DISCLAIMER: I don't own the series, and I frankly am ticked at the manga, (SPOILER RANT AHEAD!) so everything will be based on the anime, and we will pretend that Tohru will eventually end up with Yuki, cause frankly I think they made a better couple (this isn't just my love of Kyou talking). Plus, I'm increasingly liking the idea of Yasuko and Shigure... Okay / Dodges angry fans./ I'll just write myself in for Shigure. Yeah. I like that plan.
Yuki looked sad. They all agreed. He hadn't looked so lonely since the beginning of their first year. The three members of the Prince Yuki Fan Club had no idea what was wrong, but they weren't about to find out. He was simply too beautiful when he was forlorn. They all simply gloried in his melancholy.
Uo and Hana had tried to discover what was wrong, but Yuki had merely replied that Tohru was recovering well. While relieved to hear their friend was okay, the encounter left them more than a little confused, and they decided to ask Yasuko if she knew what was wrong. Before they could approach her at lunch, however, she made her way over to Yuki.
He jumped when someone tapped him on the shoulder, and at the sight of smiling down at him, Yuki could only feel shock. She sat down in the seat before him and handed him a small note. Yasuko thought she could see why the boy had a fan club as she took in the smile that crossed his face as he read.
I'm sorry I couldn't make it out last night. I have cleared my schedule for tonight, though. I do hope Tohru is doing well.
"Yes," Yuki smiled. "Hatori gave her something to help the fever and she is recovering quite well."
I'm glad. But where is Kyou? Is he ill too?
Yuki started. He had forgotten that Kyou had not come to school today, and had seemed so depressed this morning that for the first time in a long time, they had not argued. It suddenly dawned on Yuki that Kyou must like Yasuko. A sly look entered Yuki's eye.
"Actually, Kyou stayed home today. He wasn't… feeling too well. If you plan to come over to visit Miss Honda this afternoon - "
Yasuko gasped and clapped her hands together, smiling, before writing furiously.
I should bring them both some soup! Do you think they would like chicken and leek? I also make a great herbal tea.
"That sounds wonderful," Yuki grinned. "I'm sure they would both appreciate it."
I'll stop at the store after school then and come straight over to cook at your house. Would that be all right?
Yuki assured her that would be fine, and the pair spent the rest of the lunch hour chatting. Yuki was struck by her dry wit and ready humor. He regretted that it had taken them so long to realize what a kind and intelligent girl Yasuko was, and he blamed himself for never having made the effort to become acquainted. Haru had called her the moon to Tohru's sun, and Yuki had to admit the description fit.
Across the room, the three members of the Prince Yuki Fan Club were glaring at Yasuko. But the fact that she made Prince Yuki smile could not be ignored. And she wasn't technically "talking" to him, so they all agreed the incident wouldn't need to be reported to the president.
Shigure sighed and looked over at Kyou's back. The boy had spent the day lying on his office floor, not saying a word.
I can't say I blame him, Shigure mused. He himself had spent the day adding four new chapters to his latest novel, and his own melancholy while writing had changed the tone of the entire book. He just couldn't seem to write anything with joy or hope. Everyone was sad, dying or dead, and the main character had just been blown up in a major explosion. With her gone, he would now have to focus on the man. Mitchan would not be happy.
"I'm home!"
Shigure looked over to see an oddly happy Yuki leaning in the doorway, smiling.
"Well," Shigure smiled. "You look as though you had a good day."
"I did," Yuki answered as he looked over to Kyou's prone figure. "I brought a guest home today. She's in the kitchen right now."
"Really?" Shigure was surprised. Yuki had never brought someone home before. Even Tohru had more fallen into their lives than been really a conscious effort.
"Yes," Yuki nodded. "She wanted to make sure both Kyou and Miss Honda were feeling alright. Though personally I think she may have been a little more concerned for Kyou."
Kyou twitched and sat up, spinning around to face Yuki.
"If you brought Kagura here, I'll kill you," he hissed.
Yuki grinned a decidedly evil smile.
"Now there's a thought," he said as though seriously considering it. "I suppose you'll just have to go into the kitchen to find out."
Shigure was intrigued. Yuki was never this mysterious unless there was a good reason. He and Kyou rose as one and stepped past Yuki on their way to the kitchen. Approaching the door, they were confused at the sound of jazz coming toward them, and at the sight of two long chocolate braids and bare feet, their jaws dropped.
"Yasuko!" Shigure gasped. Kyou simply stared. His heart raced and the knot that had twisted his gut all day suddenly untied. He felt dangerously light when she turned and smiled, eyes twinkling, only to feel suddenly nauseous at the sight of leeks on the counter.
"Well," Shigure smiled his bishie smile. "Thank the heavens you came. Kyou's been an absolute drag all day."
"Shut up!" Kyou shouted, blushing furiously. "You are so full of it! And what are you doing in our kitchen? I hate leeks!"
Yasuko rolled her eyes and exchanged a wink with Shigure as Yuki watched with a smile from the doorway.
"Miss Hiro asked me to apologize and explain that she couldn't make it over yesterday due to a family matter. She expressed her deepest regrets."
Shigure and Kyou both turned back to Yuki with confused expressions. Yuki merely shrugged and nodded toward Yasuko. They both turned around to see the girl bent low in apology.
"I'm not sick!" Kyou said suddenly, stepping forward. "I just felt like staying home today, so you don't have to worry that I'm sick." Yasuko stood straight and met his gaze, searching for a long moment. "So I don't need leeks!" Kyou's voice raised to a shout and Yasuko just stared.
What am I saying? This isn't what I'm trying to say.
Yasuko smiled and pinched the tip of Kyou's nose, stuck her tongue out and then turned away to continue working on the soup. Kyou smiled and exhaled, the tension leaving him. She had understood.
That Saturday Tohru and Hana had to take make-up exams and Shigure finally placed a call he had been thinking about for close to a week.
"What will you do if Akito finds out?"
Hatori smiled at the direct question, finding it rather refreshing from Shigure.
"The family secret is safe, and that is the goal, not alienating us all from the world."
"You know," Shigure sighed into the phone. "You could have told us that was what you had done."
Hatori smiled again and looked out the door into the garden.
"Where's the fun in that?"