Chapter 3- Betrayal

By: Ochako107

Standard Disclaimer

She peered out of her house that morning, and stepped into the sunshine. She had a restless night, tossing and turning in her bed, finally getting to sleep around 2 AM. The crushing feeling that today would be the last day with Kyo loomed over her. She could feel the morning chill nipping at her skin and she pulled out Kyo's jacket. She had to give it back to him today. Feeling the material between her hands, she glanced around the lawn.

'Hm, he's not here...' She thought while slipping on his jacket again. No one would notice if she wore it... she could still remember that afternoon when he lent her his coat. It was so nice of him! Heaving her school bag infront of her while walking down the stoop she started off towards the school building while taking in a deep breath of morning air and traces of sandalwood mingling with her own sent. 'I suppose the riceball is wearing off. That's good.' She looked to the sky. 'If that's good, why do I feel so bad?'

"Tohruuu!"

Tohru felt an arm wrap around her shoulder. "Hey! Where have you been these days? No phone calls, no after school parties," Uo, one of Tohru's best friends, bumped her head softly with the brunette. "So where ya been?"

"Yes, we've been missing you dearly, Tohru-kun." Came the airy voice on her other side. Tohru turned to see Hana with a ghost of a smile. "Perhaps your attention is being occupied?"

Tohru laughed nervously. "Hana-chan..."

Hana smiled. "I suppose I was right."

Uo slapped Tohru happily on the back making the smaller girl fall forward a little. "Oh ho! Tohru-chan is getting some lovin', baby! All right!"

Hana closed her eyes. "Not the same words, but yes, something along those lines, Arisa."

"So who is it, Tohru?" Uo continued while Hana rambled on about Tohru's love interests. "That guy that stares at you during gym? Or maybe it's a love affair with one of those hott teachers? Or maybe it's a mystery guy with so much enigma you are just drowning in all his mysteries. Although none of the above seem like your type." She laughed.

Tohru's eyes widened. "Eh? Uo-chan, why would you assume that I am getting some... 'lovin'? There could be many things that could be occupying my attent-- wait, what guy that stares at me during gym!" She spit out rapidly. Her eyes began to swirl-- this was all coming down too fast!

Uo took one of Tohru's arms into her hand, inspecting the clothing she adorned and then dropped it. "This doesn't look like your normal school blazer, Tohru. Kind of big don't you think, Hana?" Uo winked at Hana as Tohru started looking down at her outfit embarassed. "Ah ha! Someone IS grabbing her attention. And I got a feeling it isn't the Prince."

Tohru could feel a blush starting from the roots of her hair. Her friends could read her all too well. She'd have to learn to hide her emotions instead of wearing them so plainly on her face. If not hiding her emotions at least guard her own thoughts!

"I'm afraid even those are no secrets."

Tohru spun on her electric wave friend. "Hana-chan!"

"Only kidding." Hana slowly turned her head forward. "You just looked so deep in thought I guessed you were wondering if you could ever hide your emotions."

Tohru let out a sigh. "Oh, good."

The trio walked in silence before Hana's voice eased into the silence. "Like I said, Tohru-kun, your electric signals seem quite distressed. It is not mid-term week yet," she turned to Tohru with a small smile. "A penny for your thoughts?"

Ha, Hana-chan could have a whole room of pennies for what she was thinking!

She didn't want to say anything. Even though Hana, Uo and herself had established a solid friendship, something like this seemed just too embarassing! How could she explain that Kagura gave her a magical riceball and she was going to give it to Yuki so he and her could spend time together and if he kissed her on the third day it would mean they were ment to be together? And then to top it off, the boy she'd never dreamed of ate her riceball by mistake and has been smitten with her ever since. Finally, how would she explain that she's starting to fall for him when the only reason he liked her for the time being was because he was under some kookie spell!

Hana and Uo had huge grins on their faces as the trio started crossing the street.

Tohru stared at them, her emotions once again getting the best of her.

"... H-Hana... Uo...?" She gluped. "Did I...?"

"Yes, Tohru-kun. You did just say all of that out loud." Hana smiled.

All the color drained from her face and Tohru stopped dead in her tracks. She wanted to be sick, she wanted to go home and dive back into her sheets, she wanted to go back in time and stop herself from taking that riceball; she wanted to be anywhere but here!

She took the next best option from a system melt down.

She fainted.

Well, she almost fainted anyway. Instead of the expected hard and ungraceful landing on the cement, she felt strong arms under her back, bracing her fall. She could swear she was in some kind of black and white film, seeing him of all people on the ground saving her fall. She opened one eye, the other still tightly closed as the other face filled her view.

"Tohru! What happened?" Kyo asked, worry filling his eyes. The rays of sun were blocked from hitting her eyes as she caught Kyo's sillouette. "Why the hell did you just fall like that?"

"...Kyo-kun?"

