Fruits Basket Christmas Fanfic:

Finding the Meaning of Christmas, Part 3 of 3

AN: O-WA~H, everyone! This is the last part of my first miniseries! Thankies to all the people who gave reviews, I greatly appreciate it a lot! Well, this is a milestone for me since I never ever written past a second chapter for anything in my life. Enjoy the last part! If you want to read how all this started it all, read Strong Hearts, which is out for reading now! Also, please, please, review! Nothing gives an author inspiration than reviews!

   This is weird… Tohru's gonna give birth. We managed to get Tohru into the car and sped on our way to the Sohma Residence. Me, Haru, Tohru, Shi-san, Aya and Hari were all squished in one car while Kyou and Yuki were on Kyou's motorcycle behind us. (1)

   "Kyaa~h! Hatori-san, it's hurts!" Tohru cried. I tried to calm her down by rubbing her back. Hari said it was best not to try to touch her hands during her contractions. She might to use the hand as a clutch for the pain. Goodness, I'm glad that I'm not a girl.

   "Okaasan… Please, help me okaasan!" Tohru said, crying onto my shoulder. I made sure that she hasn't hugging me when she did. Poor Tohru, she seems to be in so much pain…

   "The contractions are becoming close to each other. It won't be long for the birth." Hari said as he finally pulled up into the Sohma Compound.

  After Hari parked the car, I step out so Haru and Hari can carry Tohru onto the compound.

   "Kyaa~h! Akito-san, I need Akito-san!" Tohru wailed through tears. Oh, Tohru… (2)

  After Tohru was sent into the main house to Akito and that hospital doctor with Hari, the rest of us sat in a nearby house, waiting. I sat, nibbling on a candy cane from my secret sash of candy in my sweater. Yuki was outside at the gate with Kyou, obviously still nervous about being on the compound near Akito. Haru was chewing on some gum I gave him and was reading some book from his room (3). Shi-san was in the main house, waiting outside the room where Tohru was going to give birth, so I heard. Aya was right outside the door sitting on the veranda, sipping on some tea. I sighed. I'm getting bored, so I decided to speak to Aya since the others were obviously busy of trying to occupy themselves until the twins' birth. I opened the shoji and sat next to Aya. It's strange that we don't get to speak to each other as often as I like. He has a funny sense of humor and a very cool sense of style. He took a sip of some green tea before turning to me with his smile.

   "Can't wait until they're born, ne, Momiji-kun?"

   "Yeah, I wonder how they'll look like!" I squealed. I'm so excited!

   "Me too. It still feels unreal that Princess is going to be a mama, na. I wonder what sex they are. I hope they're twin girls."

   "Oh, yeah…" I put a sad face. I had nearly forgotten that Tohru was carrying the children of the Head of the Sohma Clan. If she gives birth a son first, he'll be the next in line to rule over the Sohma Clan. It'll be so burdensome for the young heir since his father is not guaranteed to live long to raise him properly of the way of the Head of the Sohma clan.

   "But if they're be both boys, I think Tohru can handle it. That girl is the most resilient person I know."

   I nodded my head in agreement, when I noticed that Aya was fiddling with a paper crane. It was one of the best handcrafted origami cranes I seen.

   "Wow, Aya, did you made this crane?"

Ayame chuckled as he shook his head. "No, but my secret admirer."

   I look confused. "Secret admirer?"

Aya chuckled. "I'm afraid it's a little too complicated to explain, Momiji-kun. Like your situation with Tori-san."

   I blushed. Oh no, I hope he doesn't talk much about it! "Huh?"

Aya sighed and smirked at me. "I think you should go for him."

   "What?!"

 Aya winked at me. "I, the all-knowing Ayame, know that Tori-san likes you, and not the parental variety either. He confessed to me and Gure-san after all. Well after all those glasses of sake we gave him last week…"

  I stared at Aya and held my furiously red cheeks. Hari is in like with me?!

 Aya laughed. "Wa~h! Momiji-kun is embarrassed!"

  I look at Aya. "Surely it has to be a mistake. I don't think he can forget Kana like that…"

 Aya smiled at me, but this smile was different. It had a tinge of sadness in it. "I don't think he'll ever get over Kana, but him wanting to be with you shows he's willing to move on now is a good change for him. He shouldn't keep himself in the past like that…"

  I look down at my feet. "But why a kid like me, there's plenty of beautiful ladies he can choose from."

