Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket
Chapter 32
Kyo kept watch over Tohru all night as the two of them went along with their innocent dreaming, unknown to Tohru all the time he stroked her cheek and had a gentle smile on his face. Though he slept through the night he'd wake up every once in a while, by nature, to check on Tohru. She didn't move much when she slept, that he noticed, she was just sleeping like a baby and it was easier for him, he wouldn't have to worry about the curse.
Tohru opened her eyes sleepily and gave them time to turn the blurry visions that she saw form themselves into solid things. She was still in her Christmas dress, that much she remembered because her legs were immensely cold even under the shelter of the blanket. She rose from the couch and stretched her arms across her chest. Even though it was winter break, and on top of that a Friday, Tohru saw the clock still read six in the morning, right on time.
She crept to the bathroom and took a nice hot shower putting on some comfier clothes, hip hugger jeans and a simple green shirt that had three buttons up at the top that could be undone for cleavage, but Tohru never opened more than one. She tied her hair up in a ponytail and then wandered into the kitchen. She rummaged through a cookbook, wondering what they'd all like to eat.
Traditionally most people either had a ham or a sort of bird (In America at least ) and she decided a nice honey roasted ham would be a very good idea. She decided a list would be the best way to go when it came to her supplies and she pulled out a paper and pen. Honey baked ham, or was that too traditional, would they rather a normal Japanese meal? Tohru had her traditions, but the Sohmas might of had their own. "I'll do both then!" Tohru said aloud, writing down everything for TWO meals. She left a note on the kitchen counter with some rice and curry for them to eat. She grabbed her purse and ran out the door pulling her coat from the rack just before she shut the door.
The winter air was stale and cold and as she let out each breath it left a steamy cloud that disappeared almost instantly. Tohru smiled, she really was hoping for a white Christmas, something magical like in a childhood story book. She skipped down the street and men who walked by tipped their hats and waved and women too waved with smiles, everyone was feeling the Christmas cheer. She walked into the food store and grabbed a wagon that was nearly as tall as her, she felt so short, and almost out of place as busy moms made their last stops within the store picking up food. It took her almost an entire hour finding all the specifics for her food, and unfortunately, she didn't have enough arm strength. A kind college aged boy from behind the counter said he'd carry them home with her and when they were done she thanked him heartedly even tried to pay him, but he told her "All in the Christmas Spirit, take care"
((Since I know nothing about cooking we're going to say Tohru spent the next few hours baking)) The foods now only needed to be cooked, so she put them in the spare refrigerator. She smiled feeling rather accomplished, looking to the clock that read a little past noon.
"Well, that was fun," her gently voice sang out as she began cleaning up the pots and pans. Haru walked into the kitchen stretching looking around for lunch "Oh hey Haru!" she smiled looking up from the dishes
"Hey Tohru, where were you all morning?" He asked after he took a dish from the sink and started rinsing it off, standing on Tohru's right with the dish towel in his hand.
"I left a note, I went out to buy all the Christmas food for tomorrow, its all set, just needs to be cooked tomorrow," She smiled handing her dish for Haru to rinse off.
"Gees you're like a one woman army, don't you ever need help?" He asked nudging her laughing
"I like cooking I only do it every single day for every meal in this house!" She told him smiling triumphantly "What's an extra special meal to any other? Besides, you're all going to the Sohma New Years Eve party, so I wanted our Christmas together to be extra special!"
"You treat us like royalty, I'm surprised we're not all fat from all the food you give us!"
Both of them laughed and talked together finishing up the enormous mound of dishes, pots, pans, and utensils Tohru had to use to make all the food. By the time they were done Tohru's hands were like dried raisins.
"So Haru, where is everyone?" Tohru asked finally hanging up the dish towel
"Well, I know Momiji is up in his room wrapping his gifts, Kyo's with him helping. Shigure's in the office writing like always, I'm right here, and Yuki...uhhh I think Yuki is out somewhere, he kind of slipped out when none of us were looking,"
"Alright, then that gives me time to wrap my gifts without anyway walking in on me and catching a glimpse!" Tohru smiled clasping her hands together
"OH Tohru, I wanted to tell you, you did a great job last night, you always look so happy when you're up there," Haru smiled "You shine in a way you don't normally do when you're up on the stage."
"Awww thanks Haru!" She smiled "Haru....can I hug you?" She asked him gently. Haru instantly blushed, with almost a confused expression "For a long time...you were really distant, and I just...."
"Go ahead Tohru...I don't mind" He told her. Tohru practically knocked him over as she jumped into his arms and hugged him becoming lost in the cloud of smoke, and Haru standing on all fours. Tohru wrapped her arm around his neck and she smiled stroking his fur
"You've changed Haru, the Dark inside of you is completely gone, and you don't have to be afraid anymore. You've always watched out for me, thank-you, for not scaring me"
"No, Thank-you Tohru, it was you, who allowed the darkness inside of me and let the good in me come out. You were afraid, but you didn't run away, even with the curse, Dark Haru, and my cold personality, you stayed. Thanks," Haru told her.
