Fruits Basket episode 28
Tohru opened her eyes slowly. The bright light shining through the window was glowing directly on her face. She rubbed her eyes to help her vision come into focus. She turned to see if Deiji was awake yet but she was gone. Tohru sat up, confused.
"Maybe she's in the shower?" she thought. Tohru jumped off her bed and walked out toward the bathroom but it was empty.
"Did you lose your hairbrush again?" Kyou asked standing behind her.
"Oh! Good morning Kyou-kun!" She said happily, "You haven't seen Deiji-kun anywhere, ne?" she asked.
Kyou ran his hand through his hair,
"Don't tell me you're starting to lose people now?"
"Ano" Tohru giggled lightly, "She's probably downstairs"
"Last place I saw her was in the kitchen" he said finally.
"Oh! Arigato, Kyou-kun!" Tohru ran passed the neko, whose hand was still in his hair, to the kitchen.
Tohru looked surprised when she reached the door,
"Deiji-kun?"
"Ah! Good morning, Tohru-kun!" she said happily, "I'm glad you're awake! I was about to come and wake you! Breakfast is ready!" she said as she rushed into the other room to the table.
"Ugh, whats going on?" Yuki's half-alive looking form walked in. The smell of cooking food had woke him up.
"You made this all yourself, Deiji-kun?!?" Tohru asked with shock in her voice.
Yuki, hearing Tohru suddenly awoke fully. He looked down at the table covered with a selection of food in bowls and a large tub of rice in the corner.
"Oh, good morning Sohma Yuki-kun!" Deiji bowed. "I'm glad you're up. Breakfast is ready!" she said with a bright smile.
"Ah…hai…" he trailed off while still looking at the display in amazement.
"Has anyone seen Sohma Shigure-san y-"
"Good morning my children!" Shigure burst through the door, skipping happily.
"Ah! Good morning, Sohma Shigure-san!" Deiji bowed, "Breakfast is-"
"Wow!" Shigure interupted again, "Tohru you've been busy this morning!"
"Ah, no no…" Tohru put her hands up dismissing Shigure's comment.
Shigure looked over to Yuki, confused. Yuki sighed and pointed to Deiji.
"Ano, you did this?" Shigure asked.
"Hai!" She said happily.
"What drink would you like with your breakfast?" She asked rushing back to the kitchen. There was some cluttering sounds heard before she poked her head out with the same bright, smiley face.
"Would you like tea, or water, or milk, or juice, or ano…" she turned back to what she was doing before with the continuing cluttering noices.
"Ah, Tea would be fine!" Shigure said.
"Hai!" she called loudly.
"Is that the same for everyone? I can make fruit juice aswell if anyone would prefere?" she said.
"Tea would be fine, arigato" Tohru and Yuki said together.
Kyou finally walked in.
"What's all the noise?" he asked.
Shigure simply pointed to the kitchen.
"Oh" Kyou sat at his place at the table. He then noticed Tohru sitting at the table around the corner from him. She smiled with a sweatdrop.
"Nani?! Who's…"
"Heres everyones tea!" Deiji rushed in with a tray.
"Arigato" They all said together. Kyou was confused. Why were they letting her do all the cooking? She was a guest, wasn't she? As Kyou thought to himself he just got more and more confused.
"Ah, good morning, Kyou-kun!" Deiji said happily as she rushed to his side,
"Would you like some tea?" she said while already holding the pot.
Kyou looked up at her wide-eyed with a sweatdrop. Maybe they didn't have a choice.
"Ano…hai" he said. Once she poured it she went to her place next to Tohru at the table.
"Gomen nasai". She said quietly. Everyone looked at her,
"I hope you're used to getting up this early? And if you're not Gomen ne for waking you up." She said as she bowed appologeticly.
"Don't worry" Shigure smiled, "We're all very greatful for all of this you have done!" he said followed by everyone nodding at the same time in silence,
"Tohru-kun does all the cooking and gets up early to make breakfat too. But it's not usually all cooked and already prepared this early. You must have got up very early to do this much"
"Actually I got up half an hour ago", she said simply.
Kyou choked on his tea with a splutter and Yuki dropped his chopsticks.
"Wow! That's amazing!!" Tohru clasped her hands together while staring at her, stary-eyed.
"I've been cooking for a long time and had a lot of practice. I was always under a lot of pressure to get the cooking done quickly so I've just got used to it!" She smiled. She then opened her eyes wide realising something. Her head shot around to Tohru.
