Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket! Happy New Years Eve! AND OMFG 200 reviews! I love you fans I love you so so so much! throws confetti
Chapter 31
After Tohru and Kira's kiss the audience filed out of the room slowly but surely, some drunk, some buzzed, other's worn and tired. Tohru made a note to stay away from everyone, locking away the equipment in the back of their van. Yue of course came out to wrap his arms around her and kiss the top of her head
"I don't care if Shigure adopts you or not you little Squirt, you're always gonna be my special little Princess, you're practically my kid sister" Yue told her rubbing at her hair
"I know that you silly, you guys have been here long before my mom ever died, and even now we're all still here together, I couldn't ask for better friends, or better family" Tohru laughed holding onto his arms as he spun her around
"You were marvelous, another great holiday session, now we can all take some time off to spend it with our own families after tonight" Yue smiled placing her down "I haven't seen my real sister since I left for college a few months ago, I'll tell ya, you're a lot like her,"
"I'm glad you get to see your family again, everyone's a little older than me, most of you are in college, going home for the holiday's always sounds like fun" Tohru smiled "You make sure to tell them hi and wish them the best of health" Tohru told him before shoving a guitar case into the van.
"I'll make sure it's the first thing I do Tohru," Yue told her leaning over to throw his drums into the car. "Real surprise there what Kira did to you wasn't it, look on your face, priceless!" Yue was holding up his hands like he was trying to capture Tohru within the frames of his hands.
"Oh please, I was so embarrassed, I think this mistletoe thing is abusive! I mean , oh well come to think of it I did use it on my friend, but I only pecked his cheek. But Kira does it in front of an entire audience! I don't want them all to get the wrong idea about it all?" Tohru was blushing and looking away trying to hide it.
"Ya know your little boyfriend was sitting in the audience tonight" Sora told Tohru pushing his keyboard into the van
"Boyfriend, who and what are you talking about?" Tohru stuttered looking at him still embarrassed.
"Well there was one boy with white hair, and another with violet hair, violet eyes to match" Sora told her over the grunt of him locking down the keyboard and other equipment
"You mean Haru and Yuki. They aren't my boyfriends Sora I live with them!" Tohru laughed
"Well that Yuki fella did seem awfully mad when Kira kissed ya" Sora told her turning around with a wink "Bet ya he's gone off all jealous on ya" Sora chuckled "I didn't realize you had so many suitors"
"I don't Sora! The Sohmas are my family!" Tohru protested
"Sometimes things are blind to the eyes of girls, we hold pride too high don't ya know" Sora smiled cuffing her chin "I'd look a little harder the next time you see your family, sometimes things are deeper than we could ever imagine, that's where the truth is"
Tohru was quiet for a while, thinking about what Sora and Yue had said to her, but she just smiled as she hopped into the back of the van with Li and Sora. Kira sat in the passenger seat, and Yue took the wheel as usual.
"Another lovely show Tohru," Li told her rubbing her shoulder, her shoulders now draped and warm with Kira's jacket, a strapless top and skirt aren't the best attire for wintertime.
"Please you make it sound like I'm the only one up there, you guys were amazing and right behind me the entire time" Tohru rolled her eyes again "You seriously give me way too much credit," Tohru laughed
"So, what did you get us this year Tohru?" Li poked at her side and she squirmed
"I can't tell you, that's the whole surprise!" Tohru stuck out her tongue
"I hope you didn't waste all your work money on us again!" Yue told her looking at her through the rear-view mirror
"When doesn't she?" Kira told him sarcastically, but smiling
"It wasn't that much really, since I'm living with the Sohmas, I don't have to pay for a lot of the stuff I used to, just tuition. Plus, I've worked overtime almost everyday for the past two months. I'm actually thinking about switching jobs soon, something closer to the Sohma Home." Tohru told them
"Really, no more being the janitor lady?" Sora joked squeezing her knee
"I was thinking about working at this ice cream parlor, I know that sounds very un-fabulous, but they're a little more flexible with the job, and that way, I get to see kids more often. The hours work better, I won't be coming home at midnight, but I'll still work the same amount of hours" Tohru explained to them
"Then it sounds like a grand idea Tohru, you go for it, maybe keep both if you can" Sora told her
"Ice cream parlor after school, and on the weekends janitor, somewhere in there I can handle the rest of my life right?" Tohru laughed
"Just don't overwork yourself that you get sick again alright dear?" Yue told her gently
"Don't worry about me!" Tohru pounded her chest "I can handle it, I'm tough as an ox!"
The whole group cracked up at that and Li just squeezed her shoulder again "You truly are an angel that fell from the sky, I'm sure your mom would be very proud of you" Li told her gently bringing her onto his lap
"You know...this is the first holiday I'm spending without her...." Tohru said quietly "Everywhere I go...something reminds me of her....everywhere I think its her....I took the Sohmas ice skating where we used to skate, mom and me...."
