Chapter Four: Ritsu's Talent
The next morning Tohru woke up and walked out into the sunlight. She gazed happily around the building. She spotted Kyo in the yard lifting up the small weights that he had brought.
"Good Morning Kyo!" she called to him.
He looked up and smiled a bit. Then went back to his task.
"Morning."
"I hope you slept well" she replied.
"I guess. Considering I had to share a room with that damn rat again."
Shigure spotted the two of them in the yard and grinned to himself as he sat down to peruse the paper.
"Ah to be young and in love again" he sighed.
"What are you mumbling?"
Yuki had appeared behind Shigure quite suddenly that he dropped the paper and turned around.
"Oh Yuki it's just you" Shigure chuckled nervously, "Sleep well."
"I slept okay."
Tohru noticed the two of them and walked over with a big smile on her face.
"Good morning you two" she said.
"Good morning Miss Honda" Yuki replied with a smile.
"Yes good morning Tohru" Shigure said, "Did you sleep well?"
"Mhm" she nodded, "What do you guys want to do today?" she replied as she sat down.
"Actually Miss Honda" Yuki started to say but was interrupted with the appearance of Ritsu.
He was wearing men's clothing now and his long hair was tied back. He smiled when he saw Tohru, which she in turn smiled back. Kyo entered the room minutes later.
"Oh Ritsu" she replied, "I was hoping I would get to see you."
"Yes" he said softly, "It is good to see you too. I was wondering if you don't mind that is, might I give you a tour of the Hot Springs."
"Oh I would love that" she smiled, "I didn't get to see a lot the last time I was here. A walk sounds like fun" she turned to Yuki and Kyo, "How about you guys? Want to go?"
"Um" Kyo stammered.
"Actually Miss Honda. Uh Kyo, Shigure, and I have things to do. So you should go."
"Oh. Okay" she nodded a bit curious.
"Yea" Kyo added, "And don't worry about us."
"Just take your time" Shigure finished with a smile.
She nodded and followed Ritsu out of the room. Kyo sat down and looked at Shigure.
"So when are they going to be here?" he asked.
"Hari called me this morning. He, Kisa, Aya, and Hiro will be here within the hour" Shigure answered.
"And I talked to Haru last night" Yuki replied, "They are taking the ten o'clock bus up here. When Momiji arrives we will get ready."
"Okay" Kyo sighed, "I guess I can wait until then."
****************************************************
"So Ritsu" Tohru said as they walked, "What have you been up to, since I last saw you?"
"Oh well I have been keeping busy doing all sorts of things" he smiled, "I mostly have been helping my mother. We just got finished with the busy time of year at this place."
"I imagine. It has been a very cold winter."
"Tohru" Ritsu suddenly stopped, "If I show you something, would you mind?"
"No" she replied, "I'd love to see it. Whatever it is."
"Okay" he nodded slowly, "Follow me."
****************************************************
At precisely ten Momiji, Hatsuharu, and Kagura arrived. The first thing she did when she spotted Kyo was to tackle him.
"Damn it woman! Get the hell off of me!" Kyo shouted as she hugged him to death.
"But Kyo! I love you! I love you more than anything in the world! And I missed you my darling!"
"I am not you're darling!" he screamed, "Now get off!"
"Well glad to see you're right on time" Shigure smiled as he helped Momiji with a big box.
"Yea. Haru almost got lost, but he made it to the bus stop in time" Momiji smiled.
"Get off my back" Haru retorted.
"Dumb cow!" Kyo said, "You'd get lost in your own back yard."
"Shut up Kyo" Haru replied, "I am not in the fighting mood today."
"Come on everyone!" Momiji cheered, "Let's decorate. Now Yuki and Kyo handle the streamers. Kagura fix the table with the Hot Springs lady."
"That's hostess," Yuki told him.
"Shigure" Momiji continued, "Until Hari has arrived will you take care of the cake order and this other stuff?"
"Consider it done Master and Commander" Shigure saluted him.
"Do you always have to act like such a moron!" Kyo shouted.
"Oh. Kyo you are so cruel to me."
"Relax Shigure. I will protect you."
"Oh just great" Kyo sulked.
For in front of the door stood Ayame in his best party attire. Kisa and Hiro were right behind him.
"Oh Aya" Shigure continued the play, "You are my hero, my savior!"
"That's enough you two" Hatori appeared, "There are impressionable young children who do not need to see your nonsense."
"Oh Hari I was just trying to liven things up" Ayame said with a laugh.
"You're a little earlier than I thought you'd be" Shigure replied coming over and taking Hatori's bag.
"So sue me," Hatori responded.
