Just Another Day

Disclaimer:  I do not own Fruits Basket.  The series belongs to Natsuki Takaya.

***I appreciate reviews, but please no flames (really if you have the time to flame me, it would be better spent elsewhere).  Also, this story was inspired by another author on FF.net (stupid brain, can't remember which one) who started a story about Tohru visiting Momiji when he was sick - just want to give credit where it's due.

Tohru smiled in greeting as Momiji pushed open the main gate of the honki for her.  He was bundled in a large winter coat and had a hat with bunny ears firmly ensconced on his head.  The sight almost made her giggle, as Momiji bore a striking resemblance to an over-stuffed dumpling, but she bit her cheek as she feared her laughter would hurt his feelings.

"Arigato, Momiji-kun.  Thank you for helping me with the gate.  Are you sure you should be outside yet?  You just got over the flu, your system is weakened and you could get sick again."

"Ah, Tohru-kun, you are so kind to worry about me, but I really missed you!  It's been days and days since I could see you.  Everyone else in the honki is sick too, and no one is well enough to play with me.  Hatori-san said it would be alright for me to wait for you as long as I dressed warmly.  See, see, I put on my coat and hat and everything."

Tohru smiled down at the infectious bundle.  She shifted her bags to one hand so that she could gently reach out and pat his face.

"Ne, Momiji-kun, I just don't want anything to happen to you!  I worry about you and all the other Juunyishi.  Even simple illnesses can be dangerous.  But, I'm glad you waited for me, I've missed you too."

"Didn't Kyou and Yuki accompany you?"

"No, Kagura and Kyou are out on a date, and Yuki had a school seminar to go to this weekend, he won't be back until late Sunday evening.  And Mit-chan has Shigure chained to his desk so that he can finish the draft he promised her."

"Ah!  Still, Tohru-chan shouldn't have to walk all by herself, especially since it gets dark so early this time of year.  We'll get someone to drive you home later."

"Eh!  Oh no, Momiji-kun, I don't want to cause anyone extra work.  I'm fine walking home by myself."

"Nonsense!  Nothing for Tohru-kun is extra work, especially after everything you do for us.  Come on, let's go inside!  Everyone is waiting for your visit.  Maybe you can even make Hatori-san sit down for awhile, he's been on his feet ever since the first person caught the flu.  I'm afraid if he doesn't slow down he'll collapse!"

"Poor Hatori-san!  I'll help out in any way necessary!  Do you think I should spend the night?  There are plenty of left-overs in the fridge for Shigure-san.  I brought some leek soup and some chicken noodle soup over for everyone, but I can help out with the cooking and cleaning."

"Yay!  Tohru-chan is going to sleep over!  You can stay in my room!"

"Ha--Hai."   Tohru said as she sweatdropped.  She wasn't quite sure of the proprieties of sleeping in the same room with a teenage boy, even one as innocent as Momiji.  She pushed the thought aside for now - no time for that, there are patients to be nurtured, Hatori-san needs our help.

-------

"Hatori-san look who's here, Tohru-kun has come to visit!"

"Aah.  I'm sure everyone will be pleased to see her."  Hatori caught Momiji's gaze with a pointed look, indicating in no uncertain terms that there was at least one person whom Tohru shouldn't pay a sick call on.  Momiji gave a subtle nod and Hatori knew his message had been received.  Thank god, even though he's recovering well from his bout with the flu, he's in a foul temper today.  I'm not quite sure how he would react to a sick bed visit from Tohru.

"Tohru-kun walked all the way here by herself,"  Momiji stated with his own pointed look.

Hatori took a closer look at the girl.  He was relieved to see that she was dressed warmly in a winter coat with hat, scarf and glvoes, but still.

"Wasn't Shigure home to walk you over?"

"A ha ha, Shigure-san is home, but he and Mit-chan are very busy with his revisions.  I couldn't bother him just to walk me over, it's not that far."

"Ah."

Hatori sighed, Shigure probably would have been grateful for the distraction, or for that matter, it wouldn't have done him any harm to get a bit of fresh air and drive over to pick her up.  But she was so painfully determined not to be a burden. 

