Tohru and Kisa had spent the whole night searching the entire castle for Haru. They had checked each stable and every single bathroom on the palace grounds, but he was nowhere to be found. The two of them climbed the long spiral stairs up to the third floor where their bedrooms were located. They paused at the entrance to Haru's room; both of the doors were left slightly open. It didn't look like anyone was inside. Tohru quietly pushed the doors wide open, and they peered in. The room looked exactly like it did before they went out. After checking his room one last time for any signs that he was in there and finding none, they decided to get some rest since it was midnight already, and knowing Haru's navigational abilities, he could be anywhere by now.
"Ah… Good night Kisa. I'm sure he'll turn up in the morning," Tohru smiled trying not to sound as worried as she was.
"I hope so… Good night…" Kisa murmured before retreating to her bedroom.
Tohru did the same and dropped down onto her bed after changing into her nightgown. She worriedly thought about Haru as she lied there under her pink covers. He hadn't showed up for dinner which meant he was probably starving somewhere in the cold without anything to warm him up. Tohru sighed; she was a bit disappointed in their progress in their search for Haru. They hadn't found any clue or hint to where he might be. She would have willingly searched longer, but she was exhausted and so was Kisa. As she lay in bed, she prayed continuously for Haru's safety.
"I hope he's okay…" Tohru whispered before sleep overtook her.
The next morning, neither of them saw Haru. His room was still empty, showing no traces whatsoever that he had returned last night. Devastated, they went down to the dining hall for something to eat. They'd continue their search after they finished their breakfast. Once they had checked around the palace again, they decided to search off the castle grounds. Not even bothering to ask the king and queen for permission (they already knew the answer they would get would be a refusal), they snuck out together and chose to search through town and the forest.
"I'll look in the forest, and you'll go to town," Tohru suggested with a smile. She didn't want Kisa to be wandering through a dark and dangerous forest alone. There could be bears and other dangerous animals that could harm her small sister. Of course, seeing as how Tohru was more of a klutz, those dangers would probably be more of a danger to her than anyone else. She'd be the one who'd slip on the grass that was wet with early morning dew, run into a tree, and then get mauled by the bear, but Tohru wasn't one who worried about her own safety. Kisa was unaware of all the potential dangers of the forest that no one other than Tohru would be in danger from, and she nodded in agreement.
Tohru smiled at Kisa and walked with her down the path to town. The path didn't look like anyone had walked on it recently. Both of them kept looking around as they made their way to the town to see if Haru was lurking anywhere, but he wasn't. As they neared the town, possible hazards of the city began swarming her head. There could be a rapist there, a kidnapper, or even a murderer. Tohru went through the possible risks of both the forest and town. Both were dangerous in various ways, but in town there were people who could help Kisa if she was in trouble. Tohru smiled and nodded to herself; coming to the conclusion that town was a lot safer, Tohru confirmed to herself that she would be the one who looked through the forest.
"Be careful…" Tohru warned when they stopped at the edge of the city.
Kisa nodded in response and gave Tohru a reassuring smile before they went their separate ways. Tohru stood there, watching her little sister disappear in the crowds before she turned around and headed back into the woods.
Kisa squeezed her way through the crowds keeping her eyes open for her older brother. She kept her mouth shut, deciding it would be best if she didn't call out Haru's name. She didn't want to draw attention to herself, and she was positive people would recognize her if she blurted out Haru's name every second or two. A shaggy top of white hair caught her eye. She reached out to grab his coat, but the crowds cut her off. Kisa gaped before she determinedly made her way through the wall of people. Tiredly, she grabbed the edge of his coat and tugged on it. The man turned around, and she found herself looking up at an old man she didn't recognize giving her a strange look.
"I'm sorry! I thought you were someone else!" Kisa choked out in a frantic voice as she released his coat.
"Do you need help looking for someone, little girl?" he smiled at her.
"No thank you! I'm fine on my own!" Kisa answered politely.
She bowed apologetically before scurrying back to continue her search for Haru's whereabouts.
---
Tohru shoved away vines that were whipping across her face and neck as she stumbled deeper into the forest. She grasped a nearby tree branch for support. She was tired already, and she hadn't been searching for half an hour yet. Tohru shivered and sank down to the ground for a small break. Her legs hurt, she was freezing, and she was uncomfortable. This search seemed so hopeless. She wrapped her arms around her frigid knees and rested her forehead atop them. The wind continued to slap her hair around into a crazed mess. She wanted to give up the search. Haru was nowhere in sight. She frowned and did her best to blink away her tears, but she couldn't.
"Tohru?"
She raised her head, coming face to face with Yuki. He was kneeling down in front of her with a concerned look across his face. Yuki cupped her cheek in his hand, using his thumb to wipe away the tears that had strayed down her face. Her eyes widened when she remembered that she had been crying. Frantically, she used both of her hands to rid her face of the rest of the tears. After she had calmed down a bit, Tohru blinked with confusion at him wondering how long he had been there watching her cry. She had cried so many times in front of him that she was starting not to mind if he saw her weep anymore, but the problem with that was now every time she cried she wanted him to be the one who soothed her. Desperate for that sense of comfort he always gave her, she slipped her arms around his waist and squeezed him tightly.
"Yuki-kun…" she simply whispered as she rested her head against his broad chest.
"Why are you crying? Are you alright? You're not hurt, are you?" Yuki asked her worriedly.
"I'm okay… I'm not hurt… I just can't find my older brother…" Tohru answered in a sad tone.
Yuki seemed relieved to hear how simple the cause of her tears was. Seeing Tohru huddled in the corner crying like that, he had suspected the worst. He didn't remember feeling that worried in a while. Seeing her troubled by something, it made him feel terrible inside. Yuki detested seeing a frown and tears upon her face. If he had to spend hours searching for her older brother with her to make her smile again, he'd gladly do it. All he had to do was find her brother, and he was ready to help her look. Finding her brother didn't sound too hard to do. He stood up with a smile and offered her his hand. Tohru glanced up at him and cocked her head to the side.
"Come on, I'll help you find him."
