Chapter 2

New Faces

Over the next week, Tsuru kept an eye on Tohru, watching her walk from school to work and home again. Most nights Tohru did not go home alone; one of two young men was always there to escort her. Usually it was the one with gray hair and startling violet eyes, but occasionally it was one with orange hair and fierce red eyes. Yuki and Kyo she guessed from the descriptions, the prince and the knight. It made her smile to see them together, Tohru looking so happy and Yuki or Kyo smiling back, watching over her. That, more than anything, proved the deep bond between Tohru and her friends.

But one night there was no escort home.

It was the last day of school, the streets flooded with children, from rowdy high school teens to gawky middle schoolers to cute elementary kids. Tsuru had been watching them from her small apartment above the shop. Some nights, if she worked late, she'd stay there in the shop rather than going home. Children always had a special place in her heart and it made her feel happy to watch them running around without a care in the world. She saw Tohru walking to work, with both Kyo and Yuki this time, and Tsuru's mood brightened further. It was amazing…she had only spoke to the girl for a little while, and yet already Tsuru felt like Tohru was a dear and trusted friend. It must have been because Tohru was so open-hearted and cheerful, something that Tsuru tried to emulate, though with not as much success, she feared. There were still too many fears, too many scars…

Tsuru sighed, turning her attention back to the threesome, watching as Tohru paused to speak with them before waving goodbye and walking inside. The two boys walked off, and even though Tsuru could not hear them, she could still see that their tempers were already flaring without Tohru's calming presence. I wonder if she realizes how much influence she has over them, Tsuru mused, how much affect she has on them with just a smile. Then the bell below rang and Tsuru turned away from the window to attend to her customers.

---

It was nearly ten at night and almost everything was closed. The Paper Crane Bookstore had shuttered its doors for the night and Tsuru had taken her traditional position in the little apartment to watch for Tohru. However, this night Tsuru noticed that neither Yuki nor Kyo were waiting outside for Tohru.

The woman frowned slightly. This was unusual. Maybe they are just running late, she thought, but a chill of uneasiness ran down her spine. She waited, her feelings of concern increasing when she saw Tohru exit the building and start her walk home without the slightest hint of hesitation. Which meant that she wasn't expecting anyone to escort her home, that this was already planned, but still…

Without wasting another moment, Tsuru hurried down the stairs and out of the shop, the faint tinkle of the bell following her down the dark street.

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Tohru sighed slightly as she began walking back home to Shigure's house. It had been a long day, but school was over now, so that was something to be happy about. Now she could spend more time with Yuki and Kyo and the others! Still, I kinda wish one of them was here to walk me home, she thought. I've gotten used to them always being with me. Tohru shook her head. Don't be silly! She scolded herself. You'll see them in just a little while, don't be so selfish!

Suddenly, Tohru heard footsteps in front of her and she looked up, startled. Standing in front of her, blocking the way, were three boys. She didn't recognize them and they looked to be several years older than she was. Something in the way they were standing made her feel nervous.

"Well, what do we have here?" a blond boy closest to her said, taking a step forward.

"H-Hello, beautiful day today, wasn't it?" Tohru said.

"You know, she's kinda cute," one of the other boys said.

"Maybe we should take her for a walk," added another.

Tohru's heart began to beat faster, and she clutched her school bag to her chest, taking a step backward. "I-I'm sorry, but I really must be going, so I−"

Hands griped her shoulders and she cried out in surprise, twisting around to look. Two more boys had come up behind her. She felt like she had ice water in her veins.

"Now, that isn't very polite, now is it?" said the blond boy who had first spoken to her. His smile was cold.

"Please, let me go!" cried Tohru.

"You're not going anywhere," sneered the boy behind her, digging his fingers into her flesh. A chorus of rough laughter greeted his words as the boys closed in.

Tohru was desperate. "Let me GO!" she yelled, swinging her bag in an attempt to ward them off. The blond boy snarled and punched her in the face. Tohru gasped in pain and her bag went spinning out of her hands. The boy behind her threw the girl down on the ground as Tohru fought to remain conscious, feeling blood running down her face where a stone had cut her.

"Now we can have some fun!" the blond boy chuckled and his cronies laughed along with him.

Oh no, please someone help me…Tohru thought desperately, shrinking away from them, her eyes wide with fear.

WHAM! One of the boys went flying through the air, slamming into a wall and sliding in a crumpled, unconscious heap on the ground.

"Who's there?"

"We're under attack!"

"I can't see them!"

"Ahhhhhh!"

Another boy went flying backwards. The remaining three, including the blond boy, clumped together beneath the nearby street lamp, shooting nervous looks at the shadows.

"Show yourself!" the blond boy yelled, trying to act defiant but only succeeding in sounding scared.

