Sorry I couldn't have this chapter out earlier but school started and I've been super busy with homework and getting everything ready. But here it is and I hope you like it. Props to my reviewers who keep the support going.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket but I do own Yukiko and the song is Return by Ok Go.
Innocence
Chapter 10
A Couple Fights and a Stolen Kiss
"Kana?" Hatori asked shocked that the name of his second love would come up.
"Yes. You see, I met a boy from our distant family. He said Kana was his older sister and she used to work for her. So I wondered if you knew of her or Mamoru," Yukiko said quietly. She didn't want to upset her father since he had an unpleasant alarmed look on his face.
"She did work for me for a while. It didn't work out though and she had to leave. It's not important," Hatori ended. He felt for some reason not to say anything about how he fell in love with Kana. He wondered slightly how she would take the news but decided against mentioning it.
"Oh, okay," Yukiko replied. She couldn't help the feeling that he was hiding something else.
"Well, I must go now. We'll have some more time to spend later this week," Hatori said turning to walk out the door.
"Alright… dad," Yukiko whispered to the empty doorway. She hoped that she would get to know him better and on a level where their relationship would be more friendly. She wanted him to act like a real loving father, not an acquaintance.
--
"Here you go," Tohru said as she handed out bowls to everyone for dinner. Yukiko grabbed hers and started to eat.
"Thank you Tohru," Yukiko said before jumping when the door near her slammed open. Her bowl flew out of her hands and landed upside down on Kyo's head.
"What the hell?" Kyo screamed but he was ignored as Shigure made his presence known in the room.
"All right! Here's an idea- what do you say we go on a trip tomorrow?" Shigure asked obvious to Kyo's anger.
"I'm so sorry, Kyo," Yukiko gushed as she ran for a towel to help clean Kyo's hair from her dinner. Everyone looked at him shocked. "After all, this is Golden Week. It would be a shame if we didn't do something special…Chances like this don't come very often."
Yukiko ran back into the room and draped a towel over Kyo's head. She started to rub his hair down with it while he talked to Shigure.
"What kinda' crazy talk are you spewing over there? You drunk or somethin'?" Kyo asked sounding annoyed at the girl fussing over his hair.
"No, but even if I had been drinking, it wouldn't affect me…" Shigure laughed.
"Uncle Shigure, you drink alcohol? My mum used to drink wine but that was only on special occasions. It's very usual in Europe," Yukiko said. (AN: Forgive me if that's not true or stereotypical)
"At any rate… I thought we might go to one of the Sohma spas, or perhaps the lake house… How does that sound, Tohru?" Shigure asked.
Kyo grabbed Yukiko's hand to stop her from rubbing the hair off his head.
"Okay, that's enough. It's dry now," Kyo said annoyed.
"I'm really sorry for dropping that on your head. It was an accident and I only wanted to help," Yukiko bashfully answered. She held the towel limp in her hands, Kyo's own hand still attached to her wrist. He looked slightly ashamed at his harsh reprimand.
"Ah, hell," Kyo muttered as Yukiko left the room to put the towel away.
"You always seem to make everyone else feel bad, don't you?" Yuki asked after noticing the little exchange.
"Shut up you damn rat!" Kyo screamed slamming his fist onto the table.
--
Later that night, Yukiko was out behind the house planting some flower seeds that Yuki had given her by a small pond. Kyo walked quietly up behind her to see what she was doing. As he did this, she started to hum a song that was unfamiliar to him.
"Now its years since your body went flat
And even memories of that
Are all think and dull, all gravel and glass
But who needs them now
Displaced they're easily more safe
The worst of it now
I can't remember your face
Please…
Return
For a while, with the vertigo cured
We were alive – we were pure
The void took the shape of all that you were
But years take their toll
And things get bent into shape
Antiseptic and tired
I can't remember your face
Please…
Return
You were supposed to grow old
Reckless, unfrightened, and old
You were supposed to grow old
Return
You were supposed to return."
Kyo interrupted her before she could sing anything else.
