Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket

Aki-Shinko: Hello loyal fans and readers, I just wanted to wish you all a humble holiday, I thought I'd be better if I sounded politically correct, but you get my message right? Thanks again for being a loyal. I have other stories, I'd like some input on them too if you all aren't so busy reading this one!

Chapter 30

Without even knowing it Christmas came up and caught almost everyone off guard. Tohru's sling was finally removed and she couldn't be happier. She stretched and did every precaution she was given anyway, but you could see it in her smile that she was even more happy then naturally.

Christmas was only two days away and most of the boys were frantically trying to figure out what to buy Tohru. The Saturday before Christmas Kei had arrived at their house dragging in a large tree. By the end of the day Tohru had the whole house decorated from outside holiday lights, to the Christmas tree, and even just simple indoor decorations.

"Alright Tohru I'm done with the tree" Kei told her panting from carrying it.

"You're amazing!" She told him with a smile "Thanks for your help"

"It's no problem," Kei said straightening himself out. Tohru walked him out to the front door where she stopped him. Kei looked over his shoulder to look at her, expecting her to say something but instead she was pointing up. Kei turned a cherry color seeing a mistletoe and Tohru kissed his cheek quickly

"Merry Christmas Kei-Kun" She then handed him a wrapped gift. Kei smiled and from his pocket pulled out a small box for her. "Oh Kei you didn't have to get me anything!" She told him innocently

"You deserved it, Merry Christmas Tohru" He leaned over and kissed her cheek gently before he took off for home walking "Enjoy the holidays Tohru, I'll see you after New Years"

"Bye Kei thanks again!" Tohru stood up on her tip toes waving to him until he disappeared around the corner. She quickly scampered back into the house, it was starting to snow again. Tohru came into the house and left Kei's gift underneath the tree.

She ran up into her room and opened the closet that had all the gifts inside ((a/n remember? Chapter called Connections? Such a long time ago right?)) She pulled them all out, and wobbly she got downstairs. She arranged them perfectly around the tree and then ran to go get her jacket cutting through the kitchen

"Miss Honda you've been running about the house all day, what on earth could you be up to now?" Yuki asked her laughing

"I've got to go give Uo and Hana their gifts before they leave to see their relatives" Tohru told him as she slipped her jackets over her shoulders, she had the gifts tucked under her arm

"But Tohru its snowing out!" Yuki said pointing at the window

"It's only a little snow Yuki!" Tohru protested pulling out an umbrella.

"At least let me escort you, I'd feel horrible if something bad were to happen to you" Yuki pushed back his chair at the table.

"Alright Yuki, it'll be nice to have someone to walk with" Tohru handed him his jacket. The two walked out after Tohru left a note. Yuki held the umbrella over the both of them and Tohru could only smile "I love the holidays"

"Why's that Tohru? For the free things?" Yuki joked

"The holidays bring everyone together, and the problems that bother us on usual days are pushed aside for a short time. Everyone's happy, and everyone's smiling. Even the people less fortunate are given things, I always donate stuff to the shelters around this time, so at least they get something too, even if it is a visit from a stranger" Tohru told him looking at him as they walked

"Are you sure you're not a Saint or something?" Yuki asked smiling with his gentle violet eyes

"No, I'm far from that" Tohru laughed "Oh look here's Uo and Hana's house!" Yuki waited by the entrance as Tohru walked up the stairs and knocked on the door. The door opened slowly and Uo smiled

"Hey kid how are you?" Uo smiled wearing a red Christmas hat.

"Yes how are you Tohru?" Hana appeared behind her

"I'm great you two, Merry Christmas!" Tohru handed the two girls their wrapped presents "And don't open them until Christmas"

"Okay okay here let me get yours," Uo disappeared for a moment and returned with a decent sized wrapped gift "This is something really special we found, we really hope you like it."

"Thank you so much you two!" Tohru, Hana, and Uo hugged, and Yuki watched from a far, somewhat deplorable that he couldn't share that sort of bond with Tohru. He looked down at the ground until Tohru pulled on his jacket sleeve "Why the long face Yuki?"

((A/n I'm not sure if you remember but in my fanfic in earlier chapters I explained the two of them shared one apartment. The Three Amigos chapter))

"Hm? Oh nothing Miss Honda, I"m afraid you caught me daydreaming!" Yuki rubbed the back of his head embarrassed. "Shall we be heading home then?"

