A/N Written for a challenge on FNet a fandom that is either Romantic/Comedy or both. I have chosen Fruits Basket and have decided on both. Hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not on FB. etc.
"What is he doing here?" Yuki emphasised 'he' in disgust. He had not noticed, when he had first stumbled into the kitchen from bed, that his brother, Ayame, had been lazily draped over the kitchen counter talking animatedly to Tohru.
"Oh, good morning Yuki-Kun. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, thank you Honda-san, though, I should have stayed in bed." Tohru looked puzzled, until she remembered that Ayame was in the room.
"And, how are you today little brother?" Ayame chirped.
"All the worse for seeing you." He replied. "Where is Shigure? I need to hurt something…" He sulked as he walked off. Ayame looked disappointed.
"I'm sure he'll come around one day." She said softly, her brown eyes filled with hope.
"You're right Tohru-kun," he sighed, "but until then I shall continue to be my charming self and he shall not be able to resist!" he laughed gleefully and danced prettily about the room while Tohru tried to focus on preparing breakfast.
Ayame had turned up early that morning, bringing with him a large, pink, furry suitcase. It looked as if he was set to be staying for a while. The same could not be said for Shigure who, it seemed, was packing luggage into Hatori's car. Tohru peered out of the kitchen window to see if Hatori was with him.
"Is Shigure-san going somewhere with Hatori-san?"
"Hmm?" Ayame stopped twirling to answer her, "Yes, He has some sort of writer's block and says he 'needs to get away from the distractions of everyday life.' Though, I do suspect he is just trying to get away from the distractions of his editor." He smiled cheekily and winked at Tohru as if he was sharing something top-secret. "I also suspect Hatori hasn't figured this out yet and that's why he is happy to take him."
"I see. So you are not going with them Ayame-san?"
"No," He replied, twisting his silver hair nervously into a braid. "I've been recruited to baby-sit." Tohru gasped. "That isn't to say that Shigure doesn't think you can't look after yourself princess, but the two boys, no that's-"
"Oh it will be wonderful Ayame-san! You will be able to spend some proper quality time with Yuki-kun!" She almost physically bubbled with excitement. Nothing cheered her more than the thought of their old wounds being healed. Ayame marvelled at her enthusiasm, she always knew just what to say.
"And try not to smash my house up while I'm gone, oh, and don't kill each other either." Shigure was addressing Yuki and Kyo who were silently fuming at having to be babysat by Ayame, who, in their opinion, was the one that needed supervision.
"I'll take good care of them 'Gure, don't you worry." Ayame smiled.
"I won't. Just you behave yourself." Shigure replied quietly and gave Ayame a swift kiss on the nose, which was followed by their thumbs-up symbol.
"Oh do grow up. Come on Shigure." Hatori spoke up: a hint of annoyance in his monotone voice. "I don't know why I put up with those to I really don't…" He mumbled as he stalked out of the house.
Ayame blew kisses to Shigure and Hatori as they drove away in the car. Shigure blew them back with gusto while Hatori pointedly ignored their antics. Tohru smiled lovingly at the three through the kitchen window. She couldn't understand how Hatori had been friends with them for so long, his personality was so different from theirs', 'but perhaps' she thought, 'that is why they get on'. Her thoughts were interrupted by Kyo who was loudly slurping milk from the carton. She gave a squeal as the noise startled her and she promptly fell to the floor. Kyo gave a quizzical look.
"Uh, Kyo-kun, how long have you been there? You startled me."
"Yeah, well you shouldn't just stand there daydreaming. Anyone could sneak up on you, like that stupid snake." Kyo turned his head away from her in frustration, he knew he had no place to lecture her: he had been the one sneaking around so as not to disturb her.
Tohru smiled at Kyo, he was always looking out for her, even if he didn't realise it.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just a great day."
"Really? Well I don't see what's so great about it." He finished drinking his milk and left Tohru in the kitchen; presumably to go sit on the roof.
"Oh Princess!" Ayame could be heard clearly from outside, "Be a dear and show me to my quarters."
"Ignore him Honda-san. He knows exactly where Shigure's room is." Came the soft yet frustrated voice of Yuki. It was going to be an eventful few days, but as long as Ayame and Yuki bridged the gap between them, even just a little, Tohru wouldn't mind.
Kyo sat lazily on the roof; usually he just came up here to have a break from the rat, but now Ayame had decided to bother him too. Life was so unfair sometimes. A light summer breeze blew softly against his face as Kyo contemplated life at Shigure's house. He hadn't thought about it properly in a long while; it was starting to feel like home. The concept seemed foreign to Kyo. While he was training with his master, he never thought he would be sharing a house with his most hated enemy, let alone agreeably refer to it as his home.
"Oh little Brother!" Kyo tried to block out Ayame's annoying calls. If he didn't hate Yuki so much, he would almost feel sorry for him.
Ayame was trudging through the house in search of Yuki. There didn't seem to be any sign of him. Luckily for Yuki he had managed to escape –unseen- to his secret base. He daren't even tell Tohru of his whereabouts, knowing her she would happily tell Ayame where he had skulked off to in a naïve attempt to bridge the gap that had formed between them. Normally he would appreciate her efforts; however, the thought of the impending few days he would have to spend with his brother were enough to send him over the edge.
"Ah princess, there you are." Ayame flounced into Yuki's room where Tohru was happily making Yuki's bed. "What a good little wife you shall make. I may have to steal you away before anyone else gets the chance." Tohru blushed and rambled on about how she was sure she was only trouble for the Sohmas and that Ayame would be much better suited to someone less bothersome than herself. Ayame; however charming he thought Torhu's babbling to be, was on a mission and waved off her verbal diarrhoea.
"That is a shame Tohru-kun but have you seen Yuki?" he looked a little concerned.
"I'm afraid I haven't, not since Shigure left earlier. Is there a problem?"
"I should say." Ayame paused for dramatic effect, "'Gure, it seems, has left me with no place to sleep. He has taken his mattress with him and has left me with nothing but a bare floor to sleep on. What a poor way to show kindness to someone who is doing a favour out of the kindness of their own heart." Tohru should have been used to Ayame's over-dramatics by now, but once again she found herself apologising for something that wasn't her fault.
"Do calm down princess I'm sure there is a perfectly good reason for Shigure's lack of a mattress. I shall just have to share Yuki's bed until we come to a suitable arrangement." Ayame looked positively gleeful though Tohru expected that Yuki would not be quite so receptive to his suggestion.