Hi, here's the next chapter, enjoy.

machoupitchounette and Yuki the Rat:  Thanks to both of you for reading, hope you continue to like the story.

Disclaimer: Fruits Basket and its characters are the property of their respective owners.  This piece is not for profitable purposes.

Chapter 6: A Meeting Over Tea

I stand before the door to the apartment that Tohru has shared with them for years.  As I knock on the door and wait, I remember an earlier conversation with Tohru.  In it, I was not surprised to discover that their memories had also been erased.  It could create some difficulties, but she had asked me to meet the two of them again, and I had readily agreed.  And here I find myself, listening for approaching footsteps.  These do materialize, as well as the voices of all three of them.

"Tohru-kun, Arisa and I can get the door."

"Ah, Hana-chan, I should do it."

"Nonsense, Tohru, we have it."

The door opens with a flourish and I see Hanajima-san and Uotoni-san, Hanajima-san with her arms in front of her, her hands clasped, and Uotoni-san leaning up against the door in a relaxed fashion.

"So it really is the ouji!"

"Welcome, Sohma-kun."

I bow and say, "Hello, Uotoni-san, Hanajima-san, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance once again."

Uotoni-san moves forward and slaps me on the back as she says, "Just as expected of an ouji.  There's no need for such formalities here, right, Saki?"

Hanajima-san responds by nodding her head yes slowly and saying, "Of course, Arisa."

Appearing somewhat nervous, Tohru approaches and looks to me and says, "Won't you come in, Yuki?"

I smile at her and say, "Certainly, Tohru."

Most likely surprised by the absence of formalities in our addresses, Hanajima-san and Uotoni-san glance at each other, Uotoni-san with a raised eyebrow.

Uotoni-san soon recovers from her initial surprise and looks back to me with a grin as she says, "Ouji, we have some delicious tea and cookies that Tohru here made for the occasion."

She moves away from me and places her arm around a smiling Tohru as she waits for my reply.

"Thank you very much, Tohru, and thank you for inviting me, Hanajima-san and Uotoni-san."

"We're glad that you could come," Hanajima-san replies.

Uotoni-san shakes her head yes as she removes her arm from Tohru's shoulders.

"Let's go in then!" Uotoni-san shouts as she starts towards the kitchen. 

The others wait as I remove my shoes, and then we all follow her path. 

The table is set with cups and saucers, plates, and a tray of cookies, like those that she had made when I came to visit her soon after I became the leader.

Uotoni-san is already seated with a cookie hanging partially out of her mouth.  She smiles mischievously as we approach.

Hanjima-san notices that Tohru is headed towards the tea so she says, "Please, Tohru-kun, sit, I can take care of that."

"Are you sure, Hana-chan?"

She smiles slightly at Tohru and says, "It's not a problem."

Tohru smiles at Hanajima-san before she seats herself across from Uotoni-san.  I notice something that I had missed earlier, a photograph of her mother placed near Tohru's seat.  As I seat myself to Tohru's right, she notices my attention on the photograph, and picks it up delicately.  She looks at it for a moment, a quiet smile upon her face, before she turns the frame so that the picture is facing me.

"This is my Ka-san.  I wanted her to be here to share this occasion with all of us, and to meet you, Yuki."

I smile in return as I say, "I'm honored that you feel that way, thank you."

Her smile broadens but she remains silent. 

The silence is soon filled by Hanajima-san approaching with the tea.  She pours it for each of us and places it on the table before taking her own seat.

Hanajima-san lifts her teacup, but it remains poised in mid-motion as she speaks, "Since Kyoko-san passed, Saki and I have tried our best to support Tohru-kun.  I hope that we have been at least somewhat successful in that vein."

Uotoni-san takes up the conversation as she says, "It'd be impossible to replace Kyoko-san, she helped me so much, I know I couldn't even compare."

Tohru looks to them both and says, "Both of you have been so kind, I'm so lucky to have had you both, before and after the accident."

Although I am glad that Uotoni-san and Hanajima-san have been so loyal and compassionate, I am still pained that she does not remember the support and love for her that the Sohmas had.

 "Yuki-kun, Kyo-kun – I wanted to thank you so much for everything.  I know I should be grateful, having my grandfather, Uo-chan and Hana-chan, but you and the other Sohmas have been so kind and generous.  I'm so happy to have you as part of my life."

"Is something wrong, Sohma-kun?" Hanajima-san asks.

Realizing my emotions must have seeped to the surface, I quickly smile and say, "No, I'm fine, but thank you."

She says nothing and returns to drinking her tea.

The conversation continues on the normal things for quite some time until Uotoni-san turns to me and says, "Enough about that.  We want to hear about you and Tohru, Ouji."

To spare Hanajima-san and Uotoni-san grief, anger, or worry, Tohru and I had decided that we would not let them know about the erased memories.  We had also decided we may revisit the decision in the future if circumstances changed.  As I a result, I spoke what we had planned to say.

"Of course, the four of us were in the same class in high school."

Uotoni-san shakes her head yes and says, "Yes, the reliable Ouji was our student council representative."

"Although we did not interact extensively, I took notice of Tohru's pleasant and caring nature, which I found to be especially impressive.  However, the combination of my extensive duties and my uncertainty about Tohru's feelings made me hesitate, and I never broached the subject with her.  After graduation, I went to work for my family, and these familial obligations and distance widened the rift of hesitation.  I met Tohru once two years ago, and my feelings increased even further their bright luster.  However, it was not until recently, when I was able to change my position, that I had the opportunity to get to know her once more."

Seemingly satisfied, Uotoni-san turns to Tohru and says, "What about you, Tohru?"

Hanajima-san speaks first as she says, "I recall that Tohru-kun had great admiration and respect for Sohma-kun in high school."

Blushing, Tohru answers, "It's true, Hana-chan.  I didn't think though, that I let my feelings go further at that time, because, to me, he was an ouji-sama meant for someone much better than I could ever be.  But, when I saw him again two years ago, away from others and acting so naturally, I realized that though buried, my true feelings for him were much greater than I had allowed myself to believe.  I carried these with me, and they came to full light when he came to visit me."

Uotoni-san merely smiles while Hanajima-san looks towards me.

"Sohma-kun, I believe that Kyoko-san would approve.  Your aura is like Tohru-kun's has always been, exuding honesty and kindness."

I smile as I look at Hanajima-san and say, "Thank you."

She nods her head yes with a slight smile upon her face.

Uotoni-san leans back in her chair and grins broadly before saying, "I agree!"

Tohru looks at her friends as she says, "I'm so happy that you think so, and that you believe Ka-san would think the same."

She then looks to the picture of her mother and says, "Ka-san, thank you.  I know that Yuki and I will find happiness together."

I look to the picture as well and say, "Thank you, I am very fortunate to have your daughter in my life."

Tohru and I look to each other and smile before the tea and conversation continue.