Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket
Chapter 39
Tohru was so ecstatic to be working with a familiar face at the ice cream parlor. She had received the phone call around nine in the morning and she practically screamed into the phone with joy. Most of the Sohmas could only laugh at her joy, but Yuki in the background sighed.
She bounced around the house waiting until noon, where she would go to work for the first time, than later at night, would be new years eve, the perfect way to end a long bumpy year. Tohru turned a corner to find Momiji waiting
"Oh, Momiji, is something wrong?" Tohru asked looking down at him with a smile
"No Tohru of course not! I'm just not going to have as much time to play with you!" He pouted somewhat sadly
"You silly, you can come to the parlor and see me anytime you like, and, there's ice cream there!" Tohru smiled again rubbing his hair
"Really?" He asked hopefully
"Anytime you want Momiji, I promise!" Tohru smiled, and then looked down at her watch "Wow look at the time, I got to cook you all an early lunch before I leave for work" Tohru ran into the kitchen and started up a stew for them while Kyo and Yuki sat in the living room
Momiji sat down next to Kyo, just to annoy him and Momiji smiled "I'm glad Tohru can be happy with Kira at her job'
"Yeah, I think this might help her keep her mind off of the past. She won't be so eager to go to Akito's now," Kyo replied blandly "Plus, she'll have the money, and she won't have to worry as much"
"But that Kira kid's just going to steal her away from us!" Yuki told them angrily
"Someone's a little jealous..." Kyo noted with a smirk
"Shut up, you can't honestly tell me you aren't worried either!" Yuki shot him a glance
"Oooh someone is very touchy!" Kyo smirked again
Yuki blushed and rubbed his head "Shut up, at least I don't purr when I get petted!' Yuki shot out
"Hey, that is a natural Cat instinct!" Kyo growled at him standing up
"But you only purr for Miss Honda isn't that right?" Yuki told him standing up
"She's the only one who CAN since she's the only one besides us who KNOWS!" Kyo replied defensively, blush forming on his face. Momiji was on the couch, eating popcorn laughing.
"Oh Sure blame the curse on all this!" Yuki shouted
"Hey at least I'm not the one who purposely runs into her just so you can change and be with closer to her!" Kyo shot back, there was static between their eyes
"STUPID CAT!"
"STUPID RAT!"
They both growled and then Tohru popped her head in "Lunch's ready!" Tohru looked at them with a water drop, seeing them yelling. It had been a long while since they'd fought. Momiji left them to feud while Tohru spooned him some soup
"Those two will never grow up Tohru," Momiji sighed taking a sip of his soup
"That's okay, I don't want them too. I like everyone the way they are. This craziness is fun. I just wish they wouldn't fight as much." Tohru sighed resting the tray in front of her apron.
"Don't worry Tohru, they only fight about you," Momiji whispered under his breath, but it wasn't something Tohru heard. Tohru ran past the still feuding Ky and Yuki to go get into some better work clothes and then grabbed her bag by the door putting on her shoes
"Momiji, tell Shigure I'll be back at 5. You can visit me tomorrow, but today I have to learn. I'll see you all later" Tohru waved and was out the door before Yuki and Kyo even realized to look up.
Tohru skidded down the street trying to make it into the store on time. She slipped in just as the clock struck noon and she smiled with a wave. "Sorry I'm a little late, I wanted to get here earlier but I had to make lunch for my family" Tohru bowed as she stood in front of the counter. Kira turned around handing a cone for a little boy next to her and laughed
"You aren't late, you're right on time," Kira smiled waving and threw her uniform at her "Just throw that on over your clothes and I'll give you the grand tour while someone covers out front of me."
