Also called "A Sohma Family Christmas". The fruits basket gang celebrates christmas together and the gift of giving draws everyone closer than ever before. Very mushy and sweet. Some pairing you may hate me for...buuut..meh. =3
Disclaimer stuff: I dont own Furuba(Fruits Basket), as much as I would love to, I dont. Etc. Etc. So dont try and sue me! You wont get anything anyway. ^.^
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*| Chapter 2....
Surprisingly enough the decorating would get done. Slowly but surely, it would. The first hour was only done in a day before the three quit, Yuki and Kyou almost getting into another scrap over weither the all blue lights looked better outside, or the flashing multicolored ones. By the second day the three had agreed on plain white lights, and comensed the decorating again.
"Is everything coming along well?" Tohru interupted Shigure as he hung stockings along the wall of the main room.
"Ah, you should be resting." Yuki spoke out before Shigure could respond.
Tohru waved her hand in dismisal to his comment. "Aw, Im fine Souma-kun." She turned to face Yuki who placed a hand on her forehead. "Hmm... you dont seem to be as overheated as before."
"Good, now she can help us with this crap." Kyou said, tossing down the thread of Christmas garland. "Ive no idea what to do with this stuff."
Yuki shot Kyou a angered glare, Kyou simply shrugging his shoulders as Tohru bent over and picked up the garland. "This goes along the doorway or wall.. along with a mistletoe."
The three turned and stared at Tohru. "Mistletoe?"
Tohru nodded slowly. "Yes. The mistletoe should hang by a doorway so when two peopl..." She stopped mid sentence, noticing the stares she was getting. "Well we dont need to add it if-"
"No its ok" Kyou said, a bit too quickly. Shigure and Yuki turned and looked at him surprised. "Oh.. uh, its not important." Kyou said quickly recovering.
Shigure covered with a more convincing approach. "If its part of the decorations, it should be included." He winked at Tohru cooly as Kyou clentched his fist.
Tohru nodded smiling. "Right!" She stood straight and alert, holding her arm out and pointing at the doorway.
"Itll go there!"
The three stared at the doorway, thinking about how open it was and overly easy it would be for the other to get Tohru underneath it with them. More specifically.... Yuki and Kyou turned and glared down Shigure who was grinning and admiring Tohru standing near the door. They just knew what he was thinking.
"Hey!!" Kyou yelled.
"Ahem." Yuki coughed slightly.
Tohru simply blinked and watched them.
They'd decided to hang the mistletoe instead at the doorway to the kitchen. Yuki voluntering to do so, after Shigure tried to trick Tohru into helping him with it, which would coincidently put her right under it with him.
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"Is Honda-san going to invite her friends?" Shigure asked, setting his book down on the floor beside him. The decorating was done and the group sat in the middle of the room eating. Tohru shook her head in response to Shigure's question. "I didnt want to take away from their family celebration." Kyou turned to give Tohru his full attention. "But I did get them presents." She added with a wide smile. Shigure and Yuki nodding in approval and Kyou just staring with a smug look.
"Speaking of presents.." Yuki stood up slowly. "Would you like to join me in shopping Honda-san?" Tohru looked up and across the table to Yuki. "Well yes I..."
She wasnt exactly expecting for him to ask. Why now? Why with me? But she wasnt going to say no, that would be rude and inconsiderate. Yuki walked toward the door and grabbed his coat. "Shall we go?" Little did Tohru know, but he had other plans in mind and it involved more than just shopping. Tohru didnt argue with the timing, and simply stood and exited the room with Yuki, leaving Shigure and Kyou still and staring at one another in surprise.
Tohru simply followed behind Yuki as he walked to the side of the house and sat on a low bench rested beside a tree.
"Are you tired Yuki?" Tohru watched him sit, shuffling slightly to get more comfortable. He looked up at her and lightly patted the bench, signalling for her to sit and she did.
"What would you like for Christmas Honda-san?"
"Eh?... Oh.. well.." she giggled. "I'm not sure.."
"You have nothing particular in mind? Isnt that what Christmas is for, the presents?"
Tohru turned to him quickly and shook her head. "No, no! Theres much more than that."
Yuki titled his head, intregued by her sudden enthusiasm.
"Its about being together and sharing the spirit of Christmas. Being happy and loving one another. Presents comes second..."
They sat silent for a while, Yuki taking in the words Tohru said to him.
Suddenly Tohru stood up quickly, bonking herself on her forehead with her fist. "How will all the others learn about the party? I didnt get a chance to tell them."
"Dont worry, they will." Yuki responded calmly, and Tohru sat back down beside him.
"But how?"
"Word gets around. Everything will work out in the end."
Tohru rememberd how she had told Hatori about the gift exchange and next Ayame knew. "Ah... true." Yuki smiled kindly at her and scooted closer slowly. They sat together on that bench for a while, Tohru glancing around confused before Yuki spoke. "You've matured alot since first arriving Honda-san."
"Hmm?" Tohru tilted her head and stared over at Yuki confused.
"I can see it clearly. I can see the pure devotion you have now, more than before."
