CHAPTER TWO: In Preparation, Physically and Mentally
"Ohhh Kyo-kun, do you think my English will be good enough for our trip?" Tohru asked with a worried look on her face to Kyo. He wanted desperately to tell her that of course it would… But because they were at school and Yuki was there, that just wouldn't do.
" Erm… Sure it will." Kyo answered, trying to look disinterested.
"Whaddya mean 'Sure it will.'? Of course it will Tohru-chan! Kyo-kun is just being a retard." Arisa popped out of nowhere and said. She already had that amused look that she'd have whenever she'd start teasing Kyo.
"What? Why do you call me a retard! What have I ever done to YOU?" Kyo screamed.
"… Just don't get too excited there, you." Uo said, patting Kyo's head.
"So Tohru," she continued while Kyo slammed a desk into the wall because her teasing really frustrated him, "I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to thank you last night on the phone for inviting me on such a neat trip, my dad was eating fried chicken and I had told him not to. You know how I get when he disgraces his own health. Hehe." She snickered. Tohru smiled.
"Yes Uo-chan! It's so nice of you to do that for him," she replied, "I'm sure he appreciates it very much."
"Ahhh… My dear Tohru." Tohru swiftly turned around to see a happy-looking Hanajima.
"Hello Hana-chan! How are you?" Tohru asked enthusiastically.
"I am great, thank you. I have been sort of depressed as of late, and your call last night to announce that you were bringing me to America just amazed me… Do you have powers too, Tohru-chan?" she asked, smiling, "do you know exactly what I need?"
"Ohhh Hana! If you are depressed, you have to tell me!" Tohru said, falling into Hana's embrace.
"Thank you, Tohru…"Hana murmured.
"You're welcome," Tohru said "Oh Hana… We'll have to bring a souvenir back for Megumi, right?"
"Yes. Hi Uo-chan, Yuki-kun, Kyo-kun." Hana waved in their direction.
"OH NO." Tohru suddenly froze on spot.
" What's wrong, Tohru?" asked Yuki.
"How… Will… Shigure… Feed himself?" Tohru spoke in slow motion, fearing what she was saying.
"Oh er…" Yuki had to admit he hadn't really thought of this either.
"Dogs always manage to find something to eat." Hana replied curtly. Kyo, Yuki and Tohru all looked at each other thinking the exact same thing.
"And err… What makes you think that Hanajima…" Kyo asked, hoping that she hadn't found anything out.
"I'm not sure… I think it's a Chinese proverb… Or from a haiku…"She replied seeming lost in thought. Oh good, they all thought. It was nothing at all. 'Just Hana being Hana' Kyo thought.
After school, as Kyo, Yuki and Tohru walked home, Hatsuharu and Momiji joined them.
"Hello Tohru! Hi Yuki-kun, Kyo-kun! Aren't you guys SOOO excited!" Momiji exclaimed upon meeting them. Haru let a simple "Yo." be his greeting.
"Yes Momiji! I just can't wait at all!" Tohru said looking ecstatic.
"If I had to choose somewhere to go, I would not have chosen America." Haru said, seriously and in a calm manner.
"Why not, Haru?" asked Yuki. Obviously though, Yuki knew he would most likely say something very strange, but Haru was his friend and it's important to understand your friends' views.
"Well," he began "in America, the food they serve is very unhealthy. I've heard that they serve pure fat on platters at some places… They don't even use chopsticks… I would much rather go to India, where they serve spicy meals that burn your tongue and where the food is great… And where the women wear long, flowing pieces of fabric that hardly cover anything…" At that last comment, Kyo and Yuki turned a bright shade of red.
"Tohru, why are Kyo-kun and Yuki-kun's faces that colour?" Momiji asked innocently.
"Shut up, rabbit!" Kyo said, slapping Momiji on the head.
"OWIE" cried Momiji.
"Kyo-kun, what should I make for supper tonight? Since we are leaving tomorrow, I'd like for it to be a special supper for Mr. Shigure… What does he like?" Tohru asked Kyo as she slipped on her navy-blue apron. He found himself being attracted to her even when he had no reason to be… He couldn't stand it. He turned his gaze away from her and stared sternly at the plants in the flowerpot. She still was gazing up at him waiting for an answer.
"He… he likes curry. Make him… curry." He said blushing and stuttering.
"Oh yes, that's true… Thank you Kyo-kun! I would not have been" She was then interrupted by Kyo slipping his hand onto her cheek and rubbing it ever so slightly.
"Tohru…" had he ever pronounced her name like that before? Uh oh. This was going to turn into something… He wasn't sure Tohru would be okay with that… So he transformed that word and that gesture into something more innocent and friendly, just as he had done many times before.
"…You're welcome. Any time you need to consult me..." He said with a smile that he forced to exude warmth, when really he would have liked for it to be more than kindness. He rubbed her cheek with more rigor than before, to make it seem like friendliness. It hurt him to not be aloud to do as he pleased, but when you lived under the orders of Akito…
"So ummm…" Tohru said as she blushed profusely, for she did not understand what Kyo-kun had just done… Was it just friendliness or something more? "I think I will make… curried chicken! Will you like that too?"
"Of course, Tohru." Kyo said with a smile. He was being ripped apart inside, everything ached. He could tell that what he had just done had confused her… Then Yuki entered the room, and the ambience was shattered. Both Kyo and Tohru blushed.
"Hello Honda-san. Is everything okay? Did Kyo hurt you?" Yuki asked when Kyo had silently left the room.
"No… Thank you for worrying though. Kyo-kun… Would never hurt me." Tohru replied with a smile. Yuki smiled to her as well, and slept on that last thing Tohru had said. Tohru, while waiting for the curried chicken to be done, decided to go pack her bags for America.
Kyo-kun…
Tohru thought about Kyo for a few minutes.
Kyo-kun, I…
The times when Tohru thought about Kyo, she honestly didn't know what to think about him. And when she thought about him desiring her, it hurt… She lay down on her blouses that she was to pack and if you were there lying right beside her, you could easily see that she was silently sobbing…
Kyo-kun, I don't… Know…
Love sweet love! What will happen next for Tohru and Kyo?
Find out.
Yep, this is my first fanfic! So please feel free to comment, review, whatever… AND I still think Momiji is the cutest thing!