Hello again everyone! I'm sorry if I made it sound like it was the end of the story back there… but at the beginning didn't I say that it wasn't over yet? Or maybe I just imagined it… O.O I hope not. Well, you know the drill. By now you should know who owns the original characters, who owns Luna and Hikari and Dawn and Kairi and Cole (who seemed to have disappeared from my story 'cause I didn't know what to do with him), and who owns Jade. If you don't know yet… oc belong to Takaya Natsuki, lhdkc belong to Shiara Ramone, and j belongs to me. This is taking forever! I'm sorry… now on with the story-telling! Who's the narrator? Nobody knows!
Chapter 11: Return to Japan and the Advice that Made Me Blush While Writing
Jade, Dawn, Kairi, Luna, and Hikari stepped out of the airport and onto the bus. "Wow!" exclaimed Dawn as she eyed the older men. "College boys, college boys, all for me, college boys!"
"Dawn, please don't do that," said Kairi. "It is embarrassing."
"Oh! But they're just so cute!"
"You're acting very immature."
"I don't care! You're ruining all my good fun!"
Jade giggled slightly, surprised at how much they sounded like they're fathers. She, however, didn't really act like her father anymore, after leaving him eight years ago, of course. They got off the bus at their desired stop and walked the rest of the way to Shigure's house.
Dawn knocked on the door… no answer. "Uncle Shigure?" called Jade… no answer. Then Dawn yelled, "DADDY!!!" The door slid open, finally. "Oh, sorry," said Shigure, smiling. "I couldn't hear you."
"Why not, buddy?" questioned Hikari, glaring at him all the while.
"Yuki and Kyo are here, and, well, they were arguing until Dawn yelled."
This cracked the five women up hysterically. After a few minutes, Jade asked, "Where does Momiji live?"
"With Haru."
"What?! He lives… with Haru?!" Jade didn't know what to think. Could the two really stand each other? Or was there something else going on??
"Yup, he lives with Haru. Momiji didn't want to stay at the main house, and since Haru already moved out Momiji decided to move in with him. Plus, Haru has to pay for most of the bills since Momiji isn't an official teacher yet."
"Oh… good… Well, I'm gonna go visit Daddy now, okay?"
"Alright. He's at work. The same shop as always."
"Thank you."
"Oh, wait a minute! I forgot to tell you--" but she was already gone.
*****
Yuki and Kyo just stood there, in the yard, glaring at each other. "Well, you damn rat? Are you gonna attack me, or what?!"
"Kyo, you never change."
"What was that?!"
"You heard me."
Dawn smiled as she saw the two feuding cousins. So then, she thought, they must be Yuki and Kyo. Are they cursed like Momiji and Dad? Oh well, they're cute so I don't care. "Hi there!" she exclaimed, surprising both men.
"Who are you?" asked the one with violet eyes.
"I am Dawn Rioki Sohma."
"Another one?!" demanded the amber eyed man. "Whose kid are you?!"
"Shigure Sohma." She smiled at their surprised faces. "My cousin Kairi is Hatori's daughter." Once again, surprised faces.
"Does this mean that… Jade is back also?" asked the one with violet eyes (AN: didn't I use this phrase already? -_-U).
"Yeah! She just left to see Ayame."
!!!!
*****
"Ah! Here it is!" Jade ran inside. "Hey, dad? Dad?" Where is he?
"I completely disagree. This dress makes you look absolutely beautiful!"
"You really mean it?"
"Of course I do. You look extravagant!"
That was definitely her father. She turned the corner to see her father after so long, but… something just didn't seem right to her. "A-Ayame?" she asked, in complete disbelief.
Ayame looked to see who it was, and he grinned happily. "Jade! Is it really you? Last time I saw you, you were on your way to New York. Did you enjoy it there? I've always heard that the clothes they wear usually show too much skin. That is something that I hope you stayed away from. Did you eat well? Oh wait, of course you did. They make good money there, don't they?"
"Daddy! Your… your… your hair!" Jade was still in shock; the long, beautiful silver hair was now as short as Yuki's! "What the heck did you do?!"
"I cut it."
"I can see that!"
"But you don't understand! Maybe this way, Yuki and I will get along better, and maybe be able to have the kind of relationship that normal brothers have. If this doesn't work, then I don't know what will!"
"Uh… Dad… people are staring."
Ayame stopped and looked at his daughter seriously. "You've changed quite a bit after these past few years, haven't you?"
"Oh! Sorry… but I haven't been with you or even talked to you via anything. Sometimes I worried… that maybe you asked Hatori to erase your memory of me."
"I would never do that, and you of all people should know that it's true."
"I thought so." Even if you did get a haircut.
