Tohru's Demons
Chapter Five: Waiting for Tohru...
No one said anything for a long time after Tohru disappeared into thin air; they were all staring dumbly at the spot where the other universe had appeared, lost in their own confused thoughts. For a moment it was as if the entire world had gone on mute.
"...Did anyone else know she could do that?" Shigure said after a long pause when he could no longer stand the silenced atmosphere.
"No..." Hatori replied, letting out a muffled sigh. He had been holding his breath.
"Do you think she'll be okay...?" Momiji asked quietly.
"Of course she will!" Kyo snapped in annoyance, running a restless hand through his hair. "She's got that demon with her. She'll be fine. Absolutely fine." He repeated, as if saying it would make it happen. Then he turned his back resolutely and, shoving past Yuki roughly, stomped back into the house. Yuki gave way passively, hardly knowing or caring that the Cat had even touched him, and continued to stare at the spot above the hill, fearing that if he turned his back he would never see her smiling face again. Thinking that somehow through sheer act of will he could bring her back safely.
He didn't notice the Sohmas leave, one by one, didn't hear his brother calling a farewell to him, and would have stayed there all night and the next day and the next until Tohru came walking back if Shigure hadn't put a hand on his shoulder.
"Come on, your dinner's getting cold. After you eat you can come back out and resume whatever it is you're trying to accomplish," he said with a lop- sided grin.
"Wh-when did everyone go...?" Yuki asked, looking around, surprised at how dark it suddenly was.
"About an hour ago," snorted Kyo through a mouthful of food. "Were you going to stand out there all night?"
"Shut up." Yuki said, piling food onto his plate.
It was a very quiet meal.
Kyo paced back and forth restively, shooting impatient glances every few seconds at the crest of the hill. He had been very irritated for the past three days, far more than usual, and had been snapping at everyone, and beaten into the dirt by Yuki for his pains. Yuki himself was seated on the edge of the porch, one leg brought up, his chin resting on his knee, arms wrapped listlessly around his ankle. His eyes were locked on the bit of sky where the door to the other universe had been. His insides were writhing unpleasantly, but his face was kept carefully expressionless. Several times a day he had caught himself staring listlessly at the hilltop and it was beginning to annoy him.
"Augh, I can't stand this!!! Where is she?!" Kyo bust out furiously. "This is the third day! She should have been here by now!"
"Would you please... stop making so much noise?" Yuki requested in suppressed irritation. "It's early morning... she probably hasn't even woken up yet..."
"She wakes up earlier than you. And don't tell me what to do, lazy RAT!"
"Well, yelling isn't going to make her come back any faster!" Yuki snarled. Kyo glared hatred at the Rat's back and continued pacing, muttering curses and threats under his breath in a constant stream.
Shigure was inside sitting in front of a blank computer screen staring off into space, ready to jump up at a moments notice. He was straining his ears, waiting for Yuki and Kyo to cry out. When they did, that would mean Tohru had returned.
He was worrying himself sick, not to the extent Yuki or Kyo were, but he was close. He could hardly contain his nervousness. Something deep inside him, tucked away in one of the dark places of his mind, whispered that he had seen the last of his dear little flower, but he pushed it away with frantic violence.
She'll come back... she'll come back... she'll come back... he repeated to himself, over and over and over... and busied himself with the undying and unbearable curiosity as to why all of this had been happening. It was eating him alive and he could barely stand it anymore, but it was better than that sick feeling twisting in his gut.
Suddenly, he heard Yuki jump to his feet with a wordless shout. Shigure leapt out of his chair and bolted to the door and, for the first time in his life, was disappointed to see Hatori and Ayame coming up the path. So was Yuki, apparently, as he was scowling irately. Kyo also glared as Hatori and Ayame came near. The Dog sighed in frustration and plastered a huge fake grin over his face.
"Ha'ri! Aaya! What brings you here?" he called gaily.
"As if you didn't know already," Hatori said quietly, joining Shigure on the porch.
"We came to see little Tohru-kun!" Ayame cried flamboyantly. "Is she not back yet from her adventures in the other universe?"
"No, not yet!" Shigure replied with a gleeful little laugh.
"Stop it," hissed Hatori suddenly in a rare show of anger. "Stop acting like nothing is wrong."
"What could be wrong...?" whispered Ayame anxiously. "Surely, nothing happened to..." he let his sentence die in his throat, seeing the look on Hatori's face.
"Well, then! Let's go inside, shall we? I'll make us some tea!" Shigure said in an almost disgustingly false cheery voice, attempting to ease the tense atmosphere. They both nodded and followed the Dog into the house. Yuki and Kyo stared after them, shock written all over their faces. They'd never heard Ayame sound like that, so subdued, or seen Hatori look that upset.
Yuki sank back down and continued to stare at hill expectantly. Kyo went back to pacing.
Suddenly Yuki leapt up again with a gasp.
