Well, I'm back from my vacation, and I have loads of Indian stuff to share!!!!! (I mean info by the way.) I'm now going to make a big change to the fic since it is getting too long for me. I'll try to make it short and quick to the point, but I have the tendency to prolong things. (Yes, I know that's a bad habit.) Anyway, I've devised a new way to explain things. If you see (how many numbers of times depending on the number of times I want to explain, in other words1 , 2... you get the point) then it will be explained in the Author's Notes. Happy reading!!!!!
Disclaimer- I don't own Fruits Basket or any of it's characters. They all belong to Takaya- sensei. I wouldn't want to steal the story anyway because that would just be plain mean. (If the story was mine, I wouldn't put so much incest in it!! I mean I don't mean to be insulting Takaya-sensei, but is she interested in incest or something? Well I guess that's what happens when you are cursed not to be able to hug anyone besides the people in your own family.)
Chapter Seven- Diwali Celebration and a Surprise Letter
It had been a few weeks after the Culture Festival and Hitoshi was still working on the plans for something late into the night. After school, she would immediately go into her room and lock the door working for hours and hours on some unknown thing. She was taking so much time in planning the mysterious project that Shigure took over the household duties which wasn't going to well. One day, as Kyo was picking his way through the rubbish that had now appeared in the house, he noticed that today that Hitoshi was writing the plans for the mysterious event out on the dining table. He slid very quietly across the floor until he finally reached the table. He peeked his head over the edge of the table trying to glance at Hitoshi's plans. Just as he was reading them, he felt a large blow to his head and collapsed. Hitoshi gave away a silent smile as Kyo shot up yelling,
"WHAT THE HELL?!!!!!!!?" Hitoshi silently replied,
"I suggest that you not look at these understood?"
"I'll look at them if I want!!!!!!!! Besides, you're my slave anyway!!!!!!!!!"
"Correction, I'm Shigure- san's slave, not yours. And even if I was your slave I wouldn't listen to you anyway."
"GAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" Seeing that she wasn't going to get any work done in the kitchen, she picked up her stuff and left the room while the fuming Kyo watched her. He yelled at her saying,
"Wait a minute!!!!!! I'm talking to you bitch!!!!!!! Hey!!!!!!"
Hitoshi ignored the curses of Kyo and continued to proceed to her room until Kyo surprisingly grabbed her hand. Hitoshi's eyes widened and her cheeks turned a bright red as she abruptly stopped in her tracks. She slowly turned around to see Kyo's reaction and found his to be exactly like hers. In embarrassment, both of them let go of each other's hand and each one of them went their separate ways. When Hitoshi reached her room and locked the door, she shoved her back against the door and gasped wildly.
"Did he really mean to do that? Why did he anyway, and why do I care?!!!!? Aaarrrgh!!!! It doesn't make any sense!"
thought Hitoshi. After she had calmed herself down, she went back to her plans. Finally, after a monstrous effect, she finished them. Hitoshi took a large breath of relief and leaned back in her chair gazing up at the ceiling.
"I wonder if everyone will like it,"
thought Hitoshi to herself. With that, Hitoshi jumped out of the chair, unlocked the door with the plans firmly in her hand, and then walked out the door to find Shigure. As she was walking across the house, she came across Kyo who was sitting "innocently" on the kotatsu. Hitoshi ignored Kyo walking right past him. Seeing that Hitoshi wasn't paying attention to him, Kyo started to stalk Hitoshi. When he was right behind her, looking over her shoulder trying to read the plans, Hitoshi silently spoke to Kyo while still looking straight ahead.
"If you want to keep your face, I suggest that you stop looking. Anyway, you'll find out soon enough."
Hitoshi kept on walking leaving Kyo dumbfounded. A week had passed, and there was no sign of Hitoshi revealing what the plans were meant for. Kyo was getting very VERY aggravated at Hitoshi's silence, and Shigure's failure to care about it. Suddenly, one day while Shigure, Hitoshi, and Kyo were sitting down and eating Hitoshi's well-prepared dinner, Kyo burst.
"WHAT THE HELL HITOSHI?!!!!!!!!!?" Unfazed, Hitoshi replied,
"I beg your pardon?"
"DON'T YOU "I BEG YOUR PARDON ME!!!!!!!" WHAT IS UP WITH THOSE PLANS?!!!!!!" screamed Kyo right into Hitoshi's face. Still undisturbed, she replied very quietly into Kyo face,
"I told you already. You will find out in a few days."
"TO HELL WITH THAT!!!! I WANNA FIND OUT NOW YOU BITCH!!!!!!!!" yelled Kyo. Hitoshi shook her head and said,
"Tsk, tsk. Looks like I'm gonna have to teach you lesson. Stay here."