She stared at him, dumbstruck with disbelief. His generosity always seemed to surprise her. He didn't even know her brother, and yet, he was willing to help her look for him. She hadn't even asked him for help, and yet here he was offering his time and effort for her sake. Tohru sat there, unable to find any words that would convey her appreciation to him. She didn't know what to say or do so she just remained sitting and continued to stare at him in awe.
"Sitting there isn't going to help. Let's go," he urged her with his sweet smile.
She put her hand in his and immediately felt his fingers wrap around hers as he carefully pulled her back to her feet. He flashed Tohru a kind smile before turning away and scanning the woods for any tracks Haru may have left behind. Tohru knew she was supposed to be looking for Haru, but she could only stare at his hand which was still wound around hers. He had held her hand plenty of times before, but she was still embarrassed when she thought about it. He tugged her along the forest looking from side to side for Haru. Yuki seemed to be the only searching at the moment. When Tohru realized she was basically neglecting Haru, her head snapped up and she attempted to stay focused, but all her eyes wanted to concentrate on was Yuki. As she continued to stare at his back, she finally remembered that she hadn't thanked him for his kindness yet.
"Thank you…" she breathed shyly.
He peered back at her with a smile planted on his face. Yuki gave her hand a gentle squeeze, wordlessly letting her know that he wouldn't stop looking until her brother was found. After she gave him a half-hearted smile in return, he went back to searching while she continued to think about Yuki rather than Haru. What did she do that was amazing enough to bring him, the most perfect guy she had ever met, into her life? She shook her head, unable to come up with an answer, and her thoughts returned to Haru. They walked together silently. Tohru clenched his hand tightly in hers and bit her lip nervously. She was so absorbed in her thoughts about Haru, she didn't notice him stop. She flinched when Yuki placed his hand on her forehead.
"Are you sick? You look pale…" Yuki commented with concern in his eyes as he lowered his hand.
"I'm not ill! Don't worry about me!"
"I can't help it… Did you get home safely yesterday? Were you hurt at all?" Yuki continued.
"I wasn't hurt at all! Really Yuki, I'm fine! I'm just sorry that you had to see me like that…" Tohru murmured silently.
Yuki grinned and kissed the top of her head. She smiled a bit more honestly this time. Even though Haru was missing, she couldn't help but feel a bit happy because of Yuki's love and attention. All of his little loving gestures made her feel appreciated and important. She wasn't sure what she'd do without him. If he hadn't found her, she'd probably still be sitting by the tree with tears streaming down her face. That was just another reason for her to be grateful that she had him. Maybe he didn't need her, but it was obvious she needed him. She glanced up at him beaming appreciatively wondering how she could express her thanks to him. A simple 'thank you' didn't seem like enough.
"Even though you look adorable when you're scared or worried, I like it better when you smile..." Yuki whispered into her ear before vowing, "We'll find him. I promise."
Her cheeks flushed a dark red. Tohru gazed at him for a second, wondering if she had heard him correctly. Nobody ever told her she was adorable or cute besides him. It was a term she was having difficulty believing he was using to describe her with. He gave her a reassuring smile. Momentarily, Tohru forgot that her relationship with Yuki was still a secret from her siblings and accidentally relaxed. She was too focused on finding Haru to worry about what he would say if he saw her holding hands with a stranger. She looked in every direction almost as if she expected him to be hiding behind each tree or rock. Yuki laughed at this but made no comment about it.
"He's probably not here in the forest. Let's go check around town," Yuki suggested as he guided her in the direction of town.
As they passed the lake, she couldn't help but turn her head and admire the roses from afar. Something gleaming under the sun's rays caught her eye. The sunlight was reflecting against a metal chain around the neck of a familiar looking teenager with white hair. Her jaw dropped open, and for a minute, all she could do was stare at her brother's body lying on the shore of the lake. He wasn't moving at all. Tohru's eyes doubled in size as she tugged on Yuki's hand to make him stop walking.
"Wait! Yuki-kun! That's Nii-san!!!" Tohru shrieked.
She pointed a shaky hand towards the body that lied on the sand. His legs dangled in the water while his upper body and head lay on the blood soaked ground. A wave washed up and hid his body away from her view as it struggled to claim Haru's body and take it back to the middle of the lake. Tohru screamed and started to run down the steep hill, but she only managed to trip over her own two feet. Yuki caught her by her waist and helped her down as quickly as he could. When they got close enough, they noticed all the bruises and cuts that covered Haru's body. Yuki ran into the water and grabbed Haru by his ankle before he drifted any further away from land. He stooped down and moved his hands to Haru's wrists for a better grip before he dragged him out of the water.
"I-is he alive?" Tohru whispered in a hardly audible voice.
Yuki peered up at her ghostly pale face which was full of fear. He highly doubted that the white haired male was dead, but for her sake, he wrapped his fingers around his wrist to check for a pulse. Tohru held her breath as she waited for a response from Yuki. She was too worked up with concern to notice the subtle rise and fall of Haru's chest. Yuki looked up at her with a smile. He nodded, letting her know Haru was indeed alive. His pulse was strong. The relief Tohru felt at the moment was indescribable. She wanted to hug Haru at the moment just because he wasn't dead, she wanted to jump on Yuki for helping her, but she knew they didn't have time for either of those.
"Come on… Let's get help," Yuki told Tohru as he boosted his limp body onto his back.
Yuki took a step forward, carrying Haru on his back, and repositioned Haru before starting up the hill. Tohru nodded repeatedly and followed him closely. After a minute or two, Haru began to stir and show signs of life. Tohru's eyes lit up when she saw this, and she quickened her pace to catch up with Yuki. She reached forward and touched Haru's shoulder which caused him to lift his head. His eyes opened into tiny slits as he looked around. Confusion was plastered all over his face. The only thing he was sure of was that he was moving somehow even though his feet weren't touching the ground. He turned his head towards Yuki blinking a couple of times before he realized Yuki was a person and not another inanimate part of his surroundings.
"Where am I? …Who are you?" Haru mumbled to Yuki clearly not noticing Tohru.
"A guardian angel," Yuki replied simply.
