DISCLAIMER: I don't own Fruits Basket. I want to own Ayame and Shigure. I am a dirty monkey.
The next day at school Yasuko sat quietly at her desk, as always. She had made sure to arrive early to avoid repeating yesterday's fiasco and was quickly settling back into her anonymity. Rather, she would be returning to her invisible status had Kyou Sohma not kept sneaking glances at her all morning. Every time he looked her way she could feel the bubble of invisibility around her shatter.
Kyou felt horrible. He had gone straight to the roof last night after the game had finished, and he had been in a terrible mood all during the badminton game. He felt like seven kinds of a fool and a jerk for having hurt Yasuko's feelings like that. He had felt even worse than the time he had yelled at Tohru back when they first met. So now, Kyou had trouble not looking at her, trying to compose an apology in his head.
Their eyes had met once, and Kyou noticed for the first time that the girl had blue eyes. Tohru's eyes were a sort of bold blue color like the sky on a bright day, but Yasuko had deep ocean blue eyes and for a moment Kyou felt himself drown in them. Then she looked away and the spell was broken. Her long chestnut hair was bound into a pair of braids that hung down her back to end at the seat of her chair. Occasionally she would pull the end of one up and rub the curl at the bottom across her nose as she read the day's work.
At lunch Yasuko returned from purchasing her sandwich and juice to find Kyou, Yuki and Tohru gathered around her desk. She approached the trio slowly and bowed a shy hello before taking her seat.
"I'm sorry about yesterday," Kyou said quickly. Yasuko got the impression that this was hard for him, but she couldn't look up. Her eyes remained glued to her desk and she shook her head slightly, trying to let them know she was fine.
Kyou watched her anxiously. He had never been good at apologizing and Yasuko's inability to respond made this nerve-wrecking situation even more stressful for him.
"I'm sorry," he repeated, mumbling. "I should have kept my mouth shut."
Yasuko, without looking up, pulled her notebook and pen from her bag. The three watched as she scribbled a few words, pulled the page from the book and held it up to Kyou. Yuki leaned in to peek at what she had written.
It's okay. You had no way of knowing. Thank you, though.
Yasuko still refused to look up, and both Sohma men felt unequal to respond to the sad note. Yasuko didn't have to speak for them to know the tone of her thoughts. They had inadvertently hurt Tohru's feelings enough to know the sad note that accompanied the words. Oddly, though, Tohru seemed determined to pull Yasuko from her shell.
"Would you like to come to dinner tonight? I mean, since you couldn't come play badminton yesterday?" Tohru's eyes suddenly opened wide as she went chibi. "Not to pressure you or anything. I completely understand if you have plans with your family already. It's not like you have to come, we just want to get to know you better. You're always so quiet- Oh! Not that there's anything wrong with being quiet! Though, I suppose you can't help it. Oh! I didn't mean that!" Yuki and Kyou sighed as a sweat drop appeared on both their heads. "That's not what I meant to say!" Tohru continued. "I just meant- you know- and I-" Tohru sighed and hung her head. "I'm sorry."
Yasuko stared at Tohru for a moment, her eye twitching slightly. Slowly a smile spread across her face, followed by a grin. Suddenly she was shaking with silent laughter. Yasuko threw her head back and inhaled between laughs, a small sweet gasping noise that brought smiles to everyone's faces. Yasuko clutched her stomach and bent with laughter, shaking her head slightly. Kyou and Yuki were amazed. The girl was actually smiling. They had never even noticed Yasuko before yesterday, not really, and here she was beaming like an angel, almost as brightly as Tohru.
"Miss Hiro," Yuki spoke up. "We would truly enjoy your presence for supper."
Yasuko wiped the tears from her eyes as she brought her laughter under control. She wrote out another note and gave it to Yuki.
Thank you, Sohma-san. I will bring the dessert.
That evening saw Yasuko approaching the isolated home deep in the woods. She had had plenty of trouble at her home trying to get permission to attend, and as a result had been forced to wear a rather old-fashioned kimono to cover the bruises. Her twin had a rather violent temper, and Yasuko generally felt the brunt of it- another reason she liked to go unnoticed. Tonight, Yasuko had had difficulty in explaining that Anyu could not attend because she had not been included in the invitation, and only Yasuko was expected. Her parents had not helped any.
Her kimono was lovely, though, and helped combat her nerves. Small white sakura blossoms had been embroidered sporadically across the midnight blue silk, and a winter white hiyoko peeked at the neckline like moonlight in the night sky. The sharp contrast of color made her skin seem to glow beneath her chestnut hair. Yasuko had pulled her long curls back into a tight bun secured by a single white ribbon, a trick her mother had taught her in happier days.
True to her promise, Yasuko had brought dessert for the evening. Unsure of what would be served, also unsure of the particular preferences of her hosts, Yasuko had opted to bring a sampling of her own favorite desserts: mango custard, sweet rice pudding and coconut milk balls. Yasuko's sweet tooth had always leaned more toward rich spices and flavors than mere sweetness.
At the door she raised her hand to knock but froze as it slid open. Yuki and Tohru smiled while Kyou glared a little. From what Yasuko had seen at school, though, that was just his way and she didn't feel particularly affronted. With a smile of her own she held of the large dish of desserts.
"Miss Hiro," Yuki smiled, taking the dish. "So glad you could come."
Yasuko bowed low and then handed Tohru a small piece of paper. Tohru read the note and smiled.
Thank you for having me. I hope you enjoy the desserts.
