Lost and Found Ch. 2 (Kyo x Tohru)

[Silent Moon Sphinx]

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Baskets. I wished I owned a frosting-covered Kyo. But, sadly, I am borrowing these wonderful characters for entertainment purposes only.

AN: Sooo...I know this is about 2 years too late. As I don't know of any apology that would make up for it, I can only say that to anyone who was reading this and still wants to read it: thank you and thanks for your patience.

Oh, and a quick reminder about the language. This is definitely a period piece, so the characters are OOC speaking wise due to the style of the time. Hope it's not too annoying. Please enjoy!


Chapter 2
**********


Tohru?s mind drifted back into the world at the sound of voices, the kind trying to be soft but more often failing in their good intent. From the warmth surrounding her, she knew she was indoors, and the feeling of luxurious softness to which she was not accustomed allowed her to surmise that she was tucked into her new, princess-like bed at the Sohma Cottage.

The girl was going to open her eyes, but was startled with the suppressed heat of the discussion around her, and found her body bound in stillness. Perhaps she would just listen for a bit longer?

?I would have thought you could keep it a secret for more than a day,? a deep and collected voice said lowly, one she did not recognize.

?Ah ha ha ha,? a voice she knew now as Shigure laughed nervously. ?Well, I think it?s for the best, anyway. She was bound to find out. She?s so cute, how could I have gone long without giving in to hugging her, ha ha ha??

?Akito?s not going to like it,? the deep voice made the laughter come to an abrupt halt.

?And maybe that?s better,? a new voice said rather angrily. ?To get out of this cursed family while she can.?

?Who are you to say anything, you idiot cat?? Yuki?s voice joined the conversation and was coated in anger. ?This is all your fault!?

?My fault? Why would you even let a girl stay here!?!?

?Because she has nothing left,? Shigure said in a tone much gentler than he had ever used before. ?We are all she has now, and if she can take the good with the bad, she may be just the hope we need--?

?If Akito lets her remember,? the deep voice interrupted in a chilling monotone.

And after hearing a collective sigh, Tohru chose to stir.

?She wakes,? the deep-voiced man said in a tone that seemed a little softer than before as he gracefully moved to her side and felt her forehead.

Tohru froze at the touch from this dark-haired stranger, whose piercing eyes betrayed no sort of feelings and mouth was stitched tight in a perfect, indifferent line. Or perhaps, he was just good at hiding behind this practiced mask, which seemed unnatural to Tohru on a face so handsome. Yes, crinkles from past smiles and pale light from his eyes were remains of a happier person during earlier days. Realizing this fact made Tohru calm instantly, and she didn?t even have to hear Shigure explain that Mr. Hatori Sohma was the family?s personal doctor so she need not be uneasy.

As Yuki doted on how she was feeling and Shigure seemed to be having fun annoying Hatori as he finished examining her, Tohru noticed that whatever other person she had heard in the room was now gone, but she thought she had seen a flash of orange fly out the door upon opening her eyes.

?I had the strangest dream,? Tohru said sleepily, earning a series of looks among the Sohmas surrounding her.

Hatori seemed to give Shigure a warning glance before wishing the girl well, as he had to get back to the main house as soon as possible. He also shuffled Yuki out of the room to leave Tohru with Shigure.

?Miss Tohru, Miss Tohru,? the man of the house said all too lightly while taking her hand, patting it paternally as he sat down at her bedside. ?Dreams are funny things you know,? he sputtered nervously, ?but, ah?ah?you didn?t think it was that strange, by any chance, did you??

?What are you trying to say, Mr. Shigure?? Tohru asked.

After a few frantic ?oh dear?s? and further consultations with himself, Shigure furrowed his brow and switched into his serious mode.

?What if I told you that what you saw wasn?t a dream? What would you think if the members of this house really could turn into animals??

Tohru?s eyes widened in shock, and she could say nothing.

?Please, if you don?t think you?d get too faint again, would you allow me to hug you??

The girl could only nod as Shigure embraced her softly, yet the contact was just enough to produce a black puff of smoke, startling Tohru. When she composed herself, she blinked at the dog who was sitting before her where Shigure once was.

?This is no dream Tohru,? the dog spoke in Shigure?s voice. ?This is the curse of the Sohmas. Our family didn?t always have it. I can tell you the story, if you care to hear it.?

