I am so sorry for the wait but I've been having problems with one of my other stories. I had to delete it, but if you guys are curious then you can go find out what happened in my profile when I update it next. Thanks for being patient and I promise to write quicker from now on. Thanks guys. Hope you like this chapter. Onward to the story!
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket but I do own Yukiko.
Innocence
Chapter 6
Yukiko's White Day Gift
"Tohru! Are you in there?" asked Yukiko over the unconscious girl on the floor. Tohru's eyes were opening and Yukiko breathed a sigh of relief.
"What happened?" Tohru asked as she sat up quickly.
"Tohru, you're alright!" Yukiko exclaimed hugging the confused girl.
"Oh, good. I'm glad to see you've come around," the hot springs lady from earlier said. "It's not very often someone faints during their bath… but our hot spring… well, it can make some people dizzy…"
"But she's okay now. It was pretty hot," Yukiko informed.
"Where's my Mom!" Tohru wondered panicking. Yukiko giggled then took something out from behind her back. She held up the picture of Tohru's mother proudly before handing it to Tohru.
"Here Tohru," Yukiko said smiling happily.
"The plastic you wrapped it in kept it nice and dry. No harm done…" the lady said.
"Thank goodness. Um… but I guess I really should be thanking you for helping me. I'm sorry if I put you to any trouble," Tohru said.
"Oh no, don't mind me. It was this young lady who brought you inside when you had fainted. She even went back out and searched for your Mother," the hot springs lady remarked watching Yukiko blush and lower her eyes bashfully.
"Thank you Yukiko," Tohru said gratefully. Yukiko sent a shy smile to Tohru and nodded her head in acknowledgement.
"Tohru! Are you okay?" the girls heard Momiji ask from outside the door.
"Oh! Yes I'm fine! Nothing to worry about!" Tohru replied. She turned to the hot springs lady. "Really, thank you so much for all your help." Tohru took Yukiko's wrist and pulled the younger girl with her out the door.
"Everyone will be happy that you're awake. They were so worried," Yukiko said to Tohru as they were leaving. "Um… Tohru?"
"Yes?" asked Tohru looking down at Yukiko.
"I'm happy that you're okay," Yukiko said looking at her shoes. Tohru smiled at the girl before walking again.
--
"Ohh wow! Incredible!" cried Tohru looking at the table full of delicious looking food. "I've never seen so many delicious foods all on one table!"
"It's all for us?" wondered Yukiko at the vast expanse of the treats.
"You think we can eat all this?" asked Kyo looking to his right at Yukiko's excited expression. Kyo was sitting next to Yuki and across from Momiji. Next to Momiji was Tohru and at the side of the table between him and Kyo was Yukiko.
"Well, I guess I better get started serving the rice!" Tohru said happily.
"Oh I'll help!" Yukiko said just as cheerfully as Tohru. She started towards the rice bowl when Momiji stopped her and Tohru.
"No you don't! You're the princess today, Tohru. Remember, I'll do it," Momiji said. While he was talking to Tohru, Yukiko took the chance to grab the bowl and start serving the rice. By the time Momiji turned back towards Yukiko, she was finishing with putting rice on her plate. "Yukiko! Why? You're a princess too and you shouldn't have to do it yourself!"
"I wanted to help," Yukiko said pouting slightly. "And I really didn't want you to trouble yourself."
"It's okay," Momiji replied before smacking Kyo's wandering hands away from the food.
"What the hell was that!" Kyo screamed as he retracted his beaten hand.
"Princess Tohru and cute Yukiko get to go first!" Momiji explained as though talking to a child.
"Well, girls, what are you going to try?" Yuki asked politely. They both looked at all the delightful treats and wondered if they could choose only one.
"I don't know, there's just so much," Tohru said nervously.
"Well, I want that one. My mum used to make them and they're my favorite!" Yukiko exclaimed grabbing a small bite and chewing it.
"Don't be shy Tohru! Dig in!" Momiji said watching Yukiko's face break out in a huge grin.
