Only A Moment

Chapter 2: Taidama, Koibito (I'm back, Sweetheart)

Disclaimer: w Wootness! Woot to the millionth power ppl! Someone actually REVIEWED Maze of the Heart:swoons: And it surprisingly WASN'T a flame. So yeah, off my long-term hiatus. Kay, well I sadly don't own Faruba. But I own Karl, Karin, Jono, and their newly bought dog, Little Gure-kun…You'll find out soon enough. Just not this chapter. Shopping is NEXT chapter! Anyways, I'd like everyone to inform me which Mabudachi member should Jono love? I've been tilting between either Shigure, or Ayame. Hatori's too serious to be gay. No offense to Hatori fans. Anyways, enjoy and review:tear: I have exactly ONE reader at this point. Ah yes, she happens to be my Beta Reader too. This is the first time Jenna's assisted me, so I'm going out on a limb here. But I put my faith in her, as she may be just as much a Ritsu fan as me. See Jack (my brother) , I'm NOT the only person who likes the timid, cross-dressing types! Ha ha! Ok, since you probally don't want to hear me babble anymore, enjoy!

Ritsu Sohma awoke that morning to the sounds of screaming. Yet the screams weren't terrified, no, they were enraged. Akito was throwing one of his frequent tantrums. Ritsu, too nervous to even stand, could only stare at the ceiling as he listened to the heated conversation between Akito and another person. The voice seemed familiar, but Ritsu couldn't place it. His eyebrows furrowed in thought and his delicate mouth turned down into a discontented frown.

'Where do I know that voice from? It's not clicking in my pathetic brain…' Ritsu thought bitterly, criticizing himself once again. He blamed everything he couldn't do on his lack of talents. He thought himself ordinary. He was at best average in studies, sports, and life in general. But he excelled in begging for apologies. If not in a slightly…harmful way. That little personality quirk got him staying at Hatori's house in the first place, because he'd hurt his ankle. He sat up and sighed.

"I'm so pathetic…" Ritsu sighed, his light chestnut hair dangling over his face in a way that hid his near crying eyes. Suddenly, the voice he'd heard earlier spoke up again, and it seemed louder, and had a fury to match Akito's.

"You little pompous jerk! How DARE you say I can't see my friends, and fellow family members! I know fully about the curse, and if I intend to hug one of them it won't take effect anyways! So you can just stuff that little attitude up your scrawny-" the voice screamed, and Ritsu was surprised at the terms that would've come out of the owner's mouth had he not been quieted by a sharp word from a voice, seemingly Hatori's.

'Wait! That's- -' Ritsu thought, only to have his thought finished by the eager bunny that bounded into the room and sat by him.

"That's Jono! Didja' hear Ritsu? Jono and Karin are back in town! Jono's with Akito right now, announcing them. But you probally knew that, half the Honke can hear him screaming at Akito…but that's probally not a good way to take advantage of Akito's good mood this morning, huh? And he was being so quiet until Jono came too…" Momiji said with a sigh, his blonde locks falling over his face. His brown eyes snapped open and looked into Ritsu's own hazel eyes, full of life and joy. "Are you gonna see Karin? Shigure called their house last night after she fell asleep and he and Jono talked for a while. She's taking me shopping! She's taking Shigure with us too, and Ayame decided to come, so it's not really personal for just me…but since all their close friends are going, do you want to go too Ritsu? Karin must be wanting to see you! You were best friends when we were little!"

Ritsu's naturally timid instinct to say 'no thank you' was overpowered by his burning need to see Karin, and he nodded slowly with a weak smile. He wasn't used to smiling, since he never felt he had a reason to. But since Tohru had told him he did have a purpose, he just had to find it, he'd grown slightly optimistic. And it had to be a good sign that Karin was back in town, when he'd just been pining for her last night! That was his reasoning anyways.

"We were really good friends Momiji…but you two were really close too! How do you know you're not her best friend? You two are like a brother and sister when you're together…" Ritsu said thoughtlessly, then his own words cut him like a knife. Before, he'd never thought of the possibility that he wasn't the most important person to her. Maybe Momiji had a closer bond with her than he had, because they'd been so much like siblings. Momiji, to Ritsu's surprise, frowned and shook his head. It was quite out of character for Momiji to be in a cross mood.

"Ne, Karin liked you best! Remember how she cried when they had to leave and how she kept saying she didn't want to leave you? She didn't want anyone else, just you Ritsu!" Momiji said sternly, trying to get his point through to the monkey. He in turn nodded, and remembered that fateful day…

"Ritsu-chan! Don't let them take me away! I don't wanna leave you! I wanna stay at the Onsen with you and your mama! Don't let her take me away!" little Karin pleaded, holding tightly to the kimono-clad young boy that was desperately trying to make sure that he didn't transform or cry. Her puffy, tear-stained face looked up at him and her eyes were bloodshot, a sign that she'd been crying for hours now. His features softened from tense fear, to that of affection and remorse. He found his hand lacing in and out of her long black hair without his knowing or order, but did nothing to stop himself.

