I don't own Fruits Basket or Princess Princess.

"Talking"

Chapter 3

Mikoto walked down the hall, he gave a soft sigh as he ignored the looks that everyone was giving him. It seemed that even though there was a new set of princesses, most of the student body still saw him as Mikoto-chan, the princess. He couldn't help but wonder if Yuujiro and Tohru went through the same things. On most days he would just blush at the looks that he was given, but he wasn't in the mood today to deal with those looks. Today would be the 33rd anniversary of the day Tohru first saw him transform into his second curse. He shuddered at the memory. Even though everything had ended up fine, it could have easily turned bad.

"Mikoto!" Yuujiro waved. "Hey Mikoto…I'm talking to you." Yuujiro grabbed Mikoto by the arm.

"Yuujiro?" Mikoto asked blinking. "How long were you there?"

"Mikoto? Are you alright?" Yuujiro asked as he looked at his red-haired friend. He noticed the down casted look.

"Yea…I'm fine. Why do you ask?" Mikoto asked as he looked at the blonde.

"Your paler than normal." Yuujiro stated as he placed his hand on Mikoto's forehead. "You don't seem to have a fever…who's your roommate this semester?"

"Akira." Mikoto replied. "He is spending the weekend at home though…didn't he tell you?" Yuujiro shook his head.

"He did mention that he wanted to tell Tohru and me something." Yuujiro muttered. "I want you to spend the night." Mikoto's eyes widened.

"Yuujiro…what…" Mikoto blushed.

"Now I'm really worried. You're bright red." Yuujiro stated. "I'm thinking that I should take you to the nurse."

"What…Yuujiro…"

"I don't see what's wrong. It'll be you, me and Tohru. We'd be hanging out. You don't look like you should be alone tonight."

"I see." Mikoto stated a small smile on his face. "I guess I can…but I don't want to impose on you."

"You won't. Besides, we've never had a sleep over before. I could be fun." Yuujiro stated. "Make sure you come by around six, otherwise Tohru and I will drag you there."

"Okay…Yuujiro." Mikoto stated as his face became bright red and he looked down.

"Yeah Mikoto?"

"Thank you."

"You're welcome Mikoto." With that Yuujiro left and made his way back to class. It was then that he let his true worry show on his face. He couldn't remember the last time he had seem such a depressing look on Mikoto's face. Nor could he remember a time when Mikoto had been so absent minded.

"I'm worried about him." Yuujiro muttered.

"Worried about whom?" Tohru asked.

"Oh, hey Tohru…Mikoto is spending the night tonight." Yuujiro stated. Tohru blinked.

"Why?"

"He doesn't look right…he looks sad, and he told me Akira is heading home for the weekend. I didn't think it would be a good idea for him to be left alone tonight." Yuujiro replied.

"He must be really bad if you felt the need to invite him." Tohru replied as he looked at Yuujiro's face. The last time he had seen Yuujiro face this troubled was when he had originally told him about his family. "But he's a friend and for that reason I don't mind."

"Thanks Tohru." Yuujiro stated.

Six o'clock came and went. Yuujiro and Tohru were seated in their room waiting. Both were lounged on their beds. At six thirty there was a knock on their door.

"Mikoto about time!" Yuujiro smirked. "What took you so long?" Mikoto looked paler then he was earlier.

"Sorry I was late. I was on the phone with Kouichi." Mikoto said as he looked down. "He had been trying to call me all day."

"Oh…come on in." Yuujiro stated as he moved aside to allow the other boy in.

"Thanks you guys for letting me come over," Mikoto stated.

"It's no sweat." Tohru replied. "You're our friend…and friends have sleepovers all the time."

"Do they?" Mikoto asked blinking innocently. "I didn't know that." Tohru and Yuujiro shared a look. This was going to be an interesting night. It was a little after midnight when Mikoto stretched his arms over his head and then rubbed his hand over his eyes.

