"And Then You" by Greg Laswell mostly circles around Tohru, how she's been trying and failing to suppress all these painful feelings ever since Kyo was locked away, and now, although they're always near the surface, they're starting to crack through her strained facade. But, seriously, does anyone care about these chapter theme songs? Cuz they're getting kind of difficult to come up with. If even one person cares, I'll keep up with them, but if I don't get a response about them by the next update, then they will probably leave and never be heard from again. Which is sad.
"Tohru-kun, are you felling alright?" Taiko-san asks after the lunch rush has dwindled to a calm. "You seem a little flustered." He's much taller than her and a little heavyset with crinkles around his concerned eyes.
"Oh, yes, I'm okay," she answers, trying for a genuine smile. She really doesn't want to worry him. He already has enough to worry about without her clogging up his list of concerns.
"If you need to go home, you're welcome to it. We're not too busy right now, and your shift ends in a few hours anyway."
"No, really, I can stay. Like you said, I only have a few hours left on my shift. I'll be fine." She tries for another smile, but his face betrays his doubt.
"Honestly, Tohru, we aren't busy at all. I'm going to be sending some of you home, anyway."
"Alright," she concedes, her shoulders drooping.
"Thank you, Tohru. Feel better, okay?"
"Okay. Thank you, Taiko-san." She bows quickly before retreating to the back to put on her coat. On the way out, she feels in the pocket of her apron. The note is still there. She hasn't been able to open it. She wants to so very badly – burns to know what her sweet, sweet friend has to say – but at the same time, she can't bring herself to do it alone. She was planning on having dinner with Hana-chan and Shishou-san at his house anyway. She decides to call him and see if it would be alright if she came early.
o.O.o.O.o
"Sweet Tohru, are you alright?" Shishou-san asks as Tohru crosses the threshold of his home. "You sounded a little emotional on the phone. And you still have on your apron."
"Shishou-san, I have to show you something. Where's Hana-chan?"
"She's out buying groceries for dinner tonight. You gave her the list this morning, remember?"
"Oh, good. I feel bad saying this, Shishou, but she can't know."
"Why not?"
"It's about the curse." Shishou's concerned expression becomes blank as he takes that in.
After a moment, he declares, "Let's go into the dining room." Placing a hand on her upper back, he leads her into the next room and makes sure she's seated comfortably on the floor before joining her across the table. He waits as she digs around in her apron and produces a folded piece of paper. She bows her head as she reaches across the table and waits for him to take it.
"I haven't been able to open it yet. I can't. A woman came into the restaurant today and gave it to me." Shishou gingerly takes the note from her shaking hand and begins to carefully unfold it. "She said – she said it's from Momiji." A short sob breaks through as she says his name, but she holds back the onslaught.
She watches Shishou as he reads it intently. His face becomes stiffer with each passing moment, his jaw clenching. Tohru isn't sure she's ever seen Shishou's jaw clench. The time spent in silence is unbearable. Her fists clench in her lap, and she tries not to rock back and forth.
Shishou doesn't lift his head as he asks, "Did this woman say who she was?"
"Yes, Kasumi, a servant at Sohma House. What is it? Is everything okay?"
He glances up at her, sees the worry and fear in her features, and his face softens. "Would you like to read it yourself? Or would you rather I read it aloud?"
Tohru tries to think, tries to decide, but she can't. She shakes her head. "I-I don't know."
He looks at her for a moment and begins to read aloud.
"My Tohru, I haven't given up. Neither should you. Kyo is running out of time. He's becoming more and more distant, drawing into himself. He needs you. We all need you. I have a plan, and I need your help – Shihan, too. But Kyo doesn't want to try to escape. He thinks that even if he succeeds, Akito will blame you and try to hurt you. Please, tell him that it will be okay, that Akito's attempting to hurt you is not a guarantee, that he should at least try. I think Akito can change. In fact, I think he's changing already. He's letting Kyo stay in the infirmary until his wounds are completely healed and not making him go back before they become just faint, pink lines. Please, give your response to the woman who brought you this when the time comes. I miss you, Tohru. We all do. With love always, Momiji."
Tohru can't speak when Shishou finishes. There's only one thought in her head: Kyo is hurt?
o.O.o.O.o
The silence is extremely awkward – and yet not at the same time. It's weird for Kyo to be in the same room with Yuki, alone, and not want to punch him in the face every second of it. Honestly, he just doesn't have it in him anymore. The guy still gets on the Cat's nerves like no one else, but ever since he lost the bet with Akito, the motivation is no longer there. He's sure that if the situation arose, he would fight that Rat in a heartbeat, but just sitting here? Nah. Plus, that would only agitate his cuts, and more than that, he's a little out of practice at the moment. So, Kyo just lays on his back and stares out the window, his hands resting on his lower belly, one of the less wounded places on his torso, as Yuki sits in the wooden chair, a little farther away than Hiro or Momiji had been, reading the same book that Haru was when it was his turn. Kyo wonders if he let Yuki borrow it.
