I'm sooooooooooooooooooooooo sorry it has taken so long time to update but the school began and one of the teachers had apparently decided to drown as many students as possible to the homework already on the first metres. But I lived through it! (Partly with the power of your encouraging reviews. No old and nasty teacher will get me as long as I have people waiting me to continue my story!)
Wow, still no flamers! I was waiting only for those when I posted the first chappy and now people keep telling me how interesting and unique my story is! Mina-san, I can't thank you enough! *handles around little zodiac-shaped chocolates*
And thanks to Runic Knight-san for telling how to enable everyone to review this! I was right, it was way too easy (and I had looked through the settings ^_^'). I'm blushing as I promised. :)
Damn, I forgot to tell that Tohrus new Guardian will be revealed in this chapter. I could have almost killed you with suspense and curiosity and I missed my chance! I never get to tease people. T_T
But perhaps that's not so important. I just hope you will enjoy the story!
Some have already given guesses on the new guardian. All have gone to Hatori but I won't tell yet. No, no, you'll have to read on!
Waa, the disclaimer, the disclaimer! Refer to the previous chapter today. I'll try to write it all over next time I update.
Oh, if you need explanation for these, here you are:
"speaking"
'thinking'
~flashback~
WHO WOULD WANT AN ONIGIRI?
Chapter 3: BUT WHO WOULD?
The car strolled steadily on the big streets of Tokyo. Its hum was soothing and abruptly Tohru felt very tired and forlorn. She sat beside Hatori looking down at her hands.
She had told Grandfather that she would ask if the Soumas would adopt her, but now it seemed impossible, absolutely hopeless task. She already owed so much to them. How could she ask something as rude. What had made her to promise Grandfather that she would do that?
But she knew the answer. The look on his face when he had asked if they would adopt her… He had looked so old and fragile and worried. Worried of her and her future, the granddaughter he cared so much and was responsible of. He wanted to let her be happy and was doing everything to let it be so even if something happened to him. She had to ask, even if only for him. But it would still be hard-
Her thoughts were interrupted by Hatori's low, steady voice. "Why was your Grandfather in hospital, if I may ask?"
"It was- well, I mean..." Hatori threw her a bit thoughtful gaze but dropped the actual topic.
"Will he get home sometime soon?" He asked instead.
"Yes, it seems he can return home already on next week," she answered suddenly finding her smile again.
"I was just wondering. You seem so worried, is there something else?"
"No, not real-" she began, but then hung her head again. Abruptly she was sick of telling people everything was all right even when it wasn't. Words that Kyou once had said protruded from her memory.
~"There's nothing wrong being selfish every now and then. It's all right to show your weak side."~
Hatori would get tangled to this anyway, so... "Hatori-san, are you busy tonight?"
"No, I haven't got anything special to do since even Akito seems to be more or less in good shape. He has been better since you met him."
"Would you have time to stop at Shigure's, too?" she asked, trying to hide her surprise caused by his words. Akito had been better since then...? "There are things I need to talk about with everyone and it might be good if you were there to hear them, too."
"Fine by me," he answered simply but the unsaid 'So, there was something wrong' hung between them for the rest of the ride.
~*~*~*~
"Tadaima, kaerimashita" Tohru called. (AN: This is the way Tohru always announces her return. Normally people only say "tadaima" that means something like "I'm home" but she also adds "kaerimashita", "I have returned". I preferred to use it like this because if translated it sounds a bit funny, at least to my ear. On with it!)
"Okaerinasai, Honda-san, did you get wet?" Yuki said a trace of worry in his voice, emerging from the inner parts of the house. "A, Hatori, it's been a while."
"Good evening," his cousin answered in his usual taciturn way.
"I met Hatori-san at the hospital and he was kind enough to give me a ride home so I'm perfectly dry," Tohru told happily, but her mind was quite the opposite.
"Oh, thank you for taking care of her," Yuki said smiling. Then he looked a bit more closely at Tohru and frowned.
"Have you eaten anything?" came Kyou's voice from behind him.
"E?"
"Have you eaten anything? We have."
"Well, I was at Grandfather's room all the time so..."
"You do look a bit pale. You should eat something right away," Yuki said, clearly worried this time.
"I'll make something for myself. Hatori-san, are you hungry?"
"Don't bother," Kyou said turning to go to kitchen. "I'll warm the soup from earlier."
"Soup?" Tohru asked. She could have sworn they hadn't eaten soup for a few days.
"Kyou made us dinner tonight because he had promised to you to do that," Yuki explained amusedly, then went serious again. "But you really should look a bit more after yourself."
"Aa, Ha-san! Welcome, welcome! Come sit down, it's been a while since I have seen you. Had a lot of work?" Shigure exclaimed happily coming to the hall.
"Yes," was the only answer.
"By the way," Shigure continued escorting his childhood-friend to the sitting room. "Don't the two of them seem like over-caring mothers when it comes to Tohru-kun-"
"Shut up, old man!" shouted Kyou from kitchen as the newest of Shigure's books hit the novelist on the head, thrown by Yuki.
~*~*~*~
Soon all five were sitting around the table in the sitting room. A cup of soup was steaming in front of Tohru. She stared down at it but didn't touch it. Everyone else was staring at her, waiting for her to begin. Now she would have to tell everything...
"Well, how should I begin...?" she started, still looking down.
"So, your Grandfather was taken to hospital in the morning?" asked Shigure helpfully, playing with his fan. "That's all I know so start with that. Could you now tell why?"
"He... he had a heart attack," she said quietly. Everyone seemed shocked.
"But why didn't you say it right away?" Yuki demanded, frowning.
"You were just trying to keep us from being too worried over you, right?" Kyou more stated than asked.
"Well, I... I just..." she tried to explain, looking around at the worried expressions and feeling her cheeks grow unpleasantly warm.
"That aside, how is he now?" Hatori asked in his normal emotionless way, lighting up a cigarette.
"Saving the princess, are you? Ha-san, you old-" Shigure began.
"Shut up and listen to Honda-san!" Yuki snapped. "Yes, how is he?" he then encouraged her gently.
"He is lot better already. We had a long talk and he should be getting home next week," she explained smiling but then became serious again. "It's about that conversation we had that I want to speak about..." she trailed off and looked down again. Then she rose her face again and met everyone's eyes. Worried, listening, waiting. She went on in a very small voice. "You see, the doctor has said that although he has always been very healthy, he is already old, so... There might be a next time and there might be less luck then..." she fell silent again.
"And?" Kyou and Yuki asked anxiously, without even noticing they had done it in one.
"Well, as you know, my other relatives don't exactly like the fact that I'm living here." At this Hatori's and Shigure's brows raised, apparently they hadn't known. "Now they are trying to get me back there. My aunt already suggested that I returned there to help to take care of Grandfather." Now all her listeners except Hatori seemed horrified. "Grandfather opposed but if... If the worst happens my aunt is planning to take my guardianship... And then..."
