By Lady of the Ink
Pairing: Kyou and Kagura Sohma
Fandom: Fruits Basket
Theme: #5 – Ano, sa …/ Hey, you know …
Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket, but you knew that ...I hope. But I do own this story and all the twists that it takes.
Kiss Twenty-Eight
You Can Go Home Again
x
Kyou and Tohru's wedding had been the biggest celebration most members of the Sohma family could remember. Everyone wanted to be there to give the couple their best wishes as they started their lives together. They said it couldn't have happened to more deserving people; they'd both suffered more than their fair share in their short lives. It was inspiring to see them have survived it long enough to find each other and their happy ending.
Kagura had gone to the wedding, to the surprise of many. She hadn't hesitated when she got the invitation, immediately checking that she would come and sending the reply the very next day. Even though it hadn't worked out between Kyou and herself, she still loved him. If he was happy, then she was happy for him. She couldn't think of a reason not to show her approval and share in their big day. Besides, Tohru was also a friend and she wanted to be there for her as well.
If she got a little misty eyed at the ceremony, it was only to be expected. After all, weddings were very moving experiences. And if a brief moment of fantasy had her picture herself in the bride's spot as they shared their first kiss, well, no one had to know that but her. She hadn't gotten too close to the newlyweds, not wanting to crowd them or put any kind of damper on the day, instead waving from a distance with a smile she didn't have to force.
Soon after that, she moved from her mother's house and into her own place. It was a nice apartment, located close enough to her job that she could walk to work. There was even a little diner on the corner that quickly became her favorite place to have lunch. Her life filled up, work during the days and nights out with friends or the occasional date. She was happy, even if everything wasn't exactly how she had always imagined it.
Years passed. Her hard work paid off, earning her a promotion and a raise. She decided to celebrate with a day of hardcore shopping, hitting all of her favorite stores and a few she'd never been to before. Rin and Kisa were her partners in crime, their conflicting personalities playing off each other to make the day more fun than Kagura could have hoped. The sun had set by the time they finished, pleasantly exhausted and each with several bags to carry. After grabbing a late dinner at a diner they all favored, they dropped Kisa off first, unsurprised to see Hiro loitering around her house. Rin was next; the apartment she shared with Haru was less than a mile from the main compound and Kisa's house.
Kagura continued on alone, her steps light despite her tiredness. It had been the most enjoyable time she'd had in a while, wrapped up in work as she'd been. It felt good to get out and have fun and she resolved to do it more often. Her body was just as exhausted as it always did after a long day but it was a much more pleasant weariness. She was humming to herself as she approached her building, a sound that died when a shadowy figure stepped into her path.
A shriek escaped her lips and her bags dropped to the ground before she recognized a sheepish looking Kyou in the dim glow of a streetlight. With a hand pressed against her pounding heart, she struggled to calm herself after the unexpected scare.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, the question coming out sharper than she had intended in her agitation. Kyou hunched his shoulders, his eyes dropping to the ground as a blush colored his cheeks. His reaction made Kagura immediately regret her harsh tone. "I didn't mean that like it sounded; you just startled me."
"Sorry," he muttered, instantly drawing her attention from collecting her bags from around her feet. The Kyou she knew didn't apologize so quickly; he would yell right back at her for not paying closer attention. The hair on the back of her neck rose; something was wrong.
"Are you okay?" she asked, her eyes squinting through the growing darkness to look for any obvious injuries. "Did something happen? Is Kazuma okay? Is Tohru?" Her voice rose with each question, her distress becoming obvious.
Kyou shook his head, pulling out one hand and holding it up to stop the flow of questions. "They're fine, I'm fine, everyone's fine. It's just …" He exhaled sharply, looking uncomfortable. "Can we talk about this inside?"
The note of pleading that crept into his tone had her nodding without hesitation. She scooped up her bags only to have him slide them from her hands. A little off balance by the unusually chivalrous gesture, she led the way inside and up to her floor. She dropped her keys twice before she managed to open the lock. Stepping inside with more than a little relief, she gestured for him to place the bags by the door and then guided him into the living room.
