Disclaimer: I don't own fruits basket or its characters. I do own Rika and anything change etc.
Okay let's just say starting this chapter it's four days till Rika's birthday. (meaning at the "3 days later" part the birthday is the next day.)
Guest: Who said it was accidental? ;)
Jem Juliette Jewels Jade: Lemme start with: I will go back and fix it in the last chapter but unfortunately I can't go back any further since I deleted the doc on fanfiction of previous chapters. It's spelt correctly in this chapter. Now I will say: Well sorry I made a mistake. Pretty sure you're not perfect so don't make this "-_-" face cause it gives off the implication that you think I'm dumb for making a simple mistake. A simple "You misspelt Ayame's name" would have sufficed. I put an "I" instead of an "E" big deal(I have another story with a character "Ayami" I've gotten used to writing Ayami instead of Ayame.) we all know what his name is and how it's said. (Sorry if I seem bitchy but the spelling of his name isn't that big a deal and I'm gunna fix it.)
Yuki, Tohru and Rika were waiting under a bus stop for the rain to stop. They had just gone to the store. Yuki put his hand up.
"I think it's stopping, finally." He said.
"Oh that's good, I was starting to think we were stuck here."
"Don't worry we shouldn't have that much longer to wait."
"Okay."
"I guess golden week's almost over isn't it?"
"I guess so."
"And once we're back from vacation it's right into mid-terms."
"Ahh but don't forget before that we're having student council election." Yuki stiffened.
"Yes we are."
"I hear President Takai's been telling everyone that he'd like you to be the one that replaces him. But you haven't decided to run yet, have you?"
"Well I don't know. President Takai and the others, I think they're expecting more form me than I can give them. I mean, if they knew the real me then they'd know." Yuki said quietly with his head down.
"Know what?" Tohru asked.
"Oh it's not important." He said looking at her. "Forget I said it."
"Okay." She said. Suddenly Hatsuharu ran up the sidewalk something in his arms. He stopped seeing the three.
"Yuki?"
"Hatsuharu." Tohru said.
"Haru?" Yuki asked. Tohru ran up to Haru and took her handkerchief and dried his face.
"What are you doing out here in the rain like this?"
"I could as you the same thing." Yuki and Rika walked into the rain over to him. "I mean look at you, you're soaking wet. What did you get lost again?"
"No I had to find something."
"Find what?"
"Well I… was looking for her." Haru pulled the cover her was holding open and showed the three a little tiger cub.
"Oh what a cute little cat." Tohru said.
"Actually Miss Honda she's a tiger."
"Huh A tiger?" The little cub's ears perked up and she opened her eyes.
"Yes this is Kisa Sohma."
"A Sohma so she's a member of the Zodiac I don't believe it this is so exciting." Tohru was basically jumping up and down. She leaned down to speak to Kisa. "Um hello there, it's really nice to meet you." She reached out her hand. "My name is Tohru HondAAHH!" Kisa bit down on Tohru's fingers.
"Miss. Honda!"
Back at the house Haru sat in front of Tohru, with a towel on his head, and wrapped her hand.
"Oh my you've been bitten." Shigure said.
"Uh-huh."
"Kisa! You apologize to her." Yuki said looking at the cub facing the corner. "Kisa!"
"Um, it's alright." Tohru said. "I'm okay I was just startled, really."
"Besides Yuki, Kisa isn't able to answer." Shigure said.
"She doesn't speak." Haru said. "She hasn't said a word since right after she started middle school. Not a word." He moved the towel down so it was around his neck. "And from what Hatori says, the problem's all in her mind. He said for some reason, she's locked away all of her words. And after she stopped talking, she stopped going to school. And then today, she ran away from home. That's why I went out looking for her. By the time I found her, she'd already transformed into a tiger."
"Maybe she ran into a boy." Tohru said.
"No I think she was just under too much stress." Haru said.
"But, I don't understand, what happened?" Yuki asked. "Why would she act this way, all of a sudden?"
"She was picked on." Haru said. Suddenly Kisa was biting Haru's arm. Tohru jumped. "That hurts. What is it? Are you angry now? You think I should just mind my own business, is that it? You made this my business. Do you have any idea how worried I was about you? Or your mother? You know she's still out there looking for you right now." Kisa let go and ran away.