Hitoshi left the room momentarily with Kyo still fuming and Shigure ignoring them. When Hitoshi returned, she was holding something behind her back and smiling mischeviously. Kyo saw that Hitoshi had returned and was about to yell at her until he saw her expression on her face. He started to blush violently when Hitoshi moved her face so that her's and Kyo's nose were touching ever so lightly. Then, Hitoshi spoke with a very sultry voice saying,
"So, you want to find out what those plans were about huh?" Kyo looked into Hitoshi's green eyes and stuttered saying,
"Uhh......... Errrr....well, yes."
"Then I guess I'll have to tell you, but I have to tell you something else so listen," said Hitoshi in that sultry voice. She moved even closer on Kyo's face while Kyo backed away until he was out of the chair and backed up against the wall with Hitoshi still staring at him. This time, Hitoshi gently closed her eyes and blew slowly across Kyo's face pushing apart his orange hair and making him even more flushed. Meanwhile, Shigure was watching them with much interest as Hitoshi moved her face closer until her lips were about a millimeter away from Kyo's.
"Do you want to hear what I want to tell you Kyo-kun?" said Hitoshi very softly blowing air across Kyo's lips.
"Umm...eeeerrr...well, sure," replied Kyo still very fazed. Suddenly, Hitoshi hand moved to the back of Kyo's head so that both of their foreheads were touching. Then Hitoshi slowly closed her eyes moving towards Kyo's face while whispering,
"I think that..."
Kyo then shut his eyes as well expecting a kiss, but instead, Hitoshi jabbed her eyes open took the objects that were behind her back and shoved them into Kyo's mouth. Hitoshi moved away from Kyo disgusted at the stunned Kyo who now had raw leeks (straight from Yuki's former "secret base.") sprouting out from his mouth and went to sit back at the table where Shigure had gone back to eating. The next day, Hitoshi was back to normal with cleaning and trying to ignore Kyo who was cursing at her for stuffing leeks down her throat. When Hitoshi was done cleaning the house she handed a list to the furious Kyo saying,
"Get these things for me, k?"
Kyo stopped arguing with Hitoshi and stared at the list with amazement wondering how Hitoshi got shopping out of him getting mad at her for stuffing leeks in his mouth. Annoyed, Hitoshi said,
"Do I have to spell it out for you baka?!!!!? Me...want...you...to...get...things...on...list...for...me. God Neanderthal!!"
Kyo now developed a throbbing vein on his forehead, which grew and grew with every passing second and Hitoshi's attitude didn't exactly help it either. When Kyo was about to burst into Hitoshi's face, Shigure stormed into the room seeming rushed and shooed Kyo outside saying,
"You heard Hitoshi-chan!!!! Now go get those things before all of the stores close; here's some money so get going!!!!!"
Kyo was about to ask something, but Shigure shut the door in his face and scurried back inside the house. Kyo then started to walk out into the sidewalk (honestly, I really don't know if they have sidewalks in Japan, I bet they do, I mean it's such a safe society) muttering to himself as he looked at the list.
"Crud!! This will take me all day to find (it's afternoon)!!! Why does that horror of humanity (that's Hitoshi) want a FFX-2 costume of Rikku anyway?"
As Kyo went on mumbling to himself, Shigure's house was about to get a major transformation. When Kyo returned home late in the evening, an elegantly dressed Hitoshi greeted him. She was dressed in a short, rust colored sleeveless top that was decorated with what looked like upon closer inspection (no, Kyo did not start peering at her chest) like little coils of metal very densely placed together.1 She also wore a matching skirt (it's made of that rust colored fabric) that was decorated with those little metal coils that were more dense at the bottom of the skirt, but grew less dense as the skirt ended (at the top of the skirt, it doesn't have any work while at the bottom, the work is very dense like the shirt). 2
"Vankaum! Oule va!!!"3
said Hitoshi to a very puzzled Kyo. Kyo just stared Hitoshi for a while wondering what she meant until Hitoshi exclaimed,
"Oh you're no fun!!! Come inside you baka!!!"
She dragged Kyo inside and took the many things that he had bought from the shops to put them away. When Kyo was free from his burden, he finally got a chance to examine what Hitoshi had done with the house. All of the rooms were decorated with small oil filled lamps that were placed into every window and ledge inside and outside the house and all of them were lit giving each room an enchanting gleam. 4 Kyo also noticed that every room was smelling very relaxing due to the sticks of incense that were placed in every room, and 5 he also noticed some long pieces of different colored silk that were spread everywhere. 6 When he went into the kitchen, he noticed that Hitoshi was inside and he also noticed the numerous delicacies that were lined up on the counter each one giving it's own wondrous smell. Suddenly, Hitoshi rushed up to him holding a ladle with some soup-like mixture in it. She was blowing on it gently while with her other hand she held underneath the spoon just in case it might drip.
