Chapter Ten: The Discovery

Hatsuharu was leaning on a tree with his hands behind his head when Tohru approached him. He smiled when he saw her, but then frowned once more.

"Hatsuharu" Tohru replied in concern, "What's wrong?"

"I was wondering, do you think it might be possible for us to start up practicing again?"

"I don't see why not" she nodded, "But what made you decide this?"

"I saw her."

"You saw her?"

"Yea" he nodded sadly removing his hands from behind his head, "It was two nights ago. I was playing on the piano and I noticed that she was at the window watching me, so I went outside to talk to her but she blew me off again and since then I haven't been in the best of moods at home. I sort of broke some stuff" he replied sheepishly making his head drop a little.

"Oh Hatsuharu I'm sorry. That must have been really hard?"

"It was. But I can solve it."

"Yea of course. It would be no problem."

"So can you come over on Sunday, like before?"

"Oh I can't" Tohru realized, "I have a scene or two to that day."

"Oh well what about Saturday?"

"No" she shook her head, "Not good that day either."

"What day are you free?" he asked with a slight smile.

"I'm afraid I don't know."

"What about this afternoon?"

"Oh yea. I'm free this afternoon. Oh but Kandis will be by herself."

"Bring her along."

"What?"

"Bring her along" he repeated, "I don't mind."

"Really?"

"Sure. We've had an audience before. It's no big deal."

"Okay. I'm sure she'll like that" Tohru nodded.

The school bell rang for afternoon classes.

"Uh oh" Hatsuharu replied, "Time to go. I'll see you guys after school."

"Okay" she waved as he took off.



He beckoned Momiji to follow him, which he did. A few seconds later Uo, Hana, and Kandis came over. Uo and Hana said that they were going to their lockers to exchange books. Tohru nodded and she and Kandis walked to her locker together.

"So what did Hatsuharu want?" Kandis asked.

"Oh he wanted me to come over this afternoon. And since you're with me, he invited you too."

"Hatsuharu invited me to his house?"

"Mhm" Tohru nodded.

"What are we going to do over there?"

"Oh you'll see."

"Oh. Okay. By the way where's Kyo? Doesn't he usually eat with you?"

"No" Tohru shook her head, "He usually eats with his friends. Besides he had cleaning duty today."

"Cleaning duty?"

"Mhm. Outside. Sweeping and stuff."

"Oh."

"C'mon let's get to class," Tohru said as she grabbed her book from her locker.

"You got it."



After school Tohru informed Yuki and Kyo that they were going to Hatsuharu's house. Neither one of them asked a lot of questions, since they now knew the reason. She and Kandis met him and Momiji at the front door of the school. All together they walked home.

"This is really nice of you to invite me to your home this afternoon" Kandis replied.

"Don't mention it" Haru said with a grin, "But I bet Tohru didn't tell you why did she?"

"No. She didn't."

"Tohru, why didn't you tell her?" he smiled.

"I thought I would surprise her."

"Well she'll be surprised all right."

"Haru can I come too?" Momiji begged.

"All right Momiji" Haru nodded, "But not for too long. You know how Hari gets mad when you're not at home on time."

"I know. He's such a worry wart," Momiji agreed.

They stopped walking and Kandis gazed at the huge gate in front of them, which displayed the sign that said Sohma Family.

"Whoa!" Kandis exclaimed, "Big place."

"C'mon in" Haru said with a smile as Momiji opened the gate.

He led them to his house. From the main house a pair of penetrating blue eyes watched them. He frowned slightly as he caught the sight of the unfamiliar girl then he turned from the window in a huff.



Meanwhile on the movie set Tom Quincy walked to his trailer after another day of shooting his scenes. He sighed as he opened the door, but almost screamed out loud when he saw whom the person was sitting in his chair.

"Damn it Amanda. You startled me" he replied angrily catching his breath.

"Oh I'm sorry Tom" she spoke in an English accent, "I got your message and rushed over here immediately. After all you said on my answering machine that you would make it worth my while."

"I will. You will be paid very handsomely for this. And for doing very little."

"What do I got to do?" she asked with her hands on her hips once she stood up.

"First. I want you to track down a man called Shigure Sohma. Once found do your thing."

"And what thing would that be?"

"Interrogate him you ninny. What do you think I hired you for? You're very good at getting a man to open up."

"Mhm. And how old is this Shigure Sohma."

"I don't know."

"You have to be more specific than that Tom," she said cynically as she sat down, "What do you want me to ask him?"

"Everything he knows about the Chinese zodiac. I hear he is an expert in it."

"Expert? Then why don't you go talk with him yourself?"

"Because. You are an outsider. It's better this way. Do you want the money or don't you?"

"Of course I want it."

"Then we are in an agreement?"

"Agreed" she replied shaking his hand.



Outside Matt had heard the entire conversation and was frowning as he walked away from the trailer.

"Oh man" he shook his head as he ran to the parking lot, "This is serious. I got to find Tohru and Kandi, and now."



