"So, did you have a good time?" Kyo smiled at Tohru as the two of them slowly made their way along the street, their fingers interlaced. Even though the sun set early in January, the darkened sky made the evening feel much later than it was. But it was still pretty, and the night was still pleasant, for January.
Tohru returned the smile with one of her own, squeezing Kyo's hand in hers. "I really, really did. How about you? Did you end up having fun?"
Kyo gave her hand a squeeze in return, looking up at the sky as he responded.
"Yeah, me too."
Their time at Ayame's shop had been successful, if long. Because of all the interruptions, it had actually taken much longer for Ayame to finish pinning up Kyo than for Mine and the shop assistant to dress and undress Tohru, Uotani, and Hanajima, much to the annoyance of Kyo and the amusement of everyone else. But once Mine was done, she was able to take over the front of the shop, and Ayame was able to give Kyo his undivided attention.
Talk about your double-edged swords.
But in the end, every part of Kyo's outfit was pinned to the appropriate points, and Ayame assured him that all would be ready when they came back on Monday morning. All that would be left for Kyo to do then would be to actually get dressed.
It had been so close to dinner by the time they finished at the shop that the five of them had just decided 'why not?' And at Uotani's determined suggestion, they ended up at a local izakaya.
"We have to celebrate Kyon! It's not every day that you get to help ring in someone's twentieth birthday, might as well take advantage!"
And in spite of Tohru's initial misgivings, it ended up being lots of fun. The izakaya they chose was somewhat old school, with tatami mats and low tables if you didn't want the bar. They settled in at a table and, driven by Hanajima, soon had a table full of food.
Yuki had been a bit bewildered during the food discussion stage. "There are only five of us, do we really need this many things? Maybe we should pick between yakitori and karaage. And tebasaki, for that matter? How much chicken do we actually need?"
Hanajima had looked at him, serene as ever but incredibly stern. "We are at an izakaya, Yuki. It's a requirement that we partake in as many options as we can. Or are you against cherishing local traditions and celebrating our collective adulthood?"
Yuki decided not to push the issue, and the three chicken dishes soon arrived, along with grilled vegetable skewers, pickles, sashimi, and edamame.
And, of course, the long-awaited booze.
"Come on, you guys! Drink up!" Uotani grinned, taking a swig from her beer before swiping another piece of karaage. "We're not in high school anymore, so we don't have to act like it."
Kyo snorted, taking a drink from his own beer. "You don't have to get wasted just because you're legal, either."
Hanajima had some sort of elaborate cocktail was a brilliant electric blue color and topped with a festive garnish, which she calmly sipped in between bites of the various dishes. "Even in moderation, it can be fun to imbibe just a touch. There is a certain...effervescence that comes from a judicious amount of drink. Particularly when accompanied by a proper amount of food."
Yuki was studying Hanajima's drink with open amusement. "Do you often enjoy 'effervescence' Hanajima?" He had a beer as well, which he was drinking surprisingly quickly.
Hanajima shrugged her shoulders. "From time to time. As I'm sure you can understand, going out to establishments such as this is an enjoyable pastime for the young and the whimsical."
Kyo wasn't about to touch the idea of Hanajima being 'whimsical' and he turned to Tohru. "You doing ok?"
She was sitting at his side, his arm around her shoulders, with a cup of hot tea in her hands. "Of course! Don't worry about me, I'm perfectly happy with tea."
"I guess I shouldn't be too surprised you're not much of a drinker," Yuki said to Tohru with a smile, and she blushed. But before she could answer, Uotani cut in.
"Oh, are you kidding, Prince? Tohru can put them away like a pro, the problem is she can't put them away for too long without them knocking her flat on her face!"
Tohru was blushing at that description, but she couldn't really argue with it. "I prefer to only drink at home, actually; I've found out that it doesn't take much for me to get...tipsy," she admitted, looking down.
Yuki chuckled, reaching over to pat her hand. "Well, that seems like the very responsible choice, Tohru. I'm only sorry we didn't choose something you'd feel comfortable joining!"
