Grad Night
It's the evening of their graduation and Kyo and Tohru spend one last visit on the roof of Shigure's house together, unknowing to what plans will soon be in store for the two of them. Now a full length story! Rated for language!
Me: Well, this chapter was kind of hard to write. I'm SO sorry for the delay! I had a few speech and debate tournaments to go to! I had so many versions of this chapter up in my head. AUGH! The writer's block!!!! Well….before we get started, allow me to reply to the kind reviewers:
TheFoxGirlKitsune: I'm really glad you like it!
AKITO. At The Disco: More is on the way!
Martaki: Thank you so much for the review! I'm really glad you like it so far! I promise that more is on the way!
Midnight Shadows Starlight: Lol. It's okay, I know quite a lot of people who remind me a lot like Light. I'm really glad you're enjoying the story so far. Take care, you two.
Moonflower: Yes, poor little Sachi-chibi. Things will get pretty interesting in later chapters, I promise you that. I'm glad that you realized Sachi's personality mirrors Tohru.
LadyAlina: I'm really glad that you're looking forward to future chapters! I'll do my best to keep them coming!
collective2220: I'm sorry I made you cry! But everything will come together in the end! I promise!
year of da cat fanclub: I'm really glad you liked the first meeting between the two characters! More will come!
xSmile: Actually it's about six years. But I'm really glad you like the story! I'm glad you enjoyed the cookie!
Glorious Kyouru Shimuri: I'm glad you like the chapter so far! Your enthusiasm made me smile!
Me: Well, now onto the disclaimer! Today we have none other than Yuki Sohma!
Yuki: Thank you for having me here today, Miss Pensuke.
Me: Thanks for being here!
Yuki: So how should we do this?
Me: Well to just read off the disclaimer, I guess. I haven't had a…a normal disclaimer reading yet.
Yuki: I see…Clears throat Hina—
Ayame: Bursts into the room YUKI, YOU'RE HERE MY WONDERFUL LITTLE BROTHER!
Yuki and Me: WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!
Yuki: To me I take it you two have met before?
Me: Chapter three. I had Shigure in the studio with me that time.
Ayame: What a beautiful meeting that was…
Yuki and Me: SHUT UP AND ANSWER THE QUESTION!
Ayame: Well, it all started 9 months before I was born to grace this world—
Yuki and Me: WE MEANT NOW!
Ayame: Well, I was around the studio when I heard that it was Yuki's turn to read off the disclaimer. So of course I thought this would be the PERFECT moment for my precious little brother and me to get together.
Me: Slams head into a wall over and over and over… Just one perfect disclaimer reading…..just one….is that too much to ask?!
Yuki: Ah! Miss Pensuke! I'm sorry about this, I really am!
Hatori: Hasn't shaven in a week, so he has a beard. Don't worry about her. I have my medical supplies with me when she passes out from the concussion she's getting.
Yuki: Hatori? Why are you still here? Didn't you read off the disclaimer back in chapter two?
Hatori: You don't want to know. To audience Hinata Pensuke does not own Fruits Basket. It belongs to the respective owners.
Ayame: Happy Holidays!
It was a very productive first week for Tohru. Around the clock she scrubbed, washed, and maintained everything inside the Sohma Estate. Although it was all strenuous work, the Onigiri never complained. With her new career and trying to be a good mother to Sachiko, she was having the time of her life. Well, almost. When she found time to be by herself, she felt this strange feeling bubbling up in her heart that made her want to cry. This place felt like a long deserted dream that she found herself returning to.
On this warm afternoon, things seemed to be busier than usual! Workers were everywhere and tempers secretly rising behind the scenes which wasn't helping matters at all.
Tohru had just finished drying clean washcloths that were meant for the kitchen. So with her basket in hand, she squeezed into the crowded throng of servant workers. Inside the kitchen, the place was almost chaos. People were everywhere, food was being passed along to be brought to different Sohma's, and arguments reigned supreme.
The Onigiri had only set the basket full of fresh washcloths on one open space when she felt herself pulled in a whole new direction. This startled her, but she tried not to let it show. Looking up at who it was, she took a sigh of relief at her new co-worker friend, Kiiro.
