Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Secret Admirer ❯ Reciprocation ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

SECRET ADMIRER
A Fruits Basket Fanfic

Written by Miyu, Vampire Princess


AUTHOR'S NOTE:
When Yuki asks Tohru an important question, what will her answer be? This part told from Yuki's POV. ^^ Still no lemon...that's the next (and final) part. ^^ Standard Disclaimer follows the story.



Part Three - Reciprocation




The final bell had rung minutes ago.

Where was she?!

She wasn't coming, I kept telling myself. There was just...something...in her eyes when she opened the last gift I gave her. Something sad. I wish I could've read her mind at that very moment. I wondered what she had been thinking for the rest of the day.

Perhaps I shouldn't have placed that note in her locker.

But it was killing me. Gnawing at me little by little. The suspense I mean. I was ready to confess all. After three weeks, I finally gathered my courage, not to mention got some time away from my duties as Student Council President. I even drained some of my college fund to buy her a wonderful present. I fingered the tiny box in my pocket. Mother will kill me if she finds out, but I don't care.

I tried not to pace, keeping an eye on the exits and the corners of the buildings to see if she was there. I'm pretty sure she wouldn't hide from me. Actually I thought this would run as smoothly as I had rehearsed it the night before. The plan was quite simple.

Tell her how I feel.

Give her the gift.

Wait for her reaction.

But it was the waiting I was already having problems with.

Sighing I tried to calm myself. No sense looking as flustered as I felt on the inside. I was convinced that my stomach had bottomed out and that my heart was trying to escape from my chest. I had to lean against the wall to hold back the waves of dizziness and nausea I suddenly felt.

"Souma-kun?"

And that's when my heart stopped. I raised my head slowly, my eyes searching for the concerned voice of Honda Tohru. She was standing off to my left, her bag clutched in both hands. Her eyes and face -- always expressive -- showed heavy concern. I managed a small smile, willing my courage to the forefront again.

Just stick to the plan, Yuki.

"Daijoubu desu ka?"

"Hai," I answered, pushing myself away from the wall.

"Aren't you late for a meeting?"

I shook my head. "We decided to postpone the meeting. So much was going on that we all decided to take a well deserved break."

She smiled then. "I'm glad you're taking some time to yourself. Have you finished your graduation speech yet?"

I shook my head, and when I stopped the world spun for a brief instant. "No. But I'm almost finished."

"I can't believe it's just over a week away," she said happily. But then she frowned.

"Honda-san?" I hated to see her sad. "Did you get my note?"

She looked up at me confused. "Note? I don't think I...wait, I did get THIS note in my locker." She pulled out the small card I had left behind. She eyed it curiously, then looked up at me. "I'm supposed to meet my secret admirer behind the school."

"Is that so?" My confidence was running on a roller coaster. Perhaps it would be best if I just got this over with quickly. "By the shed, right?"

Tohru smiled. "That's right." Then she paused, deep in thought. "How did you know?"

"The note."

"The note?"

"Look at the handwriting. Does it look familiar?"

She looked at the note, her eyes squinting in scrutiny. Very slowly realization dawned on her. Her eyes widened little by little. Her mouth formed a little "o" and I could hear her breath hiss between her teeth. I wasn't sure whether to smile or cry when she turned her surprised eyes to me.

"You wrote the note?"

I nodded. "And left the rose petals in the card...and those butterscotch candies you love so much...they weren't easy to find you know...and those chocolates, I had to have them special ordered. I wasn't sure they'd make it in time and...."

Her eyes kept widening the more items I added to the list of things I 'd left her as presents over the past three weeks. Some of them had been rather easy to obtain, others were difficult. But it was all worth it. Her smile seemed to grow and she was beaming, practically bouncing. But her voice was tentative when she asked, "Souma-kun...you're my secret admirer?"

I felt something wrap around my shoulders and before I could stop her, Tohru already had me in a tight embrace. For a brief instant, I felt...satisfied. It felt good to be in the circle of her arms, even for only a short while. I knew I was smiling like an idiot, even when I felt the sensation of the change go through my body.

>POOF<

"AH! Gomen nasai! I didn't mean--!"

"It's all right, Tohru-kun. I'm not angry." In fact, I was blushing. From my ears to my feet I could feel the heat of my blood rushing about. "We should be hidden from view of the school...eh, nani?" She was looking at me funny and I wasn't sure why.


Kneeling in front of me she said, "You...called me by my name."

My blush deepened. "H-hai."

"I like it."

"You do?"

