Author's Note: Hey people! I want to thank you all for the AMAZING response this story has received. I want to complete it before the year is up and all of your feedback is going to make finishing soon a reality. I'm sorry for not responding to you all individually this time around, but I will next time. I'm in the process of interviewing for a new job and actually reaching the finish line of my young adult novel. Everything's in the air for me right now, but next month, I should know where I'm going physically and literally.

Take care and enjoy!

Chapter 10

"You came into my life sent from above. When I lost all hope, you showed me love"—Monica.

"She's at the bakery." Hatori hung up the house phone and turned to face the kitchen table where Yuki sat next to Kyo and Ayame.

"Is she all right?" Yuki asked, his voice a shadow of itself. He glanced over at Kyo, frowning at his cousin. The redhead had his head down on the table, back heaving as he tried to calm his breathing. Ayame stroked his hair and murmured things Yuki couldn't hear.

"She's in the kitchen baking pie of all things. Sayu-san says she seems on edge, so no one's asking her questions. I will go and see if I can get her to come home," Hatori said. He followed Yuki's gaze to Kyo. "Help Ayame keep an eye on Kyo."

What he really meant was help Ayame drug Kyo. Hatori had dissolved sedatives into a steaming cup of tea he'd made for Kyo, but it sat untouched by Kyo's idling fingers stretched over the table.

"Don't you think someone should go with you?" Yuki asked, half-hoping and half- dreading that Hatori would ask him to come along after all. He'd done this; he'd made Tohru run away and reduced Kyo to a vomiting heap that only moved when prodded.

Kyo's students had been sent away, yard work unfinished as soon as Hatori and Ayame returned. They promised to come back in the morning to check on Kyo and Tohru and to complete the job; Yuki said he would call when he wanted them to come back. He had no idea what the state of things in the house would be like in the morning.

"No, you need to stay here," Hatori said. He extracted his keys from his pocket and went out the back door. "I'll be in touch."

Yuki nodded, and looked to Ayame who was watching Hatori leave.

"Well," Ayame said. "There's not much sense in us staying here now that Tohru-kun's been found. Kyo-dear, what say we get you onto the couch? You'll be more comfortable and we'll all have tea and some of that wonderful bread you baked earlier."

Kyo did little more than moan, but he didn't protest when Ayame pulled him to his feet. Yuki blinked, always startled when Ayame revealed he was so much stronger than he looked. Yuki knew he shouldn't be surprised, also being a person constantly underestimated due to his looks and stature, but still… Ayame was such a… a butterfly. He should blow over when people breathed too hard in his direction, instead Yuki watched him practically carry Kyo, who was at least an inch taller, into the living room.

"Grab the tea and bread, Baby Brother," Ayame called back at him.

Right. Yuki went to a wooden cupboard and got out a blue tray with cloud and sun designs etched onto its face. He set the tray with saucers and more cups, pouring more tea and setting the bread and some butter at the center along with a butter knife and napkins. He entered the living room to find Kyo sprawled on his stomach on the long couch and Ayame sitting on his knees on the carpet in front of him. Yuki set the tray on the coffee table and reached out to stroke Kyo's damp red hair.

"You did a lovely job plating this, Yuki," Ayame said, gazing at the tray of snacks and tea. He raised a brow at Yuki, pointing to one of the cups. Yuki had used two blue saucers and a single white to set the teacups upon. The single white marked Kyo's doctored drink. Yuki nodded as Ayame lifted the cup off the white saucer. "Let's have something to drink, Kyo-kun, before you dehydrate and then we'll have a little bread to settle your stomach some more."

Kyo didn't move, so Yuki grabbed him under the shoulders and pushed until his cousin was sitting upright. Kyo's glassy eyes met Yuki's; his face was pale with dark purplish stains under the eyes. "I shouldn't have…" he hiccupped. "I shouldn't have told her I wanted to get rid of this place." He hiccupped twice more. "I br—broke my promise. I suck." He laughed lightly, humorlessly.

"You needed to be honest," Yuki said in Kyo's defense. He rubbed Kyo's shoulders and looked him in the eyes. "Could you live with yourself if you kept things from her now? Kyo, you won't get chances to tell her how you feel after she… she dies."

Kyo trembled in his hold, but nodded his head. "Now she hates me."

"Tohru-kun doesn't hate anyone. She's incapable," Ayame said, stirring Kyo's tea.

