Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket. Thanks for the reviews!
Just as a notice: I'm using the Western Style School-system, when students have July and August off from school and return in September.
Chapter 12 Beatings
Haru kept Tohru company for most of the night; neither really wanted to talk about Akito, so they'd bring up random talk about summer ideas. Apparently Haru planned on travelingacross the country during August, but if Tohru's problems were still going on he made a silent promise to stay for her. Right before dawn Tohru had fallen asleep, and Haru crept upstairs. He laid his head upon his pillow and stared at the dull bedroom ceiling, thinking about what had happened at the dance. Poor Hana, no Hana-chan, she seemed to be suffering.
Despite her aloof nature, she was still caring. She had always been there for Tohru, through thick and thin. Haru smiled, thinking about all the times Tohru had preached about her best friends. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. Across the town Hana was staring at the ceiling of her own bedroom, thinking not of Haru, but the horrible nightmares she had awoken from. There was always such darkness in her mind, like she was blind, and was forced to listen to the torture people were feeling.
Hana rose from her bed, trying not to wake her roommate and friend, Uo-chan. Silently she dressed in a pair of blue jeans, white t-shirt, and black sneakers. Her hands caressed the canopy of her hair but left it out of a braid, instead covering all of her back from its formidable length. She took one last look at her friend and left her home for a walk with the sunrise.
The sun, symbolic for the god and the giving of light, chastity, the light in the darkened world. Hana stared at the orb as it broke against the horizon, illuminating the slumbering earth. She sighed and followed the vacant streets until she reached the park. There were a few penguin statues made of plastic that children seemed to like, a few swings, slide, and a jungle gym. Hana sat down on one of the levels of the jungle gym and contemplated. As a child, before the times of Uo and Tohru, she had wished she had friends. Hana had, wanted to be with the kids that played on this jungle gym, played tag, things like that. But she never could...since everyone thought she was cursed.
"Good morning! Who wants breakfast?" Tohru asked happily, already shuffling some fresh pancakes onto a new plate.
"Tohru, you're sure up early this morning," Momiji piped, sitting down at the table waiting eagerly for his breakfast. "Did you have fun last night Tohru? You looked just like a Princess! Princess Tohru!"
Tohru smiled at him gently and rubbed his soft blonde locks, which made Momiji laugh lightly. "I had a lot of fun last night, I'm so grateful I got to spend all that time with everyone." She sat down at the table and took a sip of her orange juice as the other boys slowly wandered into the kitchen.
"Good morning Tohru," each boy chorused with a slight weariness in their voices. They took their seats and took their turns passing around food. Tohru stood when Kyo sat, which caused him to raise an eyebrow.
"Where are you going Tohru? It's not like you have work today, or school." Kyo frowned, pushing a piece of a pancake into his mouth. His hair was messier than usual, and he was only casually dressed in a long t-shirt and slacks.
Tohru picked up her keys and shoved them into her pocket, "Well, I'm just going to walk the town. It's a lovely day, I just want to enjoy it before it's gone." Kyo's eyes softened, he understood her. She wanted to enjoy things, before she was taken away from them again. No one knew but him, and it wasn't like the promise of two-weeks with Akito. Neither Kyo or Tohru had any idea if she'd ever come back, or even live. "Momiji, do you want to come with me?" Her words broke him from his trance.
Kyo looked at Momiji beside him in his chair and laughed, "You better go with her Momiji. I need someone to protect the Squirt while I train today. What you say, protect her ya here?"
Momiji gave a salute and laughed, "Yes sir! I will be Tohru's loyal knight! We'll have fun today right Tohru?" He stood up and took her hand, "Lets go! Lets find you something amazing Tohru!"
Tohru took one last look back at Kyo and worded to him I love you. Kyo replied the same and watched her disappear outside. He stood and placed his dishes in the sink quietly, which caught even Yuki's attention. "Is something wrong Kyo?"
