Disclaimer: I do not own Fruit Basket.
Nothing gets fuzzier than attempted homicides at family reunions after discovering someone stuffed your precious Mr. Tootle into the piano, right, Aunt? I'm sure the shell will mend. (Cross fingers). Where's Coco the spaniel? I dunno... (act innocent and backs off...)
AnimeFreak13: Next chapter. As promised, more family fuzzies.
7. Brothers
Yuki missed the touching duet by the siblings. He was busy scampering about, trying avoid being treaded on. After his visit to the privy, he had a minor incident with a three-year-old female relation. Then the girl's mother mistook him for the common gutter rat and tried to kill him with a broom. She has to be from the outside…
He caught sight of Master Kazuma and tried to run after him… then a maid wheeled the drinks trolley round the blind corner and knocked him out of the way. When he recovered, Master Kazuma was gone. He ran about desperately trying to return to the banquet and kept running into more misfortunes and people from outside with no love for gutter-rats.
He finally found a storeroom to hide in. He'll have to use a sheet or ask for someone to pass him some clothes when he changes back. Now he's exhausted, hungry and starting to feel an attack coming on…
"Yuki?" Someone was opening the storeroom door. Ayame. For once, Yuki was glad to see him. He ran out from his hiding place behind the broom. "You took too long… How can you keep your princess waiting?" Ayame entered the storeroom. It was cold in there.
"Thought I saw you wriggling in here under the door. I can't be sure it was you… Are you alright?"
"I-I n-need my inhaler…" Yuki gasped. He had it in his pocket. Now it was in the walkway outside the privy.
POOF! Ayame quickly shut the door as some guests passed the storeroom. Yuki had changed back. He was still wheezing and looked terribly exposed. Ayame undid his outer coat. "You better wear this…"
He threw the garment over his brother's shoulders. It was a little short and left most of Yuki's legs exposed. Still, it'd offer some cover so he could get back to the banquet. It was freezing. Ayame realized. He sneezed.
POOF! Ayame changed from the cold. "Oops…" The Snake plopped onto the clothes he had shed. Yuki gasped. He'll have to act fast. He pulled on Ayame's clothes. A red embroidered caftan. They were too big of course and definitely not his type…
"You look so kawaii!" The snake piped happily as Yuki picked him up. Yuki tucked the remaining garments under his arm.
"Shut up, do you want to be left behind?" Still, Yuki put the Snake into the pocket. "Sure you're okay?" Not to be outdone, Ayame snaked his way to the collar, unnoticed.
"I'm going to get my clothes and my inhaler before anyone else sees us…" Yuki's attack seemed to be easing. He found and retrieved the discarded garments. Then he ran into his mother.
"Yuki! What are you wearing?!" She shrieked. As if having one weirdo for a son wasn't enough…"You can't wear that!" Now I'm really going to have an attack, Yuki wheezed.
"But he is, mother dear!" Ayame declared and emerged from his hiding place in Yuki's collar. "Don't you agree? He looks so delicious in my designs!" Yuki spluttered. When did his no-good big brother get there? Thoroughly outraged, their mother glared at both her sons and stormed off.
"Baka!" Yuki made a grab for the snake. Ayame wriggled out of reach. Yuki was wheezing. "Use the inhaler, quick. You can throttle me later…" Yuki took out his inhaler and took a few steady breaths. Ayame obediently vacated his perch around the collar and slipped back into the pocket.
"Ayame! I'm getting jealous…" Shigure teased as both brothers returned to the banquet. Yuki still wore his brother's caftan. Ayame peered out of his pocket and greeted the others. Yuki glared at the Dog and retreated to the alcove. He shut the shoji. Hatori was still out cold. Ayame wriggled out and curled up in the corner.
Yuki quickly changed into his own clothes. "Fold them up nicely, will you, bro? I'll get into them when I change back…" Ayame murmured dreamily from his corner.
"Are you sure it's not too cold there for you?" Yuki asked offhandedly. He remembered the alcove was always cold. Or was it due to Akito that he remembered it that way?
"If it gets too cold, I'll snuggle up with Hatori-san!" Ayame chirped. Not that Hatori will appreciate that…
Yuki rejoined Tohru at the banquet and was a little perturbed to see the Bunny lying in Tohru's lap. "Mother…" Momiji was murmuring. Has he been touching the drinks? Tohru was smiling. Well, she was always so gentle… Yuki smiled and took his seat. "Momiji! Enough already!" Kyo snapped from across the room.
"Baka-neko…" Yuki sighed.
"Kuso nezumi…" Kyo shot back. POOF! Before anything else can happen, Ayame pushed the shoji wide open and called out from the room. "Towels, please. Hatori just got sick on the tatami…" Both Yuki and Kyo stared at the Snake. He wasn't dressed yet…
"Ayame!" They yelled in unison. Tohru blushed and closed her eyes. Some things you just can't ignore…
"I'll get the towels," Haru volunteered. "I'll go with you," Rin offered. "You always get lost…" The pair passed Kureno on their way out.
"Argh! That's Akito's favorite cushion!" Kureno cried out in alarm at the mess. Ayame had gotten dressed and was patting Hatori on the back as the man awoke. "Drink?" Shigure offered Kureno a stiff brandy. He needs it. The Rooster gulped it down.
Author's notes:
Aww, brotherly love. Everyone seems to be getting along. Ne, poor Kureno. He seems to be suffering loads. RinHaru fans out there? The next chappie's gonna up the rating thanks to them!
(Prays Aunt doesn't find Coco before we get the paint off her...) Er, is that a rat tail sticking out of Coco's mouth? Coco ate the quail the last time... (Scrambles to check white rat cage).