Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ The Chime Child ❯ Of strawberries and water ( Chapter 2 )

Tohru led the girls down the tree studded path, in a flutter because she didn't want to seem too arrogant over how beautiful the place she lived was, but was longing to point out the garden patches that she and Souma-kun had planted and watered together.

"Oh, look at the peonies," exclaimed Yukika suddenly, looking with open admiration at the blooms.

"I prefer the strawberries," said Uo, looking at the neat row of green vines, crawling up the sticks.

"I'm allergic to strawberries," said Hana. Her voice was as dark as her black skirt. "They make me break out into a rash."

For a while there was dead silence.

"Don't worry, Hanajima," Uo was the first to break the quiet. "I'm sure no one will serve you any strawberries, especially not after this…" she added in an undertone.

"I wasn't worrying," said Hana. "Just warning."

"Hana-kun, don't scare Yukika," laughed Tohru nervously.

"I wasn't scared!" protested Yukika, sounding about twelve. Tohru's eyes watered, and she launched herself at Yukika, hugging the short girl round her neck. Yukika reeled back, and the glade was filled with the peals of Uo's laughter.

"I like you SOOO much!" cried Tohru. "You're so short and so cu-u-u-u-ute!"

"Help…" said Yukika feebly.

"Tohru-kun, I think she can't breathe," said Hana, her quiet voice now rippling with laughter.

Uo pulled Tohru off. "You should be flattered, Yukika. Tohru loves the kawaii ones!"

"You remind me so much of a friend," said Tohru, eyes starry as she looked at Yukika. "I haven't seen her for a long time, I really miss her."

"How old is she?" asked Yukika, tugging at her collar to loosen it, face red. She felt that she had to say something.

"Twelve."

The face Yukika made was comical. "I look like a twelve year old?!"

"So cute, you could join our group and be our mascot," joked Uo, rubbing Tohru's head. "For a long time it was Tohru, but she's beginning to grow up, and look pretty instead of adorable."

"Yes, you could join us," said Hana. She broke her icy façade and smiled at Yukika. "There are always the others, but I'm not sure you'd like them. Most of the girls in school belong to the Souma Yuki fanclub."

"Souma Yuki?" puzzled Yukika. "Is he a pop singer, or something?"

"No. Did you see that guy in class, the one with the grey hair?"

Yukika searched her mind. "Oh! You mean the prefect, the one with purple eyes?"

"Yes. That's Souma Yuki."

"They have a fanclub for him?" asked Yukika, mind boggling.

"More like a horror cult actually," replied Hana. She looped and arm over Yukika's shoulder. "They have rules and little badges."

"The ones with the yellow `Y' and a crown on them? I thought they were some kind of after school group!"

"Yeah, they are in a way," said Uo, as Tohru linked and arm through hers and Yukika's. "Coz they meet after school, in the classrooms, and either share their Yuki gossip, or they take their camcords and follow the Prince around hoping to get a good tape of him."

"The Prince is his nickname…" Yukika's face was deadpan. "And he has his own fanclub."

"Oh don't blame the idol," said Hana. "He does nothing to encourage them."

"Souma-kun, he's very nice, and very kind to everyone, so I guess that's why they like him," said Tohru innocently. "But they can be very scary when they gang up on you."

"They've ganged up and Tohru a few times," said Uo casually.

Yukika flared up. "What? WHY?"

"Because the prince likes her," said Hana, equally breezy. "That's one of their rules actually, no one can talk to the Prince if she (or he) doesn't have two other members of the club with them."

"Ch." Yukika tossed her head, and there was a gleam of devilment in her eye. "I think tomorrow I'll go and snog Souma Yuki during history class."

"Not unless you have a death wish," giggled Uo. "But not bad, Minake, I thought you wouldn't be a follower."

"I thought she wouldn't be a follower," inserted Hana calmly. But she looked pleased.

"Wait, you guys aren't rival fractions, are you?" asked Yukika suspiciously. "I mean, you don't go around recruiting people. Because I won't be used, and I won't join. I've had enough to being bossed around and being manipulated. Thank you!"

They had never heard her so vehement about anything. She looked entirely different, her brown eyes flashing, her bag swinging menacingly. Even if they all rushed at her, Yukika was determined to fight. Even though… even though she would have liked to be their friend.

"No!" Tohru hugged her again, but quickly this time, like a reassurance. She cupped Yukika's face, and lovingly dropped a kiss onto her hair. Part of the reason Tohru could be so affectionate with Yukika was that she looked so much younger, and so much like Kisa. It was easier, and Tohru enjoyed being able to do it. "We like you very much. We want to be your friends. You don't need to be afraid."

"I'm not afraid," protested Yukika again, but her eyes glittered suddenly with tears.

Uo smiled at her, and Hana too. "Come on, enough with the mush," ordered the Yankee girl. "Let's get going. Before Carrot-top and the Princeling come rushing out, convinced we've done away with their beloved Tohru."

"You have no sentimentality, do you, Uo?" asked Hana, quietly and affectionately.

Uo linked her arms behind her head, and grinned at the Goth girl ."None whatsoever, Hanajima. None whatsoever."

Tohru walked alongside Yukika eagerly answering her questions about school. The talk of groups had excited Yukika, and one thing she had liked, and that had always gotten her into so much trouble (and probably always would) was that going against any fanatical organized association made her blood hum with a high.