"Yes. I have to get home and get ready for the show" Tohru told him happily

"What show Tohru?" Yuki asked

"Well at the bar of course! We never play on Christmas eve since everyone wants to be with their families, so we always do it two nights before. We get the biggest turn-out at this one concert alone compared to an entire month! It's so much fun!" Tohru smiled

"How long are you going to be out tonight Miss Honda?" Yuki asked her

"It's a rather late performance, I'll probably have to get a ride home from Kira, I'm thinking three in the morning" Tohru said thinking out loud as she looked up at the sky

"Three in the morning!" Yuki asked her amazed "Why ever that late?"

"Well, first off we don't start the singing until 10, and we usually stay with it until one..."

"Then come home at one!" Yuki told her

"Not so simple, we always exchange our gifts for the holidays as well. We all buy each other small gifts with the money we make singing, and then we do want to hang around and talk. I haven't seen them since last month, we have to catch up with the times"

"Can't you do that some other time?" Yuki asked her again.

Tohru frowned this time "Well, its just be a tradition we've had. I've been doing it since I was almost twelve years old"

"Well its not safe, they're going to get drunk and they'll start to do horrible things"

"They won't do that Yuki" Tohru shot at him "You shouldn't make accusations about my friends"

"You don't understand the way drunk people work!" Yuki told her fiercly "You should home and just have someone drop of the gift for you"

"You're not to tell me what I can and cannot do Yuki Sohma!" Tohru told him not screaming but in a serious tone "Shigure has already given me his approval and that's all I need, I did not ask for yours' Tohru took off walking

"Shigure doesn't know what he's saying either!" Yuki told her angrily

Tohru turned back around

"Shigure is the closest thing to a father, he IS my father in my heart, and I only need his approval. Second off Yuki Sohma, the Clarity band doesn't drink any form of liquor, not after Ginta's friend was killed while he was drunk. You shouldn't make such irrational accusations. I didn't judge you when I first met you, and I still didn't judge you even after the curse! You say you hate the way you are and being isolated, well if you're so quick to judge others no wonder you are the way you portray yourself! You need to learn to trust people, especially me!"

Tohru then ran off, leaving the umbrella on the sidewalk as she took off running towards the house, leaving Yuki in the center of the sidewalk with a gaping jaw and a horrible feeling that him wanting to protect her just drove them even farther apart. Tohru ran through the house and up into her room, slamming the door, she curled up in a ball against her bed, on her bed the outfit for the concert already laid out and perfect.

Shigure looked up from his novel and stared at the ceiling as he heard Tohru, or well someone, storm up the stairs and slam their bedroom door shut. He rose from his spot and cuffed his hands together with his giant kimono sleeves. He hummed slightly, his book going quite well, and looked at the doorway, "Seems Tohru's home" He said gently seeing her shoes still wet by the door. He climbed up the rickety old stairs until he found Tohru's door and knocked on it gently

"Flower? Are you alright in there?" Shigure put his ear to the door and listened to the scampering of someone's feet as they slid open the door, Shigure nearly fell head first into the room but Tohru caught him, and of course he transformed into a dog

"Well. I guess this is what I get for ease dropping" Shigure said on the floor as he whimpered. Tohru only rubbed behind his ears "Well at least I can say you look beautiful Tohru"

Tohru laughed "Thank Ayame for this outfit" Tohru spun around to model it. Tohru wore a traditional red Christmas hat, one with the pompom on top and the fuzzy white border around it. Her dress matched it perfectly, it was strapless but had the white fuzz border going around the top and at the hem line. It was a good length that it ended only two or three inches before her knees and she even wore red heels to match and put it all together.

"Unfortunately Tohru, now that I am like this I won't be able to drive you to your little performance without changing half-way there. Is Yuki around maybe he can drive you"

"No, Yuki hasn't gotten home from his errands yet" Tohru told him sadly, avoiding Shigure's eyes.

"Well that is indeed peculiar, he must be running late with all this Christmas mob. Well, Momiji is too young to drive, so lets see....HARU!" Shigure turned his dog head to call for Haru. There was then the sound of someone falling off their bed, grumbling, and walking into Tohru's room.