"Tohru, you've got some free time right now, right?" The flustered maid asked. This woman in her forties was in charge of taking care of the Sohma's higher up in the family clan. She had a lot of responsibilities that had once included taking care of the head of the Sohma. But now that she had passed away about a year ago, her work load had lessened quite a bit.
"What do you need help with?" Tohru asked, smiling.
The busy maid thrust a food laden tray into Tohru's hands. "I need you to deliver this food for me."
"Where does this need to go to?"
"The Cat's Room." Kiiro replied, removing a key on a chain from around her neck and placing it around the Onigiri's.
Tohru's eyes widened slightly. "The room where that man is locked up in? I thought only certain workers are aloud to go in there."
Kiiro nodded. "Is it going to be a problem for you?"
"Of course it isn't!" Said Tohru with a smile. "I can do this; it's not problem at all!"
Kiiro smiled. "Good. Now get moving. Thanks so much for doing this for me!"
"It's no problem!" Tohru replied.
Before the Onigiri knew it, she was pushed along the crowd; finding herself in the quiet hallway. Taking in a deep breath and letting it out, Tohru started walking towards the notorious Cat's Room.
The Cat's Room.
Why did the name of this place strike a nervous chord in Tohru's heart? She could feel these feelings of sadness, regret, and even a little anger within each step she took. But it didn't make any sense. Why was she feeling this way? She had never been to that room before and as far as she could tell, the only time she had heard about it was from the maid who showed her around her first day of work!
It was also said that only the most trusted maids were aloud to go in there. They were the only ones entrusted a key not to lose. But Tohru had only been working there a week! How can she do something so…so…forbidden? If someone found out, it would be possible that she could get Kiiro fired. Perhaps she would lose her job, too! Then she had to find a new place to live, and trying to raise Sachiko—
"Stop it!" Tohru thought to herself. "You're doing this because Kiiro trusts you to do this for her. If she didn't, you wouldn't be doing this for her, right?"
This seemed to calm the Onigiri down as she walked on. Yes, this was only part of the job that she loved so much.
Kyo sat by the bars of his wall after is long workout. Sweat trickled down is forehead as he took in the sweet air drifting in from outside. His breathing still labored as his heart rate began its retreat downwards to its resting state.
Even though he wouldn't admit it, he was hoping to see that little girl. What was her name? Sachiko? Was that it? It was very rare when a person came by and decided to be nice to him. Momiji on some occasion, but that stupid rabbit annoyed the hell out of him. No, he was used to people gawking and mocking him. But then again, family rejection was something he grew accustomed to over the years. If his birth father was any indication. He was the one who blamed the Neko for killing his own mother, after all.
Kyo felt a horrible shiver run up his spine, his insides screaming that it wasn't his fault. It wasn't! It really wasn't! A rush of anger boiled his blood, but it momentarily froze upon hearing the door unlock. Was it time for his next meal already? He turned his back to the door as it swung open.
Tohru stepped inside of the Cat's Room and set the tray down as to shut the door. Once that was done, she picked up the heavy tray. Scanning the room cautiously, she saw him sitting there. Ignoring the strange feeling welling up in her heart, she tried bowing respectively. But she nearly stumbled doing so.
"Hello, it's v-very nice to meet you." Tohru greeted a slight nervous tone in her voice. "I mean, good afternoon. I have your lunch ready for you."
"New girl." Thought Kyo. He could hear the nervousness in the woman's voice and he smiled bitterly. He said nothing to her.
Tohru swallowed a small lump in her throat and then noticed a small low table a few steps away. There was a small array of used breakfast dishes. So doing what her job entitled her to do, she walked over to the piece of furniture and began to unload lunch.
Kyo was bored, so for one rare moment, he decided to humor the maid. Or with his reputation, scare her to death. "So, that old bat of a maid couldn't take me anymore so they stick me with someone new."
Tohru shook her head. "Oh, no! That's not the case at all! Kiiro was quite busy today. So she asked me if I could send your lunch to you."
Kyo didn't say anything more.
At this point, Tohru finished gathering up the used breakfast dishes onto the tray and stood back up. "It was nice to meet you."
Kyo didn't say anything.
"Kiiro should be by later to pick up these dishes." The Onigiri said, walking out towards the door. She managed to get it open with one hand.
The Neko just sat there as the Onigiri walked from the room, locking the door behind her. He didn't even know it was his long lost love that just came and went.