--Snail's Pace--

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

Chapter Twelve

Tohru felt a lot better by the time a pristine, sunny morning came around after the rain. The smell of damp earth was in the air and Tohru breathed in the sweet scent from the balcony of Kagura's apartment. There was a park across the street and she could see that people were already up, walking their dogs, running and skating along the winding paths.

Tohru knew what she was going to do today as well. She'd made up her mind about the situation and was eager to follow through with it. It might not make her happy, in fact it would really hurt her; but it was something she felt she needed to do in order to correct her mistake. Yuki Sohma would be all right without her; and Kyou would be all right as well because he had Kagura. It was time for Tohru to go home and try to pick up the pieces she had left behind in Australia.

'I wonder if the teacher will let me back into the Course I was doing…' Tohru mused to herself as she thought about University and her audition back home. She took one last look at the park, sighed, and went inside to book her ticket back home over the phone.

She'd awoken that day to find the apartment empty, and a note on the fridge indicated that Kagura would be back later in the afternoon. It didn't say where she would be, but it left her contact number in case Tohru needed to call her. On the same piece of paper, Tohru wrote Kagura a thank you note.

Tohru packed her things, left the Blue Dress on the end of the bed Kagura had made up for her, took one last look at the empty apartment, then shut the door firmly behind her.

I wish I could forget about this Zodiac family; but sadly, these memories will probably be with me forever. A small smile played on her lips for a moment as she remembered her amazing trip to New York, and then she made her way towards Shigure's home to collect the few things that she had left behind there. She hoped that Kyou and Yuki would not be present.

Kagura beamed as she fitted her key into the lock on her apartment door and stepped gracefully inside. Yuki was behind her, silent and looking very miserable. He had been invited over by Kagura; whom had thought she would be doing the right thing to reunite the pair after a long and very tiring journey. Kagura believed that Tohru was simply confused and seeing Yuki again would make her thoughts clear. She just wanted Tohru to be happy.

'Thank you for coming over today,' Kagura said shyly, 'I know I rang early, but…'

'That's fine Kagura. Shigure tells me that you and Tohru get along really well. It's only natural that you would be worried about her,' Yuki replied, although he was just as worried as the zodiac boar.As they stepped into the apartment they were both overcome by the intense light that was filtering through the open windows across the kitchen. Kagura didn't remember opening them, and assumed Tohru had.

'Tohru?' Kagura called, 'I'm home. I hope you got my note I left on the fridge.' She went into the bedrooms, looking for Tohru, while Yuki stayed in the kitchen. That's where he saw the note.

Tohru, I'm going out for a little while. I'll be back later. Here's my number in case you need to call.

And below that was written: Thank you Kagura, for everything that you've done for me. Tell Kyou that he was really kind to me, and tell Yuki that I am really very sorry. You should come to Australia some time. Love Tohru.

'Uh?' Yuki grabbed the note, rereading it quickly as his eyes widened. 'K – Kagura! She's gone! Tohru's gone already!' For the second time in two days, Yuki felt like he'd been struck in the face by a hammer.

Why doesn't she want to see me? Does she think I'm weird for wanting to see her after we met just once? Maybe I am. Am I some kind of stalker?

'Yuki? You ripped the paper…' Kagura was standing in front of him now, staring at his saddened figure and holding in her soft hands, the beautiful blue dress. A last reminder of Tohru.

'I'm going to find her!' Yuki said, turning on his heel and fleeing from the apartment. Tohru, no matter how much he knew about her or how different they were, was someone he'd invited into his life. He was responsible for any hurt that she must be feeling, and he wanted to apologize. Yuki Sohma had never been that great at dealing with people. As an actor, he'd been stripped from the luxuries of a normal life and thrown into the spotlight. He didn't get a moments rest, whenever he left the house there was always someone there trying to get a photo of him, interview him, or hug him. Being the Zodiac rat didn't help either. His busy life left it hard for him to form relationships with others. If he let Tohru Honda get away it would be the worst thing he could possibly do as a person.

'I'm going to find her!'

'Gate 15?'

Tohru paused in the middle of the airport and dropped her backpack for a moment to get her bearings. Back down the terminal was the Check In counters and in front of her was a small café. An escalator went up to domestic and international on one side, but Gate 15 wasn't there. Gate 26, 27 and 28 were the only ones that she had seen. She turned around and walked back the way she had come, looking and feeling completely lost.

'This was so much easier when Kyou was with me,' she sighed, turning left and following some passengers towards another part of the airport. She passed Gate 18 and 19. She was getting closer. Shestill hadtwo hours to wait though. She'd been in such a hurry to get away from the Sohma's that she didn't think of what she'd do with her time.

Shigure had been more than nice when she'd stopped by to get her things. Kyou had been home, but sleeping in his room upstairs and Tohru had decided not to wake him. She couldn't. Shigure thanked her, and pleaded that she might stay just a little longer, but he didn't force her. Well, you know where we live; you can always come back some day. Tohru had smiled, and Shigure laid a hand on her head.

'Yuki Sohma. Yuki Sohma,' Tohru said to herself softly, and she tried to think of something happy to ease the pain that she felt inside, but she couldn't form the words or the pictures in her mind. 'Yuki Sohma…'

'Miss Honda!'

'Uh?' Tohru suddenly dropped her bag; and her fingers started to shake. She didn't need to turn around to see who it was. Her heart was thumping. She knew. She knew. Nobody ever called her Miss Honda… apart from one person.

'Yuki?'

She turned around.