Again: Gomeeeeeeeeeeen, mina-san! I really would like to update more often but my teachers seem to have a conspiracy against me or perhaps against one of you. Does anybody think he/she might have some teachers bearing a grudge? Hopefully not. And there seems to be time looming on the horizon.
Hey, almost no one answered my question! Do you want this to be shorter or longer?! This chapter decides it and I'm not asking anymore. The longer version it shall be. Originally I thought this might not be longer than four or five chapters, but here we are, not yet halfway through. And on the top of that the chapters are awfully long! Hope you don't mind... (I have never heard of a person who would mind long chapters.) :)
I have the story line quite clearly in my head and would like to get over with this before Christmas because I have a one-shot Christmas-sequel for this in my mind. if it will be one-shot... ^_^' Without teachers telling me to keep my writings within some limits, it always seems to turn out like this...
Disclaimer: Telling this sometimes feels funny because everyone knows it anyway, but I don't own Fruits Basket. I don't need it, not even my favourite characters, as long as no one comes to kill me from using them a bit. Getting one copy of original manga would be nice, though...
Oh, and if you need these:
"speaking"
'thinking'
~flashback~
WHO WOULD WANT AN ONIGIRI?
Chapter 4: THERE'S STILL THE EVERYDAY LIFE TO ATTEND
Tohru opened slowly her eyes. Some dream she couldn't quite remember still playing hide and seek on the back of her mind. She rubbed her eyes and remembered staying up late. Then she actually woke up. Yes, yesterdey, one of the most eventful days of her life and counting that she had already lived at a house full of domestic and visiting Soumas that was lot to say.
First the news about Grandfather and then the evening... She sighed happily as she remembered it all. Kazuma's smile as he had looked at her and Kyou's grin when he tousled her hair. Her father- and brother-to-be. It wasn't a dream, was it?
Tohru looked around and saw open books on her table. No, she remembered sweatdropping, it wasn't a dream and she still hadn't finished her homework. She had stayed up till half past eleven to get them done. The alarm clock was showing 05:23. It wasn't going to set off before six o'clock, but she didn't feel tired at all. Odd, after such a day one would suppose to be tired to death. Slowly she got up from under the warm blankets and began dressing still thinking of yesterday's night.
They had rejected Hatori's offer to drive them home and walked instead. But before parting from him they had made the fixed today's timetable. Hatori, Kazuma and Shigure would be meeting Akito by the noon, then go to the hospital by four o'clock. Tohru had forgotten that their class meeting had been exceptionally moved to three o'clock today, but they would follow as soon as possible.
She sat down by her desk and did the remaining homework. Had she forgotten something? No, she hadn't... Or? But now she would have to make the breakfast. She went downstairs with a song whose lyrics she couldn't remember playing in her head.
~*~*~*~
Half an hour later she had everything almost ready and waiting when Kyou walked in from the garden.
"Oh, Kyou-kun, good morning," Tohru said happily. "Were you out already?"
"Morning. I woke up around five o'clock and couldn't sleep anymore so I got up and took a walk," he explained stretching his muscles.
"You are such a morning person."
"Not really, it was just today. What's for breakfast?" (AN: Actually, as far as I know he is.)
"We have miso and okonomiyaki and- Oh, good morning, Yuki-kun!"
The boy didn't answer. His hair was in a mess and he looked like sleepwalking. In fact he likely was doing exactly that. He sat himself beside the table and seemed to fall back asleep.
"Speaking of morning persons... If his fan club would see him now!" Kyou said sarcasticly. "I'll take a shower before breakfast."
"Okay," Tohru answered, rattling in the kitchen. "This'll be ready in fifteen minutes."
She heard Kyou shut himself into the bathroom. Yuki went on drooping by the table while she set it. She stopped to look at him for a moment. He was kind of cute even now, although he looked quite blown up. 'Aww, no! He doesn't like to be considered cute. I must not think that! But he still is...' she thought returning to the kitchen and turning her attention to the last okonomiyakis.
"Aa, Tohru-kun, Good morning! This smells so good," Shigure said coming from the hall with morning's newspaper in his hand. "Did you sleep well? We came home a bit late yesterday and you seemed to do some homework after that." He continued dropping the newspaper on the table.
"Good morning, Shigure-san! Yes, I slept well and I think I got it all done," she answered taking the last savoury pancake from the frying pan and placing it on a plate. 'I did, didn't I?'
"Good. Yuki-kun and Kyou-kun spent half of the evening writing some essay, but..." Shigure's voice disappeared toward's the toilet. Tohru stood in the kitchen with frying pan in one hand and cooking sticks in the other, stiff from head to toes. 'I did forget after all! How could I~! I'm sorry mother! I'm so stupid. And of all the possible teachers it has to be for Nukata-sensei' She leaned to the wall with the chopsticks holding hand.
"Honda-san, are you feeling all right?"
"Ah, Yuki-kun. Did you wake up? I hope you slept well," she said spinning around.
"Yes, thank you." He answered smiling. "But," he then continued looking at her closely, "could it anyhow be that you forgot the essay?"
Tohru flew red. "In fact... I did," she said looking down and feeling her face grow even hotter.
"I thought you might have, with all that happened yesterday it's really great that you have done any homework at all" he answered understanding. He turned to his school bag that had been left downstairs yesterday and dug out something. "Here, I wrote this after I finished my own."
She took the paper from him. An essay, lacking the finishing touches, written in his steady, neat handwriting. "What...?"
"It's an outline of a an essay. You should have time to copy it on lunch hour. If there are places where you would say something in a different way, do it. Edit it so it looks like your own," he said smiling.
"But- But, I couldn't you have done the most of the work and-"
"Honda-san, you know Nukata-sensei, he's the nastiest teacher we have and you are one of his favourite victims to begin with. I know it's a bit cheating and you don't want to do it because of that but there's enough going on anyway around already you so just take it."
