Mortality

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket as of yet…though I do own volume 12 now yayness! Thank you everyone for the great reviews I appreciate them and keep them coming the more reviews the quicker another chapter is going to come up for yall to read. I apologize for my grammar and spelling I do try to keep it to a minimum though. Anyway as always R&R and enjoy! And now…

Leads and Dead Ends

Yuki and Kyou had agreed that they would split up to talk to Uo-Chan and Hana-Chan; since Uo would more than likely beat Kyou into a bloody pulp it was agreed that Yuki would be the one to find her and speak with her about Tohru while Kyou would be in charge of finding Hana and questioning her. After a rather short discussion of things to say and not say they decided they would meet at a small restaurant in town to discuss their findings and that they would go from there.

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Kyou walked quietly with his head hung low as he made his way to Saki Hanajima’s home. He wasn’t exactly thrilled at having to be the one to talk to her; the way she always acts and says things just plain creeps him out. Though he assumed getting anxious when she was around was better than getting injured when Arisa was around. He nodded to himself absently, yeah it was much better.

Where is she, he thought as he kept his eyes glued on his feet. Is she scared or lonely, maybe she is hungry. Why wasn’t I there to protect her? His eyes filled with tears but he wouldn’t allow them to fall. He was a man and he was going to act like it. He wasn’t going to just sit around and ‘hope’ everything was okay he was going to get up off his ass and do something about it.

SMACK

Kyou stood wobbling slightly as he clutched his nose that was starting to drip with blood down into his hand and slide down his arm. “Son of a bitch!” He cried out as he looked at the pole he had run into since he was too deep in thought.

“You should watch where you are going?” Came a quietly sultry voice from behind him that nearly made Kyou jump out of his skin as well as his clothes. “You should also watch your language Kyou-Kun.”

He turned to face none other than the exact person he was looking for; apparently he had been just outside of her home so it wasn’t such a bad thing that he had stopped. Hanajima turned on her heels and began to walk up the path to her house, her black heels clicking along the pavement and her cloak blowing back as if a shadow danced across the concrete.

Quickly Kyou followed her to her house and she let him in before she closed the door. A note was stuck on the side of the door informing her that her parents and brother had gone out to the store to pick up groceries for dinner. After briefly reading it she showed Kyou the bathroom and gave him a rag to try to stop the bleeding or at least contain it so it didn’t ruin the carpet.

Soon after the blood had stopped and so Hana pulled the rag away from his face and inspected the slightly purple nose. “Does this hurt?” She asked as she reached up and grabbed his nose and gave it a tweak. Tears came to his eyes as he pushed her away and sat stiffly rubbing his nose.

“What the hell did you do that for?”

“Well it’s not broken…”

“I know very damn well it’s not broken! You didn’t have to grab a hold of it like that to find that out.”

Saki turned her dark eyes onto the orange haired boy in front of her, those eyes that seemed to be penetrated through him mind and prying into the depths locating information only he should know.

“Your waves are strange today. They are normally strange, never like other people but they seemed distressed today. Is something wrong?”

Kyou’s eyes remained completely calm though inside his head he was screaming. There was no way he could tell her the truth. Yuki would kill him, he would have to tell the family secret, Yuki would kill him, they would know that Tohru had been hurt, Yuki would kill him, they would know she was missing and it was all their fault, oh and Yuki would kill him…wait why did that bother him so much all of a sudden? All this took place in his mind within seconds as he responded with normal Kyouish agitation.

“I just ran into a fucking pole, my nose is bleeding and then you grab it. Of course there looks like there is something wrong!”

Hana simply nodded and turned to leave the room, “I need to go out again, and since you are no longer bleeding I think it is time you leave.” Before he could say anything she had left the bathroom leaving Kyou there alone dumbfounded.

Hanajima went into her room and slipped off her cloak before she turned to return downstairs but she was blocked by a very solemn looking Kyou. He ran his hand up and into his hair, absently messing it up some as he thought a bit.

“Erm…have you seen Tohru at all lately?”

“Of course,” Kyou’s eyes became very large at this as happiness filled every fiber of his being, “about three days ago I believe,” and as quickly as that happiness had come it was gone.

“Oh, okay.”

“Why is something wrong?” Hana asked as she became slightly concerned.

“Hmm, oh no I was just wondering because we have erm…been trying to get her out of the house more so I was wondering if she hade made the effort or anything, yet.”

Saki stood there looking at him a bit more, but slowly she seemed to accept this answer as she nodded and showed him down the stairs and to the door. As she opened it for him and he began to walk out she grabbed his sleeve to stall him.

“If Tohru is happy spending time with you and your family in your home you shouldn’t try to push her out. Don’t push her away from you, any of you. She cares more for you than I think any of you realize. Let her do as she pleases, it is what we all must do.” With that she released him and closed the door on his very confused face.

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Yuki looked at the address written on the small piece of paper and looked up at the apartment number in front of him. “125…this looks like the right place.” He stuffed the small piece of paper in his pocket and knocked softly on the door. There was a soft sound of movement from inside the apartment before the door opened and an older man stood there looking curiously at Yuki.

