Author's note: Finally...I updated this! . I was waiting for more people to review though...but I figured that regardless I'd just put the chapter up anyway. So I hope you enjoy this. Please check out my other Fruits Baskets fanfics...especially 48 hrs...that's got one more chapter left . I'll be working on that soon. So in the mean time...hope u like this...enjoy and don't forget to leave a review!
Disclaimer: Don't own FB...how may times do I have to say it?...turns to lawers who are standing my me...every chapter? Crap! Then I've gotta come up with better Disclaimers!!
The trouble with love is...
The complex feelings of wanting to protect someone yet hurting them too...
Momiji's POV
"Thoru!!" I cried out as I dropped down onto my knees next to her. My eyes were widen as I looked down at her unmoving body. I shook her lightly but she didn't stir awake. I bit my lower lip as tears threated to fall from my eyes.
"Thoru! Please wake up! What's wrong? Throu!" I shouted as I continued to shake her. She felt so cold! When I lowered my ear to hear if she was breathing or not, I found that her breathing was very shallow. I realized at that moment that continuing to be out here in the rain with her wouldn't help any. It was very important for me to get her into the house quickly.
Without wasting another second, I picked her up bridle style and rushed towards the house. Although the house was only 25 more minutes away, I managed to make it there in half the time.
"Help! Someone!" I cried out as I ran into the house with Tohru. Within minutes, I saw Shigure appear. When he saw us, I saw him giving me this very surprised look. His eyes widen as he dropped his jaw slightly.
"I didn't think it would happen this quickly!" He said more to himself.
I ignored his comment as I explain the current situation. "Tohru…there's something wrong with her!" I said sternly. "Now's not the time to be questioning why I'm able to hold her without transforming. Call Hatori now!"
Shigure seemed to snap out of his daze just long enough for him to turn around to call Hatori. In the mean time I ran upstairs towards Tohru's room.
"Mo…Momiji?" I heard a small voice call out to me. I looked down and saw her eyes were narrowly opened. A look of confusion was written across her face. "What's going on? Where am I?" She questioned in a weak voice.
"Don't worry." I whispered as I looked down at her. "I'm here for you, I won't let anything happen to you." I smiled softly as I saw her eyes widen slightly.
"Your...so...warm." She said softly as she once again became unconscious. My eyes widen…I wasn't sure if…if…well heck, I didn't want to think of it. I just silently prayed that she would be ok. When I reached her room, I placed her on her bed and walked over towards her draw. There I grabbed a towel and a pair of pj's to put on her. I walked back towards her bed and looked down at her. For some reason…the thought of changing her clothes seemed like a good idea at first…but now…when I was really going to do it…I felt very nervous. I swallowed hard and blushed deeply as...thoughts...came to the fore front of my mind. I blushed even more as I shook my head. No! I mustn't think that way! If I don't get these wet cloths from off her, she'll get even more sick. I thought to myself as I gained some composer and started on her shirt. Just as I started to unbutton the first couple of buttons, I heard Shigure coming in from behind.
"I called Hatori and he said he'd be here in-" He stopped short when he approached the doorway. I briefly paused as I turned to look back at him. He had a shocked look on his face.
"What are you doing to Tohru-kun! He gasped as he walked further into the room.
"What does it look like I'm going?" I asked as I rolled my eyes at his comment.
"It looks like you're taking advantage of our dear Tohru-kun under her current predicament! You ravishing beast you! I'd think you would have waited until she was actually awake to join in the pleasure!" He gasped dramatically.
I tilted my head slightly…utterly confused by what he said. When it finally dawned on me what he meant, my eyes narrowed as I smacked him. "Idiot! Aren't you ever serious?" I asked in an annoyed tone.
"Well…" He began thoughtfully. "Of course I do! However most of the time I simply call it as I see it." A huge smile was plastered on his face and I simply sighed in exasperation as I turned away from him. I've learned that sometimes it was best just to keep quite rather then to retaliate.
"Just help me get her out of these wet cloths." I said in a low voice. I paused before adding in a cool tone, "And get your head out of the gutter. I don't want to hear anymore perverted comments from you. Because next time I won't hold back from beating you to a bloody pulp."
His eyes widen as I saw him swallowing hard. "Where…where did the cute innocent Momiji that I've grown to know and love suddenly go?" He asked with a small pout.