"But still, all the bother..." she began. He was so nice and thoughtful, even after he had finished his own schoolwork...
"It was no problem, really. Take it, please. If you won't do it for yourself then do it for me. I don't want you to be yelled at after you have had so much to endure already," he insisted gently. Tohru felt a slight flush rise on her cheeks. He really looked like a prince again.
"I- Thank you so much! Can I do anything for you in change?" she thanked smiling brightly. 'I'm sorry mother, only this once...' But somehow she knew that her mother would have liked this idea.
"Just don't let Nukata-sensei get at you and keep smiling like that and I'll be happy" he answered smiling one of his real smiles. "Just kidding!" he added when she flew deep crimson.
They both laughed remembering the evening at the onsens in the spring but Tohru felt a little twinge due to his words. Why did that joke seem to hurt?
"You two seem like lovebir-" Shigure began emerging suddenly and stopping equally suddenly in the middle of sentence when the newspaper hit him on the face. "Yuki-kun that's so mean!" he moaned.
"Why don't you just shut up?" Yuki asked irritatedly.
"What's cooking?" asked Kyou coming in a towel around his shoulders and orange hair wet.
"Oh, Yu-"
"Nothing," Yuki interrupted his black-haired cousin.
"The breakfast is ready!" Tohru announced Coming from kitchen with the okonomiyakis. Three smiling faces looked up at her from around the table. 'Mother, these people really are like my family already.'
~*~*~*~
"What? You going to be Kyon-Kyon's sister??!!!" Arisa exclaimed when Tohru ended her explanation on yesterday's incidents. They were sitting on a bench on the campus area eating their lunch.
"That sounds extremely interesting," Saki commented, not sounding surprised at all. "But will it really be all right? There's something strange in the waves of all members of Souma family."
"It will, I'm sure it will! And I don't think there's anything strange in Shishou-san," Tohru assured feeling a twinge of guilty. 'If you knew everything I do you might not think the it all right at all...' "But before I forget, don't say anything to Momiji-kun and Hatsuharu-san. We have agreed to keep it down for the time being."
Saki watched her closely and Arisa raised her eyebrows.
"Okay, we promise. But we will have to come to see this 'Shioshou-san' of yours. Just to make sure that he's really good enough for you!" Arisa said firmly.
"Yes, we must indeed. We could come over already on the weekend."
"Well, I- It's... I mean-" Tohru stammered flushing.
"Okay, perhaps not this weekend. When would it be better?" asked Arisa seeing Tohru's reaction.
"Well, I don't know yet... It might take a while..." the shorter girl answered looking down.
"Very well," said Saki. "Tell us when we won't be on the way."
"Yes, of course I will. I'm really sorry-"
"Don't be," Arisa snorted but smiled then. "Hey, you can tell us straight if it's not all right. When you have a family it means you have to adapt to that family's comings and goings and it's not your fault. If you say that person is nice we trust your word and if he isn't I'm gonna get the Carrot Head for having such a father"
"Yes, Tohru-kun," Saki said looking gently at Tohru. "We are yaour friends and we love and protect you with all our might."
"Thank you so much, Uo-chan, Hana-chan!" Tohru smiled brightly. Then she remembered. "Oh my god, the essay!" she exclaimed snatching her bag and beginning to dig in it.
"What?" Arisa asked. "Oya oya, that was very nice of the Prince," she laughed after a little more explaining. "Very nice indeed," she repeated looking very meaningfully to Saki over Tohru's bend head.
Tohru found the papers and pen at last but when she drew them out something dropped to her feet. Saki bent down to pick it up.
It was the letter Tohru's aunt had given her yesterday but she had forgotten it as completely as she had the essay.
"Wakaura Sonomi," Saki read the sender's name. "Who is it?"
"In fact, I don't remember. It sounds familiar but..." Tohru answered frowning hard.
"How about opening it and checking what it says?" Arisa suggested.
"Yes, I just forgot it yesterday because so much happened. I think I have time to open it now and will still get the essay done in time," Tohru opened the envelope under her friend's watch and began reading:
My dear old students,
I hope you are all doing well. Do you still remember me? I used to be
your teacher on your first school year. It has been 10 years since then
and I thought it would be nice to meet again. Therefore
I invite you all into a class meeting on the 15th of October.
I have got permission to use our old classroom. I hope everyone who
Has the possibility will come.
Please call me to tell you are coming so I know how many people there
is going to be.
Yours sincerely,
Wakaura Sonomi
Under the name there was a telephone number. Tohru gave the letter to Arisa and Saki to read. Old memories ran through her mind. She had been picked on a lot by the boys although she didn't know why. She had been so childish and naïve. And Mother had been alive... But she had changed, everyone changes so much-
"You aren't going, are you?" Arisa asked frowning.
"Eh?"
"The first school years? Weren't you picked on all the time back then?"
"I think I have heard that, too, but Tohru-kun never speaks much about herself or her past." Saki said.
"Well..." Tohru began, sweatdropping. "It might have been a bit rough then but I'm sure everyone has grown up a lot along the years. I think I could give it a try," she smiled.
Arisa raised her eyebrows and Saki looked at her closely.
"It's all right, really!" Tohru went on convincing them. It still seemed she wasn't succeeding too well, but luckily she remembered her actual work. "Aa! The essay! I'll have to write it now or I won't make it in time!"
It was still ten minutes before the next lesson when she got it done. Together the girls started towards the classroom. Arisa and Saki walked a bit ahead. Tohru came after them humming happily the tune from the morning.
She wasn't as happy as she seemed, though. Old memories rammed up from the back of her mind. Arisa had been right, she had been picked a lot when she was little. 'But it has been so long since then, sure everyone had matured and-'
"Honda-san?" called a female voice.
