Note: anti-climax…I noticed. Oh well…I tried, but I didn't really know what to write for Rin and Haru. And about the dinner, it was a wild stab at adding a little humour in the fic, although personally I don't think it really worked. Oh well, hope you still like it. And pls…. pls review!

Chapter 09 – a dinner affair

"Rin. Don't go."

"I'm busy right now. I'm looking for Tohru. Do you know where she is?" I asked.

"No. Is something wrong?"

"No. I just want to talk to her about some stuff." I broke his grip on my wrist.

I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. He looked so forlorn and confused. I wanted to be there for him. I really did, but now wasn't the time. Maybe when all this was over.

I turned my back to him and walked away.

Holding the book tightly in my hand, I ran through the corridors of the labyrinth that was the house and I found her in the most unexpected place.

In Aisha's room.

Tohru and Aisha were friends. Not great friends. Just friends. They talked, or should I say, they made small talk, but they didn't have any common interest and were very different people. Tohru was friendly and warm. Aisha was individualist and detached. She seemed to be of a different class, mature and confident of herself. She knew where she stood, and never once doubted herself, that was the impression she gave me. She was an authoritative figure. Tohru was a mother.

I listened through the door to what the 2 of them were talking about.

"I really don't know what to do for him. There just doesn't seem to be anything I can do."

"Don't worry. I'm sure we'll find a way. I'll keep trying to talk to Akito, and you can continue caring for him like you always have. He needs you more than ever."

"He doesn't need me anymore. He needs you."

"That's not true."

"It is. He told you, but he never mentioned it to me."

"Well, maybe the topic never came up."

"I don't know anymore."

"Well. That isn't important right now is it?"

"You're right. I have to break the curse, now more than ever."

There were footsteps coming towards the door, and before I could disappear, the door opened and Aisha and Tohru stared at me.

I quickly gabbed Tohru's hand and dragged her back to her room.

Opening the book to that particular page, I pointed out the passage and waited with anxiety as she read it.

The minutes passed agonizingly slowly as she read and started to comprehend. Her eyes widened and lit up and a smile spread across her face.

She threw her arms around my neck shouting, " you found it. You really found it!"

I smiled. I guess I had.

It had been Yuri's and Mizuki's idea that the family should have a dinner together. The past few months had turned out better than expected, but this sudden decision still came as a shock to many of the juunishi.

Seated around the table every one was looking down at their plate as if the intricate patterns on the porcelain were the most interesting thing they had ever seen. This was a strictly family affair, and without Tohru and Aisha, the atmosphere seemed tense and foreboding. Who knew what was going to happen?

They were having Chinese, a first in many years. At a fancy restaurant too. How long had it been since they had come out as a family? It seemed like a distant memory, or maybe it had never happened before.

Strangely enough, Kyou had been invited. After all he was family even if he wasn't part of the juunishi. It was only right that he be part of this family dinner.

The food started arriving, but no one dared to start. The aroma wafted through the air and a few stomachs grumbled in hunger, but still no one moved.

Minutes passed and the steam slowly disappeared, as the food grew cold. Still no one moved.

Finally after a long period of time and more stomachs beginning to digest itself Yuri had had enough.

"I demand everyone start eating now."

With this direct command every one lifted their chopsticks and paused, the chopsticks just inches from the food. If anybody were watching, they would have laughed. Imagine a table with 16 people, chopsticks in hand all hovering above the food. However they were in a private room.

They paused for some seemed like eternity before Kisa finally couldn't take the strain and dropped the chopsticks. This development caused them to spring into action. Hatori calmly helped Kisa pick up her chopsticks and serve her some food. Momiji took the chance to swipe some food, stuffing it quickly into his mouth, barely chewing it before he swallowed. He looked around hoping no one had noticed. Ritsu's habit kicked in and he apologized profusely. Hiro stared at Akito afraid that he would do something to Kisa. Rin put down her chopsticks and folded her arms across her chest. Hatsuharu was looking at Rin then at the food, not knowing if he should take some for her. Yuki and Kyou were fighting for the same piece of vegetable, their chopsticks engaged in battle. Kagura was busy picking the best for her darling Kyou. Akito had taken a piece of fish and was staring at it intently. Ayame was getting food for both Yuki and Hatori, barely eating anything himself. Shigure surveyed the scenes with amusement as he ate. Kureno was persuading Akito to eat, that the food was alright. No one had done anything to it, and it was perfectly healthy. Yuri and Mizuki smiled triumphantly, everyone had finally started to eat and now they could too.

"Stop fighting with me already. Must you always take what I want?" Kyou shouted at Yuki standing up in fury. He had enough of that rat.

"Why must you fight with me? Can't you take something else instead?" Yuki said indignantly.

"Will the 2 of you shut up already? I am trying to eat in peace." Akito said.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry…" Ritsu apologized.

"Shut up." Akito said, his voice getting louder.

Kisa cowered a little.

"Don't worry. Come eat something. I'm sure you're hungry." Hatori said.

"Hatori-san. You should eat too. You must be hungry too. Yuki, you too." Ayame said.

"Stupid rat."

"Pot calling the kettle black."

"Rin would you like to eat something?"

"Momiji don't eat so fast."

"Well isn't this nice? Everyone's eating together!"

"Perhaps we should do this more often."

