(Chapter Four: New Years Party)

When Tohru and Kyo had arrived, they could see a plethora of people already talking, having a good time, and saying hello to people. The first person to approach them was Ayame, who had a plastic cup in his hand and an almost too giddy face on that he made Kyo cringe.

"Why hello there Tohru!" he exclaimed as he tipped the cup a little forward, "I am so glad that you came, and you look fabulous."

"Why thank you Ayame" she smiled as she held onto Kyo's hand.

"And you too lucky Kyo. My you look nice all dressed up."

"I told you before" Kyo said through gritted teeth and under his breath, "Stop calling me that."

Yuki came over and Ayame placed his hand on his shoulder to keep himself balanced.

"Oh and Yuki" Ayame grinned, "You came."

"Uh brother" Yuki grimaced, "I came up here with you in the same car remember?"

"Oh that's right" Ayame replied happily as he once more tipped forward, "I remember now."

"Have you been drinking?" Yuki asked crossing his arms.

"Just a little" Ayame held up two fingers and made the small sign, "Come on Yuki, it is a party. Speaking of which, there's Shigure! I got to go!" he stumbled away as the two boys shook their heads and Tohru merely looked shocked.

"Incredible" Kyo placed a hand to his forehead, "How in the world you can ever be related to that guy I will never know."

"Tell me about it" Yuki agreed with a nod of his head.

"Well I guess we should go say hello to everyone" Tohru said with a smile, "Oh there's Kagura."

Kagura came over with Momiji. Momiji complemented Tohru on her outfit, and then both of them asked if they could take Tohru to meet their folks. Kyo nodded and said he had spotted his master, so while they steered her away, he walked over to Kazuma.

"Hey Master" Kyo smiled.

"Kyo" Kazuma smiled back, "I'm so glad that you're here."

"You sound surprised to see me?"

"Well I kind of thought that you would stay home with Tohru this year."

"Actually Tohru is here" Kyo replied.

"What?"

"She was invited, by Akito himself."

"And you're okay with that Kyo?" Kazuma asked with a bit of a sad look in his eyes.

"Not really. However, I would much rather have her here, then to leave her home all alone. She also gets to go to the Zodiac banquet."

"What?" Kazuma said again in surprise.

"Yea, nice huh? I can't go. But Tohru will be there with everyone else tonight."

"Oh Kyo" Kazuma shook his head.

"It's no big deal. I'm not that upset about it. She's here with me and that's all that matters."

"Good attitude" Kazuma smiled, "So have you seen your father yet?"

"No" Kyo shook his head with a frown, "And I'm not exactly looking for him. I want nothing to do with him, because of that letter."

"But just the same Kyo, he might approach you tonight."

"I know" Kyo nodded sadly.

(Next Scene)

Meanwhile on the other side of the yard Momiji was taking Tohru over to a tree where his father, Hideto Sohma, was waiting for them. To Tohru he looked quite different then his son but looked exactly as his picture did.

"Real quickly, Papa" Momiji said, "I know you have to get back to Mama and Momo."

"That's right" Hideto nodded.

"Papa allow me to introduce Tohru Honda. Tohru this is my Papa."

"It's very nice to finally meet you Mr. Sohma" she bowed her head.

"And you as well Miss Honda" he bowed his eyes with a handsome smile, "I have heard lots of great things about you. And not just from my son. Tell Miss Honda, did you enjoy your time off while shooting your movie?"

"Oh yes" she nodded, "And thank you so much for giving me the time off, so I could do that. My Uncle Kentaro was very grateful too."

"My pleasure. So are you going to go into acting?" Hideto winked at Momiji who smiled back.

"Oh no" she shook her head, "I was offered to, but I decided it wasn't what I wanted to do with my life."

"Well. I hope you continue keeping up the fine work you've been doing in our building."

"Of course" she nodded again with a smile.

"And after the holidays, I would like to see you Miss Honda. In my office. If that's all right? I want to discuss something with you."

"Sure. That would be no problem."

"Great. Well have a wonderful time tonight. I'm sorry Momiji" he turned to his son, "I have to go back to Mama and Momo now" he bowed his head and exited.

"That's okay Papa" Momiji nodded as Kagura came back over, she had been saying hello to some other family, while Tohru talked to Momiji's father.

"Wow Momiji" Tohru smiled, "You're father is a wonderful man."

"I know" Momiji beamed, "Isn't he the best? Oh hey Kagura just in time."

"Great" she grinned taking Tohru's arm, "Come on Tohru. My mom's over here."

"Okay" Tohru nodded following her.

