--Snail's Pace--

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

Chapter Eleven

Tohru couldn't help but look over her shoulder one last time at the looming castle behind her. It had once shined beautifully against the night sky, but now its beauty was gothic against the heavily collecting storm clouds that were gathering quickly in the distance. A roll of thunder and a flash of lightening left Moonsnite Castle glowing with eerie silence, although the many fans were still crowded at every corner; cheering, laughing… everything that Tohru was far from doing. The brightness of her dress had dimmed into a faded star.

I don't belong here.

She knew that she was making a grave mistake, and one that would cause terrible things if she stayed any longer. She was in love with both Yuki and Kyou Sohma. She couldn't stay. She couldn't ruin their lives. She'd return to Shigure's house, change, leave Kyou the dress he had bought and figure out a sum of money that would repay them all for their hospitality; then she would go back to Australia. It was, in Tohru's opinion, a wise decision. Yet it still hurt her greatly to be walking away from the Premiere, especially when she had come so close to meeting him.

Mother, Mother. What should I be doing?

She flicked her hair over one shoulder and descended from the city down towards a river across from the railway station that was a few blocks away from Moonsnite Cathedral. It flowed quickly against the current, impatient at the oncoming storm. On the far bank was a lush forest which was a part of a nature preserve. Tohru stared into its darkness quietly as her bare feet were licked by the stream. She could still hear the cheering from the Cathedral, and it filled her with lonliness and frustration.

I'm… going.

She stepped down into the river, it was only knee deep and although it rushed fast, she was still able to cross it. Once on the other side, she dropped the hem of her dress that she had been clutching, held her heels in one hand, and walked tearfully into the preserve.

'Tohru!' Yuki thrust open the door into the Ladies Bathroom and strode through, searching the small section for any sign of her – but she was nowhere! He pounded his fist against the wall, flashed an awkward look at the woman in the room, and then quickly went back to the foyer. Shigure met him in the middle of the room and they discussed what would happen next.

'I'm sure she's just a little scared, Yuki. This is a big event.' Shigure said softly. The Paparazzi were looking at them oddly. Yuki shook his head, refusing to believe it. He wanted so badly to see her again. 'Don't do anything drastic. You can't leave the Premiere.'

'Tohru…!'

'Now now, she's not stupid, Yuki. She's a bright young lady and she wouldn't do anything to put herself in danger.'

People were beginning to file into the theatre now and Yuki found himself being drawn in with the flow. There was no way he'd be able to slip out without being discovered. He could feel his eye twitching and his hands shaking as he stepped into the dark theatre, cut off once again from Tohru and unable to see her. He felt his head would explode. There were so many things that could happen to a girl like Tohru in only a short couple of hours. The thought hadn't even occurred to him that she might not have wanted to see him ever again, or that she didn't like him anymore. She'd come all the way from Australia and that stood for a lot. All Yuki wanted was her, to see that sweet smile once more.

'I can't sit here and do nothing!' Yuki hissed to Shigure as they took their seats in the dim lighting of the cinema.

'Don't worry. Tohru will be fine. Someone has already gone to look for her.'

'What? Who?'

Tohru gave a harsh cry of pain as she slipped against the loose ground, falling forward and scratching her hand against the sharp and rough surface of a crusty rock. The blood flowing from her hand mingled with the puddles of rain around her and left a pink tone in the water. She was slowly becoming soaked, but she didn't bother to get up from where she was sitting. Instead, she held the split palm of her hand in the other and leaned forward over her crouched body in a fetal position. The sting of her own wound was numbed by the conflicting emotions inside her. She simply couldn't face Yuki Sohma knowing that she liked someone else as well.

'It's too painful, it's like all those other times. Mom. Uo. Now I'm the one hurt.'

She felt sorry for herself, even though she knew that self pity was poison. As her shoulders began to shake, and hot salty tears leaked from the corners of her bright eyes, she unexpectedly felt two arms wrap around her from behind, coming down over her shoulders and sliding around her neck protectively, comfortably. It was then that she began to cry, loudly, so that her voice rung inside the forest like the saddened soul of a ghost.

'What are you doing here? I thought…' Tohru began.

'All Sohma's are invited to the premiere of Fruits Basket. I followed you out here when I saw you leave. Please stop crying Tohru, I don't know why you're crying but it makes me so sad.'

Tohru turned around to look at Kagura, whom was just as soaked and cold as she was. Her beautiful red gown was thrashed and caked with mud and dirt. Tohru's tears became more frequent as she thought of what a lovely girl the zodiac boar was and how much more she loved Kyou than she herself ever could. In the increasing rain, Tohru poured her soul to Kagura. She began from the beginning when she had first left the rehearsal in Australia, and ended with now, as she sits bleeding in the mud.

Kagura didn't flinch, she didn't even hesitate to hug Tohru even tighter when she mentioned that she liked Kyou. In truth, Kagura probably cared about Tohru just as much as she did for Kyou; and seeing either of them in any kind of pain was simply too much for her. Of course there was a small stab of jealousy that made the hairs on the back of her neck prickle, but her aggressive attitude knew that right now, Tohru was more important than herself.

'I'm going to take you home,' Kagura said plainly, 'You can stay at my place for now.'

'But you're missing the Premiere!' Tohru objected.

'I don't care,' Kagura replied. They helped each other get to their feet, picked up their high heels, and began walking back towards the river. When they arrived Tohru sat on a bench near the road and nursed her aching hand while Kagura called a taxi. They were on the road and heading way from the Cathedral within minutes. Tohru couldn't help but look back over her shoulder and smile; at least that wonderful memory of meeting Yuki Sohma was still and always would be with her. No matter what happened.

'You can't leave Tohru,' Kagura said softly. Her voice was barely audible against the drumming of the rain. 'Kyou and Shigure and Yuki, they've all seemed so happy and alive since you came. I know you've only been here a short while, but can't you just think about staying… forever, even!'

Tohru was moved by the words. Kagura, although a full grown woman like herself, still had a childish touch of innocence to her that Tohru also possessed.

'We can cook together and have a lot of fun if you stay with me! I know that Kyou didn't like the dinner I made for him last time, so you can help me become a better cook so that…'

She realized what she was saying and cut herself off. Embarrassed, they both turned and looked out of opposite windows, both feeling wounded and gloomy. The rain continued to fall, the lights continued to flash at Moonsnite Cathedral, and one small man, represented by the Zodiac cat, padded softly home to an empty, dark house.

Uhuhu A new chapter. You can all thank Kittyluv for this. Her review reminded me that I had an extra chapter lying around. I'd better write some more now that I have a week of school holidays. Within three weeks, you guys should be seeing a lot more chapters.