"What's with the yelling Shigure?" Haru looked around for Shigure, then looked down seeing him as a dog. Shigure simply wagged his tail and Shigure bit his lip to keep from laughing

"Yes indeed laugh all you want young Haru, but I do believe Miss Tohru needs an escort to her performance tonight." Shigure told Haru

Haru sighed and looked down at Shigure "Alright, I'll drive you Tohru" Haru lifted his head and looked at Tohru for the first time since he had entered the room. She looked absolutely lovely in her outfit and she smiled and even her eyes seemed to sparkle "I'm guessing you're really looking forward to this?"

"I do every single year, this used to be my mom's favorite part of the holidays, hearing me sing the traditional Christmas tunes" Tohru answered proudly.

Haru grabbed the keys from their hook and threw on his jacket and Tohru did the same. They walked to the red convertible and Tohru slid into the passenger street. The buzz admitted from Tohru never faded and she seemed so excited, like a little kid on Christmas. They drove along the roads and Tohru's eyes followed the Santas on the streets for the salvation army and the many people walking around with arm loads of bags.

"You really love this time of year don't you?" Haru laughed teasing her at the stop light

"Of course I do! Can't you see it, how happy everyone is, and how much more willing they are to be a little nicer, and go that extra mile?" Tohru looked at all the decorated buildings and streetlights.

Haru only grinned again, maybe she was the Christmas angel or something. When they arrived at the bar Tohru jumped out of the car and tried to wait patiently for Haru. She wanted to get going so bad. Haru hurried himself and they walked in together. Clarity was still setting up the equipment and she was scooped up by Li and spun around in another circle

"Hello Angel!" Li grinned kissing her cheek and squeezed her tight

"Hey Lei, you're squishing me!" Tohru squirmed in his arms until he finally set her down. "Lei, this is one of the Sohma's, Haru." Tohru walked over to Haru and she pulled him onto the stage. "Haru this is Lei, our base player, the best in all the world."

"Why hello, finally I can have the honor of speaking with an infamous Sohma." Lei held out his hand to shake, Haru looked down at Li's hand and then took it, grasping onto it and shook it hard.

"Hello, nice to meet one of the members of Clarity" Haru smiled lightly "Tohru's very fond of you all"

"And we're found of our angel" Li said wrapping his arm around Tohru's shoulder "She's our own little daughter since we all couldn't settle down and have families" Li laughed

"You meanie! You know you'd love me even if you were already married" Tohru protested poking him in the side

"Okay you got me, I never was for lying" He rubbed the top of her head gently

"HEY LI HELP US WITH YOUR EQUIPMENT" shouted Yue in the background. Lei sighed and left Tohru with Haru on center stage. Tohru instantly began dragging the microphones all over the stage.

"What exactly are you doing Tohru?" Haru asked as he helped her with a microphone

"Well we need to put up 5 microphones for the band and then we have to do a sound check for each of them" Tohru put one in front of the somewhat assembled drum set belonging to Yue.

"So you must know a lot about the electronics and sound systems right?" He asked her curiously

"I guess so, its just about second nature by now" Tohru plugged in the second microphone while Haru plugged in the third. Tohru and Haru finished off by plugging in Tohru's mike, and she gazed out at the empty audience "This is what I live for"

"Why?" Haru asked

"Why what?" Tohru asked rather confused

"Well, what about singing makes you feel so alive, I've never seen you so much happier except for when you first came back from Akito's"

"I'm not sure, maybe because I can put a piece of my heart into it," Tohru smiled again.

Haru nodded slowly looking around the bar. The place was decorated head to toe with lights, it had been a while since he had last visited this place the first time Tohru sang. Tohru helped put the keyboard on the stage for Sora, and Haru noticed that some customers were starting to arrive and take their seats

"Are you going to stay for the show Haru?" Tohru asked curiously

"I think I just might, I haven't heard you sing yet" Haru smiled with his hands in his pockets. He took a seat in one of the front booths. A waitress in an elf outfit came up to him asking him if he wanted to order a drink, and just like that she scurried off to retrieve it.

The next hour was a little chaotic as everyone ran about setting up the last of the equipment and doing sound tests. Kira was in the back giving Tohru his usual pep talk and reassuring shoulder rub as she took in deep breaths

"What if I mess up again, I haven't been around this place in a month, its always once a month..."

"Tohru its okay, you're going to just fine, you went through a lot of problems last month, according to your letters, and still you're dedicated enough to show up here for us." He leaned over her shoulder and smiled at her "You never once worry about yourself"

"Well I can't break a tradition can I?" Tohru said laughing as she closed her eyes enjoying his shoulder rub "Gees you're too good at this, are you sure you're a singer and not a therapist?"

