Haha, to think I said I could update regularly. I'm a real joker, aren't I? Why isn't anybody else laughing… I have once again broken my cardinal rule of no named OCs in my fanfiction – which, now that I think about it, is a rule I don't think I've ever not broken – to bring you this chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket.
Step By Step
Step Four: Preparing a List of Baby Names
"I always liked the name Arisa."
Tohru set the plate of onigiri on the kitchen table and resumed her seat slowly, like a leaf coming to rest on a still pond. It didn't matter that her kitchen was filled with the cacophony of toddlers babbling and screeching when their limited vocabulary failed to express their excitement. She had always remained reasonably poised in the midst of chaos. It was comfortable to have a rambunctious house. She giggled, scooped the little girl at her side that was screaming "Up, up!" into her arms, and replied to the girl's mother, "Uo-chan, don't you think you're a bit biased?"
Sohma Arisa shrugged and fetched one of the onigiri for her son, making him sit down in her lap before handing it to him to eat. "Damn straight. But I also think it's a nice name. I would've named Mami Arisa if Kyo and I hadn't made that compromise with the names."
Tohru glanced down and lifted Mami higher so that she could reach the plate of onigiri on her own. The little girl balanced on the lip of the chair, her legs against the curve of Tohru's stomach as she nearly bent double to lay hand on the white balls. "What compromise was that?" She asked.
"Well, we were already freaking out about naming one kid, and then the doctor told me I was having twins…" Uo laughed. "Kyo fell out of his chair when the doctor showed him the two hearts beating on the screen. The only time I've ever seen that man go into a dead faint. Yuki, if you eat that fast, you'll choke. Slow down."
At that the woman snatched the remaining piece of food from her son's hands, the boy flailing to recapture his treat. Mami, successful in her excursion for food, had leaned her small body back against Tohru's torso and was eating contentedly. Tohru rested her chin on the toddler's shoulder with a sigh. She said, "Is this how Kyo-kun's son ended up being named after my Yuki?"
The pleased puckish grin on Uo's face was unmistakable. She returned the onigiri to her son's waving hands and said, "We decided that he would name the girl and I would name the boy. No interference from the other parent in our decision. There I was, looking up all kinds of names and different spellings, taking notes like a madwoman; and there he was, watching sports, doing nothing. God, I was angry at him.
"And then, after I'd given birth and was lying there in the hospital bed like a dead fish, Kyo picks up his daughter from the crook of my arm, studies her face, and then says, 'Sohma Mami.' I thought he was kidding. He hadn't taken it seriously at all. Though it does suit her." Uo smiled at her daughter, whose hair was just as flaxen as her name would suggest. Despite her mother's wild personal style and brusque manner of speaking, Mami always seemed to be dressed in the most adorable, pinkest outfits that could be imagined. Today was a pair of pink overalls with ruffles at the straps and bottom cuffs and a pastel yellow shirt with white polka dots. Uo had told Tohru that Kyo was that one that picked out the clothing, but the brunette thought that Mami would have been dressed exactly the same no matter which parent chose the clothing.
Uo helped herself to one of the onigiri and said, "So I swapped twins with him and ensured that he was looking deep into his son's face when I named him Yuki. I think in a few months Kyo will have forgiven me, now that it's been nearly two years."
Tohru laughed. Kyo was probably fine with his son's name, though it did get a little complicated when the adult Yuki and the toddler Yuki were at the same place at the same time. The ex-cat liked blithely talking about beginning potty training with Yuki while his ex-rat counterpart sat across from him, eyebrows practically twitching with annoyance.
Tohru set Mami on her feet and rubbed a few stray grains of rice away from the girl's mouth with her sleeve. She didn't know if she wanted a girl or a boy – she just wanted to make Yuki a father. She rested her hand on her stomach and tilted her head, trying to imagine what their child would look like at Mami and Yuki's age. All she could picture clearly was her husband's true, delighted smile. She said, "But since I don't know the baby's gender, I don't know where to begin."
Uo waved her hand in mollification, her attention back on her children as they chased each other. She said, "You've got a few months left to make more definite decisions. For now, just write down names you like. And make sure Arisa is at the top of the list."
Tohru sighed. More lists.
By the time Uo had left with the twins and Tohru had dutifully started a baby name list with Arisa at the top, it was time to start preparing dinner. Well, perhaps it was a half hour too early to be doing the cooking, but Tohru was relieved to be away from that blank list. She washed the onigiri plate and was going about making hamburger with egg when Yuki came home from work, his face worn from the crowded commuter train. Still, there was no resisting the smile that replaced his tired frown when he found Tohru in the kitchen, humming a pop song and manning the frying pan expertly.
