CHAPTER 14: Relationship Tango

Light poured into the normally dreary room, and Shigure was ravished by it. He gently removed Akito's arms from his sides, and ran his fingers through her hair lovingly. He then tucked her into the futon blankets, and as he began to tiptoe out the door, her raven eyes flew open and she spotted him angrily.

"Shigure, you want to leave me all alone?" She demanded in a most terrible tone. Shigure was used to this type of tone from her, though.

"Akito-san, you know very well that I have a home to take care of. If I could stay here with you," as Shigure continued babbling uselessly, Akito rose quickly in her futon and interrupted him.

"Stop teasing!" She said, lifting a beautiful glass vase of water lilies and throwing it in his direction. He dodged it easily, and looked at her much more seriously now.

"Akito-san, everything cannot always go your way in a relationship." He replied to her flustered stare. She blushed angrily.

"Stop it! Stop it, stop it, stop it, and stop that!" She screamed, upsetting Shigure's sensitive ears, and making him close the sliding door. He then went to sit beside Akito coldly, and she looked up at him, breathing heavily.

"I'm very sorry, Akito-san."

"You had best be! Leaving your God alone… The thought of it enrages me!" She had not actually meant to say that last part and the Goddess looked a little shocked by it.

"I've noticed that." Shigure said, smiling. He knew she felt childish about all this. She had never really properly been raised, anyway. How could she know what was acceptable and unacceptable? He liked that aspect of Akito very much. It kind of made her an experiment for him.

Akito's eyes drifted away from Shigure's face, and she breathed heavily for a few more moments. When she had finished catching her breath, she continued to stare on at the stained pillow.

"Make sure they're here. I want to see Yuki-chan." Akito demanded, as Shigure got up and grabbed the telephone receiver. He called his own house, expecting to hear a scowling Kyo, a sleepy Yuki or even cheery Tohru. But none of those voices came to him. Only his own voice, as he directed the caller to leave a message after the "beep". He smiled slightly, and hung up the phone. Akito looked at him inquisitively.

"Why didn't you say anything?" She asked. He chuckled.

"Wouldn't I seem silly answering someone who isn't there?" Shigure continued on smiling, and Akito's eyes widened with fury.

"Lalala" Momiji sang his new song as he rubbed the fragrant soap all over his body. Last night was a horrible night for him, what with the memory of Tohru crying and then those gray, lifeless eyes… He thought maybe the soap would erase all the bad things, but it wasn't working. He let out a huge sigh and sat down in the bath tub sadly, the shower nozzle spraying restlessly at him. Tohru was someone so precious to Momiji… In fact, Tohru was Momiji's only real friend. When he saw those troubled eyes last night, it was obvious to him that Kyo had admitted his romantic interest to her in some way. Momiji wouldn't say he was necessarily romantically inclined towards Tohru, but if given the opportunity, those kinds of feelings might have bloomed. He knew Kyo would never ever hurt Tohru, but he wanted to be the person there for Tohru-chan, because she was there when he desperately needed someone… Maybe it was egotistical of him, but he wished he could have had the happy ending for once. A tear trickled down his cheek, but it went unnoticed because of the shower water pouring down onto him. He smiled as he sniveled, and got back up.

"Thanks, nozzle…" He said, gently touching the nozzle with his fingertips. He wouldn't let anyone see his hurting… Not even himself.

The men had all gone back into their room last night, careful to not wake up the sleeping cat. Now, Yuki lay on the bed, looking up at Haru who had just gotten up. Hatsuharu rubbed his sleepily, and looked surprised as the rat lay there, looking up at him.

"Yuki. Hey." He said, making Yuki smile slightly. Yuki checked to make sure Kyo was still sleeping, and looked back at Haru.

"Haru… She's really his now, isn't she?" Yuki whispered, and Haru looked shocked.

"Yuki, it's…" Hatsuharu was interrupted by Yuki placing his hand upon Haru's.

"No, it's fine. I'm just asking to make sure. Is she really?" He asked, his voice still a low whisper. Haru looked down at Yuki's hand upon his own, and Yuki removed it uneasily.

"Err, sorry," Yuki began, blushing a little. It made Haru smile, and Haru urged him to explain why he was so alright with this situation. "I thought about all this last night, and realized that I would only burden Honda- I mean, Tohru-san if I were to express my feelings for her."

"Yuki, you'd never burden her with what you have to say. You know that." Haru replied quickly, checking to see peacefully sleeping Kyo.