By now, Tohru had gained some life back into her, and was curious to finally learn about the infamous Sohma curse. She nodded her head vigorously for Shigure to continue, as she sat up in her bed and eagerly listened to what the dog had to say.

?A few generations ago,? he began, ?one of our more adventurous members of our family traveled to China to explore and trade. There he fell in love with a nobleman?s daughter. She returned his love and agreed to go back with him to England. However, her father wasn?t too happy about the arrangement and threatened to curse her and her children if she left. But the love of the couple was too strong, and in the night they fled. The next day, the father had a powerful magician perform the curse. From then on, certain Sohma family members turn into animals of the Chinese zodiac story, the Juunishi, if embraced by the opposite sex. I suppose it was to be some sort of punishment not to be able to hold someone you love?you know, Yuki and I were never able to be cradled in our mother?s arms. But it is rumored that the heartbroken father later felt remorse for doing such a thing to his only daughter, and he instructed his mage add a way to break the curse. No one has ever discovered the secret, however, thus the curse is still passed on in the Sohma family to this very day.?

At this point, Tohru?s eyes were aglow with tears and she held a hand to her mouth in astonishment. The more Tohru considered Shigure?s words, the more she grew accustomed to the idea of curses and talking animals existing in real life. She felt so deeply for the Juunishi after hearing the amazing story, and wanted to know everything about these exciting, though cursed people.

?So, now you know.? Shigure sighed. ?Do you think you could still accept us as well as you did before??

?I must admit that I do find it strange,? she began, but when she noticed his head fell a bit at her comment, she continued on quickly, ?but?but that?s not to say it?s a bad sort of strange. Maybe strange isn?t the word I meant to say at all. It?s just?different that?s all. Mother always taught me to accept people no matter how they looked on the outside. It?s what?s on the inside that counts, Mr. Shigure. You are still in there, I know,? she spoke warmheartedly to the dog before her. ?Of course I accept you, and all of the other Juunishi. In fact, I think you are wonderful!?

?Oh, Miss Tohru, you are such a dear! I knew you would understand, I knew you would! Dear, dear girl!? the dog said happily as he gave her a friendly lick on the cheek.

Tohru began to giggle at Shigure?s overly adamant praises and teary-eyed form when a puff of smoke surprised her!

?Oh!? she gasped rather loudly, shielding her eyes from the smoke.

By this time, Yuki had been about to return to the room and, hearing the girl?s loud exclamation through the door, opened it quickly.

?SHIGUREEEEEEEE!!!!? rang through the house as a very scary Yuki found a very shocked Tohru under a very naked Shigure. Needless to say, Tohru learned an interesting aspect of the Sohma curse that day, and Shigure was lucky to escape Yuki?s wrath with no broken bones.

**********

Tohru was busy preparing supper after an exciting first day in the Sohma household. She knew her way easily around a kitchen, as she often cooked for her mother in the cozy apartment they had kept in her former sleepy town. And while slipping Yuki?s freshly picked leeks into a boiling a pot of water for soup, the girl found she quite liked the little kitchen of the Sohma Cottage. It wasn?t nearly as big and intimidating of one of grand estates that she heard her mother sometime speak of that took dozens of servants keep up and run. In such an estate, Tohru knew she would never be allowed very much interaction, if any at all, with the masters of the house. Her situation was most miraculous, she realized, to be afforded the time and manners of the two Sohma gentleman, and the sudden happiness she felt for her situation almost overwhelmed her to the point of tears.

?Is your situation so unpleasing to you that you should already be reduced to such a state?? a voice suddenly emerged from the shadows of the small archway leading into the kitchen.

Tohru was startled, to be sure, having identified the voice as not master Shigure or Yuki?s, nor even the good doctor she had met earlier in the day, but the voice she could only associate with the color orange, for she not seen a clear picture of a body to match it. But she was even more startled by what the voice?s owner implied, and before she could even wonder at the fact that he did not step out of shadows, sought to correct his misinterpretation of her emotions directly.

?My good sir, you misunderstand me, I assure you, and may even think me rather silly if you should allow me to explain why I appear to look ready to cry.? Having said that, she couldn?t help but let out a little sniffle and wipe away the tears that had started to form before her guest?s presence was revealed.

This received, and she might have imagined it, a chuckle from the dark entranceway. Tohru felt the form step closer, and as she peered into the shrouded space, almost thought she saw the flash of a brilliant cat?s eye.

?I wonder that you are about to cry, as you already seem to be doing so, but by all means,? the voice continued, ?explain yourself.?

