Tohru's eyes fluttered as she felt something laying on her stomach. She looked down and screamed of shock.
"Tohru!"
"Honda-san!"
The two boys hurried into her room stopping dead in their tracks. "What is that doing here?" Yuki asked.
"Kuso." Kyou said making his way to the bed and Tohru. He looked at the small calico kitten who was staring up at him. "You don't listen do you?" He asked the kitten picked it up as it instantly started to purr.
"Kyou-kun?" Tohru asked confused.
"You weren't supposed to find her until your party later, but since she doesn't understand the terms stay in my room very well." He glared at the kitten who licked his nose as Tohru giggled. "Happy birthday Tohru." He said handing her the kitten.
"This… she's for me?" She asked as she cat jumped into her lap purring.
"Yea." He said blushing.
Tohru picked up the cat and set her on her pillow for a second and stood up. "Thank you so much!" She said hugging Kyou not caring for the curse. "I love her!"
Yuki's eyes narrowed as he glared at the blushing orange cat in Tohru's arms. What made him madder was Kyou wasn't doing what he usually did and trying to get away. He was just staying in Tohru's arms looked very happy.
Shigure stood in the doorway smiling. "Happy birthday Tohru."
"Thank you Shigure-san." She said smiling and started to blush realizing she was still holding Kyou. "I'm sorry." She said letting him down softly.
"It's okay." He said taking his clothes in his mouth and left the room.
"I suppose you can get my present early as well."
"But…"
"No arguments, just sit down."
Tohru did as she was told as the kitten made her way over and lay in her lap and curled into a ball falling asleep. Yuki stayed where he was when Shigure returned with a wrapped present. "Go ahead and open it."
Tohru opened it carefully so not to rip the wrapping paper not noticing Kyou had returned. She saw it was a book and turned it over to read the title and gasped. "Shigure-san…"
"I take it you like it?"
"Very much so."
"What is it?" Kyou asked moving over and took the book from Tohru. Hoping it wasn't one of Shigure's 'special' writing and saw it wasn't. 'Onigiri and the Zodiac' "What's this about?"
"Our lives so far since Tohru met us." Shigure said grinning. "Only copy ever made. Mi-Chan had a bit of a fit but when I told her it was for your birthday she gave in."
"Thank you so much." Tohru said with tears in her eyes.
Yuki slowly exited the room not wanting to be apart of the dog or the cat. There was no way his present would top Kyou's. He knew it as he almost entered his room.
"Sohma-kun…" He heard as he turned and saw Tohru standing.
"Honda-san I…"
"Are you okay? You're not ill are you?" She asked putting her hand to his forehead.
"No, I'm fine." He said taking her hand into his. "I have your present in here." He said leading her into his room. He shut the door so they wouldn't be disturbed as she sat down on his futon. He opened his closet and pulled out the gift. "It's nothing big but… I hope you like it." He said blushing.
Tohru smiled as she undid the cover on her present and gasped at the painting. Her wish had came true. Everyone was together. Even if it was in a painting it still meant so much to her as she felt her tears starting once again. "Sohma-kun I…" She said setting it down and hugged him as he returned it for a second before he transformed. "Thank you so much. I'll treasure it always."
"I'm glad you like it Honda-san." The small rat said smiling.
"Tohru! Tohru are you up yet!"
"Momiji?" Tohru said softly confused. No one was supposed to come until later.
*Pyon*
Tohru looked away quickly as Yuki changed. "Come on Honda-san." He said taking her hand and helped her to her feet.
When they got downstairs everyone was there already, presents piled neatly in the corner. "Ano… the party isn't until later."
"We couldn't wait." Momiji said happily.
"We even brought breakfast." Saki said.
Kyou's face froze as he saw Yuki and Tohru come downstairs hand in hand. Just what did he get her, he thought.
"What took you to so long?" Ayame asked his brother with a wink.
"Do you wish to be thrown out of the house?" Yuki asked taking his seat as everyone ate breakfast provided by Tohru's two friends.
"Open my first!" Momiji said happily as he hurried and got his present and gave it to Tohru.
Tohru opened the small package and smiled at what she saw. A small letter along with two tickets to the onsen. "Thank you Momiji."
"Yep just the two of us." He said ignoring the looks from his two older cousins.
"Mine next." Kagura said handing hers over smiling.
Tohru unwrapped the present seeing a gray backpack purse much like Kagura's only in the shape of a mouse with purple eyes. "Thank you Kagura-san!"
"Now you have one too and you can wear it all the time like I wear mine." She said grinning as she saw Yuki blush out of the corner of her eye.
"Here's mine sissy." Kisa said shyly.
As Tohru unwrapped the presents all one by one tears coming to her eyes once again as she finished unwrapped and saw what her two best friends had bought her. "Thank you everyone so much."
"You're worth it." Arisa said giving her a hug as Saki joined.
"Well isn't this cozy looking." A cold voice said from the doorway.
"Akito." Tohru gasped.
"Who are you?" Arisa asked standing in front of Tohru.
"My name is Akito Sohma. I'm head of the Sohma family. I only came to wish Tohru Honda a happy birthday." Yuki and Kyou stood now. Ready to defend Tohru if necessary. "Can we speak outside?"
"Um.. Okay."
"Tohru…" Shigure said standing and held her hand. "You don't have to go."
"It's okay." She said smiling at him as she followed Akito outside.
***************************
"Don't even think about it." Hatori said as he saw the two boys inching towards the door.
"But…"
"I believe he only does wish to talk."
"Damn you." Kyou cursed angrily as he headed upstairs to his room. Yuki glared at the doctor and went to his room as well.
***************************
"How has your birthday been so far?" Akito asked her.
"Um… it's been very nice so far." Tohru said leery of him.
"Are you afraid of me?" He asked. "You have no reason to be. I only wish to give you your birthday present."
"You didn't have to…" She said confused.
"Of course I did." He said giving her a hug.
Tohru slowly returned it and smiled. Maybe he was changing after all, she thought. Not known to her that she was now covered in a light blue light which faded as they pulled apart. You wished for unity upon the Sohma's. For the curse to end. Stupid girl the curse will never end. But now you are one with the curse."
"What… what do you mean?"
"Call it a gift of touch. You may now embrace the males of the Sohma without them transforming."
"But how…"
"I gave you apart of my power of being leader. Unfortunately I can't give you my illness for a present now can I?"
"I can hug them?"
"Yes, now use it wisely I can not take it back." He said leaving.
***************************
Tohru made her way back inside of the house. "Is everything okay?" Shigure asked coming up to her.
"Where is Yuki and Kyou?" She asked.
"They headed up to their rooms after Akito and you went outside." He told her.
