*Muse Tunes: "Verso e Prosa" by Hans Zimmr, "Volare" by Russell Watson, Neil Jason, John Parricelli, Bashiri Johnson, Royal Philharmonic & Nicholas Dodd, "My Daughter Anne" by Ari Posner & Amin Bhatia, "The Accident" by Alexandre Desplat

CHAPTER 4 – A Capriccio

The next night Tohru found herself walking through a neighborhood very near and dear to her heart.

It was a beautiful evening. Milder than usual for the time of year and crystal clear, which made for a pleasant stroll the short distance from her rental house to the Hanajima family home. How often had she, Uo and Hana walked down this very street? She could clearly picture them as they were, a trio of schoolgirls in their middle school uniforms giggling over anything and everything together. Now they were all adults, Hana was about to get married and Uo was probably not far behind.

Tohru let out a long sigh. Sometimes she couldn't believe how much things had changed since those carefree days. She could perhaps blame this disorientation on the stubborn gap in her memories, but it had been ages since she let herself fall back on that excuse. If nothing else it was proof of time marching ever forward while Tohru herself had stood stationary, oblivious to the world shifting around her. But no more. She was determined to make the best of her time from now on…and what better way to get started than dinner with good company?

As soon as her destination came into view Tohru's face lit up. The Hanajima's home looked just as it always had, warm and comforting, just like the family itself. She could not deny the wave of powerful nostalgia that washed over her when she walked through the familiar iron gate and approached the front door. She had barely lifted her finger off the bell when the door swung open and she was promptly escorted inside.

"Tohru-chan!" called a sweetly feminine voice a moment before she was enveloped in an enthusiastic embrace.

"Hi Mrs. Hanajima," Tohru offered with a shy smile.

"None of that now! From now on you must call me Noaki," she said good-naturedly and then leaned in to add in an exaggerated whisper, "Even after twenty-five years of marriage I still think of 'Mrs. Hanajima'as my mother-in-law. With all you kids grown let me at least have this until Megumi brings his own bride home."

"Megumi is getting married?" Tohru squeaked in surprise.

"Hmm? Oh no, Megumi has only just graduated high school, dear."

"Stop confusing the poor girl, Noaki," a new voice interjected. Tohru looked up just in time to see the Hanajima matriarch entering the room with her son trailing silently behind her. Tohru subconsciously straightened as she noticed the inscrutable expression on the senior's face as she approached. "Now let me have a look at you child…hmm, yes. I see you still favor those skirts of yours. Not that I can blame you with those thighs."

"Mama!" Noaki gasped, looking at her mother-in-law aghast.

"What? If I had thighs like that I'd be wearing tiny little skirts too. Enjoy them while you can, dearie. Once you hit thirty it's all downhill."

Tohru could feel the heat literally leaping off her face. If her cheeks got any redder they would be on fire!

"Alright, Mom. Let's not scare the poor girl off before we even sit down for dinner. Hi Tohru, it's nice to see you," Mr. Hanajima interjected with a polite bow. At first glance he looked exasperated by his mother's comments but she couldn't help but notice the suppressed laughter in his eyes and a telltale twitch at the corner of his mouth.

"Yes, we're so glad you're here!" Noaki continued as her attention turned back to Tohru in full force. "Thank you for coming on such short notice! When Saki-chan mentioned you were already in town I simply couldn't help myself!" the older woman chirped excitedly.

"No, no, thank you for having me! I'm so glad to see you all," Tohru replied, her smile brightening as she allowed herself to relax.

"And just in time too. You'll get the chance to meet our Saki-chan's fiancé tonight, which is a real stroke of luck…he's flying out again first thing in the morning."

"Again? You mean he's gone a lot?"

"Well of course! He is a world-famous photographer."

Tohru's brow furrowed with concern. Hana had mentioned she met the man overseas, yet even knowing he was a foreigner she hadn't given a lot of thought to the implications of his profession. Was her friend really okay with him being away all the time? She couldn't really imagine being happy in such a relationship.

"Don't worry," Noaki teased. "He does have a shoot, but I have it on good authority the main priority for this trip is to pack up his Milan studio. He will not be gone for long."