She'd always thought the room was a good size for an apartment but it suddenly seemed small as Kyou paced the length with long strides. Even with his hands in his pockets and his shoulders slumped, he filled the space with nervous energy. Her eyes followed his path until she was almost dizzy from the movement. Taking a seat in her favorite chair, she looked pointedly at the couch until he took the hint and sat down.
"If no one's hurt, what brings you here?" she asked, unable to be polite and wait for him to get to it in his own time. She almost regretted her haste when she saw Kyou's expression. He leaned forward, elbows braced on his spread knees, his hands dangling and his head bowed. In all her years of watching him, she'd never seen him as he was now. He looked …defeated.
Compassion overtook reason and she leaned forward, her hand coming to rest lightly on his arm. As though in slow motion, his head swung towards her, revealing tortured eyes that forced her to speak over the lump suddenly residing in her throat. "Whatever it is, you can tell me." She tried to infuse all her feelings into the simple statement, to let him know that she would listen without judgment and offer help in any way that she could.
He pulled in a slightly shaky breath but his voice, when he spoke, was even and emotionless. "It's over."
She was about ask what he was talking about when she noticed his attention was focused on his left hand, or more precisely on the ring there. Her eyes widened as realization dawned that he was talking about his marriage. She opened her mouth but no words came out. What was she supposed to say? Should she offer comfort, ask what happened? Or should she just wait until he gave her some sign of what he wanted from her?
Based on her past experiences with Kyou when it came to issues involving emotions, Kagura decided to keep silent for the moment. She wasn't sure why he had come to her but she wanted to make sure he didn't regret the decision. When he was ready, he would let her know what he wanted from her and she would gladly supply it. Hoping to convey her support, she squeezed his arm before leaning back into her own seat. As he gathered his thoughts, she found herself looking deeper into her own.
Her personal feelings aside, she had thought that Tohru and Kyou were a forever sort of thing. They'd gone through so much to be together that it had given her hope for her own future. If two people who had seemed destined to be kept apart could find their way to one another's sides, surely there was hope for the other lonely people in the world. During the months and years that she'd been looking for her own happiness, she'd unconsciously been holding their relationship up as a guide. To hear that they had fallen apart was a shock; their bond had seemed so solid and steady.
Her eyes went to Kyou once more. Judging by his pale face and haunted eyes, he had thought the same thing. She was sure there was a story behind his simple declaration but she refused to ask for it. If and when he was ready, she'd be waiting. Until then, she'd show her support by not pushing him into revealing things he wasn't ready to talk about.
It was only when a clock chimed that she realized they'd been sitting in silence for nearly an hour. It was looking more and more as though any confidences that would be shared wouldn't be coming that night. Making a decision, Kagura climbed to her feet and headed down the hallway. When she returned, Kyou had risen and was standing uncertainly by the window, apparently expecting to be shown out. His tense expression slowly melted into one of gratitude when he saw the stack of pillows and blankets in her arms.
"It's kind of late. We can talk in the morning," she said simply as she began making up the couch. Kyou nodded, standing silently until she finished. It was only when she started towards her bedroom that he finally spoke, his simple "Thanks." conveying more than he knew.
He was still sleeping soundly when she tiptoed past him the following morning. A quick look in the refrigerator showed that a trip to the market was a must if she wanted to offer her guest anything more palatable than aged leftovers and unidentifiable take out. She stole one final look at his sleeping face as she collected her purse from the living room before slipping out the front door.
Kagura set a personal record during her trip through the grocery store. She almost jogged through the aisles, quickly snagging things from the shelves and tossing them into her basket without missing a step. Her choices were made without hesitation as she collected some of Kyou's favorite foods and avoided those she knew he didn't like. It wasn't a conscious decision; it was more like an instinctive reaction to all the knowledge of him that she still had in her mind.
Bags in hand, she headed for home. Although she wouldn't have admitted it, Kagura did feel a flash of surprise when she arrived and Kyou was still there. A part of her had been sure that his coming to her had been a product of extreme emotions and that the light of day would have brought him to his senses. As it was, he was pacing in the living room, the blankets he'd used neatly folded and stacked with the pillows at the end of her couch.
