Uo clinked her glass of iced tea with Tohru and Hana's happily. Just moments earlier Tohru had informed her two best friends the news about being pregnant. Hana sat down on the couch in Uo's stylish apartment while Uo sat down on the floor placing her glass on the coffee table.
"I just can't believe it" Uo grinned, "Our little Tohru going to be a mom."
"Uo" Tohru blushed.
"She's right Arisa" Hana smiled, "Stop embarrassing her."
"Okay. Okay. Okay" Uo brushed a hand through her long blond locks, "So when is it due?"
"In July" Tohru replied.
"Wow" Uo breathed, "That's just incredible. I mean it seems just like yesterday Kyo and you got married."
"I know. I'm really excited about this."
"As you should be" Hana smiled even more.
"But that's enough about me. I want to hear about you guys. Hana how's school going?" she turned to her dark haired friend.
"It's going all right. I mean I am enjoying it more than I thought I would."
"Yea" Uo picked up her glass again, showing her painted red nails, "I like it a lot too. Of course nothing is more fun then my career."
"Is that going well?" Tohru asked.
"Um yea. I think it's going pretty good. I'm really enjoying it. You know when Miss Mayuko told me about this option I thought she was crazy, but now that I am doing it, I don't think I would be doing anything else."
"And you're perfect for it too" Tohru said admiringly.
"What does that mean?"
"I mean you're beautiful."
"Thanks Tohru" Uo replied gratefully, "Not bad for a girl who used to be a Yankee huh?"
"I'm gonna go get some snacks" Hana said standing, "They're in the fridge right Arisa?"
"Yea. And there are some on the counter also."
"Okay" Hana nodded and departed the room.
"So" Uo smiled once more turning to Tohru, "Do you know what it is going to be yet?"
"Oh no" Tohru shook her head, "You don't find out about that until later. But Hatori says everything's perfectly fine."
"So he's going to be your doctor?"
"Mhm."
"Wow. If Kyoko could only see you now."
"She can. I mean I know she's watching over me."
"Yea."
"But you've done really well for yourself. This apartment looks great."
"Yea it's not so bad. It's home now anyway."
"Has Kureno been here?"
"Of course" Uo nodded a bit standoffish.
"You're worried about him aren't you?"
Uo turned her head in surprise as she asked the next question. "How do you know that?"
"Uo" Tohru took a breath before she spoke, "I wanted to ask you a question. Has Kureno been sleeping? And does he have a loss of appetite?"
"Unbelievable" Uo stood up, "How did you know?"
"Because Kyo is going through the same ordeal. And so are Yuki and Shigure. I haven't asked Hatori yet."
"Do you think it has something to do with the Zodiac?" Uo replied sitting back down, but on the couch this time.
"I don't know. But since I was coming here, Yuki wanted me to ask you. He's thinking, since he talked to Akito, that he wants to gather with everyone at the main house this weekend."
"You mean all the Zodiac members and their significant others?"
"Mhm."
"Well it has to be done it has to be done. But I got to tell you, I have been worried about him lately."
"I've been worried about Kyo too" Tohru admitted, "I suggest we just go there and find out what we can do to solve the problem."
"Yea. And hey" Uo brightened up, "Look on the bright side, you have big news for everybody."
"That's true."
"Oh Tohru" Uo embraced her, "I am so happy for you."
"Thanks Uo" Tohru almost cried, "Thank you so much."
(Next Scene)
Sure enough that weekend Tohru, Yuki, and Kyo gathered with the other members of the Zodiac and their partners to discuss the latest developments. The first to arrive after Tohru and the other two had said hello to Akito and Kandis, was in fact Hatsuharu and Rin who greeted Kyo and Tohru with huge embraces. Hatsuharu was glad to see that Yuki had come back and shook his hand, asking in the process if he had seen Ayame yet. As Yuki shook his head, who should come strolling into the room but the newlywed himself. He nodded his head cordially to his brother in silence and a moment of understanding passed between them. Of course immediately after that he became himself and was hopping about the room vainly showing off his wedding ring to Tohru and Kyo, which of course made his younger brother frown once more sinking into his chair, shaking his head in disbelief. Next came Hatori and Mayuko, followed by Shigure and his fiancée Aoko who were happy to see Kyo and Tohru. Hiro and Kisa arrived behind Arisa and Kureno, who immediately walked over to Akito and asked him how he was doing. He smiled appreciatively at both of them as they took their seats. Ritsu and Rebecca walked in after that and moved over to where Kandis was waiting to hug her cousin. Finally strolling in with a pair of sunglasses over his eyes, and his curly blond hair shining the little world traveler entered the room, or as they knew him, Momiji Sohma.