Haru stared at him for a moment before fainting again. His vision had been too blurry for him to make out who this guardian angel of his really was, but the voice sounded strangely familiar. Glad to see Haru go back to a state of unconsciousness, Yuki relaxed. He wasn't sure what else he could have said if Haru questioned him further. He couldn't say he loved Tohru, and that's why he was helping Haru. Tohru, on the other hand, still didn't seem to remember that Haru didn't know about her and Yuki, and she was disappointed and fretful when he didn't stay awake.
"Nii-san!" Tohru exclaimed worriedly.
"Don't worry… He should be alright," Yuki assured her.
Tohru nodded and continued following Yuki anxiously as they made their way to town. Water dripped down from Haru's soaking pants leaving a trail of cold droplets down Yuki's shirt and across the ground all the way from the lake to where they were standing now, in town. Yuki glanced around the place, clearly looking for something. Tohru followed his gaze but didn't seem to understand what he wanted. She cocked her head to the side with a puzzled expression. Yuki glanced back at her.
"Doctor…" Yuki muttered.
"Eh?"
"We need a doctor, now…" Yuki explained.
Many eyes were now focused on Haru's tattered body and clothes. They didn't even bother to hide their extended fingers that were gestured towards the trio or muffle the arising gossip. Tohru chewed her bottom lip. They were both unsuccessful in locating the doctor's office on their own. She decided to ask someone and was currently scanning the crowds in search for someone who wasn't too absorbed in a task to bother with helping her. She found precisely the person she was looking for a few steps away. He was standing outside a nearby shop, possibly waiting for someone. She glanced back at Yuki to let him know where she was going and what she was doing before she walked over to the person.
"Where's the doctor's office?" Tohru asked the man.
He glanced up at her and stood there, completely speechless, before pointing down the road. Tohru gave him a small thanks, and they rushed down the road, avoiding eye contact with anyone who was staring at them. The last building was tiny and dark with a small sign that read 'doctor'. All the windows were dark, but one. It didn't look like it was open, but Tohru didn't want to take her chances with Haru in this condition and wait outside for the place to open. She hurried up the steps and knocked loudly. Echoes of her knocks were the only response she got. She glanced back at Yuki, her brown eyes full of panic. Yuki set Haru down on the ground and walked up the steps to Tohru.
"Is nobody there?" he asked.
"Nobody is answering…"
Yuki pounded on the door with more force, making the door shake slightly with each knock. He was getting angrier with each passing second. He could clearly see a woman seated behind the counter sorting through some files. A few knocks later, the woman finally set down whatever she was going through and went to the door. She pointed to the sign that read closed. Tears reformed themselves in Tohru's eyes. She covered her mouth and stared at the sign. It'd be another hour until the place opened. Fortunately for them, an older male with white hair stepped in front of the lady and unlocked the door for them.
"Are you the doctor?" Yuki asked the man.
The white haired man nodded.
"Please help Niisan!" Tohru begged pointing to Haru frantically.
Tohru and Yuki stepped aside so the doctor could get a better look at Haru. The man's eyes widened at the sight of the injured teenager. Haru was drenched; his ripped clothes were covered with mud and specks of blood, dirt streaked his face. The doctor looked back and forth between Haru, Yuki, and Tohru. Yuki's pants were soaked in murky water from his knees down, his shirt was stained from Haru's body, and his arms and face were splattered with mud. Tohru's dress was filthy and wet at the hem and her eyes were still red and puffy from crying. Dirt and a couple of leaves were trapped in her disheveled hair as well. In no way did any of them resemble royalty or even people who could afford to see a doctor.
"Bring him in if you can pay…" he told them as he opened the door.
Tohru uneasily looked up at Yuki who simply nodded back at her. If she didn't have money with her, he was positive he had enough on him to cover the cost of treatment. He stepped back to where he had previously set Haru down and picked him up again. Yuki walked back up the steps and inside the building with Tohru. The doctor held the door open for them. He led them through the waiting room, passed the desk where the woman was seated once again, and to a smaller room towards the back with various doctor's equipment on countertops.
"You can set him on the bed," he instructed.
Yuki obeyed and set Haru down over the once white bed sheets on the small bed. Tohru stood by the bed anxiously staring at her older brother. Yuki took her hand in his, trying to get her to realize that Haru wouldn't die. It helped a little but not much. The doctor rummaged through his cabinets and pulled out a clear glass bottle filled with alcohol and some bandages. He walked back over to the bed and set his materials on a small table. As he pulled on a pair of latex gloves, he stared at Yuki's and Tohru's filthy faces.
"There's a bathroom out the door and towards your right if you wish to wash up while I treat this boy," he muttered as he looked over Haru.
"Thank you…" Tohru replied with a bow.
Yuki chuckled when he thought about how dirty they must be. He lifted his thumb to her face, wiping some dirt off of her cheek as he whispered, "Your face is dirty."
Her eyes widened, and her hands flew to her face in attempt to remove the mess. Instead, she ended up smearing the dirt all over herself. Yuki laughed and grabbed her hand, pulling her out the door and to where the washroom would be. Once inside, she gasped when she saw her reflection in the mirror. She hardly looked like herself behind this masquerade of dirt. Yuki laughed harder at her reaction. Tohru looked back at him and pouted in a partially joking matter. Struggling to scowl, she placed her hands on her hips and tried to give him an angry expression which only made him laugh more.
"I-I'm so-sorry…" Yuki choked out between laughs.
"You're not so clean either," Tohru pointed out.
She tried to glare at him, but she couldn't help but grin. Tohru's eyes wandered around the small bathroom. The bathrooms at her home were at the very least three times bigger than this one, but this one was a lot more homely. Her bathroom was so bland and boring with the plain white towels and floral embroidery. That same flower pattern was repeated on everything in the bathroom from the wallpaper to the blinds to the glass bottle that held the rose-scented soap. This bathroom was more interesting to her with its black and white tiled floor, pink soap bar, cream colored sink, and bluish-white toilet.
"I've never seen a restroom like this before… It's so small! I don't think I've been to a public bathroom that's for both girls and boys either," Tohru rambled as she stuck her face in the sink to observe the tiny thing.