"Nothing's wrong you damn Rat. I'm going to go train today. Make sure that perverted dog doesn't do anything crazy." Kyo stretched his arms and gave a sort of smirk of rivalry between them. I figure, old things die hard. Haru nodded and smiled too. "Maybe if you're not to busy with your damn student council you'll come fight me. We never have had a proper match that wasn't interrupted."
Yuki was going to call him stupid, but Kyo had already left. Yuki looked at Haru and ran his hand through his lavender hair. "Don't things seem peaceful lately? It's almost strange, we usually have so many things to deal with. Even if we are cursed, it almost feels like, we're not anymore."
Haru, who had spoke with Tohru and Hana, remembering the warnings of things to come, merely shrugged his shoulders. "I don't want to wonder why good fortune has come to us. Instead, I'll let it in with open arms, in case it ever decides to run away. Maybe you should fight Kyo, for old time's sake."
Momiji pulled Tohru into a jewelry store in the mall and pulled her over to the rings. "Which ring would you want Kyo to get for you Tohru? Which one? Which one?" Momiji was grinning ear to ear. He could see the blush swelling on poor Tohru's face and she had to use her hands to hide her fluster.
"I could never ask for such an expensive thing, Momiji. It's just far too much." Tohru smiled at him and shook her head left to right. "Never would I be worth such a gift."
Momiji shook his head and balled his small fists, "That's not true Tohru. Kyo loves you, and you are so good to us Sohmas. Don't tell me its 'cause we're family. Never put yourself in such a insignificant pedestal in our family. You're what keeps us together."
She smiled, "Oh Momiji, don't be silly. The Sohmas survived before me, they could survive after me god forbid if that ever happened." Her fingers wove through his hair and she lowered herself to his eye level. "I will always be with the Sohmas, always, but you also need to learn to rely on yourself too, Momiji. Do you, understand?"
He frowned, sometimes Momiji disliked the way Tohru spoke to him. They were the same age, in the same school, he went through the same things she did. "Tohru I know what you mean, but don't ever put yourself down. You are wonderful."
"I think I'd want one simple diamond, on a gold band. Nothing more than that," Tohru told him gently. It was enough to make him grin and make his beautiful eyes sparkle. She laughed lightly and allowed him to walk her out of the store. "Do you really think Kyo would ask me that?"
Momiji knew what she was implying and he nodded, "Maybe not now Tohru, since we're all still in highschool. But then again, if Akito locks him up forever, he might just ask you anyway. He does love you, but I think because his time is limited, it could happen anytime or anywhere. What would you do, if he said yes?"
Tohru blushed and looked down at the floor. "I'd say yes. I would love to spend my life with Kyo, forever. But I'd always be with the Sohmas too. That's what I want, to be with the people who make me happiest."
"Don't worry Tohru, you'll always have us."
Hopefully.
The two decided to go to a local café for a light lunch. They ordered a slice of cheesecake with strawberries and tea. (It's so delicious, it's like heaven). Unfortunately Tohru's phone happened to start ringing right in the middle of their pleasant meal.
"Gomen Momiji, I'm afraid it's Kira. Let me just talk to him for a minute outside and I'll come right back. Okay?" Tohru smiled weakly, hoping for his forgiveness.
"Sure thing Tohru! Go right ahead," he smiled happily. "Just means more cheesecake for me!"
"Hey Momiji, why don't you go and buy another slice for yourself. There's some more money in my purse okay?" Tohru got a nod from him and she quickly wandered outside.
"Hello? Honda-san here."
"Yo Tohru! The group is ready for a practice, we're waiting for you."
Tohru bit her lip.
"Tohru? Are you still there?"
"Yeah, I am Kira. Look, there's something that needs to be said."
Momiji, who was still inside the store was digging through Tohru's purse looking for a few more singles. Unfortunately, he came upon it, the note:
Your time is running thin, make a decision soon. In three days Kureno and Rin will come to the Sohma estate. You are to accompany them into the city. You will not go to Sohma Home. Enjoy your last few days.'
Momiji clenched his little fists and felt tears fill his eyes.