Fighting not to read too much into his expression of relief at her arrival, she awkwardly nudged the door closed with her shoulder. "Sorry to have run out on you but I needed to go to the store," she explained. "I would have left a note but I thought I'd be back before you woke up."
"I'm sorry to be a bother," he said, quickly relieving her of all but one bag. She waved away his apology as they entered the kitchen.
"You're not. I would have had to go whether you were here or not." She placed her bag on the counter where it was quickly joined by its brothers. Kyou took a seat at the table, watching silently as she swiftly unpacked the groceries and laid aside the makings for breakfast before putting everything else away. It was only when two gently steaming plates of food rested in front of them that either of them spoke again.
Kagura spent several bites formulating the best way to broach the delicate subject at hand. In the end, the task was taken from her as Kyou suddenly started talking.
"It was so odd," he said, looking faintly puzzled. "One minute it was just a normal day and the next, everything was falling apart. We got into an argument over something stupid. No," he corrected himself, "it wasn't even an argument. We never have arguments. I do something that bothers her and she sinks into herself, making it her fault, blaming herself. She does something that annoys me and I want to yell but I can't because I know that she'll just sit there and take it. And so I swallow it. I bite it back and keep it inside until it just sits in my stomach, all burning and heavy.
"And we're both standing there yesterday, both wallowing in what we've done to ourselves and then our eyes meet and we don't even have to say it. We both know that it's over." He looked up and she saw an echo of the lost little boy she once knew in the expression on his face. "How can we not be enough to each other to make it work when we have a connection like that?"
Kagura pushed her plate aside, her appetite gone. She folded her hands on the table in front of her as she gave his question serious thought. She knew that there was no true answer; love was by definition a thing that defied explanation and reason. Kyou just needed some kind of reassurance and she wanted to give him the best that she could.
"I think," she began slowly, "that sometimes things just happen that aren't anyone's fault. It's a result of a million different circumstances coming together in an unexpected way. Things that are deep and true and seem like they should go on forever don't hold up while hopeless things that should wither and fade remain as strong as the day they were formed. There's no logic to it all; it just is as it was meant to be."
She wasn't sure if she had gotten her point across as eloquently as she might have wished but Kyou nodded, seeming to understand what she meant. The lines that had come into his face during his speech softened a bit and he relaxed into his chair. She relaxed as well, thankful that she had been able to offer some kind of reassurance, no matter how inarticulate.
Kyou returned to his meal and Kagura took an absentminded bite of her own, her thoughts turning to more practical matters. Knowing him as she did, Kagura was certain that the biggest hurdle he would face in getting through the situation would be not blaming himself. If he could accept that it was something outside of his personal control, she was sure that he could work it out. The only problem would be in making sure that he didn't sink into one of his moody sulking fits, which meant seeing that he wasn't left alone with himself for long stretches of time before he got a handle on the situation.
"So," she began casually once he had pushed his empty plate away, "what are your plans?"
Kyou's expression flashed from surprise to thoughtful. Bracing his elbows on the table, he leaned forward. "I'm not sure. Once we agreed it was over with, I completely stopped thinking. I didn't make any plans or even bring anything with me. I just started walking and found myself here."
Kagura wasn't sure whether to take that as a compliment or an insult. He might have come to her instinctively knowing she would look out for him or simply because he wasn't being rational enough to think better of it. She decided to believe that it was the former rather than the latter and moved on to the next order of business. "I don't think Kazuma would have a problem with you taking time off from the dojo, so work isn't an issue. I'm sure he'd love to have you stay with him, too."
Kyou shook his head. "That's the first place anyone would look for me. I'd rather stay off the radar for a while, until this whole thing settles down a bit."
Kagura nodded her understanding. "Well, you're welcome to crash on my couch for as long as you like. It's nothing fancy but you'll have your privacy while I'm at work and we can hang out or not when I'm home. I can pretty much guarantee no one will be looking for you here."
He stared at her from across the table, his serious, focused expression reminding her sharply of another statement offered while children played in the background. "Thank you, Kagura."
As she jumped to her feet to collect their dirty dishes and hide her suddenly burning cheeks, she fought for control. Kyou had come to her as a friend and she wasn't going to betray the trust that that action had put in her. She would do all that she could to help him through this tough time and never let on what she was all too quickly learning.
