Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket. But… I WANNA F--- YOU LIKE AN ANIMAL! Actually, no, but I love that song. ("Closer" by Nine Inch Nails. I have it stuck in my head. And I don't own that either.)

A/N: Okay, I'm putting you out of your suspense and telling you about the dress this chapter. I don't think I could stand it much longer either. (Hums "Closer")


The teens returned home that evening worn out from the day's adventures. They were lounging around in the living area when Shigure waltzed in.

"GUESS WHAT!" He sang, standing at the front of the room.

"Do we WANT to know?" Kyo grumbled.

He ignored Kyo and went on. "I got reservations to one of the best restaurants in the city for all of us!"

"Really?" Tohru perked up suddenly.

"Yeah!" Shigure stated the restaurant's name and astonished looks came on their faces.

"Oh my! I… I can't go someplace that grand!" Tohru said frantically.

"But of course you can, my dear!" Ayame suddenly came into the room. "Because we're all going there tonight!"

Everyone in the room blinked at Ayame and Shigure.

"Oh, yeah, and it's FORMAL!" Shigure added with a grin.

"SAY WHAT?" Kyo suddenly bolted up.

"Formal!" He danced around the room as he spoke. "Every girl must wear a dress, every guy must wear a suit, and all the ladies must have an escort!"

Kyo collapsed onto the ground. "WHY…" He groaned, banging his head repetitively on the floor.

"So, we'll leave you to choose which man will escort which lady!" With that, Ayame and Shigure left.

"Oh, and I have dresses if anyone needs, and Hatori has suits for the guys!" Ayame poked his head in one last time before disappearing.

"Why… does he have dresses?" Yuki asked to no one in particular.

"Well, anyway, this escort business can be solved easily." Uotani said, shrugging. "I mean, it doesn't necessarily mean it's a date, so just choose a guy!"

"Okay! I'll take you Ari-chan!" Manabe volunteered.

Uotani turned to glare. Damn it… "Fine…"

They were just about to continue, when the doorbell rang.

The group looked curiously towards the front door.

"I wonder who that is…" Tohru asked, getting up to get the door.

A squeal of delight was heard down the hallway. "SHISHOU-SAN! ISUZU-SAN!"

Haru and Kyo perked up instantly.

"Rin?"

"Shishou?"

Sure enough, a moment later, Tohru appeared in the living area, accompanied by Kazuma and a reluctant Rin.

"Hello everyone." Kazuma said with a smile.

Hanajima perked up. "Oh, look. Long time no see, Kazuma-san."

"Oh, hello Hanajima-san."

Kyo pricked up, and quickly came between the two. "H-hi Shishou… How are things at the dojo?"

Kazuma shrugged. "Fair. It got a bit dull, so I thought I should visit. I left Kunimitsu in charge and brought Rin down with me."

"HE DRAGGED ME HERE." Rin growled.

Haru stood up and joined her side, swinging an arm around her shoulders. "Oh come on, you know you just wanted to see me."

Rin blushed. "SHUT UP!"

Uotani, Kimi, and Manabe looked towards Yuki. "Are those two an item?"

Yuki nodded with a laugh. "Yeah."

Hanajima looked at Kazuma, with an eerily girlish sparkle in her eye. It was like Kimi… except… creepier. "Kazuma-san, we were about to head out to a fancy restaurant. It's formal, so we each need escorts. I was going to go with Hatsuharu-san, but since Isuzu-san is here, would you like to escort me?"

Kazuma smiled. "Of course."

"NO…!" Kyo grabbed a hold of Kazuma's kimono. "SHISHOU… DON'T…"

Kazuma gave him a sunny grin and patted his head. "You're being a silly child, Kyo. Don't worry, she won't steal me away from you!"

"THAT'S NOT… THE POINT!"

Haru turned to Rin. "I'm looking forward to seeing you in a nice, decent dress."

