"Tohru!" Momiji cried at the sight of her. "Momiji, so nice to see you." Tohru in her work uniform greeted him with a warm smile. "I have lots of work today, I don't know if I'm going to have too much free time." Momiji looked down and then quietly answered her. "It's alright, I would help you, but I don't think I'm aloud."
Tohru studied Momiji's face in confusion. "Your not aloud? It's not like I asked you to help me, and I don't want to put you through any trouble..But I don't mind if you want to help.. but...your not aloud?" she blinked a few times watching his pain filled face.
"I'm not suppose to tell you why...But I think I will anyways... Akito says that I'm not aloud to be around you Tohru, oh it's just not fair!"tears glistened in his eyes. Tohru would have hugged him if there was no one around, or if he didn't turn into a rabbit, his zodiac animal.
"Akito...is not...letting you...?" Tohru's expression changed into hurt. "I guess...that visit made things worse...It's all...my fault..." Momiji gave her a half smile. "But if it was my choice, I would always love to be with you Tohru, and be even better friends!" he reassured her, trying to make her feel better. It almost gave Tohru's heart wings, if it wasn't for the fact that Akito still hated her, a rock tying her heart to the ground, she would have soared with happiness.
"That's nice to know Momiji, I would love that too..." Momiji winked at her and gave her a innocent smile, he turned and walked away.
"Poor Tohru...I hope you can get through this...You have to be strong!"
After work, Tohru walked home with her uniform tucked under her arms. "I have to take this home to be washed...next time I work...lets see...Wednesday..?"
She caught a chill that ran up her spin and made her shiver. "That's so chilly.." She thought for a moment and then paused. "It's getting colder at night now...fall is going to be over soon...and then brings winter.." Tohru never minded winter all so much, she always told herself what her mother used to say to her.
"Winter is so cold!" Her mother looked down at her with caring eyes. "Yes Tohru..the winter is cold and harsh, but all that harshness is washed away with spring, when the flowers will bloom again. So you see, there can't be a spring without a winter." Tohru understood. "From now on I won't mind what season it is, as long as I know that the next one is coming!" she said in determination.
Tohru found herself smiling at her memories. "Oh mom, the winter is cold, but it can be a very harsh thing, but kind..Without the winter, there would be no renewal, and without it there would be no more flowers, or crisp air..So I understand.."
The rest of the week went faster than usual. Tohru managed to push the whole incident with Momiji to the back of her mind, as well as what Hana had told her. She was more focussed on school work, and her friends.
Shigure sat at home in his office eating Jelly Buns. "My dear little housewife is so amazing.." he told himself taking a big bite of his bun. He was snapped out of the trance of eating when the phone rang. Picking it up he cheerfully spoke "Sohma's!" into the phone.
"SHIGURE! YOU BETTER BE WORKING ON YOUR MANUSCRIPT, THE DEADLI–.."click.
"She doesn't know when to quit.."
"Shigure..." she cried with the phone still in her hands as she sobbed in annoyance and helplessness.
The phone rang again and this time he picked it up and slammed it right back down on it's receiver. It rang once again. "That editor of mine is always on my case.." picking it up, he was surprised to hear someone else's voice.
"So...Shigure...decided to pick up..?"
Shigure almost swallowed his tongue.
"Akito..?"
"I want you..Yuki...and the cat to meet me...Today. Is that final?"
He hesitated before answering.
"Shigure..?"
"Yes. We'll come...But Kyo...isn't aloud...to enter...isn't that...the rules?"
Akito paused.
"Make sure Tohru doesn't know about it...Drop her off somewhere, I don't care...don't let her know or else everyone...
is in trouble..."
Click.
Shigure paced back and forth. "Oh no, this can't be good."
When all three of them came home, Yuki and Kyo instantly noticed something strange about Shigure. He didn't care, as long as Tohru didn't know. He was relieved when her facial expression formed a friendly common Tohru smile.
"Tohru! I was wondering...You haven't been to your friend's house lately and today would be a great day for a sleep-over. Since it's Friday and all, and I'm sure your doing ok in school–.."
Yuki shot Shigure a death glare shutting him up right away. Tohru looked puzzled at his sudden outburst. Kyo looked from face to face having no clue what was going on.
"Are you sure that's alright..?" she asked looking surprised. Shigure almost died in relief. At least he didn't have to majorly force her out. "Yes, it's quite alright, you can go now if you want.."
"Well...I haven't been anywhere in awhile...But...what about you guys, will you be fine without me..?" she said concerned.
Shigure nodded giving her a smirk. "Kyo over here will make supper, right Kyo!"
"What?! I didn't say anything about making supper! I'm not your–.."
"Now Tohru, go pack your things, I bet your friends will be glad to see you!" he almost pushed her up the stairs urging her to her room. She obeyed in an way that felt odd to her as well as everyone else.
"What's this about dog?" Yuki spurred keeping his voice low.
'Yeah, what's with the push-out?" said Kyo stepping in.
Shigure gave them both a grave stare. "Akito wants to have a meeting. With all of us...Right now."
Yuki was furious. "Akito..wants us to have a meeting on such short notice..?"
Kyo gave them both an odd face. "He wants me to come.?..What about those stinking rules..?"
"I don't think he cares about there right now..."
Tohru carried her bag as she walked down the street. She hadn't been to Uo-Chan's house is a while. She was meeting Hana there as well. They agreed in half a second over one phone call and it was settled..Tohru was going for a sleep-over.
Yuki, Kyo and Shigure walked side by side not saying a word. When they finally arrived, they gazed at the Sohma's House in worry.
The three of them went through the gate greeted by Hatori. He looked emotionless telling them that Akito was waiting.
"YOU BASTARD AKITO!" Kyo scowled in hate. "How could you even suggest THAT!"
"Silence you pathetic excuse of a boy! Your not worthy of speaking cat!" he spat with his voice filled with venom.
Yuki clenched his fists. "Kyo, we cannot do anything about it." he said with one tone. Kyo glared at him with shock. "Your actually going to go through with this?!!" Shigure looked at the floor.
"It doesn't matter if you want to do it or not! I'll make you! I can hurt that girl so bad you'll have nitemares about it!!" Kyo instantly shut his mouth with his face twisted in pain and hate. Yuki just sat there silent not looking up once.
"You damn rat! You won't do anything about it!!" Kyo screamed while they where outside the gates.
"I can't do anything about it." he said annoyed.
"Your so scared of that damn Akito, you won't even make a sacrifice for Tohru!"
"Do you think I want to hurt Tohru!?" Yuki had pain written all over his face. "If we don't do this...ArrRGH!! He's gonna hurt Tohru even worse! Cat! Your just being selfish if you want that!" Kyo clamped his jaw shut. What was he suppose to do? How was he going to do this? "I'll hurt her so bad you'll have nitemares about it..." He shivered at the thought.