Ayame was in the back when he heard the bell over his door ring. He sighed in frustration. He really should close for the day. Tohru was coming at 11. He closed his eyes and smiled. He had missed her so much. They all had. When she got hurt, it was as if the sun lost some of it's warmth. When she left, it dimmed even further. He wished Mine was here. She was visiting her mother in Kochi. She had cried when he told her over the phone that Tohru was back. She couldn't wait to get back and see her.
He made his way to the front of the store and looked at the young woman near the window. Her back was to him, so he studied her figure. She was thin, but with the right amount of curves. He immediately imagined her in layers of lace and silk. Or maybe a short kimono. Her hair was dark, and her skin was pale. Reds or pinks would work well.
Slowly she turned around and he plastered a smile on his face while glancing at the clock. Only 10:09, he sighed. The young woman smirked at him, noticing the glance at the wall. He wondered at the laughter in her eyes. She took a step forward and grinned widely. His forehead wrinkled as he regarded her. There was something about her…..
He almost fell on the floor. "Tohru?" He stared at the beautiful composed woman before him in shock. Then he lunged forward and picked her up in a tight hug. "Tohru!" She laughed as he twirled her around. He sat her back on her feet and held her at arms length.
"Oh my! You are all grown up now! When did this happen?" She slid back in for a quick hug and then sat down on the stool behind her. He pulled another one close and sat down. "My dear Tohru! You are utterly ravishing! Have you missed me? Of course you have!"
A bump to his leg made him almost jump. He watched as a huge mutt settled itself on the floor under the window in a patch of sunlight. He quirked one eye at her and she smiled again. He watched the sun warm back up.
"That's Ricky. I didn't dare leave him at the house by himself. Not until he gets used to the place, anyway. He doesn't like being alone." She settled in and looked around. "This place looks amazing, Ayame. You've expanded quite a bit. Is Mine here?"
He shook his head. "She is away at the moment. We are married now. Can you believe it? Me, married? But my delectable Mine would have it no other way! I told her you were here, and she is looking forward to seeing you." Tohru's eyes lit up and she grinned.
"At this moment she is probably planning several outfits for you." He gave her a mock leer and watched she throw her head back and laugh in delight. Shigure is right, he thought. She is much different that before. The old Tohru would have blushed and stammered.
She reached out and grabbed his hand. "I am so happy for you. I liked Mine a lot. And I too am looking forward to seeing her. So, tell what has been going on, besides you expanding your business and your household."
Ayame clapped his hands with delight. "Have you heard? Yuki and Machi are to be married soon! Oh wait until you see the exquisite tuxedo I have designed for my wonderful Yuki! And the wedding dress itself is an inspired creation!" Tohru smiled warmly as he went into raptures about lace and silk and pearl buttons. Ayame was still the flamboyant diva he had always been. She was grateful for that. Ayame had always had a special place in her heart. She has a different perspective on him than the others had. She had seen the fear of rejection in him and knew it mirrored her own fears. His fear was why he was so over the top, just a hers had made her strive to be perfectly polite and useful.
When he had finally wound down, she leaned over and pulled him into another hug. "I've missed you," she whispered. She pulled back and his eyes softened. "Now, how about I steal you away for some tea?"
Ayame stood and pulled her to her feet. "I have a better idea. How about ice cream?" She slid her arm through his and nodded. The bell over the door rang out as the door opened suddenly. Shigure stuck his head in and smiled.
"Ayame! You're a married man! Unhand my woman!" Kagura stood off to the side behind Shigure bouncing on her heels. Finally she shoved past him and ran at Tohru who found herself enveloped in a tight hug.
She smiled at the two men watching her with happy smiles and she hugged the young woman back. She could feel tears soaking into her blouse. She sighed and felt tears in her own eyes. She hadn't realized until her return how much she had missed them all.
Kagura sniffled and pulled back in embarrassment. "Oh! I'm sorry! I got your pretty top all wet and messy!"
Tohru refused to let her pull away completely. She pulled Kagura beside her and leaned on her a bit. "Doesn't matter. I'd rather have a messy shirt than miss out on a Kagura hug." She was delighted with Kagura's quick smile.
"Not a problem, dears. You are, after all, in the fabulous hands of the talented Ayame Sohma! I have the perfect solution!" Then he danced toward the back singing 'I get to dress up my favorite girls' over and over.