"Open your mouth,"
said Hitoshi moving the ladle closer to his mouth. Hitoshi opened her mouth along with Kyo's (you know how mums do it when they want their kid to eat something, kind of like that.) keeping her hand underneath the spoon until she had drizzled all of the concoction down Kyo's throat. Hitoshi waited anxiously as Kyo surveyed the soup.
"It's pretty good. What's this stuff supposed to be anyway?" questioned Kyo. Hitoshi breathed a sigh of relief and replied,
"It's rasam. Basically, it's like watery soup that the Tamilians like to eat as a main course (at least I do!!!! I love this stuff!!!!!). It's supposed to be a combination of sour (puli) and spiciness (kara). Do you want some more?"
As Hitoshi finished, she poured more of the rasam into a glass handing it to Kyo. Cautiously Kyo asked,
"Does it have leeks in it?"
Hitoshi laughed and handed the glass to Kyo saying,
"I assure you, all of these dishes are leek free (I don't think that Tamilians have the tendency to use leeks, my mum doesn't anyway)."
Then Kyo took the glass and took a large swig from it Kyo was all right for a few seconds, but he started to cough and choke violently as though something was stuck in his throat. Hitoshi rushed towards him from the stove and started hitting his back (this is what my mum does when I have coughing fits, yes I have coughing fits) until Kyo stopped coughing. As Kyo gasped for air, Hitoshi knelt in front of him saying very humorously,
"A little too spicy for you no?"
Kyo nodded in reply and gave the glass filled with the rasam to Hitoshi. She looked at it longingly as Kyo stood up. Suddenly, Hitoshi leaned her head back and drank all the remaining rasam in the cup (which is waaaay more than half, yes Kyo is a weakling to kara things). Kyo stared at Hitoshi with one eye twitching and his finger pointing stammering,
"Y,y,y,y...ou DRANK ALL OF IT?!!!!!?" Hitoshi laughed nervously saying,
"Yeah. Sensei always tells me not to do it, but I love this stuff, anyway, you gotta go get ready!!!!!"
"Ready for what?" asked Kyo.
"For.... DIWALI!!!!!!!!" said Hitoshi very cheerfully fireworks bursting .
"What's Diwali?" questioned Kyo bringing down Hitoshi's happy moment.
"No time, now I want you to change into this,"
Hitoshi had stepped out of the kitchen dragging Kyo along with her and she then revealed an Indian outfit which basically looked like a big long shirt with loose pants and a long colorful red scarf7 Kyo took the outfit and looked at it quizzically. Hitoshi was getting very impatient at Kyo's absent-minded staring, so she said,
"Listen, do you want me to put it on for you?!!!?" Kyo blushed madly at the thought of Hitoshi seeing him half-naked and yelled back obviously very flustered,
"HELL NO!!!!!!! I just don't know how this is supposed to look!!! Just don't come in when I'm changing."
"Just look at Shigure-san. He's wearing the same thing that you're supposed to be wearing right now!! Anyway, who would want to see you half-naked anyway? Eeeerrrrgh!!!!! Not a pretty sight!!!" said Hitoshi trying to find Shigure. When she did, she forced Shigure to stand in front of Kyo and turn around 360 degrees so that Kyo could see how the outfit should look. Kyo took advantage of the situation by forcing Shigure to keep turning around since "he really didn't understand how the outfit was supposed to be worn cough, cough ." Both Hitoshi and Shigure were now getting very annoyed, so Shigure gave Hitoshi permission to threaten Kyo by saying that if he didn't change into the outfit in less than five minutes she would gouge his eyes out with her bare hands and display them in the kitchen on a spear (this is a very common threat that I use with boys who annoy me, they usually leave me alone; very wise decision really wicked smile ). Kyo immediately went inside his room to change. When he did come out, Hitoshi at that time was rearranging something that was in front of room and was very surprised at his sudden arrival. She smiled and elbowed him playfully saying,
"So Kyo, are you ready to bhangara 8?!!!!!!?"
Kyo just stared at Hitoshi who demonstrated bhangara for Kyo (without Kyo's approval). Hitoshi just started madly dancing while Kyo stared at her with one eye twitching. Seeing that all that Kyo was doing was staring at her like she was a psychopath, Hitoshi stopped dancing and said to Kyo,
"Listen, everyone from your insane family the Sohmas is coming for the Diwali celebration, so I want you to be on your best behavior. Shigure-san, you and me all have jobs."
"What's my job supposed to be?" questioned Kyo seemingly interested (which is veeeeeeerrrrry unusual for Kyo unless it involves fish, anyway, back to the story).
"You're gonna be servant boy," said Hitoshi very confidently.
