Rat in the Hat

Note: I miss this site! And what happened to all the Yukiru stories? Ah, Kyoru must have taken control.

Chapter Sixteen

For a moment, it seemed as if time stopped. It was silent. Neither Tohru nor Yuki were breathing. For a full minute, each stared into the other’s eyes.

Tohru was the first to snap back. For Yuki, that was unfortunate.

She quickly maneuvered herself out from his grasp and dashed halfway to the exit of the lobby. Yuki’s eyes immediately darted to find her, and focused in on her appearance.

She looked the same as usual, her brown hair sleek and straight, her body still petite, and the air of cuteness that emanated from her was still there. Everything was fine, except for one little thing.

Fear was etched across her face, and her small body was trembling.

“Y-Y-Yuki…kun…” she choked out.

Confusion spread across the boy’s mind, blocking out the thoughts about the curse. “Tohru? What’s the matter?” He inched toward the girl, panic clearly visible in his eyes.

Tohru took a deep breath, and calmed herself down. “Where is he?”

Yuki gave her a questioning look. “Where is who?” he asked timidly.

“…Where is Akito-san…?” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

“…Akito? He’s at home, in the Sohma estate, just as he always is,” Yuki stated, his concern growing larger and larger. “Tohru, what’s the matter?”

Tohru looked at Yuki for another moment, and pondered at what she should say next.

“Yuki-kun…I…I am not sure that you should be here. You should just go back home, Yuki-kun! I left so that you wouldn’t be troubled by me anymore!” Her voice cracked, and Yuki could see her eyes were glistening with tears.

“Tohru…”

She kept going on. “Yuki-kun, what if Akito-san finds out you are here, and that I have my memories? What will he do to you and the rest of the Sohmas? I….I cannot bear to think of it…”

A wave of relief washed over Yuki. Nothing was wrong, he concluded. She was just worrying as she always was.

“Tohru, you have never troubled us at all! This is the first time you’ve ever troubled us, in my eyes,” the boy said with a faint trace of a smile.

The girl still looked uncertain. Yuki decided to plow on. “Tohru…don’t you see? The Sohma family is a wreck. We’ve all been worried…about you.”

The tears were falling from Tohru’s eyes now. “Yuki-kun…I couldn’t bear to stay! Akito-san has complete control over the Sohma family, and I can’t go against his word!”

“His word means nothing, if it causes distress for you, Tohru,” Yuki said slowly. He shook his head. “You’ve worried us all! Especially Arisa-san and Hanajima-san! They were your best friends. I’m sure you haven’t forgotten.”

A steady stream was falling down Tohru’s cheeks. “I…I haven’t forgotten. I couldn’t…! But…it was the only way…”

“No, it’s not the only way. Tohru, please come back home. Those two need you. The Sohmas need you. I…need you,” Yuki said, his eyes purposely avoiding contact with Tohru’s.

A cry escaped the girl’s lips. “I…I…”

Yuki gripped her shoulders. “Tohru, please…” And before she could utter out another word, he pressed his lips to hers.

Utter bliss fell upon the both of them. Time stopped for the second time, and all that mattered to the two of them was each other.

Yuki could not think straight. The sweet smell of her hair, the softness of her skin, and the feeling of her lips pressed to his, was the most he could occupy himself with.

Tohru pulled him into an embrace, and for the second time, the boy did not transform.

That escaped both their minds, though, as there was other feelings that were temporarily more important.

And suddenly, everything ended. A shrill ring erupted from the depth of Yuki’s pocket, and he hastily grabbed it, jamming it to his ear.

“Hello?”

A familiar voice was heard on the other end. Hatori’s. “Yuki?”

“Hey Hatori.”

“Yuki, I have to tell you something…”

Tohru looked at Yuki questionably, and he pressed a finger to her lips. One moment, he mouthed.

“Yes?”

“Yuki…Akito is dead…”

TBC

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Notes: It’s been well over a year, and I sincerely apologize. I promise I’ll finish this story soon! Anyway, if anyone still checks in on this smelly fic, I thank you so much from the bottom of my heart!