Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket
Chapter 6
Tohru was at a loss of what to do; Haru was obviously ill and unconscious in her lap, the elevator was out, the lights were out, and she hated thunder storms. She wondered if she had a match in her purse, but she remembered she didn't smoke and didn't carry anything with her. Either way, she would have to burn something and that might trigger the smoke detectors and water systems and that could lead to more mess. To top all that off, Kyo was at home, probably wondering where she and Haru were.
She covered her eyes with her hands and shook wildly, "I've got to get Haru home before he gets even worse, and poor Kyo he's at home sick from the rain. I've got homework to do," There was suddenly a loud cracking sound of lightning and Tohru screamed, "Oh...I hate storms."
Kyo and Hatori drove in the car quietly, both worrying silently without the comfort of the others feelings. Each had stone cold expressions but each were very eager to see what was going on. When they arrived at the building they saw Momiji jumping up and down and waving, his usual happiness gone with huge terrified eyes on his face. "Tohru is stuck in the elevator with Haru! It's stuck between the eighth and ninth floor and we can't get the emergency generator on. I was told to call you and they were going to meet me down here. I didn't know what else to do but wait here!" He sniffled trying not to cry.
Kyo rubbed Momiji's head and gave him a small grin, "You did the right thing, when you didn't come home we figured that something must've gone wrong so we came."
"What do we do Kyo?" Momiji sniffed, "Haru-chan is really sick, Tohru said he was, that he had a fever!"
Hatori was rubbing his head and walked over to the elevator rubbing his chin as the thought.
"What are you think Hatori?" Kyo asked as he walked up to him.
"The power will be out for a while, I heard that lightning struck two vital power lines in the town. We could wait for the power to be turned back on, but that might not even be until tomorrow. Momiji, does this place have a generator for backup energy?" Hatori asked.
Momiji shook his head, "Papa said they were going to install that at the end of the month because the old one broke. What are you going to do Kyo?"
Kyo grinned as he grabbed the railing to the stairs, "Don't worry Momiji, I'll get Haru and Tohru back safe and sound." I promise Tohru
Tohru whimpered in the corner of the elevator, looking down at Haru who was sweating profusely now. "Oh Haru, this isn't good at all." Tohru was starting to feel the heat too, the tight corders leaving little or no circulation for them to work with. Tohru undid the top two buttons to her shirt and tore off one of the sleeves so it ended at her elbow. With the sleeve she found her small water bottle and dagged it with water. Taking the damp rag she wiped away the seat on Haru's face, "Come on Haru...you have to get better."
Kyo climbed flight after flight of stairs, not announcing but hearing Hatori follow because of his breathing. After a while Kyo laughed, "You keeping up old man?" Hatori just grunted, knowing he'd get Kyo for that later.
The duo reached the top of the stairs and wandered around until they found the elevator. "What do you plan on doing now Kyo?" Hatori asked as he followed him slowly, regaining the doctor like poise Hatori had.
Kyo grabbed onto the crevice the two halves of the doors formed and he started to pull at them.
"Kyo what are you doing? Do you really think you can open them that way?" Hatori asked in disbelief.
"Hey I went in trained in the mountains for god knows how long, and if I can't open up these doors it just proves I'm not capable of taking care of Tohru," He growled as he pulled at the doors, "I made her a promise to protect her from whatever happens. I nearly broke that promise months ago, I'm not going to let it happen again!"
Tohru wiped away more of the sweat on Haru and sighed heavily, it was hard to breathe in this elevator and the only thing she could really see was the top of his snowy white hair. She ran her hand along the side of his face as she searched for it, trying to find a way to comfort herself. "Haru I'm so sorry...that you have to be here, sick."
Haru moaned, his eyes squinting before he finally opened them up, "Tohru?"
Tohru's eyes widened happily, "Haru! You're finally awake! I was so worried about you, do you remember what's going on?"
Haru rubbed his head but made no effort to leave his comfortable spot on Tohru's lap, "There was thunder, you screamed, and we're in an elevator. So if we're still here, I figure the power's out?" He asked as he tried to look at her face but saw nothing.
"That's right. Hopefully Momiji has gone for help, it's hard to breathe in here. I was so worried, you wouldn't wake up and you still have a fever," She told him lightly as she dampened the sleeve with more water.
