I'm back from my vacation everyone! I had a good time. If anyone was wondering where I went, I went to Kansas City, Kansas, Branson, Missouri, and St. Louis, Missouri. When I was in Kansas City I got some of your reviews because I had computer access there, but I couldn't write out this chapter. But I started it when I was in St. Louis. It feels really weird writing out fan fiction on paper -giggle- Well, it's been less than two weeks, I'm glad to say. And I wrote this chapter in two days! That's a new record, I think. And I realized that I kept forgetting the disclaimer in the previous chapters. From this chapter on I'll have one … I always forget to add it while editing -giggle- I hope you all enjoy this chapter!
Title: Unexpected
Author: Swaying Cherry Blossoms
Chapter: Vacation for Four
Summary: Tohru Honda's mother and Kyo Sohma's father have been friends for thirty years and their children have never met. But on one fateful day, the two teens meet and their lives are changed forever.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket or any of the song lyrics I add at the beginning of each chapter.
Cause it's you and me, and all of the people
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With nothing to do, nothing to lose
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And it's you and me, and all of the people
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And I don't know why
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I can't keep my eyes off of you
- You and Me by Lifehouse
September soon turned to October and October soon turned to November. Tohru, Kyo, Kazuma, and Kyoko got together every Saturday night for dinner and every Wednesday night they went to the movies or got ice cream—sometimes even both. Tohru and Kyo became very good friends, despite the fact that Kyo never smiled. It seemed to him that those thoughts he had about Tohru the night of the play were just a phase. Besides, boys always acted that way after seeing a beautiful girl. But now Kyo's thoughts towards Tohru were nothing more than friendly, or so he thought. To him, you didn't have to smile or laugh with a person to let them know you liked them. All Kyo did was act respectful and friendly toward Tohru, and that was enough.
Tohru, on the other hand, was a nervous wreck around Kyo. She constantly blushed and trembled, causing her to drop something she was holding or trip if she was walking, and she stuttered when she talked. If Kyo noticed, he didn't seem to mention anything about it. Tohru thought she acted this way because she actually never had a boy for a friend before. She had always been friends with Arisa Uotani and Saki Hanajima and not once did a boy have intentions of being friends with her, so it seemed like a new experience that she had to get used to.
It was now a Saturday evening and the group was at a diner for dinner. Tohru sat next to her mother in a booth while Kyo sat across from her, next to Kazuma on the other side. They all looked at menus, deciding what they wanted to have for dinner, when Kyoko placed down her menu and sighed. "You know, I think we should all go on a trip," she said. Tohru, Kyo, and Kazuma all looked up from their menus. "That does sound like a good idea," Kazuma agreed. "Kyo and I haven't been away in ages. What place do you have in mind?" Kyoko positioned a finger on her chin, pondering for a minute, mumbling the names of cities and countries to herself. Finally, she thought of the perfect place for a vacation.
"Paris!"
"Paris … ?"
"Paris?"
"Paris … that sounds nice," Kazuma said, chuckling. "I've never been there before. When I was younger, I always wanted to see the Eiffel Tower, but my parents never had the money to take me."
"Oh yeah, I remember that," Kyoko said. She turned to Tohru and Kyo. "So, you two up to it? You think you'll be able to keep your hands off those pretty French girls, Orange?"
"Pfft, I'm not going to Paris," Kyo spat. "What the hell am I gonna do there?"
"Tohru-chan'll be there," Kyoko sang, nudging Tohru with a grin on her face. "Yes, I'd love to go to Paris!" Tohru said. "It's such a beautiful city! Kyo-kun—" Kyo had told Tohru to stop calling him 'san' "—I'd have a lot of fun if you came!" Kyo felt his face twitch, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he turned his head.
For the rest of their dinner Tohru, Kyoko, and Kazuma spoke about planning their trip to Paris. Kyoko was to handle the attractions and hotels in Paris, while Kazuma took care of the plane ride. By the time dinner was over and the group was walking back to Kazuma's, they decided that they would leave for Paris on the twenty-fourth of November and return on the tenth of December, which would give them a total of fifteen days in Paris. While Tohru and Kyoko were walking back to their house (they decided to walk home instead of drive), Tohru questioned Kyoko about school. "I don't want to miss anything important, Mom! I did tell you I would graduate for you … maybe I shouldn't go …"
"Don't be crazy!" Kyoko exclaimed, amusement in her voice. "We'll just get your work from your teachers. You work yourself too hard, Tohru. You need a little break. If you really want to, you can do your work while we have free time in Paris. You'll have a lot of fun! I'm sure Kazuma-chan'll talk Orange into going."
