Disclaimer: Neither Fruits Basket nor the Fruits Basket characters belong to me.
However the plot and all original characters are mine. I hope you like them as much as I do. I'd like to develop them more fully, just as they appear in my mind, but that really doesn't relate to this story. Jackson-san is very loosely constructed along the lines of Hotohori-sama from Fushigi Yugi but with a better-developed sense of humor. His whole life hasn't been duty driven. Kristi-chan...well she is a cool character. I love her.She seemed the perfect person to bring Momiji and Tohru back together.
A/N: I digress as this story is about Momiji and Tohru. They are such fun aren't they? Please read and enjoy this chapter. Reviews are definitely welcome.
Chapter 10 Matters of the Heart
Saturday morning came and Momiji whistled as he came down the stairs buttoning his shirt. Tohru was in the kitchen cooking and the other girls were sitting around the living room reading the newspaper and chatting. Kristi really was very attractive, but it was Tohru who still captured his interest. Having finally found her again, he could understand why he had never met anyone else he cared to spend his life with.
"Good morning all" he called as he walked into the living room.
"Momiji, I am so glad you made it. Tori tells me you had a good time last night even though we weren't here to entertain you." Kristi said with a sly smile.
"And I certainly missed your company Kristi-chan"
"You are such a liar Momiji-chan, but a very charming one."
"A liar…oh that cuts to the quick. Can't a guy flirt with a girl without being called a liar?"
Kristi laughed at Momiji. "We all know where your true interest is Momiji-chan."
Momiji pretended to pout "And since when did I become Momiji-chan?"
"Hmmm…Since about five minutes ago" she suggested.
Tori called from the kitchen, "Everyone, breakfast is ready. Come eat please."
The four friends all gathered around the table as Tori put the food in the center.
"Let me get the plates for you Tori," Momiji offered.
"Thank you Momiji."
Between bites of breakfast and sips of orange juice, conversation drifted around the table. Tohru suddenly realized she had not told her friends that they had a second guest coming to dinner tonight.
"Before I forget, Momiji-kun, everyone, I have invited my boss, Joseph Jackson-san to come to dinner tonight. Momiji, I thought you two might get acquainted since Zodiac Imports and AJ's does business together. You don't mind do you?"
"Of course not Tori. I will look forward to meeting him. Poppa told me I should become acquainted with our business colleagues so I will look forward to this evening."
"Great! But what will we do for the rest of today? Would you like to see something of Phoenix, or maybe go hiking or shopping? What sounds good?" Tori asked enthusiastically.
"Tori, forgive me but I have to meet with one of the buyers from last night. I will be home in time to help get ready for our guest tonight." Risa arose from the table and bowed to the others. "Ja mata"
"Risa, good luck with your clients." Tori called as Risa went upstairs to shower and change.
"Hana, Kristi, Momiji, what would you like to do?"
"You and Momiji would like some time to get reacquainted, I am going to meet Kazu-san this morning, he promised to show me some interesting slides for our next case. It sounds quite interesting."
"No, I don't mind. Please tell Kazu-san hello for me. Invite him for dinner tonight if you like."
"I will consider it," Hana said with a slight smile.
"Kristi, Momiji-kun?"
"If you don't mind, I think I will hang out with you and Momiji. I'd like to go shopping, but hiking sounds good as well. Momiji, help us decide, please." Two pair of teal eyes turned toward Momiji.
"Let's go shopping then, I haven't done much of that since I arrived in America. Shall we get ready and meet back here in about 30 minutes."
"Hai, that sounds like a plan Momiji-kun."
The three of them scattered to their rooms to get ready for the day. Thirty minutes later, they all met back in the family room. Momiji eyed both girls in their jeans and brightly colored t-shirts. He grinned widely. "Tori, you really have adapted to the American way of doing things. Those jeans look good on you, and you too Kristi"
Tohru blushed. "Arigato gozaimasu, Momiji."
Kristi took a good look at Momiji. "Momiji-chan, those jeans suit you as well, but a button-down dress shirt, we'll have to remedy that while we are shopping."
