The Same Shade of Yellow, by Raberba girl

Chapter 3 - The Special Trip With Momo to Tohru and Kyo's House!

Author's Note: For those who don't know, "shishou" means something like "teacher" or "master." "Shihan" is what Kagura and Yuki call Kazuma; I think it also means "teacher."

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Kia was a pretty six-year-old with red hair and piercing eyes. The moment she climbed into the car, she pinned Momo with her gaze and asked loudly, "Who's she, Aunt Kagura?"

"That's my cousin, Momo-chan," Kagura said, "and that's my other cousin, Momiji. Say hello!"

"Hi," Kia said doubtfully as Kagura pulled out of the driveway.

Momiji grinned. "Hello, Kia-chan! Nice to meet you!"

Kia smiled back. It so transformed her face that she now looked ferociously beautiful instead of just pretty. Momo noticed that her canines were slightly more pointed than usual.

Kia, thankfully, now turned her attention to Kagura's boyfriend. "Hi, Uncle Daisuke."

Kagura laughed, delighted.

Daisuke sweatdropped. "Now, I think we're getting a little ahead of ourselves, Kia - but it's nice to see you, too."

Kia settled down in her seat, opened her mouth to talk about how much fun she had had at her friend's house, and did not stop talking until they had reached their destination. Only Momiji had any hope of keeping up with her, which he did most cheerfully.

The house they came to was an old traditional one. Momo noticed, when they got out of the car and approached, that most of the paper doors looked like they had been damaged and repaired quite often.

Kia ran ahead and threw herself inside. "Mama! I'm home! Aunt Kagura is with me, and Uncle Daisuke, and blonde people!"

A ginger cat ambled out of the kitchen, followed by a pretty woman in an apron. The first thing Momo noticed was the woman's big blue eyes, and then the sweet, welcoming smile curving her mouth.

The woman went to her knees and held out her arms so that Kia could run straight into them. They kissed, and the woman just had time for a, "Welcome home, darling," before Kia began enthusiastically repeating everything she had chattered about in the car. Kia's mother smiled at her guests and stood up, with her arms still around her daughter.

"In a minute, sweetheart," she said gently, "I can listen while you help me finish the rice."

"Aw, 'kay," Kia grumbled. She pulled away, scooped up the cat, and cuddled it roughly. "Ooober goober woober, you looooove petting, don't you pussy-poo?" Then she ran upstairs to put away her backpack. The cat unflattened its ears and shook its head briskly, then marched away.

"Kagura-chan, Daisuke-san, hello!" Kia's mother said. She gave Kagura a hug and looked absolutely delighted.

"Hello, Tohru-kun!" Kagura sang out, beaming. Daisuke nodded politely.

"And Momiji-kun!"

"Tohru!" Momiji said happily. They clasped hands and gazed at each other with such love and friendship in their eyes that Momo was surprised they didn't embrace.

"It's been so long, Momiji-kun! We really missed you."

"Sorry, sorry, Tohru! But I was having so much fun! Germany is the best!"

"That's wonderful, Momiji-kun! You can tell us about it during supper. You are staying for supper, aren't you?"

"Of course! I have lots and lots to tell you!"

Tohru now turned to Momo, and a pleased look came to her face. "Hello, Momo-san. I haven't seen you in a very long time, either." Momo did not remember ever meeting Tohru at all. "Will you stay for supper as well?"

"I would like to," Momo said shyly. "I'll let my mama know."

"Of course. That would be wonderful, Momo-san. Oh, Momiji-kun! I forgot to say, Akito-san and Yuki-kun are coming over as well. That's why I've been so busy today, getting ready."

"Are they?" Momiji said delightedly. "How great! Now I can say hi to them, too! Everyone together in the same place!"

"It's a good thing I am making so much food," Tohru said with a smile. "There is enough for four extra people, I think."

"Excellent," Daisuke said heartily. "Your cooking has always been the best, Mrs. Tohru Sohma."