Kandis was very surprised when she heard all the beautiful music that came out of that small room that afternoon. Hatsuharu and Tohru had sang a few pieces they had done before, and she and Momiji listened on the edge of their seats while munching on some snacks that Haru's mom had prepared. When they were finished with their fourth song, Momiji got up to leave. Kandis turned to them excitedly.

"You guys are incredible" she replied, "That was amazing Tohru."

"Thanks" Tohru grinned.

"You were good too Hatsuharu" Kandis said blushing a little.

"Thank you. Tohru I think we have time for one more song. Then we can call it a day."

"Okay" she nodded, "You got one in mind?"

"Mhm" he said reaching into a box, "A new one."

"A new one?"

"Yep. It's for both of us. You want to give it a shot?"

"Okay" she replied taking the piece of paper and looking at it.

Tohru:

We lead two different lives/ Just like two lines that never cross/ And here we are together/ Standing closer than we are/ But we're still standing here untouched/ Too scared to make a move/ We want so much to touch/ And we can't wait forever/ We know it's dangerous for us to be together/

Both:

How do we ever keep this secret?/ How do we keep it in the dark?/ And if we dare to taste our weakness/ How do we tear ourselves apart?/

Tohru:

Why do we keep this love together?/

Haru:

Didn't we know right from the start?/

Both:

That we would have to keep this secret/ Or forever stay apart/

Haru:

I watch you coming to me/ Walking in the pouring rain/ I can't help looking at you/ Wishing I could stay away/ So many times I've tried in vain/ To close my eyes and pray it goes away/ But I can't stop myself from feeling/ To let you go would be too much/ For me to take/

Both:

How do we ever keep this secret?/ How do we keep it in the dark?/ And if we dare to taste our weakness/ How do we tear ourselves apart?/

Tohru:

Why do we keep this love together?/

Haru:

Didn't we know right from the start?/

Both:

That we would have to keep this secret/ Or forever stay apart/

Tohru:

I can't help thinking when I look into your eyes/

Haru:

How much I need you/ It's so hard to hide/

Both:

How do we ever keep this secret?/ How do we keep it in the dark?/ And if we dare to taste our weakness/ How do we tear ourselves apart?/

Tohru:

Why do we keep this love together?/

Haru:

Didn't we know right from the start?/

Both:

That we would have to keep this secret/ Or forever stay apart/

When they were finished Kandis applauded and Tohru and Haru each took a bow. After that Tohru grabbed a quick drink of water and then she and Kandis left. Kandis gushed about Tohru's performance the whole walk home.



When they arrived Yuki greeted them at the door and Tohru was just about to start dinner when a knock sounded on the door.

"I wonder who that could be?" Tohru replied.

"I don't know" Yuki said with a confused look on his face.

Tohru opened the door and was stunned to see Matt Aritomo standing there completely out of breath.

"Mr. Aritomo?" Yuki replied in surprise.

"Tohru" he panted.

"Matt?" Kandis approached him, "What are you doing here?"

"Kandi. I'm so glad I found you," he was gasping for air on every line.

"What are you talking about? Is something wrong?" Kandis looked worried.

"Yes" he nodded.

"I'll leave you guys alone" Yuki replied beginning to walk out.

"No no" Matt shook his head, "This involves you too. You have no idea how much this involves you."

Yuki and the two girls just looked at each other as they urged Matt inside.



Shigure said goodbye to Mii at her office. She had been working him hard lately, especially in the city to promote his newest novels. He smiled happily thinking of dinner as he headed to the front door of the building.

"Excuse me" someone spoke up, "But you wouldn't be Shigure Sohma by any chance would you?"

Shigure looked back and saw a young, leggy attractive brunette staring right at him. He smiled at her as he turned around.

"Who wants to know?' he smiled as he saw her.

"Oh why don't you just call me a fan" she replied.

"Oh really. But you don't look Japanese" he grinned, "So what can I do you for you?"

"Perhaps, I can explain, over a drink."

"Well I don't usually drink this late" he scratched his chin, "But I don't get asked by to many pretty girls to have a drink either. So sure why not."

"Great" she smiled, "I know a perfect place where we can go," she said taking his arm.

"Just lead the way" he smiled back as she guided him out the door.

"Men" she thought cynically, "They're just like puppy dogs. They follow me every where."

Little did this woman know how close to the truth she was? And little did Shigure know that he was walking right into a setup.



Authors Note: I know I shouldn't leave you on a cliffhanger. But I promise you will get the second half tomorrow. Oh and for those Shigure fans out there, don't worry Shigure is not that stupid, he'll figure out Amanda's game faster than you think he can. Any way I hope you enjoyed the first half. But it's the second half that will have all the fireworks! Be sure not to miss it!

Note One: Song that Haru and Tohru sing is "Secret" by Heart. I know it's an old one but it really fits with the whole Fruits Basket theme don't you think?

Next Chapter: Part Two

Shigure easily slips out of the net but will Yuki and Kyo prove to be just as agile? Find out on the second part of "The Discovery".