Haru frowned, "You ripped your shirt Tohru."
"Well, I didn't have a handkerchief to dampen so I just used my sleeve. It's just a shirt Haru, your health if far more important to me," She told him lightly.
Haru sighed and closed his eyes again, "How long have we been in here?"
"I'd say about an hour. The storm is father away now, I've been counting the distance," she told him lightly.
"How do you count the distance?" Haru asked confused.
"Well, when you hear thunder you count until you hear the next boom. My mom told me that's about how many miles the storm is from you. Listen..." There was a light boom, "1...2...3..."
"Ready Hatori?" Kyo asked as he grabbed his side of the door.
Hatori nodded, "Ready."
"1...2...3!" Kyo shouted and they pulled on the doors until they flew open and both stumbled backwards.
"See Haru, it's three miles away," Tohru explained as she sighed heavily.
"What's wrong Tohru?" Haru asked.
"Nothing..."
"Tohru," he called her name in a warning tone.
"I haven't eaten and I'm kind of hungry and it's getting harder to breathe in here. But I shouldn't be complaining, you're the one who passed out and have a fever."
"You're allowed to complain," He told her gently as he laughed, "I want to go home."
"So do I... but I have faith in the others, they'll come and rescue us soon, just you wait," Tohru reassured him.
Hatori and Kyo made their way to the edge of the floor, looking down the shaft where the elevator had to be waiting below. Hatori handing Kyo a flashlight just in case. Kyo reached out and grabbed onto the huge metal cord when Hatori rested his hand on his shoulder.
"What the hell do you want?" Kyo asked angrily.
"You better be careful, you know its stuck between floors but there's a chance you fall you're pretty much screwed because then I have to go down and save you and if you're broken I won't be able to move you," Hatori told him seriously, "Don't get hurt and hurry, they might be having issues with circulating the air."
Kyo nodded, "Very reassuring," he added sarcastically. He jumped and wrapped his legs around the thick metal wire and began his journey downward.
"Tohru?" Haru called out lightly.
"Yeah Haru?" Tohru answered as she wiped away more of his sweat, her water bottle was now emptied. The thunder had all since stopped, leaving them with very little to do for entertainment until someone came to save them.
Haru shifted his head on her lap, trying to look up at where her face was and reached out for it with one of his hands, "You aren't mad are you?"
"Mad?" She asked confused, "Why would I be mad Haru?"
"The dreams, being sick, all this stuff is making your life so difficult," he trailed off miserably, "I'm afraid you're going to burn out because of all the extra stress I'm adding."
Tohru laughed lightly, a laughed that hummed and echoed against the small elevator they were trapped in, "You don't make things difficult Haru, everyone has problems they need to deal with and sometimes we need help. The most important thing in this world is my family. If you are ill I'm going to take care of you and put everything else aside."
She blew on a piece of her hair that was tickling her face and she sighed, "As for those dreams, I just want you to be happy again. Those dreams hurt you, they don't hurt me. Once you get over them I'll be fine."
"But what if I go Black?" He asked, full of concern which was not in his usual voice.
"Then I will turn you white again. I'm not afraid Haru, don't worry."
Just then there was a thudding sound above them and both Haru and Tohru turned their heads up towards the ceiling. They looked into the darkness, trying to figure out what was going on. "Tohru do you think the elevator is going to fall?"
Tohru shivered, "Lets not try assuming the worst."
Both of them waited anxiously until a small covering on the ceiling of the elevator was removed and a dark figure slipped through and landed on the ground. He straightened himself out and then flicked on the flashlight, shining it around until he found Tohru and Haru's head, "You both alright?"
Tohru's eyes widened, "Kyo-kun!" She smiled and Haru sat up enough for her to run up and hug him. As Kyo popped he dropped the flashlight and it broke and Tohru was left holding a very angry cat. She hung her head and started to tear, "Oh no, look what I've done now...this is all my fault...now there are three of us stuck..."
Don't go blaming yourself Tohru, we can climb up the way I got here. Hatori is upstairs waiting for us. He told her lightly as he licked the side of her face and purred.
"Climb? How far?" She asked, trying not to giggle as he rubbed his fur up against her.
You're half-way between floors eight and nine, it's not that bad of a climb, about the length of the ropes we have in gym class. He told her lightly, creeping around her neck and nuzzling her.
