(Chapter Six: A Love for the Rabbit)
He brushed his fingers through his hair as he stood back up from tying his shoes. Hatsuharu stood next to him, his bag on his shoulder.
"You going home with me this afternoon?" he asked his younger cousin.
"Nope" Momiji shook his head, "I've got somewhere to be this afternoon."
"Another lesson?"
"Uh huh" Momiji nodded, "See you later Haru!" he called as he walked off in the opposite direction.
Hatsuharu shook his head with a smile. To him Momiji had changed quite a bit over the last few months. Up at the beach house, he could definitely tell that Momiji's voice was squeaking. And now just after New Years it had changed into a deep masculine one, but with the same innocent sound. Even Momiji's whole demeanor as far as he behaved had changed. Much like Ritsu, Momiji was dressing much more masculine and walked in the same way that his older cousins did. But despite all the changes he had maintained his carefree nature and childlike manor of thinking. Haru smiled some more as he walked home, once more on his own.
(Next Scene)
Momiji hurried into the building and took off his coat quickly. He placed his backpack in a nearby locker and took out a long slender case. Inside the case was one of Momiji's most precious things that he owned, his violin. He walked down the hall and then up a flight of steps. Down the next hall were two doors. Momiji walked past the first where he could hear someone already playing a violin behind the door. On the door was a sign that read:
Violin Lessons: Ages 7-13Momiji walked to the second door and opened it up. On this door read:
Maestro Sullivan
Violin Lessons: Ages 16-adult
As Momiji entered the room a tall man with a brown mustache smiled as he walked over and sat his violin down near a chair.
"Good afternoon Momiji" he replied in a thick English accent.
"Good afternoon Maestro" Momiji grinned back, "I'm sorry if I am a little late."
"Oh that's all right" Maestro Sullivan nodded, "Shall we begin where we left off yesterday?"
"Mhm" Momiji agreed sitting down in the chair and opening up his case.
He took out the violin and began to play while Maestro Sullivan followed along with the piano. No matter how long he hadn't practiced, Momiji had not forgotten how to play. The instrument played breathtaking music and often made Maestro Sullivan wonder what made Momiji quit playing in the first place. The lesson lasted for about an hour and after Momiji had played five songs Maestro Sullivan clapped his hands in enthusiasm.
"That was wonderful Momiji" he replied, "That's all for today."
"Do you think I'm getting better Maestro?" Momiji asked with a smile.
"Without a doubtmy boy" Maestro Sullivan smiled back, "You are one of my best young students."
"Excuse me father" a voice spoke up from the doorway, "Mr. Kinoshita is on the phone and he wants to talk to you."
Momiji looked up and almost had to take a double take. For standing in the doorway was a tall skinny brunette, with beautiful bright blue eyes. Her hair was pulled back in a long braid and she was wearing a long sleeved pink top and a denim skirt.
"Oh thank you Andrea" he replied standing up, "I will see you on Friday Momiji" he said to the still stunned boy.
"Oh okay" Momiji nodded slightly not paying attention as he departed.
When Maestro Sullivan had left the room, Momiji turned back to his violin and began to put it away. The strange young girl walked over and stood near him.
"I'm sorry if I interrupted your lesson" she said also in an English accent.
"Oh no" Momiji shook his head with a grin, "I was finished anyway" He stood up, "I don't think we have met before. I'm Momiji Sohma."
"Yes I know" she nodded shyly, "In fact I've been watching you for the past few weeks."
"You have?"
"Yes. I think you are a fantastic player. You play very beautifully. My name is Andrea but everyone close to me calls me Andie."
"Nice to meet you" he bowed his head walking with her to the door, "So Maestro Sullivan is your father?"
"Yes. I have traveled all over the world with him. You see he isn't the only musician in my family. I too play the violin. In fact for a while I was in the Children's Orchestra. Have you ever heard of that?"
"No" Momiji shook his head as they came to the lockers.
"It's an orchestra that goes all over the world playing. The kids in the orchestra are all very young. I joined when I was about seven."