"We're leaving for the lake house tomorrow. Go pack," Kyo said harshly. He watched her jump a couple feet in the air and spin around to see him.
"Oh, it's just you," Yukiko sighed, relieved.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Kyo asked.
"I was afraid you were some stranger," Yukiko apologized.
"Whatever, just go get ready," Kyo said before leaving.
"O-okay," Yukiko stuttered before finishing her gardening.
--
The next morning, Yukiko was sitting between her father who was driving and Shigure on her right. Yuki, Tohru, and Kyo were sitting in the back seat with their luggage behind them in the trunk. Yukiko was happy that her father decided to come, because she would get to spend more time getting to know him better.
When they arrived at the lake house, everyone except Kyo piled out of the car. Kyo was much slower on the uptake and was reluctant to even come.
"Just look at that lake!" Tohru exclaimed looking over the sparkling water.
"It's beautiful. Perfect to swim in!" Yukiko agreed joyfully hugging her father around his waist. They were inside and standing by a window. Yuki was next to Tohru, with Yukiko between Tohru and her father. Much like Tohru, she had attached herself to her father and wouldn't leave his side. When she really bonded to a person, she wanted to spend all her time with them.
"And big, too!" Tohru added.
"I don't know that it's really that impressive…" Hatori said calmly.
"Of course, it's wonderful," Yukiko said to her father, giggling. He watched her radiate with happiness with his one uncovered eye.
"Just be careful 'Jason' doesn't get you while you're here…" Shigure said creepily sneaking up behind them. Yukiko jumped and looked around wildly for this so called Jason.
"Don't even start with your nonsense…" Yuki said. Hatori put his hand on his daughter's movements to soothe her actions.
"Who's Jason?" Yukiko asked nervously.
"Jason… Jason… Why does that name sound familiar?" Kyo wondered from where he was laying down.
"Jason is a giant bear they say lives by the lake… You don't know much, do you…" Shigure said.
"Shut up! I knew that!" Kyo screamed as he sat up.
"No you didn't," Hatori said coolly.
"Oh, just a bear. I was afraid that it was some creepy, pedophiliac stalker that kills people and burns their entrails like in the movies," Yukiko said relaxed. Everyone else stared at her vivid description like she was crazy.
"Where the hell did that come from? And why are we even talking about this?" Kyo asked. "You didn't bring us all the way here to tell us about a bear, did you?"
"Yes, why did you bring us here?" Yuki asked. "I suddenly get the feeling you're up to something…"
"Ah, you two… always so suspicious… All I wanted was for everyone to come have a nice, relaxing time at the lake. And you think I'm up to something. Instead of standing around sniffing out conspiracies, why don't you try to find a more productive use for your time. Oh say… like taking Tohru for a walk," Shigure suggested.
"Oh, it's okay. I really don't mind going by myself…" Tohru said.
"You know, it's just too tense in here. We could use someone to come lighten the mood… I know, I'll call Aya!" Shigure said.
While everyone else was yelling and threatening Shigure, Yukiko pulled her father out the door so they could be alone for a while.
"Where are you taking me?" Hatori asked.
"Well since everyone else is busy, I thought we could have some time alone to talk about whatever," Yukiko replied. They walked silently around the lake for some time. "Dad…"
"Yes?" Hatori asked watching his daughter's curious expression.
"Um… did you love mum?" Yukiko asked suddenly. She stopped walking and started at a caterpillar crawling by her shoe.
"Yes… I did very much," Hatori finally replied after a couple seconds.
"Then, do you still love her?" Yukiko wondered. The best way to learn about her father was to ask questions.
"I do…" Hatori answered. He could only guess where she was taking this conversation but he patiently waited to find out.
"Well… do you love me also?" Yukiko mumbled shyly. She bent down towards the ground to let the little bug crawl on her arm. Hatori sat down near her in the grass and thought about how to answer her inquiry.
"Without a doubt," Hatori remarked. He couldn't see his daughter's expression because she was turned away from him but he did notice her stiffen a bit.