Andie was holding his hand as he walked over with a smile and removed his glasses before saying hello to Akito first. He made his rounds around the room, until he at last stopped in front of Tohru and at once embraced her tightly with the biggest smile of all. As he pulled away they both laughed and then Andie took his hand once more and led him to his seat, which was right next to Haru and Rin's. Akito cleared his throat and stood up supported a little by Kandis.
"Is everyone here?" he asked around as they allnodded their heads.
The only ones who seemed to be absent was in fact Machi, who was still in Paris, but had sent her love to everyone after Yuki had told her everything, and Kagura who no one had seen since Tohru and Kyo had gotten married. Rin said after Akito had nodded his head and sat back down in the large room of the main house that she would inform her of all that would be discussed. Akito nodded again and then turned the discussion over to Yuki who began. He talked for a good twenty minutes and then asked for everyone's input. Hatori mentioned that he tried to find out if it was a medical thing when he had discovered the similar symptoms amongst some in the family. In fact the weirdest part was, that everyone was suffering similarly except for Akito, who seemed to be improving in health, rather then deteriorating. In the end Hatori suggested to everyone to keep track of the differences of sleeplessness and lack of appetite closely. They all were in agreement and after the long discussion, Shigure suggested something too.
"Now that we've had our meeting," he replied with a twinkle in his eye, "I think it's time we had some fun. It's party time!"
"Oh Shigure!" Ayame crowed, "You always come up with the best ideas!" he shouted followed by his annoying laugh.
Of course after that almost everyone in the room was laughing and agreed with the idea. At once several servants came into the room carrying trays of food and drink for everyone. They all stood up from their chairs and began to circulate around the room. Tohru informed them all of her pregnancy and all of them were very excited. By the end of the afternoon, Kyo, Yuki, Tohru, Momiji, Andie, Hatsuharu, and Rin were all sitting on one of the back decks talking about their lives up to this point. Momiji smiled as he leaned back in his chair and Tohru turned to him.
"So have you been to see your father yet?" she asked him.
"No. But I am going to" he nodded, "Pretty soon actually."
"Now that you're not cursed," Kyo replied, "Have you any plans to well you know?"
"What?"
"I think what Kyo's trying to say is" Haru took up the rest, "Are you planning to ever tell your mother?"
Momiji suddenly frowned and looked down at the ground. "I don't know" he shook his head, "I suppose Papa is the one who gets to decide that. Probably not" he shook his head, "I mean what am I going to say? Hey Mama it's me. The child you didn't want. Hey guess what I'm not cursed anymore so we can be a family again."
"Wow" Kyo said with a raise of his eyebrows, "That was sarcasm, coming from you?"
"Yes well" Andie replied, "Momiji has been working on dealing with how he feels openly."
"Mhm" Momiji nodded, "And it brings out parts of me that I don't like. But enough about me" he said changing the subject, "I want to hear about you guys? So when's the baby due?"
"July" Tohru answered.
"Man I can't believe you guys are going to be parents" Haru shook his head happily, "I mean this incredible."
"I know what you mean" Tohru nodded, "We're very excited."
"You should be" Rin smiled, "You're gonna be a good mom."
"That she is" Yuki agreed as she stood up to go talk to Kandis and Rebecca.
Tohru kissed Kyo on the cheek before departing and Momiji and Andie jumped up to join her.
"So" Hatsuharu replied, "I hear You have been in town all week" he turned to Yuki, "And You haven't even been by."
"Oh" Yuki said slowly, "Well I've been kind of busy."
"Doing what?"
Yuki looked straight at Kyo who moved angrily in his chair.