"Shh…It's okay Ka-chan…You have to leave now, because your Okaa-san wants you to, but that doesn't mean we'll never see each other again. Promise that you'll come see me, or I'll come see you, when we get older! And then we can be friends again, and you won't have to cry anymore…" Ritsu said, his voice faltering, unused to this sudden bravery and masculine traits. Everyone surrounding them, which included Shigure, Ayame, Hatori, Momiji and his father, their cousin Kazuma and his son Kyo, Ritsu's parents, Jono, and Karin's mother, were amazed at his forwardness. Karin's eyes whipped up to look into his own, and Ritsu felt himself lose all self-control.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry I made you cry, I'm sorry I couldn't let you stay. I'm sorry I haven't been able to help you or make you happy! I'm so sorry that I'm so useless and can't do anything right for you, but please…forgive me and stay my friend. I thank you so much for being my friend. You mean so much to me…" Ritsu begged, through choked sobs. All the surrounding Sohma's, seeing that Ritsu had returned to his usual self and that the change wasn't permanent, sighed in dismay. All had hoped, even Karin's mother, that he had finally grown a backbone, only to see him transform into the scared child he was.

Karin hugged Ritsu tightly, and in a puff of orange smoke, she held a small brown monkey. He had tears in his eyes, and she held him close, as if afraid to let go. As she cried she smiled and nodded.

"I…I promise Koi-chan…I promise to come back, and nothing will change between us…I promise…" she said. This made all the elder spectators smile, and Kyo and Momiji just looked on remorsefully, almost in jealousy. She eventually had to let go, and they walked away, Karin still wiping tears from her eyes. Jono even, was shedding small rivers of tears, and his fists were tightly clenched as their mother led them away.

Momiji watched in discontent as Ritsu looked out the window and spaced out, a faraway look in his hazel eyes. Momiji knew all too well that Karin had loved Ritsu more than anyone. And to an extent, he was jealous. She was the big sister he didn't have, the girl who accepted him as a zodiac, but didn't chose to forget him, to reject him. In their first meeting, she'd adored him and lavished her attention on him, and couldn't understand why his mother didn't care for him.

He too looked off at something, but his interest was in that of a picture of Hatori, Ayame, Shigure, Jono, Karin, and himself. Karin had been infamous in the family for having either Momiji or Ritsu with her at all times. She even slept at their houses most of the time, or she retreated to Shigure, Ayame, or Hatori's homes. This was due to her mother's beatings. She was truly afraid of the woman, almost as much as she was terrified of Akito. Shigure and Hatori had always given her much refuge, while Ayame simply let her in and kept her busy by having her play with his near non-existent brother Yuki. Karin had never minded much though, as she often told Ritsu and Momiji later as they played. She had just been happy to take refuge there.

She'd always say that Shigure's house was the best. He ordered the best food. He told the best bedtime stories. He tucked her in the best. He played with her the best. He turned into the best puppy dog. He even snored the best. He could do no wrong in her eyes. Momiji suspected that he had been the childhood brother she hadn't had, because her own brother Jono ignored her and often times, would go out partying with Ayame while she was at Shigure's, and Hatori had always stopped in to tell them, then left to make sure Jono and Ayame didn't cause trouble as they often did.

That had partially been the reason that Ritsu had clung to Shigure, as Momiji suspected in his mind. Ritsu was always eager to please, and wanted to seek the approval of a person held in such high honor of being the 'best' at everything. That, and he was seeking someone who would devote such care and attention to him as well. And thus began the nickname 'Shigure-nii'. Momiji smiled lightly to himself. He had always liked that Karin had found a few people to make life easier for her. she hadn't had too much experience with Ayame as Jono did, but she liked him just the same. But with Hatori, Momiji, Ritsu, and Shigure there, she didn't have the need for Ayame and her brother. She had her own secluded, mini family. Shigure's parents had abandoned him, and Hatori's father had died, being the previous head of the family. So Momiji, Karin, and Ritsu's affection and innocent love was the very thing they craved at the time.

'We were all so happy…and then Daisha-san messed it all up!' Momiji thought angrily for once. Daisha Sohma was Karin and Jono's mothers' first name, and both Momiji and Shigure despised the woman with a burning passion. He remembered when Karin had shown how truly forgiving she was, and had pointed out this uncharacteristic behavior of his…

"I HATE HER! SHE'S SO MEAN TO YOU ONEE-CHAN!" a 6-year-old Momiji yelled, after seeing the brusies and marks on Karin's skin once again. Hatori was checking for broken bones, while Shigure was dabbing at a cut over her collarbone. Shigure nodded in agreement.

"She's a truly wicked woman. Your mother is horrible Ka-chan…" Shigure said sternly, as if scolding Karin. But the child just shook her head furiously, her black hair shifting around her face.

