Am I your charity

For you to look so kind?
But your aim is not quite clear

It's better if you leave in quiet

- Guster -

"Medicine"

-/-

Without You

By Ricchan

-/-

- Chapter 7 -

"What I mean is..." Yuki said, stumbling over his words sheepishly, "would you be interested in being my housekeeper?"

Tohru took the words in a very suprised manner.
"EH!" she said, astonished, tossing her hands up in the air. "Me? Your housekeeper? Oh, no, I wouldn't dream of it, not in a million years!"

Yuki began to laugh.
"You said yourself you needed work, and I'm offering it," he said, smiling. "An offer from...a friend to a friend. I'd pay very well, you know, and you'd have your own room..."
"That's all very nice, really, but I may go back to Kyoto, actually," Tohru said, smiling sadly. "That's very kind of you, Yuki, thank you..."
"Oh...I was actually...looking forward to seeing you more often," Yuki confessed, a little sadly. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked..."
"Wait just a minute there," Akito said, holding Yuki gently on the shoulder, and approaching Tohru. "If I may add something, it's that Yuki isn't the best housekeeper in the world..."
"What!" Yuki said, a bit shocked that Akito would be saying such things. "I am not!"
"He can hardly cook to save his life!" Akito said, a slight laugh in his voice. "And the few times I've visited, the place is either fairly clean or absolutely dirty."
"Akito, stop it!" Yuki said, blushing a bit over the laughter of the family head.
"For his sake, I ask you to stay and accept his offer," Akito said gently, smiling at Tohru, who was embarrassedly smiling back. "He's been through some...tough times, lately, and needs the help. Besides, I think he'd like having good food on the table and good conversation around."

Yuki was silent as he realised Akito was trying to help him, in his own, averse way of persuasion, and gently smiled.
"Well, if you insist..." Tohru said, and smiled. "I'll be your housekeeper, when do you want me in?"
Both Yuki and Akito smiled widely.

"Tomorrow, is that okay?" Yuki asked.
"Tomorrow? Oh, but I'll have to pack and..." she began.
"You can't have brought a lot with you, right?" said Yuki "I can help you at Shi-han's house, if you'd like."
"That'd be nice," Tohru smiled. "Tomorrow morning? Kazuma-san and Hana-chan won't be in their house, I think Kunimitsu-san will be taking care of it while they're away."
"Then he can help too, I'm sure he won't mind," Yuki smiled. "Really, Honda-san, I'm looking forward to this, greatly."

"As am I!" Akito added brightly, with a sunny smile. "I think it's time Yuki had a little ray of sunshine in his house..."
"Akito, wait-" Yuki interrupted, a bit offended and looking a bit nervous.
"...it's been a while since his house has been properly cleaned," Akito ended, smiling at Yuki as if to say "See? I didn't say a thing."

"All right then. I'm going to go talk to Hana-chan; Yuki, thanks for offering this to me!" she said cheerily, and walked off.
"So she calls you 'Yuki'?" Akito noticed, once she'd gotten far enough away.
"You noticed?" Yuki said, a bit shocked.
"I'm not deaf, my dear Yuki," Akito said smoothly. "I'm glad she's returned, truly. She's such a beautiful person."
"Akito...what are you planning this time?" Yuki said suspiciously, looking at the leader. "Why were you so supportive of her coming back to my house?"
"I felt you needed her," Akito smiled. "After what happened, I think that she's the one you need to be with most, now."

Yuki looked at Akito, a slightly pained expression on his face.
"Whatever you do, please...don't..." he began, but couldn't get the words out. Akito just smiled and embraced him warmly.
"Your happiness is something I cherish, Yuki, and I'd do anything to see it return," he said, whispering into his ear. "She'll live in your house, and if you wish to bring back her memories, well..."
He stepped away, while Yuki's face turned into one of suprise.
"...that's simply your own decision to make, I will not interfere," he said simply. "I look forward to your next visit, Yuki; do come again soon."

With that, Akito walked away, and Yuki stood alone with his thoughts.

Yuki woke up the next morning, drowsy and a bit frazzled, as usual. He sat up, half-concious, when he realized today was the day Tohru was returning to his house.

He instantly woke himself up and got dressed, slapping together some toast and eggs, before rushing out the door to Kazuma's house.

Likewise, Tohru awoke to a quiet house, as Saki and Kazuma had left for their honeymoon the night before. Kunimitsu woke up early, as usual, and had promised to help her pack when he got back from his morning exersizes. She took a moment to enjoy the morning, closing her eyes and smiling, before getting up and dressing. She began a breakfast for herself and Kunimitsu after she went downstairs, and after they ate, he helped her back her small wardrobe, and the few belongings she had brought with her in Kyoto.
"So when is Yuki coming to get you?" Kunimitsu asked.
"I don't know, really," Tohru replied. "I guess I never gave him a proper time! At least before noon, I guess."
"Ahaha, yes, I think so," said Kunimitsu. "Knowing him, though, I think he'd show up rather early."
Tohru began to laugh. "He needs a housekeeper that badly?"
"Er...I don't know, perhaps...?" Kunimitsu said, laughing with her.

The sliding door at the entrance was heard as someone entered.
"Honda-san, are you in?"

It was Yuki's voice.
"Yuki! Yes, I'm already packed up!" Tohru replied. "Goodbye, Kunimitsu-san!"
"Come back and visit soon," he smiled, waving as Tohru grabbed her bag and headed to the foyer.

"Sure, of course!" she replied, waving back and joining Yuki as she got her shoes on.
"Ready to go already?" he said.
"Of course, I packed earlier this morning," she replied with a sunny smile.

