The next morning Tohru cleared the plates from the table and took them into the kitchen. Shigure opened his newspaper and cleared his throat as she came back into the room.
"So what time are you meeting the girls Tohru?" he asked with a grin.
"Um in about an hour. Kagura and Kisa are going together. Maybe Rin too."
"You asked Rin to be in the wedding?" Kyo said interestedly.
"Yes. I sure did. But she hasn't really said anything yet."
"Well don't get your feelings hurt if she says no."
"I won't" Tohru nodded with a smile.
"And what are you doing today Kyo?" Shigure asked him.
"I'm looking for someone to do the ceremony along with my Master, not to mention getting the paperwork for the marriage license."
"Oh yes of course, that is very important. So you'll both be quite busy today."
"Mhm" Tohru replied as Kyo nodded his head taking a sip of his tea.
"It's a shame I can't do anything" Shigure lowered his head; "I feel so left out," he teased.
Kyo spit out his tea and coughed a bit, while Tohru patted his back.
"Are you kidding me? As lazy as you are. You are like the worst procrastinator in the world."
"Actually Kyo, he can do something" Tohru spoke up.
"I can?" Shigure said.
"He can?" Kyo replied at the same time.
"Yes. He can handle the cake arrangements since he goes into the city. I mean we have it all picked out under the name of Sohma right?"
"Yea?"
"So Shigure can be the one to arrange it to get there to Sohma house and not only that he can handle the wedding invitations too, since again he is in that part of the city most of the time."
"Oh Tohru" his eyes glazed over with happiness, "You really mean it? I can be involved?"
"Mhm. We want you to be involved Shigure."
"Oh Tohru" he cried clasping her hand, "I promise I won't let you down."
"Yea" Kyo said seriously as Tohru smiled, "But if you do act like you this time and wait till the last minute" he looked straight at the novelist his maroon eyes burning, "I will knock you through the roof."
Shigure laughed nervously with his hand behind his head.
"Don't worry Kyo. You can depend on me."
"Good" Kyo replied rising from the table and looking at his watch, "Well I got to get going" he turned to Tohru, "You have fun today" he said sweetly kissing her gently on the lips.
"I will. You have fun with your Master too."
"Yea" he nodded but frowned slightly as a disheveled Yuki came into the room, "Geez damn rat back to your old ways?"
"Shut up stupid cat" Yuki muttered with an angry yawn as he departed.
"Good morning Yuki" Tohru said with a smile, "Would you like some breakfast?"
"Thank you Miss Honda" he nodded with a grin, "That would be great."
She nodded as well and then headed into the kitchen. Shigure shook his head and turned back to his paper.
"He is right about one thing Yuki" Shigure replied, "You do look like sleeping beauty this morning" he joked because of his appearance.
Yuki paused for a moment without saying anything and then spoke very softly, but loud enough for the novelist to get the idea.
"Shut up Shigure."
(Next Scene)
Tohru walked quickly to Ayame's shop with excited anticipation. It had only been a few days since she and Kyo had set a date but she had done so much for the wedding plans so far, that it seemed that it would never arrive. She entered into the shop and was greeted by Mine who led her to the back. In the back Kagura, Kisa, and Rin were waiting. Tohru immediately walked over to Rin and took her hand appreciatively.
"I'm so happy that you came Rin" she smiled happily.
"Well" Rin blushed slightly, "It's not like I get asked everyday to be in awedding. Besides it's the least I can do for you guys. Especially you" she blushed again.
"Thank you."
"Look Isuzu's blushing" Kagura teased as Kisa came over and embraced Tohru tightly.
"It's Rin" Rin said with a huff, "How many times have I told you that?"
"Now now ladies" Ayame appeared quite out of nowhere, "No time for arguing. Oh and the blushing bride is here" he replied happily taking her hand.
"I'm not the bride yet Ayame" Tohru replied blushing herself.
"Nonsense. You are the bride until the big day. Now is everyone here?"
"Um" Tohru was about to say but was interrupted by the arrival by her two best friends.
"Hey" Uo waved.
"Uo. Hana you guys made it" Tohru said as she walked over with a smile.
"Sure" Uo nodded.
"We aren't going to miss your big day after all," Hana added.
"Yea about time you guys set a date" Uo replied.
"Thanks you guys. Everyone's here Ayame!" she called over.
"As I can see," he said also coming over, "You two were in that play that I outfitted right? Cinderella?"
"Don't remind us" Uo rolled her eyes.
"We also met you up at Tohru's birthday party" Hana added.
"And I saw you at that party at Sohma house. I was Kureno's date."
"Oh yes I remember that now" he laughed, "Well let's get started then. I just have to go grab my portfolio in the back" he replied leaving to go to his main room.
