Chapter 7
Happy 21st Birthday to my roommate Jessica! I hope you have enjoyed the fan fiction so far, and I hope you continue to enjoy it for however long it lasts.
"A little tighter," Kisa requested, as Hiro helped tie the back of her winter kimono. It was cold enough that she had to wear another layer of clothes under her robe.
"I don't even know if I'm tying this right, why do you have me doing this?" Hiro questioned, fumbling with the large bow that hung down the small of her back.
"Don't worry, however you tie it is fine, as long as it stays on." Kisa reassured him. "My mom is cleaning up back at home and no one else is here yet, so I hoped you could do it. Besides, if you can't get it just right, I can ask Nee-chan when she arrives!"
"Yeah, just hold still." He tightened the makeshift knot and stood back to admire his handiwork. No matter how hard he tried, the bow just did not look presentable.
"It looks great!" Kisa thanked him, spinning to show off her outfit. Hiro rolled his eyes at her attempt to make him feel better about the mass of fabric clinging to her back that few people would dare call a bow. Ayame had found pins for each of the past zodiac to wear; small gold ones with the design of their animal. The pin went perfectly with her pink kimono that had embroidered gold flowers in the design. Kisa grabbed Hiro's pin off the table and carefully pinned it to his robes. Hiro looked down at his sheep then looked back up at Kisa, who was smiling.
"You look nice." Hiro said quietly. Kisa smiled.
"Thank you, Hiro. You look well yourself!" They stood there, silently looking at each other for an extended moment.
"So.." they both started at once.
"Sorry, you go ahead." Kisa insisted.
"No, you first." Hiro replied. Kisa blushed and looked at her feet.
"Well, I was going to save this for further into the night, but I got you a little present for New Years…" She walked over to her drawstring bag where she pulled out a blue and silver box tied up in white ribbon. "I thought of it the other day and I thought it'd look nice." Hiro opened the box carefully and peered inside. A small key chain was inside, with his initials engraved into what appeared to be an expensive metal.
"Wow, Kisa, this is really nice. I hope you didn't spend too much on me."
"Don't worry, I had some allowance I've been saving up just for this! So, do you like it?" Kisa inquired, hopefully.
"Yeah, I love it. Thank you."
They paused for a second.
"Actually, I got you something too. Since you gave me one it only makes sense for me to give it to you now." Hiro added nonchalantly, pulling a small, unwrapped necklace from the pocket in his robes. The gold chain was adorned with a small, metal flower, which gleamed brilliantly in the light.
"I saw this in a shop on my way home from school," he recalled, "Apparently the stone in the center of the flower is called tiger's eye. I'll admit, it seems a little tacky now that I think about-" He abruptly stopped midsentence due to Kisa leaning toward him. With the lightest touch feasible, Kisa quickly gave him a small peck on his surprised lips, leaving him utterly floored. It took him a few moments to make sure his heart was still beating properly.
"Thank you, Hiro. I'll cherish it." She said shyly. Both were blushing profusely. Megumi cleared his throat, standing at the door next to Hanajima, Kunimitsu, and Kazuma, who had all just arrived. Hiro glared at his friend with poor timing.
"Happy New Year, Megumi-san!" Kisa greeted, going over to greet the new arrivals.
"Amazing, I've never seen this part of the Sohma complex. This room is extraordinary!" Kazuma exclaimed. In front of the atrium they stood in, dark wood paneling stretched out across the expansive room. High ceilings towered over them, filled with paper lanterns that illuminated the walls in a warm, yellow glow. At the end of the room, a large glass door opened up into a covered courtyard, filled with heat lamps to counter the cold weather. The courtyard overlooked a grassy field, surrounded by trees and covered in a thin film of snow.
At that moment, a scream sounded from the courtyard, shattering the peace.
"OH NO, GOD, I'VE BROKEN IT, I CAN'T EVER BE FORGIVEN FOR THIS SIN, WHY DO THEY EVEN INVITE ME HERE-"
"Oh, I think Ritsu-san and Mitsuru-san must be here." Kunimitsu commented, looking out the door.
"Hello everyone, forgive our tardiness, but of course, our belatedness is rewarded, just look how charmingly my brother has dressed! And yes, I accept your humble gratitude towards my efforts in costuming this celebration." The new arrival that was Ayame practically sashayed through the entrance, followed by Yuki, Machi, Mine, and the rest of the student council.
"I knew your family was wealthy, Yun-yun, but I never imagined this!" Kimi blabbed, abandoning her manners and gawking at the grand room.
Yuki ignored the two and went to greet Hanajima.
"Nice to see you, Hanajima-san, I hope the dojo has treated you well."
"Very well, thank you. I'm not sure if you remember my younger brother, Megumi." She gestured at her brother who was currently caught in a nudging war with Hiro.
