Chapter 3- Hug me!
By: Ochako107
Standard Disclaimer
Tohru finished opening everyone's gifts, instantly showing her ultimate thanks. She hugged Kisa for the beautiful paper lantern she and Hiro made. "Thank you all so much!" She opened her arms to hug Haru next for the box of assorted candies but stopped mid air.
Haru looked up from his slice of cake that Ayame bought earlier that morning. "What's the matter?" A few chocolate crumbs littered the corners of his mouth, but none the less she didn't say anything. She blinked with her hands still extended in mid air… it was her custom to hug her mother and friends when they gave her a gift on her birthday… especially her mom. But now things were different she couldn't just go hugging people in this house!
"N-nothing, I just, ah, forgot I can't really…" She didn't finish her sentence feeling embarrassed of her actions. She should have thought better of it! She placed her hands on her knees giving a slight bow. "I'm sorry, it's just I love your presents so much and I wanted to hug you since that's what I used to do… but I forgot and, eh..." A light bulb went on in her head. "I know! I'll go whip up a delicious lunch for all of you!"
Hiro crossed his arms and looked away. "Finally! I'm starving and all I have to eat is this sugary cake that isn't all that good anyway. It's just going to rot my teeth."
"Shut your damn mouth, ya snot nosed brat!" Kyo warned leaning against a wall.
Shigure fanned himself while leaning in his chair. "Although a wonderful home cooked meal from Tohru does sounds nice, today is her birthday so we will have a special treat." He laughed smiling.
Momiji thought a moment and jumped up. "Oh! Let's take Tohru out to eat!"
Shigure pointed his fan Momiji's way. "There's the idea I was looking for."
"Yeay! We're going out to eat for Tohru's birthday! Oh, oh, I think I know the perfect restaurant!" Momiji laughed while bouncing around Tohru like the rabbit he was. "It's the beef pot restaurant that just opened up!"
Tohru blinked, "beef… pot?"
"Yes, and it's suppose to be super yummy!"
Shigure stood up with a serious look to his face, "then it's settled, we'll go out to eat!"
Kyo and Yuki turned away from each other.
"No way am I sitting in some beef pot with that stupid cat."
"I'd rather go anywhere than sit next to that damn rat!"
Shigure's tears poured out while everyone else in the room watched silently. "Oh, I see how it is. The poor girl slaves away day after day—cooking and cleaning and the one day we should be treating her like a queen you two boys sit here squabbling like you are four! But if you really want to stay here, that's also fine. I'm sure Tohru and I will have plenty of fun! Dining together and sharing intimate stories…"
"I'll go." Kyo and Yuki said simultaneously.
"That's the sprit!"
Kisa looked down sadly. "What's the matter, Kisa?" Tohru asked.
"Well, Hiro and I have to go back home… I promised mommy I'd come back right after Grandpa Shigure's house…"
Hiro watched Kira's face fall. "Hey, Kisa, stop getting all upset and stuff, it isn't like we're never going to see her again. I don't see why you gotta get all mushy, it's just some beef pot!" Kisa continued to look down wishing they'd stay longer with Tohru. Tohru on the other hand also looked distressed.
'Poor Kisa, I wish there was something I could do…'
Hiro's face scrunched up and he let out a breath. "Well, maybe… maybe we'll come back later tomorrow and ask your mom if we can come back." He placed his hand on Kisa's hand, a tinge of red painting his cheeks. "Okay?"
Kisa smiled and stood up with Hiro. "Okay." She hugged Torhu, "happy birthday, sissy!"
"Thank you so much Kisa, it was nice seeing you too Hiro."
"Yeah, yeah, save it for someone who cares. Happy birthday for whatever that's worth."
Haru got up, "I might as well go back too, no use having the risk of turning black in a restaurant sitting with Yuki and Kyo. Especially Kyo."
"Fine!" Kyo growled. Haru smirked and turned to Tohru, taking her hand in his.
"Happy birthday, Tohru."
She blushed at his contact. "T-thank you!"
"Oh, and if you ever wanna 'thank me' for my gift," he whispered into her ear, "I wouldn't mind hugging a cute girl like you."
"Get the hell outta here, Haru!" Kyo bellowed pulling Black Haru away from Tohru. Haru saluted Yuki while being dragged away by Kyo.
"Good bye, dear Yuki."
"That guy is too much…" Yuki said running a hand through his hair.
Torhu laughed. "Oh, but he was so nice saying I could hug him." Ayame turned to Tohru at that. "I mean… being transformed into a cow every time someone hugs you must me a real pain, and to offer someone like me the simple pleasure of affection, well, that's really kind!"
