Hey everyone! Thanks so much for the awesome reviews. You're making me so
happy! (Toru moment, heh heh.) Keep sending me ideas; you have some really
good ones. So, what do you think; will someone confess their love in this
chap? You'll have to read and find out! HEE HEE ^_^;;
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It was a rainy yet peaceful Sunday morning at Shigure's house that day. The raindrops made soft patting sounds as they hit, the gray sky a soothing change from the harsh sun that usually shined, the cool wind blowing the water in standing puddles.
Toru was in the kitchen that morning, by herself, making some cookies. Today was the one-year anniversary of her first meeting with the Sohma family. She smiled as she pulled out the pan from the oven. She had grown to love them all so much since then, and the growing of her love would never stop.
"I wonder if any of the others know that this is the one year anniversary of our meeting?" she thought as she winced at the pain of the hot pan touching her finger. She had planned on bringing a batch of cookies to the main Sohma house for Hatori, Momiji, and Kisa, and Akito.
"Hmm, Akito. I haven't seen him since we bumped into each other at school that one day. I wonder if he's all right. Well, I guess with Hatori there I don't have anything to worry about." She thought. She put the cookies out on a plate to cool.
"Mmmm, Toru! What is that glorious smell?" Came Shigure's voice from his study in the next room. The tall man came into the kitchen with a big grin on his face.
"Oh, I made some cookies for everyone. Today is the one-year anniversary of my meeting the Sohma family and I wanted to do something special." Said Toru
"Those are the most delicious smelling cookies I've ever . . ." Said Shigure as he gazed at the pile of cooling cookies on the table. "Would it be all right if I had one?" A childish grin spread across his face.
"Of course, they are for you. Well you and everyone else in the Sohma family. I guess you could call it a thank you for all of the kindness you've shown me." Said Toru as she watched Shigure take a cookie and eat it in one bite.
"Mmmmm, this is, by far, the best cookie I've ever tasted!" Said Shigure. "So, today is the one-year anniversary of the day we met you. It's like it was just yesterday you came up to our porch to look at those little zodiac animals I had painted." Shigure sat down at the table and began to tell the story out loud to himself as Toru started another batch of cookies and slid them into the oven, then sat down with Shigure at the table.
"Yes, I remember that. That was when I was still living in that tent." Said Toru with a laugh. "You and Yuki really took me under your wing and trusted me when I found out about your secret. I'm still so very grateful that you still trust me with it."
"Miss Honda, what is that wonderful smell?" said Yuki as he came into the kitchen.
"Coofees! Ant un?" said Shigure; his mouth was full of cookie. He held the plate of cookies up to Yuki.
"What's the occasion?" Asked Yuki as he sat down next to Toru.
"Today is the one-year anniversary of the day I met you and Shigure and Kyo. I just wanted to do something special. I was going to take some of these cookies over to Sohma house too for Hatori, Kisa, Momiji, and Akito, but it's raining today." Said Toru.
Yuki winced slightly at the name of Akito, then smiled at Toru. She always had the sweetest, most selfless ideas. Yuki took a cookie and ate it slowly in small bites.
"Miss Honda, this is some of your best cooking. I think, if it stops raining, I'll walk you over to Sohma house to deliver those cookies." Said Yuki sweetly as he brushed his hands off on a napkin.
"Thank you Yuki. It'll be nice to have company on the way." Said Toru. The timer rang and Toru ran from the table to pull out the fresh pan of cookies. The warm, sweet smell wafted through the house and filled their noses with the smell of Toru's love.
Yuki didn't particularly want to go to Sohma house. Seeing Akito, bringing back old memories of painful days made him feel weak at the knees, but he was doing this for Toru. He found that he would do anything for that girl.
Yuki looked over at Shigure who was still munching on a cookie, his sixth. Yuki rolled his eyes, and they fell on Kyo, who was standing in the doorway.
"What's going on? What's that smell?" asked Kyo. Shigure quickly spoke up, his mouth still full of cookie.
"Oru ade coofies or uh un ear anifthary. Ant thome?" he said, a bright-eyed puppy look on his face, crumbs on his face. Kyo gave him a disgusted look, and turned to Yuki for an understandable explanation.
"Miss Honda made cookies for the one year anniversary of her meeting us." Said Yuki.
