Chapter VII

Now, for the party and the presents!

The inside of Shigure's house was decorated much like outside. There were streamers of pink, peach, and white hanging from the ceiling with a few loose balloons floating around them. The front hallway floor was covered in soft pink and white rose petals with a few green leaves scattered in them. The lights hanging off the walls had a sheer pink shade covering them, leaving their color over the walls.

Tohru gasped and tears started to run down her cheeks.

"Oh, it's so beautiful! I love it so much! You all are so wonderful." She cried.

"It's not that great. There's no need to get all…all girly about." Hiro snapped at her. Kyo whacked him behind the head and glared. Kisa took his arm and lead him away before he could retort.

"Do you really love it Tohru! I had everyone come early and help on the decorating." Ayame sang praise.

"Yes, alas, Ritsu was late and did not have time to help with anything." Shigure grinned as certain people shot him warning looks.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Tohru, I should have been earlier. I should have helped everyone! I am such a disgrace! I shouldn't have been invited!" Ritsu stared up, to everyone's dismay

"No, no, it's ok Ritsu. I'm just glad you came." Tohru whipped her tears and smiled at the flustered man. Ritsu became calm and nodded; relived sighs could be heard around the room.

"Ok! Let's play a game!" Kisa spoke up.

"That's a great idea!" Tohru agreed.

"I have the perfect one!" Ayame skipped of into Shigure's study while everyone went to sit. Not too long later he came skipping right back with a book, a few notepads, pens, and a cap.

"Is that the book we bought the other day?" Shigure asked.

"It is! We're going to play Names from a Hat!"

"What's that?" Haru asked, uninterested.

"Well, everyone will put a name in this hat, and then Tohru will pull them out one at a time to read them. Everyone else will rate it on a sheet of paper. The name with the highest rating will win." Shigure explained for Ayame.

"It sounds fun…doesn't it?" Tohru asked after seeing the faces of Kyo, Yuki, Hatori and Hiro.

"Yes, of course it is. Everyone will enjoy it." Ayame gave the pads and pens to Kisa to pass them out. "Oh, and before we rate I will look up the meaning in this book: '1,001 Baby Names and their Meanings'

There we're a few grumbles around the room, and a few giggles. A bit later the cap was passed around and everyone put a paper in. The hat was given to Tohru and she pulled out the first name:

"Kohana" She read aloud. Ayame flipped though the book and finally found the right page.

"Little flower" Ayame added. "Beautiful, if I must say so myself. Even if I wasn't the one I wrote…"

"Ok, everyone has rated it, next one." Yuki stopped him.

"Ryu...?"

"Ryu…isn't that a boy name?" Kyo asked uncertainly.

"It is, next one Tohru." Hatori ordered

"Yuri"

"This one means lily! Which is wonderful because Ayame means iris, and flowers are always beautiful?"

"Next one!" Hiro was getting as tired of Ayame as everyone else. But Tohru giggled; at least she was having fun.

"Emiko"

"Blessed or beautiful child"

"That would be perfect for the new flower. Don't you agree Haru?" Haru shrugged. "What about you Kisa?" Kisa nodded and smiled at him, Hiro rolled his eyes.

"Let's move on, shall we?" Kazuma asked.

"Ok…um, the next one is…Ai...I know this one, it means love right?" Tohru looked around at everyone, they smiled at her.

"If that one is yours you're cheating." Kagura playfully warned her.

"It's not, really!" She shook her head quickly. She pulled the next one out.

"Gen"

"Gen…it means…spring" Everyone looked at Hatori. He cleared his throat and took a sip of tea.

"Ok, Sissy, pick next one!" Kisa came to his rescue.

"Keiko"

"That's….adored one!"

"It's perfect! I am sure she will be adored; by me anyways…" Shigure added.Both Kyo and Yuki threw their cups at him; he was barely able to doge both.

"Let's move on now" Ayame said to save his comrade

"Momo…" Everyone looked at Momiji, but he shook his head.

"Wasn't I…but I can tell you what it means! It means peach."

"Exactly, that's what you get when you mix orange and pink. Ya know Kyo and Tohru's colors…or at least I think it is." Uo explained

"Your right Uo; Peach would be a close color." Hana replied in a creepy voice.

There was a light knock on the door and Yuki got up to get it. A few seconds later he came back with a sullen look on his face.

"Looks like everyone is here; how wonderful…"

I made up the game myself, but I looked up all the names to be sure I got them correct. I have a list of what everyone put in there, so let me know if you want to see it. And Ayame really does mean iris! Oh, and the uninvited guest is finally here...this could be good or bad...

Here are the characters with the names they put in the hat: (The ones that were read out loud)

Shigure - Kohana: little flower

Ayame - Yuri: Lily

Hatori - Gen: Spring

Yuki - Keiko: Adored one

Momiji - Emiko: blessed, beautiful child

Hiro - Ryu

Uo - Momo: Peach