"Gomen nasai, Tohru-kun!" She grabbed Tohru's hands, "I hope you didn't think I'm trying to be competitive with you! I'm not, really! I just wanted to repay you all for your kindness and letting me stay here lastnight!"
"Ano…" Tohru looked at her with a sweatdrop sliding down her head.
"Onegai forgive me!!!" Deiji cried while jumping back and bowing down low to the floor.
"I didn't think you were being competitive!" Tohru said, "Onegai don't be sorry for anything! I'm really greatful that you did all of this! It saves a job for me!" she smiled.
Deiji looked up at her for a moment then smiled back.
"Hai!" she jumped back to her place.
"Ugh…" Kyou ran his hand through his hair, "Where does she get her energy from?" he said more to himself.
"So what are you planning on doing today?" Yuki asked.
"Oh, ano… I haven't really thought about it. It's silly I should really start thinking ahead", Deiji said as she bonked herself on the head with her fist, "I guess I'll just go to the city and walk around for a while. I might go to the park and draw for a bit after I find a motel or something?" she said before poping her chopsticks holding rice in her mouth.
There was a long moment of silence before Tohru spoke.
"I can go to the city with you if you like? Or go to the park with you? That should be fun!"
"Hai! I'd like that a lot!" Deiji smiled.
Yuki smiled,
"Is it ok if I come too?" he asked.
"Ano, hai. Of course!" Deiji replied.
"You should go too, Kyou-kun" Shigure said.
"Nani?"
"Hai! Why don't you come with us, Kyou-kun?" Tohru asked happily as she scooted closer to him. Deiji's bright smile faded slightly.
"Feh! Parks are for kids!" he said.
"Well if that's true at least kids are more fun than you…" Yuki said calmly.
"Nani!?! What the hell is that supposed to mean!?!!?!" Kyou screamed.
"You're boring. Baka-neko"
Tohru looked up at Deiji while the two argued. She noticed how scared she looked for some reason. Was she scared? And if she was, why?
"Onegai, you two…" Shigure said calmly while holding his hands up, "It's not polite to fight in front of a guest"
Yuki and Kyou looked over to Deiji. She quickly lowered her head to hide her face under her hair.
"Feh!" Kyou mumbled and continued eating in silence.
~*~
Deiji was in the kitchen washing the dishes alone. Tohru had gone upstairs to get ready, Kyou was most likely in his favorite high area and Shigure was in his study. Yuki returned to the room where they ate after he'd completely got ready. He noticed a few more dirty dishes on the table, which Deiji hadn't picked up yet. He carried them to the kitchen and placed them next to the sink for her before grabbing the towel and drying for her.
"Oh, Arigato Sohma Yuki-kun!" she thanked.
"It's ok. You know you can just call me Yuki if you like?"
"Hai, ok Yuki-kun" she smiled.
"So why are you doing the dishes?" he asked, "Normally guests wouldn't be the ones clearing up and doing chores like this…?"
"I offered! Besides its not like I have much else to do while I'm here. Might as well make the most of it!" she said positively.
He smiled.
"How are things going between you and Honda-san?"
"You mean Tohru-kun?"
He nodded.
"Oh, she's great! She's such a good person and so fun to be with! She's sorta like the sister I never had! I know that sounds crazy…" her tone of voice suddenly lowered, "I know I've only known her for less than a day… but I feel like I can just talk about anything to her. I even feel more at ease with what I say to her than with my Okaasan. But then again I guess that's because she doesn't know everyone I know and my past…" she trailed off.
"Your past?" Yuki said suspiciously.
"Oh!" Deiji clicked back as if she forgot he was there, "Nevermind! It's nothing, really! I guess I just get a bit lonely now and then!" she smiled.
"Oh…" Yuki smiled but couldn't help but think there was more to it than that.
"Can I ask you something?" he asked as he stepped a little closer to her.
"Hai! Ask anything!" She smiled.
"Are you nervous of the Bak-ano, I mean Kyou?"
"Nani? What makes you ask that?" she asked in a surprised tone.
"Well when he's around, especially when he's closer to you in the room than anyone else is you seem a little uneasy… And I noticed when Shigure asked Kyou to come with us to the city you seemed a little worried. Don't you like him?"
"Of course I do!" She chuckled nervously, "Why wouldn't I?"
"You tell me"
She chuckled nervously again,
"Really, I think you're being too observant! There's nothing to worry about! Kyou-kun seems like a very nice person…well deep inside anyway! I think he likes to act tough on the outside but inside he's probably a real sweetie! He's cute too!" she said while continuing to scrub the dishes clean. Yuki wasn't convinced.