"Mikoto are you tired?" Tohru asked. Mikoto pouted and shook his head. Yuujiro tried to hide his blush as he noticed how cute Mikoto looked just then.

"I'm not tired…"Mikoto yawned.

"Mikoto, you can take my bed if you want." Yuujiro offered.

"Why?" Mikoto asked as he looked at Yuujiro with suspicion. "I can sleep on the floor."

"I invited you, so as our guest, you can sleep on the bed."

"But then where will you sleep Yuujiro?" Mikoto asked.

"I'll sleep on the floor."

"I can't let you do that."

"Sure you can."

"No I can't."

"Well you're the guest."

"So I should be able to decide where I want to sleep."

"I'm not letting you sleep on the floor."

"Why don't both we push the two beds together and all three of us sleep on the beds?" Tohru suggested. The blond and the red head blinked, before shrugging and nodding.

"I guess we can do that." Mikoto and Yuujiro replied. With that they set to work with pushing the beds together. Once done, they crawled into bed, Mikoto fell into the middle.

"You know, I've never been invited to a sleep over before." Mikoto stated as he stared at the ceiling. "I had a lot of fun. Thank you guys." Mikoto smiled as he snuggled deeper into the blankets and was quickly out.

"I forgot how cute he looked when he was asleep." Yuujiro muttered. Tohru turned to look at his friend. "He always looked so innocent, like he doesn't have a care in the world."

"He does look cute Yuujiro…I can see why you like him." Tohru stated. "You really should tell him…he's having a nightmare."

"Tohru…sorry….love you." Mikoto muttered as he turned to his side facing Tohru. Tears formed in his eyes.

"Yuujiro…"Tohru muttered looking up at his friend's face.

"Save it." Yuujiro replied as he turned over so that his back was facing Mikoto and Tohru.

"But…I'm so sorry Yuujiro." Tohru stated. He knew it wasn't his fault, but he couldn't help the guilt that resonated within him. He knew that if it had been any other situation, then Mikoto would never have said that to him, he would never admit his feelings for him. But just knowing this information could completely destroy the relationship between the three of them forever. And with such depressing thoughts Tohru fell asleep.

The next morning Tohru and Yuujiro awoke to Mikoto being gone. There was a note pin to his pillow stating that he had left before either of them had awoken and thanking the two of them for the night. Casting a quick glance at the clock Tohru noticed it was only a little after eight in the morning and Mikoto's area was already cold. Almost as if he was never there.

"I wonder when he left." Tohru questioned. Yuujiro just glared and got up. Tohru sighed. Life seemed to have gotten just all that more difficult.

The following week went by incredibly slowly. Tohru and Yuujiro weren't talking to one another. Yuujiro wouldn't say a word to Mikoto either. Mikoto tried talking to both of them, but Tohru was avoiding him and Yuujiro wouldn't say a word to him. Akira was the one caught in the middle, yet no one could tell him what had happened. By the time the weekend came, Mikoto was thoroughly depressed again. Nothing anyone said could bring him out of it. Mikoto entered his dorm room and flopped down on his bed. He heard the familiar sound of his cell phone going off and he knew it was Hatori, but for the life of him, he couldn't bring up the energy to answer the call. Feeling even more depressed in his room, he decided to head towards the roof.

Yuujiro lay on his bed. He knew he was being petty, but it wasn't fair. 'What does Tohru have that I don't?' Yuujiro thought, he turned in his bed, he faced the wall. Because his back to the wall he never noticed the door open and someone creep inside.

Tohru lay down on a couch in the student council room. Akira was sitting at the desk signing some papers.

"It wasn't my fault." Tohru stated suddenly.

"What do you mean?" Akira asked looking at him.

"Mikoto loves me…I…I never knew it, and I kept pushing Yuujiro to admit his feelings towards Mikoto." Tohru explained.

"Are you sure he loves you…I mean did he tell you he loved you?" Akira asked. "What do you feel towards Mikoto?"