Momiji looked at his shirt. "But this shirt looks good on me…"
"So did a girl's uniform modified as shorts when you came to my high school Momiji. " Tohru said warmly.
"A modified girl's uniform" Kristi raised her eyebrows questioningly.
"Yes, we have many stories we can tell you today and I think you will enjoy them." Momiji took both girls by their hands. "Now, shall we go?"
Kristi volunteered to drive and all three of them settled into the front seat of her Dodge pickup. The ride to the shopping center was filled with non-stop chatter as Momiji and Tori reminisced about the days when they were in Japan together and they kept Kristi laughing pretty much the whole time. Stories of Ritsu, Ritsu's mother, Kisa, Hiro, Haru black and Haru white, Yuki, Kagura and Kyo, Hatori and Shigure kept her highly amused not only during the drive but also during the shopping excursion. When Momiji relayed the story of their first day in High School, Kristi's eyes got really wide. "Your cousin did what? Momiji-chan you can't mean that!"
Tohru looked at him, "Oh, so that's what Haru did that day. I've always wondered how he could prove to Makoto senpai that his hair color was natural." Her cheeks were a bright red as she finally understood what had happened so long ago.
Kristi grinned. "Momiji, was Tori always this clueless?"
"Always, but that was one of the things we Sohmas all loved about her."
"And she really didn't know you were almost her age at the hot springs?"
"Nope. I looked very young for my age."
"Tori, it's hard to believe there is someone as special as you." Kristi said softly.
"Oh no, I'm not that special."
"But you are, Tori," Kristi disagreed.
Momiji could only agree with Kristi's assessment of Tohru but he wisely stayed silent. Tohru's perpetual innocence in the dark world of Sohma intrigue had fascinated them all. Unfortunately, it seemed that Akito had managed to dispel some of that innocence but fortunately, he had not damaged her belief in the innate goodness of people. Seven years of living in America had changed her some as well. At the core though, Tohru was still Tohru, even if she did go by Tori these days. He grinned as he thought about the words of an English playwright they had studied in school. "A rose though called by any other name would still smell as sweet."
The shopping excursion passed in a whirlwind of fun as the three chatted and teased each other nonstop. Momiji was convinced to purchase Phoenix souvenir T-shirts for himself and for each of his male cousins. He also decided that Kagura and Kisa would probably like them as well and Momo… He found the southwest Indian designs to be delightful, especially those of the Navajo God, Kokapelli. He also liked the t-shirts with the colorful lizards and the ones with coyotes howling by the cactus in the moonlight. Of course the chances were very good that Hatori, Yuki, and Hiro would probably not wear the t-shirts, but at least he had thought of them. Kagura and Kisa, on the other hand, and hopefully Momo, would love them. Shigure, Kyo, and Haru would probably wear theirs as well. Kyo and Haru definitely would wear them he decided. He made his purchases and then suggested that they go get some lunch.
"Let's go to the food court, there are a lot of different things to choose from there," Tohru suggested.
They decided to order a large pizza from Sbarros and then sat down at a table. "What shall we do after this?" Momiji asked the girls.
"I know, let's go back to the house and go swiimming."
"Mmmhmmm, That's a great idea Kristi. It's a perfect day for that," Tohru agreed.
"If we are going swimming, I need to make one more stop, I didn't bring a pair of swim trunks with me."
"Sure, we can stop by the Surf and Swim on the way out," Kristi said excitedly.
"And Kristi will be sure to pick up that blue swimsuit she's had her eye on for the last month," Tori said with a grin.
"Of course I will. You should get you a new swimsuit too, Tori."
"No, I don't think so. I already have half a dozen which is more that I ever thought I would own in my life."
"Come on Tori, you can never have enough swimsuits!"
"No, I don't think so Kristi…"
Momiji laughed as the girls went back and forth in that vein the whole way to the store. He suspected this was a common argument between the two of them and was probably why Tori had six swimsuits instead of only one.
