Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket


Photographs of Ours

Chapter Three: Holding Me Closer

Mutsuki was sitting on the swing in the park. He was by himself today. His father had taken Miyuki with him, to pick up Uncle Kakeru and his family from the train station, and his mother was in the apartment. He had been in the apartment too, not very long ago. His mother had asked him to go to his room for a bit, after she had caught him on top of the bookshelf... dusting. Apparently climbing on top of shelves was always going to be a no. After about ten minutes in his room, he heard a crashing noise and ran to main room to see what was going on. He was worried that his mother may have dropped something or that it had fallen on her, and she may be hurt. The last thing he had expected when he slammed the door open, was to see his mother, surrounded by overturned furniture, and staring at him with a terrified expression.

"Mutsuki?" She whispered.

The young boy took a step forward, intending to walk to his scared mother. However, before his first step could land, his mother was running towards him and yelling.

"NO! The glass!"

She pushed a hand to his chest and he braced himself against the door frame. He looked down and saw that he had almost stepped on some shards of glass.

"I can grab the broom an-"

"No! No, you're not cleaning anything. Mommy will deal with it, alright?"

"Okay... can I at least hand you the broom? It's still in the toilet."

"Yes. Yes, that's a good idea." She agreed.

Mutsuki ran to the toilet and grabbed the broom for his mother, while she walked into the kitchen and started heating up some water. He watched her, from the hallway, as she cleaned up the glass. When she finally let him cross the threshold, he walked into the kitchen and saw her making tea in one of his father's travel mugs. Not long after, she handed the thermos to him and told him to go to the park. She would call his father and tell him to pick Mutsuki up on his way home.

That was how Mutsuki ended up on the swing, sipping his hot tea. He slowly pushed the swing back and forth with his feet. He had been frustrated with his mother for weeks now, but there was something different about today. Usually when she made a mess, it was intentional and easy to clean up, with no damage. Today, however, it had almost seemed like she was not in control. The whole room looked like it had been overturned, and some items were even broken. She had looked terrified when Mutsuki opened that door, and acted oddly once she snapped out of it. What was going on?

Mutsuki took another sip of tea from the thermos and looked up, hoping to see his dad. All he saw were dead leaves being blown across the park and a squirrel sniffing around the benches. He sighed and looked back down at the travel mug in his lap, while pushing the swing back and forth with his feet. The last thing he expected, was a small, but forceful, shove to his back.

"Boo!" Yelled the voice of another child as Mustuki went flying off the swing.

His lukewarm tea splashed his face and he landed on the ground. He propped himself up on his hands and heard the loud, hearty, laughter of his cousin, Shoichi. Turning his head around, Mutsuki saw his, dark haired, cousin doubled over in laughter and clutching his stomach.

"Jerk!" Mutsuki yelled, as he threw a handful of dead leaves at Shoichi.

"Sorry! Sorry!" Soichi gasped through his laughter. "I didn't think I was pushing you that hard!"

"Then why are you laughing?" Mutsuki asked.

"Because it was so funny to see you flying!"

"Not as funny as you trying to talk to Avril!" Mutsuki yelled back.

Shoichi's laughter was cut short and his face turned red at the mention of Mutsuki's pretty cousin. Now it was Mutsuki's turn to laugh, as well as the adults, who's arrival he had not noticed. Uncle Kakeru, who was holding Miyuki, put a hand on his embarrassed son's head and ruffled his hair.

"I suppose that's punishment enough." He said.

"Punishment?!" Shoichi exclaimed. "But I didn't mean to! It was an accident Daddy! I swear!"

Yuki helped Mutsuki stand up and brushed him off. He looked up at his brother-in-law, who was now arguing with his son over whether or not pushing Mutsuki off the swing was an accident. He chuckled under his breathe and picked up the thermos that Mutsuki had dropped, before turning to face Kakeru and Shoichi.

"Kakeru, I don't think Shoichi took after you enough for it to be on purpose."

"WHAT?!" Kakeru exclaimed, loudly, looking up from his son. "YUN-YUN! HOW COULD YOU SAY SOMETHING SO CRUEL?!"

"It's not cruel, it's a fact." Yuki replied while Kakeru continued to beat at his chest with one hand while still holding his giggling niece with his other arm.

"YOUR DADDY IS SO MEAN MIYU! JUST YOU WAIT! YOU MAY BE HIS PRINCESS NOW, BUT ALL THAT WILL CHANGE WHEN YOU'RE OLDER!"

Shoichi dragged Mustuki over to his giggling mother who was holding her one year old daughter, Yuna.

"What?! Don't say things like that Kakeru! She might believe you!" Yuki panicked in the background.