At this point, even the very easygoing girl thought it strange to be speaking to a shadow, and before she continued, begged her companion to come into the light.

The phantom knew the greatest light source in the submerged kitchen was the fire, which the girl stood closely next to, as she had been tending to her soup before his watching was made known. He would have rather not relinquished his secrecy, but a woman?s tears were his ultimate undoing, and so he was forced to speak so that he would not see her cry. He pondered the predicament he would be in if he approached her, as the kitchen was by no means large, and even just a few paces forward from where he stood would put him barely a foot or two away from the wide-eyed girl. Yet his curiosity could not longer debate his logic, and he surrendered to the cat?s greatest failing, as he slowly drew himself into the firelight. There was just something perplexing about this strange, new creature that his cousins already trusted so faithfully, and Kyo Sohma was determined to know more about her, even if his curiosity killed him.

Tohru was astonished by the handsome face behind the deep voice to which she had been speaking. And, surprisingly, it was not the head of flaming orange locks that first caught her attention, but his eyes. They were of such a unique color, she had never seen anything like them. At a glance, they might be called brown, but as Tohru was drawn in by them, she reveled in their flecks of amber and scarlet amongst pools of sparkling sienna and burgundy wine. Or perhaps it was just the dancing firelight making them so beautiful and mischievous, but Tohru could already feel the power behind those eyes: a kindling passion, a sense of longing, a sharp wit, a great curiosity, and perhaps even a spark of hope drowning in an unspeakable sadness. All this she saw in his open and expressive eyes.

He, apparently startled as much as she, seemed to sense Tohru had seen too much, and perhaps he too much of her own pools of blue, which caused him to back away a bit. He was still not more than three feet away from her and then took to carefully regarding her. Tohru watched him study her, still unable to speak, and occupied with her own contemplation.

She noted the way the redhead?s brow furrowed, how one hand came to his side and the other rested under his chin. How his lips, and very nicely shaped lips they were, found themselves at first in a slightly open resting state before one side twisted into a devilish turn upwards. Then, the pleasant deep tones of his words began again, filled with a hint of amusement.

?While it seems we could continue this ridiculous staring contest all afternoon, I must point out two things. One, you have still not answered my request to explain your tears.? He looked at her imploringly while glancing to her side. ?And, two, your soup is bubbling over.?

Tohru let out a small cry upon registering the spewing pot, and on reflex, reached to remove the pot from the fire, before an arm was thrust before her.

?Thoughtless girl, you will burn yourself!? Kyo scolded, looking over his outstretched arm at her.

Tohru, having looked up to catch his harsh gaze, immediately colored and rushed to fetch mitts to hold the scalding pot.

The redhead now seemed to be steaming as much as the soup was, and insisted snatching the mitts out of her tiny hand and removing the pot from the fire himself, making loud curses all the while, especially about Yuki, for allowing such a tiny, stupid girl to do all the cooking herself.

?Please sir, they will hear you,? Tohru latched on to the sleeve of his arm when he had finally moved the pot to a place to cool.

?And what if they do?? he whirled round face her, still obviously incensed.

?I?I would not want them to hear that I cannot take care of such a small thing as cooking. It is an honor to do it, sir, please believe me.?

He looked skeptical, but still managed to keep his mouth shut long enough for Tohru to continue. He did not know what he would have said, anyhow, for her face looked so pleading, and she was still grasping at his shirtsleeve as if the whole world would open and swallow her if she let it go.

?If I did not do so readily before, please let me explain myself now. Having just lost my mother, and my father departing this world some time ago, with no other relations caring to claim me, I feel I am the luckiest person alive to be granted such an honor as serving the Sohmas. And not only serving them, they condescend to converse with me too, and make me feel easy and comfortable. I could not have asked for better masters! And for all this, my only way of repaying them is to manage this household, and I have vowed to be the best housekeeper that ever has breathed. Please, sir, I am sorry I do not yet know your name to address you properly, but please, speak not that I am unhappy, for I am too happy for words, and pray give me the chance to do my very best in upholding my duties. I may not look the strongest or the brightest, but allow me to try to serve the Sohmas, no matter what the task, in an effort to give back the kindness that they have bestowed on me.?

The young man she had poured her heart and soul to stood before her, completely taken aback, literally trying to move a few steps back, which would have succeeding in releasing her from him, if not for her tight grip still on his billowy, cotton tunic sleeve. His free hand managed to cover her own then, and he appeared unable to decide whether to pull her toward him or push him away when rushed steps could be heard descending the stairs. Like a vision of moonlight breaking from night clouds, Yuki appeared.