Tohru smiled happily. Momo was fascinated by that smile - like Momiji's, it seemed to find joy in everything.

Just then, a five-year-old boy in a white training outfit came running in. "Mama, Mama!" With his brown hair and big blue eyes, he looked a great deal like Tohru. "Look what Grandfather showed me how to do! Hai-YAH!" He kicked out, and a nearby game of checkers went flying.

Momo gasped at the suddenness of it. The little boy clapped his hands over his mouth and stared at his mother, who smiled a little.

"That's all right, Tohaku. Would you like me to help you pick it up?"

"No!" Tohaku said eagerly, "I can do it myself!" He then went scampering across the floor, chasing red and black pieces, and Momiji grinned at Momo and joined in.

"Hey Tohaku, I bet I can get more pieces than you!"

"Nuh-uh! I'm faster!" As the two of them went tearing around the room, Momo looked up and noticed that a handsome older man had come in after Tohaku. He had faded black hair and wore the clothes of a dojo master. Momo dimly remembered him as a Sohma very skilled in the martial arts. As she watched, he absently reached out to stroke the head of a skinny black and white cat that was lounging on a nearby shelf. At his touch, the cat swirled to its feet and pushed its head into the man's hand.

"Forgive me, Tohru, I should have told him not to do that in the house."

"Oh no, Shishou-san, there was no harm done. I am glad to see that Tohaku is learning so enthusiastically!"

They smiled at each other, and then Kazuma turned to the newcomers. The black and white cat, looking disgruntled at the sudden lack of attention, plopped back down and began to lick itself. "Hello Kagura, Daisuke-san."

"Hi, Shihan!" Kagura sang out. "Hey Tohru-kun, do you need any help in the kitchen?"

"Well, um--"

"Don't worry! Leave it to me! I'll be the best cook's helper ever!" Kagura grabbed Daisuke's arm and zoomed with him into the kitchen.

"Oops! I had better go after her," Tohru said in a low, laughing voice. "By the way, Momo-san, this is my father-in-law, Kazuma Sohma. Shishou-san, this is Momo-san; she is Momiji-kun's-- ah, relative. Well, she is your relative too, but...ah, well, I am glad she is here!" She gave a hurried nod and smile to them both, and then went back to the kitchen.

"It's nice to meet you," Momo said, bowing.

"Likewise," Kazuma returned with a smile.

And then Momo had no clue what to say. 'So...you like martial arts?' Before the silence could grow too awkward, Momiji popped up beside them. "Hey, hey! Do you guys know how to play Fruits Basket?"

"Yeah!" Tohaku announced before Momo could speak, "Mama taught us! Let's play that, it's fun, it's fun!"

"I think I'll pass," Kazuma murmured, but Tohaku grabbed him before he could escape.

"No, stay and play with us, Grandfather! Please?" Then, without warning, Tohaku fired such a sweet, big-blue-eyed, imploring look at his grandfather that Momo did not blame poor Kazuma for surrendering.

"All right, then. Go upstairs and fetch your sister."

"Yay! Fruits Basket, Fruits Basket!" Tohaku went charging upstairs, and a second later Daisuke came slinking out of the kitchen with the air of a fugitive.

"Are you going to play a game? Count me in! I'll do anything! I'm not meant for the kitchen!" Momiji laughed, took hold of Daisuke's hands, and pulled him outside. Momo and Kazuma followed more slowly, and before they had even reached the door, the kids caught up. Kia and Tohaku raced past, and as soon as they were outside they began capering and crowing around the yard.

"How do you play?" Momo wanted to know when everyone was assembled.

"Everyone is a fruit," Tohaku started, and Kia interrupted, "I want to be a cat!"

"No, I'm the cat!" Tohaku exclaimed.

"I'm the cat!"

"I AM!"

"Hey," Kazuma said, placing a firm hand on one orange head and one brown one, "Kia will be Orange-cat and Haku will be Lizard-cat."

"Yay!" Both kids cheered, then immediately began squabbling over which cat was better.