"One year huh? Has it really been that long?" thought Kyo out loud. He peeped his head in the doorway of the kitchen to see how Toru was doing. She was busily scooping out dough and putting it into neat little balls on a pan.
"Why do I care for her so much? Is it because she's such a nice person, or is it that I truly do love her? What the hell am I thinking? I can't love anyone, I'm just not that kind of person." Thought Kyo as he watched her work. Then the words of Shigure came from long ago, almost a year ago to that day, came into his head.
"One day your going to find someone who truly wants to be your friend, that's when that you'll find what it's like to be loved."
"That damn Shigure is a total nutcase, but he does say some wise things when he want s to." Thought Kyo. Toru had finished putting the next pan of cookies in the oven and was now coming out of the kitchen.
"Aww hell! Gotta hide." Thought Kyo "Wait, why do I gotta hide. I'm such an idiot!" Kyo just stood there, trying to look natural.
"Hi Kyo, want a cookie? I made them for everyone." Said Toru as she came out, the red cloth at the top of the door brushing her beautiful brown hair. Kyo blushed, then nodded clumsily.
"Yeah, I'll be there in a second." He said. He did love Toru, He couldn't make himself ignore it any more, but how the hell was he going to tell her. He couldn't even apologize to her without tripping over his words. How was he going to tell her he loved her, what's worse, he knew Yuki had feelings for her too. What if he beat him to it, what if Toru would rather have Yuki's love instead of his!" Kyos mind rushed as his heart pounded in his chest.
**********
The rain had stopped later that afternoon and, as he promised, Yuki and Toru were walking down the gravel path towards the inner walls of the Sohma property, where the zodiac members dwelled. Yuki was slightly uneasy. Just as long as he didn't have to see Akito for that long he would be fine, and having Toru there made him feel a little better. The sweet smelling, cool, after-rain breeze blew their hair as they walked, pushing them foreword, and bringing the smell of those delicious cookies out of the paper bag that Toru was holding.
When they reached the large gate Yuki opened it for Toru and they both walked in cautiously, hoping that they wouldn't get into trouble for coming uninvited. Yuki led Toru to Hatori's house. It was slightly friendlier looking than the last time Toru had been there. The last time she had come she was afraid out of her mind that she would have to loose her memories, but now, now that she knew more about Hatori and his life she could look at him and feel not fear, but mercy and maybe even love.
Yuki knocked on the door and they waited. The door was opened a few second later by Hatori. When he saw Toru a small smile forced itself onto his face, but only a small one.
"Hello Miss Toru, and Yuki. Please come in." He said as he opened the door wider to let them in.
"Thank you Hatori, we brought cookies for everyone." Said Toru.
"Now why would you do that?" Asked Hatori sweetly.
"Today is the one-year anniversary of the day the Sohmas came into my life and I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for welcoming me into you midst." Said Toru with a small bow.
"Thank you very much." Said Hatori.
"Do you know where Momiji and Kisa and Hatsuharu are? We need to give them theirs too, and Akito." Said Toru. At this, Hatori and Yuki's expressions got very serious.
They were both very unsure about the prospect of Toru with Akito. To be frank, they just didn't trust him around her, but they both also knew that kindness had to be showed to everyone, even Akito.
"Momiji is somewhere around here, but Hatsuharu and Kisa are in the house next door, Hatsuharu's house. Akito is where he always is, the main house. Yuki knows where it is." Said Hatori, and air of sadness in his voice.
"Is something wrong?" Asked Toru.
"The one year anniversary of your meeting our family isn't the only anniversary that falls on this day. Lets just leave it at that, shall we." Said Hatori, a wavering breath following his sentence. Toru understood and felt a rush of sadness run through her too.
She just wanted to give Hatori a big, comforting hug, but knew better. That was the worst part about living with the Sohmas. It they ever needed comforting, she had to settle for words. She dearly wished with all her heart to be able to hug her friends, just once.
"Thank you." said Toru softly. She and Yuki walked out the door.
"We'll see you later Hatori." Said Yuki. Toru was trying too hard not to cry to look back at Hatori or even say anything. Hatori watched them go, holding his bag of fresh cookies. He took one out and ate it. He smiled, a tear rolling down from his blind eye. He loved Toru, just as he loved Kana. But Kana had left, left exactly seven years ago, but he knew that Toru Honda was here to stay.
