Chapter 2- Wild Flower

By: Ochako107

Standard Disclaimer

The following morning, Tohru heard a soft klacking at her window. She hopped over to the window while trying to put one of her black socks on and pulled the blinds up.

"What...?" She asked quietly. She placed her hands on the cool window and pushed it open, sticking her head out.

She raised her left hand to her forehead, trying to block the sun fro her eyes as she squinted downward. "Hey, Tohru!" Tohru peered down at the carrot colored hair that called up to her. "Can I walk you to school?"

Tohru completely forgot about that magical onigiri! She yelped and slammed her window closed while hurridly putting her other sock on as well as her shoes. She ran down the apartment stairs as she fixed her hair with a yellow ribbon between her teeth. She felt so embarassed! She'd never had a boy walk her to school before, let alone throw any kind of solid partical at her window!

Kyo simply stood on the lawn looking bord until she flew at him.

"Kyo-kun!"

"Was I bothering you?"

"No, no!" Tohru said as she pulled the ribbon from her mouth and into her hair. "I just didn't expect you to be here."

Kyo rubbed his head as Tohru started walking to school. "Yeah, I had some urge to come over and walk you to school." He turned at her with a small smirk. "Kinda weird, hua?"

Tohru just smiled. 'Not so when you're under some spell for three days!' She thought.

Tohru kept unusually quiet. She was usually the one to break the ice, but the feeling of obligation loomed over her. Kyo was obligated to be smitten with her against his will. She felt awful and wished she never took the riceball from Kagura in the first place.

"Hey."

"I-I'm here!" Tohru yelled out suddenly. How long had she been spacing out?

"Nothing, it's just you looked like you were spacing out a little there." Kyo shook his head. "It's dangerous crossing the street. It'll be your own damn falt if a car runs you over."

"Right!"

Suddenly out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Yuki across the street also making his way to school talking to one of the student council girls. Oh how she wished she could talk to him. 'Oh stop that, you're starting to sound like a love sick puppy!' She scolded. 'Besides there's no use daydreaming. Kyo-kun will be with you for two more days.'

The thought of Kyo made Tohru turn and look at him. She could see the anger in his eyes as he too saw Yuki. She glanced down at his tightened fist. "Um...Kyo-kun?"

"What."

"Do you not like Yuki-san?"

"The hell I don't!" He suddenly burst out he stared at her with narrowed eyes. Realizing his out burst he turned the other way, his voice dropping to a softer tone. "I mean..."

"It's okay," she laughed, "I don't mind, it's better to be honest than telling a lie to make someone else happy. Besides, I guess they have to respect your opinion too."

Kyo started at her for a moment, some kind of emotion flashing in his eyes for a split second before it was gone. The girl noticed something in his features as she cocked her head to the side. He grunted and pulled her arm. "Come on, the light changed."

She allowed his firm yet gental hand lead her across the street as she thought on Kyo for a moment. There was so much she wanted to learn about him.

"Cooking."

"What?"

Tohru beamed and opened her bag to show Kyo her small lunch she made. "You asked me what I like to do yesterday. I like cooking, see? I don't know," Kyo looked down at her beautifully decorated lunch, "I just like the feel and the smell of it when you're cooking." Kyo gave her a half smile as she beamed. "Maybe one day I'll make you something, Kyo-kun!"

"That could be cool."

That afternoon, insted of going out to eat the pair walked down a strip mall. Tohru said she needed to drop off a package at the post office and Kyo volunteered to go with her.

"Kyo-kun, you really don't have to come with me."

"Nah, I don't have anything else to do, so don't worry 'bout it. It beats sitting around in detention."

"Detention?"

"Yea, I'm trying to kick the habbit." he joked. He was pleased to see it made Tohru laugh. A store made Kyo point it out to Tohru. "Hey, I know a guy who works here."

Tohru look up to see the sign in neon blue lights reading 'Mad Cow'. What a peculiar place to be! Just looking into the window she could see scary masks and various pictures: from blood oozing from a fake heart, to cartoonish people with pale faces and dark makeup. Her eyes bugged out wondering if she even had the courage to enter this store. It was the sheer essence of scariness! "Ah...Kyo-kun? Kyo-kun w-wait!" She called softly while running after Kyo already putting his hand on the door.

Kyo entered and Tohru followed as well. There were black walls lined with shirts with various words on them, and different rock group posters lining the back wall. Tohru could feel her chest rumble with the loud music blaring.

"Yo, Haru!"

"Kyo, what's up, man?" Haru looked behind Kyo with a wide grin on his face seeing the innocent yet curious brunette behind him. "Who's the girl? Your girlfriend?"

Tohru could feel herself blush as Kyo stepped infront on her. "Hey, I'm just wondering if you've got that new DVD in stock yet."

Haru let the change of topic go and leaned on the counter while pointing in a far corner where a girl with red highlights and green painted nails stood bobbing to the music and looking at various DVD covers. "Yeah it's over there by Rin. She'll help you out."