"You've been playing that long?" Momiji replied surprised.
"Actually I've been playing since I was four years old. I have always loved the violin."
"Me too" Momiji said as he pulled his back pack out and placed the violin case back in the locker, "So do you help your dad around here?"
"No. I actually teach young children how to play the violin. I teach in the room next door."
"You're kidding. Aren't you a little young?"
"Nope. I am sixteen. Actually I had a student that looks like you quite recently, but she found a different teacher. Her name was Momo. Are the two of you related?"
"No" Momiji shook his head, "I mean we are in the same family since we both have the same last name but, we're not closely related."
"Oh I see. Well it was nice to finally meet you in person. Oh" she stopped when she saw the keychain on his bag, "Do you like rabbits?"
"Huh?" he looked back and then turned a little pink, "Well kind of" he admitted, "You might say I have a natural affinity for them."
"Really? I love rabbits too. I used to have two of them when I was younger. What's your favorite kind of rabbit?"
"Oh well. I like the ones that you don't usually see. I mean you always see brown and white ones. But you hardly see, uh let's say for the sake of argument a yellow rabbit with brown spots."
"Have you ever seen one like that?" she asked excitedly.
"Yes. Sort of" he said.
"Andrea!" her father called.
"Coming dad!" she called back, "Well good bye Momiji. Maybe we'll see each other again" she ran back inside.
"Yea" he nodded his heart practically melting, "I sure do hope so."
(Next Scene)
The next day at school Momiji sought out Tohru to talk to her. They walked over to the large tree in the back and he felt like he was going to explode with excitement.
"What's going on Momiji?" she asked, "You seem so happy."
"Oh Tohru I am" he nodded as they both sat down, "I met someone yesterday."
"Someone?"
"She is the most amazing girl I have ever met next to you Tohru" Momiji replied, "I mean she is my age and she loves the violin as much as I do. And not only that she is very pretty."
"Really? Well where did you meet her?"
"At violin practice" he said but then noticed Tohru raise her eyebrows questioningly, "Oh I started to take lessons again because I realized at New Years how much I missed it. My papa was able to get me a teacher. Her fatehr in fact.He had Momo going to her for awhile but when he found out I wanted to do it again he found her another place to practice."
"That's wonderful Momiji" Tohru smiled, "And this girl you like. What's she like?"
"I don't know how to describe it. I mean she was too amazing for words. And get this, she like rabbits. I couldn't believe it. She's my age and she is so cool. But she is the daughter of my teacher."
"Will you see her again?"
"I hope so" he nodded, "I mean I haven't had a crush like this in, well since you really."
"Momiji" Tohru's voice softened.
"I know I never had the chance with you Tohru" Momiji replied, "But the truth is I had quite a crush on you. I liked you a lot. But I now know that it was just a crush and that you are definitely better off with Kyo."
"Thank you Momiji. But why did you want to tell me of all people about this?"
"Because I was hoping you would keep it a secret and I wanted someone to know that I could trust."
"Don't worry Momiji" she nodded, "Your secret is safe with me."
"Thanks Tohru" he grinned, "Thanks a lot."
(Next Scene)
On Friday afternoon Momiji walked to his lesson once more. As he opened the door to the room he was surprised to see Andie inside sitting at the piano and playing it. She smiled as he entered.
"Hello Momiji. I hope you don't mind that I am in here. My lesson ended earlier today."
"Oh no it's okay" he grinned, "You can stay if you want."
She smiled and then walked over as he took out his violin. Suddenly the phone out in the hall way rang and she ran to answer it. A couple of minutes she came back.
"Momiji that was my father. He said that he was running a little late."
"So he's not going to make it?"
"Not exactly. I mean he's not going to make it here, but he asked if you wouldn't mind coming to our house for your lesson. You're invited for dinner as well."
"Oh. Well I have to call home, but I' m sure it will be no problem."
"Great. Well you go make that call and I will go get my things."
"Okay" he nodded as she exited, not believing his luck.