"Tohru...." Li squeezed her extra tight "I know you miss her,"
"More than anyone could imagine" Tohru told him quietly wrapping her arms around his neck and looking out the back window.
Sohma Home
Yuki came storming through the front door, almost slamming it shut on Haru. Haru just walked in casually, hands in his pockets, nearly bumping into Kyo and Momiji
"How was Tohru Haru?" Momiji asked excitedly
"How did she do?" Kyo asked as Haru plopped onto the couch
"She was great, you know she really loves singing up there, I even got to meet some of the band, they're really nice guys, they treat her with a lot of respect and dignity, they're like, her second family" Haru smiled thinking about it "They were there, long before Kyoko ever died, those are real loyal friends."
"Loyal friends..." Yuki spat fuming
"What's with you Rat?" Kyo asked laughing seeing how pissed off he was
"That stupid jack-ass Kira kissed her in front of the entire audience" Yuki spat glaring
Haru only laughed "I must say it was a genius stunt, mistletoe no worries" Haru told them
Kyo could only smile "Clever move, this guy seems to have a few tricks"
"And you two are just fine with that!" Yuki shouted at them
"Rat, its just mistletoe and its one kiss, its not like he proposed to her or something, would you relax?" Haru told him
"Yeah Yuki, let Tohru have some fun with her friends" Momiji told Yuki gently
"You are all idiots, he's going to swoop her up and take her away from us" Yuki stormed off
"Jealous isn't he?" Haru asked with a broad smile on his face as Momiji nodded in agreement
"Jealous indeed..." Kyo answered gently, his mind wandering off to other things. "When's she coming home?" Kyo looked at the clock it was already 1:30 in the morning
"Three, don't worry so much, they're just exchanging gifts, Tohru said it was their tradition" Haru smiled
"You know...this is Tohru's first holiday away from her mother right?" Momiji asked gently "She probably wants to be with those friends more than anyone, especially since Uo and Hana left on their family vacations"
"I guess..." But doesn't she want to be with us too? Kyo asked himself quietly looking back out the window
Clarity
The whole group had somehow gotten through the front door and they were all sitting by the fire and the tree smiling and laughing passing around the apple cider and hot chocolate. Tohru was closest to the fire, she was rather cold, and Kira was right beside her, his head back laughing.
"So Tohru, where is this amazing gift you're talking about?" Kira asked her nudging her side eager to see it. Tohru put down her cup and laughed
"Let me go get it" She disappeared to the van and came back with a very large rectangular objec
"Eh what's that Tohru?" Yue asked rubbing the back of his head
"TADA!" Tohru pulled it away quickly, it was a very large framed something....it originally looked like the whole band, Tohru included, but on further inspection in every place she could fit it there were pictures of them performing, setting up equipment, in the van, a few even with Kyoko
"I was working on it with mom for a little while before the accident and I've added a picture for every concert we've been together afterwards." Tohru smiled, there was a brand new picture in the bottom left corner that she had grabbed from Ginta before leaving the bar, one of Kira and Tohru under the mistletoe.
"My god love its absolutely wonderful" Yue told her, his natural accent always came back when he was really excited about something. "Come here you!" Yue told her. Tohru put down the picture, leaning it against the wall and the whole group jumped onto her and hugged her as tight as possible "You're amazing Dovie!" He told her, his full accent now back
"Amazing Tohru!" Sora and Li chimed in
"You're too amazing to be human" Kira told her
Tohru just smiled. No one would know how much these people meant to her, and how even right now, she was hurting for her mom. But being around friends who felt that same mutual pain, made it less lonely, and she was with people who really cared about her, and understood her. Every last one of them kissed her cheek and smiled, proud men with happier tears in their eyes, because they knew how much it meant to Tohru when she made this, a living memory of her past with Kyoko, the two working on it until she died, and Tohru still being strong enough to finish it.
"One more surprise!" Tohru told them finally breathing and squirming enough from their grasp to get her message out
"What would that be?" Kira asked her curiously
"You know in the spring, the cherry blossom festival that my high school has every year? Well it's the biggest event all year, booths are set up and each class tries to raise money and stuff right? I got us a gig! We can perform at the school, they're paying us double the money we make at the bar an hour!"
"Are you serious? DOUBLE AN HOUR?!" Sora and Li's jaws dropped
"Yup, Ginta told them we were the best band in town, and that he wouldn't let us go and sorta tricked them into bumping up the price! Are you guys surprised?" Tohru wanted to make sure they were happy with it
"Are you kidding me Tohru! That's absolutely amazing!" Kira told her hugging her again. Yue, he just started laughing, laughing so hard until he was crying, proud man like himself, accent and all crying and laughing
"You are so brilliant my god, can you believe how much money we'll make, we'll be there all day, 5 hours at the minimum, Tohru that's almost a year's pay in one day! Do you know what we can do with that kind of money? I can actually pay off some college loans!"