"Well, don't be expecting me to wear anything Ayame cooks up." She scoffed.

Breaking away from the commotion, Yuki turned to Machi, who had been sitting there silently the whole time. "Machi? Would it be alright if I was your escort?"

Machi nodded unaffectedly.

"Well…" Yuki paused before saying. "Wear the dress, okay?"

Machi looked up and blushed, but nodded in any case.

Kyo sat, fists curled, building up his courage. Come on… just ask her…it doesn't mean anything… Finally, he looked up at Tohru. "Hey, Tohru…" She looked up at him, making his heart race. "Well… um… that is… would you… you know, it doesn't really mean anything… but would you like me to be your escort?" He finally managed, looking at his hands with a blush growing on his face.

Tohru just blinked at first, but just when Kyo was about to give up hope, her face brightened. "Sure! Of course! I'll be happy to!"

Kyo looked up at her, and tried to keep his cool. It doesn't really mean anything… He thought frantically. "Well, okay. Yeah…"

"Kimi-chan!" Momiji skipped across the room to Kimi. "I'll be your escort!" He said cheerfully.

Kimi nodded, cheeks slightly pink. "Okay!"

So in the end, the pairings were as followed: Kimi and Momiji, Kazuma and Hanajima, Uotani and Manabe, Yuki and Machi, Kyo and Tohru, Hatsuharu and Rin, Kisa and Hiro, Ayame and Shigure (WTF?), and Hatori was meeting a mystery woman at the restaurant, who was said to be invited by Shigure.

The girls all flocked into Kimi and Machi's room to get ready, and the guys reluctantly slipped on suits.

They lounged around the living area as they waited, occasionally glancing into the hallway as they heard peculiar noises coming from the girls' room.

"I've never put on a dress before… but it sounds painful." Kyo commented as another odd sound came from outside.

"Oh, I HAVE! It's actually not painful! It's the makeup that really kills… of course, you'd have to ask Ritsu about that—I've never worn makeup!" Momiji chattered.

The rest of the guys just stared.


"Hanajima-san, won't you wear anything but black?" Kimi wailed at Hanajima who was wearing a particularly lacy black dress, and she looked more like she was going to a funeral than a formal dinner.

"ARGH, how do you put this damn thing on?" Uotani growled as she tugged at a dress. "I HATE these things!"

"It's called a DRESS, Uo-chan!" Tohru giggled as she helped her friend out.

Everyone was rushing about getting ready and helping each other, Rin putting makeup on Kisa, who, in spite of being almost thirteen, had never worn any before.

Hanajima and Kimi were still arguing over Hanajima's style, Kimi doing the multitasking of yelling AND putting pins into her hair, all at once!

Uotani and Tohru were still struggling with the dress, Tohru trying to convince her friend that it was SUPPOSED to be long and flowing, while Uotani kept fiddling with the skirt.

Finally everyone was ready and one by one, they entered the living area.

Kimi skipped in first in a strappy hot pink dress, followed by Hanajima and her gothic garb.

"WAH—Kimi-chan looks so pretty!" Momiji took Kimi's hands and the two skipped around for a bit.

"You look quite… sophisticated…" Kazuma commented on Hanajima's wardrobe, not sure of what else he could say.

"Why thank you." She replied, batting her eyelashes shamelessly as Kyo cried in the corner.

They were observing each other intently, Kazuma wearing a suit for the first time.

He looks quite young… very muscular… Hanajima thought to herself, smiling.

She is very beautiful…Kazuma thought, but quickly scolded himself mentally. Stop having such thoughts, Kazuma, you're at least ten years older than her—perhaps even fifteen! Don't turn into Shigure!

Uotani and Tohru came next, Uotani complaining endlessly about the long, navy blue dress she wore, and how it itched where the halter dress hugged her neck.