"What? What do you mean you can't be in the band anymore? Is it because of the tour?"
"Kira...I just can't anymore. I can't tell you, not without—" she started to choke on the phone. "Please, please Kira."
"I let you stay with these strangers, hell I even let them adopt you! I let you go so you could fall in love! All I wanted in return was for you to stay with the band!"
"Kira please! I'd tell you if I could but I can't!"
"Tohru what the hell—"
"TOHRU!"
Tohru spun around to see a crying Momiji standing in front of her. In his hand was a wadded up piece of paper and her face paled. She dropped the phone, leaving Kira to call her name a hundred times. She walked closer to him but he walked farther back.
"Why didn't you tell me? Why must you insist on treating me like a kid? Why? Does Kyo know, do all the other's know? Do you think this protecting me?" he screamed at her, little tears falling from his beautiful blue eyes.
Tohru bit her lip and felt tears filling her own eyes. She flexed her fingers and sighed, "Momiji, I couldn't, tell you. I didn't want you to, worry and fret because of me. You're always so genki and wonderful I didn't...want to hurt you."
"Tohru, I've been hurt before!" He shouted at her, trying hard not to collapse as his little heart broke into pieces. "I lost my Mother and Momo. Neither know who I am, neither! I have to watch them everyday live without me, grow old without me! My mother didn't want me! I've been hurt, it hurts everyday!" His bangs covered his tearing eyes as he turned and ran from her. That paper floated to the ground before her feet.
"Momiji..."
"Tohru? Hello Tohru? What's going on?"
She bent down and picked up her phone. "I cannot stay with Clarity, when my own eyes are clouded by confusion. I'm sorry Kira." –beep– beep— beep— She squeezed the phone in her fingers and took off down the street after Momiji.
Hana wandered the city, not minding the people who stared at her. She was strange, she figured, wearing all black on such a beautiful day. She turned a corner and bumped shoulders with Sohma.
"Oh, Hana-chan! Sorry, I didn't see you there."
Hana looked up to see Hatsaharu staring back at her. Strange Haru, with eyes almost as mysterious as hers. She bowed her head and gave him a polite smile. "It's alright. No harm comes to me."
He shoved his hands in his pockets and rubbed his foot against the street. "Are you feeling any better since last night? I mean, you had us worried there for a while." He felt embarrassed, like talking to Hana was so difficult, he felt like he was under a microscope.
She bowed her head again, "I am fine now, I had herbal tea like Tohru suggested. Good Tohru, so good to all of us." Hana nodded and turned to continue her walk. That wasn't all that I meant. His words made her stop, shock filling her face, but he could not see it because her back was too him. What about, what you told me. Those warnings. He asked again, reaching out to turn her around. "They have not left, and grow worse."
Haru bit his lip, he didn't want to hear that. He touched her shoulder and watched her flinch slightly and a small audible gasp make it past her lips. "Hana-chan...I'm sorry," he removed his hand from her shoulder and she still shuddered, shaking her head.
"She needs help," Hana announced suddenly, taking down the street in a sprint. That sprint was surprising since during the endurance test Hana had maybe made it two steps past the starting line and ended up playing cards with everyone.
Haru, astonished and slightly confused, took off after her. He took her hand and ran with her as she turned a corner, not paying attention to his hand. Her heart was pounding, why was something bad, going to happen, now?
"Momiji? Momiji where are you?" Tohru ran frantically all over the town. She looked in almost every store, and on the streets. "Please Momiji?" She screamed, tears rolling down her face. Tohru hadn't paid for the food, she'd left her phone behind, her purse, in such a frantic search for him.
Tohru looked up at the tops of the buildings just in case, and ran through the town still. Eventually Tohru was at the park, because she had no where else to look. Onigiri...onigiri...the memory of her childhood flashing before her eyes. Much to her relief she found him sitting on the top of the jungle gym sniffling and wiping his eyes. "Oh Momiji."
He looked up and saw her, eyes swelling as new tears started falling. "Go away Tohru! I don't want to talk to you right now."