"Really?"

"Mm, yes. It is less convenient for his work but having his studio here locally will cut his travel time in half. He has said it is well worth the sacrifice for our Saki-chan. Such a dear man."

"Not bad to look at either if you can get past the quirks. He's a real fruit loop that one."

"Mama!"

"Oh hush! I am not saying that as if it was a bad thing. The boy fits right in if you ask me. Why, if I was thirty years younger I might even fight Saki for him," the elder Hanajima said with a soft huff.

"And that's my que to leave," Mr. Hanajima announced with an eyeroll. "Tohru, make yourself at home. I will see you when the feminine squealing has ceased," he said as he made his escape.

Tohru looked between the two Hanajima ladies and giggled, prompting the others to share in her mirth. Any remaining tension in the room melted away beneath their broad smiles.

"Um, may I ask where I can find Hana-chan?" she asked once she got her giggles under control.

"She's in the kitchen cooking dinner with Rico-chan," Noaki replied.

"Rico-chan?" Tohru echoed, looking perplexed.

"Saki-chan's fiancé. His full name is such a mouthful that's we've taken to calling him Rico-chan instead."

"You might as well get used to it, Tohru," a new voice interjected. Tohru looked up to see a raven-haired teen descending the staircase. She was so shocked at first it took her a moment to process his next words. "Once he meets you Rico won't want to stand on formality with you either."

"Megumi, my goodness!" Tohru gasped as a hand went up to her mouth in surprise. Logically she knew the youngest Hanajima would have grown in her absence but somehow she never expected to find him looking so mature. Or so tall. As long as she'd known him Megumi had always been smaller than the other kids in his class. Pale and thin, with the trademark shock of dark hair and pale skin that so closely mirrored his older sister's. Obviously he'd hit a growth spurt at some point because he towered over her now, a young man.

"Surprised?" Megumi asked with a wry smile. If his looks hadn't reminded her the truth of his age the soft, masculine chuckle did, which in and of itself was a little unsettling. Perhaps that was what made her feel so…odd…or maybe it was the strange sense of déjà vu she was experiencing. But when would she have ever had first-hand experience with giant growth spurts? She had no siblings of her own and most of her friends were only-children too.

"A little," she finally admitted with a giggle of her own, forcefully pushing away the awkwardness. "Although I don't know why I should be. Of course you're all grown up! You just recently graduated high school, didn't you? With honors from what your sister told me. Congratulations!"

"I did and thank you," he replied in familiar, placid tones, his expression evening out to one she recognized well. She noticed he still sported all black clothing too, just like he always used to. Tohru relaxed. Megumi might have grown taller but he was still the boy she knew. As close to a brother as she would probably ever have. That was somehow comforting.

"Hana-chan mentioned you got into the college you wanted. Have you decided what you're going to study?"

Megumi nodded and then softly offered, "After much debate I decided education."

Tohru looked up in surprise, and then quickly beamed at him. "Really? But that's a wonderful idea. You'll make an excellent teacher!"

"Perhaps," was all he offered with a shrug before he turned his gaze upon his mother. "I suspect you will be taking her to Saki now?"

"Yes, thank you, Megumi. Come, Tohru-chan. If we're quick maybe we can surprise them," Noaki said as she linked her arm with Tohru's and ushered her down the hallway.

Tohru highly doubted Saki Hanajima was ever taken by surprise by anything in her life, but she followed her hostess anyway to the Hanajima's spacious kitchen. There standing at the center island serenely chopping vegetables was her friend and a handsome young man with curly dark hair she assumed was the mysterious Enrico. They were quite obviously wrapped up in their own little world as they worked together at the counter…until Tohru was spotted.

"Ah! Benvenute belle signore! Buona sera! Ciao la suocrea…and you…must be the Tohru Honda I have heard so much about!"

Tohru blinked in shock as Enrico kissed her soundly on both cheeks. She didn't know what to think, even after Hana's Mom went through the same treatment.

"My love, you will overwhelm dear Tohru with your enthusiasm," Hana chided teasingly as she wiped her hands on a towel and crossed the room to give Tohru her own more subtle greetings.