He turned and looked at her, those beautiful, mysterious gray eyes looking into her stunned brown ones. "The excitement you have about Christmas.. its very refreshing." Tohru stared at Yuki, admiring his sweet, calming expression for a while longer before turning to face forward. Yuki moved even closer, until he was pressed against her. He leant his head close to hers, slowly lifting his hand and running his fingers through her hair, lifting it toward his face . He rubbed the lock against his cheek lightly, the actions causing Tohru to turn a bright red and sit still.
"Thank you for bringing us closer."
Tohru sighed quietly and turned her head to face him. "A-ah... your welcome Souma-kun." The blush hadnt left her face and seemed to increase even more now that she was lost in his eyes.
Slowly Yuki moved his hand to Tohru's face, cupping her chin in his hand, moving her face close to hers and nuzzling his nose against hers lightly. 'A true prince....' Tohru thought to herself while remaining still in her shock. As soon as it seemed Yuki was going to kiss Tohru, he moved away and smiled innocently. "E-eh?...." Tohru was both relieved and surprised that he didnt do anything, confusion over what exactly he had planned.
He stood up and went to walk toward the house before Tohru stood up and stepped forward toward him, ready to ask for an explanation for his actions but instead got her foot caught under a rock and fell over onto him...
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Meanwhile inside Kyou and Shigure sat silent staring at eachother, Kyou's face screwed up in anger, wondering what Yuki and Tohru were doing, and what the sudden importance of shopping at that percise moment was. Shigure just smiled at him, knowing how jealous he must have felt.
Kyou turned quickly as soon as he heard the front door open and watched Tohru walk into the room, holding the gray mouse known as Yuki. He shot the rodent an evil glare, his mind instantly thinking the worse.
"That damned rat.." he mumbled under his breath, the expected response.
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The next week flew by quickly, everyone leaving the house at different times to go shopping privatly for eachother. The mistletoe remained a center for attraction and conflict as well. Both Yuki and Kyou trying their best to keep the other, and above all Shigure from being underneath it at the same time. But all went fairly well, and before they knew it it was the very day for celebration.
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It was around 7 that everyone started to pour in all at once, a full hour after the scheduled starting time, but Tohru didnt think too much of it. She was happy they had came at all, and didnt bother to dwell over the timing. First Momiji arrived, as cheerful as always, followed closely by Saki, then Hatori and Ayame arrived; Ayame kissing Tohru on the hand lightly and forcing a blush out of her. Haru arrived on his own, casually carrying his present under his arm- Tohru glancing at it and thinking instantly it was for Souma Yuki-san. Kagure came after that, followed by Hiro and Kisa and lastly Ritsu. It didnt take too long for everyone else to realize that Rin wasnt there, but nobody would tell it to Tohru. Most of which were afraid to bring it up and decided it would be best not to think about. Possibly she just didnt want to come.
The party comensed as planned, even without the presense of Rin. It was as when everyone began settling in the main room that a knock at the door halted Tohru from siting. She stood completely and headed for the door, opening it rather quickly only to see a neatly wrapped gift settled before her.
Tohru looked down at the small box and noticed instantly that it was for Haru, from Rin. She brought the gift in and held it up, annoucing that Haru had a gift afterall. Everyone stopped to look at her, Haru stepping forward and taking the gift. He flinched visably once reading the tag. With that reaction, all knew it better to leave him be, and not question more about the gift. He would later open it when privacy was available, in an empty room with the darkness as his friend and find a simple card and necklace.
The gifts remained simple yet meaningful.. some of which included.. For Shigure from Tohru: A pair of fancy pens. For Kyou from Tohru: A pack of bath beads, which Kyou promptly asked what they were for, and Tohru explained with a sweatdrop that she heard they kelped calm you. For Yuki from Tohru: an assortment of his favorite foods in a nicely decorated bento. For Kyou from Kagura: A large heart plushie with the words "I give you my heart" printed on it, and a swift kick for a mumerd comment. For Momiji from Hatori: A silk scarf, very feminine and frilly. And For Kisa from Hiro: A simple and cute stuffed bear.
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After Tohru had handed out her own gifts, she turned her attention to the ones she had been given. Hers had been laid out infront of her by Shigure and she began to look through them.
"This ones from Sohma-kun!" Tohru chirped, picking up the gift, covered in green christmas tree wrapping paper neatly. She double checked the tag then nodded to herself and began to unwrap it as Yuki and Kyou watched, the others absorbed in their own gifts. Tohru completely unwrapped the gift and began to open the box that held her present. Both Yuki and Kyou leant forward as she let out a cheer and held the gift up, smiling. It was the stationary kit she was admiring in the store window.
"Thank you Sohma-kun!" Leaning closer, and not thinking about it, Tohru let herself hug Yuki tight and instantly in a poof he turned into a mouse. Tohru let go and looked down at the now gray mouse and smiled embaressed. "S-sorry..." Kyou had stood abruptly by now, clenching his fist tight. He shot Yuki an evil glare then walked out of the room.
"E-eh?..." Tohru turned to watch Kyou walk off, then slowly went to stand but was stopped by Shigure, who shook his head slowly.