"We need you here! They just pick on you and I wouldn't be surprised if they used you as a servant there!" Kyou exclaimed angrily jumping up, fists clenched. Tohru felt a nasty sting at his good guess. When you thought how she had been treated...
"I'm glad I can be of help here and I'm really happy that you think I'm useful here," she said smiling radiantly at him.
"No problem," he mumbled flustering a bit and dropping back down.
"But does that mean that you will have to leave us?" Yuki asked quietly, she almost jumped at the pain in his voice and eyes.
"Well, I- as I said my grandfather and already before that, when we were alone, he asked... He didn't want me to be forced to go back..." her voice turned to whisper and faded.
Everyone waited in silence.
She took a deep breath. "He asked if anybody from the Souma family would adopt me."
The silence was perfect. Everyone around the table took in the information. Emotions flickered through the two boys' faces. Utter amazement replaced by disbelief, next somewhat slow understanding, then they got hold of themselves and hid the turbulence inside. Shigure went through only half of the scale before at least seemingly calming and Hatori's face didn't even twitch. Or had his brows made an almost imperceptibly small movement...? Tohru didn't know. She just sat there, looking at them and then couldn't take it anymore and lowered her gaze to the not-more-so-warm soup. She still hadn't touched it.
"We'll have to ask Akito." Hatori said at last, breaking the untouched silence.
"You are actually going to ask him?!" Yuki exclaimed jumping up. "You can't mean you really would consider it possible-" he stopped dead when his eyes accidentally met Tohru's bewildered ones.
"No, I don't mean I wouldn't want you to the family," he said breathing heavily. "On the contrary, but-" he paused for an instant when he understood what he had said, slight red rising to his cheeks, "but being part of Sohma family, even without the curse, means being under Akito's control. That's just... just too... too dangerous..." he trailed off and dropped back down.
"But if Tohru-kun told this to us, won't that mean that she has considered this part, too?" asked Shigure in a low voice, his trademark smile (the cunning one) on. "She knows our secret and our ways and accepts them."
"But she doesn't know everything," Yuki insisted. "It- I don't want more people shut inside this vicious circle! Especially not Honda-san. She has been through more than anybody should!"
"Well, what do you think yourself?" Hatori said calmly, looking straight at Tohru. "You already know a lot but Yuki is right, you don't know everything. Would you still want to become part of this family? Would you do such a sacrifice to stay with these people? You have been warned, what is your answer?"
Tohru looked back, eye to eye. Only she understood the full meaning behind his words. The day closer a year ago when he had called her to the Main House...
~"The Souma family, being cursed by the vengeful spirits, isn't as happy place as you think. It's mysterious, dark... and cursed."~
But she had stayed that time, without knowing even half of what she knew now. These people were dear to her, everyone here was dear to her. She would rather die than leave this place. Being here under Akito's control was better than being under his relatives' control. No matter it might be hard, perhaps she would get a chance to learn to understand the Soumas better by sharing some of their pain and suffering, perhaps they would have it a bit easier if there would be one more person to share it. 'Mother, look over me. I know this is where I belong!'
"Yes. No matter what, I want to stay here," she answered in clear voice, without any hesitation.
Yuki, Shigure and Kyou, who had been silent since her announcement, gaped at her. It was sure they had known her answer, but they still couldn't belive it.
"Very well, I expected you would say that," Hatori stated. A slight but perhaps a bit sad smile played on the corner of his mouth.
Tohru smiled back but then went serious again. "There's something more. Grandfather thought that my aunt might try to interfere with this, so he would prefer a person that would clearly be very decent and trustworthy. And he would also like to begin the adopting process as soon as possible."
"And that would be?" Hatori asked.
"Friday, if ever possible."
"That's day after tomorrow!" Kyou blurted, apparently finding his tongue again.
"Yes, and he would like to meet my new guardian and family tomorrow at four o'clock, if you have time. But that's so soon, really. If someone really would adopt me it would already be too great a honour," she explained hurriedly. "You can take your time with everything. Being rude enough to even ask something like this-"
"Quite a tight timetable we have here," Hatori stated thoughtfully, ignoring her. He glanced at his watch. "Half past eight. We'll have just and just the time to go to meet Akito. He has been up late nowadays."
Tohru had hard time believing her ears. "Already tonight?" asked Yuki and Kyou together dressing her thoughts up to words.
"Yes, but we still have some things to speak about."
"Who exactly will be her new guardian, right?" Shigure asked, hiding his smirk with the fan. "Any ideas?"
Everyone looked very thoughtful, except Shigure whose smug expression told clearly that he had a very interesting idea but he wasn't going to share it with them just yet. "How about Kisa's mother?" asked Yuki at last. "She knows Honda-san and Kisa's so found of her, too."
"Ooh, Yuki-kun, I would have expected something better from you," Shigure answered in a pitying way.
"Who are you thinking then, Shigure?" Hatori asked. "No jokes."
"Ha-san, how can you say something like that?" the novellist moaned. "I'm always very serious!"
Hatori seemed too annoyed to answer so Kyou snapped: "Okay, who is it?!"
"You really can't guess?" Shigure beamed with self-satisfaction.
"Just say it!" Hatori groaned, trying to keep his face straight.
"You, of course!" (AN: There you have it! Bwahahahahaaa!) Shigure was so pleased with himself that if the lights had gone out he would likely have been self-luminous. Tohru was speechless.
"WHAT!" blurted Kyou.
"You are kidding!" Yuki exclaimed.
"I told you not to joke," Hatori said in a voice that made the room temperature drop some 20 grades.
"No, I'm not!" his childhood friend opposed, looking very hurt. Then he went to his half-chibi mode. "Of course I would be more than happy to step in line myself, but-"
"Don't even think of it, you pervert!" Kyou bellowed.
"Shut up, Shigure!" Yuki snarled.
"As you see, they would rather loose her than let me take her under my protective wing," whined Shigure leaking over with self-pity meanwhile the boys fumed with anger and mumbled something extremely rude under their breaths.
Tohru sweatdropped.
"Anyway, at least I didn't suggest Ayame-"
"Don't you dare to mix him to this!" Yuki screamed, losing his temper completely.
Then he exhaled deeply, trying to calm down. When he continued only violet and white aura of flames and the tight and threatening tone of his voice indicated that he hadn't succeeded too well. "If my brother finds out about this before Honda-san is safely under some decent person's guardianship, and you have any part in informing him, I'll cook you slowly on a slow fire..." (AN: If you think about Yuki's cooking abilities, he could not have come up with much more horrible threat... LOL)
Shigure sweatdropped. Yuki could be terribly menacing when he got to the right humour.
"More ideas? Or are I and Kisa's mother the only candidates for now?" Hatori cut in.
"You would...?" blurted Tohru.
"There aren't so many possibilities, are there?"
"But really, it's so great a bother..."
"You aren't really a person who would cause any trouble," the doctor soothed her putting out his cigarette. "I don't relly mind. The problem is just-"
"Haa-saan youu henntaaaiii!" Shigure sang loud.