"Just wash your face," Yuki said as he turned the handle causing water to spew out of the faucet and onto Tohru's head.
Tohru squealed and pulled her head out from under the sink. Her hair was now soaked and clinging over her face. She took one look at the mirror and giggled hysterically trying to muffle her laughs while attempting to swipe the hair out of her eyes. Yuki watched her with a sly grin across his face not even trying to help her out. Once she could see clearly again, Tohru cupped her hands together under the faucet and tossed the water at Yuki, a feeble attempt at revenge. He blinked at her, not expecting any form of retaliation from his sweet little Tohru. Tohru stared at his bewildered face for a second before laughing again.
"You want to play this again?" he teased her, striking her back with more water.
Pretty soon, they were soaked, again but with clean water this time. Their bangs were glued to their faces, being held there by the weight of the water. Tohru couldn't stop laughing. That was one way to clean themselves up, but now, they were soaked from head to toe and surrounded by puddles.
Meanwhile, the water continued to leak out of the faucet, and the bar of soap slid into the sink which was gradually filling with water. Bubbles began to erupt and spread across the surface of the water, overtaking the sink. Tohru was the first to notice this. Her eyes glimmered with excitement as she shoved her hands into the mass of bubbles, holding them in her hands. She turned back towards Yuki and smeared the bubbly glob across his face. Yuki stood there, completely caught off guard. He hadn't expected her to do that, and all he could do now was stare at her delighted face. Soapy suds and dribbles of water slid down his face. Only his two grey eyes were visible behind his mask of bubbles. Tohru covered her mouth to contain the fit of giggles that were about to arise, but she couldn't keep the hysterical outbursts inside.
Tohru collapsed onto her side in a fit of laughter as she stared at him. She had never seen him looking so ridiculous before. Maybe this was what he'd look like when he was elderly and had a long beard. Her body trembled and shook with laughter. She didn't know when she last laughed so hard. She could barely breathe. Yuki shook his head, sending bubbles flying around the room which only made Tohru giggle more. He wiped the lather off his face and dropped down in front of her, holding her arms down, gently pinning her there.
"You're going to wish you never did that," Yuki responded, "Apologize?"
She giggled lying on the ground as she peered up at Yuki who was still holding her down. She shook her head from side to side in a refusal. Yuki raised his eyebrows at her, but she only laughed more. He lowered his face towards hers and took advantage of her open mouth, kissing her chastely. Tohru gasped softly. His mouth over hers muffled the sound. The bitter aftertaste from the soap that once covered his lips filled her mouth. The foul taste lingered in her mouth for a minute before it faded away. It was only then did she stop gazing at him and kiss him back.
"A-hem…" The old man cleared his throat loudly.
Yuki quickly released Tohru. Both of them broke apart immediately, retreating to opposite ends of the bathroom with extremely dark faces. They hadn't even heard the door open or the doctor enter. Tohru peered at Yuki, finding his disarrayed hair a rather humorous sight especially since there were still a couple of bubbles latched on the ends of his bangs, but she was too embarrassed to giggle. Yuki glanced back at her and scrunched up his nose, letting her know there were some suds on the tip of her nose from their kiss. Slowly, Tohru raised her hands to her face and cleared the lather from her face before she timidly turned her attention back to the doctor.
"I don't have a desire to see that…"
"Sorry…" they both muttered.
"And if you wouldn't mind, clean up this mess for me since you two were the ones who got this bathroom so dirty," he requested, "There's some towels in the closet to your left."
"Yes sir…" they both replied.
Apologetically, Yuki and Tohru bowed slightly in unison. Both of them opened the door to the closet and pulled out several towels. The bathroom door shut as the doctor went back to finish up bandaging Haru. Once she could no longer hear his footsteps, Tohru began to laugh again. She stepped towards Yuki with her towel and wiped the rest of the lather off of his face. He gave her a sheepish smile and returned the gesture, drying off her face. Blushing, Tohru straightened up and looked away. She walked over to the mirror and raised her hand up and down and side to side across the mirror to wipe off the drops of water. Once the mirror was sparkling clean, Tohru moved to the soap suds covering the sink.
As she cleaned the sink and mirror, Yuki was on his hands and knees mopping up the puddles that covered the tiles. He gazed up at Tohru, listening to her hum a soft tune as she cleaned. This was ironic; he never expected to see royalty, like them, cleaning a bathroom in a doctor's office. He chuckled quietly and went back to soaking up the water on the floor. Tohru looked over her shoulder at him wondering why he was laughing. Yuki didn't meet her eyes. She shrugged and finished cleaning the sink. She turned around and stood there, leaning against the porcelain sink and watched Yuki's awkward movements. He froze and faced her.
"You know, this would be easier if a certain someone helped clean the floor instead of just watching," Yuki commented.
Tohru beamed and dropped down beside him. Together, it took them a few more minutes to finish drying off the floor. Tohru stood when they were done and marveled over their accomplishment in getting the bathroom back to its clean state. She smiled and pressed her hands together with joy. Yuki joined her. He wasn't exactly happy like she was, but more so, he was surprised that he was able to clean this place without making a bigger mess. He wasn't known for his talent at tidying places up. She grinned at him before starting for the door. She felt Yuki's arms enclose her waist from behind, stopping her from getting any closer to the exit. He whispered into her ear, "You never did apologize…"
"I'm sorry," she responded with a smile, tilting her head back to face him.
He beamed, bending down as he planted a kiss on her forehead. Yuki turned her around and stole another quick kiss from her lips, pressing her against the bathroom door. Feeling helplessly weak compared to him, Tohru gave no protest and kissed him back. She was still worried about Haru and a bit ashamed in herself for forgetting about him while she was cleaning herself up, but what was she to do when he kissed her like this? She wasn't strong enough to push him away, and she didn't even want him to stop.
"I'll forgive you this one time… I'm glad you relaxed… When you worry, I worry…" he admitted.