"You should open your next gift.." he added, releasing her.
"Ah... right.." She looked around the floor and noticed the box settled next to where Kyou was seated. She reached over casually and grabbed it up quickly, checking the tag then stopping still. "Its from Kyou-kun.."
She lifted the box closer to her face examining it before setting it down and unwrapping it. The paper fell at her sides, the not-too neat wrap job now falling apart in crumples on the ground. Tohru flinched and looked down at the stationary kit. Yuki looked over at her, expecting a dissapointed reaction, but instead Tohru stood up and hugged the box tight. "Now I have two!"
She leant over and set the box beside Yuki. "Excuse me.." She stood up and ran out of the room, a sweet smile on her face and headed out to search for Kyou.
She didnt have to go far, he stood in the kitchen with his back facing the doorway where Tohru stood.
"Thank you Ky-"
"He always has to beat me..." Kyou interupted her, clentching his fists tight.
Standing silent Tohru watched as Kyou punched his unclentched hand. "Thank you for the present Kyou-kun..." She spoke quietly, in a low insecure voice.
"Do you understand how that feels?.." Kyou wasnt listening. The humiliation and anger was still too much for him. This time it was a big deal, he wanted it to be special, different. But no, again he was bested, by Yuki.
"That damned mouse always has to make me look like a fool!" Tohru flinched as he raised his voice, she didnt know what she was supposed to say. An odd silence absorbed the room then, it stayed for a long time, making the air thick and the two uncomfortably still.
"I still love the cat.."
Kyou turned around quickly, staring at Tohru in surprise. She looked up surprised as well and glanced off to the side stamering and embaressed. Kyou slowly walked closer to Tohru, keeping his eyes on her face. "You...?"
"Still love the cat.." She looked back toward him smiling. "I felt sorry for him, and still do.. its not fair how he was treated. Hes me favorite, and I wish I could be the cat..."
Kyou cheeks were now tinted a light pink, and he moved his gaze away from Tohru's face. Tohru was also finding it hard to look him in the eye, she blushed slightly as Kyou walked closer.
"T-thank you for the gift Kyou-kun." She looked up at him smiling wide, then quickly stopped, a bit stunned by the serious look on his face. Kyou had his regular stone cold look, but with an odd twist. It wasnt like he was angry, but instead just very serious. Tohru was ready to speak, though unsure of what to say, she just stood staring at him with her mouth open slightly. Before she could speak Kyou did.
"Arigato Honda Tohru..."
Tohru flinched with the mention of her full name, and the tone of his voice; cold but soothing.
"I never thought Christmas would be like this...Im glad you shared it with us." He paused and stepped even closer, Tohru not knowing they could get any closer without touching. "Im glad you're here with us Honda Tohru.."
Tohru still held her mouth open slightly in surprise, but quickly closed it and smiled sweetly. "But of course Kyou-kun... I couldnt see myself not staying here with you all."
Kyou kept his serious expression and glanced up at the frame of the doorway, causing her eyes to follow his to the large point of attraction. The mistletoe. Tohru's jaw dropped in surprise and she stared up at it dumbfoundedly. "H-heh... the mistletoe.." Both lowered their gaze onto eachother again and Tohru stared at that smiling face. The nicest most sincere one she had seen Kyou with ever. It was more of a smile Yuki expressed, something she would never expect him to have. The smile that melted her. Tohru moved forward first, neither of them thinking of how this wouldnt work, they werent thinking about that now. It wasnt that important. Tohru rested her hand on Kyou's cheek and stood on tiptoe, bringing her face close to his and pressing her lips against his. Everything moved in slow motion now. It truly must have been a Christmas miracle, for their kiss lasted far longer than it should have. It was long for them, but still short in comparrison to a true lovers kiss, and a kiss the two of them secretly wanted. Tohru moved back and smiled briefly at the sweet and satisfied face of Kyou, before it was gone in a poof, and she was forced to look down at the familiar orange cat. "Poor cat..." she whispered, tickling behind his ear. Kyou simply stuck his tongue out at her and headed back into the living room.
Kyou walked in first, followed closely by Tohru who stopped short, cut off by all the stares of intrigue and glares of jealousy she recieved.
"Uh... a-anou.." A forced smile formed on her face and a sweatdrop coarsed down her face.
"D-dont read too much into it..." She stammered out, Kyou simply shrugging as Yuki glared over at him. Then it seemed to happen all at once, as everyone shot up and moved in on Tohru, asking questions and making comments. All Tohru could do was just nod, and apologize, sweatdrops coarsing down her face and hair standing on end. Through it all, the norm, she still managed to wish them all a Merry Christmas.
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Outside the snow rested silently along the fields and streets. Homes and stores light up with lights of all colors. The atmosphere was typical of a Christmas, the colors-white for snow, green and red for holly-stood out brighter than ever before. Depsite the cold winds, everyones spirits were warm and light, and out there away from the Sohma house Akito lets this day pace. They will be happy and harmonious today, and enjoy it completely. It was the perfect first Christmas for them all.
*-*-*-*-*-*-* |M e r r i C h r i s t m a s u|-*-*-*-*-*-*-*