Today early in the morning before school even started began the visit of the other Sohmas. The first two people unable to keep their mouths shut were Haru and Momiji who approached Yuki and Tohru on their way to school. For the first half of their usual journey Yuki and Tohru walked together in the familiar silence until they reached their first turn. The ox and the rabbit stood there anxiously awaiting their arrival. Tohru was surprised to see the white haired teen and the energetic blonde one but Yuki was calm muttering something about knowing they would approach them before the week ended.
"Hatsuharu-san? Momiji-kun? What are you two doing here?" Tohru asked in a baffled voice completely forgetting that Shigure had told everyone.
Haru was silent for a second thinking about what she had asked. He was tired from getting up extra early to get here on time and decided not to answer her question. To actually get here without getting lost Momiji had awoken him at five o' clock in the morning with the energy that never seemed to leave the rabbit. Having less patience from lack of sleep he wanted to get directly to his point, teasing Yuki and Tohru.
"So Yuki… You finally scored?" Haru teased the rat with a serious expression on his face.
Yuki made a face at Haru before rolling his eyes. At times he thought Haru was too mature for his age, always giving him advice and such, but at other moments he seemed less mature than Momiji who couldn't sit still for a second. At least Momiji was silent right now. Momiji was smiling like he had something to say, but he waited for Haru to finish first.
"Score? Yuki-kun, are you on a sports team?" Tohru asked the rat. She tilted her head to the side not understanding Haru's word choice. Her forehead creased as she tried to figure out what he meant. As far as she knew Yuki didn't play any sports. If he did he would have told her, wouldn't he? He didn't seem to be staying after school any longer or going to school earlier for practices. Besides he seemed busy enough with the Student Council.
"Yeah… You know the new sport these days? They all try to get women pregnant and whoever has the most children after a year wins," Haru whispered to Tohru but loud enough for Yuki to hear.
The brunette's eyes widened in shock actually believing what Haru said. One could say she was naïve, credulous but more than anything she was gullible, too trusting for her own safety. She was unable to doubt anything anyone told her but wasn't a team like that something Yuki would never join? Tohru looked at Haru then to Yuki starting to get confused. She didn't think Yuki would be in a club like that considering the curse but why would Haru lie to her? This didn't make any sense to her. Too bad the words joking or teasing weren't in her vocabulary.
"That's disgusting Haru… Don't believe him Tohru," Yuki told the brunette beside him not wanting her to think poorly of him. She seemed to let out a sigh of relief when she heard this. If Yuki said it wasn't true then it couldn't be. Neither of them had a reason to lie but she knew Yuki better. Still, she shouldn't question Haru's honesty. That was rather rude. Tohru tried very hard to figure out what to do but her train of thoughts was interrupted by what Haru said next.
"What in the world are you talking about? I'm not the one who impregnated a girl," Haru said in a calm voice.
Tohru's long, brown hair seemed to stand up vertically for a split second as her eyes bulged. She jumped up and almost tripped over her own feet from shock. The color drained from her face as she looked from Haru to Momiji. It was only now did she remember what Hatori had told her. Everyone knew and she knew that yet she still had to ask, "Y-y-you know?"
"Yep! Tohru is going to be a mutti!" Momiji exclaimed rather energetically. He bounced forward and took both of Tohru's hands in his giddily. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't contain his excitement anymore. He HAD to join the fun now. It was a miracle that he had kept his mouth shut and stayed away for that long already.
Haru nodded with a grave look of mock disappointment, he shook his head at Tohru making her go into an apologizing frenzy. She really didn't know the consequences of her actions and wasn't sure how to react in these kind of situations. She didn't want any of the Sohmas mad at her. If they were she didn't know what she'd do since she couldn't exactly undo what happened with Yuki. The ox just smiled and slung his arm around Yuki's shoulders.
"You know I'm rather ashamed in you… I always thought your first time would be with me… But…How was it?" Haru questioned with a half smile.
"Shut up… Rin would kill me if she heard you say that," Yuki told his white haired cousin as he attempted to pry his arm off of his shoulder.
The teasing from Haru and Momiji calling Tohru a 'mutti' continued the whole journey to school. They were wise enough to stop before they reached the school to keep anyone else from learning about Tohru's pregnancy. But as soon as school was out Haru and Momiji insisted on going home with them. Tohru willingly invited them for dinner, but already both she and Yuki were ready for the day to be over. Yuki knew what was awaiting them at home, seven Sohmas ready to bombard them with questions and comments.
