AN: Sorry this chappy took so long to get uploaded. I was a bit busy with
school. Our teachers felt like they had to cram every bit of homework and
quizzes into the one week we had left before Christmas break. Its awful!
*groans* but enough about me. I have one important announcement to make:
ATTENTION: I HAVE A CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR ALL OF YOU! PLEASE GO TO www.geocities.com/piggys_world AND GET YOUR GIFT THERE. I set up a "mock" website and posted all the Furuba wallpapers that I made there. I made those especially for all of you. Thanks so much for reading my fic! I truly appreciate it! You've made fic writing so much fun!!!! Just go to that website and click "enter piggy's world".
THANKS AGAIN AND MERRY CHRISTMAS! I HOPE YOU'LL LIKE THIS CHAPTER! ^_^
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Tohru went to her closet and gave her meager wardrobe a look. *sigh* what am I going to wear tonight? Momiji-kun is going to take me to some fancy restaurant and I don't have anything suitable to wear! Tohru thought dejectedly.
The cow had dropped her off earlier and had told her to be ready by 7:00pm, Momiji would pick her up by then. She had been so happy, until she realized that her closet didn't have anything that suited the occasion.
She was still engrossed by her thoughts when a knock came to her door. "Tohru-kun, may I come in?"
"Shigure-san! Hai!" Tohru ran to her door and opened it, revealing the grinning face of Shigure. "Tohru-kun! I have something for you!!!" the dog cried out in his goofy voice. He stepped inside, with his hands were behind his back, hiding something from Tohru's view.
"Really Shigure-san?" Tohru asked, the thought of getting a present from the author lifted her somber mood somewhat.
"Hai! And here it is!!!" Shigure pulled something long and white out from behind his back. The material was flowy, and looked very delicate. At first, Tohru didn't know what it was, but as the dog held the gift before her long enough, she realized that it was a dress! A short and simple, but very elegant white dress. Its length was just enough to reach her knees if she wore it, and the top had the looks of a corset. There were no frilly bows, or extravagant laces, just a simply cut tube top, with a flowy skirt attached to it. Simple.. White.. Elegant.. AND OH SO EXPENSIVE!
"Oh Shigure-san, that dress looks awesome, but I can't possibly accept it!" Tohru cried.
Shigure looked taken aback, "why not?" he asked.
"because it looks so expensive! You've done so much for me already!"
"Oh, is that all?-" the dog laughed happily, "think nothing of it Tohru- kun! And you have to accept it! I had it made especially for you." Shigure said, already beginning his puppy-dog look "Aya-san had placed all his effort into this, and I've set my heart at seeing it on you-" he began pouting his lips at this point "you don't want us to get sad do you?" he finished, with fake tears falling from his eyes.
He hit her weak point. Tohru hated seeing anyone sad, and she really didn't like to disappoint anyone. Shigure knew this and played her weakness like a master. Whining was one of the author's many talents.
"Of course not Shigure-san!" Tohru replied immediately, completely taken in by the act Shigure was putting on. "this is so nice! Of course I'll wear it. And tell Ayame-san that I thank you both from the bottom of my heart"
"Aya-san is going to be so happy! And you've made this old dog's heart happy too Tohru-kun" Shigure shoved the dress into her hands and quickly babbled on "now you go and finish readying up! I want to see that dress on you immediately. And you don't want to keep Momichi waiting do you?" and with that, the jolly author skipped giddily to his room, singing something about highschool girls in flowy dresses.
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6:45pm
Sohma Yuki had just arrived at the house. "Tadaima!" he cried out to nobody in particular. But the only thing that greeted him was silence. That's odd. Where's Honda-san? She usually greets me back he took off his shoes and went inside. He looked around, the place was eerily quiet. hell! Where's that hentai anyway? And the baka neko? Had they left somewhere and didn't tell me? Yuki was beginning to get irritated. He had just run all the way from school just to get here in time for dinner and no one's here.
Just then, the door behind him opened, and Kyou yelled out "Tadaima". Yuki whirled around, "Oi baka neko! I thought you were with Tohru." Yuki trailed off as he saw a slight flush beginning at Kyou's neck, just around the collar. why's the neko blushing?!? Yuki thought.
Kyou glared at the mouse, "Kagura was there at the school gates when Tohru and I came out. I had no choice but to-"
"To run like the coward that you are." Yuki finished for him. This earned him another glare from the cat, but he just smirked at his long time rival. "and so you took Honda-san with you in your senseless running."
"NO! of course not! Tohru has enough to do as it is. I don't want her to drain her strength. And besides, she would only slow me down." Kyou retorted.