"I'm sure dessert will be delicious!" Tohru beamed. "Please come in."
Yuki left to set the desserts in the fridge to stay cool as Yasuko stepped inside and removed her shoes. Tohru then jumped and excused herself to go check on supper, leaving Kyou to escort Yasuko to the living room.
"You didn't have to get all dressed up," Kyou said blandly. Yasuko shrugged and smiled apologetically. "I didn't mean anything by that!" he shouted, afraid he may have hurt her feelings again. "It's pretty and all, I just meant –"
"Ah, Kyou," a lilting masculine voice called from behind Yasuko. "Don't you know the first thing about complimenting a lady?"
Yasuko turned to the entrance to see a handsome man in a beige yukata walking toward her.
"Allow me to introduce myself, fair blossom." The man pulled himself to his full height and the air around him seemed to be suddenly filled with swirling orchid petals. "I am Shigure Sohma, cousin and guardian to young Yuki and Kyou here." His smile radiated light as the petals began to fall around him in slow motion. "And you must be Miss Yasuko Hiro, our honored guest for the evening. I am in your thrall."
Yasuko smiled as he took her hands gently in his own. She liked this Shigure. His joy was infectious. Behind her, though, Kyou was close to blowing his lid.
"Cut that out will ya?"
"Ah! Shigure! I should have known you would break my heart!"
Yasuko and Shigure turned to see the newcomer. Yasuko was surprised to see a beautiful man with long silver hair in a well-tailored long red coat sail into the room surrounded himself by small bursting sakura blossoms. Kyou dropped to his knees.
"Not you too!"
Yasuko turned to Shigure who became even more beautiful, if that was possible, and she wiggled her nose as an orchid petal swept past her eyes.
"Ayame, you know you will always have my love." Shigure lowered a dazzling smile on Yasuko. Slowly he reached up to the ribbon holding her hair in place and pulled the silk strand from her curls. Kyou gripped the doorframe, praying this would stop soon. "I must confess, though, that my heart has been captured by this ravishing creature."
Yasuko thoroughly enjoyed the insanity of the situation and decided to play along. Shyly she raised her eyes to meet Shigure's and gave her head a small shake, allowing her mocha curls to cascade freely down her back. The petals and sakura blossoms moved to give Yasuko room and a slight breeze came through the room to catch the delicate curls at her temple.
"Not you too!" Kyou repeated in dismay. Yuki and Tohru entered at that moment and were amazed at Yasuko's transformation.
"Alas, Shigure," Ayame moaned, holding his hand out toward the pair, his expression one of despair. "If I must lose you, at least it will be to true love."
Yasuko took a small step forward and touched her fingertips to Ayame's palm, her expression pleading.
"Indeed my flower, you are correct," Shigure sighed. "Our love could only be complete with Ayame." Ayame stepped forward with Yasuko's fingers clasped in his hand, his other resting against Shigure's cheek. "Tonight," Shigure continued. "We three shall explore new heights of love and new avenues will open for us all."
"Oh, God," Yuki moaned and dropped to his knees beside Kyou. Tohru went into a chibi state of shock as Yasuko gave an equally dazzling smile to each man. Kyou found himself spellbound as he watched the trio. Yasuko really fit right in with the two bishi men, their height accentuating her small, delicate frame. She was like the moon between to suns.
"Oh, my sweet!" Ayame cried. "At last Shigure and I have found that greater love than we alone could share!"
"We will be gentle, fair maiden," Shigure cooed as he bent his head to her.
"Tonight we shall introduce you to the world of romance and our touch and caress will gently teach you the art of love. For tonight will be the start of our lives together!"
"Ayame, behave yourself."
The spell was broken and the trio turned as one to meet the new arrival.
"Tori-san!" Ayame pouted. "I was just introducing myself."
"You'll frighten the poor girl," the man sighed. Yasuko grinned and stepped forward to bow hello.
"Not likely," Kyou ground out. "She's as crazy as they are."
"I like her," Shigure and Ayame shrugged in unison.
"You would," Yuki said coldly, glaring at the two men.
"I am Hatori Sohma," the new arrival said. Yasuko was quickly coming to realize that all Sohma men were attractive. This one had an almost emo sweep of hair over one eye, but it added to the somber attitude of the man. "That is Yuki's older brother, Ayame."
"I don't believe I've had the pleasure," Ayame stepped forward to clasp Yasuko's fingers once again. "But that will come all too soon tonight, my dove."
"Please Aya," Shigure smiled amidst a new explosion of orchid petals. "Not in front of the children."
"She's a kid, too!" Kyou exploded at last.
Yasuko threw her head back in silent laughter as Shigure and Ayame gave each other a chibi thumbs up. Yuki stepped forward to introduce their guest.
"Hatori, this is Yasuko Hiro, a classmate of ours. She's come to join us for supper. Will you be staying?" Yuki slid a dark glance to Ayame. Hatori nodded.
"I brought Haru and Momiji," he explained. "When Ayame heard we were coming for supper, he insisted on coming along."
"Couldn't you have said no?" Yuki and Kyou growled in unison. The air around each boy turned black and their faces were masked in ominous shadows.
"Come, come, Yuki!" Ayame pranced over, wrapping an arm around Yuki's shoulder. "Is that any way to treat your adoring older brother?"
As Yuki and Ayame began to bicker with Tohru trying to calm each of them down, Hatori sighed and motioned for Yasuko to follow him into the hall. Yasuko complied, and as Kyou watched her leave he wondered why he had never noticed before that she was pretty.