"Uh well" Kyo began, "He's been helping us."
"Helping how?"
Kyo sighed heavily and then talked a good fifteen minutes about the current situation with Tai Ushida. When he finished he ended it with the news about the dojo making Hatsuharu frown even more as he leaned back in his chair.
"Mmm" he mumbled, "I knew you should have kicked his ass when you had the chance."
"It's not that big of a deal," Kyo grumbled.
"Not that big of a deal?" Rin retorted, "What are you talking about stupid cat, he's hitting on your wife?Sending her flowers is not a gesture. It's stalking."
"Which is where the damn rat comes in" Kyo explained, "He's been looking after her for me."
"But why the dojo?" Haru asked, "Why's he picking on that place?"
"Because it's where I work" Kyo answered making them all look at him, "It's how I earn the money to pay for bills and stuff. It's my livelihood."
"So let me get this straight" Haru said starting to get angry, "Not only is he going after you personally" he held up his fingers to count off, "He's also going after the people you know, and the places you care about, is that about the sum of things?"
"Yep" Kyo nodded as Haru shook his head his temper really rising.
"Haru calm down" Rin patted his hand, "Don't go black on us now."
"I will not calm down" Haru shook his head again, "Who the hell does he think he is? I mean that place just happens to be important to all of us."
"That's what I said" Yuki nodded.
"Well, I tell you what Kyo you can count on me for anything" Hatsuharu said looking at him directly, "If you need help getting more customers. Whatever. We are going to beat this bastard!"
"Thanks" Kyo nodded, "I appreciate that."
"He's right Kyo" Rin agreed, "We will do everything to make sure that place doesn't fall. After all it is like a second home for all of us."
"And in your case" Yuki added, "It is your home."
"No" Kyo shook his head, "Home is where Tohru is."
"Aw" Haru grinned teasingly playfully touching his cheek, "Aren't you just the cutest."
"Stop!" Kyo grimaced brushing his hand aside, "That's not funny."
Hatsuharu laughed and Yuki and Rin even laughed as Kyo removed himself from the group saying he needed something to drink.
(Next Scene)
When the party ended Andie found Momiji sitting by himself towards the front of the house. He had on a very somber expression.
"Momiji?"
"I called my father" he replied, "He wants me to come over right now."
"Oh? How come?"
"He wants to tell mama," he said looking up at her.
"Is he serious?" she asked as she sat down next to him.
"Yea. I've been gone so long, he doesn't want to hold it off any longer."
"But isn't it ultimately your choice?"
"I told him before I left, that I wanted to tell her, but I wasn't ready yet."
"Are you ready now?"
"No" he shook his head, "But I don't think I will ever be ready. This is gonna be hard" he stood up, "No matter how many times I have played it out in my head, I'm scared that she is never gonna accept me no matter what. Or even worse, she will accept me, but she will blame herself and make herself sick again. I can't see her go through that again. I can't."
"Did you tell your father that?"
"No. Because I know it's time. I have to be a man and face her. But what am I gonna say? I mean really what am I gonna say?"
"What do you want to say?"
"Honestly?" he asked as she nodded, "I want to tell her I love her and that I missed her. And thatno matterwhat I never once thought ill of her because of this. I want her to know that."
"Then that's what you say" she replied as she stood up and took his hand, "Momiji you have a wonderful heart. A very sweet and caring heart. Use it."
He smiled and moved his forehead closer to hers and closed his eyes.
"I am so lucky I found you" he said the tears forming in his eyes, "I know now, I made no mistake in Spain by asking you to marry me."
"And I know I made no mistake in accepting it. Come on" she moved away and took his hand gently, "Let's go together. I want them to be the first to know. Your father" she paused and then looked up into his eyes, "And your mother."
"Okay" he agreed and they walked hand in hand out the main gate and headed for his father's house.
(To be continued…)
Authors Note: Hey guys! Sorry this is so late! I had major writer's block. But this chapter is two parts so you will get that other part today as well as Chapter eight! Also if you are reading the Ranma fic it will be completed tomorrow and Saturday so look for it!
Next Part: Momiji tells his mother the truth! Find out what happens!