Chapter 2: Orientation
A bright, cheery sun poured its light upon Shigure's house. The ever-gentle wind rustled the tree's leaves and brought a sweet perfume of wildflowers winging through the air. Tohru Honda, walking on the lawn, lifted her head and breathed deeply. A smile lit her face.
It was a beautiful day.
Of course, that was to be expected during springtime, when the new school year loomed on the horizon and Kawaia High bustled with activity. The Sohmas were particularly busy. Kisa and Hiro Sohma were no longer in middle school. Soon--later on that day, in fact--the two would be attending Orientation.
"Aw, hell, why do I have to come?" Kyo shouted, storming outside, slamming the door. He leapt to the roof, as he always did when he was upset or, in this case, angry.
A deep voice from inside answered, "Because Shigure does not want to leave you here alone." Quieter, Hatori added, "Most likely because he'd want his house to be still standing when he gets back."
"I heard that!"
Tohru shielded her eyes from the sun and gazed up at Kyo. He shifted restlessly around on the roof shingles, saw her, and glared.
"Damn it, stop looking at me!"
She stifled a laugh. So much for a peaceful day living with the Sohmas.
Then again, Tohru realized, she wouldn't have it any other way.
Inside, Shigure, Yuki, Hatsuharu, Momiji, and Hatori were busily getting Kisa and Hiro ready for Orientation.
"You're all coming?" Hiro asked, not bothering to hide the disgust in his voice. "I don't believe this. How embarassing."
"Why not?" Shigure asked cheerily. "We all want to come and welcome our youngest family members into the excitement and raging hormones of high school, where dreams can be made, where friendships may be forged--"
"Shigure, shut up," Hatori said dully. "You're just going there for the high school girls."
"Who, me?" A delightfully innocent expression crossed his features, and his dark hair fell into his eyes. "Hari, do you really think such a thing would ever cross my mind?"
"Yes."
"I am deeply insulted! The agony is almost too much to bear..."
"Shut up."
"We only want to support you," Yuki told the youngest two Sohmas. "Besides, I have to go anyway. It's one of the rules of being class President. And Ritsu and Kagura aren't here, so everyone is not coming."
Hiro, noticing Tohru outside, muttered, "But why does she have to come?"
"Hiro," Kisa reprimanded, her large eyes sad. "Be nice to Sissy, please."
His eyes fell to the floor, bitterly, but he said no more.
The house was quiet for a moment, when suddenly Shigure brightened. "Ah, I know who we're forgetting. The silence was simply becoming far too stifling... so let's call Aya!"
Yuki went pale. As Shigure reached for the phone, his hand snaked out and slammed the phone back down onto the receiver.
"Don't you dare. I'll kill you," he hissed.
"Sure, he's annoying, but this is a family event," Haru reminded Yuki.
"Yeah, and I happen to like Aya!" Momiji chimed in, bouncing excitedly around the room. "Hari, Hari, Aya can come, right? Right? Hari?"
Shigure put on a pathetically pleading face. "Hari?"
Hatori sighed. "I suppose he should come, as well. You may call Ayame."
"Oh, what fun this is going to be!" Shigure reached for the phone once more and began to dial his cousin's number. Yuki, his face full of disgust, strode crossly outside.
It was bound to be an interesting day.
"What the hell are you looking at?" Kyo growled as the Sohmas piled out of the car (Hatori did the driving!) and into Kawaia High School. Yuki rolled his eyes.
"I wasn't looking at you, stupid cat."
Kyo's face turned red with fury. "That's it! We're gonna end this, here and now, you damn rat!" His fists clenched, and it seemed another fight was about to explode, when...
"Where's Shigure?" Tohru asked, glancing around. "He was just here a second ago..."
"Ah, but what man in his right mind could overlook the throngs of high school girls?" Ayame chimed in, brushing his long silver hair over his shoulder. "I can hardly resist them, myself."
"Sick bastards," Yuki and Kyo muttered.
