Oblivious to the speculative glances directed their way, Tori accepted Yuki's hand and his invitation to go for a walk.
Shigure watched the two of them and turned to Hatori. "Well, Ha-san, how do you think this drama is going to play out? As for me, I'm in Momiji's corner. He never gave up his memories or his dream."
Hatori took a puff on his cigarette and sat silent for a second or two. He saw the shadow in Shigure's eyes just before the dog masked his expression. "I think I understand now, Shigure. We all gave up on our dreams to one extent or another, all of us except Kagura and Momiji. Even you Shigure, you let your hatred of Akito's actions with regard to Tohru-san destroy your dream"
"No, it didn't destroy my dream, Hatori, it just changed it. I no longer care what Akito does, but I still have hope for the rest of our family and there is still the next Sohma head. Maybe there is no chance to save Akito from the curse, but perhaps we have a chance with Jun. After all, you and I have been caring for him since he was very small. He really has not been around Akito much. That in itself is a change from the way things have always been in our family history. Eventually the hierarchy is going to realize we've already located the next Sohma family head.They are quite slow but they will figure things out."
Hatori gazed sadly at his friend. He was fully aware that his best friend was lying to his heart when he said Akito was no longer important to him. "You did give up a part of your dream Shigure. Akito was a part of your dream and you hoped he would eventually be happy, but now you say it no longer matters. While I am not sure that I believe you no longer care, I am glad that the happiness of the others is still important to you."
"Ha-san, the happiness of this family has always been my dream. But you haven't answered my question. What do you think will happen next?" Ha-san I've given up more than just a little, without Akito's cooperation we cannot be free of this curse, not yet.
"It's very hard to say. I think a lot of it depends on what happens between Yuki and Tohru-san today. However;" Hatori smiled at his friend. "I think Momiji will get his girl." Shigure grinned back.
Momiji and Karin watched Yuki and Tori until they were out of sight of the house. "Karin-san shall we have some tea and refreshments? All we can do is wait now."
"Hai Momiji and I am hungry."
"Okay, then let's go!" He offered her his hand, which she accepted, and the two of them returned to the beach-facing verandah. "Tori made these snacks yesterday, they are delicious."
"Yes they are." Hana was suddenly by their side. Karin was startled. Momiji just shrugged.
"Hana-chan, you really should give people warning."
"It would be no fun then, Momiji."
Hana looked at Momiji for a minute as if she was weighing her options and then gave a little nod of her head. "Momiji, I just wanted to tell you that all will be well." With that she left as silently as she had come and rejoined Kristi and Uo at the table where they were talking to Hatsuharu and Kisa.
"She's a little bit scary isn't she, Momiji?" Karin gave a shaky laugh.
"At first but she improves upon further acquaintance. She has been Tori's friend since they were in Junior High together." He looked back down the beach wishing that Tori and Yuki would reappear. It would probably be a long wait though.
Tori and Yuki walked along the beach until they were in a deserted section with no people and no homes in sight. "Honda-san, I am so relieved to see you again." He gave her a hug and POOF he was in his rat form.
Tori was at first surprised by his hug and then she started to giggle. "Oh, Yuki-kun, I am happy to see you as well." The two friends chatted for a while and then Tohru turned her back as Yuki changed back to his normal form and replaced his clothing.
Yuki wiped the back of his hand against his brow. "This is really awkward Honda-san. When you disappeared seven years I resigned myself to never seeing you again, but now, now here you are. It is wonderful but strange at the same time."
"I think I know what you mean Yuki-kun. "I'm here in America now, and I know I've changed quite a bit since leaving Japan. You are still there and you are engaged to Karin. She is really lovely Yuki-kun and I think she is very kind."
"Yes, she is cute and kind. I care for her a lot, but seeing you again…I am a little confused I think."
"About what, Yuki-kun?"
"About you, about me, about my feelings for you. I am not sure if you ever realized it, but I loved you very much back then. I never told you, it never seemed the right time and then you were gone." He shrugged eloquently. "It took me a while to get my life back together. If not for Shigure and Haru, I am not sure I would have. And then I met Karin…" He smiled at the thought of the woman who had been by his side for the last four years.
