Fried Eggs – Chapter Three

Complications

"Tohru, may I speak with you?" Yuki asked softly, tapping the spacey girl on the shoulder.

She turned and blinked slowly, a small blush rising to her cheeks. Yuki had been more forward since the summer trip, and while she was mystified by this change in behavior, the fluttering of her heart assured her it was a good thing. She followed him into his bedroom, closing the screen door in case Yuki wanted privacy.

His back was to her now, his breathing unsteady, mouth dry. He was nervous, more then nervous. Informing her of his feelings was dangerous in more ways then one, but he feared for his sanity if he held his heart closed like it had been for so many years.

Oddly, it was Tohru who was first to speak, breaking the uncomfortable silence that intoxicated the room.

"I have this fluttering in my heart. It's rather strange, and it been bothering me for a while. It starts hurting sometimes, and others it feels like it will fly out of my chest. I don't know what it means, but it only feels bad…" She drifted into silence, staring at the floor. She was not accustomed to being this direct with her emotions, especially ones as important as this. She didn't know how to go on, her mouth starting to move before closing itself quickly to protect the well guarded secret in her heart.

Yuki smiled, turning towards the flustered girl.

"It must be contagious; I get it all the time." He felt his confidence building as he took a tentative step towards her. "When you laugh, when you smile, when you look at me. I can't help it, it happens." He slowly was progressing towards her, his breath hitching as he saw deep brown eyes look into his.

He gently took her hand and placed it over his heart, the sensation of her touch causing his heart to beat faster.

"See?"

Tohru sat, stunned for many moments at the static rhythm of his heart under her hand. She blushed, looking up at him, then back to his chest where she noticed his breath becoming shorter. Then, slowly, she smiled, reaching out his other hand and placing it over hers.

There were no need for words; they simply touched their foreheads in understanding. They stayed like that for what seemed like hours, just enjoying the precious time they had together.

---

Shigure sniffed the winter air, trotting to Hatori's car as he swung past the early Christmas displays.

"Already? It's mid November!" He sighed, continuing to hurry towards the welcoming heater that was letting Hatori not be an ice sculpture, even though he was somber enough to make some think he was.

Shigure sniffed the air again. Something was different, maybe the wind changed, or he just happened to be downwind of something that smelled particularly suspicious, but this concerned him, making him stop to sniff the air again. Something was defiantly different, though Shigure had no idea what it was. He glared into the sky and continued walking, snuggling himself deeper into his jacket.

"This better not mess with my plans." He muttered under his breath, shortly turning the corner to the parking garage.

---

"Shishou, has Kagura been by recently?" Kyo asked, putting on a nonchalant façade as he wiped sweat from his brow.

Kazuma turned to his adopted son, quirking an eyebrow up in concern. "You can't tell me you haven't just noticed she hasn't been by in months." Kyo growled, crossing his arms. Kazuma sighed, scratching his head. "She comes by once a week long before you get out of school and trains. She says she's taking night classes now so she had to change her extra-curricular. Did you know she got herself a job too?"

Kyo grumbled again, stalking off to the showers. Kazuma smiled, taking a seat and calmly waiting for his insensitive son to come back to the room. It didn't take long. Kyo reappeared shortly dressed in casual clothes, a duffel bag tossed over his shoulder. He glared over at his shishou angrily and walked past him, muttering about schoolwork and his crammed schedule the whole way. However, before he reached the door, his shishou's voice stopped him in his tracks, causing him to spin around.

"She works at the Mandy's Café down on Chihiro Avenue."

"And why the hell do I care!" Kyo shouted angrily, swinging open the gate and closing it petulantly with a slam.

"No need top thank me." Kazuma said smiling, turning back into his dojo to get back to his other students.

---

Kyo, once again, was sitting on the roof, despite the bitter cold of the ceramic tile. Kagura was bothering him way too much lately, and it was getting on his nerves. It as bad enough he had to endure a play, but right before he was going to kiss Tohru, an image that had haunted him for weeks now popped into his mind.

He didn't see Tohru, he saw Kagura.

He rolled over crossly, the tile biting into the skin of his cheek. He could barely sleep, or eat, and now whenever he was in a romantic situation with Tohru, Kagura dominated his thoughts to the point of insanity.

It must be the guilt. Just go check up on her, see that she's fine, and then you can concentrate on Tohru.

And I'm only going for my own good. I don't care about her really.

I don't like her.

I don't love her.

He repeated this mantra in his mind as he crawled down the ladder to his bedroom, still repeating it as he fell asleep.

End of Chapter Three

Authors Note: Another setting the stage chappie, but as foreshadowed, things will be picking up real soon, so no fear. Sorry about the update lag, but I haven't had time with midterms, then solo fest and FCAT. It's been stressful, but I'm pulling through fine. I'll try to update more often, so keep reviewing! Reviewing makes a hungry writer happy!

Wearer of the viking hat,

Gabby the Great