**Chapter has been rewritten**
"Good morning, my flower!" greeted Shigure to the rice ball who had just came down stairs.
"Good morning, Shigure-san!" said Tohru, giving her usual smile. "What would you like for breakfast?"
"Now, Tohru, I want you take a break from cooking, cleaning, and anything else that makes you move. I'm sure Yuki can handle cooking. Kyo could handle cleaning. I could handle watching those two do work!" said Shigure in a sing-song voice. Upon hearing his name, the prince emerged from the kitchen.
"You think I could handle cooking?" asked Yuki, looking at Shigure like he was crazy. The last time Yuki tried cooking something, it burnt to ashes.
"Of course! When the baby's born, someone has to cook for Tohru!" said Shigure in a know-it-all voice.
"No, it's okay! I could handle cooking and cleaning myself! Yuki and Kyo don't have to do it," said Tohru.
Tohru became her normal self again. She had decided that there was no use sulking or crying. A new life was something to be celebrated and the rice ball felt unfair treating her child like it was unwanted. The brunette had already grown maternal feelings towards her unborn baby.
"I'll do the cooking for Tohru," muttered the cat who had been lying on the floor. Shigure gave a playful smile at the cat.
"One will do anything for love!" sang the dog zodiac.
"That's it!" The cat launched himself at the dog.
Before the cat could throw the first punch, the door came crashing down with a thud.
"KYOOOOOO!" yelled the enraged voice. The boar zodiac stood at the foot of the smashed door with a vicious look in her eyes.
"Not my house again!" cried Shigure. The orange cat released Shigure from his headlock and ran.
"Don't you dare try and run from me, my love!" Kagura tackled the mortified boy.
"Kagura! Get off me!" demanded Kyo in pain. She stopped twisting the poor boy's arms and looked at him with innocent eyes filled with tears.
"Kyo, how could you cheat on me?" cried Kagura. Kyo struggled to escape her grasp.
"What d'you mean you crazy witch?" The boar zodiac smacked the backside of suffering cat's head.
"Either you or Yuki got Tohru pregnant!"
"How'd you know Tohru was pregnant?" asked Kyo trying his best to escape the grip of Kagura.
"I looked through Hatori's medical files to see if you had any allergies but I ended up finding a record of Tohru's. He should probably have a key to lock his cabinets."
Tohru interrupted the violence. "Does anyone else know?" she asked, hoping that it was only Kagura.
Kagura stopped pummeling Kyo and looked at Tohru. "No, just me," said Kagura. Yuki, Kyo, Shigure, and Tohru all breathed a sigh of relief.
"Please stop hurting Kyo," begged the rice ball, placing her hand on the angry boar's shoulder.
"Alright," said Kagura, unpinning the passed out Kyo. "KYO, CAN YOU HEAR ME? I'M ONLY DOING THIS BECAUSE I LOVE YOU SO, SO MUCH! EVEN IF THE CHILD IS YOURS, I'M WILLING TO LIVE WITH IT AS ITS STEP-MOM!"
Kyo regained consciousness after her yelling.
"Shut up, Kagura! You're not gonna be the step mom of anyone 'cuz were not freaking getting married!" yelled Kyo, infuriated by the boar's persistence.
"Alright, alright," said Shigure, waving his arms. "everyone needs to calm down." He turned to Kagura. "Nice to see you again, Kagura."
The boar brushed off the dog's greeting, her grey eyes still focused on the beat feline.
"You haven't seen me for months and you don't even seem happy to see me," complained Kagura, pools of tears forming in her eyes.
Yuki, sick of the noise, decided to intervene. "Kagura, maybe it would be best if you took Kyo outside to talk."
"You damn rat!" yelled Kyo as he was dragged away by the powerful boar outside.
Yuki sighed. "Finally, some peace and quiet," he mumbled.
"Do you think Kagura will hurt Kyo a lot?" worried the rice ball. "It's all my fault! If I hadn't gone to Hatori, she wouldn't have known."
"The real problem here," said Shigure, rubbing his temples. "is the possibility of Akito finding out."
"No, Akito can't find out!" exclaimed the prince, memories of his suffering racing through his mind. He'll do horrible things to Miss Honda... I wouldn't be able to live with myself if she got hurt, thought the rat.
Meanwhile, Kyo was getting beaten to a pulp by his "fiancée".
