{FIC} When you know 1/? TK tinges

[jade]

This is my first time posting here. Hello! =) Anyway, I've posted this fic in a few other places, but I'm trying it here too. You know, that branching out thing. =) That and it's my first FB fic ever. I hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I do not own the FB characters. The song used is Shawn Colvin's <i>When You Know</i>.

Chapter 1 Realization

Tohru Honda pushed open the door of the building where she worked nights with weary satisfaction. A figure was standing just at the edge of the light, hidden enough that anyone else would have been startled to discover it. Tohru too, was slightly surprised at first. Her surprise quickly faded into pleasure then morphed into pure unbridled joy. To her, the figure was recognizable even from a thousand feet away. She knew that the lounging indifference of his stance was a front, that his muscles were alert with a feline tension, ready, as always to spring into some sort of action. Her bright smile lit up the night, grew wider when she saw him relax just a little.

?Kyo!? she called out with delight as she rushed toward him. ?What are you doing here??

Kyo Sohma narrowed his eyes. ?You?re late,? he growled. ?When you didn?t get home at your usual time I figured you must have got lost or something.?

?I?m sorry! I didn?t mean to make you worry. I was so busy I lost track of time,? she fumbled with the strap of her school bag, ?but you didn?t have to come get me. It?s late, but I could have made it home on my own.?

?Oh, I see. I should just sit at home twiddling my thumbs while you get attacked by a bunch of thugs! Geez!? When Tohru began to apologize again, he held up his hand. ?Just forget it, okay? I?m already here. Let?s go home.? He took her bag and offered his hand to her. She took it and jumped slightly from the sudden tingles that radiated up her arm. ?Something wrong?? Tohru shook her head even as the tingling spread throughout her body.

They walked along together, neither one of them acknowledging the tension that crackled between them. An inexplicable heat seemed to radiate from their joined hands, shimmering softly in the quiet of the night. Tohru was so absorbed in her attempts to analyze the feelings intertwisting her insides she tripped and would have fallen into Kyo had his arms not shot out to steady her.

?Look out! Can?t you even walk right?? The annoyance in his voice was obvious.

Tohru worried her lip with her teeth. ?I?m sorry, Kyo. I must not have been paying enough attention.?

Even in the darkness, Kyo could see the remorse in her eyes. The guilt, always all too familiar, immediately flooded through him. ?It?s all right. Just be more careful, all right? We can?t risk my transforming.? He looked away so she couldn?t attempt to analyze his expression. ?I came out here to make sure you got home safely. What could I do to protect you if I turned into a cat??

The dark haired girl squeezed his hand. ?Thank you. I?ll be more careful, I promise.? They walked on, this time Tohru chattered amiably. The simple conversation kept her from thinking about the feelings that were surging quietly within her like a softly gathering storm.

When you know that you know who you love, you can?t deny it.
Or go back, or give up, or pretend that you don?t buy it.
When it?s clear this time you?ve found the one, you?ll never let him go
Cos you know and you know that you know.

Tohru and her friends Hana and Uo were watching their fellow schoolmates in the yard below. It was a bright school day. The wind whispered with the kind of breeze that made daydreaming easy. Tohru felt herself sliding into a dream, something that she felt was becoming all to easy recently

A low wolf whistle woke her from her daze. ?Would you look at that?? a voice murmured.

Tohru looked up, recognized the voice as belonging to Kiyone, a girl in another class. She stood, like Tohru, with a group of her friends, peering eagerly out the window. One of Kiyone?s friends, a bubbly girl named Kiima, responded enthusiastically. ?The Sohma boys, all in one place for a change,? she sighed wistfully. ?That doesn?t happen often.?

?No, it doesn?t,? another girl, this one named Eiko, agreed. ?And what a sight it is.? She too sighed, her body swaying bonelessly, ?that Hatsuharu is just too dreamy.?

