Chapter 2- Birthday Blues

By: Ochako107

Standard Disclaimer

Tohru dressed quietly still hearing Kyo and Yuki arguing. Then some crashes, and then a clunk on the roof. 'Well, at least they're fight is over and Kyo is on the roof. But all of this is too much! Getting a beautiful dress like this and a day off! I hope it isn't too much trouble for everyone. Oh, mom what did I do to deserve such kind treatment? Ayame and Shigure are being such wonderful people. I'm so happy to be loved by so many people.'

She zipped the back of the dress finding it fit her shape perfectly. She slipped the candy pink ribbons into her hair, one on each side and fluffed her hair for good measure. She felt her cheeks flame up thinking how lovely the dress was. She bent down and picked up the beautiful sandals that matched and tucked them under her arm.

"I… I hope everyone likes it…" She mused aloud. She silently thanked Ayame for not dressing her up in 'The Thing' again. Suddenly she heard a thump from across the room. She smiled, Kyo had jumped into his room. "Maybe Kyo would tell me if I look okay or not—that way Ayame wouldn't be too disappointed if it didn't look good on me…"

She slid her door open and took a brisk walk to Kyo's room. "Ky…"

"AH! Tohru!" Tohru jumped back and put her hands atop her chest suddenly feeling self conscious. Momiji bound down the hall and grabbed onto Torhu's hand. 'Tohru, you look so pretty!"

"Ah.. thank you, Momiji! I think the dress is very pretty too! But, what are you doing here?"

Momiji giggled and circled Tohru inspecting her dress in front of Kyo's room. "I came by for your birthday! You know, I think that dress was really made for you, you look like a princess!"

"Ah.. so I've been told…" Torhu closed her eyes thinking.

"Come on, come on this way! I want to show you your birthday present!"

Torhu gasped while being dragged down the stairs by Momiji. "Oh, you remembered my birthday also?"

"Of course silly! I'd never forget, nuh uh!"

Tohru laughed along. 'I think I'm the only one who forgot my own birthday! Oh, I'm so pathetic!'

Tohru and Momiji went into the common room where Hiro, Kisa, and Hatsuharu had just arrived. There also sat Shigue, Ayame and Yuki. The group turned to the birthday girl who was now blushing bright whiles self consciously holding her head down timidly.

"Tada! Here is the lovely birthday girl, herself!" Momiji introduced motioning his hands towards Tohru.

There was stunned silence and Tohru felt all their eyes on her. She turned around, "you know, maybe I should go change…"

"No, Miss Honda!" She spun around to see Yuki kneel over the table his hand extended out. He pulled his hand back seeing all eyes on him now. "It… it looks amazing on you."

She could feel her face turn to a tomato now. "Oh, Yuki, thank you so much." She bowed low showing a small amount of cleavage. All the men in the room turned away except Ayame who stood up and didn't notice.

"Oh, Tohru it is wonderful! I absolutely adore it on you, if only I had a picnic basket, a matching pink scarf and low black sunglasses on top of your head to complete the look!" Ayame walked over inspecting her dress. "Hm… Mine went a little too low in the front…" everyone stared at Ayame in shock as he stepped back examining Tohru whose eyes widened and instantly stopped bowing. Ayame saw her uncomfortable state and laughed it off. "But as the saying goes—if you got it flaunt it! Ahaha!"

"That isn't helping, Aya…" Shigure shook his head. He turned to Tohru sitting up straight. "But I agree, it is charming, Tohru."

Torhu settled for a short bow, "thank you, Shigure."

Kisa clasped her hands, "sissy, happy birthday!"

Hiro snorted, "I don't see what the big deal is—it just means another year closer to death and who cares about her birthday? She didn't even remember it WAS her birthday."

Haru shot Hiro a look and turned to Tohru, "Hatori and Kagura wanted to come but they were both busy. Kagura needed to help Hatori in the office for a few days since it seems Akito needs more medical attention than ever. But they said to tell you they wish you a happy birthday."

"Oh, thank you so much!"

"Tohru, Tohru!" Everyone turned to Momiji bounding through the doorway holding packages off assorted sizes. "Here are your birthday presents!"

He motioned for her to sit down as he placed the large packages in front of the girl. "Come on, open it!"

"S- shouldn't we wait for Kyo?" She asked turning to Yuki.

"I suppose that cat would want to be here. Hold on, I'll go get him." Yuki stood up and went to Kyo's room.

He knocked lightly on his rival's door. "Kyo, come out and join us. Miss Honda is opening her presents." There was slight ruffling around that proved Kyo was inside. He just wasn't saying anything. Yuki sighed and opened the door without waiting for a response.

"Hey! It's called breaking and entering, ya damn rat!" Kyo shouted perched on the window.

"…Were you going to jump?"

"NO!"

"Cause it might make things easier on the both of us if you'd simply break a leg or both. Even better if you fell unconscious for a few days."