"Shigure, you better shut your big mouth when you still are allowed to do it yourself..." Hatori's fists had clenched ominously. The doctor was really close to the edge.
"Oh, Ha-san, don't be so irritated! You seem extremely stressed. I thought you had it easier now," Shigure blabbered joyfully.
"Anyway," Hatori continued. "The problem is my age. I'm barely ten years older than you, in other words quite young to be a 17-years old girl's guardian. Therefore I'd try to go to Kisa's mother."
"You are right. But we'll have to get going." Yuki remarked. "Honda-san, you should change before we leave. You are still in your school uniform."
"Oh? Yes, I'll be back in no time." Tohru left the room but stopped when she was halfway up the stairs. She heard Hatori's voice.
"Are you two sure that you want to go there, too," he was saying.
"Yes," came Yuki's answer, without a trace of hesitation.
"We are," said Kyou, the same tone behind his words.
"Okay, it's your own decision. I'll go to start the car," Hatori stated getting up and heading for the hall.
"Isn't it cute how unanimous they are when it comes to Tohru-kun?" she heard Shigure's voice following on his heels. "And they really keep claiming that they hate each other even if they aren't really convincing anyone anymore..."
"Shigure, you-" Kyou's angry voice began.
She felt a little smile grow on her face when she hurried up the rest of the stairs. She had lived with these people for over a year. She had learnt to care for them as they were her real family. No matter how hard it would be, she wanted to become part of their family for real. She was going to do her very best.
~*~*~*~
The ride was quiet, even Shigure didn't talk nonsense. No one else was to be seen as they stepped out of the car on the yard of Souma Main House. The rain had stopped and clear stars were twinkling in the gaps between the clouds.
"I want you three to wait here," said Hatori.
"But shouldn't at least I-" Tohru began, surprised.
"No, stay here and keep quiet. The less people see you, the better. Shigure, we are going now." Hatori said leaving no space for complaints. Nasty memories of one special meeting with Akito from the years ago were rolling through his mind.
"Aye, aye, captain!" the other man smiled. "You two look after Tohru-kun and don't take advantage of her!"
"Get going already, so we don't need to watch that you don't do that!" Kyou growled angrily.
Shigure waved his hand as the two men left the youngsters standing in the shadows close to the main gate.
"How exactly are you going to present this to him?" asked Shigure when they were outside hearing range.
"As it is. But I will take the case of exact guardian up very carefully."
"That would certainly be the best."
Twenty minutes later the watch on Hatori's wrist showed 21.30 and they were sitting in seiza (kneeling position, a Japanese word) on Akito's room. The head of Souma family was laying just outside the open slide door. Hatori had just finished explaining the situation and why they were in such a hurry with it, but leaving the most delicate point out for the time being. Now they waited watching anxiously at Akito's stiffened shoulders.
"Adopt?" repeated the young man after a long pause. "Adopt!"
It seemed for a moment that he was going to fly into a rage, but then he relaxed. "Adopted to Souma family...?" His body began to shake with quiet laughter.
"Very well," he said in a way that made Hatori think of taking back the offer. "let's adopt her! A new cousin..." Again his shoulders shook. "Of course she will have to change her name to Souma and likely live with her closest family." Slowly he rose up and walked into the room halting before them, still facing the wall on their right. Hatori felt a shiver run down his spine when he caught a glimpse of Akito's grin. No matter what he had said earlier, he had to admit Yuki had been very, very right about the danger. The boy who had perhaps the most horrible experiences of Akito's twisted personality...
"Have you thought of who could be the new guardian?"
"We haven't got any very good ideas as for now," the doctor answered, deciding to stall as much as possible.
"You are in quite a hurry with it," Akito sniggered. "Inform me when you have got any better idea. The meeting was at 4 o'clock, wasn't it? I'm expecting you to have found the suitable person by noon. I'll be waiting you then."
"We'll have the answer by 12 o'clock tomorrow," promised Shigure from beside Hatori.
"Good, go now. I'm tired," Akito said wearily turning his back to them.
"Thank you and good night," Hatori said gratefully.
"Good night," echoed Shigure smiling. "We are grateful. I'll drop by one of these days."
"Do that. Now, you are dismissed."
The visitors got up, bowed and exited in silence. Akito watched them go from the corner of his eye. When the door had shut behind them he turned and walked back outside. That girl would be adopted to their family, she would be one of them, one of his little dolls. Everyone had to do to his bidding, so would she. Now he would really be able to show her what it was like to be a Souma. An evil smile played on his lips. If he wasn't completely wrong this girl was also Yuki's weak point. This would be interesting... No one would could disobey him and then be happy.
He swirled around and strode in calling: "Kureno, Kureno! I'm going to bed."
~*~*~*~
Neither of them said anything before they got out of the building and the fresh evening air cleaned by the rain earlier blew on their faces. The moon shone down from the now completely cleared sky.
"That went quite smoothly, don't you think?" Shigure broke the tense silence. "Although that might not be only a good thing in the end."
"You don't sound too worried, do you?" stated Hatori. He didn't like the tone of the other's voice. And he knew him far too well to really trust him when he was like that. "Are you in same plot with Akito or have you got some plans of your own?"
Shigure just laughed his most secretive laugh and Hatori knew better than to go on questioning so they walked on in silence.
They were halfway to the gate where the youngsters were waiting when someone called to them in a low voice. They halted and turned to look at the tall man, clothed in a yukata, who had raised his hand to a greeting.
"Kazuma-dono, It's been a while!" Shigure said heartily. "How's it been lately?"
"Good evening," Hatori greeted the older man.
"Good evening to you two, too. I'm doing well, thank you. I have made some renovation at the dojo but it's almost ready," the karate master answered friendly coming up to them. "How's Kyou? He has come over sometimes to help with the repairs but now I haven't heard of him for over a week."
"Oh, he's fine. They have just had a lot of homework lately and Kyou really is a painstaking student. He won't admit that, of course," Shigure smirked and Kazuma laughed his low, friendly laugh. "But if you want to see him you can come with us. The youths are protecting the princess by the gate."
"Really, how come they are here at this time? Is there something wrong?" Kazuma asked, suddenly worried.
"You might say so," Hatori answered. "But they are waiting for us so we'll explain when walking."
~*~*~*~
Kyou was sitting up on the top of the gate. In the shadows under it Tohru and Yuki stood leaning to the wall. Tohru had Yuki's light jacket on her shoulders. He had got her to take it after ten minutes of persuading. The autumn was coming and nights were beginning to be chilly.
"Are you sure you aren't cold?" Tohru asked for at least fifteenth time. "It's a lot more dangerous for you to get a flu than it's to me so you really should take this back!" she insisted tugging the cloth.
"Otherwise than you I'm not cold without it so you can be at easy, Honda-san," Yuki answered gently. "And you haven't even eaten properly today. Everyone forgot completely your soup."
"Just let him get a cold if he wants to," Kyou threw from the roof.
"No one asked anything from you, Bakaneko!" Yuki answered coldly.