(Next Scene)

Yuki walked around the entire area saying hello to everyone. It had been quite awhile since he had seen them all. As he walked he spotted his father, Takeichi Sohma standing by the large oak trees, his glasses shining as the moonlight hit them. He was tall and thin and looked very intelligent. To Yuki his father was a mysterious anomaly. All his life the only things that Yuki ever knew about his father, was one that he was away a lot and two, he loved gardening as much as Yuki did. In fact the only time he had spent time with his father his whole life, was when he was three and he had been helping his father plant flowers in their backyard. Of course twenty minutes later his mother had shown up, mad because he had gotten all dirty. But those twenty minutes were enough to last through Yuki's fond memories. As he approached him, Takeichi raised his eyes, the glasses no longer glinting and he softly smiled, much in the same way, which Yuki was at that moment.

"Hello father" Yuki replied slowly bowing his head.

"Hello Yuki" Takeichi said warmly back.

"I'm surprised you came to this thing. Usually you're away. Even on the fourth year."

"Yes I know. But your mother insisted I come. And I wanted to see you Yuki."

"You did?" Yuki said surprised with a raise of his eyes.

"Yes. I know you're graduating from High School soon, and I always see your brother from time to time. But you and I have never really talked."

"No we haven't. Where's mother?" Yuki asked looking around him almost certain that she would appear.

"Saying hello to people" Takeichi replied.

"Well" Yuki said with a smile, "Then we have time to talk" he smiled.

"Yes" his father nodded understanding completely what he meant.

(Next Scene)

A crowd of people had gathered in one part of the yard as Kagura and Tohru walked over to her mother. Like her daughter, Katsumi Sohma had big beautiful hazel eyes that shone when she spoke. However her hair was short like Kisa's mom. She smiled as her daughter approached with Tohru and took the young girl's hand.

"So you're Tohru Honda," she said.

"Um" Tohru nodded with a bow of her head, "It's very nice to meet you Mrs. Sohma."

"It is very nice to meet you too" Katsumi replied, "Mariko, Haru's mother has nothing but fond words about you."

"Oh" Tohru's face turned pink.

"And" Katsumi said as the three of them walked to a very wooded area lined with tables and a tent, "Eri, told me what you did for her daughter Kisa. That was very sweet of you."

"Thank you" Tohru replied with a smile.

"I told you" Kagura beamed, "Isn't she the sweetest girl mom" she embraced her mother around the neck.

"Very nice" Kagura's mother agreed, "And very pretty too. I only wish my husband could have met you."

"Oh is he on a business trip?" Tohru asked innocently.

"Oh sadly no" Katsumi shook her head, "He passed away when Kagura was just a little girl."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so insensitive" Tohru said worried.

"No it's all right" Katsumi reassured her.

"Yea Tohru" Kagura agreed, "It's no big deal."

"Okay. Well Kagura I should get back to Kyo. He's probably wondering where I am."

"You're right" Kagura nodded as Hatsuharu's parents came over.

"Why hello there Tohru" Mariko, his mom replied, "I didn't know that you were going to be here."

"Hello again Mrs. Sohma" Tohru bowed, "Mr. Sohma."

"Hello Miss Honda" he smiled back.

A couple of people who had heard him came over to see the talked about girl, including a longhaired blonde with piercing green eyes.

"So you're Miss Honda," she said loud enough in a deep voice.

Everyone turned around and Katsumi stood up.

"Oh Saiyuri you're here?" she replied.

"Of course I'm here" the woman said, a flash of anger in her eyes.

"Tohru" Katsumi stood behind her, "Allow me to introduce Saiyuri Sohma. This is Yuki's mother."

"Oh" Tohru said with wide eyes, "It's very nice to meet you Mrs. Sohma" she bowed her head.

"Indeed" Saiyuri frowned at the girl, "So you're the one. The one who has my son's thoughts so preoccupied lately."

From across the crowd Yuki could see his mother confronting Tohru. He had talked to his father for about a good twenty minutes, and had just decided to go look for his mother. However at the moment he wasn't too pleased to see her as she was. He moved slowly forward and pushed his way through the crowd.

"Mother" he replied.

"So there you are Yuki" she said, "I have been looking everywhere for you. I thought that you would be with this girl" she eyed Tohru angrily once more.

"I was talking with father" Yuki replied, "Miss Honda" he took her hand, "I think Kyo's looking for you."

"Oh really" Tohru said gratefully.

"Yea. He's on the other side. I told him I would come get you for him."

"Thank you Yuki" she nodded, "If you will please excuse me" she said to the crowd, "It was nice meeting all of you" she walked slowly away towards the other side.

Saiyuri continued to frown as she and Yuki also departed, leaving a lot of the other family whispering amongst themselves. Kagura had gone off to find Hatsuharu. Katsumi and Mariko looked at one another as they too talked.