**********
"Here we are. It's the last stop." Said Yuki as the two of them looked on at the house that stood before them. It was the main house, where Akito dwelled.
"Come on, before the cookies get cold!" Said Toru with a smile as she grabbed Yuki by he wrist and pulled him up to the door and knocked. The knock echoed through the hollow halls inside the building, then a servant came to the door.
"May I help you?" said the servant, and then she saw Yuki. "Oh, master Yuki. Do you wish to see Lord Akito?" Yuki nodded. The servant woman opened the door and led them through the house to a large room in the middle of the house. She knocked at the door.
"Who's there?" Came Akito's voice from inside.
"Visitors Lord Akito. It's master Yuki and another." Said the woman
"Let them in!" Came the voice, a little less annoyed at the disturbance when Yuki's name was mentioned. The woman opened the door for Toru and Yuki then, and left them alone with Akito.
"Yuki, and Miss Honda! What a pleasant surprise." He said in his usual cryptic voice. It made Yuki feel even more uncomfortable, and even more protective of Toru then he was already.
"We brought some cookies for you. I know it might seem a little silly, coming all the way here just to give you some cookies, but I really wanted to thank you for all you've done for me." Said Toru, offering the paper bag to Akito. Akito smirked as he glances at Yuki out of the corner of his eye. Yuki was staring at Akito, watching his every move as he walked towards Toru to receive the bag.
"Miss Toru Honda. You are very thoughtful. I thank you." Said Akito, his pale hand reaching out for the bag, and touching Toru's hand as he took it. Toru blushed as Akito took her hand. Yuki, standing by the door they came in through, clenched his fists.
Akito lightly kissed Toru's hand and looked into her eyes. "I, once again, thank you, but I find it hard to believe that these sweets are the only reason you came here." He said with a sideways glance at Yuki once again.
"That bastard is only doing this because he knows it makes me mad!" Thought Yuki as he felt his heartbeat race. He grit his teeth to keep from getting angry.
"And Yuki, its been a very long time since I've seen you as well." Said Akito, walking over to Yuki and putting a hand on his shoulder. At the touch a surge of fear ran down Yuki's spine. He was still afraid of Akito, of the power he still had over their lives. He looked at Toru. She was still standing there where Akito had left her, her bright eyes lighting up the otherwise dark room.
"Akito, I . . ." started Yuki
"You haven't come to see me in a long time. New years is only a few months away though. I hope you won't decide to stay home again, or I might have to get vary angry. You know what I mean, don't you Yuki?" Said Akito, removing his hand and turning to Toru. "I thank you for the cookies. I'm sure they will be most delicious. Also, miss Honda, considering how you have become almost a member of our family, I would like to invite you to our new years banquet this year. I hope you'll attend." Said Akito. "I'm sure I'll see you again." He walked back to his sofa by the window and took out a cookie and began to break it into small pieces. Yuki went over to Toru, grabbed her wrist, and they left the room, the house, and the gate. When they had gotten out of Sohma House Yuki breathed a sigh of relief. He hated it there. Toru was silently walking next to Yuki, looking at the ground.
"Miss Honda? Is everything all right?" Asker Yuki.
"He looked so pale, so lonely. I wonder if that's what he does all the time, every day. I know he's sick a lot, but staying in a house like that every day seems like what would make a person sick." Said Toru. Yuki blinked and looked at the sky. He had been rather sickly when he lived at Sohma House, just as sickly and pale as Akito, but when Toru came into his life, he got sick less and less. What a wonderful friend he had in Toru.
"Miss Honda?"
"Yes Yuki?"
"I have been wanting to tell you something very important." Yuki said. Toru looked up at him, her giant blue eyes sparkling in the new sun as it came out from behind an empty rain cloud.
"I, I love . . ." Started Yuki. Toru just looked at him innocently, tilting her head to one side. " I love the weather when It's like this. Just after a fresh rain, everything seems so alive." Said Yuki, his mind kicking him over and over.
"You couldn't do it. You're still not brave enough." Thought Yuki.
"Yes, it is very beautiful." Said Toru, taking Yuki's hand in her own and they walked home that way. Yuki felt reassured as he felt Toru's soft hand in his own. He didn't want the friendship they had right now to change; he wished this walk could last forever.
