How Have You Been, My Brother

(Kazuko's POV)

*It was almost May. Yuki seemed to be doing a lot better since our run-in with Akito. But little did I know, today we'd be meeting someone else from the Sohma family*

(Fruits Basket - Opening Theme - Again)

(Kazuko's POV)

*I looked up from my book when I heard Kyo's stomach growl*

Kyo: Man, I'm freakin' starving.

Shigure: I bet Tohru will be back before long.

*I put my book down, stood up, & headed into the kitchen*

Kazuko: Why don't I just start now?

Kyo: Good idea.

Shigure: Kyo, if you're really hungry I've got something that might take the edge off. *he handed Kyo a bowl of miso, chives, & onions* Let's have a little snack. Delicious and nutritious.

*I sighed. Just just knocked the bowl out of his hands*

Kyo: Can't you find anything better to do than screw with me!?

Shigure: Kyo, how are you waste perfectly good food! I'm ashamed. *suddenly, the front door slammed opened & a pair of footsteps came running in* Oh, look at that. The intrepid gardeners have -

*Suddenly, Yuki shoved a long, thin, white snake in his face, looking furious*

Yuki: Skin is revolting preacher and roast it's reptilian corpse.

Shigure: Huh? Oh, Ayla.

Kyo: What!?

Kazuko: Who?

Shigure: Well, this is a surprise. What brings you here?

*Tohru ran in, holding a pile of red clothes*

Tohru: Um, Yuki!

*Yuki just looked even more angry*

Yuki: I said skin this filthy thing and cook it!

Shigure: Now, now. Let's all stay calm

*We set Aya down on his clothes in the next room*

Shigure: This is Ayame Sohma. As I'm sure you've realized, he's the snake.

*He closed the door*

Tohru: Yeah.

Shigure: Snakes don't tend to do very well in the cold weather. So he transforms like that a lot this time of year.

Tohru: Winters must be hard on him.

Shigure: See, there's me, Ayame, and Hatori. All the same age. So we've been together since elementary school. I like to think of us as the Three Musketeers. Always looking out for each other.

Tohru: Wow. I had no clue. That's adorable!

Kazuko:*in his mind* Wow. I can't believe Hatori kept his insanity for all those years.

Shigure: So, Yuki, are you going to tell me why we have snake on the menu?

Yuki: It's too appalling to to be spoken out loud!

Shigure: Oh, come on. Don't be so hard on him. After all, he is your own dear brother.

*Tohru & I both looked at him in confusion. Suddenly, a puff of purple smoke appeared from behind the door to the room Ayame was staying in*

Ayame:*off-screen* If you'll give me a moment, I shall explain the incident myself. I was dreadfully cold. My body weakened. What choice had I, but to seek warmth. When a warm human body approaches me in such a time, I must cling to it. And so, acting on instinct, I did.

*The doors opened, revealing a man, with long silver hair, pale skin, gold eyes, & wearing a long red Chinese dress over a long black dress & black flat shoes*

Ayame: Greetings all! Hello, Yuki. How have to been my brother?

Kazuko:*in his mind* It's a grown up Yuki. Wait. Cling to a human body? You mean to tell me he . . .

*My surprise turned into a look that could kill*

Yuki: Unacceptable! Consider yourself lucky that we haven't called the police!

Kyo: Whoa, whoa. What did that jerk do to you?

Kazuko: Yes . . . *I kept my glare at Ayame* Please enlighten us.

Tohru: Oh, it's no big deal.

Kazuko: If he did what I think he did, then it seems like a big deal to me!

Ayame: Oh. So Kyon-Kichi really did come to live here.

Kyo: I told you not to use that stupid nickname!

Ayame: Okay well, Kyon-Kichi aside,

Kyo: I said stop!

Ayame: It's been too long, darling.

Shigure: Yes, since it has been.

Ayame: Did you behave yourself? You better not have cheated on me, you dog.

Shigure: I would never do such a think. You know you're the only one for me. Truly.

*Then they gave each other the thumbs up sign*

Yuki: Seriously?