"Hn." I grunted as I turned around and headed back towards Tohru. "He grew up." I simply said.
"I see…" He replied as walked towards the bed. "Well…that's good and all. Just don't forget who you are in the progress." He said in that kinda big brother tone.
My eyes widen slightly at his sudden comment. I turned to look up at him with a surprised look. "Where did that comment come from?" I asked.
"No where…I've always wanted to say something like that and now seemed like the right time." He answered nonchalantly.
I couldn't help it, a small smile manged to creep up. "Whatever. Let's just get her out of these cloths. I'll work on the top, you just work on the pants. Ok?"
I saw as he nodded his head and both of us went back to undressing her. In the mean time, another voice could be heard at the doorway. "What are you two doing to Honda-san?!" Yuki gasped in shock.
Shigure stopped what he was doing as he jumped back from undressing Tohru. He held his hands up in defense as he shook his head. "It's not what you think!" He cried out.
Yuki ignored him as he walked into the room towards me. "What happened to her?" He asked.
I shook my head with a frown. "I found her like this. About 25 minutes away form here. She was uncontentious when I found her but briefly woke up not too long ago. What was she doing out there anyway?" I asked with a curious look.
A thoughtful look came across Yuki's face. It then scrunched to a look of confusion. "Hum...I know she was out there with Kyou...but that was a while ago...and I haven't seen him since then." His eyes then narrowed. "If that stupid cat did anything to Honda-san I'll-"
"Kill him!" I finished his sentence. My eyes were also narrowed. I couldn't help but to shake the feeling that he had something to do with this. I could feel anger...that I've never felt...just boil under my skin. As I've said...when it came to Tohru...I'd do anything for her...anything! So without a doubt...if someone hurts her...they just better not get in my way. We continued to stand there for a second before I snapped out of my thoughts.
I sighed deeply before I spoke. "Yuki...please wait downstairs for Hatori-san. Shigure-san just called him and he should be here momentarily." Without a word, Yuki nodded his head as he turned around and headed back downstairs. I closed my eyes as I took in a deep breath. This...was not how I imagined my day being. As I continued to stand there lost in my thoughts, Shigure called out to me. I turned to look at him and noticed that he was blushing deeply. My head tilted slightly...curious as to why he was blushing.
"What?" I asked as I walked closer to him.
"Well...I...took off the pants...but what about her underwear? I mean heck...this kinda stuff doesn't faze me...I've seen more..." He said with a shrug of his shoulders. My eyes narrowed and I felt my fist curling up. Just then he noticed the look on my face and jumped back slightly and his eyes widen. "No...it's not what u think...I didn't mean Tohru-kun! I have much respect for her...really!" I raised one of my eyebrows as I gave him a skeptical look. When I saw he was sincere, the look on my face soften. Just then a deep blush appeared across my cheeks.
"Well...you have to take that off too..." I said in a small voice after swallowing hard.
"But how?" Shigure Stressed.
I paused for a moment as a thoughtful look came across my face. "Ah! I've got it! Why don't you take the bed sheet and place it over...ehm...there and just place your hand under the sheet to take it off." I suggested.
Shigure nodded his head as he started to work. I also went back to what I was doing. By the time we finished, Hatori walked into the room with Yuki following close behind. He immediately walked over towards Tohru and started to check her vitals.
"Who found her?" He asked with out looking back.
I paused shortly before I spoke up in a calm voice. "Um...I did."
He paused briefly as he turned to look at me. "You did? Where did you find her?" He asked.
"About 25 minutes from here...I don't know how long she was out there for..." I answered truthfully.
There was a long pause after I spoke. I saw as his eyes narrowed as if he were pondering something but then he shook his head as if to dismiss it. "Where's Kyou?" He asked as he looked around.
"I don't know..." Yuki spoke up. All of us turned to look at him. "I know that him and Honda-san were outside...but...that was more then an hour ago..."
"An hour huh?" Hatori muttered under his breath. Just then he returned to running his test. After a few more minutes, he stood up and took a step back. "She's not out of the woods." He said in a low voice. He turned to look at all of us before continuing. "She has a high fever...but...that's not the only problem..." His voice trailed off. A very worried look came across his face. That in turn caused me as well as the others to look at him intensely.