"I can't just leave you alone Momiji, I've been worried sick," she pleaded. Tohru took another step towards him but he was already starting to retreat from her. She started crying and sank to her knees. "I'm sorry Momiji, but I couldn't bare to tell you. I don't want to leave, I don't want to at all!"
"You could have trusted me! I could have helped you! Instead you've been lying to me!" Momiji screamed at her, "What else have you been lying to me about?"
"Ah so the foolish Onigiri is once again causing trouble in the lives of the Sohmas."
Tohru turned around to see Kureno staring at her. His eyes were filled with such a hate, not like anything she'd seen in him before. She bowed and hung her head. "I'm sorry Kureno-sama, I got your note and Momiji found out. He's just a little upset."
Kureno smirked, "How unfortunate, the very family you seek to protect is slowly turning its back on you."
"That's not true! Families fight all the time, its only natural. We can't expect perfection in a world that does not allow it," Tohru preached to him, clenching her tiny fists. "You'd know as well as any other Sohma, you all claim you're cursed, how is that perfection!"
"Don't talk to me with such insubordination!" Kureno slapped her across the face. Momiji's eyes widened as Tohru held her cheek and looked away. "Now apologize this instant for wasting my time and preaching to me like I'm that child," he pointed to Momiji.
"Fucking bastard!" Haru jumped out of the bushes and nailed Kureno a great punch across the face. Hana appeared soon after, a tiny bit exhausted from the hard running they had gone through.
"Haru! Hana? What are you two doing here?" Tohru asked frantically, running over to her friend.
Haru stood up and grinned a Black Haru grin at Kureno, "Ah it feels good be back. Yo Momiji, must not be going to well to have you crying. So Kureno, how about a friendly match? Except, I plan on kicking your ass."
Kureno smirked, "Big words for such a stupid cow." Kureno knew that hit deep, the cruel words Haru had heard growing up as a child. It was the very fuel that kept Black Haru alive. Haru's attacks got sloppy, and were easy enough for Kureno to block. Haru was flipped onto the ground and Kureno started to kick Haru in the side.
Haru's cries of pain made Tohru start to cry, and even Hana was at a loss for what to do. Tohru, in a panic, started to run straight at Kureno. Momiji, realizing what she was going to do, ran towards Hana and casually pushed her to the ground. A poof sound and a puff of smoke filled the air and Tohru picked up a very angry rooster by his feet.
She left in a sprint, clothes in her other arm, trying to find a place to hide him. "Gomen Kureno-sama, but I did not want you to harm Haru for my faults and actions." Kureno said and did nothing, too in shock that the Onigiri had actually transformed him in front of her friend. There was another poof and Tohru turned away, leaving his clothes on the ground for him. "Gomen Kureno, but I must go check on Haru."
By the time Tohru returned to the scene Haru was already standing up, White, and holding his bruised side. She ran up to him with tears in her eyes, "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry this happened!" She turned to Momiji, "Do you see now? Do you see why I didn't want to say it, I didn't want this!" Hana could only gaze upon her friends with the utmost confusion. What was this fight she had just witnessed, and what truth was she not telling that Momiji knew. Who was this, Kureno, who had harmed them so, was this still Arisa's Kureno? "I'm sorry everyone, I've got to go."
Momiji grabbed Haru by the wrist before he could go after Tohru. "Not now Haru...Tohru has some...thinking to do. There are things, she hasn't told us. I think she's in danger though, of things coming."
"I will take my leave," Hana bowed politely. "Tohru is still in need of saving from harm, but I cannot help you any longer. I'm sorry, but I need to find Arisa, she is worrying about me." Hana took one last look at Haru. He was still holding his side, but there was a strange look in his eyes. It made her uneasy, and slowly she left without saying anything else.
Tohru ran through the park so fast, tears blurring her vision, not that she had any idea where she was going. Someone yanked her by the arms and she looked up to see a very pissed off Kureno. The first thing he did was slap her across the face, then throw her to the ground.