"She hadn't taken it if I hadn't backed you up so keep your damn mouth shut!" came the answer. "If you want to keep warm I'm ready for fight anytime, sissy boy!"
"You are always so keen to get beaten up," the grey-haired boy said coolly taking a few steps forward and turning to look up to his challenger.
"I dare you to say that again!"
"You are always so keen to get beaten up."
"You-"
"There they are! But it's three of them," Tohru exclaimed hushedly. The boys turned to look at the closing trio.
"Yo, Shisho!" Kyou yelled in a low voice and jumped down.
"Thank god it wasn't Niisan," Tohru heard Yuki sighing from under his breath.
"Hi, Kyou, Yuki. Good evening, Tohru-san. I happened to meet these two and got to know some really interesting news," Kazuma smiled. "I hope you good luck."
"Thank you, Shishou-san!" Tohru answered happily. She really liked Kyou's guardain. 'Oh, yes, Kyou-kun is adopted, too...'
"Good evening, shihan," Yuki greeted politely and turned then to the two other men. "How did it go?"
"Akito gave his approval. But she will have to change her name to Souma and perhaps live with the nuclear family that adopts her." answered Hatori.
"Is it decided who will...?" Yuki began but didn't end the sentence. Kyou frowned and Tohru's heart pounded twice as fast as normally. If she would have to move out of Shigure's and live close to or in the Main House...
"No, he just told us to inform him when we have found a suitable person." Shigure said.
"So, who are the candidates for now?" Kyou put in.
"We only have the Hatori and Kisa's mother plans at the moment and the latter doesn't even know anything yet, so we are up to any new ideas," Shigure said. "Of course, I would still be overjoyed to take her myself. To have her call me 'Papa'-"
"Don't even joke about it, you old pervert!!!" snapped Yuki and Kyou at once in perfect unison.
"I might have an suggestion," Kazuma said in a low, thoughtful voice. Everyone looked at him, surprised.
"Go on, as you see we aren't relly getting on with this," Shigure said smiling his trademark smile (the cunning one again, I think).
"Kyou, what would you think of a little sister?" Kazuma asked in his quiet, peaceful way.
Everyone gaped at him. For a long time no one said a word.
Thoughts run through Kyou's head in a head-spinning swirl. A little sister? Tohru? He liked her. Yes, he loved her. But what kind of love was it? If she would become his sister, that would be their relation to the end. The rest would be left to someone else. For the first time Kyou thought how he really felt for her. He had always known someday it would come to this and he knew who the "someone else" was. But he had been afraid of the results. Would he be content to have her as a sister or would he want something else?
Carefully he looked at her. She didn't apparently yet really believe her ears, just stared at Shishou with unbelieving expression but not really seeing him. Little sister. Little sister. Little sister...? Had he himself really heard right? He turned back to Kazuma and met his steady gaze. The man that was like a father knew exactly what he was thinking. He understood perfectly Kyou's contradictory feelings. But did he himself understand them?
Kyou closed his eyes. Memories flashed through his mind. Pictures, voices, smells, feelings. Her astonished face when she for the first time had seen him change form. Her eager voice when she told she wanted to be friends. Her real interest for his martial arts talk, the real trying to understand him. Her tears when she said she wanted to go back to Shigure's house. The feeling of her hand in his a while later when the three of them walked home. Swirling shards of recollections went on. She, offering to share an umbrella on that morning. Her soothing words less than twenty-four hours later, telling him she wanted to be with him even after she knew... Their relationship up till now... And somehow he knew, he always had known.
Slowly the words sank also into Tohru's consciousness. Kyou's little sister? She? She was dreaming, it had to be a dream! She would be so happy... But what would Kyou think? Would he approve? They were friends but would he want her as so close family member? And that would also mean that Shishou-san would become her father...
A small smile began to grow on Kyou's face. Yes, a little sister. That would be just perfect. That would be exactly as it should be. He would take good care of her for sure. Again he looked at the girl on his side, grinning happily.
Abruptly Tohru, still deep in thoughts, felt a hand tousle her hair and shot her head up. "That would be fun, or what do you think?" Kyou was grinning down at her. For a few seconds she still gaped at him, waiting for alarm clock to set off and wake her to cook breakfast. But it never did. The dark yard of Souma Main House was still surrounding her, everyone's eyes were still fixed on the two of them and Kyou was still standing there, smiling gently, one hand on her hair.
"Yes!" She smiled with real and almost unbearable happiness filling her heart and spreading through her whole body.
Tsuzuku...
Waa, there you have it! Sorry for those who expected it to be Hatori, but this was my intention from the very beginning. In fact the original idea was to have Yuki to come pick her up from the hospital... But in move is the future and so Hatori took her home so I had an excuse to have him present when she told her news. (He would have been even if no one had suspected him to be the chosen one.) (No, I'm not a SW-fan, but I have seen the movies...)
I'm very sorry that they might have been a bit out of character during the discussion at Shigure's. That part was really hard to write. You also might have noticed that my writing style changed a few times. That's because I have spent days and days off and on work.
I've made up my mind to ground this solely on the anime. I'm very strict that fics that aren't AU must keep to the facts. This way it's lot easier to make sure everything is right. The manga still hasn't ended even in Japan so I won't try my luck. And most of you haven't read it yet, I suppose. :) So, no spoilers on the manga! But I couldn't keep myself from adding some little hints that can be understood only after reading the manga.
And for my wonderful reviewers:
RUNIC KNIGHT: Who wouldn't want to take her? If you just think how much most Soumas like her. And her cousin... You'll see. Thank you for your information. *feels still stupid* You are a life-saver!
FRIEND OF SHIPPOU: Sorry, good guess but wrong. I hope you are content with this. But you were right, little Tohrus better not live at the Main House. This solution is perfect because her "Oniisan" lives at Shigure's, too.
And sorry I took so long to update!
FURYGRRL: Thank you, thank you, thank you!
INVISIBLERAIN: Thank you for your review. Neat... very neat... Hey, I got an infection! o_O Not really, just kidding! :) But thanxie anyway!
LADY KARA: Thank you for all your information on the game! You are a treasure! And I'm really glad you like this so much. Sorry about the guardian, but I originally got the idea to this fic when I thought that Yuki was the right one for Tohru, but Kyou would have deserved her to. And I and my sister both agreed on that Kyou was a lot like older brother to her. Then I got the idea and started typing... And here you are, altough I had sworn never to write a fic... ^_^'
I hope to hear from the all of you again! And I'm hoping to get some anonymous reviews too, now that everyone can write them!
I'll be doing my best with the story from now on too, but because the chapters are getting quite long it'll take more time to write them. I hope you have patience!
Oh, one question to everyone! Do you people want any fluff here (will be mostly if not solely Y/T)? I have some in my sleeve and this should be romance so... But I'm no good at writing it (very unromantic person, sorry). If I'll stick to this adopting matter this fic is going to end in few chapters but I have some ideas so I could go on, too, if you want. I even have got some ideas for sequels... Scary!