"WHAT?!!!! YOU LEFT HONDA-SAN ALL ALONE?!!!!!! WHAT IF AKAMATSU HAD GOTTEN HOLD OF HER?!" the mouse screamed, "What were you thinking?!" by the time he said this, Yuki was already frantically going about every room at the bottom level of the house. "I don't think she has come home yet!" Kyou was alarmed by this and decided to go up and check the upper floors. what could have happened to her?! Kyou thought with panic, his imagination already running through various unpleasant scenes, none of which were really possible, much less probable. But just as he reached the bottom of the stairs, his eyes caught something white at the top. And then.he skidded to a stop.
Yuki came bursting around the corner since he didn't find Tohru in the kitchen or in any of the rooms down below. He was all too ready to join the cat in the search upstairs, when he saw Kyou frozen at the tip of the stairs. "Oi ahou! What are you doing lounging about?! We have to find Honda- san." Yuki took Kyou by the shoulders and started shaking him, when the sound of footsteps drew his eyes upward. And Yuki stopped breathing.
Tohru was descending down the stairs, in her complete ensemble. And with the combined effect of the long, flimsy white dress, and her chestnut hair tumbling like waves over her shoulders, Tohru looked like a vision.
But the "vision" currently had a bewildered expression on her face at seeing her two friends, locked in a deathgrip with each other, frozen at the bottom of the stairs. Ara? "Eto. What are Yuki-kun and Kyou-kun doing?" she asked hesitantly, afraid to venture into the tension-filled zone in which the two seemed to be in.
The sound of her voice shook the two boys out of their stupor. Embarrassed at being caught in such an awkward situation, Kyou immediately looked away to the side, while Yuki merely smiled at Tohru in the hopes of covering up his embarrassment at being caught gaping at her. "Honda-san looks very pretty. Where are you off to?" Yuki asked.
Tohru went down the last 5 steps and joined the two. "Momiji-kun is going to take me to a restaurant tonight, remember? Its his white's day gift." Tohru replied, smiling happily.
"Ah! Sou ka! I forgot about that." Yuki smiled apologetically, "well, I hope that Honda-san will have a good time tonight." He babbled on.
"TOHRU-KUN!" The "shriek" drew everyone's attention back upstairs. And what they saw spurred them into different acts. Kyou went in front of Tohru with his arms stretched wide to protect her. While Yuki grabbed the startled girl and pulled her backwards.
Shigure was flying towards them at breakneck speed, with his arms stretched out before him, "TOHRU-KUN LOOKS SO KAWAII!!!!" The author made a lunge to hug Tohru, but saw Kyou too late. His eyes widened and he braced himself for the impact.
But Kyou, who had seen Shigure and had already anticipated his move, smoothly stepped aside with a grace borne out of years of practice in martial arts. And just as the dog came within striking distance, he brought down his fist down upon the head of the helpless author. *WHAM!!!!*
Shigure's body slammed down the floor with a loud thud. Tohru, hearing the awful sound, winced. Poor Shigure-san! she thought, but when she glanced at Yuki however, the mouse just looked calm, although there was this glint that came to his eyes. Tohru thought she heard him mutter something like "serves that hentai right", but it was said so quietly that she thought she must have imagined it.
"Itai!! Why did you do that Kyou-kun? I merely wanted to hug Tohru-kun because she looked so pretty! I was the one who gave her that dress you know! I should at least get to hug her." Shigure said, pouting, he then turned to his only ally in the room "Tohru-kun, Kyou-kun hurt me! Tell these two that I was the one who gave you that dress." He implored, already turning his "puppy-dog-eyes" to full power.
Tohru was just about to rush to the defense of the author lying in a heap at their feet, when Yuki butted in. "It doesn't mean that if you were the one who gave her the dress that you're automatically permitted to hug her!"
"Hug her? What do you mean Yuki? Who's going to hug To-ru?" a voice said from behind them. Tohru peeked around Yuki and saw Momiji standing there, looking puzzled.
"MOMIJI-KUN! You look so handsome!" Tohru exclaimed. And it was true. Momiji was decked out in full glory tonight. Wearing a three-piece charcoal gray suit, with his hair combed back neatly, he looked drop-dead gorgeous. And when he smiled in response to Tohru's statement, he looked even more handsome. Tohru couldn't believe this was the same childish person who had asked her out in a mock "date". Tohru couldn't do anything but simply state at him. This caused Yuki and Kyou to frown slightly. But soon, they caught themselves and felt foolish. What am I thinking?! I'm actually getting jealous over Momiji? Yuki thought. AARGH! I actually thought of the rabbit as "competition"! I must be going crazy!" Kyou mentally slapped himself.
"Arigatou To-ru!" Momiji said in his sing-song voice, breaking the momentary spell he had cast on Tohru. Hearing his usual high-pitched voice had reminded her that this was indeed the same old Momiji-cheerful, perky, and childlike.
"So shall we go Hime-sama?" Momiji offered his arm to Tohru, inclining his head towards the front door. "Hai!" Tohru linked her arm with Momiji's and the two went out.
