Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket.
Chapter Five : The Feast and the Unexpected Guest
Akito was sprawled out on his porch, like he usually was. It was twilight now, the spring evening breeze cooling his face. Shigure and Hatori were also sitting on the porch with him. Shigure bore a disappointed look, and Hatori was emotionless. Akito sighed.
"Well. My plan failed miserably. The bond between the two grew immensely. I need a different approach," said Akito. He dragged his long fingernail across the floorboards.
"I think that you should employ your… older tactics." Akito raised his eyebrows.
"That's a great idea Shigure. I stopped because it was causing… complications… but the situation is dire enough. I believe that will work. But what about the girl?"
"Leave her out of this!" cried Hatori. Shigure and Akito turned instantly to look at him.
"Are you going soft Hatori? That girl is intruding on our lives. She has no place anywhere near the Sohmas. Besides, I only wanted to have a little 'fun' with her before you erased her memories," said Akito with a smug grin. Hatori's eyes widened.
"Akito! What are you going to do to her?" Hatori looked panicked.
"Just what I did with the last one, Hatori. Just what I did with the last one…"
-
Kyo came home two days after Yuki emerged. Grumbling, he acknowledged Yuki's presence. The rat ignored him completely. Tohru thought it strange for the two to have absolutely no interaction at all, but she stayed quiet. Yuki and Kyo were probably going to have to readjust to each other after being apart for so long, she reasoned. Just give it some time.
Later that evening, Kyo knocked on Yuki's bedroom door. He heard Yuki's 'come in' and opened the door. The rat instantly went back to the book he was reading. Kyo shut the door behind him and sat on the rat's bed.
"Look, I know you're all pissed off at me," Yuki didn't blink. "I came in to apologize. I shouldn't have said those things. Sorry." With that, Kyo stood and left. Yuki looked up, and shrugged to himself, then went back to his book.
-
Tohru was running to and fro in the kitchen, preparing a feast. It would be the first real dinner Yuki would have in nearly a month. He had hung around, trying to help her, but she had shooed him away, laughing. "I want what I'm cooking to be a surprise!" Tohru, along with cooking feverishly, was mentally making a list of who she would call. She wouldn't have to worry about Haru or the girls; they were still staying here for the time being. She had sent all three of them out shopping a few hours ago, and they were now playing Dai Hin Min in front of the TV. The shopping bags from their trip were unpacked and lined up all along the counter.
When the beef stew was simmering happily on the stove, the rice cooked, onigiris prepared, fish staying warm in the oven, noodles warm in their pot, and vegetables cold in the fridge, Tohru went to go get the phone. She was going to call Hatori, Kisa, Kagura, Ayame, Ritsu, Momiji, and Hiro. That would make thirteen people overall. She would have to do some more cooking. Dialing Hatori's number, she put the phone to her ear. Hatori picked up the phone. "Hello, Sohma Clinic. Sohma Hatori speaking."
"Hello, Hatori-san! This is Tohru."
"Oh, hello Tohru-san."
"Would you like to come over for dinner tonight? It's going to be a feast for Yuki."
"Of course I'll come Tohru-san. Is around five good?"
"Yes, that's great! Thank you Hatori-san." Hatori put the receiver down slowly. Rubbing his temples, he sat down. 'The more she loves him, the harder it will be for me to completely erase Yuki from her mind. It's the same case as Kana's. Her love was so strong, if I so much as tell her my name or touch her, she'll remember everything. Akito knows how my power works; he knows that if she even forgets at all, saying Yuki's name to her will reawaken her memories. Her love for Yuki is just as strong, if not stronger then Kana's love for me. Maybe it's not even possible for me to suppress the memories most precious to her,' thought Hatori. Leaning back in his chair, he closed his eyes, and fell asleep.
-
At five thirty, everyone invited was crowded into Shigure's house. The boys were careful not to bump into Uo or Hana or Tohru. With thirteen people over, Tohru made even more food. She had also prepared an extra-special dessert and refused to show it to anyone. At six o'clock, everyone was sitting either on the floor in the dining room, on the porch adjacent to the dining room, or at the table. Yuki was sitting at the head of the table, gazing at all the food, then at Tohru, then back at the food. Tohru put her hand on his shoulder, and smiled. "Let's eat!"
Everyone dug in. There was some pushing and shoving from Haru, Kyo, and Uo, but everyone else was peaceful. At least ten different conversations were going on at once, and the whole house rung with laughter and happy voices. Even Hatori grinned from time to time. The topics ranged from ideas for Shigure's next novel (Shigure, Ayame, and Hana) and who would kick whose ass in Dai Hin Min (Uo, Haru, Kyo and Hiro). Tohru and Haru never left Yuki's side.
After all of the food was gone, Tohru stood. "I've made an extra special dessert for everyone tonight, a dessert I hope that all of you enjoy!" With that, she walked into the kitchen and emerged with a platter full of cakes, all covered. She placed the biggest one in front of Yuki and smiled. The rat gasped when Tohru uncovered the cake.
It was a vanilla cake with white and red icing, with strawberries dancing along the top and sides of the cake. Cutting the cake precisely, she served a huge piece to Yuki. Smiling bigger than he had in weeks, Yuki stood and took Tohru's hand. Bowing his head slightly, he kissed Tohru's hand with a princely smile. Tohru blushed as red as the strawberries on the cake.
Sitting, Yuki lifted his fork and slid it into his piece of cake. Raising the fork to his lips, he smiled at Tohru and put the piece of cake in his mouth. For a moment, while he chewed, he was emotionless. He had a blank stare, chewing thoughtfully. Putting the fork down, he stood and look Tohru in the eye.
"That cake is undoubtedly the best cake I have ever eaten, Tohru." She blushed immediately. He hadn't said Honda-san, he had called her Tohru!
"I feel honored beyond compare, Yuki."
-
It was around ten, and the real party had begun. Haru had whispered something into Kyo's ear at about nine thirty, much to the cat's delight. Passing it along, the message finally got to Shigure.
"Hey, Shi-chan. Kyo says that Haru is asking your permission to drink a little." Shigure started, and turned to Hiro.
"Are you serious?" Hiro rolled his eyes.
"Do I have any reason to lie? Look, just tell Kyo yes or no. I don't want to get drunk and have a hangover tomorrow. Besides, what about the girls here?" Shigure pondered this for a while, and then went over to Haru. The cow looked up from his card game hopefully. Shigure shook his head firmly.
"No way. Besides, Arisa-san and Hanajima-san are here. No use risking it." Haru sighed and slumped his shoulders.
"Well, you better go tell that to Kyo and Uo, before one of them gets drunk enough to hug the other." Shigure's eyes popped.
"Where are they?"
"Out on the back porch." Shigure jumped up and starting running. He found Kyo with his nose in a bottle of sake and Uo fumbling drunkenly with a shot glass and a bottle of whiskey. He immediately relieved both of them of the alcohol and carefully dragged Kyo up to his room and Uo into Tohru's. Sighing, he brushed his hands together, feeling accomplished. He started walking back into the room, only to find everyone completely silent, their eyes all drawn to the man standing in the doorway.
Akito.