The sharp gaze of the silver haired master first assessed the girl, then quickly moved to the youth who grasped her wrist. At that sight, the cool, periwinkle eyes of the usually calm boy narrowed with a venom Tohru had seen only when Yuki began a puzzling tirade about a cat.

?Back away from her, foul thing, or you shall pay dearly,? the voice of the icy intruder was an eerie calm that began softly and grew harsher as he addressed the redhead.

Tohru, unknowingly caught between an ongoing struggle she did not yet understand, was startled by Yuki?s change of countenance, and equally surprised at the change that instantly came over the boy who stood now in an instinctively protective position slightly in front of her.

?So you are finally ready to fight me then, insipid rat? Oh, how you will find I have improved over these last months of training!?

?Months, did you say?? Yuki scoffed aloud. ?What a fool you are. You could train a lifetime and still not defeat me.?

?Um?sirs,? Tohru ventured a peacemaking attempt, yet at this point, it was clear the two youths were far from hearing her.

The taller, redhead ran towards Yuki, who stood placidly under the kitchen archway entrance, and easily deflected a lunge made by his attacker. After a few martial arts moves Tohru had never seen or even knew of, not having ever come in contact with any travelers who might have had or related the skill, even the girl recognized her graceful Master Yuki was the superior fighter. Tohru did not know how long the fight would last, for her worried cries did not affect them, but the small confines of the kitchen luckily proved an unacceptable fighting arena, and soon Yuki grew bored and ended the fight cleanly in his favor by smashing his opponent into a nearby shelf of various pots and pans.

The battle finally finished, Tohru looked at the two boys in fright. Yuki stood aloof, massaging away any pain from his right wrist, while the other boy groaned in the heap of metal-ware now scattered about the floor.

All the poor girl could do was let out a concerned whimper, which snapped Yuki back into the present, and he immediately rushed towards her.

?Please forgive me, Miss Tohru. I would have rather wished you hadn?t seen what just took place. As it is impossible to doubt, my cousin and I are not on friendly terms.? He held her trembling hands in his as his eyes, now soft, scrutinized her ghostly pale face.

?I?I see. Is he quite alright, your cousin?? Tohru now asked, still very concerned that the other gentleman had not roused from his spot on the floor. Yuki released her hands and studied the girl as she frantically ran to get a cloth from the sink and stooped to tend to his groggy, defeated foe.

Kyo moaned as a delicate touch smoothed back the hair from his forehead and a warm, wetness soothed his throbbing head. Voices soon emerged from the blackness around him, but he chose to rest a little longer.

?I am quite sure he is alright. He?s suffered worse, I can assure you,? Yuki knelt with Tohru, who sat tending to a borderline conscious Kyo. When she did not answer him, Yuki let out a sigh. ?I see that I have worried you greatly, Miss Tohru. The pots were a bit harsh, in hindsight, I do now see.?

The girl turned to look at him in shock, but not with any animosity, which caused the young master to be greatly relieved. ?We always do this, you see,? he continued. ?It is the curse of the zodiac. Because the rat tricked the cat, Kyo will always feel wickedly towards me. I do not know why he vexes me so in turn, but it is so and nothing can be done about it. We can scarcely be in a room for two minutes till a fight breaks loose. I am just sorry you had to experience one.?

?It is really alright,? Tohru laid a kind hand on Yuki?s arm, which caused his eyes to widen in surprise. ?I understand now, thank you for explaining. And I know it can be hard to explain a spat between family members?it is just one of those things, I suppose. One of my best friends from my old village had a sister, who was a very nice sort of girl, but they would fight about everything??

As Tohru continued rambling on, Yuki wasn?t really listening to her story so much as her calming voice, which, paired with her understanding nature and kind heart, was more than enough to forget his anger at Kyo?s intimate position with her when he stumbled in on the two.

After a silence when Tohru?s story had finished, Yuki dared to ask the question that had formed at the back of his mind upon his entrance into the kitchen.

?Miss Tohru, I came down here to check on you. Did Kyo?what did he do to upset you? Because you truly looked very upset when I happened upon you.?