"You stupid girl! What the hell were you doing transforming me in front of her? You truly wish to have your memories erased that badly?" Kureno looked down into her terrified azure eyes as she trembled on the damp earth.
"Hana didn't see anything! Momiji adverted her attention at the last minute, don't worry Kureno-sama you're secret is still safe," Tohru explained to him. Her voice was weary and her face still stung with his harsh slaps. "Besides you're coming for me in two days, isn't that enough pain for me to bear?" Tohru screamed out at him, but immediately covered her mouth. She should not have spoken out in such force against a respected adult. She knew better and quickly apologized to kami in her mind.
Kureno snickered and spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground in front of you. "You think that's a lot of pain? Just hanging out with Rin and me? You're in for quite a bumpy ride. Once Akito knows someone else knows our curse you won't even have memories!" Kureno laughed and kicked her upside the head. "Today is merely a demonstration!"
"Oy, that you Hana?" Uo called from the inside of their apartment, sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee and a work outfit on. "I got my check for the month, and a bonus. I paid off the bills. Just remember its your turn next month."
"Yes, I will remember." Hana took off her shoes at the door and hung up her coat. Quietly she wandered into the apartment and sat down next to Uo. "Uo...I have witnessed something today, that our dear Tohru has hidden from us."
"What is that? Are she and Kyo having sex?" Uo asked casually, sipping at her coffee. Now if Hana had been the kind of girl to have a wide variety of facial expressions her eyes probably would have shot out of their sockets and she would have screamed like a girl. But of course, being Hana she merely shook her head to imply 'no'. "Then what?"
"The Sohmas whom Tohru abide in, her intimate family, are facing abuse from the other Sohmas. Anyone who associates with her, is hurt. Today I saw...Momiji-san weeping, and Haru take kicks to his side like a mongrel." Hana hugged at her knees and stared at Uo's shocked face. "Uo, Kureno-sama, he hit Tohru too. And in a couple of days, I think that man is coming to take Tohru away."
Uo was silent for a long time, staring down into the depths of her cup like it would be a void to a new world. Kureno-sama? The man she thought was an adorable male counterpart to Tohru when she found him at the supermarket? He had seemed, so kind then. Uo felt a frown take hold on her face as she sighed. "Oh boy, this is bad. I don't know if I want to get involved. Family stuff, if you haven't noticed, isn't our thing Hana. I want to help her, I really do, but how? We can't just rush in their and be martyrs. Do you have any ideas?"
"No, I have no ideas just yet. But Uo, I fear that things, are going to get worse. Revelations are coming, and they are not always welcomed. I'm going to rest for a while, today was an exhausting day." Hana bowed to her friend and disappeared to her bedroom. The room wasn't that creative, decorated with only some colored wall-paper from the previous owner and a few stray pieces of furniture. She lay down on her bed and stared up at the ceiling. Once again. The image of Hatsuharu's face flashed before her eyes. She turned over on the bed and closed her eyes, Hatsuharu, what are you doing to me?
Haru and Momiji both were sitting together on the playground waiting for Tohru to come back. Momiji still sniffled from time to time, and Haru was resting from his aching side. He must've fractured at least two ribs. Haru reached over and rubbed Momiji's head kindly and then closed his eyes.
"I don't think we should wait her much longer. You're going to catch a cold, you've been out all day crying and I'm not looking like anything better than crap. Five more minutes, alright?"
Momiji sniffled, "Haru, did you know? Did you know what was going on with Tohru?"
"Not really. She never told me herself, details I mean. But I could just see the fear in her. Tohru's greatest fear is losing another family that she loves. Her father, her mother, both are dead and when she went to live with her relatives they all neglected her. We were the diamond in the rough for her. She knew the potential we could hold. Now, she loves us like family, and now we too are disappearing. How much do you really think she can take? Its only been a what, almost two years?"
Momiji looked down at his little hands and bit his lower lip. "It's not fair though! She keeps treating me like a child. She could've told me, she told Kyo, and you, but not me!"