"Yes, nice to see you again, Megumi-san." Megumi nodded at Yuki in response.
Meanwhile, Hiro walked away from Megumi to congratulate Mine on her pregnancy, and Kisa ran out the front door, undoubtedly due to the arrival of Tohru.
"Nee-chan!" she waved happily at the couple walking up the hallway toward the front entrance. Tohru was in an ivory kimono with a dark blue ribbon hugging her waist. Her counterpart looked slightly uncomfortable in his formal, black robe with burnt orange trim. Tohru released her grasp on Kyo's hand and ran to Kisa.
"You're so adorable, Kisa-chan! Your kimono looks great on you!" She exclaimed. Tohru looked down and realized that Kisa was nearly her height.
"You've grown so much taller, Kisa-chan! Soon you'll be just as tall as me!"
Two hands grabbed Kisa from behind and pried her off of Tohru's chest, hoisting her into the air.
"You can still lift me like this, Haru-nii?" Kisa flailed helplessly.
"Oh, hello Hatsuharu-san!" Tohru laughed at his sudden appearance. "That must mean…Rin and Kagura-san are here?"
Hatsuharu tilted his head toward the end of the hallway leading to the banquet room, where the two girls were talking with Kyo.
"Should we head in?" Kisa asked, wile being carefully placed on the ground by Hatsuharu.
"Yes! I still haven't seen Hiro-san yet!"
Kisa blushed at his mention.
"Right, let's get inside!" she agreed.
Plates upon plates of food were laid out, steaming hot and filling the room with a mouthwatering aroma. Extravagance was everywhere: musicians played traditional music, families and friends of the zodiac filled the room dressed to the nines, and the courtyard was illuminated with twinkle lights everywhere, making the entire space glow. At one table, Mayu sat uneasily, with her food untouched and her eyes darting around the room. Hatori, finishing a conversation with an elderly member of the Sohma family, walked over and joined her at the table.
"Are you feeling alright, Mayu?"
"I feel so old here with all my former students."
"I'm pretty sure that's not what is bothering you."
Mayu shot a glare at him defiantly.
"Fine," she huffed, "I… I just still can't fathom how you, my students, you were all part of some curse. It all seems so unreal." She shuddered. "Not to mention everything that she did…" Mayu glanced in Akito's direction, who was seated at the center of a long table in the room. Hatori sat down next her and took her hand between his.
"We should go back and visit Okinawa again. Just the two of us."
"Why this, all of a sudden?" Mayu questioned.
"We had fun last time. I want to see you in a swimsuit again." He said casually. Mayu smacked his arm. He chuckled at her embarrassment.
"Look, I understand it'll take you awhile to get used to this. The fact of the matter is though, the curse has ended and everything is how it should be."
"But what about Kana?" Mayu whispered. "She's pregnant with her first child and married happily. What will happen now that she's staring to remember you, to remember what happened! She will be crushed."
"Unfortunately, I'm not sure I can do much about that. I could somehow try to erase her memories again, but that's all hypothetical, assuming Kana-san would actually want that again."
"I suppose we'll see…" Mayu trailed off. She could see in the corner of her eye Hatori's face grow worried. She wouldn't have that.
"So Okinawa, eh?" She teased. Hatori smiled back, looking relieved. Ayame popped out of nowhere, wrapping his arms around them both.
"You needn't beg, of course I will be your best man. I already have the wedding planned." He reassured. "Mayu-chan, you'll be the most lovely bride… aside from my Mine, of course." He started walking away laughing deviously before Mayu even had a chance to yell at him, "We're not getting married, Aya, cut it out!"
"We're not?" Hatori asked bluntly.
"Oh, that's not, I meant right now, we're…ugh. Dammit Aya." She muttered.
"Well," he said, taking her hand and leading her toward the courtyard. They positioned themselves near a heat lamp, staring out over the expansive grounds of the Sohma complex. Scattered couples stood in the courtyard, but for the most part, they were alone.
"We have talked about this before," Hatori continued. "And we both want kids eventually. Do you want to get married someday?"
"Is that a proposal?" Mayu asked, shocked.
Hatori mulled it over. "Well, it wouldn't say it's the proposal. I don't have a ring, you see." They laughed at the untimeliness of it all. "But," he went on, "I know I love you. And you love me. So we have no reason not to."
"I suppose you're right." Mayu said, with a slight smile on her face.
Arriving slightly late, Momiji walked into the banquet hall, affronted by the music and crowd. He looked around, and spotted who he had been looking for.
"Nii-chan!"
"Momo-chan!"
She ran to his open arms and he swung her around. He saw his mother walking toward him, with a smile greeting him warmly.
"Thank you for inviting her, Momiji-san. She's been so excited all day."
"Happy New Year! I like your bunny pin." Momo poked his chest, looking at the pin.
