Um, just a warning: This chapter contains strongly implied LEMON! Nothing graphic, as I would utterly fail at writing anything like that, but they are on their honeymoon at the end so what can you expect? If you don't want to read it, just stop after the wedding finishes. (Yes, we're covering the wedding this chapter) Please pay little mind to the chapter title; I really didn't have a clue what to call it. (I'm holding a contest on my reviews page if you have any ideas. The winner will... well... have their chapter title used.) Thanks to my reviewers: fmababe1124, Tracey4t, Yugicanbesexy, James Birdsong, TwilightPrincess1126, FBFan, AssassinedAngel, Alma Riddle, and al2010.
Note: I have Akito as female and now the ex-Juunshi know about it, BUT she has not had a complete turn around like the end of the manga. She is still nasty and scheming. Okay? Good.
I do not own Fruits Basket or its characters; all rights go to Natsuki Takaya.
"It's so pretty, Mama!" Kyoko was studying the ring on her mother's finger with rapt attention, turning her hand this way and that to see the diamond sparkle in the light. "Do we get to live with Papa now?"
"Not yet," Tohru said, tapping Kyoko's nose. "But after the wedding, we will." Tohru's aura was glowing, it seemed. Her feet hardly touched the ground as her daughter stared at the ring.
Yuki, standing behind her with his arms encircling her waist, was probably as fascinated with Tohru's ring as Kyoko. He could hardly believe that she was his again; that this wasn't just another dream.
They were still at Hanajima's and she was the only one not making a study of the ring. She had at first, but now she was looking intently at the man who had given it. Her gaze was calculating, intense. "I'm glad to see that your heart is sincere," she intoned. "Be sure to keep it that way."
Uo made her entrance, after having received a call ten minutes ago. "Tohru-kun! Let me see this new bling of yours!" She snatched up Tohru's hand from Kyoko and looked the ring with a smirk. "You could pay off your rent with this."
Tohru shook her head. "I couldn't possibly sell it." She leaned back against Yuki's chest, although Uo was still studying the ring. "The land lord hasn't been around for it for some time anyway. He actually said that I didn't even have to pay rent anymore!"
Both Hana and Uo froze and stared. Yuki had a flashback of tracking down her landlord and having him forward all of Tohru's bills to him. He seemed to recall threatening him into submission. He wondered if he should mention it to Tohru.
"When did this happen?" Hana asked.
"A while ago, I guess," Tohru said.
Uo raised an eyebrow. "And you're not worried or suspicious at all?"
Tohru's eyes widened. "Should I be? I- I mean, since he said that I—What if he didn't mean it? What if the rent's been collecting all this time?"
"I don't think you need to worry about it, Tohru," Yuki found himself saying.
Hana and Uo exchanged looks and a grin.
"Nani? I don't understand."
This was awkward now; he should have told her earlier. Kyoko latched onto both of her parents legs in one tight hold, obliviously giggling as the adults hung in awkward silence.
Hana and Uo looked at Yuki expectantly. With a sigh of defeat, Yuki rested his chin on top of her head. "I took care of all that for you. Both as an apology for not being there until recently and because I wanted to. Please, just don't concern yourself over it."
Tohru quickly turned around, gaping a bit. "But… but I… you…" Her face flushed and she looked fairly lost as to what she was supposed to say.
Yuki drew her back to him. "Tohru, don't worry yourself. Let me take care of you."
Hana and Uo looked at him approvingly. He decided to take that as a good sign. "But," Tohru said, still trying to say something coherent. "You… ano…"
"Tohru-chan," Hanajima said. "You're engaged to him now, just let him. Unless you're going to insist on paying rent even after you're married?"
Uo crossed her arms. "You can't do everything on your own, you know."
Tohru covered her face with her hands, mumbling, "Fine, fine."
Yuki kissed the top of her head, smiling. "We have better things to think about now."
Kyoko, tired of being left out of the conversation, made her voice known. "If there's a wedding, can I throw the pretty petals?"
"Of course, you can be the flower girl," Tohru said, picking up her daughter and holding her close.
"Who else would be?" Yuki wondered aloud. Then, with the soft look he always reserved for his daughter (without realizing it himself), he asked, "What sort of flowers would you like to throw?"
Kyoko looked confused for a minute before answering hesitantly, "Pretty ones?"
