Chapter 4 – Rapid Episodes

The days were getting warmer as summer approached, Tohru walked along side with Shigure as they traveled into town. This was be the first time that they walked together like this and she blushed every time other people walked by and stared at them. She had to admit that Shigure's assertiveness did have a charm to it and when he was serious he could be very intriguing too. He purchased her a ring just like he said; it was a blue sapphire ring that reflected her eyes color. She tried to refuse, but he wouldn't let her talk her way out it. She accepted the ring and wore it on her ring finger just like he instructed.

Shigure was in high spirit and very cheerful; he had been smiling ever since they left the house. They were on their way to Ayame's shop. Shigure sprung the door open and called to his friend, "Aya!"

"Shigure?" Ayame was surprised to find his buddy and Tohru together in his shop. "Hi, Tohru. What's up?" He asked her while staring sharply at Shigure.

Tohru greeted Ayame with a smile and before she could answer his question Shigure sang, "You… have… to gue…ss."

"Come on, Shigure. Don't be mean!" Ayame cried.

"Tohru and I are getting married!" He said again in his singing voice.

"What? How could you?" Ayame exclaimed with misty eyes. "What about Yuki? How does he feel about this?"

"He and Kyo know about it." Shigure replied. "We're here to order a wedding dress for Tohru." He continued while Tohru stood by his side and her cheeks turned pink.

"Okay, Shigure you have to call me and give me all the detail later tonight. Tohru come in here with me." Ayame led her to the back room where he asked his assistance to get her measurement. He then turned over and asked her, "Are you okay with this? I mean marrying Shigure."

Tohru wasn't sure if she was okay with it. Everything happened so fast; it was like a dream, a fast forward reality that didn't make sense. Yet, since she met the Sohma two years ago, nothing made sense; everything that happened to them was out of the ordinary and nothing was explainable. Right now, she wondered, 'Did I make the right decision? Should I ask Ayame for advice? He is also a part of the zodiac, so maybe he's also experiencing the second stage of the curse.' She stood there for another second to ponder her thought and closed her eyes tightly. 'No, I shouldn't. I'll just make everyone worry and after how much everyone care about me. I shouldn't have them worrying about me all the time. Right now… this is the right choice, until then… Shigure promised…'

She replied Ayame's question with a smile and said, "Yes."

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Back at the house, flames were still in the air. Yuki and Kyo glared at each other like two lost animals in the deep forest.

"AhHHHH! That damn dog pisses me off!" Kyo exploded his lungs out.

"So, are you gonna let Shigure jerk us around?" Yuki asked the over tempered Kyo. "He got us exactly where he wants us."

"What?" The dull cat questioned.

"He's pulling our strings." Yuki explained. "Like you said before, he constructed the whole scenario so that we both confessed to Tohru and confused her. If we don't do anything then he'll take Tohru's indecisiveness and use it to his advantage. I don't want to imagine what he'll do to her and he got the upper hand here."

"No, he can't do this to her!" Kyo shouted. "I'm not going to give up on her that easy! About what I said earlier, just forget it! I'm going to fight for her!" He didn't care anymore about Shigure or Yuki. Now the only person Kyo needed was Tohru, he needed to ask her why? Why did she cry?

"Stupid cat." Yuki said and headed out for a walk. He needed some quiet time to think.

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After visiting Ayame, Shigure took Tohru around town shopping and made wedding arrangement. He was so involved in the whole idea that he dragged Tohru around until sun set and they ended up eating out and brought home dinner for Yuki and Kyo. Tohru was so exhausted after the long day; she came home and walked straight up to her bedroom. She dropped down onto her bed and breathed.

"Oh mom, you won't believe this, but I'm getting married." Tohru turned over to her bed stand and talked to her mom. "I'm so confused now. Oh, mom, if you were here with me, then you could give me some advice. How did you choose Dad? How did you know that he was the one for you? I'm having a tough time to choose now. You're little girl has three suitors, can you believe that? This has to be a dream and I'll wake up tomorrow as if nothing happened…" Tohru continued to lie in bed and then she stood up and decided to take a warm bath. She pulled out her pajamas and towel and opened her door. As she walked out she landed her face onto a firm chest. "Oh, I'm sorry." Before she could look up to see who it was, she was embraced into a hug.

