Nine Lives

Day 9/9

"Come on, Tohru. I know you're upset, but you can't just skip Yuki's ball!" Arisa chided sympathetically on the side of her friend's bed. "Why not?" she replied through the muffled sounds of her pillow she was face first in. "Because it's for Yuki's birthday! You don't want to disappoint him!" she said, feeling a bit bad for trying to guilt her into getting up. At this point, she had run out of ideas.

Tohru turned her head to the side to look at her friend, her stomach to the sheets. "He'll understand..." "Dang, carrot-top really messed her up, huh?" she thought, vowing once again to punch him in the face the next time she saw him. Normally the thought of not being present for someone's birthday party would have thrown her into a frenzy, but this time, Tohru couldn't be bothered.

"Is there anything I can do?" Arisa asked. Tohru sighed. Her cheeks felt sticky from crying and she wanted to clean up, but getting up would involve work, so she kept putting it off. She was disgusted at her own complacency. She pulled her body so she faced the room and her friend, curling into a fetal position. "I just want-... I don't know." she choked, covering her face in hopes that it would stop the tears from returning. How did she even have that much water in her body to cry out?

Arisa was about to speak when a knock sounded at the door. The blonde gently petted her friend's hair for a moment before getting up to answer the door. "How is she?" Yuki asked in a hushed tone once the door was open. "Not great. I honestly haven't seen her like this since her Mother died a few years ago." she replied worriedly.

The young man nodded, peeking over her shoulder to see the pathetic girl curled up on her bed looking longingly at the window. "May I speak with her?" he asked. Aris gestured for him to come in and shut the door behind him, standing at the entrance.

"Miss Honda?" he said softly with a tiny smile. Her eyes shifted over to him and she gradually sat up, curling her knees to her chest. "I suspect you don't wish to attend the ball tonight?" he asked. She shook her head, looking away. "I'm sorry-" "Don't be." he smiled. "Just let me know if there's anything I can do."

"But it's your birthday party, Yuki. I'd only be in the way," she grumbled. "Nonsense. You know I'd call this whole thing off for you if I could. Unfortunately that dog seems dead set on embarrassing me this evening. And I would hate to disappoint Machi." He smiled slightly more at her name.

That earned him a tiny smile from the depressed young woman. "Just know that I'm here. I can even sneak away later to come check on you if you'd like?" he offered with a smile. Tohru nodded, giving another pathetic smile. "Thank you, Yuki."

"Oh! One more thing," he said, holding up a white rose. In her dazed state, she hadn't even noticed he had been holding it. "This is for you. Should you decide to come tonight, I hope it will remind you of me, and give you courage." Tohru hesitantly took the flower she knew he snipped himself from the garden just for her.

"It's beautiful," she whispered, delicately running her fingertips over the petals. Yuki smiled. "I'm glad you like it. Just remember that it is merely an invitation. If you still don't want to come tonight, I completely understand. Please don't feel pressured to join us."

"Yeah! Hanajima and I can stay here with you tonight. We'll have a nightgown festival!" Arisa grinned. "Thank you both... I'm so lucky to have friends like you!" she grinned, a few stray tears escaping as she rubbed her face. "Anything for you, Miss Honda," Yuki replied, gently kissing her knuckle before rising to his feet.

"Unfortunately, I have to go get ready for the party. Goodnight." he bowed slightly, giving her a smile before heading for the door. "Yuki?" she called, reaching out for him. "Yes?" he smiled over his shoulder. "...Happy Birthday," she smiled genuinely. "Thank you," Yuki smiled in return before shutting the door behind himself. "So, Tohru," Arisa said, inelegantly plopping back onto the bed, "What are you thinking?"