Kagura and Tohru looked at each other in dismay. Shigure smiled at the duo. He had high hopes, he knew. But he wanted Tohru back in the family more than just about anything.
30 minutes later Tohru was wearing a cherry red and white kimono and Kagura's was pale green and gold. The four of them walked down the street laughing and talking about old memories. They sat at one of the booths and tried to catch up on as much as possible in so short a time. Tohru felt that long forgotten feeling of contentment steal over her. She had liked her home in America. It had healed her. Her friend's there meant a great deal to her. But this was home. This was where she belonged. She looked at Shigure, Ayame and Kagura. She thought about Hatori, Momiji, Kyo and Haru. They were her family. At 11:30, they paid, well Ayame paid, saying it was his pleasure, and began the walk back to the shop. She wanted to change back into her clothes before the driver arrived from the main house. Ayame insisted she keep the dress.
She hugged him and said thank you. Kagura announced she wasn't offering hers back, making Ayame roll his eyes and call her heartless. She said her goodbyes, and made him promise to let her know when Mine was back so she could visit with her as the car pulled up in front. Shigure offered to drive her himself, but Kagura was due back at college and besides he had to pick up some groceries. Instead she let him take Ricky with him. He was almost giddy with the chance to play with the dog.
She relaxed in the back seat as the car pulled away. She was beginning to feel a bit nervous now. She and Akito had a trouble past. Only there towards the end had they connected. And then after her accident there was a new and different gulf between them. But Akito had called her after demanding her phone number from Shigure. She had asked her to visit when she got back to Japan. Tohru had not been able to resist, hearing the plea in Akito's voice. She hoped it went well. The curse was gone, but Akito was still head of the household. Tohru thought about Hatori. She smiled softly. Well, if it was awkward, she could always just go see him.
A maid waited for her at the main gate. She followed the servant through the house until they came to an ornate door. It wasn't the room she had visited before. The maid knocked and opened the door silently. Tohru nodded her thanks and walked in slowly. Akito stood by an open screen. She was wearing a pale green dress that made she seem feminine and soft.
She walked forward and met Tohru in the middle of the room. Tohru bit her bottom lip and watched her closely. Akito smiled at that little display of nerves. She reached out and took Tohru's hand in hers and stared down at them.
"Do you remember that day on the cliff?" she asked. Tohru nodded sadly.
"Do you remember what you said to me?" Akito asked.
Tohru nodded again, a slight upturn of her lips. "I said that our first meeting had not been good, and we should start over again. I asked you to be my friend."
"It's about time we started that friendship isn't it?" Akito asked in a tiny voice. She looked at the woman before her, afraid of rejection, but determined to try.
Tohru reached out and clasped Akito's other hand and smiled. "Can you forgive me for keeping you waiting so long?"
Akito felt tears well up in her eyes. She noticed Kureno behind them smiling warmly at them. She was grateful for his love and support. She nodded at Tohru and she felt herself pulled into a gentle hug. Tears spilled down her face. Finally her family was complete. Tohru had come home.
He was sitting at his desk staring at a framed picture. He kept in in the locked bottom drawer usually. He had stolen it from Shigure's office years ago. Tohru, Kyo, Yuki and Momiji at the hot spring. Gently he traced his thumb over her face. Whenever he took it out and stared at her, he would feel that tug again. Not today though. He looked at her and felt only happiness that he had known her. The image of Tohru from this morning rose up in his mind and he felt his pulse speed up. He smiled. The old love he had felt was gone. Now he felt a new love, the love of one adult for another. No guilt, no feelings of perversion. Just the beginnings of a real love.
He looked at the clock and sighed. It was almost 5pm. She must have gotten a ride home. He should get ready for the dinner soon. He wondered what she was doing, and if Kyo was still with her. He clenched his fist at the thought. She had loved the cat once. Would she fall for him again, he wondered.
There was a short rap of knuckles on his door and he called out for them to enter. It was probably his nurse getting ready to leave for the day. He slid the picture back into the drawer as the door opened. He picked up some files to hand her and spun around.
She was looking at his bookshelves. Slowly she walked around the room taking it all in. She moved smoothly, gracefully. He watched the way her hips swayed and the bounce of short tresses around her ears.