Kristi ended up winning the argument and Tohru went home with a pink swimsuit. Momiji chuckled as they got into the truck. "Do you always win this argument Kristi?"
"Not always, but often enough. Tohru really does like to buy new clothing, but she always has to be convinced it's okay to do so."
"I can't wait to see you girls in your new swimsuits" Momiji said as he winked at Kristi.
Oh my goodness. If he wasn't so totally in love with Tori, I could really like this guy a lot. Kristi sighed deeply.
"Kristi, are you okay, did you not get enough rest before I woke you up this morning. I'm so sorry."
"Tori, you didn't wake me up and there is nothing to apologize for. Honestly, being tired has nothing to do with me sighing."
"Okay, if you say so."
They got back to the house and put on their swimsuits. Tohru covered hers up with a white terry-cloth robe and then put together a tray of iced tea and home made cookies before joining the other two out by the pool. "I thought we might like some refreshments."
Momiji grabbed a couple of cookies. "These are delicious" he mumbled as he consumed them in record time.
"Momiji, you still like sweets that much?" Tori's eyes had a decided twinkle in them when she posed that question.
"Of course, Tori. What's not to like about sweets."
"Kristi-chan, you should have seen Momiji in High School, he was never anywhere without a pocketful of candy. Of course, he gave away as much as he ate. Maybe that's why everyone liked you so much Momiji-kun…"
"Tori, are you suggesting I would bribe myself into the affections of my peers?"
"Well…"
"Well, now that you mention it, perhaps I was guilty of that a time or two, but it never worked on you Tori. You always had eyes for just Yuki-kun and Kyo-kun."
"Momiji-kun…"
"Just kidding Tori, I know you loved all of us and always had time to listen to our complaints when we wished to speak of them."
The two girls dove into the water and Momiji followed close behind. Tohru had really taken to swimming and Kristi was even better. Momiji swam a few laps while he watched the two girls. Kristi-chan was really nice, but he would love to have a few minutes alone with just him and Tohru. Last night had been fantastic that way.
About 4:00 Uo arrived with her persistent buyer in tow. "He just did not want to go home and I couldn't tell him no…" she shrugged her shoulders. "Momiji, Tori, and Kristi, this is Steve Campbell. He is one of my best clients. Steve, this is Momiji, Tori, and Kristi."
"How do you do, I'm pleased to meet you," Tori said with a beaming smile.
The man with the green eyes and longish blonde hair returned the smile. "And I am pleased to meet you." Uo cleared her throat and he turned back to her. "Risa, my dear, I wasn't ignoring you, I was only getting acquainted with your friends."
"I'm sure you were Steve. Come on, let's go change into our suits."
"Right behind you Risa"
Shortly after that, Hana and Kazu showed up. "Miss Tanaka, such a pleasure to see you again, and you too Miss Taylor"
"It's been a while Kazu-san. I'm so glad you decided to come with Hana today. You've helped her out so many times, I am glad I can repay that debt just a little."
"Miss Tanaka, it was my pleasure. There is no debt."
Momiji sat down in one of the lawn chairs and watched the interactions. Steve was definitely as American as they came with his blonde hair, tanned complexion and green eyes. Kazu-san on the other hand seemed very Japanese with his manners and his more formal mode of dress. They seemed the perfect foils for Tohru's two best friends.
Perhaps he could arrange some alone time with Tohru, but then his eyes strayed to Kristi. Nope, he couldn't be that rude as to exclude the other girl. The episode at his beach house was still fresh in his mind. She would be hurt if he tried to ditch her just so he and Tori could be alone together. Oh well, I'm sure there will be other times when that will be possible.
5:00 approached and Tori excused herself so that she could begin preparing the meal for that evening. "May I help you Tori?"
Tori turned to the young man with the blonde hair and brown eyes that had asked the question. "Well, if you really want to, Momiji-kun."
"I do, excuse us please he said to the other members of the party."
Just then, the doorbell rang and Tori went to answer it. "Jackson-san!" she said in surprise. "I was not expecting you until 6."
