A/N: Hi all, if you didn't catch it, I re-uploaded chapter 1. It includes a pared down beginning as well as the introduction of Chris, my OC. Shigure meets him in the kitchen, so you can skip to that point to get caught up. Here we have the beginning of Gure's book tour and shenanigans. As always this is mostly from Shigure's POV, but Tori and Mayu are there to make comments. They are as always well marked.
Also I don't own Fruits Basket or the characters therein
Gure the Carefree Dog
Soon after Tori and Mayu went off to spend some alone time at a resort in Okinawa, Mit-chan called and asked if I would go on a book-signing tour. As the kids were off on a school trip, I felt free to go.
She added,
"We'll be sending Chris with you. Marketing loved his images from the launch party. Will that be, ok?"
"I'd be fine with that."
More than fine, I thought.
"Great! He'll do a photo journal of your trip. And we don't want to just see Shigure the author. All work and no play makes Gure a dull boy."
"Sounds fun."
"Great! We'll book your suites at the venues and off you go. I hope you won't mind having Chris stay with you. It would make keeping up with you easier."
"Not a problem."
I thought well Fates, I'm not sure I know what you have in store, but have at it.
After I rang off, I called Aya told him I was going to be away for a while.
"Why?"
"Book tour."
"I could go with you. It would be fun."
"No, I think I need to get away. Plus, you have your shop to tend."
"Oh poo. You're right of course. Well, if you're going, we should go out and celebrate tonight. You might not get a chance to unwind in the next few days."
"Let's do that."
Returning home, I began packing for the trip and then took a nap.
As Haa-san was away, I had to be the designated driver.
Aya said,
"Tori would be pleased."
"Well as you don't drive, the options are stay sober or call a cab because I'm not asking one of the family drivers to drive us."
"Yeah…that would probably be a bit more than they want to take in right now. Well, the important people know who you are and don't mind whom you take to bed."
"That would be no one right now."
"That's not going to last long."
"You think I'm that much of a horndog?"
"That, and I saw how you looked at that photographer. You know, none of us would feel less of you if you let yourself move on from her. There's no set time for mourning. But we also respect that people grieve in their own ways. So, whatever you decide is valid."
"I know."
We got to our favorite club and parked. There was a crowd, and, after getting past the bouncer we saw that a themed party was in full swing. Apparently, my book had hit. Everyone was in kimonos. Some even had animal heads that made them look like my paintings.
A person wearing a dog head was circling the floor carrying drinks.
Aya grabbed one and downed it.
I felt a bump, and someone excused himself. When he turned around, I was faced to face with Chris, the photographer in question.
"Gure, oh my god. You're here?"
"Shouldn't I be? This is the club I go to most often."
"If anyone recognizes you it will be pandemonium. We need to get you out. Fortunately, this is pre tour, so I'm hoping that you'll go under the radar, but there's always a chance someone will recognize you, and then it's all over."
"Damn, I was hoping for a night out before I go on tour."
"Well, I don't think I'd get you out now anyway. I think they're filled practically to capacity. Here, I can get you into the staff area with my press creds. If anyone asks who you are, flash your ID."
"You're working?"
"Yeah, I'm working for the party planner covering this event. That's the other reason we need to get you out. I'm just glad I hadn't caught you in any of my photos."
"Does the publisher care….."
"It's not that, they have many LGBTQ+ clients and are generally quite accepting of the community. It's just that this planner tried to book you but the fire Marshall's ixnayed that. It wouldn't be good if you were seen here."
Chris led me and Ayame through a door marked "Staff Only" we entered a dark hall. A bouncer stopped us, and Chris flashed his press pass.
He pointed to Aya and me and said,
"Who are they?"
"Shigure Sohma and his cousin Ayame."
"And I'm the tooth fairy."
I took out my driver's license, and the guy blanched.
"Sohma-senpai, I'm a huge fan! I'm so sorry for not recognizing you. It's a bit dark in here."
Chis asked, "Is there a door to the parking lot this way?"
"Well, there is but it's sucks that you'll miss the party, it's Sohma-senpai's after all."
A waiter walked by and took his dog head off. Chris said,
"Well, if you want to go to the party, you could always wear the head."
Aya said, "Gure! Let's stay!"
The waiter said, "Well it's the end of my shift so go ahead."
I put the head on, and Chris said,
"Ok that's going to work. Thanks!"
The bouncer said,
"Can I take a picture with you?"
"Sure."
I threw my arm around him, and Chris took a picture with the bouncers' camera. He then turned his camera on us and snapped a pic for himself.
We made our way back out to the club and Aya and I started to dance. Someone tapped me on the shoulder and asked me where my tray was. I shrugged.
"Well, keep dancing, everyone is loving it!"
When he left,
Chris laughed and said,
"That was the party planner. He would be livid to know that's you under that mask."