"Fruit? Or animals?" Momo wondered, confused.

Kazuma smiled. "Haku and Kia play it differently. In this version you can be a fruit or an animal, or even another type of food. It's all right."

"I'm going to be a bunny!" Momiji announced happily.

"I'll be...a big fat pig!" Daisuke decided. He made a goofy face and the kids laughed.

Feeling torn now about whether to be a proper fruit or go with the rest and be an animal, Momo was relieved when Kazuma said, "I think I'll be an apple. That's a nice normal fruit. You can be grapefruit, Momo."

"Thank you," Momo said, smiling at him. He smiled back, and Momo decided that she liked this steady, understanding man.

"Okay, GO!" Tohaku screamed. "Orange-cat!"

Kia yelled and chased after him. Now Momo was confused again.

"A person is 'It' when the name of their fruit is called," Kazuma explained. "But when we play with Kia and Haku, rules usually go out the window."

"Wonderful!" Momiji laughed. Then he shouted "Bunny!" and ran after the kids. Daisuke chuckled and skipped after them.

Kazuma looked at Momo and shrugged.

"Apple," Momo giggled, and then fled as Kazuma lunged at her.

The game turned out to be something like a free-for-all version of "Tag." Everyone chased after everyone else, occasionally screaming out the names of different kinds of fruits. A couple of times Kia or Tohaku fell or smashed into things and so acquired several scrapes and bruises, but a comforting word and a kiss from Kazuma were always enough to send them scampering off again, laughing and almost as good as new.

Daisuke, after a while, began inventing a complicated spur-of-the-moment "base" system that would allow him to catch his breath. The kids seemed delighted. Inspired, they started to find hiding places in which they could crouch when no one was looking, and so launch ambush attacks on other unsuspecting players when one happened to wander by.

They all had so much fun, dashing about the lawn and tagging each other and sometimes collapsing in tumbling, wrestling heaps, that time flew by. Sooner than Momo could believe, the light changed and the day turned to late afternoon. Tohru's voice called out over the lawn.

"Everyone! Come inside, Kyo will be home soon."

"Daddy!" Kia and Tohaku struggled to their feet, slid about, managed to find the right direction, and went haring across to the house. Daisuke, on the ground, groaned and rolled over. Kazuma, also on the ground, was trying to catch his breath - the kids had been jumping on both of them.

"I forget how much energy those children have." Kazuma smoothed his hair out of his face and brushed leaves off his clothes.

"Ah, Kazuma! You're getting out of shape, then? Who'd have thought!" Momiji teased. He looked as fresh as if he hadn't been running around like crazy for an hour and a half.

Momo helped Daisuke pick leaves out of his hair, then stood for a minute trying to catch her breath. "I'm out of shape, too," she said. "I haven't run this much since I was a little kid."

"Come on, I think she has snacks!" said Momiji. Momo, Daisuke, and Kazuma followed him up to the house, where, sure enough, Tohru had the kids settled with juice and crackers.

"I don't want to spoil their appetites," she explained. Momo, nevertheless, was grateful for the drink, and she gulped it down.

Kia played with the big ginger cat as she munched, carefully dripping juice along its spine with her fingertip. The cat huddled up with a not-happy look on its face, but it didn't attempt to move.

A few minutes later, just when the children had finished and were beginning to get restless, a voice suddenly rang out from outside. "I'm home!" The door slashed open, and a handsome man with fiery orange hair and eyes as jolting as his daughter's filled the entryway. "Hello, Shishou. Tohru--"

He turned swiftly to kiss his wife, which gave the kids the opportunity to run and pounce on him while his back was turned. The ginger cat fled. Tohaku grabbed Kyo around the neck with both arms and hung on for dear life, while Kia took in fistfuls of her father's shirt.

"Whoa!" Kyo stumbled back expertly, keeping his balance. He began stomping around the room, pretending to rage, with Tohaku bouncing on his back and Kia being dragged along behind him. "Tohru! What the heck's going on, there's something on my back!" Kia and Tohaku shrieked with laughter, as Tohru and the others stood to the side, smiling.