She felt a blush inch its way onto her cheeks. Yuki pulled away from her with a smile. He brushed a few hairs out of her face and kissed her cheek. Tohru hugged him quickly letting him know how thankful she was to him, before opening the door for the two of them. Hand-in-hand, they walked back to the room where Haru was in. The doctor didn't turn around when he heard them reenter the room. Tohru bounded over to the bed where Haru lied immediately, pulling Yuki along with her.
"How is Niisan?" Tohru asked instantly.
"He should be fine. Nothing more than some bruises and cuts. He should awake soon, and he should be completely healed in a matter of weeks."
"Thank goodness!" Tohru breathed as she kneeled down next to Haru.
Yuki smiled at her joy. She brushed a few bangs away from Haru's face and watched him sleep for a minute. Then a little red flag popped up and waved itself around in her head, telling her that she had forgotten something. Tohru's brows furrowed as she tried to figure out what she had forgotten to do. She had done everything she was supposed to, right? She had found Haru. What else did she have to do? Tohru retraced her steps mentally trying to find something she had left out. She had been looking for Haru through the forest with Yuki when they found him by the lake. What had she done before that? Tohru thought for another minute before an image of her little sister appeared in her head.
"Kisa!" Tohru abruptly gasped as she jumped to her feet.
Yuki looked at her with wide eyes, not understanding her actions or words, "Your sister?"
"I forgot to tell Kisa that I found Niisan! She's st-still looking for him!" Tohru squeaked frantically.
"Tohru, relax."
"I got to fi-find her!!!" Tohru squeaked dashing out of the room before Yuki could say another word.
He stood up and followed her to the door, only catching a glimpse of her running down the road. Yuki could easily catch up with her if he wanted to, but there was something he should do while she was gone. Tohru darted around town barely dodging all of townspeople. It was a miracle that she hadn't run into anyone yet. She jumped up and down, peering over people's heads in search for the little orange haired girl. Why was everyone so tall? Tohru walked around on the tips of her toes, but that didn't help her much.
Yuki sat in one of the wooden chairs, tapping his hands against the armrests out of boredom. He was waiting, waiting for Tohru to return, but first, he was waiting for the doctor to finish whatever it was that he was doing. Yuki was bored, sure it had only been a few minutes since Tohru left, but he had no purpose here if Tohru wasn't here. He glanced over at her brother, then at the doctor. He knew neither of them and had almost forgotten why he was still here. The white haired man walked back over to the cabinets, placing the alcohol and unused bandages away.
"So, why didn't you go with her?"
"Payment."
"And that has to do with…"
"How much will this cost?" Yuki brushed aside his question.
"23,200 yen," he answered.
Yuki reached into his pocket, pulling out his wallet and some neatly folded bills. Yuki handed him the exact amount of bills. The old doctor took them recounting the money. Yuki watched the doctor with an amused expression. He didn't pay for things often, and when he did, nobody ever made sure he had paid enough. It was an interesting sight even if it made him feel slightly uncomfortable. Yuki mentally begged Tohru to come back until he realized, she'd be coming back with her sister. Kisa didn't know him. It'd be awkward and hard to explain if she saw him here. He'd have to leave before Tohru came back, but for now, he wanted to make sure the doctor was satisfied with the money. Yuki didn't want him to pester Tohru for more cash in case she didn't have any on her.
"Don't trust me?"
"Of course I'd trust a prince," he replied nonchalantly though he made no effort to stop counting.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Yuki responded calmly.
For a minute, neither of them spoke. Yuki continued drumming his fingers on the armrest, and the doctor kept counting the money. Yuki did a good job of keeping his appearance cool and calm, but on the inside, he started to panic as soon as he had heard 'prince'. It could be bad news to both Yuki and Tohru if this doctor knew he was the prince and she the princess. There were many things he could do with that information that would get them in trouble. He could blackmail them or something like that. He couldn't help but wonder if this man would reveal the relationship that he had worked so hard to keep a secret from everyone.
"Of course I am familiar with the prince of Kaze and the princess of Daichi, or at least, I can recognize their faces. Actually, I'm surprised that nobody else found out. If you wanted to keep your relationship a secret, then, using your real names and carrying around that much money isn't that smart… Oh, and silver hair isn't exactly common, so it's easy to know it's you…"
Yuki's face dropped a little. Someone knowing their secret was someone who could easily spread it around town and get them both in big trouble. Since this seemed to be the only doctor's office in this town, he probably knew practically every townsperson which would make it even easier for him to tell everyone about his and Tohru's relationship. Yuki clenched his hands into fists as he tried to think of a way to keep the doctor from informing everyone in Daichi and Kaze that Yuki and Tohru were together again. That revelation could even terminate his bond with Tohru as well since she still was unaware of his status as the prince of Kaze.
"How about you keep this a secret? Don't tell anyone about this, and I'll double your payment," Yuki suggested.
"Triple," he bargained.
Yuki pulled out all the money he had on him, extending the money out to the doctor. He didn't have triple the payment with him at the moment, but hopefully, what he had would be enough to keep the doctor silent. He didn't think bribing was a good thing, but what other choice did he have? He had plenty of money, and this doctors' office looked like it was in need of it. The wallpaper was peeling in the corner, the furniture looked worn out, and this place needed a more welcoming staff.
"That's all I have on me," Yuki informed him.
"Fine," he gave in and accepted the cash.
"Oh, and that includes the princess," Yuki said slowly.
The doctor gave him an incredulous look. Yuki stared back at him calmly. It was a simple request, so why was the doctor giving him that look? He wasn't sure how else he could rephrase that. He just wanted the doctor to keep everything he had just told them a secret from Tohru. Was that demand really that baffling? It sounded easy enough to him.
"You mean she doesn't know…?"
Yuki shook his head, his silver bangs hiding the shame in his eyes. Was it really that bad that he hadn't told her that he was a prince? Being a prince didn't really change who he was so he couldn't see why it was such an important factor. Besides, he kept trying to tell her about it, but there was always some sort of problem going on when he was with her lately, and when there wasn't anything wrong, he didn't have it in his heart to bring up something that could turn one of her rare good days into another bad one. Her happiness mattered more to him than anything else. He never wanted to see her smile fade.