"Um is sissy here yet?" Kisa asked.
"Yes. Ritsu is distracting Tohru as we speak" Shigure nodded.
*****************************************************
Ritsu led Tohru down the path to his cabin.
"I don't think I have ever been to this part of the Hot Springs before" she replied.
"Oh no probably not. You see this is my room."
"This entire cabin?"
"Uh huh. As a child I admired it so when I got older Mother gave it to me. Come on in. I have tea waiting" he entered the door.
"Okay" she followed him in.
Inside was a bed up on a loft, a small table with two seat cushions, a small stove on the left side of the room, and another door straight ahead leading to another room.
"Please sit" Ritsu said kindly, "And I'll get your tea."
"You really don't have to go through so much trouble" Tohru replied as she sat down at the table.
"Oh it's no trouble. I am just repaying you for your kindness from the last time I saw you."
"I must say Ritsu you certainly have changed a lot."
"What do you mean by that?" he asked as he poured the tea into a cup for her.
"Well the last time I saw you, you were so down on yourself and worried constantly. Not that I should speak, I worry all the time," she laughed.
"Well" he said as he handed the cup to her and sat down himself, "I've been thinking about what we talked about the last time we saw each other. Since then I have been dressing like a man and I'm happy to say I have discovered something about myself."
"Oh what's that?"
"Will you come see? Come see what I've done."
"Uh sure" she nodded standing up as he beckoned her to the second room.
She peered inside and gasped. There was a table covered with all sorts of paint colors and all around her were pictures. Pictures of flowers, trees, and even animals.
"Ritsu" she said as she walked in, "Did you do all this?"
"Uh huh" he nodded, "I have to say after our meeting I sort of became inspired. I remembered as a child I used to love to draw, but I was often teased about it in school so I stopped."
"When did you do these?" Tohru replied interested.
"Oh. I've been redoing and fixing them for a while. Some of them aren't quite right."
"Are you kidding? Ritsu you are very talented. They're very beautiful."
"Really?" he looked up astonished and blushing a bit.
"Yes" she nodded, "They are the most beautiful paintings I have ever seen in my life. And here you thought that you had no talent when all along you had one of the most beautiful of talents in the world. Have you shown your mother yet?"
"Oh no" he shook his head, "I'm not ready to show the world. But I thought showing you would be the proper thing to do."
"Ritsu" she replied taking his hand, "I am so happy for you. Thank you so much for sharing this with me."
He blushed again.
"You're welcome Tohru. Shall we go back to our tea?"
She smiled.
"Sure."
**************************************************
Momiji gazed around the room in awe. It was almost done being decorated and the table was all dressed up. Hiro and Kisa were placing the utensils on the table. Momiji strolled over to Yuki who was standing on a stepladder.
"This place looks amazing you guys" he said happily, "You and Kyo did a good job Yuki."
"Actually you should thank Miss Uotani and Miss Hanajima" Yuki replied putting the last streamer in place, "They arrived and they helped us."
"Hey kid!" Uo waved.
"Where's Tohru?" Hana asked.
"Tohru's is being distracted right now. But soon someone is going to have to get her. It's almost time."
"I'll get her when I'm done with the streamers" Yuki said volunteering.
Shigure and Hatori came into the room to see the progress.
"So Hari. Who's taking care of Akito this weekend?" Shigure asked.
"Kureno is. I told Akito that I had plans this weekend. He seemed to understand."
"Well that's a relief. I rather thought he'd be angry with you" Shigure sighed.
"Akito will be fine without me for a weekend. He's not bad off this week" Hatori pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it, "Besides I haven't had a vacation in a while."
"Are you going to go in the Hot Springs?"
"I intend to. Sometime after the boys have. Tonight maybe."
"Perhaps Aya and myself should join you."
"If you want" Hatori blew out some smoke.
*********************************************************
Back at Sohma House Akito sat on his porch gazing at the clouds rolling by. He suddenly slammed down his fist.
"Kureno!" he called.
"What's wrong Master Akito?" Kureno appeared, "Can I get you something."
"Yea" Akito nodded handing him a note.
"But Master Akito, Hatori's orders."
"My orders come before his. Do it now!"
"Yes sir" Kureno nodded sadly.
Akito stood up and walked to his room.
"I won't let them get away with this," he said to himself as he shut the door.
*********************************************************
Authors Note: Okay, guys that's it till next Tuesday! See you next week for four more chapters!!
Next Chapter: Let the Party Begin!!
Tohru's surprise party is a hit. Everyone gathers around to show her how much she means to them, however a dark cloud hovers over this celebration. Find out what happens next time!