"I'm sure I can do it," Tohru explained gently, "But I don't know if Haru can, he's sick Kyo."
"Hey, don't talk about me like I'm deaf," Haru sat up slowly, "I'll be okay. Just a quick climb."
"Haru..." Tohru looked in the direction of his voice, "Are you sure?"
" What else could we do? I'm not like a cat that's easy to carry, I'm a freaking cow. I weigh less as a human for crying out loud!" Haru told her.
"But..." Tohru had a bad feeling about this. He had only fainted a little over an hour ago, how could she be certain he wouldn't faint halfway up.
Don't worry about Haru, he's trained in way tougher situations than this with our sensei. Kyo explained. There was a sudden poof of white smoke and then darkness again, Kyo in a panic because he couldn't find his clothes in the dark. Haru was in a corner of the elevator laughing his ass off because of this predicament. Kyo's hands shuffled along the ground until he found his boxers and pants and at least got those on.
"Don't be so bashful Kyo," Haru teased, "It's not like she can see, the darkness just lets her fantasize about it."
"You idiot! I'm going to kill you when we get out of here," Kyo snapped as he continued looking around for his shirt. He continued searching along the floor, and he couldn't understand why it had to be so difficult, it wasn't like it was a big elevator! His hand grabbed onto bare flesh, warm bare flesh that made him blush.
"Umm Kyo...that would be my leg," Tohru explained bashfully, his hand currently grasped onto her just a little above her knee.
Kyo blushed again, "Sorry...have you found my shirt?"
"No I haven't, I'm sorry," She told him gently, her hand resting on top of his which made Kyo blush even more. Every time she touched him chills were sent through his body.
"Maybe we should leave without it, I'm not going to feel good about this situation until Haru sees a doctor," Tohru whispered, "He faintly earlier when the elevator broke."
"I think you're right," Kyo answered finally. "Haru, lets get you up first so I can help you if you start feeling shitty."
Haru got up and made his way along the walls until he found the hole in the ceiling, limited light seen to give the outline of the frame but Haru couldn't see much else. With one giant leap he jumped upwards and grabbed onto the frame of his escape door and flipped up and out of the elevator. Kyo did the same and then he stuck his head down and looked for Tohru, "Tohru, I need you to jump up, grab my hands and I'll pull you out."
"Okay!" Tohru called, taking a deep breath as she walked over to where Kyo's voice was.
"Ready?"
"I'm ready Kyo," She called.
"Okay on the count of three, one...two...THREE!"
Tohru leapt up and Kyo grabbed her by the wrists and pulled her through the tiny hole and plopped her down beside him. Finally there was light, Tohru and Haru's eyes burning from the change in environment. Tohru laid her head in Kyo's lap and sighed, he blushing once again and feared the blush would be permanent. He gave her a quick once over, making sure she hadn't hurt herself and found his prying eyes staring at her exposed chest, feeling sweat start up on the back of his neck. She wasn't indecent, but it was enough to turn him on. "You okay Tohru?" he asked nervously, trying to pull his eyes away from her newly exposed skin.
"I'm just glad to be out of there," she told him in a tired voice, "I was so worried we'd be stuck there for hours."
Kyo stroked the top of her head and smiled, "I told ya nothing bad would happen to you with me around. But we're only half way there, lets all go home so we can sleep."
"Some of us still have homework to do..." Tohru grumbled.
Kyo chuckled and nudged her, "Alright time to get up, just the climb up the stairs and we're out of the woods."
Tohru got up slowly, buttoned her shirt, and looked upward. It seemed so high up, but Tohru just tried to pretend she was climbing the ladder up to the roof. Haru stared up slowly, getting a few feet up and already feeling dizzy. He caught a glimpse of the fear on Tohru's face and he pushed himself up father. Kyo climbed up after, knowing that Tohru was bound to say something if she went before him about her skirt. Tohru slid up after him, trying not to look down.
After what seemed like an eternity Tohru found Kyo grabbing her arms and pulling her out of the elevator shaft. Tohru collapsed to the ground with a heavy sigh and wiped her eyes as Kyo cradled her, "I'm just glad that's over."
"Maybe it is time I take you three home, I'm sure Shigure and the others are quite concerned," Hatori suggested, "And once we get back I'll begin my diagnosis for Haru."
