Disclaimer: Neither Fruits Basket nor the Fruits Basket characters belong to me. They are the property of Natsuki Takaya.
A/N: This plot and all original characters are mine.Here is a new chapter and I will probably post one more tonight. I guess I just can't wait to see how the story will be received once it is complete. Hope no one minds the rapid updates.
Chapter 13 Old Friends and a New Love
Friday night arrived and Momiji was bouncing with excitement. He couldn't wait to see Tori's and the other girls' faces when he told them about tomorrow's surprise. He had considered not telling them at all, but he needed their help in preparing food and space for his guests. Yes, most of them were staying at one of his dad's corporate apartments, but he was hoping to persuade Hatsuharu to stay at his house and maybe one other person. He really did miss his cousins, especially the dog and the ox. That was kind of funny. The ox had always been one of his favorite people but he had liked the dragon much better than the dog at one time. When had that changed? Probably when Shigure did everything within his power to move Tohru to a safe location. Ha'ri was still one of his favorite people, but he was too soft on Akito-san. He was truly excited to see Kyo and his family. The two little girls were adorable, and now there was a baby boy. Then there was Kisa and Yuki and Karin. He kept looking out the window to see if there was any sign of Risa's car. He would hear it as soon as it pulled into the drive, but still… He looked at the clock. It was only 8 p.m. It would probably be another hour before they got here. Perhaps he would order pizza for tonight and then Tori wouldn't have to cook after they got here. He was always willing to help her, but she always insisted on doing most of the cooking herself.
About 8:15 he called for pizza to be delivered. With any luck it would arrive about the same time as the girls. Why on why did time have to crawl when there was fun looming on the horizon? Finally he heard the familiar motor of Risa's red Lexus. He raced to the door to let them in. Forget not being anxious tonight, he thought. He opened the door to the girls and grabbed Tori around the waist and swung her in a big circle. He was very careful not to make body contact, he had no plans of being the first person to reveal the Sohma curse to someone other than Tohru.
"Momiji, what in the world?" Tori was totally astonished by the greeting.
"Say Momitchi-chan, what'sup? It's not like you to be that exuberant with our Tori"
Hana and Kristi watched him with expectant faces.
"I am sorry but I am just so very happy. Guess what surprise I have in store for you tomorrow?"
"You're going to tell us tonight Momiji?" Tori asked with a smile.
"You bet!" Just then the doorbell rang. "Right after I pay for our pizza. Help yourselves to whatever you want to drink out in the kitchen and come join me on the veranda."
Five minutes later they were all seated at the table out under the stars.
"So Momitchi-chan, how much longer you gonna keep us in suspense?"
Momiji bounced from his seat and began pacing back and forth.
"Momiji…" Tori put out her hand and brought the rabbit to a stop when he felt her touch.
"Sorry, I am just so excited I can't sit still. The big surprise for tomorrow is…"
"What, what is it Momiji?"
"Drum roll please," he said with a grin. Now that the time was finally here, he couldn't resist teasing them just a little. Kristi complied with a grin, using her fork as a drumstick.
"Tomorrow we can expect a visit from the Sohma family! "
Tori shied back just a little. "Who is coming Momiji?"
He took her hand. "Not Akito, that's for sure. However, Shigure, Hatori, Haru, Kyo, Kagura and their family, Yuki and Karin, and Kisa will all be here."
Tohru smiled, happiness dawning on her features. "Shigure-san, Yuki-kun, Kyo-kun and his family. Oh, I just can't believe it! This is wonderful. And Haru-san and Kisa-chan and Hatori-san. I am so happy! I have missed them so much!"
Momiji and the three girls grinned at her delight.
"I knew it'd be a happy surprise for you Tori. I am so glad."
"How long will they be here Momiji?"
"For a whole week."
"Hmmm…I wonder if Jackson-san would allow me to take the week off? May I use your phone?"
"Sure."
Tori dialed up her boss's number.
"Hello, Joseph Jackson speaking."
"Jackson-san…"
"Tori, this is a surprise. It must be important if you are calling me from San Diego. How is Momiji?"
"He is fine Jackson-san. I'm calling because I have a favor to ask. You don't have to say yes if it is too inconvenient."
"Tori, I won't know until you ask me. What is this favor?"
