Disclaimer - Character's aren't my own.

Chapter Seven – Monkey's Dilemma

"T-thank you, have a nice day!" Ritsu Saru called out to the couple leaving the Bath House.

He relaxed slightly as the two left, the woman giggling at something the man had said, arms wrapped around one another as they walked through the door.

He let out a small, wistful sigh at the now empty reception area. What he wouldn't give to have someone love him like that, to be able to go to the Bath House together, to hold someone as he fell asleep…

'I'm not worthy of such affection.'

Feeling the usual misery engulf him, Ritsu rearranged the collection of pens on the counter.

For as long as he could remember, he had always been this way. He had felt since he was a young child that he wasn't good enough for the simple pleasures that everyone else experienced. His parents had always been apologising for his shortcomings. He had thought it normal until his father had died when he was ten. For the next nine years he had watched his mother slowly deteriorate, not knowing what he could do to make her better. It had been on his eighteenth birthday that she had finally been admitted to a mental institution for paranoia. Ever since then he had been living by himself and working at the Bath House his parents had once managed together.

He was so useless that the only reason he had been able to keep the Bath House going for the last four years was because he'd had help from his uncle. Although, from the looks he always received his uncle was only doing it because he felt slightly indebted to his departed parents, he clearly didn't like Ritsu himself.

"See you later, Ritsu!" A cheery female voice called out to him, startling him so much that he knocked a small container of soaps off the desk and all over the floor.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I'm so clumsy that I knocked that container off the desk, I'm sorry." Humiliated, he immediately bent down and began to pick up the soaps, eyes firmly downcast in shame.

"It's alright Ritsu. I shouldn't have startled you!" A young woman walked over to him and, although he didn't look up, he knew she had long black hair and pretty, kind brown eyes. Kagure Inoshishi was the only person who always made it a point to talk to him.

'She's always been so kind to me, even if I did nothing to deserve it.'

"No, it was my fault. I'm sorry." He insisted.

He was completely distracted from all thoughts of embarrassment as the worst possible thing that could happen did.

As Ritsu was reaching for the last of the soaps, a pale, feminine had reached for it at the same time. In the brief moment all Ritsu could think about was the softness of her hand and how it was still slightly warm from being in the bath rooms'. Wrenching his hand away as if burned he looked up at her with big eyes, hand clutched to his chest in horror.

"I-I'm SORRY!" He cried out the last bit and before she could do anything he ran behind the counter and through the staff door, slamming it closed before he could hear anything from her.

'I'm sorry, so sorry! I didn't mean to, I'm sorry I touched you with my inferior hands, my filthy hands. And just after you'd had a bath too! I should reimburse her for sullying her nice, soft, clean hands!'

Opening the door slightly, he peeked out only to see the reception room empty. Gathering his courage he slipped back into the room behind the counter, hand still clasped to his chest. Looking around carefully, he could see that the soap container hand been placed back on the counter in its home.

Sighing loudly to himself, he allowed himself to relax again, just a little bit. He would have to apologise tomorrow night when she came back for her bath, as she did every night.

Looking down sheepishly at his hand, he could still feel a small tingling sensation from where his fingertips had touched her hand.

'It feels… nice.'

Shaking his head she pushed those thoughts away. Kagura was much too good for the likes of him. He was nothing and never would be anything except a blight upon the face of the earth.

Lowering his head, he blinked back the urge to cry and went about straitening up the fliers on the small side table next to the front desk. Customers could bring in fliers to advertise things from restaurants to pets for sale.

As he moved a pile of papers advertising a massage parlour down the street, he fond a brightly coloured flier for a café – bookstore that had only opened up three months ago.

"Fruits Basket?" He whispered the name to himself.

'It might be nice to go somewhere different, for a change…'

Glancing over at the soap container he took in a deep breath. If he went tomorrow night then he wouldn't have to see Kagura and be so embarrassed. He could leave instructions for her to have a free bath as an apology, but he wouldn't have to face her himself.