   "Well, I can't really explain it to you, but Tori-san saw something in you. Something that he can't find in anybody else. You really need to know it from Tori-san himself. Just remember that brush-off he did to you today was for his and your sake. Tori-san would love a kiss from you, he's just not a PDA person like me and Gure-san."

  I lifted my head and gave Aya a confused look. "Why are you telling me this?"

 Aya just shrugged. "On the contrary that many people think, I'm not that self-absorbed. Tori-san is one of my best friends, and I want him to be happy. I just thought that telling you how he feels about you and knowing how much you care for him would just speed up the process. I think if I didn't told about it, he wouldn't done anything about it. Make him happy, Momiji-kun, I'm putting my trust in you."

  I hugged Aya. "Thank you. Aya."

 Aya just shook his hand at me. "That was nothing. I did much better than that! I have to go and find Yuki and see if he would try on this cute wedding dress for me. Maybe it'll give Kyonkichi some ideas." Aya said, winking at me.

  I laughed as Aya left the veranda and almost bumped into Shi-san crossing a bridge. The two briefly smiled at each other then Shi-san said something quietly to him. For a moment I saw a shocked expression on Aya's face and a nod. Aya hurried past Shi-san as Shi-san approached me.

   "Shi-san? What's wrong?" I asked him.

   "One of the twins had turned over." Shi-san, trying to smile as he sat down, but the worry is evident on his face.

 What?! "There's nothing to be worried about. I mean, is it easy to fix, right?"

   "It's suffocating. The umbilical cord is choking it. They're trying to move Tohru to a hospital but both Akito and Tohru are against it. Tohru wants Akito to witness the birth and you know he's way too weak to even leave the compound. So they're trying to give the caesarian here, but Tohru is putting her life in danger."

 Oh, Tohru. "What should we do?"

 Shi-san sat next to me, as he picks up the crane Aya left next to the tea. "There's nothing to do but to wait."

  We all waited and waited. Hiro and Kisa came home as soon as they can after hearing that Tohru's in labor. Kureno, Kagura and even Rin returned home. It was like a big family reunion. It was well late into the night as everyone except for Hari and Shi-san was sleeping in the living room, either on the table or the floor. I was sitting at the table, I was drinking some milk. I wanted to be awake for the news. I heard the shoji open as I saw Hari and Shi-san smile at me.

    "Tohru gave birth to twin boys, Senta and Yukita. Wake everyone and let's go to Akito's room. They're waiting."

 I smiled as I wake everyone up as we headed to Akito's room. Kyou stopped next to the stairs as I looked at him. I smiled.

    "It's okay, Kyou. You can come see them."

 Kyou smiled. "No, I know that! It's just it's gonna be weird and all. Tohru's a mom now… A Sohma mom… she will have to face the possible emotional shit from her kids. She can't escape us now."

   "She already knew that a long time ago. She would've left a long time ago, right? Come on, I want to see the twins!"

 Kyou ruffled my hair as we entered in the room.

  "That is Senta and this is Yukita. Aren't they cute?" Tohru said, cuddling the sleeping Yukita in her arms. Little Yukita and Senta are so cute!

  "I know, I will call Senta 'Sen' and Yukita 'Kita', since we already have a 'Yuki' in family." I said as I fiddle with Kita's hands. "Wa~h! He's so cute!"

Haru looked at Kita, then at Sen. "Is Senta the next in line as the Head?"

Tohru turned her head, her face turned sad just for a quick moment before returning to her smiling self. "Yes."

Akito just snorted. "Anyway, remove yourself from here. Tohru, Senta and Yukita need to go the hospital." 

 I smiled at the small twins one last time as Tohru was lifted into the ambulance holding the bundle of twins.

   "I see you later today, Tohru, Sen, Kita!"

 Tohru softly smiled as the paramedics closed the ambulance's door and drove away. We stayed until the ambulance disappeared from our view. Hiro and Kisa told us that they had to go home and left. Rin isn't really the one to stick around, especially she's still not on good terms with Haru and Shi-san and left without a word. Ritsu panicked saying that he had a writing report for Japanese history due the next day and hadn't started on it yet and ran to his house (4). Kureno was already with Akito and seemed that he was staying with him to get him settled for the night. So the rest of us just stayed outside the gate, in peaceful silence.

   "Come on, nezumi. We both have an exam in Psychology later today." Kyou said, breaking the silence. I giggled.

Yuki smirks. "Need help cramming, ne?"