*****
Momiji was nervous to be back at the main house, but this was where he would most likely find Hatori. Walking carefully and quietly, hoping not to let Akito know he was here, he found the door to Hatori's office. He knocked softly, praying that Hatori wasn't with Akito right now. To his relief, Hatori opened the door, looking rather tired. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," said the Sohma family doctor. "I guess I'm just tired from helping Akito all the time. So… do you feel like talking now?"
Momiji nodded, desperately needing his friend's advice. "Hatori, I… uh… um…"
"Still nervous?"
"Yeah, I am… Okay, how… do… um…" Momiji blushed, turning a very deep crimson color.
"Oh, that," said Hatori, allowing a small smile to appear. "I thought it was something serious."
"I am serious, Hatori. Jade and I are going to want a family, but because of this… this blasted curse!"
"Calm down. You'll wake Akito, and right now I don't feel like listening to him."
"Sorry… Hori." (AN: is his nickname spelled this way?)
"It's okay. Now, about… having children." Momiji grinned as Hatori himself began to blush slightly. "First of all, do you really love her?"
"What kind of a question is that? Of course I love her… more than anything." The blond man looked at the floor. "That day, I knew for sure that I loved her. I wanted so much to protect her from Akito… but all I could do was agree with you since… you were always right."
"Not always." Hatori
sighed, thinking of what to tell the young rabbit. "Well… hmm…"
Momiji waited patiently. "You should really just be very careful
while…"
"I know. Thank you, Hatori." I guess… -_-U
"And you're sure that you love her as much as you say you do?"
"Yes… I'm positive."
*****
There seemed to be quite a bit of talking and laughter coming from within Shigure's house. Momiji reluctantly knocked on the door, which was opened, surprisingly, by Kyo. "I need to speak with Shigure. Okay, Kyo?"
Kyo, apparently in another bad mood, just glared at him. "I'll go get him," he sighed, reluctantly going back inside. Momiji was glad that he didn't have to fight the angered Kyo. He can be pretty violent when he's cranky.
Shigure came out about a minute later. Smiling at Momiji, he asked, "Would you like to come inside?"
"I don't know. I don't feel like coming in."
"Are you sure? Jade's here, and Kairi, and Dawn, and Luna, and Hikari, and Yuki, and…"
"Actually, I have something important to talk to you about."
"Well, aren't we the serious little rabbit today?" Shigure thought for a moment. "We should probably talk outside, if you don't want anyone else to hear… I know what you need; a walk in the woods."
So they started walking through the quiet forest, Shigure not knowing what Momiji wanted to talk about. "Shigure… how do Jade and I… start a family? I mean like… well with the curse…"
"I understand," said the dog. "Hmm, well since you are cursed, try to make fun alternatives to hugging. And be very careful, unless you want to transform… And make sure that you truly love her before any of this."
Momiji nodded, unsure of what to say. "Now that's settled, back to the party. Come on, Momiji." Shigure was about to head back when he heard, "Shigure!"
"Oh hello, Mii!" he said happily. (AN: I'm surprised she hasn't quit yet!) "Do you want to join the party?"
"Shigure, today is the deadline for your new manuscript! Did you finish it yet?!"
"What manuscript?"
"What… what… AHHH!!! Shigure!!! You were supposed to finish it today! The only one that you've been working on!"
"Oh, that manuscript."
"I is it done?" poor Mii dared to ask.
"I lost it."
"You WHAT?!!!"
*****
"Hey, Luna? Can I ask you a few things?" asked Jade as she turned on the lamp next to her.
"What's up, kid?"
"Well… You know I wanna have a family with Momiji, I just don't know how, since he's cursed, and when, since I'm still eighteen."
"Hmm… You should be careful about public displays of affection. And try not to hold him while in bed, unless you want to sleep with an animal." She turned to look Jade in the eye. "It's dangerous dating cursed Sohma boys. If you try to hug in public, it always backfires. They transform, causing other people to panic because it isn't natural… Also… are you absolutely sure that you love him this much?"
Jade was shocked by the sudden question. Of course she loved him. How could she not love him? He was so kind and understanding. He would try to protect her the best he could no matter what. How could she not love him? "Luna… I love him… with all my heart. It's just that… it's hard sometimes, you know? That's why I've been thinking… about adoption. Just in case this doesn't work out."
"Try sleeping with him first. Your father is cursed, isn't he?"
Jade giggled and blushed, completely agreeing. There must be a way, otherwise she, Dawn, and Kairi, wouldn't exist. Now it's time to ask Akito about two other important issues, she thought. Permission to marry Momiji, and…
"As for when…" Luna said, catching Jade off-guard, "it's really up to you guys."
"Right."
(End of Chapter 11)
(Preview for upcoming story)
I walk alone in the darkness, my parents not knowing my confusion about myself and other family members like me. I couldn't get help… until I met her. (The Rose in the Darkness)
