FRUITS BASKET: WHAT MUST BE DONE
by Vashkoda
(Disclaimer: This work of fiction uses characters belonging to Takaya Natsuki and Hakusensha without their permission. I am getting no profit from it. I only do it because I think Fruits Basket is a great story, and I want to help keep it alive!)
Author's Note: I'm sorry I left you all hanging--I've been gone on vacation. My job is still keeping me busy, so I won't be able to update this as often as I'd like, but I'll try.
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"I still can't believe it!"
Uo's fists were clenched at her sides. She found it very difficult to stand still, but Hana's grandmother was currently taking her measurements. The old woman had just finished with Tohru, who left to the kitchen with Hana's younger brother to make them all snacks. Hana was seated across from Uo and her grandmother, and despite Uo's outburst, Hana's expression was casual and unconcerned.
"Well, we did tell her to go with one of the Sohma's. I suppose it's our own fault for not being more specific," Hana said calmly.
"You're making jokes now?!" cried Uo, practically tearing her own hair out. "This is serious! What are we going to do?"
"Tohru-chan is very lucky to go with the famous Sohma Shigure!" said Hana's grandmother in a wistful tone as she put away her tape measure. "Why, if I was only a few years younger..." she trailed off with a cackle that made Uo's flesh break out in goosebumps.
"Uh...maybe we should go help Tohru-chan carry the tray," suggested Uo hurriedly, grabbing a surprised Hana by the arm. "We'll be right back!" she called over her shoulder as the two of them headed for the stairs.
"Is something wrong, Uo-chan?"
The tall blond shivered and threw her friend and incredulous look. "Didn't you hear what your grandmother just said?"
Hana curled her lips into a small smile. "Well, when Tohru told us that Shigure-san was really the author of obaachan's favorite romance series-"
"Yeah, all right, I get it," said Uo, rolling her eyes. "But Hana-chan, you have to agree that for someone like Tohru to be going to the prom with a man ten years older is going to look bad. People are going to talk."
"She's not going out with him. She's only going to keep him company as he chaperone's the dance."
Uo gave Hana another long stare.
"Nevertheless, I think it's a shame she isn't going with Kyo-kun or the Prince," continued Hana as they reached the foot of the stairs. "Tohru-chan has never been on a date before. It would have been nice for her to be with someone she cares about."
"Neither of those boys seems to care much in return," remarked Uo coldly as they approached the kitchen. "Have you noticed how the two of them have been avoiding her lately? They won't even look her in the eye when she talks to them!"
Hana's younger brother suddenly appeared in the kitchen doorway, carrying a large bowl and several plates. Afraid that her comment had been overheard, Uo tried to cover up her blunder by quickly offering to carry the things up herself. She was still blushing when she left the kitchen with several additional items in her arms and headed up the stairs.
"Is everything all right down here, Megumi?" Hana asked him.
"Tohru-chan seems a little sadder than usual," he remarked quietly. "Have people been...bothering her?"
"Leave Tohru's protection to me and Uo," Hana smiled, giving his hair an affectionate rub. "Now, what's left for us to carry up?"
It was another beautiful day, and once again, they sat upon the grassy hill overlooking Shigure's house. This time, however, it was only Tohru, Momiji and Hiro. The younger boy watched the other two in annoyance, wondering when something interesting was going to happen. If he had wanted to spend the afternoon staring silently at the sky, he could have done that back at the estate.
"Where's Kyo?" he asked finally, surprised to find that he missed having the annoying redhead around. Well, he was a good source of entertainment, if nothing else.
Hiro was surprised to see Momiji narrow his eyes at him in a threatening manner. What could he possibly have said to upset his cousin? Momiji was no more a fan of Kyo than he was.
"Come to think of it, I haven't seen Yuki around either. You'd think with one gone, the other would be hanging around Tohru-- hey!" Now Momiji had actually jabbed him in the ribs. Something was definitely going on.
"You say I have a big mouth," the younger boy hissed. When Hiro continued to give him a blank look, Momiji mouthed the word 'prom', throwing a quick glance at Tohru to see if she had noticed their exchange.
If she had, she made no sign. Tohru stared down in the direction of the house, but her eyes didn't seem to be focused on anything in particular. She hadn't spoken a word since they sat down. She didn't look sad, exactly, but neither was she her usual chipper and chatty self.