"Ok" he said simply.
"I'm ready!" Tohru cheered, jumping in the doorway.
"Hai!" Deiji smiled, looking over her shoulder at her.
"Ah! I'll help!" Tohru rushed to Yuki's side, taking the dishes he dried and putting them away.
"Ah, well isn't this a lovely sight?" Shigure said, stepping into the doorway.
Deiji sighed as she handed the last dish to Yuki to dry, who handed it to Tohru to put away with the rest of the dishes.
"Tell me Sachiko-san," Shigure started, "What were you planning on doing after you've had your little city and park adventure with these two?" he asked.
"Ano, well I was just going to look for a place to stay. I'll probably do that as soon as we get down there first so I don't have to worry the whole time about not finding somewhere with a spare room"
"Oh don't worry about that!" Shigure smiled, "Before you make any arrangements, come back here. It'd be nice having you for dinner again and I know a few very good places you could stay for the night so you won't have to worry about that"
"But… are you sure??" Deiji asked.
"Positive" Shigure smiled with a little mischivious smirk.
"Oi, you'd better not be planning anything perverted!" Yuki frowned.
"Ah! Honestly you really shouldn't think so low of me, Yuki-kun!" Shigure cried like a little kid.
"You're very sweet Shigure-san! Arigato!"
"I wouldn't say it in those words too often, Deiji-kun" Yuki said quietly to her, "It might go to his head"
"Ah! What a sweet lovely girl you are Deiji-kun!" Shigure cheered and skipped to her, grabbing her hands and holding them up in front of his face,
"No ones said anything as nice to me as that for a long long time!" He rubbed his face against her hands like a dog begging for attention, "And you're very cute, just like Tohru-kun! How lucky I am-" he was soon cut short of a hard smack on his head.
"You sick old man!" Yuki growled.
"I'm not an old man!" Shigure whimpered, rubbing his head.
"….Heh…." Deiji just froze with a sweatdrop and a fake smile.
~*~
"I appologise for him back there" Yuki said, "He gets…ano…kind of excited when there's a new girl in the house. But don't worry, he's all mouth, he won't actually do anything"
"Hai…"
Tohru, Yuki and Deiji had left the Sohma house to the city. Tohru had brought a bit of money she had with her incase she saw something she liked and wanted to eat or drink out.
"I guess the Baka-neko decided not to come then…"
Suddenly the trio were distracted by some faint running footsteps in the distance behind them. They saw Kyou running after them.
"Yay! He decided to come!" Tohru cheered.
Yuki sighed, irritatedly.
Deiji glanced up at him from the sound.
"Oi. It'd help if you didn't walk so fast" Kyou ran up beside Tohru.
"Gomen, Kyou-kun!" Tohru said happily.
Deiji gradually stepped closer to Yuki, further away from Tohru and the panting neko.
"So, where to first?" Tohru asked, glancing at Deiji.
"Ano, wherever! You decide!"
"Hmm…well I have a bit of money. There should be enough for all of us to have a bit of fun!"
"Oh, no no!" Deiji protested, "I'll pay for myself!"
"It's ok" Tohru smiled.
"No, I insist!"
Both Yuki and Kyou watched the two girls with a sweatdrop. They seemed to be ironicly very alike.
"Ok then…" Tohru gave up with a sigh.
"So where are we going?" Kyou asked.
"Oh, Ano…"
"How about we watch a movie?" Yuki suggested.
"Hai!" both girls said happily.
Kyou stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"This should be fun!" Tohru said happily, wrapping her arm around his, careful not to get too close.
~*~
"Ah… Deiji-kun staying over has really helped!" Shigure said to himself as he sat back and streched. He'd been typing continuously without a break for at least an hour.
"I've got another young girl in my house giving me all the inspiration I need!" He grinned mischiviously,
"And I of course had to include two 16-year-old high school girls innocently sharing a bed in this one!" He reached down and picked up his cup, bringing it to his lips,
"You've really out done yourself this time Sohma Shigure" He whispered, praising himself before taking a long sip of the tea.
"But still…" Shigure brought the cup away with a whimper in his voice,
"She say's she'll be leaving today… but I need more inspiration…! Maybe…" he hung his head low as his brows creased in concentration as he thought.
~*~
"Ah! How about this one?!??" Tohru asked excitedly as she pointed to the poster of a movie.
