Yay! Another installment. I'm lazy this time around - more accurately, sick with strep throat - so it'll be a quick thanks to the reviewers... In truth, the last chapter could best be summarized by "A strong smell and a strongly smelly personal life". But don't worry, there will be more pleasant smells later on in the story. So in sum, THANKS Tsuki Fox, Dark-Lady-Divinity, Kyo-Kyo rules the world, Dark Angel of Fire Ice, Evil Kitty of Doom, and Avocados are evil.

After that lovely "filler" chapter, something strange has appeared. What is this strange thing that is coming in Chapter 4? Why, it's the plot as it begins to ferment and develop. How completely silly.

Ache
by Lanie Kay-Aleese

Chapter Four: Foolish for a Moment

Rating: Pg-13. Slash - sensuality - violence - light incest.
Category: Angst/Romance
Pairing: Kyou/Yuki
Length: 4?

- - - -

Tohru had appeared at his desk the moment that the bell rang for the end of class. She leaned against the desk, swinging her bookbag behind her back in the empty space beneath the table while singing a catchy tune by SMAP, and even though the song didn't make much sense, she donned a huge smile as she waited for Kyou to gather his things.

"It's such a beautiful afternoon!" she exclaimed. "Afternoons like this always make me feel so happy."

The orange-haired boy looked completely past her and swung his heavy bookback onto the top of his desk.

She paused for a moment, to watch him, then clapped her hands together with exuberance. "Wow! You've got a lot of books, don't you, Kyou? I bet you're planning to study very hard tonight."

Kyou tossed her a sullen glare. "What are you smiling about?" he muttered. "I've gotta clean the whole classroom and it'll take me forever."

"O-oh," she blushed as the smile faded from her face, and tried to regain her composure. "Well, see, I thought that Yuki and I could wait to walk home with you."

Kyou stood back and crossed his arms. His eyes, however, were soft. Just barely.

"Look, that's... that's really nice of you. But this is going to take me too long. Just go home."

"I'm sorry that they're making you clean. I would help but I don't think Uo or Hana would be very happy... After all, the 'fool' is supposed to do the chores on his own, and I do a lot of cleaning at my job... But... But I'm really sorry that you lost! I'm sure you'll win sometime soon!"

"...Whatever," Kyou sighed, at last. "I'm just not very lucky."

Tohru peered up at him, the smile retracing itself on her lips.

"After you finish the fool's chores, then, maybe we could walk together?"

Kyou sighed. "No, it'll take too long. Just go on. It's okay."

"It's not a problem!" Tohru insisted, "Really, I wouldn't want you walking all the way home on your own! If you collapsed it would be all my fault!-"

" - collapse? -"

"- or if you transformed from all the stress, it would be even more terrible! I don't know what I would do if you got hurt because I wasn't a good enough friend to you! I can't let you do that, Kyou!"

"Why the hell would I collapse?" Kyou snapped, "I'm not weak, damnit! I can take care of myself without you! I'm fine on my own!"

It took a moment for the words to sink in.

But by the time Kyou looked up, Tohru's expression had already plumetted. Kyou grimaced.

"Tohru...?" he began, wincing.

"I... I'm sorry, Kyou," she sniffled. Her eyes were tearily focused on her feet. Kyou dropped his head into his hands, chiding himself as Tohru continued.

"... I didn't mean to say that you were weak... You are very strong, Kyou... But... Maybe you did not realize it, but, I think that your body is not healthy right now. Your cheeks are so sallow... It's like you're not eating enough."

"Well... I... Hey, it doesn't have to do with you."

"I know, I know. It isn't my business. You haven't let me in... It feels like you won't even talk to me anymore. I'm so sorry that I offended you somehow. And I know that I did something because recently, there's been this troubled atmosphere around you whenever I approach. And I can't talk to you because you always have to go somewhere and I miss you... I miss you and I worry for you, Kyou. So please, just -- just take care of yourself," Tohru finished, and buried her face in her hands, unable to fight back the tears.

Not knowing what else to do, Kyou rested his hand on her head.

Her shoulders shook a couple of times, but somehow Kyou could feel her spirit being warmed. They stood like that until the tears stopped, and then Kyou gave her a sort of half-pat on the head - and went right back to cleaning the classroom.

After that, Tohru left with Yuki. Kyou shivered from the cold draft of air that came without her presence.

He swept a pile of lent into the dustbin, and as he stood up with the gathered dust, caught sight of Tohru and the rat walking off of the schoolgrounds together. Yuki turned his head slightly to laugh at something that the riceball-like girl had said. Then, the pair turned past the gate, and disappeared behind the hedge surrounding the school's outer walls.

Kyou's fingers tightened around the broom handle.

He was frowning.

- - - -

Kyou Sohma didn't know what to expect when he slid open the door to classroom 3-C.

He'd heard stuff, bad stuff. Stories about witchcraft and dark seances and love potions to accomplish certain secret acts of darkness. He'd heard that, on Wednesday afternoons, even the teachers wouldn't dare go near classroom 3-C. This one girl had interrupted to pick up her coat, which she'd left inside, and had woken up sick the next morning. And the witches had glared at her so hard that she knew that she was going to die. Well, she never died, but she did fail her English test, so obviously there was evil stuff in that classroom. Oh, and then it was rumored that the girl had become one of "them".

He'd heard that they hated Tohru Honda.

So most of it was nonsense. How the hell would anyone in the boys locker room know about it, that was Kyou's question. None of them had ever been stupid enough (brave enough) to go to classroom 3-C and to see the creepy girls for themselves.

Yeah. It was really stupid to even be here. But Kyou figured that he had to do this if he wanted to remember who he was. Because, from what he'd heard, witches knew everything. And he didn't know... anything.

So with a trembling hand, he slid open the door in the midst of something evil.

Two lines of girls stood with their left hands over their breasts, and their right hand rigid in the air, chanting in a powerful, swirling unison -

"- I will do all in my power to protect Prince Yuki -"

And then, the room went silent.

From the Mouths of Morons:
Rebyoo da stowey obeekaybie, duh uh...?