"No I'm sure I'm a singer," Kira laughed again. "Ready to go Princess?" Kira asked releasing her shoulders

"As ready as I'm ever going to be I guess," Tohru rose from her spot. They all walked on stage and took their positions, the lights out on the band, but on Ginta who was beginning the introductions. He took his time, from the corner of his eye watching as Tohru flexed her fingers while she took in her deep breaths again and again. She hadn't seen Yuki enter the bar, who took a seat next to Haru. Haru simply rose an eyebrow, but said nothing and waited for Ginta to cut the crap and get to the singing.

".....And now what you all been waiting for Clarity's holiday spectacular!" Ginta moved aside and left the mike for Tohru. The lights flashed on; Kira and Tohru took the two front mikes.

"Welcome one and all to our second year tradition Holiday Bash. Remember first drink tonight's on the house, but I don't want to see you all too drunk, that's for new years buddies!" The audience laughed at Kira's joke.

"Welcome all and sit back and enjoy our show!" Tohru piped it with the jingling of the bell atop her red santa hat and all the boys hooted at her adorable outfit. With the clicking of Yue's drumsticks the group started off with an old traditional (no offense to any non Christmas folk) Tohru began her song, just swinging the cord of the microphone as she swayed side to side.

"Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun.

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air.

What a bright time, it's the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go gliding in a one-horse sleigh
Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jingling feet That's the jingle bell,
That's the jingle bell,
That's the jingle bell rock."

Tohru took her little curtsey and Kira stepped up beside her as the two shared one mike and began their second song. Tohru would constantly play with the cord to a point where they both pretended to get stuck and wrapped together as they danced in place, his arms wrapped around her waist.

"Just hear those sleigh bells jingling
Ring ting tingling too.
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you.
Outside the snow is falling
And friends are calling "Yoo hoo."
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you.

Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up,
Let's go, Let's look at the show,
We're riding in a wonderland of snow.
Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up,
It's grand, Just holding your hand,
We're gliding along with a song
Of a wintry fairy land.

Our cheeks are nice and rosy
And comfy cozy are we
We're snuggled up together
Like two birds of a feather would be
Let's take that road before us
And sing a chorus or two
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you.

There's a birthday party
At the home of Farmer Gray
It'll be the perfect ending a perfect day
We'll be singing the songs
We love to sing without a single stop,
At the fireplace while we watch
The chestnuts pop.

Pop! pop! pop!

There's a happy feeling
Nothing in the world can buy,
When they pass around the chocolate And the pumpkin pie
It'll nearly be like a picture print
By Currier and Ives
These wonderful things are the things
We remember all through our lives!

Just hear those sleigh bells jingling,
Ring ting tingling too
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you,
Outside the snow is falling
And friends are calling "Yoo hoo,"

Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you.
Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up,
Let's go, Let's look at the show,
We're riding in a wonderland of snow.

Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up,
It's grand, Just holding your hand,
We're gliding along with a song
Of a wintry fairy land.

Our cheeks are nice and rosy
And comfy cozy are we
We're snuggled up together
Like two birds of a feather would be
Let's take that road before us
And sing a chorus or two
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you."

"I'm sure you're all on your third round of drinks, you drinkers you, tsk tsk" Kira and Tohru joked. "Lets keep it going, and we hope you've enjoyed it so far! Here's one more, and if you're all so bored afterwards you can all sing Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph!"

Tohru took the center mike again and smiled

"I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus
Underneath the mistletoe last night.
She didn't see me creep
Down the stairs to have a peep;
She thought that I was tucked up in my bedroom fast asleep.
Then, I saw Mommy tickle Santa Claus
Underneath his beard so snowy white;
Oh, what a laugh it would have been
If Daddy had only seen Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night."

The audience roared with applause as Tohru held out the last few notes and they all jumped to their feet. They loved the Christmas Jam more than any other time in the whole world. Many of the fans held their beers and wines up high, and the dainty ladies sat at on their bar stools even they appreciating it. But as Tohru finished off the her final note Kira came over to her and pointed up at the mistletoe kissing her and holding it as the audience roared even more. Haru watched with somewhat envy Yuki in fury. Yuki wanted to run up to the stage and rip them apart, but he stopped as he heard the most peculiar sound, he looked beside him, and found, Haru clapping. Haru continued to clap and looked to Yuki

"He loves her, and he ain't afraid to hide it"