"NO! She's still my Okaa-san! I must…I must have done something wrong again. And besides, Daddy always said she was very sick. He said she's sick like Akito's sick. So he said she'd get better after a while, and that Akito would get better too!" Karin said pleadingly. Without Ritsu there, because he was at the Onsen with his mother, she was left to fend for herself. But Hatori, as usual, became her temporary knight in shining armor. Or so she thought.

"You're really a forgiving child Karin…and the way you hope for people that have hurt you to get better is amazing…but, though extreme in their opinions of her, Shigure and Momiji are right. What she's done to you is an extreme cruelty that no child, or young lady like yourself for that matter, should have to endure…" Hatori said in his monotone way of talking as he gently wrapped a bandage around her arm, which was indeed broken, yet she wasn't crying.

Momiji looked up to her. she was so brave and kind. He wanted to be able to think that way about HIS mother, but he couldn't. He was selfish in his mind, because he didn't want his mother to forget him, even if it meant her happiness and her health. He did want her to get better, but not without him.

That same monotone voice broke both out of their thoughts in an instant more.

"Ritsu. Momiji. Shigure and Jono are leaving, something about shopping with Karin. You should go with them…" Hatori said, his steely cold eyes looking at them. They nodded and Momiji dragged Ritsu out.

"Time to shop with Karin!" Momiji yelped joyously. His energy surprised even himself. 'THAT came out too eager…' he thought worriedly. He had known for a while why he had always been so jealous of Ritsu and Karin's close relationship. He wanted that same closeness with someone, and almost scolded himself for inviting Ritsu, even though Ritsu was one of his favorite relatives. Hatori just ignored it if he even heard it in Momiji's voice, and Ritsu didn't seem to catch it, so they just went out and met Shigure and Jono. The two were talking and laughing just like old times, only Jono seemed softer, and not so untouchable as he had when they were younger. And then they started off to Karin, whom was presently waiting outside the Honke doors.

"Momiji-chan! How are you?" Karin giggled as Momiji ran to her and hugged her, turning into a bunny. She looked around for a second, then smiled. No one had seen his transformation. Her eyes caught the tousled black hair, and shining brown eyes and she gasped.

"SHIGURE-NII!" she screamed happily. Momiji turned back and smiled as he dressed, watching her run to the dog of the zodiac. His open arms were ready and he had been bracing himself for impact all morning. And the impact came swiftly. She leaped into his arms, turning him into a dog, and hugged him fiercely.

"Shigure-niiiiiiiii! I've missed you soooooooooooo much! How did things with Akito-sama work out? Have you seen Rit………su?" Karin said, at first a happy squeal, then to a whisper as she saw Ritsu again. He wasn't crying this time though, thank goodness. 'That's an improvement I guess…' she thought optimistically. He just gaped at her, unable to comprehend that she was there, and this wasn't a dream. She also had to keep herself from pinching her arm to see if she'd wake up.

"Ka-chan?" Ritsu said hopefully, thinking maybe this was someone else. She nodded with a smile.

"Hai. Taidama, Koibito-chan…" she said, in that same soft voice she'd had years ago. They blushed simultaneously, and looked away with smiles. Shigure transformed in short order, and Ayame waltzed up with a goofy smile, as always when shopping was in order. Then they were off. Karin was holding the hands of both her brothers, one biological, one just her brother in their minds. And they were both happy to comply to her demands. She tried to shy away from Ritsu by using them as her personal barrier, but he trailed right behind her like a little chick, like he had when they were young. Only the roles were reversed.

'I see why Koi-chan said that this was a little unnerving…it's stressful having someone be so close behind you…even if I'm glad it's him…' she thought, half in reflection, half in bliss. She was truly home now. She had finally come back to her long forgotten life. She finally was with people she loved, and she was finally at ease with the world. All thoughts of high school girls, and of Ritsu's faltering affection, and even of Akito, dispelled from her mind as she walked down the street with her dear family. She was finally happy again.

An: Heya! Hoped you liked it! They get a doggie next chapter! Very funny chapter. Though the angsty thoughts are still there, it's much more light hearted than the first chap. This is too I think. That's good, we don't want the WHOLE story to be depressing. Just about 50 of it. - - Anywho, please review, and thanks again Jenna-sama for being my beta reader! Until next chapter, and here are the translations again!

Koibito – sweetheart/beloved Nii-chan – Big brother (Friendly)
Anata ga suki desu – I love you Okaa-san – Mother (Respectful) O-yasumi nasai – Good evening/night
Kentou/Kôun o inori masû – Good luck

"name"-chan – familiar suffix, implies a close relationship (not necessarily romantic in nature)
"name"-kun – familiar suffix used almost only when talking to a young man

"name"-sama – honorific suffix, implies great respect (or in this case, fear)

Ne – no? Ie – another word for no hai – yes Taidama – I'm back

LATER! w

Luv, Kinruta