Chapter One: Sohma Party
"Sakura! Sakura!" Tohru's soft-spoken voice called upon the wind.
Lying on the grass in her spacious backyard, five- year old Sakura Sohma lifted her brown eyes to the sound of her mother's voice and smiled slightly as she stood up and brushed the grass as much as she could from herblue dress. Then she dashed inside to find her twin brother Katsuya, sitting on a stool helping his mother in the kitchen, for it was a well-known fact to her how much he enjoyed cooking with his mom.
"Mom's been calling you" Katsuya replied a bit irritated, "And she is not going to be happy when she sees the dirt on your dress" he added as he patted some seaweed onto one of the rice balls.
"So. I can wash up. It's not that bad, Kaye!" she added sticking out her tongue, to which he simply rolled his eyes.
"You're just like dad," he muttered putting the rice ball down into the container.
"And you're a mama's boy!" she shouted back once more sticking her tongue out.
"All right you two" Tohru replied gently as she came into the kitchen, "That's enough of that. Sakura" she exclaimed, "What happened to your dress?" she asked.
"Um" Sakura twiddled her fingers behind her back.
"You weren't at the dojo were you?" Tohru asked her.
"Uh uh" she shook her head, "I was just in the backyard."
"And you managed to get this one dirty too? Tohru smiled as she knelt down and tried to wipe the dirt off, "Well it's not fixable now. Will you please go get changed. We do have to leave soon. As soon as your father gets home."
"Okay" Sakura nodded and trudged back into her room.
"Kaye, why don't you go and help her?" she added.
"Kay Mom!" Katsuya said jumping off the stool and running close behind her.
"And no fighting!" she called back.
"Kay!" they said back to her as she shook her head with another grin and placed the remaining rice-balls into the container.
As she did this she thought about the New Years party they were all attending that evening. Since moving to Kyoto five years ago, they had only returned to the main house for New Years, but this year was different. There were several new babies and she couldn't wait to see them all. According to Hatori who kept everyone posted, Shigure and Aoko who had been married two years before had received a girl only two months ago. Momiji and Andie had their first child a month later. Of course the biggest news of all was that finally Yuki and Machi were bringing their little one, who had only just been born three weeks prior to the day. As for the remaining former members of the Zodiac they were all doing well. Hatsuharu and Rin had another child born to them only a year ago and their son Reiji was the same age as the twins. Rebecca and Ritsu had given birth to a beautiful baby girl only a year after Reiji had been born, and Akito and Kandis had given birth to a boy, who was named after his father. As for the doctor who had given Tohru all the baby news, he had a son of his own named Raiu who was now a year old and oddly enough had the personality of his uncle Ayame, which you can imagine absolutely thrilled Hatori to no end. Just four months before her best friend Arisa Uotani and Kureno tied the knot and Kisa and Hiro were officially engaged to be married. It seemed like so much was going on with the family in Tokyo and Tohru couldn't wait to see everyone again.
"It's been so long," she thought contently, "So long."
Meanwhile in the twin's bedroom Katsuya was sitting on his bed reading a picture book that he had read over and over. Sakura was just finishing putting on a new dress. Despite being only five years old the twins were quite efficient for their age. They both could read really well by the time they were four and because of the delicate teaching of their mother they were very polite to everyone around them. Even though it seemed like they didn't get along Sakura and Katsuya were quite inseparable. They both had their mom's big beautiful brown eyes and their hair was a combination of both their parents, being a mahogany brown. Sakura's hair came down to her shoulders and she always had a pair of ribbons in her hair just like her mom used to wear. Katsuya was a dead ringer for his father, at least according to their grandfather Kazuma who had raised Kyo. As Sakura stared at her reflection in the mirror Katsuya placed his book back on the bed and began to swing his legs back and forth smiling.
"I really like that color on you Sakura" he replied using her full name for he never called her by her nickname like everyone else.
He and his parents preferred to call her by her full name so since the nickname was what she was called normally, she let only her real family call her by her real name.
"You do Kaye?" she said back using his nickname because despite her, he preferred it, "Really?"
"Mhm" he nodded, "Just like mama, you look real good in purple."
"Thanks" she smiled back, "I'm sorry for what I said earlier."
"That's okay" he grinned, "I know you didn't mean it" he pushed himself off the bed and walked over to the mirror grabbing a nearby cap and placing it on his head, "Do you think everyone will be there?"
"Mama seems to think so" Sakura replied with another nod as she placed her dirty dress in the hamper, "I can't wait to see Uncle Yuki's new baby."
"I know" Kaye grinned even more as he removed the cap, "I can't wait either. Mama says that she is supposed to be really cute."
Sakura walked over to the side of the room and gazed out the window. She pushed her face onto the glass leaving a small nose print as she moved away.
"I wonder when daddy will be home?" she replied with a sigh, "I wish he would get here already."
"You're just upset because mama didn't let you go to that dirty smelly place where he works," Katsuya said with a roll of his eyes.
"It's called a dojo little brother," she added lastly because she knew that it annoyed him.
"Little?" he retorted with a grumpy pout, "We are the same age."
"Yes but I am still two minutes older than you" she said back as she walked over to the door with her arms behind her back, "And two inches taller" she added with her tongue sticking out once more, which made Kaye pout even more as he crossed his arms and shake his head furiously.
(Next Scene)
Kyo closed up the doors of the dojo with his keys and strolled over to the gate that separated the house from the business. As he opened the gate his nosy neighbor Raizo Kamiya poked his head over his own fence, which made Kyo slightly smile, slightly wince as he waved back. Then he walked through the gate and towards the front door of his house. As he opened the door he could smell the delicious aroma of the rice balls that Tohru and Katsuya had been cooking for the New Years celebration at the main house. Before he could even turn around he felt a small bump in his middle and laughed as he felt his daughter wrap her arms around him.