Tohru strapped on the apron and the little cute hat that went with it and walked behind the gate feeling somewhat important. Kira first took her into the back, and gave her the key so she could come in the back entrance. He hung her jacket on the rail with his and stood back with his arms open. "Tada, here beings the tour Tohru"
"Okay!" Tohru raised an arm in joy and he linked their arms and started walking
"Well, this room, on the left is the freezer. Please for goodness sake don't get locked in here. This is where most of our storage is kept. The bottom shelves are dedicated to the individual flavors as you go up, you start to get to ice cream pops, bars, those sorts of things. They're all labeled, and we even a ladder around here somewhere I think for short people like you," Kira grinned as Tohru nudged him in the side. She was shivering in the cold and Kira laughed at her again pulling her closer.
"I won't get locked in, and I'm not that short thank you very much." Tohru protested
Kira led her over to the next room "Alright, this room is other storage. In here is where the extra cones, sprinkles, candy toppings. Oh yeah, and in this small fridge is all those whip creams, caramel toppings, chocolate syrup toppings. You get the basic idea?"
"Yes, I understand" Tohru told him obediently.
"Then lets get you out front and serving some of those customers!"
Kira led her out front, where the manager had been covering. She gave a gentle smile and went back to work on other things. Tohru stood in front of the counter waiting patiently, and Kira leaned against the back counter smiling. About ten minutes into waiting a little boy and girl walked in together smiling. "Hey there, how can I help you?" Tohru bent over and smiled.
"Me and my sister want to share an ice cream!" the little boy exclaimed happily "We saved it all by ourselves."
"How good of you! Okay what flavor do you and your sister want to share?" Tohru asked walking over to the glass where the flavors could be displayed.
The little sister was whispering into the boys ear and the boy was whispering back. Tohru had never seen anything so adorable. She pressed her face against the glass waiting and made some faces. Kira was watching her from behind, raising an eyebrow. But when the siblings saw they started giggling and smiling, pointing and laughing while Tohru pretended to be a penguin.
"Me and my sister want whatever you like!" They shrieked laughing
"What I like? Oh, lets see," Tohru looked at all the flavors smiling. "Well, me and my little brother like to split a dish of chocolate and vanilla ice cream. That way, you get two flavors to taste." Tohru raised a finger smiling
"Okay!" They handed her their money and Tohru smiled
"You guys have just enough for a topping, do you guys want one?" Tohru smiled gently
"Can we have rainbow sprinkles?" The little boy asked
"Oh course you can!" Tohru smiled. They smiled too and Tohru went over to the counter. Kira was going to help her along but stopped watching her. She grabbed a medium sized dish and scooped the ice cream into the air and caught it. Making the kids laugh and applaud. She walked over to the sprinkles and spread them on. She put in two spoons and bent over the counter handing them the dish
"Thanks lady!"
"Thank-you" The little girl whispered.
Tohru rubbed both their heads and pointed them to a fun booth that they'd like.
"Wow, I'm surprised. I didn't think you would be so good at this" Kira told her with a smirk
"What, did you think I was all voice and nothing else?" Tohru puffed
"No. I guess you get it from living with all those guys at that place," Kira shrugged
"You mean the Sohmas. I guess I do get a lot of practice cooking and cleaning there, after all that is the reason I originally was allowed to stay there"
"I still think its weird you live with five guys. That must be hard"
"No, not really. We learn to work it out in the end,"
Tohru spent the rest of her shift serving up dishes of ice cream like a real pro. It was an average day, people coming and going, cones to dishes and everything else. Tohru was always smiling and everyone would comment on the way out what a perky girl they had hired. At five thirty Tohru punched out with Kira and they both parted their separate ways. Tohru walked in the door with a sigh and smiled looking around. It seemed like the boys were getting ready for the New Years Celebration they had at Sohma Home she'd been told about.
"Hey guys, I'm home!" Tohru slipped off her shoes and apron putting on her soft slippers
"Hey Tohru," Haru peaked his head around the corner carrying a box, "Momiji will be looking for you."
"Do you need help with that?" She asked sweetly seeing he had four boxes stacked up.
"Sure I guess."
