Chapter 21: Waking Up

Princess Sango

Sachiko woke up when the first strong touch of light hit her face. She looked up and saw the zodiacs on her ceiling, all thirteen of them. Ayame had been specific with the cat, it was silver, just like she should be, but on the other wall was an orange one. The cat on the wall was her, and the one on the ceiling was the last cat, orange. Her mother had told her about the other cat in small bits, and same with Yuki, but she felt special, when the cat was included even though it didn't really happen. "Good morning," came a small voice from the door. It was Ayame, and he was leaning against the doorframe, "It feels nice, seeing you here."

Sachiko smiled and looked around the room, "It's exactly the way it was when I left. Is mom's room still the same?"

Ayame smiled, "Yeah, Tohru-chan has your mother's old room, it only seemed fit. Tohru loved the zodiac just as much as Tohru-chan, and the fact that I didn't have the heart to repaint either of the rooms, I left them as is. It's funny; Kyo-chan is a cat person."

Sachiko stood up and stretched, allowing the nightgown to swish at her feet. She ran up and hugged her father, "I may have lost mom, and missed out on a lot when it came to Tohru and Kyo, but I don't wish to miss anymore. Please dad, is there anyway I can stay with you or Dad Yuki?"

Ayame smiled and kissed her forehead, "I don't know honestly. It took Akito a lot to just let you go, but I'll see what I can do."

Sachiko smiled and hugged him, smelling the familiarity, feeling the warmth. Tohru came in that second, "Daddy, Kyo is on the roof again."

Ayame pursed his lips, and then nodded, "Just tell him breakfast is leaving."

Tohru nodded before running out of the hall and running off somewhere. Sachiko smiled, "Mom told me Kyo-san liked the roof."

Ayame nodded, "A trait I don't know where it came from. You see, only the cursed Sohmas feel that way."

Sachiko went back to her bed and sat down on it, "I had a dream about mom last night. She told me everyone she's met. That person is Kyo, and grandma and grandpa. Mom also told me everything she had to say, about my birth. Sometimes, she said I was as lucky as Sachio, but she loved me enough to keep me. She told me that she didn't know what to think when she first found out about me, but soon after, she told me she decided to love me, no matter what."

Ayame sat down next to her, "Your mother, she was very precious, to the Sohmas. She healed our hearts, and she never accepted anything in return. She paid it forward, never wanting anything back. When she found out she was pregnant with you, we all helped her, but she thought she was imposing. I loved her, and soon she came to love me too. I was asked to be your father, and your mom told me it would just be another role for her, just for you. The thing is though; we slowly grew fond of each other, and you. We were a family, we didn't have to pretend or think."

Sachiko smiled sadly, "Was I just born because?"

Ayame placed a hand on her cheek, "You are a child born of love. You could ask your father how happy he was, after he got over the fact that you were the next cat. It was hard though, for both of them."

Sachiko turned, her back facing Ayame, gently she leaned her back to his side, "I feel at home, no matter what. Dad, will my other dad talk to me…about my birth?"

Ayame kissed the top of her forehead, "Of course, he's willing to talk."

Sachiko closed her eyes tiredly again, "Can I sleep some more, it is the weekend after all…"

Ayame nodded, "Of course, sleep all you want." Sachiko nodded and pulled back the covers, flopping back down into the bed. Ayame stood up and tucked her in tight and snug, "Have a nice sleep." He kissed her forehead and walked away from the bed, stealing one last glimpse, he smiled, "Your mother's proud of you, either way."

Sachiko smiled from her spot on the bed, "I think she is too." Ayame slipped out of sight as Sachiko fell asleep.

With the other kids…

Ayame placed the cereal box on the table. He hadn't exactly mastered cooking as well as his dear onigiri. "You're to make you sister feel at home. Do you hear me?"

The twins nodded at their father, and both took a bite of their cereal. Kyo looked at him, "Dad is she here to stay?"

Ayame bit his lip, "I'm going to have to talk to Akito about it with Yuki. I think he's open to it more now."

Tohru stood up, placing her dish in the sink, "Dad, can I go wake her up? It's already eleven and I want to hang out with her for awhile. Please?"

Ayame picked his daughter up, "Go ahead, but I think you're going to have to be slightly careful." Tohru hugged her father close, and his heart melted, "Go on."

Tohru smiled as she ran into the hall and opened the door. She looked around the room and saw her half-sister and crawled on the bed. Sitting on the edge she observed her sister with fascination, the way she looked so youthful and young, without worries. Leaning against her sister, Tohru whispered, "Sachiko-chan…"

Sachiko opened her eyes, seeing Tohru's outline. Sitting there was her sister, and Sachiko smiled, "Tohru-chan, nani desu ka?"

Tohru smiled and hugged her sister, "I've heard many stories of mother, and I wanted to hear them from you. Will you tell me about her? About mom, about everything you know?"

Sachiko hugged her close, small tears flying down her cheeks, "I will tell you Tohru-chan, because you're the most deserving. You are named after her too."

Tohru sniffled and pulled away before running and closing the door. Slipping in between the covers, she curled up next to her sister. Smiling, Sachiko hugged her sister close, "Now where shall I begin?"

TBC…