She was still in love with him.
x
Kagura quickly found that she enjoyed having Kyou there when she got home from work. The simple routine of sharing her day was fulfilling in a way that she never would have suspected. She told herself that it was just because she'd been so much time alone after a lifetime of being surrounded, whether she liked it or not. It was a lie but a comforting one, allowing her to continue in the role of caring but emotional uninvolved friend.
Sometime over the first few days, Kyou had made a trip to his home and gathered some of his things. It became almost routine for her to have move his shaving cream to find her lotion or to grab his toothbrush by mistake. They were the little acts that she had missed out on, never having lived with a man before.
They spent most of their evenings together playing games and watching movies and sometimes just talking. The friendship that they had allowed to fade over the years came back, stronger than ever before. This time it wasn't burdened by secrets or lies; they were just two people who genuinely cared for one another and had a lot in common. Kagura was grateful to find that her violent outbursts seemed to be a thing of the past. Even after she relaxed enough to stop being on guard at all times, there was no return of waking from a black out to find a broken and bruised Kyou at her feet.
Kyou camped at her house for two weeks before he started easing back into his old routines. He and Kazuma worked out a new schedule and he began looking for his own place, having gotten word to Tohru through Shigure that she could stay in their house until further plans were made. Kagura was pleased with his progress but a little worried at the lack of communication between him and his wife. She knew that neither of them could truly move on until they sat down and talked things out at length.
That was an opinion she kept to herself, not wanting to rush Kyou into something that he wasn't ready to face just yet. But two months after his unexpected appearance outside her building, something happened that made it unavoidable.
Even after he moved into his own apartment closer to the dojo, Kyou had continued visiting her a few times a week. This practice had evolved into a regular movie night with them taking turns at choosing the movie. Kyou had a habit of bringing gory horror flicks just because he knew they freaked her out. He would wait for a particularly creepy part and then startle her, bursting into laughter as she shrieked and jumped. The movie he had chosen that night was extra blood-drenched and Kagura was determined to remain alert for his usual antics. She spent the first twenty minutes throwing sideways glances at Kyou, watching for any twitch or unexplained movement. Slowly but surely, the whisper of plot drew her in, pulling her attention to the screen and away from her fellow audience member.
She was clutching a pillow and leaning forward when the TV darkened before suddenly flashing blinding light as a ghostly form leapt into view. Kagura gasped, reflexively jerking back and away from the screen. At the same moment, a hand landed on each of her shoulders from out of nowhere. The double attack ripped a scream from her throat, slightly muffled by the pillow she had buried her face in. As she tried to pull away and look behind her at the same time, she went sliding from the couch and on to the floor.
The movie was forgotten as she looked up at Kyou where he was sprawled across the couch and laughing so hard that he could hardly catch his breath. With a cry of retaliation, she grabbed the pillow that had fallen with her and threw it at him with all her strength. When it didn't even cause a moment's break in his amusement, she tried to get the pillow back to attack again. Seeing her intention, Kyou quickly latched on to the pillow himself, causing an impromptu tug-of-war.
Now laughing herself, Kagura braced her feet against the bottom of the couch and gave one final, massive pull. The pillow came toward her but Kyou, refusing to release his hold, came with it, hitting the floor with a satisfying thud. Kagura giggled, considering it a fair enough revenge. Bracing her elbows against the floor, she lifted herself enough to see Kyou. He was glaring at her with the one eye that wasn't currently buried in the carpet.
"Draw?" she offered, fighting another burst of laughter at his disgruntled expression. She took his grunt as agreement and pushed into a full sitting position as Kyou did the same. He rubbed his elbow, the apparent source of the thump. When he looked at her accusingly, she wagged a finger at him. "Serves you right, always trying to scare me. Just for that, I think I'm going to pick a movie I know you'll hate for next time."
Kyou rolled his eyes. "We both know that you like these movies as much as I do; you're just too chicken to watch them alone."