"That's what you think," Kyo said. "These last few weeks… she hates the doctor that told her we were gonna win because he was a liar; she hates the bitch she shared a room with in the first trimester, because she was fat and into eating bad foods and smoking and was an overall waste of a person that went into remission and stayed in remission. Now, you tell me if she hates me, I mean, I only betrayed her trust and let her down, and just…wasn't strong enough to deal. I made her promises. I was gonna be together and keep her together, and…"

"And all of that was unrealistic," Ayame said gently. "You need to vent, Kyo. She needs to vent. She needs to be angry, but you have to understand that she doesn't hate you."

Kyo stuck both hands out, reaching for the tea in Ayame's hands. "Hatori put drugs in this right?"

"Uh…"

Kyo finished the tea in two gulps as Yuki and Ayame stared at him.

"Kyo, you…."

Kyo set the cup on the coffee table, the ceramic clinking against the wood and Yuki fought the urge to grab one of the grandfather clock coasters to put under it. Kyo grunted and sprawled over the couch again, face down.

"Why don't you go to bed?" Yuki asked.

Kyo didn't raise his head; his voice was muffled. "I don't want to sleep in there by myself ever."

Yuki bit his lower lip and rubbed Kyo's thin back through his t-shirt. "All right then." He met Ayame's sad eyes and they rose together, going back into the kitchen.

Yuki sat down at the kitchen table while Ayame chose to sit on the wide window sill, peering out into the garden.

"I think Kyo should sell the house, too," Ayame said after a long moment. "It's so heavy in here Atlas would stumble trying to shoulder it all, and Tohru hasn't even… If it's like this here now, how will it be when she's gone? I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving Kyo in this place alone."

Yuki wouldn't either. Not that he thought Kyo would do anything stupid to hurt himself, but he would probably pine away.

"He was right to tell Tohru as well. He wouldn't want selling this place on his conscience," Ayame said. "Or perhaps, he doesn't even have to sell it. He can keep it, but purchase another place for himself. That wouldn't be breaking any promises, would it?"

Yuki smiled lightly at Ayame. "I don't think it would. It sounds fair to me. I'll suggest it to Kyo when he wakes up."

Yuki started when Ayame's cold, slim fingers rested over his hand. "This is going to sound horrible, Yuki, but remember when I said I thought you'd be the one to marry Tohru? Now…well, now I'm glad that I was wrong. I never want to see you go through anything like this. Ever."

Yuki's heart thudded. "Ni-san, that's…."

"It would hurt me so very much to see you in that much pain."

"But…" Heaven forbid. "If it were to ever happen to me, if Machi…."

"Don't talk about that," Ayame said, and cleared his throat. "We won't talk about anything." His golden eyes were misty. He blinked a few times, and smiled. "Let's sit outside with our tea, shall we? The patio furniture is comfortable, the garden is beautiful and the air is cool. Come, Baby Brother."

Ayame rose with his usual flourish, his silver hair tied back in a fish tail down his back. He strode toward the back door without looking to see if Yuki was following him. Yuki sighed, wondering if Ayame needed a moment alone. He thought about what Ayame said, about being glad that Yuki was not in Kyo's shoes. It was a terrible thing to say, but Yuki had thought the same thing many times. He sighed and moved to the door Ayame had disappeared through. He looked back toward the living room, straining his ears for any sounds from Kyo and heard none. He slipped through the back door and joined Ayame on a patio chair, tea in hand, and content to talk about nothing until Hatori returned with Tohru.

Hatori returned 2 hours later with Tohru. He entered with his large arm draped over her tiny shoulders along with his jacket. Tohru's eyes were red and swollen and she avoided Yuki's gaze when he approached her. She kept her eyes on the floor as she stood in the kitchen, never moving too far from Hatori's side.

"I'm sorry for yelling, Yuki-kun," she murmured. "I didn't mean to be so rude."

"It's fine," Yuki said. He reached out and touched her chin with his index finger, raising it so that their eyes could meet. Her doe eyes were so heavy with grief. "Are you all right?"

Tohru blinked; then shook her head. "Wh—where's Kyo?"

"He's asleep on the couch," Yuki said. "He might not wake up for a while. We gave him some medicine."

Her face crumpled and she turned toward Hatori. Hatori gave her shoulders a squeeze, and said, "Why don't you go sit with him until he wakes up; then you can tell him what you've decided."

Tohru nodded slowly. She shuffled her feet as she walked past Yuki and nearly collided with Ayame who had just entered the kitchen.

"Hello there, Sweet Flower." He kissed the top of her head and turned, extended an elbow to her. She smiled at him and linked her arm through his. They left the kitchen together.

Yuki sighed. Why couldn't he do things like that?

Hatori shut the backdoor and moved to the coffee pot. He looked pale and tired, his steps heavy.

"What did Tohru decide, Hatori?" Yuki asked.