Tohru told Haru she wanted to go out for a walk and left Haru a few minutes before he turned back into his normal self. She seemed to be coming and going all day, she liked this business and she was counting down the hours to Christmas day. Tohru walked the back paths of the Sohma property looking around for Yuki. She wandered to his garden, and there he was, sitting beneath a tree looking at the cold and frozen ground, nothing grew in the winter.
"Yuki?"
Yuki looked up from his trance, rather surprised to see Tohru standing before him in her long black jacket "Oh, Miss Honda, what are, what are you doing out here?"
"Well, I was going to go visit Kisa and Hiro and I went down the back trails, I was talking to everyone in the house and I hadn't seen you all day," she smiled sitting down beside him "I figured you'd be here."
"Well, I just had some thinking to do that's all..." Yuki told her quietly, still enraged and disappointed about the mistletoe kiss. How was he supposed to tell her? He hugged at his knees and looked down at his garden.
"Its sad though...."
"What's sad?" Yuki asked quietly
"You...you seem so sad now that its winter time. Is it because nothing is growing?"
"There are things growing..." he started quietly "Many weeds that are getting in the way of me and my beautiful blossom" he told her. Tohru was completely confused, she had no idea that he was talking about Kira and herself.
"Don't worry Yuki, spring will be here soon enough you know, the seasons are always changing," Tohru looked up at the sky "I do hope it snows though, so it can be winter a little while longer,"
Yuki was so angry, she didn't understand any of it, she could be so dense sometimes. He looked to her with hurt eyes, but , they softened seeing her innocence. She was too beautiful to stay mad at, too gentle as well.
"Miss Honda....I...I uh...." Yuki started but Tohru interrupted him
"Why do you still call me Miss Honda? I'm Tohru remember?" She told him lightly looking back at the sky "I feel like a stranger to you when you use such a formal name, you still call Uo Uo and Hana Hana, so why am I, never Tohru?" She asked him looking directly into his lavender eyes.
Yuki bit his lip "I'm not really sure, I don't want you to be a stranger Mi...Tohru, I never considered you that at all, its quite the opposite! You're the only person that matters to me, as long as you understand me than I can keep on living! I'm just...worried"
"What could you possibly be worried about Yuki, its Christmas Eve!" Tohru told him happily "This is the time of year where your worries should melt away like the snow, and you should smile like everyone else!" She shook his arm trying to get him to understand "I want you to be happy, don't ruin your own holiday!"
Yuki smiled and let out a sigh, she only wanted him to be happy and smiled "See, I can smile too."
"You aren't just smiling because I mentioned it are you?" She asked him questioning him
"No, not at all, I'm smiling because I'm with you, no one can be sad when you're always so happy"
"Are you going to be okay now?"
"Was I ever sick to begin with?"
"No, I was just, worried. In your eyes, you seemed so far away...."
"I'm right here, I always will be" He told her resting his hand atop one of hers.
"I'm glad Yuki, it would be lonely without one of the Sohmas," She smiled and then rose from her spot "I better get going before it gets late"
"Where are you going Tohru?" Yuki asked as he stood up next to her, watching her dust herself off
"I want to go see Kisa and the others at Sohma Estate. I know we're seeing them tomorrow but I felt like I should go check up on them, I haven't seen them since....well you know..." She shifted from foot to foot looking at the ground
Yuki frowned slightly, knowing that it still brought Tohru horrible nightmares and screams from time to time. "Would you mind if I went with you?" Yuki wanted to apologize to her, even though it seemed that she had forgotten
"Sure Yuki," Tohru started off down the pack and Yuki walked beside her "I'm surprised you'd want to go, I know you aren't fond of Akito, you especially I mean"
"Well, that's why I'm not letting you go there alone, I don't trust Akito alone with you, even if the other's are there," Yuki told her sternly "He's a horrible man..."
Tohru closed her eyes and kept walking "In a world of black and white we wander the misty grays..."
"What does that mean?" Yuki asked curiously still a hint of anger in his voice
"Well...think about it; for some people the world is in black and white, what not to do, what to do things like that. For others, like myself, things are often times unclear, whether I'm a good person or a bad person, smart or stupid, I think I'm the gray, a lot of people are. We spend our lives walking around the misty gray trying to figure things out, and that' what I think Akito is too"
Yuki looked at Tohru "Why do you defend him! Why are you always defending him! He tried to kill you!" he was trying to stay calm and Tohru opened her mouth
"I'm...not sure really Yuki..." she stuttered quietly " I feel sorry for him, burdening the peak of the curse and not knowing what to do, having no one to rely on. Its scary being alone Yuki, you of all people should know that...:"
"But Tohru...." Yuki protested, but he remembered how he had sent her running when he yelled at her about her friends and he sighed "I'm sorry,..."