"What, three of you aren't enough to assault a young girl? I'm disappointed," an ice-edged voice answered from the darkness. A darker shadow moved in a flurry of kicks and punches that laid two more of Tohru's attackers low and pinned their blond leader against the wall. Tohru stared as the light illuminated the features of her rescuer.

"Tsuru?" she whispered.

There was no teasing warmth, no half-veiled smiles on Tsuru's face. The raven-haired woman's eyes were hard and cold as a pair of glittering emeralds, her lips curling back in a snarl of disgust. One hand held the blond boy by his shirt front, holding him off the ground as he stared at her in horrified fascination, much like a bird held captive by a serpent's gaze. The other hand held a small, gleaming knife at his throat.

"If you ever lay a hand on this girl, or any girl, like this again," Tsuru said in her hard, cold voice, eyes burning with fury, "I will hunt you down like the vermin you are and I will kill you." She removed the knife from his throat and released the boy. "Now get out of here."

Whimpering in terror, the blond boy did as he was ordered, running as fast as his legs could carry him. Tsuru watched to make sure he was gone, then slid the blade back into the wrist sheath hidden in her sleeve and turned to Tohru.

"Tohru! You're hurt!" Tsuru said looking concerned as she knelt by the girl's side, helping her sit up.

"It's not bad," Tohru replied, staring at Tsuru as the woman pulled out a handkerchief and began wiping the blood from Tohru's face. "Tsuru-san…"

"Yes? What is it? Does it hurt?" Tsuru asked, the worry evident on her face.

"Thank you. For helping me. I'm sorry to be so much trouble…"

"Oh Tohru," said Tsuru, gently gathering Tohru in a hug. "You are no trouble. I saw you leaving work without Yuki or Kyo waiting for you, and I got worried, so I followed you. I'm just glad I was able to help before…before things got too messy. I'm just sorry I didn't get here sooner."

Tohru felt tears gathering in her eyes. Tsuru barely knew her, yet here she was, helping Tohru when she needed it. The girl hugged Tsuru back. "You were amazing, Tsuru-san," she said, her voice muffled by the woman's shirt. "The way you got rid of those boys? Thank you so much."

Tsuru patted Tohru's back, another one of her small smiles on her face. "Anytime, Tohru, anytime. Now, let's get you home." She helped Tohru to her feet, retrieved her bag, and the two of them set off towards Shigure's house.

---

About a half hour later, they were within sight of Shigure's house, and Tohru let out a sigh of relief. "Home," she said contentedly, pulling off her shoes and stepping onto the porch.

"It is a very cozy-looking little place, isn't it?" said Tsuru, remaining where she was, just outside the lamplight from the house.

The door slide open and there stood Shigure, dark hair tousled with a newspaper in his hand. "Tohru!" he exclaimed. "I was beginning to think you'd gotten lost, what−" Shigure broke off as he saw the bruises and cuts on Tohru's face.

"Tohru…what happened?" he asked, sudden worry etched on his face.

"I ran into a little trouble on my way home," said Tohru, her face red with embarrassment. "I'm sorry that I made you worry."

"What do you mean, trouble?" Shigure asked, lightly touching the bruise on her cheek.

"Some boys decided they wanted to have a little fun," Tsuru said quietly. "But don't worry, they won't bother her again."

Shigure straightened, seeing Tsuru for the first time as she stood in the shadows just beyond the range of the lantern light. "And who might you be?"

Tsuru bowed. "Forgive me, I am Tsuru Odoriko. I own a small bookstore near Tohru's work. The two of us have spoken before and tonight, when I did not see either of Tohru's usual escorts, I became concerned for her safety and followed her."

"Tsuru was amazing! She saved my life," said Tohru with a smile. "She's really sweet and helpful, honest."

"Then you have our eternal gratitude for protecting this innocent flower," said Shigure, bowing. For once, his tone was sincere despite his flamboyant words.

With a smile, Tsuru replied, "I am simply grateful that she has such caring friends." She looked at Tohru. "Get your rest tonight, and you really should see a doctor about that cut as soon as you can. Is it alright if I stop by to check on you tomorrow?"

"Of course, I'd like that!" cried Tohru. She looked at Shigure and added, "Um, that is, if that's alright with you, Shigure-san."

The young man smiled ruefully. "Of course, Tohru. You know that any friend of yours is a friend of ours. Again, you have our deepest thanks, Miss Odoriko."

Tsuru bowed again in acknowledgement, and, with a final smile at Tohru, slipped off into the night. Shigure put a hand on Tohru's shoulder and steered her into the house.

"We'll wash out that cut and then to bed with you," said Shigure. "I'll have Hari come over tomorrow and look at it."

"Oh no," Tohru protested, "He's already done so much for me−"

"And you know that he has a soft spot for you, Tohru," Shigure replied with a grin. "Don't worry, he won't mind."

As Tohru obligingly followed Shigure upstairs, she smiled, thinking, I really am the luckiest girl in the world.

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