"She's going to find out sooner or later…"
Yuki nodded and stared at the ground. He knew that. He thought about her finding out every night before he went to bed. He was sure he thought about every possible way she could find out about his status if he didn't tell her himself. Every night, he saw tears stream down her face because of each scenario. Even though he knew they were just figments of his imagination, it still pained his heart when he thought about it. Those tears he saw were one of the reasons he dreaded telling her about being a prince. She could easily hate him and never want to see him again. What would he do then? He didn't want her to hate him, not now, or ever for that matter.
"Out of every girl here you had to pick her? May I ask you why? Do you even know how forbidden your relationship with her is? If either of your families found out I knew about you two, I'd be severely punished. Maybe even killed," the old man commented without fear in his voice.
"Yeah, well you're old already, so why does it matter?" Yuki joked with a shrug.
"Hey!"
"I was kidding, but yes, I know how forbidden this is. I know exactly how forbidden this is…"
"Even…"
"Yep."
Little to their knowledge, Haru had awakened a few minutes ago. He lied there silently, listening to their conversation. He kept his eyes shut and feigned sleep. He desperately wanted to join in and give them his opinions. Haru wanted to tell Yuki tons of things. He wanted Yuki to know that he supported their relationship and would help them stay together, but he'd probably end up confusing Yuki since Yuki still didn't remember who Haru was. Haru hardly contained himself, but he managed by fingering the white bandages across his bare chest. Luckily, the other two didn't notice, or if they did, they made no comment.
"Does she remember?"
"She doesn't know a thing. I'm probably some poor peasant that she never met before in her eyes. Sometimes, I wish I am a poor peasant… In truth, I don't even remember exactly. I'm just aware of the fact and nothing more really," Yuki added.
Before the doctor could respond, sharp rapid knocks could be heard coming from the front door to the building. Haru jolted slightly in the bed, but he quickly recomposed himself before anyone noticed his movements. The doctor opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. He wanted to let Yuki know how irresponsible seeing Tohru in secret was. It was dangerous and sure to have dire consequences. A happy ending wasn't going to be the probable conclusion to their story. The knocking continued; the rustling of a lot of people could be heard shuffling through the doors and into the waiting room.
"That's my cue to leave…" Yuki said quietly with a small smile.
"Wait!"
"I wouldn't open that door if I were you…" Yuki advised as he stood up, gesturing to the door before them.
The old man didn't try to stop him as Yuki maneuvered over to the said door. He stood there, ignoring the knocks. Yuki paused, listening to the commotion to see if they were outside or not before he opened the door. He turned to face Haru with a smirk before leaving. As soon as Haru had awakened, Yuki was aware of it. He had been watching Haru play with his bandages the whole time he was talking to the doctor. Haru didn't seem like much of a threat, so Yuki didn't bother with trying to keep his relationship with Tohru from him. Something deep down in his heart seemed to tell him that Haru wasn't trouble, and for some reason or another, Yuki listened to that little voice he usually ignored.
"Next time you eavesdrop, do a better job of faking sleep," Yuki suggested, "Oh, and please tell Tohru I'm sorry I couldn't stay."
He waved, smiling at the two of them as he calmly stepped out of the room. Yuki was careful to stay out of sight of the main doors and windows as he stuck his head out. That mob full of fan girls of his weren't in sight yet. They were probably having trouble getting past the cranky secretary lady. He was surprised she even let them in. It was still a couple of minutes before this place opened, but then again, a horde of crazed girls was pretty terrifying. Yuki crept towards the red exit sign quickly and strode out into the empty alley. He could see a couple girls pass by on the sidewalk, but they didn't notice him. Yuki smiled as he darted back home.
Haru sat up straight on the bed muttering, "Damn… How did he know?"
The thin blanket dropped to the ground as he jumped out of the bed. He followed Yuki's steps to the door and swung it open. He could hear those girls getting closer to this room. He was guessing they were slowly getting their way with the secretary and forcing her to tell them where their idol, Yuki, was. He shuddered when he saw one of their faces through the glass panel on the door. It was scary how these girls were able to overpower anything that tried to keep them from their prince. If given the chance, he was sure they would destroy the world if that meant they could have Yuki, and that thought scared him more than anything else.
"What? Are you going to chase him?"
"No, knowing him, he's long gone already," Haru replied dully glancing out the door.
The shuffling and voices grew louder. Haru could hear the faint request to see Yuki at once followed with plenty of other woman yelling in agreement. He was too frightened to think about what they would do if they found out Yuki wasn't here anymore, and he didn't want to stay around long enough to find out. The crowd outside seemed to increase in number by the second. Just wonderful, more people to destroy the place. He'd have to remember to send some money over to this place when he got home or they'd never be able to pay for the damages that would soon come to this place.
"Hey, I'm outta here. Thanks for everything. Just tell my sisters that I'm waiting for them at home."
"Why are you leaving so soon?"
"Ha…Ha… There's no way I'm going to face those girls… Good luck with them!" Haru laughed as he slipped out of the small room, slamming the door behind him.
"Girls?"
The wood door to the room flew off its hinges, hitting the floor with a thud. It had collapsed from the force of the girls who had finally made it past the secretary. Outside his door most, if not all, of the townswomen stood, trying to shove their way through the door at once. All of them were wearing their best clothing along with blushes on their faces and dreamy anxious looks in their eyes. The walls around the door looked ready to join the fallen door, but several girls dropped down into the room unintentionally allowing the others to step over them and get inside.
"We heard Prince Yuki is in here…" they all cooed in unison.
His jaw dropped. With this many girls after Yuki, it was a surprise that no one ever caught him with Tohru.
---
Suddenly, the crowds lessened. Tohru smiled, finding it easier to run around and look for Kisa. The light orange hair came into her view quickly. She gaped, ran over, and grabbed Kisa's shoulder before the little girl turned the corner. Kisa jumped up out of shock and yelped, almost hitting Tohru's chin. By some rare chance, Tohru was able to pull herself back before she received a hit from Kisa's head. Kisa turned around with a terrified look on her face to see who had just touched her. That look vanished when she saw it was Tohru.
"Onee-chan!" Kisa cried.