"Hi Aunt Komaki."

"Hello Mutsuki, it's nice to see you again. How have things been since I last saw you?"

"Fine. Are you going to stop them?"

"No. I never do. This is just their way of playing."

Mutsuki looked over at his father, uncle and sister. Yuki was now holding Miyuki, while tugging on Kakeru's ear.

"If Miyu ever dates, I trust that she will only date the most respectable of men, that Machi and I both approve of."

How had their conversation gotten there? Mutsuki had only stopped paying attention for a few seconds.

"You don't know that for sure Yun-Yun!" Kakeru muffled out.

"Yeah! Get 'im Uncle Yuki! Get 'im!" Shoichi cheered.

Yuki and Kakeru both stopped what they were doing and stared at Shoichi.

"What?" Shoichi asked.

"Shouldn't you be supporting him?" Yuki asked, pointing at Kakeru, who was now babbling about his son's betrayal.

"He didn't support me." The little boy reminded them.

"That was different!" Kakeru exclaimed. "I'm your father! And you hurt your cousin!"

The squabble went on for a few more minutes before everyone calmed down and began the journey back to the apartment. Carrying the luggage was easy, as there where only two suitcases, a diaper bag and Shoichi's backpack. Shoichi, while being less troublesome than his father, had inherited his energy and was enthusiastically telling Mutsuki about his adventures at home. He constantly jumped in the air, spun around and gesticulated wildly as he spoke.

"-and BAM! They were no match for me an' Daddy!" He yelled out with a punch.

The four year old had just finished a story about the bad guys who had given his mother a stressful day. He and his father had defeated them by making dinner and cleaning the house. Yuki rolled his eyes as he led the way into the apartment. It was something that only Kakeru would convince a child of, and yet it was effective.

The moment he opened the door to their unit, Kakeru was running down the hall.

"He's gonna get slapped, he knows that, right?" Yuki asked his sister-in-law.

"I'm sure he does." She sighed.

The two remaining adults, helped the children take off their shoes while listening to Kakeru's antics.

"Mochiiii!"

"Don't call me that!"

"We've arrived- Are you okay?"

Apparently, things were bad enough that Kakeru was putting aside messing with his sister and going into big brother mode. Yuki straightened up and began to travel down the hall to check on his wife, while Kakaeru kept talking. Mutsuki and Shoichi chased after him, curiously.

"What's wrong? Did Yun-Yun do something? YUKI-"

SMACK!

"Knock it off Kakeru!" Machi snapped. "It's not Yuki's fault!"

Yuki opened the door and saw a fuming Machi, glaring at her older brother. Kakeru seemed unfazed by the fact that he had just been slapped and continued to question her in a lower voice. The two little boys were confused.

"Then what did happen? Because you haven't done this in years."

He was certainly concerned, and now that Yuki looked around, he could see why. The room was not trashed, but it was not their usual version of clean either. When Machi had said she was cleaning it up, she had meant her post-meltdown cleanup that he had witnessed the first time he met her. Everything was shoved back into place haphazardly and some objects were even in the completely wrong location. The furniture was also off.

"We'll talk about it after dinner." Machi mumbled, glancing down at the boys.

"Fine." Kakeru agreed.

Yuki realized that the couch was a few feet off from where it had been when he had left. Kakeru began talking in his usual, cheerful tone, as Komaki and the girls entered the room.

"Now how's my li-"

"Machi," Yuki interrupted Kakeru, "did you move the couch?"

The adults all focused on Machi.

"Ah... Uh... Yes... I did." She replied.

"Why?!" Yuki asked.

"Well... it was... on it's side..."

All the adults began to talk over each other.

"WHAT!? MACHI!"

"Why? HOW?!"

"CHI! WHA- THE-"

"-BABY!" Yuki and Komaki spluttered out at the same time.

"YOU'RE PREGNANT! GO MACHI!" Kakeru exclaimed.

"DON'T ENCOURAGE HER!" Yuki and Komaki snapped at Kakeru.

"Can we talk about this later?" Machi asked as she moved to greet her niece and nephew.

"NO!" The men yelled grabbing her arms before she could pick up Yuna.

"You're resting!" Yuki informed her, as he and Kakeru began to lead her to the bedroom.

"But I'm fine!" She protested, planting her feet firmly on the ground. "And why are you agreeing with him Kakeru? You weren't concerned a second ago."

"Just following Leader's commands!"

"I'm sure you're fine, Machi, but we'll feel better if you rest for a bit before picking up heavy children." Yuki tried convincing her.