She turned to him and smiled. "How was your day?"
He grinned back at her and stood. "Fine. I thought you would have left by now."
She shook her head. "Akito and I walked all over the estate with Kureno." She chuckled, almost making him groan. "You know, I don't think even the American FBI could interrogate as well as she could." Tohru sat down on the sofa and patted the space beside her. He walked over and sat down. She turned sideways, tucking a foot under her.
"I don't think there is a single thing about me or my life that she doesn't know now, but dammed if I can remember everything we spoke of." His eyes widened at her curse but she didn't seem to notice. She was looking at his shirt and frowning. She reached out and touched a spot of blood on his arm. "Ha'ri, are you hurt?" She looked at him with worry and he felt the urge to hug her.
"No, one of the gardeners cut his arm and I had to stitch it up. He'll have to rest for a few days, but I promise it's not my blood." The relief in her eyes touched him deeply. Not even back a week yet, and already he was about to burst.
"So, did you come by to con that ride?" he asked with a smile. She surprised him by shaking her head and leaning forward to butt her head on his shoulder.
"No, I came by because I don't think I want to leave yet. Tonight is that dinner party, but I'm not up to going there yet. Between Kyo, Ayame, Kagura, Kureno and Akito I'm a bit wiped out. Besides, Shigure said something about hurrying back before the house was destroyed. And from the message on Akito's machine, I have a feeling that it's Kyo and Haru he was referring to."
He thought about slipping his arm around her but wasn't sure if it would make her uncomfortable. So when she turned and slid up against him he felt relieved. Her leg aligned with his and she tucked herself against his side. He pulled her close and held her. Her warmth seeped into him and he relished it. They sat there for a long time before she finally sighed and straightened up. He looked at his clock. It was almost 6.
Slowly she stood and stretched. "Okay," she smiled. "Take me to them. No sense putting it off any longer. Besides, Ricky has been in Shigure's company for far too long. Who knows what that man has taught my poor impressionable puppy."
Hatori snorted. "That thing is a not a puppy. More like a small shaggy mountain."
Tohru stuck her tongue out at him and walked to the door. He smiled wistfully as he followed her out. He had never just sat with someone before, not speaking. It was peaceful and refreshing. Then again, it was Tohru. He was starting to think everything she did was refreshing.
The drive to Shigure's house went by too quickly for him. She had spent the trip humming a soft tune. There were several cars in at the house. He recognized Yuki, Rin, Ritsu, Ayame and Kyo's vehicles. He couldn't help but notice that they had parked around her car as if to fence her in. He opened her door and she stood up slowly. Her hand gripped his tightly.
"I don't suppose I could sneak past them to my room, huh?"
Before he could talk himself out of it, he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. "Don't worry," he murmured into her hair. "They just missed you. They want to welcome you home."
She clung to him for a moment and then nodded against his chest. She stepped back and he shuddered at the loss of her heat. She squared her shoulders and nodded. "Right. Let's do this."
He felt his breath catch in his throat. She was marvelous. She was wary of facing such a large crowd, but she gathered her poise and held her head high.
He was nursing some saki when Kazuma walked up. "She's changed more than I suspected," the sensei said. "Not so easily flustered anymore." Hatori heard the approval in his voice and silently agreed with him. He saw her smile with amusement at Ritsu who kept trying to apologize for something. Finally she placed a drink in Ritsu's hand and patted him on the shoulder.
"She's still kind, but now it is tempered by experience," the silver haired man said. "I have to admit, I was worried when Shigure told us she was coming back." Hatori looked at him inquiringly.
Kazuma looked around the room and then nodded toward the open door. They stepped outside and walked a few feet across the yard. Kazuma turned back to the house and Hatori followed his eyes. Kyo had cornered her near the stairs. Hatori wanted to drag her away from the young man.
"You loved her before."
He turned to Kazuma in shock. "Yes, I knew. Just as I knew Momiji, Kyo and Shigure loved her also. Everyone did to some degree, but you four loved her as more than a friend." Hatori started to speak, but Kazuma held up a hand. "I am not judging. She was easy to love. She inspired us all to love. But the girl she was would have been destroyed by that. Having to chose between you all would have hurt her very deeply."