 I swear I could see a pair of cats ears arch up on Kyou's head as he fumed. I laughed.

  "No! I ACTUALLY studied… this time…"

Yuki smiled as he watched Kyou stomping towards the car. He turned to me and smiled.

  "Well, we'll see you later at the hospital, ne, Momiji? And Merry Christmas."

 I just nodded to him as he walked to Kyou's bike and snatched the spare helmet and put it on as he hopped on the motorcycle behind Kyou. Kyou flipped on the visor after Yuki wrapped his arms around him and drove away as we waved goodbye to them.

  "YUKI!!! Remember that you promised that you'll try on wedding dress today, too!"

 Haru, Hari, Shigure and even me looked at him strangely as he grinned.

  "My Christmas present from my darling brother to me!"

 Hari just rolled his eyes as Shi-san just laughs. Haru just snorts and left for our house.

 "Merry Christmas." He said as he left for our house. He was never one for a lot of conversation anyway.

 "Well, well, I might as well spend a night at Aya's. I want to take a peek at the infamous dress that Yuki-kun will be wearing today. Ne, Aaya?" Shi-san said, winking at me. I smiled back.

 "Well, I might let you see as long you can drive me home. Can we borrow your car, Tori-san?" Aya said, trying to use the 'puppy eyes' on Hari.

 "Yeah, please, Ha-san?" Shigure said, pouting along with Aya. I laughed at the sight as Ha sighed as he handed over the keys.

 "Okay, but bring it back this afternoon, I have to take Akito to see Tohru and the twins in the hospital. Understand?"

 Aya and Shi-san stood up straight and saluted like a pair of soldiers. "Roger, Sohma-taichou (5)!"

 Hari started to rub his temples as I laughed again, harder this time.

 "Yosh!" They said in unison again.

 Shi-san and Aya ran to Hari's car that was parked at the entrance and opened the doors and quickly sat inside and closed the doors. The car roared to life as Shi-san started the engine. Aya rolled down the window.

"Merry Christmas, Tori-san, Momiji-kun!" He said with a smile as Shi-san winked at us from the car before the car sped down the road at an extremely fast pace. Hari just shook his head with exasperated look on his face.

 "It'll be a miracle if that car comes back in one piece. Let's go home, Momiji. You have school in a few hours."

 I sighed as Hari and I entered into the compound. I felt my heart beat twice more than normal as I noticed that Hari and I were alone. I gulped, trying to keep the nervousness overcoming me. I had to ask him this question, a question that can change our entire lives.

 "Hari, can I ask you a question?"

 "Yes, go ahead."

 "I…um… err…doyoulikeme?"

 Hari stopped suddenly stopped in front of me. Luckily, I stopped just in time. I know my cheeks were bright red.

 "Huh?"
 "I said do you like me?" I said in a low voice. I looked up to Hari and for the first time I saw a tinge of confusion on his face. I would've laughed if I weren't so nervous. I look at him with pleading eyes. I really needed him to answer this question for my sake and his.

 "Of course, I like you, Momiji. Who wouldn't?" He said. That isn't the answer I looking for, Hari!

 "No, I mean… do you like me as you would like…. a romantic interest?" I said. I took a long, deep breath. My heart started to race even more as I stared at the ground. We were silent for a few moments until I felt a hand brushing against my cheek. I look up to Hari's deep blue eyes (6).

 "Please, don't make me answer that. It's wrong for something like this to happen."

 "Hari?"
 "Ayame told you, didn't he?"

 I nodded.

 "I promised myself that I wouldn't feel anything like that. It was my punishment for what I did to Kana. But… I couldn't help it…"

 I tried to swallow my throat. It was true. He likes me. His eyes were betraying him. "I understand. When did it happen?"

 "It was a feeling of protection at first. When Akito threatened to hurt you… when he started to garner an interest to you, I wanted to protect you from that. I thought, at first, it was a debt I had to pay you for erasing your memories of your mother, but it wasn't true. As you matured over the last year, I started to have disturbing thoughts like what it would've been if I were in a romantic relationship with you. However, this is wrong. Your father entrusted you to me. If I took you as a boyfriend, or more intimately, a lover, it'll be a betrayal to him. Your father is a person that I highly respect and helped me in my journey to a doctor. He loves you so much, his innocent Momiji. I'm afraid that I'll hurt you and destroy you like Kana before I erased her memories of me. Akito may have calmed a bit after marrying Tohru, but that can't guarantee that he'll prove of this. He doesn't even know about Kyou and Yuki and we all know that he's still obsessed over Yuki."

