Well I've got some time on my hands, why not update? –Insert hearty laugh-. Ok, everybody, this chapter is dedicated to the lovely Totoku who has given me my first review. Sniffle… Thanks.

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"Waaahhh! Somebody, Kyo's hurting me and he smells really bad! Waaahhh!" Momiji sobbed aloud, his hat crunched into his head as Kyo's fist grinded it down.

Growling with renewed annoyance, Kyo shouted down into the younger boy's ear, "You try workin' your ass off all day long and then smellin' like a rose, you stupid rabbit!"

"Yourbackside is in perfect tact, Kyo. Leave the poor boy alone before you leave an indent in his pretty little head." Shigure mumbled over the rim of the steaming tea cup that Tôru had served him.

Turning to glare with his oddly shaded eyes of nearly-dried blood, Kyo almost hissed but managed to control the shreds of his dignity that remained and sat back in his own place at the table. Hatori and Momiji had arrived three hours early for dinner, apparently due to the fact that the golden haired youth couldnot stand to wait that duration of time to see Tôru. Dressed in a pink shirt which much resembled a dress that a four-year-old girl might wear, little yellow shorts and a white hat with a large yellow ribbon adorning it, he looked like the fairy of spring. Drying his eyes without a further care, he smiled brightly and bounced on his knees.

"Oh Tôru, I just can't wait to try your leek soup! Kisa said it was the most delicious leek soup she'd ever tasted! I just love leeks. Leeks are so good for you. Leeks can cure your cold!" Momiji chatted to the girl as she moved around the table, serving Yuki and Hatori their tea as well.

"Would you shut up about the damn leeks? I hate leeks!" Kyo fumed, smashing his fists down on the table out of a childish fit, using not the force they held which could snap the surface in two.

Tôru flinched at the sudden noise as dawning realization fell over her features and she let out a cry of alarm.

"Oh no! Kyo, I'm so sorry! I completely forgot that you hated leeks! It's just that Momiji said that was what he wanted and I got so excited that I guess I forgot to consider if everyone liked leeks! This is just awful! Don't worry, I'll make you something else! Anything you want, just tell me and I'll go and make it!" Tôru exclaimed in panic, hurrying around the table after giving Yuki his own cup of tea and running for the kitchen.

Violet eyes, focused and intent, stared down at the charming, hued reflection on the wavering surface of the beverage. Yuki could not bring himself to look upon his beloved Tôru, who had changed into a periwinkle blue dress since this morning for the sake of their company, wearing the yellow ribbons within her hair that were a gift from him on that special night so long ago. It was more than he found himself able to handle and he was glad for the heater resting over his lap as it did well to hide his excitement which still resisted its garment cage. He wanted to grab Kyo by his scrawny neck and smash his face into the table until it was sliced beyond recognition for all of the trouble he put Tôru through and he felt like a monster for such thoughts. Even if they were about that stupid cat.

"Uh… No, wait. You don't have to go making me anything special. I'll just eat the soup. Just relax, ok?" Kyo sighed out in his usual flat tone of defeat and self-pity.

"Um… Ok, if you're sure. I really don't mind, Kyo."

"Yeah, I'm sure, alright! Just si'down and… I don't know! Enjoy the company before you have to get dinner ready…"

With her panic-stricken face melting into a look of appreciation, Tôru returned to the table and took her seat next to Momiji with content smile. Shigure, on the other hand, looked troubled and leaned closer to the table to stare at Hatori who sat across from him.

"She puts him out like a candle, eh? Isn't it adorable how he responds to commands that way?" Shigure laughed with glee.

"Why you big-headed-"

"It's interesting that Kyo, the cat, is intelligent enough to learn to obey commands while you, the dog, are still too stupid to know when to keep your mouth closed." Hatori spoke with that resonating voice of deep lacking emotion.

Momiji burst into a fit of giggles while Tôru smiled nervously and monitored the insulted victim. Even Yuki loosed his light, glorious laughter which had been kept strictly bottled lately, Hatori giving him a sideways glance from his seatnext tohim. Kyo grinned with vicious triumph and glared to his right where Shigure was sitting with his head hung, obviously relishing in Hatori's momentary favoritism.