"...Hatori-san..." I said in a low voice. "...what...what's wrong with Tohru?" I asked...almost afraid of the answer.
"I have to run a few more test to conform it...but...I didn't like the way her heart sounded...not at all." He said in a low voice as he packed away his stuff. He then turned to look at Shigure. "I'll be back tomorrow to continue my tests on her. In the mean while keep an eye on her and call me if her condition worsens."
"...Worsens???" I echoed in a small voice as my eyes widen. Hatori looked at me with a calm look...but...I could see underneath it all...that he was just as worried as all of us. I closed my eyes. No way this could be happening! No way! I was suppose to come here today to tell her I love her, not standing here watching her...like this...and for things to possibility get worst then it is now? No...I didn't want to believe it. I shook my head as I could feel the tears swelling up behind my eyes. Suddenly at that moment...I felt as if I couldn't breath. As if the room was sucking out all the air from my lungs. Before anyone could say another word, I spun around on my heels and...ran out of the room. I kept running...down the stairs and out of the door. As I ran the tears fell freely. By now the rain had stopped but the dark clouds still remained in the sky.
When I finally stopped, I was a fair distance away from the house. My mind was racing as I tired to catch my breath. By now I was crying harder. As I wiped away the tears, I took a notice that I was. This was where I found Tohru earlier! As I looked around, I noticed someone sitting on the ground fairly close to where I found her. They had their knees drawled up close their chest as there head was lowered. However, intently I knew who it was and when I saw him all the anger that was building up...suddenly hit the roof. With my fist clutched into tight fist, I stormed over to him.
I guess he heard me coming, cause he looked up at me. When I approached him, I was slightly taken aback to see that there were fresh tear stains on his cheek. For a split second I questioned why he was crying, but quit frankly...I couldn't care. All I knew was that I wanted answers since he was the last one to be seen with her.
"What happened between you and Tohru?" I demanded as I stared down at him with narrowed eyes.
For a second he looked up at me blankly, but it didn't take long for a scowl to come across his face. "It's non of your business what happened between Tohru and I." He snorted as he looked away from me.
My mouth hung open slightly. I just stared down at him with a look mixed with anger and disbelief. Just then...I surprised myself and him by grabbing him by his collar and yanking him up. Over the years I gained inches and was now an inch shorter then him. My eyes darkened and my gaze seemed to burn right through him. At first he seemed ticked off and surprised that I would yank him up like...but as I looked at him, I could see his eyes widen slightly...from fear? No...it didn't look like fear...but close enough.
"I said..." I began in an eerily cool voice as I continued to hold my grip, "What happened between you and Tohru?"
"Why should I tell you?" He retorted. "What happens between us staying between us got it?"
This guy couldn't be serious could he? Did he not see how upset I was or was he blind? I growled angry before I pulled my arm back and swung my fist into his face, sending him flying back a few feet. There was no use suppressing my anger. It was like...a darker side of me emerged...and there was no stopping it.
"DON'T MESS WITH ME!!!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs in rage. Once again I stormed over towards him, not even giving him the chance to stand up. Once again I grabbed him by his collar and yanked him up. My fist were curled ready to strike again if he didn't give me the answers I was looking for. I guessed that he could sense how serious I was cause he suddenly spoke up.
"We...we went outside. It was raining...light at first...then heavy..." He paused as he swallowed hard. A look of sorrow was written across his face as he continued. "She...told me...that she loved me." He then shook his head as he continued. I saw...much to my surprise...a few tears rolling down his cheeks.
"I...I don't know why I did it!" He cried out as he broke away from my now loosen grip and stepped back. His fist were balled up and hung loosely at his side. He looked down at the ground and part of his hair shadowed over his eyes.
"What. Did. You. Do?" I stressed between clutched teeth...trying to keep my cool.
"I should have known...something like this would happen." He continued as if he didn't hear what I had said. I listen carefully as he continued. "We were becoming so close. Like everyday that passed we drew closer. I gradually fell in love with her. There was no helping it. I...I love her. But..." He paused as he looked up at me, a bitter look on his face. "I'm the cat. I can't love another...why should I give in to something that's only going to be taken away from me?