Upsie daisy, it was more than one question and written quite long. Did you read it all? Thank you if you did and even more if you answer!
Ja, mata!
Wow, still no flamers! I was waiting only for those when I posted the first chappy and now people keep telling me how interesting and unique my story is! Mina-san, I can't thank you enough! *handles around little zodiac-shaped chocolates*
And thanks to Runic Knight-san for telling how to enable everyone to review this! I was right, it was way too easy (and I had looked through the settings ^_^'). I'm blushing as I promised. :)
Damn, I forgot to tell that Tohrus new Guardian will be revealed in this chapter. I could have almost killed you with suspense and curiosity and I missed my chance! I never get to tease people. T_T
But perhaps that's not so important. I just hope you will enjoy the story!
Some have already given guesses on the new guardian. All have gone to Hatori but I won't tell yet. No, no, you'll have to read on!
Waa, the disclaimer, the disclaimer! Refer to the previous chapter today. I'll try to write it all over next time I update.
Oh, if you need explanation for these, here you are:
"speaking"
'thinking'
~flashback~
WHO WOULD WANT AN ONIGIRI?
Chapter 3: BUT WHO WOULD?
The car strolled steadily on the big streets of Tokyo. Its hum was soothing and abruptly Tohru felt very tired and forlorn. She sat beside Hatori looking down at her hands.
She had told Grandfather that she would ask if the Soumas would adopt her, but now it seemed impossible, absolutely hopeless task. She already owed so much to them. How could she ask something as rude. What had made her to promise Grandfather that she would do that?
But she knew the answer. The look on his face when he had asked if they would adopt her… He had looked so old and fragile and worried. Worried of her and her future, the granddaughter he cared so much and was responsible of. He wanted to let her be happy and was doing everything to let it be so even if something happened to him. She had to ask, even if only for him. But it would still be hard-
Her thoughts were interrupted by Hatori's low, steady voice. "Why was your Grandfather in hospital, if I may ask?"
"It was- well, I mean..." Hatori threw her a bit thoughtful gaze but dropped the actual topic.
"Will he get home sometime soon?" He asked instead.
"Yes, it seems he can return home already on next week," she answered suddenly finding her smile again.
"I was just wondering. You seem so worried, is there something else?"
"No, not real-" she began, but then hung her head again. Abruptly she was sick of telling people everything was all right even when it wasn't. Words that Kyou once had said protruded from her memory.
~"There's nothing wrong being selfish every now and then. It's all right to show your weak side."~
Hatori would get tangled to this anyway, so... "Hatori-san, are you busy tonight?"
"No, I haven't got anything special to do since even Akito seems to be more or less in good shape. He has been better since you met him."
"Would you have time to stop at Shigure's, too?" she asked, trying to hide her surprise caused by his words. Akito had been better since then...? "There are things I need to talk about with everyone and it might be good if you were there to hear them, too."
"Fine by me," he answered simply but the unsaid 'So, there was something wrong' hung between them for the rest of the ride.
~*~*~*~
"Tadaima, kaerimashita" Tohru called. (AN: This is the way Tohru always announces her return. Normally people only say "tadaima" that means something like "I'm home" but she also adds "kaerimashita", "I have returned". I preferred to use it like this because if translated it sounds a bit funny, at least to my ear. On with it!)
"Okaerinasai, Honda-san, did you get wet?" Yuki said a trace of worry in his voice, emerging from the inner parts of the house. "A, Hatori, it's been a while."
"Good evening," his cousin answered in his usual taciturn way.
"I met Hatori-san at the hospital and he was kind enough to give me a ride home so I'm perfectly dry," Tohru told happily, but her mind was quite the opposite.
"Oh, thank you for taking care of her," Yuki said smiling. Then he looked a bit more closely at Tohru and frowned.
"Have you eaten anything?" came Kyou's voice from behind him.
"E?"
"Have you eaten anything? We have."
"Well, I was at Grandfather's room all the time so..."
"You do look a bit pale. You should eat something right away," Yuki said, clearly worried this time.
"I'll make something for myself. Hatori-san, are you hungry?"
"Don't bother," Kyou said turning to go to kitchen. "I'll warm the soup from earlier."
"Soup?" Tohru asked. She could have sworn they hadn't eaten soup for a few days.
"Kyou made us dinner tonight because he had promised to you to do that," Yuki explained amusedly, then went serious again. "But you really should look a bit more after yourself."
"Aa, Ha-san! Welcome, welcome! Come sit down, it's been a while since I have seen you. Had a lot of work?" Shigure exclaimed happily coming to the hall.
"Yes," was the only answer.
"By the way," Shigure continued escorting his childhood-friend to the sitting room. "Don't the two of them seem like over-caring mothers when it comes to Tohru-kun-"
"Shut up, old man!" shouted Kyou from kitchen as the newest of Shigure's books hit the novelist on the head, thrown by Yuki.
~*~*~*~
Soon all five were sitting around the table in the sitting room. A cup of soup was steaming in front of Tohru. She stared down at it but didn't touch it. Everyone else was staring at her, waiting for her to begin. Now she would have to tell everything...
"Well, how should I begin...?" she started, still looking down.
"So, your Grandfather was taken to hospital in the morning?" asked Shigure helpfully, playing with his fan. "That's all I know so start with that. Could you now tell why?"
"He... he had a heart attack," she said quietly. Everyone seemed shocked.
"But why didn't you say it right away?" Yuki demanded, frowning.
"You were just trying to keep us from being too worried over you, right?" Kyou more stated than asked.
"Well, I... I just..." she tried to explain, looking around at the worried expressions and feeling her cheeks grow unpleasantly warm.
"That aside, how is he now?" Hatori asked in his normal emotionless way, lighting up a cigarette.
"Saving the princess, are you? Ha-san, you old-" Shigure began.
"Shut up and listen to Honda-san!" Yuki snapped. "Yes, how is he?" he then encouraged her gently.
"He is lot better already. We had a long talk and he should be getting home next week," she explained smiling but then became serious again. "It's about that conversation we had that I want to speak about..." she trailed off and looked down again. Then she rose her face again and met everyone's eyes. Worried, listening, waiting. She went on in a very small voice. "You see, the doctor has said that although he has always been very healthy, he is already old, so... There might be a next time and there might be less luck then..." she fell silent again.
"And?" Kyou and Yuki asked anxiously, without even noticing they had done it in one.
"Well, as you know, my other relatives don't exactly like the fact that I'm living here." At this Hatori's and Shigure's brows raised, apparently they hadn't known. "Now they are trying to get me back there. My aunt already suggested that I returned there to help to take care of Grandfather." Now all her listeners except Hatori seemed horrified. "Grandfather opposed but if... If the worst happens my aunt is planning to take my guardianship... And then..."
"We need you here! They just pick on you and I wouldn't be surprised if they used you as a servant there!" Kyou exclaimed angrily jumping up, fists clenched. Tohru felt a nasty sting at his good guess. When you thought how she had been treated...