"No, don't worry about it, Yuki! I'm still having lots of fun, even if I'm not drinking anything alcoholic," Tohru said with a smile around the table. "There's all this delicious food, and the music, and I get to be here with all of you!"
Kyo had been glaring at Uotani for her frank assessment of Tohru's alcohol tolerance, but he broke off to give Tohru a smile. It was such a Tohru thing, wanting everyone else to enjoy themselves and taking additional enjoyment from that.
"Hear hear, Tohru," Uotani said, hitting her fist on the table. "That's the spirit! We're all about food and friends and fun here, booze or no booze." She was already done with her first beer, Yuki and Kyo noticed, and the two of them exchanged an amused look. And she'd already flagged down a server, who soon brought her another.
Once she had the new beer in hand, Uotani looked around the table with a grin. "I think on such an auspicious occasion as this, we really ought to have a toast, doncha think?"
Hanajima was nearly halfway through her electric blue drink, and as sedate as ever. "A toast sounds like a wonderful idea, Arisa!"
"Yes, it really does! What do you think we should toast to, Uo-chan?"
Uotani thought for a moment, then lifted her glass. "To legal adulthood!"
The other four raised their own glasses with varying amounts of enthusiasm, but all of them were smiling. Tohru and Kyo exchanged a glance; they could definitely toast to that, even if the reason had nothing to do with drinking. "To legal adulthood!"
All of them took a drink, then Hanajima held up her glass. "To cherished memories."
"To cherished memories!"
After thinking a moment, Yuki held his up with a smile. "To chosen family." His glance at Kyo was meaningful, and Kyo couldn't help but grin back. Kyo's own voice was a little stronger when he, along with the others, echoed, "To chosen family!"
Tohru didn't know that Kyo had told Yuki, but she could definitely tell what Kyo was thinking about. And she smiled, giving his knee a squeeze. Chosen family...that had a wonderful ring to it.
She didn't quite think she was up to following that, but felt she needed to try. "To happy reunions," she said, shyly holding up her tea cup.
"To happy reunions!" And this definitely felt like a happy reunion. It had been so wonderful, all five of them getting together again. High school had had it's up and downs, but throughout it all, they'd all been together. Mostly. Barring those first few months before Kyo had transferred in. But after that...how much time had they spent together? Eating lunch, working on class projects. Hanging out after school. Playing badminton. Eating noodles. Sure, there'd been other people here and there, and as their senior year had progressed, they'd gradually spread out a little more, but the five of them had remained constant.
Tohru wouldn't wish herself back to those days, not for anything. Not when her life now was so incredibly wonderful. But it was still nice, to look back, and remember the good times, shining like jewels among the bad.
Kyo hated being last. He really ought to have said something after Uotani's initial toast, when there wasn't nearly so much pressure. But how was he supposed to have known that this was going to end up being an 'around the table' kind of thing?
He glanced around the table. At Uotani, grinning at him challengingly from over her half-empty second beer. Hanajima, nearly through with her electric blue monstrosity and yet somehow as creepy and calm as ever. Yuki, leaning back on one hand and relaxed, waiting to hear what he'd come up with. Tohru, snuggled against him and looking up with eyes that said she loved him, no matter what dumbass thing he ended up saying.
Chuckling, he held up his beer. "To old friends."
"To old friends!"
Things changed, as you aged. People moved. Priorities shifted. Things that you took for granted became difficult, or even impossible. Relationships ebbed and flowed. There were very few constants, no matter how much you might wish otherwise.
This was the first time they'd all been together since the day Tohru and Kyo had moved, nearly two years before. They'd all be together again on Monday at the Coming of Age Day ceremony, and again that summer at Tohru and Kyo's wedding. But who could say, beyond that?
Only time would tell.
"Wait, I've got one last one," Uotani said, lifting her glass. "I can't believe we almost missed it!" Turning to Kyo, she gave him a grin. "To Kyon, and his barely-there birthday. Happy birthday, Kyon!"
"To Kyo!" "Happy birthday." "Many returns of the day, Kyo."
