Chapter 11: Surprise!

Princess Sango

Tohru woke up and heard Ayame talking on the phone with someone, and she thought it was Mine the way she heard them talking. Then she looked at her ring finger to see the glittering ring and she stroked it with her finger before getting out of bed. Going into Sachiko's room she saw Sachiko standing up, leaning on the railing of her crib. "Mom, yow wup."

Tohru smiled and picked her up, "Hai I'm up Sachiko-chan, and how are you?"

"I fine." Sachiko answered, and Tohru hugged her close to her.

"Did you see daddy yet?" Tohru asked her.

Sachiko nodded her head and they walked out of the room where Ayame had just hung up the phone. "Tohru, why don't we go to the park today? It's a beautiful day and the weather's just right!"

Tohru smiled, "That sounds like a good idea Ayame, but are you sure you don't want to do that later?"

Ayame shook his head, "The weather's perfect, I won't transform! Please Tohru, let us grasp this opportunity!"

Tohru blushed, "Alright Ayame, we can go to the park. Would you like that Sachiko-chan?"

Sachiko smiled, "Park, park!"

Tohru handed Sachiko to Ayame, "Well I better go make a small breakfast and go pack a huge picnic then."

Ayame kissed Tohru's cheek before she fluttered into the kitchen. Ayame sat back down with Sachiko and tried teaching her some new words. The phone rang and Ayame picked it up, "Hello?"

"Hi Aya!" came Shigure's sugary sweet voice.

"Hi Gure, how are you, you haven't forgotten me have you?" Ayame asked his cousin.

"Of course not, so when are do you want me to bring everyone over?" Shigure asked.

"Oh, we'll leave in two or three hours Gure, then you can come set up in here. I don't know why she didn't tell us," Ayame asserted for himself.

"Tohru never likes to mention these kinds of things, but we'll throw her one anyway. The Sohmas will find a way!" Shigure shouted happily into the receiver, "I do miss her though, she's always been the brighter side of the house."

Ayame smiled at his cousin's words, "No she's in my house brightening my life. Don't fail me Gure."

"I'll try my best Aya, see you there," Shigure answered, hanging up he hung up and so did Ayame.

Sachiko looked at Ayame, "Who was dat?"

Ayame kissed her forehead, "It was Uncle Shigure."

"Uncal Shigorwe?" Sachiko tried innocently.

Ayame chuckled and patted the top of her head, "Close enough for now. Sachiko-chan, what do you want to do at the park?"

"I want to pway in the park dad," Sachiko answered joyfully.

Ayame kissed her forehead, "What would you like to play?"

"I wanna pway on the swide and swings," Sachiko answered, throwing her hands up in the air and laughed.

"Alright, we'll do that then," Ayame answered softly. Right then Tohru called them and he stood up and carried her inside the kitchen. "So what extravagant meal have you made today Tohru?"

Tohru blushed, "It's always similar to the rest of the week Ayame."

Ayame smiled as they sat down and Tohru made sure Sachiko was situated in her highchair. "Never is one meal insignificant Tohru-chan, never forget that. I love your food, and it's as if I'm at a gourmet restaurant every time your delicious meal reaches my lips."

Tohru blushed and sat down, "I'll remember that Ayame-kun."

Ayame smiled and began to eat, and soon everyone was eating. Tohru fed small bites of rice to Sachiko, and Ayame started to ask her questions about the picnic. "So what are you preparing?"

"Well, I did make extra rice, and then I'll make some kind of snack or something like that," Tohru answered as she gave Sachiko another bite of rice.

Within an hour the family was off…

Tohru held Sachiko as Ayame held the picnic basket. They talked in soft voices towards each other. When they got to the park, Sachiko rushed as fast as her new freedom allowed her to the small playground. Ayame had explained they constructed the park for Hatori, Shigure, and himself when they were born. "With the exception of Kureno, we were the oldest three."

Tohru nodded and watched Sachiko climb the small little jungle gym with a watchful eye. "Ayame, thank-you for everything."

Ayame smiled, "No problem Tohru-chan." Leaning in he kissed her lips gently, "I care for you deeply and I'm happy you allowed me to take care of you."