"Why don't you love me?" cried Kagura. "I love you so much but you don't love me one bit! You're mean, Kyo."
Kyo rolled his eyes with the last of his strength.
Kagura pulled Kyo into a tight hug, crushing his air flow.
"K-Kagura, c-cut it out!" gasped the cat, prying the boar's arms off of himself.
"No! I won't let you go until you tell me you love me!"
Kyo stopped trying to pry her off and sighed. "Sorry, Kagura. I can't lie to you like that."
The boar loosened her grasp in defeat. "Are you... in love with Tohru?"
Kyo looked away and remained silent. The boar dropped to the floor started to cry.
"I'll become just like Tohru if that's what it takes to make you love me!"
"You can't," said Kyo, brushing the dirt off of his shirt. "You can't act like Tohru and expect me to love you."
"Why not?! I just have to act stupid and nice and get pregnant right?"
Kyo's eyes narrowed at the boar with irritation. "Get out, Kagura. Don't show up near me again. You can never be Tohru, not with a heart like that. Hit me if it makes you feel better, but it won't change the way I feel about you or Tohru."
"Fine," said the boar picking herself up. "I understand. I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you."
Kyo sighed. He wasn't planning on hurting Kagura's feelings but she pushed him to the edge.
Suddenly, Kyo felt a massive pain in his left cheekbone. Of course Kagura wouldn't leave without throwing one last punch thought the cat, grimacing in pain. He saw the small-framed girl walking away and heard her sniffles. That punch really hurt... I guess she decided not to go easy on me this time.
"I swear it's true, Akito! Honda Tohru really is pregnant," said Kagura at the main house. She was kneeling down before Akito.
"Is that so?" The zodiac god had an evil smile on her face. "So the brat finally messed something up in her perfect life. Who's the father?"
"Either Yuki or Kyo! I heard it myself from the two of them!"
The boar immediately felt guilty for telling Akito. She realized she just put Tohru in an extremely dangerous situation.
"What are you gonna do to her?" asked the concerned boar, biting her lower lip.
The zodiac god placed a gentle hand on Kagura's head as if to say 'good job'.
"I won't say," said Akito. "I don't want to ruin the surprise."
The ringing phone disturbed the quiet atmosphere in Shigure's house.
Now who could that be? thought Shigure, walking over to the phone.
"Sohma Shigure's residence."
"Shigure, it's Hatori," said the man on the other line.
"Oh, Hatori! I've missed you so much while I was gone," said Shigure, pouting.
"Save it for Ayame. We have bigger problems right now," said the cold voice.
Shigure's pouty face turned into a more serious one. "What is it, Hatori?"
A sigh was heard from the other line. "It seems as though Akito knows about Tohru's situation."
The dog zodiac's eyebrows furrowed. "What does Akito want with Tohru?"
"Akito wants to meet Tohru this afternoon at the main estate."
"Will Tohru be safe?"
"I don't know. I do know that if you don't send her, Akito will take out her anger on your entire household."
"I guess I have no choice then," said Shigure.
"Alright. Also, don't tell Yuki or Kyo. That might lead to even more trouble."
"I understand. I'll send her over in a couple of hours." Shigure hung up the phone. I can't risk everyone else being hurt because of Tohru thought the dog zodiac.
Yuki stood on the balcony, breathing in the scent of the cool end-of-summer breeze. His hair danced with the wind and his big, grey eyes reflected the light of the sun. Tohru paused her laundry folding(which she convinced Shigure to let her do) to gaze at the prince in awe of his beauty.
Wow, thought Tohru. any girl would be lucky to have Yuki-kun. I wonder what he's thinking about... The rice ball continued to fold the laundry.
The handsome prince was deep in thought. He leaned against the balcony railing, staring at nothing in particular.
If I am the dad, why can't I remember anything? Yuki often had moments where fragments of forgotten memories came back to him, but nothing came back.
Tohru watched the prince as he ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. Something must be bothering him, thought the brunette. She zoned out into her own thoughts.
Both Kyo and Yuki have such admirable qualities, but I wonder whose qualities Aka-chan will have. Will Aka-chan have Yuki's gentleness and formality? Or will he or she have Kyo's determination and loyalty? The rice ball couldn't help but think about the negative qualities as well. What if the baby has Yuki's cold and distant personality? Or if the baby has Kyo's short-temper and impulsiveness?