"I'm glad I can be of help here and I'm really happy that you think I'm useful here," she said smiling radiantly at him.
"No problem," he mumbled flustering a bit and dropping back down.
"But does that mean that you will have to leave us?" Yuki asked quietly, she almost jumped at the pain in his voice and eyes.
"Well, I- as I said my grandfather and already before that, when we were alone, he asked... He didn't want me to be forced to go back..." her voice turned to whisper and faded.
Everyone waited in silence.
She took a deep breath. "He asked if anybody from the Souma family would adopt me."
The silence was perfect. Everyone around the table took in the information. Emotions flickered through the two boys' faces. Utter amazement replaced by disbelief, next somewhat slow understanding, then they got hold of themselves and hid the turbulence inside. Shigure went through only half of the scale before at least seemingly calming and Hatori's face didn't even twitch. Or had his brows made an almost imperceptibly small movement...? Tohru didn't know. She just sat there, looking at them and then couldn't take it anymore and lowered her gaze to the not-more-so-warm soup. She still hadn't touched it.
"We'll have to ask Akito." Hatori said at last, breaking the untouched silence.
"You are actually going to ask him?!" Yuki exclaimed jumping up. "You can't mean you really would consider it possible-" he stopped dead when his eyes accidentally met Tohru's bewildered ones.
"No, I don't mean I wouldn't want you to the family," he said breathing heavily. "On the contrary, but-" he paused for an instant when he understood what he had said, slight red rising to his cheeks, "but being part of Sohma family, even without the curse, means being under Akito's control. That's just... just too... too dangerous..." he trailed off and dropped back down.
"But if Tohru-kun told this to us, won't that mean that she has considered this part, too?" asked Shigure in a low voice, his trademark smile (the cunning one) on. "She knows our secret and our ways and accepts them."
"But she doesn't know everything," Yuki insisted. "It- I don't want more people shut inside this vicious circle! Especially not Honda-san. She has been through more than anybody should!"
"Well, what do you think yourself?" Hatori said calmly, looking straight at Tohru. "You already know a lot but Yuki is right, you don't know everything. Would you still want to become part of this family? Would you do such a sacrifice to stay with these people? You have been warned, what is your answer?"
Tohru looked back, eye to eye. Only she understood the full meaning behind his words. The day closer a year ago when he had called her to the Main House...
~"The Souma family, being cursed by the vengeful spirits, isn't as happy place as you think. It's mysterious, dark... and cursed."~
But she had stayed that time, without knowing even half of what she knew now. These people were dear to her, everyone here was dear to her. She would rather die than leave this place. Being here under Akito's control was better than being under his relatives' control. No matter it might be hard, perhaps she would get a chance to learn to understand the Soumas better by sharing some of their pain and suffering, perhaps they would have it a bit easier if there would be one more person to share it. 'Mother, look over me. I know this is where I belong!'
"Yes. No matter what, I want to stay here," she answered in clear voice, without any hesitation.
Yuki, Shigure and Kyou, who had been silent since her announcement, gaped at her. It was sure they had known her answer, but they still couldn't belive it.
"Very well, I expected you would say that," Hatori stated. A slight but perhaps a bit sad smile played on the corner of his mouth.
Tohru smiled back but then went serious again. "There's something more. Grandfather thought that my aunt might try to interfere with this, so he would prefer a person that would clearly be very decent and trustworthy. And he would also like to begin the adopting process as soon as possible."
"And that would be?" Hatori asked.
"Friday, if ever possible."
"That's day after tomorrow!" Kyou blurted, apparently finding his tongue again.
"Yes, and he would like to meet my new guardian and family tomorrow at four o'clock, if you have time. But that's so soon, really. If someone really would adopt me it would already be too great a honour," she explained hurriedly. "You can take your time with everything. Being rude enough to even ask something like this-"
"Quite a tight timetable we have here," Hatori stated thoughtfully, ignoring her. He glanced at his watch. "Half past eight. We'll have just and just the time to go to meet Akito. He has been up late nowadays."
Tohru had hard time believing her ears. "Already tonight?" asked Yuki and Kyou together dressing her thoughts up to words.
"Yes, but we still have some things to speak about."
"Who exactly will be her new guardian, right?" Shigure asked, hiding his smirk with the fan. "Any ideas?"
Everyone looked very thoughtful, except Shigure whose smug expression told clearly that he had a very interesting idea but he wasn't going to share it with them just yet. "How about Kisa's mother?" asked Yuki at last. "She knows Honda-san and Kisa's so found of her, too."
"Ooh, Yuki-kun, I would have expected something better from you," Shigure answered in a pitying way.
"Who are you thinking then, Shigure?" Hatori asked. "No jokes."
"Ha-san, how can you say something like that?" the novellist moaned. "I'm always very serious!"
Hatori seemed too annoyed to answer so Kyou snapped: "Okay, who is it?!"
"You really can't guess?" Shigure beamed with self-satisfaction.
"Just say it!" Hatori groaned, trying to keep his face straight.
"You, of course!" (AN: There you have it! Bwahahahahaaa!) Shigure was so pleased with himself that if the lights had gone out he would likely have been self-luminous. Tohru was speechless.
"WHAT!" blurted Kyou.
"You are kidding!" Yuki exclaimed.
"I told you not to joke," Hatori said in a voice that made the room temperature drop some 20 grades.
"No, I'm not!" his childhood friend opposed, looking very hurt. Then he went to his half-chibi mode. "Of course I would be more than happy to step in line myself, but-"
"Don't even think of it, you pervert!" Kyou bellowed.
"Shut up, Shigure!" Yuki snarled.
"As you see, they would rather loose her than let me take her under my protective wing," whined Shigure leaking over with self-pity meanwhile the boys fumed with anger and mumbled something extremely rude under their breaths.
Tohru sweatdropped.
"Anyway, at least I didn't suggest Ayame-"
"Don't you dare to mix him to this!" Yuki screamed, losing his temper completely.
Then he exhaled deeply, trying to calm down. When he continued only violet and white aura of flames and the tight and threatening tone of his voice indicated that he hadn't succeeded too well. "If my brother finds out about this before Honda-san is safely under some decent person's guardianship, and you have any part in informing him, I'll cook you slowly on a slow fire..." (AN: If you think about Yuki's cooking abilities, he could not have come up with much more horrible threat... LOL)
Shigure sweatdropped. Yuki could be terribly menacing when he got to the right humour.
"More ideas? Or are I and Kisa's mother the only candidates for now?" Hatori cut in.
"You would...?" blurted Tohru.
"There aren't so many possibilities, are there?"
"But really, it's so great a bother..."
"You aren't really a person who would cause any trouble," the doctor soothed her putting out his cigarette. "I don't relly mind. The problem is just-"
"Haa-saan youu henntaaaiii!" Shigure sang loud.
"Shigure, you better shut your big mouth when you still are allowed to do it yourself..." Hatori's fists had clenched ominously. The doctor was really close to the edge.