"He said it in his sleep." Tohru looked at him. "I see Mikoto as the little brother you tease…I never thought of him in a romantic sense."

"I see. Have you told Yuujiro this?"

"No…but…" Tohru was interrupted as the door to the student council office was flung open and three people entered the room. Tohru and Akira couldn't even get to their feet before they were knocked out.

The first thing Yuujiro heard was the dripping of water. Groaning he slowly opened his eyes. His head was pounding. Slowly pushing himself up, he glanced around the room. His eyes widened as he noticed Tohru's and Akira's limp bodies next to him on two other couches. The room they were in was nicely decorated, with a sink in the corner; it easily explained the sound he was hearing. Knowing that this was not the time to hold grudges and notice the decor, he moved over to their prone bodies. He then began to shake them awake.

Groaning, Tohru turn to his side and opened his eyes.

"What happened?" Tohru groaned.

"That's what I'd like to know." Yuujiro stated as he looked at his friend. "The last thing I remember was lying down on my bed."

"Akira and I…Akira?"

"I'm okay," Akira stated as he pushed himself up and sat down against the couch.

"We were in the Student Council room and then someone came in and…that's it." Tohru explained.

"Why us though?"Akira asked as he looked at them.

"Because we have reasons to be worried." A voice called out. The three of them turned their head towards the voice. They noticed the silhouette of a person sitting in the chair.

"Who are you?" Yuujiro asked, narrowing his eyes. "Why have you brought us here?"

"My name is Dr. Satoshi Maho…and I felt the need to speak with all of you."

"What about?" Tohru asked as he looked at the person. They watched him pull a folder from the table next to him and open it up. His black hair falling in front of one of his eyes as he read the name on the folder;

"Mikoto Yutaka." Dr. Maho stated. "You three are his friends are you not?" He did not wait for them to answer. "Yet for the past week not one of you has spoken a word to him…so I want you to give me one good reason why I shouldn't have him transferred out of you school this moment?"

"What!" Yuujiro exclaimed. "Who give you the rights to do that…much less kidnap us?"

"Yes…do forgive that, I was not certain you would all come on your own consent." Dr. Maho stated as he stared at them.

"Why should we even answer you? How do we know that you aren't some crack pot freak?" Tohru asked.

"Mikoto…is family to me, and on hearing what was going on in his school, I had to take action. What you may have failed to realize was that while Mikoto is physically strong…probably stronger than anyone you'll ever meet. But mentally and emotionally he's weak. Most of it isn't really his fault. The way children grow up shows its results in the most interesting of ways. That is when your family has to come in and protect them. Mikoto needs protection from those who will harm him mentally and emotionally. That is why I need to know whether…" Whatever else Dr. Maho was about to reply was cut off when a body went flying through the door and across the room.

"What on earth were you thinking Hari?" The figure stated. Entering the room, Yuujiro, Akira and Tohru just gaped at the red head that stood in the door way. Mikoto made his way into the room dragging another body behind him.

"Did you really need to knock out both Haru and Rin?" Dr. Maho asked.

"Yes. They wouldn't let me pass, but don't worry, I didn't hit Rin's face." Mikoto replied as his red eyes narrowed at the Doctor. "Why did you kidnap my friends?"

"Kagura called me. What she said worried me." Dr. Maho replied. Mikoto's anger fled as he sighed.

"Hari…what do I have to say before you all realize that I won't break under the simplest of pressures? You should worry more about yourself then you should about me. There is nothing that you need to worry about. So instead of kidnapping my friends to find out something you should just talk to me." Mikoto stated. Dr. Maho blushed slightly.

"How did you find out anyways?" Dr. Maho, also known as Hatori, asked.

"You didn't call. I thought you did, but it turned out to be Makoto. When I found out that I knew you must have been up to something. So I gave Kagura a call. She told me she had spoken to you. What I didn't expect was for you to have Haru and Rin participating."