"What are you sorry for?" Tohru looked ahead of herself, she wanted to hear every apology, not just one big one
"I'm sorry for yelling at you about your friends, you're right, I don't know them, and I didn't even make an effort to even begin to know them. At least Haru went with you to introduce himself, but I was just too prideful and angry. I should have trusted your judgement, and I'm sorry, for not being as open minded"
"Its okay Yuki." She stopped walking "I've said before, no one sees the world exactly like another person, its okay if you don't always see things the way I do" She started walking again "Lets go, I want to get there before three!" it was already two thirty
Much to Tohru's delight they arrived at three. She rang the intercom button, the place was so big it was a signal that someone was here, since the main building was so far away. Hiro was the first one to open the door and when he saw Tohru he said miserably
"Oh great, the air head is here" he waved her away
"I'm here too you know" Yuki told him gently rubbing Hiro's head
"Great the Rat came too!"
"Hiro be nice please," A soft Kisa begged him holding onto his hand popping her head over her shoulder, she saw Tohru and left Hiro to jump into her arms "SISSY!" Tohru fell back onto the pavement and laughed
"Hey there Kisa, nice to see you too" Tohru hugged her back as Yuki hesitated to pry Kisa away
"Be gentle Kisa, she just got her sling off a few days ago" Yuki told her gently
"Its okay Yuki I'm fine" Tohru laughed sitting up as Kisa jumped onto her shoulders, Tohru stood up slowly and walked into the estate looking down at Hiro
"How are you doing Hiro, I've missed you not being there when I wake up in the morning"
"He's missed you too Sissy but he won't say it out loud" Kisa told her gently
"I did not!" Hiro's cheeks were flushed with red
Everyone laughed and Tohru continued with the questions
"How's Hatori doing then?" Tohru asked
"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Hiro pointed ahead and there stood a very surprised Hatori
"Miss Honda, what a surprise!"
"Hey Hatori!" TOhru smiled waving one hand, her other was still holding onto Kisa's leg "How are you Hatori?"
"I'm doing quite well, and the master has been doing well thanks to you. I see your wounds are nearly gone, and the sling is off too"
"I told you there was nothing to worry about," Tohru told him smiling
Hatori nodded slowly with a great relief on his face and he turned to Yuki and bowed his head "Hello Yuki, I see you've been watching over Tohru"
"Indeed Hatori, I couldn't live with another injury, she's had enough"
Tohru put Kisa down and rubbed her head looking to Hatori. "Uhh, pardon my interruption, but can I ask where Akito is? I'd like to talk with him if that's alright"
Hatori frowned like he always did, a worry in his eyes, but Tohru's pleading eyes overwhelmed him and he pointed north to the grand hall "He's in his study reading, I think he'd be happy to have a chat with you. Yuki and I will watch over Hiro and Kisa," Hatori looked at Yuki who was about to protest but was silence by Hatori's idea, Hatori was always one step ahead
Tohru thanked Hatori and ran to the study and knocked on the door, she waited to the sound of a book closing and then his voice "Enter," Tohru turned the nob to the door and opened it quietly. Akito was sitting in a large chair looking out a grand window, the light pouring through it. "What is it Hatori?" Akito asked, he had no idea it was Tohru.
Tohru walked over so she stood beside him "Hello Akito,"
Akito's hand on the armrest tightened its grip and he turned his head to look straight at Tohru. Akito looked better, his eyes weren't as dark and endless, they were softer, but tired too. His skin wasn't nearly as pale, but his body told the story that he had been through a lot. "Tohru..." Akito was rather surprised to see her here
"Hey...I wanted to see how you were doing. I can see already you look much better than before, I guess Hatori and the others have really been taking care of you. How are you, in general Akito sir?"
Akito could feel a small smile curve on the sides of his lips, "It's true, I am doing a lot better. I am happy to see you are doing fine too Tohru. Tohru I wanted to say....thank you." Akito stood up, stood in front of her, and took her hands, "You've shown down upon me a whole new view of the world,"
Tohru shook her head "I only opened your eyes Akito. Sometimes the sadness and hurt inside of its blinds us from the beauty of the world, its easy to see the bad, it takes a stronger person to see the good, you don't have to thank me, you were strong all along,"
Akito smiled and stroked her cheek lightly "What are you doing here on Christmas eve, shouldn't you be at home with the other Sohmas?"
"I was worried about you. I didn't mean for you to get so sick while I was here, I should have tried to take better care of you and...." Tohru was silence as Akito's finger pressed itself against her lips
"Tohru, you don't have to worry about me. You've healed me in ways I don't think any doctor could have. You truly are amazing, and I thank-you."
Tohru was going to tell him again not to thank her, but instead she only wrapped her arms around him and Akito, startled, slowly wrapped his arms around her too. "You've given me a gift that no amount of money or length of life can replace,"
"Merry Christmas Akito," Tohru whispered gently. Even if it was an early gift, it was one that would change the Sohmas's lives forever, for better, or for worse.