Arriving at the wooden porch and paper door Yuki hesitated before opening the door. He placed his hand on the door, shutting his eyes tightly he braced himself for the attack as he slid the door open. To his surprise the only thing that hit him was the still air and quietness coming from within. Yuki stuck his head inside the house looking to the right and left for his family. There was no one there besides Shigure who was seated at the table with a newspaper in his hands. Not even seven pairs of shoes sat next to the door.
"Ah… Welcome back Yuki-kun, Tohru-kun! I see you've brought Haru and Momiji with you!" Shigure greeted them waving them over.
Cautiously Yuki stepped inside as if he suspected a Sohma to be hidden around every corner. Tohru entered without any worries; once again she had forgotten that Shigure had told everybody. Haru and Momiji came in unfazed; they knew the Sohmas would show up sooner or later. The four high school students removed their shoes and wandered deeper into the house. Only one of them was alert and careful, one was laid back as usual, one bouncy and hyper while the last rather cheerful.
"I'll go make everyone some snacks!" Tohru offered making her way over to the kitchen.
Before she could even make it to the kitchen she felt arms encircle her waist. She screamed and fell backwards to be caught by the long haired man, also known as Yuki's older brother. Ayame was dressed in a traditional red robe bordered with a gold trimming. Being the dramatic person he was known to be he placed his slender finger atop of Tohru's lips. She blinked as she stared up at him slowly piecing together what had just happened.
"My fair lady, why is it that no other gentleman rushes over here in my place to catch the falling princess?" He asked in a smooth voice.
Her face had turned a bright red as she struggled to say, "Ay-Ayame-san!"
Yuki didn't seem amused at the appearance of his dearly beloved brother. He liked the position he held Tohru in even less. His eyes hardened into a deathly glare; through these angry eyes he looked at Ayame waiting for him to put Tohru back down. If Ayame did anything to Tohru Yuki swore he was going to commit fratricide and have a dear brother no longer. He even had the perfect place to keep the corpse in mind already.
"Nii-san! Let-go-of-her," Yuki said slowly emphasizing every single word.
"If that is my dear brother's wish then I must obey!" Ayame breathed as he moved his arms from around Tohru's back to across his heart.
The brunette shrieked again as what was previously supporting her and holding her up was removed. Yuki's eyes widened as he rushed over to catch her right before she hit the ground. He was kneeling on one knee, his other foot planted on the ground, like he was about to propose, supporting Tohru on top of his knee. His arms were around her shoulders and head to keep her from getting a bump on her skull. Tohru could hear her heart pound louder than it had ever pounded before. It was so loud she swore she was going to go deaf.
The other three occupants watched from their seats at the table. They stared at the others as if they were acting out some sort of drama. Shigure even had a bowl of popcorn set out on the table. His newspaper was refolded and set aside to read later. A mischievous and entertained smirk rested on his face. Haru sat to the left of the dog with his camera in hand, ready to catch every moment. Momiji just lie there with a stack of candy beside him engulfing each piece rather quickly looking up at Tohru every once in a while.
Yuki glared at the older snake for being so careless. That older brother of his had almost let Tohru get hurt, an unacceptable act. Tohru stared up at Yuki, her blush spread across her body feeling guilty and embarrassed to be caught in this position. She looked up at him with eyes practically begging him to put her down before everyone caught sight of her scarlet face and found out her feelings for the rat. Her look didn't seem to get through to Yuki. The silver haired teen forgot about everyone else in the room except for his older brother.
"How can you be so irresponsible? Tohru almost got hurt! What would you have done then?!" Yuki demanded, his annoyance with the snake heard loud and clear in his voice.
"But it was your request for me to let go of Tohru-kun," Ayame responded nonchalantly.
They continued to argue much to the dismay to the other three occupants of the room. A fight between brothers was something they saw on an almost regular basis. What they wanted to see was a more flustered and red faced Yuki. Tohru looking timid and embarrassed was amusing too but that's how she usually was anyways. Shigure sighed and sat his chin in the palms of his hands getting bored with their show. Momiji continued to pop candy in his mouth as an idea came to Haru.
"Yuki, look down," Haru ordered from his spot.
"Huh?"
Yuki glanced down at the flushed brunette still laying there in his arms. He had forgotten that he hadn't set the poor shy girl down yet. His eyebrows rose slightly as a shade of pink covered his pale cheeks. A click was heard as a flash lit up the room. The two of them peered over at the source of the sound and blinding light. Haru sat there with his digital camera in hand the lens pointed directly at the two of them. A look of horror seemed to cross Tohru's face as her jaw dropped open. She was positive that her face was the color of a tomato, and she was sure if they looked at the picture long enough they'd discover something she didn't want them to know.