Yuki bowed deeply at the man and then stood upright with his hands properly behind his back. “Good afternoon sir, my name is Sohma Yuki is Uo-San here?” The man’s eyes widened at this as he turned back into the apartment.

“Arisa there is a boy here for you.” He put emphasis on the word ‘boy’ as if this was a Kodak moment occasion. There was stomping as Arisa appeared and glared at her dad before looking at Yuki with a surprised look on her face.

“Well, well, well if it isn’t the prince. Tell me what do I owe this special occasion?”

Yuki bowed again and then looked at Arisa who looked disgusted at the act that was supposed to represent honor.

“I was wondering if I may have a brief word with you.”

Uo slightly shrugged her shoulders and walked out of the apartment to talk with him in the hall, closing the door behind her (much to her father’s displeasure since he was very interested in overhearing why there was a boy here to see his daughter of all people, and a boy who was so gorgeous no less)

“So what’s your deal?” She asked as she leaned against the door.

“I was wondering if you had spoken with Honda-San as of lately. She seems to be upset with me for something and I was wondering if maybe you knew what it was.” He lied the lie he had created upon walking over to the apartment.

Arisa rubbed her chin in thought and shrugged her head. “The last time I spoke to Tohru-Chan was 4 days ago because I didn’t go to school on Friday since I wanted to skip the run. Sorry she hasn’t mentioned anything like that to me.”

Yuki hung his head as if in disappointment about not knowing what he had done wrong though in reality it was more like he was in a maze that seemed hopeless to ever find his way out. He thought through his mind trying to figure out a way that he might find something else out.

“Is there anyone else you can think of she might have spoken with?” He asked in a hopeful town as she thought some more.

“Well the only other person that comes to mind is Kyon-Kyon though she might have spoken with her Grandpa.”

He smiled happily and bowed again. “Th…” before he could finish she stopped him and grabbed the handle to the apartment door very slowly and gently she began to turn it as she urged him to continue talking. “Erm…Thank you very much Uo-San for your time.”

With one quick motion she slammed the door open and a loud crunch and scream erupted behind the door as her father fell over holding his obviously broken and bleeding nose.

“That’s what you get for eavesdropping!” Uo said angrily as she turned to Yuki and waved apologetically as she disappeared behind the door.

Yuki was left in the hall and began to walk out of the apartment building and down the street to the restaurant that he and Kyou were supposed to meet at. He was saddened that he hadn’t had more luck though he figured if Kyou hadn’t had any luck either they would at least go speak with her grandpa maybe he would have information.

He was slightly excited to see Kyou because he was hoping that they wouldn’t have to do that, that they would be able to avoid going to her grandpa’s home. The thought occurred to him that Kyou probably didn’t have any more luck than he since Uo and Hana probably would have been talking to each other if they had found out about Tohru.

Well even if Kyou doesn’t have any luck at least I will get to see him…Yuki stopped in his tracks as this thought went through his mind as if by its own free will. What the hell am I thinking, why would I be excited to see that baka neko? He shrugged it off as a stupid thought that he didn’t really mean though he knew deep down he was still slightly excited, he just wouldn’t admit it.

As he rounded the corner he saw the orange haired boy looking down and his heart skipped a beat at the site of him. His violet eyes quickly fell on the purple bruised nose and he immediately wanted to know what happened and how he could make it feel better. He smacked his forehead when this thought happened, idiot, he thought as Kyou looked up to see him walking his way.

The look on both of their faces told them that neither had had any luck with Uo or Hanajima so they both sighed and leaned against the wall. Kyou looked down to the ground almost as if expect Tohru to pop out from behind a pebble, while Yuki looked up at the sky as if expecting her to materialize out of no where.

“Uo-San said that we should talk with Honda-San’s grandpa that he might have spoken with her recently.”

“Well anything is worth a try.”

And so as if they had verbally agreed to go that second they both turned in the direction and without a word they started walking towards his home. I don’t exactly remember where her grandpa lives but at least I’m happy and lucky to….no not happy just lucky….wait damn it not lucky…shit at least Yuki is with me, he thought agitated with himself for having these thoughts about the rat.

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They emerged from her grandpa’s house after barely being in the dwelling more than a half hour. Unfortunately her grandpa hadn’t spoken with her either but he did at least have some information on a place that Tohru often said she had wanted to visit.

The two bishounen left the house with a little bit of a lighter heart. At least they had a place to look, right? That was better than being at some sort of a dead end. Her grandpa had told him of an old run down home that Kyoko and his son had started meeting at when they were younger while they were still trying to hide their love. He had said that Tohru had often said how romantic it was and she wanted to go visit it but they had all forbidden her, telling her that it was too dangerous since it overlooked a cliff and with her clumsy nature it was a good idea for her to stay away.

The boys were very worried about this exact idea if she indeed was at this home and though they didn’t like the idea of her being in that type of danger they still hoped that she was at this home. They wanted her back. Even though the sun was starting to go down, even though the home was more than 10 miles away, even though it looked like it was going to rain and they were dirty and tired and wanted nothing more than to snuggle…eh curl up and sleep, they weren’t going to stop, they weren’t going to given up, they wouldn’t leave Tohru alone, their Tohru.