As I stepped off the plane, a wild surge of excitement coursed through me. I was back home .I was back with the only family I'd ever known, the only people who had ever loved me. The Psychology Course in New York had been fun, but I still loved my native land more. Not to say that it seemed a lot had happened in the four years that I was gone.

"Nariko, my young love!" Ayame's voice rang through the airport. I looked at the crowd of people, bemused, but I couldn't pick out the faces I wanted to see.

"Over here," came the calm voice of Hatori. I turned to my left and there they were. I smiled. They hadn't changed at all. Ayame was still wearing outlandish clothing, and his hair was even longer than before. Hatori still stood aloof and away from the others, far enough to signal that he wasn't one of them, but close enough to show that he still belonged. And Shigure was… Shigure.

"How is my little wifey doing?" Shigure joked, earning our group several shocked looks from elders.

"Wonderfully now that I can see my dear hubby again," I responded over-dramatically. Then I bluntly asked the question that had been on my mind ever since the plane had taken off. "So I can hug you now?"

Shigure held his arms open in response. As I flew into them, he whispered, "But not a word to Akito, okay?"

"You're with her?" I asked, pulling back in delight. He nodded simply and I clapped. "Yay for Gure-nii!" I gave the other two brief hugs, then walked out of the building into the streaming sunlight.

"How're Yuki and Kyo?" I asked as Hatori drove us home.

"The've been pining for you," Hatori replied with a completely straight face. Shigure snorted from the passenger seat. "A few of the kids are at the main house right now - that's where I'm driving us."

Ayame burst out, "Nari-chan, I've been trying for weeks, but my dear brother just won't listen! I'm sure you can convince him, though, he absolutely adores you! You see, I simply must have him come to my shop for his wedding, no? I just know his bride would be stunning in the blue dress I have for her! Talking of which, I have designed a green dress for you, Nari-chan! Would you like to-"

"Wait, wait, wait, back up a bit. Yuki's getting married? He's just a kid!"

"He's not getting married," Shigure elaborated. "But he will, eventually. He's going out with the future bride, see?"

I relaxed, placing a fluttering hand over my heart. "Aya-nii!" I scolded. "Don't scare me like that!"

We pulled up in front of the main house, and I gingerly stepped out of the car, taking Shigure's offered hand.

"Really, Shigure? Cheating on Akito already, are we?" A tall blonde demanded slyly, jumping off from his perch on top of the gate to the Sohma house. "Nari-chan! I'm taller than you!" He exclaimed excitedly, squeezing her.

"Momiji?" I asked, stunned.

"Yup!"

"That's not fair!" I pointed out, distressed. The three adults around me laughed as I compared our heights and found, to my agony, that I was about half-a-head shorter than him.

"But he's Momiji!" I whined, gesturing as we walked through the gates. "He's supposed to be tinier than me and boost my self-esteem!" I turned around and walked backwards so that I could see the former rabbit's expression. Unfortunately, at that moment, I ran into someone.

"Welcome back, Nariko," intoned a deep voice from behind me. I turned around and smiled, hugging the white-haired teen.

"Nice to see you too, Haru." I gave his hair a ruffle and stepped into the house. "Wait a moment!" I held a finger up. "What's this? No yells of 'stupid cat', 'damn rat'? This is a sight I have to see."

I burst into the kitchen, dramatically pushing open the two doors, and saw something that would shock me for days to come.

Kyo had pointed out something, a slight smile on his face, his palms open by his sides. Yuki was laughing - yes, laughing - as he washed a plate.

"Have my dear Yun-yun and Kyonkichi grown up already?" I asked playfully. "I never thought I'd see the day!"

"Nariko," Yuki greeted pleasantly, dropping his head in a little bow.

"Ah, don't call me that, stupid woman," Kyo scowled, flushing a little.

"Hey, Kit-kat, be nice," I ordered after giving Yuki a kiss on the cheek. "You wanna kiss? Then you gotta be nice."

"Hell, why would I want a kiss from you?"

"Oh yeah, that's right, you broke my heart," I joked, putting a look of mock-disgust on my face.

"What are you talking about?"

"Talking of which, Yun-yun," I turned to him accusingly, ignoring the orange-haired person behind me, "you're getting married and you didn't tell me?"

Kyo snickered as the grey-haired boy narrowed his eyes.

"No," he said emphatically, "I'm not getting married."

"But you're dating. Without telling me."

"Who told you? Shigure?"

"Who else? Your brother too. By the way, can I dress her up?"

"My brother?"

"No, you girl, whatever her name is." I rolled my eyes.

"Machi."

"Aw, Machi," I squealed, clasping my hands, "so cute!"

"Nariko…"

"Just kidding, I'll leave all the gushing to Ayame and Mine. By the way, in regards to her wedding gown, what do you think of the color pale blue?"

"Pale blue?"

"I'll take that as a boisterous and resounding 'I LOVE IT!'. Now that that's figured out…" I pointed imperially at Kyo. "Show me this Tohru of whom you speak of! I must approve before you go off dating people!"

"She's around here somewhere… don't worry, she'll show up," Kyo said a little awkwardly, "she really wanted to meet you."

At that moment, a brown-haired girl burst into the room. Her hair billowed out from behind her and I fingered my short chocolate brown locks enviously. "Kyo, Yuki-kun, has Fujioshi-san come yet?" she asked hurriedly before noticing me. "Oh, Fujioshi-san?"

"Ew, no way," I waved my hand in a deprecating gesture. "Call me Nariko. By the way… you're such a cutie!" I squealed again, giving her a big hug. "And shorter than me too! You have good taste, Kyon-Kyon!" I gave him a thumbs-up and he groaned. "Now, girly, come with me. I just wanna dress you up!"

I dragged the girl up to the spare bedroom that had been mine so many years ago. Hatori had already brought up the suitcases and I unpacked in a frenzy, pulling out fabrics for Tohru to look at. "So, what colors do you like?" I asked, my hands on my hips.

"Oh! You're a clothes designer like Ayame-san?" Tohru's eyes lit up with realization.

"Mm-hmm," I said proudly, "that's me! Talking of him, how are Aya-nii and Yun-yun these days?"

"Yuki-kun and Ayame-san are… er… better? Yuki-kun asked his niisan to find him an apartment." Tohru pounded one of her fists into the other palm. "They are coming close to meeting halfway!"

I nodded pensively, sitting cross-legged on the floor across from Tohru and absentmindedly cutting out a design.

"Is something wrong, Fujioshi-san?"

"Nariko," I corrected, "And not really. Nothing is wrong. It's just that… Ayame is very dear to me and Yuki is close to my heart as well, so if they got along… It would make me happy! Just as I'm happy now that Yuki and Kyo are getting along." I gave the girl a penetrating look, then shook my head. "What was I thinking? Yellow just wouldn't suit you." I put aside the fabric and stretched out. "Tohru, will you help me?"

"Of course, Nariko-san!" said the girl determinedly.

"I want to know what has happened since I left four years ago. I want to help this family. Though the curse has been broken, they still have not received closure. I want to help them put the pieces back together. So Tohru, can you tell me the whole story?"

And so two brunettes sat in a room together and listened to a wild and miraculous story of love, hate, and a wish for freedom.

A/N: This is my Furuba fanfic! *fanfare*

No, this is not a oneshot, though I closed this chapter a bit too much. No this is not a romance, because I'm not about to rip up any relationships already in Furuba. Got it? Got it.

I hope you enjoy!

Till next time, her Majesty, the Queen, Violet ^_^