"But the childr-"

"They'll be fine. There's three adults." Kakeru tried to assure her, as he tried to make her budge.

"I meant that I haven't seen your kids in two months and I haven't even greeted them or my children."

"You can do that later. I'm sure they'll understand." Kakeru said.

"No! This is ridiculous! I'm fine!"

"We're worried about the baby, not you!" Kakeru argued.

"We're worried about both of you!" Yuki corrected. "Kakeru, don't try to force her, you could hurt them!"

"Would you just-"

"Chi," Komaki said, tapping Machi's shoulder, "What if the kids go in the room with you?" She suggested. "I'll make some tea and you can sit in bed while talking to them. It will calm everyone down."

The four of them all looked between each other for a few a seconds before coming to a decision.

"Fine." Machi agreed.

"Good!" Yuki said, as he and Kakeru ushered her to the bedroom.

"Onward!" Kakeru declared. "Party in Aunt Machi and Uncle Yuki's room!"

The three older kids cheered and followed after them, dragging Yuna along.

"Why do you think they were so freaked about the couch?" Shoichi whispered to Mutsuki.

"I don't know. They kept talking about the baby, but I know that it was Mommy who flipped it." Mutsuki whispered back.

"Whoa! That's so cool! Your mom is Godzilla!"

He glanced at his father and uncle, tucking the blankets in around his red-faced mother's legs. Uncle Kakeru seemed to be going out of his way to embarrass her, while Miyuki and Yuna were trying to climb on the bed.

"Really?" Mutsuki asked.

"Yeah! Couches are heavy! Remember when we tried to move the couch at my house? It was too heavy!"

"Shoichi!" Kakeru called. "Come say hi to your aunt. She deserves it after the fight she put up."

Shoichi ran to the bed, jumped up and landed right between Miyuki and Yuna. The two girls giggled and squealed while their fathers nearly had a heart attack and Machi laughed. Mutsuki followed his cousin, but climbed up instead of jumping.

"Hi Aunt Machi! How's the baby?"

"No jumping on the bed!" Yuki reprimanded, as the the toddlers began bouncing around.

"The baby seems very excited about your visit." Machi said. "He's been moving around a lot today."

"Really?!" Shoichi asked.

"But he doesn't kick that hard." Mutsuki informed him.

Machi laughed a little at this. Her son did not seem to understand that there were layers of flesh and fluid dampening the kick that he felt, whereas she could feel every direct attack on her organs. Shoichi asked some more questions about the baby and the children took turns trying to feel the baby move, while Machi and Yuki asked their niece and nephew questions. Yuna could not talk much yet, but Shoichi talked enough for both of them.

After they had finished the tea that Komaki made, the adults made them leave the room so that Machi could rest. The boys went to Mutsuki's room, with Miyuki tagging along, where Shoichi showed off his new toy -a black transformer. They tried playing together, but Miyuki got upset about her dolls getting attacked by transformers and ran to the adults in tears. In the end, Mutsuki and Shoichi were put to work, helping Komaki make dinner, while Yuki and Kakeru played with the girls.

It was a lively meal, with eight people gathered around the small table. Komaki had made tonkatsu, with rice and cabbage, naturally, some of it ended up being thrown by Yuna and (occasionally) Miyuki. Kakeru managed to only embarrass Machi twice, and Yuki once. After a few attempts, the adults decided to catch up later, and let the children indulge in their dinnertime games. Machi and Yuki were actually relieved to see Mutsuki acting a little more like himself.

After dinner, the adults cleaned up and talked while the children ran around the living room, playing tag. Once they were done, they got the kids to calm down while they set the room up for the Manabes' stay. The couch was pushed back and a futon was laid on the floor, for Kakeru and Komaki. The crib was moved into the living room, for Yuna to sleep in.

After everything was set up, it was decided that the children could stay up as late as they wanted, since it was a special occasion. The rest of the night was spent playing board and card games and later, watching a movie. Yuki gave his wife and children a kiss goodnight, before heading to bed, while they played a game.

One by one the children fell asleep during the movie. First Yuna, who was put in the crib, next Miyuki, who stayed in her mother's arms. Mutsuki had been sitting on the futon with Shoichi and Komaki until the two of them fell asleep and he moved to the couch, where his mother and uncle were sitting. After a short time, he began to slowly nod off, while sitting in Kakeru's lap.

Sometime after the movie ended, Mutsuki woke up quietly. He did not attempt move, as he was quite content, and would happily drift back to sleep. Upon hearing the hushed voices of his mother and uncle, however, he became curious and decided to listen in on their conversation.

"-for weeks now -non-stop cleaning, and I don't know why. I have to force him to go play with his friends."