?Mr Kyo--,? Tohru said the name slowly, saying her mysterious visitor?s name for the first time, ?he was very kind, you must believe me. He had almost scalded himself on the soup pot to help me, and I was merely concerned for him when you came in, that is all,? the girl finished, yet she was not able to look Yuki in the eye.

Yuki was skeptical, and about to question her further, when the subject of their conversion finally came to. He sat up slowly; then, realizing his position, flushed crimson. He had avoided Yuki?s cold stare and instead turned to Tohru?s concerned one, but seeing her holding a damp washrag in her hand, and exclaiming he looked flushed and should she get a doctor, he instantly turned a brighter shade of red and jumped up, his movements strikingly similar to his zodiac animal.

Yuki then offered a polite hand to Tohru, and the two rose, as primly as a prince and princess, while Kyo looked on, disgusted. When Tohru?s gaze went back to him, the cat immediately turned away, but did not yet leave the kitchen.

?And, speaking of our earlier conversation, Miss Tohru, what type of soup did my idiot cousin actually manage to do some good to save?? Yuki asked his housekeeper, completely ignoring the presence of the other party.

?Why?I was making a soup from your lovely leeks, Mr Yuki, when your cousin happened upon me.?

?Is that so?? Yuki actually managed a smile for the girl, before glancing narrowly at Kyo, whose attentions were now turned back to Tohru.

?That is what I risked being burned alive to salvage?? the wild, orange haired youth spat. ?I despise leeks!?

?I?I could make you something else. I?m sorry, I did not know,? Tohru offered apologetically.

?I should hope so!? Kyo growled, when his cousin delivered a swift smack to his head.

?You will do not such thing, Miss Tohru. You must have worked so hard on that soup, and all alone. I am truly sorry we have no other servants to offer you assistance at present. That will be remedied tomorrow, I will personally see to it.?

Tohru remained silent, merely nodding her head. She looked from cousin to cousin, and was surprised Kyo did not retaliate, but then surmised he had suffered enough beatings for one day.

?You make me sick,? Kyo finally told his cousin crossly. He moved to leave, but almost stumbled on a pot, as he was still disoriented from the fight. Tohru rushed to help him, but he merely shoved her off.

?Leave me be!? he shouted at her rather harshly. ?I can?t stand the sight of either of you!? And with that, he kicked a pot for good measure, and stormed off, leaving Tohru in shock and just the way he found her: almost in tears.

All Tohru could think of to do was clean. It cleared her head and made her busy, as to forget what had just taken place. Never before had anyone said they couldn?t stand her. Tohru mindlessly crouched to the floor and grabbed at the scattered cookware until a gentle hand descended on her shoulder, and eased her up with soothing words.

?I must ask you not to trouble yourself about the pots, Miss Tohru,? Yuki told her in his kind, whispering voice. ?My cousin was unpardonable just now, so don?t give him any mind. It is the wicked disposition of the cat that curses him so. He can never make a friend; he is cursed to be always vengeful and lonely. Let us forget about him, and tend to your delicious looking soup over there. I am glad it survived the fight, because it is almost supper time, and I am terribly hungry.?

Yuki?s words sank into the girl slowly and deeply. His kind smile relieved her and made her tears vanish. But his description of Kyo could not have had a more opposite effect then what he intended. Instead of giving her a reason to think ill of him, or to feel better of herself, Tohru felt even more strongly for the poor boy haunted by the spirit of the cat. Could he never make a friend? What a sad existence! It was then, that night at the dinner table, which was clearly missing one orange haired houseguest, that Tohru vowed she would look past the curse that none of the Sohmas could help, but that affected them so strongly. She would treat Kyo kindly and try to be the friend he never had. Maybe then he would regard her in the same easy manner as when he first captured her curiosity in the firelight.


another AN (if anyone happens to want to read me babble on): Thank you so much for reading. I again apologize for the extreme lateness. I had the first part of this chapter done right after I had posted the first one on Blissful, but somehow I lost my inspiration, couldn't find it even when the new manga was coming out, but upon reading Pride and Prejudice again finally found it. I don't know how many chapters I will be able to get out. Unfortunately, inspiration always hits when I have something due, and my thesis project is due very soon. So please bear with me. I really want to finish up all my unfinished fics here on Blissful. I just got done a Kenshin one, so this is the next on my list. I'm not sure how long this one will take...but it's coming along slowly but surely. Sorry I am rambling...I'll stop now. Thanks again for reading, and thanks for the reviews of the first chapter! I couldn't believe it! The support means a lot. ~Sphinx