Kazuko:*in his mind* Wow. He and Yuki are like night and day.

Shigure: So anyway, this is Tohru and Kazuko Honda. I'm guessing you came here to meet them.

Ayame: Yes, indeed I did. *he bowed to us* My apologies. Hello. I'm Yuki's older brother. Call me Ayame.

Tohru: Um, right! Nice to meet you.

Kazuko: Pleasure.

*He ignored me & kept looking at Tohru*

Ayame: Oh no, not at all. The pleasure is mine, Princess. The lone Belle in this den of beasts. You poor thing. A captive among foul brutes.

Shigure: No one's being held captive here.

Yuki: That's enough. You don't need to make fun of her on top of everything else.

Ayame: I would never. Whatever you may think, I'm paying her the utmost respect. *then he nonchalantly sat down at the table, tapping it with his hand* Make some tea, Princess! I'm simply parched. And luncheon too as quickly as you can.

Kyo, Yuki, & Kazuko: That's not respect!

Kazuko: This isn't a restaurant! If you're going to boss people around, then get out!

Tohru: Kazuko!

Shigure: He's right. That's how you treat a servant. Not a Princess.

Ayame: Is it? Bring luncheon at your leisure then.

Kyo: That wasn't the issue!

Ayame: Really. Why must this be so complicated? Alright then. *he stood up* Come, Tohru.

Tohru: Me?

*Suddenly, he grabbed my sister's hand & dragged her towards the front door*

Kazuko: Hey!

Ayame: We shall eat out! No need to fear, it'll be my treat!

*The door closed. Yuki, Kyo, & I all turned to Shigure with glared*

Shigure: I don't know why you're upset with me.

(Tohru's POV)

*Ayame & I sat at the counter of a restaurant, me feeling really nervous. Ayame was braiding his long hair*

Ayame: Go ahead. Feel free to order whatever you'd like. I'll be having the gyoza lunch plate. *I could feel people staring at him from behind, wondering if he was a woman or not* Yuki and the others will be fine on their own. They're not helpless children. I promise, they can fend for themselves.

Tohru: Yes, but . . . After all they've done . . .

*Suddenly, he grabbed my face, making me blush*

Ayame: I just want to a meal. Is that too much to ask?

Tohru: Oh no! Of course not! I mean it was very generous of you to offer.

*He let go*

Ayame: Indeed. *he turned to the cook* Excuse me. We'll have two gyoza lunch plates!

Cook: Comin' up!

Tohru:*in her mind* I'm just along for the ride. *then he gave us each a glass of water**out loud* Honestly, I'm surprised. In all the time Kazuko and I have known him, Yuki's never said anything about having a brother.

Ayame: It's not something he'd be likely to mention. As you can tell, we don't need exactly get along. Actually, perhaps it's more accurate to say that we're not close. There's a ten year difference in our ages. And Yuki was a sickly baby. He was kept more or ness quarantined from the time he was born. So basically, I did as I pleased and barely spared him a thought. Beyond occasionally remembering I had a brother.

Tohru:*in her mind* Quarantined?

Ayame: By the time I noticed it, the rift between us had grown deep. With steep cliffs to either side. Too wide to traverse. *he turned back to me* Yuki seems well. I heard that Akito came to visit your school.

Tohru: Um, yes.

Ayame: That can't have been easy. I won't tell you the details myself, but to Yuki, Akito is a source of terror. It's more extreme than the fear the rest of us feel. I worried he'd be depressed after their encounter. Honestly, I came to check in on him more than to meet you and your brother. But he seems to be doing just fine. Which was frankly disappointing. I thought I'd finally have a chance to act like a big brother. To be honest, I'm a bit jealous of you and your brother.

Tohru: Of . . . Us . . .

Ayame: I heard that you two were very close. I could tell how close you were as soon as he gave me that death glare. You don't know how long I've wished I could be that close to Yuki.

Tohru: Of course. Kazuko's my brother. We've been together since we were bron. Um, can I ask? Do you regret it now? Letting the rift grow between you?

