:Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket. In any way shape or form. Well. I do own a Kyo hat. But it doesn't grant me power over the actual story or anything…
:Tear You Apart:
:Chapter II:
:Let It Slip:
About a week later Tohru went to visit her two best friends. She navigated around the city until she found the apartment. Uo and Hana were sharing one presently. Uo was going to a community college/prep school type thing. (I think you know what I mean. :sweatdrop:) She worked at a small restaurant as a waitress on the weekends to rake in a bit of extra cash. After high school, Hana went straight to work as a secretary-assistant for a law firm.
I think this is the one. I honestly don't remember. Tohru laughed at herself for being ditzy and careless(again) and rang the buzzer.
"Yes?" Came the static reply.
"Um. Uo-chan? Hana-chan? It's Tohru."
"Oh. Yeah hang on a sec, I'll open the gate!" Tohru realized it was Uo's voice over the electronic system. She nodded to the speaker. She wasn't one for all these fancy electric things.
The gate rose up to reveal her best friend, who immediately pounced on Tohru.
"Heeeyyy there! How's life been with the prince eh? Hey! You look a little skinny…Have you two been able to earn enough money for food? Maybe I should talk to him…"
"No! No, no…It's alright. I'm fine I promise!" Tohru laughed.
"Alright…I'll let it pass. This time. Shall we go in?" Arisa's concerned gaze turned soft and carefree.
Tohru nodded, and followed her friend into the dark hallway. Uo led her around what seemed like a thousand corridors until she finally stopped in front of a door.
"Hana won't be home for about an hour, she's still at work. But you'll be able to stay for a while right? She'd be upset to know she missed your visit." The ex-gangster remarked as she unlocked and threw open the door.
"Um. Yes…I suppose I could stay."
"Great! I'll start preparing some tea. You can just settle down somewhere and I'll be out in a minute." With that, Tohru's friend disappeared into a door on her left.
The brown-haired female paced forward and came upon a cozy-looking living room. It was decorated with rich navy, crimson, and emerald velvet fabrics. On the walls were various random paintings mixed with framed photographs of Uo, Hana, and Tohru as well as one of Tohru's mother. Tohru even spied one with Kyo and Yuki in it. It was a picture of the group at graduation. Tohru smiled and settled herself on her favorite emerald-green loveseat. She set her small purse on the oak coffee table in front of her and continued to examine the surroundings.
Tohru loved visiting Uo and Hana. Their apartment seemed so warm. She looked around and saw 5 doors. Two on her right were Uo and Hana's rooms. Two more on her left were the kitchen and a small visitors' half-bathroom. The last door next to the front door was a closet.
"Ah. I hope this tea is actually decent." Uo emerged with a tea set.
"No, it smells great!" Tohru took a cup and carefully sipped the piping hot beverage. "Mmm"
After a minute of sipping in silence, Tohru commented on the room. "Uo…I just love your apartment…It feels like it would be a pleasant home."
"Mm. It's grand I guess. But what about your house? I've only been there once…"
"Oh… Um. Well, these days Yuki gets very overworked with his studies and his part time job, I just can't bear to bother him…He can get kind of cranky…I'm very sorry. Very soon and you and Hana can visit as often as you'd like."
"You're okay though right?"
Tohru lowered her eyes. "Hai. I'm fine." She said softly.
"That's good." Hana said in her monotone voice. She hung her coat in the small closet and removed her shoes. She walked over to Tohru, and the two embraced.
"Good to see you again Tohru."
"You too Hana-chan!" Tohru smiled once more. "How is your work going?"
"It's alright. I basically just type things up and answer phone calls. It pays well though. Especially since I have been working there since high school ended. I was very lucky."
"That's good to hear! And Uo? What about your classes and your job?"
Uo glared over her teacup. Tohru wouldn't escape her for long. "Oh they're peachy. Classes are more interesting than high school, I'll say that much. And as for the job, eh it's money. But, really, how are things with the prince?"
"They're going well. Yuki is doing fine as a provider if that's what you mean. He's very affectionate." Tohru blushed a little and lowered her head at the same time.
Uo glanced to Hana, who nodded.
"Okay okay we won't say anything more. Let's get out of here. Let's go sing karaoke!" Uo exclaimed happily.
"As long as we can pick up some food, that sounds like a wonderful idea." Saki confirmed.
Tohru smiled widely. She followed her friends outside into the brisk air. They chatted happily on their way to the karaoke bar.
Upon arrival, the three shuffled into a booth and flipped through the book of songs available to sing.
"Hey this looks like a good one!" Uo exclaimed. She selected it. "What're you gonna sing Tohru?"
"Oh I'm not going to sing…I don't sing well." She laughed.
Uo shrugged "Alright…Hana? What about you?"
"I would rather sample this establishment's cooking and examine the other singers."
"What's wrong with you guys? You don't know how to have fun! At least order some alcohol!"
"Maybe a glass of wine with dinner wouldn't be too bad." Tohru mused.