Tohru almost jumped and turned hastily to a middle-aged unfamiliar teacher she had just passed but not noticed. "Yes!"
"That song you were humming... Would you sing it aloud?" the teacher asked and abruptly Tohru could place her. She taught music, one of the subjects Tohru wasn't taking.
"I- I'm very sorry but I don't know the words..." she stammered dimly aware that her two friends had stopped and stood now a few meters behind her.
"Then some other song. It is rather your voice than that song I am interested in," the teacher insisted.
"I don't think I can any other songs either-" Tohru began but was interrupted when someone came from behind, grabbed her on upper arms.
"Yes you do, Tohru! My song, you know my song. You haven't forgotten it, have you? Sing my song!" Momiji had appeared as from nowhere and was now hanging to her sleeves dangerously close.
Tohru would have wanted to tell him to be careful and cringe but unfortunately she couldn't do either of those. In a matter of fact there was only one thing she could do. Luckily there was no one around except herself, Momiji, Saki, Arisa and the teacher who had had quite an expression on her face when Momiji made his sudden appearance.
First very quietly but then with growing courage she sang:
"Yuuhi no o-yama ni
Deru deru Momiji
Kaeru ya tokage ga
Konnichiwa"
(On the mountain in the evening sun
Comes out, comes out Momiji.
Frogs and lizards say
Hello.)
"Oh," said the teacher. "Oh. Quite a funny and peculiar song. But that's not important. Your voice- Oh no, the bell's ringing. Can you come to meet me after school?"
"I'm very sorry but today I'll be in great hurry-"
"Well then, I'll be waiting for you in the music class room tomorrow on the first break," and the teacher hurried on.
"Whoa, what was that?" Arisa asked, amazed.
"It seems to me that Mizuda-sensei, who teaches music, stopped Tohru-kun on her way to class and was very interested in her singing voice. She made Tohru-kun sing a funny song made by Souma Momiji-kun and then told her to meet her at the music class tomorrow on the firs break," Saki stated, cool as cucumber.
~*~*~*~
Yuki walked up to the front of the class. He had quite a lot to tell them but he would have to do that in a minimum amount of time. He had already told the other class representative that something urgent had turned up and he would have to leave as soon as possible. There would also arise another problem when this meeting would end, but he didn't want even think of it yet.
"Well, everyone, please listen," he began. "Today we have quite a lot to tell you."
"We have big news but before that..." continued his female classmate. Next five minutes were spent going through the list of some common announcements and such. Yuki waited patiently. The class didn't really seem interested but he could see that most of them had heard rumours of what was about to come. Not all of them, Kyou was yawning, Hanajima Saki sat straight as ever and looked at the two standing in the front but in reality paid less attention on them than Kyou did, Uotani Arisa was sprawling over her desk without slightest trace of interest. In fact the only one really listening was Tohru, who would likely have had the best excuse not to but he noticed that she was squeezing a watch in her hand.
The girl beside him fell silent and rearranged her glasses and Yuki opened his mouth. "As some of you might already have heard, the student council has been preparing a surprise. Now we are going to announce what it is." He paused to let the tension rise a bit. "On Friday two weeks from now there'll be a Masquerade Ball in the school"
His words were like a starting shot in sports competition. Loud mumbling filled the classroom and even he had to raise his voice to regain their attention. "Quiet, please, be quiet. I have quite a lot to tell you about this."
At last the class were more or less - mainly less, it seemed - listening to him. "The planning is complete and everything possible is already taken care of but we'll be hoping to have your help from now on. Roughly the plan is this: first year students will be taking care of refreshments, second year students do the decorating and third year students will have the maintenance of order."
He fell silent and the other class representative took over. "The Ball will be kept in the assembly hall. We would like to have all kind of decorating ideas from all of you. If you have any write or draw them down and bring to us by next Wednesday before the meeting of student council," she said. "Yes, Kinoshita-san?"
Yuki's Fan Club's vice president had raised her hand. "How about the pairing? Does one have to have a partner? Or should you come so well disguised that no one can recognise you and then just dance with someone?"
"We were about to speak about that. You don't need to get a partner beforehand, but everyone will have someone. On the door everyone will be given a piece of paper with a number on it. There'll be two pieces with every number, blue for a boy and red for a girl. You'll pin those to your costumes. Ready pairs will get the same number and the ones who come alone will draw a random number and then search for their partner. This way we'll try to make sure everyone will have a partner."
Mumbling rose again and this time Yuki had to bang a book on the teacher's desk to get the attention. "Quiet, everyone! Please be quiet!" 'Why today of all the days of the year? 'he pondered while begging them to shut up.
"There are some minor problems with this but they will all be overcome," he continued after the class was quiet again. "To avoid those problems we would have to know quite precisely how many people there will be. Would everyone who IS coming raise their hands?"
Almost everyone did.
"Thank you. Then about the program." Yuki went on. "We would like to have students of our own school performing there. Those who are interested in singing or playing some instrument in the Ball please register to Mizuda-sensei, the music teacher before next week's Friday,"
The class started blabbering again but his words had also more unexpected effect. Abruptly Hanajima Saki's eyes were fixed on him, Uotani Arisa straightened up and the expression on Tohru's face went from surprised understanding and then to startled one. At the moment Yuki couldn't even look worried but he would have to ask about it later.
"Now, if anyone has any questions?" he continued after the class was quiet again.
"Can we bring partners from outside the school?" asked the boy sitting behind Hanajima Saki.
"Yes, if you want to bring a partner from outside the school you'll have to go to write that person's name and your own on the list outside the student council's room. This is mostly for us to be able to keep track on how much people there will be coming. Still more questions?"
No one asked anything and the moment Yuki had waited and feared was at hand. The meeting would end. He stood stiffly as the other class representative said the last words, ready to run as soon as he could. His bag was still on his desk. He would have to make it there, grab it and go away through the door on the back of the class. 'I hope that Honda-san and Kyou will get the point. If they won't...'