"Argh! They're wriggling! Get 'em off, get 'em off!"

"Daddy, Daddy, look behind you!" Tohaku couldn't help shrieking.

Kyo whirled around. "Where?!" He whirled back, shooting out a hand as he did so to catch Kia, who had almost lost her balance. "Where?! I don't see anything! Tohru!"

Tohru came forward, laughing, and tugged the kids away so that Kyo could see them properly.

"Eh?!" Kyo exclaimed, and Kia and Tohaku went hushed and grinning with anticipation. "They're kids!"

"Daddy, Daddy!" Kia and Tohaku chanted in unison.

"They're my kids!"

Kia and Tohaku screamed with laughter. Then Kyo jumped on Tohaku, threatening to tickle him, and Kia instantly leaped to her brother's defense, yanking back on Kyo's arms rather painfully. Both kids were shouting nonstop with excitement. A few minutes later when things were a bit calmer, Tohru ventured to introduce Kyo to Momo.

Kyo dragged himself to his knees, with one arm around Tohaku and the fingers of his other hand tangled in Kia's hair. "Hi. I think I've seen you before, back at the Sohma House." He grinned at Momo, then winced when Kia playfully bit his neck. "Gah, Kia! Save that for your dinner!" The kids laughed. Then Kyo turned his head, and his eyes widened as he caught sight of Momiji. "Oh yeah, the brat's back!" he exclaimed. Kyo slid the kids out of his arms and Momiji bounced over to hug him. Kyo twisted his fist against Momiji's head. "Geez, you grew! Sort of."

"And you've got kittens! They're gorgeous!" Momiji returned.

At that, Kyo looked too pleased to think up a suitable friendly insult. He turned his attention instead to Daisuke. "Hey, Daisuke."

"Kyo," Daisuke greeted with a nod and a wave.

Then Kyo frowned. "Wait. If you're here, that means--"

"KYO-KUN!" Kagura came tearing out of the kitchen. She flung herself at Kyo and had her arms around him before he had time to run.

"H'lo...Kag'ra..." Kyo choked. Kagura made a happy meowing sound and squeezed harder. Again, Momo thought she heard bones cracking. Grinning, she looked to Daisuke as she remembered the scene in the restaurant, but then her smile faded as she saw the closed, set look of his face.

Was he jealous? Come to think of it, Momo had never seen Kagura hug Daisuke, especially not like the way she was hugging Kyo now. Of course, Momo had only just met Kagura and Daisuke, but still...

"Daddy, Daddy," Kia said, impatiently prying Kagura's arms away, "can we play a game?"

"A game? You've just been playing all afternoon!"

Tohaku dreamily turned his head and fired the Irresistible Look.

"Urk...well...if you want to..."

"Yay! Let's play hide-and-seek!"

Though Kazuma, saying he was tired, went to help Tohru in the kitchen, everyone else trooped back outside. Momo went gladly; she had not had this much fun in a long time.

Kagura turned out to be "It" first, and it was thrilling to be chased by someone who had such a delicious roar. Momo laughed and laughed as she clung to the tree that had been designated as "base," though her legs were a little shaky. She watched Kagura stampeding around, bellowing out play-threats and pursuing Daisuke, whose screams sounded a bit too sincere. Kia and Tohaku, giggling uncontrollably, kept touching base and then skipping out a few feet to taunt whoever was "It," before leaping back to safety.

Once, Kyo hid in the branches of a tree; when Daisuke, who was "It," passed by underneath, Kyo came plummeting down with a hair-raising, cat-like yowl. Daisuke, paralyzed with alarm, simply stared as Kyo laughed and skipped his way over to the base.

After a while Momiji started bunny-hopping instead of running, which gave him surprising speed; no one was able to catch him. Kia and Tohaku, intrigued, began bunny-hopping around the yard as well, and Momo shyly hopped along with them. Upon which point, Kyo said he had had enough and went inside. Daisuke flopped onto the grass and tried to get his breath back. Kagura crawled over to him and started lovingly murmuring into, and occasionally nibbling on, one of his ears.