"Oh no she's- Ahh! Hatsuharu you're bleeding!" Tohru said seeing the bite marks on Haru's arm. "Kisa's missing and we need bandages."
"Calm down Tohru, it'll be okay." Shigure said.
"But I have to stop Kisa's bleeding- I mean no I have to find Hatsuharu- no!"
"Haha, don't panic." Shigure said as she ran off.
"You know you could be worried a little bit."
"Haru, you didn't go black while I wasn't looking did you?" Haru looked at the bite mark on his arm.
"Mm-mm, it just hurts is all and I'm annoyed. There's just no getting through to that Kisa." Yuki had a sort of blank look on his face.
Rika walked outside to find Tohru calling for Kisa.
"Kisa! Kisa!" Rika looked around and saw the cub by the fence.
"Tohru." Rika pointed and the two went over.
"Kisa!" The cub jumped. "There you are, thank goodness you, really had us worried." Tohru went to reach out but Rika pushed her hand out of the way and ended up being the one that got bit. Tohru freaked out while Rika kept a straight face. "Rika! Kisa please let go!" Rika looked into the cubs eyes and the cub looked back. Tohru kept freaking out until a woman suddenly crouched beside the two.
"Kisa. Kisa, mother's here now." Tohru and Rika looked over at her. "Shigure was good enough to call me to tell me where I might find you. Tell me, Kisa, why are you doing this? Why do you want to cause nothing but trouble for everyone around you? What were you thinking? Do you enjoy hurting me like this?" Rika glared at Kisa's mother. A few meters behind them Yuki stood by a tree. "Why, why didn't you tell me the other kids were picking on you? Why did you run away from home? Why won't you say anything? I'm tired, Kisa. I've, I've had it."
"You're not helping." Rika growled. The woman looked at her. "She probably didn't know how to tell you and was worried about what you'd think." Rika looked back at Kisa, who was still looking at her. "Maybe she wanted to hide it. Putting on a mask to look like nothing was wrong in front of everyone. But the more she tried to hide it, the longer she kept that mask on, the more ashamed she felt. The more she began to hate herself and the more she began to think that you would hate her too if you knew the truth; if you knew how scared she was to face the other kids. Maybe that's the reason she couldn't say anything to you. Maybe that's why she ran away. Because what she was afraid of the most, the thought scared her… was that her mother would reject her. That she would be hated by someone she loved." Suddenly Kisa transformed back and held Rika's hand, crying. The two looked at each other and tears welled up in Rika's eyes but she smiled. Tohru took off her sweater and put it around Kisa. Kisa suddenly grabbed onto Rika's shirt. Rika stroked her hair gently.
-Night-
"So what's the deal?" Kyo asked walking into the room Shigure was in. "Kisa's here?"
"Something's came up." Shigure said reading the paper. "She'll be staying with us for a little while."
"What sorta things?"
"If you must know," Kyo looked over at Haru who was reading a book. "it looked like Kisa's mother was just about to reach her breaking point so we all agreed it'd be a good idea to give them some time apart."
"Yeah right, forget I asked. Anyway, so where's she hiding?" Shigure lowered his paper.
"She's clinging to Rika."
-Tohru and Rika's room-
Yuki, Rika and Tohru saw on the floor of the room. Rika has a pillow on her lap and Kisa was sleeping in front of her, her head on the pillow.
-3 Days later-
Kisa sat on the porch, her knees to her chest. Her ears perked up when she heard the toilet flush and ran over to where Rika was leaving he bathroom.
"Kisa you know Tohru will keep you company too." Kisa grabbed the bottom of Rika's shirt and looked up at her. Rika smiled. "Why do you have to be so adorable?" She put a hand on Kisa's head briefly. "Tohru and I have to clean the house and do chores, you can help if you want to." Kisa nodded. Rika walked past the open door of the room where Shigure sat at the table reading and Kyo was on the other side. Kyo looked up and watched the two walked back, Rika holding a vacuum, Kisa right behind her holding a duster. Later Tohru and Rika were taking the laundry off the clothes line. Tohru picked up her basket and Rika went to get hers when Kisa picked it up. Rika smiled. "I'll carry it." Kisa shook her head. Rika chuckled. "Well, let me take a few, that looks kinda heavy." Kisa looked hesitant but nodded. Rika took about half from the basket. As the three walked by Kyo and Shigure watched.
