15

Tohru woke up at 5:00 on Sunday Morning. She was so excited that it was the day of Kisa's party she had had trouble sleeping even that long. She quickly made breakfast for everyone and then started setting up for the party. Shigure had thought it would be a better idea if the party was held outside, providing good weather, and had gotten a picnic table from the main house. It had been delivered to the front, however, instead of the back, and Tohru was determined to move it. She took down the laundry and the lines first so that the area was clear and then she put a scarf on her head and gloves on her little hands.

"Okay! I can do this!" she announced to the table as she squinted her eyes and began to pull- nothing. It didn't budge an inch but she wasn't about to let that shake her determination. She tried two more times with the same result. But the third time, when she turned her back and tried to lift her end, it suddenly got very light and moved. She dropped it and shock and turned to find a very tired Kyo holding up the other end.

"Well don't just stand there, help me!" he commanded.

"Oh umm…right!" She picked up her end again and they walked the table to the back yard. Somehow having his help and seeing him just then had been a great relief to her. "Thank you so much!"

"Ah you're welcome. I couldn't sleep." He said, eyeing Yuki's window.

"I've made some breakfast, if you're hungry." Kyo indicated that he was. "The rice is still in the rice cooker to keep it hot but everything else is on the counter in serving dishes." Kyo went back in and filled up a plate. Tohru walked to the porch and grabbed the tablecloth she had set out earlier.

"Can I be of any help to you, Miss Honda?" Yuki inquired from behind.

"Oh! Thank you, Yuki!" he helped her unfold the tablecloth and took two corners as he walked to one end of the table. Tohru did the same- it was just like when they covered up the secret base.

"I have a surprise for you," he said, holding his hands behind his back with a big grin on his face.

"Really?"

"Yes, here." He revealed his right hand which held a white basket filled with nearly perfect strawberries. "They ripened just in time by some miracle," he said. "I could hardly believe it yesterday and this morning when I got up to see if they really were ripe."

"Oh thank you so much! This is wonderful! Thank you so much!" she was completely elated. Yuki laughed at her joy.

"Wait there's more," he said, now bringing down his left hand. "I know Kisa likes stewed leeks a lot and these have been ready to pick for a few days so I thought if you wouldn't mind cooking them…" he handed her a brown basket with lots of beautiful leeks.

This was too much for Tohru. "Thank you so much Yuki! I don't know how to thank you enough!" She wanted to give him a big hug but, decided against it.

"You already have," he said kindly as he smiled. 'Just seeing you smile like that, I'd to anything for you to see you smile like that' he thought, wishing he could add that into what he had previously said.

Yuki went back inside for some breakfast, taking the leeks and strawberries with him, saying that he and Kyo would be happy to wash them. Tohru straightened out the tablecloth and was about to go back in when a gust of wind blew the pink cloth off of the table.

"Oh no!" she cried as it threaten to fall in the dirt. Just then, however, Shigure came from the other side of the house to offer his help. He had just opened his mouth to greet her when he found that there was a pink cloth attacking his head. He pulled it off and walked over to Tohru.

"Loose something?"

"Yes," she said, a little sad, "the wind blew it away."

"My, my, we can't have that at the party can we?" he handed the tablecloth back to her. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

Tohru waited until the wind had died down before she tried to put it back on. Shigure came back with a small box. He opened it and revealed the Tohru the twelve rocks she had seen when she first met him. "Oh!" she exclaimed, "How perfect! But… where's the tiger?"

"I thought I'd give it to Kisa. For today, the tiger has been replaced with the cat." He said smiling because he knew she would approve. Tohru looked again and saw an orange rock.

"Oh you made a cat!" she said, smiling. Shigure put down the box and helped her replace the tablecloth. Then they took the twelve rocks and placed them around the edges so that they would be ornamental as well as useful.

"That won't hold in anything really strong but it should be ok for gentle breezes.

"Thank you for your help, Shigure!"

"You're welcome. Now is that good smell breakfast or something for later?"

"It's breakfast!" she smiled. He returned inside and she followed in order to start cooking for the party. Yuki and Kyo had already washed everything so Tohru sent them out to run some errands. Hiro had wanted to choose and buy decorations so Yuki went to get him while Kyo went to the store for ingredients.