Why did Momiji think that mentioning the prom would upset her? Surely she would be going with either Kyo or Yuki. Hiro wondered which one had managed to ask her first. The two teens would be at each other's throats for the next few weeks--something Hiro had hoped to catch a glimpse of this afternoon, for their fights were always fun to watch. Instead, here he was, assuredly more bored than he could possibly have been back at the Souma estate.
Momiji crawled over to where Tohru sat and wrapped his arms around her shoulders to comfort her. Instantly, his body disappeared in a cloud of thick smoke, reappearing a second later as a small yellow bunny.
That was stupid of him, thought Hiro reproachfully. What did he think would happen when he tried to hug a girl?
Tohru picked the rabbit up and set it down in her lap, absently rubbing her hand against it and stroking its fur. It then struck Hiro that Momiji knew exactly what he was doing. Despite his young looks, Momiji was only a year younger than Tohru, and yet he cared for her as deeply as any of the other Soumas. Unfortunately, his appearance and child-like personality sometimes worked against him, and although he could have been a potential suitor, it was obvious that he stood no chance of contending with Kyo and Yuki for Tohru's heart.
As a cute fluffy animal, being hugged tightly against Tohru's body, it was as close as his cousin might ever get to feeling Tohru's tender touch. Hiro felt slightly disgusted. Shigure was obviously having a bad influence on Momiji.
"I'm heading over to the library. See you guys later," he told them, deciding he had already wasted enough of the afternoon.
"It'll be closed. It's past four," Momiji reminded him, his rabbit mouth somehow able to form the words.
"I'm going to the estate's."
The rabbit's ears perked up in interest. "Hey, that's an idea! Why don't we all go? You'll like our library, Tohru--it's really big!"
Hiro gave the animal an incredulous stare. "And how do you propose we do that? She's not a Souma. She doesn't have permission from Akito-san."
The rabbit seemed to wink at him. "They don't know that. And why would the guards doubt the word of two juunishi?"
Hiro crossed his arms in front of him. "What makes you think I'll go along with this plan?"
Those words still echoed in his mind as Hiro found himself walking down the white pebbled path leading to the Souma library. Every time they met a guard, Hiro half-hoped the man would stop them and question them about their guest. But as his cousin had predicted, Hiro and Momiji's faces were well known by the security staff, and they all assumed that whatever the juunishi were up to, it was surely with Akito's consent. Hiro merely watched and said nothing, preferring to be a spectator than a participant in this odd game of Momiji's. At least he wasn't bored anymore.
"Are...are you sure about this, Momiji-kun? I've always needed Akito-san's permission to be on the estate before." Momiji had to practically drag Tohru forward since they had arrived. She had been taking small, hesitant steps, making the walk to the library take forever. Their slow progress had allowed more guards to spot them, but Tohru's fearful expression probably convinced them that she must be here to see Akito.
"Don't worry, Tohru-chan," he said cheerfully in a sing-song voice. "We haven't been stopped yet, have we?"
The difficulty would be in explaining why they were going to the library. If there was anyone stationed there, Tohru would surely be turned away. Many of the books had been kept in the Souma family for generations; ancient texts and scrolls that outside eyes were never meant to see.
When they reached the library steps and found the doors unguarded, Hiro released a sigh of disappointment. They weren't going to get caught after all. He had been hoping for something interesting to happen, though it also carried the risk of drawing Akito's attention and his wrath.
As they slid the door panels open and quickly stepped inside, Hiro reflected that it was probably for the best that no one saw them enter. An uneventful afternoon was certainly preferable to a meeting with the clan head.
"There are so many books here!" said Tohru in awe, her fears for the moment forgotten. She wandered down the many aisles of bookcases, her eyes darting everywhere in wonder.
"I thought you might like it," grinned Momiji, following close behind her.
Hiro snorted. "It was my idea to come here. You just decided to tag along."
Tohru halted suddenly, causing Momiji to stumble into her and immediately transform. Hiro stopped himself in time, then looked beyond Tohru to see what had caused her to stop.
A man with reddish-brown hair stood before them, narrowing his eyes down at Tohru, Momiji, and Hiro in turn. His eyes lingered on the last.
"So it was your idea, Souma Hiro? Then you have some explaining to do."