OoOoO
Ayame flew past Yuki with several white fabrics draped over his arms. "You must not look!" he proclaimed. "The groom can't see the bride in her wedding dress until the moment is upon him!"
"I've already seen her in a wedding dress," Yuki pointed out. The only reason he was here was to keep Kyoko out of mischief until it was time for the flower girl dress to be decided upon. Mine had practically fallen over herself at the sight of Kyoko, imagining all the possibilities before her.
"It doesn't matter!" Ayame called just before disappearing into the back room.
Kyoko wandered amongst the fabrics, Yuki trailing behind her. "Papa! Look at this one!" Kyoko pointed enthusiastically at blue sparkly sequined fabric. "It's pretty!"
Personally, Yuki found the fabric to be a little bit too 'pretty'. "It certainly is."
Kyoko saw a table full of beads and buttons and let out a squeal. "Look!" She ran over and peeked over the edge, not quite tall enough to see everything. She reached for one of the canisters, but Yuki was quicker. His brother had made it known that buttons and beads would be the worst thing to have spill.
Yuki held the canister down so that Kyoko could see the miniscule silver beads. He wasn't entirely sure what such a thing could be used for even. "You can look," he told his daughter, "but don't touch."
Kyoko was content to watch the light bounce off the metallic beads, her eyes wide. "Like pixie dust!" she said, just as the door to the back room opened.
"Manager! Can we work on Kyoko-chan next?" Mine's voice asked.
Yuki put the beads back and took Kyoko's hand, leading her out of the maze of sewing supplies.
"Oh, but of course, we must begin work on the flower girl dress now that the wedding gown has been planned. For a small child to send petals fluttering gracefully to the ground is the very picture of innocence! We must bring this picture of purity to wondrous life!"
"We cannot fail!" Mine looked positively ready for battle.
Yuki sometimes wondered how it was possible for him to be even distantly related to these people. Kyoko never had qualms in the least. "Ayame-oji, I found sparkles!"
Kyoko let go Yuki's hand to run over and hug Ayame. Ayame's first reaction was to glance nervously about his shop to make sure everything was still as he'd left it. Small children seemed to set him on edge, Yuki had noticed. Perhaps, it was because the last time Kyoko hd been to his shop she'd spilled a whole table of carefully sorted buttons. Finally, Ayame responded, "Sparkles and only the best kind, I hope!" He laughed nervously before checking once again that his supplies were as they should be.
Yuki turned is attention to Tohru, who looked overwhelmed. In fact, she appeared to be teetering slightly. Yuki took her into his arms, awe struck as always by the feeling of holding her close. "How did it go?" he asked.
She mumbled something about keeping secrets into his chest and Yuki decided not to press her further.
Ayame swooped in, waving his left hand at his younger brother. "Now, now, mon frere! You can't steal her away in that manner just yet! You must pledge everything you have to her and give her a ring before witnesses!" Ayame waved his own left hand about just once more.
Fairly certain, he'd previously reminded Ayame that he'd already done all of that, Yuki didn't say anything, although he did send him a half-hearted scowl, not relinquishing his embrace.
"Mine-oba," Kyoko said. "Can my dress have sparkles?"
Mine was probably more excited about the prospect of designing the dress than any of the others; her eyes were shining with a slightly wild look. "Such an adorable little girl and she gets to be my niece!" Mine clapped her hands. "We'll see about the sparkles, Kyoko-chan, but how about some ribbons? And tulle? And… and…" Mine looked ready to faint as her mind took in all the possibilities.
Yuki was glad to leave most of the wedding planning to his brother; he wasn't certain he could handle it. And Tohru was already busy with her job and Kyoko; she didn't need anything added to it. Ayame and Mine had immediately designated themselves to plan it all, although most of the decisions would need Tohru's consent. However grateful Yuki was to his brother, watching him dance through his shop prattling off his usual nonsense made him wonder what the outcome would be.
Other things occupied his mind his mind as well. Now that he and Tohru were getting married he wanted to buy a house and move out of his apartment. Truthfully, he could have moved long ago, but the apartment had been a part of his past life with Tohru and he didn't want to leave it behind. Now, things were different. Not only did he have more than memories of Tohru, but he also had a daughter who might want more room to run and play. He was only just starting to look into buying a different place, and that, on top of wedding preparations, was exhausting.