"Is she here?!" cried Kyo, whirling. Shigure, who had just sat down in the living room, ran to the door again, Ayame hot on his heels. Hatori forced himself to follow them at a more dignified pace. But halfway there, he met the returning Shigure and Ayame, both the picture of dejection.
"No... False alarm. It's only Momiji and Hatsuharu." Shigure informed him with a heavy sigh. Hatori suppressed a moan and went back to the living room. Meanwhile, Yuki sat back down in disappointed frustration.
"Hello, Momiji, Haru..." he said apathetically. Haru nodded and sat down next to him. Momiji bounced around, firing off questions like a machine gun, of which were being completely ignored. Five minutes later Yuki bounded up, again, as a brown head crested the hill, his heart leaping into his throat with hopeful excitement. Momiji shut up at once and let out a joyous gasp and Haru looked up expectantly.
"Finally—!" yelled Kyo, and then stopped dead. Shigure and Ayame appeared in the door again, the Dog out of breath by now from running so much.
"Is she here?!" Shigure demanded, saw who it was coming up the path, and heaved another sigh. "No... it's just Kagura." He turned and went back inside. Hatori had not moved from his chair, and was sitting there, quietly sipping his tea.
"How can you be so calm?" Shigure demanded. "Aren't you dying to know what's been happening to our little flower?"
"Nothing has happened to her." Hatori said firmly.
"How do you know...?" asked Ayame.
"I just do."
"Well, I wish you'd tell me how you do it, I want to know, too," the Snake whined. "I haven't been able to get any work done, I've been so curious."
"Me, too," added the Dog. "So, Ha'ri, how do you know?! Huh? Huh? Tell us, tell us!!!"
"Quiet, you hack."
Meanwhile...
"KYO, MY LOOOOOOVVVVVVVE!!!!"
"This is stupid... And what am I doing down here?" Yuki asked himself and got up abruptly. "I'm going to the roof," he informed no one in particular.
"Who cares?" snapped Kyo automatically, trying vainly to disentangle himself from Kagura's crushing embrace. "Why?" he demanded immediately after.
"Do you even listen to yourself...? Not that it's any of your business, but I can see better up there. Then I won't have to keep jumping up and down every time someone comes over that hill." Yuki answered, disappearing up the ladder. "I'll call if I see her."
Yuki had been right in going up higher. Now he had a clear view of the path beyond the hill, and soon saw the rest of the Sohmas, Hiro, Kisa, and finally Ritsu, coming around the bend. But no Tohru. By now most of the Sohmas had gone inside, wanting breakfast and tired of waiting. The Rat stayed vigilantly at his post, his legs brought up to his chest, staring over his knees, waiting...
Kyo sat down next to him wordlessly.
"Kyo?" said Yuki quietly after a few minutes.
"What?" asked Kyo gruffly, leaning back on his hands. Something in Yuki's voice made Kyo refrain from yelling at him. Yet.
"...Never mind." Yuki sighed, trying hard to keep the worry and misery out of his voice. Kyo glanced sideways at him. And they say I have emotional problems... he thought, raising an ironic eyebrow. Great...
"Yuki?"
"Hm...?"
"She'll be fine." Kyo told the Rat casually, eyes staring straight ahead.
"Yeah..." Thank you...
"Hey, isn't that Akito's car...?" said the Cat suddenly, narrowing his eyes uncertainly. When the Rat didn't answer, Kyo looked around in mild surprise. But Yuki was long gone.
To be continued...
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket, and I seem to be the only one that is glad about it, because then I would know what happens in the end, and I want to be surprised.
Shigure: But... Look here, that's not what you insinuated in the previous chapter—
Raha: ...Shut up.
Awww... slight Kyo and Yuki fluff! They're both just so cute I couldn't resist doing that. And no, they are not going to be homosexual, no matter how funny that is. Don't get me wrong, I have to problems with homosexuality, I just think that's just pushing the out-of-character line to the EXTREME. Those two have suffered enough without being forced to kiss and make up. Literally.
I'm a bit miffed about what to do with them... Kyo and Yuki, I mean. Should this story become a YukiTohru or KyoTohru pairing...? Yuki's so ADORABLE I can't help but love him, but then again, Kyo's character is just absolutely wonderful. But it seems to me that Kyo acts more like a big brother towards Tohru, whereas Yuki actually puts some moves on her. On the other hand, Kyo might just be too embarrassed or shy to actually do anything that would make him more than just friends with her... Any suggestions pertaining to this problem would be most helpful.
And no, Shigure is not in love with Tohru. I doubt anyone is going to call me on it, though. I was just worried about it myself... He certainly looks like he's in love. Kinda...? But he sees himself more as a father, than a lover.
Anyway, sorry folks, Artemis didn't show up this time. Ah well, maybe next chapter. I just thought it would be evil if I stopped here. And I do so love being evil...
Tootles! ♥ ;P
-Raha-