"Thanks, Momo-chan. Do you want to wear it?"
"That's okay, I like it on you."
"Speaking of New Years, I have a present for you. He pulled out the music box and presented it to her. "Go on, open it!"
Momo opened it and a violin lullaby emerged melodically from the box.
"Onii-chan, it's so pretty…You played this?"
"Yep! It's a song I wrote just for you."
"Thanks! I like it a lot! Wanna go play?" Momo asked hopefully.
"Sure, if your mom is okay with it?" Momiji looked up at his mother inquisitively.
"Actually Momiji-san, I was hoping to speak with you for a minute." His mother said. Momiji wasn't sure why, but her voice gave him an uneasy feeling.
"Of course," he turned to Momo, "We'll be right back Momo-chan, go try some cake while we're gone. Don't miss me too much!"
"All right!" she cheered, skipping off toward the table.
Momiji followed his mother across the room, where they stood in an unoccupied corner by a window.
"Is everything okay, Mrs. Sohma?"
"Momiji-san. There is something I've noticed recently. Something that I don't quite understand myself."
"You're starting to worry me, Mrs. Sohma. What's going on?"
"Well, it's about Momo-chan, I'm a little concerned about… some of her behavior."
"What?" Momiji asked, not quite comprehending.
"You see, Momiji-san, it's been very nice having you around these days, and your music lessons are what Momo looks forward to, more than anything. However, the fact of the matter remains. Why do you enjoy playing with Momo-chan? What is your motivation?"
"She's like my little sister. She's the family I never had."
"You mean you don't have any siblings?" She wondered.
Momiji laughed. "Well, not quite. I don't exactly have a mother either, and my dad is pretty much out of the picture."
"Oh…I'm sorry to hear that, Momiji-san. "
"It's fine, I'm not that upset by it. Anyway, what has Momo-chan been doing to misbehave?
"In class, she seems to have trouble making friends. Any time I ask her why, she says 'I have Nii-chan to be my friend."
"Oh, that's so strange…" Momiji pondered to himself. He always had the impression that Momo was really sociable.
"Thank you for telling me this. I will try having a talk with her when I get the opportunity." He bowed, but before he could go she stopped him.
"One last thing…" she paused. "This may sound… really quite out of nowhere, but could it be that you're somehow related to us in some way?" You and Momo look so similar."
"Haha, unfortunately I don't think so. I wish I could be." And with that, he returned to Momo's side. "Ready to play?" he asked happily. "Race you to the end of the hallway in three.. two.. go!" He laughed and ran as she yelled back at him,"Hey, no fair, Nii-chan, you cheated! Come back!
"Catch me first!" He teased. They spent much of the next hour racing around, until they had to stop to catch their breath.
Excusing herself from a conversation with Kunimitsu and Ritsu, Tohru stepped outside into the courtyard to cool off. The banquet hall was so packed with hot food and guests that the heat was slightly uncomfortable. The courtyard was nearly empty, but was just what she needed. The cold air woke her up right away. She strolled over to the surprisingly unfrozen pond in the center of the courtyard and watched the twinkle lights above her illuminate the dark waters spotted by the occasional fish swimming by. She exhaled deeply, and appreciated the way her breath lingered in the air and was whisked away by a slight breeze. Footsteps came from behind her and she was joined by Kyo, who took her hand and helped her jump onto a ledge over the pond where they could sit, watching the water ebb occasionally from a chilly breeze.
"What are you doing out here all alone for? Was it too hot in there for you?"
"Ah, yes, it was, I started feeling faint after awhile. I feel better now though. Was it too hot for you as well?"
"Nah, I just saw you go out the door and Shigure was bothering me. He's annoying when he drinks."
Tohru leaned against his shoulder and closed her eyes, savoring the feeling on her face of the winter night on one cheek and his overpowering body heat on the other. Kyo continued to look down at the fish swirling below his feet as they dangled over the pond.
"I'm so happy to be here Kyo-kun, here with everyone again. I missed them all so much." Tohru sighed.
"I'm… sorry about that. It's my fault we moved away."
"Oh no, no! That's not what I meant, I'm very happy where we are now, being with Kyo-kun, it's better than anything I could have asked for!" She implored, leaving him smirking.
"I know. Just teasing."
"Mean, Kyo."
"Yeah, yeah, I know."
They sat there for a while, silently appreciating the relative quiet that was present in the courtyard. Kyo's palms began to sweat. His fingers felt numb as they searched the pocket of his kimono, feeling the box stored carefully. He gulped and cleared his throat.
"Tohru," he began, not even knowing where to start, because what he planned to say was going to be rather embarrassing , "At first, when we were invited here for New Year's, I thought I wouldn't have much of a desire to go-"
"Oh, I never realized, Kyo-kun, we can leave, if-"
"Let me finish." He chuckled. "I never thought I'd want to come here to celebrate, to this place that really haunted my entire past." She squeezed his hand as a comforting gesture.