"Okay" Tohru nodded as she led her friends over to the Sohma girls, "Hana and Uo you remember Kisa and Kagura. But I don't think that you have met Rin yet. Rin these are my two best friends. Arisa Uotani and Saki Hanajima."
"Nice to meet you" Rin replied shaking Uo's hand.
"You too. Cool outfit" Uo said.
"Thanks. Yours isn't bad either."
"A pleasure to meet you" Hana replied shaking Rin's hand making her a little nervous.
"Uh you too" she tried to smile back, "So you're Tohru's friends? I never would have guessed."
"Most people don't" Uo laughed.
"Okay ladies!" Ayame appeared again, "It's show time!" he laughed once more.
(Next Scene)
Meanwhile at Sohma house, Momiji sat on Hatori's porch playing his violin. His eyes were shut as he played and he listened to the music in the air. Suddenly he stopped playing and opened his eyes. He had heard another rustling in the bushes and turned in the direction of them. When they didn't move again he shrugged his shoulders and began to play again, once more closing his eyes. The rustling happened again and he stopped slowly, placing the violin back in it's case, closing the lid, and rising from his seat. He walked over to the bushes and began to prod them wondering if he would see what he hoped. Inside the bushes Momo pulled her legs closer to her, cringing, afraid that he just might find her. She closed her eyes and then sat as still as possible. Finally Momiji reached her part of the bushes and spread the branches wide, finding her at last.
"Well there you are" he grinned as she opened her eyes slowly at the sound of his gentle voice, "And I thought it was a rabbit."
"Huh?"
"What are you doing back here? Are you lost?"
"No" she shook her head lowering it a bit.
"You've been watching me a long time haven't you?" he said crouching down.
"Uh huh."
"You know if you really wanted to get to know me you could have just approached me."
"Huh?" she looked up into his brown eyes.
"Hey! I'll bet you're thirsty huh? And maybe hungry too?"
"Maybe a little" she replied in a small voice.
"Well why don't we go back to the house and I will get you something."
"But. I'm not supposed to be here."
"I won't tell anybody" he winked and said in a whisper, "I promise. What do you say?" he asked holding out his hand.
Momo smiled and then took it. It felt so warm to her as he lifted her up and the two of them walked back to Hatori's porch. Momiji let go of her hand as she sat down.
"Wait right there" he replied, "I'll be right back."
"Okay" she nodded as he ran into the kitchen.
A couple of moments later he came back with some cookies and two juice cans. He handed one to Momo.
"Here you go," he said as he sat down, "That should satisfy your tummy."
"Thank you" she smiled as she popped open the can, "I love grape."
"Really? Me too" he grinned opening his drink with a snap, "It's one of my favorites."
"Really?"
"Yea" he said as he took a sip.
She blushed and smiled as they both quietly drank. From inside Hatori had just arrived home and heard the conversation. He frowned slightly when he saw them together but decided to listen in.
"So why don't you tell me why you have been watching me Momo?" Momiji asked putting his can down.
"How did you know my name Mr. Momiji?" she asked surprised.
"I know most of the people in the Sohma family" he replied casually and then he laughed, "And its just Momiji. You don't have to be so formal."
"Okay. I guess I've been following you for a while."
"Yes. I know" he nodded, "But why?"
"I don't know. You fascinate me."
"Fascinate you?" he said with a raise of his eyebrows.
"Mhm."
"That's a pretty big word for a little girl."
"I'm not that little."
"I know."
"Why are you being so nice to me?"
"Why? I don't know" Momiji replied, "I guess I think it's kind of nice, that you've been watching me."
"You do?"
"Yea."
"And you're not going to tell anybody?"
"Nah" he shook his head, "I'll keep it a secret. But you know what" he continued as Hatori leaned against the wall, "If you really want to spend time with me there are much better ways then just spying from behind a bush."
Hmm? Oh but I'm not really allowed here. What exactly do you mean?"
"You let me worry about that" Momiji said with a smile, "You should probably be running along home now. Your mother will be worried about you."
"Yea" she nodded slowly standing up, "Thanks again for the juice and cookies Momiji."
"My pleasure" he smiled back, "You be safe going home now."
"I will" she grinned and waved as she took off, "Good bye!"
"Bye!" he waved back as he stood up frowning a little and placing his hands in his pockets.
Hatori watched as he lowered his head and was about to walk out and talk to him when he saw him snap his head up really fast and gaze in the direction of the main gate. He nodded to himself with a determined look and then took off running. Hatori watched from the porch as he exited from the main gate and headed in the direction of the city.
"I wonder where he's going?" he said aloud to himself.