"WHAT?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!? WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY I'M "SERVANT BOY?!!!!!!!!!!?"" asked Kyo who wanted nothing to do with serving his own family (which includes Haru-kun silent laugh ).
"I mean that you will be known as da, and you will help Shigure-san and me with everything we ask for and you will also help all of your relatives that are coming to the celebration. Yes, that includes your perverted cousin Hatsuharu Sohma the stupid cow," explained Hitoshi very annoyed.
"Why the hell should I be known as "da," and why do I have to listen to you?!!!!!!!? You mean I have to serve the stupid asshole cow!!!!!!!!! That is definitely degrading!!!!!!!" exclaimed Kyo. Hitoshi sighed and fished out a paper from the waistband of her skirt. When she did find it, she said,
"First of, da is the term that people in India often use for servants and friends, so if someone unknown calls you "da," that is considered the most degrading thing to say to any one. That's why I picked it out for you!!!!!! HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Second, Shigure-san handed me this liable document which gives me authority over all matters concerning this occasion," Hitoshi handed the document to Kyo who studied it while Hitoshi bent down to her ankle seemingly adjusting something; then Hitoshi took out a ninja star (it was attached to her ankle) holding it to Kyo's neck while pinning him to the wall, "so that means I could "accidentally" kill you if you don't listen to me," Kyo looked into Hitoshi's eyes and saw a familiar gleam that told him Hitoshi wasn't afraid to kill, "right now more than anything, I want all of you Sohma's dead and this could be a wondrous start."
Hitoshi finished speaking still holding the ninja star up to his throat, but she eventually let go of him. She pointed in the direction of the kitchen and muttered very strictly,
"Go." Kyo immediately obeyed and rushed of to the kitchen. Meanwhile, Hitoshi was still standing in the very exact same spot thinking to herself,
"Who am I?" She hung her head down and knelt clutching her heart still thinking,
"What have I become?" Slowly, a tear ran down her cheek.
"Who is this monster?" whispered Hitoshi to no one in particular.
Kyo hadn't fully obeyed Hitoshi's simple yet clear order and he was standing in front of the kitchen hidden from Hitoshi's view but able to see everything including Hitoshi's breakdown. Right then, (no matter how much he denied it later) Kyo just wanted to be able to comfort Hitoshi until he realized that Hitoshi was walking in the direction of the kitchen. Kyo put on an apron ( really loud laugh ) and pretended that he was checking all of the dishes when Hitoshi arrived inside the kitchen with her death face. Kyo smiled brightly (soooo fake) and waved at Hitoshi nervously as multiple sweat drops formed across his head. Hitoshi nodded at Kyo and walked in the opposite direction allowing Kyo to breathe a sigh of relief, but just as soon as he relaxed, Hitoshi returned to the kitchen waiting in the doorway.
"Oh, and Kyo-kun, if you tell anyone what you saw when you were supposed to be in the kitchen, I will slice your throat so fast that your vocal cords will be crushed and you will die in a matter of seconds. Understood?" declared Hitoshi.
Her hair was hanging all around her face while she was leaning against the doorway, but when she finished speaking she slowly lifted her head up revealing her narrowed eyes that could frighten any living being. Kyo nodded back and Hitoshi left the kitchen silently. Finally after what seemed like hours, the Sohma family started to trail into Shigure's house. First came Hatori-san (when he saw Hitoshi greeting him he was veeerrrrry nervous) then Hatsuharu-kun came next (to Hitoshi's horror) and the rest of the family (yes, that including Momiji-kun, Ritsu-san, Ayame- san, Hiro-kun, Kisa-chan, Kagura-chan but not Akito-san). When Kisa came inside, Hitoshi knelt down in front of her asking her,
"Well hello!!!!! What's your name?" Kisa was a little surprised at first at Hitoshi's kindness. She had not experienced such happiness since Tohru had left for T-dai. Slowly Kisa replied in a meek voice,
"Sohma Kisa."
"Well that means you're the tiger right?" asked Hitoshi still smiling. Kisa nodded shyly and gave back a small smile. Suddenly, Hiro stepped out from behind Kisa yelling in Hitoshi's face saying,
"She's doesn't need your help!!" Hitoshi was a little surprised at his outburst, but she asked him,
"So what's your name squirt?"
"Sohma Hiro, and don't call me squirt!" replied Hiro very agitated (surprise).
"Very well...sheep," said Hitoshi as she got up. Hiro looked in awe at Hitoshi for a minute until she lightly ruffled his hair and walked away with Kisa tailing behind her (imagine Tohru doing that to him, that would be like signing your own death sentence). When Hitoshi went inside the kitchen to check on servant boy (Kyo), Kisa was still following her around very shy. Hitoshi was obviously very amused of a 15-year-old that was following her everywhere (so amused that she started to giggle, yes very creepy). Kyo was very aggravated and still couldn't get over the face that he was in an apron and that he was to be servant boy.
