And once again I decline to claim Fruits Basket or its characters. I could really get into trouble if I tried to pretend they were mine and not Natusuki Takaya's. I hope you like the plot and my original characters though.

Please read and enjoy. Review if you so desire. I once again offer a second chapter due to the shortness of the first one I posted tonight.

Chapter 3 "A Week Should Be Enough Time"

Tohru Honda hummed happily as she prepared for the day's business. She glanced around the kitchen then looked at the clock and smiled in satisfaction. She had half an hour to eat her own breakfast and drink a cup of tea before the clients began arriving.

Tomo Morikawa surveyed his restaurant with pride. The simple yet elegant décor provided just the right background for the excellent cuisine he provided. Tohru Honda had come to him two years ago on the highest of recommendations by colleagues in Sapporo, Hakodate, Aomori, and Morioka. They had told him that the only difficulty with her was her inability to stay in one place for more than a year. He considered himself fortunate that she was still with him in Koriyama after two years. He knew he had been wise to hire her as his chef. After only three months he had seen an increase in the popularity of his restaurant and this was largely due to the excellence of the food.

After six months he had given her free rein with the menu. When she suggested four alternating menus, he had been hesitant. He had not been convinced that changing menus each week would be good for business but agreed to her suggestion of a 45-day trial period. Her idea had proved to be very successful. More and more he left the menu and the management of the restaurant in her capable hands. He only had to manage the restaurant's finances, which left him with more time to concentrate on his many other enterprises. It also gave him more time to prepare his sons, Kira and Satoshi for running his empire after his retirement although, the gods willing, that was still many years away. Toshi had expressed an interest in the young woman running his restaurant and Tomo had approved his choice. That had been about three months ago and he was pleased to note that Toshi was finally making inroads on Miss Honda's affections. He had hopes that meant she could be persuaded to stay in Koriyama.

Tohru stepped into the seating area for a final check before opening the doors. "Morikawa-san, good morning. May I bring you a cup of tea?"

"Yes please. I will be in my office."

Tohru brought him his tea and turned to go.

"Honda-san…"

"Yes sir?"

"Toshi will be here to walk you home tonight. He asked me to let you know." The light blush on her cheeks gave him hope for the success of his son's suit.

"Thank you sir. I'll be sure and wait for him."

Hatori had begun his search in Asahikawa because that was where he and his friends had pulled some strings to get her into culinary school without going through the usual admission channels. They had searched for a place on the northern island of Hokkaido because that placed her well out of Akito's reach. She had finished school there at the top of her class and immediately been hired by the best restaurant in town. She had stayed there about a year and then moved south. He had followed her trail from there to Sapporo, to Hakodate, to Aomori, to Morioka, and finally to Koriyama. In each town he heard basically the same story. She had gone to work in the good restaurants and improved them to the point where they were judged to be one of the best. Each time she had grown restless and moved on to a new town after about a year.

He finally arrived in Koriyama and wondered where he might have to go next. He was pleased to find out she was still here even after two years. Obviously Tohru-san was doing well in her career and seemed to have adjusted socially considering the friends she had made in each town where she worked. He could probably go home with a clear conscience. She had done well with the start he, Ayame, and Shigure had provided.

However, he was enjoying the freedom outside the Sohma compound and he was curious as well. What type of young woman had she developed into over the ten years and why was she still in Koriyama after two years? She had broken her pattern and he wanted to know why.

He found out that Tomo Morikawa had gone to school with one of the Sohmas, his Uncle Shu, who had been contemporary with his father. He shamelessly employed his uncle's name to gain an interview with Tohru's current employer. That accomplished he checked into a hotel on the same avenue as Morikawa's restaurant. A week should be enough time. He laughed at himself. His efforts today were worthy of Shigure himself and he had actually had fun. Perhaps there was something to be said for subterfuge...