(Next Scene)
Momiji dashed into the building and ran directly for the elevator. It was Sunday but he knew that he was there. Out of breath he pressed the top floor button and waited as the elevator rose quickly to the top. As the doors opened up he walked slowly down the hall, past Tohru's desk, and straight to his father's office door. He knocked on it politely and heard his father call him in.
"It's me Papa" Momiji stuck his head in, "Can I come in?"
"Momiji?" Hideto stared at his son in surprise and then smiled, "Of course. Come on in. Is everything all right?"
"Yea. Everything's fine" Momiji nodded closing the door, "But I wanted to talk to you about something."
"Okay. Sit down. We'll talk."
Momiji obeyed and sat in the seat opposite his father.
"What's on your mind son?"
"Well" Momiji said and then sighed, "This is going to be kind of difficult for me to say, but don't get angry at her okay?"
"Her? What are you talking about Momiji?"
"The thing is, I found Momo today at the main house."
"Uh huh" Hideto frowned slightly but encouraged him to continue.
"She was watching me from the bushes as I practiced my violin. Actually to be totally honest with you it's not the first time that she has spied on me."
"I didn't think so" Hideto shook his head, "I had a feeling that was where she was going. What exactly happened this afternoon?"
"Nothing really. I found her in the bushes, I gave her some juice and cookies, and we talked a little."
"What did you talk about?"
"Mostly why she's been following me."
"Did she say why?"
"Yea. It was so cute. She said I fascinate her" he laughed, " And my friend Tohru, you know, she found her once and she told her that she just had a compulsion to do it. She can speak really big words for such a little kid."
"Yes she can. Momiji I don't know what to say" he shook his head, "I'll tell Momo to stay away from there from now on."
"But that's just it Papa, I don't want you to do that" he said slowly.
"Huh?"
"Papa. I had the most fun this afternoon just spending some time with my little sister. Even if she didn't know the truth about who I really was, I felt for the first time like I really was her big brother. And that made me feel so special."
"Momiji."
"I know it's impossible to be involved with Mama and I've accepted that, but is it so terrible for me to spend some time with my little sister. I won't say anything. I promise I won't. I've kept the secret up to this point haven't I?" he paused, "It's just sometimes I feel cheated."
"Oh son" Hideto's eyes became sad, "I know. I know there is part of me as well that wishes just once that you could come home with me and we could be a family again. But that's just not possible."
"I know. Because Mama's healthy and I want her to stay that way. But there still is that part of me that wants to be selfish. That part that wants to ask why? Why? Why did my life turn out this way? It's so unfair" he lowered his head, "It's so unfair" the tears began to well up, "Is it so wrong for me to want a normal family like everyone else?"
"No" Hideto shook his head, "It's not Momiji. And I believe that I did you a great in-service by asking you to give up your mother like that. And Momo."
"No Papa" Momiji shook his head standing up, "I chose that myself. I wanted Mama to be happy so I gave her up. But I never thought that by doing that I would miss so much. Especially Momo. Do you have any idea how it feels to watch her just from afar? To never talk to her or communicate with her at all? She's my little sister. I didn't even get to see her when she was born. To her I'm nothing but a fascinating stranger, and she has no idea why. It's not fair. I hate this" he cried even harder putting a hand to his face, "I know I shouldn't be upset when I did it to myself, but I just can't help it."
"Of course you can't" Hideto said coming over and embracing his son, "Momiji you have every right to feel the way you feel right now. It is my fault for letting it go on like this. You're right about your mother; it might be too late for her. But it isn't to late for Momo and you."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Momiji raised his head.
"I've been thinking about this for some time. Momo doesn't have many friends and not too many people to look up to, so it would be ideal if she was to have a big brother like figure in her life wouldn't you say?" he smiled at his son.
"Huh?"
"Here's the deal Momiji. I will go home and talk to your mother about this. Next Monday why don't you come over for dinner? Bring your girlfriend too. And we'll talk the situation over like adults."
"Really Papa? I mean really?"
"Really" Hideto nodded, "You have suffered for far too long and on your own for that matter. I have to do something to make it up to you Momiji."
"No you don't."
"Yes I do" Hideto replied, "My conscious won't ease other wise. I can't giveyou your relationship with your mother but I can try to grant your other wish. Your wish to be with Momo. To get close to her. I think that's only fair."
"Papa" Momiji wiped the tears from his eyes, "Thank you."
"No Momiji" Hideto shook his head again, "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For being the best son I man could ever ask for" Hideto smiled.
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Sorry guys! I can only manage to get one done today so you'll either get the next one tomorrow or Friday. Anyway hope you enjoyed it. And Haru's Girl, pleeeasee! Write me an e-mail!
Next Chapter: Chapter Four: Kandis Returns
She's back! But how will she take the devastating news about Akito? Keep reading to find out!