The next morning Tohru woke up and walked out into the sunlight. She gazed happily around the building. She spotted Kyo in the yard lifting up the small weights that he had brought.
"Good Morning Kyo!" she called to him.
He looked up and smiled a bit. Then went back to his task.
"Morning."
"I hope you slept well" she replied.
"I guess. Considering I had to share a room with that damn rat again."
Shigure spotted the two of them in the yard and grinned to himself as he sat down to peruse the paper.
"Ah to be young and in love again" he sighed.
"What are you mumbling?"
Yuki had appeared behind Shigure quite suddenly that he dropped the paper and turned around.
"Oh Yuki it's just you" Shigure chuckled nervously, "Sleep well."
"I slept okay."
Tohru noticed the two of them and walked over with a big smile on her face.
"Good morning you two" she said.
"Good morning Miss Honda" Yuki replied with a smile.
"Yes good morning Tohru" Shigure said, "Did you sleep well?"
"Mhm" she nodded, "What do you guys want to do today?" she replied as she sat down.
"Actually Miss Honda" Yuki started to say but was interrupted with the appearance of Ritsu.
He was wearing men's clothing now and his long hair was tied back. He smiled when he saw Tohru, which she in turn smiled back. Kyo entered the room minutes later.
"Oh Ritsu" she replied, "I was hoping I would get to see you."
"Yes" he said softly, "It is good to see you too. I was wondering if you don't mind that is, might I give you a tour of the Hot Springs."
"Oh I would love that" she smiled, "I didn't get to see a lot the last time I was here. A walk sounds like fun" she turned to Yuki and Kyo, "How about you guys? Want to go?"
"Um" Kyo stammered.
"Actually Miss Honda. Uh Kyo, Shigure, and I have things to do. So you should go."
"Oh. Okay" she nodded a bit curious.
"Yea" Kyo added, "And don't worry about us."
"Just take your time" Shigure finished with a smile.
She nodded and followed Ritsu out of the room. Kyo sat down and looked at Shigure.
"So when are they going to be here?" he asked.
"Hari called me this morning. He, Kisa, Aya, and Hiro will be here within the hour" Shigure answered.
"And I talked to Haru last night" Yuki replied, "They are taking the ten o'clock bus up here. When Momiji arrives we will get ready."
"Okay" Kyo sighed, "I guess I can wait until then."
****************************************************
"So Ritsu" Tohru said as they walked, "What have you been up to, since I last saw you?"
"Oh well I have been keeping busy doing all sorts of things" he smiled, "I mostly have been helping my mother. We just got finished with the busy time of year at this place."
"I imagine. It has been a very cold winter."
"Tohru" Ritsu suddenly stopped, "If I show you something, would you mind?"
"No" she replied, "I'd love to see it. Whatever it is."
"Okay" he nodded slowly, "Follow me."
****************************************************
At precisely ten Momiji, Hatsuharu, and Kagura arrived. The first thing she did when she spotted Kyo was to tackle him.
"Damn it woman! Get the hell off of me!" Kyo shouted as she hugged him to death.
"But Kyo! I love you! I love you more than anything in the world! And I missed you my darling!"
"I am not you're darling!" he screamed, "Now get off!"
"Well glad to see you're right on time" Shigure smiled as he helped Momiji with a big box.
"Yea. Haru almost got lost, but he made it to the bus stop in time" Momiji smiled.
"Get off my back" Haru retorted.
"Dumb cow!" Kyo said, "You'd get lost in your own back yard."
"Shut up Kyo" Haru replied, "I am not in the fighting mood today."
"Come on everyone!" Momiji cheered, "Let's decorate. Now Yuki and Kyo handle the streamers. Kagura fix the table with the Hot Springs lady."
"That's hostess," Yuki told him.
"Shigure" Momiji continued, "Until Hari has arrived will you take care of the cake order and this other stuff?"
"Consider it done Master and Commander" Shigure saluted him.
"Do you always have to act like such a moron!" Kyo shouted.
"Oh. Kyo you are so cruel to me."
"Relax Shigure. I will protect you."
"Oh just great" Kyo sulked.
For in front of the door stood Ayame in his best party attire. Kisa and Hiro were right behind him.
"Oh Aya" Shigure continued the play, "You are my hero, my savior!"
"That's enough you two" Hatori appeared, "There are impressionable young children who do not need to see your nonsense."
"Oh Hari I was just trying to liven things up" Ayame said with a laugh.
"You're a little earlier than I thought you'd be" Shigure replied coming over and taking Hatori's bag.
"So sue me," Hatori responded.
