Battle for a Riceball

Chapter 19: A shattered riceball

Hatori's eyes quickly left Tohru's as he sadly spoke up,

"He wants you to suffer for every coming into the Sohma family, so he asked me to-" Hatori paused for a moment then sighed.

"He asked me to erase your memory of everyone except for one of us…." he muttered.

Tohru felt panic rise, and tears started to stream down her cheeks.

"What do you mean…..one of you?" her body shook and the terrible sensation of a knot on her throat came to her. She wanted for this all to end, she was willing to leave the Sohma family and never come back. Yet, Akito wanted her to suffer. She didn't know if she could handle it.

"You get to pick one person from the Sohma family to keep your memories of. So.. You get to remember every moment you spent with that person, but you'll forget the rest of the zodiac," Hatori mumbled.

"Well at least Akito isn't being completely heartless. You get to remember one of us Tohru. Please cheer up," Shigure pleaded. He couldn't stand seeing Tohru broken up like that.

"That damn Akito is making her suffer more you stupid dog! She has to decide to keep the memories of one of us. That just makes things worse!" Kyo barked.

Tohru clenched her teeth, as if she wanted to stop crying. She just couldn't.

"Don't worry Tohru…it won't be painful..once you decide who you want to keep memories of. You'll forget everything that happened, except you'll remember one of us.

Everything will be fine," Yuki grabbed Tohru's hand, placing his on top of hers.

"But-I don't think I could handle this…choosing one out of the whole zodiac. I-I don't think I could do this," Tohru's whole body shook. She clutched on to Yuki's shirt sleeve as if it where her life. She sobbed into his arm, letting out all her emotions. Shigure painfully looked away. Her cries where heartbreaking, and painful. Kyo clenched his teeth together.

"You don't gotta cry about it…please don't. Everything will turn out alright. I promise," Kyo whispered in a gentle tone that he rarely ever used. Tohru looked back at him and nodded. She let out another sob, before she spoke up.

"I'm sorry- I'm making a big deal out of everything aren't I?" she faked a smile and paused to wipe her tears. She let go of Yuki's arm, and stared at the floor. Tears where still flowing down her cheeks. "I just don't want to forget anyone. All the time I've spent with them. All the laughs we've shared….those memories are all very dear to me. I don't want to loose them, but I guess crying won't help will it?" she clenched her teeth and blinked away the tears. "But for some reason…I can't stop crying. I don't want to forget anyone." she repeated again.

"Tohru…..you'll soon be out of this nightmare as soon as you decide. We would be happy to see your cheerful smile again. Even if we are complete strangers to you in the future, don't forget that we'll still be there. We'll remember you- forever," Shigure pointed out.

"Thank you." she managed a weak smile. The room suddenly fell silent.

"umm…if you'll excuse me. I'm going upstairs- I need some time…alone," Tohru mumbled slowly.

"Of course." Shigure nodded. Tohru quickly rose to her feet, looking painfully wounded. She had bruises in every where. She slowly walked upstairs. Everyone in the room fell silent when the heard her door close.

"Damn Akito," Kyo rose to his feet and walked upstairs.

"I need to be alone too," Yuki said abruptly, walking upstairs.

Shigure and Hatori both sighed at the same time.

"It must be difficult for all of them," Shigure spoke up.

"Yes…especially for Tohru," Hatori mumbled.

"Haa-san…will you really do anything Akito demands?"

"I have no choice. He threatens me just like he did back then with Kana. I can' refuse his orders. He has threatened me that he will "kill" Tohru unless I follow his orders. I'm afraid that- I have to do what Akito says. No matter how unfair it is. If he really wants to make me erase Tohru's memories, then I have to do that." Hatori replied.

"I see. So, I guess it's best for all of us if you just obey Akito. It would be too painful to lose Tohru. I just hope that Yuki and Kyo can pull it together." Shigure sighed.

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Kyo crawled to his bed, pounding his fist against the table beside him. He laid there, his eyes trembling in fear.

What if Torhu chooses that damn rat over me!? I don't think I can handle loosing her like that. She- she's everything to me. I don't want her to suffer dammit! Akito has gone to far this time. What did Tohru do to deserve this?

Kyo clenched his teeth together.

If she does choose the damn rat..I hope that…at least I can see her goofy smile on her face again. Even if I am a stranger to her. Seeing her happy- I guess that's enough.

Sometimes..I wish I wouldn't have meant Tohru in the first place….I wish that Tohru would have never meant us. Because…this is just to painful.

Kyo shook his thoughts away, and he laid there staring at the wall.

But I'll never regret meeting her.

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Yuki slammed the door behind him, and sunk to the floor. He put his hands to his face, and clenched his teeth together.

Why did this have to happen? Tohru will surely pick the stupid cat over me. This was my fault anyways…

Yuki sighed, remembering that a few days ago…….Akito had asked him several questions concerning Tohru.

FLASHBACK

Yuki swallowed, and carefully walked towards the god of the zodiac. Akito was sitting down by a patch of grass with a malicious smirk on his face. Yuki could feel his fear rising. He just walked cautiously towards him, hoping that the interrogation would soon be over.

There was a glint of anger in the god's eyes. Yuki sat beside Akito- keeping his distance he quickly spoke up.

"Why did you call me?" Yuki spat out.

"My rat. I haven't talked to you in a long time. I want you to tell me…about how life has been at Shigure's house.

"F-fine. Everything is fine," Yuki mumbled.

"Alright then…tell me more about this Tohru Honda girl," Akito asked.

Yuki felt his face drain color. "She's a friend of mine..," he said finally.