"Perfect…" Haru commented satisfactorily.
Shigure leaned over and glanced at the screen of Haru's digital camera and gave Haru a thumbs up sign and a wink. Yuki flinched veins popping out of his forehead as he thought of ways to thank this kind family of his. Poisoning their food crossed his mind twice but somehow that didn't seem cruel enough. Didn't they have any other means of entertainment besides torturing him? Didn't they have any other place to be? Someday he had a feeling that he'd be sent to a mental hospital because of them.
"Ooh! I wanna see!!! Show me! Show me!" Momiji piped in as he plopped his head in between Shigure and Haru's head to catch a glimpse of the picture.
"Ha-chaaaaaaaaaaan! Allow me the pleasure of seeing with my own eyes my little brother's romantic fantasy!" Ayame exclaimed before strolling over to the photographer.
Yuki instantly set Tohru down gently as his blush doubled in darkness. He stood up and walked over to the group of men ready to dispose of that picture in any way possible. Tohru sat there pondering what to do in this situation with her teeth clenched on her lip. At least Yuki didn't want them to have the picture like her. He had a better chance of getting rid of the picture than she did. Completely immersed in her thoughts she didn't notice someone approaching her. Leaving Tohru alone for that split second Yuki left her to the claws of Kagura. Kagura clamped her hands on Tohru's shoulders with a giddy smile.
"Congratulations!" the boar exclaimed though there were hints of disbelief in her large dark gray eyes.
"Ka-Kagura-chan!" Tohru choked out looking back at Kagura.
"So is it a boy? Is it a girl? Are you really pregnant or is Shi-chan pulling our legs? 'Cause if he is…" Kagura concluded with a menacing look in Shigure's direction.
"Rest be assured! It is nothing but the truth!" Shigure reassured her with a nervous chuckle. Kagura was dangerous, especially now when there was no Kyo for her to vent her angry affections on. The last thing he wanted to do was be a temporary replacement for Kyo.
Kagura seemed content with his answer and began talking to Tohru in an excited voice about the joys of a child. Tohru just nodded to Kagura in response only hearing half of what Kagura was telling her. The soon to be mother was clearly overwhelmed by all these people coming at once. Maybe if they gave her a few minutes to catch her breath she'd be handling this better. Right now she looked about ready to collapse. At this moment she was wondering whether she'd prefer them angry about her pregnancy instead of all this teasing.
"Goodness what has the world been overcome by? My young baby brother is going to be a father before I am!" Ayame continued rambling on to no one in particular.
The next two arrivals were a shy Kisa with an overprotective Hiro at her side. Hiro had his arms crossed across his chest standing in his place a few feet away from Tohru refusing to take another step towards her. Kisa stepped towards Tohru timidly before greeting her with their usual hug. Tohru happily returned the hug glad to know that at least Kisa wasn't upset by her pregnancy. The tiger, in her own way had gotten Tohru to relax considerably.
"Congratulations Onee-chan!" Kisa exclaimed before pulling away from Tohru.
"Thank you Kisa-chan…" Tohru smiled unsure of what else to say.
Kisa looked back at her companion with large eyes begging him to follow in her suit and say something pleasant to Tohru. Hiro grunted and rolled his eyes but obeyed. The sheep was never able to refuse something the tiger asked of him. In a quiet slightly embarrassed voice Hiro muttered, "Yeah… Congratulations…"
"Umm… Thank you Hiro-chan!" Tohru exclaimed. His congratulation had caught her and everyone else in the room off guard. Nobody expected to hear that phrase come out of his mouth without sarcasm dripping off of it. It sounded purely truthful and Kisa beamed glad to hear him say that. The small girl seemed to have worked wonders on the smart mouthed boy. Hiro snorted at them reverting back to his smart aleck ways.
"What are you all looking at? Are you all deaf or am I forbidden to say congratulations? Or is it that you all think I'm incapable of being nice? Sheesh! How rude!" Hiro snapped his face a tad pink.
Before anyone could reply to Hiro there was a loud crash outside and a scream. A string of loud apologizes began to sound as the door slid open with much force. The man with long orange hair wearing a golden kimono skidded into the room with his hands on his head. Across his face sat a crazed look filled with panic. Shigure had a suspicious aura around him now as he smiled. With Ritsu around there was a guarantee to be more fun for him.
