Disclaimer: Fruits Basket is not owned by poor wittle me.

Another dreaded segment of the family reunion. The grilling on love life. Got a boy/ girlfriend yet? When getting married? When having kids? For crying out loud! You're asking a toddler! Me? Er... (runs away)

12. Pillow Talk

"Tohru-san, are you still awake?" Kagura whispered. "Hai," Tohru exclaimed and tried to sit up. "Don't…" Rin murmured from her side. "Keep it down… the kids…" Tohru was lying between both Sohma girls.

"Tohru… who do you like, Yuki or Kyo?" Kagura asked. Tohru blushed in the dark. "I mean, you've been living with them for a while…" What could she say? Tohru felt her face burning.

Rin cut in. "Kagura, you left out Shigure…"

"Shigure's a baka. So, Tohru, who is it? Yuki?" Kagura giggled softly. Yuki was hailed as the Prince in his school, so Haru had told her. He had an androgynous kind of beauty. He was polite and a top student… If she hadn't already had a major thing for Kyo, she might consider going for Yuki.

"Yuki's nice…but…" Tohru answered. "I don't know..."

"Don't tell me it's Kyo!" Kagura blurted out. Her voice had an edge in it. Tohru had gone after Kyo when he was in his monster form. Tohru always said she felt sorry for the Cat in the legend.

Kagura? Kyo stirred in his sleep at the sound. He checked. Yep, he was back in his human form and his beads were safely on his wrist. Good. He dozed off.

"Kagura, keep it down," Rin chided softly. "It may not even be one of them."

"Sis like Yuki? Or Kyo?" Now Kisa was awake. The small girl squirmed her way in between Kagura and Tohru. Hiro simply twitched a little. He was too sound asleep to be awoken by Kagura's outburst.

"I think Kyo's nice, too… but… both Yuki and Kyo are nice to me. I like them. As friends…" Tohru stressed her last word. Friends… That's how this things kick off, Rin thought. She and Haru were friends at the start.

Kagura was going to go into another one of her rants about how she loves Kyo, Rin realized to her dismay. She had been living with the Boar long enough… She changed the topic quickly. "It may be Shigure, or Momiji, or someone else…"

"Even Haru?" Kagura added. Now it was Rin's turn to be worked up. It was bad enough worrying if Akito's making a move on her poor gentle Haru. Haru could not stand up to Akito. None of them could. Damnable curse.

Tohru whimpered uncomfortably as she fought to come up with a proper diplomatic and honest answer. "Everyone's so nice to me… all of them…"

"Jeez, you don't need to go all blubbery…" Rin remarked as Tohru fumbled. Kisa offered Tohru her hanky to wipe her tears. Somehow, as the Tiger, Kisa had excellent night vision. "Thank you… Kisa…" It took Tohru a while feeling about for Kisa's hand to return the hanky.

Let's hope it's Yuki… both Rin and Kagura thought as they dozed off.

Outside, Ayame and Shigure were still awake. Ayame nudged his friend. "Gure, do you think Ha-san will forgive us for making him drunk…" The Snake giggled into the pillow.

"Once he recovers from his hangover…" Shigure murmured. He burrowed deeper into the warmth of the quilt. Hatori was asleep. The Dog can hear the steady breathing of the Dragon as he slumbered.

Being the Dog, Shigure's hearing was always sharp. He had overheard the girls' conversation from across the room. He was slightly put off by the fact that Tohru had not admitted feeling any feelings of that nature for either of the boys.

"Aya, you're serious about getting Ri-chan to work as your model, aren't you?" Ayame made a small sound of agreement.

"Gure, will you come down to see my new designs?"

"Of course." Ayame's designs were always inspirational to the poor author.

"Gure, I want an autographed copy of your next work…"

"Very well…" He always kept a few copies of his work to give his friends. Hatori used his books to prop up the shaky table leg in his office. Akito simply burnt them after reading page one. Only Ayame actually bothered to read his work and leave a few books in his shop for his customers to read while waiting…

"Were you reading that person's diary?" Crap! Ayame knows…

"Aya, do you intend to keep me awake like you always do?" Shigure buried his head under the pillow in frustration. Ayame didn't know when to shut up. He was sleepy.

"Sorry…" Ayame snuggled up to Shigure. He nestled his head in the crook of the man's neck. He's nice and toasty now. No worries about turning into a snake…

"One other thing, Aya."

"What's it?"

"No love bites."

Soon everyone was asleep. The servants wouldn't bother clearing up till the next morning. They had learnt long ago to give Akito a wide breadth about the New Year.

Unnoticed, Yuki changed back…

Author's notes:

Where's Yuki sleeping? Guess! With...
a) Ayame & Shigure (Aya: Ano, brotherly love)
b) Haruhatsu (Black Haru: Yuki, you're MINE!)
c) Kyoukichi (Kyou: Don't call me that!)
d) Someone else (suggestions welcome!)

Answer in the next chapter. Wishing all a Happy 2005.