**********
"So, what did everyone think of your cookies Toru?" Asked Shigure when Yuki and Toru returned from their outing.
"I think Momiji, Kisa, and Hatsuharu were very glad to have gotten them, but Hatori. He seemed to be deeply troubled today. I wish there was something we could have done to cheer him up." Said Toru as she let Yuki take her coat and hang it up. Shigure shook his head and led Toru into the living room.
"I think just seeing you made him happier than he's been in a while." Said Shigure.
"Oh, no I couldn't have done all that, I mean I can't be the only reason he gets happy . . ." Toru started to babble. She knew that Hatori must have left her the pressed flowers the day he and Momiji had come over, but she was still confused as to what they meant. Did Hatori love her, or was it just a friendly gesture?
"Toru, what about Akito? Did you see him?" Asked Shigure. Yuki winced in the background. He still didn't like being around Akito even a little and was glad that today's experiences were over.
"Yes, we saw him. He seemed to be grateful as well, but,"
"But what?"
"He looked to pale and sick. Does he always stay in that room all alone."
"What? Well, yes. I suppose so. Toru, you have to remember, Akito is the head of the Sohma family, and as such bears the brunt of our curse. That's why he look so sickly all the time." Said Shigure.
"Just what is the Sohma family curse?" Asked Toru. "I've heard so much about it, but all I've gotten so far is that you turn into animals of the zodiac. Is there more?" Asked Toru.
"Eh, well. There is more, but it's really difficult to explain. Every story of every zodiac animal is tied into it, so unless you know the story of each zodiac animal to the letter you won't understand. I don't even think I'm the best one to be telling you this, but I'll tell you what, I'll let you read the little short stories I've written about the separate zodiac animals, then once you know enough about them, I'll try and explain the curse." Said Shigure.
"Oh, I've been wondering for a while," Said Toru.
"Yes?" Said Shigure.
"Is Akito a member of the zodiac? I would think the head of a family with your kind of curse would be a part of it." Asked Toru.
"No, Akito is not a member of the zodiac, but he does attend the zodiac ball at new years. He is the emperor character in the party of animals."
"Oh, that reminds me!" Toru chirped. "Akito invited me to the new years ball this year. He said since I've become almost family to you that I should come." Said Toru excitedly.
"Wonderful! Now you'll get to see the dance of the zodiac animal of the year. This year it's Hatori's turn. That should be interesting, eh Toru?" Said Shigure with a playful grin as he nudged Toru with his elbow. Toru blushed. Her first time at the Sohma's new years party and Hatori would be dancing. She tried to imagine Hatori in the decorative costume dancing in front of everyone. She couldn't. All she could imagine was him smiling at her, naked from the chest up.
"Waaah!" Shrieked Toru as he hit herself on the head and blushed like mad. That day with Hatori had really made an impression on her. Toru felt awful. Even though she knew it was wrong, she liked the image of Hatori like that. He was so handsome and robust under that tie and lab coat.
"What's wrong Toru?" Asked Shigure, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"It's nothing, I guess I just find it a little hard to imagine Hatori in those decorative robes that you showed me the pictures of Momiji in from last year." She said, now blushing more than ever.
"Heh, yes. But he'll do it all right. Well, here." Said Shigure handing Toru a book. "This is a collection of the stories of all the zodiac animals' history. Please read them and enjoy."
"Thank you!" Said Toru with a smile.
**********
Toru went up to her room and flopped down on her bed.
"What a day!" she thought. She looked through the book that Shigure had given her to read. She opened to the first page and began to read.
"The history of the dog." She giggled to herself. It was just like Shigure to put himself first in the history books. She continued reading until it was time for her to go downstairs and start dinner.
"Well mom. Today was just another day with the Sohmas. (Heh that would make a good cit-com name, Just Another day with the Sohmas, lol) I'm so glad that I'll be going to the new years banquet this year too." She said as she went down the stairs.
"HEY TORU! Are you still going to make dinner" I'm starving!" Said Kyo as she passed him in the hall.
"Uh huh. What would you like?" Asked Toru.
"Anything but love-LEEKS!" Said Kyo, stuttering then recovering loudly when he started to think about him and Toru. He started blushing. Toru looked at him puzzled.
"Did you say love, Kyo?" She asked, she tilted her head sweetly.
