Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.
Aki-Shi-Kitsune's: AAAHHH! (runs from evil cheese) I updated, I updated - finally - ! Let me live! Thanks moon-dragon91011,Fan 101, and Aki-Shi-Kitsune's for reviewing - sorry for the wait in update. But here it is! Mostly humor, and a bit of touchy-feely stuff.
Please review if you read. Comments, ideas, criticism, and suggestions are welcome. No flames.
A few more days at the Sohmas passed, and I had finally met Kagura. Sheseemed nice – jealous of Tohru, and possessive as heck over Kyo, but nice enough. A little too hyper for me, though. Talk about your split-personalities! Whew. Anyways, the group was going to some hot springs for Valentine's Day, but Hatori thought it would be too much for me to be moved so far. So I got stuck at home with Ritsu, while everyone else left. I always hated this day anyway.
"Do you need anything?" Ritsu asked her quietly, as the two sat in silence outdoors. Rayne was in her wheelchair, and Ritsu had brought a lawn chair out for himself.
"No, thanks," she shook her head, and he frowned at the ground.
"I'm sorry."
"Huh? What for?" Rayne asked in confusion. Although the Sohma had gotten better, he still had spurts where all he did was apologize, much to the exasperation of the others.
"I shouldn't have spoken – I see that you were in deep thought and didn't want to be interrupted – how can I ever make it up to you?"
"Whoa, whoa, hold on!" Rayne protested, cutting his apologies and bowing off. "You didn't do anything, Ritsu! You don't have to apologize. I guess I'm just kind of depressed, that's all."
"Because everyone left for the springs?" he guessed accurately. She sighed, and nodded.
"I guess it's selfish – I mean, you guys have already done so much for me," she shrugged, "But I just grew used to having them all around, I suppose…Ritsu, where're you going?"
"I'll be back in a minute!" he called, scampering back inside. Rayne sat, perplexed, as she waited for him to return. When he finally did, he was empty-handed, but grinning.
"What are you doing?" she asked, as he began to bring her back inside.
"There's something I want to show you," he insisted, "They made me promise to wait."
"They? Who's 'they,' Ritsu?" Rayne protested, but he eagerly ignored her and brought her over to the television. After he positioned her on a floor cushion, he slid a tape into the VCR player, and sat down next to her.
Rayne looked at him curiously, and then snapped her attention back to the television as she heard Hatori's voice.
"I'm sorry that you aren't able to come to the springs with us, Rayne, but it won't be any good for your health, I'm afraid," he began, and then turned around to glare at Momiji, who was dancing in the background.
"So we made this tape for you to watch with Ritsu after we're gone!" Tohru continued, and waved into the camera. "Hi, Ritsu!"
"This is ridiculous – Hatori, they're destroying my home again!" Shigure's voice floated in the background, and the Sohma doctor rolled his eyes.
"Oh, for crying out…all right, fine. Tohru, take over," he ordered, and she sat down as he strode away.
"Well…um…"
"Oh, just get it over with already!" Kyo snapped, coming into focus. "It's not that hard!"
"Be quiet, Kyo," Yuki ordered, frowning at the cat.
"Guys…" Tohru protested, and sighed. "Well, we just wanted to wish you a happy Valentine's Day, and I hope you have a good time with Ritsu!"
"Momiji…Momiji…" the mentioned singer hummed behind her, causing Kyo to tackle him out of the camera's focus.
"Can I put this down, now?" Haru's voice demanded, and Tohru blinked in surprise.
"Oh, let me take it!" she insisted. A wrestle for camera control ensued, where the picture wildly jumped all over the room, and ended up sideways on the floor.
"That's mine, you know," Hatori's voice said grimly, and they heard Tohru squeak. The picture began to move again, and they heard Shigure sigh.
"I have to do everything…" he muttered, and several clicks were heard. "There, much better!" he said happily into the camera, "I just placed it on the stand, so you know."
"Why didn't we do that in the first place?" Haru yelled, and Shigure rushed from the room.
"Hi, Rayne and Ritsu!" Momiji waved into the camera, still trying to avoid Kyo's lunges. "Happy- whoops!" he grinned and ran again, followed by a fuming Kyo.
