I Have Always Loved You (Kyo x Tohru)

Chapter-1: Walk You Home

"I'll walk you home."

It's a simple statement. One that shouldn't get Tohru Honda's heart to leap in fear. But when she has a secret to hide, it's not so simple anymore.

"Oh, no, no. That's fine! I can walk home on my own. I'm sure you have other things to do," Tohru blurts out instantly, waving her hands around frantically.

But who is she kidding?

In front of her is the person who can read her like a picture book. Kyo Sohma knows her better than she does herself. Her second-most precious person after her mom. Her best friend on whom she has been crushing on for as long as she has known him — which is nine years.

As soon as she gets the words out, Kyo narrows his eyes on her. "But you know full well that I got nothin' to do today."

"Still—"

"Seriously, what's the matter, Tohru?" His tone is dead serious, and she feels pressured under his intense gaze.

They are standing in the school hallway, the sun setting outside on the horizon. His hands are in his pocket, his school backpack slung over one shoulder, while her head is down and bag straps being strangled under her death grip. Every student passing by is sparing them weird looks, as if they are expecting some sort of confession.

A confession is what Tohru wants to do. But not a love confession. She doesn't have the courage for that yet. For now, she wants to confess that she has been living in a tent for a week now, because her grandfather's house is getting renovated. Her mother passed away in an accident almost a year ago. Since then, she's been living with her grandpa.

Her friends, especially Kyo, have been really supportive. They have done a lot for her. It's because of them that she can still smile. They stood by her through everything. Now, she doesn't want to burden them anymore. So she took it upon herself to go find a place to live, which was a tent she bought on sale.

But the thing is, she hasn't told any of her friends about it yet. They would be extremely mad at her.

"Nothing is the matter, Kyo. I swear," Tohru says.

She hates lying. But she doesn't have any other choice. Kyo would especially kill her if he got to know about it.

Kyo tilts his head to the side and interrogates, "Then why can't I walk ya home? Are you mad at me for not doin' it for the last two weeks?"

Fortunately, until now, Kyo has been really busy, so he hasn't been able to walk Tohru home. His master is out of home, and he left Kyo with some very important tasks in the dojo. Although she felt lonely walking home alone, she at least didn't have to worry about lying to Kyo. But Master Kazuma returned this morning. Hence, Kyo is absolutely free to walk her home today. He always has. Ever since middle school. And they are in their second year of high school now.

"No, not at all. I'm not mad at you! I could never be!"

"Then let's get goin'." Before she can make any more excuses, Kyo takes a hold of her hand and starts dragging her out of the school campus. "We haven't hung out in forever. Let's watch a movie together. Oh, and I wanna meet Grandpa Honda and ask him about his health..."

Kyo keeps talking, meanwhile, Tohru notices the menacing glares she receives on their way out. She is used to those looks by now. After all, Kyo is so kind, handsome, and popular.

Despite not being unpopular herself, everyone is jealous of Tohru and her girl friends for getting to hang out with Kyo and the school prince, Yuki. Yuki is Kyo's best friend and also one of her closest friends, and it's a shame to just call Yuki beautiful. He's ethereal. But Kyo has a different kind of beauty. Rough and ragged. Smoldering. Hot.