By now the sun was beginning to set. Again, Momo was surprised at how quickly the afternoon had seemed to flash by. Feeling happy and accepted, Momo sat back on her heels and smiled at the world.

Kazuma stepped out onto the lawn. "They're here. Everyone inside."

Kagura and Momiji surged to their feet. Daisuke struggled to his, and the two children suddenly went quiet. They slipped into the house without the usual tumbling and yelling, and Kagura and Momiji went so fast that they almost didn't stop to wait for Daisuke and Momo.

When they came in, Kyo's voice was yelling from the front, "Look what the cat dragged in! It's a dirty little rat!" He entered and stood aside to let in two other men. In years past, their beauty had never ceased to amaze Momo, and now she stood, as always, dumb and staring and strangely elated.

The first newcomer, dressed in black jeans and a flowing white shirt, had hair so dark it almost looked purple. His eyes, a deep velvety blue, moved slowly around the room and paused when they saw her. He smiled, and Momo felt for a moment as if they were the only two people in the universe. Then his gaze passed on, and Momo felt shaken and a little drained, though at the same time oddly happy.

He moved across the room and sat down with slow, careful grace. His skin was the color of pearls, his face delicate and beautiful. He had a fragile look about him, yet a quiet kind of strength glowed through his eyes. One could tell just by looking at him that he had seen difficult times, yet had emerged triumphant.

"Akito!" Momiji interrupted Momo's reverent daze when he threw himself across the room in delight. His arms, though, were gentle when they went around the thin shoulders. "Akito, I'm back!"

"Momiji," Akito murmured, stroking the yellow curls with the back of one slender finger. "I've missed you." Akito's eyes turned to Momo, and he smiled again. "Hello, Momo. I don't believe we've really spoken before. It is good to see you here."

"I-I'm honored," Momo said, trying to smile. It was terrifying and exhilarating, being so close to the head of the family. She wished she could just shut up and drink him in.

Then Akito's attention was pulled back to Momiji, who was chattering and exclaiming over things like Germany and Momo and hide-and-seek. Akito just smiled and listened, and seemed to drink in Momiji the same way Momo was drinking in Akito. 'He takes such pleasure in being with his family,' Momo thought admiringly. 'He likes them, and he's interested in them. I wish...'

An image of Mama came to mind, unbidden. To distract herself, Momo shook her head and looked at the second man who had come in with Akito. This one had silvery-gray hair, violet eyes, pale skin, and a feminine face as beautiful as Akito's, though he was dressed more conservatively.

"Hello, Tohru-san," he was saying now.

"Yuki-kun! Welcome!"

"It was good of you to invite us."

"Yeah, she's been cooking all day for you, Rat Boy, so be grateful," Kyo said forcefully.

"'Be grateful,' right?" Yuki responded calmly. "This, coming from the guy who used to say that she was nasty and he hated her food?"

"Why, you-- !" Kyo growled. He crouched into a fighting position.

"Fight, fight!" Kia and Tohaku began to chant. "Yay, fight!"

Yuki grinned and loosened his collar. "Come on, Kitty. Make this worth my time."

"Whoo! Go Daddy!" Kia shrieked.

"Meow!" Tohaku cheered.

Momo's hands were at her mouth when the combatants' fists and feet began to fly. She was so intent on anxiously watching the fight that she jumped when she felt a hand on her elbow.

"Momo," Akito said gently, "It's all right, they're just playing."

"Yeah," Momiji piped up cheerfully, "They're good friends, really. Kagura tells me they haven't fought for real in years."

"Still, it looks so real," Momo said, worried as she watched Kazuma ducking away from a wayward punch. Everyone had retreated to the far corners of the room in order to give Yuki and Kyo space to move. Suddenly, Kyo's foot landed on a checkers piece that Momiji and Tohaku had missed. His foot slid and he lost his balance; he came crashing down with a yell, until Yuki suddenly caught him just before he reached the ground.