"Um is sissy here yet?" Kisa asked.
"Yes. Ritsu is distracting Tohru as we speak" Shigure nodded.
*****************************************************
Ritsu led Tohru down the path to his cabin.
"I don't think I have ever been to this part of the Hot Springs before" she replied.
"Oh no probably not. You see this is my room."
"This entire cabin?"
"Uh huh. As a child I admired it so when I got older Mother gave it to me. Come on in. I have tea waiting" he entered the door.
"Okay" she followed him in.
Inside was a bed up on a loft, a small table with two seat cushions, a small stove on the left side of the room, and another door straight ahead leading to another room.
"Please sit" Ritsu said kindly, "And I'll get your tea."
"You really don't have to go through so much trouble" Tohru replied as she sat down at the table.
"Oh it's no trouble. I am just repaying you for your kindness from the last time I saw you."
"I must say Ritsu you certainly have changed a lot."
"What do you mean by that?" he asked as he poured the tea into a cup for her.
"Well the last time I saw you, you were so down on yourself and worried constantly. Not that I should speak, I worry all the time," she laughed.
"Well" he said as he handed the cup to her and sat down himself, "I've been thinking about what we talked about the last time we saw each other. Since then I have been dressing like a man and I'm happy to say I have discovered something about myself."
"Oh what's that?"
"Will you come see? Come see what I've done."
"Uh sure" she nodded standing up as he beckoned her to the second room.
She peered inside and gasped. There was a table covered with all sorts of paint colors and all around her were pictures. Pictures of flowers, trees, and even animals.
"Ritsu" she said as she walked in, "Did you do all this?"
"Uh huh" he nodded, "I have to say after our meeting I sort of became inspired. I remembered as a child I used to love to draw, but I was often teased about it in school so I stopped."
"When did you do these?" Tohru replied interested.
"Oh. I've been redoing and fixing them for a while. Some of them aren't quite right."
"Are you kidding? Ritsu you are very talented. They're very beautiful."
"Really?" he looked up astonished and blushing a bit.
"Yes" she nodded, "They are the most beautiful paintings I have ever seen in my life. And here you thought that you had no talent when all along you had one of the most beautiful of talents in the world. Have you shown your mother yet?"
"Oh no" he shook his head, "I'm not ready to show the world. But I thought showing you would be the proper thing to do."
"Ritsu" she replied taking his hand, "I am so happy for you. Thank you so much for sharing this with me."
He blushed again.
"You're welcome Tohru. Shall we go back to our tea?"
She smiled.
"Sure."
**************************************************
Momiji gazed around the room in awe. It was almost done being decorated and the table was all dressed up. Hiro and Kisa were placing the utensils on the table. Momiji strolled over to Yuki who was standing on a stepladder.
"This place looks amazing you guys" he said happily, "You and Kyo did a good job Yuki."
"Actually you should thank Miss Uotani and Miss Hanajima" Yuki replied putting the last streamer in place, "They arrived and they helped us."
"Hey kid!" Uo waved.
"Where's Tohru?" Hana asked.
"Tohru's is being distracted right now. But soon someone is going to have to get her. It's almost time."
"I'll get her when I'm done with the streamers" Yuki said volunteering.
Shigure and Hatori came into the room to see the progress.
"So Hari. Who's taking care of Akito this weekend?" Shigure asked.
"Kureno is. I told Akito that I had plans this weekend. He seemed to understand."
"Well that's a relief. I rather thought he'd be angry with you" Shigure sighed.
"Akito will be fine without me for a weekend. He's not bad off this week" Hatori pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it, "Besides I haven't had a vacation in a while."
"Are you going to go in the Hot Springs?"
"I intend to. Sometime after the boys have. Tonight maybe."
"Perhaps Aya and myself should join you."
"If you want" Hatori blew out some smoke.
*********************************************************
Back at Sohma House Akito sat on his porch gazing at the clouds rolling by. He suddenly slammed down his fist.
"Kureno!" he called.
"What's wrong Master Akito?" Kureno appeared, "Can I get you something."
"Yea" Akito nodded handing him a note.
"But Master Akito, Hatori's orders."
"My orders come before his. Do it now!"
"Yes sir" Kureno nodded sadly.
Akito stood up and walked to his room.
"I won't let them get away with this," he said to himself as he shut the door.
*********************************************************
Authors Note: Okay, guys that's it till next Tuesday! See you next week for four more chapters!!
Next Chapter: Let the Party Begin!!
Tohru's surprise party is a hit. Everyone gathers around to show her how much she means to them, however a dark cloud hovers over this celebration. Find out what happens next time!