"Bye bye Tohru-kun! Don't come home late! I'll be all alone in my bed! Join me later!" Shigure cried out from his position on the floor, and then... *WHACK! WHACK* Yuki and Kyou walked away in separate directions, each rubbing his knuckles from its previous contact with a certain author's head.
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The limousine Momiji had brought with him took them to the restaurant. It was a new one, built with an architectural design of the Japanese structures during the Tokugawa era. It was huge, and it looked breathtaking. Tohru was so nervous upon entering, afraid that she might commit some social taboo and embarrass herself. But Momiji's babbling presence at her side eased her anxieties somewhat, and soon, she was able to completely relax and enjoy her evening.
"Ne To-ru, this place is neat ne?!" Momiji said excitedly. "I hear that the sushi here is great! I'm going to have lots of sushi!" They had been led to a table that, Tohru later found out, was earlier reserved by Momiji. It was located beside the windows, offering a spectacular view of the city.
The waiter arrived and took their orders. Tohru let Momiji do the ordering since she didn't know what was good or not in the menu. But of course, Momiji being Momiji, ordered almost all of the food on the menu. When Tohru asked him how they would finish all of those, with there only being the two of them, the bunny merely smiled and told her not to worry, and that they would just have the rest wrapped in a doggy bag and let Shigure and the others eat it when they get home.
While waiting for their orders to arrive, Momiji proceeded in pointing out various lights in the city and naming the place that they were located. He pointed at building-tops, skyscrapers, and communications towers. The rabbit was just so cheerful while doing it that the act, which would have been dull, was made interesting and enjoyable.
Then their meals arrived, and the two ate in companionable conversation.
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Ryu had been driving around the city, hoping to ease his boredom and frustrations earlier that day. He had planned on surprising his Tohru-chan with another gift sent directly to her house. But that damn punk with the bi-colored hair had intervened and sent his plans down the drain. He couldn't find out where Tohru lived since he wasn't able to give her a lift home and thus discover her address.
He passed by the new restaurant and thought about eating there, just for the heck of it. Money was not a problem to him, and he could afford to eat in an expensive restaurant just on whim. Nah. Too tedious. I don't have the patience tonight to wait around for my meal to arrive. I'll just have the cook fix me something up later when I get home. and then, something caught his gaze and held it. IT WAS HIS TOHRU-CHAN! And in the arms of that stupid whiny brat! He remembered that incident in the school cafeteria when that kid had usurped him and asked his Tohru-chan for a date!
Wait a minute! If I wait out here, I may be able to follow them home when they leave! And then I'll be able to send my gift tomorrow and surprise her! Better late than never. he thought. He really didn't have any bad intentions. He just wanted to find out where his Tohru-chan lives.
The growling of his stomach however told him that he needed to get a bite to eat first since he was going to be staying out long. And so he went to a nearby stall and bought some ramen.
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Hatori had taken Hiro and Kisa out to buy some late night ice cream. A treat to them since both kids had been behaving well during their monthly check-up.
"Can we visit onee-chan after this?" Kisa asked timidly. Hatori was a great doctor and everything, but Kisa still gets intimidated by him. And his stoic face really doesn't help ease her fears.
Hiro, who was always Kisa's strongest supporter, looked at Hatori, silently demanding the doctor for an answer.
"We can't. She's with Momiji tonight. They're eating dinner at the new Japanese restaurant just down the street." The doctor replied. The bunny had been rattling to him all afternoon about his plans for his "date" with Tohru. Hatori had gotten enough of an earful to be able to know the general outline of tonight's activities.
"Oh." Kisa looked crestfallen. And of course, Hiro tried to cheer her up. "Hatori, why don't we stop over at the restaurant after getting the ice cream? Its just up ahead. and I'm sure Onee-san would be happy to see Kisa." His normally sharp voice was tuned down a bit, since this was Hatori he was speaking to. He might be able to get away with his sarcasm with the other Juunishi members, but Hatori might not be so lenient. Hiro decided to play safe and just ask nicely.
The dragon stayed silent for what seemed like eternity to the two kids beside him. Then, after a few more minutes, "We'll only stay for a few minutes. I have to get you two home before your bedtime."
Hiro smirked, and Kisa's normally shy face brightened up so much that the corners of Hatori's mouth turned up just a bit, showing the barest hint of a smile.
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Tohru had a delightful time. Momiji was great company, he had an endless store of stories, most of which were about the Juunishi members. And Tohru was glad for the additional information about her new "family". But, like they say, time flies when you're having fun. And sooner than they expected, both were full and dinner was over. Momiji called over a waiter and asked for the bill. Tohru got a bit of a surprise, however, when the bunny pulled out a gold credit card. She thought the bunny was too young to have that. And then she remembered that Momiji was only a year younger than her. Because of the rabbit's childish disposition, it was easy to forget his real age.
"Ikimashou To-ru!" Momiji said as he got up from his seat and gallantly pulled Tohru's chair to help her get up.