"And…are you happy to have her at Shigure's house? Do you think the secret is safe with her?"

Yuki started to feel lightheaded.

"Y-Yes..I trust her. I'm happy she's with us," Yuki spoke slowly.

"Have you found what you were looking for in her?"

Yuki swallowed. He didn't say anything, he just quickly looked away.

The god's tone had changed; it was colder.

"She is important to you, isn't she?"

Yuki couldn't say anything. He didn't know the right answer to the question. This was the very question he had feared. Akito would soon know his true feelings.

"She is… a friend," Yuki replied softly.

"Do you love her? Is she what you were looking for….as more than a friend?"

"I already told you…she's just my friend," Yuki repeated softly.

"I believe she's much more than that Yuki. I don't like your relationship with her," Akito had a cold tone to his voice.

Yuki couldn't say a word, he was too scared.

"Do you love her Yuki? Tell me the truth…I won't be angry." Akito repeated. Yuki didn't say anything. He just stood in silence.

"I see you aren't willing to talk. Perhaps Tohru will tell me more about your relationship with her. I might pay her a surprise visit some time," Akito smiled. Yuki felt sick to his stomach. He wanted to scream out, beg Akito to not hurt her. He just couldn't say a word.

-------------------------------END OF FLASHBACK------------------------------------------

Yuki blinked away the tears that were just about to pour out.

It was my fault. My feelings for her were to obvious. I love Tohru.

Tohru had been slowly breaking me away from Akito's spell of torture..

And Akito knew it. This whole time. He knew that the Zodiac were all moving away from him because of Tohru's influence. Tohru had done amazing things she made everything brighter, and happy. She made me….feel so happy.

I love her..and I'll try my best to stay strong for- her.

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Kyo walked out of his room, to check on Tohru. Yuki walked out at exactly the same time, meeting Kyo in the hallway. They looked at each other in disgust for a few moments before Kyo spoke up.

"Look-"

"What? Are you going to get angry at me for not standing up to Akito enough? I know it's my fault Tohru got into this- but..I don't need to hear it from you." Yuki retorted.

"umm..that wasn't what I was going to say you damn rat," Kyo snapped.

Yuki sighed. "Then what do you want. Make it quick you stupid cat."

"I was going to say- you better be strong for Tohru. She'll worry if you're all sad about this. Just..try to be strong you damn rat….and if she chooses you to keep memories of. Please- make her happy," Kyo muttered weakly, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and sighed. Yuki raised his eyebrow.

That stupid cat thinks that Tohru will pick me?

"O-Okay.." Yuki paused for a moment then continued. "Do you love her?" he asked abruptly. Kyo's head snapped to look at him. He was caught off-guard with that question.

"Maybe. Does it matter?" he answered coolly.

Yuki sighed. "I couldn't care less, stupid cat."

"Well…whatever. Just do your best to protect her- even if it means standing up to Akito. I know it's hard for you because you're so weak and all, but just try.," Kyo mumbled.

"You didn't have to ask. I intend to do that, and I can stand up to Akito- I'm not weak," Yuki muttered.

Kyo managed a small smirk.

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Tohru laid her bed, tears couldn't stop flowing down her cheeks. She heard a knock on her door. She quickly wiped her tears with her sleeve, and flung the door open.

"We came to check on you Tohru," Yuki shot her one of his carefree smiles.

Kyo stood beside Yuki, with a slight blush on his cheeks. "Yeah…me too," he muttered. Tohru felt a smile tug on her lips.

"Thank you so much for worrying about me! I know I'm making a big deal about this, but I'm really sorry if I'm crying to much…it's just. I can't hide it- I'm really sad. I don't want to forget either of you two," Tohru replied, sadness was evident in her tone.

"Tohru you're not alone. We are all sad that this is happening. We're doing everything we can to avoid it, but it seems like Akito has already made up his mind. There is nothing to change that, but have you decided who you want to choose?" Yuki asked hesitantly. The instant he asked, he regretted it. Tohru looked hurt at the question.

"No- I don't know. I can't decide. I love all of you…so much. I don't think I can decide.." she fumbled with her hands.

"You don't gotta worry about that now. Just do us all a favor…and brighten up the situation with one of your goofy smiles. That would make me…happy," Kyo muttered. Tohru smiled.

"umm..I'll try," she mumbled.

"He's right for once. Don't worry too much about all this…Tohru. We'll always remember you. We care about you, so please smile," Yuki tried his best to smile, he cupped her chin, making Tohru blush.

She felt tears well up on her eyes. She stood closer to Yuki and Kyo, and abruptly pulled them both into a tight hug. Kyo instantly felt his cheeks warm up with her touch, and Yuki's eyes widen in shock. The moment was interrupted with a explosion that filled the room up with smoke. Tohru hugged both the cat and rat.

"Me too…." Tohru hiccupped her words. "I care about you so much, which makes this so hard to decide who I want to keep the memories of. But I'll try, okay? I'll try to smile….I'll try to be happy again." Tohru cried. "I love you both- so much," she sobbed.

Kyo and Yuki's eyes instantly widen. She hugged them both tighter, and Kyo quickly pulled away.

"Don't get so fluffy about all this…you're talking like we're never going to see you again or something. Don't worry about anything- we'll still be with you. That's a promise. We won't leave your side…no matter what," he said with a blush on his cheeks. Tohru just smiled back.

"Thank you," she whispered.

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Everyone is so sad in this chapter! Who is Tohru going to pick that she will keep her memories for? Kyo? Yuki? Find out in the next chapter! Please review!