Disclaimer: I can barely draw a smiley face, do you think I can draw 25 manga books?!?

I dedicate this chapter to Applecake!!! Thanks for all the reviews!

Muffinizer: Gomen! Sorry, look up points to Disclaimer I can't draw very well, I've tried, but I always hate the results. And thank you for you're kind words!! I don't know how true the whole "powers from physical trauma" thing is. But you never know. We only use a tiny portion of our mind. Who knows what we could do with the rest?

Emmski: Arigato!! Thank you so much! I'm sorry for getting mad… just a lot of my insane Yukiru friends have been pressuring me to change it… but I like this pairing! I'm glad you do too!

Haru is a cow: Awesome name. An sorry! Can't tell you yet! (mostly cause I haven't really figured it out myself…) And I'll try and put him and Momiji in the next chappie.

Applecake: ooh… tantalizing idea… But I see their relationship as a bro/sis kind. Thank you so much for all your support!!

Obob: YAY! Thankies my loyal reviewer! I'm so happy that you might use my idea! And NO! You ARE totally brilliant!

And gomen nasai! FF for what ever reason wouldn't let me upload this chapter till just now! I had it ready a while ago

BTW my comma key is broken. It broke right after I wrote all the thank you's and the first two lines. That's why there are weird spots that really should have commas.

Chapter 7 Secret Talks at Secret Bases

Yuki walked quickly, holding his gloves and trowel. Tohru was right beside him. Finally, the 'secret base' was in sight.

Yuki knelt beside it, and quickly pulled on his gloves. His mind was a blur of confused emotions. He had always loved Tohru, but… lately, he wasn't sure it was the romantic kind anymore.

"Ummm… Yuki-Kun? You know you can tell me anything right?" Tohru said worriedly.

He looked at her. At her big beautiful brown eyes filled with worry; at her long silky brown hair wafting in the slight breeze; at her soft white hands that he longed to hold; and finally… her rose pink lips that always seemed to say exactly what he needed to hear.

His head drooped slightly and his eyes filled with tears. He smiled a little to himself as he heard her panic slightly.

"AH! Y-Yuki-Kun! Why are you crying? Is it something I did? Did I say something stupid?"

"No. You could never do anything stupid. Or make me cry. You're just so wonderful Honda-San. I don't know what I've done to deserve it." The boy looked at her with purple eyes that were now shining with barely held in tears.

"Don't say things like that!" the sheer power and belief in these words shocked Yuki who mumbled something like "but… Honda-San…"

"You're the wonderful person Yuki-Kun! You took me in when I needed a home and you and the other Sohma's have been nothing but kind and generous to me! If anything… I don't deserve everything you and the Sohma's have given me! You've given me a home and a family! I'm so blessed to have known you Yuki-Kun." And she smiled her sweet loving smile at him and he made a split second decision

"Honda-San…"

"yes?"

"I-I…" he looked at her and in her loving face he found the courage he had always thought he could never have "I love you"

XxX meanwhile back at Shigure's house XxX

"Urr…" Kyo grumbled his stomach and his mouth making perfect harmony "I'm starved! Where's Tohru?!" (they were so upset over Sakura's story that they forgot about breakfast and it burned)

"now now. I'm sure Yuki isn't doing anything to our tender flower to slow her down. If you know what I mean." Shigure said with a twinkle in his eye.

" No… I don't know what you mean you stupid dog. And knowing you… I'm glad I don't. It can't be anything good if you're saying ya perv"

"Oh! Kyo! What happened to respecting you're elders! Kazuma-Dono will be so disappointed in you. Tut tut."

"DAMN YOU!!!!"

XxX back at the secret base with XxX

"I love you"

His words rang in the air. And Tohru looked shocked and unable to comprehend what he was saying. For one heart stopping moment Yuki though she would refuse him. Then finally after what seemed like ages but what in reality only a few seconds she spoke

"I… I love you too Yuki-kun"

Relief washed over him and he listened avidly to what she was saying. But the more she talked the sadder but more understating he got.

"but… I don't think I love in the way I girl should love a wonderful guy like you. I… I almost think of you as my brother. Or even as my loving and protective father. Or even…" she blushed beet red "s-sometimes in my head… I even think of you as my… my… as my son" she panicked as he looked troubled "umm! I know that sounds really weird and all! But that's really how I feel! I thought… for a really long time I thought I was in love you. But really… I loved you as family. I'm… I'm sorry if I hurt you Yuki-Kun. But… are you sure the love you feel for me isn't like family too?"

he looked up slightly startled at this idea

"I mean… there are so many different kinds of love in the world. I love the color pink; I love Uo-Chan and Hana-Chan; I love Mom; I love cooking; and I love you. Those are such different kinds of love. And… you've told me that as a child you weren't loved much. If at all." She looked sad and troubled at this prospect and Yuki wanted nothing more than to reach over and hug her. "Maybe the love you feel for me is the same kind of love I feel for you. Family love. That's a strong love Yuki-Kun. And I'd be honored if you loved me like that. But… pleae yuki-Kun… no matter what love it is you feel… please still be my friend"

The boy sat before her… and looked deep into himself. Every moment he had ever spent with her flashed in his mind. Was she right? Did he really love her as family? The way he felt about her was different than what he felt about any of the other Sohmas… but… there was a slight similarity. The love he felt for he was sort of like the gurging love for the other cursed members of the zodiac and the extremily grudging and slightly admiring love he had for Kyo. Then he realized in a cold shock that felt as though someone had just dumped ice water on him. But the… he felt warm as the true realization hit.

The love he felt for Tohru felt like the love he had felt for his mother in his early years. The belief that she would make everything all right; the warmth and happiness he had felt when he was with her; the want and the need to be with her. They were the same. Tohru was more of a mother than he'd ever had. And though it wasn't what he'd thought it was… he still loved her more than he'd ever loved anything. And he cherished that love.

He looked up at her worried face and finally gave in to his desire.

He leant over and hugged her. Right before he shrank… he whispered in her ear one word that would change his life

mother