"How about this one?" Tohru said grabbing a piece of meat and eating it. "It's delicious!"
"Here Tohru, try this one also," Yukiko said handing the older girl one of the desserts that she tried.
"Yum!" Tohru said after swallowing the dessert.
"My mom taught me how to make them. I'll teach you if you want Tohru," Yukiko said.
"That would be wonderful, Yukiko," Tohru replied pleased. The door then slid open to reveal the hot springs lady.
"The head chef would very much like to pay his respects to the young masters," she said folding her feet under her. A man walked in and sat down in the same style like the lady.
"As always, it is my pleasure to serve you," the man said taking of his hat. "Does the cuisine meet with your approval?"
"Oh yeah!" Kyo responded.
"It's even more delicious than I remembered," Yuki said politely.
"It's absolutely heavenly," Yukiko added shyly popping out from behind Kyo who was blocking her view.
"It is. A meal fit for a king," Tohru said. The man's eyes bulged as she said this in surprise. He ran towards the table and put his hands around one of the bowls.
"Ah! It's too cold!" He said. "This is inexcusable!" He shifted back in line with the lady and bowed to the floor and rattled on about his mistake.
They watched anxiously as the chef and hostess fought over whose fault it was about why the meal was cold.
"They seem an awful like each other," Yukiko said watching them fight with wide eyes.
"By any chance, are those two…?" Tohru trailed off.
"Related? Yes, they're cousins…" Yuki replied calmly ignoring they brawl behind him.
--
"So Tohru went to one of the springs that won't get too hot?" Momiji asked Yukiko as they were sitting by a small table playing cards. Kyo and Yuki had joined in after awhile and were enjoying the game.
"That's right. I guess she wanted to relax some more. She brought her mum with her this time also," Yukiko said as she won the hand of poker she had taught them earlier.
"Why do you keep winning!" screamed Kyo as he lost for the ninth time.
"I'm sorry," Yukiko said nervously not quite used to Kyo's temper.
"Don't pay attention to him Yukiko. He never knows when to shut his mouth," Yuki said calmly as he put his cards on the table in front of him.
"Shut up, ya damn rat!" Kyo yelled. "Come on, let's go!" Kyo got up and raised his fists.
"I wouldn't want you to embarrass yourself in front of Miss Yukiko, now Kyo," Yuki said mockingly keeping his patience.
"What! Okay, that's it? Let's take this outside!" Kyo said angrily. Momiji and Yukiko were just watching the two. Not wanting to watch the rest of the fight, Momiji got up and pulled the nervous girl with him.
"Come on, Yukiko. Let's go look around," Momiji said as he walked out the door still pulling the girl like everyone seemed to be doing lately.
"Will they be alright?" Yukiko asked looking back towards the now closed door.
"Of course. Now let's go see if Tohru's finished yet," Momiji said starting to skip down the hall. Yukiko giggled cheerfully before bouncing right behind him.
--
"Yeah, that's right. The hot spring lady is Ritsu's mom," Momiji explained to Tohru after they found her. "Sorry, I guess I thought I told you that already."
"Will we meet him sometime soon?" questioned Yukiko at the thought of meeting another member of the zodiac.
"Maybe. Everyone just seems to be turning up everywhere nowadays," Momiji replied. "Now let's go play ping-pong, okay?" Tohru and Yukiko nodded and walked into the room with tables set up. Kyo and Yuki were in the room already playing against each other.
"Out again," Yuki said as the ball that Kyo slammed past his face. Yukiko watched as Kyo kept hitting it too hard. "I told you, you have to let it bounce on the table."
"Shut up! That's stupid! Why would I wanna hit that slow?" Kyo screamed.
"Um… Kyo, that's how you're supposed to play," Yukiko explained cautiously trying to avoid Kyo's aggression. Kyo ignored her as Yuki hit the ball over the net, and he slammed his paddle into it again. They all watched it crash into the wall from the strength with which Kyo hit it.