"Thanks." Kyo turned to Tohru and walked past her as she stood still. She took another glance around the store while this domino haired person continued to observe her. She walked a little ways away from the staring cashier and skimmed a rack of t-shirts reading:

"You know you want me"

"I have your girlfriend's phone number"

"MILF"

"Cereal Killer"

Tohru's face scrunched up at every shirt she read. Who on earth would want to wear these shirts? She stepped back and started down at her own attire. A blue sailor uniform and a light pink knitted sweater with a yellow trimming at the sleaves. Yea, she totally stuck out like a sore thumb.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone I saw you here." Tohru's head snapped up to the voice as Haru laughed, watching her. "If you feel uncomfortable you should have seen the old woman thinking this was a butcher shop. It's a wonder why she'd even consider buying meat at a place called 'Mad Cow'."

"Am I really that easy to read?" Tohru sighed looking down at her clothes.

"Like a book, I'm afraid." Haru smiled and Tohru decided he wasn't all that scary dispite the ear piercings and gaudy necklaces. "I'm Hatsuharu Sohma."

Tohru bowed. "Hello, I'm Tohru Honda, it's really nice to meet you." She stood up straight. "Wow, another Sohma."

"One of many, Honda-san." Haru leaned in towards Tohru as she watched Kyo talk with Rin. "Don't think bad of Kyo. He's rough around the edges but he's cool."

"Eh...?"

"Not too many girls really want to hang out with him-- usually aiming more towards our cousin, Yuki. Once he liked this girl so much he asked her out on a date. The bitch stood him up, leaving him standing at the movie house with an umbrella as it poured cats and dogs. Poor guy."

Tohru's face fell as she got a mental image of an angry, wet, Kyo, waiting hours on end for a date that would never come. "I never knew."

Haru looked her up and down. "Maybe a good girl like you will get him out of his funk."

Tohru didn't have the heart to tell Haru that she wasn't into Kyo THAT way. Or was she? She shook her head. Of course she wasn't! She really really liked Yuki! But still, Kyo had been stood up? What that must have felt-- someone you liked so much to get the courage to ask them out, let alone even talk to them! Tohru's mind wandered to her own situation. It was so similar, what if she did get enough courage to talk to Yuki? And then he ended up hating her?

She let her eyes fall towards the floor. She would have been the one standing out in the rain.

She turned to look at Kyo again as he waved to Rin while jogging back to her and Haru. "How you must have felt..." She muttered.

"What's that?" Kyo asked standing next to Tohru as he put the DVD on the counter to pay. "Haru, turn the music down a little some of us want to keep our hearing." The music softned.

"Nothing, Kyo-kun." Tohru smiled. "I was just talking with Hatsuharu-san."

Kyo slowly turned to Haru who looked bord.

"Yo."

"You didn't tell her."

"Tell her what?"

"That I was stood up at the movies, you ass!"

"Well there you go, straight from the donkey's mouth." Haru said to Tohru.

Kyo grabbed Haru by the collar. "Why you little punk! What did I ever do to you?"

Tohru turned to Haru.

"Let's see, you did give me that swirly in sixth grade."

Tohru turned to Kyo.

"That's only because you stole my lunch money!"

"Please!" Both boys turned at the voice. Even Rin from across the store looked up. "Please don't fight!" Tohru cried. Haru and Kyo looked at each other and backed away.

Rin walked up hearing the commotion. A smirk graced her elegantly shaped lips. "Hm, if it wasn't a real live saint that stopping the howling I don't know what this girl is."

Kyo paid for the disk and ushed Tohru out of the store while still glaring at Haru.

As the door closed Haru just turned to his girlfriend with a serious look. "Honda-san is nice." After a moment he caught her gaze. "Do you think Kyo knows what he's getting into?"

"Maybe." Rin looked to the door. "We'll see."

"Kyo-kun..."

Kyo ignored her for the moment too angry to speak. He might say something that would not be appropriate for a young lady's ears.

"Kyo-kun..."

"What!" He finally burst out turning on her. Tohru's eyes widened as Kyo put a hand up to cover his face. "No, go ahead and say whatever you want to."

Tohru stayed silent for a moment thinking of the words to say. "I'm sorry. I was just wondering if you were okay. You seem really angry at Hatsuharu-san." Kyo looked up to meet her sapphire eyes. "And... I suppose there are some people out there that are that mean, but it's like a garden!" She smiled and waved a finger at him. "Sometimes you have to weed out the garden to find the beautiful flowers that are hidden beneath." Kyo stared at Tohru as she continued to try and cheer him up.

"Nah, I think I'd be a weed, Tohru."

"Hm, well even a weed can look like a beautiful flower. It's all in the eye of the beholder." She stepped closer to Kyo as he stood silently. "You may think you are a weed but I think you are one of those hidden wild flowers under it all."

