Not much to say, at the moment… I don't have a good excuse for not updating, but frankly, those who truly like this story are pretty lucky that I'm still updating. For most of my fanfictions, once I lose most of my interest, I just stop. Thank my friend Jordan for continually pestering me about posting and helping me through writers block. Plus, reviews are much appreciated, AND they're really great motivators!
Disclaimer: Just thought I'd remind you in case you'd forgotten, I don't own Fruits Basket. I only own Rei and Mai!
Chapter Thirteen
The boys had eventually gotten Ayame to leave, but only after he'd insisted on buying me lunch, showing me his shop, and taking me to a movie, all of which I'd politely declined, right after Kyo not-so-politely whacked him upside the head.
Mai came over a few days later. We lounged in the kitchen, gossiping and breaking out in random laughter at innocent jokes that our minds turned dirty. At one point, she had started suggestively licking a banana she'd snagged off the counter. I practically fell to the floor in a fit of giggles, and of course, at that moment Tohru and Yuki walked in.
Tohru was confused, because her mind was just too innocent to comprehend what it meant, but Yuki looked almost like a toad, his eyes were so wide. He quietly backed out the door, turned tail, and ran, but Tohru just kept staring at Mai, puzzled.
"Does it taste different when you lick it like that?" She asked, looking like she was desperately trying to understand. Mai and I snorted with laughter and shook our heads.
"Bananas are my favorite fruit," Mai choked out between laughs.
"She's just savoring it!" I managed to gasp between my giggles.
"Oh… Okay!" She exclaimed cheerily. She turned her back to us and started cleaning some of the dishes that were in the sink. Mai resumed pleasuring her fruit.
"Oh, dear… am I interrupting something?" Shigure asked from the doorway, staring and Mai with a raised eyebrow.
"No, I was just practicing," She said with a wink. I rolled my eyes. They'd been joking like this since she'd met him this morning, as though they'd known each other forever.
"As though you need practice, my dear," Shigure murmured with a mischievous smile. "I've already pointed out how good you are at eating those bananas."
Mai just shrugged. "Is there something wrong with wanting to improve?"
"If you want to improve, you can always feel free to practice with— ow!" He exclaimed as I whacked him on the back of his head.
"Stop flirting and go do whatever it is you pervs do," I commanded, shoving him out of the kitchen. He gave me a wounded look and shuffled off to his study.
Mai and I shared a glance and bent over with muffled laughter that would have gone on for God knows how long, but then we heard a startled little "Oh!" of surprise from the doorway.
I shot upright and looked in alarm at the figure standing in the doorway. It was a rather pretty young woman with long, light brown hair. She looked harmless enough, but I had to wonder what she was doing here.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt anything, I was just looking for Shigure…" She murmured timidly. "I knew I shouldn't have come, I'll just be on my way. I don't want to bother anybody."
"Are you one of Shigure's cousins?" I asked in a calm voice, figuring that this was a person who was easily alarmed.
"Yes, yes I am… My name is Ritsu."
Ritsu… Why did that name ring a bell? I thought hard, and then it came to me. That day I'd fallen down that hill, and Kyo caught me.
Stop that, you sound like Ritsu. He's my cousin. He. Remember that if you ever meet him.
I forced myself not to stare at the woman I'd just realized was a man. Kyo's cousin was a cross-dresser? I shook my head and smiled kindly at Ritsu. "I'm Rei Otsuka. I think Shigure is in his study, if you wanted to speak to him."
Ritsu seemed flustered. "Oh… Thank you. Sorry for interrupting…" He sidestepped out of the room and skittered off to Shigure's study.
"She seemed nice," Mai commented.
"He," I corrected. Mai gave me a weird look. "Kyo told me about him. He must be a cross-dresser."
Mai blinked a few times. "Whoa… I never would have guessed. For a man, he makes a pretty good woman."
I shrugged and nodded. I rolled my shoulders and glanced at Tohru, who seemed to be in deep concentration. I stared at her with one eyebrow raised until she looked at me and finally said, "Does Shigure like bananas too?"
Mai and I practically peed ourselves laughing, and we sat there for quite a bit getting our giggles out. I was about to think of a way to answer the now embarrassed and still confused Tohru, when a wail came from Shigure's study.
"I'm sorry! I'm so, so sorry! I don't deserve to be in your house, in your presence, I don't deserve anything that I have been given!" I blinked in confusion and stepped out of the kitchen. I met Yuki and the bottom of the stairs and gave him a questioning look. He just shrugged, and we both made our way to the study to investigate.
I raised my hand to tap on the door when Ritsu flung it open and scurried out, running straight into me. There was an audible poof and a puff of smoke. I coughed and waved the smoke out of my face to see a darling little monkey sitting in front of me.
"Ritsu… you're the monkey of the zodiac?" I asked quietly, stating the obvious.
"What was that? What happened?" Mai called, peering around the corner. Yuki stepped casually in front of Ritsu to hide him.
"Nothing serious, Ritsu just tried one of Shigure's cigarettes and it's made him a bit sick." I gave him a mental kudos for finding an explanation that would cover the now thinning smoke.