He continued to take photos while staying close by my side as did Aya. I noticed he was careful to angle the camera away from me so that I never appeared in his shot. This continued until someone pulled me onto the stage and started dancing with me. Being in the middle of the swirling dancers was exhilarating. It was a bit dizzying to keep balanced as the large dog head was a bit of a muchness, but that added to the excitement. After a few sets, I was feeling tired and so I found my way backstage. Chris found me there and said,
"Oh my god you are going to be the death of me! I see I'm going to be your minder as well as your photographer."
I hugged Chis and said,
"I'm sorry you were worried, it's just that it's been a long time since I've felt that way without the aid of something."
His stricken face melted into a smile, and he said,
"I'm glad I could help. I'm off soon, do you want to get something to eat? I'm famished."
"I should probably go. I still need to pack, and I need to drive Aya home.'
"Well then, I'll see you in the morning. The company's car will be by to get you at nine."
"Nine? So early?"
He gave me a "what gave I gotten myself into look," hugged me, and led me outside.
"Should I return the head?"
"Nah, keep it, it could come in handy."
He walked us to my car to make sure I was safe. We paused, shuffled our feet, and finally said good night. He left, and I stood a minute, considering my assertion that I was taking a break from romantic encounters.
Aya said,
"You didn't have to do that; I could have gotten a taxi."
"I know. I just think I'd like to savor that moment of dancing without a care for a little bit. It's my experience that things get complicated when you start adding others to the equation of having fun."
"Do I complicate things?"
"Not really. As you said, you could have taken a cab home."
"Chris is very good looking."
"I've noticed."
"And if I'm not mistaken, I think he feels similarly towards you."
"Also duly noted."
Throwing the dog head in the back of the car, I brought Aya home, finished packing, and went to bed exhausted yet very happy. Who knew putting on a fake dog head could create such carefree bliss in me.
Hatori interlude
Having finally broken completely free of the final strands of the curse, Mayu and I made our way to Okinawa for a vacation at a luxury resort.
It was just what the doctor ordered. We were both extremely relaxed.
"Can we move here Tori?"
Mayu mused one morning as she lazed in our jacuzzi in her tiny bikini.
I looked up from my paper and said,
"Well, I'm sure it would be lovely for a while, but we'd eventually miss Gure and Aya.
"Yes, they do get under your skin don't they, like a fungus."
Chuckling, I tuned back to my paper. I had reached the culture section. Normally I wasn't drawn to the articles printed in that section, but I happened to see a photo of someone in a kimono wearing a dog's head dancing on a stage while surrounded by people. The caption read, The Dog Headed Knight Dances at De Classe Last Night. h
"Mayu," I asked, "do you think this is Shigure?"
She looked over my shoulder and said,
"Yes, it is. That's one of Aya's kimonos. I noticed he always puts his signature somewhere on his clothes. It's hidden in the stitching on my dress and nightgown."
She pointed to the AS that was visible in the twists of the dog's tail that chased around the hem of the figure's kimono.
"And Aya is in the front row."
"Hmmm. Well that's pretty innocent, but I wonder if he's ready for the fact that he's going to get more attention from the press once his book becomes more publicized."
"You might want to give him a call."
It was 8am and I was already up and dressed and waiting for the company car. My phone rang and Tori said,"
"Sorry to wake you but I needed to talk to you about something."
"You didn't, I've been up since seven."
"Seven? Do you mean you didn't get in until seven?"
"No actually, I was in bed at eleven. I'm getting ready for my book tour."
"So that wasn't you at a club dancing in a dog's head costume?"
"There was a picture of me in the newspaper?"
"Big parties draw the press."
"Hmmm. Well, I'm not sure what is planned for the tour, but I don't think it will be clubbing, because Chris looked a bit nervous when he saw me there last night. But Tori it was so much fun!"
"You're an odd duck. You spent all that time trying to get out from under the Dog's curse, and the first free minute you get you're dancing in a club covered by a gigantic dog's head."
"Don't knock it until you try it Haa-san! I've always said you and Mayu should go to a club with me."
My mind flashed back to his suggestion that Mayu and I should "get our groove on" and said,
"I can ask..."
"What if I told you I foresee you joining me dancing with a big dragon's head on your head?"
I snorted and said, "Yes, and I'm sure you see Mayu wearing a fish tail."
"Well of course! I see the whole zodiac! It would be fabulous! I need to talk to Aya, we need to make this happen."
I laughed; I was certainly happy to hear him sound so happy. It had been a while. However, wasn't sure about his "premonition," so I told him,
"I'd say 'Reply hazy, try again later.' But what I'd like to say now is that now you're gaining a bit of notoriety, you should be a little more aware of cameras. I know Chris is likely vetted, but there will be others around with fewer scruples."
"I know Haa-san."
He said in his "I'm being a smart-ass" tone,
""I know Haa-san, they just can't get enough of me!"
He then added, "But seriously Haa-san, I understand what you mean. I'll be careful."
After I had said goodbye Mayu asked,
"So, was it Gure?"
"Yes. It was Gure. But perhaps a bit more responsible Gure. I think."