"I will leave if I am too early" he said with a smile. But I finished running all my errands and found myself in your neighborhood. I thought I would take a chance and see if you minded me showing up a little early."
"Of course not. Did you happen to bring your swimsuit, Jackson-san."
"I do have a pair of swim trunks in my car."
"Why don't you change and I will introduce you to my friends out by the pool."
"With pleasure, Tori."
Momiji watched the man as he went back out to his car. Joseph Jackson was about six feet tall with long brown hair and violet eyes. Seldom had he seen such a pretty man, other than Yuki-kun. And the guy was Tori's boss and obviously in love with her. Was he supposed to compete with someone who looked like that?
Joseph Jackson came back in and Tori pointed him in the direction of the downstairs bathroom. "You can change in there Jackson-san."
"Thank you Tori."
"Momiji-kun, I thought you were in the kitchen. Come on and we can get started while he changes."
"Sure Tori."
About 5 minutes later, Joseph came out of the bathroom with his hair pulled back in a long braid to keep it from his eyes.
"Ah, Jackson-san, allow me to introduce you two. Momiji-kun this is my boss, Joseph Jackson-san. Jackson-san, this is my friend and the manager of Zodiac Imports, Momiji Sohma-san."
"Hi, I'm happy to meet you Jackson-san."
Joseph grinned, "Please don't be so formal. Tori is the only one that gets away with calling me that. Just call me either Joseph or Joe, whichever seems easiest."
Momiji grinned back, "Thank you Joe, and I would be very happy for you to call me Momiji. I never was very fond of Sohma-san. There are so many of us by that name back home."
Tori looked at the two men. "I think you two are going to be good friends. Come on out back and I will introduce you to everyone else Jackson-san."
They went out to the pool and Tori motioned everyone over. "Jackson-san, these are my friends, Risa Uotani, Saki Hanajima, and Kristi Taylor. These gentleman are our friends as well, Steve Campbell and Kazuya Midorikawa. Everyone, this is my boss, Joseph Jackson."
Joseph's eyes had landed on Kristi and he found it difficult to look away. Kristi was having the same problem. How could Tori not be in love with this man, he was absolutely gorgeous.
Joseph did manage to be polite. "Steve, Kazuya, Risa, Saki, and Kristi, hello. I am very happy to finally meet Tori's friends and roommates."
"Yo" Risa replied. "Make yourself welcome."
"Nice to meet you" Steve and Kazuya both said.
"Such fine waves," Hana said slowly.
"Hello, Joseph," Kristi said somewhat shyly.
Momiji paused a moment. Love at first sight he wondered looking at the two…I didn't think that could really happen, except when I first met Tohru.
"Excuse us please but I need to prepare supper and Momiji has promised to help."
"Certainly Tori," Joseph spoke as he still watched Kristi.
Tohru and Momiji retreated to the kitchen. " Okay, that was a surprise," Tori said happily. "Jackson-san seems to really like Kristi-chan. I am so happy. I could never have fallen in love with my boss."
"Do you really mean that Tori?" Momiji asked quietly.
"Hai, I knew he had feelings for me, but because he is my boss, respect and liking are the best courses of action. He's very kind, but I couldn't fall in love with him. Perhaps, I was still a little bit in love with Yuki-kun when I first started working there."
"Are you sure you aren't now, Tori?"
"Oh yes, I'm quite sure. Besides, Yuki-kun has found someone new to love and I am very happy for them."
Momiji realized he wasn't convinced that Tohru and Yuki would not feel that old bond if they were to meet again. There wasn't really any way he could win against Yuki if the feelings were still there. At that moment he decided on a course of action.
"Well, shall we prepare a meal that no one is likely to forget," He forced himself to speak cheerfully even though he was hurting inwardly at the thought that Tohru might still be in love with Yuki.
"We'll do our best, " Tori said with a smile and gave Momiji an encouraging kiss on the cheek. "That's for being so kind as to help me this evening,"
Momiji and Tohru chatted happily as they worked on the meal preparations. Out in the backyard the rest of the party was having a wonderful time as well if their laughter and good-natured chatter was any indication. Finally the last dish was prepared and cooking on the stove.