"Just like a little ducking isn't she?" Shigure said. "Cute."
"I don't know, seems pretty annoying if you ask me." Kyo said. Rika stopped walking and Kisa bumped into her back. Rika turned around and hugged her.
"That's it, I love you." Tohru giggled.
"I don't think they mind." Shigure said.
"Yeah, why am I not surprised?" Kyo said. "Uh hey, dinner?"
"Oh right dinner!" Tohru said.
"So Kisa, what do you want to eat tonight?" Rika asked looking at her. Kisa opened her mouth but no words came out.
"Oh come on." Kyo said. "it's not that hard, can't you even say what you wanna eat." Rika glared at him and was about to speak when Shigure landed on his back.
"Don't listen to dumb old Kyo, it's aright if you'd rather not decide. After all que sera sera as they say."
"Get off me!" Kyo shouted.
"I'm sorry, am I bothering you?" Kisa looked over.
"What do you think?!"
"Oh thinking now are we?" Kisa looked back down.
"Ah I know!" Tohru said running inside and grabbing a paper before drawing. "Tada!" She presented the paper that was thee lines with smaller lines connecting them like ladders the the bottom were three little flower shapes. "We'll let fate decide." Kisa blinked looking at the paper.
"Ah I know this game, the old fortune ladders." Shigure said.
"Uh-huh now Kisa you just point to whatever one you like the best." She pointed to the one on her right. "Okay then, that's where we start. Now we climb the ladder." Tohru traced her finger up the lader when she got to a line she went across it. "La la la la la la la la la la la."
"Do ya have to sing while ya do it?" Kyo asked
"Here we are and the winner is for dinner tonight: Stewed leeks." Rika burst out laughing.
"What is this, you trying ta kill me or somethin?" Kyo said.
"Huh?" Tohru looked back at him. "No not at all uh sorry I didn't mean for this to happen it's just the way it worked out. I-I-I don't know what I-…"
"Forget it, just go make it the best you can."
"Oh okay. I'll try."
"Having a lover's spat over such a silly little thing?" Shigure said.
"What?! We are not!" Kyo shouted. Kisa smiled. Shigure chuckled.
"I'm sorry; did I say that out loud?" Rika giggled.
"Kisa, do you want to help us cook?" Rika asked. The little girl nodded. Rika and Tohru stood up and began to walk into the kitchen when Shigure stopped them.
"Rika, I need to talk to Tohru and Kisa, they'll be in a in a moment."
"Oh alright." Kisa frowned and grabbed Rika's sleeve.
"It'll only take a moment, Kisa." Shigure said with a smile. Kisa reluctantly let go of Rika's sleeve and Rika went into the kitchen. Just then Yuki walked by the door and Shigure called him over. "Yuki, come here."
"What is it?" He asked walking over.
"We have to do something for Rika's birthday tomorrow." Shigure whispered.
"Her birthday?" Kyo and Yuki said in unison. Tohru gasped.
"Oh no I forgot! I'm a horrible sister." She said putting her hands on her head.
"Calm down Tohru." Shigure said with a chuckled.
"I was thinking you all stay home from school and we'll throw her a party." Shigure said.
"We can't miss school." Tohru said shaking her head. Shigure frowned.
"We can't make her a cake, she's in the kitchen." Kyo said.
"We could if she wasn't in the kitchen." Shigure said.
"I just said she's in the kitchen!"
"We could get her out of the house." Yuki suggested. Kisa tugged on Tohru's sleeve. Tohru looked down at her. Kisa took the paper and a pencil and wrote on the back.
"She wants to invite Hatsuharu, Momiji, Hatori and Ayame."
"Not Ayame." Yuki said darkly. Kisa looked at him with big eyes. His eyebrows went up and he sighed with his head down. "Fine." Kisa smiled.
"I'll call Hatori and Aya." Shigure said happily. Tohru, you and Kisa bake the cake, Everyone write down what you want to get Rika on this paper." He put a long piece of paper on the porch. "Kyo you'll be responsible for getting everything."
"Me?! Why can't Yuki do it?!"
"Because Yuki has the most important job!" Shigure said holding up a hand. Yuki looked up.
"Which is?" Kyo asked.
"He has to get Rika out of the house." Yuki looked at Shigure with wide eyes.