"WAH! Hell no! Rrr!, come on, I'm not going to cook." Shouted Kyo as he grabbed her hand and they went into the kitchen.
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It was a rainy yet peaceful Sunday morning at Shigure's house that day. The raindrops made soft patting sounds as they hit, the gray sky a soothing change from the harsh sun that usually shined, the cool wind blowing the water in standing puddles.
Toru was in the kitchen that morning, by herself, making some cookies. Today was the one-year anniversary of her first meeting with the Sohma family. She smiled as she pulled out the pan from the oven. She had grown to love them all so much since then, and the growing of her love would never stop.
"I wonder if any of the others know that this is the one year anniversary of our meeting?" she thought as she winced at the pain of the hot pan touching her finger. She had planned on bringing a batch of cookies to the main Sohma house for Hatori, Momiji, and Kisa, and Akito.
"Hmm, Akito. I haven't seen him since we bumped into each other at school that one day. I wonder if he's all right. Well, I guess with Hatori there I don't have anything to worry about." She thought. She put the cookies out on a plate to cool.
"Mmmm, Toru! What is that glorious smell?" Came Shigure's voice from his study in the next room. The tall man came into the kitchen with a big grin on his face.
"Oh, I made some cookies for everyone. Today is the one-year anniversary of my meeting the Sohma family and I wanted to do something special." Said Toru
"Those are the most delicious smelling cookies I've ever . . ." Said Shigure as he gazed at the pile of cooling cookies on the table. "Would it be all right if I had one?" A childish grin spread across his face.
"Of course, they are for you. Well you and everyone else in the Sohma family. I guess you could call it a thank you for all of the kindness you've shown me." Said Toru as she watched Shigure take a cookie and eat it in one bite.
"Mmmmm, this is, by far, the best cookie I've ever tasted!" Said Shigure. "So, today is the one-year anniversary of the day we met you. It's like it was just yesterday you came up to our porch to look at those little zodiac animals I had painted." Shigure sat down at the table and began to tell the story out loud to himself as Toru started another batch of cookies and slid them into the oven, then sat down with Shigure at the table.
"Yes, I remember that. That was when I was still living in that tent." Said Toru with a laugh. "You and Yuki really took me under your wing and trusted me when I found out about your secret. I'm still so very grateful that you still trust me with it."
"Miss Honda, what is that wonderful smell?" said Yuki as he came into the kitchen.
"Coofees! Ant un?" said Shigure; his mouth was full of cookie. He held the plate of cookies up to Yuki.
"What's the occasion?" Asked Yuki as he sat down next to Toru.
"Today is the one-year anniversary of the day I met you and Shigure and Kyo. I just wanted to do something special. I was going to take some of these cookies over to Sohma house too for Hatori, Kisa, Momiji, and Akito, but it's raining today." Said Toru.
Yuki winced slightly at the name of Akito, then smiled at Toru. She always had the sweetest, most selfless ideas. Yuki took a cookie and ate it slowly in small bites.
"Miss Honda, this is some of your best cooking. I think, if it stops raining, I'll walk you over to Sohma house to deliver those cookies." Said Yuki sweetly as he brushed his hands off on a napkin.
"Thank you Yuki. It'll be nice to have company on the way." Said Toru. The timer rang and Toru ran from the table to pull out the fresh pan of cookies. The warm, sweet smell wafted through the house and filled their noses with the smell of Toru's love.
Yuki didn't particularly want to go to Sohma house. Seeing Akito, bringing back old memories of painful days made him feel weak at the knees, but he was doing this for Toru. He found that he would do anything for that girl.
Yuki looked over at Shigure who was still munching on a cookie, his sixth. Yuki rolled his eyes, and they fell on Kyo, who was standing in the doorway.
"What's going on? What's that smell?" asked Kyo. Shigure quickly spoke up, his mouth still full of cookie.
"Oru ade coofies or uh un ear anifthary. Ant thome?" he said, a bright-eyed puppy look on his face, crumbs on his face. Kyo gave him a disgusted look, and turned to Yuki for an understandable explanation.
"Miss Honda made cookies for the one year anniversary of her meeting us." Said Yuki.
"One year huh? Has it really been that long?" thought Kyo out loud. He peeped his head in the doorway of the kitchen to see how Toru was doing. She was busily scooping out dough and putting it into neat little balls on a pan.