16

Kyo returned in 45 minutes but it took Yuki much longer. He came back around one with bags of decorations as well as Momiji and Haru.

"They wanted to help," he told Tohru when she looked happy but confused.

"That's right, Tohru! We're going to help you make this the best party ever and make it easier for you!" Momiji said as he danced into the house.

"Hello, Tohru. Hope you don't mind." Haru said quietly as he followed Yuki in.

"No, no! I'm so glad to have you here! Could you set up the decorations that you bought outside please?

"No problem!" Momiji exclaimed, grabbing the bag's from Yuki and skipping out to the yard. Haru smiled and nodded and slowly followed Momiji, picking up everything that fell out of the bags from the rabbit's enthusiastic jostling.

A half an hour later, Hatori's car pulled up. Ayame leaped from the back seat and rushed to greet Tohru, Yuki, and of course, Shigure. Kyo found himself lying on the ground a few moments later- Kagura had rushed from the car and knocked him over with one of her enthusiastic hugs. Ritsu was the third to emerge from the vehicle, but he was not as enthusiastic as the other two. He timidly got out of the car and went over to Tohru. She gave him a big smile and tried to make him feel more comfortable by commenting on how nice he looked in his black slacks and pink shirt.

Finally, Hatori stepped out. However, he went around to the other side of the car and opened the passenger seat. Akito slid out, wearing his favorite robe and tattered sandals- this was nothing to dress up for, he had decided. Ayame and Shigure had already disappeared into the house and only a few moments later they had reappeared with a small couch for Akito. They set it down near the picnic table and he slowly walked over and lay down.

"Hello, Miss Honda." Hatori said, returning from his car's trunk with an armload of presents.

"Hello, Hatori! I'm so glad you could come! Thank you for brining the others as well!" Tohru said, smiling.

"Where should I put these?" He asked.

"Oh I'm so sorry! Well…umm…"

"Here Hari!" Momiji called, waving to him and pointing to a little table at the same time. "Put our presents right here!" Hatori nodded and walked over to the table where he gently set down the wrapped boxes. "Wait where's mine? I know I put it in your car this morning!" Momiji said, very upset. "

"It's still in the car, I have another load to bring."

"Oh ok!" he smiled and went back to blowing up balloons until Hatori and put the rest of the presents on the table. Momiji carefully took his from the middle and placed it on the top.

"Hatori?"

"Yes, Miss Honda?"

"Will Hiro's parents and Kisa's mother be joining us as well?"

"Hiro's mother will come a little late, I believe, but Kisa's mother will not. She's on a short vacation, you see."

"Oh ok!" she replied, removing two place settings from the table. Her worries about Kisa did increase slightly when Hatori had confirmed that she was not living with her mother at that time but she was so excited abut the party she couldn't get very upset.

"Master!" Kyo cried happily when he saw Kazuma wandering up the path. His call was noted by Yuki, Kagura, and Haru, who followed closely behind Kyo in running to greet him. Tohru smiled as she watched them. Then, remembering her cake, she hurried into the kitchen to finish it.

She had just put the finishing touches on the large strawberry short cake when Momiji called out that he saw Hiro coming. Everyone but Akito rushed to hide behind something in the back yard.

'I just hope she didn't mess anything up' Hiro thought, as he led his little heart's desire to the house. Just as they had planned, he escorted Kisa to the front door where they knocked and called out- no answer of course.

"Maybe Sisy is doing laundry in the back," Kisa suggested.

"Yeah, it would be just like her to be doing something like that instead of getting ready to take us to the movie," Hiro said. Kisa tugged at his hand and she pulled him towards the back yard; she hadn't seen Tohru in a couple of weeks and she had really missed her and really needed to see her. Suddenly, Kisa stopped. She saw the picnic table the decorations, and Akito looking off into the distance. Her surprise was increased a short moment later.

"SURPRISE!" everyone yelled, springing out from their hiding places.

"Happy Birthday Kisa!" Tohru said, coming towards her with open arms.