Tohru took two of the boxes and they walked down the hallway outside with them. "So what are these for Haru?" Tohru asked looking down at them. Haru didn't answer and Tohru squirmed "Oh I'm sorry, that was a really rude thing to ask entering in on your privacy I'm sorry!"
"Heh, Tohru its okay. These are just the last of my things from Sohma Home. There's no going back now, that's all."
"Oh..."
"I guess, I was never really sure if I wanted to stay here or not. Whether I'd miss Kisa and Hiro so much. And I do, I do miss them, but I've grown, to love this place too," He looked down at her with a soft smile "I think I have you to thank for that. I like being somewhat like a big brother, just like I am with Kisa, it gives me someone to, protect." he looked back ahead of him and Tohru looked at the floor with a smile blushing.
"Well, at least you get to see her tonight right? " Tohru asked
"Yup. Everyone's finally together again,"
"I hope you guys all have fun," Tohru smiled.
Haru looked at the floor feeling guilty. Even if Akito had changed, he hadn't changed a lot. According to Hatori he had gone back to being a royal jackass, he just didn't seem as evil. He still locked himself up in his room, he just didn't hit. It was like, the danger and violence was gone, just leaving an angry dying man. Haru really didn't want to leave Tohru here all alone, but he also really didn't want to get on Akito's bad side.
"We will...we will" He told her.
The hours sped on faster then anyone imagined, and at eight o'clock the Sohmas were dressed and ready to go. Tohru leaned against the doorframe smiling and waving watching them disappear.
"We'll be home late Tohru, so keep the door locked," Shigure told her as he walked backwards to wave.
"Don't worry Shigure. I'll be fine!" She waved with a yawn "I don't even know if I'll make it to new years! Have fun and tell me about it when you get back!"
The Sohma boys turned the corner with a sigh "I feel like we ditched her on the side of the road or something," Kyo grumbled under his breath.
"Don't feel bad Kyo, Tohru wanted us to go," Momiji noted quietly
"Still...I cannot help but feel..." Yuki started
"...like we left something behind..." Haru looked back behind his shoulder.
Tohru waited until the boys were gone and out of sight. She stepped back and closed the door locking it tight. She locked all the doors actually, knowing Shigure would be startled if she hadn't. She made herself a lite dinner enjoying it as she watched Charlie Brown reruns. (Absolute favorite show) The hours rolled on until eleven, when Tohru went outside and disappeared.
Sohma Home
"Shigureeee Kyo hit me!" Momiji cried
"That stupid pest won't stop popping those streamers behind me" Kyo growled
"Now now you two, you can't be so irritable right before the new year" Shigure waved his hand
Haru and Yuki were both sitting down on the porch looking up at the stars with their cups in their hands. The banquet wouldn't begin for a while but they both sighed. Kisa was in Haru's lap and Hiro was wedged between them
"Dear god why are you both so miserable sighing, its like you two lost a million dollars on a lousy bet or something," Hiro growled watching them
"Oh Hiro, they miss Sissy," Kisa told him gently, taking his hand and looking up at the stars "I wonder what she's doing right now,"
"Whatever it is...I wish we were all there with her..." Haru told Kisa gently
"It just...doesn't feel right not to be anymore..." Yuki noted.
Kyo watched the four of them look at the stars, and he took snuck a glance and sighed.
Tohru had scurried onto the roof with a lamp and looked around. She shuffled over to the chimney and left the lamp shining. She turned up the dial and smiled. It was like Tohru had her own star shining right beside her and she turned her head to look up at the moon. A smile fell across her face and the moon's gentle rays picked it up. Tohru sat, watching the stars and moon.
"I hope the other's can see the light from Akito's place." Tohru scanned the horizon, and on the far edge of town she could just make out the Sohma Home. She hugged her knees
Haru?" Kisa tugged on his shirt while looking out a window
"Yeah Kisa?" Haru asked looking down at her away from the conversation he was having with Yuki.