"Arigatou Momiji-kun! This is the best white's day gift ever!"
"Eh?! Hontou? Ah!!! Yokatta!!!" Momiji's loud exclamation brought a couple of heads swirling in their direction. To which the rabbit merely laughed off cutely, earning him the apology of whoever had been startled by his outburst.
"Then next year, I'm going to take you somewhere even nicer!" Momiji promised, as he carefully led Tohru back outside to the limousine waiting out front. And, like he had been all evening, Momiji gallantly opened the car door for Tohru and both sped away for Shigure's house.
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Meanwhile, Ryu had just had about enough of the waiting. He was just about to impulsively go in the restaurant and just ask his Tohru-chan directly about her address, when he was saved from having to embarrass himself when Tohru and her "date" came out. He quickly got inside his car and waited until the car sped away at some distance so that he could follow them discreetly.
He had just backed away from his parking space to start trailing the limo when something hit his bumper lightly and a cry filled the air. He let out an irritated sigh GREAT! Now what?! he thought angrily, then went out to the front of the car to check out the situation.
He found three people there. A kid was sitting on the ground clutching her ankle with a pained expression on her face. A boy was right beside her, asking if she was alright, and then alternating between murmuring assurances to her and yelling at "the drunken driver who hurt his Kisa". Then, there was an adult beside these two, who was now kneeling beside the fallen girl, holding her ankle and checking it for broken bones.
When Ryu approached them, the boy immediately attacked him. Not physically of course, but verbally. "You know, we could sue your butt off for drunken driving! You can't get away with this you know! Who do you think you are anyway? Running over people. Aren't the street lights enough for you? Huh? Or maybe you're blind?........" and he would have continued if Ryu, who was not the most patient of people, hadn't placed his palm over the boy's mouth to shut him up.
This only enraged the boy further. He tore Ryu's palm from his mouth and resumed his screaming with a vengeance. "Hey! That could be taken for physical assault! I'm going to report you and call our lawyers and sue you for all you're worth!!!!"
Fortunately, the adult stepped in. "Hiro, stop." And to Ryu's disbelief, the boy shut up in mid-sentence immediately. "Now can you give me your name? This situation is really not that serious, but still, we would like to have your name and contact number just incase something comes up." And though the statement was said calmly, it had the effect of a shout. Ryu didn't want to admit it, but this man was very intimidating. His poker- faced expression wouldn't tell Ryu if he was angry or merely indifferent.
"Uh. its Ryu Akamatsu." He finally blurted out. He thought he saw a startled look cross the man's features for a moment, but it came and went so quickly that he wasn't sure.
"and your phone number?"
Ryu fished for his wallet from his pockets and got out a calling card. He gave it to the stone-faced man and hoped that this would end the discussion. He was anxious to follow his Tohru-chan. Although at this rate, she was probably long gone already.
The man nodded. "Let's go. We have to get you home and treat Kisa's ankle. Its already starting to swell." As he said the last part, he looked at Ryu pointedly. Then he helped the girl stand up and all three went across the street where a black car was parked. They got in and drove off.
Glad that's over! Ryu thought. But as he looked up the road, he could no longer find the limousine that his Tohru-chan was on. Damn! Guess I'll just have to head for home.
He got in his car and headed home as well.
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Hatori was driving Kisa and Hiro home when his mind drifted back to tonight's events.
Hatori, Hiro and Kisa had just come out of the grocery store with a tub of chocolate ice cream. They were just crossing the street to go into the restaurant and join Momiji and Tohru when a car that they didn't notice came out of its parking space and bumped into Kisa. The girl, being small of build, fell to the ground despite the very slight force behind the car.
Of course, as was everything else in their life, the situation got out of hand. Hiro, overprotective of Kisa, started yelling out threats. Hatori had to step in otherwise it would have resulted to a full-blown disaster.
He really didn't think Kisa's injury was that serious, but he felt that he needed to teach the kid some caution, and so, to scare him a bit, he asked for the name and phone number, making the situation sound more serious than it really was.
But he was the one who got shocked over the encounter. The kid said his name was Ryu Akamatsu. That was the name of the guy Momiji and the others were talking about. The one who was interested in Tohru. And as they headed for home (they couldn't go see Tohru and Momiji anymore since he needed to treat Kisa's injury first), Hatori couldn't help but wonder how Yuki and the others would react to this tiny incident tonight. This should prove interesting.
And as he drove on, Hatori smiled.
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Next Chapter: Ryu asks Tohru out for a date! What'll the Juunishi do????? *grins* read the next chappy and find out!
AN: so, was this chapter ok? Tell me if I have any inconsistencies, and I'll edit the chapter immediately! Sorry I wasn't able to focus so much on Tohru and Momiji. I didn't know what to do with them. *looks sheepish* gomen! As for those suggestions of Ryu trying to sabotage the date and Kyou and Yuki working behind the scenes to stop him, well, I have other plans for that. *grins* You'll find out what somewhere along the next chapters of this fic. THANKS AGAIN MINNA! AND HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!!!!!!!