Tori smiled gently. "Yuki-kun, that smile says everything. You really do love Karin. You've moved on with your life and you are happy."
"Do you really think so Honda-san? I know Karin is very important to me, but I did wonder from time to time if I were to meet you again how I would feel. You've been very important in my life from the time you came to live with Shigure and myself until now. However..."
Yuki gazed out over the ocean as he analyzed his feelings. How did he feel about the young woman by his side? How did he feel about Karin who had been with him for the last four years? Suddenly he realized an amazing fact. Karin had been with him as much in the last four years as Tohru had been in the four years she lived with Shigure before she disappeared from their lives. Tohru was Tohru. He thought a little bit more and realized his feelings had mellowed with the preceding years. Even after all this time she is still the very best friend I've ever had.
"Honda-san, I believe I am no longer in love with you.I still care deeply and I will always remember your unquestioning acceptance of us despite the curse we are under. You helped all of us to learn about hope and about unconditional love. For that you will always be important in our lives. Be happy with Momiji, Honda-san. He has been in love with you from the beginning." That silly rabbit never gave up.He was always wiser than the rest of us, but I find I have no regrets with the way things have turned out.
Tohru sighed in relief. "That's wonderful Yuki-kun, because I don't believe I am in love with you either. Momiji-kun has come to mean a lot to me in the past months. I never knew life had so much more happiness in store for me. I was very happy, but now…Now life is even better."
They looked out over the ocean and kept watching each other via their peripheral vision. Silence reigned until both realized what they were doing and began to laugh. "Honda-san, I can't believe the two of us. We are watching each other like we are aliens from another world."
Tori grinned. "Yeah, I just realized that myself. Aren't we a pair?"
Before much more time had passed they couldn't find enough words to talk to each other and convey all that had happened in the last seven years. Tori spoke of Jackson-san and the last several months of her time with Momiji. She talked about America and how much she loved her friends and loved living with them in this country. She talked about her job and about the grandeur of the land. When she stopped talking, Yuki took up the conversation.
He talked to her about Karin and their wedding plans, about University and his teaching job at their old high school. He talked about his students and about how the rest of the Sohma's were faring.
"Yuki-kun, this is wonderful. I am really happy to meet with you again, and I am very glad that you have Karin in your life right now. I've missed being able to talk to you like this, about our hopes and our dreams. Right now, this is perfect. I love being with you like this."
"Me too, Honda-san. I love being with you like this, too. We are still friends and always shall be friends. I hope you and Momiji will come to Japan for Karin's and my wedding in April."
"I would love to Yuki-kun. I'll talk to Momiji. Perhaps Risa, Hana, and Kristi will all come too if that is okay."
"Of course it is. They are your friends and you care about them. That means I care about them as well, Honda-san."
She smiled. "That brings back memories Yuki-kun.The first time Hana and Risa came to visit us at Shigure-san's home he said the same thing then, as you just did now. I think I remember you and Kyo-kun saying that the morning after as well. That day, for the first time since Mom's death, I felt that there was somewhere I belonged."
"I believe Shigure made all of us feel that way, even the baka neko," Yuki said with a smile of reminiscence. "As perverted as he is, he still took care of the three of us. I really miss that Shigure. I haven't seen much of him since you left Japan seven years ago."
"Oh Yuki-kun, is Shigure-san okay? He does seem to be different from the way I remember him."
"Don't worry Tohru-san. He is doing fine, he just isn't quite the same person he used to be, but then, I guess neither are we."
The sun was sinking low into the horizon and Yuki gestured back toward Momiji's home. "We should probably go, I'm sure everyone is wondering what we have been doing for so long. Karin and Momiji may be worried." He offered Tori his hand and assisted her up off of the sand.
"Yeah, we should go." They walked back together hand in hand. It never occurred to either of them to think what it might look like to Momiji and Karin when they returned with hands clasped. They were simply two friends in harmony with each other.
