in an attempt to be cautious, Kyo had begun to isolate himself again.
it started slowly, as most things do. he had arrived in this new place, confused and lost, but eager to explore and see if he could find a familiar face. days went by and his anxiety grew as he realized he was neither going home, nor finding anyone he knew. he cut his outings short now, avoided talking to people on the street, and checked his wrist just a bit more than normal. funny that he should find comfort in those beads, the only thing he had from home.
yet, he couldn’t let himself sink any further. he had to push himself, get up and go outside, whether it meant training in the park by himself or simply searching some more while getting some sun. during one such outing, Kyo started to feel like giving up for the day. he was starting to feel silly, looking for people that most likely weren’t there. and, embarrassingly, he’d started to ask himself: what would Tohru do right now?
and then he’d snort, shake his head. probably get lost with a dumb grin on her face, that’s what.
he didn’t have to imagine it, though, because he turned the corner and there she was. she was simply…there, standing under an awning of a building and if Kyo hadn’t memorized so deeply in his heart what she looked like, he would’ve done a double take. she hadn’t noticed him yet…and probably wouldn’t. he knew that far-away look from a mile away.
heart racing, he approaches…and raps his knuckle, gently, against the top of her head.
“Don’t space out in a place like this! This isn’t school, you know.”
“Jeez…Your self-preservation skills are as lacking as ever.”
harsh though he may sound, he isn’t angry. relief washes over him and brows furrow slightly as he waits for her to come back to earth.
One of her best skills has always been how well she can adapt to a situation -- Even if she doesn’t always do it the more gracefully.
Much like anyone would be, Tohru was confused and worried upon finding herself in this strange new place. There were far too many questions and not enough answers, though, so in true fashion she quickly decided that she would do her best to conform to this new lifestyle and seek out answers along the way.
Unfortunately, finding the answers was much harder than she anticipated. Just as hard as trying to find a cure for the Sohmas. Defeated, she spends the beginning of the afternoon resting against the wall of a nearby building.
“I don’t know what to do...” she says to no one in particular, heaving a heavy sigh. “I guess I’ve done everything I can today. I should start thinking about what to do for dinner.”
And surely enough, her mind begins to wander. Anyone who’s known her for more than a day would recognize the dazed look on her face as one where she’s not paying attention in the slightest. There were a few ways to snap her out of it, but lately, one of the most common ways was--
“Huh?” A tap on the head. Tohru blinks rapidly, brought back to reality. Her gaze immediately lands on Kyo, and the change of emotions on her face is obvious: Confusion, surprise, glee.
“Kyo! You’re here!” And then she stops, finally processing his words about being as spacey as ever.
“Haha... You’re right, I should pay more attention.” Embarrassed as she may be, Tohru can’t deny the relief she also feels at seeing Kyo here. She had spent many days wondering if she would be alone, struggling to find her way as an (almost) adult before she was ready to.
And there was panic, too. If she was stuck here, she wouldn’t be able to save him from that dark, empty room.
This meant they had a little bit more time, right? To figure things out. It eases the burden off her chest, and she so desperately wants to speak the words that are ringing like bells in her ears.
I missed you. I’m so happy you found me. I missed you.
“I was thinking about what I was going to make for dinner.” A pause, and she looks up at him with expectant eyes. “If you’re here, then that means you can join me!”
jbbartram-illu
blakekathryn
baratheonpilled
stormborns
janainaart
annaxmalina
yousharknotpass
