Author's Note: Hello again! Thank you to everyone who's reviewed so far; I really appreciate your feedback. Here is Chapter 3; I hope you all enjoy it. Take care!

Chapter 3

"When you're in sorrow just let me know and I will be there"—Britney Spears.

Yuki ended up in the men's room, splashing cold water on his face. He looked into the mirror and his own sorry reflection gazed back at him. His bangs were wet and droplets of water dotted his forehead and cheeks and dribbled from his chin back into the white, porcelain sink bowl. His eyes were swollen and red. He splashed more water from the running tap into them and blinked rapidly as they burned.

He didn't want to be here. He couldn't be here. Who was he fooling? He wasn't the person people came to for comfort and support. Yuki still kind of needed that himself. He shouldn't have come alone. He should have called Ayame or Hatsuharu and told them what was happening and begged them to come with him. Ayame could be quite normal when he wanted or needed to be and Hatsuharu always seemed to know what people needed most. He was more observant than most gave him credit for.

Yuki could call them now, but what would Tohru and Kyo think of him. Tohru wanted to wait until she was out of the hospital and comfortable at home, before she called in friends. Kyo had disrespected her in calling Yuki, but… Yuki bowed his head, shivering as cold water dribbled down his collar and ran onto his chest… Kyo had needed him, did need him. And here Yuki was running away. Why hadn't Kyo called Master Kazuma?

Yuki paused for a moment and then shut off the faucet. Why hadn't Kyo called Master Kazuma? Master Kazuma knew how to take care of people, especially Kyo. Maybe it was because Kyo had used Tohru's phone. Yuki's number was programmed into it, and maybe Master Kazuma's wasn't. Or maybe of all the people Kyo could have called, Tohru would mind Yuki being there the least.

He gripped the cool sides of the sink. Whatever the reason, Yuki was here and not someone else, and he didn't want Tohru remembering him as a useless heap either. He pushed away from the sink and washed his hands, this time using paper towels to turn off the faucets. There was truly no point in washing your hands if you were going to touch everything in the bathroom with them afterward, according to Machi who could be extremely obsessive compulsive about certain things-though her apartment was a sty. However, Yuki really couldn't say too much in that regard, since he had a maid come in once a week to clean up after him.

He left the bathroom and traced his way back to Tohru's room. He knocked before entering and stepped in to find a male nurse taking Tohru's temperature and blood pressure. Kyo lay on his back on the window seat tossing a circular pillow into the air and catching it.

"Yuki-kun! Are you all right?" Tohru asked as soon as she spotted him.

The nurse started in surprise. "Miss Tohru, is this a friend of yours?"

"Yes, a dear friend, and Kyo's cousin," Tohru said. "He just came in by train this morning to surprise us."

"That's wonderful." The nurse looked to be about late-twenties, early thirties, with short black hair and glasses. He scribbled information onto a chart and turned to beam openly at Yuki. "I'm glad to see a new face with these guys. I was starting to think they were married hermits."

Married hermits? Well, that was an oxymoron if Yuki had ever heard one.

"Ichiru here followed us from Oncology. Since we're not gonna be here long, he'd like to stay with us until it's time to see us off," Kyo said.

"It's not orthodox, but Miss Tohru's such a sweetheart that no one here wants to ignore her requests." Nurse Ichiru smiled fondly at Tohru and petted her head.

Yuki regarded the nurse warmly. He seemed very caring toward his patients, or perhaps he, like everyone else who was exposed to Tohru, had a soft spot for her.

"It's nice to meet you Nurse Ichiru."

The young man grimaced. "Please, just call me Ichiru."

Yuki bowed slightly. "My apologies, Ichiru. Thank you for taking such good care of Tohru." Yuki came to the side of the bed not occupied by Ichiru and took Tohru's free hand. "I'm sorry about earlier Tohru."

"It's all right, Yuki-kun," Tohru said. "It's not easy being here for anyone, and this is only your first time. But…" her eyes were grave, though she smiled, "I cannot promise you it gets easier."

Yuki's stomach twisted. He didn't think it would when you knew the person wasn't going to be healed. Yuki pressed his lips to her hand, and Tohru giggled. "You're still Prince Yuki after all this time."

"Eh, he doesn't like being called Prince Rat," Kyo said.