"I read about this movie in one of Shigure's papers. It's about a little girl who is lost and she finds a little animal and she can understand what it says! And they become bestfriends and-"
"Isn't that aimed more at kids?" Deiji said with a sweatdrop.
"Maybe… but I just thought it looked cute…" Tohru said with a little sadness in her voice.
"Oh Gomen ne!" Deiji rubbed Tohru's back to try to cheer her up,
"I guess we can see that if you really want? I guess it does look pretty cute…" Tohru smiled.
"It's ok. You choose" Tohru said finally.
"What kind of movies do you like, Deiji-kun?" Yuki asked.
"Well", Deiji closed her eyes as if she was in deep thought and grinned, "I love all the cool action movies! With guns, and explosions! And all the cool music and effects! I love those types! The best parts are the fighting scenes, weither they're fighting scenes with weapons or fists! All the angst, action and suspence! It's sooooo cool!!!!" She looked like she was about to explode in excitement. Tohru and Yuki just stared at her with a sweatdrop.
"Yeah!!" Kyou joined in, "I've finally found someone who likes those too!! They're just SO cool! And the fighting scenes are the BEST! All the explosions and fire and blood!" Kyou said with just as much excitement.
"Do you like those kinds, Yuki-kun?" Deiji asked.
"Nah no point asking him that! Look at him! He's a sissy!"
"You say that one more time, Baka-neko and I'll…!!!" Yuki grabbed Kyou by the collar of his shirt, threateningly.
"Ano, well looks can be decieving!" Deiji tried to make peace,
"You didn't talk much to me before! I guess you wouldn't have thought in a million years I'd like the same kind of movies you do, right?"
"I guess" Kyou stepped away from the annoyed nezumi, still giving him a dirty look.
"So, what kind of movies do you like, Yuki-kun?" She asked again.
"I'm pretty nutral about movie types…" he finally answered.
"What about you Tohru-kun?"
"Well…ano…" Tohru looked down sheepishly, "I guess I could sit through that type of movie if I'm close to someone…"
"Don't worry!" Deiji said, grabbing her hand, "I'll try to distract you if you get too scared for the scary parts!"
"Hai!" Tohru said.
"I will too" Kyou mumbled in a low voice so that hopefully only Tohru could hear him.
"So how about this one?" Deiji asked, pointing to a poster with a firey background and some of the main characters on the front.
"Hai!" Kyou cheered.
Yuki and Tohru just nodded.
~*~
"Ah! Hatori-san? What are you doing here at this time? No one's sick…" Shigure placed his hand over his forhead to check, "Oh I know!" he grinned mischiviously, "You just missed me so much you had to pay a visit! You know that Ayame has been over a few times recently and you're just starting to get jealous, right? Don't worry Hatori, there'll always be a place for you in my loving heart and-"
"Quiet"
"Hm?"
"Quiet. You're too noisy. You waste such a lot of time talking a load of nonsence" Hatori's calm low voice sounded irritated.
"Ha" Shigure grinned again and cupped his own chin with his index finger and thumb, "You know Hatori, you should really learn to let your feelings flow out. It can really help at times like these…"
"Why don't you save it for your novels? I didn't come here to listen to you rabbit on about so much trash", Hatori said as he passed Shigure through the door.
"Now answer these questions", he said simply.
"Eh?" Shigure glanced up at him curiously,
"Sachiko Deiji-san came here yesterday to ask for information on how to contact me, correct?"
"Hai…" Shigure nodded for him to carry on,
"Right. Deiji-san also stayed for dinner lastnight, correct?"
"Hai…"
"And Deiji stayed here overnight, correct?" this time Hatori glanced up at Shigure with a slight frown of seriousness, which made him look almost scary.
"H-Hai!" Shigure answered quickly.
"Ugh" Hatori rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Sometimes I just don't know what to do with you, Shigure…"
"Well…" Shigure crossed his arms with the all-too-familiar mischivious glimmer in his eyes and curve on his lips, "Sachiko-san isn't a bad looker and since we didn't have anything prepared, she shared Tohru-kun's bed! Unfortunatly for you, you can only imagine the sight but ahh…" Shigure closed his eyes dreamily, "It's a sight not to be forgotten"
"Idiot" Hatori interupted his perverted flashback.
"Huh? Oh! Gomen ne, Hatori! I didn't have a camera with me! Next time I promise to take a lovely little snapshot and-"
"Quiet!"
"Hm?"
"Where is she?" Hatori asked, looking around.
