That evening Tohru and Kyo finished up the dishes after dinner. Yuki wandered into the kitchen and crossed his arms as Kyo dried the last dish. Kyo turned around and stared at him.
"What's up you damn rat? You need something?" he asked.
"Uh no" Yuki shook his head and left the frame of the doorway.
Tohru watched as he left and turned off the running water. Kyo said that he was going to go sit up on the roof for a while so he kissed her cheek and also departed the room. Tohru placed the last dish in the cupboard. Then she walked into the sitting room where she found Yuki sitting at the table and looking totally preoccupied.
"Yuki" she said with a worried expression.
Yuki turned to look at her and smiled.
"Yes Miss Honda?"
"Would you like to ask your question now?"
He nodded and stood up.
"Will you accompany me to the secret base Miss Honda?" he held out his hand, "For old times sake."
"Sure" she nodded taking her apron off and taking his hand gently.
(Next Scene)
They walked silently next to each other until they arrived at the small garden. They knelt before it and Yuki gazed happily at the remaining herbs.
"I've kept it up as best as I can" Tohru replied, "But I am afraid I am not as good a gardener as you are Yuki."
"That's okay Miss Honda" he smiled, "I didn't expect it to last forever."
"So" Tohru began as they sat down, "What's your question?"
"Well" Yuki sighed as he continued to the gaze at the garden, "My question really has to do with my project for school. You see a couple months ago the professor assigned us an assignment on researching our family tree. Around the same time I received Hatsuharu's letter on all that was happening in the family including Akito's illness. So it got me thinking. I started to have dreams every night after that. It was something I couldn't avoid. Miss Honda" he looked at her, "I know it has been attempted many times in the past but I would like to be the one to figure out a way to solve the Zodiac Curse."
Tohru stared at him surprised as the soft wind blew her hair all around her. Yuki stared straight ahead once more.
"To be honest, I know that Shigure has been researching it most of his life, but my dreams are leading me down a different angle than what he has thought of. It's strange. It really is, but I believe that this time someone, maybe me, just might succeed in solving it. Thus saving Akito's life also in the process."
"But there's one thing I don't understand Yuki" Tohru interrupted him, "What is it you need me to do?"
"I want you to help me?"
"Really?"
"Uh huh" he nodded, "I don't know why, but for some reason I feel absolutely convinced that you are supposed to help me. Maybe it has something to do with my dreams. You have been in a couple of them."
"I have?"
"Yes. So Miss Honda, will you assist me?"
"Yes Yuki" she nodded finally after a few moments of consideration, "I don't know why but I also feel compelled to help you. Maybe it's because I always wanted to help you Sohmas in that very same way. How do we begin?"
"Well we are going to have to go to the main house. And since you have off the rest of this week, it shouldn't be a problem. I have things to do tomorrow, but would you like to accompany me there on Friday?"
"Sure" she nodded, "That sounds good."
"Great. Oh and Miss Honda can we keep this between us just for now? I mean I don't want to let anyone down."
"Even from Kyo?"
"I know that's a lot to ask of you, but yes. Just for now?"
"Well" she said a bit uncertain, "I don't really like keeping secrets from him, but since you asked so nicely, I'll keep it just between us for now."
"Thank you Miss Honda."
"Your welcome" she smiled as he helped her to her feet and they both headed back to Shigure's house side by side.
(Next Scene)
The next day Yuki departed from Shigure's house later in the afternoon. He strolled casually till he finally arrived at his destination. He heard the bell ring and a moment later several students came pouring out of Kawaii High. Among them were several girls scanning the vicinity looking for something in particular. Hatsuharu shook his head as he walked past them, but stopped when he saw Yuki right in front.
"Yuki?"
"Hey Haru" Yuki smiled holding out his hand, "It's been awhile."
"It sure has" Haru grinned taking it, "Man you haven't changed much. What are you doing here?"
"I came to see Machi and to take her home. By the way Haru where's Momiji?"
"Oh" Haru grinned even more shouldering his bag, "He's around here somewhere. If I were you I would look behind a bush or something. I got to go Yuki," he said hurrying off, "I got band practice! See ya!"
Yuki watched as he departed at a sprint and scratched the back of his head.
"Band practice? Oh right" he recalled, "He told me in his last letter that, that group he used to play with and he had become a real band."
He shook his head and entered the familiar grounds to which he had spent three years of his life. As he walked past the bushes, he noticed that the same girls he had seen in the front were now scouring the area where he was walking.
"Where did he go?" one murmured.
"I don't know" another said, "But he couldn't have gotten far."
Before Yuki could say anything a hand pulled him behind the bushes and he landed right smack next to a very terrified teenager with curly blond hair. As Yuki regained his eyesight once more, he realized that he was sitting next to Momiji.