Hatori looked up from the assortment of coffee bean tins he was judging. "She's decided not to die at home, Yuki."

"O-oh?" Yuki said, his stomach doing a flip. "The lake house, then?"

Hatori gave a faint smile. "It's the place where she first realized she was in love with Kyo. She wants to have the viewing and funeral there as well."

Yuki nodded, swallowing hard. "Did you tell her…?"

Hatori sighed. "Yes, I did Yuki. Someone had to."

And that someone wouldn't have been Kyo. Yuki knew that Kyo would never tell her anything that he thought might upset her again, not after this time.

"Thank you, Hatori," Yuki said. He walked to his older cousin's side and shooed him away from the coffee maker. "Go and rest; I'll make your coffee. I think the French vanilla roast mixed with hazelnut and Irish crème will suit you this evening."

Hatori raised a brow, but didn't protest. "Are there any scones left?"

Yuki hummed. The pumpkin almond scones Kyo had made yesterday morning had been divine and the only way there could be more was if Kyo or Tohru had hidden a stash. Yuki snooped through the food pantry and bread bins. Ah-ha. He pulled open a plastic bread bin drawer where two pumpkin scones were sealed.

"Yes, I'll bring you those too," Yuki said. He eyed the orange scones. Did Hatori really need both of them? They were buttery and full of sugar and fat, and Hatori was getting older, meaning his metabolism was slowing. Yuki would be doing him a favor by keeping a second scone to himself.

But then Hatori had done what Yuki couldn't do. Hatori had probably saved Tohru and Kyo's house. There was no way Kyo wouldn't sell the place Tohru had died in, but if this was only a place she'd lived in, he might keep it. He probably wouldn't stay in the house anymore, but he wouldn't part with it.

Yes, Hatori could have both scones and homemade honey butter, too.

Yuki mixed the coffee beans and prepared the grinder. Tohru and Kyo had an old fashioned grinder with a crank. Yuki found it relaxing to hand grind his own coffee beans. At his apartment, he lived on beans that had already been prepared or instant. He couldn't believe Kyo and Tohru preferred to make coffee the ancient way, but after learning to make his own and having Kyo teach him how to mix certain beans for particular flavors and boldness, Yuki would never go back to instant. He'd never be a gourmet chef, but he was damn decent at making a great pot of coffee. The smell of the crunching beans was delicious. He added cocoa beans to the mix, experimenting, and his cell phone vibrated in his pocket.

"Hello?" He answered, balancing the phone on his shoulder as he added water to the coffee maker.

"Yuki Sohma you were supposed to call me an hour ago. What's wrong?"

It was Machi.

"Oh my gods, I'm sorry. I—I forgot. We had an emergency with Tohru and Kyo…."

"Is Tohru all right?" Machi sounded frightened.

"Oh, she—she's all right now. They just—I encouraged Kyo to tell Tohru how upset he was with everything and it just didn't go well."

"What did he say?" Machi asked. "You told me he wasn't comfortable with her dying at home or the funeral… did he tell her that?"

"No—Honey, he wants to sell the house. Ni-san and I are going to try to talk him out of it."

"What? He never said anything about that before—though, I can't say I blame him."

Yuki grinned. He and Machi really were two peas in a pod. "I can't either, but it really hurt Tohru. But I think—I think things are going to get better now. Hatori went on and told her about how scared Kyo was of her dying in the house. She wants to go to the lake house now."

"The lake house? The beautiful place you took me to last summer? That will be—nice, I think. I mean, if she likes it there."

"It has good memories for her," Yuki said. "And it'll be good to get out of the house. Tohru's been… kind of weak lately, so we haven't been going out as much. This place feels so cheery and homey, but with Tohru wandering around getting sicker and sicker, the atmosphere's going to change."

"When do you think you'll go to the lake house? And… well, Yuki, I've really been thinking. I know this is family time, but… I don't feel right with you being there alone, and I haven't seen you in what feels like forever. We never did go on our dates. I know you've been busy."

Yuki felt a rush of warmth then a pang of loss and loneliness. He wanted Machi to come with them to the lake house. He wanted to hold and cuddle her and make sure she was all right and safe and well, but did he want to flaunt that in front of Kyo and Tohru? And then he didn't know how he'd be when Tohru was—dying, actually dying. What if he freaked out? He didn't know if he wanted Machi to see him like that—but he also didn't want to be alone.

"I… I don't know Machi. I want you with me. I want to be with you, but… I just don't know." He was quiet, listening to her breathe on the other line.

"I'm coming to see you today, then. We'll have dinner and we'll stay in a hotel overnight."

