Chapter 2
La , la, la la. I decided to get started on the meal. For so many people who knows how much I'll need or how long it'll take.
"Hello Shigure!"
"Oh Tohru, I've never seen so many of my favorite things in one kitchen".
"Well I hope everyone feels the same way, about the food that is."
"I'm sure they will. When you said have everyone over, did you mean-everyone?"
Ahhh! Invitations! After I realized well you can't really have a party without inviting guests, Shigure called up, and as I got it, told Hatori, who told Momiji who told Hiro who reluctanly told Kisa who told Hatsuharu who told Kagura to tell Rinand somwhow it got to Ayame. Yuki wasn't really happy about that.
"Well I hope Tohru's message find you well," Shigure giggled into Hatori's ear.
I couldn't believe she was inviting everyone, meaning all the zodiac members. I guess it would a diversion from all the weight of my world. I had grown to like Tohru, not the way Shigure teased me about but as though she really had become part of the family, but she didn't deserve the pain of being a Sohma. But she had done so much for this family, but what Akito could do scared me the most. It was far too late to erase her memories now, too much had gone by. That was a bridge that couldn't be gapped.. Akito could hurt her though, what way I didn't know but as for her safety and everyone else it was a constant fear.
" So she really is inviting everyone?" I said hoping I wouldn't have to hear any idiotic lines from his sick mind.
"You know Tohru, it would mean so much to her".
"Hmm...I'll have you know Kureno won't be coming."
"I figured as much. I'm glad you're coming", he quieted his voice. " You know Hari' you need a break, no one can run on pure nothing for so long".
I paused letting his words seep in, "I went for a walk,"
"Ah on one of these fine spring days Hari', wonderful thinking but I'm not sure that it helped."
"What do you say that?"
"Well if it had you'd be cheery grumpy as opposed to grumpy grumpy."
"Grumpy, grumpy?"
I almost chuckled not because it was funny but when he put it that way, it made me sound foolish.
"Alright take care, see you Saturday night!"
Yes, for now I'll put energy into preparing to dine with everyone and if Akito should react.
Shigure hung up, humming lightly and turned to everyone while Tohru stood in the kitchen threshhold.
"Well all seems in order, but I don't think Kureno can make it."
Kyo sighed at the table, "Yeah well who wants that bastard here anyway."
"Hmm, the same could be said for you," Yuki said writing a paper.
"Rat boy! You got something to say, say it to my face, or-,"
"Or you'll what?"
"Boys, boys, I have a slight headache, voices and fists down please?" Shigure turned to go to his office
"Wait I second!" Tohru jumped up making everyone stare at her in wonder.
"Huh?"
"Well, I mean it's disapointing Kureno can't come but why not invite Kazuma instead?"
"Fine with me Miss Honda." Yuki said smiling.
"You shut up! Yeah, I was gonna go seem him anyway. I'll invite him, I guess." Kyo gave Yuki the evil eye
What a relief! Everything is working out then. I went back to my cooking but now I'm wondering if there'll be enough room for everything?
"So basically all the zodiac members and Master's gonna be there, well minus that jerk Kureno", I turned to Kyo who entered the kitchen and was eyeing my leeks' there would be enough so he wouldn't have to eat any.
"I have to go to school for a little while, the council needs to do a few things," Yuki called. Not that we'll get anything done, that is, Yuki thought sourly.
"Okay!" I called to him as he waved goodbye.
"Yeah well why don't you get lost on the way, and don't come back!" Kyo shouted.
"Oh you stupid cat you should really think about some of the things you say, because their only applied to yourself," Yuki grinned, Kyo growled. "See you later Miss Honda".
"Bye Yuki!"
"Damn damn Rat!"
After that scene I remembered what Kyo had asked, "Oh to answer your question, Kyo,"
"Question Oh that, yeah."
"Well, that was the plan", hmm why didn't I think of this before, "Kyo!"
"What, what's wrong?!"
"Oh sorry for startling you! But it'll, it'll be like the banquet well, I mean without Kureno , of course, but um...you'll be there." He froze, and just blinked. "But you'll be at my banquet!" She just smiled widely, "as the guest of the honor. Oh that sounds weird, I mean you're a guest but you live here, but, oh I don't what I'm saying."
Kyo didn't answer, just stood there in awe, as Tohru babbled away.
"This is nice Kyo, Tohru doing this." Kazuma said polishing a blade.
"Yeah, yeah."
"Kyo I've known you a long time and that nonchalant attitude won't cut it with me." Kazuma smiled.
"She...she related it to the banquet, the zodiac one at new year."