"Why do I care for her so much? Is it because she's such a nice person, or is it that I truly do love her? What the hell am I thinking? I can't love anyone, I'm just not that kind of person." Thought Kyo as he watched her work. Then the words of Shigure came from long ago, almost a year ago to that day, came into his head.
"One day your going to find someone who truly wants to be your friend, that's when that you'll find what it's like to be loved."
"That damn Shigure is a total nutcase, but he does say some wise things when he want s to." Thought Kyo. Toru had finished putting the next pan of cookies in the oven and was now coming out of the kitchen.
"Aww hell! Gotta hide." Thought Kyo "Wait, why do I gotta hide. I'm such an idiot!" Kyo just stood there, trying to look natural.
"Hi Kyo, want a cookie? I made them for everyone." Said Toru as she came out, the red cloth at the top of the door brushing her beautiful brown hair. Kyo blushed, then nodded clumsily.
"Yeah, I'll be there in a second." He said. He did love Toru, He couldn't make himself ignore it any more, but how the hell was he going to tell her. He couldn't even apologize to her without tripping over his words. How was he going to tell her he loved her, what's worse, he knew Yuki had feelings for her too. What if he beat him to it, what if Toru would rather have Yuki's love instead of his!" Kyos mind rushed as his heart pounded in his chest.
**********
The rain had stopped later that afternoon and, as he promised, Yuki and Toru were walking down the gravel path towards the inner walls of the Sohma property, where the zodiac members dwelled. Yuki was slightly uneasy. Just as long as he didn't have to see Akito for that long he would be fine, and having Toru there made him feel a little better. The sweet smelling, cool, after-rain breeze blew their hair as they walked, pushing them foreword, and bringing the smell of those delicious cookies out of the paper bag that Toru was holding.
When they reached the large gate Yuki opened it for Toru and they both walked in cautiously, hoping that they wouldn't get into trouble for coming uninvited. Yuki led Toru to Hatori's house. It was slightly friendlier looking than the last time Toru had been there. The last time she had come she was afraid out of her mind that she would have to loose her memories, but now, now that she knew more about Hatori and his life she could look at him and feel not fear, but mercy and maybe even love.
Yuki knocked on the door and they waited. The door was opened a few second later by Hatori. When he saw Toru a small smile forced itself onto his face, but only a small one.
"Hello Miss Toru, and Yuki. Please come in." He said as he opened the door wider to let them in.
"Thank you Hatori, we brought cookies for everyone." Said Toru.
"Now why would you do that?" Asked Hatori sweetly.
"Today is the one-year anniversary of the day the Sohmas came into my life and I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for welcoming me into you midst." Said Toru with a small bow.
"Thank you very much." Said Hatori.
"Do you know where Momiji and Kisa and Hatsuharu are? We need to give them theirs too, and Akito." Said Toru. At this, Hatori and Yuki's expressions got very serious.
They were both very unsure about the prospect of Toru with Akito. To be frank, they just didn't trust him around her, but they both also knew that kindness had to be showed to everyone, even Akito.
"Momiji is somewhere around here, but Hatsuharu and Kisa are in the house next door, Hatsuharu's house. Akito is where he always is, the main house. Yuki knows where it is." Said Hatori, and air of sadness in his voice.
"Is something wrong?" Asked Toru.
"The one year anniversary of your meeting our family isn't the only anniversary that falls on this day. Lets just leave it at that, shall we." Said Hatori, a wavering breath following his sentence. Toru understood and felt a rush of sadness run through her too.
She just wanted to give Hatori a big, comforting hug, but knew better. That was the worst part about living with the Sohmas. It they ever needed comforting, she had to settle for words. She dearly wished with all her heart to be able to hug her friends, just once.
"Thank you." said Toru softly. She and Yuki walked out the door.
"We'll see you later Hatori." Said Yuki. Toru was trying too hard not to cry to look back at Hatori or even say anything. Hatori watched them go, holding his bag of fresh cookies. He took one out and ate it. He smiled, a tear rolling down from his blind eye. He loved Toru, just as he loved Kana. But Kana had left, left exactly seven years ago, but he knew that Toru Honda was here to stay.
**********
"Here we are. It's the last stop." Said Yuki as the two of them looked on at the house that stood before them. It was the main house, where Akito dwelled.