Ayame sighed and placed his empty cake plate on the table. "Aya, what's wrong?" Shigure asked.
"Nothing it's just, Tohru is right. Hugging must be a satisfying thing and for someone who's not cursed, embracing must have been a normal thing to do. A form of affection if I do say so myself."
Tohru smiled and looked down, "well, I guess that's one way of thinking about it."
"Of course it is." Ayame answered quite somberly. He suddenly latched onto Yuki full force laughing like a mad man, "that's why I must hug my little brother every day—come here Yuki!"
"Don't touch me you lunatic!"
Momiji, Ayame, Shigure, Tohru, Kyo, and Yuki all sat around a rather large table at the restaurant. Ayame kept complementing Tohru on the dress and matching shoes while she stammered and tried to change the subject. Momiji wanted to hold her hand the whole way there while Kyo and Yuki trailed behind a little peeved off at that.
When the reached the restaurant, they finished ordering and Torhu beamed at Yuki and Kyo. "Thank you so much for coming. It wouldn't have been as much fun without you two."
Kyo's eyes softened slightly. She was always so kind to them and enjoyed his company. He: the cat of the zodiac. And she acknowledged him all the same. "It's nothing really, as long… as you're happy, I'm happy too… I guess."
Yuki smiled at Tohru. "Today is your day."
Shigure watched the three teenagers and decided to stir up trouble. "By the way, Kyo, Yuki, what are you giving Tohru for her birthday? I don't believe I saw your gifts being unwrapped."
Both boys stiffened up almost forgetting they didn't give her a gift! She seemed so happy them just being there.
Kyo's cat ears popped out as he grew angry. "Yea, well I didn't see yours either!"
"Ah, but my gift is for later tonight."
"YOU SICKO!" Kyo screamed.
"How can you be so perverted in public, you stupid dog?" Yuki muttered to himself.
"Ah, no really it's okay! You two being here with us is enough and being my friends is a gift in its own! I couldn't ask for any more." Tohru cut in quickly.
Momiji pursed his lips and grinned happily. "Oh look! The food is here!"
Ayame broke his chopsticks. "We better dig in before it turns cold!" The waiter served their food and everyone began eating.
"Oh, it's so good! Do you like it, Tohru?" Momiji asked.
Tohru swallowed her food, "yes, it's wonderful!"
A man with a camera walked from table to table taking pictures of each group as a complementary photo. He walked over to their table with a huge smile on his face. "Hello, are you enjoying your meal?" Everyone nodded. "Oh wonderful! Part of our service here is that we table a picture of your party—do you mind?" He asked shaking his camera for emphasis.
"Oh, that sounds like fun! Do you want to take a picture, Tohru?" Momiji asked.
"Um, that sounds nice!"
The photographer chuckled, "such a happy group! Okay, I'm afraid there isn't much room so I'll take a picture of this side of the table and then this side." He moved over to where Ayame, Shigure and Momiji were sitting on their half of the round table. Shigure and Ayame leaned in and Momiji made a funny face in the picture. The photographer laughed and turned to Kyo, Yuki and Tohru's side of the table.
"Okay, move in a little, please!" Yuki and Kyo nervously glanced at Tohru sitting in the middle. If they got a little too close they might transform! The two boys scooted an inch closer to the girl. The photographer gave an exasperated sigh and shook his head. "She doesn't bite, now move in!"
"Hey buddy, just take the picture!" Kyo warned.
"Well, I'd like to take a good one of you three!" The photographer walked over and shoved Yuki, who was closest to him, so that Yuki fell onto Tohru's chest who moved over and accidentally leaned into Kyo's chest. In an instant there was a flash of light and a 'poof!' The photographer left without looking back. "You can pick up your photo in the front!"
Tohru looked around panicking while Shigure nearly choked on his food. "K-kyo, Yuki! Oh, where are you?" Torhu asked looking under the table.
"I'm here Miss Honda." Yuki called. Tohru looked around.
"Where?"
"On… your dress." Yuki muttered. Tohru looked down and sure enough Yuki was sitting in her lap. Tohru scooped Yuki up and held him close to her chest while she lifted the table lining up.
"Kyo?"
"AH! A CAT!" Tohru stood up hitting her head under the table while Momiji and Ayame shot up in the air. Kyo was trying to get out of the restaurant when a woman nearly fell over the small orange cat. Kyo nearly screamed seeing how huge the woman was. "Someone! Help, there's a CAT in here!"
"Get outta here!"
"Scat!" Someone of the waiters shooed Kyo out the door.
Kyo in the mist of confusion dashed around trying to dodge all the screaming people. He turned around seeing he was still chased by some people when he ran into a waiter's leg. Suddenly right before a large tray of hot food was about to fall on him, he felt large hands scoop him up.