 I put my hand over his as I started to cry. Hari, please don't throw this way. I know that it'll be hard, but don't do this!

 "I'm trying to say that we can't do this, Momiji. As much as we want to, we just can't." Hari said as his hand slip from my face and turn toward the house. I stood there for a few seconds until I ran to him. Until I felt myself slipping on a rock...

 "Hari!" I said before I fell and slammed my leg on the rocky floor. Hari turned around and hurried to my side as I sat on the ground as I nursed my leg.

 "Are you okay, Momiji?"

 I nodded, biting my lip so I won't cry from the unbelievable pain from my leg. Hari moved my hands away and started to feel my leg for broken bones. I hissed a few times as he felt around the leg.

 "It doesn't seemed to be broken, but I wouldn't completely trust that conclusion. I'll give you an x-ray before you go to school if the pain eases by then. Can you stand?"

 I tried to the stand with the help of Hari. I started to blush as I felt his hands holding my waist as we tried to stand up. As I tried to put some weight on my injured leg, a shot of pain laced through it as I almost immediately lift it up again.

 "Ow… it hurts."

 Hari nodded. "I see."

 Then I felt myself being lifted into his arms. I blushed furious as I stared at his face up-close. For a moment, I forgot about he rejecting his attraction to me and I kissed his cheek. It might have been a horribly wrong move to do, but I couldn't hold my feelings in.

 "I like you, Hari. Please… just once…"

 Hari stopped and looked at me with a small shock as I hold his face and kissed him. If we can't be together, then I can give him something for us to remember that once we both like each other, possibly loved each other, in this moment. I gave him my first kiss.

 Hari pulled from my grasp and looked at me and as I stared at his eyes and saw it, the unrestrained passion in his eyes. Maybe there is a chance… and I'll wait for it to come, indefinitely.

 "Merry Christmas, Hari."

Epilogue:  I took a deep breath as I watched Haru as he finished reciting his essay. I managed to arrive to school after first period since I had overslept after I just finished the essay and Hari had to do the x-ray and had to wait for the results to show up. My leg isn't broken but it will be sore for the next couple of days. I wore some long navy blue slacks to hide the big, gross bruise covering my leg that appeared overnight. Hari said that I shouldn't be on my feet and he will write an excuse note for gym. He will even pick up from school when he gets the car this afternoon. Haru sat back down in front of me as I limped up to the front.  Nakagawa handed a stool for me to sit on. I thanked her and sat on it. I looked at my essay and closed my home as I relieved last night in my mind in fast forward. It's amazing how many changes that everyone went though over a year. Maybe that's why holidays were created to observe these changes so we won't grow out of touch with the people who matter the most but don't visit on a regular basis. Even if that isn't true, it's an interesting concept to think about.   "Last night, I thought I would spend a regular Christmas Eve with my family, but I was wrong, and for the first time I discovered the true meaning of Christmas…"

End of Finding the Meaning of Christmas.

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AN: *cries* It's done. It's finally done! I'm so happy that I finally completed my first fanfic miniseries. Thanks for all the people who review this. It was a great inspiration tool for me. I sorry that I couldn't get the last part out as early as I can but between college and writer's block, it seem impossible to get it done. However, it is now. I hope you'll stick around and read the prequel, Strong Hearts. Thank you everybody! In the words of a great comedienne Tracy Ullman, "go home already!" (Stupid, I know…)

1. I could imagine Kyou with a motorcycle… it fits with his fire-like personality. If people wonder the colors of it, it's red and white. I might draw a picture of Kyou on it one day.

2. I know Tohru seem to be a bit of OOC in this scene, but remember she's experiencing the most intense pain a human was to go through, being in labor. So if a woman like Tohru is suddenly screaming for her husband and mother, it shouldn't be unusual.

3. I don't know, but I laughed after seeing how crowded Haru's room like because of his books in the manga. A bookworm to the end I suppose.

4. Remember, the Sohma Compound is made up of many houses, like a small community. Ah, the dibs of being one of the oldest families in Japan.

5. –Taichou is a title equivalent to a captain of an army or team.

6. I think Hatori's eyes are a dark blue… well using the manga version's colors.

Thank you for reading this miniseries, please review!

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Fic Created: March 2003

Fic Finished: May 27, 2003