The izakaya had been fun, but even fun things have to end sometime. After some yakisoba to finish off the meal, the five of them had separated, Hanajima promising to see Uotani home safely. Hanajima herself looked completely unbothered by the two cocktails she'd had, but Uotani had clearly hit the celebrating a little bit too hard.
Yuki had been somewhat skeptical. "Are you sure you can manage, Hanajima? I'd be happy to escort you, if you could use some help." Uotani looked a little unstable, and powers or not, Hanajima was smaller than her.
But Hanajima simply shook her head. "Thank you for your kind offer, Yuki, but rest assured that I'll be fine. This won't be the first time I've found myself in this situation, or even the second." She looked around the group and smiled. "I had a delightful time today. I look forward to seeing you all on Monday!"
Tohru smiled at her friends. "Yes, it really was fun! But you be sure to text me when you get home, ok Hana-chan?"
"Of course, dear Tohru. Have a wonderful night."
As they watched the two women walk away, Yuki, Tohru, and Kyo all glanced at each other and smiled. Tohru couldn't decide if she was happy or annoyed that neither Kyo nor Yuki seemed even the tiniest bit inebriated; though she'd seen each of them down two beers, they both seemed perfectly fine. Even Uo-chan had had to drink five to get to the point she was at.
Being the light weight was incredibly frustrating.
"You still staying with Manabe, Yuki?" Kyo glanced curiously at the other man, who shook his head.
"No, actually I'm staying with Haru and Rin this weekend, up at Shigure's old house. Since we were so busy during New Year's week, I didn't get much of a chance to see them."
Tohru smiled. It still made her incredibly happy, knowing that after sitting empty for nearly a full year after they'd all moved out that the dear old house was occupied again. And by Hatsuharu and Isuzu, to boot!
"Well, I hope you have a wonderful time, Yuki. I'm hoping we'll get a chance to see them sometime, but I know Isuzu has to work most of the day tomorrow and we have to head home on Monday afternoon. I'm glad that things seem to be going so well at her job, but considering it was initially part time she sure seems to work a lot!"
Yuki nodded at Tohru. "Yes, that's what Haru was saying, too. Apparently she's taken on some additional responsibilities at the store lately; they've actually let her take on their newest promotional campaign. She's doing something graffiti-inspired, I think; Haru showed me some of her mock-ups at the house, and they're very impressive." Rin had been a lot less enthusiastic about Yuki seeing them; the slamming of her studio (formerly Shigure's room) door was loud enough to shake the entire house. "And she's actually incorporating pieces of photographs into them as well. I'm obviously no marketing expert, but considering their clientele I feel like it has the potential to do well."
"I hope it does! Isuzu works hard, she deserves to reap the success of that hard work," Tohru said with a smile.
"And maybe if she does great on the backend of things, the store will finally do something about those jackasses who've been harassing her," Kyo said with a frown. "Did Haru say anything more about that?"
"Only that they're still a thing, but they're a lot less bold now that he's spending so much time in the store. Apparently, Rin actually broke someone's wrist last month," Yuki said, shaking his head. "Neither of them said why, specifically, but I can imagine."
Kyo scowled, hugging Tohru close against his side. He knew Rin could handle herself, but it still sucked that she was ending up in a position where she had to. If he was Haru, he'd probably be doing the same thing. "I don't get why she doesn't just go somewhere else. She's brought them so much business, you'd think they'd be falling all over themselves to protect her, not leaving her to the damn wolves."
Yuki nodded, in full agreement. "Hopefully this marketing project opens a few new doors for her."
"And hopefully none of this crap pushes Haru back to Black." If anything was going to make him snap again, Kyo could very well imagine it being this.
But it was getting later, and the sidewalk was cold. Kyo could feel Tohru shivering, and he glanced down at her. "You about ready, Tohru?"
She hated to go, but knew it was time. "This was so much fun, Yuki! Please tell Hatsuharu and Isuzu hello from us, and tell them to let us know if they have any free time to get together tomorrow, ok?"
