Tohru came up to the plate. This was her last chance to get on base! So far, she had struck out twice. It was now or never! The pitcher threw the ball, and Tohru readied herself to kick...and fell.
"Oof!" she gasped, blinking. I might've kicked too hard... Tohru mused. She was quickly mobbed by her teammates, and opponents, all asking if she was alright.
"You okay?"
"You fell down."
"Did it hurt?"
"Tohru!"
"I'm fine, I'm fine, really!" Tohru responded immediately, laughing off her clumsiness. The kids helped her stand up, and a little girl took her hand and led her to the back of the line.
"You 'kay, Tohru?" the little girl questioned, her big brown eyes concerned.
"Don't you worry, sweetie. I've fallen enough times before, I know to stand back up," Tohru replied. "but I am sorry I didn't get anyone home." Tohru said ruefully. If only I had gotten to first base, then Hayato could've gotten back to home plate! Oh well...maybe next time.
"Don't you worry, Tohru!" the boy on base grinned. "I can kick a home run, easy."
And the boy did to the astonishment of the blue eyed girl.
~(0)~
"Who do you people think you are?" Mrs. Jing demanded to the trespassers. She had seen the group head toward the gate, and had immediately gone to cut them off. She locked the gate up right before any of the intruders had a chance to open it. "This is private property. An elementary school. I see no reason for a group of old kids like you to be coming here."
"But-"
"No buts!" Mrs. Jing interrupted darkly. "No one is ever going to endanger my children, and I do not feel comfortable having a group of strangers on the campus!"
"But, ma'am," a dark, almost violet, eyed boy began. "our friend is among your numbers. We simply wish to speak to her."
"Yeah," another boy spoke up. Mrs. Jing could've sworn his eyes were red. "Look, she disappeared without a trace and we just wanted to check up on her. We ain't here to cause trouble."
A young blond boy giggled at the older boy's statement.
"Shuddup, Momiji!" the red eyed boy growled.
Mrs. Jing regarded the group carefully. She absently wondered if this group was looking for Tohru... she disappeared without a trace. That's what the boy had said, and it definitely described Tohru's impromptu appearance in this fair city.
"Please...I want to see Sissy," a young blond girl whispered. "Please?"
Mrs. Jing didn't know what to say. The young girl's face was pained, pleading, and Mrs. Jing felt her resolve weaken.
"You're the Sohma's, aren't you?" Mrs. Jing finally asked, and the group looked a little taken aback.
"How did you...?"
"Tohru has told me much about you all," the older woman smiled. "much indeed."
The group was odd, to say the least. Hair colors ranged from orange to an almost off black. Eyes...just different. The aloofness was obvious in the way the family held themselves, Mrs. Jing knew this family was unique...to say the least. Tohru's report of this odd bunch had always been stellar. Then again, Mrs. Jing doubted Tohru ever said a malicious thing about anyone.
The girl in question was cheering on her teammates, watching as the latest boy at home plate kicked a home run. All the players were able to get around the bases, and high fives and cheers were shouted out. The Sohma's, too, were watching the ever cheerful Tohru high five the kid who kicked a home run.
"Do you think it is wise to disrupt her life?" Mrs. Jing finally asked, turning back to the group behind the gate.
It was obvious they hadn't thought about it before.
"We wondered if we were the cause of her departure," the boy with odd, almost violet eyes spoke.
"That wasn't the question," Mrs. Jing chuckled. "She seems happy, doesn't she? Laughing, not a care in the world."
"The happiest people carry the deepest scars," a somber voice replied. Mrs. Jing looked at the boy with dual hair. Huh, never seen black and white hair before...
"True," Mrs. Jing responded. "but scars also heal, do they not?"
"We're her friends. Friends help each other deal with scars." the violet eyed boy said.
"Let me guess, she healed a few of yours, didn't she?"
"Not just me," the boy replied quietly, casting a glance at the rest of his group.
"If she wanted to go back to you all, don't you think she would have?" Mrs. Jing sighed. She felt oddly maternal about the orphan she had taken in. Tohru was someone special, she didn't need her heart getting ripped to pieces. If Mrs. Jing could help it, she wouldn't allow her adopted daughter's heart to be crushed.
Never.
"What if there was somethin' stopping' her?" the orange haired boy demanded.
"She would've asked for help," Mrs. Jing reasoned.
The orange haired boy snorted.
"You're talking about Tohru Honda, right? When has that girl ever asked for help?"
"When I need it," a soft voice said. While Mrs. Jing and the Sohma's had been arguing, they hadn't realized the girl of the moment had been walking up to them. Her hair was still that dark, dark brown. Her eyes, the tranquil blue they all remembered. Her smile was timid, and she looked at the ground.
"Tohru!"
"There you are."
"We've been lookin' for ya, Tohru."
"Sissy!"
Tohru laughed lightly, and her voice seemed to ease the tension the Sohma group had been experiencing since her departure. They breathed a sigh of relief, they had found her.
They found Tohru!
"It's okay, Mrs. Jing. You can let them in, they're not strangers," Tohru said quietly, and Mrs. Jing gave the girl a searching look. The mother could tell this meeting was paining Tohru, but as to why...The truth was still locked up in the mystery of her arrival. "It's okay," Tohru insisted after a moment, trying to reassure the woman. "really."
Mrs. Jing unlocked the gate, and patted the girl on the shoulder.
"If you need me, I'll be in the cafeteria. It's snack time!" Mrs. Jing called out, and a stampede of children disappeared into the school. "That always does the trick," Mrs. Jing shook her head. "be strong, Tohru."
Tohru nodded weakly, and Mrs. Jing was filled with panic. What if she wasn't ready for this meet-up? What if Tohru had an emotional breakdown? What if-
"Be yourself," Mrs. Jing whispered, and then walked into the school.
Tohru let out a shaky breath, and opened the gate.
"Tohru!"
The brunette suddenly found herself tangled up in a mess of Zodiac animals.