Hey peoples, welcome to Another Serene Summer! This is my first (solo) Fruits Basket FanFic, and I promise this one will be more active then the other one (that was updated, what, back in Sept.?) No, Akito, Rin, and Kureno don't make apperances in this story (so I lie in my summery.) Anyways, read on and enjoy!
Chapter 1- Preparations Complete!
It was another serene summer's day that dealt the skies above Shigure's house a stunning azure color. With the low blowing breeze, which only added to the ideal summer's day, and the sounds of the cicadas adding a soft drone to the woods around the house; Tohru took in the sights, sounds, and smells of another fantastic summer.
Tohru stood up on the upper tier of the house, hanging up the new batch of laundry so it could dry by the hands of the light breeze. Tohru, taking a small break, gently place her hands on the ledge of the balcony, and looked out into the woods around the house.
"Wow, already another school year has passed and a new summer has come!" Tohru thought to herself. "I still live with Shigure, Yuki, and Kyo, and feel pretty grateful they've let me stay. Everyday is a new adventure when living with them; of course, I don't know whether I should think of that as a good thing or a bad thing."
Tohru giggled faintly at the thought of a distinctive night's dinner: Yuki and Kyo throwing insult after insult at each other, and Shigure rambling on about how Mi', his editor, keeps breathing down his neck for more writings. She turned around to finish setting out the rest of the laundry.
"I'm happy that Yuki and Kyo have opened up more lately. They seem less… deadly towards each other nowadays. Everyone seems to be in lighter moods which is—"
"I said NO!" came the ice cold hiss of Yuki from down below, suddenly breaking Tohru's sense of thought and making her scramble to recover the sheet she threw in the air due to surprise.
"Well, everyone was in lighter moods until Ayame came to Shigure's house a little while ago." Tohru thought to herself once more, after recovering her runaway sheet.
"Oh, come now dear brother! This will no doubtable be a chance to experience a summer with your dear, loving brother!" Ayame said, racing after Yuki, cheery as can be as he ignored the daggers Yuki was starring.
"I'd rather die." Yuki said uninterestingly after a few seconds silence. Ayame didn't bat an eyelash, as he continued to grin merrily as if he hadn't heard the comment.
"Come now Yuki," Shigure stated as he came out of the house to where the two were talking. "Give Aya a chance. I mean, it isn't everyday that you're invited to vacation at a fancy beach house in southern Japan! Imagine all the high school girls!" Shigure said silently, so no one could hear.
"I'd rather go on vacation with that stupid cat and Shigure then you!" Yuki said irritably. Ayame, happy as ever, stood straight up.
"Well, dear brother, isn't it a coincidence that I actually have fourteen tickets and rooms reserved for the beach house! Why not bring Shigure and Kyo! And of course—" Before Tohru knew what happened Ayame was besides her, gently holding her head within his palms, "Tohru will have to come as well!" he finished in his soft, gratifying tone.
"Oh no, I couldn't possibly become a burden on you Ayame! Those reservations must have cost a fortune and I would only be—" Tohru began, but Ayame raised his hand and she fell quiet.
"Dear Tohru, you are never a burden upon us, and if you don't come, I believe I might just have to give you a deep, loving good-bye kiss then!" Ayame said softly. Before he could make a move, Yuki smacked Ayame across the back of the head, but Ayame still held a smile.
"So, Miss Honda, I suppose the only way I can get my vulgar brother away is to accept his offering. It would be delightful if you would attend with us." Yuki said to the frantic Tohru after so much happened in a very short time.
"Ummmm… o… okay…" Tohru said shakily.
"PERFECT!" Ayame roared with pleasure as he handed both Tohru and Yuki a ticket. He then raced down to Shigure, handed him a ticket as well, then raced back inside, and tore into Kyo's room, where he was practicing his martial arts. Ayame handed him a ticket, and raced back out, as if he was never even there.
"What the hell!" Kyo asked the walls in surprise.
((Number of Tickets Left: 9))
Tohru sat in a daze, looking at the ticket that allowed access to the beach house that Ayame had given her. She couldn't believe she was going to go see the ocean, something she'd always wanted to see but never got the chance. She broke out of her daze.
"And who says I'd want to go anyways!" Kyo was lashing out on Shigure, who was happily packing, singing to himself "High school girls, High school girls, all for me, High school girls!"
"Well, would you rather stay here and leave Tohru victim to Ayame's craziness?" Shigure asked after Kyo was settling down.
"Fine, I'll go." Kyo said, stuffing the ticket into his pant pocket. "Where is Ayame anyways?" Kyo asked with a temper.
"Making phone calls, I believe…" Shigure said. Kyo and Tohru, simultaneously, peered around the corner where they saw Ayame speaking so quickly into the phone it was almost undetectable what he was saying.
"Ummmm, Yuki, who is Ayame speaking to?" Tohru asked Yuki, who was starring at his brother with mortification.