Hatori turned off the car and shut the door. "Well, let's go inside. We don't want to be late for Orientation, now, do we?"
"Come on, come on," Kyo growled, dragging Shigure through the halls and (to his rather loud disagreement) away from the high school girls.
Eventually, the Sohmas reached the cafeteria, where Orientation was just beginning. They sat down quietly (although it was difficult for some).
Shigure pouted in the corner, Kyo glowered at everyone, Momiji shifted restlessly, Ayame barely resisted spouting nonsensical stories about his high school presidency, and Hatori--calm as ever--actually listened, along with the remaining Sohmas.
The cafeteria was cool, with a fan blowing the fresh spring air around the room. The tables, occupied by many people, were dark and clean, and the heavy scent of antibacterial soap stung Yuki's senses. At the front, a man gestured for the president of the youngest class to come forward. The president, a boy of about 12, strode to the podium and spoke for a while, then began to introduce his classmates.
"We also have some new students that will be joining us this year," the boy said. "We are pleased to announce the arrival of the Miyoko family..." He droned on, listing their names--for it seemed to be a rather large family. Kyo glanced over in their direction, just as the introductions ended and applause blossomed in the room.
The cafeteria was suddenly filled with voices, children and adults eager to meet the newest high school members. The boy left the podium, and the school was declared open for Orientation. Students were free to explore as they pleased... though charged with reasonable limitations, of course.
"I can feel it!" cried a voice suddenly, louder than the rest of the crowd. Kyo, losing sight of the Miyoko family, climbed atop a table to see who had spoken.
Sure enough, it was one of the Miyokos--a tall woman in her mid-twenties, with fiery red hair and emerald eyes.
"Oh, it is overwhelming!" she gasped. When the room fell silent, she opened one eye, made sure everyone was watching, then closed it and continued, "This feeling, oh, I cannot bear it! Only by a meager strand of my own will is such a passion harnessed. If only there were another to share my burden, perhaps such agony might be lessened..." She began to make some very suggestive noises, and several of the men--including Shigure and Ayame--headed in her direction.
"Aw, what the--" Kyo stomped his foot. "Get back here, you perverts!"
Yuki buried his face in his hands, utterly mortified.
"Ayame, Shigure, come here," Hatori said. Obediently, the silver-haired man pranced back to the table and sat down. Shigure, however, was more vocal in his protest.
"But Hari..."
"And you're the adult?" Kyo growled.
"Really, you two, I am embarrassed to be related," Yuki seconded.
"Yuki, my brother, there is nothing shameful in the quelling of manly desires when one offers it so freely!" Ayame announced, throwing his head back. "Ah, one can only imagine the depths of passion--"
Kyo tuned him out and glanced back over to the Miyoko family. There were so many, but one in particular caught his gaze. A girl, sitting in the midst of them, surrounded by family. Despite all the people in the room, she seemed so alone... Her eyes were clear and empty beyond all reason.
What is wrong with her? Kyo wondered, then realized what he had been thinking. Before he could curse himself, Hatsuharu tugged at his pant leg.
"Kyo, stop staring at the cute girls and get off the table."
"What! I was not--" And he hopped off the table, ready to beat Haru into a thorough pulp.
"Why don't we meet them? The Miyokos, I mean. Why don't we?" Momiji asked Hatori, his eyes wide and pleading. "Can we? Can we, can we, please, Hari?"
"They seem stupid to me," Hiro muttered.
"I like them already," Kisa said.
"Er, I mean... me too. I like them, too," Hiro corrected swiftly, earning a smile from his friend.
The dark-haired Hatori seemed lost in thought, still. His gray eyes flickered from the Miyoko family back to his own, and he sighed. "Yes, Momiji, we will go and meet them," Hatori decided. "Gather up the family and we'll head over there."
The more or less sane Sohmas groaned.
Tohru beamed. "We get to meet the Miyokos? Oh, this is going to be wonderful!"