"Whatever you want to tell yourself. Anyway, I think we're done with this for the night," she said, leaning across him to hit the stop button on the DVD player. She got halfway through the motion and froze, not having realized beforehand that the movement would stretch her across Kyou's lap. They were nose-to-nose, so close that almost all she could see of his face were his striking eyes. Time seemed to freeze as she held her breath, caught in a feeling of expectation and apprehension. She knew that something was going to happen although she wasn't sure what. That question was answered when Kyou's eyes darkened and she felt him press his lips to hers.
During the years that she had chased him, Kagura had kissed Kyou several times. They'd hardly been the most romantic of gestures given that he'd been trying to run each time. Even so, they had been meaningful to her and given her something to base her dream kisses on. Those schoolgirl fantasies had nothing on the real thing. She felt Kyou's hand come up to twine in her hair as he deepened the kiss. His other arm found her waist, pulling her closer until she was pressed against his chest, tight enough to feel his heart beating along with her own. The world seemed to fade away, leaving her in a place where there was nothing but the two of them and time ceased to exist.
It was only when the music for the movie's closing credits swelled from the TV that Kagura came back to herself and realized what she was doing. Kissing Kyou was wrong for so many reasons, not the least of which was the fact that he was still, for the moment, a married man. She pulled away, dismayed to find herself feeling shaky and out of breath.
"This can't happen," she said, getting to her feet and pushing her hair out of her face. She knew she must be a sight, her lips slightly swollen from the pressure of his own but she didn't care. Some things needed to be said before they crossed a line that couldn't be uncrossed. Even if it was going against what both of them wanted in that moment, she had to be the voice of reason to keep them from hurting each other.
"Kagura," he began but she quickly cut him off.
"No. Just, no." She softened her tone, trying to sound less shook up than she actually was. "Look, I know that this was just one of those things. I'm not going to go and put more importance on it than is actually there. This is a confusing time for you and I totally get that. But you have things that you need to deal with before you even think of going in this direction. Have you even talked to Tohru since you left?"
His dirty look was all the answer that she needed. "See? How can you call anything over when you can't even talk to the other person who's involved in it? This isn't something that you can just ignore until it goes away. Even if you and Tohru don't want to be married anymore, that doesn't mean you can disrespect her by pretending that she doesn't exist. Forget the ending and remember that you guys were happy together once and go see her."
She took a deep breath and pushed her own feelings aside to go on with what she knew he needed to hear. "Who knows? Maybe you just needed some time apart and could work things out now; maybe it is over and you're both ready to let go. If you keep hiding, you'll never know and you'll never be free to look for anything else."
She wasn't surprised when he stormed out without another word or when he didn't come by for several weeks. She'd thrown a lot of things at his head and although she wished she could have done it a bit more gently, that didn't make her points any less valid. She could only hope that the time apart would allow him to see that she had meant well and make it possible for their new friendship to resume.
x
The day that Kyou showed up on what had been their usual hang out night looking pale but pleased she knew that he had finally taken the last step. She didn't ask and he didn't volunteer many details but she knew that he had put in motion the final step of this particular journey. She later heard through other family members that a divorce was in the works although things were being handled amicably enough. They were going to sell the house they had shared and both go their separate ways. The only reference to this that she got from Kyou directly was his intent to find some land near the dojo and begin building his own house. She wasn't sure if this was a comment meant to let her know he was moving forward or just to explain why he wouldn't be around as much. Either way, she saw it as a positive sign.
Over the next six months they got together two or three times a month. Their conversations became more and more personal and Kagura found herself sharing things that she had never told anyone else before. Even with this new closeness, there were no repeats of the movie-night kiss. She told herself not to be disappointed, to accept his friendship and count herself lucky to have it. Every time she found herself wishing for more, she called to mind the years of not having Kyou in any role in her life. It was sobering enough to bring both feet solidly back down to earth.
As the work on his house progressed, Kyou showed it off like a proud parent. He walked her through each room, telling her the measurements and what he had planned for it. Kagura came to love it, feeling just as excited as Kyou about each newly completed project. When the time came to add fixtures and furnishings, he asked for her help and she gladly agreed. They spent countless hours going through catalogues and searching stores, looking for just the right pieces to make it perfect.