"Oh, I hope he's okay…" Mai murmured, sounding worried. "Can I help in any way? Or would it be best if I just left…?"
Shigure stepped out into the increasingly crowded hall, and I used his movement to scoot myself backwards and stealthily push Ritsu behind me. "Not to seem rude at all, but that probably would be best, Ritsu isn't a fan of people he isn't familiar with. You're welcome back anytime, though. Maybe we can 'practice' later," He said suggestively, raising his eyebrows.
"Shigure," I warned, while Mai just laughed. He ducked his head and held up his hands in surrender.
"No offense taken, anyway. I'll see you guys around," She said with a small laugh and a friendly wave. As she turned to open the door, I heard the slightest sound just outside. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.
"Mai, wait! Hang on a second!" Yuki shouted, lunging forward. She turned to look at him in surprise just as the door opened, and two small children walked in, one little boy and one girl.
"Huh? Hiro, look out!" The girl exclaimed, and shoved him to the side just as he and Mai would have collided. My eyes widened as the Hiro, caught off-guard, fell to the floor with an audible thump.
I hurried over to his side and offered him a hand up. "Are you alright?"
He just glared at me in a superior way and stood on his own, ignoring my hand.
Mai looked alarmed and quite a bit apologetic. "Sorry! Sorry! I'll just get out of the way now…" She hopped out of the girls way and out the door, turning to wave at us over her shoulder on her way out. The moment the door shut again, there was a poof from the hallway, and when I turned, I saw Ritsu scrambling into his clothes.
"I'm sorry! This is all my fault! The world would be a better place without me! Why was I even created? I'm an abomination!" He wailed.
Shigure sighed and swiftly jabbed Ritsu in the side. Ritsu fainted and collapsed to the ground.
I stared at Shigure in grudging admiration. "You have got to show me how you do that."
He just shrugged and looked at the kids. "And what brings you two here today?"
"I wanted to see sissy…" The girl whispered shyly. "Is… is that okay?"
Tohru walked into the room then. "Did I hear…. Oh, Kisa! I though I heard you out here."
Kisa grinned widely and hugged Tohru tightly around the waist. "Sissy!" She exclaimed.
Tohru smiled and hugged her back. I stood a bit awkwardly to the side, not having a clue who these kids were.
"Rei, these are our cousins, Hiro and Kisa. This is Rei Otsuka." Shigure introduced.
Kisa waved shyly at me, Hiro just hmphed and crossed his arms.
I held back my grimace at the intense bratty vibe. I could already tell this kid would drive me insane.
"Hiro, don't be rude…" Kisa murmured. Hiro rolled his eyes and gave me a sarcastic. "Hello."
I raised my eyebrow at him. "Yeah, nice to meet you too." He just sneered at me.
I sighed and looked at Shigure. "What is up with this kid's attitude?" I whispered. "Is there a Donkey of the Zodiac? Because he's acting like an ass."
Shigure snorted in amusement at my joke, but shook his head. "Hiro is the Sheep, or Ram, of the zodiac."
I nodded. "I suppose the Ram would make sense," I mused. "Stubborn and hard-headed… That seems about right."
From across the room, Hiro bristled. "I'm right here, you know!" He shouted.
"Yes, I know you're right there, meaning you don't have to shout," I retorted sharply. "Everyone else may take your crap, but I'm telling you here and now, I won't. Don't mess with me, child."
He glared daggers at me. "At least I'm not some wannabe badass."
I smiled innocently and batted my eyelashes. "Aw look, the kid's trying to act grown-up by swearing… How cute."
Hiro looked like he wanted to head-butt me. I just stuck my tongue out at him. He stuck his out back at me. I wiggled my fingers in front of my nose.
"Alright, what did I miss?" Kyo asked skeptically as he walked downstairs. I shot Hiro one more glare before straightening and acting slightly my age.
"At least she's not a wimp like Tohru," Hiro muttered grudgingly. I smirked triumphantly.
"Don't say rude things about Tohru," Yuki said as he stepped off the stairs to join the crowd in the room.
"I think 'don't say rude things in general' would be more bearable, but I highly doubt he's capable of that," I muttered.
"I can still hear you!" Hiro growled.
"Yes, I am aware of that," I rolled my eyes. "But you know, in a way, I kind of admire you, kid. Never met someone so young who would actually act the way you do. Just don't take it too overboard, and I won't have to throw a shoe at you."
Hiro looked taken aback, and Shigure laughed.
"I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've ever seen Hiro at a loss for words!" He exclaimed.
I just shrugged. "All in a days work."
Okay, I've been working on this chapter forever, and the ending really really sucks because I had no idea what I wanted to put, so I just kind of ended it. Sorry, but at least you get an update! Please review, it would be much appreciated. P.s. Notice that it says chapter thirteen at the top. 11 ½ was the last chapter. I am aware that I skipped chapter twelve, that was because I have a bit of OCD and it would have bugged me if the little thing at the top had said "13. Chapter 12" because you know it puts the little number there and then the title. Okay, Rambling over… haha.