His mother sighed on frustration. Mutsuki cracked an eye open. The room was dimly lit by the glow of the television, and he could see his mother holding her head in one hand while she rocked Miyuki in the other arm. He saw his uncle's arm reach out and wrap around her shoulders.

"What did I do?" She asked, miserably. "We've tried not to repeat our parents' mistakes, and somehow we're still hurting Mutsuki!"

"Machi, it's not your fault." Kakeru reassured his sister.

"How can it not be? I'm his mother!"

"But he doesn't learn everything from you and Yuki. Children learn from the world around them."

"Then who's fault is it? How am I suppose to fix it? Do you think he's spending too much time around adults? There aren't a lot of kids in this neighborhood."

Machi had finally removed her hand from her face and was looking at her big brother, desperately hoping that he had an answer.

"That might be part of it..." Kakeru agreed thoughtfully. "Although, most of the adults you hang out with don't seem like the type to get these ideas in his head."

This answer did not seem to comfort Machi at all, and Kakeru picked up on it. He sighed and drew his little sister in closer.

"Look, I'm sure that it's just a phase. Kids go through them all the time -just this year, Shoichi went from wanting to be a Pokemon trainer, to a chef, then a cowboy! And now he wants to be an astronaut. It's all a part of growing up. I'm sure that this'll wear off in no time and his slob traits will take over -don't think for one minute that I haven't snooped through your closets. Between you and Yun-Yun it will be a miracle if any of your children really are neat freaks."

Machi giggled a little.

"Thanks Kakeru."

"For what? I'm pretty sure that I just insulted you."

Machi reached out and began stroking her son's hair. Through his cracked eye, Mutsuki could see the content smile that he had not seen since the day his grandmother called.

"For reassuring me that he'll be alright."

"Nah- Don't thank me. It's all a part of being a kick-ass big brother."

Machi chuckled under her breathe.

"I never imagined that we would be like this." She commented. "Remember when we hated each other?"

"I never hated you Machi." Kakeru said.

Machi looked up at him, questioningly, her hand still resting on Mutsuki's head.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Even when we were competing?"

"Even back then." Kakeru confirmed. "I couldn't bring myself to hate the little girl who was supposed to be my sister, especially when she hadn't done anything to me. I know that I got frustrated and angry sometimes, but I never hated you. If anything, I was worried about you."

"So it was only me?"

"Oh come on Machi! I'm sure you never hated me! Probably resented me and got annoyed a lot, but you never hated me!"

"What makes you so sure?"

"Between the time you got kicked out and the time Yuki and I visited your place; you only trusted me and Komaki. If you really hated me, you wouldn't have come with me whenever I asked."

"I suppose you're right."

"Hey! Remember the time I told you to come to the Commander's shop?" Kakeru asked with a soft laugh.

Mutsuki felt his mother's hand leave his head temporarily, to hit his uncle.

"Ow! What was that for?!"

"That will never be funny."

"I was trying to help you!"

"By delivering me to a pervert?"

"No! I was giving you and Yun-Yun the push that you both needed!"

"Yes, by letting a pervert dress me up in maid costumes. There are better methods."

"Oh, it ended well for the two of you, why are you still complaining about it?"

"How would you like it if somebody did that to Yuna?"

"Yuna's just a little girl nobody would-"

"She won't stay one forever." Machi interjected.

Mutsuki felt his Uncle's arm tighten around him.

"Kakeru?" Machi questioned, slightly concerned.

"That- That can't -I'd kill them." Kakeru muttered in a dark voice.

Mutsuki did not understand what they were talking about, all he knew was that his silly uncle, was now quite scary.

"Kakeru. Careful. You'll wake Mutsuki."

"Oh. Right. Sorry." He apologized before he relaxed his arm again. "Man! It's late! We should probably head to bed."

"Yeah, you're right," She yawned, "I'll take Mutsuki."

"No, It's alright, I've got him. You just put Miyu in the crib with Yuna and head to bed. You need the sleep more than me."

Mutsuki felt himself being shifted to rest on his uncle's shoulder, as he stood up.

"Kakeru, it will only take a few minutes, plus you need to get Shoichi to bed as well."

"Look, Machi, I tried not to say anything earlier, because Yuki and Komaki were both going at you, but you need to take it easy."

"Wha-"

"You flipped a couch Machi, a couch! And you're pregnant! As impressive as that is, you could have hurt yourself or the baby."

"I didn't mean to."

"I know, and I know that you lose control when you go into these rages; but you haven't had one in years, and I know that you're under a lot of stress right now. You need to take it easy when you can. If you can't do it for yourself, do it for your family."