"Per Favore, forgive me. I have been waiting a long time to finally make your acquaintance," he replied, looking a little like a scolded puppy as he took a step back to offer her a proper bow. "Piacere di conoscerti, I am Enrico Graziano de Cotarini but please, call me Rico as the others do. I look forward to getting to know you, Miss Honda."

"Then you must call me Tohru," she urged as she flashed the handsome Italian a bright smile.

"Very well, Tohru it is!" he declared, his dark eyes dancing with obvious mirth. She decided instantly she liked the man. His innate warmth and heavily accented Japanese were oddly charming even if she didn't understand half of what he was saying.

"Hana-chan can I help with anything?" Tohru offered eagerly.

"You can help by keeping my mother company while Rico and I finish up in here," Hana replied with a knowing smile.

"But—"

"Relax, bella, and allow us to prepare this meal for you."

His smile was so sincere there really was nothing else she could do but follow Noaki into the living room where she still had a view of the kitchen should she be needed for anything.

"Rico-chan's Japanese is actually quite good…he just tends to revert to Italian when overexcited," Noaki explained quietly in her ear as they walked. "He can speak English too if you need something else to fall back on."

"O-oh. That's alright. I was never very good with English."

Noaki let out a burst of laughter. "Don't worry, he doesn't bite. Saki-chan on the other hand will take great pleasure in teasing the both of you."

By this time Tohru and Noaki had settled together on one of the plush couches in the living room where the others were already gathered partaking of some light Hors d'oeuvres. Mrs. Hanajima offered her a glass of something she didn't recognize which she politely declined out of excessive caution.

"So, Tohru. I hear you're back in town to stay," Mr. Hanajima said.

"Yes, that's right," she replied, flashing a bright smile. "First I have to find an apartment and a new job, but that's the general plan…after Hana-chan's wedding of course! Until then I am completely at your disposal. Please, if there's anything I can do to help, anything at all—"

"We have things well in hand, Tohru. If that changes you'll be the first one to know."

"Oh, I know! You could work at the art gallery! Saki was just telling me the other day there was an opening…" Noaki said excitedly.

Tohru inwardly groaned. "Yes, she did mention that to me last night."

"If you're concerned about your qualifications, I'm sure Saki-chan would put a good word in…"

"It's not that. Precisely. It's more that…"

"Let me guess. You're not really interested in working at the gallery but because my sister put you up to it you're having a hard time telling her no," Megumi supplied evenly.

Tohru blushed, confirming his words, and then suddenly turned a look of panic on him. "It's not that I don't appreciate the consideration! Hana-chan has always been so supportive…I-I just…" Tohru's hands twisted in a knot in her lap. In truth she was much more worried about what else Hana might convince her of once she was on the inside.

"You're too nice, Tohru. You shouldn't always let my sister have her way. It's your life, only you can decide what is best for you."

Megumi was right. Her friends always had the best of intentions but sometimes they overstepped. More often than not she let them. Most of the time it was over little things too minor to really bother her but occasionally she would find herself eaten with anxiety. Like with her paintings. No doubt Uo and Hana thought she was being stubborn out of some sense of modesty. What they couldn't seem to understand was how deeply personal her paintings were. They evoked feelings of a time in her life when she knew nothing but pain and confusion. Often, they were things that perplexed her from remnants of her dreams. To see them on public display for the masses to dissect would be completely untenable.

"It's okay, Tohru-chan. No one's forcing you to work there. You should tell Saki though. She might be a little disappointed, but she won't be upset if she knows it's what you really want," Noaki promised with a comforting squeeze to her hand.

Tohru nodded and let herself relax again. Her friend's mother was one of the sweetest women she knew, but she was also well aware of what she had gone through to give her daughter as normal a life as possible. She was shrewder and far more observant than she let on. If she said Hana would drop it then she believed it without question.

As the conversation around her turned to more cheerful things Tohru found herself listening contentedly to the Hanajima's easy banter. After a while she found her eyes drifting instead to the engaged couple in the kitchen and found herself surprised at her observations. They were easy together, and playful, touching each other almost as often as they exchanged secret smiles. Had she ever seen her enigmatic friend appear so unguarded around anyone before?