Momiji saw them coming and noted the fact that they were still holding hands. He felt as if his heart was going to break in two. "Well, let's go welcome them home Karin-san." Hana may have been correct in her prediction, I certainly hope she was, but I don't feel very confident right this minute.
Karin was feeling very much like Momiji, but nodded her head. "I wonder where we stand now Momiji-kun?"
"Only one way to find out. Let's go face our greatest fears." He snagged her hand and pulled her in the direction of Tori and Yuki.
"Welcome home you two," he called in his most cheerful voice. "We were wondering if the sharks had found you or something?"
"Sharks," Tori said, her eyes going wide.It was only a second until she realized Momiji was just teasing her to cover deeper feelings. She grinned and moved to his side. "You'll protect me won't you Momiji?" Tori's laughter soothed Momiji's fears. The fact that she had moved to his side told him everything he needed to know. He was the one she was in love with. He felt his heart begin to mend as he watched the smile that was meant just for him..
Karin moved to Yuki's side. "I'll protect you Yuki-kun," she said with a smile.
Yuki looked at her, his heart in his eyes. "That's my job Karin-san, to protect the one I love."
Momiji looked from Yuki and Karin back to Tori and was happy that things were not as they had first appeared. "Of course I'll protect you Princess Tohru." Tori smiled at Momiji once more, her eyes tender with her feelings for him.
The two couples completed the trek back to the house. Hatori and Shigure looked at each other and shared a smile of sheer relief. "All's well that ends well." Hatori said quietly.
"That does seem to be the case Ha-san."
Kyo and Kagura had settled the children down for a nap and so were standing on the porch as Yuki and Karin, Momiji and Tori approached. Kyo looked at Kagura. "You were right my love, everything is okay."
"Of course I am Kyo-kun. Haven't you learned by now never to argue with me?" Kagura gave him an arch grin and waited for him to react.
"Now wait just a damn minute!"
"Kyo…" He realized what he was doing and grinned sheepishly.
Kyo put his arm around Kagura and pulled her close to his side. "I am glad I stopped arguing with you," he said with a heartstopping grin.
Just then little Tohru tottered out on the porch. "Daddy I had a bad dream." Kyo picked his daughter up and realized that life could be good, even for the cursed Sohma family.
Tori prepared supper with help from Kisa, Kagura, and her friends. The evening passed by swiftly and it was time for everyone to go to their rooms. Risa and Hana decided to stay with Kristi at the apartment the airline had made available to her. Kisa stayed at Momiji's so she could spend some time with 'sissy 'and Kagura and Kyo accepted Momiji's offer of the other bedroom. Futon mattresses were placed on the floor for the children and Katsuya's baby pen was set up so he could sleep in a safe place.
Momiji bade Yuki, Karin, Hatori, Haru, and Shigure good night and they climbed back in the limos to go back to the apartment Mamoru hadreserved for them.
Momiji waved good bye with his left hand as his right was secure around Tohru's waist. Finally it was quiet.
"It's been an eventful day Tori, I think I am going to bed now. Besides which, Kisa is wanting to spend some time with you this evening. I'll see you in the morning. I love you."
"Good night Momiji. I'll see you in the morning"
"Momiji…" He turned to look at her. "I…I love you too."
Momiji kissed Tori good night and went to his room. Tonight she would spend some time with Kisa. The younger girl had missed her a lot when she had left.
Later that evening after Kisa went to bed, Tori grabbed a cup of hot tea and sat down at the table overlooking the beach. It was cool outside, so the table on the verandah was out of the question. Fortunately, there was a big window open to the beach side. Mom, life is wonderful. Yuki-kun has someone to love that loves him, Kyo and Kagura are happy together, and Mom, I've found someone wonderful too. Momiji loves me and I love him. I am so blessed.
She was brought back from her thoughts when someone else sat down at the table with her. She turned to see who it was and recognized him right away. "Kyo-kun, you surprised me."
"Sorry, I just wanted a chance to talk to you so when I saw you were still awake I thought maybe you wouldn't mind the company."