"That didn't stop you." Hatori replied with a faint smile on his lips.

"You should know that it wouldn't." Mikoto smiled. "Now be a good doctor and let my friends go."

"I wouldn't have stopped them from leaving. The door has been unlocked this entire time. So you really didn't need to break it." Hatori replied. He then turned towards Akira, Yuujiro and Tohru.

"You can go. But don't think that I'm not going to have a chat with you again." Hatori stated as he went over to check on the body sprawled on the floor. "Did you have to beat him up so severely?"

"Black Haru was in control." Mikoto stated. "I'll put Rin on the couch." He then moved to put the woman on the couch. "Guys, let's go. Mitaka is having a fit. He came to find me when he couldn't find Akira." Starting to move towards the door; Akira, Tohru and Yuujiro followed him in shocked awe. They were out in the street before Mikoto turned to them and gave a bow.

"I'm so sorry he did that you guys." Mikoto apologized. "He isn't a bad person. He's just really protective of his family."

"Mikoto…it isn't your fault." Akira stated as he gave a small smile. "Right guys." He turned towards Yuujiro and Tohru.

"Yeah." The two replied.

"So am I forgiven?" Mikoto asked cautiously looking at them in the eye.

"Yeah." The two replied again.

"So are you two going to tell me what you've been arguing about?" Mikoto asked looking at them. Yuujiro was tempted not to tell the red head but the fact that Mikoto's eyes were pleading with him and he had placed a slightly pout on his lips. Yuujiro couldn't help but wonder if Mikoto knew just how cute he looked at that moment.

"Well, you said you loved me." Tohru admitted. "And while I'm fla…"

"When did I say that?" Mikoto interrupted.

"The night you slept over." Tohru answered. He was surprised to see Mikoto start to laugh.

"You mean that the two of you have been arguing over that?" Mikoto smiled. "That night I dreamed about my friend Tohru from when I was younger. I only knew her for about three year before we both moved away from one another. I loved her like a sister…If I talked about a Tohru in my dream it wasn't about you…You two don't have to worry. I won't interfere with the two of you." Mikoto smiled and turned from the two of them. "You shouldn't let me come between the two of you…besides it's getting late and it'll take about an hour before we get back home." With that Mikoto started to walk forward. Akira looked at both Yuujiro and Tohru. He knew that the two of them had some things to talk about so he ran forward to reach his roommate.

Akira glanced over at Mikoto's face. "What are you not saying?" Akira asked. Mikoto's eyes were closed and he had a calm smile on his face.

"Nothing." Akira watched as Mikoto's eyes opened and he was shocked to see the despair in his eyes.

"You don't want to support their relationship?"

"I will support them with everything I have, they are my friends and they deserve to have happiness in their lived."

"What about your happiness?"

"It pales in comparison of others." Mikoto replied. "I will support Yuujiro and Tohru with everything I have even if it kills me on the inside." Akira stayed silent as he reflected on what Mikoto had stated. He couldn't help but wonder where Mikoto's self sacrificing tendency had come about from. He was also pleased to know that Mikoto did in fact like Yuujiro. Maybe he might be able to fix the misunderstanding between the three former princesses.

When both Akira and Mikoto were a good distance away, Yuujiro turned towards Tohru. "Tohru, I'm sorry. I guess I jumped the gun."

"I guess I did a little too. I was already thinking of ways to let Mikoto down easy." Tohru laughed. "So let's forget the whole thing."

"Yea." Yuujiro grinned but then the grin left him. "What did Mikoto mean when he said he wouldn't interfere with the two of us?" Tohru's grin left his face while his eyes widened.

"You don't think…I mean why would Mikoto believe we're together?" Tohru asked. A moment of silence passed between the two of them before they started to run to reach Mikoto and Akira.

Hope you like. Please R&R. Reviews are what motivate me to write. That means quicker chapters.