Tohru saw that emotion flash in his eyes again as he looked down at her. The wind blew softly around them, her hair blowing gently along with leaves fallen from the first signs of fall. She continued to smile at him and then turned in the direction of the post office.

On the other hand, Kyo stayed put, his orange bangs covering his eyes. He continued to stare downward, red and brown leaves twirling at his feet, rising up into the sky and fluttering away.

"Come on, Kyo-kun." He turned around to see Tohru laughing. "We'd better get to the post office before they close."

He watched her smiling and laughing as she continued to push her free hair out of her face. He himself broke into a soft grin and jogged towards Tohru.

"You know, you really are something." He said catching up to her. She gave him that small smile again before turning and continuing to walk. "I think you're... you're a flower too."

Tohru cocked her head to the side. "You think so? Wow, thank you so much!"

"Yeah... eh but don't think I mean anything funny by that!"

"I won't, Kyo-kun. I won't."

Later that afternoon Tohru and Kyo sat at the bus stop waiting to catch a bus. Kyo only lived down the road a few blocks down, but Tohru's home was quite a ways out. Both teenagers were tired of walking.

"Today was fun." Tohru piped in. "Thanks for coming with me." Her face fell. 'Even though you are under a spell to make you do this. Oh, I'm so sorry.'

Kyo's face scrunched up. "No problem." He slouched down into the bench while stretching his arms. "Sure you'll be okay on the bus?"

"Don't worry, I've been on the bus alone quite a few times before. Thank you for worrying about me."

The bus started its way over to the bus stop and Tohru finally got up. "Thanks again, Kyo-kun. I'll see you tomorrow at school. Oh, and don't worry!" She leaned in towards Kyo. "I won't tell a soul about the movie incident! I cross my heart and hope to die!"

"Whoa, don't go that far." Kyo said rising to his feet as well. He stared down at Tohru, his eyes glowing in the afternoon sunset. Everything around them seemed to warm with the afternoon sun, bathing everything with light and warmth. Tohru felt her heart thump rapidly as she could feel her own body heat mingling with Kyo's. They were standing a foot apart and she could still feel the tingling sensation over her skin.

'What is this...?' Tohru wondered. 'My body's never felt like so.' She began to shiver dispite the warmth from all around.

"You cold? Gez, bring a heavier jacket." Kyo shrugged off his school blazer and draped it over Tohru's shoulders, the jacket dropping past her skirt. She stared at her shoulder and then at Kyo with her wide eyes, adorable as ever.

Kyo felt a blush rise to his face seeing her wear his school jacket. Tohru had the same thoughts as she could still smell the masculine musk from his coat. It smelled like fresh soap and sandalwood. She wondered what detergent he used.

'What am I thinking? The only reason he's being so nice is because he ate that riceball. The only person I've ever really liked was Yuki so why...?'

"Tohru..." Kyo whispered a breath away from her face.

'Why do I feel like I am falling for Kyo-kun?'

"Tohru..." Kyo whispered again. Tohru could feel her ears tingle with heat every time he called her name softly like so.

The bus stopped before them and made a "kshh!" sound as the doors opened.

"Yes...?" Tohru asked.

Kyo blinked at the sound of the bus and in an instant he was a foot away from her again. She missed the warmth. "Um... I'll see you tomorrow."

Tohru's face fell but she instantly replaced it with a gentle smile. "Okay. Be careful walking home, Kyo...-kun."

'Ah, what's happening to me? Almost slipped up there calling him so lightly! Tohru no baka!' She mentally scolded.

She waved before getting on the bus and leaving Kyo standing on the sidewalk. She paid her bus fare and sat down three seats over, sitting on Kyo's coat. She gasped and fingered the soft material between her digits. "Oh no, Kyo-kun might be looking for his coat tomorrow!" She took it off and folded it carefully on her lap. "I wouldn't want to ruin Kyo-kun's jacket so I'll just give it to him tomorrow when he picks me up for school." She stopped herself and shut her eyes tightly while shaking her head furiously. "But who said he would be coming to pick me up! Kyo-kun's only so nice because of that onigiri! Ohh...!" She breathed heavily. "What am I doing?"

Tohru glanced around her, happy to see there were only about six or seven people on the bus, none of which paid any attention to her as she moved so animatedly. She leaned against the window with a sigh, clutching Kyo's blazer to her chest, the smell of him still lingering. "What am I doing?" She asked again watching the world pass by her window. She let a smile grace her small lips. "I... I think I'm falling for Kyo-kun." Suddenly she felt her chest tighten again at the thought as she looked down to her lap. She frowned.

'No, I'm not falling for Kyo-kun.' She held the coat tighter to her chest tears brimming her eyes but refusing to fall.

One more day. That's all she had left. One.

"I'm falling for magic."

A/N: Thanks for all your reviews! R&R people, thanks so much.