"You heard the man, Shigure. So just keep your mouth shut." Kyo growled confidently.

"And the same goes for you, Kyo. Yuki is ill and all of this commotion is not aiding his condition." The doctor intervened smoothly, still keeping his gaze fixated on the youth at his side.

All tension seemed to fade away as the concentrated point of attention fell onto Yuki's shoulders like bricks onto a flower. How dare he. How dare Hatori announce such a thing in front of everyone as though it did not even matter when he knew everyone would make a fuss. A muscle in Yuki's jaw twitched and he lowered his head. Tôru was the first to break the outstretching, uncomfortable silence.

"Yuki… You're sick? Why didn't you tell me? You should go to bed and rest and I'll bring you your dinner as soon as it's ready." She said, such tender concern in her quiet feminine voice.

Despite the humiliation at being declared ill, Yuki could not help but bask in the full attention of his beautiful goddess. Her eyes burning into the top of his skull made the hairs along the back of his neck stand up with alarm and pleasure and he felt his cheeks colour pink.

"I…" Yuki began, lifting his head to reveal his face alight with a fever of passion.

"Oh no, you have a fever Yuki." Momiji whined as he pointed past his escort to the prince.

"Yes Yuki. You certainly do look warmed up." Hatori said softly, setting down his untouched tea on the table and leaning back until he stood to his full, towering height,

"Why don't I take you up to your room and see if I can tell what the problem is?"

'What's he up to?' Yuki thought with a sudden needle of unease wedging deep into his core, 'What is he hiding? What is it he has to tell me in secret?'

Standing with reluctance, glad he had managed to calm his arousal, Yuki raised his hand to Tôru and gave her that same calming smile that he had displayed twice this morning. The first time when he had come down into the kitchen; the second when they were at the grocery store and she realized that he had not been able to eat his breakfast before they left, blaming herself. It seemed to comfort her less in this more serious situation but she relaxed in her seated position and nodded.

"Let Hatori take are of you, Yuki. I'll come up with your dinner. The leeks will help with whatever's making you sick."

"Yes, the leeks!" Momiji repeated with enthusiasm, much to Kyo's silent aggravation.

He wanted her. He wanted Tôru to come to his bed with him for it was love that sickened him now and he enjoyed it. It made his stomach twist and not and he almost laughed aloud but, as usual, schooled himself perfectly.

"If you insist, Miss Honda. I'm sorry that I ruined your evening." He spoke listlessly, following Hatori as the doctor began to lead the way to the stairs.

"Oh Yuki, don't apologize for getting sick. It isn't your fault." Tôru called after him, waving a bit before he disappeared into the hallway.

'No, it's your fault.' Yuki thought and dared to smile behind Hatori's back, his shoulders shaking for a moment. The adventure to Yuki's bedroom was otherwise uneventful until the door slid closed and the older man turned on him with such a stony glare that the teenager felt as though he'd been slapped across the face.

"Yuki." Hatori rumbled so low and yet so loudly it felt, "Why?"

Maintaining his demeanor, Yuki shook his head, his bangs swaying over his forehead and half-lidded eyes, "What are you talking about?"

"Why?"

'He knows…' Yuki thought with a screaming inner voice.

The two stood staring at each other in the darkness of the prince's room.

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Ok, I really hope that you were able to understand the seating arrangement! I tried to put it as clearly as I could but in case you don't get it… Hatori and Yuki were seated side by side. To the right, an empty seat and Kyo. To the right, an empty seat and Shigure, meaning that Shigure would be sitting straight across from Hatori. To the right, Tôru and Momiji, meaning that Tôru would be sitting across from Kyo. I have no doubt that there's a mistake in the story somehow but… Oh well.

Oh, and another thing. Tôru is the Japanese spelling. I know most others use Tohru but…meh. I'm anti-conformist! Just like Sôma is instead of Sohma. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this next chapter and… Yeah, what a great spot to leave it off! Ahaha! Dude, I'm so evil. Reviews, please! Chapter dedications have begun.