They watched her turn away from an angry Kyo and move to where Rin was standing. Even from this distance they could see the way the two girls were delighted to see each other.
"I suspect that the woman she is now will not have that problem. She is not bogged down by the need to please everyone. She is confident in who she is. Besides, she may never face that choice. Shigure loves her, but it is the love of close friends now. She is family to him now. Momiji and Kyo look at her as if she is still that little girl. They are clinging to the past." Kazuma looked at him closely.
"You still love her. But I think you see the real Tohru. You see the woman she is now. I wish you luck winning her heart, my friend. You deserve to be happy."
Hatori smiled at his friend. "Only three days in her company and I am already in love with her. No, I see little of the old Tohru in her. She is grown up. She is fascinating. I spent an hour with her earlier in my office. We sat on the couch. That's it. We sat there without conversation and it was peaceful. I've never done that before. Just resting in each others company. I won't lie and say having her in my arms is not appealing, but just having her beside me made me content."
Kazuma nodded approvingly. They heard a door slam nearby and watched Kyo storm across the yard. He jumped into his car and peeled out. "By the way," the sensei murmured, "Can I get a ride home?" Hatori nodded with laughter and they walked back to the house.
It was close to midnight when the last guests, Rin and Kagura, finally left. Shigure, Ayame, Hatori and Kazuma gathered up empty glasses and took them to the kitchen where Tohru was washing up dishes.
Shigure gave her a mock frown. "You are not the little wife anymore, Ru. You don't have to clean up." She winked at the nickname and flicked water at him from her fingers and laughed.
""I refuse to wake up in the morning without a clean cup for my coffee." She grabbed the last of the glasses from them and shooed them onto the porch. Hatori and Shigure lit up cigarettes and they all looked up at the stars. Before long Tohru joined them. She held 5 wine glasses and bottle.
They all took a glass and watched her open the bottle. "This is my favorite wine. I had a hell of a time getting it through customs intact and I can't think of any one else I would rather share it with, than my 4 favorite men." Ricky slunk up onto the porch to lay at her feet. "Make that 5."
After she had poured them each a glass, she sat down on the porch and leaned back on her elbows. Kazuma sat down beside her and absently petted the dog. Hatori placed his back to a wooden beam and stretched his legs behind her. Ayame and Shigure settled into chairs.
"Tell us about your life these past 3 years," Kazuma encouraged. She smiled softly as she watched the trees sway in the breeze.
"I was lost here. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. Do you remember when Hiro slapped me, Ha'ri?" He nodded. "That was the day I decided I had to leave. Because it didn't matter. I didn't care that he was upset. So I called my uncle. My mom's only brother. He lives in California. He was so happy to have me stay with him. He bought my plane ticket, even. He lived alone except for Booboo, his chow. She's Ricky's mom. He has a girlfriend, Ellen who gave me a job in her boutique. Very upscale, and classy. I had to learn quickly to deal with very demanding people." Her eyes slid to Shigure mischievously. "Not that I didn't already have some experience with that." Shigure pouted at her but she only smiled.
She sipped her wine. "It was okay, but it wasn't until I met Graham that things started to click for me." Hatori wasn't sure he wanted to know this. The thought of her with a man was like acid. "I convinced him to take me on as his apprentice. He was crotchety, loud, grouchy and demanding, but he saw the emptiness in me and knew that I needed his help." Hatori watched her eyes turn inwards, remembering. "He didn't make it easy though. He made me earn that apprenticeship. I don't think I've ever worked harder in my life than I did those first few months. After that, once he saw I was going to stick with it, it got easier."
"So, seven days a week I would make appointments, clean the shop and equipment, place orders for supplies, ran errands, made coffee and sooth ruffled feathers at his parlor."
"Parlor?" Ayame smirked. She turned to look at him. She replayed her words and smiled mischievously. Trust Ayame to think naughty.
"Tattoo parlor," she laughed. "Graham owned a fairly large tattoo shop. It's a great place. There are 4 other artists besides him, and they are all very good at what they do."
"Is that where you got yours?" Hatori asked. She nodded.
"Wait! You have a tattoo?!" Shigure exclaimed. "Why has Hatori seen it and I haven't?"
