okay- to introduce this story i must admit that though i really like the idea of continueing my cross over with cardcaptors, i really did want to wrap up some of my own mental wonderings in the fruits basket world by itself. i'm not planning on having this be very long, so just let me know if you like it. thanks!
fruits basket is not mine. though Michael is my brain child. :-P
The first thing Michael was looking forward to was sitting on something that wasn't moving. The airplane ride from Savannah toWashington DC to Japanhad taken, it seemed, half his life and the cab ride from the airport to this house in what had to be the middle of a deserted wood had been indecently long.
"Now, Michael, I know you'll be polite and all…" Tohru paused before continuing, doing that half head tilt he knew she did when thinking things through. Her long brown hair swayed to one side, and once again he was glad he'd talked her out of chopping it off in the Georgian heat wave that summer. He placed his hand on her head and smiled at how soft it was.
"I'll be the e-pit-o-me of a polite guest Tohru-love." He grinned at her blushes. He called her that just to watch her cheeks tint.
"I know you will. I'm just asking you to hold your judgment until you know them all. Sohma's can be somewhat excitable." She giggled a bit and slid open the front door.
"Tohru?" a thin voice came from the library, it sounded like the man were perpetually in a state of apologizing. Tohru slipped out of her shoes and dumped her bag next to the stairs before following the voice and disappearing into the room to the left of the staircase.
"Shigure!" he heard the laughter in her voice as he placed his own shoes next to hers. Michael was an American, but Tohru had schooled him on what to do, though his shoes weren't dirty he followed her instructions exactly. The brunette sounded like she was having fun, so he smiled as he entered the room. She was kneeling next to a tall man sitting cross legged on a pillow in front of a low desk. He looked up as Michael came in, his black hair brushed his ears as he tipped his head to watch Michaels approach.
"Ahh, so this is the friend you told me you were bringing." The man now sounded as if he were planning a nasty trick, and Tohru's warnings of first impressions rang clear as the man presented several contradictions. He was wrapped in a simple traditional lounging kimono, but he sat in front of an uber-modern laptop. Books surrounded him, both neatly arranged on the shelves behind him, and stacked haphazardly around the desk within easy reach.
"Hajimemashite. Michael desu." He said in Japanese, and bowed before kneeling in front of Shigure's desk.
"Doozo yoroshiku." Shigure replied, "It's nice to meet you." He continued in English, neatly turning tables. Michael seemed simple enough to Shigure's jaundiced eye. Built along the lines of a track runner, lanky with shaggy brown hair he'd only really noticed before on American rock stars. But he could see what made Tohru want to bring him home. The boy had kind eyes, and somehow they reminded Shigure of Tohru's wide brown eyes- completely innocent and insightful at the same time.
"So where is everybody?" Tohru asked as she played with the papers on the desk, neatly stacking them as Michael and Shigure finished introductions.
"Kyo is still at the Dojo with Kazuma, and Yuki should be back from class pretty soon." Shigure patted her on the head, "Why don't you take Michael up to the guest room and get yourselves settled in before all the commotion begins?"
"Ii desu ne." Tohru agreed.
"Commotion?" Michael asked as Tohru led him up the stairs. She turned to give him a shy little grin.
"You'll see."
"Ohisashiburi desu ne."
"Yes, it has been a while." Tohru was talking to someone down the hall, and as Michael ducked his head out into to hall he saw a flash of orange disappear into Tohru's room.
"So how is life Tohru?" he heard the bedsprings creak a bit and Tohru giggled.
"It's still progressing Kyo-kun."
"Tohru."
"Kyo then. Hai."
"Hai, soo desu." Kyo chuckled, "So I hear you brought a foreigner home with you."
"Hai, Michael, he's just down the hall." He heard the springs creak again. "Be nice."
"Do I hafta?" the boy teased.
"Hai!" Tohru snapped gently, "Or I'll make you eat leeks all week!"
"That's not funny! You know rat boys been harvesting those for days! He can't wait to hear you say leek and liver is on the menu!"
"How about we eat the leeks sometime when you're visiting with Shishou?"
"I am forever in your debt." Michael laughed at the serious relief in the Kyo's voice.
"Is that him?" Kyo got off the bed and poked his head into the hall.
"I'm sorry, you just sounded like she liberated you from a prison or something." Michael smiled and tilted his head apologetically.
"Na, that's ok. She did." Kyo walked down the hall and held out a hand. Michael shook it, both boys kept their grips firm, but not challenging. "I'm Kyo Sohma."
"Michael Titus."
"What part of America you from?" Kyo asked as they smiled to mutual satisfaction and released hands.
"Originally Cleveland, but I met Tohru in Savanna, at school." Michael leaned against the door frame, "our mentors hooked us up, she's illustrating my book."
"Yeah, I think Shigure said something like that." Kyo looked down the hall as the front door closed. "Rats home." He sighed and nodded to Michael, "if you'll excuse me, I think…"
"Is Honda-san here yet?" the gray haired boy at the top of the stair glared at Kyo, as if even asking the other a simple question was an offense to his sensibilities.
"Yeah, she's unpacking. This is Michael, he came with her, remember?" Kyo smirked, "I'm going to go ask Shigure something, Michael, nice to meet you." His shoulder brushed against the others, as if a challenge had been issued, but the other boy just looked at Michael with a pleasant smile pasted on his lips.
"I apologize for Kyo's rude nature. I am Yuki Sohma, it's a pleasure." And like Kyo's grip, Yuki's was firm, but it was also carefully held on just the opposite side of cold. "I should put my things away, if you'll excuse me?" His violet eyes where at almost the same height as Michaels brown ones, and though it was quickly hidden, he saw a faint hopeful light in them as Yukistared up the stairs.