"But I can't, they need-"

"Listen. I know that you can't take it easy all the time -you have responsibilities, I get it- but you can for the next few days. Komaki and I here to help; and with the party, the pregnancy, the kids and your parents coming, you need to relax wherever you can, because that much stress is dangerous."

It was silent for a few seconds, before Machi sighed and stood up.

"That doesn't mean much coming from a slacker like you."

"Whatever, just go to bed already, I'm sure that our fragile princess is getting cold without you."

"Goodnight, Kakeru."

"Goodnight, Mochi -ow!"

"Stop calling me that!"

By the time his uncle laid him down, Mutsuki was fully awake and thinking about the weird conversation he had just heard. Mistakes? Competing? Perverts? Pushing? Uncle Kakeru was going to kill somebody? And who was the frail princess? He was still thinking about it when Shoichi was tucked in next to him. He spent the rest of the night awake and watching his cousin drool while he tried figure out what the adults had been talking about.

It was still dark when he heard his father getting ready for work. Apparently Uncle Kakeru had heard too, because he heard their voices speaking softly for a few minutes, before the sounds of his father moving around the apartment resumed. When he heard his father putting on his boots in the hallway, Mutsuki got out of bed and opened his door.

"Daddy?"

Yuki looked up from his boots, and saw his son standing in the bedroom doorway. He pulled the onigiri, that he was holding in his mouth, out so that he could speak to him.

"Mutsuki, what are you doing up? It's four in the morning." He asked, beckoning his son to come over.

Mutsuki walked over to Yuki, who picked him up.

"Are you going to work?"

"Yes. I am."

"Why are you leaving so early?"

"Well, I have to cover some plants in one of the gardens I work in, because it's getting too cold for them, and I have to do my shift in the greenhouse as well as the shop."

"But it's still dark."

"Yes, but if I do the work early in the morning, I get to come home earlier and spend more time with you, Mommy and Miyu."

"Do you have to?"

Yuki chuckled.

"Yes. I do. It's part of being an adult, plus I like being able to provide for my family on my own."

"Provide?" Mutsuki asked.

"You'll understand someday." Yuki told him. "Now how about you go back to bed? I have to leave now. Okay?"

"Okay." Mutsuki replied and hugged his father. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too." Yuki said, before putting him down. "If you're hungry, Mommy hid some onigiri for me, but I'm sure you can find it."

"Why did she hide it?" Mutsuki asked.

"Because uncle Kakeru would eat them all if she didn't, and she didn't want me to be hungry. So don't let him find out, okay?"

"Okay."

"Good. Now I really have to leave, have a good day."

Mutsuki watched his father pick up his bag and walk out the door, before heading to the kitchen to find the hidden onigiri. He was careful make sure that his uncle was asleep before opening the fridge and trying to figure out where his mother would have hidden them. Eventually he spotted a brightly colored plastic tub on the middle shelf. He did not know what was usually kept in it, but whatever it was, he knew that his mother did not like it and his uncle probably did not either, according to his father.

Mutsuki opened it, pulled out a few of the plastic wrapped rice balls, put the bin away and closed the fridge. He ate his onigiri carefully, trying not get crumbs on the table. They were not as good as aunt Tohru's, but he still loved the onigiri that his mother made.

He glanced around the apartment. It was strangely quiet for now, but he knew that would change soon. His grandparents and cousins would begin arriving in a day or two, and even though they would be staying in hotels or with the Hamasakis and Mrs. Sakai, it was going to be loud. It seemed that every time the Sohmas came to visit, the neighborhood descended into chaos, at least that was was what his parents and Uncle Hatori said. It did not seem so bad to Mutsuki, and the other residents did not seem to mind... Except for the time that Aunt Kagura broke a table in a restaurant... And the times that Uncle Kyo had fights with Uncle Haru or Aunts Rin and Arisa in public. Uncle Haru had once broken a display in a store once. Some people seemed to be scared of Aunt Saki, but Mutsuki did not really get why, she was always so nice. He knew that not all of them were coming, but he was still excited to see his family.


I apologize for the long wait. I know that I said weekly, but apparently I'm a liar. I'll try to be more consistent, but things are kind of crazy right now.

I had a hard time writing Kakeru, because he's a complex enough character to begin with, but then I had to add seven years, marriage, two children, niece, nephew, brother-in-law, running a business and growing closer to his sister... I was lost. I re-read his scenes several times, and eventually decided to keep his characteristics close to what they were in the manga, with a stronger emphasis on his concern for family and his attempts to balance his goofiness with being a good father. I'm still not sure that I succeeded.

Once again, thank you for reading!