"A-Are you sure Mom?"
Kyoko shook her head, beaming. "Positive." She took Tohru into a warm embrace as they both stood in front of the door to their home, the light above the door illuminating the darkness.
It was now the day before the trip, and everything was planned. The group would leave for Paris the next morning, and come home on the evening December tenth. Kyo still didn't give in about joining them on the trip, but Kazuma bought an extra plane ticket for him and Kyoko made sure there were two beds in Kazuma's room at the hotel, just in case. The group now was at the movies, sitting in the center of the theater while waiting for the movie to start. Kyoko and Kazuma talked quietly with each other, discussing the driving arrangements to the airport on Thursday morning. Tohru and Kyo sat in silence, Tohru thinking of a way to persuade Kyo to come on the trip.
"Where are you going to stay when we're in Paris, Kyo-kun?" she asked quietly. Kyo noticed the sadness in her voice as she asked the question. "I dunno," Kyo replied, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'll probably stay with Kunimitsu."
"Oh ... I'm sure you two will have fun!"
"Yeah, I guess …"
"You won't feel lonely when Kunimitsu-san's not there, will you? If you want I can stay with you! I don't have to go to Paris if you're not going!"
Kyo was taken aback by Tohru's offer. Stay here in Japan while Kyoko and Kazuma were in Paris, just because he was? And when she wanted to go so much? Kyo realized that she really wanted him to come on the trip and enjoy himself. He couldn't blame her; being with two adults for fifteen days without anyone your age around would be pretty boring. But he couldn't give in now … they were leaving the next morning. Kyo shook his head, realizing that he hadn't replied to Tohru yet. "Don't be crazy," he said. "I'll go."
Tohru's eyes lit up. Did Kyo just say what he thought he said? It wasn't supposed to come out that way!
"Do you mean it Kyo-kun!" Tohru asked, her voice full of excitement. "Are you really going to come to Paris with us?" Hearing this, Kyoko and Kazuma turned their heads and all eyes were on Kyo. He put his head down, sighed, and lifted it back up. "Well … it'll be pretty boring here since Kunimitsu has only three classes to teach and—" he couldn't say he wanted to go to make Tohru happy, Kazuma and Kyoko would suspect things "—I don't know, I'll just frickin' go! Shit, do I have to have a reason?"
"Actually Kyo," Kazuma said, smiling and holding up a finger. "Nobody asked you why you were coming."
"… Shut up!" Kyo hollered back, drawing attention from the other people who were sitting in the theater as well. Kyoko shook a finger at Kyo. "You shouldn't make scenes like that in public, Orange."
"I really wish you wouldn't call me Orange," Kyo said lazily as he propped an elbow on his armrest and placed his chin in his hands. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Tohru's face beaming as the lights dimmed and the coming attractions starting flickering across the movie screen.
At five-thirty the next morning Tohru and Kyoko drove to Kazuma's house. Their flight was at seven-thirty, yet they still needed time for the cab to pick them up and to go through security at the airport. Kyo was in the kitchen, drinking milk straight out of the carton, when Tohru and Kyoko walked in (Kyoko let herself in, being that the door was open … It was her best friend's house, anyway). "Good morning Kyo-kun!" greeted Tohru. Despite it being five-thirty in the morning, she was as bright and cheerful as ever. Kyo wasn't too groggy either, but Kyoko was slouched and there were bags under her eyes. Kyo rose up a hand as his greeting, and Kyoko collapsed onto the floor by the table. "Mom!" Tohru shrieked, kneeling beside Kyoko. "Are you alright?"
"Sleep …," Kyoko said with exhaustion. "Need … sleep."
"You'll be able to rest on the plane!" Tohru responded soothingly while stroking her mother's hair. "Right now we all have to get to the airport. The cab Shishou-san called for should be here soon, and then we have to go through security, and then you'll be able to rest before we get on the plane! And even when we're flying there you'll be able to sleep!