Ayame: Funny how life works. Things we're oblivious to as children have a way of becoming painfully clear as we age. Things we should have done. Words we should have said. Paths we should have taken. If only we had. How different life might be. What I feel may be less about regret and more about repentance. Perhaps if I atone for my mistakes now, I can let my younger self off the hook. Goodness. We adults sure are arrogant, aren't we?

Tohru: You know, our Mom said something once. *he looked at me* She only understood how parents felt after she had me and Kazuko and became one. But she also said she knew it was important to hang on to childhood self. No matter how old she got. She refused to let herself forget. The first time she did a flip on the jungle gym. The first time she got yelled at. She said that she could always remember how she felt as a child, then even grown up, she could talk to them, on a real level. Maybe she couldn't completely understand. But she could still meet them halfway.

(Flashback)

Kyoko: And besides, life is more fun like that. Don't you think?

(Present Time)

*Then I freaked out, afraid I had said too much*

Tohru: That was probably way more than you really wanted to listen to, but basically what I'm trying to say is, you and Yuki can meet each other halfway! It's not too late. *then I looked down. I had overstepped my boundaries* I'm sorry.

Ayame: It's okay. Really. That was actually . . . Insightful.

*I felt really happy hearing that*

Tohru: I know! Our Mom's the best in the whole world!

Ayame: Anyway, I see why Yuki seems to be doing so well. And maybe there's still hope for us. I won't know until I try.

*Then the cook handed us our gyozas*

Cook: Here you go.

Ayame: Our food! Excellent! Well then, shall we?

Tohru: Yes, please.

*I broke apart my chopsticks & got ready to eat, but Ayame interrupted me*

Ayame: Do something for me.

Tohru: Hm?

Ayame: Continue being such a good friend to my brother. You and Kazuko both.

Tohru:*off-screen* For just a second, he seemed different somehow.

(Kazuko's POV)

*The sun was going down by the time Tohru came home. Without Ayame*

Tohru:*off-screen* Hello! Anyone home?

*Yuki & I ran up to her*

Kazuko: Tohru, you're back!

Tohru: Yep. Did you four end up finding something to eat?

Yuki: Forget that. Did my brother do anything to upset you?

Tohru: No. He took me to lunch. It was delicious. *Yuki & I both sighed in relief* Hey, Yuki? I was wondering, would you say that you hate your brother. *Yuki looked confused by the question* Oh, nevermind. It's really none of my business. I'm sorry.

Yuki: Well, I guess it's more that . . . I find my difficult. I can never tell what he's thinking. And we're so different.

Ayame:*off-screen* Then those are obstacles we must overcome! Now is the time for us to meet each other halfway. *suddenly, Ayame, in his snake form, came out from under my sister's dress* Okay, brother?

*I went completely rigid*

Tohru: I'm sorry! But he transformed again right after we left the restaurant and then he told me that sometimes snakes can die if they get too cold, so - !

Ayame: And we wouldn't want that!

*That's when Yuki, Kyo, & I attacked him*

Yuki: You're no brother of mine, you scum!

Tohru: Yuki!

Ayame:*laugh* Once cannot alter the truth!

Shigure: Oh, hi. When did you two get back?

*A few days later, I woke up to Kyo screaming from his room*

Kyo:*off-screen* I'll kill you!

*I sighed. This was going to be another long day*

*At the breakfast table, Ayame had a bump on his head*

Ayame: I was left with no other choice. Yuki and Kazuko had locked their doors and forbid me entry into their rooms.

Kyo: Well Shigure got a room too, you idiot!?

Ayame: Oh, that wouldn't do. He never let's me get a lick of sleep.

Shigure: Careful now, honey. Think of the kids.

Kyo: Just stop. How much longer are you gonna be here anyway!?

*Yuki & I both just ate our food, trying to ignore them*

Ayame: Not to worry. I can sleep in darling Tohru's room tonight.

*I immediately grabbed my sister & pulled her away from him, all while giving him a death glare*

Kazuko: Over my dead body!

Kazuko:*off-screen* It's been three days since Ayame came to stay with us. Tohru told me how he was trying to mend the relationship between him and Yuki. But none of this was helping. He needs go home.