"Kyo, are you all right?" Yuki asked without thinking.

"No!" Kyo snapped out automatically. They stared at each other for a second, then chuckled, looking embarrassed. As everyone else laughed, Yuki let go and helped Kyo up.

"Clumsy cat," Yuki said affectionately.

"And what about you and your prince-heroics? Geez!"

"Well, I could have just let you crack open that orange head of yours..."

"Did you watch carefully, Tohaku?" Kazuma was saying. "You will want to avoid imitating that weak guard of Kyo's. You've got to be alert for anything so that you are not caught by surprise."

"And what is that supposed to mean, Shishou?!" Kyo yelled good-naturedly at him.

Momiji could not contain himself any longer. "Yuki! I'm back!"

Yuki looked startled, then pleased. "Momiji!" Momiji bounced over and hugged him. "Goodness, how long has it been?"

"Years and years! I missed you!"

"Look at you, you look like - well, a teenager, anyway." Yuki smiled.

"Yeah, still as flashy as ever," Kyo cut in. "Momiji, by the time you get to look your age, you'll be dead."

"Ha! Kyo's envious of my youthful looks!"

"I AM NOT!"

As Kyo and Momiji argued, Yuki turned to Momo. "Well, here's a cute face I haven't seen before."

Momo blushed and looked down. "Hello...it's nice to meet you." She did not mention that Yuki had spoken to her a few times at the New Year's celebrations.

"Oh, that's Momo!" Momiji announced. He skipped to her side and took her hand. "Momo Sohma, remember?"

"Oh! Yes," Yuki said, with a smile as if he had just realized something. "Seeing you together, I recognize you now, Momo-san. It's good to see you again."

Momo could sense Akito behind her, as he stood up and moved toward the kitchen. "Tohru," he said in his quiet, silky voice, "is there anything I can do to help?"

"Oh, no, no!" she exclaimed. "You're our guest, Akito-san, I wouldn't dream of putting you to any trouble!"

"But I would like to help," he insisted gently, and smiled at her. "If there is anything left to do, that is."

"Oh! But, um--"

"Aw, let him help, Tohru, he won't leave you alone 'til you do," Kyo said. "He's not a cripple, you know." At this, Akito turned his smile onto Kyo, and his eyes narrowed. This gave him a sharp, pleased look, more meaningful somehow than the sweetly polite smile of before.

For a little while everyone sat in the living room and talked, and as before, Momo felt herself relaxing into their company. She was enjoying herself, and although everyone else seemed to know each other very well, most of their conversation was kept on a level she could understand. Momiji kept making them all laugh with college stories. The only confusing bits were when Kyo and Yuki kept referring to each other as Cat and Rat, but Momo finally decided that it must be an inside joke.

Presently, Tohru and Akito came in with bowls and chopsticks and platters of food, and then nearly everyone else got up to help bring in and set up the meal. The food was delicious -- almost no one spoke, they were too busy eating.

The two cats came in, mewing and begging. When Yuki found the black-and-white one pawing cutely at his sleeve, he set down his chopsticks, seized the cat, and cuddled it roughly in his arms. "Who's a stupid kitty," he crooned, kneading Black-and-White's head with his fingers, "Whooo's a baka-neko? You are, yes youuu are." Black-and-White squirmed, and Yuki stopped stroking it. Black-and-White shook its head, blinked in a surprised kind of way, then butted at Yuki's neck, asking for more. Yuki grinned and resumed.

"She likes you," Tohaku remarked happily.

Meanwhile, Kia was giggling as she watched the ginger cat. Ginger had sidled over to Akito, plopped down, and was looking pointedly at him as it swished its tail back and forth. Akito ignored it for a minute, then glanced over and returned the stare. Then he grinned and lightly flicked at Ginger's ear. The ear twitched in annoyance, but there was no other reaction. Akito flicked a few more times, and Ginger got that fed-up look again as its ears twitched madly, but it did not move. Then Akito tired of teasing the cat and turned back to his food. Ginger got up in a huff, turned its back on Akito, and minced over to Kyo.