"Speaking of Shishou-san, where is he, Kyo-kun?" Tohru asked. Kyo tore his mouth away from the spout on the carton of milk he was drinking. "Sleeping," he mumbled. "Nya!" Tohru shrieked, jumping to her feet. "W-We have to get him up!" Casually, as if it wasn't a problem, Kyo returned the milk to the refrigerator and left the kitchen. A few moments after that Kyoko finally got up, rubbing her eyes and yawning excessively. Kyo then returned with Kazuma, who looked as if he had been up for three hours. He was dressed, his hair was combed (unlike Kyoko's), and he was smiling. "Hello Tohru-san," he greeted. "Kyoko-chan, you really shouldn't go to sleep so late."
"Ugh, be quiet," Kyoko muffled in response, her head bowed down from fatigue. "I got enough sleep last night … I just need a little more."
The cab came on schedule, and the four were shuttled to the airport. Kyoko woke up a little more by the time they were going through security, only because one of the male guards tried to search her, yet she thought he was doing something else. They all eventually passed security and waited to board their flight. While waiting, they got breakfast at a little café that was by their boarding gate. When it was time, they all boarded, but found some difficulty finding seats. It was arranged that Tohru, Kyoko, and Kyo would sit in the same row while Kazuma sat in the row next to them, but there were no free rows. The group walked down the aisle in search of any free seats. Kyoko spotted a row that had two free seats, the occupied one being the furthest from the window. Kyoko patted the man on the shoulder, who was listening to his iPod. Pausing the song he was listening to, he looked up at Kyoko. "Excuse me," Kyoko said in a polite tone, grinning. "Do you mind if these two nice kids sit in those seats next to you?"
"Go ahead. They better not bother me, though."
"Don't worry, they won't. Thank you very much."
Kyoko motioned for Tohru and Kyo to slip by the person and into their seats. Kyo let Tohru go first, giving her the window seat. As Tohru passed the person she and Kyo were sitting with she thanked him and bowed her head. Kyo didn't say anything to him. Kyoko found a seat six rows in front of Kyo and Tohru, while Kazuma had to sit on the other side of the plane. There was now ten minutes before the plane would take off.
"Kyo-kun?" Tohru asked, turning her head away from the window to face Kyo. Kyo could see that her hands were shaking in her lap. "Yeah?" Kyo replied, raising an eyebrow. Tohru's voice was filled with worry as she asked her question. "Have you ever been on a plane before?"
"No, why?"
"Do you know if it's scary or not?"
"Is that why you look so horror-stricken?"
"I-I'm sorry, Kyo-kun. I've just never been on a p-plane before … I've always been scared of them. Ever since that event that happened in America a few years ago I've been … n-nervous about going on planes. And they're so loud, and I heard that your ears blow up when you take off!" Kyo rolled his eyes at her comment. "No, they don't blow up," he corrected. "They just pop for a moment. But if you chew gum it isn't so bad." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of gum and handed her one of the wrapped pieces. "You have to chew a lot, though, like a cow kind of." Tohru giggled as she unwrapped the gum he handed her and popped it into her mouth. She began to chew on it ferociously, drawing attention from the people around her. Kyo bopped her on the head. "Not now! When we take off, stupid! Sheesh, and you don't hafta overdo it!"
Flight attendants, both Japanese and French, were now standing in the aisle. A bell rang and everyone talking on the plane became silent. "Good morning everyone, and thank you for flying with Japan Airlines. Please take notice to the flight attendants as they show you all of the safety features on our plane," one of the pilots said over the loudspeaker. The same sentence was then repeated in French. The flight attendants went over the safety features which showed you how to buckle and unbuckle your seatbelt, use your seat cushion as a floatation device, and secure a mask on your face in case of any fumes or smokes. When the time for takeoff came, Kyo could sense Tohru stiffening next to him. Her eyes were squeezed shut and she clung onto her chair's armrests.
"Are you okay?"