"Oh, Ha-san, don't be so irritated! You seem extremely stressed. I thought you had it easier now," Shigure blabbered joyfully.
"Anyway," Hatori continued. "The problem is my age. I'm barely ten years older than you, in other words quite young to be a 17-years old girl's guardian. Therefore I'd try to go to Kisa's mother."
"You are right. But we'll have to get going." Yuki remarked. "Honda-san, you should change before we leave. You are still in your school uniform."
"Oh? Yes, I'll be back in no time." Tohru left the room but stopped when she was halfway up the stairs. She heard Hatori's voice.
"Are you two sure that you want to go there, too," he was saying.
"Yes," came Yuki's answer, without a trace of hesitation.
"We are," said Kyou, the same tone behind his words.
"Okay, it's your own decision. I'll go to start the car," Hatori stated getting up and heading for the hall.
"Isn't it cute how unanimous they are when it comes to Tohru-kun?" she heard Shigure's voice following on his heels. "And they really keep claiming that they hate each other even if they aren't really convincing anyone anymore..."
"Shigure, you-" Kyou's angry voice began.
She felt a little smile grow on her face when she hurried up the rest of the stairs. She had lived with these people for over a year. She had learnt to care for them as they were her real family. No matter how hard it would be, she wanted to become part of their family for real. She was going to do her very best.
~*~*~*~
The ride was quiet, even Shigure didn't talk nonsense. No one else was to be seen as they stepped out of the car on the yard of Souma Main House. The rain had stopped and clear stars were twinkling in the gaps between the clouds.
"I want you three to wait here," said Hatori.
"But shouldn't at least I-" Tohru began, surprised.
"No, stay here and keep quiet. The less people see you, the better. Shigure, we are going now." Hatori said leaving no space for complaints. Nasty memories of one special meeting with Akito from the years ago were rolling through his mind.
"Aye, aye, captain!" the other man smiled. "You two look after Tohru-kun and don't take advantage of her!"
"Get going already, so we don't need to watch that you don't do that!" Kyou growled angrily.
Shigure waved his hand as the two men left the youngsters standing in the shadows close to the main gate.
"How exactly are you going to present this to him?" asked Shigure when they were outside hearing range.
"As it is. But I will take the case of exact guardian up very carefully."
"That would certainly be the best."
Twenty minutes later the watch on Hatori's wrist showed 21.30 and they were sitting in seiza (kneeling position, a Japanese word) on Akito's room. The head of Souma family was laying just outside the open slide door. Hatori had just finished explaining the situation and why they were in such a hurry with it, but leaving the most delicate point out for the time being. Now they waited watching anxiously at Akito's stiffened shoulders.
"Adopt?" repeated the young man after a long pause. "Adopt!"
It seemed for a moment that he was going to fly into a rage, but then he relaxed. "Adopted to Souma family...?" His body began to shake with quiet laughter.
"Very well," he said in a way that made Hatori think of taking back the offer. "let's adopt her! A new cousin..." Again his shoulders shook. "Of course she will have to change her name to Souma and likely live with her closest family." Slowly he rose up and walked into the room halting before them, still facing the wall on their right. Hatori felt a shiver run down his spine when he caught a glimpse of Akito's grin. No matter what he had said earlier, he had to admit Yuki had been very, very right about the danger. The boy who had perhaps the most horrible experiences of Akito's twisted personality...
"Have you thought of who could be the new guardian?"
"We haven't got any very good ideas as for now," the doctor answered, deciding to stall as much as possible.
"You are in quite a hurry with it," Akito sniggered. "Inform me when you have got any better idea. The meeting was at 4 o'clock, wasn't it? I'm expecting you to have found the suitable person by noon. I'll be waiting you then."
"We'll have the answer by 12 o'clock tomorrow," promised Shigure from beside Hatori.
"Good, go now. I'm tired," Akito said wearily turning his back to them.
"Thank you and good night," Hatori said gratefully.
"Good night," echoed Shigure smiling. "We are grateful. I'll drop by one of these days."
"Do that. Now, you are dismissed."
The visitors got up, bowed and exited in silence. Akito watched them go from the corner of his eye. When the door had shut behind them he turned and walked back outside. That girl would be adopted to their family, she would be one of them, one of his little dolls. Everyone had to do to his bidding, so would she. Now he would really be able to show her what it was like to be a Souma. An evil smile played on his lips. If he wasn't completely wrong this girl was also Yuki's weak point. This would be interesting... No one would could disobey him and then be happy.
He swirled around and strode in calling: "Kureno, Kureno! I'm going to bed."
~*~*~*~
Neither of them said anything before they got out of the building and the fresh evening air cleaned by the rain earlier blew on their faces. The moon shone down from the now completely cleared sky.
"That went quite smoothly, don't you think?" Shigure broke the tense silence. "Although that might not be only a good thing in the end."
"You don't sound too worried, do you?" stated Hatori. He didn't like the tone of the other's voice. And he knew him far too well to really trust him when he was like that. "Are you in same plot with Akito or have you got some plans of your own?"
Shigure just laughed his most secretive laugh and Hatori knew better than to go on questioning so they walked on in silence.
They were halfway to the gate where the youngsters were waiting when someone called to them in a low voice. They halted and turned to look at the tall man, clothed in a yukata, who had raised his hand to a greeting.
"Kazuma-dono, It's been a while!" Shigure said heartily. "How's it been lately?"
"Good evening," Hatori greeted the older man.
"Good evening to you two, too. I'm doing well, thank you. I have made some renovation at the dojo but it's almost ready," the karate master answered friendly coming up to them. "How's Kyou? He has come over sometimes to help with the repairs but now I haven't heard of him for over a week."
"Oh, he's fine. They have just had a lot of homework lately and Kyou really is a painstaking student. He won't admit that, of course," Shigure smirked and Kazuma laughed his low, friendly laugh. "But if you want to see him you can come with us. The youths are protecting the princess by the gate."
"Really, how come they are here at this time? Is there something wrong?" Kazuma asked, suddenly worried.
"You might say so," Hatori answered. "But they are waiting for us so we'll explain when walking."
~*~*~*~
Kyou was sitting up on the top of the gate. In the shadows under it Tohru and Yuki stood leaning to the wall. Tohru had Yuki's light jacket on her shoulders. He had got her to take it after ten minutes of persuading. The autumn was coming and nights were beginning to be chilly.
"Are you sure you aren't cold?" Tohru asked for at least fifteenth time. "It's a lot more dangerous for you to get a flu than it's to me so you really should take this back!" she insisted tugging the cloth.
"Otherwise than you I'm not cold without it so you can be at easy, Honda-san," Yuki answered gently. "And you haven't even eaten properly today. Everyone forgot completely your soup."
"Just let him get a cold if he wants to," Kyou threw from the roof.
"No one asked anything from you, Bakaneko!" Yuki answered coldly.
"She hadn't taken it if I hadn't backed you up so keep your damn mouth shut!" came the answer. "If you want to keep warm I'm ready for fight anytime, sissy boy!"