"And look how you reacted. You cried. She can't stand to see you cry, Momiji. You're like the everlasting joy symbolic to our family. When you cry, its like the whole world cries." Haru stroked the top of his head and sighed. "In a sense, she fears hurting you especially. If you cry, no one would be able to make you stop."
"Momiji...I'm sorry."
Both Haru and Momiji turned their heads to see a tattered Tohru staring at them. Tears slid from her eyes down to her chin, then dripped to the floor. Her face was covered in swollen red from his slaps and her shirt was ripped from his punches and kicks. Arms were red with nail mark, small trickles of blood were visible.
Haru ran to her and braced her before she fell over, "Tohru, did he do this to you? Did that bastard Kureno do this?"
Tohru leaned her head against his chest, "Please Haru, just leave it alone. Please, I'm begging you–" Tohru started to sob against him as her body trembled, "No more. Please. If you get involved again, he'll tell Akito-sama. Haru no more!"
Haru tipped her chin up so she could look him in the face. "Tohru, did he touch you? Did he?" Tohru didn't reply, and tugged her face from him and stared at the ground. "Tohru? Did. He. Touch. You?"
"Stop it Haru! Just stop it!" Tohru screamed, covering her face and falling to her knees.
Haru couldn't tell what shocked him more; that Kureno had touched Tohru, or that Tohru was defending him? Regardless, Tohru's hysteria was something even his steady mind could not handle. He had completely forgotten about Momiji until the little blonde stood beside him and took a fist full of Tohru's hair. That too, shocked him.
"Tohru, answer his question: Did Kureno touch you? What did he do to you?" Momiji asked in a teary scream. He had to know, he had to know if Tohru was still pure. What would Kyo say or do, knowing the woman he loved could possibly have been raped?
Tohru gasped as he pulled at her hair, so much like Akito had done months ago. She was starting to cry even harder, neither of the boys had seen her this way. Her arms were flailing everywhere, trying to get Momiji to let go of her. Finally a loud slap echoed over the sounds of her sobs. Momiji was shocked. He held his cheek, tears now filling his eyes, as he watched Tohru stand up.
"I'm going to go see Hatori now. He'll tell you if anything is wrong with me. You two should go home and eat something. It's getting late, and Shigure will be worried about you two. Momiji, I left my phone and purse at the restaurant. Haru, tell Kyo I'll be home later." Tohru ran away the minute the words had finished leaving her lips.
"Tohru wait!" Haru cuffed his mouth and called after her. But she was already gone. He looked down to Momiji, who was still crying silently and holding his cheek. Haru wrapped his arms around Momiji and sighed. "You should never have man-handled her after what just happened. She's too frightened."
"Haru...I think she'll hate me forever..." Momiji whimpered into Haru's chest. He could feel Haru's large hands running through his hair, but it wasn't like the way Tohru touched him. Momiji cried and gripped onto Haru's clothes for dear life. "Why didn't she tell me, Haru? Why?"
"To protect you. She knew you'd protect her, and she knew there would be pain," Haru told the boy quietly. He scooped up Momiji like he was carrying his brother and put him on his shoulders. "We'll go get Tohru's things and go home like she asked. Will you be okay up there?"
"Sniff—I'll be okay—sniff. Thanks, Haru," Momiji leaned his face into Haru's white hair and closed his eyes. Haru didn't mind, and smiled sympathetically to himself, wishing Momiji was happier. The two people who were usually filled with sunshine, were both wilting like flowers.
There was a loud knock at the front of the Sohma Home (meaning where Akito was). Hatori left his work at the table and wandered through the court yard toward the loud thud thud thud. "Yes Yes, I'm coming. Just wait a minute." Hatori sighed, his hair covering only one eye that was caked in bags. Lately he was working later than usual, so only half of his weariness could be seen. He opened the door grumbling under his breath. "Now what can I do for—Tohru?"