"...for your decorating ideas. This was it for today. See you tomorrow!" said the girl beside him. Students began getting up and collecting their things while lively chatting filled the room.
He had barely had time to take the first step when the first female voice's called to him: "Yuki-kun!" and abruptly almost every girl in the class seemed to be calling to him. "Yuki-kun, have you already got a partner?" "Who will you be going with?!"
Never loosing his calm appearance he fought his way towards his desk giving them answers that weren't really answers at all but would hopefully shut them up for a while. Tohru and Kyou had got the point and were already waiting for him outside the door. There was something very comforting in Tohru's worried expression.
Yuki got his bag and was almost out of the class when someone grabbed his sleeve and it was close that the girl didn't get to hug his arm. Gracefully he avoided her, turned to the class and said clearly:
"I'm very busy with everything right now and won't even think of my partner-to-be for at least a week. Now I'm in hurry so if you would excuse me." And he turned and marched out of the class.
~*~*~*~
Three men walked through the corridors of the hospital. Hatori walked a bit ahead of Shigure and Kazuma. He was as expressionless as ever, but inside he considered the morning's events. It was clear Akito hadn't been at all pleased of having Kazuma take Tohru's guardianship but had been forced to approve due to good reasoning. Hatori could understand well why the head of Souma family had been irritated. Kazuma wasn't only exactly what Tohru's grandfather had asked for, he was also exceptionally good at protecting people from Akito and other hostile family members. Thank to him Kyou's childhood had turned out happier than for example Yuki's and considering who was cat and who was mouse that was really something to say.
They come up to the door of the Grandfather's room and he lifted his hand to knock but stopped. From inside the room they all could hear muffled voices. Normally the door wouldn't let anything through but inside a presumably young man was almost yelling at someone.
"... saw it clearly. She left the building with a MAN. Do you understand? An older MAN! Are you still going to insist that she's decent and innocent and earns her money a respectable way not to mention how she earn her keep in that house?!" he sounded almost spitting out the words 'that house'.
In the corridor the three men looked at each other. They couldn't hear the answer but when the young man began again a woman's voice rose to oppose it, or at least it seemed like that. Only half aware what they were doing the three men leaned a bit forward to hear better. Although the woman had first seemed to go against the young man the few words they could hear proved that impression wrong. Obviously she just had told the boy not to yell.
Again the men outside exchanged glances. "Shigure," Hatori hissed. "If you say a one stupid or two-minded thing..."
"Ha-san, your mistrust is like a dagger in my heart!" Shigure whispered back, seemingly very, very hurt but then got back his cunning smirk. "Shall we go?"
Kazuma nodded, his expression unreadable and one more time Hatori rose up his hand to knock. The room fell silent and then an old man's voice called: "Come in!"
Inhaling deeply Hatori opened the door and the trio walked in.
Tsuzuku...
Waa, it's done! One more chappy done! Was it boring? I go far too much to details when I write (that's why the chapters are so long) and this consisted much just of introducing some things needed later in the story. On the top of that I have been writing this since I posted the last chapter! Confound it all with all the homework! Thanks for all the reviewers! You have given me so much strength! I will write this to end even if it kills me!
About this chapter:
Now they really were OOC because I haven't had so much time to think all this over. I would have wanted to give Momiji more lines but didn't have the time nor space.
That teacher's letter was horrible but I'm not good at writing thet kind of things. Sorry.
I don't know if there's music in Kaiwara (or is it Kaibara) High, ie. Tohru's school, but as far as I know there might well be although no one of the main characters has it. And about Momiji's song, that's my own translation and it's not too good. Nor are any that I have ever seen in the Internet or on the DVD or fansubs. THe song is very funny but also almost impossible to translate to any other language (I didn't even try the two following phrases...) and therefore you all should learn some Japanese!
Hey, hey, just come to my mind! When did you begin to suspect that Tohru's new guardian would be Kazuma? Did anybody get it with the characters or had everybody guessed by the time he spoke out?
And then to my beloved and always more than welcome reviewers:
FRIEND OF SHIPPOU: Thank you! I'm so happy you liked it! I was worried that you would have preferred Hatori. I'm so sorry I couldn't update sooner.
MIMATO-CHICKY-CHICK: Here's a new chapter! Please review again. Please, please, please! :)
FURYGRRL: Sorry, not yet much about the effects of her being adopted. In fact it might be not much will come out in this fic but the possible sequels... (And this was supposed to be my first and last fic!!! ^_^' Anyway, I'm soooo glad you like it!
STEELBLADE: Thank you, I will!
INVISIBLERAIN: Good you are pleased with the guardian. Don't worry. Kazuma seems to be awfully good at protecting Kyou from akito and the rest of the family and what makes you think Kyou might not protect her? As for Yuki... Well, love for someone can give an unbelievable strength. I don't like her relatives either, so they certainly won't leave the ring as the winners. ^-^
LADY KARA: That's why I'm writing this. ;) Weren't you too supposing it to be Hatori? Good you liked this outcome! Thank you for your review and hope to hear of you again!
JOANNE: Thank you, sorry I didn't sooner.
SUNFLOWER000: Ano, moshikashite nihon-jin? Hey, if you are going to write this kind of reviews please send them via e-mail! You have guessed my intentions very well. Both family-fluff and Yukiru coming up! I'm quite sure you already can guess some of the Yukiru stuff after reading this chapter. :)
Your review really saved an extremely gloomy day! Please review again!
TALLY: Good grief! You almost had me frightened! Yes, older brothers are there to save their little sisters (at least in CCS and this fic) and Tohru is kawaii enough to have a boy or two asking her to the ball. :)
I'm really sorry this took so long time! I'll do my best to update more often but with the chapters getting longer and longer... Gomennasai!