"Are you okay? I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!" Tohru exclaimed.
"It's okay," Kisa reassured her in a small voice.
Tohru stood there for a second before remembering why she was even here. She grabbed Kisa's hand and took off in the direction of the doctor's office without a word. Kisa was dragged along, traveling at a quick speed with Tohru. She had never seen her sister run so fast in her life. She felt like she was going to fall over constantly. She was hardly able to keep her body upright. Tohru's legs were a lot longer than hers so she could take longer strides than Kisa's little legs could. Tohru didn't seem to notice how much trouble Kisa was having and didn't slow down or stop.
"Where are we going?" cried Kisa trying her best not to trip.
"To where Niisan is! I found him!" Tohru replied.
Kisa's eyes widened and she ran faster. Tohru froze stopping abruptly when they reached the small building at the end of the road. Tohru glanced around confused. A bunch of girls she didn't know were around and inside the doctor's office walking around and basically destroying the place in search for their prince. They had tossed aside anything that was in their way, not caring where it landed. Kisa ran into her back, unable to stop herself in such short notice. She pulled back rubbing her reddening nose. Kisa stared at Tohru's back, waiting for an explanation she wouldn't receive as her eyes drifted to her surroundings. Kisa peered around Tohru, trying to figure out why she had stopped.
"Onee-chan?"
Tohru didn't answer. She was too absorbed in the sight before her to even hear Kisa's question. For some reason or another, Tohru felt a pang of jealously shoot through her body. She didn't want all of these girls around Yuki, who she thought was still inside. All of these girls, they looked more beautiful than she did, and they were wearing fancier clothes at the moment. They were all extremely gorgeous. Surely, they'd make Yuki think twice about continuing to see her. If only she knew, Yuki only had eyes for her, then she wouldn't have to be fretting over this mob of obsessive girls.
"What's wrong?" Kisa asked.
Tohru shook her head, deciding she couldn't beautify herself or make Yuki like her more by standing here and gawking at the scene. What she should be focused on is taking Kisa to see Haru. That should be her top priority, and yet somehow, Yuki still was the only thing her mind wanted to think about. She bit her lip to keep herself from drifting back to her thoughts about Yuki and grasped Kisa's hand, deciding it was time to go inside.
"Come on," she said gently.
The two of them squeezed their way through the broken door, getting in unnoticed by the other girls who were too absorbed in finding their prince. Everything in the building seemed ruined starting with the knocked down door. Tohru and Kisa stepped passed the waiting room with its flipped over chairs with missing legs. The secretary was running around pulling medical equipment out of various girls' hands before they broke more of the supplies. Kisa moved closer to Tohru as they finally arrived at the room Haru was supposed to be in. The doctor's eyes lit up when he spotted Tohru and Kisa. He ran over to them happily.
"Oji-san!" Kisa exclaimed.
"Eh? You know each other?" Tohru asked in a bewildered voice.
"Ah, she's your sister. We ran into each other earlier," he explained.
"Where's Niisan and umm…" Tohru started to ask.
It was only now did she notice that the person on her mind wasn't even in the room. The bed was empty, Yuki and Haru were nowhere in sight. Subconsciously, she let out the nervous breath she had been holding in. Not having Yuki here saved her from having to explain to Kisa who he was, and since he wasn't here, she didn't have to worry about what he thought of her compared to all the girls who were here. On any other day, she would be saddened to see that he had left without saying goodbye to her, but today, she was glad he did. She was happy to know he didn't see all of these girls here who seemed better fit for him. She was happy as of now, unlike the doctor who was mentally mourning for his office.
"Ah well it seems he knew about this invasion or foresaw it and left early. He told me to tell you that he's at home…"
"Onee-chan, we'd better go home then!"
Kisa tugged at the edge of Tohru's dress. She still didn't know what was going on exactly, but if Tohru had to bring Haru to the doctor, then he had to be in bad shape. Kisa wanted to make sure that Haru was alright. Tohru nodded agreeing with her. She wanted to check up on Haru just as badly as Kisa did, and she also wanted to call Yuki to thank him again and make sure that he got home safely. Both of them started to leave when the old man remembered Yuki's message.
"Tohru-san!"
"Yes?"
Tohru spun around to face him directly. He used his hand to gesture her over with a small wave. She looked back at Kisa with a smile, signaling her to stay put and that she'd be right back. When she was close enough to him, he leaned over to her and whispered in her ear, "Your boyfriend told me to tell you that he's sorry he couldn't stay…"
Tohru felt her cheeks turn fifty shades of red as she nodded furiously. Boyfriend? She was surprised by his word choice. Yuki couldn't be her boyfriend though she had to admit, she wouldn't mind having him as her boyfriend, but that would be too great of an honor and gift. Just seeing him was enough for her. Besides, how could she ask for more when she was supposed to be engaged to Akito? Why did the doctor have to go and say that? Now, she was flustered and fidgety. Kisa watched Tohru wondering what made her blush like that.
"Oh, and don't worry about the bill. It's already been paid for…" he added a little louder.
She gave him a look of confusion, her previous thoughts now forgotten. Tohru hadn't given him any money yet, so how could the bill already be paid for? Two scenarios were in her head, either Yuki took care of the bill for her, or Haru did, but which one? She'd have to thank Yuki if he was the one who paid, and she'd have to pay him back if that was the case. He shouldn't have to pay for treatment for her brother. Before she could ask him about it, he gently shoved the two girls out the door-less entrance.
"Go, before your brother starts to worry!" he ordered kindly.
The two of them nodded, thanking him before they quickly headed back to the castle. None of them had much to say on the way back. They walked in silence most of the way. Kisa had a lot of questions on her mind, but Tohru looked so preoccupied. Her face had traces of several emotions ranging from confusion to worry. Kisa could tell she wasn't thinking about Haru anymore by the distant look in her eyes.
"Onee-chan? What did he tell you back there that made you so embarrassed?" Kisa asked curiously glancing up at Tohru.
