Uncertainty -Completely Rewritten-

Chapter 9

January second.

The first person to wish Sage a happy birthday was Tohru, followed by Yuki, and then Kyo did, though he seemed to like it was an inconvenience which was funny.

Sage was adamant that she didn't need any big celebration of any sort and that she had never had any kind of celebration like that in the past. Though the group still seemed insistent on doing something.

When Uo and Hana arrived with gifts, that sealed the deal and they all took Sage out.

She had no idea where she wanted to go or what she wanted to do. She simply put it up to everyone else. She would enjoy anything so long as she did it with the people she cared about.

They went shopping, ate out for lunch then saw a movie, and headed back to Shigure's.

Sage finally opened the gifts that Uo and Hana got her.

Uo got her a pack of scrunchies. Sage didn't have any hair accessories since her house fire so she appreciated it. Hana got her assorted earrings and Sage sighed and hugged her two friends.

"I love you guys"

"We love you too, Sage. Happy birthday!" Uo said.

---

The break was over tomorrow which meant they'd go back to school for their third term.

Sage was out getting the groceries with Tohru. Kyo and Yuki were outside.

When they got out the two were arguing. Yuki was quick to disengage from Kyo and turn his attention to Sage and Tohru. Yuki took the bags Sage was holding and Kyo grabbed the things Tohru was holding after a snide remark from Yuki about 'making himself useful'.

When she heard Yuki cough she turned to him.

He just smiled and Sage bit her lip.

She recalled a time back in middle school. Her siblings were sick, her dad was working all the time and her mother spent all the money they had on alcohol.

Sage needed to pay for medicine and skipped a lot of schools to take care of her siblings.

Tori got better pretty quickly but Yuri just seemed to keep getting worse and Sage lost a lot of sleep and cried for hours it seemed because she thought she might lose him.

Eventually, her dad took time off work to help care for him and by then Yuri began to get better.

But nearly losing someone is still terrifying.

That night Yuki revealed he did have a cold and Tohru and Sage were on it. Sage checked if he had a fever by touching the back of her hand to his forehead.

"You're a little warm," Sage said.

"I'll get some medicine. It's better to take care of a cold before it gets worse" Shigure said and fished out the box of cold medicine.

"I'll be fine" Yuki assured.

"You should stay home from school," Tohru said and Sage nodded in agreement.

"We're running the marathon, you don't wanna push yourself too hard," Sage said.

But after some stupid comments from Kyo and a multi-year competition put on the line, Yuki wound up attending school.

Sage was anxious and her urge to smoke was super high.

"Sage" Tohru passed her a strip of gum and Sage took it without hesitation. The terrible flavor of the cinnamon always did the trick.

"Sohma," Sage said.

"Hm? Is something wrong?" He asked.

"Please go home," Sage said. "Just please- please don't-" Sage couldn't find the words, all her thoughts were a little jumbled. "Nevermind. Forget it" she said.