SHADOWCAT15: Wow, someone guessed it would be him! Did understand it when he entered the stage or already before there was a one word said of him?
Hey, almost no one answered my question! Do you want this to be shorter or longer?! This chapter decides it and I'm not asking anymore. The longer version it shall be. Originally I thought this might not be longer than four or five chapters, but here we are, not yet halfway through. And on the top of that the chapters are awfully long! Hope you don't mind... (I have never heard of a person who would mind long chapters.) :)
I have the story line quite clearly in my head and would like to get over with this before Christmas because I have a one-shot Christmas-sequel for this in my mind. if it will be one-shot... ^_^' Without teachers telling me to keep my writings within some limits, it always seems to turn out like this...
Disclaimer: Telling this sometimes feels funny because everyone knows it anyway, but I don't own Fruits Basket. I don't need it, not even my favourite characters, as long as no one comes to kill me from using them a bit. Getting one copy of original manga would be nice, though...
Oh, and if you need these:
"speaking"
'thinking'
~flashback~
WHO WOULD WANT AN ONIGIRI?
Chapter 4: THERE'S STILL THE EVERYDAY LIFE TO ATTEND
Tohru opened slowly her eyes. Some dream she couldn't quite remember still playing hide and seek on the back of her mind. She rubbed her eyes and remembered staying up late. Then she actually woke up. Yes, yesterdey, one of the most eventful days of her life and counting that she had already lived at a house full of domestic and visiting Soumas that was lot to say.
First the news about Grandfather and then the evening... She sighed happily as she remembered it all. Kazuma's smile as he had looked at her and Kyou's grin when he tousled her hair. Her father- and brother-to-be. It wasn't a dream, was it?
Tohru looked around and saw open books on her table. No, she remembered sweatdropping, it wasn't a dream and she still hadn't finished her homework. She had stayed up till half past eleven to get them done. The alarm clock was showing 05:23. It wasn't going to set off before six o'clock, but she didn't feel tired at all. Odd, after such a day one would suppose to be tired to death. Slowly she got up from under the warm blankets and began dressing still thinking of yesterday's night.
They had rejected Hatori's offer to drive them home and walked instead. But before parting from him they had made the fixed today's timetable. Hatori, Kazuma and Shigure would be meeting Akito by the noon, then go to the hospital by four o'clock. Tohru had forgotten that their class meeting had been exceptionally moved to three o'clock today, but they would follow as soon as possible.
She sat down by her desk and did the remaining homework. Had she forgotten something? No, she hadn't... Or? But now she would have to make the breakfast. She went downstairs with a song whose lyrics she couldn't remember playing in her head.
~*~*~*~
Half an hour later she had everything almost ready and waiting when Kyou walked in from the garden.
"Oh, Kyou-kun, good morning," Tohru said happily. "Were you out already?"
"Morning. I woke up around five o'clock and couldn't sleep anymore so I got up and took a walk," he explained stretching his muscles.
"You are such a morning person."
"Not really, it was just today. What's for breakfast?" (AN: Actually, as far as I know he is.)
"We have miso and okonomiyaki and- Oh, good morning, Yuki-kun!"
The boy didn't answer. His hair was in a mess and he looked like sleepwalking. In fact he likely was doing exactly that. He sat himself beside the table and seemed to fall back asleep.
"Speaking of morning persons... If his fan club would see him now!" Kyou said sarcasticly. "I'll take a shower before breakfast."
"Okay," Tohru answered, rattling in the kitchen. "This'll be ready in fifteen minutes."
She heard Kyou shut himself into the bathroom. Yuki went on drooping by the table while she set it. She stopped to look at him for a moment. He was kind of cute even now, although he looked quite blown up. 'Aww, no! He doesn't like to be considered cute. I must not think that! But he still is...' she thought returning to the kitchen and turning her attention to the last okonomiyakis.
"Aa, Tohru-kun, Good morning! This smells so good," Shigure said coming from the hall with morning's newspaper in his hand. "Did you sleep well? We came home a bit late yesterday and you seemed to do some homework after that." He continued dropping the newspaper on the table.
"Good morning, Shigure-san! Yes, I slept well and I think I got it all done," she answered taking the last savoury pancake from the frying pan and placing it on a plate. 'I did, didn't I?'
"Good. Yuki-kun and Kyou-kun spent half of the evening writing some essay, but..." Shigure's voice disappeared toward's the toilet. Tohru stood in the kitchen with frying pan in one hand and cooking sticks in the other, stiff from head to toes. 'I did forget after all! How could I~! I'm sorry mother! I'm so stupid. And of all the possible teachers it has to be for Nukata-sensei' She leaned to the wall with the chopsticks holding hand.
"Honda-san, are you feeling all right?"
"Ah, Yuki-kun. Did you wake up? I hope you slept well," she said spinning around.
"Yes, thank you." He answered smiling. "But," he then continued looking at her closely, "could it anyhow be that you forgot the essay?"
Tohru flew red. "In fact... I did," she said looking down and feeling her face grow even hotter.
"I thought you might have, with all that happened yesterday it's really great that you have done any homework at all" he answered understanding. He turned to his school bag that had been left downstairs yesterday and dug out something. "Here, I wrote this after I finished my own."
She took the paper from him. An essay, lacking the finishing touches, written in his steady, neat handwriting. "What...?"
"It's an outline of a an essay. You should have time to copy it on lunch hour. If there are places where you would say something in a different way, do it. Edit it so it looks like your own," he said smiling.
"But- But, I couldn't you have done the most of the work and-"
"Honda-san, you know Nukata-sensei, he's the nastiest teacher we have and you are one of his favourite victims to begin with. I know it's a bit cheating and you don't want to do it because of that but there's enough going on anyway around already you so just take it."
"But still, all the bother..." she began. He was so nice and thoughtful, even after he had finished his own schoolwork...