He carefully waited until she had noticed him at her side, his hip against the counter, before he kissed her hello. When they were first married, he had made the mistake of hugging her from behind while she was at the stove. The bruised, burned foot he got as a result of her dropping the pan in surprise was lesson enough. His reflexes had been slowing down thanks to his lack of use of martial arts. He'd have to go to Kyo's dojo and spar with the stupid cat to get that speed back. He went to the table and sat down, his smile persisting. He and Kyo could compare notes on their wives' moods. To think that, seven years ago, they couldn't even have a shallow conversation without finding a reason to fight. Well, they still fought, but the conversation was deeper and there was a lot more laughter.
Yuki's silver eyes landed on the piece of paper on the table and, wrenching his head as close to upside down as he could manage so he could read the sparse writing, he asked, "What's this, Tohru-kun?"
"What is what, Yuki-kun?" Tohru responded in kind, not looking up from the hissing of her cooking. It was always a bit harrowing to cook, now that the baby was well and truly getting in the way. But that was how it was supposed to be; the baby would be getting in the way for many years to come. She flipped the hamburger patties and, sliding them to the side of the pan, cracked open eggs to fry on the other side. She set the spoon down on the counter next to the stove and turned around to see what her husband was talking about. She flushed when she saw Yuki pick up the piece of paper and turn it toward him so he could read it.
"It-… It's a list of names for the baby."
Yuki cocked an eyebrow. "Arisa?"
"Uo-chan said I should…" Embarrassed, Tohru's explanation faded into a mumble as her hands rolled the hem of her apron. Yuki set the list back on the table and shrugged.
"We have five months to think about it." He said, his words slowing down as a chilling realization crept into his mind. His fingers slid back on the surface of the table to the edge, where they curled around the lip so that he could not make a fist. "Uo-san knows?" He asked.
Tohru blinked, nodded, and then spun on her heel to move the frying pan off of the burner and turn the burner off. She sat down at the table across from her husband. She wiped her hand on her apron before reaching out for Yuki's visible hand to hold. It had been a while since she had seen his features sink from genial to anxious so quickly. "Yuki-kun? What's the matter?" She prompted.
His fingers twitched against hers and then moved to mold their hands together. His voice was low as he said, "If Uo-san knows, then Kyo knows. If Kyo knows, then Kureno knows. If Kureno knows, then Hatori…and that means they know."
Not knowing what to say in response, Tohru lowered her gaze to her disappearing lap, silent. There was no way to comfort Yuki in this case, no way to make him feel better until he had been hurt. After a moment's hesitation, she offered in a perhaps overly bright tone: "They do love you, Yuki-kun. Maybe they'll respect your wishes and be more discrete."
The gray-haired man opened his mouth to reply, his incredulity evident. And then his phone began to buzz in the pants pocket of his suit, making the two of them jump. He could not keep his hand from shaking as he fetched his cellphone from his pocket to read the incoming caller's I.D. Tohru clenched his other hand, knowing from his reaction that it was the worst possible person to be calling them. The phone buzzed again in Yuki's palm as he stared at it, paralyzed. Tohru squeezed his hand again and said, "You should answer it."
"If it's a girl, we should name her Kyoko."
Tohru blinked as the phone buzzed again. "What?"
"The baby. After Kyoko-san, your mother."
Now she blushed. Her eyes instinctually went to the shrine by the front door where her mother's photograph stood on a gleaming polished wooden stand. "Mom." Was all she could bring herself to say.
Yuki lifted the phone halfway to his ear as it buzzed again. As seriously as if he were being sent to certain death – perhaps a public execution – he sought out the liquid brown of his wife's eyes and said almost defiantly, "I love you more than anything."
And then, grimacing, he accepted the call and lifted the phone to his ear. The grimace became a wince as two voices wailed from the phone's speakers: "Yun-Yun! Oh, my dear, darling, delightful baby brother, why have you waited so long to tell 'Gure and I? –
" Aya and I had bets going – is my Flower there? Is she sleeping well? –
"You're treating her like the princess she is, right, Yun-Yun? –
"Tohru-kun, can you hear me? Are you well? –
"Oh, why didn't you tell us sooner!"
Yuki let go of Tohru's hand to massage his forehead. Another thing to add to the list.
Sorry for the cliff-hanger. I discovered that if I write a cliff-hanger, I'll actually write the next chapter faster than I would have done if the previous chapter had a normal ending. So think of it as a tiny sacrifice on your part to ensure that I do my part!
Speaking of which, please review! I honestly haven't decided whether Tohru and Yuki will be having a boy or a girl, or what name the baby should have. Review with your opinion (boy or girl and names) and, who knows, your idea might end up being the one in the story! I'd ask for your permission before using your idea, of course.
Happy Mother's Day for all those who celebrate it the second Sunday of May!