'I'm so pathetic, going to a café for dinner just to avoid someone so wonderful.' Mournfully, he looked back at the flier and pocketed it so that he'd have the address.

***()

His Uncle hadn't even batted an eye when Ritsu had told him he wouldn't be able to work that night. It was both a blessing and a curse that his Uncle hated him so.

'Though I don't blame him, I'd hate me too if I was all I had left to call family.'

Walking into the cafe, Ritsu allowed a small smile at the adorable sounding chime that went off when he entered through the door. Looking around, he was surprised to find that the place was only half-full. A few couples were seated up near the front of the store while a large group was loudly laughing at the back of the place.

Walking quietly to a small table in the middle of the room, he was pleased to find only one other person was very near him. She looked like she was young enough to still be in high school and, although she had a coke and a book open in front of her, he could see she was more interested in peeking over the book through her dark hair to look at the loud group at the back.

Vaguely he wondered if she was annoyed by the noise they were making, but he was distracted by the arrival of a waitress.

"Hello, welcome to Fruits Basket Café – bookstore; are you a first timer?" Looking up he saw it was a woman about his own age with brown hair, brown eyes and a friendly smile.

"Oh! Um, yes, I mean, yes it is the first time I've been here. I'm sorry, I should have come before." The words spilled out of his mouth as his nerves reached an all time high.

A burning blush of embarrassment washed across his cheeks and he bowed his head, ready for the harsh words and pointed laughing that always followed.

"You've been meaning to come before? Well, at least you've come now. I'm so happy to hear you've decided to come here for dinner!" He looked up in shock and was speechless at the sincere smile of joy on her face.

It seamed that she really was pleased he had come here and she didn't sound at all angry that the place had been open for months and this was the first time he was coming.

"So, what can I get for you?" She asked, pen held ready above her small pad of paper.

Fumbling, he quickly picked something for dinner and a drink before she nodded and wandered off to the counter. Looking around and feeling slightly out of place, he fiddled with a small packet of sugar while he waited for his meal to arrive.

"Here you go." The waitress was back as she placed a glass of juice before him gently.

"Oh, thank you." He said quickly looking up at her before looking back down at the table's surface.

"It's no problem at all! I'm just so happy that you're here."

"Oh no, please, it's-"

As he was speaking he didn't notice that his arms had been waving around as they generally did when he was getting nervous. One of his arms had been waving around a little too much and knocked into his glass.

Looking over in horror, Ritsu watched – as if in slow motion – as the glass fell off the table and tumbled towards the ground. It shattered upon the ground and the liquid quickly spread out across the floor with the shards of glass.

Silence filled the shop before Ritsu jumped to his feet, so horrified he didn't know what to do with himself.

"Oh my God! I'm sorry, I'M SO SORRY! Please, forgive me, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault!" His hysterics was cut of by a suddenly pressure on his side and he felt his muscles give out. He was sure he was going to hit the floor when arms wrapped around him and pulled him up.

He listened half-heartedly as people moved around, calling out that it was all ok.

"Sorry about that folks, my friend here's just a little up-set today. Nothing to see here." He was carried to the counter and then behind it, into a side room that appeared to be a kitchen area.

'I'm so pathetic, I wish I could just die.' Ritsu thought pitifully to himself as he was deposited on a small stool in a corner. Looking up miserably he saw a black haired man he could remember seeing at the large table of people earlier on.

"There, is that better now?" He asked, smile not unkind.

"Yes, thank you." Ritsu said quietly, eyes back on the floor as shame ate at his stomach like acid.

"Here you are, this will calm you down." The waitress said, holding out a small, steaming cup of peppermint tea.

"Thank you." He murmured once again.

"I'm Tohru, by the way; Tohru Honda" The girl smiled that friendly smile again and Ritsu found himself relaxing. There was just something about this girl that made him feel better about himself.

"R-Ritsu, Ritsu Saru" He said quietly.