"Come on, before the cookies get cold!" Said Toru with a smile as she grabbed Yuki by he wrist and pulled him up to the door and knocked. The knock echoed through the hollow halls inside the building, then a servant came to the door.
"May I help you?" said the servant, and then she saw Yuki. "Oh, master Yuki. Do you wish to see Lord Akito?" Yuki nodded. The servant woman opened the door and led them through the house to a large room in the middle of the house. She knocked at the door.
"Who's there?" Came Akito's voice from inside.
"Visitors Lord Akito. It's master Yuki and another." Said the woman
"Let them in!" Came the voice, a little less annoyed at the disturbance when Yuki's name was mentioned. The woman opened the door for Toru and Yuki then, and left them alone with Akito.
"Yuki, and Miss Honda! What a pleasant surprise." He said in his usual cryptic voice. It made Yuki feel even more uncomfortable, and even more protective of Toru then he was already.
"We brought some cookies for you. I know it might seem a little silly, coming all the way here just to give you some cookies, but I really wanted to thank you for all you've done for me." Said Toru, offering the paper bag to Akito. Akito smirked as he glances at Yuki out of the corner of his eye. Yuki was staring at Akito, watching his every move as he walked towards Toru to receive the bag.
"Miss Toru Honda. You are very thoughtful. I thank you." Said Akito, his pale hand reaching out for the bag, and touching Toru's hand as he took it. Toru blushed as Akito took her hand. Yuki, standing by the door they came in through, clenched his fists.
Akito lightly kissed Toru's hand and looked into her eyes. "I, once again, thank you, but I find it hard to believe that these sweets are the only reason you came here." He said with a sideways glance at Yuki once again.
"That bastard is only doing this because he knows it makes me mad!" Thought Yuki as he felt his heartbeat race. He grit his teeth to keep from getting angry.
"And Yuki, its been a very long time since I've seen you as well." Said Akito, walking over to Yuki and putting a hand on his shoulder. At the touch a surge of fear ran down Yuki's spine. He was still afraid of Akito, of the power he still had over their lives. He looked at Toru. She was still standing there where Akito had left her, her bright eyes lighting up the otherwise dark room.
"Akito, I . . ." started Yuki
"You haven't come to see me in a long time. New years is only a few months away though. I hope you won't decide to stay home again, or I might have to get vary angry. You know what I mean, don't you Yuki?" Said Akito, removing his hand and turning to Toru. "I thank you for the cookies. I'm sure they will be most delicious. Also, miss Honda, considering how you have become almost a member of our family, I would like to invite you to our new years banquet this year. I hope you'll attend." Said Akito. "I'm sure I'll see you again." He walked back to his sofa by the window and took out a cookie and began to break it into small pieces. Yuki went over to Toru, grabbed her wrist, and they left the room, the house, and the gate. When they had gotten out of Sohma House Yuki breathed a sigh of relief. He hated it there. Toru was silently walking next to Yuki, looking at the ground.
"Miss Honda? Is everything all right?" Asker Yuki.
"He looked so pale, so lonely. I wonder if that's what he does all the time, every day. I know he's sick a lot, but staying in a house like that every day seems like what would make a person sick." Said Toru. Yuki blinked and looked at the sky. He had been rather sickly when he lived at Sohma House, just as sickly and pale as Akito, but when Toru came into his life, he got sick less and less. What a wonderful friend he had in Toru.
"Miss Honda?"
"Yes Yuki?"
"I have been wanting to tell you something very important." Yuki said. Toru looked up at him, her giant blue eyes sparkling in the new sun as it came out from behind an empty rain cloud.
"I, I love . . ." Started Yuki. Toru just looked at him innocently, tilting her head to one side. " I love the weather when It's like this. Just after a fresh rain, everything seems so alive." Said Yuki, his mind kicking him over and over.
"You couldn't do it. You're still not brave enough." Thought Yuki.
"Yes, it is very beautiful." Said Toru, taking Yuki's hand in her own and they walked home that way. Yuki felt reassured as he felt Toru's soft hand in his own. He didn't want the friendship they had right now to change; he wished this walk could last forever.
**********
"So, what did everyone think of your cookies Toru?" Asked Shigure when Yuki and Toru returned from their outing.