"Momiji-kun, would you mind if we just sat at the kitchen table and talked instead of going back out in the sun?"
"Not at all Tori." He pulled up a chair beside her and placed his larger hand over her small one. "You know, Tori, I can't quite believe you never fell in love with Jackson-san. He looks a lot like Yuki with his violet eyes and pretty face."
"He's my boss Momiji. I could never fall in love with my boss." It was a simple explanation but one Momiji was glad to accept.
When the meal was prepared and everyone changed into dry clothes to sit around the dining room table, a lively conversation ensued. Momiji and Joseph found they had quite a few things in common. Both loved the business they were in, and both were probably destined to inherit it when their fathers passed on. They seemed to have the same backgrounds and similar interests. This was probably the beginning of a wonderful friendship.
Tori sat back and allowed the conversation to ebb and flow around her. All of her friends were having a wonderful time and they were all getting along so well. She was happier now than she had ever been since coming to America. Somehow, having Momiji by her side made everything right in her world. I do wonder though how I would feel if I were to meet Yuki-kun again. She recalled the prince and his regal bearing, the warm smile he always reserved just for her, and she remembered his beautiful eyes and hair and the gentleness he had always shown her. Not like Kyo, she grinned. He treated more often like a younger sister than anything else though there were times when he was extra gentle and kind towards her. His fiery red hair and red-brown eyes popped into her mind. The prince and Kyo, she would always remember them as two of her very best friends in the world.
Momiji watched Tohru even as he kept up his end of the fast-moving conversation. She had a far away look in her lovely eyes and he wondered what was going through her mind just now. Was she thinking about Yuki now? He had certainly brought Yuki up enough for her to do so. What was he doing? He wanted her to love him and only him forever and ever in the way that a woman loves a man. There was room in Tohru's heart for his whole family, but he wanted to be the one she loved the most. Was this too much to ask? He knew he would never feel at ease, even if she fell in love with him, until she and Yuki had crossed paths once more. Yuki needed to see her again as well, before he and Karin-san settled into a life together.
After dinner they played Scrabble and Charades. After those two games, Hana talked everyone into playing a game of poker, which she won very easily. It didn't really surprise anyone when that happened. Finally the time came for everyone to go home. Good nights were said and the house was quiet. Tohru sat peacefully in the living room drinking her evening cup of tea. Momiji sat down on the sofa beside her and joined her with his own cup of tea.
"Tori…"
"Yes Momiji…"
"I love you very much, you know."
"Momiji, I'm not sure if this is appropriate, we only just met up again after living in different countries for seven years. I think I could love you but I don't really know how I feel right this moment."
"I've always loved you Tori and the feeling only grows stronger."
He leaned over and kissed her. It was a slow, lingering kiss that she accepted and returned. When the kiss finally came to an end, Momiji whispered, "Good night Tori, my love." And went upstairs to his room.
A/N: Real quickly, thanks to all my reviewers.
Kashuneko- Hope this has enough Tohru in it for you to understand what she's thinking.
katsunoCZ - I love Jackson-san too, maybe I can develop his character more in another story...would that still be fanfiction?
Steff7 - Momiji is one of my fave characters. After Shigure and Hatori, I think I like him best.
kyo-obsessedru2 - Momiji is cool, I'm glad you like the way I am writing his character.
Blackwinged angel Sami - Thanks for the info on Momiji and Momo. I gathered from the other fanfics I've read that they both play the violin, but I wasn't 100 percent sure as I've only read through the 8th issue and the anime makes no mention of it.
Na-chan and Girl of Nataku- Glad youlike it so far. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I hope you liked this chapter as well.
Steph - I'm so happy you took the time to read the story. I guess with Momiji, it wasn't too hard to make him grow up, I've got three children of my own and they are all young adults now...I wasn't stretching myself too much...He does need to break out in cute songature every once in a while...hmmm...something I should add to my later chapters...
Livi - thanks for continuing to review and letting me vent every once in a while in e-mail