"Then it looks like we're set!" Yuki said, and he walked to his car. "Come on, take a seat."
"Oh wow, a car!" Tohru said, smiling. "How lovely!"

"Thanks," Yuki said. "Is that really all you brought?"

"This?" Tohru said, holding her bag as she got in the car. "Yes, I don't have much, in terms of possessions. Just some jeans, a few different shirts, a dress or two, some shoes..."
"Then I'll take you shopping after we get home," Yuki smiled, closing his own door and starting up the car.
"Eh! You don't have to do that, really! I'm fine!" Tohru said, nervously waving her arms around as the car backed up.
"No, no, I think you should have some nice things to wear, everyone deserves that," he said. "After we get set up, I can bring you to the mall."
Tohru began to blush, and spoke so softly, Yuki could barely hear her.

"...you're so generous...Yuki..." she said, and Yuki laughed.

They arrived at his home shortly afterwards, and she took off her shoes in the foyer and got on some slippers.
"Welcome home!" Yuki said, smiling inside, for it meant more than one thing to him.
"Yes, welcome home!" Tohru replied. "Umm, where should I put my things?"
"Down this way, your room's upstairs," said Yuki. "Follow me."

He led her down the hallway and up the stairs, but before he could point out where her room was, she was already there.
"Oh, wow! Look at this!" Tohru said, putting her bag on the bed and opening the window. "This is so beautiful, Yuki, thank you!"
"It was...nothing," he said, smiling in spite of himself. "If you don't mind, I'd like to show you around the house."
"Oh, of course!" Tohru replied.

Yuki took her to the hallway and walked with her down it. "Down this way..."
He opened the door to the large, open deck, where the clothesline was located.
"This is where you can dry the clothes, once they're finished washing," he said. Tohru admired the surrounding forest for a moment, then went back into the hallway.
"Hey, where are you-" Yuki began.

"This is your room, right?" Tohru asked, correctly identifying where Yuki slept.

"Yes, that's right! How did you know?" he asked.
"Just a lucky guess," Tohru smiled. "Oh, I wonder what's downstairs!"

She cheerily skipped down, and Yuki followed, smiling at her enthusiasm.

"This must be the office, right?" she said, pointing to the room that housed the books and computer.
"Yes, that's right," said Yuki.

"And here's the bathroom!" said Tohru, finding that as well. "Aha, everything's so easy to find here!"

"Aha, I suppose so," Yuki replied, as she disappeared through a door. "Don't you want to find the kitchen and living room?"
"Already did!" her voice said cheerily. "Oh, you have a rice-cooker, that's wonderful!"

He wondered for a moment why she was finding everything so easily, when it hit him; some small bit of her subconcious remembered being among the Sohma, he supposed, and still knew where things were! He smiled at his theory; if it was true, well, then perhaps his goal would be quite easy for him to attain.

"Do you want to make something to eat, or shall we go get some clothes for you?" Yuki asked.
"Umm...whatever you want!" Tohru replied.

They ended up going to a boutique and choosing some new clothes for her, then going out to lunch and enjoying some pleasant conversation. Yuki hadn't been this happy in a good long while and enjoyed every minute. When they returned home, his cell phone rang, and he answered.
"Oh, damn! I have to get to work for a moment, Honda-san, I hope you don't mind if I don't come back for a while," he said, slipping his shoes back on.
"Oh! Not at all," Tohru replied. "I was going to start cleaning the house, it's okay."

"All right," Yuki smiled. "I may not be back until later, but you can manage, I think."
"Should I make dinner?" Tohru asked.
"Only for yourself, I don't know when I'll return," Yuki said, and went out the door. "I'll be back!"
"Be safe!" Tohru called. This simple warning stopped Yuki for a moment, and he turned around and smiled at her.
"I will, thank you!" he said, and got in his car.

He arrived at his flower shop to find his young employee in a bit of a panic, for he had found a small worm among a new shipment of bouquets and didn't know what to do. After that issue was resolved, he ended up staying quite late to clean up a large mess caused by the poor young man's nervousness, as he had tipped over a large display.

He arrived home late that night to a quiet, clean house. He took off his shoes and saw the hallways had been cleaned, and the lingering scent of a meal hung in the kitchen. He sleepily wandered in to find the light on, and a small box waiting for him with a note.
"Thought you'd be home late, so I made you something. Hope you like it! - Tohru," it read. He smiled and opened it to find a meal of vegetables, rice, and a little bit of chicken. He ate it slowly, the taste of her familiar cooking heavenly in his mouth. For a moment, he had a hard time beliveing that what he was experiencing was real, but it was; Tohru was back, in his house, and he was eating her cooking again. Thoughtfully finishing up, he washed the plastic container and went upstairs, quietly opening the door to Tohru's room to see if she was okay. And there she was, sleeping peacefully, the moonlight playing on her soft face. He almost wanted to go up and kiss her there, but he was held back by his conscience; it seemed almost like cheating, he reasoned, and closed the door behind him.

He lay in bed that night and thought over things, his happiness at her return, but the warnings of Hatori and Momiji also echoing in his mind.

Was this happiness just a hopeful dream? Was her being here a dream even?
His eyes closed and did not open for several hours.

He woke up the next morning to a wonderful sound; Tohru in the kitchen, calling for him.
"Yuki, wake up, I just finished breakfast!" she said cheerily.

Was this a dream? He thought again. With her voice calling him out of sleep yet again, he knew.

It most certainly wasn't.