"May I take this week off work, please. Momiji's cousins are coming for a visit and I was very close to them when I lived in Japan. I would really like to spend some time with them."
"Well, Christmas and Valentine's are behind us now and we are heading into what is usually a slower part of the year. Go ahead and take the week. I can hold down the fort for that long."
"Thank you ever so much Jackson-san."
"You are quite welcome, Tori. You work hard all year, I don't mind when you take a little time off and it does sound like a special occasion. Enjoy yourself and take care. I'll see you a week from Monday."
"Hai, Jackson-san."
"Momiji may I impose upon your hospitality for the rest of this week. Jackson-san has kindly given me the time off…"
"As if you have to ask Tori…of course you can visit me for that long. This is going to be fun!"
"Hey, Momitchi-chan, you mean orange top got married and has kids?"
"Yeah, he does. He married his childhood sweet heart, Kagura, and they have twin girls and a baby boy. The girls are so cute! I can't wait to see them again."
The five friends talked excitedly about the upcoming visit and made plans for the meals and how to accommodate so many people in his small bungalow. It was midnight before they knew it.
"Midnight…Risa, Kristi, it is time for us to go to bed. I am sure Tori and Momiji have some plans to make that don't require our help." Hana arose from her chair and the other two girls followed suit.
"You are probably right, Saki" Both Risa and Kristi agreed and left Momiji and Tori sitting at the table.
"Tori, come for a walk with me. There is something on my mind and I do need to talk to you before the others arrive."
"Sure, Momiji."
The two walked in silence for a few minutes. Momiji's index finger drawing small circles on the back of Tori's hand.
"Momiji, what is on your mind? I will be happy to listen."
"Tori, no matter what happens this week, I will still love you. Remember this. I know you and Yuki have a lot of memories together and the two of you had deep feelings for each other. I understand how Yuki must have felt back then, and…well I still love you even after we were apart for seven years. I suppose there is no help for it, but I must get to my point. Even if you and Yuki still find you have strong feelings for each other, it won't change anything between us."
"Momiji?"
"Tori, I love you and I think I am afraid of losing you to old memories. The ones you and Yuki have together."
"But Momiji, I l…"
Momiji leaned down and kissed her gently. "Don't say it yet, Tori. Wait until after you have met with everyone again, then if you still want to tell me, I will be happy to hear it."
Tohru nodded her head. "Momiji, we have many new memories together, ones that I never want to forget. I honestly don't feel that seeing Yuki-kun or any of the others again will change the way I feel about you in my heart. Besides, even if I do still have feelings for Yuki-kun, I don't think I do, not that way, there is Karin to consider. She must be very much in love with him and I think he must be with her if he has asked her to be his wife."
Momiji reached up and wiped away the few tears that trickled down Tohru's cheeks. "Tori, why the tears?"
"Because I care about you Momiji and I don't like to see you hurting, and I can see that you are."
He smiled gently, "Even if it's painful, the memories we have together are ones I never want to forget. Smile for me Tori." He enveloped her in his arms and hugged her closely.
POOF!
Tori had to giggle. "Momiji, you always know how to make me laugh."
"Of course I do." He snuggled close to her and laid his head across her shoulder.
She giggled a little more. "Momiji, your ears tickle!"
"Tori can I sleep with you tonight? You can hold me close all night and I will stay in this form."
"Momiji, I share a room with Kristi. What would she think if I were to let you go in the night and you transformed back into your human form?"
"Stay in my room tonight Tori. Let me have one night with you at least."
"Oh Momiji…"
"Besides, they won't necessarily be surprised. We've known each other for ten years and we've been going out for the last nine months. Say yes, Tori."
"Yes Momiji, but only to sleep."
"Of course, I promise wasn't thinking about anything else…well at least not too much anyway."
Tori shook her head and picked up Momiji's clothing from the sand. "Well, shall we call it a night usagi-chan?"
"Tori…"
She laughed at the dismay in his tone. "Okay, I'll call you Momiji. Shall we go?"
Tori carried the bunny back to the house and put him down in the bedroom. "I'll be right back, I have to go get my pajamas."
"Wear a pair of mine, Tori. I'll probably transform back if you leave me here like this."
"Either way, Momiji, I have to put you down to change."