*That's afternoon, at school, Tohru & I were sweeping the school steps. Momiji & Haru were also there, helping & just lounging around*

Momiji: Really? Aya's visiting? I haven't seen him since New Year's. He lives on the outside too.

Tohru: Oh yeah. I didn't realize that.

Momiji: Maybe I should come say hello. Oh. I wouldn't want to get in the way of any brotherly bondage time though.

Hatsuharu: It's bonding.

Kazuko: And trust me. You wouldn't be interrupting anything.

Momiji: Was Yuki glad to see Aya?

Tohru: Well . . .

Hatsuharu: There he is.

*Yuki walked by, looking exhausted*

Momiji: Uh, Yuki-pukie.

Tohru: You think so?

Kazuko: I'd say so.

Hatsuharu: I get it. Totally.

Momiji: The shop though. Who's running it while Aya's away? I mean, he's the owner.

Tohru: Nobody told us that Ayame ran his own business.

Hatsuharu: It's true. He sells wedding dresses. Along with nurses uniforms and maid outfits.

Kazuko: So . . . Like a costume shop?

Momiji: It's a shop for men's fantasies! That's what he says.

*That just made me more confused*

*Tohru, Yuki, Kyo, & I made it back home*

Tohru: Hey, we're home!

*We found Shigure & Ayame sitting at the table with books in front of them*

Kazuko:*in his mind* He's still here.

Ayame: Heavens. What good boys. Coming straight home from school without dawdling. Were you that eager to see me again? Sweet of you. Though I'd prefer more alone time with Tohru.

Kazuko:*in his mind* That's why we're here, you creep!

*Tohru noticed the books on the table*

Tohru: You're looking at a photo album, huh?

Ayame: Hmm. From our high school days. How young we were. See? Tori's there too.

Shigure: Three handsome devils.

Tohru: Yes! Wow. So you were already wearing your hair long back when you were a teenager?

Ayame: Indeed. Though it was against the rules.

Tohru: Huh?

Ayame: Your turn, Yuki. Come take a look-see. Get to know your brother.

Yuki: Not interested.

Ayame Always so stubborn. Very well then, you leave me no choice but to tell the story of why I was permitted to keep my hair long.

Yuki: What!?

Ayame: Listen closely. It all happened in my first year of high school.

Yuki: I don't care!

*He started telling us the story of how he tricked the Principal into believing that he was part of a Royal family so that he could keep his hair long. Yuki, Kyo, & I face-palmed as he finished his story*

Ayame: And thus he was persuaded. My locks were unshorn.

Tohru: Wait. You're royalty from another country?

Kazuko: It was a lie, Tohru.

Kyo: How freakin' oblivious can you be!?

*Shigure nodded*

Shigure: Those were the days.

Yuki: You're unbelievable.

Shigure: But wait. I have an even more unbelievable tidbit. Aya was Student Council President.

*That immediately got our attention*

Tohru: Really!? That's amazing!

Shigure: He was more popular back then than you might think. Sure, some of it was due to his good looks, but what really drew people in was just how . . . Sensational he was. He changed rules and generally shook things up. Suddenly, school was a lot more fun. Who knows, maybe he had a natural talent for leadership.

Ayame: Oh, I'm not so sure. Honestly, I always thought Tori would have been a better choice for the job. So much responsibility.

Kazuko:*in his mind* Now that I can agree with.

Ayame: Well, you know. You remember the school trip, don't you?

Shigure: Sure. And everything that came after.

Yuki: After? Did something happen?

*Tohru looked happy that he had asked. I admit, I was a little curious myself*

Ayame: On the trip, a few of the students took a detour. I'm sad to say, they paid a visit to the Pleasure District. *hearing that, made us all freeze* Now, now. Wait. Don't pass judgment without hearing their side. Any red blooded boy might find themselves doing the same in their situation. And for what it's worth, we didn't go along.

Shigure: We were over that scene. So last year.

Kazuko:*in his mind* I can't believe he just said that our loud.

