Prettyinpinkgal: Oh. My. I'm in shock myself. I'm actually UPDATING! I just realized, this fic is kinda sounding like Full Moon wo Sagashite. I didn't even read the manga or watch much of the anime when I was typing the previous chapters! Muchos thanks to my wonderful supporters out there! And to one of my BFFs, Elisabeth, who now has a screenname: Stardust730. Please read her fics, they're really great! And thanks Elisabeth and Tsubasa Kyo for the ideas! But, I think I'll actually go for a different approach U.U So I'm really sorry for not using your ideas! Don't worry, Tsubasa, there WILL be drama later (at least, kinda...I think...I hope...). I will try making this chapter extra long because of the hiatus. Enjoy:)

Disclaimer: Even though I'm now 13, I'm still not an adult, nor do I have a penname that is Takaya Natsuki. So yeah.

TROUBLED LOVE

CHAPTER SIX: LEAVING

Tohru cried a lot, even a week after the accident. Meanwhile, Shigure-san went out. He was expected an appointment with Akito-san, and no matter how awful the circumstances in a Sohma household were, you were not to go back on your word with Akito-san. As Hatori-san drove him up (He was going to have Shigure call him when he needed to get back, since he needed to keep an eye on Kyo and Yuki), he worried about Tohru-kun. She was hiding something, he could sense it. 'Has something like this happened before to her? How is she going to deal when-if-Kyo-kun and Yuki-kun recover?'

Shigure walked into the main house, and asked a nearby servant if Akito-san was ready to see him yet. She checked, then came back and said yes. Shigure-san took a breath and headed in. He was fifteen minutes late. Surely Akito would ask him what had kept him.

Akito-san was with his bird again, which was prancing on his finger. He straightened as he heard the door close and turned slowly.

"Hello, Shigure."

"Pleased to see you are well, Akito-san."

Akito-san's bird flew off as he stood and approached Shigure. "Do you realize what time it is?"

So far, so good. He wasn't letting on that he was furious. Hopefully, it would stay that way. Shigure used to be totally comfortable with Akito, never worried he'd do anything to him. He still wasn't scared too much, but ever since the incident with Hatori-san's eye, he'd been slightly cautious. "Gomen nasai, Akito-san, I know I'm quite late. I wasn't paying attention..."

"SHUT UP!" Akito yelled. "I DON'T WANT YOUR LIES! TELL ME THE TRUTH!"

Reluctantly, Shigure explained that he was looking over Yuki and Kyo, who had a fight a week ago and ended up extremely hurt. With Akito-san's command, he told him it was over Tohru-kun. Akito immediately understood.

"Ah, so the Rat and the Cat finally confessed their feelings to her." A smirk formed on his face. "Shigure, please inform Honda-san over here. I'd like to...discuss this matter with her."

Shigure used to think of pretty much no one but himself. But once Tohru-kun came into the picture, he began changing. He was still the only one he thought about the most, but he began thinking of others too. He couldn't let Tohru go. She didn't do anything wrong, except for winning two boys' hearts. "Akito-san. I don't mean any disrespect, but please, reconsider. Tohru..."

"Are you disobeying me? Bring me the little monster at once, or I'll do it myself."

Shigure nodded. "Yes, Akito-san." He bowed and stood up to leave.

"Shigure." He turned as Akito spoke. "You don't need to worry about Honda-san. She won't be an issue any longer." The grin on Akito-san's face made even Shigure's stomach churn. This wasn't good. Not good at all.


Tohru's eyes fluttered open. She had another dream about Hikaru, but instead of just Hikaru-kun being shot, Kyo-kun and Yuki-kun were too. Tears streamed down. She couldn't do anything in her dream, and she couldn't do anything to help them now. She was just useless. Tohru heard someone come into the room, and quickly dried her face. "Honda-kun," Hatori-san said. He looked worried.

"Hai, Hatori-san?" she asked, forcing a smile.

Hatori looked away. "Honda-kun...I'm sorry, but you have to see Akito-san. He's found out."