ATTENTION: I HAVE A CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR ALL OF YOU! PLEASE GO TO www.geocities.com/piggys_world AND GET YOUR GIFT THERE. I set up a "mock" website and posted all the Furuba wallpapers that I made there. I made those especially for all of you. Thanks so much for reading my fic! I truly appreciate it! You've made fic writing so much fun!!!! Just go to that website and click "enter piggy's world".
THANKS AGAIN AND MERRY CHRISTMAS! I HOPE YOU'LL LIKE THIS CHAPTER! ^_^
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Tohru went to her closet and gave her meager wardrobe a look. *sigh* what am I going to wear tonight? Momiji-kun is going to take me to some fancy restaurant and I don't have anything suitable to wear! Tohru thought dejectedly.
The cow had dropped her off earlier and had told her to be ready by 7:00pm, Momiji would pick her up by then. She had been so happy, until she realized that her closet didn't have anything that suited the occasion.
She was still engrossed by her thoughts when a knock came to her door. "Tohru-kun, may I come in?"
"Shigure-san! Hai!" Tohru ran to her door and opened it, revealing the grinning face of Shigure. "Tohru-kun! I have something for you!!!" the dog cried out in his goofy voice. He stepped inside, with his hands were behind his back, hiding something from Tohru's view.
"Really Shigure-san?" Tohru asked, the thought of getting a present from the author lifted her somber mood somewhat.
"Hai! And here it is!!!" Shigure pulled something long and white out from behind his back. The material was flowy, and looked very delicate. At first, Tohru didn't know what it was, but as the dog held the gift before her long enough, she realized that it was a dress! A short and simple, but very elegant white dress. Its length was just enough to reach her knees if she wore it, and the top had the looks of a corset. There were no frilly bows, or extravagant laces, just a simply cut tube top, with a flowy skirt attached to it. Simple.. White.. Elegant.. AND OH SO EXPENSIVE!
"Oh Shigure-san, that dress looks awesome, but I can't possibly accept it!" Tohru cried.
Shigure looked taken aback, "why not?" he asked.
"because it looks so expensive! You've done so much for me already!"
"Oh, is that all?-" the dog laughed happily, "think nothing of it Tohru- kun! And you have to accept it! I had it made especially for you." Shigure said, already beginning his puppy-dog look "Aya-san had placed all his effort into this, and I've set my heart at seeing it on you-" he began pouting his lips at this point "you don't want us to get sad do you?" he finished, with fake tears falling from his eyes.
He hit her weak point. Tohru hated seeing anyone sad, and she really didn't like to disappoint anyone. Shigure knew this and played her weakness like a master. Whining was one of the author's many talents.
"Of course not Shigure-san!" Tohru replied immediately, completely taken in by the act Shigure was putting on. "this is so nice! Of course I'll wear it. And tell Ayame-san that I thank you both from the bottom of my heart"
"Aya-san is going to be so happy! And you've made this old dog's heart happy too Tohru-kun" Shigure shoved the dress into her hands and quickly babbled on "now you go and finish readying up! I want to see that dress on you immediately. And you don't want to keep Momichi waiting do you?" and with that, the jolly author skipped giddily to his room, singing something about highschool girls in flowy dresses.
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6:45pm
Sohma Yuki had just arrived at the house. "Tadaima!" he cried out to nobody in particular. But the only thing that greeted him was silence. That's odd. Where's Honda-san? She usually greets me back he took off his shoes and went inside. He looked around, the place was eerily quiet. hell! Where's that hentai anyway? And the baka neko? Had they left somewhere and didn't tell me? Yuki was beginning to get irritated. He had just run all the way from school just to get here in time for dinner and no one's here.
Just then, the door behind him opened, and Kyou yelled out "Tadaima". Yuki whirled around, "Oi baka neko! I thought you were with Tohru." Yuki trailed off as he saw a slight flush beginning at Kyou's neck, just around the collar. why's the neko blushing?!? Yuki thought.
Kyou glared at the mouse, "Kagura was there at the school gates when Tohru and I came out. I had no choice but to-"
"To run like the coward that you are." Yuki finished for him. This earned him another glare from the cat, but he just smirked at his long time rival. "and so you took Honda-san with you in your senseless running."
"NO! of course not! Tohru has enough to do as it is. I don't want her to drain her strength. And besides, she would only slow me down." Kyou retorted.
"WHAT?!!!! YOU LEFT HONDA-SAN ALL ALONE?!!!!!! WHAT IF AKAMATSU HAD GOTTEN HOLD OF HER?!" the mouse screamed, "What were you thinking?!" by the time he said this, Yuki was already frantically going about every room at the bottom level of the house. "I don't think she has come home yet!" Kyou was alarmed by this and decided to go up and check the upper floors. what could have happened to her?! Kyou thought with panic, his imagination already running through various unpleasant scenes, none of which were really possible, much less probable. But just as he reached the bottom of the stairs, his eyes caught something white at the top. And then.he skidded to a stop.