"Oh Sisy! Did you do this for me?" Kisa ran into her arms and started crying. Tohru gave her a big, reassuring hug.

"Mmmhmm! But it wasn't just me, it was everyone. Especially Hiro, he planned all this I just put it together a little." Kisa tightened her embrace and tried to stop her tears.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" she said loudly. Then she let go of Tohru and turned to Hiro, giving him a big hug as well. Hiro was caught off guard but he returned the hug, though not as enthusiastically. "Thank you, Hiro" she whispered and she let go and turned around again.

Everyone but Akito and Kazuma rushed to greet her.

"Happy birthday, Kisa!" Momiji said throwing his arms around her neck.

"Thank you, Momiji" she laughed as he ran off dancing and doing cartwheels.

"Come here you!" Haru exclaimed lifting her up to hug her. She snuggled her head against him and smiled as he set her back down. "Happy birthday."

Ayame and Shigure rushed up to her next and simultaneously lifter her up on their shoulders. "Thank you Grandpa Ayame, Thank you Grandpa Shigure" she giggled as they bounced her up and down. Hatori, sensing danger, reached up and took the child down.

"I wouldn't want to have to patch you up on your birthday," he said kindly smiling.

"Thank you Grandpa Hatori!" Kagura then rushed over and dropped to her knees as she hugged her little cousin and Ritsu followed cautiously, apologizing for not having gotten her a better gift. Kisa's little arms reached up to hug him, "I'm sure I'll love it. Thank you so much, Ritsu." The monkey was touched by the child and stepped back to let Yuki in.

"I'm so proud of you, Kisa," he said as he gave her a hug. He and Kyo wished her a happy birthday briefly because Tohru ran over to her to hug her again.

"I love you so much!" she said loudly, drawing Kisa closer. Kisa was overjoyed, this was the best thing that had ever happened to her. Hiro was still standing where Kisa had left him. He was frozen but his eyes were shining and a huge smile had spread across his face as he saw Kisa's increasing happiness. It was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen; nothing had ever made him so happy. But suddenly, a cold voice cut through all the others. It made him shudder and it erased his smile.

"Come here, little one." Akito said. Tohru gave Kisa's hand a little squeeze and then she let go of her. Kisa looked up to her and her "grandpas" who where standing behind Tohru. They all nodded and so she walked over to Akito's couch.

"Hello, Akito. Thank you for coming." She said quietly. His hand slid under her chin and it tilted her face up to his.

"You are blessed, child. No one has ever thrown me such a party and I am the leader of this family." There was clear jealousy and even hurt in his voice. "You are blessed to have people who love you so. Miss Honda," he said, turning his gaze away, "I have a feeling that you are behind this party." She wasn't sure if this was a good time to give Hiro and all the others credit or not so she simply nodded. "Well, you seem to have drawn out the love of this family," he said, now speaking in a direction that wasn't really looking at anyone, thought slightly more in Tohru's direction than Kisa's. His eyes returned to their lock on Kisa's. "Well, happy birthday. I remember when you were born. There was no sound from you, we thought something was wrong, but here you are, celebrating your thirteenth birthday with your family. Congratulations."

"Thank you, Akito." She paused to search for her courage. She knew what she wanted to say next but, it was so hard. "I am… I am so glad to be a part of this family, your family," she added cautiously, "I am glad you came to my party, Akito."

He looked at her, shocked. Just like with Tohru, she had shown him some kindness that no one else ever had. 'What is this?' He didn't know what to think of her, and what she had said. He had never really spoken to her before. Had she not been in the zodiac he wouldn't have taken any note of her at all. Yet here she was. A little girl, just entering the seventh grade, was happy to be a member of the same family as him.

"I'd like to go home now, Hatori." He finally said. His silence had caused a tension in the air. No one knew what he would do but they had all prayed that he wouldn't hurt her or ruin her birthday by saying something bad. They all breathed easier now.

"Mmm...of course. I'll go get the car started." He sounded sad.

"Wait!" Tohru called out. "Please, please just stay a moment so you can see Kisa blow out her candles and take a piece of cake with you!" Hatori looked to Akito, his eyes begging him to stay.