"I suppose I will just have to hug you again if I transform. Still, wear a pair of my pajamas. I know you'll look cute in them."
"Momiji…" Tori rolled her eyes and gave in to his request.
While changing into a pair of Momiji's silk pajamas, she heard POOF from the bedroom. Mom I knew that was going to happen. What am I doing tonight Mom? This isn't like me.
She joined Momiji in his bedroom where he too had changed into a pair of pajamas. "Look Tori, we have matching outfits," he said with a grin.
She grinned back. "Yes, we do don't we."
"I was right, you are cute in my pajamas."
"Tori, come on, join me, what are you waiting for?" Momiji patted the mattress by his side.
"Momiji…I…I…"
"I'm sorry Tori, you've probably never slept in a man's bedroom before, have you? I promise to behave, but please come sit down for a minute."
Tori joined Momiji on the bed, a bright red color staining her cheeks. She looked down at the floor afraid to meet his eyes. Momiji's eyes softened as he watched her reaction. She was still the sweet innocent Tohru he had known for so long.
"Tori," he whispered softly and took her hands. "Look at me, it's okay." Slowly she turned shy teal eyes in his direction.
"You are so beautiful, Tori." His kiss was soft to begin with, but as she responded to his kiss, he became more demanding. "I love you Tori, I have always loved you."
He lifted his head and touched her lips with his fingers and lightly traced the outline of her face and cheek, his fingers finally trailing across the soft skin of her neck. "Someday Tori, I hope you will be mine." He then embraced her fully so that he would transfer back into his rabbit form.
"I promised you a furry bunny to sleep with and that it what you shall have Tori."
Tori looked at him with soft eyes. "Momiji, you are truly kind."
"It's easy to be kind to you Tori, because you are always a kind person."
Tori snuggled the bunny to her chest and crawled under the covers. "Good night Momiji."
"Good night Princess Tori." Momiji contented himself with finding a comfortable spot against her chest. I really do love you, Tori. Hey, this isn't half-bad. She is so warm and soft.
When Tori woke up the next morning it was with a sense of all being right in the world. She turned to find Momiji's golden head resting on the pillow next to hers and her fingers entwined with his. Oh my I must have released him in my sleep. He transformed back. She gazed at the tanned shoulders and bare back. As she looked at him it occurred to her that if he transformed back in his sleep then he probably had nothing on beneath the blankets. Her cheeks suddenly felt hot and she slipped out of bed and went to sit at the dressing table. She looked at him for a while. He was an angel when he was asleep, all of his energy and vivacity at rest. Her mind drifted back over the last nine months and finally caught up with where she was today. Today she would see her Sohma family once again. And Momiji had made it all possible. She felt an overwhelming sense of love and gratitude towards the man asleep in the bed. Her mind began a journey back into the past when she had been happy and secure in Shigure Sohma's home. She and Yuki-kun, Kyo-kun and Shigure-san had been a family at that time. She had dared to hope it would last forever. Her memories shone like so many strands of gold. They and the other Sohmas had been happy together and all of them had been her friends.
Suddenly she felt his warm gaze resting on her features and looked up to see a pair of brown eyes gazing at her with an expression that she was beginning to know very well. "Momiji, Ohayo! Did you sleep well?"
"Mmmhmmm…never better. How are you this morning Tori?"
"Very well rested and very happy, Momiji."
"I'm glad. Perhaps you would like to turn your back so I can get out of bed? Of course I don't mind if you look…"
Tori blushed a bright red and Momiji had to chuckle. "I was just joking you know."
She turned her back to him and he got out of bed. He noticed where she was sitting and began to laugh. Tori suddenly realized she was looking into the dressing table mirror and had just gotten an eyeful of exactly what she had been trying to avoid. "Oh, excuse me Momiji, I didn't think, I am so foolish…"
She looked down even more embarrassed than she had been before. Momiji slipped on his pajama bottoms and walked over to her. He rested his hands on her shoulder and kissed the top of her head. "Really Tori, it is okay. I'm not ashamed of the way I look. I do find you very endearing like this though. I'm going to shower and change and then you can have your turn."
"That's okay Momiji, I'll use the shower next to the guest bedroom. I'll meet you downstairs for breakfast." She hurriedly got up and prepared to leave his room.
"You could shower with me Tori…" he suggested with an impudent grin.