"I don't mind at all. I haven't had a chance to talk to you much at all today. Yuki-kun and I had some things we had to settle and it took a lot longer than I thought it would."
"I know. I've missed you so much Tohru…" For the second time that day, Tohru found herself on the receiving end of a hug that would not have happened seven years ago.
She grinned at the orange cat now curled up on her lap. "Kyo-kun, I've missed you too."
It seemed like the whole day repeated itself, only this time it washer and Kyo talking together instead of her and Yuki. Once again she had to turn her back while another of the Sohmas switched back to his normal form and got dressed again.She giggled happily. "Oh Kyo-kun, this is what I missed the most when I moved here, not being able to sit with you across the table from me, to study with me, to talk with me. I missed it so much."
"I've wished we could all have stayed together as well, Tohru. From what Momiji said we'll have all week to talk so I should let you go to bed. Be safe and I'll see you in the morning. Good Night"
"Good night Kyo-kun." Kyo leaned across the table and kissed her gently on the cheek. "That's because I still don't know what to do about you…" he said with a smile.
Tori then went up to her bedroom where Kisa was already sleeping. Tomorrow she would spend time with her family again.
The week sped by swiftly. With the exception of Shigure, at some point throughout the week, Tori found herself in a situation alone with each of the male juunishi and the recipient of their hugs. Even Hatori found a time in which to hug her and let her know she had been missed. It seemed they had all missed her as much as she had missed them.
The Sohmas had been in San Diego for four days and Tori sat on the porch watching the night sky. It was quiet in the house for the first time that week. Momiji, along with Haru, Yuki, and Kyo had decided to investigate the nightclubs in San Diego as a part of a "Boys Night Out". It had been a long time since the four of them had spent time together.
Kisa, Kagura, and the children had all gone shopping with Tori, but now Kisa was upstairs studying for her finals that were scheduled for the week she returned from her trip to America. Kagura was in the bedroom with the children and settling them into bed for the night. Hatori and Shigure returned to the apartment pleading that they were too old to keep up with the younger boys. Tori offered to help Kagura with the children but Kagura insisted that she take a break.
"Not this time Tori-chan. Go relax for a little while, it's your vacation as well. You've been so busy helping Momiji entertain us that you've taken no time for yourself. The children really tired themselves out today, so it will be easy to put them to bed tonight. Take a few minutes and I'll come down and join you after I am through up here."
"But I really don't mind…" Tori began.
Kagura smiled and interrupted. "I know you don't mind, but I insist you take a break."
"Okay, thank you." Tori gave Kagura and each of the little ones a hug. She had fallen in love with Kyo and Kagura's family and it was going to be hard to say good bye at the end of the week.
The week thus far had been wonderful. Oh Mom, it's really peaceful right now and everything is too wonderful to believe. There are so many of the Sohmas visiting Momiji and I get to see them all again. I am so thankful. I missed them so much. The only thing she didn't quite understand was why Shigure-san seemed to be avoiding her. This seemed very unlike him. True, she had been surrounded by Sohmas since they had arrived, but still it was strange. Mom, is Shigure-san angry with me about something of which I am unaware?
Just as she finished her thought, she heard a car pull into the driveway. It didn't sound like Momiji's Miata. Hmm…I wonder who is coming to visit at this hour? The front door opened quietly and Shigure stepped through.
"The door was unlocked so I let myself in, I hope you don't mind Tohru-kun."
"Shigure-san, how nice to see you. Momiji-kun and the boys aren't back yet, I am so sorry."
"Tohru-kun, I know they aren't here. It isn't them I've come to see. It is you. You've been so surrounded by all of us that there hasn't really been a chance to talk to you since we arrived. I thought perhaps we might talk for a while."
Kagura had the children in bed and was preparing to join Tori when she heard the car pull into the drive. She looked out the window and saw Shigure's tall frame exit the driver's seat. She sighed quietly in relief. Shigure-nii-san is finally ready to talk to Tori. I hope she can help him revive his dream.