"Of course, Tohru," Yuki said, giving her a hug. Then he turned and patted Kyo's shoulder. "Congratulations, Kyo. On the birthday, on Sensei...all of it. I'm really very happy for you."
Kyo could tell Yuki meant it, and it felt nice. "Thanks, Yuki. Have a good one."
The two of them might not be best friends. They might never be best friends. But little by little, meeting by meeting, the walls were slowly, surely coming down.
Kazuma was sitting in the living room, reading the newspaper when Tohru and Kyo came back in. "Well, hello there! I hope you had a good time with your friends and your fittings today."
"Friends, yes. Fittings...are at least over," Kyo said with a groan, collapsing down next to the table. "If I never have to put up with that much manhandling again, I'll be happy."
Tohru thought it rather amusing that a person who'd dedicated his life to a martial art considered a clothing fitting 'manhandling,' but she wasn't about to point that out right now. "Kyo was extremely patient today, Master Kazuma; you would have been proud of him!"
Kazuma chuckled; he could only imagine how quickly Kyo would have wanted to dive out of the shop. "I'm sure I would have been. Do you have anything left to do for your outfit, Kyo?"
"Nope. Ayame said that everything should be good after today, he just needs to fix all the hems or something. As long as I don't get any taller," he amended with a smile.
"Well, I wouldn't think you have much, if any, additional height to gain at this point, though it's difficult to say for sure," Kazuma said, looking him over. Sohma men tended to be tall, and Kyo was right up there with the rest of them at this point. "So... you're done," he repeated with a smile. And Kyo grinned back.
"Yup, pretty much. Ayame said that after this weekend, he shouldn't need to touch my stuff at all, only Tohru's." He glanced from Kazuma to Tohru with a smile, and she met it with one of her own. Today had been wonderful, and exciting; Tohru had felt like a princess, being dressed in her formal furisode. But that was just a rental; just something to borrow, albeit for an admittedly special day. What Ayame and Mine were working on now...that was just for her.
It was still almost too much to believe. When she and Kyo had first started talking about what they wanted for their wedding the previous spring, Tohru had said she wanted a traditional wedding, at a shrine. And she wanted to wear the traditional wedding outfits, which Kyo had agreed to. She'd known there had to be a cost involved, since kimono of any type weren't exactly cheap, but she'd been absolutely staggered once she realized what they would actually cost. Even renting a good quality wedding outfit had seemed an excessively indulgent expense; she already wanted so many other things for their big day, it seemed that the most sensible thing to do would be to severely cut back on the clothing. Much as she might want it, she wanted to have all their friends and family join them for the reception even more.
She had made up her mind, but was struggling to come to terms with it when Ayame had cornered her at Hatori and Mayuko's wedding the previous summer. It had taken her some time to understand because Ayame was so incredibly excited and therefore long-winded, but the gist of the matter was that he and Mine wanted to have the privilege of dressing Tohru and Kyo for their wedding.
She'd been touched, but protested. Ayame and Mine had a track record of sending clothing to Tohru and Kyo; when they'd first moved out, the enthusiastic tailors had sent them what amounted to an entirely new wardrobe! But that had been standard clothing (well, with a few Ayame specials thrown in), nothing remotely touching the cost or intricacy of traditional wedding wear.
It had been a case of unstoppable force and immovable object. Neither of them wanted to back down; Ayame, determined to do this for them, and Tohru, unwilling to accept something so impossibly generous.
Eventually Kyo had gotten roped in, and he was torn. On the one hand, he wanted Tohru to have her dream day, as much as he was able to give her. On the other hand, he hated, had always hated, and felt he always would hate, taking hand-outs from the family. Even if Ayame wasn't literally 'the family' he was still a Sohma, and what he was offering was a lot. But Tohru would be so incredibly happy...
In the end, Kyo had sided with Ayame, and Tohru had been won over as well. Family often helped with clothing, Ayame pointed out, and the two of them didn't have anyone to hand down their clothing. Therefore, it made sense that he, Ayame Sohma, stepped into that role for them!