The rice ball imagined her child with the qualities of both boys. Her imagination of a child with Yuki:
"Mama, I picked flowers for you," said the little boy to Tohru. The little boy had dark grey hair that covered his forehead and his father's same stony grey eyes.
"Thank you," said Tohru, giving her son a tight squeeze. "I love you very much."
The little boy didn't respond, his mind elsewhere.
Tohru sweat-dropped. "Eheh... sweetie? Is something bothering you?"
The Yuki look-alike's emotionless face made Tohru feel very lonely and sad.
The boy snapped out of his thoughts and faced his mother. He gave a small smile.
"Sorry, Mama... I'm just thinking," said the little boy.
"Eh? You're four... what do you have to think about?"
However, the little boy went off into his own little world again, leaving Tohru wondering what made her son so isolated from the rest of the world.
Tohru's imagination switched to a scenario with Kyo's child:
A little girl with two carrot-colored braids and amber eyes continuously punched the martial arts dummy.
"Sweetie, it's time to eat!" called Tohru. However, the child didn't stop.
"Not now, Mom! After I finish this round of punches! Dad said he'd teach me a new skill if I completed 200 punches in a row."
"I-I'm sure you could take a break," said Tohru, both amazed and scared by her daughters willpower.
"Okay," said the little girl, running towards Tohru, crushing the various plants that Tohru had been caring for.
Tohru gasped. "My flowers..."
"Mom, let's eat already, I don't have all day!"
Tohru wished that her daughter would be more patient and calm, but it was something she'd have to live with as the mother of Kyo's child.
Tohru's thoughts were interrupted by Shigure, who was waving his hand in front of her face.
"Hi, Shigure-san," said the rice ball, snapping back into reality.
"Oh, Tohru, I was afraid you were completely out of it!" said Shigure.
"Sorry! I guess I'm just lost in thought."
"It's alright." Shigure's usually light-hearted eyes were replaced with serious ones. "Tohru, Akito knows about your situation."
The rice ball stiffened. She remembered her first experience with Akito and it wasn't an experience she wanted to relive again.
"He wants to meet you," said the dog zodiac. He felt terrible for telling her but he couldn't bring himself not to. He was too afraid of his own self being hurt. He admitted it was selfish, but he couldn't bring himself to endanger his own life before the rice ball's.
"Oh," said Tohru, putting on a brave face. "I'll do it. When does he want to meet me?"
"At around four 'o clock," replied Shigure.
Tohru's face paled. That's so soon, she thought to herself.
"O-okay. I'm sure Akito just wants to chat," said the girl, reassuring herself.
"What's this about Akito?" asked Yuki, entering the living room from the balcony. His voice was filled with anger but some fear as well.
"Oh, nothing at all, Yuki! He just wants to have a talk with our flower. Ehehe," said Shigure, with beads of sweat on his forehead.
"Did someone say Akito?" asked Kyo upon his arrival into the living room. The cat yawned from his nap.
"Please don't worry about it," said Tohru, giving a reassuring smile to the cat.
"How can I not worry about it?! I don't care what you say, I'm goin'," declared the stubborn cat, crossing his arms defensively.
"It's just a friendly chat! You don't have to come!" exclaimed Tohru. Yuki was furious.
"Last time Akito had a 'friendly' chat with me, I ended up with a broken arm!" yelled Yuki. Shigure couldn't hold off the two boys anymore.
"Fine, then. Yuki, Kyo, go with Tohru," sighed Shigure. It's not right for me to send her alone, thought the dog.
Akito was in her room, waiting for the rice ball. She better come soon, thought Akito. She then heard a knock at the door.
"Come in," she ordered. The brunette came in and bowed to Akito. Yuki and Kyo agreed to wait outside. "Sit." Tohru kneeled down before the zodiac god.
"H-hello, Akito-san," greeted Tohru, unable to hide the fear in her voice.
"You know why you're here, correct?" The rice ball nodded weakly. Akito glared at Tohru. "So, you're pregnant with either Kyo or Yuki's baby. Isn't that right?" Tohru numbly nodded again. The zodiac god reached over to the brunette and struck her across the face.
Tohru winced in pain, her left cheek reddening from the blow.
"How dare you?" roared the angry zodiac god. She grabbed Tohru's long brown locks and lifted her up. The Onigiri whimpered in pain. "What a waste of a pretty girl. Was it your plan all along to ruin the lives of the Sohmas? Think about what you've done. You've ruined either Yuki or Kyo's life! They're already burdened with the zodiac curse and you've just added to their weight."