"Well, yes… I mean, no! This would burden her. It's clear to me she's already unconsciously made her choice, and I don't want to get in her way. I know, I know, you're going to say 'You wouldn't burden her' again, but really, I'm somehow not… Jealous anymore." Haru's eyes widened and Yuki chuckled.

"You see, Kyo has absolutely no one. I know, it makes sense, because he's the cat and he's damned to have no one and to live a lonely life, but what if Kyo was the exception to that rule? What if finally, someone loves the cat for who he is, and wants to spend the rest of their life with him?" Yuki explained, leaving Haru dumbfounded.

"What if… This is Kyo's only chance at happiness?" Yuki finished, leaving Hatsuharu's mouth agape. Yuki sighed, and looked at Haru's eyes angrily.

"Haru, don't get me wrong, he's the dumbest person there is and I hate his guts to death. I also am jealous if he's going to get someone I was after… But I guess I see Tohru in more of a motherly figure, now that I truly think about it… And if she's in love with the idiot, is there anything I can do anyway?" Yuki finished this with a smirk, and Haru grabbed Yuki hand and placed a kiss onto his hand smoothly.

"Don't worry Yuki, I'll be your prince." Haru chuckled as Yuki threw the boy back onto his own bed with a crimson blush on his cheeks. As they wrestled, Hatsuharu looked sweetly into Yuki's eyes and prepared to tell him something.

"I like this side of you." Hatsuharu said simply, and it seemed as though there was a much more powerful message implied. Sheets were then thrown onto his face.

"… Don't get too used to it." Yuki said, as Momiji bounced out of the bathroom. Kyo, who everyone though was asleep, hid under his comforter with a pink hue to his face.

"Hana-chan, we need to talk." Uotani said, as she closed the bathroom door. Saki sat calmly on the toilet seat in her black silk pajamas, and Arisa slowly slid down on the wall.

"Damn it… I think I've fallen for the prince." Arisa said, covering her face in her palms with embarrassment. Saki smiled slowly, and placed a hand on Arisa's womanly shoulder.

"Why do you damn this thought?" Saki asked, as Arisa let her hands fall from her face. Uotani then looked up at her dark friend, despaired.

"Well… Because… It's so damn strange!" Arisa said, hitting the bathtub and cursing under her breath. Saki smiled strangely.

"Well, I think it's rather cute."

"Hana-chan!" Arisa cried, blushing.

They all met downstairs near the elevator. Everyone had different reactions; Momiji was smiling, but seemed a little down; Tohru was cheerful, and no one could certainly decode what exactly she was thinking; Hana kept teasing Arisa about something, and Arisa seemed to be very uneasy about it; Rin and Haru kept throwing each other furtive but loving glances, and looked around at the group; Yuki was smiling happily, which was pretty rare; and Kyo was conscious he was being ignored in a strange way by everyone but Tohru.

"Ohayo, Kyo-kun." She said politely, blushing horribly as she walked up to him. Kyo looked down at her, and smiled gently.

"Hi Tohru-kun."

"Did Stephen…" She began slowly, after a long pause. He hushed her with an apt finger, and they went back with the group.

'Kyo-kun… Are you angry? What are you feeling right now…?' Tohru thought, as she looked up at the smiling boy.

"OHAYOOO! So, I've arranged for everyone's luggage to be sent to another place, okay? This is so that we don't have to lug it around with us all day. Today, we have a really cool schedule planned for our last day in lovely New York! First, we'll go shopping and have lunch in one of the restaurants. Then, we'll go see a broadway show. And afterwards, to finish off the lovely day, we'll eat near the Empire State building and then take the elevator alllll the way to the top!" He then moved a little closer to Tohru, and grabbed hold of her hand.

"Tohru, it's reaaally high up. Ne, if I get really scared, can I hold your hand?" He asked sweetly, and she began to giggle.

"Of course, Momiji-kun! Although it will probably be me who will be scared…" She said, blushing, and everyone laughed. She looked at all their happy faces, and began to laugh as well. So maybe there were problems with the current relationships she had with Kyo-kun, Yuki-kun and some of the others. But with them all together, she was sure they would figure it out, and have a good time doing it too.

Ohayo: it's the shortened version of 'Ohayo gozaimasu', a more polite way of saying good morning in Japanese.

WOAH! How long has it been since I last updated? Three months, maybe four? Anyway. I know this is a short chapter, but it's all I could come up with for now. The next chapter will be filled with comic relief, don't worry. I know this was a very emotional chapter… Thanks to anyone who take the time to read this, and to review it too. Thanks to all of you for my 76 reviews. It makes me so glad, you have no idea!

Until next time.