Chapter 6 Unexpected interludes
?Hey, is that Kyo??
At Uo?s observation, Tohru silently reminded herself to wait and act casual before looking up and acknowledging her friend?s question. Once again she marveled at how much easier it was becoming to erase what Kyo meant to her. She had cut down on the staring-at-the-back-of-Kyo?s-head-time considerably as well as minimized the number of her resigned sighs per day. She no longer jumped any time someone said his name and the squeeze on her heart any time he spoke had lessened. At this rate it would be?the next century before he was totally and completely out of her mind, wiped free from her soul.
As always these days, Hana beat her to a response. ?Yes, it is.?
?Looks like soccer practice just let out.?
?It appears so.?
It took some strength, but Tohru managed to keep her gaze from lingering on the soccer-playing Sohma. As always, she began to persistently pray that her friends would skip a chance to ridicule the boy and move on. Since none of her prayers had worked thus far, she began to stiffen a smile into place and have a laugh at the ready just at the back of her throat. It wouldn?t do for anyone to think she was sad about anything, would it?
Tohru stifled a groan when she realized that, as usual, Uo would not pass up a chance to browbeat Kyo. Before she could stop it, her heart hummed softly as she watched him rooting around in a duffel bag.
?Well, if it isn?t good old carrot top??
Kyo paused in mid-root, cast the trio a brief look the narrowed eyes, then resumed rooting. ?Do you want something?? He found what he was looking for and turned back to them. ?Or are you just looking to bug me?? His eyes met Tohru?s and he looked quickly away.
?Just looking to bug you, of course,? Uo replied. Her nose wrinkled. ?You reek!?
Kyo snorted. ?Yeah, well what do you expect? I?m running my ass off on that field, not sunning myself on the bleachers.?
?So, where?s your fan club?? Uo wondered.
?I don?t know what you?re talking about,? Kyo answered. He began to methodically remove his cleats, socks, and shin guards, switching them with a pair of flip-flops.
?You know,? Uo pressed, ?your little cheering section.?
Kyo scowled. ?I still don?t know what the hell you?re talking about.? He began to strip off his damp shirt and Tohru bit her lower lip to keep her tongue from rolling out.
?Oh, come on, Kyo-Kyo,? Uo said with a wicked grin, ?your bevy of bit??
?What Uo means,? Tohru interjected when she noticed the hair on Kyo?s head begin to rise, ?is where are Miss Kobayashi and her friends?? It was only the third time she had spoken to him that day. She continued quickly, delighting at the chance to prolong a conversation with him. ?They usually watch your practice, don?t they? And meet you afterward??
Kyo shrugged. He looked the tiniest bit uneasy. ?Kiyone?didn?t want to be here today.?
?Aww?? Uo?s eyes went wide. ?Won?t widdle Kyo miss his widdle girlfwiend??
Kyo lowered his gaze. ?Kiyone?s not my?? the rest of his words were lost as he tugged on a clean shirt.
?So,? asked Hana when his head was again visible, ?You have the rest of the afternoon free??
When Kyo nodded, Uo began rubbing her hands together with dastardly glee. ?Why don?t you come hang out with the three of us, then? It?s been a while since I?ve beat your ass at Rich Man, Poor Man.?
Kyo?s eyes narrowed. He looked at Tohru. ?Don?t you gotta work or something??
Tohru started. It seemed like forever since he had spoken to her directly. She could almost forget the fact that he hadn?t said her name. ?Uhm?no. That is, I traded evening with someone and now have today off.?
?Oh?? he stammered. What was that a look that lit up his face? ?Well then I guess??
?Unless you think your lovey girl will object,? Uo interrupted.
The lit in Kyo?s eyes died as temper flared. ?Look, I already told you? Forget it.? He snatched his bag off the bench. ?I?m outta here.?
Tohru was in agony. So many parts of her wanted to run after him, to ask him what was wrong, to soothe him from whatever it was the angered him. So many parts of her wanted to hunt him down, to tell him everything that was tormenting her, to beg him to help her make everything okay again. But what could come of that? How was she to know that going to him would make everything right in the world?
No. He had someone else now. She needed to let him be with that person, to let that person comfort him and nurse his wounds. It was better this way wasn?t it?
For what must have been the thousandth time, she recalled Kiyone?s words. If they had told the rest of the family what was going on between them, what would have happened?
Tohru had only an inkling of the control Akito had over the family, knew that the household head objected, sometimes violently, to any of the members of the Zodiac having relationships. Could she really cause that kind of distress to the people that had taken her in, given her a home when she needed shelter? Hadn?t they all, well almost all, accepted her enthusiastically and wholeheartedly? Better it be an outsider who caused waves. Better it be an outsider whose memory was erased. Because what would she be without her memories?
It was these worries, these fears that should have kept her from obeying the many parts that urged her to go after Kyo. She should have listened instead to the tiny niggling pieces that told her to leave him alone.
Despite all these things, she couldn?t just let him go. She couldn?t stop her legs from propelling her body forward, couldn?t stop her voice from calling out his name, couldn?t stop her being for needing him like air. She followed him, knowing full well where he was going, since the route to his final destination was one tattooed upon her heart.
***
Tohru flew in the direction of Shigure?s house, wishing for wings with every pounding of the pavement. She knew she should have been rehearsing what she would say to him, planning out every aspect of the conversation, leaving him no room for arguments or objections; but every ounce of her strength was focused on the need for speed. She was a torpedo, a bullet train, with only one goal in mind. Nothing was going to stop her?except maybe that arm that was shooting out of nowhere.
The mysterious arm latched onto Tohru brutally, yanking her backwards with such force her neck almost snapped from whiplash.
She sputtered, panted, whirled around to face her attacker all the while trying to remember any martial arts moves Kyo had taught her. Anger bounced into shock then faded into surprise as she took in a furious Kiima Miwa.
?This,? the other girl hissed, ?is all your fault.? Kiima?s normally scheming look was replaced with one of pure ire.
Though still out of breath and slightly confused, Tohru managed to look politely curious. ?Can I help you with something, Miss Miwa?? she asked.
?Can you help me? Can you help me? Look at her!?
It was then that Tohru?s attention was drawn to the sobbing form beside Kiima. She was instantly flooded with concern. ?Is your friend hurt? Would you like me to go for a doctor??
?You?re so stupid! Can?t you see she doesn?t need a doctor?? She grunted in exasperation and yanked Tohru again so hard the girl could not restrain a yelp.
?Kiima, stop,? hiccupped a tear-drenched voice.
?But??
?Leave her alone,? the voice repeated more forcefully. ?You?re not helping.?
Tohru wrenched her arm from Kiima?s grasp. She placed a comforting hand on the figure?s back. ?What?s wrong, if you don?t mind me asking? Can I help you with anything?? She gasped when the cowering figure lifted red-rimmed eyes to hers.
?I don?t think there?s anything you can do,? wailed the once vibrant Kiyone Kobayashi before promptly bursting back into tears.
***
Author's note: I hope SOMEONE out there is still reading. I really did intend to make this chapter a little longer but it's been so long since I've updated I went ahead and posted tonight, particularly since I was in a particularly juicy stopping point. Everything else is pretty mapped out in my ahead and I even have some dialogue written so hopefully it won't be too long before the next chapter.
I really hope you enjoy. Please review or, even better, share it with a friend. )