Tohru looked up and smiled, "Thank-you Hatori, I'm glad you could come out on a rainy day like this to save me." The car ride home was just as quiet as the ride to the office had been, Tohru cuddled up against Kyo sleeping, without the curse of course, and Haru sleeping up in the front seat trying to sleep off the fever.
Tohru walked into the house, rubbing her eyes with exhaustion just to have Momiji jumped into her and transform, and she fell back into Kyo who also transformed. Shigure laughed hysterically as he watched Tohru quickly scoop up both boys and their clothes and settle herself on the couch.
"Oh my precious Flower, I'm so proud at how you handled that situation. You took care of Haru and you remained very calm and patient waiting for help," Shigure smiled and rubbed the top of her head.
"Well there wasn't much else I could do, Haru fainted on my lap," She giggled lightly, "Did you all get dinner okay?"
"Oh yes Flower do not worry about us. Yuki reheated the meal for us," Shigure pointed to Yuki who nearly spilt his tea hearing his name.
Yuki looked to Tohru, "By the way Tohru, I brought home one of Ayame's dresses, he wouldn't let me leave the store without taking one with me."
Tohru smiled, "Oh thank you Yuki, that was very sweet of you. I'll call Ayame tomorrow and thank him."
Haru was sent to bed with some antibiotics and Hatori told everyone he would return tomorrow after school to check on Haru's progress. Tohru and Kyo were also both sent to bed, everyone having to force Tohru because she kept complaining she had homework to do. No one noticed she had slipped her homework upstairs with her.
Everyone had forgotten how late it was, Tohru always worked till eleven, but she had been trapped in the elevator so long it was maybe two by the time she actually made it to her bed. She sat up, wrapped around in her covers, and with a flashlight started her homework reading. Kyo, who had just finished up with the bathroom saw the small light flickering in Tohru's room and he pulled the door open, "Tohru? What are you doing so late?"
Tohru looked up, fumbling with the light and giggled lightly, "It's going to be time for me to make breakfast in a few hours, I thought I'd better get some of my homework done."
Kyo wandered into her room and sat down on the edge of her bed, "You have to get some sleep, screw making us breakfast Tohru, I mean someone else can for once. We know what happened to you last night, I'll kill that stupid dog if he nags."
Tohru giggled lightly and looked back at her book, "It's an interesting book anyway."
"Really?" He arched an eyebrow, "How can school books be any interesting?" He asked as he swung his legs up on her bed and sat up on the bed side her.
"It's about this girl, and the dirty little secret she keeps. She thinks she's the only one who is lying, and she finds out that everyone else is doing the same. She falls in love but lies, and the same happens with the boy who loves her. The point is, that lying like that, drove them apart. She ended up being very sad and becoming successful as a writer somewhere else. Ten years later she runs into that same boy."
"And?"
"And that's as far as I got," She giggled lightly, "Kyo?"
He looked down at her, "Yeah?"
She leaned her head against his bare chest and smiled, "Thanks for being honest with me."
Kyo smiled, "Ano, there is something I've been meaning to ask you."
She opened up her eyes and looked up at him, "Go ahead Kyo, ask me."
"Ano, Tohru, I love you," he told her slowly, she nodded and whispered that she loved him back, which made him smile, "Ano, will you be like my girlfriend, for real?"
Tohru smiled, scooted up, and kissed him on the lips long and hard. Kyo was surprised, his eyes first widening, but he melted against Tohru and closed his eyes. His hands worked their way into her hair and tugged her close to him until they finally broke away. "Oh yeah, that's a yes," Tohru told him lightly.
Kyo laughed and stroked the side of her face gently, "I think its time you get some sleep," He yawned and covered his mouth, "I think it's time I get some sleep too."
"I think I'll read a little more, I'm curious to know how the book turns out," Tohru told him gently as she grabbed her flashlight and book, "You can stay if you want, I'll read aloud for you."
Tohru read to Kyo, who switched spots with Tohru to rest up against her as she read to him quietly. Her voice was soft against the night-air, the summer air making the both of them warm from the heat. Tohru kicked off her comforter and she rested beneath just the silky sheets as Kyo remained still in his spot. As she read with one hand her other stroked the top of Kyo's hair, the repetitive motion putting Kyo to sleep almost instantly.
