//Subd!v!s!0n 2#// ~T@lk 0f $ummer~
//(Listening to: "It's Gonna Rain" [Rurouni Kenshin])//
"Shigure!" The brown-haired, sixteen-year-old slid open the paper door, large blue eyes widening slightly in surprise as they met with purple ones. "Hello, Yuki! I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here."
"Oh no, it's alright. Is there something wrong, Miss Honda?"
"No, I just wanted to tell--" stepping into the room, she spotted the very person she was looking for. "Oh, Shigure!"
"Ah, Tohru!" he said, looking up from his newspaper. "Is lunch ready, then?"
"Well, almost," she said with an apologetic smile. "I ran out of miso, so I'm going to the store to get some, alright?" She cocked her head, pondering. "Now that I think of it, we're running low on eggs, too. I might as well just do the grocery shopping for this week while I'm there."
"Ahh, I may just starve before you return," Shigure sighed. "But if you must go, you must go."
"I can carry your bags for you, Miss Honda," said Yuki. "Would you like me to come along?"
"That would be nice," Tohru replied, smiling at his offer. Then to Shigure, "We'll be back soon!"
"Be safe, you two!"
~/*/~
"It's such a pretty day outside," Tohru exclaimed, "so sunny and warm!"
"The weather *has* been much nicer lately, hasn't it?" Yuki followed her dutifully down another aisle, carrying the array of items Tohru had already picked out to buy.
"Yes," she agreed, carefully selecting from different brands of flavored rice. "I'm glad we have a whole month off of school so we can enjoy it like this. Summer break is so much fun!"
"The only negative aspect is that more of our relatives have time to come by." He sighed. Just in the first week of the summer, they had been visited by Hatori, Ritsu, and twice by Kagura. "Summer should be a time for relaxing, and there's no doing that with any of them around."
"Even so, I think it's wonderful that we have a chance to see them." Tohru finally decided on a box of rice, and handed it to Yuki to put in their basket. She checked over her list. "All we need now is milk and a newspaper for Shigure. I'll get the paper if you get the milk, alright?"
"Of course."
Yuki headed off toward the dairy section, and Tohru made her way up to the front of the store. She noticed a few extra items on the way they might need -- though she made sure not to get any leeks. Stopping at the counter, she brought a coin out of her pocket and placed it in the newspaper dispenser.
"Pardon me, but could you help us for a moment, miss?"
"Sure, just a second," Tohru replied automatically. She grabbed the paper, and, opening her mouth, turned to ask what they needed, but hesitated at the strange sight before her eyes.
There were two girls, one slightly younger and one older than herself. The younger had eyes the light-gray shade of a storm approaching, peering perceptively through slender rectangular glasses; her plume-like, chin-length hair was so dark it made her eyes look almost white in contrast, the effect heightened by the dark lashes framing them; though school had been out for some time now, she wore a dark gray uniform with white and red accents, complete with high white socks and a knee-length pleated skirt. This was rather unusual, but Tohru had, at least, seen it before. However, the other girl's appearance was even more peculiar: bright, honey-gold eyes seemed to capture the light and radiate it back in a zealous manner; a downpour of pallid, almost white, blonde hair fell the length of her shoulders and to her waist, with several tiny braids scattered throughout; her outfit was stylized traditionally, a dark blue yukata with golden ribbons swirling 'round tiny white flowers, and a golden obi tie. Tohru blinked several times in wonder before realizing that the two were talking.
"What are you doing?" the white-blonde-haired girl's voice was like velvet over iron.
"Asking directions."
"What? I thought we were getting a snack! We're *not* lost!"
"Well, we certainly aren't *finding* it."
"Umm...?" Tohru said, uncertain as to whether she should stay or not.
"Oh, yes!" the smaller girl said in a low yet firm voice, turning to her. "We need help with getting directions--"
"That's not all you need help with."
The younger girl glowered at the elder, whom in return stuck her tongue out. Tohru fought the urge to giggle -- they looked so comical when they fought, just like Yuki and Kyo. Tohru's eyes widened excitedly as a stray thought came to mind.
"Are you two Sohmas?" she asked abruptly. //(A-N: fun fact- "Sohma" means "wear away/rub against grass" :-P)//
Both of them turned and stared at her, taken aback.
Tohru flushed slightly. "I mean...if you're not, it's okay, but I just thought that, well--"
"How...how do you know us?" the younger asked, studying her quizzically.
"I--"
"Oh, wait!" the older girl snapped her fingers. "You must be Tohru Honda! You're practically famous among our family!"
"Oh, so you *are* Sohmas!" Tohru smiled. "Yes, I'm Tohru Honda."