Tohru cautiously opened her eyes, her face flushed. "Oh, eh, I'm fine Kyo-kun!—" the plane started moving toward the runway "—uwaaah!" She squeezed her eyes shut again and clung onto her chair's armrests for dear life, her knuckles turning white from her tight grip. Kyo didn't know what to do to keep her calm, so he did the first thing that came to his mind, but knew he would probably regret it. He hesitantly picked up his hand and laid it on Tohru's gently, trying not to blush too much. Tohru slowly opened her eyes and looked up at Kyo and then to their hands, a blush creeping across her face. "I-If you get scared," Kyo whispered, swallowing after he spoke, "just squeeze my hand."
The two were silent for a moment, just staring at their hands. They weren't necessarily holding hands; Kyo's just laid on Tohru's. But the look Kyo saw in Tohru's eyes once they both picked up their heads and looked at each other reassured Kyo that he did the right thing. Sure, her face was crimson red, but her eyes showed happiness and relaxation. "T-thank you Kyo-kun," she said softly.
The plane now started to take up speed, for it was on the runway. Tohru gripped Kyo's hand tightly as the plane went faster and faster and her grip grew tighter when the plane started to lift from the ground. She chewed her gum quickly, her eyes squeezed shut. Kyo still had his eyes on her and came to the conclusion that if it wasn't for her seat belt, she would have flown out of her seat.
Once they were in the air and the plane was steady, Kyo expected Tohru to let go of his hand, but she didn't. Instead she sighed and opened her eyes, beginning to giggle. "That was actually fun, Kyo-kun! I've never been through something like that before!"
"Well, there was no reason to be scared like you were. I thought you were gonna piss in your pants or something." He nervously scratched the back of his head with his free head, figuring that if he drew his hand from Tohru's, she would think she did something wrong.
So here Kyo was, sitting on the plane next to Tohru while holding her hand. What would Kazuma or Kyoko think if they passed them while heading toward the bathroom? They would get the wrong idea and never let the two be around each other anymore. Kyo honestly treasured Tohru's friendship, for she was his only friend. He may not have showed it, but he knew it. He just had a hard time admitting it to himself.
"Kyo-kun?"
Tohru's delicate voice swept Kyo away from his thoughts. He shook his head and turned to Tohru, unaware that his face was now a light shade of pink. "What?" he asked, keeping his voice from cracking. He didn't want to speak to Tohru so harshly, but he couldn't talk to her regularly without his voice sounding weird. Tohru then continued, "Kyo-kun, may I ask about your mother?" Kyo didn't expect that question coming. "Oh, um, she was killed … in an accident," Kyo replied flatly, turning away from Tohru. He could hear her quietly gasp in surprise. "I-I'm sorry, Kyo-kun," she apologized. "If I had known I wouldn't have asked …"
"Don't worry about it. But just so you know, Shishou isn't my biological father."
And yet, another gasp from Tohru, only this one was louder.
"Yeah, I know," Kyo said, nodding. "I haven't seen him in years. My mom and dad were, erm, divorced, and Shishou took me in because he was a close neighbor of ours." Kyo hated lying to Tohru, but it was the only way she wouldn't drown him in sympathy for what had really happened. The two were silent and motionless for a few moments before Tohru gave Kyo's hand a squeeze, which caused him to turn and face her. Her expression was tender and sweet, and her eyes were filled with comfort and affection. "I'm so sorry, Kyo-kun," she said, her voice a hoarse whisper.
The rest of the plane ride consisted of small talk and sleeping. Kyo actually hadn't slept, but Tohru fell asleep with her head against the window. Her face was soft and she had an angelic look when she slept, as if her whole body glowed. Kyo found himself staring at her the whole time she slept, still holding her hand, his stomach filled with the constant fluttering of butterflies.
The flight took four hours and twenty-five minutes. Tohru had slept three of those hours while Kyo watched her, never taking his eyes off of her sleeping form unless the flight attendant asked him for any refreshments. Why couldn't he tear his eyes off of her? It was a mystery. But when Tohru woke up, the plane began to descend. One of the pilot's voices echoed throughout the plane.
"Bienvenue à Paris!"
I kept my promise in making this chapter longer! It's not that much longer (around five hundred words more), but it is longer! I'll probably be making it up to you all in the next chapter when the group is in Paris! I thought it would be nice to give them all a vacation. Okay, thank you so much for your reviews, and thank you for taking time out of your day to read this story. I'll see you all soon!
xoxo Swaying Cherry Blossoms