He tries to ignore the Rat in the corner and, without realizing it, thinks of Kisa for about the millionth time since this morning – or, rather, her words.
Could Tohru possibly be missing him as much as he misses her? It seems unlikely. Of course, what does he know? He's just a stupid Cat, after all, although he would never in a million years admit that to one of the others, especially not that thing in the corner.
Kyo sighs quietly. Why couldn't everything just be… okay? Why couldn't he have been born as a normal person? But if that were the case, would he still have met Tohru?
"Damn it all," he mutters so low that only he can hear.
He stares out the window and into the wilderness and wonders… would it have been better if he had been born normal? If he had never met Tohru at all? If he had never… fallen in love? But as much as he tries to force himself into it, he just can't regret that. As many regrets as he harbors and nurtures in this weak, dirty heart of his, he can't regret her. He can't regret Tohru. She's the best thing that ever happened to him. It sounds so freaking cliché, but it's the truest thing he's ever known.
His fists and jaw clench simultaneously. He needs to focus, to think strategically for her good, and not let his emotions take over.
Okay. So, which is more important? Tohru's safety or Tohru's happiness? Would her safety be worth risking her happiness, her smile? Would her happiness be worth putting her in danger?
Damn Akito. This would all be so much easier if he wasn't such a freaking control freak.
Kyo shuts his eyes tight, blocking his view of outside, and trying also to block out this difficulty, this strife, this indecision. He'll have to decide soon. It won't be long before he's forced back into that room.
"You know, you really should thank Hatori." Yuki's voice brings him back down to earth.
"What?"
"For saving your life, of course. And for convincing Akito it's of dire importance that you stay in here until you're completely healed. No isolated room for you for a while. You should be grateful."
Kyo doesn't say anything for a moment, thinking that the Rat may have been reading his mind. Then he nods. "Yeah. I am." It's actually news to him about his extended stay in the infirmary, but he buries his surprise. He really is grateful, though. He never thought that any of them would attempt such a thing.
Yuki turns back to his book. But he had reminded Kyo of something. He really didn't want to do this – in fact, he hated it – but he knew it was the right thing to do and that Tohru would want him to do it. So, he takes a minute to swallow his pride and, before he can change his mind, clears his throat, takes a breath and – chickens out. Maybe he'll beat around the bush for a few minutes. "So. I, uh, hear we're the same blood type." Kyo can't look him in the eye, but from his peripheral vision can see that damn Rat's smug little look and just wants to smack it off – but no. That won't change anything. He'll still owe him a thanks – and then an apology, too. It just isn't worth it.
"Yeah. I, uh, heard that, too." Is that punk mocking him? Kyo thinks so. He restrains against clenching his fists and stares hard out the window so that Yuki can't see his face.
"Haru told me."
"Yeah?"
"Yep. Said it was a good thing, too."
"Really? Why's that?" Oh, he is totally mocking him! He's having fun! Kyo can hear it in his girly little voice.
He can't hold it in anymore. He speaks through near-clenched teeth. "Well… I appreciate it. Your… donation, I mean."
There's a pause, and Kyo wonders if Yuki heard him. He better have because he's not saying it again. Then, he can hear the smile in the Rat's voice. "Don't mention it. We can't have you dying on us, now, can we? What would we tell Tohru when we see her again?"
Kyo whips his head around, his eyes flashing. "What?"
"Don't think you're the only one Momiji's been talking to. That boy's more clever and conniving than any of us thought." Yuki sat up and lowered his voice. "He thinks that God and the Cat share some sort of special bond that's the key to breaking the Curse. He thinks that if the Cat can form a bond stronger than the one he has with God, then the entire structure will fall apart. This isn't just about you. This is about all of us."
Kyo can't even say anything. This is way too much to absorb, and he needs a minute.
At that moment, the infirmary door opens, and Hiro comes in. He glances at Kyo but pays him no mind. He whispers in Yuki's ear.
"And they want to do it today?" Yuki asks.
Hiro shakes his head and says something else.
"And Hatori approved this?" Kyo's beginning to realize that Yuki is about the worst whisperer he's ever met.
Hiro say something else. Yuki nods, then changes places with Hiro, taking his book with him.
"Just think about it," he says. "I'll see you later, you stupid cat," but instead of condescension in his voice, Kyo only hears a casual overtone, like 'you stupid cat' is just another nickname.
I feel like I can never truly capture Yuki. He's hard. I guess that may be because I never really paid much attention to him, especially when Kyo was in the room. That, and when he's speaking, I often focus on wanting to snip off that piece of hair that's longer than the other piece of hair (I guess that's my inner Death the Kid coming through - if you haven't seen Soul Eater, then do). Sorry Yuki. =/