"I'm so SORRY! It's ALL MY FAULT! I don't deserve to live! How could I BREAK A LOVELY FLOWER POT like the beautiful one once on your doorstep! BUT NO! IT'S NOT THERE ANYMORE BECAUSE I KNOCKED IT OVER! I'm SO SORRY!" Ritsu cried tugging at his hair.
"Umm… Ritsu-san… Shigure-san wanted to throw that away so it's okay…" Tohru told the now crying monkey.
Ritsu glanced up at Tohru and froze. His apologies stopped as he faintly smiled and wiped the tears from his face. Once he realized the dastardly deed he was committing his eyes shot open and he ran over to Tohru apologizing again already. Tohru opened her mouth to repeat what she had just told him thinking he hadn't heard her but she was continually cut off by him. Getting bored with this Hiro tugged Kisa over to the TV reminding her about the new episode of Mogota on today. Kisa smiled happy to hear this.
"I'm so sorry Tohru-san! I have cursed you with this smile of mine! PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!! It's my fault that you have to be pregnant! I SHOULDN'T HAVE LET YOU DONE THAT! I shouldn't BE ALLOWED TO LIVE!!!" Ritsu continued in a louder voice than before.
Shigure got out of his seat with a grin across his face. He galloped over to Ritsu and poked him in the side causing the monkey to collapse. A chuckle left his mouth before he glided back to his seat. Yuki dropped down on the ground too tired to try and wrestle the camera from Haru anymore. Kagura was gushing over the photo at the moment along with Shigure and Ayame. Momiji was acting like himself energetically running around and half watching Mogota with Kisa and Hiro. Ritsu continued to lay on the floor unconscious. The poor rat was about ready to smack his head on the wall repeatedly. His head was already spinning from all the noise and commotion.
Tohru was escaped into the kitchen to make dinner after checking on Ritsu and getting him a pillow and blanket; she didn't want to leave Ritsu there but she didn't want everyone else to be forced to wait on food. After seeing the peaceful look on Ritsu's face she convinced herself that he was okay and went to prepare to cook. She hummed a tune to herself as she started to make dinner for everyone. In a matter of minutes a delicious aroma wafted around the house finally getting the Sohmas in the other room to silent down.
Everyone stared towards the kitchen wondering what smelled so good. The scent was so strong and pleasing it even got Ritsu to wake up. Not even an apology left Ritsu's mouth when he awoke; he was stunned silent by the smell. No one had even noticed that Tohru had left. Yuki was first to stand. He was scolding himself mentally for not noticing Tohru's disappearance. All of them had tried Tohru's cooking before, but either from not having it in a while or just because, it seemed to smell extra good at the moment.
"Dinner is ready!" Tohru chirped as she stepped back into the living room with a large platter in her hands.
She walked slowly towards the table not wanting to drop any bit of food. Looking over her shoulder Yuki could spot other things that would need to be carried out before they could start eating. Trying to be as helpful as he could he walked around her and carried the pile of bowls and silverware out for her setting it down on the table beside the dish she had placed in the center of the table. Everybody in the room stood around staring at the food hungrily. They remained standing awkwardly; there was only enough room for eight out of the ten people there.
"Ah… Thank you Yuki-kun!" Tohru beamed widely.
The sheep and tiger sat down first; Hiro was seated next to Kisa with his elbows plopped up on the table, his chin resting on top. The TV had been cast aside once the two kids realized how hungry they were. Across from them were Shigure and Ayame immersed in that deep dramatic act of theirs which ended with a thumbs up. Haru and Momiji sat down to the right of Hiro and to Kisa's left sat Kagura with one space left open. That left Tohru, Yuki and Ritsu standing.
"Umm… I can eat later… Ritsu-san please sit down and eat first," Tohru suggested.
"NO! I cannot take your spot and force you to eat later! I'M SO SORRY! My arrival has ruined everything! It's my fault! I should have never come here!" Ritsu yelled in a panicked voice.
"Even if you left there still wouldn't be enough room for everyone…" Hiro muttered.
Tohru's forehead creased as she tried to come up with a solution that would please everyone. She didn't mind eating later but it was difficult to get that through to Ritsu. Even if Ritsu accepted it she wasn't sure if Yuki cared whether he ate with everyone or not. If he wanted to eat now she would be in trouble for giving his seat away. Tohru didn't want to speak for him and wrongly express what he wanted.