"Hell, had you asked me three years ago to come to a party with Yuki, Kagura, and Akito… well it wouldn't exactly be at the top of my wish list. I accepted my role as the cat, the one everyone looked down upon. I hated it, but I couldn't change it. I really only had Shishou to get me through the day, and with out him, I probably wouldn't be here right now. I'd be in that room, the cat's room."
"We certainly owe a lot to Shishou-san." Tohru agreed.
Kyo nodded. "Anyway, the day I met you, well, formally, that is, when I crashed through the roof, I thought it was the universe's way of punishing me, making me face the girl who had lost her mother because of my inaction."
"Kyo we've talked about this, it's not your-"
"Fault." Kyo interjected. "Either way, I don't think I could have been more wrong." He turned to look at her face, with her big eyes gazing up at him with a look so tender that any weaker man would crumble at her sight.
"I don't think I really thank you enough for that. You changed me, and my life, always for the better, and everything you did for me, I noticed it. I could hardly believe it myself when I realized I loved you, when we went to the beach house. I never thought I would love anyone."
Tohru couldn't believe her ears. He was being so honest and straightforward. She realized in a wave of panic that any moment he might ask her something very important, and she would not look surprised enough. She prepared her shocked expression mentally.
Kyo's face started flushing.
"Do you remember that time we were making rice balls for the school festival? When you said I had a pickled plum on my back that I couldn't see?"
"Yep!" Tohru nodded, "I told you about the plum on your back! Although back then I think you said you wanted fish instead…"
Kyo chuckled. "I'm fine with plums. I told you back then that I could see yours, your plum. A little one, but it was there."
"Yes! And then I said little ones have the best taste."
Kyo reached into his pocket and pulled out the box. Both Tohru and Kyo inhaled sharply at the gesture. He opened the box slowly, and revealed the ring inside. Small white diamonds glistened around the circular purple rose quartz in the center, connected to a thin silver band to wrap around one's finger. A purple stone surrounded by white gems: just like a purple pickled plum in a white rice ball.
"I want you to be able to see your own plum, Tohru. Because you were the first to see mine. You know already that I'll love you always, but… um. If you want... to…Tohru. Will you marry me?"
Tohru struggled and tried to look surprised by the ring in front of her.
"Oh Kyo-kun, it's so beautiful. Of course I will!"
Her terrible acting simply made her face contort into a painful expression.
"Er.. are you okay, Tohru?"
She could tell he could see straight through her failed attempts. Her face clouded with disappointment. Kyo's heart sank.
"Oh, is... is this too soon? I'm… I'm sorry I put you on the spot like that. You don't have to say yes."
"No! No! Stop, ah, that's not it Kyo, please. Of course it's a yes!"
"Then what's with the face you're making? Were you expecting this or something?" Kyo asked, feeling hurt.
Tohru's eyes went wide, and her breath caught. She looked down at her fingers that were playing with the hem of the robe. "Haha um, well…"
"Who told you." Kyo said, covering his face with his hands.
"It's okay, Kyo-kun, that's not important!" She smiled, taking his hands off his face and holding them once again. She gently plucked the ring out of the box and placed it in his fingers.
"Here, please continue. I couldn't be happier!" She stretched out her left hand, extending her finger toward him.
"You sure?" Kyo huffed. Tohru bobbed her head up and down expectantly.
He grasped her hand and pushed the ring onto her finger.
"It fits!" Tohru cheered. "I love it Kyo-kun." She leaned into him softly, dropped her eyelids slowly, and pressed her lips against. He returned her kiss, smiling against her lips as he pulled her closer. The wind chill picked up and both of them involuntarily shivered, but they continued, not registering the temperature drop.
They continued for a few minutes but suddenly pulled apart at the sound of a shrill noise coming from somewhere on the Sohma grounds.
"What was that?" Tohru exclaimed, looking out at the trees beyond the courtyard.
"Who cares?" He shrugged, leaning back in for another kiss. She placed her hand on his chest, still allowing for him to kiss her briefly, but then pulling away. He looked down at her questioningly.
"It's starting to get cold, Kyo-kun, can we head inside?"
"Sure."
Kyo hopped off the ledge they were sitting on and helped her down.
They walked toward the door, laughing and bumping their arms together. Before they could reenter the banquet hall, Momiji burst out into the courtyard to look for them, smiling at the sight of the two just walking in.
"There you two are! We were looking for you everywhere! Hurry up and come inside, the festivities are about to begin!"
"There are festivities? Ooh come on, let's hurry Kyo-kun!" She laughed, dragging Kyo in behind her as she followed Momiji into the banquet hall. "Let's go!"
