Black, White, Gray
Previously: Upon arriving at school, a discussion began that ended with everyone being invited to Shigure's for dinner.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket. Fruits basket is the property of Natsuki Takaya.
Chapter 2: Dinner
After school, Tohru went to work just like she said she had to. While she worked, she kept the thinking about dinner for the next day and how fun it would be for everyone to come. She decided that she would make a stew. She considered making a leek stew, but she knew that it wouldn't bode well with Kyo. After work, Yuki was waiting for her and they walked home together. Tohru was so excited for the following day that she almost overcooked the dinner that night because she wasn't giving it her full attention. Of course, Tohru's meal turned out fine and everyone enjoyed the meal.
The next day after school, everyone met by the gates. When Tohru, Yuki, and Kyo approached, Uo asked Tohru a question.
"So when should we come over?" Uo asked.
"Well I have to go shopping for all the ingredients so how about in an hour. Then we can play some games while dinner is cooking." Tohru said happily.
"Tohru, can I come shopping with you?" Momiji asked.
"You'll get in her way Momiji." Kyo stated.
"No he won't Kyo. Of course you can come shopping with me." Tohru told Momiji.
"Yay! Can Haru come too?" Momiji asked.
"Of course Momiji." Tohru answered. When the discussion about the shopping was over, Tohru, Hatsuharu, and Momiji went to the store. Tohru got the shopping done as fast as possible and had it done in a half an hour. After paying for everything, Tohru went to pick up the bags, but was stopped by Hatsuharu.
"Let me carry them." he said plainly and started picking up the bags.
"But I can carry them Hatsuharu, you don't have to ." Tohru said. As always, she didn't want to burden someone else with one of her self-appointed tasks.
"It's okay. I came anyway so I might as well help. You don't have to worry." Hatsuharu replied. He soon had most of the bags.
"You can carry those two." He added when he saw her about to say something else. She looked slightly defeated but soon she resumed smiling like she always did. Momiji watched the interaction and smiled to himself. He was happy that he had gotten Hatsuharu to come.
"Tohru I can carry those!" he said after their interaction was over.
"But I have to do something." Tohru said and started to go into panic mode again. "I am supposed to do chores like carrying the groceries." Tohru said.
"But I can carry them Tohru. I am just as strong as Haru, let me prove it!" Momiji said, making it seem like if she let him carry the bags, that she was actually making him feel better.
"Okay Momiji." She said and she let him carry the bags. They walked to Shigure's house and as they arrived they heard screaming. They entered the house to see the source of the screaming.
"Why didn't you invite me to dinner Kyo!?" Kagura asked while swinging Kyo around.
"I didn't want to invite you. Why are you here? It's rude to just show up at someone else's house you know." Kyo countered. Kagura let him go, causing him to fall to the ground with a thud. She started to tear up.
"I just wanted to see you Kyo." She said. Tohru took the opportunity to speak up.
"Hi Kagura. I'm sorry you weren't invited, but you can stay for dinner. I am making plenty of food for everyone." Tohru said in her upbeat tone.
"Do you hear that Kyo? Tohru invited me to dinner. Now I can stay here with you!" she shouted and went and picked Kyo up in a bear- or rather boar- hug. Tohru looked antsy because she didn't know what to do.
"Just leave them be Miss. Honda. She won't hurt him too badly." Yuki said as he entered the room. He then looked at Hatsuharu and Momiji.
"I see you did get a lot of food, what are we having?" he asked. Tohru lead Hatsuharu and Momiji to the kitchen where they set everything on the counter. Yuki followed as well to hear the answer to his question.
"We are having beef stew and rice." Tohru answered as she took out a pot and set up the rice cooker.
"That sounds delicious Tohru!" Momiji said in his always loud and upbeat tone.
"Whatever Tohru makes is bound to be delicious." Shigure announced as he walked into the kitchen. Tohru blushed at his comment.
"So Tohru, when are the others arriving?" Shigure asked.
"Hana and Uo should be here soon. I am not quite sure about the others." she said.
"Kisa and Hiro will be here soon as well. I also invited Rin." Kagura supplied the answer as she left the beaten up Kyo in the living room.
"That's a nice surprise. It's a good thing that I got extra ingredients." Tohru stated as she added ingredients to the pot.
"It shouldn't matter Tohru, I don't think she will actually come." Hatsuharu said. Everyone but Tohru, who didn't know the full story, shot a sympathetic look towards Hatsuharu. They had been getting along better since Akito had started to be a little less harsh, but they still weren't back together. They spoke to each other every once in a while but Rin normally avoided Hatsuharu. A knock at the door broke the silence.
"I'll get it." Tohru said and quickly went to the door. She opened it to see Kisa, Hiro, and Rin, who was standing off to the side a little bit.
"Sissy!" Kisa shouted and hugged Tohru.
"Hi Kisa." Tohru said with a smile and hugged her back. Kisa then stood next to Hiro again.
"So when is dinner going to be ready, I'm starving. I came for dinner with Kisa" Hiro said.