"How do I do that?"
"Simple!" Shigure leaned over and whispered in Yuki's ear. Yuki's cheeks went pink.
"B-But I-"
"We need to get her out of the house." Shigure said.
"But- But-"
"It's our chance to do something special for her." Yuki gulped.
"Fine."
"Great! Don't overdo it though."
"What does he have to do?" Kyo asked. Shigure chuckled.
Tohru and Kisa walked into the kitchen.
"Took you two long enough, I thought I was gunna have to make this all by myself." Rika said with a chuckle.
"Yuki wanted to talk with you." Tohru said.
"Oh? Alright, I'll be right back." Rika said before leaving the kitchen and walking up to Yuki who looked a little nervous. "Hey Yuki. Tohru said you wanted to talk to me?" He looked at her.
"Uh yes I-" He swallowed. "I was wondering- I mean I wanted to asked if- Would want to- Will you- um I-I uh." Rika giggled.
"Take your time." He cleared his throat and let out a breath. He quickly said what he was trying to say but said it too fast. "Slow down and say it again?"
"Will you go on a date with me?" He repeated before looking away. Rika's eye brows went up and her cheeks went pink.
"A date?" Yuki continued to look the other way. "I'd love to." Rika said with a smile. Yuki looked back.
"Y-You would?"
"Of course. It'll be fun." Yuki smiled and nodded. "Lemme just get changed." She said glancing down at the t-shirt and pants she was in. Yuki nodded and she ran upstairs.
Rika came back down stairs in a black skirt with a matching blouse and boots. She had put her hair up and put on makeup.
"So what are we doing?" She asked Yuki.
"I was thinking we could go to the movies." Rika smiled.
"Alright." The two walked to the front door and Shigure popped up all of a sudden.
"Where are you two off to?" Yuki glared at Shigure.
"Yuki asked me on a date." Rika said taking Yuki's hand.
"Ooo a date. Well, have her home in time for dinner, Yuki." Shigure said with a smile. Yuki didn't answer but gripped Rika's hand and pulled Rika out the door. Shigure shut the door and his smile went away, replaced with a frown. He sighed and went to the phone and called Hatori.
"What?"
"Oh don't sound so annoyed I haven't even said anything." Shigure whined.
"What do you want? I'm busy."
"Too busy for Rika's birthday party?"
"Her birthday is tomorrow."
"I know but tomorrow she has school and Tohru and Kisa are already making a cake and Kyo's gone out to buy presents and Yuki's already taken Rika on a date to get her out of the house."
"Yuki's taken Rika on a date?"
"To get her out of the house, yes. You'll come won't you? Oh and bring Haru and Momiji will you."
"Shigure-"
"See you soon!"
"Shig-!" Shigure hung up with a smile before calling Ayame.
Rika and Yuki walked down the sidewalk after the movie.
"That was nice." Rika said with a smile.
"Yes it was." Yuki said with a smile.
"This was nice."
"It's getting late, we should get back."
"Right." The two started walking back to Shigure's house.
The two got to the house Rika tilted her head when she saw Hatori's car.
"Hatori's here?"
"I guess so." Yuki said. The went inside and Yuki looked around for any sign of anyone.
"I think they're in the dining room." Rika said. Suddenly the door opened and Momiji came out and hugged Rika.
"Rika!"
"Momiji? What are you doing here?"
"Come in here!" He said taking her hand and pulling her into the dining room. Tohru, Shigure and Kisa stood in front of the table. Hatori, Ayame and Hatsuharu were sitting.
"Hey Tori, hey Haru, Hey Aya." Hatori looked up at her and nodded in greeting.
"Hey Rika." Haru said with a smile.
"Hello Princess." Ayame said.
"What's going on?" She asked looking at the three in front of the table. "Where's Kyo?" Shigure sighed.
"He was supposed to be here before you two got back." He said. "Oh well." The three moved away to reveal a cake on the table along with four presents. Rika blinked.
"What's this?"
"Happy birthday." Everyone but Kisa and Hatori said in unison.
"My birthday's tomorrow."
"Yes but tomorrow you have school." Shigure said. Suddenly Kyo came in with two bags. He dropped them with an exhausted sigh. "There you are! You're late!"