Tohru felt Kyo pick her up, his right hand wrapping under her knees and his left hand cradling her back, holding Tohru bridal style as she tried to make her legs work again. "Damn, if you're just going to collapse in the middle of the street you really WILL get hit by a car." He kept his eyes straight as he carried Tohru to the corner of the side walk. "Try... try and be more careful."

Uo's usual tough girl look was smacked off her face as she ran towards Kyo and Tohru. "Ohmigosh, Tohru! Tohru, what happened? You just fell on the street! What's gotten into you?" Uo asked while hugging Tohru's head to her chest as Kyo let Tohru down gently from his protective arms. "You scared me!"

"Uo-chan..."

"You smell like that coat Tohru-kun is wearing." Hana said from behind Kyo, her violet eyes glowing with electricity.

"KAYAAAA!" Kyo jumped then feet into the air. "Who the hell...!"

"Correction," Hana stood infront of Tohru and Uo while slowly raising a perfectly shaped finger at Kyo. Her voice came out smooth as silk, emotion void of any kind of warmth. "Who the 'hell' are you...?"

"Whoa, I've never heard Hana curse." Uo said.

"I think she was just imitating Kyo-kun." Tohru whispered to her.

"Who are you?" Hana repeated still pointing at Kyo.

"I'm..."

"What relation do you have to our dear, Tohru-kun?"

"I..."

"Can't you see she is in a crisis pertaining to her personal life?"

"Why is it that your coat is sitting on her shoulders?" Hana continued, shooting out these awkward questions like bullets at poor Kyo. "Do you know what I do... when I find something or rather someone interfering with Tohru-kun?" She asked her voice dropping low.

Kyo had a sudden prickling feeling at the back of his neck. Who was this girl?

"Hana-chan!" Tohru finally rushed in. "Hana-chan, this is Kyo-kun, he is a friend of mine." Tohru quickly shrugged off Kyo's jacket and handed it to him. "I'm...I'm sorry I didn't return it." She turned to show Kyo her friends. "These are my very best friends, Arisa Uotani and Saki Hanajima."

Kyo put a hand up. "Hey."

Uo nudged Tohru with a catty grin. "So is he...?" For the first time in a long time, Uo saw Tohru give her that look. A pleading look to not ask anything right now. "...in our grade?" She quickly corrected herself.

"Yes, Uo-chan."

"There's something funny about you." Hana said taking a deep look into his eyes. "There's something... something...odd."

Tohru tensed. 'The magic must still be in Kyo!'

Kyo turned his face the other way, breaking Hana's stare down. "Yeah, let me guess, you two think I'm some punk who's not good enough for your friend, don't you?"

Tohru instantly went for Kyo's hand. "No, Kyo-kun!" She looked up at him with sincerity. "No, you are not that kind of person. Kyo-kun is one of the nicest people I know." Hana and Uo exchanged glances as they watched Tohru comfort Kyo naturally. "In fact I think... I think I like..." Tohru choked on her words.

Kyo brushed her hand away from him with a hard look upon his face. "Eh, I better go. School is going to start soon." He took off in a run leaving Tohru's hand still extend towards him.

"Kyo-kun!" She watched him disapear into the school building among other students. "Why did he leave so suddenly?" Wasn't he supose to be infatuated her?

After a moment of silence, Hana nodded to Uo before walking to school as well, going unnoticed by Tohru. Uo leaned over Tohru's shoulder to see her confused features. "Hey, Tohru? We'll meet you in class okay?"

She turned to Uo snapping out of her thoughts. "Oh, did I make you and Hana feel awkward? I'm sorry."

Uo stared at her. How was it that she always thought of others before herself? Hana and herself just thought Tohru would want to be alone right now. It was obvious Tohru wanted some time to think without her friends trying to sway her thoughts. She laughed and patted Tohru on the shoulder. "No, we didn't feel awkward. We just figured you wanted some space right now is all. Don't worry about us."

"Oh, okay." She watched Uo wave to her while catching up to Hana. She was silently greatful. She needed some time to think.

Uo caught up to Hana. "So? What does your Electric Report say?"

Hana closed her eyes in a dreamy state. She was worried for Tohru. "I feel Tohru and Kyo coming to some realization just a minute ago. The boy's attitude did seem smitten as Tohru-kun said but..." Hana opened her eyes; a small frown creasing her lips. "There was something odd about his waves that didn't seem... spellbound." Uo stared at her friend, beginning to wonder herself if magic was really playing a role in this game.

"So, you like it?"

"Are you kidding?" Kyo took another bite of the delicious fish. "This is the best Yakizakana I've had in a long time." He praised. "I mean... since my uncle usually does all the cooking we have a lot of burnt stuff," he tried to cover up from his fist burst of enthusiasm. "And besides," he took another bite, "I like cod."

Tohru clasped her hands, "Oh wow, really?" She let out a sigh, "I wasn't sure if you like fish or not! I hope it isn't too bland, I couldn't find any Daicon radishes so..."