When Tohru found Kyo was truly asleep she didn't have the heart to move him. She turned off her flashlight and pushed it down the crevice of her bed thinking of no better way to dispose of it along with her book. She pecked his lips and then turned over in bed so her back faced him. Tohru felt Kyo's hand wrap around her waist and he burry his head in her hair, the intoxicating scent of roses and just Tohru's unique smell filling his nose. He was asleep though, completely unaware to anything he did. Tohru couldn't help but feel comforted by someone being near her and fell asleep too.
The next morning Kyo and Tohru were awoken to the sound of someone knocking on her bedroom door. They both sat up, wide awake as they looked at each other. "We fell asleep together," Kyo whispered.
"Do you think they'll be mad?" Tohru whispered back.
Kyo listened to the knocking become harder, "Yuki and Shigure will be, I doubt the others will care."
"What should we do?" Tohru asked.
"Just go open the door, we'll have to face it sooner or later," he told her quietly, kissing her cheek, "You look really cute when you first wake up."
She blushed and got out of bed, hopping over him and sliding open the door, "Oh! Good morning Momiji!"
Momiji smiled, "Good morning Tohru. Shigure told me to let you sleep in, we had instant soup for breakfast but that I should come wake you up now," Momiji looked over Tohru's shoulder to see Kyo shirtless in Tohru's bed, "Hey Tohru, did you guys have a sleep over and not invite me?" He looked up at her pouting.
"Oh I'm sorry Momiji," Tohru smiled innocently, "You can sleep with me Friday night okay?"
Momiji nodded, "YAY! Okay well you have to get changed. Haru's up too getting ready. Shigure says you need to be downstairs in twenty minutes, and Yuki's getting too annoying for him.'
Tohru laughed and slid her door shut, turning around and looking at Kyo who was hopping out of bed, "You know he'll tell the others right?" She giggled.
"Yup, but at least he'll make it seem like something innocent, unlike Shigure who will make it seem worse." Kyo slid open the door and took one last look at her, "I'll see ya downstairs, and if Momiji doesn't say anything, it's our little secret okay?"
Tohru nodded, "Sure Kyo, thanks for keeping me company."
Tohru washed and changed quickly, downstairs before either Haru or Kyo, which made it easier for her. She took up a chair next to Yuki, "Good morning Yuki!"
Yuki smiled, "Good morning Tohru, did you get enough sleep?"
"I'm fine!" Tohru smiled, "I just need to get the last of my homework done. I'm afraid being stuck in that elevator cut all the time I had designated as homework time," she explained as she opened up her geometry book.
"Do you want some help Tohru? I can help if you need it," Yuki suggested as he leaned over to look at her problems.
"Um okay, I get most of this stuff in class, I just have issues sometimes when you use the distance formula for like points on a graph that form shapes," Tohru explained (Yuck Math)
Soon everyone was downstairs and Tohru managed to finish up her math homework thanks to Yuki. She grabbed the lunches and handed them out for the boys and checked to see if she had anything besides work tonight. Thankfully she didn't, so she would be able to walk home with Kyo and everyone and complete her homework at a normal pace. If she was lucky she might even be able to work on the term paper due next week.
Shigure looked up from his paper as he watched Tohru run around like a mother hen, "Did you sleep alright my precious Flower?"
Tohru froze, letting the milk pour into her cup as she looked at him, sweat drop on the side of her head that matched Kyo's if anyone had noticed, "I slept fine Shigure, no need to worry about me."
After everyone ate Tohru kissed Shigure on the cheek and he ruffled her hair, "You be careful Tohru, I don't want you getting sick."
"I'll be fine Shigure, I have a feeling today is going to be a great day!" She waved at the door, the boys already waiting for her outside.
She walked between Kyo and Yuki, thanking Yuki while holding onto Kyo's hand. When everyone approached the school Kyo felt Tohru let go of his hand and stop walking. He turned around and looked at her, "What's wrong Tohru?"
Tohru dropped her bag and covered her mouth with her hand, the other pointing at the front of the school, where a familiar group of boys were waiting. Each of them were holding up a piece of a sign that spelt out - We missed you Princess
A/N - Sorry that this fic is a little shorter than usual. Guess who's back! And guess what, Black Haru is making his appearance, dun dun dunnnn! More SOON