7 - Pick Up

It was early evening, around five in the afternoon. The sun had begun to set, sitting low on the horizon. Kyo Sohma, a tall man in his mid-twenties, was walking slowly down the narrow stone street with only one task in his mind. It was clear as crystal, he had spent the day planning his perfect proposal to his high school sweetheart, Tohru Honda. In his hands, slightly shaking from the mix of both too much caffeine and anxiety, he held a beautiful tulip bouquet. It had been handmade by his partner's colleague from The Happy Petals florist, and the cat could not have been happier with the result.

Kyo had also booked a reservation at her favorite restaurant, where he planned to propose. He was dressed smartly for the occasion, as smart as he could manage without raising his partner's suspicions. He didn't want her to guess what he had planned, then again, he thought, a smile appearing on his lips, she can be a little dense sometimes. While the thought may have appeared unkind to anyone else, he had meant it out of love. It made it easier to surprise his partner sometimes, but in other circumstances, it was also a curse.

The cat reached the small family bakery that sat on the corner of the street, it was lit with a warm glow radiating through the windows. Kyo paused to take a peek through the window. His smile grew as he noticed his partner behind the counter serving an elderly lady, presumably in her sixties. He felt his cheeks ablaze as he gazed at Tohru. She looked beautiful even with her dark brunette hair tied back into a plait and tucked under a black bandanna. Even in her plain black chef uniform, and little apron embroidered with the bakery's logo scribbled on the corner. Her smile was infectious, emanating happiness to everyone who surrounded her.

Kyo stepped back from the window, noticing he had almost pressed his tanned face against the glass. Tohru had just finished serving her customer when she saw her partner standing by the window, her smile grew bigger, plastering her face. She waved at the ginger-haired man and beckoned him to come inside, unaware of his intentions. He lifted his hand to greet her, before letting himself in through the front door of the shop.

"Hello Kyon," his partner said with a smile, clearly excited to see him, "What brings you here?" she asked politely, tilting her brunette head to one side.

Kyo quickly slipped the tulip bouquet behind his back, hoping she hadn't already seen his surprise. "Hey Onigiri," he purred at her, "I came to pick you up. Thought we could grab a bite to eat?" he suggested to her, walking over to the counter, taking a quick peek "Also, a rock cake would be nice, please?" he asked pointing at his favorite sweet treat sitting on a cream plastic tray behind the glass.

Tohru nodded, picking up her silver tongs and removing a couple of the sugared cakes from the bunch. She placed them inside a small cream box that had the bakery logo scribbled on the side. She was about to hand over the treats when her colleague Hisoka appeared from the kitchen.

"Is that Kyo I hear?" he asked appearing from behind the beaded curtain. He noticed the cat standing at the counter and chuckled, "Hello there." He called. Kyo smiled giving the baker a short nod and a quick wave to greet him. Hisoka turned to his colleague, seeing she was about to hand over the box of cakes, "They are on the house. Tohru, make sure to take a little something for yourself too." He said with a smile.

"Oh, are you sure that would be okay?" the brunette asked, a sheepish look appearing on her face. Her cheeks colored with a pinkish-hue.

The baker nodded, "Yes. I really appreciate your help," he replied, handed folded across his chest, "You're free to leave when you're finished. I won't tell father I've let you clock off early either," Hisoka added, knowing full well she would be concerned about his suggestion as well, but instead, she nodded.

Tohru handed her partner the box before gathering a second to fill with a couple of treats of her own choosing, "Are you sure?" she asked her colleague again. Her partner couldn't help but to let out a chuckle, typical Tohru, he thought to himself, a smile appearing on his lips.

Hisoka nodded, "They will only go to waste. You can take the full strawberry shortcake if you like." He said, pointing to an uncut pink sponge cake sitting on the top shelf. The brunette nodded, trading her tongs for a silver cake slice. She removed the lone shortcake from the tray and added it to her box.

The brunette produced a printed paper bag from underneath the counter and popped the cake box inside. She held out a pale hand towards her partner and he returned his treat box to add to the bag as well. Tohru handed him the bag before disappearing through the beaded curtain to collect her personal belongings. She appeared not a minute later, easing the awkwardness between the two men.

"Ready to go?" Kyo asked his partner. She nodded, "Thank you for the cakes," he said nodding his head towards the baker.

"Thank you Hisoka," Tohru said giving him a polite bow, out of respect.

The baker chuckled, "Don't worry about it. I'll see you in a couple of days, thanks again for your help, Tohru. Kyo, take it easy." He called, extending a hand out to the cat. Kyo accepted, giving it a firm shake.

After saying their goodbyes, the couple walked out of the bakery. They paused outside of a moment, while Tohru put on her thin coat before taking the bag from Kyo. She noticed he still had one hand tucked tightly behind his back.

"What do you have there, Kyon?" she asked with a giggle, trying to catch a peek behind his back. The cat felt his cheek turn red, She's seen right through me, his thoughts panicked. Slowly he pulled the tulip bouquet from behind his back and presented this to his partner.

"These are for you," He said, biting his lip. Desperately hoping she would like them. Her tree-trunk eyes began to fill with crystal tears. Kyo's face dropped, he had made her cry, again. "I'm sorry, did I do something wrong?" he asked concerned. His companion shook her brunette head.

"No, Kyon. It was just a lovely surprise," she replied softly. She sniffed, wiping away her happy tears before accepting his gift, "These are beautiful. I love the colors." She said gazing at the bouquet. The style felt very similar to her. She smiled, remembering where she had seen this work before, "Did you commission Sakura for these?" she asked coyly. Kyo's face softened, his frown turning into a goofy smile as he nodded.