"Oh no I couldn't, I really couldn't…"
"Just kidding, I'll see you downstairs." He watched her beat a hasty retreat out of his bedroom. If things turned out the way he hoped, she wouldn't be doing that again. Next time he had her in his bedroom he was never going to let her go…his stomach growled just then. Well, not until he got hungry at any rate. His lips quirked up at the corners and he proceeded with his morning routine.
By the time Momiji got downstairs, Tori was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. "Momiji, what time will everyone be here?" He noticed that she didn't quite meet his eyes.
"The flight is supposed to arrive at 9 a.m. and Poppa arranged for limos to take them to the apartments where they will be staying and then to bring them over here. I am expecting them about 11:00 or so."
Tori glanced at the kitchen clock, it was already 8 a.m. "They'll be here in no time at all then. I hope they will remember me…I hope I will recognize them."
"I'm sure you will and I am sure they will. Don't be worried Tori."
Tori looked at Momiji for a second and then quickly turned back to the cabinet where she was diligently preparing breakfast. It was hard to look at Momiji and not remember the view of him in the dressing room mirror.
The other three girls came down for breakfast and Risa watched Tori with a quizzical expression on her face. Momiji wondered what she might be thinking. After breakfast Tori volunteered to clean up and Hana insisted on helping her.
Momiji wandered outside and leaned against the railing. He heard Kristi and Risa come out directly behind him.
"Say Momitchi-chan, what did you do to Tori last night? She keeps looking at you with this shy expression and then she looks away before you can catch her eye." She paused for a moment and then asked "The two of you didn't…you know…"
Momiji's eyes glinted with fun and then he turned to face Risa. He was smiling and his eyes were sparkling with mischief. " And if we did do….you know?" he questioned teasingly.
"I'd say good for you Momitchi-chan!"
Kristi's eyes got wide. "Momiji-chan, did you really…" she began.
"Got cha! Of course I didn't. This is Tori we are talking about you know."
"I know, but I did wonder since she didn't come to our room last night."
"I did talk her into staying with me last night, but nothing happened." After all, I can't do much as a bunny…
"I bet you were wishing something would happen" Risa said with a nudge and a wink.
Momiji decided he would be better off ignoring that comment. "Yuki, Shigure, and the others should be here soon. It's almost 11:00 and Shigure did call this morning to confirm they had actually arrived right on schedule.
"Momiji…" He was startled by Hana's sudden appearance. "What will you do if there is still a spark between Tori and the prince?"
"Step aside if necessary. I want her to be happy more than anything else in the world. I would prefer she find that happiness with me, but if it's not to be then I will remain her friend." He shrugged his shoulders. For just a moment there was a little boy with wistful eyes standing at the rail.
"Momiji, I shall make a prediction. You and Tori together have particularly fine vibes. I believe you will get the girl."
Momiji smiled and the wistful expression disappeared from his eyes. "Thank you Hana. That really does make me feel better for some strange reason."
Tori walked out onto the deck at that moment and Momiji was once again his happy exuberant self!
"Can you believe it Tori? They'll be here soon! I am so excited!"
Tori smiled with Momiji and moved to his side. She completely forgot her mild morning embarrassment in her anticipation of seeing her beloved Sohmas once more.
A few minutes later two limos were pulling up to his house. He grabbed Tori's hand. "Let's go, they're here!" The two made a mad dash for the front door with the other three girls only a step or two behind. Momiji paused at the door before opening it. Butterflies were dancing in his stomach. How would this week end?
He motioned to Tori, Risa, and Hana. "You three stay here. I want to surprise everyone!"
"Oh, okay!" Tohru stepped back from the door.
"Good idea Momiji." Hana spoke as she glided to a stop at Tohru's side.
"This is gonna be fun" said Risa from Tori's other side. "You realize most of them are going to think Kristi is the girl you are so crazy about, don't you?"
"Yeah, I do. That's why she is coming with me." Momiji glanced at Kristi. "You don't mind being part of this do you Kristi?"
"Nope. As a matter of fact, as Risa said, this is going to be fun."
"Great, then let's go meet my family." Momiji grabbed Kristi's hand and pulled her after him.
A/N: Hopefully everyone has enjoyed this chapter. I am going to post another tonight as well. Please read and enjoy.