"Tohru…"

Her heart rhythm rose faster to the voice she heard. She looked up to meet his gloomy dark red eyes; they looked sad. He squeezed her waist tighter against his. Her heart pounded harder, she could feel it vibrated through her chest. She looked at him and started to blush. 'The kiss…' She remembered. 'Is he going to kiss me again?' She closed her eyes without thinking twice and waited for him.

"Tohru…" He released her from his embrace and asked, "I want to know why? Why did you cry earlier today when I… when I kissed you?" He quickly looked away afraid that her answer dried him out.

She opened her eyes and saw that he looked away from his question. She exhaled from her excitement and said his name, "Kyo." She got his attention and he looked back at her as she continued, "I had some tears, but I wasn't crying." She explained.

'If tears running down your face aren't crying than what is?' Kyo thought. His concerned formed a frown.

Tohru quickly responded back, "I don't know how to explain it. Everything happened so fast, I was still puzzled with Shigure's proposal and I was not ready to receive your kiss. You came on so sudden that I… that I… I got overwhelmed. I guess that's why my tears came running, but I wasn't crying, if any, I was happy."

Kyo didn't understand what she said, but if she was happy, then that was all it mattered. He wanted to confirm it and asked, "So, I didn't hurt you. Did I?"

"No. You would never hurt me!" She exclaimed and gave him the goofy smile that he had always complimented.

"Good. I'm glad." He smiled back.

'Kyo looked handsome when he smiled. He should do it more often.' She thought.

"Okay, it's late. I better go back to bed." Kyo said as he turned around to head back, he noticed a tall figure in the dark hallway. "Ah! You damned dog! You could've killed someone!"

"Hi, Tohru." Shigure raised his hand to greet her.

"Shigure?" She responded peeking over Kyo's shoulder.

"What the hell are you doing sneaking around at this hour?" Kyo asked.

The older cousin narrowed his eyes and examined Kyo, "What about you?" He then looked at Tohru. They both blushed.

"It's none of your business!" Kyo answered.

"Well, then go back to sleep and don't disturb me and Tohru playing house." Shigure smirked.

"Playing what?" Kyo eyes lighted up the dark hallway. "NO! No way! You're going back where you came from!" Kyo shouted angrily.

"But, that's what fiancées do." Shigure said.

"Do what?" Tohru asked.

"Tohru, I'm taking this dirty dog back to where it came from, so just go back into you room and sleep."

"Oh, Tohru, I'm sorry, we'll do it another time, o... kay." Shigure said as Kyo dragged him away.

"You bastard!" Kyo yanked him harder down the corridor.

"Okay." Tohru replied as the two men left her standing at her door thinking, "What were they talking about? Playing house? I think I'll just go to sleep now."

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Back Stage Discussion:

Kyo: That dirty scum is killing me!

Yuki: You've got that right. He's pushing it too far.

Shigure: Come on, be nice and you should be respecting your elder. Anyway, does anyone know who this hyper-writer14 is?

Yuki: Beats me.

Kyo: Hell would I know.

Tohru: I don't know either.

Smile: From what she said, it looks like she hates you Shigure.

Shigure: Me? Why me? I'm just having too much fun. That's it! My having fun get in her nerves. I don't care and screw her!

Tohru: Now, let's play nice okay.

Shigure: Hey, if I did screw her then maybe she'll understand. (He He He He!)

Kyo: You're just thinking about cheating on Tohru! You dirty dog!

Yuki: It couldn't be help. He was just brought up that way. It makes me wonder why Hatori still have his head up straight. Hmm…

Tohru: How did you know that hyper-writer14 is a she?

Smile: I just kinda guess.

Tohru: What if she's a he?

Smile: I doubt it.

Tohru: What's going to happen next?

Smile: Let me see… I think that I'll play with Yuki in the next Chapter.

Yuki: Me? What are you going to do with me?

Smile: Something… fun…