"GET THAT BLOODY GIRL OUT OF THE KITCHEN!!!!!!!!!" yelled Kyo to Kisa who was very startled and upset at the outburst. Hitoshi was very upset along with Kisa at Kyo's screaming. She narrowed her eyes at Kyo as he walked backward nervously regretting his words.
"I'm gonna make you wish you never said that you punk!" exclaimed Hitoshi with her green eyes flaming and her hand raised in the air in the form of a fist.
"There's no need to do that Hitoshi-chan," said a voice that came from the doorway. Hitoshi whipped her head around to see who it was and her jaw plummeted to the floor when she did. The figure that was standing in the doorway was Hatsuharu. One of Hitoshi's eyes twitched as Hatsuharu approached her and placed his hands on her shoulders saying,
"I'll make sure that he regrets those very same words." He then moved in closer to her face to kiss her, but Hitoshi delivered a well deserved and a well-aimed punch to Haru's nose which caused him to collapse to the ground. When Haru did get up, Hitoshi yelled at him saying,
"GET OUT YOU BASTARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She waved her fists in his face until he finally exited the kitchen.
"Do I have to leave too Hitoshi-san?" questioned Kisa very meekly.
"Heavens no!! You can help Kyo-kun in the kitchen, RIGHT KYO-KUN?!!!!!!!?" said Hitoshi to Kyo hinting to him that if he didn't cooperate then his eyes would be found in the bathroom rather than inside his head. Kyo grumbled back to Kisa who looked very hopeful,
"Sure, why not? Just don't spill anything. I'll probably get into trouble." Kisa then smiled and started to help Kyo while Hitoshi went back to the living room where she was greeted by a cheerful Momiji who said,
"Guten tag!!! Du fein!! (Hello! You're pretty!!)" Hitoshi smiled and replied,
"Danke! Wie heisst du (Thank you. What is your name?)?"
"Ich Momiji Sohma. Ich halb- Deutsch und halb- Japanisch. Du einer Sprache maechtig sein Deutsch? (I'm Momiji Sohma. I'm half-German and half-Japanese. You speak German?)?"
"Ja!!!! Ich..." Hitoshi stopped talking since Kyo was staring at her as though she was mad.
"Take a picture!!! It'll last longer!!!!" yelled Hitoshi very annoyed.
"You mean you can understand this horror of hell?!!!!?" exclaimed Kyo pointing at a very upset Momiji.
"Yes I can, and he isn't a horror of hell Kyo-chibi-chan," said Hitoshi very satisfyingly.
"DON'T YOU DARE CALL ME THAT YOU BITCH!!!!!!!!!" yelled Kyo raising his fist.
"DON'T YOU DARE CURSE KYO-CHIBI-CHIBI-CHIBI-CHAN!!!" replied Hitoshi.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!" screamed Kyo flinging his already raised fist in the direction of Hitoshi's face, but Hitoshi caught it. Kyo stopped his idiotic screaming when he realized that Hitoshi had caught his fist and was digging her nails into his skin.
"So this is how you want to act, well there are solutions for this," said Hitoshi darkly. She twisted Kyo's arm behind his back and kicked him so that he collapsed face first onto the floor with his arm still in Hitoshi's iron grip. Hitoshi then squatted beside Kyo's wincing form and whispered into his ear saying,
"If you curse once more today I will rip this stupid arm out from its socket and shove it in your dirty mouth. Understood?" Hitoshi gave Kyo's arm an extra tug to have a point and he yelled saying,
"AAAAHHH!!!! Yes!!!!! Whatever you say!!!!!" Hitoshi got up still holding onto Kyo's arm. Then slowly released her grip, which allowed Kyo the opportunity to free his grip. Hitoshi still stood hovering above Kyo as he massaged his wrist and his side. Suddenly Hitoshi squatted right beside Kyo (to his horror) and said,
"Du gehst nir auf die nerven (You're a pain in the neck). I hope you know that." Kyo just nodded as Hitoshi held her hand up beside his ear. Afraid that Hitoshi was going to hit him again, Kyo winced but all he felt was a slight jab. He opened his eyes to find that Hitoshi had just poked his cheek and the finger was still there. Hitoshi then got up offering her hand saying,
"Gimme your hand." Kyo took Hitoshi's hand as she yanked him upwards, but she wasn't finished yet. She lightly touched his hand with her fingers and brought that hand up to both of her eyes 9. Kyo stared at Hitoshi quizzically, but all he got was an evil stare. Momiji surprisingly hadn't gotten afraid of Hitoshi and asked Hitoshi,
"So, you know about the curse right?" Hitoshi nodded happily.