"Maybe," he laughed, placing a hand on the small of her back, "Do you like them?" he asked, hoping he had chosen the right color scheme and flower.

Tohru nodded, "They are perfect. I love them," she replied, placing a soft kiss on his tanned cheek, "And I love you, Kyon." She added, noticing her partner's cheeks were now a deeper shade of pink.

Kyo wrapped his arm around her, "Let's get you home, onigiri. Else we won't make our dinner reservation," he purred softly, close to her ear. Tohru felt a warmth rush through her body, letting out a giggle in reply. The couple walked down the stone street, the cat with his arm draped protectively around his partner and the brunette with her head rested gently on his chest.

♡

It didn't take long for the couple to make it back to their home. It was one of the many great things about living in a small village on the outskirts of town. Kyo opened the front door and ushered his partner inside. Tohru quickly removed her coat and returned it to one of the pegs that sat by the door. Her partner followed her inside, closing the door behind him.

"I best put these in water," she said turning to face him with a smile on her pink lips. Her ginger-haired companion smiled back, until he noticed the time, reading the hands of the plastic kitchen clock.

"Well be quick, Onigiri, or we'll miss our dinner reservations," he teased, planting a kiss on her forehead. Tohru nodded, heeding his warning. She set about the kitchen, hunting for a vase and some scissors from the drawers. She had successfully located the scissors and had begun cutting away the paper holding the bouquet together when Kyo appeared beside her with a glass-cut vase.

"It's a shame to throw away someone's lovely work, especially when it looks as beautiful as the bouquet," the brunette sighed, removing the colored paper and clear plastic from the stems. Her partner had filled the glass vase with cold water, straight from the tap, and had placed in beside the bouquet, "Thank you, Kyo." Tohru said looking up from her work. She had finally finished removing all the packaging and was about to put the bouquet into the water when her partner stepped in.

"Here, let me take those. You go get yourself ready," he suggested, taking hold of the stems with his hands, much to his partner's worry, giving him a look to say, you sure?

"I'm positive," he claimed, "Now go, get yourself ready," he said with a purr in his voice. Tohru nodded and left him to finish off the bouquet while she disappeared to the bedroom. The cat looked up the clock once more just to check the time. It read five-thirty. Only an hour and half until they were due at the restaurant. Plenty of time, he told himself, easing his anxiety a little. Kyo moved the glass vase, now filled with the beautiful bouquet onto the window ledge. It blocked a little of the large window that sat, instead of a wall, overlooking the garden. Happy with where it was positioned, the cat walked into the living sofa and took a seat on the cream sofa whilst he waited for Tohru.

♡

Tohru opened her wardrobe, frowning at the contents. Sure, she had some lovely dresses but it wasn't often she and her partner went out for dinner, she wanted to make an effort at least. Her usual, pretty sundresses just didn't feel good enough to wear this evening. She wanted something a little more special. She wished she had more time to prepare. The brunette noticed a little pink dress hiding at the back of the rail. She pulled it out to take a closer look.

"This is the one," she told herself, speaking aloud. She quickly got herself dressed, taking a twirl in the mirror. Tohru smiled, happy with how she looked so far. She fixed up her brunette locks and added a little touch of make-up just to reduce how tired she looked. She picked up a pair of short kitten heels from the bottom of her wardrobe to finish off her look. She took a final look in the mirror before walking out of the bedroom and back down the hall.

♡

Kyo was still sat on the cream sofa, waiting for his partner's return. His ginger head was titled on the back of the furniture, his mouth parted and a soft snore escaping his nose. The cat had drifted off to sleep, the result of his caffeine comedown. He was awoken by a loud cough coming from the doorway. He opened his chocolate-colored eyes, stretching out his tired muscles before turning round to see his partner standing in front of him.

Tohru was standing against the door frame, her hands interlocked and rested on her waist. She was wearing a silk knee-length dress, the bodice was embellished with multiple chiffon flowers appliqued to the fabric with crystals in the center. The skirt was soft and layered with multiple pieces of chiffon cascading down to her knees, with the same flower details dotted about the fabric. The color was a pastel pink, that suits her well. Her brunette tresses were slightly curled with a matching colored flower clip, similar to those on the dress, clipping one side behind her ear.

"What do you think, Kyo?" Tohru asked with a shy tone in her voice. She took a small step forward and gave him a twirl. The cat felt his jaw hit the floor and his heart begun to somersault out of his chest.

She looks beautiful, he told himself, too embarrassed to say aloud. His cheeks burning.

Kyo coughed, standing up from the sofa and walking over to his partner, "You look stunning," he replied, planting a kiss on her cheek. He wrapped an arm around her waist and looked deep into her tree-bark-dyed eyes, "Shall we get going?" he asked.

His partner nodded, leading him to the front of her. She went to pick up her handbag but the ginger-haired man shook his head, "You won't be needing that tonight," Kyo said, removing both their coats from the pegs and handing Tohru hers.

"Oh, okay," Tohru said, a little taken back. She reluctantly put down her bag, feeling almost naked without it, and accepted her jacket, "Thank you." She put on her jacket and took hold of her partner's arm.

"Ready to go?" Kyo asked her. She nodded, "Let us go then, Miss Honda." He purred making her giggle like a naughty schoolgirl as they left their house. With the front door safely locked and secure, the couple walked arm in arm down their beautiful blooming garden and into the town center.

Kyo took a moment to look down at his partner, tonight is the night. You can do this, he told himself.