A/N: Hello! A four day weekend and I do it now. I'm bad. Anyway this chapter is long... I hope you like it! I had fun writing it.

disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket, just my OC and the plot line.

Chapter 13- The Real Preparations for New Year's

Teresa Sohma sighed and again watched the snow fall lightly. Winter break had started yesterday and so far she had accomplished nothing. "Hi Teresa," Teresa turned and saw Tohru standing there smiling her jacket draped over her arm. "Would you like to come shopping with me?"

"I'd like that, Tohru," Teresa bolted upstairs to find her jacket and slipped on her shoes. At lease it'll give me an excuse to get a dress, Teresa thought.

About ten minutes later Teresa and Tohru were walking to town to the supermarket. "Teresa?"

"Hmm?"

"You've been quite the last few days, anything wrong?" the shorter brunette looked worried.

Teresa absent mindedly pulled her hair into a bad bun, "I'm fine Tohru, I just have a lot on my mind."

"About New Year's?" Teresa detected something happy about Tohru when she said that.

"So it was that obvious? I'm losing my touch," Teresa mumbled to herself smiling. "But yes, that is it. Why did you seem happy?"

"Let's see we need some green onions," Tohru mused considering they had just entered the store. Teresa smiled at the mention of one of her favorite spices. "And I spent New Year's with Yuki and Kyo last year; I was hoping to do it again."

Teresa sighed, "I'm afraid that that won't be possible."

"Why not?" Teresa closed her eyes to avoid seeing the hurt in Tohru's eyes.

"They have to go to the New Year's celebration."

"Well I can always go over to Uo's and Hana's houses!" her attitude sparkled as Tohru continued shopping. Teresa followed unenthusiastically until they came to the section of the store that opened into a shopping center.

"Tohru, I'm going to go look for a dress, alright? Come find me when you're done," Teresa quickly walked off in order to avoid questioning.

She entered a shop and immediately regretted it.

"Mine, we have a customer!" a very loud and arrogant voice rang over her ears. No, no, no, no!

"How may I-" the assistant dress maker launched herself and Teresa and stopped short of a hug, "Miss Teresa how are you?!"

"Mine who is it?" Ayame came around the corner and flew towards the raven wrapping his arms around her. "Teresa dear it's so good to see you! Ahaha, how have you been dear raven?"

"Ayame let go of me now," Teresa said calmly and darkly.

"My, my," he stood back, "Spending too much time with Akito have we?"

Teresa grabbed the snake by his collar and threw him to the wall and leaned to him, "You say that again…" she threatened. Teresa began walking out of the shop and turned her head, "You've just lost a customer."

Sighing, she walked to another dress shop where an older lady came out of the back, "Can I help you find something?"

"Yes, I was wondering where the full length formals you have, preferably blue?" Teresa smiled at the woman.

The woman was very helpful and led her to the section of the store and where her size would be. The woman left Teresa to brows the dresses.

About ten minutes later, Tohru entered the shop and called out, "Teresa?"

"Back here!" Tohru followed the sound and found Teresa standing there in a beautiful blue dress.

"Teresa you look gorgeous!" Teresa smiled at the compliment.

She was wearing a full length sapphire blue formal that had two straps over her shoulders and at her waist the material was bunched up a bit with a crystal on her right hip. The skirt fell straight down and flared out just a bit at her ankles. The dress did look fairly odd with her converse shoes, though. "All I need are some shoes," Teresa slipped back into the dressing room and came out again with her jeans and gray three quarter sleeved shirt.

Teresa quickly went to the back and grabbed a pair of silver heels and found her size. Quickly paying for the dress and shoes, Teresa and Tohru were out the door and on the way home.

At home Tohru put the groceries away while Teresa hurried upstairs to put her bagged dress in the closet. She turned her head at the sound of the phone ringing. Teresa plodded downstairs and stopped at the end of the stair way and peeked her head around the corner to see Shigure with the phone.

"Oh hello, Akito. Yes of course, Kyo, Yuki, and I plan to be there New Year's. She can? Hold on I'll get her. Tohru!"

Tohru came running out of the kitchen, "What is it?"

"The phone's for you, it's Akito," Shigure handed her the phone.

"H-hello?" Teresa mentally face palmed, don't stutter, he'll use that weakness.

"Oh! Of course I will Akito!"

"Thank you so much! Yes, I can. Ter-!" Tohru started.

"I'm right here," Teresa came out and took the phone from her hand, "Yes?"

"There you are, I hope you can find something for that girl to wear?"

"Of course I can, Akito."

"Oh and don't try anything and not come," she could hear the smirk in his voice.

"What makes you think I would do that?"

"Teresa, don't play games with me. I expect to see you, Kyo and Yuki too. And Teresa, don't come see me until you have to."

"Yes Akito. Goodbye." Teresa hung up the phone. When she turned around Teresa saw Kyo and Yuki standing there.

"We heard one of you say Akito, what did he want?" Kyo asked.

Teresa looked to Tohru, who had by far received the news. "Akito invited me to go to the New Year's celebration this year."

"He what?!" was the reaction from the males.

"And your presence is greatly requested as well," Teresa stated pointedly to Yuki and Kyo. "You shouldn't have even had a choice last year," she muttered.

"You had one too!" Kyo yelled.

"I wasn't here!" Teresa yelled back and left the room.

Kyo opened his mouth to say something but Shigure stopped him, "Let her be, I can't imagine all the pressure that she has on her right now."

Tohru went out to her a few minutes later to find her out watching the land. "I have to help you find a dress. We can go tomorrow if you like?" Teresa turned and Tohru saw the kind smile.

"I'd love to!"

The next day, Tohru was in their room wearing a mint green dress. Teresa smiled from her seat on the bed; the dress had one shoulder strap and the next line was an inch under the color bone. The material had a tighter strap around the waist mimicking a belt, and the skirt was pleated falling straight.

"I love it!" Tohru smiled and looked down at the off-white flats that went along with the outfit.

"I can help you do your hair and makeup too, but it'd half to be early because I have to leave early."

"I really do appreciate all you've done, but doing that would be too much."

"Nope, I want to play around, so you can't tell me no," Teresa smiled smugly.

Tohru was glad to have her help. Teresa was generally fairly good with makeup; her own cheeks the perfect shade of pink and eye shadow and liner to bring out her blue eyes perfectly. Tohru never bothered with it, or her hair. Tohru walked over to Teresa and wrapped her arms around her neck, "Thank you."

Teresa lightly returned the hug, "You're welcome."

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