Tohru was overwhelmed, but still determined to keep Ayame and Mine from overextending themselves. Just because they had a habit of excessive generosity didn't mean they needed to bankrupt themselves making anything too fancy! Something simple and nice, made with inexpensive materials, would be beautiful from their hands.
And that's when Akito had ended up involved, after hearing from Shigure about the conversation. With Ayame's voice being what it was, there were very few at the wedding who hadn't heard, and Shigure thought Akito might have some interest in the subject. He was right, and Akito had reached out to Ayame directly.
She had never been particularly fond of the Zodiac Snake, but in this she considered him an ally. Akito had already tried, and failed, to get Tohru and Kyo to let her contribute towards the wedding. But if Ayame was making their clothing and Tohru was concerned about Ayame spending too much, then maybe, perhaps, this was her way in.
Ayame was absolutely delighted with Akito's proposal, and he told her that if she succeeded in convincing Tohru and Kyo then he'd be all-in.
Akito had been ready for battle when Tohru came to see her the day after Hatori's wedding, and managed to bring the conversation around to the clothing. Tohru had still been in shock, and openly fretted to Akito that it was far too generous, that maybe they shouldn't really have accepted.
'You're right, Tohru, it is quite a lot. I'm sure that Ayame has the skill to pull it off, but there's no doubt that the materials will be an undertaking." She'd looked sideways at Tohru, taking her measure. "I'd like to cover the cost."
"Akito, I can't let you do that! You've already done far too much by paying for all our travel costs!"
"I'm in a much better position to pay than Ayame, and he's already going to be handling all the labor. Won't you please let me help him, so he doesn't have to worry too much about details he shouldn't need to?"
Naturally, Tohru's immediate instinct had just been to call the whole thing off. Akito was right, it was too much. She was being selfish in even thinking about accepting such a gift from Ayame.
Shigure had joined them then, his long-standing ability to help soothe Tohru's anxiety once more in play.
"Tohru, much as you might think it's an imposition, try to consider our side, hmm? It's not that often that any of us get the chance to so much as see you, let alone help you anymore. Is it any wonder that we'd jump at any chance you'd give us? Or do you really think that Aaya is motivated by a misguided sense of obligation?"
Tohru had ended up tearing up, surprising no one, and sniffled out that she was so incredibly touched and overwhelmed and...and...
Shigure had called Kyo. "Kyo, just to make sure everything is above-board, I thought I'd give you the courtesy of telling you that we'll be bankrolling your wedding outfits. I trust that won't be a problem?"
As a matter of fact Kyo did think that was a problem, and he didn't appreciate Shigure's casual dismissal of the fact. "We already talked to Ayame about this, Shigure, and we don't-"
"Oh, don't worry, we're not cutting out Aaya. Quite the opposite, in fact! We're all in agreement that we want you and especially dear Tohru to shine on your wedding day, and that means no skimping on cost. Naturally Aaya and Mine have no plans to do anything of the sort, but materials such as what they'll be using aren't cheap, and if we could shoulder more of that burden so they aren't taking so much on themselves, well... I'm sure you understand."
Kyo understood extremely well, and he didn't like it. But he could only remember Tohru's face, when she'd first talked about her dream wedding, and her face when she'd told him that she just couldn't justify spending that sort of money on clothing.
"Give the phone to Tohru, you damn Dog."
After a short conversation, Tohru had hung up and handed the phone back to Shigure, looking at him and Akito with a somewhat shy, overwhelmed smile. "If you're both really, really, really sure..."
They were sure.
Tohru, Kyo, and Kazuma were all quiet for a moment, all of them thinking about the wedding. Nearly ten months had passed since Kyo had proposed, and now less than five months remained. There was still a lot to do, but they were slowly but steadily making progress. The months might seem long, but the days, especially like today, were moving quickly.
Kazuma looked from Tohru to Kyo, smiling at the way that they looked at each other. How right he'd been, to trust her that cold and rainy day.
Smiling, he folded his newspaper.
"So...what all have you been up to, today?"