"We've known each other so long." She looked away and blushed. "But I have to admit, I always wanted to call you Yuki-kun. Just like...that time...."

"I'd like that," I answered immediately. Gods would I ever!

Her only reply was a smile, one that lit up the world in many way the sun couldn't. I found that I had to smile myself. Her smiles were always contagious.

"Honda-san...Tohru-kun...I have one last gift for you."

"You do?"

I nodded, moving almost my entire tiny body with the effort. "Hai. But it's in my pocket and...!"

>POOF<

I smiled as Tohru quickly turned away, blushing a bright red. She was always so thoughtful. I donned my pants and shirt quickly, but I left the shirt unbuttoned. I turned back to her, pulling the box out of my pocket. I looked at it, then stared at her back.

"Tohru?"

She turned around instantly, her eyes dancing in delight as I came into view. Did she always look at me like that? Even after I had overheard her confession I had tried to imagine. But it was difficult. And the time we'd spent together recently was so little.

And time was running out.

"I want you to have this."

Taking a careful step forward, her eyes fall from mine to the box in my hand. It's a small thing, the box. Just the right size to hold its contents. With a slightly trembling hand, she took the box from me.

"Open it."

She did so without taking her eyes away from it. The wrapping fell to the floor, as well as the ribbon. With a small 'pop' the lid was pried off and her eyes glowed when she saw what was inside.

A heart shaped, specially cut, diamond ring set in 14-karat gold.

Yes, my mother would DEFINITELY kill me if she knew.

"It's...." She struggled with words until she finally said, "...beautiful." She looked up at me for what felt like the first time. I felt my heart pound, my blood race. There was a smile on her face. Happiness lit her eyes. Or was it the diamond? But from her lips, a question. "Isn't this--?"

I silenced her by laying one of my fingers across her lips. She pouted, but the smile remained. I smiled in return. "Read the note inside the box."

"Note?"

"Here." I showed her where it was by lifting the small plastic piece that held the ring. There was a small piece of blue paper, folded several times just to fit in the box. She lifted the note out, holding it carefully between her fingers, looking at it in awe. She looked up at me questioningly. "Go ahead," I said, setting the ring back in the box and placing it in her free hand. "Read it."

She unfolded the letter and I took several steps back. I knew what was in the note. I spent the better part of three weeks writing it, planning it.

"Dearest Tohru, you have no idea how long I've waited to make this confession. Perhaps it would be best if I did this in person, but I'm afraid that words would fail me and then you will never know my feelings for you. That I care a great deal about you. That you make my life worth living. That you make me smile. That I love you.

"I've tried my best to come up with plan over these last few weeks. Not just to show you how much I adore you, but for the future. I am still uncertain of what the future holds, but I do know this: that I can't live my life without you. Please accept this gift and the promise it holds. You need not do so right away, but by wearing the ring, I'll know your decision."

My stomach suddenly folded and I became very nervous. What would she think of the letter? How would she respond? I wasn't expecting a response right away, but...what if...?!

I found myself backing further away as Tohru continued to stare at the note. I was scared. Very much so. She read the letter a second time and I could've sworn my heart stopped for a second. Maybe ten. And when she looked up at me, my breath was gone and I was certain I was going to faint.

"Yuki-kun?"

I managed a wavering smile in her direction. "You don't need to give me an answer right now, Tohru-kun. But, perhaps, by graduation day."

She looked so sad at the mention of graduation. It would be the fulfillment of her promise to her mother, which I knew meant a lot to her. Have I made things harder for her? That was not my intention. I just...wanted to tell her how I felt. Did she still not know?

It was the sound of Kyo yelling that brought us both back into the real world. Tohru blinked as if waking from a dream. Startled, I quickly started to button my shirt. No doubt the damn cat would start a fight if he noticed, which he would.

"Oy!" he said rounding the corner. "I've been looking for your two." He eyed me skeptically. "I'm ready to leave."

"Then you could've walked home," I answered automatically.

"What were you two doing back here?" he asked in an angry tone.

"Absolutely nothing perverted, you stupid cat," I retorted levelly. "I would never do anything to hurt Tohru."

He looked angry, but his eyes conveyed another feeling. Loss. Did he know what was going on? Had he overheard? Glaring back at him, I was sure that he hadn't overheard. He was simply jumping to conclusions. Finally he turned and started walking away.

"I'm heading home."

"Ah, Kyo-kun! Ch-chotto matte!" Tohru looked at me, then at Kyo, then back at me. I smiled...perhaps it was a sad smile...and nodded. "We should head home."

