Attention: TheKnightsOfThePentagonalOttomen Do Not Own Fruits Basket or any of the included characters. We do however own the Taiyou Family! Enjoy!
Editor's Note: Once again, it has been an insanely long time since we updated. In all fairness, Marie got me the chapter about seven months ago, but I just haven't had time to finish editing and fluffing it up. I do have chapter 12 and Marie assures me she is almost done with chapter 13, so hopefully we will be ready to update again soon. I would also like to let you know we have updated the group profile, so those of you who are interested feel free to go look. I'm also in the process of re-working our logo. Thanks for being patient and I hope you enjoy chapter 11!
"Are you sure it is okay for us to come here, it is kind of uh…" Yuki looked around trying to sound careful but no insensitive. "Fancy." Gypsy simply smiled at him while the maître'd escorted them to their table. "Not at all, Sohma-kun. You are my date, and I am going to treat you." Her smile widened as Yuki started to look a little less nervous when they sat down; their table right in the middle of the floor. Yuki surveyed the area, noting that while the restaurant wasn't packed, the other customers were very obviously upper-class adults, Nothing that Yuki wasn't used to, rather the opposite; he felt much more comfortable in the adult world.
"She's gonna pay for everything? How much money does she have?!?"
After handing them their menus, the maître'd left them to look things over before their waiter came for their drink orders. Smiling, Gypsy turned to the young man and unleashed some shockingly accurate French. Yes, please, we'll just have some water for now. He thanked them and left them so they could study the menu a little longer.
"I didn't know you spoke French." Yuki smiled at his "date". It seems this young woman was full of surprises. Gypsy blushed before apologizing. "I'm so sorry, it's just second nature for me. I learned Japanese, French, and Spanish while I was in the states." Yuki just smiled again. "It's okay, my family made sure we were all fluent in English as well as proficient in French and German for our families international businesses." When the waiter returned, they both ordered and fell into idle conversation as they waited for their food.
Aiden and the rest of the gang stood outside of the waiting area watching in astonishment. "She took him to a 4 star restaurant? What is her issue?" "We have to get in there." Alarice announced to no one in particular. Slightly annoyed and bored as usual, Tempest decided to add in her two cents, "Cost aside, how are we going to get in?" Still in thought, Alarice simply stated, "It's not too busy we might be able to get a table, hopefully near them."
While Alarice started plotting away, Caira started whining. "I don't want to spend money here, it's too expensive." Aiden slapped her arm in a warning manor. "What? Are you kidding me?" Tempest decided this would be a good time to step in and stop the fight before it started; but everyone froze when they heard Alarice's sickeningly sweet voice. Their heads slowly turned in shock as she laid it on thick for the Maître'd.
"Yes, I was hoping to get a table for four it it's not too much trouble." She smiled as the man folded like an accordion. Caira practically pushed herself away from Tempest in an attempt to quell the semi-certain impending doom. "What is she doing?" Aiden simply brushed it off as another one of her cousin's antics. "She's charming her way into getting a table next to, oh what were those psychotic names you gave them…Bipolar and Sparkle Prince? What do you think she's doing?" Aiden brushed off her shirt and tried to rearrange her outfit. She was the first to notice that Alarice's trick had worked. "She got a table guys, come on."
The maître'd sat them at a corner table next to the window where there was a small shrub helping to obscure them from view of the other patrons. Once they had their menus and the waiter had taken their drink orders, they discussed the couple they were spying on. Aiden took some bread and started to rip it up into small pieces before she sighed. A little tired of all the waiting, Tempest took some bread as well. "Guys can we stay focused, I mean we have to find the 'love-birds anyway." Alarice's hand shot out quickly and stole a bread chunk off of Aiden's plate. "They're right in the middle of the floor; in-between the tables along the side of the window and the booths." She replied smoothly from behind her menu, having already swallowed the bread.
Some time passed and nothing really noteworthy happened by the time the two received their food. Too soon, the group saw things going downhill fast. "My steak is cold." Gypsy informed the waiter. The young man visibly upset now, apologized and took her food back to the kitchen as fast as his legs could carry him. Yuki could tell Gypsy was trying to hold in her anger; she was practically vibrating in her seat. He gently set his utensils down and pushed his plate a little to the side. "I am sorry they muddled up your diner. Do you want me to wait?" Gypsy put on a convincing smile, though her eyebrow began to twitch. "No, no I would not want you to go hungry while my meal has to get re-made. Besides if you wait, your food will be cold by the time mine gets here."