"It was no problem, really. Take it, please. If you won't do it for yourself then do it for me. I don't want you to be yelled at after you have had so much to endure already," he insisted gently. Tohru felt a slight flush rise on her cheeks. He really looked like a prince again.
"I- Thank you so much! Can I do anything for you in change?" she thanked smiling brightly. 'I'm sorry mother, only this once...' But somehow she knew that her mother would have liked this idea.
"Just don't let Nukata-sensei get at you and keep smiling like that and I'll be happy" he answered smiling one of his real smiles. "Just kidding!" he added when she flew deep crimson.
They both laughed remembering the evening at the onsens in the spring but Tohru felt a little twinge due to his words. Why did that joke seem to hurt?
"You two seem like lovebir-" Shigure began emerging suddenly and stopping equally suddenly in the middle of sentence when the newspaper hit him on the face. "Yuki-kun that's so mean!" he moaned.
"Why don't you just shut up?" Yuki asked irritatedly.
"What's cooking?" asked Kyou coming in a towel around his shoulders and orange hair wet.
"Oh, Yu-"
"Nothing," Yuki interrupted his black-haired cousin.
"The breakfast is ready!" Tohru announced Coming from kitchen with the okonomiyakis. Three smiling faces looked up at her from around the table. 'Mother, these people really are like my family already.'
~*~*~*~
"What? You going to be Kyon-Kyon's sister??!!!" Arisa exclaimed when Tohru ended her explanation on yesterday's incidents. They were sitting on a bench on the campus area eating their lunch.
"That sounds extremely interesting," Saki commented, not sounding surprised at all. "But will it really be all right? There's something strange in the waves of all members of Souma family."
"It will, I'm sure it will! And I don't think there's anything strange in Shishou-san," Tohru assured feeling a twinge of guilty. 'If you knew everything I do you might not think the it all right at all...' "But before I forget, don't say anything to Momiji-kun and Hatsuharu-san. We have agreed to keep it down for the time being."
Saki watched her closely and Arisa raised her eyebrows.
"Okay, we promise. But we will have to come to see this 'Shioshou-san' of yours. Just to make sure that he's really good enough for you!" Arisa said firmly.
"Yes, we must indeed. We could come over already on the weekend."
"Well, I- It's... I mean-" Tohru stammered flushing.
"Okay, perhaps not this weekend. When would it be better?" asked Arisa seeing Tohru's reaction.
"Well, I don't know yet... It might take a while..." the shorter girl answered looking down.
"Very well," said Saki. "Tell us when we won't be on the way."
"Yes, of course I will. I'm really sorry-"
"Don't be," Arisa snorted but smiled then. "Hey, you can tell us straight if it's not all right. When you have a family it means you have to adapt to that family's comings and goings and it's not your fault. If you say that person is nice we trust your word and if he isn't I'm gonna get the Carrot Head for having such a father"
"Yes, Tohru-kun," Saki said looking gently at Tohru. "We are yaour friends and we love and protect you with all our might."
"Thank you so much, Uo-chan, Hana-chan!" Tohru smiled brightly. Then she remembered. "Oh my god, the essay!" she exclaimed snatching her bag and beginning to dig in it.
"What?" Arisa asked. "Oya oya, that was very nice of the Prince," she laughed after a little more explaining. "Very nice indeed," she repeated looking very meaningfully to Saki over Tohru's bend head.
Tohru found the papers and pen at last but when she drew them out something dropped to her feet. Saki bent down to pick it up.
It was the letter Tohru's aunt had given her yesterday but she had forgotten it as completely as she had the essay.
"Wakaura Sonomi," Saki read the sender's name. "Who is it?"
"In fact, I don't remember. It sounds familiar but..." Tohru answered frowning hard.
"How about opening it and checking what it says?" Arisa suggested.
"Yes, I just forgot it yesterday because so much happened. I think I have time to open it now and will still get the essay done in time," Tohru opened the envelope under her friend's watch and began reading:
My dear old students,
I hope you are all doing well. Do you still remember me? I used to be
your teacher on your first school year. It has been 10 years since then
and I thought it would be nice to meet again. Therefore
I invite you all into a class meeting on the 15th of October.
I have got permission to use our old classroom. I hope everyone who
Has the possibility will come.
Please call me to tell you are coming so I know how many people there
is going to be.
Yours sincerely,
Wakaura Sonomi
Under the name there was a telephone number. Tohru gave the letter to Arisa and Saki to read. Old memories ran through her mind. She had been picked on a lot by the boys although she didn't know why. She had been so childish and naïve. And Mother had been alive... But she had changed, everyone changes so much-
"You aren't going, are you?" Arisa asked frowning.
"Eh?"
"The first school years? Weren't you picked on all the time back then?"
"I think I have heard that, too, but Tohru-kun never speaks much about herself or her past." Saki said.
"Well..." Tohru began, sweatdropping. "It might have been a bit rough then but I'm sure everyone has grown up a lot along the years. I think I could give it a try," she smiled.
Arisa raised her eyebrows and Saki looked at her closely.
"It's all right, really!" Tohru went on convincing them. It still seemed she wasn't succeeding too well, but luckily she remembered her actual work. "Aa! The essay! I'll have to write it now or I won't make it in time!"
It was still ten minutes before the next lesson when she got it done. Together the girls started towards the classroom. Arisa and Saki walked a bit ahead. Tohru came after them humming happily the tune from the morning.
She wasn't as happy as she seemed, though. Old memories rammed up from the back of her mind. Arisa had been right, she had been picked a lot when she was little. 'But it has been so long since then, sure everyone had matured and-'
"Honda-san?" called a female voice.
Tohru almost jumped and turned hastily to a middle-aged unfamiliar teacher she had just passed but not noticed. "Yes!"