His daughter looked like she belonged out in nature that day and her pale yellow sundress glowed under the burning sun. She wasn't wearing shoes and it made her even more connected to her surroundings. Her hair was down and swaying with the ripples of the soft wind. There was no doubt in his mind or of anyone else by the way the he looked at her, that he truly loved his daughter.
"Well then why didn't you come find mum after all this time!" Yukiko suddenly cried as she turned around swiftly to face him. She stood before him with a look of complete outrage on her petite face. He stood up to meet her, surprised at the turn in the conversation.
"What?" Hatori asked stunned.
"You let her die! I'm sure that you could have helped her. You could have made her happy all that time. She thought I didn't notice, but she would suddenly have those moments of sadness on her face. You could have saved her and made her happy!" Yukiko screamed, scaring some birds in the nearby trees.
"No! I couldn't! Akito would have made me erase her memories," Hatori said, stepping closer to calm her down.
"Why? You could have stayed with us in Europe! I could have finally had a father instead of a broken family. You know how many times I saw other people with fathers? I never even had any friends. It was just me and mum! We were alone for almost fourteen years!" Yukiko continued to yell with tears streaming down her face. Hatori's heart clenched with guilt at being the one to make his daughter cry so. And he had to admit that she was right.
"I couldn't leave the Sohmas. They're my family and I have to remain loyal to Akito. Its part of the curse," Hatori attempted to apologize.
"So he's more important to you? He's your family! You don't love mum or me, you just love Akito and your perfect family!" Yukiko cried one last time before running off into a group of trees next to the lake. Hatori watched her go with a single tear coursing down his face.
--
Tohru, Kyo, and Yuki had taken the walk that Shigure had suggested. Both of the boys seemed irritable so nothing was spoken between them. Soon enough though, they noticed someone run by up ahead quickly. The small person had their hands covering their face and their hair was flying behind them as they ran… their dark green… hair.
"Was that Yukiko?" Tohru asked, but she was ignored by Kyo who ran after the little blur now passing through trees.
Kyo kept his eyes on Yukiko who was getting scratched from tree branches on her uncovered arms and legs. He tried his best to catch up to her but she ran out of sight beyond the trees into a field. He exited the small forest in time to see her trip over a rock and go flying into the dirt ground. She tumbled down a small hill and landed in a creek full of water.
Kyo quickly ran down the hill as fast as he could to check on her and he saw her crying. Jogging through the water to her, he pulled her out of the knee high brook and pulled her over to the edge.
"What's wrong with you? Why are you crying? Are you alright?" Kyo asked rapidly.
"Stop! Go away!" Yukiko cried as she pushed him and turned away from him. She started to get up to run again, but he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to the ground.
"No! Tell me what's wrong," Kyo said calmly for once in his life.
"I don't have to. Why are you being so nice now?" Yukiko stuttered trying to release his grip on her arms.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Kyo asked.
"You're never nice to me, why now?" Yukiko fired back. "Let me go!"
"No! Stop struggling, I'm not gonna hurt you. I want to know what you're running from," Kyo replied.
"It's none of your business!" Yukiko repeated.
"I just want to help!" Kyo screamed back, growing annoyed at her endless resistance.
"I don't need your help!" Yukiko cried. She stood up and he followed her. He still held her arms in a tight grip.
"Stop being so stubborn!" Kyo shouted pulling her closer to stop her fighting to get away from him.
"No! Let me go!" Yukiko shrieked again. She didn't want to be near anyone after her fight with her father, and now she was fighting with someone else.
"Just shut up!" Kyo screamed as his lips descended upon hers in a feverish kiss.
--
Wow! There are no other words I have for that wonderful ending. Sorry to leave it on a cliffy but I felt it was a good enough spot. I should have the next chapter out sometime this week or next weekend. I absolutely loved the interactions in this chapter between Yukiko, her father, and Kyo. Just beautiful to me. Anyways, please review and let me know what you think of this chapter and of course, Kyo and Yukiko's kiss. Tehe…
Love, Archer