"Hatori." He simply replied.
"Hari! Long time no talk! How are you? Me? I've been fine, you know Mine and I came up with the cutest dress that you must see, it is green and blue and comes with—"
"Ayame, why have you called?"
"Why, I have called to invite you to a summer beach house down in southern Japan for vacation! I must insist you join us, even Yuki is going! And Tohru! Oh, I bet you are blushing now Hari!"
"I'll go if you will be quiet."
"Okay Hari, see you then!" With that, Ayame hung up the phone with Hatori, leaving Yuki, Tohru, and Kyo in disbelief at his quick wit and words. "Alright, I am now down to eight tickets! Who to invite next!" Ayame quickly picked up the phone once more, and dialed a number.
((Number of Tickets Left: 8))
"Ah! Ritsu! I'm glad I got a hold of you!" Ayame yelled into the phone.
"Master Ayame!" Ritsu spoke back.
"Why, of course it is I! Anyways, I'm calling to invite you to a beach vacation thingy!"
"Beach Vacation?"
"Yes, Yuki will be going, and even Tohru! Yes, Tohru Honda!"
"Tohru will be coming?"
"But of COURSE! Now, will you be going?"
"Uh… ummmm…"
"Now spit it out! I have a class to make, things to arrange!"
"Ok… I… I'll go…"
"Good! Goodbye!"
((Number of Tickets Left: 7))
"Perfect!" Ayame said, hanging up the phone with Ritsu.
"I can't believe you invited Ritsu…" Kyo said grimly.
"Oh, I think it'll be wonderful to have Ritsu along!" Tohru said happily. "I'm happy everyone is able to come!" Before anyone could respond, Ayame was already on the phone once more.
"Kagura! I have called to ask you something!" Ayame spoke into the phone once more, as he held one hand out to keep Kyo from tackling him at the sound of Kagura's name.
"Aya?" Kagura spoke from the other end of the phone.
"Yes, it is I! What has gotten into you and Ritsu as of late? Have you both forgotten me!" Ayame said with forged weeping. "Anyways, I'd like to invite you to go on vacation to southern Japan! Kyo will be coming along!"
"I'm there!" Kagura yelled over the phone, and hung up.
"Perfect! Next person!" Ayame said, hanging the phone up, before reaching to dial another number, and letting go of a now distraught Kyo.
"Aya, you know you're riding up my telephone bill… right?" Shigure asked from behind Yuki and Tohru.
((Number of Tickets Left: 6))
"Momiji!" Ayame spoke into the phone passionately once more. "Have I told you about this new dress I have so recently made! Oh it is wonderful! It is blue and green—"
"Ummmm, Aya, I think you're calling about the vacation…" Shigure reminded the overexcited Ayame from the hallway.
"Oh, so right Gure!" Ayame stated. "Anyways, Momiji, would you like to accompany me, Yuki, Kyo, and Tohru, and the others to a trip at a southern beach house!"
"I'd love to! I can't wait!" came the reply of Momiji, and Ayame stated a good-bye, and hung up the phone.
((And because the author is very tired, he shall skip to the fact that Haru, Kisa, and Hiro also joined the festivities. Oh, and Number of Tickets Remaining: 2))
"Well! I must say that this shall be one excellent of a trip!" Ayame still bellowed with cheer and delight.
"You're not out of breath yet?" Yuki asked with great surprise, out of breath just by watching Ayame talk and dial so quickly.
"That's amazing!' Tohru commented from the side.
"But the problem still remains, I have two tickets remaining. Who shall they go to?" Ayame asked, holding the two spare tickets yet to be claimed.
"If I might make a suggestion, I think I know you might take those two tickets!" Tohru said timidly.
"Well, we can't have them go to waste!" Ayame said in a sing-song voice.
"We came as soon as we heard the news." stated the very monotonous voice of Saki Hanajima. Standing next to her was Arise Uotani.
"Yeah, thanks for inviting us to this thing Tohru!" Uo said, stepping inside.
"Oh, of course, but I really should thank Ayame! He gave me the tickets to invite you guys!" Tohru said, as Ayame rounded the corner.
"Oh, you must be Tohru's friends!" Ayame said wildly. "You will be joining us on our little vacation? Wonderful! A friend of Tohru's is a friend of mine!" And with that, Ayame left just as quickly as he came.
"Wow… that guy's a freak…" Uo said, disturbed a little by Ayame's vigor.
"Yes, he has unique electric signals… very unique." Hana said, not showing a shred of emotion.
And thus, another serene summer began!
Surprisingly, that actually took a lot longer then I thought to write. Anyways, tell me what you think! Review to your content and flames will be ignored (or laughed at, either one.) Please leave reviews in a constructive manner. Now, OFF TO BED! (Writing at 2am, not only does it make you kinda crazy, you start having strange conversations with yourself that don't make sense…) -Anters-