Yuki swallowed. She'd used her "I won't take no for an answer" voice. "All right. Kyo's asleep and he and Tohru are going to talk again when he wakes up. Tonight, tonight would be perfect. What would you like to eat?"

"I don't care Yuki. I'll eat a cold sandwich so long as you're sitting next me and I can see that you're okay," Machi said. "Just pick me up at the train station and we'll go from there. I'm going to catch the train that leaves in an hour, all right?"

Yuki nodded, knowing she'd know he was.

"I love you," she said.

"I love you, too," Yuki said, and held the phone to his ear even after she'd disconnected. He breathed in the scent of coffee and cocoa and closed his eyes on the sound of boiling water, thanking the gods for sending him Machi and, in the same breath, praying that they would never take her away from him too soon.

Machi wore skinny blue jeans, and a university sweatshirt with sneakers, but Yuki thought she'd never looked so beautiful. It was obvious that she had left her apartment right after getting off the phone with him and had gone straight to the train station instead of dressing up for an evening out. She really did just want to see him. Yuki darted through passing travelers, grinning wide when she noticed him and started moving in his direction as well. She had a backpack strap over one shoulder that probably held a change of clothes and a toothbrush.

Yuki grabbed her in a tight hug, inhaling the rosy scent of her hair. He kissed the top of her head, then her cheeks, her ears, her neck, then her lips. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed her until then; kissing and hugging her was the only way to dim the pain in his chest. Passers-by glared at them. He understood; he didn't like public displays of affection either, but he couldn't help himself. He felt Machi respond, her own arms going around him, her tongue crushing against his. Her hands roamed, from his buttocks to his back to his neck and hair, then down to his buttocks again.

In a moment, Yuki was going to suggest they get a hotel first, but Machi pulled away. Her pretty face flushed. She breathed through her mouth, laughing, eyes alight. "Wow, well, we should spend more time apart if that's how you greet me."

Yuki laughed with her. "It's so good to see you." He spun her around and set her back on her feet. "You look beautiful, by the way. Are you hungry now, or do you want to find a room, or…?"

"Slow down, Yuki." She touched his face. "You're so pale."

Yuki shook his head. "I can't look as bad as Kyo."

Machi kissed his cheek; then took his hand. "No, I doubt you do. All right, so let's find a room. How does that sound?"

"Fantastic," Yuki said. "There are some bed and breakfasts just outside of Maizuru, or we can stay in a real hotel."

"No bed and breakfast; they're too small and people get too nosey," Machi said. "Besides, I feel more scandalous in a hotel. Do you want to go five-star and run up a huge bill? I'll foot it."

"I love when you talk dirty to me, Machi," Yuki said with a snicker. They walked hand in hand through the gates of the train station to where Yuki had parked Kyo's car. Kyo had still been asleep when he'd left, with Tohru sitting beside him, rubbing his back and staring at a movie Ayame had put on. Ayame had smiled and encouraged him to show Machi an excellent time and to not come back until tomorrow afternoon; Hatori had just waved him on and told him that he would take care of Tohru and Kyo.

"So, where are we going?" Machi asked, once situated in the passenger seat.

Yuki started the car. "The Royal Hotel; it's on the coast, and there are restaurants all over. We can eat and walk and sight-see. That sound okay?"

Machi nodded. "Sounds great." She patted her backpack. "I think I forgot my toothbrush."

Yuki smirked. "We'll get you another."

"I think I forgot my underwear."

"We can work without it." Yuki smirked harder.

"I think I forgot to tell Kakeru where I was going."

"We can certainly work without him."

Machi arched her brows at him, a wicked grin in place. "I had a feeling you'd say something like that."

Yuki pulled out of the parking lot and set course to the hotel.

Yuki woke the next day, legs tangled in white sheets around his legs, mouth full of long hair where he'd fallen asleep with his face pressed against the back of Machi's head. He spat and tried to untangle himself without waking Machi. He slid out of bed and stared at his fiancé for a moment. The sunlight peaking through the blinds cast stripes over her lean body. So beautiful, and so his. He felt that familiar ache in his chest again. What would he do if she wasn't here anymore?

In a few weeks, Kyo would never have a moment like this with Tohru again. He'd never wake up with her hair in his mouth or be able to just stand over her, staring down at her beauty as she slept. He'd never tiptoe around a room to keep from waking her and call down for room service for two. Tears welled in Yuki's eyes as he tried to drive the thoughts away.

No, he was spending time with Machi, not depressing himself.

He slipped into the bathroom to brush his teeth and shower. Once under the hot spray of the showerhead, he began to relax and hum softly. He didn't flinch when the glass door of the shower stall was opened and Machi slid in behind him.