"Hello Hatori," she whispered quietly. A tiny smile was on her face, but her eyes were layered with so much sadness and pain Hatori wished she'd stop smiling, it hurt too much to see that smile being dampened so. "I was wondering if you could...check something for me."
Still quite shocked at her appearance Hatori tried to regain his composure. He cleared his throat and smile, stepping aside so she could come in. "What can I do for you, Tohru?" He asked in his normal cold and unloving voice. Tohru sighed and started to tear again, Hatori dropped all forms of formality. "Tohru, what's wrong?" This time his voice was much kinder, like his one good eye, portraying the good-will of his heart.
"Something happened to me today Hatori. I want to make sure that, I'm not...completely corrupted."
Hatori raised an eyebrow but took her tiny hand and walked her inside, "You can tell me about it when you're ready."
"You what?" Kyo screamed at Haru and the completely exhausted Momiji. "You let her walk away? What if she didn't actually go to Hatori?" He had worked so hard on his training, he had planned on showing Tohru his hard work when she got back. He had even raced to the door like an eager puppy only to find that the two numb-skulls had lost her.
Haru looked down at the floor and rubbed his head, "Tohru went to Hatori, trust me. I think, something bad might have happened to her, and she needed a doctor's inspection."
"WHAT? What the hell happened to her today? Momiji, you were with her, what happened!" Kyo wasn't calming down, despite the fact that both Momiji and Haru were now sitting on the couches with their heads hung.
"Oh what is with all the ruckus?" Shigure moaned as he walked into the den, "Ah, so Haru and Momiji are home. Boys, where is my darling Flower?"
"She's with Hatori," Momiji whimpered, wiping his eyes. "I ran away from Tohru today. She had to search all over town for me, and then Kureno----"
"What, you ran away, whatever for Momiji? Did you and TOhru have a quarrel over something? You and Tohru never seem to fight, you're both like two tight peas in a pod," Shigure scratched his chin and sat down on the couch across from Haru and Momiji. "Kyo, why don't you sit? Interrogating the boys will only make it more difficult for them to speak."
Kyo reluctantly obeyed.
"Now Momiji, tell me, why did you run away?" Shigure asked calmly.
Momiji squirmed in his seat, assuming Kyo knew, it was only Shigure who was oblivious to what was happening to Tohru. Momiji swallowed the lump in his throat and sighed, "Kureno and Rin are coming to take Tohru away in two days! She didn't tell me, but I found a note from them in her wallet. I got so mad that she didn't tell me I ran away."
There was a pause. "Well, I should be the one angry. She didn't even tell her own father." Shigure rubbed his chin and sighed, "Then again, Tohru never was the one to burden any of us."
"Tohru looked for Momiji all day, and Kureno came and started to yell at her. I, of course, being the stupid ox, turned Black and tried to be the crap from him. But Hana-chan was there, so Tohru hugged Kureno and took him away before Hana could see anything. I was...beaten because I was sloppy in my rage. When she came back from hiding, Kureno was gone and she had beat marks everywhere. I asked her if he 'touched her' and she only started weeping, then ran away."
Shigure sighed and paled, "Oh dear...my poor Flower. If she is with Hatori she is in safe hands. We should probably take you to see him too Haru. So now only Yuki is uninformed of this ordeal."
"What am I uninformed of?" Yuki asked, climbing down the stairs. Just then the phone rang, and Kyo took it as the perfect excuse to leave and answer it.
"Hello, Sohma residence," Kyo grumbled into the phone.
"Kyo? This is Hatori."
"Is she okay?" He blurted out quickly.
"..."
"Hatori?"
"...I tried to examine her, but by the time I got her into my office she was sobbing hysterically. She's asleep now, completely exhausted."
"How bad does it look?"
"Kyo, it is very possible that she was raped."
The phone fell from his hand.
Author's Notes: Quick pole: Hana and Haru as a couple, yes or no?
Was Tohru Raped?
What is going to happen when Rin and Kureno come for her?
What is Uo going to do now that she knows Kureno abused Tohru?
Will Hana figure out the family curse?
Much more in the next chapter.