"Then can I hug you?!!!!!!!?" pleaded Momiji. Hitoshi's jaw dropped to the floor as Kyo whispered to her,
"What are you gonna do now genius?"
"Shut up!!!!" whispered Hitoshi back to Kyo.
"Eeeerr, Momiji-kun, why would you want to hug me?" questioned Hitoshi nervously.
"Cause you look like the type that can be hugged!!! So can I hug you yet?" asked Momiji rushing towards Hitoshi with open arms. Hitoshi held Momiji off by using her hand on his head to push him away. While the power struggle was going, Hitoshi hissed at Kyo angrily,
"Help me you baka!!!" Kyo showed a cold shoulder and said shrewdly,
"Why should I?" Hitoshi hissed back still trying to keep Momiji away from her,
"If you don't I'll decapitate you!!!"
"Threats aren't gonna work anymore." This time Hitoshi realized that Kyo wasn't going to listen to her even if she did threaten him. She gritted her teeth together moving both of her hands to Momiji's head. Then she hissed loudly to Kyo saying,
"If you don't help me, I'll kiss you!" Kyo stopped doing everything (except breathing). Everything suddenly seemed to shut down until a rush of emotions and questions surged into his brain. Ignoring them temporarily, Kyo scurried over to Hitoshi who was still struggling with Momiji (who can't see cause Hitoshi is covering his eyes) and leaned over near her mouth with his hand cupped near his ear saying,
"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you." Hitoshi's forehead began to throb in anger, but now wasn't the time to lose her temper. She leaned into Kyo's ear and repeated,
"If you don't help me, I will kiss you." Each word echoed into Kyo's brain like Hitoshi was yelling the statement out into a canyon. Kyo turned his head around so he was eye to eye with Hitoshi. He saw that she was a little flustered, but she was determined in doing what she had stated if needed. Kyo then stood up looking very smug saying,
"Well, I didn't know that you thought of me that way!! Anyway, I was sure my charm would get to you soon!" He gave a fake smile and winked at Hitoshi, which caused her forehead to throb even more. She hissed back to Kyo negating everything he had said,
"Hell no!!!! Anyway, what's with "I was sure my charm you get to you..." Blah blah!! I hate every fiber of your being and I wish that you were dead!!"
"Then why did you want to kiss me?" questioned Kyo mischievously. Hitoshi freed one of her hands from Momiji who was still struggling (he really wants that hug) and turned it into a fist complete with a throbbing vein to wave in front of Kyo. Kyo was unfazed by the fist and Hitoshi soon realized this.
"Because you won't listen to violence, so I had to come up with some other method," said Hitoshi. Then Kyo questioned obviously very interested (Hummmm...),
"How do you propose you do it anyway when you have an idiot who would run after you just to hug you and me running away from you?"
"Well, I'll let the idiot go and run after you until I do catch up with you."
"Who says that you might outrun me?"
"I can run very quickly," replied Hitoshi, "I'll give you five seconds. If you don't help me get rid of this menace, I will kiss you." Hitoshi held up her free hand mouthing along the fingers. Kyo was thinking very quickly,
"Do I want...? Why do I...? Would she...?" Along with his thoughts, his heart was racing as well accompanied with flaming cheeks (shojo!!!). Hitoshi was now holding up two fingers, then one then... Kyo grabbed Momiji's head and pulled it back saying,
"Hold on lover boy." Momiji grew very upset at Kyo's sudden and late interference in his way of hugging Hitoshi. Hitoshi on the other hand was very much relieved. She straightened up stretching her back and watching the argument between Momiji and Kyo.
"Let me go! I wanna hug Hitoshi-chan (he learnt her name from Kisa)!!!" pleaded Momiji.
"Nope," said Kyo still holding onto Momiji's head making sure he couldn't escape.
"I bet you're hogging Hitoshi-chan!!!!! You just want her all to yourself so you can hug her all you want secretly and maybe even kiss her!!" exclaimed Momiji. Hitoshi was in the middle of stretching her back in an odd position, but when she heard Momiji's exclamation; she collapsed to the floor. Kyo just blushed very violently (in fact, when Hitoshi looked at him, she mistook him for a tomato) loosening his grip on Momiji's head in shock. Momiji took this opportunity to free himself from the tomato Kyo and rushed towards Hitoshi with open arms. Hitoshi could do little to protect herself, so all she did was close her eyes painfully awaiting the upcoming doom, but it never came. When Hitoshi opened her eyes, she found Momiji to be about a few inches away from her with Kyo sitting on him. Momiji was now crying because he wanted to hug Hitoshi and Kyo's weight was hurting him.