On the Road
The company's car was a luxurious stretch limo. There was plenty of room to stretch my long legs. The driver picked up Chris and stowed away his equipment,
"We have nothing scheduled for today, Gure, so we can get situated at the hotel. You still don't mind if I take a room in your suite?"
I looked at him and smiled at him appreciatively. Mit-chan was not wrong, he was indeed easy on the eyes.
A bit of my appreciation must have entered my voice when I said,
"Not at all," for, while he smiled back at me with equal appreciation, he tipped his head toward the driver as if to say, "we're not alone."
I then asked with semi-nonchalance,
"Oh, did you see my photo on the paper?
He winced,
"I wasn't the only one with a camera last night. But all in all, it could have turned out worse."
Thinking about what Haa-san had said about having to watch myself when cameras were in the room I asked,
"Is the tour just readings and signings?
"No, you are scheduled to go to a club, but it's only by invite and everyone will be vetted."
"You have to admit that was fun!"
"Terrifying but fun. If something happened to you, Mi would have killed me."
"Don't worry, I plan on being the model client."
"Speaking of which," Chris took out a camera and took a picture of me in the limo.
"So, you're going to snap away."
"That's my job."
Haa-san's words echoed in my mind. Perhaps this was ill advised. He noticed I was nervous and said,
"I'm for hire by the company. If I do something to jeopardize their reputation, I don't get paid and will never work from them or any other reputable company ever again. I'll become a tabloid photographer, something I don't want."
"Thank you."
We arrived in our hotel. As I wasn't set to do a signing until the next day, I had some time to relax. After going over my schedule I decided to go to the pool. Coming back, I found our living room empty, so I pulled out a sketch pad began doodling. As I was still musing over the night before, I drew a cartoon panel recreating the night's events using chibi versions of Aya's and my zodiac animals. But then I realized I didn't have an animal for Chris, so I tried out a few. I couldn't use any of the zodiac animals of course as they were already spoken for; and a wolf was too close to the costume dog head, which was vaguely husky-like. I finally decided to draw him as a cute fox with black fur, as he was indeed a fox. I put my sketchbook on the coffee table and walked off to take a shower before dinner.
By the time I had gotten out and dressed in a fresh kimono, Chris had arrived toting a clipboard. He looked at me in a manner that caused me to pause.
"What?"
"Well, I just got your marching orders. Most of the hotels you're speaking at have a strict dress code. They want you to wear a suit."
"Ugh. Well, the suit isn't bad, it's the shoes I object to. My sandals are so much more comfortable. Plus, I look stuffy in a suit. I don't know how people wear them every day."
"I generally wear one to blend in."
I sighed, and got dressed, and returned, saying,
"Well then since you've forced me to wear a suit, I want to see you in a kimono."
"Maybe later, we should get to dinner."
He then went to his room to straighten up for dinner, so I took the clip board and drew my chibi self wearing the suit with a sweat drop forming over my head. I then drew Chris as a fox in a kimono saying, "You're right, this is much more comfortable." I slid the clipboard back into place. He laughed and said,
"Come on you."
Dinner was in the hotel restaurant. The music, designed to give those wishing to carry on personal conversations, gave us a bit of cover.
Our conversation centered mostly on the tour until, after having a conversation about my drawings, Chris said,
"I hope you don't mind; I saw your sketchbook on the coffee table and couldn't help peeking. I love your drawings."
"It isn't private. It's just something to put down ideas I have for stories."
"Those little characters you draw are adorable. Have you ever thought of writing a manga?"
"No, they're just the little doodles I do I when I'm thinking about things. My sketchbooks are filled with them."
There was a lull in the conversation, he considered something, then said,
"So, if I may ask, what are you thinking?"
We looked at each other for a minute, and then mercifully dinner came so I could concentrate on not making a fool with my chopsticks and not figure out what I was thinking. Returning the conversation back to the tour I asked,
"So, when do the photos start in earnest?"
"Tomorrow. You're tired I imagine."
"Not as tired as I could be. Nine is extremely early for me."
"What would you have done normally if you hadn't needed to get home?"
"Oh I would have stayed at the bar for a while, then I might go up another club or someone's after party."
I left off, "and sometimes I'd go home with a beautiful man."
But I believe my eyes betrayed what I thought as Chris cleared his throat and said,
"Well, I for one am tired."
We went back to our suite and said good night. As I walked into my room, Chris called,
"Oh Shigure?"
"Yes Chris?"
He seemed to pause, weighing things in his mind, but said instead said,
"I like the fox doodles, but what made you chose a fox for me in particular?"
"Well, you're a fox."
I realized what I had said a bit too late, but mercifully Chris merely smiled and wished me a good night, seemingly quite satisfied by my answer.
A/N: And so, it begins! It will be a somewhat slow burn because Gure is still grieving Mayu, but he's starting to come around, but I do promise it heats up. On to Chapter 3! Please r and r- Acta!