Kyou barred her from visiting just before it was finished, saying he wanted to surprise her with the end result. She waited impatiently for two weeks until he called, asking her over for the official first dinner in his new home. The day seemed to creep by as she watched the clock, counting the minutes until she could leave without looking too eager. Even so, she was a good twenty minutes early when she knocked on the freshly painted front door.
Kyou answered so quickly that she knew he must have been watching for her. He looked every inch the proud host in a button down shirt and dress slacks as he showed her into the dining room. The table was neatly set, twin white candles burning in the center. Kagura smiled at the thought of Kyou playing homemaker, her earlier nervousness fading.
"So do I get a tour?" she asked, playfully raising an eyebrow.
"Dinner first, tour second," he answered, leading her to her seat. The meal was simple but delicious, a silent testament to Kyou's hidden talent for cooking. Conversation was almost nonexistent as they ate; Kagura was anxious to see the house and assumed Kyou was feeling the same about showing it off. They finished eating quickly, carrying their dishes to the kitchen where he began her tour.
Side by side, they walked slowly through the now furnished house. Kagura silently catalogued all the changes that had occurred during her absence. He had finished installing all the cabinets and brought in all the furniture. Everything looked how she had pictured it in her mind when they were planning it. She was suitably impressed; she had left a house and returned to a home. There was a slight pang at the knowledge that as much as she wanted it to be, it wouldn't be her home but she pushed it aside. It was a lovely building, one that she would look forward to visiting when she was invited.
The tour ended in the master bedroom, set as it was at the back of the house with a view of what would soon be a garden. She smiled as she saw the curtains and bedding that she had chosen already in place, looking just right against Kyou's choice in paint color. Although sometimes it took some compromise, it looked like their personal tastes went quite well with one another. Kagura drifted to the closet, noting the hardware that it had taken Kyou two days to decide on. She trailed a finger down the polished surface, unsurprised when the light pressure caused the door to move on well-oiled tracks, revealing the inside of the closet.
The empty closet. Kagura frowned, wondering why he'd had the official first dinner if he wasn't actually finished moving in yet. She turned to Kyou, curious. "Didn't you bring your things in yet?"
He shook his head. "I wasn't quite ready. There are a few things I still need to do before I can move in completely."
Kagura thought back to the tour, trying and failing to think of anything that looked incomplete. "Everything looks so perfect, I can't imagine that anything is missing."
"There's one thing I can't move in without."
"What's that?"
"You."
Kagura froze, knowing she couldn't have possibly heard what she thought she'd just heard. She had to be hearing things because the Kyou she knew could never say what she'd obviously just imagined he'd say. Her confusion must have been clear on her face because Kyou took her hand and led her to the bed. With both of them sitting on the edge, he began to explain.
"Back when we had that fight, you said a lot of things that I didn't want to hear. The fact that everything you said was also true just made me even angrier. I was thinking that you had no right to question me or what I did or didn't do."
"Gee, thanks," she muttered.
"No!" He paused, obviously struggling to put his thoughts into the proper words. "What I mean is, you're not afraid to tell me what I need to know, whether I'm gonna like it or not. You're honest with me and I know I can be honest with you. This past year has shown me that you're the best friend I've ever had. You were there for me when I needed you and especially when I thought I didn't need anyone. I know that I should be happy with just that but honestly, I want more."
He smiled faintly. "It was actually talking Tohru that made me see it. When I went to see her, we talked about what we'd been doing. She was surprised when I said I'd been staying with you. I tried to explain that I'd just wound up at your place without thinking but I think we both knew that was a lie. Consciously or not, I knew that you would be the one to understand without asking a million questions. But the more that we hung out, the more I realized that you were so much more than that. Without the pressure of you chasing after me, I got to see another side of you. You're fun and funny and nice and I honestly enjoy being around you.
"As I started working, I kept thinking of you. Would you like the window on the left or the right? Would you think the living room should be a rectangle or a square and would you rather have the kitchen in blue or green? The whole time I was building this house, I was building it for you. For us."
Kyou took a deep breath, looking nervous for the first time. "I know that I have a lot of issues in my life right now but I'm not hiding from them anymore. If you'd rather wait until everything is resolved, I'd understand but I needed to know that you knew how I feel. I love you, Kagura, and I can only hope that you love me too. Will you marry me?"