"Ah-ha! Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Yes I would. Where is she?" Hatori repeated himself.
"Ahh…" Shigure whined, "She's gone out with Tohru-kun, Kyou-kun and Yuki-kun, leaving me here to rot all alone…"
"When will you grow up?" Hatori mumbled under his breath as he sat down. He sighed,
"I'll wait for her"
"Nani?"
"Deiji-kun. I'll wait for her."
"Aww well only if you promise not to ruin my surprise for her?" Shigure's mischivious voice returned.
"Hm?"
"Ah…I'm one step ahead of you Hatori, my friend! Why settle for Tohru-kun when I can also have another just like her?"
Hatori sighed heavily. This is going to be a long wait.
~*~
"Ah!" Tohru whimpered as she pushed herself back against her chair and closed her eyes, turning her head.
"Tohru-kun? You can't be scared already? The guy is just running after the guy who made the desiese chemical, with a gun. This isn't the scary part. I doubt he'd even catch him!" Deiji whispered to the girl next to her.
"I don't like guns…" Tohru sank lower in her chair but smiled all the way.
"Ah… well ano…" they were interrupted by a loud gun shot.
"Ah!" Tohru jumped and instantly hid her face against Kyou's shoulder, snuggling it between his shoulder and neck.
"Eh?!??" Kyou nervously stuttered.
Deiji smirked, noticing how nervous he seemed to be.
"Have fun" She whispered, turning her face back to the giant screen and sinking into her own chair for more comfort.
They all remained silent for a while and Tohru was just finally turning her face back to the screen when there was another loud shot followed by a womens horrified scream.
"Ah!" Tohru jumped again and pressed her face closer against Kyou's neck.
"Hm?" Kyou looked down at her shaking form.
"Ok ok, think of something happy! Not guns! Ah, no guns! Gotta think of something different!" Tohru thought to herself before inhaling a deep breath.
"Kyou? Kyou's wearing that aftershave I bought him! I thought he'd never wear it. Oh wow…" she felt her cheeks slowly warm up. She unconciously raised her face higher while still close to Kyou's form. She inhaled another deep breath.
"H-he's been using that shampoo I bought for him from that set I got for his birthday!" Her cheeks slowly went from warm to hot.
Noticing the odd behavior, Kyou finally spoke.
"Ano, Tohru-kun? You ok?" he asked.
"Huh?" She suddenly brought her face back to look at him after he asked something.
"Are you ok?" He asked again after getting no response.
There was suddenly a bright light flashing from the screen, which lit up the room. Kyou noticed Tohru's flushed cheeks. What was wrong with her?
"I-I'm fine. Gomen nasai, Kyou-kun!" She suddenly shot back to her chair, looking up at the screen. Kyou continued staring at her for a while, waiting to see if she did anything else unusual. Relieved that she didn't, Kyou resumed back to his place against his soft chair.
"Ha. It's a good thing we're in the corner of the back row" Deiji smiled and resumed to watching the exciting movie.
~*~
"That was a great movie wasn't it?" Deiji said happily after the boring silence was starting to get to her. They'd left the Movie Theater 15 minutes ago.
"Hai" Yuki said with a smile.
"Hai" Kyou mumbled in response.
"Hai!" Tohru cheered happily with the most enthusiasm,
"Where to now?" She asked.
Everyone was soon distracted by a loud growl coming from Kyou's stomach, then seconds later from Yuki's stomach.
"Eheh" Deiji looked at them then at Tohru with a sweatdrop, "What it it with guy's and growling stomachs?" Her eyes suddenly shot wide when a loud growl came from her stomach. She blushed and quickly turned around, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"Did you hear that? I wonder where that came from…!?!"
"Ano…" Everyone stared at her with a sweatdrop.
"Let's go somewhere and eat!" Tohru happily suggested.
She was answered by everyone with a low mumbling "Hai…".
They slowly walked down the street. On the opposite side of the road was the park, which was completely covered with greenery and lakes. On the street they were walking, all the take-outs and resturants seemed to be closed.
"Ano… isn't today Sunday?" Yuki asked.
"Hai!" Tohru replied.
"Not many people work on Sundays, do they…?"
"I know!" Deiji interrupted them, "Let's go to the park!"
"But I thought-"
"There's a few noodle mobiles in the park all day until it gets dark…" Deiji pointed at Yuki as she cut him off,
"But-"
"And theres ice-cream mobiles and small candy stores and Hot dog mobiles and sushi mobiles and…do I need to go on?"