To smooth over the awkward pause in the conversation Momiji pointed out the gifts Tohru had brought with her.

"Delicious homemade soups from Tohru-kun!"

"Yes, yes, I made both leek and chicken soups, as I read that both have healing properties.  I also thought about making a combined chicken and leek soup, but I wasn't sure if it would be as effective."  Tohru babbled on as she pulled several sealed containers out of the bags she had been carrying.

Hatori and Momiji eyed the growing pile of tupperware.  Tohru had to have been hours at cooking the vast quantity of soup they contained.

"Ano, Tohru-kun shouldn't have gone to so much trouble."  Momiji piped up.

"No trouble at all!  Mother always used to make me soup when I was sick.  When I was small she used to tell me that she would sprinkle little pieces of her love into the soup to help me get well.  I know it's gotten cold by now, but it will just take a few minutes to heat up.  Can I use your stove Hatori-san?"

Slightly bemused by the bustling force that was a determined Tohru, Hatori simply nodded his permission.

"Ah, you and Momiji have a seat, I'll make some tea while the soup is heating.  Is there anything else you would like?"  Tohru puttered around the kitchen, opening and closing cabinets and drawers as she put together a meal. 

Momiji could see that Hatori's sense of obligation was warring with his weary desire to just be seated and fussed over for a change.

"Hatori must sit down and accept Tohru's kindness, she has come all this way to help out."  He threw a sly smile Hatori's way.

Hatori gave the bunny a brief glare before sighing in defeat.  Momiji knew just what buttons to push, and Tohru had gone to all this trouble.

Boy and man settled in at the table and sat back to enjoy the pampering.  Within moments Tohru had placed the tea serving in front of them and urged them drink, she bustled off murmuring something about heating up some extras she had found in Hatori's refrigerator to complement the soup.  As the soup heated and Tohru cooked, heat and delicious smells seeped into Hatori's small dining area, along with the sound of Tohru's humming.  Though neither realized it, each had a similar thought.

This must be what home feels like.

----

Momiji and Hatori stared in awe at the feast Tohru had laid before them.  In addition to the soup Tohru had brought, there was rice and fish and various vegetables simmering softly in sauces.  They were both amazed at what she had been able to make with Hatori's barely stocked kitchen.

"Is everything all right?  I know I didn't make miso, but I thought with the other soup you wouldn't miss it."

"No, no, Tohru has outdone herself."

Both dug into their meal, pausing briefly now and again to compliment Tohru on the food.

As Hatori leaned back with a comfortably full stomach to savor some more tea, he couldn't help commenting.

"Tohru, do you cook like this all the time for Shigure, Yuki and Kyou.?"

"Oh yes!  Yuki and Kyou, they're both still growing so their appetites are rather large.  And sometimes Yuki and Kyou don't like the same things, so I try to make different dishes that each will enjoy.  Shigure likes whatever I cook, though he does eat rather a lot.  But I guess writing must take up a great deal of energy."

"Momiji and I should steal you away, at least you'd get paid then."

"Ah, ah, we would love to have Tohru cook for us all the time."

"Oh."  Tohru stuttered looking delightfully confused.  "There is no need for Shigure to pay me, he has been so kind already letting me stay in his home, but if Momiji-kun and Hatori-san need someone to cook for them as well..."

She stared off into space trying to work out the logistics.  "Maybe before my part-time job I could come over and cook you dinner, but what about breakfast - I suppose I could get up a little earlier, no wait that's when I do the wash, perhaps..."

"Tohru-kun, Tohru-kun!"

"Eh!"

"We were just joking Tohru-kun.  The main house has a full kitchen staff to take care of our needs."

Neither added that Tohru's cooking was much better; and that in addition to her cooking skills, it was her very presence that they treasured.

Tohru sighed with relief. 

"Ah!  I was very worried that you both were having to fend for yourselves."

"No, no, we're well taken care of, don't worry yourself on our behalf."

Momiji couldn't help thinking wistfully of the brightening effect Tohru-kun would have on the household.