"Don't talk to Tohru like that!" Kyo shouted at Hiro.
"No, it's okay. He did come for dinner. Sorry but I just started it, but I can get you some snacks." Tohru told Hiro.
"Well I guess that's okay." Hiro said and he and Kisa entered the house. Tohru turned her attention to Rin who hadn't entered yet.
"Hi Rin, you can come in too." Tohru said cheerfully.
"Thanks." Rin said quietly and entered. When she entered the house and Tohru shut the door, the idle conversation in the kitchen stopped. Everyone looked at Ren.
"Hi Rin, you actually came." Hatsuharu said.
"Hi Haru. I came because Kagura asked me to come and then Kisa begged." Rin retorted.
"Uh, I'll get some snacks for everyone. You can all wait in the living room if you want." Tohru said and reentered the kitchen.
"Do you need any help Tohru?" Momiji asked.
"No. I couldn't ask for any help after you and Hatsuharu carried the shopping bags." Tohru answered. She was quickly getting snacks out of cupboards and putting them on plates.
"Well i can at least take the snacks so you can get dinner ready. You have to make a lot of food still." Momiji pointed out.
"I guess that's okay. Thank you Momiji" Tohru said.
"I'll help too; there are a lot of snacks." Haru added. He and Momiji grabbed the snacks and lead everyone to the table. Rin and Haru sat at opposite ends of the table so they could be farthest from each other. No one bothered to comment on it. Eventually, Shigure started another conversation. Tohru continued making the dinner. The stew had to simmer for a while so she joined the other.
"When is that Yankee going to be here? I still have to beat her in Rich Man Poor Man before dinner." Kyo said.
"Yankee?" Hiro asked.
"Oh yes Tohru's friends are coming over as well." Shigure stated.
"Uo and Hana should be here soon Kyo. I'll go get the cards." Tohru said and got up to go find the cards. She came back a few moments later.
"One of your friends is a Yankee?" Hiro asked.
"Well she used to be in a gang, but she is really nice. Hana is too." Tohru told Hiro.
"Is everything going to be alright if two girls come over? What about the curse?" Kagura asked.
"Oh no I forgot! I'm so sorry." Tohru apologized.
"Geez it seems rather obvious." Hiro said.
"Don't be so mean to Sissy." Kisa said and looked at Hiro. He sighed.
"Sorry." He said quickly.
"It's okay, it is my fault. Maybe all the boys could stay farther away from them? We have to spread out to eat because the table isn't big enough anyway." Tohru suggested.
"That should work fine Miss Honda." Yuki said. With that issue covered, another conversation started. After ten minutes, Tohru went to check on the food. When she left the kitchen, there was a knock at the door. Tohru quickly answered it.
"Hey Tohru." Uo said.
"Hi. You can both come in." Tohru said and stepped away from the door. Uo and Hana entered and stood next to Tohru.
"I sense new waves. Are there many other people here Tohru?" Hana inquired.
"Yes there are." Tohru said and lead them to the living room. Everyone had already rearranged so the boys were further from where they left seats for Tohru's friends. Tohru introduced Hana and Uo to the people they didn't know.
"Dinner should be done in about fifteen minutes. I'm sorry for the wait." Tohru said.
"It's okay. You are making a lot of food." Uo said. Tohru smiled at her.
"Yes but that just means we have a lot of people here and you both get to meet some of my other friends." Tohru said to Uo and Hana. She went to start the rice and they went into the living room. While Tohru finished up dinner, everyone got acquainted. There was then another knock at the door. Tohru went to the door and saw that Ayame had already let himself in.
"Hi Ayame, are you here for dinner too?" Tohru asked.
"Yes I am, Shigure invited me." Ayame said.
"It will be done in about fifteen minutes." Tohru said in her cheery tone.
"Okay." Ayame said. He then went into the living room. He had already met Hana and Uo when designing costumes for the school so there were no introductions needed. After a small dispute between Yuki and Ayame, peaceful conversation resumed.
"Dinner is done, but I need some help." Tohru called. Yuki got up and went to the kitchen. All the food was on plates on the counter.
"I'm sorry to ask, but there are so many plates so I need some help." Tohru said. She looked slightly ashamed that she bothered Yuki.
"There is no problem Miss Honda. The faster we get everyone their food, the quicker we can begin eating the meal." Yuki said. He picked up a few dishes and followed Tohru into the dining room. They set the plates on the table. After figuring out that Tohru had needed help with the plates, Kyo helped as well and soon everyone had a plate of food. As they were all about to eat, another knock came at the door.
"Did someone invite anyone else?" Tohru asked. Everyone said know. Tohru got up from her seat and went and answered the door and was greeted with a few surprising visitors.
Author's Note: Thank you to everyone reading this. I know a lot happened in this chapter and most of it may not make sense but the next chapter will offer some explanation. I hope you like the small interaction at the grocery store. I know I haven't written a lot about a relationship starting yet but I will get there. I also brought Rin into the picture. Thank you to everyone who reviewed. I hope all of you continue to read.