
During the walk home she had chattered away, the boy with the crimson cat ears not uttering a word but rather listening silently. She held his hand the whole way, for reassurance that it wasn't a dream, and to warm him a little, even if it was just a small and insignificant part of his body. The walk seemed long and short at the same time, and she could only remember bits and pieces of the scenery.
At least she found her way home. That's all that mattered.
Tohru paused at the threshold and led him inside, leaving the umbrella closed and outside to dry on its own time.
As she closed the door, Tohru turned to find the boy staring at her apartment in feigned disinterest.
Isn't that just like a cat, Tohru thought amusedly. Acting like something didn't interest them when in reality they are bursting with curiosity.
A chill crept its way up her spine causing goosebumps to alight upon her skin, and Tohru remembered how soaked the both of them were.
"Uhh…"
The boy turned to look at her. A blush seeped into her cheeks.
"Would you like to take a bath?"
The cat ears on the top of his head flattened back, and a bland emotion filled his eyes.
"I-it's just t-that… well, you're soaked with cold rainwater. I-I thought… a warm bath would make you feel better?" Tohru stammered out. She seemed unable to lift her eyes to his, so she stared at his black shirt instead.
Silence filled the room, and Tohru poked her two pointer fingers together in a nervous habit. As she was about to speak, a hand reached out and placed itself on her shoulder.
Tohru's face shot up. She gaped at the boy in front of her.
He smiled down at her gently.
A warm sensation flew into Tohru's stomach and her cheeks burned.
He's so…
Tohru's eyes widened and a bubble of laughter leapt from her throat. "Oh! I can show you how to use the bath and then prepare a bed for you. Are you hungry?"
The boy shook his head that, no, he was not hungry, and so Tohru walked past him and showed him how to use her bath. He stood there and understood her instructions without ever having to say a word.
After she closed the bathroom door behind her, Tohru felt her heart nearly burst from happiness.
Clutching her hands to her heart, Tohru couldn't help but think to herself, Perhaps getting lost was the best thing that could have happened to me today.
Tohru was brought from her thoughts as the water came on, and she smiled. Going to her closet, she brought out an extra set of sheets and blanket, took a pillow from her own bed, and set up a small area near her where her new companion could sleep… not that it couldn't be helped that his bed would be close to hers; her apartment was as small as they came. The whole time she was setting up the bed, she was smiling.
Tohru looked at the picture of her mother that was propped up next to her bed.
Mom, I haven't felt this happy in a long while.
Humming to herself, Tohru changed out of her own wet clothing and towel dried her hair and body. As she finished dressing herself into night clothes, she heard the bathroom door open as the boy stepped out.
Tohru turned to him, smiling, when she suddenly turned beet red and whirled back around.
"Y-y-y-you ar-aren't wearing any c-c-clothing!" Tohru cried out, throwing her hands to her face.
Well, it wasn't exactly true. He was wearing the small towel she had given him to dry off with, but it barely covered the area that marked him as a male.
Tohru propelled herself forward, gathering up as many large shirts and shorts that she owned and tossing them in his direction.
Bowing, Tohru hid her face humbly. "I-I'm so sorry! I don't have anything for you to wear that is suitable. Please forgive me and make do with what I have for now."
A momentary rustle was the only response that Tohru received. Chancing a glance once the rustling stopped, Tohru looked to find a most amusing sight.
The boy was wearing a shirt that seemed strained at the seams, the fabric pulling tightly across his chest and stomach. A pair of shorts that she usually wore to clean in were strained at his thin hips; they hardly covered his lower regions and looked very uncomfortable.
The boy stood in front of her, a grimace on his face letting Tohru know how uncomfortable the shorts really were.
Tohru smiled kindly; apologetic. "I've made you a bed to sleep in tonight."
The boy lay into it gratefully, a tired sigh escaping his lips being the first sound she'd heard from him since stumbling upon him in the box.
As she turned out the lights, set her alarm (almost midnight!), and cuddled under her own bed sheets, Tohru called out happily, "Goodnight!"
Silence filled the room as Tohru relaxed into the warmth of her bed. As she drifted in and out of her thoughts sleepily, a warm, masculine voice uttered a word that seemed very foreign to Tohru.
"Kyo."
Tohru's consciousness shot her awake, and Tohru blinked a few times from the shock of hearing the voice.
"Eh?"
Silence reigned again.
Perhaps I had been dre—
"My name… it's Kyo."
Tohru's eyes shot open wide. A warm smile lit her features, and Tohru closed her eyes. Sleepiness made her dizzy, and Tohru succumbed to her fatigue.
"Goodnight, Kyo."
Posted October 29, 2005