"Ano…"
"Ha!" Deiji pointed at Yuki again as she jumped in front of him, "We can get some food from there, silly!"
"Hai!" Tohru smiled Happily.
Yuki smiled with a sweatdrop and Kyou just shoved his hands in his pockets, looking from one end to the other of the road, waiting for the right time to cross.
~*~
Shigure gulped as Hatori gave him another serious glare.
"Eheh…!" he hooked his finger around the collar of his Yukata to loosen it.
"They should be back pretty soon. It's getting kinda late! It should be dark in about an hour or so…"
"How are they getting on?" Hatori asked.
"Hm?"
"The kids. How are they getting on?"
"Oh well, ano…Deiji seems to be getting on especially well with Tohru-kun, I mean who wouldn't?"
Shigure soon received another glare. He gulped again.
"And ano… She seems to be getting on fine with Yuki-kun and I think Kyou-kun likes her a bit…?"
"Baka"
"Nani?"
"Why are you letting her get close to them?"
"Well…"
"You know the risks" Hatori pointed out.
"I know but-"
"Just because you think she's like Tohru-kun does not mean she'll handle the problem in the same way. Everybody's different" Hatori continued to point out before taking a long relaxing sip of tea. Shigure noticed his shoulders relax more after drinking the warm liquid.
"Hatrori-san, what is your connection with Sachiko-san?" Shigure finally spoke seriously,
"You're a family doctor, right? Doesn't that mean you only treat people within the family? The cursed Sohmas? How and why are you concerned about Sachiko-san? Let alone have a relationship with her?"
"None of your business" Hatori replied simply.
There was a long moment of silence before Shigure broke it.
"Oh I know! Hatori-san's got a little crushie on a little highschool girl!!" Shigure sing-songed childishly.
"Ugh." Hatori sighed.
~*~
Tohru was handed her small wrapped box of instant noodles by the cook in the noodle mobile.
"Arigato" She smiled and walked over to the others. Kyou was sitting on a wall behind her. Deiji was sitting on the edge of the lake, dipping her toes in the cool water while picking at the noodles with the cheap, weak chopsticks. Tohru walked over to Kyou and stood beside him.
"You ok?" Yuki asked as he sat next to Deiji on the grassy ground.
"Hai! This is fun!" Deiji smiled.
"You don't have many friends, huh?"
"Not really… It's been a while since I've been out with anyone other than relatives. I've missed it!"
"What about school?"
"Oh, well…" Deiji stared down at the box of noodles in her hand while swirling the chopsticks in circles in them, "I decided to drop out of school…"
"Why?"
"To take care of Okaasan. She's been unwell for a while"
"How come?"
"Ano…" Deiji's face lowered depressively.
"Ah, forget it!" Yuki suddenly interupted her. He knew she obviously didn't want to talk about it,
"It doesn't matter! The important thing is that she gets better, right?"
"Hm?" She looked up at his smiling face. Her expression faded from depressed into a somewhat happy smile,
"Hai!"
"So how does the water feel?" Yuki asked, changing the subject.
"Great! Ah, you'd better not be planning on pushing me in!" she half joked.
Yuki chuckled,
"As if I'd do that!"
"That Nezumi…" Kyou mumbled,
"Eh?" Tohru looked up at him.
"The Shimatta Nezumi always seems so friendly with her. It's like he knows her but I can't figure out how he possibly can"
Tohru looked at Yuki and Deiji.
"Maybe he's just more comfortable around people now? He's never really had a confidence problem, has he?"
"Feh! People don't just change suddenly like that! Especially…not Jyuunishi…" He mumbled in a whisper.
"Well…" Tohru noticed how serious he seemed about it, "Let's just hope she doesn't get too close to him!" She said with a hint of humour in her voice, not meaning to make the neko more concerned.
"Well if she does that'd just be an extra job for Hatori!" Kyou said as he turned away.
"I hope not", Tohru thought.
She then overheard Yuki mention it was getting late. Tohru then realised the sky was going orange from the sunset.
"Ah!" She screamed in panic, getting everyones attention.
"Shigure-san! He hasn't eaten yet! I have to go home and make his dinner!"
Deiji popped her wet feet out of the water with a splash, wiping them with her sleeve before popping them in her shoes.
"I'll help", She said.
~*~
Shigure's stomach growled loudly.
"Ahhh…I'm so hungry…" He whinned.
"Make yourself some dinner then."
"But the kids…! They should be back soon and Tohru can prepare one of her delicious mouth watering meals…!!!"