"Only for a moment." He said, his voice as cold as ever. He didn't know what made him stay.

Tohru smiled and ran into the house and returned seconds later with a giant strawberry shortcake topped with fresh whipped cream, strawberries, pink sugar icing, and thirteen pale pink candles. She lit the candles and everyone watched as Kisa made her wish and just managed to blow out every candle. A cheer and applause erupted from the family. Tohru cut the cake and after giving the first big piece to Kisa she put two generous pieces on a large plate and handed it to Hatori.

"Thank you," he said with an unusual earnestness in his voice. Tohru understood though, he was apologizing at the same time. Akito hurried to the car and got into the passenger seat. Hatori bent down to Kisa and put his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry I have to leave early, my dear Kisa. Happy birthday," he spoke so quietly that only she could hear and gave her a small smile. Then he rose and walked to the car. As he carefully backed out Akito took a small bite of one of the pieces.

"Bleh! She isn't such a great cook. What of the rumors of her good cooking? Does everyone lie to me?"

"I suppose it is a matter of one's preferences," Hatori said, also taking a little piece of cake. It was the best cake he had ever had. He would have asked for Akito's piece but he had a feeling he would want to take it into his bed chamber to "feed the birds" with; he made a mental note to leave a fork behind after his evening check-up.

"Here Kisa! Open mine first!" Momiji exclaimed taking his poorly-wrapped present from the top of the stack. By this time everyone had eaten their cake and wished that Tohru had made a bigger one. Yuki stood behind Tohru, watching her delight as she watched Kisa open her presents. He bent down so his mouth was by her ear.

"That cake was perfect, Miss Honda." He whispered.

"Oh, thank you! You're exaggerating though!" she said, turning her head slightly and blushing. As she felt the color fill her cheeks, she turned her head back to Kisa.

"No, no. I wouldn't lie to you." She blushed further and tired to concentrate on how happy it made her to see Hiro standing at Kisa's side.

"The whole party has been perfect, really."

"No, no! You're too kind, Yuki."

"No, Miss Honda," he leaned in closer, "I mean it." As he brought his head back Tohru felt something on the top of her ear. His lips had brushed it. 'Did he kiss me?' she thought, preparing to do her usual spaz.

"I'm sorry!" he apologized. "Ritsu bumped into me." Tohru calmed down but her cheeks were still burning. She was certain it had felt like a tiny kiss…

Kisa had just gotten to Ayame's present. It was a beautiful pink dress that looked like it belonged on a fairy tale princess. All of the adults glared at Ayame but he smiled and reassured them that it was harmless and would fit her as they thought was appropriate. Kisa was thrilled, however and leaped from her seat to thank him.

"Thank you, Grandpa Ayame! It's beautiful!" she smiled, hugging his slim torso. He bent down to return the hug.

"I'm so glad you like it, Kisa! And if you come to my shop in a few years we could really have some fun…" he suddenly realized that the adults were glaring at him again and he could just feel Hatori's glare as if he were there. "On the other hand, maybe you'd better not come for several years." Kisa was confused but the others urged her to go back to opening her presents.

The party continued into the night. The family was overjoyed to be together on such happy and carefree terms. However, Hiro's mother eventually announced that it was time for them to leave. Shigure rushed over to her and they spoke in a hushed whisper. Finally, Hiro's mother called out:

"Hiro, we must leave now. Tohru, Shigure, thank you- this was a lovely party. Kisa dear you may stay here for a few days, if you'd like. Shigure has invited you."

"If it would really be ok," Kisa began quietly.

"I thought so," She replied, smiling. "Thanks again!" she called as she followed her family out the door. The others slowly began to take their leave as well. Momiji and Haru were the last to leave and when they did Haru practically had to drag Momiji out the door.

"Bye Tohru! Thank you! Bye Kisa! Happy Birthday!" he called as his cousin shoved him out the door.

"Bye Momiji!" Tohru giggled, "See you tomorrow! You too Haru!"

"Bye bye!" Kisa waved, "Thank you for tiger!" she added, hugging the soft stuffed tiger Momiji had given her.