"They look natural together don't they," Noaki whispered next to her as if she had somehow heard her innermost thoughts. When Tohru murmured her agreement, the older woman continued on in a hushed voice, "I was worried when they got engaged so quickly but if I've learned anything from the last few months it's that my Saki knows her own mind. Before, if you had told me she would be getting married, I never would've believed it."

"Why is that?" Tohru asked, looking at her in surprise.

"Oh, it's not that I believed there was no one out there for her. Only…love requires a great deal of trust. Trust I feared she would never be willing to give anyone let alone a romantic partner. Rico-chan…he understands her…sees and accepts her for who she is. He embraces all of her, wave powers and all, and is just quirky enough to keep her guessing himself."

"He challenges her."

"A rare gift to someone like Saki. I think she challenges him too. Did she tell you how they met? It's a good thing he's a persistent man, otherwise we would not be planning a wedding right now!"

Tohru giggled. "You're right about that! Hana-chan can be pretty savage sometimes. Poor Rico-chan. He seems like a good man.

"The very best," Mrs. Hanajima agreed enthusiastically. "Someday you will meet someone like him too.

"I…don't know about that."

"I do. Because I know who you are, Tohru-chan, and for a fraction of the happiness you've shown my Saki in friendship these past years you deserve every bit of happiness in return."

Dinner was a pleasant affair. The joyous chaos was a far cry from the strictly proper meals served at the Yamada's or the deafening silence she was more often treated to in the solitude of her tiny apartment.

The meal Enrico and Hana had prepared was an unfamiliar Italian dish with a name she would never be able to properly pronounce. She had been unsure at first, and then pleasantly surprised to find it every bit as tasty as it was colorful. Wine and conversation flowed, and although she was usually not much of a drinker, she did sip enough from her own glass to feel a flush bloom across her cheeks.

All throughout the meal Enrico was engaging and effusive, displaying both good humor and genuine charm. To Tohru's relief, once he relaxed his Japanese became much clearer, as Noaki predicted, and she was finally able to understand what he was saying (for the most part). A natural storyteller, he kept them all in stiches with his stories of misbehaving models and cultural faux pas, which Hana surprisingly added to with some of her own anecdotes. When Tohru asked out of curiosity for his version of their first meeting his smile broadened as he turned an adoring gaze to his fiancé.

"The first time I laid eyes on her I thought she was stunning. I have met many beautiful women over the years, capisci? For my craft. But to see one possessed of such candor and grace…she was art in movement. I thought, here is a woman I must capture. By the end of our first date, I knew I must love her. Of course, my Saki had other ideas at first," he added with a light chuckle.

"I thought you were the densest man I had ever met. Who flies thousands of miles across the globe to ask a woman who flat out rejected him on a date?" Hana intoned.

"An optimist?" Enrico replied to a chorus of chuckles. "But in the end we did come to an accord, did we not, my love?"

"I suppose you did grow on me."

"And I will spend the rest of my days reminding you of the fact," he replied huskily as he brought her hand to his mouth to brush a gentle kiss across her knuckles. Tohru wasn't sure what shocked her more: the suggestiveness of the statement or the pretty blush on her best friend's face. She was apparently not the only one who thought so because a second later Mr. Hanajima cleared his throat and changed the subject.

The only somewhat awkward moment of the evening came when Tohru asked Enrico if anyone in his family was flying in for the wedding. At the pregnant pause that followed she realized she'd asked something maybe she shouldn't have.

"Eh, no," he began hesitantly, "My brother is very busy with the family business, and my parents…we have not spoken for many years."

"But surely they would at least want to know you're getting married?" When he only stared at her Tohru bowed her head in shame. "I am so sorry! Hana-chan told me you had a falling out but I forgot about it up until now. Please feel free to ignore me I was just being selfish and thinking of Mom and what I would give to have her at my own wedding and I shouldn't have interfered in what is obviously a painful memory and I—"

"Please do not stress yourself, bella. All is well," Rico interjected softly. "The Hanajima's are my family now. The one I have chosen and that has chosen me in return. That is blessings enough for me."