"That song you were humming... Would you sing it aloud?" the teacher asked and abruptly Tohru could place her. She taught music, one of the subjects Tohru wasn't taking.
"I- I'm very sorry but I don't know the words..." she stammered dimly aware that her two friends had stopped and stood now a few meters behind her.
"Then some other song. It is rather your voice than that song I am interested in," the teacher insisted.
"I don't think I can any other songs either-" Tohru began but was interrupted when someone came from behind, grabbed her on upper arms.
"Yes you do, Tohru! My song, you know my song. You haven't forgotten it, have you? Sing my song!" Momiji had appeared as from nowhere and was now hanging to her sleeves dangerously close.
Tohru would have wanted to tell him to be careful and cringe but unfortunately she couldn't do either of those. In a matter of fact there was only one thing she could do. Luckily there was no one around except herself, Momiji, Saki, Arisa and the teacher who had had quite an expression on her face when Momiji made his sudden appearance.
First very quietly but then with growing courage she sang:
"Yuuhi no o-yama ni
Deru deru Momiji
Kaeru ya tokage ga
Konnichiwa"
(On the mountain in the evening sun
Comes out, comes out Momiji.
Frogs and lizards say
Hello.)
"Oh," said the teacher. "Oh. Quite a funny and peculiar song. But that's not important. Your voice- Oh no, the bell's ringing. Can you come to meet me after school?"
"I'm very sorry but today I'll be in great hurry-"
"Well then, I'll be waiting for you in the music class room tomorrow on the first break," and the teacher hurried on.
"Whoa, what was that?" Arisa asked, amazed.
"It seems to me that Mizuda-sensei, who teaches music, stopped Tohru-kun on her way to class and was very interested in her singing voice. She made Tohru-kun sing a funny song made by Souma Momiji-kun and then told her to meet her at the music class tomorrow on the firs break," Saki stated, cool as cucumber.
~*~*~*~
Yuki walked up to the front of the class. He had quite a lot to tell them but he would have to do that in a minimum amount of time. He had already told the other class representative that something urgent had turned up and he would have to leave as soon as possible. There would also arise another problem when this meeting would end, but he didn't want even think of it yet.
"Well, everyone, please listen," he began. "Today we have quite a lot to tell you."
"We have big news but before that..." continued his female classmate. Next five minutes were spent going through the list of some common announcements and such. Yuki waited patiently. The class didn't really seem interested but he could see that most of them had heard rumours of what was about to come. Not all of them, Kyou was yawning, Hanajima Saki sat straight as ever and looked at the two standing in the front but in reality paid less attention on them than Kyou did, Uotani Arisa was sprawling over her desk without slightest trace of interest. In fact the only one really listening was Tohru, who would likely have had the best excuse not to but he noticed that she was squeezing a watch in her hand.
The girl beside him fell silent and rearranged her glasses and Yuki opened his mouth. "As some of you might already have heard, the student council has been preparing a surprise. Now we are going to announce what it is." He paused to let the tension rise a bit. "On Friday two weeks from now there'll be a Masquerade Ball in the school"
His words were like a starting shot in sports competition. Loud mumbling filled the classroom and even he had to raise his voice to regain their attention. "Quiet, please, be quiet. I have quite a lot to tell you about this."
At last the class were more or less - mainly less, it seemed - listening to him. "The planning is complete and everything possible is already taken care of but we'll be hoping to have your help from now on. Roughly the plan is this: first year students will be taking care of refreshments, second year students do the decorating and third year students will have the maintenance of order."
He fell silent and the other class representative took over. "The Ball will be kept in the assembly hall. We would like to have all kind of decorating ideas from all of you. If you have any write or draw them down and bring to us by next Wednesday before the meeting of student council," she said. "Yes, Kinoshita-san?"
Yuki's Fan Club's vice president had raised her hand. "How about the pairing? Does one have to have a partner? Or should you come so well disguised that no one can recognise you and then just dance with someone?"
"We were about to speak about that. You don't need to get a partner beforehand, but everyone will have someone. On the door everyone will be given a piece of paper with a number on it. There'll be two pieces with every number, blue for a boy and red for a girl. You'll pin those to your costumes. Ready pairs will get the same number and the ones who come alone will draw a random number and then search for their partner. This way we'll try to make sure everyone will have a partner."
Mumbling rose again and this time Yuki had to bang a book on the teacher's desk to get the attention. "Quiet, everyone! Please be quiet!" 'Why today of all the days of the year? 'he pondered while begging them to shut up.
"There are some minor problems with this but they will all be overcome," he continued after the class was quiet again. "To avoid those problems we would have to know quite precisely how many people there will be. Would everyone who IS coming raise their hands?"
Almost everyone did.
"Thank you. Then about the program." Yuki went on. "We would like to have students of our own school performing there. Those who are interested in singing or playing some instrument in the Ball please register to Mizuda-sensei, the music teacher before next week's Friday,"
The class started blabbering again but his words had also more unexpected effect. Abruptly Hanajima Saki's eyes were fixed on him, Uotani Arisa straightened up and the expression on Tohru's face went from surprised understanding and then to startled one. At the moment Yuki couldn't even look worried but he would have to ask about it later.
"Now, if anyone has any questions?" he continued after the class was quiet again.
"Can we bring partners from outside the school?" asked the boy sitting behind Hanajima Saki.
"Yes, if you want to bring a partner from outside the school you'll have to go to write that person's name and your own on the list outside the student council's room. This is mostly for us to be able to keep track on how much people there will be coming. Still more questions?"
No one asked anything and the moment Yuki had waited and feared was at hand. The meeting would end. He stood stiffly as the other class representative said the last words, ready to run as soon as he could. His bag was still on his desk. He would have to make it there, grab it and go away through the door on the back of the class. 'I hope that Honda-san and Kyou will get the point. If they won't...'