"Momiji" he started to say but Momiji put a finger to his lips.
"Hey there Yuki" Momiji whispered, "Long time no see. Look I'm sorry to drag you into this but I didn't know what else to do. Tell me are they gone?"
"Who?" Yuki whispered back.
"Those girls. Are they still there?"
Yuki peered over the bushes and took a glance at the area. Then he slowly slid back down.
"No" he shook his head, "They're not there anymore."
"Oh good" Momiji sighed in relief, "Now I can get out of here" he replied taking up his bag an rising up, "You can get up to now."
"Thanks so much" Yuki said sarcastically, "What the hell was that all about?"
"Well, you know ever since you departed The Prince Yuki Fan Club has long since dissolved."
"And?"
"And it got replacedwith The Prince Momiji Fan Club. I can't leave the school without those girls hounding me. Haru thinks it's an absolute joke, so he always leaves me hanging."
"Um you are still with Andie aren't you?"
"Yea."
"How come you haven't told them that you're attached?"
"They don't seem to care" Momiji shrugged, "In fact they think it makes me more irresistible. It's a real pain."
Yuki chuckled.
"Well I know just how you feel."
"You would Yuki."
"Just hang in there Momiji. You graduate in three more weeks. It'll be over soon."
"I can't wait for that day" Momiji smiled then looked at his cousin, "Incidentally what are you doing here?"
"I'm here to pick up Machi" Yuki replied moving past him heading towards the doors.
"Oh. Well she's probably still in the Student Council office with Nao. So I'll see you later Yuki" Momiji said as he finally departed the school.
"See ya!" Yuki replied as he walked into the school.
(Next Scene)
As he walked the halls he felt a series of memories flood his mind. The smell, the atmosphere. It hadn't changed. Not one bit. He walked up to the Student council office and was about to knock when he spotted Nao exiting at the same time. When Nao saw him he shook his hand and informed him that Machi was still inside. Yuki thanked him as he left and then entered the office.
Inside Machi was still at her desk finishing up some last minute work. She looked up as she heard the door.
"What's wrong Nao?" she said, "Did you forget something?"
But she stopped when she saw him. He was smiling and she stood up not being able to believe it. But then in a rush she ran to him and embraced him tight.
"Yuki" she breathed.
"Hello Machi" he said as they pulled away.
Then he leaned down and kissed her as deeply as he had longed to for a whole year.
"I missed you so much" he replied when they pulled away yet again.
"I missed you too," she said with a smile of her own as they kissed once more.
(Next Scene)
That evening everyone was going their own separate ways. Yuki was having dinner over at Machi's and Shigure had another date. Tohru meanwhile was spending the evening with Hana and Uo to catch up since Hana was back in town too. So Kyo decided to have dinner over at Kazuma's. He walked to the house after work and grabbed a quick shower from the pump in the back. Then he walked back into his Master's sitting room with the towel around his neck. On the table dinner was already prepared and ready, and Kazuma sat waiting for him patiently. Kyo sat down and they began.
"You're doing really well at the dojo Kyo" Kazuma replied, "All the kids say they really like you as their teacher."
"It's been really a lot of fun if not frustrating at times."
"It always is when you are working with children."
"I know."
"So tell me Kyo. How's the apartment hunting going?"
"Ah not so good. I'm still not having any luck. I mean I look every day in the paper for something. And I've been to a few on my break time, but nothing good yet. I'm starting to wonder if there is anything out there for us."
"Well if you're really serious about this, you should talk to Kunimitsu."
"Huh?"
"He's really good at that sort of a thing. If you want I'll put in a good word for you. He'll start looking for you right away."
"That would be great Master!" Kyo exclaimed, "Well there's only one thing left to do once I find an apartment then."
"What's that Kyo?" Kazuma asked curiously.
"You see Tohru was the one who came up with the apartment idea, and I was all for it. But something didn't seem right about the whole thing. It seemed kind of cheesy to me. And then I thought about it. I realized what it was."
"Hmm?"
"I want to live with Tohru that's true. But I want to live with her for the rest of my life. So that's why I have decided to ask her to marry me."
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: You guys are so smart! For those who guessed it, yep it's time for Kyo to pop the big question. Well that's it for now! See you all again on Friday for two more chapters!
Next Time on Rice-Balls in a Fruits Basket
Chapter Three: Kyo's Proposal
After revealing to his master about his decision Kyo sets about to make the perfect proposal, including asking her grandfather's permission. What will her answer be? And not only that someone else hears the proposal and is not too happy about it. See what happens next time!
And
Chapter Four: Ren's Return
As Akito gets worse and worse, new family secrets are revealed and an unwelcome family member returns. Find out who next time!