Another voice, slightly squeaky, piped up. ?I think Momiji is just adorable,? added Noriko, a girl Uo often referred to as heavily mousy.

The girls twittered and Tohru found her own gaze being drawn out the window as well. The Sohmas held court in the schoolyard, standing out, as always, without completely meaning to do so. Hatsuharu, still in white mode, was reclining unconcernedly against a tree. Yuki lounged on the other side, a book in his hand, studiously trying to ignore Kyo. Kyo was alternating between unsuccessful attempts to goad Yuki into a fight with snapping at Momiji who was dancing around cutely. Tohru found herself laughing softly at the all too familiar sight.

Kiima giggled at something Momiji did and sighed yet again. ?Is it just me or does Prince Yuki get more and more handsome each day??

More giggles ensued in agreement. ?Nah,? it was Kiyone?s throaty voice that spoke up. ?Yuki is cute, but give me Kyo any day.? Tohru?s head shot up, her eyes darted toward the girl speaking.

?Come on, Kiyone,? Kiima protested. ?Kyo is cute, I?ll give him that, but cuter than YUKI? Give me a break.?

Kiyone, a long limbed girl who herself was quite popular among the school?s male population, shook her head. ?Say what you will about Yuki. To me, there?s just something about that Kyo.? She licked her lips and, even from a distance, Tohru could see a predatory glint in her green eyes. ?Something that makes me want to just eat him all up.?

?Really? This is the first I?ve heard of this.? Kiima pouted prettily. ?And I thought I was supposed to be your best friend.?

Kiyone?s laugh was low and throaty. ?Oh, I?ve been watching Kyo for awhile now. I?ve just been biding my time. I don?t know how much longer I?m going to be able to wait, though,? she added, with a pointed look out the window. She tapped a perfectly manicured nail against daintily painted lips. ?I have a feeling I?m going to make my move soon?very soon.?

Noriko squeaked. ?Do you think you can really get him, Yone-chan??

Kiima laughed. ?Give me a break, Noriko. You know Kiyone. Once she gets her claws into someone, he doesn?t stand a chance.?

Something began to bubble up inside Tohru. Without warning, her fist clenched and her jaw tightened. The usually easygoing girl shoved away from the window and began stalking down the hallway with such determination that her friends looked at each other confusedly before getting up to follow.

Tohru didn?t know what emotion propelled her into the schoolyard toward the tree where the Sohmas had made their camp; it felt as if a typhoon were raging within her. Even as she made her way toward them, her eyes sought him out, the sight of him the only thing that kept her one shade below calm. She didn?t understand the feelings churning inside her, only knew that there was one place she wanted to be. The look must have been all over her face because the moment Kyo saw her he released Momiji from a chokehold and rushed over.

?Tohru?? Kyo asked voice not yet frantic but on the verge. ?What?s wrong? Are you sick??

?Kyo.? His name came out on a half choked sob and she blinked back tears at the relief of having him so close.

?Miss Honda? Are you okay?? There was Yuki?s voice, cool despite the obvious concern. By this time Uo and Hana had caught up with her and Tohru was soon barraged with questions about her well-being. She laughed then, and punched herself jokingly on the cheek.

?I?m fine, I?m fine,? she reassured them. ?I don?t know what came over me. I just felt?funny all of a sudden.? She shrugged helplessly.

?Why don?t you come over and have a seat with us?? Yuki offered. ?We still have some time before classes start back up again. You can get some rest.? The group turned and began walking back to their spot. ?That is, if Kyo can stop shouting for a change.?

Kyo bristled. ?Shouting? I?ll show you shouting you stupid?? he trailed off when a glance backward showed Tohru standing as still as a statue, an unfamiliar look in her eyes. He stopped. ?Well, are you coming or what??

Tohru smiled. As she walked past him he tugged on one of her braids. Her heart did a somersault as she looked up into his grinning face. Briefly her eyes searched out the window where she knew a group of girls stood. The thought came, unbidden, causing her head to reel. Mine.