Yuki came bursting around the corner since he didn't find Tohru in the kitchen or in any of the rooms down below. He was all too ready to join the cat in the search upstairs, when he saw Kyou frozen at the tip of the stairs. "Oi ahou! What are you doing lounging about?! We have to find Honda- san." Yuki took Kyou by the shoulders and started shaking him, when the sound of footsteps drew his eyes upward. And Yuki stopped breathing.
Tohru was descending down the stairs, in her complete ensemble. And with the combined effect of the long, flimsy white dress, and her chestnut hair tumbling like waves over her shoulders, Tohru looked like a vision.
But the "vision" currently had a bewildered expression on her face at seeing her two friends, locked in a deathgrip with each other, frozen at the bottom of the stairs. Ara? "Eto. What are Yuki-kun and Kyou-kun doing?" she asked hesitantly, afraid to venture into the tension-filled zone in which the two seemed to be in.
The sound of her voice shook the two boys out of their stupor. Embarrassed at being caught in such an awkward situation, Kyou immediately looked away to the side, while Yuki merely smiled at Tohru in the hopes of covering up his embarrassment at being caught gaping at her. "Honda-san looks very pretty. Where are you off to?" Yuki asked.
Tohru went down the last 5 steps and joined the two. "Momiji-kun is going to take me to a restaurant tonight, remember? Its his white's day gift." Tohru replied, smiling happily.
"Ah! Sou ka! I forgot about that." Yuki smiled apologetically, "well, I hope that Honda-san will have a good time tonight." He babbled on.
"TOHRU-KUN!" The "shriek" drew everyone's attention back upstairs. And what they saw spurred them into different acts. Kyou went in front of Tohru with his arms stretched wide to protect her. While Yuki grabbed the startled girl and pulled her backwards.
Shigure was flying towards them at breakneck speed, with his arms stretched out before him, "TOHRU-KUN LOOKS SO KAWAII!!!!" The author made a lunge to hug Tohru, but saw Kyou too late. His eyes widened and he braced himself for the impact.
But Kyou, who had seen Shigure and had already anticipated his move, smoothly stepped aside with a grace borne out of years of practice in martial arts. And just as the dog came within striking distance, he brought down his fist down upon the head of the helpless author. *WHAM!!!!*
Shigure's body slammed down the floor with a loud thud. Tohru, hearing the awful sound, winced. Poor Shigure-san! she thought, but when she glanced at Yuki however, the mouse just looked calm, although there was this glint that came to his eyes. Tohru thought she heard him mutter something like "serves that hentai right", but it was said so quietly that she thought she must have imagined it.
"Itai!! Why did you do that Kyou-kun? I merely wanted to hug Tohru-kun because she looked so pretty! I was the one who gave her that dress you know! I should at least get to hug her." Shigure said, pouting, he then turned to his only ally in the room "Tohru-kun, Kyou-kun hurt me! Tell these two that I was the one who gave you that dress." He implored, already turning his "puppy-dog-eyes" to full power.
Tohru was just about to rush to the defense of the author lying in a heap at their feet, when Yuki butted in. "It doesn't mean that if you were the one who gave her the dress that you're automatically permitted to hug her!"
"Hug her? What do you mean Yuki? Who's going to hug To-ru?" a voice said from behind them. Tohru peeked around Yuki and saw Momiji standing there, looking puzzled.
"MOMIJI-KUN! You look so handsome!" Tohru exclaimed. And it was true. Momiji was decked out in full glory tonight. Wearing a three-piece charcoal gray suit, with his hair combed back neatly, he looked drop-dead gorgeous. And when he smiled in response to Tohru's statement, he looked even more handsome. Tohru couldn't believe this was the same childish person who had asked her out in a mock "date". Tohru couldn't do anything but simply state at him. This caused Yuki and Kyou to frown slightly. But soon, they caught themselves and felt foolish. What am I thinking?! I'm actually getting jealous over Momiji? Yuki thought. AARGH! I actually thought of the rabbit as "competition"! I must be going crazy!" Kyou mentally slapped himself.
"Arigatou To-ru!" Momiji said in his sing-song voice, breaking the momentary spell he had cast on Tohru. Hearing his usual high-pitched voice had reminded her that this was indeed the same old Momiji-cheerful, perky, and childlike.
"So shall we go Hime-sama?" Momiji offered his arm to Tohru, inclining his head towards the front door. "Hai!" Tohru linked her arm with Momiji's and the two went out.
"Bye bye Tohru-kun! Don't come home late! I'll be all alone in my bed! Join me later!" Shigure cried out from his position on the floor, and then... *WHACK! WHACK* Yuki and Kyou walked away in separate directions, each rubbing his knuckles from its previous contact with a certain author's head.