Tohru Honda was an airhead, and was confused sometimes, but she understood this perfectly. She had noticed Akito-san's fury before. This meeting was going to be painful. 'But then, I shouldn't be thinking so selfishly. It's my fault that Kyo-kun...and Yuki-kun...and Hi-' She wasn't even able to finish the thought when she choked back a sob. Would they die too? Would they suffer the same fate as Hikaru-kun, all because of her?

As they arrived at the main house, Momiji-kun, Kisa-san, Hiro-san, Kagura-san, Hatsuharu-san, Ayame-san, and even Ritchan-san stood waiting for them. "Um, word sure does fly quickly in the main house, huh?" Tohru said nervously. They were all worried about her. This might be worse than she suspected.

"Tohru! Be careful, okay? If he hurts you, I'll go in there myself!" Momiji-kun said. Tohru smiled slightly and whispered a thank you.

"Onee-chan, d-don't get hurt. Run away if you have to..." Kisa started crying, and Hiro-san put a hand on her shoulder. He glared at Tohru-kun, though it wasn't as hard as it usually was.

"Stupid woman! If you let Akito-san do something hurt you, your stupider than I thought." Hiro-san said, which was very typical of him.

"Good luck Tohru-kun!" Kagura-san said, with an encouraging smile on her face. Tohru's false smile faltered.

"Ano, Kagura-san...Do you know the cause of the fight, too...?"

She nodded, and hugged Tohru. "It's okay. I think I'll always love Kyo-kun in my own way. I think you two would go well together," she winked. "But don't go too harshly on Yun-chan while telling him you don't like him that way. 'Kay?"

"Ah! But, I don't even know if I love either of them! Plus, I'd never be able to choose. They both have their own good qualities. Besides, I don't think I could even love anyone that way since..." Tohru clasped her mouth. "Uh, no, it's nothing." 'I almost let myself to tell them about Hikaru-kun. I don't want them to pity me for it. I don't even know if I could tell anyone about him, after keeping him a secret for so long. Even Mom doesn't know we were dating and he was...' She couldn't bring herself to think of it.

With perfect timing, Ayame came up and said, "TOHRU! Once you go through with this, I'll let Mine work on a splendid dress for you!"

"Oh, thank you so much, Ayame-san!" With Ayame-san trying to be so optomistic, she couldn't help but smile again. A real smile.

She turned to Haru. "Yo," he said. "When those two wake up, I don't think they'd want to find out something happened to you with Akito. So don't get him riled up more, 'kay?"

"Hai," Tohru-kun nodded. She heard steps behind her, and she turned, thinking it was Akito-san, but instead...

"I'M SORRY!"

"UWAAH!" Tohru screamed, surprised. It was, of course, Ritsu, off on one of his rampages again.

"Tohru-san, I'm so sorry, really, I am! If you can find it in your heart to forgive me..." And basically, it went on for a while like that.

"Ano...Ritchan-san, it's not your fault. Anyway, um, thank you all for coming. It means so much to me, really. Daijobu (I'll be all right)!" With this, she waved goodbye and went into the room Akito-san occupied.


Tohru walked into the room after knocking and receiving a reply. She bowed, and Akito nodded, telling her to sit down.

"Honda-san, do you know why I brought you here?" Akito-san asked.

She was surprised that he was being so nice, but then again, he acted like that when they first met, and he hurt many of the Sohmas. Tohru shakily answered, "Hai, Akito-san."

"So what did you think you were doing, allowing them to fall for a monster like you?" His voice grew colder and more hateful. It rose and screamed, "DO YOU HONESTLY THINK THAT YOU COULD GET AWAY WITH THAT? HOW STUPID ARE YOU? EVERYBODY HATES YOU, AND IF KYO AND YUKI WAKE UP, THEY'LL HATE YOU EVEN MORE THAN I DO! EVERYONE WAS DOING FINE BEFORE YOU SHOWED UP! THEN, YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES, BUT ALL YOU DID WAS MAKE THEM MORE SCARRED THAN THEY ALREADY WERE!"

