Closer

A series of Fruits Basket vignettes by Sakura

Standard disclaimers apply.

02. Shopping

There were some things Tohru knew she wasn't supposed to do, like crossing the street without looking both ways, or putting too much water with the rice, or staring at people's faces.

Especially staring at people's faces.

But as she stood at the counter in the supermarket and stuffed the purchases into plastic bags, she found herself watching Yuki out of the corner of her eye.

He was leaning against the counter, staring at the change he cupped in his hand. The afternoon sun glinted off his hair, turning it shades lighter than it usually was. Tohru idly wondered what color it ought to be called. Lavender? But it seemed much more glossy than lavender. She leaned her head to one side and mulled it over. Amethyst, then? But amethyst seemed a wrong color for hair...

Under her scrutiny, his brows knit ever so slightly. "Honda-san."

"Y-Yes!" It came out as a squeak. Tohru quickly ducked her head, hoping he wouldn't notice the guilty flush that flooded her face. "What is it?"

"Shigure gave us the same amount as always, right?"

Tohru blinked. "Yes, he did."

"And we got everything on the list?"

"Yes."

"And we didn't forget anything?"

A note of worry crept into her voice. "Is there something wrong?"

"It's nothing." He was still frowning at the change in his hand. "Nothing, really. It's just strange that we have more money left over this time."

Tohru brightened up. "That's because we got all the meat on sale today. This supermarket sells chicken and pork at half the price on Wednesdays."

"Ah." He finally looked up and smiled at her. "That's right, I forgot." The sun shone more fully on him as he angled his face toward her, and tendrils of purple hair against the side of his face turned lighter and lighter and lighter, until they were---

Anything but lavender.

"Honda-san." He was still looking at her.

"Y-Y-Yes!" Her face burned again, more deeply this time.

"Let's get ourselves a treat."

There was a beat. "I'm sorry?"

"A treat." He lifted the bags off the counter with one hand and, as if he weren't carrying anything, casually walked over to the nearby freezer. Tohru was momentarily startled by the ease with which he moved, but finally remembered to catch up with him.

"We can't buy ice cream, Yuki-kun, it's not in the budget---"

"Shigure won't notice anything." He gave her an uncharacteristically impish grin, and the coins jiggled merrily in his hand. "What would you like, Honda-san?"

"But---"

"Chocolate?"

"We can't---"

"Strawberry?"

"Ah, that would be ni--- NO! No, what I mean to say is---"

"There's a box in the corner."

"---Where?"

It was too late; the gleam in his eyes told her that she had fallen into his trap, and there was nothing else to do but reach inside the freezer for the treat. She shot him a look of what she hoped was exasperation, but he only grinned at her and leaned closer to whisper in her ear. "This'll be our little secret, all right?"

His sudden closeness made her face heat up again, but it gave her the chance to study his fringe more closely.

Lilac, with flecks of gold.

Her lips lifted, triumphantly. "All right."

[ 02 - O.Wa.Ri. ]