"I think Momiji, Kisa, and Hatsuharu were very glad to have gotten them, but Hatori. He seemed to be deeply troubled today. I wish there was something we could have done to cheer him up." Said Toru as she let Yuki take her coat and hang it up. Shigure shook his head and led Toru into the living room.
"I think just seeing you made him happier than he's been in a while." Said Shigure.
"Oh, no I couldn't have done all that, I mean I can't be the only reason he gets happy . . ." Toru started to babble. She knew that Hatori must have left her the pressed flowers the day he and Momiji had come over, but she was still confused as to what they meant. Did Hatori love her, or was it just a friendly gesture?
"Toru, what about Akito? Did you see him?" Asked Shigure. Yuki winced in the background. He still didn't like being around Akito even a little and was glad that today's experiences were over.
"Yes, we saw him. He seemed to be grateful as well, but,"
"But what?"
"He looked to pale and sick. Does he always stay in that room all alone."
"What? Well, yes. I suppose so. Toru, you have to remember, Akito is the head of the Sohma family, and as such bears the brunt of our curse. That's why he look so sickly all the time." Said Shigure.
"Just what is the Sohma family curse?" Asked Toru. "I've heard so much about it, but all I've gotten so far is that you turn into animals of the zodiac. Is there more?" Asked Toru.
"Eh, well. There is more, but it's really difficult to explain. Every story of every zodiac animal is tied into it, so unless you know the story of each zodiac animal to the letter you won't understand. I don't even think I'm the best one to be telling you this, but I'll tell you what, I'll let you read the little short stories I've written about the separate zodiac animals, then once you know enough about them, I'll try and explain the curse." Said Shigure.
"Oh, I've been wondering for a while," Said Toru.
"Yes?" Said Shigure.
"Is Akito a member of the zodiac? I would think the head of a family with your kind of curse would be a part of it." Asked Toru.
"No, Akito is not a member of the zodiac, but he does attend the zodiac ball at new years. He is the emperor character in the party of animals."
"Oh, that reminds me!" Toru chirped. "Akito invited me to the new years ball this year. He said since I've become almost family to you that I should come." Said Toru excitedly.
"Wonderful! Now you'll get to see the dance of the zodiac animal of the year. This year it's Hatori's turn. That should be interesting, eh Toru?" Said Shigure with a playful grin as he nudged Toru with his elbow. Toru blushed. Her first time at the Sohma's new years party and Hatori would be dancing. She tried to imagine Hatori in the decorative costume dancing in front of everyone. She couldn't. All she could imagine was him smiling at her, naked from the chest up.
"Waaah!" Shrieked Toru as he hit herself on the head and blushed like mad. That day with Hatori had really made an impression on her. Toru felt awful. Even though she knew it was wrong, she liked the image of Hatori like that. He was so handsome and robust under that tie and lab coat.
"What's wrong Toru?" Asked Shigure, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"It's nothing, I guess I just find it a little hard to imagine Hatori in those decorative robes that you showed me the pictures of Momiji in from last year." She said, now blushing more than ever.
"Heh, yes. But he'll do it all right. Well, here." Said Shigure handing Toru a book. "This is a collection of the stories of all the zodiac animals' history. Please read them and enjoy."
"Thank you!" Said Toru with a smile.
**********
Toru went up to her room and flopped down on her bed.
"What a day!" she thought. She looked through the book that Shigure had given her to read. She opened to the first page and began to read.
"The history of the dog." She giggled to herself. It was just like Shigure to put himself first in the history books. She continued reading until it was time for her to go downstairs and start dinner.
"Well mom. Today was just another day with the Sohmas. (Heh that would make a good cit-com name, Just Another day with the Sohmas, lol) I'm so glad that I'll be going to the new years banquet this year too." She said as she went down the stairs.
"HEY TORU! Are you still going to make dinner" I'm starving!" Said Kyo as she passed him in the hall.
"Uh huh. What would you like?" Asked Toru.
"Anything but love-LEEKS!" Said Kyo, stuttering then recovering loudly when he started to think about him and Toru. He started blushing. Toru looked at him puzzled.
"Did you say love, Kyo?" She asked, she tilted her head sweetly.
"WAH! Hell no! Rrr!, come on, I'm not going to cook." Shouted Kyo as he grabbed her hand and they went into the kitchen.