Tohru's cheeks turned a light pink as she muttered, "Nothing… Don't worry about it…"
Kisa nodded, deciding to trust Tohru. Tohru gave her a comforting smile before her mind slipped back to thinking about Yuki. She was positive the next time she saw him or even talked to him, her cheeks would flare with a bright blush. She probably wouldn't even be able to look him in the eye. All of this trouble just because of the doctor's 'boyfriend' comment. Well, at least she knew Yuki had thought about her before he left. That thought made Tohru feel slightly better. Kisa and Tohru walked the rest of the way back quietly lost in their own thoughts.
As soon as the two of them got home, they darted up the flights of stairs and down the long hallways to Haru's room. Quickly, they barged in, forgetting to knock. Immediately looks of relief spread across their faces as soon as they saw Haru sitting upright in bed, flipping though a magazine. He smiled at the two of them and tossed what he was reading aside. Tohru and Kisa stood at the door, just staring at Haru, now completely at ease. Besides the bandages and bruises, he looked perfectly normal. They both raced over to his bed and gave him hugs at the same time. Haru patted their backs, disregarding the pain he felt from the tight embrace. It took the girls a minute to realize that they were hurting him. They immediately released him and kneeled down in front of his bed.
"It took you long enough," he teased them pleasantly.
"Are you alright?" Kisa asked.
"Why did you walk home when you're hurt?" Tohru added with a concerned look.
"First of all, I'm okay. Secondly, I can still walk. I'm not that battered," Haru answered the questions with a grin.
"How did this happen?"
"It all started when I ran off from the castle… I took off 'cause I was really mad at Oubasan. There was nowhere I could go so I decided to go back to town to cool down a bit before I returned, but it turns out a lot of people don't like us too much. Around sunset, a group of men confronted me…"
Haru sat there, leaning against an unknown brick building. He calmed down quite a bit since he had left the castle. It was about time he headed back. The sun was beginning to set, streetlights were flickering on, and people were closing shops and heading home. The last few pink rays hit his tired face reminding him that it would soon be dark, and if he wanted to be able to see as he walked home, he better start leaving now. He was going to get up when a group of about five people approached him. Haru looked up at them, but the shadows kept their identities hidden as they formed a semicircle around him.
"Why are you blocking out my sun?" Haru asked calmly.
"Get up!" a low unfamiliar voice barked at him.
"Relax! I'm getting up," Haru replied coolly.
He slid up to his feet slowly. As soon as he got up, one of the guys punched him in the face. If he had been ready for the attack, he wouldn't have gotten hurt at all, but he was completely unprepared to take a hit. When the first collided with his face, he fell back to the ground hitting his head on the concrete with a harsh smack. Haru chuckled, pushing himself up into a sitting position. He wiped the blood off his cheek grinning. He tilted his head to the side with a smirk eyeing the man who had just punched him.
"You made me bleed…" he laughed.
Before he was even standing up, another large guy stepped on his back, forcing his face to be pressed back down to the ground. A crack rang through the empty alley. Haru winced; this guy weighed a ton. Two smaller guys dropped down beside him and covered his mouth with a cloth soaked in chloroform. He tried to resist, twisting and jerking his head to the side, but he was already starting to feel weak and woozy. His world started to spin, the colors started to fade into black, and after a second, all he could see was darkness.
Haru's body ached all over when he awoke. He felt a burning sensation as pebbles rubbed against his raw skin. They were dragging him by his legs across the stone covered ground. A puddle of blood spat out from his mouth onto the scratchy dirt before he fainted again.
He awoke just in time to brace himself for another fall. The wind slapped against his face as his body was tossed up into the air. After a brief moment, gravity began tugging him down at a rapid pace. All he could see in front of him was the color black. Haru turned his face to the side to lessen the impact of the hit, but it didn't help much. A splash of water erupted as soon as Haru's beaten body hit the water. The laughs of the men rang in his head as Haru struggled in the water. Pain resided in his body as he tried his best to stay afloat.
Something heavy had been attached to his legs, and it was yanking him downwards. The thick metal chains pulled his body down deeper into the icy cold water. His eyes widened as he tried to free his hands which had been tied behind his back with a tight thick rope. The scratchy string cut his wrists numerous times, digging into his wounds repeatedly. He bit his lip clenching his fists as he tore the rope apart. It drifted away in the dark cloudy water. Haru began to panic as his head plunged under water for the second time, and water and other various objects rubbed against his burning skin.
He couldn't manage to get his head back to the surface anymore. The distance between him and the surface was quickly increasing. Haru didn't have a second to waste. If he didn't escape soon, he'd drown. He tugged furiously at the chains around his feet, attempting to free himself. A trail of bubbles left his mouth, floating to the surface. Everything soon darkened, and he couldn't concentrate anymore. The last thing he remembered was one of his legs slipping though the chains…
"And I guess that's about it. I mean you found me, and I survived so I must have made it out."
"Wow! That must have been scary!!!" Kisa choked out in a barely audible voice.
"Nah, fan girls are scarier," Haru responded with a smile.
"You must be hungry!!" Tohru guessed frantically.
"Yeah, a little…" Haru simpered sheepishly as his stomach grumbled.
Tohru and Kisa giggled as they both ran downstairs to get him a meal. It had been a long day for them, and they were starving. They couldn't imagine how Haru was feeling. The last thing he had eaten was breakfast from yesterday, and he probably wasted all of his energy when he was underwater and on his trek home. Haru stared at the open door, waiting for his food. He owed Yuki now for saving him. Tohru wouldn't have been able to carry him to the doctor on her own. For that, Haru would do everything he could to help Tohru see Yuki without arising suspicion from the king and queen. That's what Yuki would want most, to be able to see Tohru, right?
"I think… I learned a little more than I wanted to today… But at least I know Yuki's still a good guy…" Haru muttered to himself, "'Your guardian angel'? I hope you're not saying such cheesy things to her…"
Late update late update late update... -spaz- I apologize! I have excuses you probably wouldn't want to hear, but I was at the pool yesterday! I wasn't home for more than like 3 hours so... Well you wouldn't care... And this so doesn't count as an excuse, but I have a new obsession with Paramore's new CD, Riot!. Well I love you reader dear! Review and please correct any mistakes I didn't notice!!! ♥