Tohru blushed and thanked him for graciously accepting her apology. Although she couldn't help but think that he looked far more pensive for the rest of the night than he had before her blunder.

At the end of the night the whole family walked Tohru to the gate to send her off with lots of hugs and well wishes and promises to get together again soon. Only Saki and Rico lingered to watch her depart after all the others had returned to the house.

After one last wave goodbye Saki folded her hands in front of her and looked up at her fiancé enquiringly. "What do you think?"

Rico flashed her a warm smile. "I like her."

"You do?"

"Yes. Very much," he confirmed as her wrapped an arm around her and gave her a peck on the temple. "She is just as sweet as you said she was. Only…"

"Only?"

"She has experienced great loss, no? She is, eh, how you say…fragmented?"

Saki's eyes flashed in painful memory but her only reply was, "In a manner of speaking."

"Ah, I did notice."

"What?"

"That she does have a quirky manner of speaking." Rico added playfully, making Saki roll her eyes before he pulled her into his side. "Come, bella. Let's go say goodbye to your parents so I can take you home and make mad, passionate love to you."

When she got back home Tohru absently kicked off her shoes and put on the kettle for tea. After the joyous laughter and happy voices from earlier, the sparse rental house felt far too flat and empty.

She traipsed into the bedroom to change for the night, walking through the motions unseeingly as she put on air pair of baggy, threadbare sweats and t-shirt. After a second thought she threw on an oversized hoodie overtop before walking back out to the kitchen.

Tea in hand, she walked out onto the rental house's tiny back patio and leaned back against the wall. She let herself slide down until she was sitting on the hardwood with her arms propped up on her knees. She looked up into the dark abyss and let out a shaky breath.

How many nights had she found herself sitting like this, seeking comfort from the night sky? She couldn't say. Ever since her release from the hospital, she felt more at peace looking up at the stars then she did at any other time…more connected somehow. Is that why she was out here now? Looking for comfort? It had been such a good night. She was happy to spend time with the Hanajima's and ecstatic for her friend, and yet…somehow, she still needed the reassurance that only the night sky could offer.

Cupping her tea mug a little tighter between her hands she absent-mindedly traced the rim of the cup with her thumbs as she relived the night's events. She thought of the welcome the whole Hanajima family had shown her. Of her first impressions of Enrico and how obviously happy he and Hana were together.

In truth she was a little in awe of them. For all that they had a whirlwind relationship they seemed to truly get each other. It made her think…maybe Noaki was right after all and there was someone out there for her too. All-too soon her thoughts turned to her mother, as they often did at times like these. Her heart ached at the thought of how things could be and before long a familiar sensation pricked at the back of her eyes.

"Always together," she whispered into the void, just as she had countless times before. Even though much had changed since the first time she had uttered those words, they usually still had the power to bolster her whenever she needed it. This time they just felt hollow.

In the morning Tohru found that a good night's sleep had done wonders for her equanimity. Whatever remained of the lingering wistfulness from the night before, she had woken with a surge of new resolve to think no more of it and had thrown herself into a flurry of activity instead. After all, what was loneliness when there was so much to be accomplished?

The next couple of days were a whirlwind. Tohru spent most of her time out and about, diligently job and apartment hunting. Her first stop had been to the placement agency she used the last time she was in town, followed by several nearby local apartment complexes that had advertised available units for lease. Things had not progressed as easily as she would've liked in either case, but she was determined to keep positive as she continued the search.

By the time Thursday afternoon rolled around Tohru was starting to have doubts. She was just about ready to throw in the towel for the day when she decided she needed a new dress for Saturday's concert.

That wasn't what brought her all the way to the other side of town that balmy sun-spackled day, but it was why she lingered there, staring anxiously down a strip of the cutest little shops she had ever seen. Surely somewhere on this street was a store that carried a pretty, reasonably priced dress suitable for an afternoon at the symphony…right?

Apparently not, she thought glumly three stores later. The dresses she'd seen so far had been very pretty, yes, but way out of her price range. Dropping down onto a nearby bench, Tohru let out a dejected huff, blowing a few strands of wayward hair out of her face. Shopping had been an impulse of the moment so she really had no right to feel so put out (and how could she really when it was so beautiful outside?). Yet it felt right in line with how the rest of her day was going.