"Can stars be on the earth?" Kisa asked gently
"You mean like celebrities?" Haru asked confused. He had no idea what Kisa was getting at.
"No look Haru, look out there!" Kisa told him, her eyes just barely could see over the ledge of the window. Haru picked her up and sat her on the frame.
"Now what are you talking about?" Haru asked again
"Look there," Kisa pointed out at the horizon towards their house, and there it was, a star shining in the distance "Isn't that your house?"
Haru's face softened and rubbed her head. "Yeah. Yeah it is"
"Why is there a light on your house turned on so brightly?" Kisa asked as he rubbed her hair.
"It's not a light Kisa, it's a star."
"What are you two looking at?" Hiro asked walking over to them.
"Look Hiro, there's a star on Haru's house!"
"What?" Hiro asked hopping up onto the ledge too. His eyes scanned the horizon and finally he found it. A large light blasting out and piercing the darkness "Well...that's new"
"It's the New Years star, it falls from the sky onto the house with the most love inside of it" Haru told them
"And it fell on your house? I think it missed" Hiro laughed
"No, it didn't..." Yuki started walking up behind them
"...it hit the place where she's waiting..." Kyo added
"The home where that girl stays, the one who can love everyone, the one, where Tohru's waiting" Kyo and Yuki finished together.
"Haru... I know Sissy can't come here yet," Kisa started "But shouldn't you be with her? Isn't she your family too?" Kisa questioned
Everyone looked away "Kisa, there are things that aren't right in the world. Tohru is part of our family, more than anyone knows, but to Akito, she isn't a Sohma. She doesn't have the blood, and she's just an average girl."
"But...why does blood have to do with anything?" Kisa asked "Sissy is just that, Sissy, aren't we all made of blood anyway?"
"That's what we think Kisa, but everyone thinks differently," Haru sighed "I wish he could see her the way we do," He grabbed Kisa and put her down on the ground. "Why don't you go and play with Hiro and find Momiji. The banquet will be starting soon," Haru looked at the clock, a half an hour to midnight.
"Should we go to her?" Yuki asked quietly
"I don't know. I want to, we all do. But Akito.." Haru looked away
"After all she did to help us, and protect us from Akito. After all that she sacrificed, do you think its right just to make him angry again and destroy all she worked for?" Kyo told them.
"Kyo. You can't come to the banquet, you should go to her," Haru told him gently
"What?" Kyo looked at him.
"Do you think, its right to leave her there all alone? When people are alone, they reflect on the past. They start thinking about those times, and you know what she'll think of,"
"Her mom..." Yuki finished looking back out the window.
"What should we do?" Yuki asked quietly
Kyo picked up his jacket "I guess I have no choice then...I'm going. Do you want me to say anything for you guys?" He asked as he threw on the coat.
"Just tell her. We're sorry and Happy New Years," Haru told him. With that Kyo nodded and was out the door.
Tohru wrapped a blanket around her legs as she watched the sky grow brighter with each new coming star. She looked down at her watch, 12:41, it was almost here. She laid back against the roof with her hands behind her head. She felt like Kyo and she laughed lightly.
Tohru's ears picked up the sound of someone giggling at the door handle downstairs. She didn't know who'd be at the door. It wasn't the Sohmas they were all out. Could it be a burglar? Tohru sat up on the roof and listened again.
"Damn door, the one time she decides to listen and lock it!" Someone grumbled shaking the door. Tohru listened to his footsteps go around the house to the backdoor and try the same thing "What's with this! She finally listened!"
Tohru listened to the footsteps coming back to the side of the house, and someone's hands clamp onto the metal ladder. Tohru squeaked and squirmed up against the chimney and lamp. She turned the lamp off and hid herself against the chimney hoping she'd blend in.
"Hey Yuki, look the light went out," Haru pointed to the light by the house as it had vanished from view.