"You are always so keen to get beaten up," the grey-haired boy said coolly taking a few steps forward and turning to look up to his challenger.
"I dare you to say that again!"
"You are always so keen to get beaten up."
"You-"
"There they are! But it's three of them," Tohru exclaimed hushedly. The boys turned to look at the closing trio.
"Yo, Shisho!" Kyou yelled in a low voice and jumped down.
"Thank god it wasn't Niisan," Tohru heard Yuki sighing from under his breath.
"Hi, Kyou, Yuki. Good evening, Tohru-san. I happened to meet these two and got to know some really interesting news," Kazuma smiled. "I hope you good luck."
"Thank you, Shishou-san!" Tohru answered happily. She really liked Kyou's guardain. 'Oh, yes, Kyou-kun is adopted, too...'
"Good evening, shihan," Yuki greeted politely and turned then to the two other men. "How did it go?"
"Akito gave his approval. But she will have to change her name to Souma and perhaps live with the nuclear family that adopts her." answered Hatori.
"Is it decided who will...?" Yuki began but didn't end the sentence. Kyou frowned and Tohru's heart pounded twice as fast as normally. If she would have to move out of Shigure's and live close to or in the Main House...
"No, he just told us to inform him when we have found a suitable person." Shigure said.
"So, who are the candidates for now?" Kyou put in.
"We only have the Hatori and Kisa's mother plans at the moment and the latter doesn't even know anything yet, so we are up to any new ideas," Shigure said. "Of course, I would still be overjoyed to take her myself. To have her call me 'Papa'-"
"Don't even joke about it, you old pervert!!!" snapped Yuki and Kyou at once in perfect unison.
"I might have an suggestion," Kazuma said in a low, thoughtful voice. Everyone looked at him, surprised.
"Go on, as you see we aren't relly getting on with this," Shigure said smiling his trademark smile (the cunning one again, I think).
"Kyou, what would you think of a little sister?" Kazuma asked in his quiet, peaceful way.
Everyone gaped at him. For a long time no one said a word.
Thoughts run through Kyou's head in a head-spinning swirl. A little sister? Tohru? He liked her. Yes, he loved her. But what kind of love was it? If she would become his sister, that would be their relation to the end. The rest would be left to someone else. For the first time Kyou thought how he really felt for her. He had always known someday it would come to this and he knew who the "someone else" was. But he had been afraid of the results. Would he be content to have her as a sister or would he want something else?
Carefully he looked at her. She didn't apparently yet really believe her ears, just stared at Shishou with unbelieving expression but not really seeing him. Little sister. Little sister. Little sister...? Had he himself really heard right? He turned back to Kazuma and met his steady gaze. The man that was like a father knew exactly what he was thinking. He understood perfectly Kyou's contradictory feelings. But did he himself understand them?
Kyou closed his eyes. Memories flashed through his mind. Pictures, voices, smells, feelings. Her astonished face when she for the first time had seen him change form. Her eager voice when she told she wanted to be friends. Her real interest for his martial arts talk, the real trying to understand him. Her tears when she said she wanted to go back to Shigure's house. The feeling of her hand in his a while later when the three of them walked home. Swirling shards of recollections went on. She, offering to share an umbrella on that morning. Her soothing words less than twenty-four hours later, telling him she wanted to be with him even after she knew... Their relationship up till now... And somehow he knew, he always had known.
Slowly the words sank also into Tohru's consciousness. Kyou's little sister? She? She was dreaming, it had to be a dream! She would be so happy... But what would Kyou think? Would he approve? They were friends but would he want her as so close family member? And that would also mean that Shishou-san would become her father...
A small smile began to grow on Kyou's face. Yes, a little sister. That would be just perfect. That would be exactly as it should be. He would take good care of her for sure. Again he looked at the girl on his side, grinning happily.
Abruptly Tohru, still deep in thoughts, felt a hand tousle her hair and shot her head up. "That would be fun, or what do you think?" Kyou was grinning down at her. For a few seconds she still gaped at him, waiting for alarm clock to set off and wake her to cook breakfast. But it never did. The dark yard of Souma Main House was still surrounding her, everyone's eyes were still fixed on the two of them and Kyou was still standing there, smiling gently, one hand on her hair.
"Yes!" She smiled with real and almost unbearable happiness filling her heart and spreading through her whole body.
Tsuzuku...
Waa, there you have it! Sorry for those who expected it to be Hatori, but this was my intention from the very beginning. In fact the original idea was to have Yuki to come pick her up from the hospital... But in move is the future and so Hatori took her home so I had an excuse to have him present when she told her news. (He would have been even if no one had suspected him to be the chosen one.) (No, I'm not a SW-fan, but I have seen the movies...)
I'm very sorry that they might have been a bit out of character during the discussion at Shigure's. That part was really hard to write. You also might have noticed that my writing style changed a few times. That's because I have spent days and days off and on work.
I've made up my mind to ground this solely on the anime. I'm very strict that fics that aren't AU must keep to the facts. This way it's lot easier to make sure everything is right. The manga still hasn't ended even in Japan so I won't try my luck. And most of you haven't read it yet, I suppose. :) So, no spoilers on the manga! But I couldn't keep myself from adding some little hints that can be understood only after reading the manga.
And for my wonderful reviewers:
RUNIC KNIGHT: Who wouldn't want to take her? If you just think how much most Soumas like her. And her cousin... You'll see. Thank you for your information. *feels still stupid* You are a life-saver!
FRIEND OF SHIPPOU: Sorry, good guess but wrong. I hope you are content with this. But you were right, little Tohrus better not live at the Main House. This solution is perfect because her "Oniisan" lives at Shigure's, too.
And sorry I took so long to update!
FURYGRRL: Thank you, thank you, thank you!
INVISIBLERAIN: Thank you for your review. Neat... very neat... Hey, I got an infection! o_O Not really, just kidding! :) But thanxie anyway!
LADY KARA: Thank you for all your information on the game! You are a treasure! And I'm really glad you like this so much. Sorry about the guardian, but I originally got the idea to this fic when I thought that Yuki was the right one for Tohru, but Kyou would have deserved her to. And I and my sister both agreed on that Kyou was a lot like older brother to her. Then I got the idea and started typing... And here you are, altough I had sworn never to write a fic... ^_^'
I hope to hear from the all of you again! And I'm hoping to get some anonymous reviews too, now that everyone can write them!
I'll be doing my best with the story from now on too, but because the chapters are getting quite long it'll take more time to write them. I hope you have patience!
Oh, one question to everyone! Do you people want any fluff here (will be mostly if not solely Y/T)? I have some in my sleeve and this should be romance so... But I'm no good at writing it (very unromantic person, sorry). If I'll stick to this adopting matter this fic is going to end in few chapters but I have some ideas so I could go on, too, if you want. I even have got some ideas for sequels... Scary!
Upsie daisy, it was more than one question and written quite long. Did you read it all? Thank you if you did and even more if you answer!
Ja, mata!