"It's great to meet you, Tohru! I've heard lots about you from Ayame and Kagura." She smiled, too. "I am Hikari Yamamoto-Sohma, and this is my cousin--"
"Chohko Sohma," the dark-haired girl said, suddenly shy. //(A-N: "Hikari" means "sunlight" and "Chohko" is "butterfly child")//
"I'm so happy to be able to meet you!" Tohru said genuinely, bowing politely. "Were you maybe trying to find Shigure's house?"
"How did you know?" Hikari said playfully. "Yes, we were--"
"You!" The three turned, seeing Yuki standing there (with the milk), surprise clearly written on his face.
"Yuki!" Tohru and Chohko said in unison.
"Ahh, yes, it's *Yuki*," Hikari sighed in an annoyed. "How could I forget?"
"I thought you said you'd never come back. What are you doing here?" Yuki's surprise was gone, leaving underlying irritation.
Hikari stuck her tongue out at him. "Wouldn't *you* like to know!"
"You're as immature as ever, I see."
"Hey, are you trying to start something?" Hikari moved into a fighting stance.
"You know I don't fight girls."
"Why? Are you afraid you'd *lose* to one?"
"Um..." Tohru asked Chohko uncertainly, "are they always like this?"
"Practically," Chohko sighed, looking uncomfortable. "They've been like this since they were children."
"But...they..." Tohru noticed several customers coming up to the front. "Um, excuse me...? Hikari...Yuki?"
They both looked toward her. "Yes, Miss Honda?" said Yuki, as Hikari said, "What is it, Tohru?"
"Maybe we should continue this at Shigure's house?" Tohru said. "Yuki, if you help me buy the groceries, Hikari and Chohko can wait for us by the door."
Tohru and Yuki brought their items to the counter and made their purchase, and then the group sauntered down the road to Shigure's house.
~/*/~
//(A-N: Hello again! This chapter, as you can tell, is longer than the previous, though I'm not sure whether all of them from now on will be this long or not. I'm trying to keep the characters to their original personalities and mannerisms from the anime and manga, but it is proving rather difficult to do with only words as tools. Now, if I could only *draw*, I could make it a doujinshi...^^;
Once again, Reviews of any shape, kind, form, and length are much welcome, as are ideas, advice, and criticism! Anyone who reviews this time will receive virtual Meron Souda [Melon Soda]!)//
~/*/~
//(Listening to: "It's Gonna Rain" [Rurouni Kenshin])//
"Shigure!" The brown-haired, sixteen-year-old slid open the paper door, large blue eyes widening slightly in surprise as they met with purple ones. "Hello, Yuki! I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here."
"Oh no, it's alright. Is there something wrong, Miss Honda?"
"No, I just wanted to tell--" stepping into the room, she spotted the very person she was looking for. "Oh, Shigure!"
"Ah, Tohru!" he said, looking up from his newspaper. "Is lunch ready, then?"
"Well, almost," she said with an apologetic smile. "I ran out of miso, so I'm going to the store to get some, alright?" She cocked her head, pondering. "Now that I think of it, we're running low on eggs, too. I might as well just do the grocery shopping for this week while I'm there."
"Ahh, I may just starve before you return," Shigure sighed. "But if you must go, you must go."
"I can carry your bags for you, Miss Honda," said Yuki. "Would you like me to come along?"
"That would be nice," Tohru replied, smiling at his offer. Then to Shigure, "We'll be back soon!"
"Be safe, you two!"
~/*/~
"It's such a pretty day outside," Tohru exclaimed, "so sunny and warm!"
"The weather *has* been much nicer lately, hasn't it?" Yuki followed her dutifully down another aisle, carrying the array of items Tohru had already picked out to buy.
"Yes," she agreed, carefully selecting from different brands of flavored rice. "I'm glad we have a whole month off of school so we can enjoy it like this. Summer break is so much fun!"
"The only negative aspect is that more of our relatives have time to come by." He sighed. Just in the first week of the summer, they had been visited by Hatori, Ritsu, and twice by Kagura. "Summer should be a time for relaxing, and there's no doing that with any of them around."
"Even so, I think it's wonderful that we have a chance to see them." Tohru finally decided on a box of rice, and handed it to Yuki to put in their basket. She checked over her list. "All we need now is milk and a newspaper for Shigure. I'll get the paper if you get the milk, alright?"
"Of course."
Yuki headed off toward the dairy section, and Tohru made her way up to the front of the store. She noticed a few extra items on the way they might need -- though she made sure not to get any leeks. Stopping at the counter, she brought a coin out of her pocket and placed it in the newspaper dispenser.
"Pardon me, but could you help us for a moment, miss?"
