Sorry! Sorry it took so long! There's a character in this chapter that shall state my apology! ;; Class has been busy… I hope some people have been waiting for this… otherwise this may be a wasted effort. If you have any questions about the story or about Shinji, feel free to e-mail me at but you might wanna put something about the story in the subject… My junk mail filter is picky! waits at her empty mailbox for fan letters pouts ;; Well, I've got my picture of Kyou and Shinji done. It's now a matter of getting it scanned. Which I will probably do over Spring Break. Enjoy this chapter! It was much work! I like how Hatori and Kyou are kinda outside the main part of the chapter. You'll see their conversation in the next chapter. I think the next chapter is going to be all about what they were doing at the same time the rest of this stuff is going on. Maybe half that and half the party. Or maybe all that and the party is the next chapter. If I do it that way, I'll post the chapter quickly after the next one.

Enjoy! Please don't forget me… ;;

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Lost Answers: Okaeri Nasai… Welcome Home

-

"So! It has been decided that from this time on we will have a new member of our dysfunctional little family!" Shigure pointed at Shinji. "Everybody be nice to your new brother."

"Thank you, sensei." Shinji smiled and bowed. "I pardon the intrusion. Tohru-hime, I will help you with your household work in return."

"Ah… you don't have to do that." Tohru blushed.

"No, no! I insist. A princess should not have to do such horrid work anyways."

Shinji draped an arm around Kyou. "I think by now the prince should have swept the princess away from this, but what can you do when the prince in a moron."

"OI!" Kyou hissed. "It's enough having that damn Yuki throwing insults, now I have to have you, too?"

"Wow, catty aren't you?" Shinji smirked. "Well, for that, you have to help me bring all my stuff here from storage."

"Ah! Please allow me to help as well!" Tohru stepped forward. "You must have a lot. It is best to get everything in a few trips."

"Well, then, I'll accept if it is what Hime-sama feels is best." Shinji stepped towards the door and put on his shoes.

"Kyou shouldn't lift anything." Shinji squeaked and jumped backwards. His back hit the floor and he looked up. Hatori stood over him carrying a black bag. "Instead, I brought some others to help you."

"Um… Heh… Thanks…" Shinji pulled himself to his feet and smiled.

"Onee-chan…" Kisa ran from behind Hatori towards Tohru.

"So… cuuuuuuuute!" Shinji jumped forward and knelt down in front of Kisa. "I would be honored to have you help. I'm Harahoku Shinji. Shinji."

"I… am Sohma… Kisa… I… I want to… help Onee-chan and…" Kisa clutched at Tohru's dress.

"Hai. Shinji-san and I would love your help, Kisa-san." Tohru smiled.

"Sa-chan, Shinji-kun is honorary family now. You don't have to be afraid." Shigure smiled. "Have fun, all of you. Ha-san is going to take care of Kyou-kun."

"Kuso…" Kyou growled and plopped down on the floor. He watched the group walk off and sighed.

"Kyou." Hatori opened his bag. "Akito is…"

"Yeah, yeah, I know…" Kyou smiled sadly. "My cage is ready…"

-

"Shinji-san doesn't have as many boxes as I suspected…" Tohru nervously laughed as Kisa, Shinji, Haru, Momiji, and herself each grabbed a single box.

"I never was one for material things. No collections or anything… guess it turned out to be a good thing." Shinji smiled. "I appreciate everyone's help…"

"From now on, you're one of us, just like Tohru!" Momiji smiled.

"Although I don't know why you'd want to be…" Haru sighed.

"Ah, now don't scare Shi'ji!" Momiji balanced the box on his head and grabbed Shinji's arm. "We really aren't scary! Except Ha'ri, of course!" Momiji laughed.

"A family again. That'll be interesting." Shinji smiled and started off, Momiji still clinging to his arm.

-

"Welcome home, Shi-kun." Shigure smiled.

"I'm… home…" Shinji set his box in the doorway.

"We're all home." Tohru smiled and set her box on Shinji's.

"A few more members of the family came over. When I told them there was going to be a party here, they were dying to come. Also, they'd love to meet the newest member of the clan." Shigure patted Shinji's head and walked off.

"I wonder who is here now…" Haru frowned.

"Ah! The party! I should start cooking. Uo-chan and Hana-chan will be here soon." Tohru ran towards the kitchen.

"Shi'ji! Let's go see whose here, okay?" Momiji pulled his arm. "If you're worried about Kyou, I bet Ha'ri just told him to rest. Come on!"

"Okay, okay!" Shinji smiled and allowed himself to be pulled.

As the two reached the door to the sitting room, a loud crash rang out.

"GOMEN NASAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAI!" Shinji jumped backwards as a yell came from the room.

"THE HELL?" Shinji pulled himself up. He threw open the door. Two brown haired people were standing in the middle of the room, looking down at a broken vase. "Are… are you ladies okay?"

"Ah! You must be Harahoku Shinji-san!" One of the people with lighter brown hair ran forward. A lavender kimono adorning a slim figure. "Gomen nasai… I must have startled you… I don't know how I can ever live that down! GOMEN NASAI!"

"Shi'ji, this is Sohma Ritsu." Momiji pulled on the startled Shinji's arm.

"Ah…" Shinji blushed. "Finally I meet one of the beautiful Sohma ladies." Shinji smiled.

"Acctually, I'm the beautiful Sohma lady." The dark brown haired girl stepped forward. "Sohma Kagura. Ri-chan is just a weirdo with a dress fetish

"GOMEN NASAI! I bring shame to this family no matter what I do! GOMEN NASAI! Once again I have ruined the family by wearing such an outfit! GOMEN NASAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAI!"
"Pi!" Shigure's index finger pressed against Ritsu's waist. Ritsu fell to the ground. "Ah, the classic first meeting of Ri-chan. Kagura-chan doesn't seem too lively tonight."

"So… Ritsu-sama… is…?" Shinji's eye twitched. "I… have betrayed myself! Kyon-Kyon! Will you ever forgive me!"

Kagura frowned and pushed past the group. "I'm going to help in the kitchen."

"Did… I say something…?" Shinji frowned.

"GOMEN NASAI! IT IS MY FAULT THAT YOU OFFENDED HER! I SHOULDN'T BE BREATHING THE SAME AIR AS YOU!" Ritsu screamed from the floor.

"It's nothing to worry about Shi-kun…" Shigure smiled. "Kagura just had been in love with Kyou-kun for a long time and a while ago she discovered how he felt."

"Oh…" Shinji sighed.

-

"I'll help you…" Kagura walked slowly up to Tohru.

"Ah! Kagura-san! I heard Richan-san, but I didn't know you were here." Tohru smiled.

"I can see why he feels this way…" Kagura wiped tears from her eyes.

"Huh?" Tohru blinked.

"I've come to help you cook."

"Ah… hai…"

Kagura picked up a knife and stared at it. "I understand why he feels this way… but in the end you'll be hurt just the same."

"Huh?" Tohru tilted her head to the side. "OH NO!"

"What?" Kagura looked up.

"That pot is boiling over!" Tohru dashed across the kitchen in a panic. Kagura watched her and smiled.

"Even if it hurts in the end… The time spent together is worth it…"

"Did you say something, Kagura-san?" Tohru turned to her.

"Oh! Uh… no, nothing." Kagura smiled and shook her head. Tohru turned back to the stove.