"Get off me!!!! I wanna hug Hitoshi-chan you Hitoshi hogger!!!" exclaimed Momiji flailing his arms.
"Real great threat man. Oh and by the way, my thoughts on your last comment, yes I'm hogging Hitoshi-chan," said Kyo without any form of uncertainty.
"Eeerrrr...Kyo-kun?" questioned Hitoshi nervously. Kyo ignored Hitoshi and continued talking,
"I do want her all to myself and no one is allowed to touch her. Understood brat?" declared Kyo very seriously towards Momiji.
"As if!! Prove it to me right now you meanie!!!" exclaimed Momiji crossing his hands in front of his chest.
"No problem," replied Kyo. He moved past the agitated and disappointed Momiji and crouched beside Hitoshi. Hitoshi started mumbling something, but Kyo didn't care. He picked her up bridal style (extreme shojo!!!!!!) and walked in the direction of the living room. Hitoshi just stared at Kyo's face while Kyo stared straight back (minus the blushing). When they rounded the corner, everyone who was in the living room (which is everyone) turned to see the couple. Kyo dropped Hitoshi in surprise and started to stammer uncontrollably at the crowd (whom might I add is staring very closely). Hitoshi in anger, spun her leg underneath Kyo causing him to fall down to the floor.
"I am very sorry for the interruption," said Hitoshi very professionally, "but this baka that is now lying on the floor..." Hitoshi never got to finish due to the fact that Kyo had grabbed her ankles and pulled her feet underneath her. Hitoshi shook off the shock from the fall and got up looking very evil saying,
"You're gonna wish you never did that pervert." With that, the chase started with Hitoshi running after Kyo with a lamp she had found. Meanwhile, the crowd was developing sweat drops on their heads as Hitoshi ran after Kyo waving around a lamp like a weapon while Kyo just tried to keep running. Hatori asked Shigure,
"Do they do this on a regular basis?" Shigure replied smiling but with a sweat drop on his forehead,
"Yes, but Hitoshi usually threatens to kill him and cut up his body." After a few minutes of running and threatening Kyo, Hitoshi stopped and waited for Kyo to come around. When he did, she whacked him on the head with the lamp and motioned the stunned crowd to the kitchen while Hitoshi picked up the pieces of the lamp trying to avoid Kyo's twitching body. When Hitoshi reached the kitchen, she urged the crowd to sit in a circle while she went back to the living room to drag Kyo back to the kitchen so she could force him to work. Kyo then passed out banana leaves while Hitoshi sprinkled a bit of water onto them. 10 Then the food distribution began. As each serving was placed onto each of the banana leaf, each of the individuals stared at it longingly, but not one of them took a bite until Hitoshi sat down beside Kisa and Haru (to her dismay, but to his joy) and Kyo sat down between Kisa and Hiro (to Hiro's dismay). The crowd then started searching frantically for their sets of chopsticks while Hitoshi smiled brightly. Finally Kisa asked Hitoshi,
"Um, Hitoshi-san, where are the chopsticks?" Everyone was interested since their stomachs were rumbling and all of the food was making them nervous. Hitoshi sighed and clapped her hands motioned Kyo to move to the kitchen to get the chopsticks. Kyo stomped into the kitchen and laid the chopsticks beside each person and plummeted down onto his spot. As the whole group attacked the food with their chopsticks, Hitoshi pushed her chopsticks away and began mixing the rise with her hands. Kisa stopped her eating and watched Hitoshi as she quickly mixed her rice and gently ate it. Then, Kisa put down her chopsticks and started to eat with her hand. Hitoshi smiled at her and continued to eat as Kisa struggled to bring food into her mouth. Soon, everyone except Kyo was trying to eat with his or her hands. Kyo just stared at everyone with disgust as they talked amongst themselves asking Hitoshi what the best way was to eat with their hands. Hitoshi just laughed and demonstrated repeatedly as Kyo glared fiercely at her. Finally seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Kyo slowly put down his chopsticks and tried to eat with his hands. Hitoshi stopped eating and looked amazed as Kyo struggled to get a little bit of rice mixed with rasam into his mouth. Seeing that Kyo was too busy trying to figure out how to get food into his mouth without it getting onto himself, Hitoshi smiled gently at him and went back to eating. When the kitchen was cleared of any sign of eating, Hitoshi ushered the crowd into the living room that had now been cleared to house the giant number of guests. Hitoshi then announced to the crowd saying,
