Snail's Pace

Thus by chance should I stumble upon a way to find you

Chapter Nine

'KYOU! Kiss me my love I'm leaving this morning!'

'Kagura get off me!'

'Don't you want to kiss me? Kyou, you're so mean!'

'I ate that damn food you made isn't that enough!'

'Darling, don't you realize how much I love you?' she began smacking him over the head forcefully.

'Now, now Kagura,' Shigure calmed, 'don't go breaking any doors today. You can come back whenever you like just… don't break anything, please?' he held his hands up defensively.

Tohru came downstairs softly, wearing a red coat and carrying a small bag under one arm since she was going into the City. She took one look at the spectacle before her and laughed; gracious to the fact that her previous thoughts on Shigure's house being peaceful were not so true.

'You're leaving Kagura? I was so glad to meet you,' Tohru said; and once Kagura had finally got her kiss out of Kyou, she took off down the forest path skipping and giggling to herself. Half an hour after the bouncy boar had left, well, she came back for another, but after that Kyou accompanied Tohru into the city.

'I can't believe you talked me into coming back to this place,' Kyou whined as they entered the Montgomery Drama Academy. It was Tohru's first time there so she was greatly impressed with everything she saw. They booked an interview and came back later on that day for Tohru's presentation.

'Do I look okay?' Tohru squeaked as they waited in the dark foyer, 'my hair, my clothes… oh no I look to plain don't I?'

'You're fine!' Kyou said with a sigh; but when he looked at her he half smiled. In her furious attempt to brush her long locks with her fingers she'd pulled the small ribbon in her hair and it was hanging crookedly, 'wait a minute,' he said and blushed. His hands went to fix the ribbon while Tohru waited patiently, and embarrassed, for him to finish. Her hands shook nervously; and when Kyou finally stepped back to survey her she hid them behind her back so he wouldn't notice.

Tohru was lead into a dome shaped hall where the stage was covered in black at the front of the theatre. It was a large stage too. Her voice projected straight into the rafters and a little bit further; hinting a slight echo with the lack of props on stage to muffle her voice. The director was sat in the audience, supported among the luxurious red chairs and many aisles that lead upwards like a semi pyramid and sprouted left and right around the top of the hall. Kyou waited patiently at the back; and Tohru waved to him before she begun. Her portfolio was handed to the director and with his cue; she set off into motion. It was almost exactly the same as what she had shown Kyou. Every move and every tiny detail was perfect but enhanced because of the space around her. Again Kyou's eyes were transfixed; and once she had finished he found that he had been holding his breath the entire time and was almost blue. He watched Tohru receive comments from the director and then she slowly began to walk up the aisle towards him. She seemed sad.

'Well?' he asked, 'How did it go?' there was agitation in his voice.

'I guess,' Tohru began softly, not daring to make eye contact with him, 'it was the best audition I've ever done!' her face suddenly shot up to meet his; and their noses were so close he could see his reflection in her sparkling eyes. It was almost as though she had established his presence inside of her; to keep him there. She seemed happy.

'T-Tohru…' he said, face leaning slightly closer; but when he heard the director and his assistant walking up the aisle he quickly grabbed her hand and marched away.

Butterfly wings.

Out in the open among the brightness and noise of the City; Tohru felt relieved and excited. Her audition had gone a lot better than she'd thought it would and the fact that Kyou had accompanied and watched her made it all the more worthwhile. 'Thank you so much!' was all Tohru could say; she was too overwhelmed to say much else.

'Well, you needed something to look forward too here. That damn dog thought you might get bored. So if anything with Yuki doesn't turn out you can always have the performance if you get a good role, or you can go back home.'

Tohru suddenly stopped grinning; realizing something for the first time. 'No, there'd be no point in me going back home to University. I already failed my Course by coming away with you. Without a part in that performance it's impossible for me to pass,' she looked at Kyou who was speechless and shocked, 'that's how much faith I have in you, and Yuki Sohma. But if things don't work out, and Yuki doesn't want me around anymore, I'll probably –'

'Don't say that,' Kyou said cutting her off, 'don't ever say that anyone doesn't want you around. You can stay with us as long as you want to; even if that damn rat doesn't want you too; though it's highly unlikely. I… I don't want you to go back to Australia – because if you did, my whole bloody trip there would seem kind of pointless!'

'Kyou… I…'

'Let's go home,' he said quickly; and then he grabbed her hand, making Tohru's heart pound, and guided her swiftly through the chaotic New York streets. When she thought about it; they must have looked like any other ordinary couple enjoying a day out in the City. Nobody knew that he was a Zodiac cat; and nobody knew that she was Yuki Sohma's love; but at that moment, both of them had forgotten their previous titles which clung them to different paths. Tohru was simply enjoying the feel of her hand in Kyou's; but she couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking. Did he do it to guide her way, or did he do it because he liked the feel of holding her hand as well?

Saturday night… will be so difficult.

And Saturday night came very quickly.

All right! Two chapters updated at once! Are you pleased with me? You would not believe the difficulties I have been through these past few weeks. I got seriously sunburnt on Athletics Day; much so that I was temporarily bedridden for about a week. I couldn't even put a shirt on or lift my arms to scratch my own nose.I did manage to think of the next few chapters though and write down some notes. Updates might suddenly start to be more fluent now.

Please enjoy!