"I wasn't going to jump, okay!" Kyo sat down and stared out the window crossly. "Hey… Ka…Kagura isn't here, is she?"

Yuki looked around, "would you jump out the window if I said she was?"

"Stop jerking me around!"

"No… she's not here." Yuki had to admit, that would have been comical. But back to business. "Why won't you just come out and do this for Miss Honda?" Yuki asked irritated.

"Well in case ya haven't noticed, we didn't exactly get her anything!" Kyo shot back sitting on the window sill. Yuki looked away before closing Kyo's door behind him.

"Yes… I know."

"You're not humiliated? Come on, everyone remembered but you, me and her! And she doesn't count cause it's her own damn birthday." Kyo continued.

Yuki sat on the floor thinking about it himself. "I… just can't believe we forgot something so simple. Miss Honda… is so kind the least we could do is get her a present for her birthday."

"But what? She's expecting something from us isn't she?" Kyo jumped down and sat in front of Yuki. It felt so wrong the two of them sitting almost… like they were friends. Kyo knew if Tohru hadn't come into their lives, he and Yuki probably could never imagine sitting like this, pondering about a common subject that they could agree on. The only thing they could agree on….

Yuki looked up. "I have an idea…"

"…Okay."

"Why did it take so long to answer?"

"Just tell me!"

Kyo and Yuki turned away from each other.

"We could… not fight… for one day."

"That's lame."

"She always hates it when we fight though."

Kyo put both hands on his knees. "No way—do you even THINK we can pull that one off?" Both boys pondered and came to the same conclusion.

"Nah." They both answered.

Kyo snapped his finger, "how about jewelry? Don't girls like that kind of thing?"

"Knowing Miss Honda, she will not accept such a gift."

"Yea, you're right, she'll just freak out and stuff."

"How about a stuffed animal?" Yuki threw out.

"What? She ain't four you know."

"Well, you come up with a better plan, stupid."

Kyo's vein popped, "don't call me stupid!"

"Kyooo, Yukiii, where are you?" Shigure called. "If you're trying to figure out something to get Tohru, I'm afraid you're too late!" He continued in a sing along voice. Kyo and Yuki growled and trudged down stairs. Shigure sighed, "Ah there you both are, I was afraid you were trying to jump out a window or something!" The trio walked into the room to see Tohru patiently waiting. Her eyes lit up to see Yuki and Kyo amble in.

Kyo noticed her appearance for the first time and had to pause in his step. The cat suddenly wished he could tell Tohru how attractive she looked. He'd never actually seen her get dressed up or anything. But here she was staring at him with those kind and accepting eyes. He never saw Tohru look so…

"Kyo's got the hotts for Torhu!" Momiji cut in laughing.

"SHUT UP YA LITTLE BRAT!" Kyo yelled his entire face red as a tomato. He must have been gawking at her considering an adult was grinning at him like the perverted man he was. Ah, to hell with them anyway!

"Waaa, Kyo's yelling at me!"

Kyo turned to Tohru watching him with fretful eyes. He turned to Momiji and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Every time you open your damn mouth…." He sat down and he knew Yuki was looking at him. He glared at the rat.

Kisa turned to Tohru and tugged her dress softly, "sissy, will you open your presents now?"

"Oh! Of course Kisa! You must be as excited as I am!" Tohru laughed. She grabbed a colorful bag and pulled out its contents. Inside was a stuffed animal cat that looked similar to Kagura's backpack. Tohru laughed blissfully, "oh, it's so cute! I can only imagine this is from Kagura!" She felt the bag still heavy and reached down to find a small box. She opened it up to reveal a thin silver bracelet with one small charm of a snow flake. Tohru felt herself stare at it with awe.

"Oh my… this is beautiful." She found a small card inside the box the read, Happy Birthday, Tohru. Please enjoy your presents. Yours Truly, Hatori and Kagura Sohma. Tohru dangled the bracelet in the air while everyone admired it. "These gifts are absolutely wonderful! I will write them a card thanking them!"

Haru smiled at Tohru. "Since they couldn't be here, they asked that I give you the bag. Oh and Kyo?"

"What is it?"

"Kagura wanted me to give you this." Haru looked within a pocket in his coat and handed a huge unwieldy letter to Kyo. Kyo opened it and suddenly millions of papers flew from the small envelope.

Shigure caught one in mid air and read it aloud, "Kyo, I love you my darling. I promise next time I will visit and make sure I give you a long kiss. I miss you--"

"Give me that!" Kyo shouted snatching it from a laughing Shigure. "Damn, that woman's crazy!" Kyo grabbed all the papers and shoved them all into his pockets.

Meanwhile Yuki watched Tohru open her next present, a sinking sensation in his gut. She was such a magnificent person and deserved all these gifts. But wished he could make her day just a little more extraordinary. She ought to have more than anything he could give her.

But what?


Authors Note: Thank you all for reading and reviewing my story. Please review! Every single one means so much to me! Thanks again!