They were the words she had been waiting most of her life to hear, coming from the one person she wanted most to say them. For that reason, Kagura hesitated before accepting them. Kyou had just gone through a rough time and she had been by his side during it. It was only natural for him to form an attachment. How could she be sure that this wasn't just a rebound thing that would fade and hurt them both?
She looked up with a torn feeling inside, prepared to burst the sweetest bubble she had ever found herself inside. The sight of Kyou's face made all of her questions die on her tongue. Despite his earlier nervousness, his expression then was calm, without a hint of unease or desperation. His eyes were the deep, gentle eyes of someone who knew what they were doing and who was sure that the end result would exactly what they wanted. He had obviously given the whole thing a lot of thought, even anticipating her biggest objection. It didn't seem like the behavior of someone acting impulsively or for the wrong reasons. His gaze held hers steadily, lovingly, and without impatience as she thought things over. And so she said the only thing she could have while looking into eyes like that.
"Yes."
x
In the end, they both agreed that they shouldn't rush into anything. They were going to take the time to enjoy their engagement and make sure that there would be no doubts before the big day. To her surprise, Kyou seemed to take the extra time as an invitation to go about a belated courting. Although he drew the line at fussing over wedding details, he was happy to escort her to the various shops. The only one he refused to enter was Ayame's, a nonnegotiable condition that Kagura was all too happy to grant.
She had just met up with him after a long conversation with said cousin about dresses when Kyou suddenly jerked to a stop. Kagura looked up, trying to see what had caused such an unusual reaction. She was more than a little startled to see Tohru just a few feet away, an equally unsure looking Yuki at her side.
Kagura had made sure that Tohru knew about the wedding, thinking it was only right that she should deliver the news herself. The conversation had been a bit stilted but not nearly as bad as she had feared it might be. She had left the meeting with the hope that they would all someday be comfortable around each other, if not the best of friends.
However, a planned meeting was completely different from an unexpected run in on the street. All four of them remained frozen for several long moments while the crowd of people divided to go around them. Kagura could tell from their expressions that Tohru and Yuki were feeling the same sense of not knowing what to say or do. She couldn't see Kyou's face but she felt his sudden stiffness. She groped blindly for his hand and gave it what she hoped was a reassuring squeeze.
There were a few moments of light conversation with Yuki and herself doing most of the talking. Although Kyou and Tohru responded to comments directed at them, neither seemed eager to jump into the exchange. They were all obviously feeling the awkwardness of the situation and quickly ran out of things to say. With goodbyes liberally tinged with relief, they started to go their separate ways.
Just seconds before the other pair walked out of earshot, Kagura was surprised when Kyou turned. His grip on her hand tightening, he called out to Yuki and Tohru. "Hey, you know, we're having a lunch at that new restaurant downtown on Saturday. You guys should join us."
A moment passed so slowly that it seemed like an eternity. Yuki and Tohru drew to a halt and turned to face them as though in slow motion. Kyou's hand was squeezing hers so tightly that Kagura could feel her fingers going numb. Her own breath had caught in her throat as she waited …and waited…
"That would be nice. Thank you." Surprisingly, it was Tohru who spoke up, bowing her head politely as she did. When she looked up again, Kagura saw that the worry that had been hovering about her had left. She looked happy at the invitation, as though she had just been waiting for a sign that it was okay for her to be all right with the situation. Kyou also seemed to relax; his grip on her hand remained but eased noticeably.
When they parted, Kagura couldn't help the smile on her face. There had been a part of her that worried about being so happy if that happiness came at the expense of someone else. Tohru had said she was all right with their engagement but a part of Kagura had wondered if it was just her accommodating personality showing itself again. Actually seeing the younger woman's reaction had convinced her of its genuineness. It was another bit of weight off her shoulders, making the future she was facing seem even brighter.
It just went to show that you could plan as much as you wanted but life would do what it was meant to do. And for that, Kagura couldn't be more grateful.
x
A/N: The drabble set that this fic is based on can be found under the same name in "Drops in the Bucket: Fruits Basket".