"Hang in there, Kyo! You can do it!" Tohru cheered obliviously.
"I thought at least at ping-pong he might have a chance to beat me…" Yuki started. He smiled slightly as he heard Yukiko trying to smother her giggles. "But as usual, he's hopeless."
Kyo screamed as he flipped the table over in his hostility at losing again.
"How can I beat you with all these stupid rules! You damn rat!" Kyo shouted. "How 'bout we take this outside!"
"You know, you're the one who wanted to play this game in the first place…" Yuki muttered. Someone then started to howl with laughter at the scene. Turning to the disruption of their fight, everyone saw that it was little Yukiko who was laughing so hard.
"What the hell are you laughing at?" Kyo screeched.
"It's just… I've never seen something so funny!" Yukiko said trying to calm her laughter. She soon had tears running down her face as she clutched her stomach, doubling over.
"It's not funny!" screamed Kyo irritably.
"Don't yell at her just because you're upset," Momiji said upset.
"Uh… well, if you still want to play…" Tohru said uncertainly. "I'll try playing with you…"
"Ooh, that sounds like fun! Play her, play her!" Momiji added as Yukiko finally got her giggles under control.
"Miss Yukiko, would you like to play ping-pong with me on the other table?" Yuki asked politely motioning towards the other table.
"Sure!" Yukiko agreed taking her place on one side of the long table. Yuki took the other side and served the ping-pong ball. Yukiko hit it delicately passing it back towards him smoothly. They passed it back and forth softly for awhile, neither wanting to gain the upper hand. They paused in their game to watch Kyo and Tohru start their own match.
"Don't forget it has to bounce," Yuki said to Kyo dimly waiting for them to start.
"You shut up!" Kyo yelled to both Yuki and Yukiko as she started to chuckle again. He passed the ball correctly this time. Tohru ran to hit it but overestimated and missed. Everyone had dumbfounded expressions as the ball bounced on the ground behind Tohru.
"I missed it!" Tohru noticed obliviously. Kyo sweatdropped.
"Yeah, I noticed. You kinda' suck," he informed.
"Kyo, don't tell her that," Momiji said disapprovingly. As Momiji and Kyo continued to verbally argue, Tohru and Yukiko both noticed that Yuki was walking towards the door and outside. Tohru followed him as Yukiko stayed and tried to separate the two boys. Kyo and Momiji started to play their own game of ping-pong as Yukiko went over to the glass door looking outside. She saw Yuki kiss a ribbon in Tohru's hair that Yukiko didn't notice earlier.
Yukiko sighed unnoticeably by the boys before walking out the door quietly. She walked down the hall and stopped when she arrived by a small pond outside in a garden.
'I wish my dad was here to share the serene quiet of this place,' Yukiko thought as she smiled to herself by picturing her father. 'Yes, then it would be perfect.'
She laid back and rested in the grass looking up at the shining stars appearing in the night sky. She closed her eyes soon after and feel into a light sleep dreaming of dancing among those stars.
--
"Miss Yukiko?" said a voice familiar to Yukiko as she groggily opened her eyes. She jumped slightly as she noticed a pair of purple eyes staring into her own sleepy ones. "Are you okay?"
"Um… yes I'm alright, Yuki," Yukiko replied as he helped her to stand up.
"How long have you been out here? It's rather chilly," Yuki said as she patted her clothes down from the grass it obtained.
"For just a couple minutes, I think," Yukiko said. She wasn't really cold so she couldn't have been asleep for a long time.
"Well, why don't we head inside? I think Momiji and Tohru are getting ready for bed," Yuki said as they started walking to the hot springs building. "Oh, I wanted to give you something also." He stopped walking and pulled something out of a sleeve. Yukiko took what he was holding out and gasped as she looked at it.
"But… how'd you get this?" Yukiko asked softly still shocked. In her hands was a picture of her mother when she was younger, and beside her was a man that could only be recognized as her father.