"Oh, no you don't," Kyo said warningly. "You're fat enough as it is." Ginger stepped into Kyo's lap and sat down. "Stupid cat!"

Ginger purred.

Tohru laughed and stood up. "Here, I'll shut them in the laundry room and give them their own supper." The ginger cat yowled as it was taken from Kyo, looking very silly with all four legs stuck out. After a moment, though, it grumbled and settled against Tohru's shoulder.

When Tohru came for the black-and-white cat, Yuki cuddled it closer and pretended to pout. "Kitty doesn't want to leave. Kitty wants to stay right here with mousie."

"If Kitty had more than two brain cells, Kitty would quit mooning around with mousie and take a bite out of him," Kyo said.

"Yes, well, it's good to know you've finally come around," Yuki said smoothly. "Realizing that cats are of a lower intelligence order, and all."

"Why, you--! You just say that again, Rat-face!"

"That again, Rat-face."

Kyo pretended to sputter with tongue-tied rage, as the kids fell over laughing at the cheap joke.

Tohru bundled the pets away, and by the time she returned, everyone was having a conversation about cats. Momo discovered that the black-and-white cat was named Sooty and belonged to Tohaku, and the ginger cat was named Ginger and belonged to Kia. They had been adopted a couple of years ago as kittens, when Kia saw them in a pet store and fell in love.

The conversation gradually moved off to other things. Yuki remarked once that Tohru's cooking was better than ever, and Akito murmured about how honored he was that she had put so much time and effort into preparing the meal. Tohru blushed and thanked them. Kyo placed a hand on her waist, murmuring something about how even by her usual high standards she had outdone herself this time (though she really needn't have bothered to do anything in honor of the Rat). Even Momo felt warmed by the sincerity of the compliments, though they were not directed at her.

Kia and Tohaku, being children, of course finished long before the adults did. To stop their whining and bored sighs, Momiji went up with them to look at the zodiac puppets they were making. The others eventually put their chopsticks down, one by one, and Kagura offered to clean up.

"Oh, no, no! You were such a help earlier, Kagura-chan, I couldn't possibly let you--!"

"I could help her," Yuki put in. "I wouldn't mind. Kagura and Kyo and I can get it done quickly if we work together."

"Why me?!"

"Is this how you look after your wife, Cat? Make her slave all day in the kitchen and then don't lift a finger to clean up afterwards?"

Kyo jumped up in a passion. "Don't you talk to me that way! I'll wash all the dishes way faster than you could, Rat Boy!"

"I highly doubt that -- at least, if the goal is to keep everything unbroken by the end."

"Is that a challenge?!"

"If you say so."

"Fine! Bring it on!" Kyo zoomed into the kitchen. Kagura chuckled and followed him.

Yuki stood up calmly. "Thank you very much, Tohru-san."

"Yes, it was an excellent meal," Kazuma agreed.

Daisuke patted his stomach and smiled brilliantly.

"Oh! Thank you! You all are so kind," Tohru said with a pleased blush. Yuki walked into the kitchen, where Momo could hear the sounds of Kyo splashing dishes and heatedly replying to Kagura's cheerful criticisms.

After a few moments of silence, during which everyone kept looking at each other and smiling and waiting for someone else to say something, Akito gave a brief chuckle. "Look at us. In this noisy house, we are so quiet."

Tohru smiled and placed her hand lovingly on the floor. "This house has always been so dear to me. Even when it was just me here with Kyo, Yuki-kun, and Shigure-san, things always seemed to be lively."

When no one seemed inclined to reply to this, Momo asked shyly, "Ah-- who is Shigure-san?" In the silence that followed, her heart twisted as she saw that she had said something wrong. Their faces had become so sad...

"Shigure-san," Tohru murmured. There were tears in her eyes.

"Was he another Sohma?" Daisuke asked curiously.