"Can't you do anything for yourself?"
"I can write!" Shigure cheered happily but sank into his chair when another loud stomach growl echoed the room.
"You'll never change…"
"We're home!" Tohru's happy voice cheered from the front door.
"Yay! Welcome back Ki-" Shigure was cut off again by another loud growl. He got to his knees and crawled over to the door to meet Tohru's big concerned eyes.
"Tohru-kun…my precious flower…" he reached up and tugged her wrist, begging, "I'm so so soooo hungry…!" He whimpered dramiticly with tears leaking out the corners of his eyes.
"Ah! Shigure-san, Gomen-nasai! I'll make dinner right away!!"
"I'll help!" Deiji called as she ran past the open door, catching Hatori's attention.
"Deiji-san" Hatori said simply, loud enough for her to hear.
"Ah!" she screamed, followed by various loud crashing and cluttering sounds. She rushed back to the door in shock.
"H-Ha-Hatori-san!!?!" she stuttered, "W-what-what are you doing here!?!"
"I've come to see you…"
"Yeah and he's been waiting for nearly 4 hours" Shigure added but silenced himself when another stomach growl took over his voice.
"Ah!" Deiji rushed over to Hatori and bowed continuously, "Gomen nasai! Gomen nasai, Hatori-san!!" She panicked.
"Sit…" he replied.
Deiji immediately sat on the floor where she was standing, looking up at him.
"I ment on a chair…" Hatori rubbed the bridge of his nose in frustration.
"Ah, Hai!" she stuttered and rushed to the nearest chair.
Hatori sighed and glanced over to Shigure who was still on his hands and knees on the floor.
"Ugh. Yuki-kun!" Hatori called.
"Nani?" Yuki stepped in the doorway with a serious look on his face.
"Can you take Shigure out with you? I need to talk to Deiji-san in private…"
"Why do you need to talk in private?!??" Yuki frowned.
"That has nothing to do with you. But it's not for the reason you're thinking."
"Fine. Shigure, get up and stop embarrassing yourself." Yuki said simply and left.
"But I need food!…I need energy!…I need Tohru's cooking!……….I need a hug…" Shigure whinned like a little child, crawling out of the room.
Hatori sighed and stood.
"Its ok! I've got it!" Deiji rushed to the door and slid it shut then resumed back to her place.
After a moment of silence Hatori finally began to talk,
"Deiji-san, what are you doing?"
"Nani?"
"You know your Okaasan didn't want you to get close to strangers, especially male strangers…"
"But…"
"It's too dangerous. Have you gone mad?" Hatori said, maintaining the same calm tone of voice.
"But…" Deiji looked down, "I don't know…I don't know why it's dangerous" she tried to say without her voice breaking as she felt a small lump swelling in her throat.
"Don't be foolish"
"But I really like them Hatori-san! I respect Okaasan's and your concern but I really like them! And I don't even know what the dangers are so how can you tell me it's dangerous?!? Why are you just saying that over and over without letting me know what I'm supposed to be cautious of!?!!"
"You can't know. Not yet"
"WHY?!?" Deiji cried. She sat back and sighed,
"Gomen… I didn't mean to yell. I just want to be friends with Tohru-kun, Yuki-kun, Kyou-kun and Shigure-san. They seem like really nice people and I just want to be normal again with friends and not an outsider like before…" She looked up at him with pleading eyes,
"Onegai, Hatori-san! I'll be careful! If you want I won't get too close to them I promise! I just don't want to be left alone!"
Hatori stared at her for a while before closing his eyes with a defeated sigh,
"You promise?"
"Nani? Hai! Of course, I promise!"
"Do you know what you're promising?"
"I'm promising not too get close to them" Deiji replied beginning to get confused.
"You must and I mean must promise not to get close to any of them mentally and physicly. Can you do that?" Hatori opened his eyes to meet hers.
She nodded.
"Ok. You may stay as long as Shigure allows but if anything goes wrong and if you ever break your promise, I'll have to take you away"
"Hai!" she threw herself at him.
"Arigato, Hatori-san!!!" she hugged him tightly in appretiation.
The door suddenly slid open.
Hatori grabbed her by her arms and quickly pulled her off of him.
"Are either of you hungry? Tohru-kun's made enough for all of us" Kyou mumbled.
Hatori stood and walked passed him to the table. Deiji remained in the place he left her.
"Deiji-kun?" Kyou called, breaking her out of her thoughts.
"Huh?"