The words shook Tohru. Images of Hikaru bleeding, him dead, her mother's cold face, Yuki and Kyo, everybody glaring at her...They all flooded into her mind. She began shaking. "I...It's true, I...I did hurt those I care about...! It's all my fault!" Tears streamed down her face, ones that weren't held back. 'It's my fault Mom and Hikaru-kun are... it's my fault Kyo-kun and Yuki-kun are hurt, and it'll be my fault if they die too!'

"I'll give you another chance, though." Akito-san's words jolted Tohru-kun out of her thoughts. 'What...?'

"You cannot live in Shigure's home anymore, but you won't have your memories either. You must change how you look, and you must take on a whole new identity. If you ever come into contact with the others again, you must pretend to be someone other than yourself. If you tell them, you will have your memories erased and they will have a 'conflict' with me. Is it a deal?"

Tohru-kun's eyes widened. 'I'll keep my memories, and I get to start over...But I don't wanna leave! I love the Sohma family as if they were my own. But I guess I have no choice, right Mom? Right, Hikaru-kun?' Slowly, she reached out to shake Akito-san's outstretched hand.

A sneer formed on Akito-san's face. "Perfect. You must leave immediately. Act as if nothing's wrong. When you return to Shigure's house, run away as soon as possible."

"...Yes."


Tohru did just as Akito-san ordered. She acted as if nothing happened, and said she was fine. Hatori-san drove her back, and Shigure greeted her (Hatori had dropped him off to go shopping before he came to get Tohru; he couldn't bear to see what Akito would do to her). She assured him that Akito didn't hurt her, and went into her room, leaving behind a very relieved Shigure-san.

Tohru-kun packed her things quickly, and left a note. During the middle of the night, she climbed down from her deck in front of the window by using the ladder she used to get to the roof to see Kyo-kun. She choked back tears as memories of him teaching her how to do the "Right Straight" technique, him confessing to her, everything he did up there with her. Tohru-kun climbed down and ran off. 'Gomen nasai, minna-san. But I'm sure you'll be better off without me.'


Shigure-san paced in front of Kyo's door. Hatori-san was checking up on the two. Shigure was talking to Mitchan while waiting.

"Sensei, onegai! I'm sorry your cousins are hurt, but let your feelings out in your book! PLEASE FINISH BY THE DEADLINE!" Mitchan sobbed. Shigure thought she would be a good match with Ritchan. At that moment, Hatori came out of the room.

"Gomen, Mitchan, gotta go. Ja ne!" He cheerfully hung up, but not before he heard Mitchan's "NOOOOOO! TELL ME YOU'LL FINISH THE MANUSCRIPT! SENSEI!"

"Well, Hatori? What's the verdict?"

Hatori-san put down his stethiscope (A/N Sorry if I didn't spell that right!) and said, "They should wake up soon. They're wounds are healing faster than expected, which is a good sign." He looked around. "By the way, where's Honda-kun?"

"Ah, the flower is in her room sleeping. She didn't get up this morning to make breakfast, and with all the excitement going on, I didn't want to wake her," Shigure said, flapping his hand around. "I'm really such a kind person, aren't I?"

"I admit, that was unusually thoughtful of you, since most of the time you act stupid," to which Shigure-san said, "Oh, Ha'ri (A/N Sorry if I messed up on what Shigure calls Hatori. Can't remember off of the top of my head.), you're so cruel" and did crocodile tears.

"Shut up," Hatori said. "You don't want to wake her up, do you?"

Hatori stayed for a couple hours more, since he didn't have a busy schedule, and had some lunch. At thirteen o'clock (A/N For those of you who may not be familiar with international time, in Japan, instead of one P.M., it's thirteen), Hatori-san frowned. "Do you think she's sick?"

Shigure blinked. "Who?"

"Honda-kun, you idiot. She's been asleep much longer than expected."

There was a pause, and Shigure-san began to snicker and then exploded. "WHAT'S THIS? HA'RI, IS IT TRUE THAT YOU REALLY DO HAVE FEELINGS FOR TOHRU-KUN? IS THAT WHY YOU'RE WORRIED? WELL? IS IT!"

Another pause, and an anger mark grew on Hatori-san's head (A/N LOL that sounds funny). "What on earth is with you, always saying that to me? You're insulting Honda-kun too, you know."