"You guys deserved it. You've been here for me before I can remember, and you still kept me strong even after Kyoko died. I know she agrees with me when I say, you guys really do deserve it" Tohru told them happily adjusting her hat from her embarrassment
No one could thank Tohru enough, hugging her again and again, telling her how amazing she was, and Tohru only laughed it all off until three o clock rolled around in the morning and she yawned covering her mouth
"Ready to go then Princess?" Kira asked her rubbing her right shoulder, Tohru practically falling asleep against him
"That would be nice...I still have to get ready for the Sohmas Christmas...." Tohru stretched and yawned
"Its two days from today, you've still got time" Kira told her gently
"I still have to cook up all the food, wrap the gifts, buy a few more...." Tohru started to trail off thinking about it "I just want to sleep..." Tohru told Kira tiredly
"Let me take you home than, I'm sure your family is still waiting for you" Kira pulled her to her feet and walked her towards the door. Everyone hugged her and kissed her one more time, each one like a brother and she smiled and waved as she left. They walked out to the car and Kira opened the door for her and she slid in "You know, your gift was really something, I think you really did touch their hearts" Kira told her sliding into the driver's seat
"I thought they'd like it...and it reminded me of Kyoko, so I wouldn't forget about her. It reminded me of the, happier times" Tohru told him lazily as they turned onto the main road. The drive home was nice, it was a little warmer in the morning compared to the evening and there was a light breeze that blew Tohru's hair around lightly. By the time they rode of to the Sohma Estate it was already 3:30
"Well here's your stop Tohru" Kira told her gently shaking her
"I'm awake I'm awake, just very sleepy..." Tohru laughed hopping out of the car "I hope they didn't stay up waiting for me" Tohru looked at the few lights that were on in the house "Poor guys, they should be sleeping" Tohru turned back to Kira and hugged him gently "I had a great time, tell the band that for me again alright, I'll see you guys what, in a few weeks right for the Spring Festival?" Tohru smiled
"I still can't believe you pulled that off!" Kira told her gently stroking her cheek
"It wasn't that hard, I saw the advertisement in our main office and jumped on the chance for it. Ginta got them to double our pay, not me" Tohru laughed
"Still...you actually thought enough to even try to get us in, that still shows your dedication to the band" Kira told her
"Heheheh no big deal really!" her watch beeped "Oh boy I gotta get inside Kira, but I'll see ya soon right?"
"Of course, I'll be counting down the days. Enjoy the holidays with the Sohmas Tohru," Kira kissed her lips lightly and then turned jogging back to the car waving "See ya later Princess!" Just like that the car sped away and Tohru sighed softly and walked inside.
Tohru looked around as she stood in the doorway, no one was awake, so it seemed. She slipped off her shoes and walked into the living room. It was dark and she fumbled around, she was too tired to go upstairs, she had planned on just flopping onto the couch to sleep but she nearly died when she heard a quiet voice
"Did you have fun Tohru?"
Tohru jumped back in alarm and snapped on the light, just to see a sleepy Kyo stretching, he's eyes told her he'd been sleeping too
"Oh Kyo, I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake you up I...." She fumbled about for an excuse
"It's okay Tohru, I'm just..." He yawned and stretched "A light sleeper,"
Tohru sat down beside him on the couch and Kyo stretched the blanket around both of them.
"So how was your concert?" He asked her sleepily
"A lot of work I'll tell you that much, but it was also a lot of fun. It always is, there's such a large crowd and smiling faces." Tohru didn't mention Kira and the mistletoe, mostly because she was trying to forget about it. "The after-party was great too, they really loved the gift"
"Was that the one you showed me, the one you and your mother started on but didn't get a chance to finish?" Tohru nodded a yes to Kyo's question and he smiled "I knew they'd like it, everyone likes things that you put your heart into."
Tohru yawned again and yearned just to lean up against him to sleep but instead resting her head in his lap, her hands folded neatly underneath her head. Kyo. "They're the oldest friends I have besides Uo and Hana. Its hard to explain really; Uo and Hana are my best friends, I've known them since I was a little girl. I've known the Clarity band for about four years. I've known this family for almost a year. Each one is so different but in my mind you're all important to me in some sort of way, does that make sense Kyo?"
"Sure it does, each person you meet you have a different fond memory of, each person makes you feel "special" in their own way," Kyo found himself stroking the side of her cheek.
"You make me feel important too you know..." She told him practically asleep
"Really now?" Kyo sounded some what surprised but continued to stroke her hair still.
"I don't feel pressured when I'm around you...you don't seem to mind what I say or what I do like Yuki and the others. I dunno...I can just, relax around you. You're...not like them...that's what I like best....about you...."
"Tohru......Tohru I...." Kyo looked down at her trying to finish his sentence, but she was already asleep. He couldn't help but smile gently, then finally he leaned back against the couch and close his eyes, all the time the two of them beside the Christmas tree and underneath the tinsel light.