"Sure, just a second," Tohru replied automatically. She grabbed the paper, and, opening her mouth, turned to ask what they needed, but hesitated at the strange sight before her eyes.
There were two girls, one slightly younger and one older than herself. The younger had eyes the light-gray shade of a storm approaching, peering perceptively through slender rectangular glasses; her plume-like, chin-length hair was so dark it made her eyes look almost white in contrast, the effect heightened by the dark lashes framing them; though school had been out for some time now, she wore a dark gray uniform with white and red accents, complete with high white socks and a knee-length pleated skirt. This was rather unusual, but Tohru had, at least, seen it before. However, the other girl's appearance was even more peculiar: bright, honey-gold eyes seemed to capture the light and radiate it back in a zealous manner; a downpour of pallid, almost white, blonde hair fell the length of her shoulders and to her waist, with several tiny braids scattered throughout; her outfit was stylized traditionally, a dark blue yukata with golden ribbons swirling 'round tiny white flowers, and a golden obi tie. Tohru blinked several times in wonder before realizing that the two were talking.
"What are you doing?" the white-blonde-haired girl's voice was like velvet over iron.
"Asking directions."
"What? I thought we were getting a snack! We're *not* lost!"
"Well, we certainly aren't *finding* it."
"Umm...?" Tohru said, uncertain as to whether she should stay or not.
"Oh, yes!" the smaller girl said in a low yet firm voice, turning to her. "We need help with getting directions--"
"That's not all you need help with."
The younger girl glowered at the elder, whom in return stuck her tongue out. Tohru fought the urge to giggle -- they looked so comical when they fought, just like Yuki and Kyo. Tohru's eyes widened excitedly as a stray thought came to mind.
"Are you two Sohmas?" she asked abruptly. //(A-N: fun fact- "Sohma" means "wear away/rub against grass" :-P)//
Both of them turned and stared at her, taken aback.
Tohru flushed slightly. "I mean...if you're not, it's okay, but I just thought that, well--"
"How...how do you know us?" the younger asked, studying her quizzically.
"I--"
"Oh, wait!" the older girl snapped her fingers. "You must be Tohru Honda! You're practically famous among our family!"
"Oh, so you *are* Sohmas!" Tohru smiled. "Yes, I'm Tohru Honda."
"It's great to meet you, Tohru! I've heard lots about you from Ayame and Kagura." She smiled, too. "I am Hikari Yamamoto-Sohma, and this is my cousin--"
"Chohko Sohma," the dark-haired girl said, suddenly shy. //(A-N: "Hikari" means "sunlight" and "Chohko" is "butterfly child")//
"I'm so happy to be able to meet you!" Tohru said genuinely, bowing politely. "Were you maybe trying to find Shigure's house?"
"How did you know?" Hikari said playfully. "Yes, we were--"
"You!" The three turned, seeing Yuki standing there (with the milk), surprise clearly written on his face.
"Yuki!" Tohru and Chohko said in unison.
"Ahh, yes, it's *Yuki*," Hikari sighed in an annoyed. "How could I forget?"
"I thought you said you'd never come back. What are you doing here?" Yuki's surprise was gone, leaving underlying irritation.
Hikari stuck her tongue out at him. "Wouldn't *you* like to know!"
"You're as immature as ever, I see."
"Hey, are you trying to start something?" Hikari moved into a fighting stance.
"You know I don't fight girls."
"Why? Are you afraid you'd *lose* to one?"
"Um..." Tohru asked Chohko uncertainly, "are they always like this?"
"Practically," Chohko sighed, looking uncomfortable. "They've been like this since they were children."
"But...they..." Tohru noticed several customers coming up to the front. "Um, excuse me...? Hikari...Yuki?"
They both looked toward her. "Yes, Miss Honda?" said Yuki, as Hikari said, "What is it, Tohru?"
"Maybe we should continue this at Shigure's house?" Tohru said. "Yuki, if you help me buy the groceries, Hikari and Chohko can wait for us by the door."
Tohru and Yuki brought their items to the counter and made their purchase, and then the group sauntered down the road to Shigure's house.
~/*/~
//(A-N: Hello again! This chapter, as you can tell, is longer than the previous, though I'm not sure whether all of them from now on will be this long or not. I'm trying to keep the characters to their original personalities and mannerisms from the anime and manga, but it is proving rather difficult to do with only words as tools. Now, if I could only *draw*, I could make it a doujinshi...^^;
Once again, Reviews of any shape, kind, form, and length are much welcome, as are ideas, advice, and criticism! Anyone who reviews this time will receive virtual Meron Souda [Melon Soda]!)//
~/*/~