Even so, as he hugged Tohru closer, he knew that everything would work out.
OoOoO
Yuki and Tohru entered the reception hall to the applause of those gathered there. Tohru blushed and half hid behind Yuki's shoulder. With her close proximity, Yuki had to try very hard not to trip on the hem of her wedding dress. When he'd first seen her in it had leaned toward her ear and whispered, "Kirei." And she was. He had to fight for composure whenever he so much as looked at her.
Kyoko skipped in behind them, still throwing petals everywhere, humming and smiling. As she'd hoped for the small silver beads that she called 'sparkles' were included on her adorable little dress. They glinted in the light, as she skipped around her parents throwing petals with a giggle.
Yuki was wary of only one of the guests; Akito lurked in the corner somewhere. And he- she still seemed unhappy about the whole thing. She'd consented with visible displeasure, and now was most likely sitting with an over-enthusiastic Shigure. Today was the first time the Sohma head had seen Yuki's family and as of yet she hadn't spoken to him or them that day.
The applause died out as they reached their seats, replaced by soft conversation. Suddenly, Akito stepped in front of him. And so close to Kyoko. In an instant, Yuki grabbed her small hand and brought her closer to him. "Akito-san," he acknowledged.
Tohru piped up from beside Yuki. "Oh! You're Akito-san?" She bowed. "Hajimimashite. I'm Tohru Ho—" She stopped with a small smile and blush. "I'm Tohru Sohma."
Yuki enjoyed hearing her say her new name, and for a moment he let down his guard to smile to himself, replaying her words over in his head. Quickly, he brought himself back to the present, and saw that Akito was looking at Kyoko.
No. She wouldn't as much as touch Kyoko with one finger. Yuki gestured to the little girl, still keeping her slightly behind him. "This is our daughter, Kyoko."
Kyoko reached into her basket and found the last fully intact flower. She held it up to Akito with a smile.
Akito looked at her with obvious disdain before taking the flower. She looked back at Yuki. "You should be grateful to me for allowing you this," she said coldly. "You disobeyed me once in this regard, thinking that you could take what I didn't permit you to. I'm giving it back only because I want your disgusting self out of my sight."
Akito didn't say another word as she left, although she crumpled Kyoko's flower and threw it to the side with a scowl.
"Yu-chan? Are you okay?" Tohru's voice was worried.
"I'm fine, Tohru. I'm not about to let Akito ruin our wedding day for me. Or you." Yuki ran his thumb over her jawline before leaning down and kissing her affectionately. "Promise me that you won't take anything she says or does to heart."
Tohru nodded and smiled. "This is the best day of my life, Yuki. Nothing can change that."
"Hana-obachan! Uo-obachan!" Kyoko took off running, her arms spread wide.
Yuki and Tohru went over to greet them as well. Hana, shamelessly wearing black to a wedding, was looking in the direction Akito had gone. "That person. Was that the head of your family, Yuki-kun?"
"Yeah, he seemed kinda shady of you ask me," Uo said.
"She," Yuki corrected. "She's a she. But, yes, that was the Sohma head."
"I see," Hana said. "And she's the one who separated you before?"
"Hai," Yuki said, "but she won't be causing us any more trouble, I don't think."
"I'd have to show her a thing or two if she tried." Uo cracked her knuckles.
"But for today, let's just have a good time, hai?" Tohru asked.
"Mama," Kyoko said, jumping up and down. "Can we have the cake yet?"
"We have to eat first, sweetheart," Tohru reminded her.
They sat down in their seats, Kyoko instantly crawling up into Tohru's lap. Yuki took Tohru's hand under the table, running his thumb over the soft skin.
The reception went smoothly after the Akito incident, everything falling in place as Ayame and Mine had planned. Yuki had to admit that decorations were nice; small candles set along the tables, surrounded by yellow and white flowers. There was also an arch by the door wrapped in the same flowers and some green ivy.
Yuki's parents were less than pleased with him. Not only for their recent discovery of his previous marriage but the fact that he was marrying the same woman again and she had a fairly low social status. Society would see him as someone who would willingly marry a single mother, who they would believe had been improper. His parents knew that that was the view society would take and for that they were irritated. He didn't care what they thought. They had never once cared about what he thought; he saw no reason to show them anything different. His mother left directly after the dinner, his father following. Them and Akito aside, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Tohru didn't have much family, but the vast amount of Sohma made up for it. Hatori seemed at some sort of peace with himself, the only thing disrupting it being Yuki's hyper-active brother. Hiro and Kisa were very much a couple, and Rin was on Haru's arm.