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The limousine Momiji had brought with him took them to the restaurant. It was a new one, built with an architectural design of the Japanese structures during the Tokugawa era. It was huge, and it looked breathtaking. Tohru was so nervous upon entering, afraid that she might commit some social taboo and embarrass herself. But Momiji's babbling presence at her side eased her anxieties somewhat, and soon, she was able to completely relax and enjoy her evening.
"Ne To-ru, this place is neat ne?!" Momiji said excitedly. "I hear that the sushi here is great! I'm going to have lots of sushi!" They had been led to a table that, Tohru later found out, was earlier reserved by Momiji. It was located beside the windows, offering a spectacular view of the city.
The waiter arrived and took their orders. Tohru let Momiji do the ordering since she didn't know what was good or not in the menu. But of course, Momiji being Momiji, ordered almost all of the food on the menu. When Tohru asked him how they would finish all of those, with there only being the two of them, the bunny merely smiled and told her not to worry, and that they would just have the rest wrapped in a doggy bag and let Shigure and the others eat it when they get home.
While waiting for their orders to arrive, Momiji proceeded in pointing out various lights in the city and naming the place that they were located. He pointed at building-tops, skyscrapers, and communications towers. The rabbit was just so cheerful while doing it that the act, which would have been dull, was made interesting and enjoyable.
Then their meals arrived, and the two ate in companionable conversation.
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Ryu had been driving around the city, hoping to ease his boredom and frustrations earlier that day. He had planned on surprising his Tohru-chan with another gift sent directly to her house. But that damn punk with the bi-colored hair had intervened and sent his plans down the drain. He couldn't find out where Tohru lived since he wasn't able to give her a lift home and thus discover her address.
He passed by the new restaurant and thought about eating there, just for the heck of it. Money was not a problem to him, and he could afford to eat in an expensive restaurant just on whim. Nah. Too tedious. I don't have the patience tonight to wait around for my meal to arrive. I'll just have the cook fix me something up later when I get home. and then, something caught his gaze and held it. IT WAS HIS TOHRU-CHAN! And in the arms of that stupid whiny brat! He remembered that incident in the school cafeteria when that kid had usurped him and asked his Tohru-chan for a date!
Wait a minute! If I wait out here, I may be able to follow them home when they leave! And then I'll be able to send my gift tomorrow and surprise her! Better late than never. he thought. He really didn't have any bad intentions. He just wanted to find out where his Tohru-chan lives.
The growling of his stomach however told him that he needed to get a bite to eat first since he was going to be staying out long. And so he went to a nearby stall and bought some ramen.
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Hatori had taken Hiro and Kisa out to buy some late night ice cream. A treat to them since both kids had been behaving well during their monthly check-up.
"Can we visit onee-chan after this?" Kisa asked timidly. Hatori was a great doctor and everything, but Kisa still gets intimidated by him. And his stoic face really doesn't help ease her fears.
Hiro, who was always Kisa's strongest supporter, looked at Hatori, silently demanding the doctor for an answer.
"We can't. She's with Momiji tonight. They're eating dinner at the new Japanese restaurant just down the street." The doctor replied. The bunny had been rattling to him all afternoon about his plans for his "date" with Tohru. Hatori had gotten enough of an earful to be able to know the general outline of tonight's activities.
"Oh." Kisa looked crestfallen. And of course, Hiro tried to cheer her up. "Hatori, why don't we stop over at the restaurant after getting the ice cream? Its just up ahead. and I'm sure Onee-san would be happy to see Kisa." His normally sharp voice was tuned down a bit, since this was Hatori he was speaking to. He might be able to get away with his sarcasm with the other Juunishi members, but Hatori might not be so lenient. Hiro decided to play safe and just ask nicely.
The dragon stayed silent for what seemed like eternity to the two kids beside him. Then, after a few more minutes, "We'll only stay for a few minutes. I have to get you two home before your bedtime."
Hiro smirked, and Kisa's normally shy face brightened up so much that the corners of Hatori's mouth turned up just a bit, showing the barest hint of a smile.
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Tohru had a delightful time. Momiji was great company, he had an endless store of stories, most of which were about the Juunishi members. And Tohru was glad for the additional information about her new "family". But, like they say, time flies when you're having fun. And sooner than they expected, both were full and dinner was over. Momiji called over a waiter and asked for the bill. Tohru got a bit of a surprise, however, when the bunny pulled out a gold credit card. She thought the bunny was too young to have that. And then she remembered that Momiji was only a year younger than her. Because of the rabbit's childish disposition, it was easy to forget his real age.
"Ikimashou To-ru!" Momiji said as he got up from his seat and gallantly pulled Tohru's chair to help her get up.
"Arigatou Momiji-kun! This is the best white's day gift ever!"