"Are you hungry?!!?!" he repeated himself.
"No" she finally answered. Kyou mumbled under his breath as he strolled away.
~*~
10 minutes had passed and Shigure had finally gotten tired of waiting.
"Isn't Sachiko-san coming?" he asked Kyou.
"She's not hungry" he replied while continuing to eat.
"Sachiko-san!!" Shigure called.
"Ah, hai?" She asked as she appeared at the doorway.
"There you are! For a moment then I was starting to wonder what really happened between you and Hatori in that room!" he chuckled mischiviously, receiving a death glare from Hatori and a bright blush from Deiji.
"Ano, anyway!" he changed the subject while motioning for her to sit. When she finally sat he continued to talk,
"Do you like it here, Sachiko-san?"
"Hai!" She replied instantly. Shigure smiled,
"Do you like us? How are you getting along with Tohru-kun and the others?"
"I'm getting along with Tohru-kun very well!" She replied while smiling at Tohru,
"And I like Yuki-kun and Kyou-kun equally aswell! And of course I like you Shigure-san!"
Shigure grinned and was about to say something when a cold look from both Yuki and Hatori caused him to change his mind,
"How would you like your own room here?"
"Nani!?!" She asked in shock, followed by Kyou spluttering in his tea and Yuki choking.
"Would you like to stay here until your Okaasan gets better?"
"Hai!!" Deiji said in excitement, "I'd love to and I'd REALLY appretiate it! But I don't want to get in the way-"
"You won't. Don't worry I live with 3 teenagers already, I'm sure it won't hurt to have a 4th"
"Ahh…!" Tears formed in the corners of her eyes,
"Arigato!!! Shigure-san you're so kind! Arigato!!" She thanked while holding his hand in appretation.
Tohru smiled happily.
"Tohru-kun, would it be ok if Deiji-san wears some of your clothes for a few days until I can bring hers over here?" Hatori asked.
"Hai!"
Tohru continued smiling while watching Deiji cry in happiness while continuously thanking Shigure,
"So she's really going to be living with us? This is so great, but I wonder if she'll ever find out about the Jyuunishi? And…Shigure said she could have her own room. What room?" She thought.
(Next Episode)
(Note: The following scenes are taken from the next episode, meaning it has been written. These aren't nessersarily in order or are together in one scene. The '~' indicates that it's from a different scene or isn't close to the previous quote from the episode.)
~"Did you see that new girl?" Kyou asked. "Everytime I look in her direction she's staring at me!"
~"Ahhh…!" the girl suddenly forgot all reason of being there and drifted into her own dreamland.
"Kyou-kun…!! If only I could be locked in the locker room alone with you for a while!"
~"Oh, Kyou-kun…" Shigure shook his head with a smirk, "You really are getting luckier after the minute…" "Tohru-kun I think you may have competition"
~Tohru smiled. "Do you draw a lot?"
"Hai… I love drawing. It's my biggest hobbie. My Otousan was an artist" Deiji replied.
~"What's wrong with Deiji?" Yuki asked curiously. "She said she's feeling a bit weird" Tohru replied.
~"It's two weeks…" she thought, "Just…two weeks". Her face lowered depressively. "Okaasan is sick. She won't be well enough to visit him. But how will she cope with that? She won't be able to forgive herself although she has no choice. But…but the whole thing was my fault to begin with!" she felt her eyes stinging and beginning to leak tears out the corners of her eyes.
~"What's wrong?" Yuki asked. "Nothing much, just a headache!"
~"I didn't know you had a pet neko-desu!" Deiji's bright cheery voice distracted them all.
~"AHHH!!!!!!" Deiji screamed as she spun around and shot straight toward Yuki, hugging him tightly for protection. Yuki paled. Shigure paled. Kyou paled.
~"What's going on!!!?! Why didn't I transform?!?" Yuki thought.
~*POOF!* "Ahhhh!!!" Deiji screamed, stumbling back and finally fell back on her butt in shock.
"Y-y-Yuki?!?!?!!!!" She stuttered as she paled.
~"HELLLOOOOOO!!!!!" said the new girl from school, cheerfully.
~Deiji's eyes flooded. "Rei-chan! I've missed you SO much!!!"
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket, however I do fully own the stories I've written based on Fruits Basket beyond where the anime finished (Episode 26). All of these stories were written by me. I do not own any of the characters apart from the characters that do not appear in the original anime or manga. If you have any questions or comments please e-mail me at Bishie_lover@hotmail.com.