"How strange. Should we be worried?"" Yuki asked leaning against the window. "It's nearly midnight," Yuki pointed to the clock 12:46
"Wait look!" Haru pointed again, and the light relit itself slowly, the glow a little brighter than last time.
"Guess it was nothing," Yuki shrugged
"Tohru? Tohru are you up here?" Someone called as their feet clanked against the rungs of the ladder as their voice came closer
"Who's there?" Tohru whispered curling up more her words not able to be heard
"Tohru?" Someone's figure had made it to the top of the ladder. The figure walked over to her and Tohru hid her head. He bent down on a knee and his hand touched the top of her head "Hey, its just me"
Tohru looked up, opening up her eyes to see Kyo, "Oh its only you Kyo, you scared me. I thought you were a burglar. How come you don't have a key to the house?" She asked confused
"I sort of left mine inside. But, what are you doing out here?" He asked her gently, his face cast in shadows from the moonlit sky, only his eyes glowed lightly
"Well..." Tohru sat up and turned so see the sky again "Every year I make a wish on the coming sunrise, its just a tradition. It's also said if you see a falling star on New Year's Eve, you'll have that same wish granted"
Kyo sat down beside her resting his hands by his sides for support "Is that so..." Kyo looked over The lamp that wasn't on "What was that lamp for?"
"So I could see silly..." She told him lightly laughing. Her watch started to beep "Looks like we have a minute until midnight," Tohru looked at Kyo and then up to the sky "Do you know what you'll wish for?"
"I have an idea" Kyo smiled watching the sky.
Tohru yawned and then looked down at her watch "Thirty..."
"Haru! Haru its almost time what are you going to wish for?" Kisa asked pulling on his shirt.
"I'm going to wish that Tohru becomes part of this family forever. What about you?"
"I hope this family stays happy. I want Sissy to be happy!" She smiled
"I just hope that girl gets some common sense" Hiro sighed with his arm around Kisa
"I hope Miss Honda is never sad again" Yuki sighed holding up a cup in cheers
"Look Hatori, less than a minute until a new year. I pray that we all make better choices this year, don't you agree my friend?" Shigure looked over to Hatori.
"I agree. Let us all learn from the mistakes of this, and learn to make better memories"
"Hey Shigure, do you think Tohru will be awake when we get back?" Momiji pulled on Shigure's sleeve
"I'm not sure Momiji, but I'm sure we can wake her up for the occasion, she'd want that"
"YAY!" Momiji danced around Shigure and rejoiced
Akito at the moment was leaning against a wall in the back of the party room. His eyes were the only visible feature that the shadows had not completely engulfed. The rest of the Sohmas had seemed extra perky this year, and not nearly as hostile. He wasn't that hostile, he could only feel his fatigue growing more and more. Constantly in every conversation, Akito heard more and more of Tohru.He covered his mouth to cough, and after took another sip of his drink. What would he wish for this year...probably the same every year... his own death. 15
"Did you see that?" Tohru asked standing up shouting with joy.
"No, what did I miss?" Kyo asked opening his eyes back up
"Honestly Ky you really missed that shooting star? Must have the worst timing ever!" Tohru sighed still staring at the sky
"I'm sorry Tohru," He rubbed his head and stood up beside her "I swear I only closed my eyes for like a second to blink and it came and went"
"Well, at least my wish gets granted," She grinned at him
"Hey that was a little mean don't ya think?" Kyo asked her raising an eyebrow
"I'm sure your's will be granted too," She sat down beside him again
"Look!" Kyo grabbed her hand with his and his free hand pointed up at the sky "Did you see it?"he looked at her with a small smile. It was a more laid back smile, one most people didn't get to see.
Tohru nodded and smiled, not even noticing the fact that Kyo still held her hand. She just shook her head a yes again and smiled 'Happy New Years Kyo..." 0
I want them to be happy. I want...him to be happy.