"Late?! I had to go all over town! Then you made me wrap all of them!" Kyo shouted. He huffed then looked at Rika. "Happy birthday." He muttered handing her a small box. He went and sat down. Rika looked down at the box. It was wrapped with light orange paper with little white cats. She bit her bottom lip. She blinked and a tear fell onto the box. She looked up and smiled at everyone.
"Thank you." Kisa came up and hugged her, she got on her knees and hugged her back.
"Well come on, open your presents so we can all have some cake." Shigure said. "Everyone wrote down what they wanted to get you and Kyo was sent to get them."
"Yer welcome." Kyo muttered. Momiji grabbed a box wrapped in yellow paper with white rabbit and handed it to her.
"Open mine first!" He said with a big grin. She smiled.
"Alright alright." Rika sat down at the table, everyone grabbed their box and sat down with her.
"Open it open it!" Momiji said jumping in his seat. Rika laughed.
"Calm down I am." She said carefully opening the wrapping paper and opening the box.
"I made it myself!" Momiji grinned and Rika pulled out a yellow and white scarf.
"This is great, Momiji." She said putting it on. Momiji clapped.
"Yay she likes it!"
"Kyo's next." Rika said picking up the box. He glanced over the looked away. She opened the box and pulled out a black choker necklace. "Thanks Kitty." His face went red and he shot her a slight glare for a moment before looking away. She put on the choker and took the small tiger print wrapped box from Kisa. She opened it and smiled. "Kisa did you make this yourself?" She asked putting on the black and orange beaded bracelet. The little girl nodded with a small smile. "I love it." She said stroking the little girl's hair. Kisa smiled more.
"Open mine, Princess." Ayame said holding out a big, long box. Rika blinked taking the box wrapped in white paper. She opened it and took out some wrapping paper and held up a white dress with ruffles and lace sleeves.
"A-Ayame this is beautiful." Rika said in awe.
"I designed it myself especially for you." Rika smiled. "Why don't you go try it on."
"Right now?"
"Why not? Go on we'll wait here." Rika grinned and got up and ran out of the room. Ayame turned to Yuki. "So you two went on a date, huh?" Yuki blushed slightly. "How did it go?"
"It went just fine."
"Anything exciting happen?"
"Nothing happened." Yuki said glaring at Ayame.
"Come now, you can tell your brother."
"S-Shut up! Nothing happened." Ayame went to open his mouth when the door opened. Everyone turned to see Rika in the dress. The dress went down to her knees and was puffy and had ruffles. The lace sleeves went down to her hands and hooked around her middle finger. She stood there shyly as everyone looked at her.
"You look beautiful." Haru said before any of the other guys could. Rika's face turned red and she smiled shyly at him.
"Thanks Haru."
"Will you open my gift next?" He asked.
"Of course." He handed her the small long black and white box and she sat back down. She opened the box and smiled and took out two hair chopsticks. One was black the other white and both had little yin yang symbols hanging from them. "These are awesome, Haru, Thank you." He smiled as she put her hair up before putting them in.
"They look great." He said she smiled shyly and blushed again. Shigure put his present in front of Rika. She smiled at him and opened the light blue wrapped gift. Inside was a blue hard cover book. She pulled it out and opened it. She blinked seeing it was blank. She looked back in the box and saw a pen.
"It's a diary, or journal if you prefer."
"Thanks Shigure." He smiled at her. "Who's next?" Yuki slid a very small box across the table. Rika smiled at him picking it up. She opened it and held up little strawberry earrings. "These are so cute, Thanks Yuki." She said putting them on. Tohru held out her box with a smile. Rika took it and opened it. "Aw Tohru this is so adorable!" She picked up a fairy figurine. Everyone looked to Hatori. He slid a box over to Rika. She opened it and blinked. Hatori stood up and picked up the sliver chain of the necklace. He went behind her and put the necklace on her. She touched the dragon pendant with a purple stone. She looked up at him. "Thanks Tori, I love it." He smiled at her.
"Cake time!" Momiji shouted. Shigure got a knife and began to cut the cake.
"I'm gunna put these in our room." Rika said picking up the fairy figuring, the scarf, and the journal. She got up and went upstairs. As she walked back down the stairs Hatori walked up to her. She stopped so they were eye level. "Hey Tori, what's up?"
"I got you something else too." He said. She tilted her head and he held out a small bag. She took it and looked inside. Her eyes widened. She looked up.
