Chapter 6: Moving into a New Home and a New Role for Ayame

Princess Sango

1 week later…

Right now Tohru was waiting for Ayame to come and get her and Sachiko. Over the past week Ayame and Tohru had been moving around, trying to pack whatever she owned. Sachiko was sleeping in her small carrier and Tohru was in the living room watching television. In came the one person she didn't really think she could see before she left here: Yuki. Tohru didn't say anything to Yuki, but had her eyes wondering to him.

"Tohru, I-I'm sorry…" Yuki whispered. Tohru looked over at him, but couldn't look him in the eye. She had nothing to say, and Yuki continued. "Akito, she wanted me to do this. I don't know if I could've stayed anyway. I didn't doubt it, but it's our child Tohru, please take care of her." Tohru didn't say anything, "Can I just see what she looks like?" She still remained quiet as she pointed to the basket, and heard Yuki get up from the couch and walk over to the small child.

Tohru watched as he leaned over the small carrier and saw the child sleeping in there. Yuki was taking in the scene of his child and then turned to Tohru, "I better get going." Tohru didn't say anything as he walked out of the room.

In came Shigure then and sat down next to Tohru, "Are you alright Tohru?"

Tohru looked up at Shigure, "I'll be okay…"

Shigure placed his hand on her shoulder, "Don't repress it, it's unhealthy." That was all it took as she started crying and buried her face in her hands. "Tohru…you'll be fine. You're going to go to Ayame's and you'll be fine. Shh, you'll be okay, shh…"

Tohru looked up at Shigure after she had wiped her tears away and smiled at her and nodded to him. In came Ayame and Hatori then, "My dear Tohru, what's wrong?"

"She ran into Yuki Ayame," answered Shigure for Tohru.

"Oh…well come on Tohru, dry your eyes and we'll be off!" Ayame answered, picking up the small carrier and grabbing her hand with his free one. "Do you want to see us off Gure?"

Shigure gave Ayame a smile and stood up to follow them outside. When they saw the small car, Tohru turned around to Shigure and gave him a small bow, "Thank-you Shigure-san, thank-you for everything."

Shigure gave her a small, sad smile, "Hai Tohru-kun, I'll come visit you soon."

Tohru smiled up at him before backing away and took a seat in the car. Ayame looked at Shigure, "Anytime, you don't even have to call!"

Shigure gave Ayame a smile, "I know, but it's more polite. When I feel like bugging my editor I'll come over okay?"

Ayame gave an enthusiastic nod before seating himself inside the car too. Hatori gave a quick good-bye before sitting himself behind the wheel and started to drive away from the house Tohru had been able to call home for two years, almost three.

Soon they arrived at the Sohma Estate and made their way to Ayame's house. Hatori told them he had to go check on Akito before backing away. Ayame smiled as he opened the door to his house, "This is my house Tohru, what do you think?"

"It's lovely Ayame," Tohru answered in a soft voice.

Ayame smiled and pulled her into a room that was painted pink, "A room fit for a princess!" Tohru looked up at him and he smiled, "This is Sachiko's room, your room is right next to it, and mine's across the hall."

Tohru nodded and saw crib set up, "Ayame, I'm just going to put Sachiko in her crib." Ayame nodded to her and she took the child out of the carrier and placed her gently into the crib and placed the blanket over her small form. Walking out of Sachiko's room she followed Ayame to the next one, where, when he opened it, she saw the yellow background with flowers on vines twisting on a piece of gate that seemed nailed to the wall. Grass on the bottom lined the wall. "This is so beautiful Ayame!"

"I thought you'd like it Tohru," Ayame answered her. "The rest of the house you can explore at your leisure, please feel free to."

Tohru sat down on her bed and looked at Ayame, "Ayame, are you going to be in trouble for missing work?"

"Hmm? No Tohru, no I won't be. Don't worry about such things! Mine can handle the shop for awhile, she's smart enough! So do you want lunch?" Ayame asked, switching the subject quickly.

"Actually I'm not that hungry right now Ayame, I'm more tired…" Ayame smiled at Tohru before telling her to rest up and he'll see her later. Tohru had lied though, she wasn't tired, she was hungry, but this was all because she wanted to be alone. Lying down on her bed she cried but then wiped her tears away. "This is no time to cry, mom had it worse with me probably. Oh mom, please give me your strength!" her mind cried out.

1 day later…

Ayame saw Tohru's bedroom door open, and Sachiko had just woken up so he crept inside and shook her slightly, "Tohru-chan, wake up."

Tohru woke up and saw Ayame's face looking at her "Huh?"

"Tohru, Sachiko is awake, she needs you to feed her," Ayame whispered and watched her rub her eyes and stretch.

"Okay, I'm coming…I'm coming…" Tohru answered, moving her feet to the side of the bed and connecting them to the floor. Walking a room over she heard Sachiko's cry and picked her up, "Are you hungry?" A cry was given out and Tohru smiled, gently rocking her back and forth before pulling out her food supply from her shirt. Smiling as Sachiko finished, she stored it back into her shirt and then gently patted her back and then moved to the changing table and changed her diaper.

"That's better, right Sachiko-chan?" Tohru looked down at her baby and hugged her close, "You're so kawaii!"

Ayame came up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Yes, she is kawaii, just like you."

Tohru blushed and looked up at Ayame, "Please, will you be Sachiko's father, you look just like her, and you're going to be the closest thing she will have. I grew up without a father, and I don't want Sachiko to go through that!"

Ayame looked at the girl's almost-ready-to-cry-face, "I will Tohru, I'll help you, and I'll be her father."

Tohru smiled at him, "Thank-you so much Ayame-san, thank-you!"

"But if I'm going to be her father, call me by Aya or Ayame even Ayame-chan or –kun would be nice, -san is more of a casual thing. Okay Tohru-chan?" explained Ayame. Tohru sighed and nodded to him, rocking the child back and forth.

"Thank-you Ayame, thank-you," Tohru answered and then when she saw Sachiko sleeping again she placed her back in her crib. "I-I think I might allow Arisa and Hana to come by later, they know about the baby, not about the curse, but they're girls."

Ayame nodded, "That's a wonderful idea Tohru-kun! Please do that, you shouldn't shove your friends away anyway. Please, use the house for some of your own purposes."

Tohru smiled at him and leaned in and kissed his cheek, "Thank-you Ayame!" Walking away, Ayame's hand made his way over to his blessed cheek and could still feel her warm lips on his cheek. Now he knew why his brother had fallen in love with this woman.

TBC…