"You didn't wake me up."

"You looked so pretty I didn't want to disturb you," Yuki said, moaning lightly as she nibbled his ear.

"I thought the same when I woke up thirty minutes ago," Machi said. "Do you want to go out for breakfast or have it in bed?"

"In bed," Yuki said, turning to lather her hair. He smiled when she reached for the shampoo so that she could do the same for him. The shower stall really wasn't big enough for two, but Yuki didn't mind being crowded right then.

His morning shower that usually took about 10 minutes took 45. He came out of the steamy bathroom with a fluffy towel wrapped around his head; Machi came out later with a towel around her body, brushing her teeth with his toothbrush. "I want eggs, Sweetie."

"All right." Yuki padded over to the hotel phone that set on the bedside table and paused. His cell phone lay on it, face up and on vibrate, and he had 12 missed calls. He picked it up and taped the Missed Calls icon on the screen.

Ayame had called at 5:45 AM.

He had called again at 6:00 AM.

Again at 6:15 AM.

Again at 6:30…. Again at 7:00…. Yuki's legs gave out and he sat down hard on the wooden floor. Why would Ayame call so much when he knew he was out with Machi and not to return until the afternoon?

Oh gods.

Oh gods.

"Ma—Machi…."

No response. She'd gone back into the bathroom and probably couldn't hear him over the sink water running in the bathroom.

Yuki dialed Ayame's number with trembling hands and brought the phone to his face.

"Yuki!" Ayame answered on the first ring, his voice high and urgent.

"Ni-san?" Yuki croaked. "Tohru…?"

"Come right away, Little Brother. We're at the hospital. There was no time. There was no time to do anything right. She didn't want to—to do this at home, and the lake house would have taken too much time."

"Oh gods, Ni-san. Now? Now? But she was… Are you—is she sure? It can't be now!"

"Yuki, calm down and call a cab. I'll call you a cab. You have to come now."

"No, no, Ayame, no! You're wrong. She's wrong! We've still got weeks. You take her back home, and we'll go to the lake house. I'll meet you there!"

Yuki's lungs were laboring. He could barely hear Ayame over the sound of his wheezing. It was happening. It was happening now. His throat was closing off and he coughed, doubling over and dropping the phone in his lap. He couldn't breathe.

I can't breathe.

He heard Ayame's tiny voice shouting from his lap. He heard the sound of bare feet running across a wooden floor. He felt soft hands touching his face and neck and then pushing his head between his knees.

"Hello? Ayame-san? He's having an asthma attack. I-what? Oh gods. Yes, yes. All right. I'll call you on the way."

Machi's hand rubbed his back. "Just breathe in and out, Yuki, and tell me you have your inhaler."

Yuki struggled to point to where he'd draped his pants over the back of the desk chair. Hatori had made him start carrying his inhaler with him while he was there. Thank the gods for Hatori. The iron band around Yuki's chest tightened and he gasped and choked. Machi was gone from his side for a moment, but returned quickly. He felt the cold mouthpiece of his inhaler pushed between his lips and grabbed at the tiny machine, getting himself under control enough to greedily suck in the medicated mist it expelled. It tasted awful and made him want to gag, but he felt his air passages opening.

He continued to cough and wheeze, but he didn't feel like he was trying to breathe underwater. He gave himself another dose, trembling as his lungs expanded farther and the coughing calmed. Machi rubbed his back and whispered, "It's okay, it's all right; keep breathing."

Yuki let his head fall back onto her shoulder as he panted, catching his breath. He felt her lips ghost his hair and tears began to fall.

"Tohru's dying, Machi."

"I know," she said.

Yuki's upper lip tingled and burned as tears and mucus from his nose mingled there. "She didn't want to die in a hospital."

"But she couldn't die at home," Machi said. Yuki sobbed as she began rocking him like a baby, as he had Kyo earlier that week. "I'm so sorry, Yuki."

Yuki wrapped his arms around Machi, hanging on so tightly he thought she'd burst. "Don't you ever die—not like this—not before me."

"Oh Yuki. I'm so sorry."

Oh gods… Kyo. I'm so sorry, Kyo. Yuki buried his face in Machi's shoulder a moment longer before letting her go so that she could call the cab.

He sat on the edge of the bed, naked and shivering and wringing his hands together as Machi organized everything, thinking: How do I say goodbye?

Monica. "Angel of Mine." The Boy Is Mine. Arista Records, 1998. CD.

Author's Note: What the verdict? Like it? Hate it? Don't care either way? Well, anyway you liked it, let me know. Please review!