"Hey, guys," Haru mumbled into the camera, staring at the ground. "I hope you're having a good time, Rayne. You too, Ritsu. Don't break anything, though. We'll be back in a day or so, so don't worry 'bout it."
"Don't wreck anymore of my house!" Shigure ordered, interrupting Haru. "I've had enough of this! Yuki, get Kyo and Momiji out of the house before it collapses on our heads!"
"All right," Yuki nodded, and strode past the camera's range of view. After several moments, he walked back the opposite direction, dragging Kyo and Momiji, with Tohru following.
"Don't forget to take your medicine," Hatori said calmly, "I advise ordering out – I believe someone just damaged the stove. Shigure, put a warning sign on it, will you?"
"I will!" a well-known voice called, and Hatori sighed irritably.
"Ayame, what are you doing here?" he demanded, "You were supposed to meet us there, and –"
"Yes, I know, but Tohru told me of this wonderful idea to videotape a message for Rayne and Ritsu!" Ayame protested breezily, and stuck his smiling face into the focus. "Hello, you two! Don't do anything I wouldn't do, and have fun!"
"Ayame!"
"Got to run! Enjoy having the house nice and quiet!" he called, the last words spilling together as he dashed away, stalked by a rather pissed-off Hatsuharu.
"I think it best I stop this before it gets broken, and we have to try this again," Hatori muttered calmly, and gave the camera one last direct stare. "Do what we told you, and we'll be back tomorrow. Happy Valentine's Day, I suppose."
"Oh, that was enthusiastic," Shigure commented, as Hatori began to shut it down.
"Why don't you let me say it?" Ayame asked excitedly. Whatever he began to say next was cut off, as Hatori stopped the camera, with a look of suffering on his face.
"Did you like it?" Ritsu asked, and looked at Rayne's face. She blinked several times, and suddenly burst out laughing.
"That…that was so ridiculous!" she choked out, "That was so like you guys! I'm going to keep this for the rest of my life!"
"So…you liked it?"
"Liked it? It's the best thing anyone's ever given me!" she laughed, and hugged Ritsu tightly. She stopped laughing abruptly as he popped, and a monkey sat on her shoulder.
"Oops," she blinked.
"It's okay," he assured her, "I'll go wait to pop back, that's all."
Rayne watched the little monkey gather its clothes up and race upstairs, and then turned to the TV. Shifting around with her arms, she managed to get the tape out of the VCR, and turn the television off.
Looking at the tape, she shook her head.
"It really is the best thing…" she murmured, and then looked around. Shaking her head, she rolled her eyes. "I could've sworn I heard something…geez, that medicine Hatori's giving me must really be getting to me."
"All done!" Ritsu called, transformed back and returning to the room fully dressed. "What's the matter?" he asked, seeing her face.
"I thought I heard something, but I guess my mind's just playing tricks on me," she laughed, a little self-consciously, but Ritsu looked around seriously.
"So it wasn't just me," he said, almost to himself, and quickly strode out of the room. Rayne was forced to wait until the Sohma came back, looking more than a little amused.
"What's so funny, Ritsu?" she asked curiously, trying to see what was behind him. She gasped when a sour-looking Hatsuharu appeared, holding something behind his back.
"He only looks like that when he's embarrassed," Ritsu grinned to himself, and slunk into the kitchen, leaving the two alone.
"What are you doing here?" she asked in surprise, "I thought you all went to the hot springs."
"Yeah, we did," he said brusquely. "But it was boring there, and Momiji was driving me nuts, so I came back. I got these along the way – well, Tohru helped me," he admitted, and handed her several flowers in full-bloom.
"Haru…" Rayne took a deep breath, putting her face into them. He watched her cautiously, shifting from one foot to another.
"They were growing at the hot springs," he explained, "Tohru thought you might like them."
"I love them!" she exclaimed, smiling at him. "First that crazy tape of yours, and now this? I've never had a Valentine's Day like this before."
"Well, usually I'm stuck at the main house by myself," Haru shrugged, sitting down next to her casually, "I figured here's as good a place as any. Quieter, at least."
"Yeah," Rayne agreed, trying to figure out what was going on in the teenager's mind.
"What?" he asked, seeing her watching him.
"Nothing."
"Rayne…well, I came back to see you, too," he said, "I figured it must be pretty boring around here, with just Ritsu for company."