"Welcome home daddy" she said as he knelt down and embraced her tightly.
"Well it's good to see you too" Kyo smiled, "How are you precious? Have you been good?"
She nodded but behind her, Katsuya shook his head.
"No" he said still crossing his arms, which made Kyo smile even more.
Katsuya ran over and hugged his father tightly as Tohru came out of the back room and walked over herself. She kissed him lightly on the cheek and asked him how his day was, as she did everyday. Kyo sort of shrugged it off and told everyone to hurry up and get ready because otherwise they were going to be late. Everyone nodded and went his and her ownseparate way. Kazuma arrived finally and they all piled up into the van, put on their seatbelts and Kyo drove, heading towards the city.
(Next Scene)
At that same moment, inside of the main house Hatsuharu Sohma was helping his cousin Momiji with the decorations in the main hall where the Zodiac banquet took place. Despite the curse being lifted, they still held it every year and only former members of the Zodiac and their own personal families were allowed to attend. Over in the corner of the room Hatsuharu's five- year old son Reiji was looking over his dad's c.d. collection. His short black hair was spiky like his father's and he had the same grey eyes. Reiji was full of spirit and like his father loved to play music. However he preferred the guitar to the keyboards, but both of his parents insisted that he play both. He was rather short for his age, but that didn't stop him. He still believed that he could do anything that tall kids could do. Suddenly into the room Kandis came in along with her husband Akito and their son, Aki short for Akito of course. Unlike his cousin however young Akito always wore a rather somber expression, which was rather unlike children of his age, which was four. His hair was as long as his father's with the same sideburns. In fact it looked a lot like Yuki's hair when he was small. The only difference was that it was brown, the same color as his mother Kandis's hair. His eyes were a real dark brown. When he saw Reiji smile as he came in he sighed heavily and tried to ignore him, which only made Reiji frown back. Reiji walked over to his father as Akito and Kandis talked to Momiji briefly about the decorations.
"What's the matter Reij?" Haru asked as he saw his son frown up him.
"Akito" Reiji replied in his sweet voice, "He's always so frowny. I mean does he ever smile?"
"Well I don't know about that" Haru said gently, "But I wouldn't worry about him. Maybe someday he will have something to smile about."
"I can't wait till Kaye and Cherry get here" Reiji replied, "At least then I will have someone else to play with. Akito and Kanako are just no fun."
"Okay Pal" Haru nodded, "Why don't you go wait for them in the courtyard? I still have stuff to do, so I will see you and your mother later."
"Okay" Reiji agreed.
"And don't forget to help your mother with Rika before she comes!" he added as Reiji nodded and ran out the door.
(Next Scene)
About two hours later the festivities began. All the Sohma's gathered around the main courtyard of the house, but the Zodiac members and everyone really didn't see each other until the banquet. That was when the real fun began. Shigure and Aoko passed around their daughter Hitomi to everyone, as did Momiji and Andie, whose child was also a daughter but her name was Krysta. It seemed that everyone was having a wonderful time. Reiji and the twins spent hours playing tag around the building while Akito and Kanako sat quietly and talked amongst themselves. Kanako was Rebecca and Ritsu's daughter and like her cousin didn't feel the big need for parties. Kisa showed off her engagement ringto Tohru, who hugged her tightly, so proud of her little "sister" for finally being happy. Even Hiro was in good spirits and talked to Momiji and Kyo about the wedding. The only ones who hadn't in fact arrived yet, were Yuki and Machi who were running a little late because of visitation with other members of her family. Finally they arrived and everyone gathered around to see their new baby daughter. Yuki picked her up and handed her to Tohru first as Machi grinned, her face looking a little paler then normal.
"Oh she is so beautiful" Tohru gasped, "What is her name Yuki?" she asked him as Ayame stood nearby on pins and needles to hold her next.
"Takara" Yuki replied proudly, "You always knew that I would have a girl" he grinned, "And that is the name I always wanted. Machi loves it too" he took Machi's hand in his and squeezed it tightly.
"I do" Machi agreed, "I really do love that name" she smiled, "Would you guys excuse me for a moment" she replied standing up, "I will be right back" she walked out of the room and Yuki frowned slightly as she departed.
He slowly handed his daughter to his brother and then turned to Tohru once more steering her away from the group of people.
"Tohru" he replied, "I am so glad to see you."
"I'm glad to see you too Yuki. It's been awhile since we have seen each other, even though you live so close by. And Kyo said you have hardly been to the dojo since it is doing well."
"Yea well I pop by whenever I can. But uh" Yuki said slowly, "I was wondering if I could talk to you in private about something."
"Is something wrong?" she asked him with a worried expression on her face.
"Well actually now that you mention it, yes" he nodded still frowning slightly as he saw Machi move back into the room, "It's really loud around here though" he glanced around the room, "And outside. I know" he suddenly smiled, "Would you be interested in taking a walk with me back to the garden?"
Tohru looked up and smiled herself and then slowly nodded understanding completely.
"Of course."
Yuki took her hand and then the two of them walked out of the building, out the Sohma gates, and down the street heading for their special place.
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Hey you guys! Well I managed to get this one donefor ya! I will have another one tomorrow and probably two by the end of the week, so you should have a total of four chapters this week! Remember this book is shorter than the other two so it's only supposed to be twelve chapters. Hope you liked it and I will see you all tomorrow!
Next Chapter:
Chapter Two: Return to the Secret Base
Yuki and Tohru walk towards their old familiar spots of secrets and hereveals to her disturbing news. Find out what next time!