"...for your decorating ideas. This was it for today. See you tomorrow!" said the girl beside him. Students began getting up and collecting their things while lively chatting filled the room.
He had barely had time to take the first step when the first female voice's called to him: "Yuki-kun!" and abruptly almost every girl in the class seemed to be calling to him. "Yuki-kun, have you already got a partner?" "Who will you be going with?!"
Never loosing his calm appearance he fought his way towards his desk giving them answers that weren't really answers at all but would hopefully shut them up for a while. Tohru and Kyou had got the point and were already waiting for him outside the door. There was something very comforting in Tohru's worried expression.
Yuki got his bag and was almost out of the class when someone grabbed his sleeve and it was close that the girl didn't get to hug his arm. Gracefully he avoided her, turned to the class and said clearly:
"I'm very busy with everything right now and won't even think of my partner-to-be for at least a week. Now I'm in hurry so if you would excuse me." And he turned and marched out of the class.
~*~*~*~
Three men walked through the corridors of the hospital. Hatori walked a bit ahead of Shigure and Kazuma. He was as expressionless as ever, but inside he considered the morning's events. It was clear Akito hadn't been at all pleased of having Kazuma take Tohru's guardianship but had been forced to approve due to good reasoning. Hatori could understand well why the head of Souma family had been irritated. Kazuma wasn't only exactly what Tohru's grandfather had asked for, he was also exceptionally good at protecting people from Akito and other hostile family members. Thank to him Kyou's childhood had turned out happier than for example Yuki's and considering who was cat and who was mouse that was really something to say.
They come up to the door of the Grandfather's room and he lifted his hand to knock but stopped. From inside the room they all could hear muffled voices. Normally the door wouldn't let anything through but inside a presumably young man was almost yelling at someone.
"... saw it clearly. She left the building with a MAN. Do you understand? An older MAN! Are you still going to insist that she's decent and innocent and earns her money a respectable way not to mention how she earn her keep in that house?!" he sounded almost spitting out the words 'that house'.
In the corridor the three men looked at each other. They couldn't hear the answer but when the young man began again a woman's voice rose to oppose it, or at least it seemed like that. Only half aware what they were doing the three men leaned a bit forward to hear better. Although the woman had first seemed to go against the young man the few words they could hear proved that impression wrong. Obviously she just had told the boy not to yell.
Again the men outside exchanged glances. "Shigure," Hatori hissed. "If you say a one stupid or two-minded thing..."
"Ha-san, your mistrust is like a dagger in my heart!" Shigure whispered back, seemingly very, very hurt but then got back his cunning smirk. "Shall we go?"
Kazuma nodded, his expression unreadable and one more time Hatori rose up his hand to knock. The room fell silent and then an old man's voice called: "Come in!"
Inhaling deeply Hatori opened the door and the trio walked in.
Tsuzuku...
Waa, it's done! One more chappy done! Was it boring? I go far too much to details when I write (that's why the chapters are so long) and this consisted much just of introducing some things needed later in the story. On the top of that I have been writing this since I posted the last chapter! Confound it all with all the homework! Thanks for all the reviewers! You have given me so much strength! I will write this to end even if it kills me!
About this chapter:
Now they really were OOC because I haven't had so much time to think all this over. I would have wanted to give Momiji more lines but didn't have the time nor space.
That teacher's letter was horrible but I'm not good at writing thet kind of things. Sorry.
I don't know if there's music in Kaiwara (or is it Kaibara) High, ie. Tohru's school, but as far as I know there might well be although no one of the main characters has it. And about Momiji's song, that's my own translation and it's not too good. Nor are any that I have ever seen in the Internet or on the DVD or fansubs. THe song is very funny but also almost impossible to translate to any other language (I didn't even try the two following phrases...) and therefore you all should learn some Japanese!
Hey, hey, just come to my mind! When did you begin to suspect that Tohru's new guardian would be Kazuma? Did anybody get it with the characters or had everybody guessed by the time he spoke out?
And then to my beloved and always more than welcome reviewers:
FRIEND OF SHIPPOU: Thank you! I'm so happy you liked it! I was worried that you would have preferred Hatori. I'm so sorry I couldn't update sooner.
MIMATO-CHICKY-CHICK: Here's a new chapter! Please review again. Please, please, please! :)
FURYGRRL: Sorry, not yet much about the effects of her being adopted. In fact it might be not much will come out in this fic but the possible sequels... (And this was supposed to be my first and last fic!!! ^_^' Anyway, I'm soooo glad you like it!
STEELBLADE: Thank you, I will!
INVISIBLERAIN: Good you are pleased with the guardian. Don't worry. Kazuma seems to be awfully good at protecting Kyou from akito and the rest of the family and what makes you think Kyou might not protect her? As for Yuki... Well, love for someone can give an unbelievable strength. I don't like her relatives either, so they certainly won't leave the ring as the winners. ^-^
LADY KARA: That's why I'm writing this. ;) Weren't you too supposing it to be Hatori? Good you liked this outcome! Thank you for your review and hope to hear of you again!
JOANNE: Thank you, sorry I didn't sooner.
SUNFLOWER000: Ano, moshikashite nihon-jin? Hey, if you are going to write this kind of reviews please send them via e-mail! You have guessed my intentions very well. Both family-fluff and Yukiru coming up! I'm quite sure you already can guess some of the Yukiru stuff after reading this chapter. :)
Your review really saved an extremely gloomy day! Please review again!
TALLY: Good grief! You almost had me frightened! Yes, older brothers are there to save their little sisters (at least in CCS and this fic) and Tohru is kawaii enough to have a boy or two asking her to the ball. :)
I'm really sorry this took so long time! I'll do my best to update more often but with the chapters getting longer and longer... Gomennasai!
SHADOWCAT15: Wow, someone guessed it would be him! Did understand it when he entered the stage or already before there was a one word said of him?