"Yes," said Kazuma. "This house used to be his. Then Yuki-kun came to live with him, and later Kyo and Tohru." He paused. "This house has seen a lot of things, both beautiful and heartbreaking..." He seemed about to elaborate, but then checked himself and fell silent. "Perhaps it is best not to say too much," he murmured after a moment.

Tohru saw the restrained curiosity on Momo's and Daisuke's faces. She smiled. "For a long time, the Sohmas were not a happy family. Several people, including me, worked hard to relieve the Sohma clan of its burden. But, though others had a part in it, Shigure-san was the one who finally succeeded." She paused, then went on in a low voice. "Only...he had to hurt a lot of people to do so. He hurt me badly, and Kyo, and Akito, and several others..." She wiped futilely at her face. "I still love him," she managed to choke out, and then she seemed unable to speak again. Kazuma put a comforting arm around her shoulders, and Tohru leaned against him to hide her face. Momo felt depressed and uncomfortable, wishing she had never asked about Shigure.

"But I don't get it," Daisuke said after a moment, sounding apologetic. "What exactly did he do? What do you mean by the Sohmas not being a happy family?"

Akito looked at him and smiled that meaningful, narrow-eyed smile again. This time it was a gentle warning. "Let's not talk about that now. It is a family secret."

"Yes, Daisuke-san," Momo said hurriedly. "We've caused enough trouble already."

Akito raised a hand and touched her cheek with the back of one finger. "You are sweet, Momo. I like you. Don't think ill of Shigure, however. I've forgiven him - most of us have, I think - and he rests easy in my mind." Akito leaned close to Momo so that his hair brushed against hers, and she felt breathless with his nearness. "Besides, it seems pointless to say anything against the dead." He leaned back and sighed, looking sad. "Ah, Shigure...I miss him. I wish him happiness."

They were all startled by the sound of a dish breaking in the kitchen, and Kyo's yelp of pain. Tohru wiped her eyes and tried to laugh, and Akito moved away from Momo in a movement like a breeze.

"I'd better go see what's going on," Tohru said, and got up to see to her husband. Momo sat for a moment, deep in thought, and then felt a touch on her shoulder.

"Momo," Momiji said kindly. Had he been standing there all this time? "Don't worry." He grinned. "Come up and look at Kia and Haku's puppets before we leave! They're really cute!"

to be continued...

Author's Notes: Because I wrote this fic before the Fruits Basket manga was completed, I guessed wrong on a lot of stuff. So please don't leave me reviews about Akito or how the curse is actually broken, because I already know. Try to enjoy the fic as an alternate universe.

To tell the truth, although Momo and Momiji lit the first spark in my head, I really wrote most of this story for Kyo and his kids (the rest of it I wrote for Akito). I love Kyoru, and at the time I wrote this, I had not read any Kyoru fics (I'm sure there were and are plenty out there, but I always seemed to end up reading the Yukiru ones). I love writing kids, so Kia and Tohaku were very fun to create and work with. They didn't get carried away, either, though for some reason I didn't get along with them as much as I did with Daisuke. I noticed that the chapters that take place at Kyo and Tohru's house are the longest.

I used to hate Akito's guts, but the idea of writing him as a character I could like appealed to me. And I found, to my surprise, that it was quite easy for me to make Akito a good guy and still have him true to his nature. I now find anime!Akito fascinating, instead of purely repulsive. Akito and Momo - my perception of those two characters in particular really changed after I wrote this fic.

I also found it interesting to write about the Sohmas after they have, for the most part, overcome their issues. I did my best to have them retain their personalities, but I wanted them to be more well-adjusted. I especially had fun with Yuki and Kyo.

Oh yeah, and I apologize for killing off Shigure...I love him in the anime, but he creeps me out in the manga. This didn't occur to me until later, but I suppose his role in this fic is my revenge on manga-Shigure for being so sneaky.

Congratulations to the cat scene on being the very last scene to be edited. It's the only one that wasn't in final draft form when I started posting.