Yuki looked lost. Anyone watching the young couple from the sidelines could see the date was starting to head south. "I think I will go to the bathroom." Gypsy said as politely as possible before leaving her seat. "If you'll excuse me." Yuki stood from his chair like the gentlemen he was raised to be and tilted his head to tell her that he understood and that he'd be waiting.
"Oh god!" Alarice pushed her chair away from the table and made her way to the ladies room as well. Aiden quickly followed suit while Tempest stayed put and started ripping the bread apart again and eating it slowly. "Well at least things should be getting good soon." Caira smiled and lounged back in her chair.
"The steak was cold. Cold! What kind of idiots do they have working in that kitchen? My god, this is a four star restaurant!" Her companion snorted. "And Yuki? Wow what a magnificent conversationalist." It was coming from the mirror. "But cute, right? I mean he's a perfect gentlemen. It's hard to find that in people our age." Gypsy was trying to be logical with herself…that didn't usually work out too well. "That loser? I can't believe I spent all that money on him." Dark Gypsy snarled back from the mirror.
"I was for a good cause; the school needed new computers." Light Gypsy simply responded, grinning in an overly polite manner. "Computers are great I'll admit, but you can't tell me you aren't at least a little annoyed at the fact that this is supposed to be one of the best schools in this area and they can't find a way to get funding for some new computers."
She didn't give Light Gypsy time to respond. "And my food! How can this restaurant even think to do that to me? Maybe they think I'm just young and naïve, but they'll regret that I can assure you." Dark Gypsy balled her hands into fists so tight you could hear them cracking under the pressure. Light Gypsy simply smiled back apologetically and shrugged. She wasn't going to lie, it did annoy her, but she proffered to see the good in things rather than the bad.
Staring back at her altered self calmly, she continued to listen as Dark Gypsy continued to rant about how Yuki had managed to crawl right under her skin and he was annoying the crap out of her. "Maybe you should talk to him about it. You should always take a direct approach when dealing with boys; they're too stupid to read the obvious warning signs." The pure half of Gemini clapped her hands excitedly as she smiled at her own suggestion. A snicker came from the mirror. "Direct." She paused to laugh in that wonderfully scary and manic way of hers. "Yes, direct."
Dark Gypsy smiled as she stepped out from the mirror and left the bathroom.
"How can there be more than one restroom in a single floor restaurant?" Aiden asked after they discovered that there were, in fact, three, and that Gypsy was not either of the first two. "It just does." Alarice quipped as she led the way to the last one. "Let's just hope Gypsy didn't split while we were looking for her." Alarice opened the door quietly and saw Gypsy sitting in front of a vanity mirror. Rushing over, she grabbed the girl's should before turning her around.
Light Gypsy smiled back at them in surprise. "Hey, girls. What are you doing here?" As if on cue, the two realize they were too late and they looked up at each other in mild horror. "Oh we're dead." Aiden was crestfallen as she stalked over to the mirror to freshen her hair a bit. "Yup, there's no way we're getting out of this one. Margo's gonna kill us for sure." Alarice shuddered. "Not if Vanya and Skye get to us first."
"I wonder if they found her yet." Caira grabs the last roll and starts to butter it. Tempest looked up. "I don't know if they found her, but here she comes." Caira looked over to the lovebirds table just in time to see Gypsy smile. "Yeah, now the fun really starts." Caira moved to another chair for a better view. They both lean closer to hear the conversation as best they could.
As Gypsy walked back over to the table, she tried to keep an even face. Yuki once again stood out of politeness, but Gypsy beat him to the punch as she snapped her fingers. A different waiter rushed over and pulled the seat out for her, pushing it in once she sat down. Bowing, he backed away and left. She looked up at Yuki, the even look falling from her face. "So…What is your deal?" Her words shocked the two at the other table, but were especially shocking to Yuki.
It was then that Tempest and Caira realize the worst case scenario had just started to unfold in front of them.