Ayame: Bur alas, in a stroke of bad luck, the teachers learned of their transgression. And they rengefully declared that the students should be expelled. Of course, I protested this in my capacity as President. And so, a meeting was held between the students, their Guardians, the Principal, and the Teachers. *then he told us how he had made a fool of himself during the meeting & the teachers had to drag him out of the room* The end. Quite a moving story don't you think?

Kyo: Try idiotic!

Ayame: Excuse you. They all escaped expulsion thanks to that speech.

Kyo: You're kidding, right?

Shigure: It helped that Hatori stepped in and smooth things over afterwards. But Aya was our President until the very end.

Kazuko: Seriously!?

*Ayame stood up*

Ayame: Now tell me, Yuki. Don't you feel like you understand your brother a little better?

Yuki: Get out right now.

*I sighed. I could feel a headache coming*

Ayame: That didn't do the trick? Alright. Then I'll tell you about the chairman's statue.

Yuki: Not necessary. Get out.

Ayame: It all happened one warm summer day -

Yuki: I said get out!

*Ayame kept talking, ignoring Yuki demands to leave*

Kyo: Shigure, do something about this jerk!

Shigure: Hm? Why? This is fun.

Ayame: Yes. I'm having a great time.

Kyo: Well, you're driving the rest of us crazy!

Shigure:*sigh* I can't help anyway. I've never been able to control Aya. The only person he listens to -

*Suddenly, the door behind him opened & Hatori stepped in*

Hatori: Hey. If you leave your door unlocked, anyone can walk in.

Kazuko: Hatori?

Shigure: Speak of the devil.

Ayame: Tori. Why what brings you here?

Hatori: Hatsuharu. He told me to come collect you. *me, Tohru, & Yuki were surprised by that* You've had a nice long visit. Now it's time to go. Come on.

*Ayame was quiet for a minute & then stood in front of the door, with a smile & a peace sign*

Ayame: Okay, bye-bye!

Kazuko, Tohru, Kyo, & Yuki: Huh!?

Ayame: Yuki, what with all the commotion, I fear we had little time to chat. But dear brother, worry not. For I shall come see you again soon.

Kazuko:*in his mind* And that's what we're both worried about.

Ayame: All right, Tori. Let us go. Bye, Gure. I'll see you.

Shigure: Absolutely. I'll drop by your place sometime.

Ayame: Farewell for now then.

*Then he winked at my sister & walked away, laughing*

Hatori: Behave yourselves.

*He also left*

Kyo: What the hell just happened?

Shigure: For the most part, Aya doesn't listen to anybody. But he listens to Hatori.

Tohru: He really does. Why is that?

Shigure: Admiration, he says. Hatori had qualities he wishes he had, but doesn't. So he looks up to the Doc. Their friendship has always been very important to him. Aya told me that a long time ago. And he was being serious. I guess . . . What it comes down to is . . . That he loves Hatori.

Kyo: So because Ayame respects the guy, Hatori got stuck being his keeper.

Shigure: Also accurate.

*That night, Yuki, Tohru, & I were washing the dinner dishes*

Tohru: That was a crazy couple of days, but Ayame sure is fun.

Yuki: No, he's a hopeless airhead.

Kazuko: Not to mention a bit nuts.

*Tohru got nervous when we said that*

Tohru: Uh, well I don't know if I would say that!

Yuki: Still . . . He can admire someone for having qualities he lacks. Instead of being jealous, he cherishes their friendship. I think that's . . . Pretty great.

*I looked back at Kyo, remembering that he secretly admired Yuki for traits he wished he had. Yuki was the same with Kyo. Then I remembered something Mom said once*

(Flashback)

Kyoko: Whatever happens, we can at least meet halfway. And besides, life is more fun like that. Don't you think?

(Present Time)

*The next day, at school, Tohru remembered something*

Tohru: Oh no! I forgot to ask what kind of store sells nurse and maid outfits! Now I may never know!

Arisa: Whoa. Say what?

Saki: A sex shop of some kind?

Ichrio: Sounds more like a costume shop to me.

*I sighed. I know we'll find out eventually*