Chapter 24: Question

Princess Sango

When Tohru woke up the next morning, she was face to face with Yuki's sleeping one. She smiled as she thought about surprising him, so she slipped out of her bed and walked over to her purse and fished for the soft velvety box. When she found it, Tohru opened the soft box and pulled out the ring and slipped it on her ring finger. Giving herself a second to admire it, she walked back to her bed and slipped back in. Smiling to herself she closed her eyes and fell asleep instantly.

Now, when Yuki woke up, he gently stroked her face and hair till she woke up slightly, enough to move her hand up to the offender, "Stop, it's too early."

Yuki's eyes wondered over to the shiny object on her finger, and noticed the ring. He smiled and gently kissed her forehead, "You have to wake up Tohru-chan!"

Tohru's eyes snapped tight together and then opened to look at Yuki, "Hi Yuki-kun, is something wrong?"

"No, nothing is, and I see the ring," Yuki explained to her as he took her hand and brought it to his face, "I'm glad you've decided so soon, I thought that it would take awhile."

Tohru shook her head and squirmed closer to him, "No, because it's obvious we can't live with out each other. Also I don't think I can wait, can you?"

"No, I can't for sure," Yuki whispered in her ear and dug his nose into her hair. Tohru gently brought her hands around his neck and loved to let him hold her, she felt so safe, so protected there. "Do you regret that night, or do you just live with them?"

"I don't really know what to say, since I love Kazuki, and the only regret was that I left," Tohru answered softly.

Yuki nodded and pulled apart so he could see her face, "I understand what you mean, since I like him too, he's a wonderful son."

"Yeah and if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be with you right now, or would I? It's a 50/50 question," Tohru answered for him mysteriously.

Yuki laughed and pulled her close, "Yeah, I guess it is."

Tohru squirmed slightly and pulled away, "I better go make breakfast, after all, we have a lot of people to feed."

Yuki nodded in understanding but wished she would stay longer. As Tohru exited the room Yuki sighed, Guess I'll have to wait awhile…

Kazuki…

Kazuki woke up to his mom running down the hall. She always was in a hurry to do things, especially chores. Getting out of his bed Kazuki pulled out his sketchbook, turned on his radio, and started to draw. Everything was normal, at least to him.

Tohru…

Tohru started up breakfast as Hatori walked inside the kitchen. "Ohayo gozaimasu Hatori-san!"

"Hi Tohru, sleep well?" Hatori asked her.

Tohru nodded, "Yeah, and so much space, no offence but Shigure's house is really crowded with my family there."

Hatori nodded, not exactly knowing, but just agreeing as he sat down at the table. Tohru on the other hand continued, "So Hatori-san, are you going to keep the house?"

"Hai, I plan on it. It's a really big house Tohru-chan."

"Everyone keeps saying that, but really it's no big deal!" Tohru answered Hatori, laughing as she did.

Hatori shook it off and Yuki came inside the room, "Hey Hatori, what are you making Tohru?"

"Just some eggs and pancakes," Tohru answered as she poured the batter onto the steaming pan for a pancake.

"Sounds good, did you tell Hatori yet?" Yuki asked impatiently.

"Tell me what?" Hatori asked Yuki and Tohru.

"Oh, I'm getting married to Yuki-kun!" Tohru answered the question happily.

Hatori smiled, "I'm glad you've decided already, it didn't take Kana long either. I hope you know what you're getting yourself into Tohru-chan."

"I know exactly what I'm getting myself into Hatori-san, so don't worry about me."

"Okay, okay…"

Kazuki entered the kitchen then, but in his dragon form, with Yoshiko holding onto his silver tail. "Mom, tell them to leave me alone! I can't stand this!"

Yuki, Tohru, and even Hatori started laughing at Kazuki who was looking more than annoyed. "Mom!"

"Yoshiko please let go of Kazuki, he needs to stay in his human form," Tohru said, her laughing still subsiding.

Yoshiko let go and poof, Kazuki turned back into his human form, and he ran out of the room to change into his clothes. Yoshiko looked over at Yuki, but he just backed up behind Tohru and stayed there. "Don't get any ideas, Yoshiko-chan, they seriously don't like their zodiac forms. Isn't that right Hatori?"

"Hai, that is true, everyone hates their forms. Even the cat," Hatori added as Yoshiko sat down at the table across from Hatori.

"I don't remember a cat being in the zodiac!" Yoshiko exclaimed.

"There isn't one, but there's a story that goes with that," Tohru answered for Hatori, "Each one has to listen to the head of the family, who plays God. Well you're looking at God and the famous rat of the story."

"So Yuki-san is the rat and Hatori-san is God?" asked Yoshiko, trying to get her facts straight.

"Yup, and you'll meet the rest soon enough, I sure did," Tohru answered, thinking about how many people flocked to see her, the outsider who knew.

"Wow, that's amazing Tohru-san!" Yoshiko answered impressed, and can't wait to see more of these zodiac people.

"No ideas okay?" Yuki answered, thinking about all the boy zodiacs she could hug and felt sorry for them.

"Oh fine!" Yoshiko answered before looking over at Yoshiko, "Taru always let us hug him, he never had a problem with it…"

At the mention of Taru's name, Hatori looked at the girl, "You know him?"

"Of course I know Taru, and I knew when you hugged him he would turn into another animal. Honda-san told us it was normal, but she never told me why. Why do you know him too, I thought you were from Tokyo, Taru's never been there till now."

"I'm his father, his blood related one," Hatori answered roughly.

"You are? I've met Taru's and Takeshi's adoptive parents, but I never knew anyone else. So how are they, they left before I had a chance to say good-bye!"

"They're fine, last time I checked they were enrolling in school. Now they should be home with their mother," Hatori answered her.

Yoshiko nodded and looked over at Tomiko, "Remember when we hugged them? It was so cute!"

Tomiko blushed but nodded, "Yeah and they'd play with us when we were kids."

"When they transformed back, we were always out of the room, it was comical to see them running to their room," Yoshiko added.

"I remember, but I told you not to do that in public!" Tohru answered from the sidelines as she started setting the table.

Hatori looked at the two girls slightly confused, Do these two like my sons? What about them?

TBC…