"Well, it's nice to have you here, Ritsu." She smiled and tilted her head to the side slightly, similar to that of a dog.

Ritsu felt a small smile slowly appearing on his face as he looked at the cute girl who made him feel so relaxed.

"I'm Shigure!" He looked over at the black haired man beside Tohru and nodded his head silently.

"That was quite a scene you pulled just before." Shigure said, immediately destroying the feeling of calmness that had overcome him while only focusing on Tohru.

"I'm sorry!" He exclaimed, going to stand up only to have Shigure push him back into the stool.

'I'm so pathetic, I shouldn't be allowed to live.' He thought miserably, taking a sip of his drink.

"Don't worry about the glass, it happens to the best of us." Tohru said gently, hand resting on his shoulder comfortingly.

He looked up at her with wide, surprised eyes.

'She's so nice.'

He bowed his head, feeling tears coming on for the second time in two days. How was it someone could be nice to such a worthless person like him?

"Oh, it's ok." Tohru said, pulling out a tissue and holding it out to him.

"I'm sorry," he looked up at her through watery eyes. "I'm so sorry to be so much trouble. I'm away trouble, no matter what I do or how I try to help. It always happens… Sometimes I just wish I hadn't been born, then I wouldn't cause people so many problems." He smiled humourlessly at the silent kitchen.

"No," he looked up at the sound of her quiet voice. " No, please don't say that. Everyone deserves to live, everyone is special in their own way." Her big brown eyes were full of tears and her face was only inches from her own as she looked down at him.

'She's so nice, just like-'

"Kagura." The name slipped from his lips without his consent.

"Um, no, Tohru." She said pointing at herself.

"Oh, no I mean, um, you remind me of her. She very nice and, well, you are too." He trailed off at the end, hands cupping his tea protectively.

"Oh! Is she your girlfriend?" Torhu asked, a playful smile on her face.

"NO!" Ritsu jumped to his feet in panic and embarrassment. He noted that no one pushed him back down as Shigure had apparently left some time when they had been talking.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I just thought she might be with how you looked when you said her name…" Tohru apologised.

"No, she's not my girlfriend, but," he bit his lip, not sure why he was spouting all this off to a stranger. There was just something about her that made him feel comfortable and able to speak freely.

"Oh, you like her." Tohru guessed, causing Ritsu to blush and bow his head bashfully.

"Well, have you told her you like her?" Tohru asked, a big smile on her face.

"No, she'd never like someone like me." Dejection was clear in his voice.

"Don't say that, I've only known you for a half an hour, but I already think you're wonderful." Tohru said, causing Ritsu's head to snap up in shock.

'Wonderful…'

"Come on Ritsu, let's go get your dinner and we'll think of a way you can confess your feelings at the same time." Tohru said enthusiastically, looking more like a high schooler then a businesswoman. She reached out and took his hand gently before leading him out of the kitchen, past the counter and over to a new table, closer to the back of the shop and the rowdy group of people who were still going.

"There you are Tohru! We thought you'd left us." A blond haired woman called out from the rowdy table.

"Who's you're friend?" A black haired woman next to her asked quietly, but her voice seemed to come from just beside his ear.

"Oh, this is Ritsu, I'm just helping him out that's all. I'll be over again later." Tohru sent them her happy smile before turning to an orange haired guy who seemed to only be paying half of his attention to Tohru and the other half to the man next to him.

"Kyo, I'm sorry, but could you mind the floor for a bit, I've got something I need to do." Tohru just smiled as the guy grumbled as he pulled himself to his feet.

"This is your place, why is it you never seem to be working?" He growled as he passed by, only to bit hit in the head by a thrown tea towel.

"It's your job, now shut up and do it." A purple haired waiter snapped before turning back to the table he was cleaning.

"Stupid bastard." Was all reply he got.

"Here, Ritsu." Tohru said, placing his previous plate of dinner before him.

"Oh! Thank you, but, you know you don't have to do this." He said quietly.