"That woman" Mariko shook her head, "She sure knows how to bring down the party."

"Yea" Katsumi nodded, "I feel sorry for the kid though. Him and Ayame."

"Not too mention Takeichi" Mariko added with a whisper which made the two of them chuckle to themselves.

(Next Scene)

Tohru walked around the entire other side, searching for Kyo. But she couldn't see him. Instead someone else found her.

"So I see you didn't heed my advice," a gruff voice replied behind her.

Tohru turned around slowly and saw that she was face to face with Rei Sohma.

"Oh Mr. Sohma" she managed to smiled, "Good evening" she bowed her head, "Are you having a good time?"

"Do you like to always change the subject?" he frowned looking straight into her eyes with his own.

"Huh?"

"Didn't think my advice was worth heeding did you? You're still here."

"Well I" Tohru stuttered as Kazuma appeared from behind her.

"Rei" he said sharply but softly, "That's enough."

"Kazuma" Tohru looked up at him in surprise, "I didn't know that you were here?"

"Yes" Kazuma smiled kindly at her, "Happy New Year Tohru. Uh Kyo is waiting for you at the punch bowl."

"Thank you" she nodded sliding away as Kazuma faced Rei, this time with a frown on his face.

"How dare you interfere" Rei seethed.

"How dare you" Kazuma shot back, "You have no right Rei" he said angrily, "No right at all."

"Why are you suddenly so angry?" Rei asked.

"I don't want to get into that tonight. It's a party Rei. Have fun. Don't spoil anything" he wagged a finger in his face, which Rei pushed to the side.

"Get off your soapbox Kazuma" Rei replied turning his back and beginning to walk away, "I'm not in the mood for a lecture."

Kazuma continued to frown as he moved away from the spot, feeling his own sense of anger towards the man he once called friend.

(Next Scene)

Kyo gazed around the area and finally spotted Tohru coming towards him. He walked over to her with a look of relief on his face.

"There you are" he said, "I've been looking for you everywhere."

"I'm sorry Kyo" she smiled taking his hand, "I just met a lot of people. Including your father."

"You saw my dad?" Kyo replied surprised and a bit angry.

"Yes" she nodded, "Just a few minutes ago."

"And?"

"Well needless to say, he's not happy that I am here. But then Kazuma showed up and I was able to get away."

"I'm sorry" Kyo sighed as he embraced her quickly, "That you had to go through all that."

"What time is it?" she asked.

"Um" he looked at his watch, "Wow it's almost eleven o'clock."

Momiji came running over with Hatsuharu. He took Tohru's hand.

"Come on Tohru" he replied pulling her playfully, "It's just moments away from the Zodiac banquet."

"Oh really?"

"Yep" Haru nodded, "It always starts about eleven o'clock and ends about one in the morning."

"You don't mind if we take her now, do you Kyo?" Momiji asked.

"No it's okay" Kyo shook his head with a small smile, "You guys have fun."

"Are you sure Kyo?" Tohru looked back at him with a worried frown.

"Yes" he nodded again, "Go. This is your one opportunity. Haru can you remain back for a minute so I can talk to you."

"Sure" Hatsuharu agreed, "I'll meet you guys inside."

Momiji nodded and then he and Tohru headed for the banquet.

"What's up Kyo?" Haru said.

"Will you look after her tonight? You know because I can't be there?" Kyo replied in a low voice.

"Of course" Haru smiled, "Consider it done" he patted his shoulder and took off running, while Kyo watched him leave with a bit of anger and jealousy in his heart.

(Next Scene)

From a veranda Shigure and Hatori had rose from their seats and were preparing themselves for the banquet as well.

"Well Hari" Shigure stretched, "Looks like the party was a success."

"Yes" Hatori nodded, "Now the only thing we have to get through" he said as he put out the cigarette he had been smoking, "Is the Zodiac banquet" he replied leaving the veranda."

"Yes" Shigure nodded his head following him with a bit of a worried look in his eyes, "Yes indeed."

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed the party! My favorite part was meeting all the parents of the Zodiac members, because I got to describe them, according to my own imagination of course, and because I got to name them. Takaya herself already has described some of them though so they were easy.

Next Chapters:

Zodiac Banquet

The dance. The food. The celebration. Tohru has been imagining this event since she first heard about it. What will it really be like and what sort of things will occur there? Find out next time!

And

Ritsu's Distraction

The party goes awry due to Akito's involvement. But who will come to the rescue. Is it the stubborn boar, the cute little bunny, or the easily angered cow? Would you believe it's the shy monkey? See what I mean next time!!