I apologize for the long, long wait for the next chapter. I also apologize for how short it is.
This last year has been pretty shitty & I've had horrible writer's block with most of my stories. I've also had little ambition for writing in general. But I'm trying to get back into the swing of things.
I know it's short, but I hope you like it.
& right now, all I can tell you about the next chapter is it's going to at least be a little longer than this. & it's going to be dark.
A Week & A Half Later:
"Are you ready to get out of here?" Hatori asked, watching Tohru sitting on the side of her hospital bed.
"Where will I go? I love Grandpa, but he doesn't have enough room for me with my aunt and cousins living there." Tohru dully questioned.
"I talked with your grandfather, Akito, and the others; we've all agreed you'll come stay with me for the time being. Once you're doing better, you can decide where to go from there. You can continue to stay at my place with me. Or the others or I can help you find a place on your own. But let's focus on getting you back to full strength—or at least to ninety-percent better before we figure out anything else." Hatori calmly explained, watching the distressed girl in front of him.
"Ok. Thank you." Tohru replied, standing up. Hatori could just see the lifelessness in her eyes.
"Hi, Tohru! We've come help with your things!" Momiji excitedly declared, rushing in with Haru coolly walking in.
"Oh, thank you." Tohru responded with a fake smile.
"We are going to have sooo much fun tonight. Hatori said we could watch movies together—if you want to that is." Momiji happily announced, trying to cheer Tohru up.
"That sounds like fun." Tohru replied with somewhat of a genuine smile.
"Who is all here?" Hatori questioned, watching Haru.
"Rin is waiting outside; she couldn't walk in here because it made her uncomfortable. Shigure and Ayame are in the giftshop, trying to find the biggest and best gifts for Tohru. Akito, Kagura, Kisa, and Hiro are back at your place, getting a room ready for Tohru. Kazuma and Ritsu are helping Kureno back into his home. I haven't seen Kyo or Yuki, but I think Yuki's out with Machi. So, you're stuck with us two." Haru answered Hatori.
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to be a bother." Tohru guiltily apologized, looking down as tears threatened to fall.
"Oh, no; I'm sorry. I didn't mean it to sound like that; we're happy to help. You're no bother or burden to any of us. And no matter what Kyo may say or may have said to you about being either or; he's wrong because he's the real bother. He's not worth your time or energy; you deserve better." Haru wisely and zenly insisted with a reassuring smile.
"Haru's right! Now, come on; we've got a party to attend!" Momiji determinedly declared.
"Momiji—there will be no parties until Tohru is better. I agreed to let you and some of the others over to watch movies with Tohru. Nothing more." Hatori firmly told Momiji.
"Aww! You're no fun, Tori!" Momiji whined.
"Let's go home." Hatori sighed, frustrated.
"Right. Come on, Tohru!" Momiji agreed, taking Tohru's hand in his.
"You should just tell her how you feel about her already." Haru plainly told Hatori as they watched Tohru and Momiji.
"What are you talking about?" Hatori questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, come off it. We all know you love Tohru." Haru insisted, walking away.
"What do you mean by we all know? Who is we?" Hatori questioned, catching up with Haru.
"You know: all of us. Well, except may Kyo—and Tohru. But he's in his own selfish world with that Arisa Uotani girl. I didn't say anything in front of Tohru, but they've moved in together—and threw all of her things in the yard. Well, they were throwing her things out on the yard. Most of us went there to gather her things. They just made it easier by bagging and boxing things up and putting it all in the yard. Kazuma helped us get inside to get the rest of Tohru's things when Kyo and Arisa wouldn't let us. But we've got everything at your place now." Haru calmly explained.
"Great. And what of Kureno? When did he start moving back to the compound?" Hatori grumbled before asking. He figured he'd leave explaining his loving Tohru until a later time.
"He started a few days ago. He kicked Arisa out two weeks ago, I wanna say. He then sold the place he was living and moved back home. Akito was thrilled and welcomed him back with open arms. He seemed kind of shocked. Shigure seemed pissed off. I wonder why. But uh, he finished moving everything home; he, Kazuma, and Ritsu just have to organize everything." Haru answered Hatori.
"There you two are! What took you so long, you slowpokes?" Momiji whined when they saw Hatori and Haru.
"We were about to take our lovely princess and take her on the town." Shigure insisted with a smile.
"Yeah. And then we were going to go to Aya's shop for a new masterpiece for Tohru." Momiji announced.
"Don't encourage those idiots. Come on; let's get you home." Hatori grumbled, running his hand through his hair before calmly speaking to Tohru. He was ignoring Shigure and Ayame's shenanigans.
"Yes, of course." Tohru softly replied, following Hatori outside.
"Tohru." She was about to get into Hatori's car when she heard Kyo's voice.
Sure as shit, when she turned to find his voice, she saw him and Arisa standing a few feet away.
Tohru couldn't take it:
She stood there frozen for a few minutes before the tears started falling and blurring her vision. And then she was gone. Tohru took off down the street like a bat out of hell, with the others yelling after her…