"I-I'm... s-sorry," cried Tohru in pain.
Akito gave a sickly sweet smile to the crying rice ball. "Then I suggest you get rid of the little parasite before anyone else finds out." The zodiac god tossed the girl across the floor by her hair with little effort.
Tohru's breath was shaky. She felt scared. Mom, please help me, she thought. She had no strength to pick herself up from the floor.
"So, Tohru," said Akito. "be honest with me here. Who'd you sleep with? We all know that you're doing this for attention, so I'll give it to you. Who was it? Yuki? Kyo? Both? Although, I wouldn't be surprised if it were both boys. You take advantage of their loneliness to make them love you, but I could see right through it. So tell me, who is the father?"
"I-I don't k-know," replied the rice ball, trying to push herself up. Tohru felt disoriented. Her vision blurred.
"So you don't even know who you slept with? Tsk, tsk," said Akito, walking over to the fallen girl. The zodiac god slammed Tohru's face to the floor, emitting another cry of pain. "You deserve this treatment. How do you feel about successfully seducing Yuki or Kyo? Your innocent image is all an act. I just wanted to protect them because I love them, but you have broken our trust, deceiving them with your untrue words and faked kindness."
Outside of the room, the cat and rat stood in front of the door.
"Damn, I can't hear a thing!" complained Kyo, putting his ear onto the door.
"Me neither," sighed Yuki. "do you think their talk is going well?"
"Well, it is quiet," said the cat. Suddenly, his eyes widened. "I think I hear something."
Yuki pressed his ear against the door. "Me, too."
Muffled shouts were heard. The cat and the rat exchanged looks and slid open the doors.
The cat and rat witnessed the zodiac god throwing the unconscious rice ball into the wall.
"TOHRU!"
"Miss Honda!"
Akito turned around, her eyes filled with hatred and craze. "What are you two doing here? GET OUT! I SAID LEAVE! AS THE ZODIAC GOD I COMMAND YOU TO-"
The cat pinned Akito to the ground, her shouts still echoing throughout the room.
"LET ME GO! LET ME GO, YOU WORTHLESS CAT!" shouted Akito, throwing punches at the cat. He swiftly dodged each attempt.
"Yuki, go take care of Tohru!" commanded the cat, fighting off the zodiac god.
Yuki nodded, rushing over to Tohru. She was lying limp on the floor, her white blouse stained with blood.
"M-Miss H-Honda," whispered the shocked Yuki, his heart aching. "W-wake up! Please!"
The rice ball remained unresponsive. The rat shook the girl's body slightly, hoping for a response.
Meanwhile, Akito lost her strength and collapsed. The exhausted cat dropped the zodiac god to the floor and ran over to see Tohru.
Yuki held the brunette's head in his arms, tears rolling down his porcelain cheeks.
"Is she okay?!" asked Kyo, trying to catch his breath. The cat gently turned her face towards him. "She's hurt! I'm gonna call the ambulance!"
The panicked cat frantically dialed the number on the nearby telephone.
The only thing the boys were able to do now was wait.
The ambulance arrived after what seemed like forever and brought the trio to the emergency room.
"Honda-san is in a critical condition right now and we will need to keep her over the course of the next few days. We have run some blood tests and have found that she is pregnant. Her baby is fine, but too much strain can lead to miscarriage," explained the doctor who helped treat Tohru. "She's not awake yet but you may visit her right now if you wish. Also, we need one of you to fill out her paperwork."
Kyo let out a relieved smile and bowed to the doctor. "Thank you for saving Tohru."
Yuki did the same. "Yes, thank you."
After the doctor left to tend to other patients, Kyo went to visit Tohru while Yuki left to do the paperwork.
The sleeping girl looked so weak. Her forehead was bandaged and her cheek was bruised.
"Tohru," whispered the cat, trying not to cry. He took a seat next to the hospital bed and grasped the girl's hand tightly, afraid of losing her.
I'm such an idiot! I shouldn't have let her go, damn it! It's my fault, thought Kyo, brushing away the brunette's hair from her face.
"I'm sorry, Tohru, for letting this happen to you." The orange-haired boy's eyes stung from the tears. "Damn it, why am I crying?" He quickly wiped them away with his free hand. I'll protect you from now on... just don't make me feel this way ever again.