"What's wrong with you people? Can't you all just shut up?"

"Akito. Watch it. Be happy, everyone seems to be."

Of course this wasn't entirely true. Rin was ignoring Haru. She sat sourly in her chair as chaos ensued.

Yuki and Kyou were entangled in another chopstick fight.

"Kyou? Don't you love me? Come eat some food. I took the food for you. Why don't you eat it?"

"Leave me alone."

"Kyou! EAT THE FOOD!"

"I'm sorry. I really am very sorry. This is all my fault."

"Akito. Eat a little more. You're already so thin."

"Leave me alone."

"Stupid rat."

"Kyou!"

Kagura stood up, fire burning in her eyes. She grabbed Kyou and without warning threw him onto the table. Then she grabbed him again and threw him against the wall.

By this time the dinner was obviously ruined, most of them had ran out of the room to let the couple fight it out.

"I'm sorry, I'm so very sorry."

"SHUT UP!"

Kisa had her hand over her ears and her eyes shut.

Rin stalked out of the restaurant.

Haru followed.

Momiji was complaining of not having enough to eat.

The twins lamented the fact that dinner had ended in this state.

Ritsu was driving Akito up the wall.

Hatori was trying to usher everyone out the restaurant and explain to the manager.

Then again the Soumas owned the restaurant so it didn't really matter much.

Yuki left shaking his head.

Shigure stood around watching and not helping.

Kureno was trying to clam Akito down.

Ayame was torn between staying with Hatori and going after Yuki.

Kyou was unable to get away from Kagura and the room was in a terrible state of disarray, broken dishes and food everywhere. Some of the furniture had also been destroyed.

This was one reason why they had never had a family dinner before.

I think Aisha and Kyou made a really cute couple and I was delighted that they were together, however, I could see that behind that smile, Tohru was depressed. I knew that both she and Kyou shared feelings for each other, with Aisha's arrival, Kyou had a change of heart, and this shattered Tohru. She seemed more vulnerable and lonely than ever.

One day I was talking to Kureno about it. Both of us agreed that although Aisha was a nice girl and all, we still felt that Tohru was the one for Kyou. They would truly make the perfect couple. After all they had been through, I would have thought their feelings for each other could withstand the test of time. However I was wrong.

Love comes in all forms, and sometimes the people who think they have found true love may have nothing at all. Some who think that they have nothing may have true love. There's no such thing as pure innocent love, for love only comes after much trial and tribulations. Sometimes hate comes into the picture. A fine balance between the 2 and an area of grey in between. I guess that's why lovers still quarrel and enemies make love.

I loved Tohru as much as I loved Kyou and I knew that deep down both of them loved me too. All of us had been through so much pain that we shared this common bond. Sometimes I thought that Aisha who had never suffered had no right to this love, but there was still a lot for me to learn.

"Momiji-chan. Stop dreaming." Aisha cheekily said.

I snapped out of my thoughts and smiled at her.

It was the holidays and since there was not much to do and too cold to go out I had taken a liking to visiting the people who stayed in the main house. Today it was Aisha's turn.

It had bee 6 months since she had lived here and 2 weeks since she and Kyou had announced to the family that they were officially a couple.

Normally she would be very busy, having to oversee some project her parents had given her, but ever since a few weeks ago she had stopped. Now with the winter holidays she was very free and happily spending her time with Kyou.

"Aisha. What project did your parents give you?"

I knew she lived in the lap of luxury, her parents having their own business that was doing extremely well. She went to a private school in the USA, which was where she had met the twins. She was apparently very rich, and since young had been trained to take over the family business, which was one reason why her parents trusted her so much to oversee a project in Japan.

"Some construction thing. I'd rather not talk about it."

"Oh. Private and confidential? Anyway, it's all finished right? You don't seem so busy anymore."

"No. I screwed up big time, my parents fired me."

I kept silent, head bent, unable to meet her gaze. I hadn't realized that something like this had happened.

"And to punish me, my parents have told me the truth. Apparently I'm not their daughter. I was adopted. And apparently when I was young, I had been disfigured very badly, and they had to send me for plastic surgery. I had always wondered if I was their own. After all I was the only one in the family who had orange hair."

"I thought you dyed it."

"No. It's natural. Just like Kyou's actually. I find it quite amusing. Don't you?"

"Really?"

"Yup. So that's why I'm not very busy anymore. Not that that is a bad thing. I'm quite happy to spend my time with Kyou. And now I know my parents won't be giving me anymore jobs."

"Great. Well it's getting late, and it's almost time for dinner. I really should be going now." My stomach grumbled o cue.

"Well, see you soon then." Aisha said, showing me to the door.

"It was fun having you. We haven't talked for quite a while have we?"

"Yea."

We didn't really talk a lot in school; she preferred to hang with her classmates than with Tohru and the rest of us. Maybe I was wrong about her. She didn't exactly live the perfect life did she?

Note: Momiji and his random thoughts. I dunno, I find him a very sensitive rabbit. And he's so adorable. Oh well, I would beg you to review if you're reading this. You have no idea how discouraging it is to see so few reviews. Of course there is the possibility that there are only 1 or 2 people reading this, but I'd rather not think about it that way. So, make my day, and pls REVIEW! any comment be it good or bad…any thing you might want to say…maybe to help me improve? Thank you.