A small smile graced her lips and she nodded in return. Clutching the tiny box to her chest, she picked up her bag and turned on her heel. Kyo finally stopped when she called out to him again. I felt a small stab of jealousy, but I had left the decision to Tohru.

Now, it was her turn.

"Yuki-kun," she called. "Hurry!"

I caught up to them and the walk home was...quiet. Not eerily quiet or deathly quiet, but a calm, peaceful quiet. In the near three years, Tohru had been with us, none of our walks were this calm. It was a nice change to say the least. Dinner was eaten in the same peaceful calm. Even Shigure, although quite curious, didn't say a word.

But even the quiet peace was not enough to settle my nerves that night when I went to sleep. My mind kept running scenarios. What would I do if Tohru never wore the ring, or worse yet, gave it back? What would I do if she DID wear the ring?! I still hadn't thought about how to deal with our separation. With Akito. This wasn't to be taken lightly. But I heard her confession.

Had she heard mine?

Two days had passed and the weekend flew by. We now had seven days until graduation. Seven days! Tohru had been acting strangely, although she had yet to answer my letter. I felt my heart sinking every day that went by and Tohru wasn't wearing the ring.

But that Monday, at school, I received a small gift in my locker. I had thought it was from someone in the fan club. I was used to them giving me things out of the blue. But a small note on the box caught my attention.

"From your secret admirer."

I honestly thought it was a joke. But the next day, there was another package with the same note. And on Wednesday. By Thursday it was the talk of the school and almost every girl was taking credit for it. I had to avoid going outside the classroom for fear of being mauled. Arisa-san was pretty good at scaring off some of the girls, but Hanajima-san really did the best there.

There was yet another gift for me on Friday with a small note that said, "I have your answer."

My heart soared as I realized something I had not before. The gifts could only be from one person. And she was going to give me her answer.

Student Council duties and graduation preparations kept me at school until well after the final bell. I found it difficult to concentrate since I really wanted to be home, but things seemed to move quickly and I walked through the front door just before eight o'clock. No one was in the living room or kitchen when I arrived, although I spied a plate of leftovers on the kitchen counter.

I heated up the food and ate quickly. Then I went upstairs to my room to go over my speech. I nearly had it memorized and it wouldn't take me long to finish it. But it was when the clock struck ten that I realized I was falling asleep at my desk. It was a knock at my door that awoke me.

"Come in," I called in a sleepy, half-uncaring voice.

The door opened slowly. Through half-lidded, tired eyes I saw Tohru peak her head inside the door. My heart suddenly thudded in my chest. By the gods! I had totally forgotten about her note! My body was suddenly awake, my mind alert. I stood from my desk as she entered, a small frown on my face.

"Gomen, Tohru-kun. I meant to come to talk to you, but I still needed to finish...." My voice trailed off as she placed a finger over my lips.

"It's all right," she said with a smile. "You've been very busy this week."

"But...it's the night before graduation," I said dumbly.

"I know."

I felt her hands on my shoulders, but I had no idea she was so close to me until I could feel her breath on my cheek. I looked up in time for her lips to brush against mine. I think she had meant to only kiss my cheek, but my sudden movement changed that.

And any other ideas she may have had.

Lightly my hands grasped her sides, just above her hips. We looked at each, staring into the other's eyes as we leaned forward. I felt her lips brush against mine again and I felt a passion I never knew existed rip through my insides. My lips pressed harder against hers, turning the light, brushing sensation into a powerful force of nature.

When we parted, we were both gasping for air, surprised and yet joyful about the experience. I smiled down at Tohru and she up at me.

"I take it that was my answer," I said to her.

"How did you know?!"

I chuckled. "Your last letter on my present this afternoon."

She blushed, and nodded. Then she showed me her left hand. On her ring finger was the diamond engagement ring I had bought for her. She looked up at me shyly, smiling.

That's when I hugged her.

I couldn't help myself. I had to hold her for one sweet moment in my arms, even if it meant changing into my cursed form. I felt the change ring through my blood, smelled the white smoke that hid the transformation, and when it was all said and done, I was snuggled closely to Tohru's right shoulder. Happy and content to stay there all night if necessary.


~TO BE CONTINUED~


DISCLAIMER:
Fruits Basket is owned by Natsuki Takaya/HAKUSENSHA - TV TOKYO - NAS - Fruba Project and licensed by FUNimation Productions, Ltd (for distribution in the USA). All copyrights go to them and not me. All characters are used here without permission. Some liberties have been taken...and not necessarily for myself.... ^_-