"How did you-…" She pulled out an old stuffed panda bear. "Where did-…" She stared at the bear. Suddenly Rika was hugging Hatori, her arms around his neck. His eyes widened and his arms went around her waist. She pulled back and kissed his cheek. "I don't know how you found it but thank you." The two looked each other in the eyes as they kept their arms around each other. Rika suddenly realized their position and blushed. "Sorry- I" She took her arms from around him and he did the same. She held the bear in front of her. Hatori smiled.
"You do look beautiful." She looked up at him shyly. "Happy birthday, Ri." He leaned down, tilting his head and kissed her gently. Her eyes widened and her whole face turned red. He pulled away slowly. She stood there in shock as Hatori walked back to the other room. "It's getting late and you five have school tomorrow."
"Aww!" Both Ayame and Momiji whined. Rika looked over to see, Momiji, Haru, Ayame and Hatori walk out of the room.
"Bye Rika, we'll see you at school tomorrow! Happy early birthday!" Momiji said. Rika smiled.
"Thanks for coming over." She said. She met Hatori's eyes and tried to hold down a blush. The four left and Rika went back upstairs to put her bear away. She put it on the bed and sat down. She stared at it. She blushed and touched her lips.
-School roof-
On the roof of the school Momiji, Yuki, Rika, Tohru and Haru were talking, Momiji, Haru, Tohru and Rika were sitting and Yuki was standing by the fence.
"But it's not like Kisa can stay at Shigure's house forever can she?" Momiji asked. "I wonder what she's going to do, I mean, after this."
"I betcha she's wondering the same thing herself right now." Haru said. "And ima guess she's even more worried about it than we are. Not that she'd ever let you know about it. But that's kinda what got her into this mess."
"So what about her mother?" Yuki asked.
"Well Kisa mom is doing a little better I think, I got a phone call from her yesterday." Tohru said.
"Oh well that's good right?" Momiji asked. "Cause it means that Kisa's mom is still thinking about her at least. Otherwise she wouldn't have bothered to call you."
"Uh-huh."
"Yeah that's right!"
"That still leaves one question." Yuki said. "Why do you think her class mates were picking on her?"
"Who can say." Haru said.
"I think I know why." Momiji said. "I heard some of the adults talking about it at the house." Yuki turned to face the group. "I'm not sure how they found out because Kisa wouldn't tell them either. But they said, when it started, it was cause of how she looked. You know, like her hair and her eyes. She looked different from everyone, so they made fun of her.
"I guess that's just another part of the zodiac curse for those of us with different color hair." Haru said playing with his white hair. "I used to get made fun of a lot."
"Yes but whenever the other kids tried to pick on you" Yuki said. "you would go black and chase them around the school yard.
"It's better than Kyo," Haru said. "He would actually beat them half to death.
"Well supposedly Kisa tried to stand up for herself too." Momiji said. "She said she couldn't help what color her hair was. But when the other kids saw they couldn't get to her they all started to ignore her. After that, any time Kisa would say anything they would stop ignoring her just long enough to laugh at her. They started making fun of everything she said. I guess I.. I never had anything like that happen to me in my class, so I can only imagine what it must have been like for her. I imagine how I would feel if I got laughed at every time I tried to say something. How it would feel if no one over listened to me. And well, when I do, it makes me very sad." Tohru had tears well up in her eyes and Rika glared at the ground. Yuki handed Tohru and Momiji each a handkerchief
"There now, it's time for us to go back to class."
"Yuki," Haru said facing the door, looking back at the group. "I'm going to go back to Shigure's house with you after school. I have to deliver something."
"What is it?" Yuki asked. Haru held up a letter between his fingers.
"A letter from Kisa's homeroom teacher. It just came." He started walking to the door, still holding the letter up. "We'll probably want to gag when we read it." Yuki walked to the fence and looked out.
"You know growing up we're told we have to be strong no matter what." Tohru stood up. "We're told that, in this world, it's the survival of the fittest. But I don't think that's right. We're people, we're not animals, shouldn't it be okay to feel weak sometimes? Even for a member of the zodiac aren't we people?"
"You are." Tohru said with a smile.
"Yeah." Rika nodded. "Of course you are."
Rika was walking outside to her next class when someone came in front of her. She gasped and jumped.