Just before the dancing, Ayame grabbed an empty chair and placed it a few feet in front of the bridal table where everyone could see. "And now, ladies and gentleman! May I please have your attention?" Ayame clapped his hands, flipping his hair behind him.
Yuki had a bad feeling about this. He wondered if it would be best to grab Tohru and run. Call off the rest of the reception and just leave. Yes, that would be a good plan with the way this was going.
Ayame continued, "It's time for our bride and groom to perform the garter toss!" He turned to the astounded couple and gestured to them enthusiastically. "Come, come, my brother! And bring the lovely bride! Everyone is waiting."
Yuki looked at Tohru to gauge her reaction. Her mouth hung open a little, and there was a little color in her cheeks, although not all that much. "You don't have to," he told her.
"I wouldn't want to disappoint anyone," she said, getting up.
Yuki glared at his brother as Tohru sat down in the chair Ayame had set up for her. "Now, mon frere," Ayame said, taking Yuki's hand. "There shall be none of your hands doing all the work. That would be the worst kind of cheating! You must use your teeth only and that of course requires your head to be under her lovely skirts and face near to—"
Yuki stopped him mid-sentence with a smack to the head. "I get it. Please, just shut up."
With a quick whispered apology to Tohru, he ducked under the surprisingly heavy skirt of her wedding dress, making sure the hem went down after him. He realized he most likely had Mine to blame for the fact that the garter was so far up on her thigh. He made it as brief as possible when he gripped the garter between his teeth and slipped it down her leg. He came out from under her skirt, garter in hand, to see Haru smirking at him.
Tohru's face was a deep red, and Kyoko looked confused. Why did he have to feel like a pervert for something he was forced into? "I hope you're happy," he said under his breath to Ayame. "And I am not tossing this." He slipped it into his pocket before Ayame could protest.
Haru came up and patted his shoulder. "Don't be so down, Yuki. You just got an extra look up your wife's skirt."
"How can you say that with a straight face?" Yuki asked him, before leading Tohru outside and away from all the attention that she didn't want.
"Gomen, Tohru. My brother was out of line."
Tohru, still red in the face, shook her head. "It's okay, Yu-chan, it surprised me is all. It doesn't bother me for you to do what you did."
Yuki raised an eyebrow. "Even in front of people?"
"Well, I—I mean… In front of people is different."
Yuki took her hand, gently kissing the back of it. "They're expecting us inside for the first dance."
OoOoO
Much later that night, Yuki and Tohru found themselves at one of the many Sohma summer homes. Kyoko would be staying with Uo for two weeks while they were on their honeymoon.
Tohru had finally let her hair out of the many rhinestone pins, and it fell free down past her shoulders and Yuki carried her inside, their lips already beginning what was to become so much more. He laid her down on the bed, his lips never breaking contact as his fingers tried to make sense of the fasteners on the back of her travel dress. Finally it slipped down off her shoulders, and he let his mouth linger down her jaw and neck. He drew back enough to jerk his shirt up and over his head, dropping it to the floor.
"Yuki…" Tohru said, her voice soft and pleading. "Don't stop."
As if he would. He'd yearned to make an intimate gift of himself to her for too long to stop before they began. And she was truly beautiful; every small detail of her. This night would belong to them.
He already knew her this way; he knew which places that a single touch and caress from him gave her more pleasure than others. And while everything was new to her, there were some things that were new to him, as well.
Before, it had been difficult to hold himself away from her and so many times had abruptly ended in a small trembling grey rat. Now, he didn't have to hold back. He didn't have to deny her any part of himself. He could freely give her everything he was.
FLUFFIES! MUCH FLUFFIES! What did you think? Of the wedding? Akito? Yuki's parents? Ayame? Garter toss? Hana and Uo? ...The honeymoon? You need not answer all of these questions, but please leave a few words in a review! Just enough to give me your overall thoughts on this chapter. (But feel free to get detailed...) *pouts* Please review! (And feel free to submit ideas for a chapter title.)