(Next Scene)
After calling Hatori and letting him know that he wouldn't be home for dinner, Andie led Momiji to the train station where they would take the train to Shibuya which was where her house was located. After getting off the train they walked down a street that was filled with brick residents. Andie walked up to a fairly large one and entered the house. A servant greeted them at the door and took their coats.
"Wow" Momiji replied, "This place is huge."
"Yea. It's not much. Oh hello Angelica."
"Good evening Miss" a thirty something woman replied.
She was dressed in a blue dress with long sleeves and her graying hair was up in a bun. She led them to the drawing room where a large grand piano stood in a corner. She told them that she would inform them when dinner was served.
"Thank you Angelica" Andie nodded as she turned to Momiji, "Would you like some tea?"
"Oh no thank you" he shook his head gazing at the large room, "This is a nice house."
"Thanks. It's my father's favorite house actually. Of course it's the longest we have ever stayed anywhere this long. We're usually traveling so there is really no place that I call home."
"That must be hard."
"It is at times. Just once I wish we could settle down somewhere or stay put. I mean here would be perfect. I love it here in Japan. I can speak a little Japanese. I mean I am slowly learning. I'm afraid I am a much better violin player than a linguist," she giggled.
"Well I could help you if you want" he replied smiling, "I mean I had to learn myself."
"Why is that?"
"Well my father is Japanese but my mother is German. So I speak both languages and when I was younger German was my main dialect."
"Really that is so fascinating. Oh I see that's why you're a blond. Your mother is a blond right?"
"Yea" he nodded, "You got it."
"You know, it's funny. You know that little girl I told you about Momo. Her parents are the same descent. Isn't that funny?"
"Uh yes" Momiji nodded nervously, "That is funny. So what about you?" he said changing the subject, "Where's your mother?"
"Oh my mother" she frowned, "Well my mother tries to have as little to do with me."
"How come?"
"Well my mother grew up very well to do and when she met my father they fell in love, got married, and then she got pregnant with me. But she wasn't ready to have me. She didn't feel like she was mother material being quite spoiled herself. Any way my father and she got divorced when I was about two and he gained custody of me. She still paid for all my lessons and things such as the orchestra."
"Don't you ever see her?"
"Usually only about once a year. But it doesn't bother me. I mean I have my dad and that's enough for me. I mean I have nothing in common with my mother where as my father we both have a deep love for music. What about you Momiji? What are your parents like?"
"Actually I don't live with my parents anymore."
"How come?"
"Sort of the same thing as you. When I was born my mother didn't want anything to do with me either. So I live with another family member. But my papa and I see each other as much as we can."
"You mean you don't see your mother at all?"
"No" Momiji shook his head, "My mama doesn't even remember me. She chose to forget me."
"I'm sorry. That must be hard for you."
"It is" he smiled, "But I have my papa and that's enough for me too. We seem to have an awful lot in common."
"I'm glad to" she nodded, "Momiji I have a confession to make."
"What is it?"
"I have sort of had a crush on you since I first saw you come in for lessons."
"Really?"
"Yes. I mean I thought you were really cute" she blushed.
"Guess what?"
"What?" her eyes sparkled.
"I had a crush on you when I first saw you too."
Her face blushed even more and she smiled as he grinned at her and thought that life couldn't possibly get any better than this.
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Okay guys! That's it till Friday! I love this chapter. It's about time Momiji had a chapter all to himself. He is one of my favorite characters because he is so confident and upbeat. I hope you enjoyed it and don't worry there will be more romantic moments for Andie and Momiji in the future!!
(Special Note: Hey Little Sister: You know who you are! I hope you read this chapter because after all it is dedicated to you!! I love ya!!!
Big Sister Stephanie)
Next time on Rice-Balls in a Fruits Basket:
Chapter Seven: Practicing with a Band
It's time to find the remaining members of Haru's band. He is determined more than ever to reveal how far he will go for his love for Rin!!
And
Chapter Eight: Happy Birthday Rin!
The big day has arrived. Thanks to Rin's older brother the party is underway and little does Rin know that the best is yet to come!!
See ya!!!