"So when she told me she loved me...I wasn't surprised. In fact...deep down...I was happy. I was so happy to hear those words coming from her because aside from Shishou...she's the only other one who loved me for who I was...never once looking at the fact that I was the cat. She loved for the person inside." He paused as a small smile...a true smile...came across his face. As suddenly as it came...it disappeared and a frown appeared. "But I..." He sighed deeply. "I messed up. I pushed her away. I wanted her to hate me so that...she could remain happy...when that day comes..."
Slowly...very slowly it came together. I now knew what must have happened. To be honest...I now felt a mixture of emotions. I wanted to beat the crap out of him for hurting her...but...at the same time I felt pity for him. I started to wonder if I were in the same situation as him would I do the same thing? No!!! I firmly thought to myself. He could have found another way. I'm sure if he spoke to her like this... "No...even if you spoke to her like this...she wouldn't listen to you...would she?" I whispered as I looked down at the ground.
"She refused to listen to me when I told her I didn't love her. But...that wasn't what got her to runaway...no...it was much worst then that..." He said in a low voice. That now caught my attention. I was sure, 100 positive that she ran away because he denied his love for her...
"Then...why?" I found myself asking...and once again regretting that I even asked.
"I...I called her an outsider." He below a whisper. I barely caught on...but...I did hear what he said. Once again, my anger shot up. Why...why on earth would he call her that? I opened my mouth and I didn't bother to hold back.
"You...of all people are calling her an outsider? Look at yourself. You're the cat...you're nothing! You don't have a place in the world! Outsider...that word doesn't belong to her...it's a name given to you! Because of you, she's in that bed now and we don't know if she'll pull through or not. Hatori said something about her heart...I...I don't know if she'll...die or not..." By this time...I lost it. I was crying and my knees gave out on me. I was down on the ground burying my face in my hands as I continued. "I only came today to tell her I love her. I love her so much and I would offer her more then you ever could. She's...the most precious person in my life...without her...my life...I wouldn't feel alive without her!!" I shouted the last sentence.
A long silence hung in the air after that. After awhile I looked up to see if he was still there or not and sure enough...he was. He looked like he was deep in his own thoughts...he looked like a man...torn into so many pieces. How much pain could one person handle in their life time? I silently wondered. It only took me a second to realize what I had said. No matter how upset I was...I now regretted that I'd utter those words to him. I never once looked at him like that. Or did I? As my thoughts continued to wonder, he finally spoke up.
"If I have only one wish...it would be for her to be happy. I wish to see her smile and laugh. I don't want to see a single tear escape her eyes..." He paused as he turned to look at me. When our eyes locked, I saw an unreadable look in his eyes. "Take good care of her." He said in a serious, low tone as he turned to walk away.
I blinked, completely taken by surprise. "Wait!" I called out as I stood up, looking at him with widen eyes. "Where are you going?"
He stopped with his back still towards me. There was a pause before he continued. "I can't stay...she won't be happy if I stay." He said with a hint of sadness in his voice.
My eyes widen even more at hearing him say that. He couldn't be serious! "What are you talking about? She wouldn't be happy if you left either!"
"But she'll have you!" He shot back as he turned to look at me. I gasped slightly at seeing the look on his face. He...was never like this...he was always more...
"But I'm not you...she wants you." I said as I looked down at the ground. I shook my head as I suddenly felt his huge weight on my shoulders. "She wants to be with you. She loves you. Even if you said all of those things to her...she'll still love you. You can't just leave her like this...you can't!"
"I won't be free for long don't you get it? Akito is going to lock me up in that room. Even if she does still love me...what makes you think that we could ever be together? Akito won't allow it and you know it. It would just be best if I disappear...it's the only way I could be free...and that she'll be happy...it's the only way!" He cried out as I saw him shake slightly.
No matter what...it was hard for me to fully understand. Even when I did have the curse...I never understood what it was like being the cat. I suppose I'd never understand. I'll never understand any of it. However...I suppose that it would be best...to abide by his wishes...if it would make him happy and more importantly if it would make her happy too.
"If...if that's what you want." I found myself saying. "I'll protect her and I'll make her happy. But...I can't force her to anything she doesn't want. I'll have to tell her the truth."
I saw as he nodded his head and with out another word, he walked off. As I stood there watching his back fade into the distance, I slowly turned around and made my way back to the house with many things on my mind.