Tohru nodded but saw Sachiko was about to do something, running up to her she catches her, "You should be more careful Sachiko-chan! Why don't you play in the sandbox, we can make a nice big sandcastle!"

"Swandcaswle?" Sachiko asked.

"Hai, a sandcastle, let's ask Daddy to help. Ayame, come on!" Tohru yelled happily as she carried Sachiko to the sand box. Ayame followed and sat down next to them. The toys were still lined over the wall and she grabbed them and started filling them with sand, "Like this Sachiko-chan!"

Sachiko smiled and took the shovel and took some sand, "Wike this mom?"

"Hai," Tohru answered happily, kissing her cheek. Sachiko smiled and continued shoveling, whole Ayame helped her.

1 and a ½ Hours Later…

"This was so much fun Ayame; did you think this was fun Sachiko-chan?" Tohru asked looking at Sachiko who was on her hip.

Sachiko nodded to her, "Very much fun."

Tohru kissed her cheek, "Anata wa kawaii desu!"

Ayame agreed and took Sachiko in his arms, "You are so kawaii and I'm so glad that will be with us!"

Sachiko giggled and clapped her hands together. When they arrived at the house, Tohru opened the door and walked inside. Flicking on the lights, there was a loud shout of "SURPRISE!"

Tohru gasped in shock, "Huh? Eh? How did you…"

Momiji walked up to her, "Omedettou gozaimasu Tohru-chan!"

Kagura smiled, "You think we would forget your birthday Tohru-chan?"

Tohru smiled, "Oh thank-you, I just didn't want to trouble anyone…"

Kisa came up and hugged her, "Sissy, happy birthday!"

Tohru smiled and saw someone sitting on the couch, and he looked really unsure of himself there: it was Yuki. Tohru looked over at Ayame and he shrugged, "Don't ask me Tohru-chan, this was probably someone else's doing. It wasn't mine, not at all." Kissing her cheek Ayame went, with Sachiko over to Yuki. "Hey, so who brought you here?"

Yuki sighed, "Everyone dragged me here, and they got her birthday date from me. So they told me I had to come."

Ayame laughed and Sachiko looked up at Yuki, "Daddy who dat?" She pointed at Yuki and a tense silent moment went through the air.

"That's you Uncle Yuki, my brother," Ayame explained, placing her on his lap.

Ayame watched as Sachiko sat on Yuki's lap, "Uncwle Yuki?"

Yuki nodded, "Hai, that's me."

She placed a gentle hand on his cheek, "Are you in the zodiac too?"

Yuki didn't answer but took her hands in his and kissed her cheek softly, "When you're older, I'll tell you then."

"Okay…" Sachiko smiled and hugged him. Yuki placed his arms awkwardly around her small body frame.

Tohru looked from her own chair, onto where Yuki was sharing a small experience with his daughter. Tears welled up in her eyes and Momiji noticed, "Tohru are you okay?"

Tohru turned back to Momiji, hoping he wouldn't see but he did, "I'm fine Momiji."

Momiji smiled, "It's okay Tohru…"

1 hour later…

Everyone left, except for Yuki and he was on the porch. Everyone was gone, and Yuki sat on their porch. Walking out, Tohru carefully sat next to him, "To-chan…"

Tohru sat down next to him, "Thanks for telling them Yuki."

"How do you know it was me?" Yuki asked, his eyebrow going up.

"Silly, you're the only one besides Arisa and Hana who knows my birthday," Tohru answered, giggling to herself, "You better get home though; Kagura might get worried about you."

Yuki nodded but before he left he cupped Tohru's face in his hands, "I've always loved you, and even though I can't be a father to Sachiko-chan, I wish to at least be her uncle. I know I won't be able to stay for long periods of time, the curse won't allow it to be that way, but please…"

Tohru blushed, "It's okay Yuki, demo I'm getting married, to your brother…not even Akito knows this."

Yuki sighed, "Akito never cared what Ayame-nii did, just what the cat and I did."

Tohru sighed, "Yuki, please…it's late, go on home. You have someone waiting for you. I've broken ties with you, Yuki-chan, please go…"

Yuki nodded and fled the scene, while Tohru looked up at the stars, "Mom are you watching me? Am I doing everything right?"

TBC…