'I'm not really worth all the effort.'

"Ritsu, I'd do this for any of my friends, what makes you any different?"

"F-f-friend?" The word was foreign on his tongue; he'd never really had one of them before.

"Oh course." She just smiled.

The two sat there for the remainder of his dinner, her suggesting different ways he could reveal his feelings for Kagura and him slowly learning little things about her.

It was to the sound of loud laughing coming from Tohru's friends table that she got a brainwave.

"Oh, I know what you could do, Ritsu!" She exclaimed. "Why not bring her here! You know someone here so I could help you out in anything you might need and it'd be a nice, relaxed atmosphere. It'd be perfect!" She clapped her hands before her; brown eyes alight with excitement at the idea of someone having their first date with the person they loved at her little shop.

"Um, are you sure?" He asked, nervous but also wishing for something like that.

"Yes, oh, here you are." She got up and grabbed something from the counter before returning and handing it to him as he stood up. She handed him a familiar looking flier, only this one was in pink rather then the yellow his had been in.

"Show this to her and invite her to come along, you'll have great fun and I'll even give you both a discount." Tohru gave him a big smile as he took the paper from her.

"O-ok, I will." He said, hoping that he really would be able to summon the courage to do such a thing.

"Wonderful, I'm sure I'll see you soon then." She said as he began making his way to the door.

"Uh, y-yes, I'll come back soon." He said over his shoulder as he opened the door and sounded the cute little chime above the door. With a small wave to the lovely storeowner, he exited the store.

***()

Standing behind the counter in the reception area of the Bath House the next day, Ritsu took a steadying breath as his fingers brushed over his pocket for the fifth time this minute to make sure that the flier was still there. He had been waiting patiently for Kagura to finish her bath and come through here to go home.

When he saw her, he would greet her warmly and then casually say that his friend – he still wasn't used to that word at all – had given him a flier to their café – bookstore and he wondered if she'd like to go with him? It was that simple!

'I can do this!' He thought, feeling only a tiny bit confident but trying to talk himself into it anyway.

The sound of material moving alerted him to someone coming into the reception area and he felt himself freeze at the sight of the woman he loved. She looked just as beautiful as always, still flushed from being in the baths and her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, exposing her long neck.

'She's so beautiful.'

"Hey, Ritsu! I missed you yesterday!" She exclaimed, waving a hand in greeting even as she walked over to him.

"Um, y-yeah, I had something I w-wanted to check out."

"Oh, I was afraid something had happed to you or something." She gave him a soft smile as she stood on the other side of the counter to him.

He brushed his hand across his pocket where the flier was again; finger's trembling too much for him to get it out.

"N-no, I'm fine. B-but thank you for worrying about m-me." He felt a blush beginning to cover his cheeks and his eyes wandered down to the counter top as always.

"Well, I'm happy to hear that." He didn't look up at her as the silence became awkward between them.

Finally, he took a deep breath and, eyes still locked on the counter top, began speaking.

"Uh, K-kagura, I ah, I know it's um, well." His tongue just didn't seem able to speak the words he had in his head; it kept tripping up.

"Take a deep breath, Ritsu." Kagura said, not unkindly.

He took her advice and then made the mistake of glancing up at her. Big brown eyes were looking at him, their whole attention completely focused on him.

'Oh no.'

"I just wanted to say, t-thank you for w-worrying about m-me. Again." He blushed as shame ate away at his stomach.

'I'm such a loser.'

"Oh, it was no problem at all." She said, though her shoulders had dropped slightly for some reason.

"Well, I'll see you next time, then." She said, turning and leaving the Bath House, just like she did every evening.

Once the reception area was empty, Ritsu pulled out the flier from his pocket. Looking at the cheerful pink paper he sighed quietly to himself and walked over to the customer notice area, where he had originally found it in the first place. Unfolding it, he placed it on the small table with all the rest.

'It's not fair! But, I shouldn't expect anything better anyway…'

He turned away.

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