"Due to Diwali tradition, I will celebrate by dancing for you. I hope you all enjoy it. The song is called Dhole Tharo Dhole Bhaje from the movie Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam."11 She smiled and asked Kyo to turn on the music while everyone waited with bated breath. The music first started out slow, but then it sped up very quickly and suddenly. The music kept on speeding up and with it, Hitoshi danced her heart out moving her hips and spinning looking very happy. Kyo stared in amazement as she danced. She seemed to have put the whole audience under a trance watching her every move. Seeing Kyo was watching her, Hitoshi smiled and winked at him causing him to go into tomato mode. When she was finished dancing, she was panting, but everyone including stood up clapping madly. Hitoshi blushed and took a bow then she gestured the amazed crowd outside where there was a bundle of fireworks. She motioned to the still amazed crowd to the bundle of fireworks saying,
"According to Diwali tradition, during the night, the Indians usually set of fireworks for fun and joy, so all of you grab a firecracker and enjoy!!!" As if right on cue, everyone rushed for the fireworks except for Hitoshi who seemed to be satisfied with letting everyone else fight over the best fireworks. When everyone did finally stop fighting over the fireworks, the sky was lit up with bursts of color and noise. Each time a new firework burst into the air, some one stared at it in awe. Eventually, there was going to have to be some sort of practical joke pulled on some unlucky person and the unfortunate victim was Kisa. Kyo had set off a firecracker about two inches from her and it frightened her so much that she ran towards Hitoshi and buried her face into her chest weeping. Hitoshi comforted her and glared angrily at Kyo who slowly backed away from Hitoshi's anger field. Next, Haru tried to set off a firecracker underneath Hitoshi's skirt, but Hitoshi glared angrily at him mouthing that if he didn't drop her skirt and get the firecrackers away from her, she'd get a sparkler, light it and stuff it in his mouth (violent aren't we). Haru stayed about twelve feet away from her the rest of the night (he tried to annoy Kyo, but Kagura was already doing a wonderful job). After the fireworks, the crowd left and Hitoshi had a special gift for each of them, each one of the gifts special in it's own way. As soon as all of the guests left, Hitoshi collapsed onto the couch (I don't know if they have couches in Japan, oh well) and closed her eyes breathing deeply.
"Wow!! That was tiring ney Shigure-san?" questioned Hitoshi as Shigure sat down beside her.
"Yes, but I think that the whole family loved it, especially that dance!!! Don't you think so Kyo-kun?" asked Shigure looking over his shoulder to see a slouching grim faced Kyo.
"It was okay," murmured Kyo blushing very lightly. Hitoshi smiled and said,
"I'll take that as a "it was nice."" Then Shigure handed Hitoshi a letter saying,
"It's for you. I forgot to check the mail for about two weeks since we were so busy with the festival." Hitoshi took the letter and eyed it suspiciously and suddenly gasped. She tore it open and quickly read it. Then she dropped it in surprise and shook Shigure violently saying,
"Why didn't you give this to me earlier?!!!!!!!!!? Oh my God!!!!!!!!!!!!" Shigure calmed down Hitoshi and asked her,
"What's so important about that letter anyway?"
"My sensei is coming tomorrow in the afternoon!!!!" exclaimed Hitoshi.
Author's Notes
Wow!!!!!!!!!!!! That was a monster chapter, but at least it's done now!!!!! I just knew that eventually I had to bring Hitoshi's sensei into the picture cause she plays a very important role (That is all I'm going to say!!!!!). Well, here are the explanations before I die of exhaustion.
1- The coils are known as zardosi. It is a very popular form of dressing up fabric, but it is pretty expensive.
2- This is my dream image of a perfect ghagra choli. That is what these garments are called.
3- That means "Welcome!! Come inside!!" in Tamil. Hitoshi used the informal method. If she used the formal method, it would sound like, "Vanakaum!! Oule vango!!!"
4- It is traditional for Diwali celebration for people to place lamps around the house. It's also traditional to set of firecrackers.
5- The Tamil name for the incense sticks is known as agribathi. Just for info, I don't know how to romanize the Tamil words (I don't even know how to read and write Tamil; I am very ashamed, but it supposed to be one of the more difficult languages to study due to the complicated grammar).
6- The long pieces of silk are known as saris. I think that it's in the dictionary, go look it up.
7- The Indian outfit that Kyo is wearing is known as a sharvani. It's from somewhere up north along with the ghagra. Tamilnadu (that's where the Tamilians are) is on the very tip of India.
8- Bhangara is a form of dance. I really don't know how to explain it, but it's very funny. Sometimes I just randomly just start dancing bhangara.
9- What Hitoshi just did was an example of what Indians do when they touch something with their feet. In our culture, the feet are considered very low and to be touched with them is sort of insulting and doing that eye-touching ritual is a way of asking forgiveness.
10- We traditionally serve food onto banana leaves and sprinkle water onto them to offer all of the food first to God (that's what my mum said).
11- The song that Hitoshi was dancing to is actually a dance that my sister and I did for a wedding in Chicago. We were really popular, so I just felt like putting it in there.