Back in the bathroom, Aiden and Alarice were starting to panic. "Aiden, take Light Gypsy and leave the restaurant. Ger her home before someone sees her apart. I'll go after Dark Gypsy." Aiden nodded her understanding as Alarice rushed from restroom. She then turned back to Light Gypsy and explained to her that they had to leave.
"You're quiet, not just boring now. So are you going to answer my question or are we just going to continue sitting here staring at each other?" Dark Gypsy glared at Yuki, who was now completely confused. "I don't understand." He tried to keep his breathing even, but something was beginning to bother him. Something wasn't right.
Tempest moved from her chair. "Caira go find the girls, I will stop this as best I can." After nodding her understanding, she rushed off in hopes of finding Alarice or Aiden.
"You're too perfect: It's annoying. You do realize that being perfect means you have issues, right? I also get this unsettling feeling whenever I'm around you; and that annoys me too." Dark Gypsy shrugged her shoulders. While Yuki was shocked at her sudden personality change, he was also becoming increasingly angry. "What? I am sorry you feel that way, but I do not believe that I am the problem." "Not the problem? If you aren't the problem, then what is? Everyone has issues Yuki; everyone has secrets." Her eyes darkened a little as she leaned forward so she was close enough to whisper. "What are you hiding Yuki? What is your secret?"
The fear and anger in Yuki's eyes became pure joy for Gypsy. She could feel him beginning to break. 'He will tell me what he is hiding. There's no getting out of this Yuki, you know I know.' Gypsy was just about to unleash her tongue again, when Alarice stepped in.
"Sohma-kun? Sohma-kun is that you?" A familiar voice broke through the emotional haze that was clouding Yuki's brain. "Huh? Oh, Miss Taiyou. What are you going here?" He couldn't hide the look of relief that flooded his features. Gypsy turned to see Alarice smiling back at them.
"I was not sure if it was you two. I am sorry to interrupt." Alarice makes took a few steps forward until she had reached the table. Gypsy fought her instincts that were telling her to back away slowly, letting it force her to sit back in her chair instead. "You should be sorry for interrupting. Yuki and I have a date to finish; so if you will excuse us, we can get back to talking." She turned her head back so she was now smiling back at Yuki.
"Oh I Know, and I feel just so horrible. But I came here to find you, Gypsy. Aunt Margo needs you immediately." Alarice lowered her eyes and her tone as she dared Dark Gypsy to refuse. Gypsy glared back just as darkly, before realizing she is possibly showing Yuki one of her weaknesses. She shrugged. "Well, if it is the head of the family I can't very well refuse, now can I." As Gypsy rose from her chair, she turned back to her "date". "Good night Yuki. I'm so sorry I have to rush off like this, but I will see you at school. I hope to hear your answer the next time we meet."
Gypsy smiled to herself as she led the way back to the elevator. Yuki would surely prove to be more fun from now on.
Alarice gaze returned to Yuki after breaking it from Gypsy's back. "Sohma-kun, I so really sorry for the way my cousin acted. Please just forget about this whole day. Again, I am really sorry. Bye." Alarice bowed quickly, and he watched as she hurried after Gypsy. "What was that?"
Dark Gypsy and Alarice got to the elevator just as the rest of the party arrived. "That was close." Aiden sighed in relief. Tempest scoffed, her anger more than apparent to everyone as she all but yelled at the wall. "It wasn't just close, it was way too close! Gypsy almost blew our cover! And what's worse? To a Sohma! We still don't know what's going on with that family; and Margo gave us specific orders to be careful around them!"
The mood in the elevator was becoming increasingly somber, so Light Gypsy decided to add in her own two cents. "Well, we're all okay now, and that's all that matters." Her cheerfulness came across as annoying to everyone but herself. "Let's go home. I'm tired, and we have to tell Vanya what happened before we can even think about going to bed." Alarice closed her eyes as she clung desperately to Dark Gypsy.
Caira pouted the whole way home. "Well I have to say today was a complete waist of time. Thank you all so much." Alarice suppressed her will to slap the girl silly. 'I just hope things don't get any worse than they already are.' She continued, lost in though until they reached the private drive way. After all, she'd just had a date with Yuki's brother earlier…
A young man with red hair stood guard silently beside a sickly dark figure. "Kureno, I need to you find out all you can about that girl who left with Ayame." Their current fascination set on the willow branch they were playing with. The young man nodded. "Yes, Akito."