Tohru giggled and looked at Kyo, who was temporarily lost for words. Tohru had a pale pink dress on. It was fairly modest, spaghetti-strapped, but not too low cut. She tugged at it self consciously, watching Kyo nervously, but he just kept staring dumbly at her.

"Come on, stupid cat, say something—don't just stare idiotically." Yuki rolled his eyes at his love struck cousin.

"EWW—KYO-KUN'S HAVING SICK THOUGHTS!" Manabe brought Kyo out of his vertigo.

"AM NOT!" He snapped, blushing. He glared at Manabe a moment before turning to Tohru, his eyes softening. "You look… wonderful…" He said softly, fiddling with his shirt collar nervously, looking down at his shoes, blushing.

Tohru blushed as well. "Thank you… you look good too."

Kyo shrugged. "It itches." He replied, making her giggle slightly.

"Ari-chan, stop fiddling with your dress, you look pretty!" Manabe told Uotani, who was still tugging at her skirt.

"Shut up and quit acting like my boyfriend!" Uotani snapped at Manabe, who looked betrayed.

"I was just being a good friend! Besides, I would never cheat on my beloved…" He stopped to once again daydream about his girlfriend.

Uotani rolled her eyes.

Kisa and Rin followed, Rin in a fairly decent (for her) dress—a slinky black strapless with a high cut on the skirt. Kisa was almost hiding behind her shyly, wearing a frilly yellow dress that made her look—in short—like a princess.

Hatsuharu ran his finger's through Rin's short hair, smiling. "You just keep getting cuter everyday, huh?" He said to her, making her blush and mumble something like "flatterer".

Hiro and Kisa stood, awkwardly facing each other and blushing, not too experienced in such things.

Hatori and Shigure walked in wearing suits, and for a long moment, everyone expected Ayame to come out in drag, but thankfully, he emerged also wearing a suit.

"Whatever rumors that Shigure was Ayame's escort is a lie. Don't believe a word that comes out of their mouths—no matter what they say they are both STRAIGHT." Hatori explained, arms crossed over his chest.

"You don't have to cover up our relationship any longer, Hatori." Ayame looked dreamily at Shigure. "I can no longer stay out of your embrace, Gure-san…"

"I am so glad you have finally joined me in kindling the warm fire of our passion and love." Shigure replied, his face taking on the same expression.

"ALRIGHT!" They both gave each other thumbs up.

"DON'T LISTEN TO THEM." Hatori growled.

So, ultimately, they were all crammed into the living area, waiting for one person. Finally, Yuki stood. "I'm going to go check on her." He told the others, going down the hall.

"Machi?" He knocked on the door. There was no answer. "Come out… please? We're all waiting for you."

"I'm not going!" A voice came from within.

Yuki laughed. "Don't be silly. Come out, or I'm going to break the door down." He threatened playfully.

There was a shuffling noise on the other side before Machi emerged, blushing.

Yuki's breath was caught in his throat.

Machi stood in the dress that he had bought her, and it suited her perfectly. It was a deep red colored halter dress that hugged her figure before it flowed out at the skirt. She wore strappy silk heels (most likely borrowed from Kimi) that brought her closer to Yuki's height.

Yuki ran his fingers gently through her silky brown hair with a soft smile. "What are you so shy about? You look beautiful." When she looked down, unconvinced, he lifted her chin and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, making her turn almost as red as her dress. "You worry too much." He laughed. "Now come on, we've got to go."

He slipped his hand over hers and the two walked into the living area to be greeted by whistles and catcalls.

"Out of all the couples, I'd have to say, those two look the best together." Shigure told Hatori, scoffing.

Hatori nodded, smiling, before turning to Shigure with a furrowed brow. "So, who is this mystery woman you asked to meet us. You said that I would be her escort?"

Shigure chuckled mischievously. "That's a S-E-C-R-E-T! You'll see when we get there!"


AHAHAHA! Okay, I couldn't resist. Another CLIFFIE! Although I bet you can all guess who it is? See you next chappy!