***

"Shigure-san? I'm home," sang Tohru, walking into the house. "May I speak to you, for a moment?"

She heard the rustling of a newspaper, and followed it into the living room, with Hana and Uo and Yukika trailing behind her. "Welcome back, Tohru," smiled the novelist, turning another big, grey page. Shigure looked up at her. "Oh, you've brought your friends. Well, of course they can stay over."

"Yo," said Uo, raising her hand in a salute. "Much obliged."

"Thank you, Shigure-san. You are very kind," added Hana.

"So glad to have your approval," preened Shigure. Then he caught sight of Yukika. "Oh! Is that the new girl that Kyou-kun and Yuki-kun were telling me about? How sweet young friendships are, they move so fast! One minute you just meet, the next you bring them home. How I wish my relationships could be that speedy!"

Tohru pushed Yukika forward. "Say hello, Yukika-kun," she said, somewhat maternally.

"I think I can do that myself," muttered Yukika. "I'm not twelve." In a louder tone, she said hello to a smirking Shigure.

"How cute!" Shigure reached out and to her mortification, pinched Yukika's cheek lightly. "And how old are you, sweetheart?" To Tohru he said, "Ah, thank you, Tohru-kun. You always bring me back the kawaii ones."

Uo twitched. "You pervert."

"I happen to be sixteen," growled Yukika, pushing his hand away.

"You're younger than us!" Tohru launched herself at Yukika and hugged her. "Ah, you're so cute!"

"That's enough of that, Tohru," said Hana, patting the brown-haired girl's head, but not doing much after that to stop Tohru from mothering poor Yukika. You could almost suspect she was enjoying it. Shigure certainly did.

"Most people would consider sixteen grown up."

Tohru looked up, and beamed at Yuki. "Good afternoon, Souma-kun! Kyou-kun!"

Greetings were exchanged. "Yo," said Uo again. "Carrot-top. Prince."

Yuki and Kyou both twitched at this form of address, but from experience, learnt that it was easier, and also less painful to just endure it. "Hello, Minake-san," said Yuki. He stifled a grin at the sight of Yukika smoldering in Tohru's arms. "Arissa-san, Saki-san. Honda-san, this came for you, today." He handed over an envelope, making sure that Kyou noticed their hands brushed.

Tohru let go, much to Yukika's relief, and opened the letter, while Yukika attempted to rub the pain from her neck. "I'm so sorry, Yukika-kun," laughed Tohru. Shigure, Kyou and Yuki had never seen her so cheerful since Kisa left to go back to the Souma Estate, and for that reason warmed to Yukika. But the smile soon drooped off her face. Tohru bit her lip in an attempt to keep the tears in.

"Honda-san! What is it?" gasped Yuki.

"Tohru, are you alright?" asked Uo in alarm.

"What is it?" Hana and Yukika both looked alarmed as tears started to roll from under Tohru's eyelids.

"It's nothing," she said, making an effort to wipe away her tears.

"Here." Kyou curtly offered her a napkin.

"Thank you, Kyou-kun," she said, trying to smile at him, and taking the cloth from him and wiping at her eyes.

"You idiot neko!" snapped Yuki, grabbing the cloth away. "That's a dishrag!"

Kyou flared up. "Well, if you would stop leaving dirty things all over the place!"

Shigure motioned for Uo to take Tohru upstairs.

"What's the matter?" asked Yukika, when they were safely in Tohru's room. Tohru's head was bowed, and the tears were falling on the letter on her hands, which Hana nimbly disengaged. Yukika peeped under Tohru's mane of falling brown hair. "Tohru? What is it?"

Tohru managed a laugh through her tears. "I can never get over how cute you are," she said.

"Tell us," insisted Yukika.

"What is it, Tohru-chan?" added Uo gently. "We'll help if we can."

"Her grandfather has died," said Hana softly, looking up from the letter. "The funeral is this Saturday."

Tohru lifted her head. "In a way, I'm glad. Because he didn't have a very happy life." Uo tenderly wiped at Tohru's face with a Kleenex she had taken from a box. "But - but, I'm so selfish, I wish he weren't gone."

"That's not selfish, that's natural," said Yukika. She shyly touched Tohru's cheek. "Don't cry. Do you want us to come with you to the funeral? To lend moral support?"

"Yes, we'll come," said Hana.

Tohru dissolved into tears. "Thank you. I'm sorry I'm so much trouble," she managed to say, between sobs.

"You're no trouble, Tohru-kun," said Hana gently.

"No, you're definitely not trouble," agreed Uo. "After all, you were there for us, so in return we'll be there for you. I don't like being in debt."

***

Yuki stopped Yukika as she went out of Tohru's room to get a glass of water. "Is Honda-san alright?" he asked, brow creased in worry. As if by a signal, Kyou came out of his room at the same time. He pointedly ignored Yuki, and addressed the same question in gruffer tones.

Yukika looked at them both consideringly. Uo and Hana were both with Tohru, holding her hands. The girl had gone to sleep with a smile on her face. If any one of Yukika's relations died, Yukika didn't feel like she would be as upset as Tohru was. But then again, her grandfather was probably nothing like Tohru's had been either.

"She's fine," said Yukika finally. She quaffed her cup of water. "She's fine."