She laughed and leaned over her knees. Hatori tugged down the collar of her top to expose it. He felt her slight shudder as his fingers trailed over her skin and he grinned. Ayame complained because the snake was so tiny, while Shigure bemoaned the fact his 'little flower' had marred her skin by placing the cat on it. Kazuma only nodded in appreciation of the art.
After they had all looked at it, she leaned back again. "Graham helped me pull myself together. He had went through something himself as a soldier in Vietnam so he understood. After a year of apprenticeship, he made me manager. More responsibility, better pay, bigger headaches." She laughed softly. "God, I loved it. I was making my own life. I had a few good friends, a loving uncle, a rambunctious puppy, and a purpose. I worked from 10am until after midnight 6 days a week. It was fabulous! I met so many wonderful people. Skaters, cops, actors, politicians, moms and students. And the guys at the shop were fun. Brandon specializes in portraits. Carlton is an awesome black and white artist. Mel is the go-to guy for realistic tattoos. And Mike can do a little of everything but he especially loves memorial pieces. He should have been a therapist, because his favorite part of the job is hearing people's stories. He's the one who did mine."
Tohru sighed softly and finished her wine. "I found myself, there in that shop. I discovered who I was and who I wanted to be. Up until then I had spent my life trying to please those around me, thinking that if I was kind enough, nice enough, useful enough, then I wouldn't be alone. No one would leave me again. The accident here changed me. It was so hard to connect with any of you anymore. Out there I learned to connect with me. It took a long time, a lot of tears and frustration, but I did it. I figured out how to be happy with myself. Graham guided me. He never made it easy for me, but he helped me along. He understood loneliness. His wife had died when she was in her forties. He never stopped loving her, even after 20 years."
She laid down on Hatori's legs and closed her eyes. They watched in silence as her face turned sad. A single tear rolled into her hair. "When Graham died 6 months ago, I found out he had left everything but the shop to me. The shop was split between the other artists. They asked me to stay on and I did for a while. But it wasn't the same. I was restless. I had been getting that way for months before he got sick, but I couldn't leave Graham when he needed someone. He took care of me, and I took care of him. Tit for tat, as he always said. Besides the small house he lived in there were some stocks and his insurance. The only thing I really wanted, though was his memory. So, I sold his house, closed up any loose ends, and began making plans." She opened her eyes and smiled up at Shigure. "I called Shigure and the rest you already know."
After a few minutes Ayame laughed and nudged her shoulder with his foot. "You didn't mention any special gentlemen. Tell the truth. You've been pining for me haven't you my dear. You'll have to fight Mine, but I am resigned to that. I shall gracefully submit to the victor."
She giggled softly. "I dated a bit, but no one seriously. Everyone I met was either too childish or too boring. There's only so many times I could listen to tales of surfing the perfect wave, or watch a guy chug beer before I found myself yearning for a good book and quiet."
Hatori felt a weight fall off his shoulders. There was no one she was serious about. He frowned a bit. "What about the guy who called you earlier. It seemed like you were pretty serious about that Brandon."
She stared at him with wide eyes for a moment and then she started laughing. Everyone watched in awe as she laughed until tears poured down her face and she clutched at her ribs. Finally she sat up gasping for breath.
"I'm sorry," she managed to say between deep breaths. "Taylor and Brandon are a couple. Taylor wants to get married and Brandon doesn't. I'm kinda stuck in the middle as a referee. The thought of me and Brandon is just so….." she started laughing again and almost rolled off the porch. Hatori grabbed her up and settled her beside his legs with a huge smile.
After a few minutes, she regained control of herself and stood up. She gathered her glass and the bottle and smiled at them all. "Enough for tonight, guys. I'm tired and I plan on going out dancing with Uo and Hana tomorrow night." She went and kissed each one on the cheek and went inside. A low whistle woke up the dog who looked around quickly. They watched him scramble to his feet and take off up the stairs.
Then Hatori saw them all turn to him. He didn't trust the smirks on their faces. "Whatever you three are thinking, just stop it. Don't interfere. This is too important to me. Let me do things in my own way, in my own time." He stood and motioned to the car. "Let's go Kazuma."
Ayame and Shigure smiled as the car pulled away. "He is hopelessly in love with her, isn't he," Ayame asked.
Shigure nodded. He looked up as the light in Tohru's room turned on. "Let's just hope she comes to love him too."