"I asked Hatori if he had any photographs of her and he gave me this one," Yuki replied delighted by her surprised expression. Yuki started faintly as she looked back up at him with tears gathering in her eyes.
"I don't know how to thank you for this," Yukiko began.
"Don't worry about it. It is white day after all," Yuki interrupted smiling down at her.
"Thank you," Yukiko said.
"You're quite welcome," Yuki barely got out before he was squished in a tight hug. He looked stunned down at her as she grinned up at him. He gave in and patted herhead happily.
--
'Wow. Now I can talk to you in spirit just like Tohru does with her mum,' Yukiko thought as she lay in the bed set up for her on the floor. Momiji was lying in between her and Tohru, who were both asleep.
'I love you mum,' Yukiko thought before lying down and falling asleep. She gave the picture one last hug before flitting off into her dream world.
--
"I'm afraid it's time to say goodbye," the hot springs lady started. "But please… all of you… I do hope you'll come again soon."
"I hope so too," Yukiko said while she finished packing her stuff. She softly placed her mother's picture on the top of her bag before sealing it shut.
"Do you have to lean on me like that?" questioned Kyo who was annoyed with the lady that was leaning against him. Yukiko giggled at the expression on Kyo's face.
"Thank you. And take care of yourself," Tohru said politely.
"You as well… You as well, Miss Tohru…" the lady replied as her and Kyo started to fall dangerously close to the ground.
"O-kay. Heavy," Kyo said irritated by the woman.
"I think our driver got lost," Momiji said to the rest.
"Hey, Momiji. I guess after this I won't get to see you for a while, huh?" Tohru wondered.
"Huh?" asked Momiji wondering what Tohru was talking about.
"But you know, I don't think I even know what year you'll be starting in school this spring…" Tohru said. "Is this your first year of middle school?"
"Nope!" Momiji exclaimed. "This spring will be my first year in high school! And as it turns out, I'll be going to the same high school as you! That's right! Me and Haru, both!"
"Can't forget me! I'm in the same class as Momiji!" Yukiko added shouldering her bag with a proud look grinning with Momiji. Tohru stood there with a shocked expression thinking about what Momiji and Yukiko said.
"Why didn't you tell us sooner you and Haru were coming to our school!" Kyo screamed at Momiji. "And you!" Kyo added as he turned towards the innocently smiling Yukiko.
"We wanted it to be a surprise!" Momiji replied.
"Miss Honda, I'm guessing you didn't know. But Momiji actually is only a year younger than us, the same age as Haru," Yuki said to the stunned Tohru.
"Yeah, and I'm still a year younger than them, but I get to be in the same grade," Yukiko added holding Tohru up as she was tilting to one side.
"All this time I thought he was in elementary school…" Tohru said suddenly as she regained her balance. "And now he's coming to our high school? Together with Hatsuharu! Ah-h-h… I don't even know which part I should be most surprised about!"
"Be surprised about everything!" Momiji said from where he was standing by Kyo.
"Well, I think she took that quite well," Yukiko said cheerfully as Tohru stood still freaking out.
--
"Well, here they are. My White Day presents for Tohru and Yukiko," Shigure said hanging up a short blue dress and a short pink dress. They looked similar but the pink one looked slightly more innocent than the blue one. "Lovely, aren't they? Poor Tohru has gone far too long without suitable clothing to wear while cleaning the house. And Yukiko has nothing nice to wear while helping me with my writing."
"It's amazing no one's locked you up yet. And… Hatori's going to kill you," Haru said without looking at Shigure. Shigure just went back to fiddling with the dresses humming happily.
--
Alrighty, I have finished a new chapter and hopefully I haven't lost any readers during the long wait. I just had to add that ending scene with Shigure and Haru. It was too funny. Hope you liked this chapter as we got to see more of Yukiko's character and she definitely added more to the conversations. She has opened up to them so well and I'm proud of her. Anyways, please review and let me know what you thought of this chapter. Thanks for reviewing on the last chapter.
Love, Archer