Shigure, in his carefree tone, said, "Aw, but Tohru-kun doesn't mind..."

"Which brings me to my point. I think something's wrong. Let's knock on the door, and tell her she should wake up."

They walked over, and tried to knock as loudly as they could, but no reply came. "Tohru-kuuuun! Rise and shine!" Shigure called.

Still no reply.

"Honda-kun, you really should get up now. Please at least answer us." When it was greeted in silence, Hatori called out, "Honda-kun!" This was actually the first time he actually rose his voice since the whole Kana thing.

"This is getting weird." Before Hatori-san could protest, Shigure-san entered the room. He froze, and, curious, Hatori-san stepped in as well.

The covers were already made on her bed. The room was bare except for the furniture. There was nothing that originally belonged to her in this room that was there. And, of course, no Tohru-kun.

They spotted a note, and quickly read it.

Dear Everyone,

Thank you all so much for everything you all have done for me. I can't express how much gratitude I feel! So, thank you.

I'm afraid I have to go. Don't worry, I'm going to be okay (I promise I won't live in a tent!). I won't be going to the same school, so you probably won't see me ever again. I'm so sorry. I didn't want to leave, but it would be better if I did. I'm just messing things up for everybody.

Tell Yuki-kun and Kyo-kun that I'm sorry I have to do this, too. They were such great friends, as all of you were. Please forget that I ever even met you guys. Please believe me when I say, this is hurting me more than it is you. I wish that I could tell you all good-bye in person, but that would prevent me from leaving.

Kyo-kun and Yuki-kun: Gomen nasai. I never wanted you guys to get hurt because of me. I won't blame you if you never forgive me for my actions. Besides, I'm the one you guys fell in love with. It's my fault you're hurt... (There were words blurred out because of her tears here)

Please don't look for me. Take care of yourselves! I'm afraid it's back to take-out, Shigure-san. That is, unless Kyo-kun gets well enough and is willing to cook.

I love you all as if you were my family. Thank you for everything.

Love,

Tohru Honda-kun

"S-She's gone..." Shigure-san managed to stutter out. He blinked, unable to believe the letter. She couldn't be gone. This must be some kind of joke.

"I know..." Hatori was in just as much surprise. They never in their wildest dreams believed something like this would happen...

"AAAAUUUUUUUUGHHHHHH!" Two yells sounding just like this occured. They ran back, and there were Yuki and Kyo, both at opposite sides of the room and on the floor because of their wounds.

"W-What the heck are you doing in my room, ya dang rat!"

"How should I know, stupid cat!"

If they weren't injured, they would be back to fighting in a second. "Well, I'm glad you guys are feeling better! You've been out for a whole week..." Shigure started.

"WHAT THE HECK WERE WE DOING HERE!"

"Well, Kyo-kun, this is your room..." to which Kyo-kun said "I know that!" "...and it was easier if Hatori-san checked on both of you in the same room, and so that basically covers it up."

"Whatever. Where's Tohru-kun?" Yuki asked.

"Yeah, where the heck is she? I...kinda have to apologize, for telling her..."

"She's not here," came Hatori's blunt reply.

"Huh?" The two boys said at the same time.

Shigure-san reluctantly gave them the note, and as the read it, their fists clenched.

"She couldn't possibly blame..." Kyo-kun began.

Hatori turned the opposite way. "She does. When people important to one get hurt, they can't help but blame themselves. They beat themselves up even harder when it included them in the argument, even just a little bit." 'Just like how Kana felt, and how I feel about Kana,' he thought.

"Still, I'm going after her," Yuki said. He tried to get up, but grimaced in pain. Kyo tried standing as well, but couldn't.

"I guess we have no choice but to let you guys go after her, but not until you feel better." The two reluctantly nodded, but in their minds they were already looking for Tohru.


Tohru rolled her suitcases over to an alley. She checked to make sure no one was looking, then cut her hair really short (as in shoulder length). She then left her things lie for a second unattended as she ran into the haircut place next door to die it blonde. When she came back to her things and saw herself in a puddle, she could hardly believe it was her. She looked kind of...cool. Tohru-kun smiled. She even looked a little tough! Uo-chan would be so proud.