"Let's get out of here!" Momiji whispered excitedly to Ayame who now held Kyo under his coat. The two ran out of the restaurant while everyone searched for the cat.
Shigure and Tohru sat at the table watching the chaos with wide eyes. Tohru placed Yuki on her shoulder and covered him like a curtain with her long brown hair. She then gathered their clothes, shoving them hurriedly into her bag while glancing around nervously.
Shigure pulled out a wad of bills not looking at how much and grabbed Tohru's hand. "Come on, they're waiting for us."
"Ah, um, o-okay, but what about…?"
"Don't worry, once they see there IS no cat things will die down. It's more important that we get out of here with Yuki still on your shoulder." Shigure told Tohru. She followed the older man without question and dashed out the door.
The pair rain into an alleyway where Ayame and Momiji stood. "Wee! That was SO fun!" Momiji laughed.
"What the hell are you talking about? That was NOT fun! I coulda' been fried!" Kyo screamed from under Ayame's coat. He jumped down from his arms and glared at Tohru's shoulder while the girl placed Yuki and Kyo's clothes in neat piles on the ground. "And you damn rat, why'd you have to fall on her like that?"
Yuki appeared from behind Tohru's hair glaring at Kyo as well. "It isn't like I meant to do it. That photographer pushed me so it was inevitable, stupid cat."
"Don't call me stupid!"
"Stupid. Cat."
"That's it, get down here, ya sissy rat boy! I knew this restaurant was a bad idea!"
Yuki sat on Tohru's shoulder sighing. "And I knew you would fitfully make a fool out of yourself. Just be thankful no one saw us transform within that flash from the camera."
"That's it!" Kyo lunged at Tohru who screamed in surprise at the weight oh Kyo on her chest. She felt herself catch her breath in no way seeing Kyo pounce on her like that.
"Tohru!" Shigure cried.
"Oh, please don't fi…!" She tried while Kyo nuzzled himself into her hair looking or Yuki.
"That's enough, get off of her!" Ayame barked. He pulled Kyo off of the poor girl while Shigure caught Yuki in his hands. "Shame on you!" Ayame continued.
Momiji held onto Tohru's hand. "Ya, you shouldn't be fighting on Tohru, let alone on her birthday! Tohru are you okay?" He asked apprehensively. He glanced at Yuki and Kyo, "you two are being mean to Tohru!"
She looked up, "ah, don't worry about it, nothing happened! It just startled me, I've never be ah, um, actually fought on…"
"Fought over is more like it, tehehe." Shigure chuckled to himself.
Tohru continued waving her hands. "So really, it's nothing but thank you for worrying!"
"Nothing? That was unquestionably anything but 'nothing'!" Ayame piped in looking saddened yet annoyed. "Honestly you two are being so selfish to Tohru! If you want to act this way then walk home alone!" Ayame looked Yuki's way, "I expected more from you little brother. I want us to be closer but I honestly cannot believe you would continue a fight instead of breaking it off." Yuki was speechless since Ayame's words were true.
Shigure gave Ayame a gaze, "well, older brotherly instincts kicking in, Aya?"
"I suppose so, Gure! Ahaha…!"
Yuki turned away and Kyo squirmed in Ayame's grip.
Ayame turned serious again, his golden eyes softening to the birthday girl. "Come, Tohru, let's leave these awful boys to think about what they did! I'll treat you to some dessert!"
"Oh, but what about Yuki and Kyo…?"
"Nonsense, come!" Ayame laughed while he gently placed Kyo on the floor and reached for her hand. Momiji looked at Tohru and Ayame leave and then back at Shigure, Yuki and Kyo. His face fell slightly before he turned and ran after Ayame and Tohru.
There was a pregnant pause before Shigure put Yuki on the floor next to Kyo. "You know, if you two don't stop acting like this, you might actually hurt Tohru next time. You aren't animals, so don't act like it." Shigure put a hand to his cheek grinning, "Not to mention you'd be leaving Tohru and me all alone until you decide to keep your fist fights in check. Hm… I like the sound of that." Shigure laughed playfully while Kyo and Yuki threw dagger glares at the dog. "Well, see you!"
Yuki and Kyo didn't look at each other, ashamed at their behavior. Poor Tohru, they'd been so caught up in their argument they'd actually dragged Tohru into this one as well… and the last thing they wanted to do was ever hurt her.
Ah, well there's chapter 3. PLEASE REVIEW! PLEASE PLEASE? It would mean so much if you would review and that way I'll be more inspired to finish writting this story! R&R, thank you so much!