"Ritsu's fun to have around," Rayne told him. "But I'm glad you came," she admitted after a long pause. Haru looked away, feeling his face warming, and Rayne remained silent.
"Well, happy Valentine's Day, anyway," he said, and suddenly leaned in closer. Giving her a quick kiss on her cheek, he stood up and rushed out of the room.
Rayne remained still for a moment, and then a smile spread across her features.
"Dinner's ready!" Ritsu announced that evening, "I ordered out, like Hatori suggested."
"Mmm…looks delicious," Rayne grinned, and began to eat without delay. Haru, still sullen, also began to eat, while Ritsu grinned to himself.
"So, when are they planning on returning, Haru?" Ritsu asked a few minutes later.
"Tomorrow afternoon, I guess," he shrugged, "I dunno."
"I was just asking," Ritsu retorted, gathering the leftovers. "I'll put these in the refrigerator, so we can eat them later."
"Haru, can you help me upstairs?" Rayne asked, glancing at the clock, "It's pretty late, and I need to take my stuff. It makes me drowsy, so I need to change into my pajamas first."
"All right," Haru nodded, and easily picked her up. Knowing he wouldn't transform for some reason, he had no qualms about how close he held her against him.
"Um…don't take this the wrong way, but are you gonna need any help?" he asked, placing her on the bed. Rayne looked at him in surprise, and then paused in thought for a few moments.
"You can hand me that nightgown," she asked, "I think I can manage myself, though. Thanks, Haru."
"Good night," he said, and kissed her again before he left the room. Rayne took this one in stride, and began the struggle to get into her pajamas. She had worn a dress, so it was easier for her to change without Tohru's help, but she didn't want to repeat the experience once she was done.
"You like her, don't you, Hatsuharu?" Ritsu asked him, as they began to go upstairs for bed.
"Why?"
"I noticed in the way you look at her," he said calmly, "You seem to care deeply for her."
"She's okay," Haru shrugged, but avoided looking at the sharp-eyed cousin. Ritsu nodded knowingly, and left him alone.
"Mmm…" Rayne stretched sleepily, having woken from another nightmare-free sleep. Looking out the window next to her bed, she realized that the sun had just risen, and she fidgeted impatiently for someone to help her out.
Sighing, she quickly changed from her nightgown to a pale-green shirt, and a black skirt with a gray belt and trim, and though longingly of her pants.
"I can't wait until Tohru comes back," Rayne sighed, shimmying around as she dressed. She liked dresses fine, but preferred just pants and a shirt.
"Need any help?" Ritsu asked, popping his head in.
"No, I'm dressed," she shook her head, "I'd like to go downstairs, though."
"I'll call Haru, since he doesn't pop around you," Ritsu nodded, and disappeared. After a few moments, a sleepy-looking Haru appeared, and blinked uncomprehendingly at her.
"Did Ritsu wake you up?" Rayne realized, suppressing a laugh at Haru's expression. "I'm sorry, Haru."
"No problem," he mumbled. She slid into his arms easily, and held on as he made his way down the stairs.
"Hatori called," Ritsu told them after breakfast, "They're on their way back. They should be back before dinner, if Kyo's threats in the background were anything to go by."
"Huh?"
"He was shouting about that he was starving, and the stove had better be fixed, or else he was going to do something – Hatori hung up before I could hear what he said," Ritsu said, and Rayne giggled.
"What?" Haru asked.
"I'm just surprised you haven't all killed each other by now, that's all," she grinned, "You guys always seem to be fighting with someone."
"Yeah, that's how we are," Haru shrugged, "Do you want to go outside today?"
"No, Shigure told me I could use his study to read," Rayne shook her head, "I haven't read any good books in a while, since all my stuff's still..."
"At her mother's," Haru realized, mentally finishing her sentence. "Well, come on," he said, picking her up, "I'll take you there now, since I've got some stuff to take care of today."
"Thanks, Haru," Rayne nodded, and Ritsu quietly began to clear the table.
Well, now I get to face my mother – on Valentine's Day, no less. Happy me. At least I've got Hatsuharu coming with me. To be honest, I'd be too scared to go any other way. I guess I sound like a wimp…but you're still reading, right? I guess I'm doing something right! Well, here we go – brace yourselves.
Next chapter: They encounter Rayne's mother! AAAAHHH! Please review!