'That's right,' she thought somewhat sadly. 'I have to change my personality, too, or I would surely give myself away, even with my new hairstyle.' She sat down on her suitcase and thought. Tohru-kun glanced outside the alley and saw two teen ko-gals walking. 'I know! I'll become a gal, too! I'll be nice, but tough too. Maybe I could learn some martial arts, too! Kyo-kun and Yuki-kun would be surprised if they ever found out who I was, which they wouldn't.' She laughed a little, and decided to give some of her old clothes to a homeless shelter. "I guess I'm sorta homeless, too," Tohru-kun said gloomilly. She did have some money, not enough to rent an apartment, but enough to buy some clothes. She ran to a store, and got a whole ko-gal look. Proud of herself, she strolled down the street with her bags when she heard someone say, "Excuse me!"

She turned and saw a woman smiling nicely at her. "What's up?" Already she was beginning to change her language. The sooner she changed, the better.

"I was just wondering if you were homeless. It's a silly question, I know, but if you don't have any place to stay, you're welcome to stay with my family. This probably sounds weird to you, I'm sorry," she said. "I'm Himiko Sunatani. Hajimemashite!" The woman's smile grew.

"Nice to meet ya! I'm T... I mean, I'm Tsuki Nekono," Tohru, now Tsuki, said. "And yeah, I pretty much am homeless. Mucho thanks for the offer, but could I, like, see your place and family first? I don't want to make you guys even more crammed or anything."

Sunatani-san brought her to her home, which was all the way in Shibuya. She explained how they were thinking about adopting a girl around To-I mean Tsuki's- age, so this wasn't a totally out-of-the-blue matter. As the drove through Shibuya, she saw all the ko-gals that were there. She smiled. A perfect place to change her life.

They pulled in, and Tsuki met Kimoto, a twenty-year-old who would be her older brother. He was nice, but he and Tsuki occasionally butt heads (A/N Butt heads...Beavis and Butthead...Dunno why I'm typing this A.N,) after they got used to being brother and sister. There were twin girls too, about twelve years old, named Ai and Suki. After a month, they became a real family. Tohru even began calling them Mom and Dad, and Bro and Sisses, although her real mother would always be first in her heart. She never had siblings before, so it was kind of cool, and it was neat having a dad around. Tohru became known as the most famous ko-gal in Shibuya. Being a ko-gal wasn't entirely a made up personality; she really did feel like one. It basically felt like she was just showing a side of herself that she never showed before. She was still the kindest girl in the class, but if she saw bullies picking on innocent people, she got uber ticked off (she does have a tough past with bullies, after all). She began going to school after her first couple of weeks there, and was actually sometimes a troublemaker (disrupting the class, running in the halls, etc.), but she did manage to get good grades. Still, the Sohmas were always on her mind. Never once did she go without thinking of them. There were times when she cried herself to sleep at night, but no one noticed. Tsuki/Tohru wondered if Kyo and Yuki had ever recovered, and if they were angry or upset because she had left, or were glad. Were they looking for her? Were they trying as hard as they could to forget her? Had they fallen for someone else? She hoped they did, but for some reason, something inside her told her she would see them again.


"Nekono and Umaboshi! Sit down!" the teacher called angrilly.

"You're getting way to carry (1), Rikono-sensei," Tsuki said as she sat down.

"Shut up and don't use ko-gal talk in this classroom!" That was basically impossible order on her part; most of the girls in the class were ko-gals, so that meant the language was used commonly in the room. "Anyway," Hisoshi-sensei continued, "I have an announcement. We will be sending one of our students to a different high school for the rest of the semester. I get to choose who will be going." She pointed at Tsuki. "Tsuki Nekono, you'll be going to Kaibara High School."

Prettyinpinkgal: Whew, long chapter (hope it's as long as it looks!). Yeah, I'm totally into ko-gals (from SuperGALS! and stuff). I love the lingo :). For those who don't know, ko-gals are girls in Japan who are "valley girls", as translated in the Pretear manga. I got the slang from Super GALS! Hope ya'll luved the chappy and that updates to "Troubled Love" returned!

(1): CarryCarried away