Uo sighed. "It's a step…" She smiled.
"Hello! I'll be your waiter for tonight! My name is Tataru. Can I get your drink orders first?"
"Yeah! I'll have a beer! Best stuff ya got!" Uo happily said.
"Um. I'll just have a glass of red wine." Tohru said embarrassed.
"Anything for such a pretty girl!" The waiter teased. Tohru blushed further. "And you miss?"
"I will have a carbonated soda pop please." Hana ordered.
"Right away ladies. I'll be back in a minute with your drinks" Tataru smiled.
"Hey Tohru, there's a cute one. You should give him your number!" Uo joked.
"Oh no! Did I really give the impression that I was single? Did I look like I wanted to date him? Oh dear! What will Yuki say? I can't go out with him! I'm married! No no no! How can I break it to Tataru-san!" Tohru spazzed.
"Chill Tohru, I was just kidding." Uo laughed at her friend's innocence. "He's probably paid to flirt like that anyway." Uo laughed heartily some more.
"So what's up with Orangey these days? I've never heard you talk about him even once. He still have a bad temper?"
"Actually…I haven't seen Kyo since graduation…" Tohru wrung her hands in her lap. She began to fuss at the hem of her skirt. "But I hear he's working for a family building…And he lives at his family's estate…"
"Oh. Maybe we'll come across him one day."
"Here you are ladies!" Tataru exclaimed jovially. He placed each drink in front of the one who ordered it. "Are you ready to order your food?" He quickly flipped open a notepad.
"Yeah I'll take and American-style burger. Lettuce, tomato, ketchup and pickles." Uo ordered.
"You gonna be able to eat it all?" Tataru joked.
"You betcha!" Uo smiled.
"Alright, I'll bet 5 that you won't eat it."
"It's a deal!" Fire flashed through Uo's eyes. The same look she got when she used to compete with Kyo. Tohru smiled at the fond memories.
"And you?" Tataru turned to the brown haired young lady.
"I will just have a salad and an order of rice" Tohru politely ordered.
"I will take a steak, cooked medium, peas and carrots, a baked potato, and rice."
Tataru blinked. "Okay!" He snapped his notepad closed and fluttered off in a manner similar to Shigure's. Tohru began to feel sad. She was married to Yuki, and she saw Hana and Uo once a week…But she still missed the simple days when she lived with Shigure, Yuki and Kyo. And went to school…
"What's gotcha down Tohru? We're here to party!"
"HAI!" Tohru exclaimed. She was eager to have a good time and make new happy memories.
After listening to many people sing, including Arisa who sang a few as well, and a few drinks, the trio of friends walked back to Tohru's house. (Hana and Uo wanted to be sure Tohru got home safe at such a late hour)
"So…Tohru…" Arisa (Who can hold her liquor well, despite 6 glasses of beer) almost soberly began. "Tell us how things are going with Yuki…"
Tohru on the other hand, could not hold it very well, and after two glasses of wine (She decided to be a little daring) she was quite tipsy. "Things are great (hic) except when….you know….Yyyuki gets (hic) in this mood…." She slurred gently.
"Yeah?" Uo prodded.
"He gets kiiiiiinda angry. Overrr little things, but it's (hic) it's okay I know he won't hurt me."
"Really?" Hana this time replied.
"Yup!" Tohru happily confirmed.
"Well guys, I had a greaaat time! We should do this again sssssome time…"
"Yeah no problem. See ya."
Tohru walked up to her door and paused to turn around.
"Why don't ya fix yourself some coffee, 'kay?" Uo called from her place on the sidewalk.
Tohru nodded then disappeared into her house.
"Don't you even feel a little bit bad for getting her drunk to find out what you wanted to?" Hana asked her friend.
"Of course I feel bad. But I needed to know the truth for her sake. Speaking of the issue, we'd better watch over her a little bit more carefully."
"I suppose you're right."
"Well I'm ready to turn in for the night."
"Me as well." Uo slung her arm around her best friend and they continued on their way home.
Meanwhile Tohru was fixing the coffee as suggested by Uo. She sat down and drank almost the whole pot. After a while she sobered up well enough to check on Yuki. He was already asleep in their bed. Tohru returned to the kitchen and sat for a while. She sighed. No frustrated yelling tonight. Tohru didn't mind much. She knew that Yuki's studies and his job were stressing him. She had offered to take on a full time job or even just a part time job to help cover expenses, but Yuki had profusely refused. She would just have to endure it for a little while. Then things would be great between them again.
I hope he will be in a better mood tomorrow and find inner peace and happiness… She prayed as she did every night just before bed. She slid herself under the covers of her shared bed and held her breath for a moment. All that could be heard was Yuki's deep even breathing. He didn't stir.
Yay! Kind of a half-filler for you. There's a little bit of significant obvious plot direction right there. You won't be seeing Tataru any more. 97 percentchance you won't see him in fact. I have no idea how things go down in a karaoke bar…So sorry. It was an American-styled food place though. :D