"Who would want to be called that?" Ichiru placed his hands on his hips after finishing with Tohru and setting his instruments down on Tohru's night table. He raised a brow at Kyo's position. "Honestly, Mr. Kyo, you're like a great big cat. You can sprawl out and get comfortable anywhere. I bet you take naps during the day."

"And I drink milk from the carton," Kyo said.

Yuki chuckled under his breath. It was funny. Though the animal spirits had left all of the members of the Zodiac, some of them still retained certain characteristics. Kagura was still quick to charge into things head first, Rin was still stubborn; Momiji was still energetic.

"He purrs if you scratch him behind the ears," Tohru said.

Ichiru laughed and looked over at the TV tray sitting beside the bed. The Tupperware sat on top of the cloth bag it had rode in. "Ooh, that's right. It's Experimental Wednesday, isn't it? What did you bring me, Mr. Kyo?"

"Some cinnamon bread; help yourself. In fact, just take it home with you and share it with your wife. There's not that much left."

"Oh, you sure?" Ichiru looked excited. He must have had another of Kyo's cooking projects. Yuki was slightly jealous. He was curious about the flourless chocolate cake Sayu had mentioned. Had Ichiru gotten to taste it?

"If this is as good as those raspberry tarts that one time, my wife is gonna flip," Ichiru picked up the Tupperware. "I wish your bakery hours were a bit longer, Miss Tohru, so my wife and I could go."

Tohru smiled. "Well, 7:00 - 5:30 are the peak hours for the square at this time of year. Our hours are a bit longer in the summer and we get permission to set up a few tables outside on the sidewalk."

"You think we should serve that peach, strawberry lemonade again this summer, Rice Ball? That went over really well. We had some people trying to order it last week. I think they were from Osaka. I forgot why they were here this time, but they didn't know the lemonade was seasonal. I felt kinda bad."

"Oh, Kyo, why didn't you just make them some, then?" Tohru asked.

"Number 1, if I made them some, I would have to make everybody some. Number 2, we didn't have the ingredients for it. Number 3, I hate making that stuff, I get too sticky."

"You should wear an apron, Baby," Tohru said with a laugh.

"Mr. Kyo's too manly for an apron," Ichiru said. "Maybe you should just have clothes designated as 'cook-wear'."

Tohru giggled and Ichiru beamed, pleased with himself. Yuki found himself laughing at the camaraderie between the health care professional, his cousin and cousin-in-law.

"Well, you may not be able to come to the bakery, but you and your wife will have to come over for dinner next week, Ichiru-kun. We have to keep in touch."

Kyo didn't catch the pillow this time, letting it hit him in the face. He laid still. Yuki frowned as Ichiru touched Tohru's arm. "I'll make sure you have my number, and I will expect for you to call me, all right?" There was a slight waver in Ichiru's voice and Yuki blinked at him. Weren't nurses supposed to be used to this? They weren't supposed to be affected by their patients; but who couldn't be affected by Tohru, the girl who'd made even Akito see reason.

"I will. And I'll make sure to make all of the things you enjoyed most, and Kyo will make peach, strawberry lemonade."

Kyo grunted beneath the pillow.

"I'll set the table," Yuki volunteered, feeling left out if both Kyo and Tohru were preparing the meal.

Tohru blinked and looked at Yuki; Kyo slid the pillow off his face.

"How long are you planning to stay again, Rat?" Kyo asked. His tone was neutral, but there was an undertone that Yuki couldn't decipher. Was it hope?

Maybe the question was: how long did Kyo want Yuki to stay?

"Until you put me out, remember?" Yuki was going to have to call his boss. The excuse he'd given for taking off was an illness in the family. He wondered if he'd be granted an extended leave, if he fully explained the situation. He didn't want to have to find a new job, but he would if he had to. He wasn't going to abandon Tohru and Kyo.

"Oi, Tohru. I think he's using us for food. You know he lives on take-out." Kyo smirked in Yuki's direction, but Yuki read the "Thank you" in his eyes. He nodded at the red head and squeezed Tohru's hand.

"Well, I do miss your cooking, Tohru."

"And I miss cooking for you, Yuki-kun." Tohru kissed his cheek.

The next time Yuki excused himself, it was to call his boss.

Spears, Britney. "I Will Be There." …Baby One More Time. Jive, 1999. CD.

Author's Note: So, what's the verdict? Liked it? Hated it? Don't care either way? Well, any way you liked it, let me know. Please review!