She had only been in the neighborhood to begin with for a job interview at a full-service bridal boutique in the area. Apart of her knew what would happen if she applied but she couldn't help herself when she saw the posting online. To spend all day making the wishes of soon-to-be brides come true, what a dream! She'd had hearts in her eyes ever since. It had gone well too…up until the end when they asked about her former employer and, well…no bride wanted to worry whether the help would hit on their fiancé. Or so the snooty assistant manager said with an affected sniff that reminded her so much of Mrs. Yamada she couldn't help but do a double-take.

Perhaps next time she should be a little less candid. If only she was able to control her nerves she wouldn't babble at the worst possible moments, making an already awkward situation worse. Then maybe she wouldn't find herself in such humiliating situations.

It was no matter to her now anyways. What's done was done and she would have to find something else. With a deep breath Tohru stood and brushed the imaginary dirt off her dress pants. Just so she didn't feel like she had a wasted trip she tried a couple of more stores in her search for a dress. She didn't have luck finding anything there either, but the clerk at the last store (who'd been way nicer than the others) had slipped her something on her way out. When she was back out on the street, she took a look at what she was given and found a business card.

"Ayame…Most Trusted…Most Caring," she read out loud. "Hmm. Well, at least it's closer to home," she mused with a shrug.

Tohru's stomach suddenly rumbled in protest and she giggled. In all her worry she had forgotten to have lunch. A quick glance to the end of the street and down the other produced several dining options. She decided on the ramen place across the street and headed off in that direction at a casual pace. Almost immediately she was preoccupied again by the insistent whirl of her mind. Thoughts popped into her head at random, creating a jumbled mass of fragmented worries. She was so distracted in fact that she saw little of the other pedestrians going about their day, the busy plaza, or even the street traffic. When she came to the curb, she barely registered the crosswalk signal before she stepped out onto the street.

The sequence of events that followed happened so fast that it was over before she even knew what was happening. First a man on a bike came from out of nowhere, nearly crashed into her, and kept going with barely an apology tossed over his shoulder. Then the sickening sound of squealing tires, the rev of an engine and the sight of a black sedan barreling straight towards her. Some part of her understood the danger and had the presence of mind to step back towards the sidewalk, but it wasn't quite far enough. She didn't give it much credence at the time, but when she thought back later on the scene and concentrated past the utter shock of almost being killed she would realize two very important factors: that when she stepped back to the relative safety of the curb, the driver didn't break but accelerated, and that he swerved…in her direction. As it was happening she was frozen in place. All she could do is look on in horror and pray and wonder if this was what her mother had gone through all those years ago.

When the impact came it wasn't from the front as she expected but from the side. All the air rushed out Tohru's lungs as she hit the ground. Her vision went dark and her ears rang, but only for a moment. The weight of something heavy kept her pinned where she was. She tried to move but found herself trapped—not under twisted steel as she expected, but by something very warm and very human.

In an instant she understood that someone had tackled her to the ground and out of the way of the speeding vehicle. Someone who felt like an unmovable wall and had not so much as twitched or spoken since they both hit the ground. With a few jerky movements she managed to swivel her torso around enough for her to be able to move her head and look up—straight into the eyes of Mr. Handsome.

*Author Note: I hope to never again make you all wait so long for an update. RL has a way of giving you Scooby snacks one day only to kick you in the (figurative) balls the next. I will spare you most of the details, but it does involve several cross-country trips, a funeral, and the general chaos of work and the holidays. At the end of the day, the two positive things I got out of it was my very own ginger kitty (whom I did not name Kyo, as tempted as I was) and finally…finally after weeks of trying…a little time to write. I hope you were as excited to read this as I was to be back to writing. I missed it and am happy to be continuing on with this journey. Oh, and…please don't butcher me if I have, err…butchered…the Italian. I did try to be thoughtful on how I used it but translation programs can be notoriously faulty so you will have to forgive me if there are any errors.

Lastly, thank you all for the kind thoughts on the last update. There is so much more to come, so I hope you stay with me! Next chapter is back to Kyo's POV. How do you think he's going to handle their second meeting?