"Hmm..."
"And,"he picked up the blade, eyes downcast, "but this time I was gonna be there, she said, Tohru said, I was gonna be the guest of honor," he stiffened, "Or some crap like that".
Kazuma closed his eyes, "Saturday then." Some little kids then entered the Dojo.
"Why is everyone in an uproar, Hatori?" Akito eyed me suspiciously as I put his medicine away.
"Tohru Honda, invited us all to Shigure's for dinner, an anniversary dinner. She's lived there three years now".
"Three years , three years she's known the secret. Time does fly doesn't it?" A smile, but I shivered. "I'll expect a full report, have a good time," Akito turned, I feared the worst.
Saturday came at last. I spent the afternoon racing around, cleaning, cooking, I wanted everything to be perfect. The only problem, well not exaclty a problem but it did put a damper on Kyo.
"Why'd you pick a day, when it had to rain," Kyo said sleepily.
"I'm sorry!"
"Now, now Kyo she didn't choose the day when she stumbled into my humble abode."Shigure got looks from both boys. And what a nice day that was too, Yuki thought smiling.
"Oh no, my base, I need to cover it up!" Yuki jumped up suddenly.
"Secret base, you make it sound like some illegal operation," Kyo muttered dispassionately.
"The only thing illegal is-,"
"Yuki! Dear brother whatever are you jabbering about, hahahahah! This weather is awful, don't you all think. Looking at it is so much more appealing and romantic." Ayame stood in the doorway closing an extremely colorful and flowery umbrella, Yuki stopped dead in his tracks.
"Aya!" Shigure and Ayame reached out for one another.
"Well this is fortunate, I was just leaving." Yuki tried to avoid this painful confrontaion.
"Leaving and miss this feast!" Ayame came at his side flashing a wide smile.
"I'll be back," he grumbled.
"Good. Tonight, we'll have a tete a tete, a heart to heart, brotherly love, ANYTHING, EVERYTHING YOU WANT, AS LONG AS I CAN DELIVER AND SERVE YOUR NEEDS!!!!!!!"
"Oh Aya, you always do know the right words to say". Idiots, Yuki and Kyo thought together.
More and more arrived and I set out the food.
"Sissy, it all looks so good!"Kisa exclaimed happily.
"Why thank you!"
Hiro rolled his eyes, "Whatever. What's up with you Kyo, you know if you're sick or something, you're going to infect us with your germs and then-,"
"I'm not sick! So just- shut up."
Poor Kyo, I wish it wasn't raining this hard. I wanted it to be a nice evening. Rain or shine. Hatsuharu arrived with Kagura. Kagura ran over to Kyo, but while she fussed, at least she didn't attempt to beat him up.
"Rin just isn't feeling all that great, sorry Tohru," Haru looked even more disappointed then Tohru felt, and that was saying something.
"Well I hope she feels better."
"Yeah, me too."
Hatori and Momiji arrived with Kisa and Hiro.
"Tohru, I've been so excited, I could hardly sleep or concentrate on anything!" Kyo grumbled at Momiji's shrill cry.
"I'm so glad you came."
"Me miss this, nuh uh, not for the world!"? Momiji was seconds from hugging her when they all looked up at Yuki coming in. He was all muddy.
"Oh Yuki, you're all dirty, I'll take care of that," Tohru rushed over.
"No, no Miss Honda. I'll just be changed and then we can eat."
Kazuma entered, they were still missing Ritsu who got the message from Shigure too. "The roads are terrible, there are warnings of flooding. Oh Kyo I brought you something that might help with the rain."
"Fine." He took the liquid Kazuma gave him, winced and slumped on the table with a sour face.
"Oh a sleep over all together, how divine!" Ayame clapped his hands in excitement
"Why is that a good thing?" Yuki asked when he had changed.
"Oh my sweet brother, for a good many reasons." Everyone stared at Ayame. "Oh Hari' I can feel it!"
"Feel what?" I said wary not that I wasn't where Ayame was concerned.
"The magic, the love, oh yes I can feel it! Tonight is going to be a good night."
She was driving along, just trying to get home and got stuck on a detour.
"Uggh where am I?" Kaiya started to get irritated, rain was not her favorite weather to drive in especially, at night and had no idea where she was. When all the sudden the car stopped.
"OH NO!" Stuck in a flooded mud pit. Now what am I gonna do? She thought desperately. She thought she saw lights in the distance, and decided to hazard coming. It was the cliche scene, rain, house, never heard from again. She grabbed her umbrella and trudged the path to the appearing house. She was pretty soaked through and muddy anyway.
She reached for the door...
