Chapter 3

"I wanted you to know

That I love the way you laugh

I wanna hold you high

And steal your pain away."

Seether and Amy Lee "Broken"

The rat's eyes widened, not expecting the cat's answer. "'I know her'? Is it Tabitha?" Kyou's expression grew annoyed.

"No! Hell no!" He screamed. "I couldn't do that! You two have kids."

"I know." Yuki nodded. "Now, tell me."

"I can't!" Kyou looked down at Yukiko, who returned a childish face with a grin spread across her face. Kyou smiled at her and whispered. "I can't."

"Kyou…" Yuki replied, reposition himself on the bed. "You can tell me."

There was a knock at the door and it cracked open. It was Tabby with Harako, and she continued in.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" She apologized. "I was just checking on my babies." Yki smiled at her. She turned to leave. "I'll be waiting downstairs."

"OK." Yuki replied, turning back to Kyou after she left. "Now, will you tell me?"

Tohru sighed deeply, looking at Harako. She smiled, watching the child bounce up and down on his mom's knee. "So kawaii!"

Tabitha nodded, stopping her knee. Harako looked down and then at her confused. He started fussing.

"Momma's gotta take a break." When Harako persistently whined, Tabitha's knee started bouncing again. "Daddy and I need to stop spoiling you and ane-chan."

Harako talked gibberish and Tohru giggled. She looked up, as did the mother and son, when Kyou walked in. Tohru smiled her usual smile.

"Hello, Kyo-kun!" She greeted. Kyou's stomach collected a million butterflies.

"We need to talk." He stated, grabbing her hand and taking her out on the back porch. Yuki walked in, bearing Yukiko, and sat down

"You two were up there a while. Is something wrong?" Tabitha asked, leaning in to give Yuki a kiss.

"Just life." He sighed, meeting her in the middle, to embrace her with a kiss.

Tohru eyes Kyou as weird at first, but she sat there, ready to listen to him.

"Tohru." Kyou choked out, trying to avoid her dark green eyes and to cut to the chase. " I've thought it over and I've talked to people about it, and I think it's time I asked."

Tohru's concerned look didn't fade as he ran his fingers nervously through his hair and stared at the ground.

"Well, what is it?"

"Tohru… I've grown to like you. A lot." He confessed. Her eyes grew wide and he started crying. "ohmahgodIcan'tbelieveIjustsaidthat."

Has he been thinking about me just as much as I have him? Her thoughts echoed. The sobbing cat looked up at her. She smiled her usual smile. The one that brought reassurance. The one that brought him comfort.

"Kyou, stop crying." She commanded, putting her hand on his shoulder. The neko rubbed his eyes and looked up. "You like me, huh?" He nodded.

"And it's been eating me alive. I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't."

"You just did."

He nodded again, understanding her logic. He smiled at her. "I'm sorry I'm making such a scene…"

"It's OK." Tohru responded. She looked down and her smile faded. "I'm glad you told me to be honest… I've got a confession to make. I… I like you, too."

His expression became pure shock, his heart lifted, and he wrapped his arms around her. He transformed into his cat form, but Tohru held onto him nonetheless.