He put the plate down staring at her. "You mean... you made this for me?"

Tohru felt a blush creep over her face. "Well, it's a thank you for being so nice to me and all."

'And since this might be the last day we'll be so close like this.'

"Oh." He ate the lunch Tohru prepared for him while looking to the sky. She finished her own lunch and was about to ask Kyo a question when she caught him in such a trance.

Staring at his serene features she couldn't help but want to ask what he was thinking about. As much as she didn't want Kyo to be with her three days ago, she was starting to ask herself why she wouldn't want something like this to happen. Even though she was still head-over heels with Yuki, somehow Kyo made her forget all her insecurities about Yuki. Just watching Yuki made her mouth dry and her head spin, right? Just to see him and know that there was a possibility for them to become closer was what she dreamed of, right?

So how was it...?

Kyo turned when he felt Tohru's sad eyes upon him.

How was it that just being with Kyo washed all of that away? He made her feel carefree and fuzzy inside. Not weak, love wasn't supoe to make you feel weak, it was supose to make you feel strong. She loved the way he was always trying to be headstrong but inside he was caring and mindful. He was trying to guard his thoughts but it seemed the more they spent time together the more he opened up to her.

And yet none of this was real. As much as she wanted Kyo free from this spell, in a way she didn't. She didn't want any of this to end. How selfish.

Tohru felt tears fill her voluminous eyes but still she would not let them fall. She could see a blurred Kyo stand up instantly.

How selfish of her to want Kyo.

"Tohru! What happened? Why the hell are you crying?" Kyo asked putting his hands on her shoulders. "Damnit, I said I like the fish! I promise I wasn't lying, it was good!" He continued.

"It's nothing, I just... you know!" Tohru rubbed her eyes quickly. "It's a little windy outside and I guess something got in my eye. I'll just... eh... go wash my eyes in the bathroom."

Kyo raised an eye brow. "Are you sure?" He asked while walking back to the building with her.

Tohru gave him her biggest smile dispite how troubled she was. "Yes, I'll be fine." Kyo nodded and continued to follow her. After a while Tohru giggled making Kyo stare at her. They stopped infront of the bathroom.

"What is it?"

"Kyo-kun, do you really plan on following me into the girls restroom?" She continued to laugh.

He stopped following, realization hitting him like a ton of bricks. He turned around while scratching his head. "I was... just a little worried is all, okay?" Tohru nodded while watching his back. "I just," he slowly turned around, a blush rising to his cheeks, "I just don't want to see you cry because of something I did."

The young girl felt her heart begin to race again. She switftly turned on her heel and fled into the bathroom leaving Kyo waiting outside the door.

"Wahh!" Tohru cried running exasperated to the sink while splashing cold water onto her face. "Why does Kyo-kun have to be so nice to me? I couldn't possibly deserve this much kindness, not after knowing that he only likes me because of that riceball!" She blurted out, talking rapidly to herself while splashing water all over the counters in her frantic motions. The other girls backed away from the girl avoiding water splashing in all directions.

Tohru grabbed paper towels and patted her face down, while sitting on a small chair placed in the girl's bathroom. She slowly let the paper towel fall away from her face. Sighing she looked down to her hands in desperation. "Maybe I should go talk to Kyo. I... I want to tell him so that we can stop this mess." She got a determined face and trudged out of the bathroom.

To her surprise, the corridor was empty. "Kyo-kun?" She called. "Hm, maybe he went to the bathroom too." She walked down the hall, about to turn the corner when she could hear hushed whispering behind the wall.

"So, how fares your days with Tohru?"

'Kagura?' Tohru gasped.

"She seems to really buy into all that magic stuff that you gave her. She really thinks I've fallen for her."

Suddenly Tohru felt her entire self stiffen at the masculine voice. 'No...'

Kyo shoved his hands into his pockets. "I can't believe you got her to believe that that onigiri was magical and that it would make anyone fall in love with her." She heard him chuckle. "It's kinda cute."

Tohru leaned herself against the wall, her chest heaving with bewilderment and embarassment as she tried to believe this was not real.

Kagura's tone turned flirtatious as Tohru bit her lip. "I guess our bet is leaning my way, Kyo."

Tohru's world came crashing down. A bet? They were using her like some toy? Tohru expected herself to break down in sobs but not one sound emerged from her throat. No growl in anger or frusteration not even a sigh of resent.

But she felt it inside. Hurt and incomprehensible pain surging through her body. She didn't make a sound only silent diamond tears falling from her flushed face.

She shook her head; she didn't want to hear it anymore. She closed her eyes and ran past Kyo and Kagura, not turning back to look.

She was betrayed.

A/N: Next chapter is the last one, folks. Thanks to all of you that have so nicely given me reviews! I haven't really gotten many for this story, but that's not important I guess. Whatis importantis that I like this story! R&R yeah? Thanks so much and see you in the next chappie.