"It's okay I'll keep Tohru company," Yuki offered with a smile.
"Are you sure Yuki? You know we won't be the ones saving you anything," Haru warned the rat with a smile.
Yuki nodded with a shrug, "If they eat it all that just means we can go out to eat nn, Honda-san?"
He smiled, his comment left her blushing and everyone else staring. Before Shigure or Ayame or anyone else for that matter could say something stupid Yuki took Tohru's hand and led her out the door to wait outside until everyone was finished. Yuki sat himself down on the porch step and patted the spot next to him. The crimson faced brunette sat down timidly. They stayed there silent for a minute. Ritsu's protests and apologies could be heard be a moment longer before he settled down and agreed to eat.
"I'm sorry Honda-san. My family really is a pain…" Yuki told her with a sheepish smile.
"Ah no! That's okay! It made me happy to see them all!" Tohru beamed happily.
"Yeah… I guess it was kinda like some big family reunion. At least everyone didn't come. That would have made everything more hectic…" Yuki commented with a frown.
She seemed a lot less edgy now that she was out of the house. Her face was slowly turning back to its normal color which was still a little pink. He smiled glad to see that he had helped a bit. Yuki watched her face turn more serious as she thought about the missing members. First flustered than so somber now, her facial expressions changed so easily. Either way she looked beautiful. He caught himself staring before she did and realized she had started speaking.
"Kureno-san and Hatori-san must be working… I wonder if Akito-san is sick or maybe Akito didn't want to see me… Umm… I wonder why Isuzu-san didn't come…" Tohru rambled on trying not to forget any of the Sohmas she had met.
"I thought for sure Rin would come too… But she's in the hospital," Haru explained from behind them.
Tohru jumped up from her position. She hadn't heard Haru come out of the house. Yuki calmly peered at his cousin after making sure that Tohru hadn't hurt herself. He squatted behind them with a plate of food in either hand. Yuki's gaze shifted from Haru to the plates of food then back to the ox lifting his eyebrows with suspicion. Was his family planning on poisoning his food for thinking about doing that to them? He stared at the food questioningly; they could have messed with the food while the two of them were out here.
"Here, I brought food for you guys," Haru added as he extended his arms.
"Thanks…But I thought you said you weren't going to save anything for me," Yuki replied as he took one plate from Haru still cautiously looking at the plate.
"My love for you convinced me to keep you from starving so stop looking at it as if it was going to kill you," Haru responded calmly.
Tohru stepped forward and took her plate a worried expression across her face as she asked, "Isuzu-san is in the hospital?"
Haru nodded slowly. After he left here he was heading straight to the hospital to see her if she didn't sneak out or run away already. He knew fairly well how much she hated that place but he also knew that if she just stayed in bed she'd be able to leave the place a lot sooner. Tohru frowned, not liking to hear that Rin was in the hospital and in pain. Everyone should be visiting Rin not her, she felt guilty though in the back of her head she knew Rin wouldn't let them come in.
"Yeah… But it's just stomach ulcers so she'll be fine… She's actually letting me see her this time so I guess that's good," Haru answered with a faint smile.
"Oh! That's good to hear! Do you want me to make you some jelly to take to her?" Tohru offered.
"No… That's okay. I've been practicing a lot so now I can make it for her each time I go to see her. Besides, you should be worrying about yourself. When that baby comes out you'll be in ten times as much pain," Haru reminded her.
A look of fear seemed to pass over her face. Her eyes widened and her face turned a ghostly pale. Tohru opened her mouth and tried to say something but her jaw just remained hanging open. She closed her mouth for a second before she repeated the five words that struck out to her, "Ten times as much pain?"
She said it in an almost questioning way. It had never really occurred to her that having a baby would hurt. Tohru hadn't ever thought about actually giving birth. It was not unknown to her that the process of forcing a baby out of her frail body would be difficult but it was only now did she realize that sooner or later the time would come when she'd have to have the baby. Yuki stared at her; he could only guess what she was thinking about, but he was pretty sure he knew what was on her mind from what she said.
"Don't listen to Haru. It's not like he's ever had a baby before," Yuki smiled. Being a boy, Haru couldn't have possibly given birth before. Still what Yuki said could only be half true. One didn't need to go through the baby process to see how badly it hurt. For now Yuki just wanted to keep her mind off of that painful experience she'd have to go through in the future. He wanted so badly for that smile to remain on her face but there was nothing he could do to keep the pressures of the baby from making the smile fade from her face in the future…
But he still wanted to believe he could.