"Eh?! Hontou? Ah!!! Yokatta!!!" Momiji's loud exclamation brought a couple of heads swirling in their direction. To which the rabbit merely laughed off cutely, earning him the apology of whoever had been startled by his outburst.
"Then next year, I'm going to take you somewhere even nicer!" Momiji promised, as he carefully led Tohru back outside to the limousine waiting out front. And, like he had been all evening, Momiji gallantly opened the car door for Tohru and both sped away for Shigure's house.
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Meanwhile, Ryu had just had about enough of the waiting. He was just about to impulsively go in the restaurant and just ask his Tohru-chan directly about her address, when he was saved from having to embarrass himself when Tohru and her "date" came out. He quickly got inside his car and waited until the car sped away at some distance so that he could follow them discreetly.
He had just backed away from his parking space to start trailing the limo when something hit his bumper lightly and a cry filled the air. He let out an irritated sigh GREAT! Now what?! he thought angrily, then went out to the front of the car to check out the situation.
He found three people there. A kid was sitting on the ground clutching her ankle with a pained expression on her face. A boy was right beside her, asking if she was alright, and then alternating between murmuring assurances to her and yelling at "the drunken driver who hurt his Kisa". Then, there was an adult beside these two, who was now kneeling beside the fallen girl, holding her ankle and checking it for broken bones.
When Ryu approached them, the boy immediately attacked him. Not physically of course, but verbally. "You know, we could sue your butt off for drunken driving! You can't get away with this you know! Who do you think you are anyway? Running over people. Aren't the street lights enough for you? Huh? Or maybe you're blind?........" and he would have continued if Ryu, who was not the most patient of people, hadn't placed his palm over the boy's mouth to shut him up.
This only enraged the boy further. He tore Ryu's palm from his mouth and resumed his screaming with a vengeance. "Hey! That could be taken for physical assault! I'm going to report you and call our lawyers and sue you for all you're worth!!!!"
Fortunately, the adult stepped in. "Hiro, stop." And to Ryu's disbelief, the boy shut up in mid-sentence immediately. "Now can you give me your name? This situation is really not that serious, but still, we would like to have your name and contact number just incase something comes up." And though the statement was said calmly, it had the effect of a shout. Ryu didn't want to admit it, but this man was very intimidating. His poker- faced expression wouldn't tell Ryu if he was angry or merely indifferent.
"Uh. its Ryu Akamatsu." He finally blurted out. He thought he saw a startled look cross the man's features for a moment, but it came and went so quickly that he wasn't sure.
"and your phone number?"
Ryu fished for his wallet from his pockets and got out a calling card. He gave it to the stone-faced man and hoped that this would end the discussion. He was anxious to follow his Tohru-chan. Although at this rate, she was probably long gone already.
The man nodded. "Let's go. We have to get you home and treat Kisa's ankle. Its already starting to swell." As he said the last part, he looked at Ryu pointedly. Then he helped the girl stand up and all three went across the street where a black car was parked. They got in and drove off.
Glad that's over! Ryu thought. But as he looked up the road, he could no longer find the limousine that his Tohru-chan was on. Damn! Guess I'll just have to head for home.
He got in his car and headed home as well.
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Hatori was driving Kisa and Hiro home when his mind drifted back to tonight's events.
Hatori, Hiro and Kisa had just come out of the grocery store with a tub of chocolate ice cream. They were just crossing the street to go into the restaurant and join Momiji and Tohru when a car that they didn't notice came out of its parking space and bumped into Kisa. The girl, being small of build, fell to the ground despite the very slight force behind the car.
Of course, as was everything else in their life, the situation got out of hand. Hiro, overprotective of Kisa, started yelling out threats. Hatori had to step in otherwise it would have resulted to a full-blown disaster.
He really didn't think Kisa's injury was that serious, but he felt that he needed to teach the kid some caution, and so, to scare him a bit, he asked for the name and phone number, making the situation sound more serious than it really was.
But he was the one who got shocked over the encounter. The kid said his name was Ryu Akamatsu. That was the name of the guy Momiji and the others were talking about. The one who was interested in Tohru. And as they headed for home (they couldn't go see Tohru and Momiji anymore since he needed to treat Kisa's injury first), Hatori couldn't help but wonder how Yuki and the others would react to this tiny incident tonight. This should prove interesting.
And as he drove on, Hatori smiled.
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Next Chapter: Ryu asks Tohru out for a date! What'll the Juunishi do????? *grins* read the next chappy and find out!
AN: so, was this chapter ok? Tell me if I have any inconsistencies, and I'll edit the chapter immediately! Sorry I wasn't able to focus so much on Tohru and Momiji. I didn't know what to do with them. *looks sheepish* gomen! As for those suggestions of Ryu trying to sabotage the date and Kyou and Yuki working behind the scenes to stop him, well, I have other plans for that. *grins* You'll find out what somewhere along the next chapters of this fic. THANKS AGAIN MINNA! AND HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!!!!!!!