"A-Akito?" The man smirked.
"Hello Rika."
"W-What are you doing here?"
"I heard it was your birthday."
"Y-Yes."
"You're 18 now, is that right."
"Y-Yes." His eyes fell to the dragon pendent.
"That's pretty. Did Hatori give it to you?" She touched the pendant.
"Yes. Last night."
"Yes, you had a little party." He smiled. "I was going to give Hatori my gift to give to you but they left before I had the chance." He held out a little black box.
"Y-you didn't have to get me anything."
"Oh I wanted to." Rika looked at the box. He chuckled. "Don't be so frightened, kitten." She blinked and blushed slightly.
"Ki-kitten?"
"Sorry." He looked legitimately embarrassed. "Here." He held the box out more. She took it slowly and opened it. She blinked and looked up at him. "Do… Do you like it?"
"I-It's very pretty." He reached over and took the comb-pin and put it in her hair. It was white with a little black flower on in. In the center of the flower was a white stone. He smiled.
"It looks perfect on you."
"T-Thank you."
"You'd better get to class, wouldn't want to be late."
"Right. T-Thank you Akito." She said before running off. He watched her go.
"Happy Birthday.. Kitten."
-Shigure's house-
Kisa sat on the porch and read the letter, Yuki stood by her, Haru crouched next to her and took it.
"What does it say?" Haru asked. "'Dear Kisa, I hope this finds you well. And I hope you are thinking about coming back to school. We all miss you very much and I know your classmates are all anxiously waiting your return.'" He half laughed at the word 'anxiously.' He handed the letter to Yuki.
The rest of the teachers and myself are here to help you in any way that we can. And to welcome you back into the group with open arms. But more than anything, Kisa, it is my hope that you will soon learn to feel good about yourself. I believe you will come to find that you do have many good qualities. That's my wish for you. There's no way for a person who dislikes themselves to be liked by others, is there?
"Ha… It really does make you wanna gag." Haru said.
"'I hope that you will learn to feel good about yourself' What is that supposed to mean?" Yuki asked. "How are you supposed to find these good qualities I wonder; If the reason you don't feel good about yourself is that all you can find are qualities that you don't like. I don't think you can. Not like that, that's not how it works. I think what it takes is for someone else to say 'I like you' that's the only way you can truly being to like yourself." He closed his eyes. "When someone else accepts you. That's when you begin to see yourself through their eyes. And you begin to realize that there may actually be many qualities to like about yourself." Kisa stood up. "Kisa?" She looked over at Yuki. "We love you. We love you very much. That's really all we can do, but maybe if you know that we see all of these good qualities in you maybe that will help you to see them in yourself." Tears were welled up in Kisa's eyes. She closed her eyes and they fell. She smiled.
"Mhm." Haru suddenly hugged her.
"It's beautiful, it's been so long since we've heard your voice." He said. Yuki smiled.
Rika and Tohru were walking home from work.
"Sissys." They looked up to see Kisa, Yuki walking behind her, walking over. "Sissys!" She said happily.
"Kisa." The two smiled and ran over dropping their bags. "Kisa!" The two hugged the little girl. Yuki watched with a smile.
-The next day-
Now that Kisa had found her voice again she decided to go back to school. Momiji, Haru, Tohru and Rika saw her off with a smile. The night before she sat in front of Tohru and Rika.
"I can't quit now, or else I'll really mess everything up. Even if I can't make friends. Even if they still ignore me." The two older girls nodded with a smile.
"It's too bad Yuki couldn't be here too." Momiji said.
"Mhm, but he said there was something he needed to take care of." Haru said.
The Student Council President Takai dropped all the papers he was holding and went over to Yuki.
"What did you just say?!"
"I'm sorry for the way I've been avoiding you lately. But I'm here now and I'm ready to accept your nomination for student council president."
"Really Yuki?
"I hope that I will be able to look to you for guidance when I need it."
'You'd do this for me?"
"No, not for you." Yuki said before leaving the room.
Okay so from now on it's in third person. Rika is now 18! Akito got her a gift and Hatori gave her an old panda bear AND kissed her…
BIG QUESTION: Do you (readers) want to know things Rika doesn't? Like in movies/shows where the audience knows things before the main characters. OR Do you want to find out WITH Rika? Please review your answer, it would help a lot.