Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ The Journey Home ❯ A Little Bit Of The Past ( Chapter 8 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or the characters. They belong to Natsuki Takaya, I just take them out for dinner now and then.

A/N: This chapter took longer, but it's almost twice as long as usual. *sigh* Long chapters are tiring! Thanks to Shiemi once again, I hope I did her info justice. ^_^ And as always thanks to everyone who reviewed, and to YTR, Elf, and Ree for their help.

Warning: There may be OOC moments (I'm told I'm doing good with the characters, yay!) so if that bothers you, this might not be the story for you. (Hey, this is fiction, it's my world and I can do what I want with it!) Also, if premarital sex and/or unwed pregnancy bother you, this probably isn't the story for you.

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"The Journey Home"

Chapter 8: A Little Bit Of The Past

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"Ano, Hatori, isn't the Sanfujinka the other way?" Tohru asked when he turned left out of the parking lot nearest her apartment. The small maternity hospital was a bit far and it was her first visit so Hatori had insisted on driving her.

"We have to make a small stop first," Hatori replied. It was a stop he didn't want to make, but he knew if he didn't, he'd never hear the end of it.

The car hadn't been stopped in front of Ayame's shop for more than a second when Hatori saw his two fruity cousins come dancing out of the building (literally, doing the tango). Hatori sighed and unlocked the doors. This was going to be a long day.

"Ayame and Shigure are coming?" Tohru asked as she giggled watching Shigure twirl Ayame outside her window.

"Don't encourage them," Hatori said then thought 'What am I saying? Any reaction, or lack thereof, encourages them.' He remembered her question and said "They insisted" just as Ayame opened the back door and scooted over to sit behind him.

"Of course we insisted, Ha'ri. Did you think we would leave our little flower all to you?" Shigure said as he climbed in behind Tohru. "You know we like to share," he finished with a wink, knowing Hatori could see him in the rearview mirror.

Tohru started when Hatori all of a sudden stepped on the gas before Shigure had shut the back door. Shigure shut the door quickly and said "Still the possessive one, I see. It really has been too long, hasn't it Aya? Our Ha'ri needs another lesson in sharing."

"For sure, Gure, I must agree! Never fear, Tori, we're here to help with all your needs! After all, what are friends for?" Ayame said and ran a finger lightly along the right side of Hatori's neck, where Tohru couldn't see. Hatori twitched slightly at the touch and Aya smiled. So, Tori was still ticklish.

Hatori almost ran off the road while Aya and Shigure died laughing when Tohru asked "Can I help?"

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At the Sanfujinka everyone stared when a young woman walked in with an older, tall, handsome man in a yukata. The staff at the hospital was used to seeing pretty young women with older men, but a man this handsome was a rare jewel. The women watching sighed as young woman and the man talked softly to each other. It was very rare for such a couple to actually be in love. Just when the women were turning back to their work or magazines, the young woman was joined by another man. The second man had long, flowing white hair and the most beautiful face any of the women had ever seen. The women, and a few men, watched as the young woman began talking with the newcomer just as she had with the first, then both men took one of her hands.

The three came up to the reception window to sign in. The receptionist stammered over her instructions as she handed over the paperwork to fill out for a first visit. There was something unsettling about the gaze of the white-haired man. His eyes were such a strange color, like warm honey, that she couldn't look away. She found herself wondering what he was wearing under that long, blue robe and felt her heart rate rise when he winked at her. Did he know what she was thinking? Those mesmerizing eyes traveled slowly to her chest. Yes, he knew what she was thinking. She looked over to the young woman who was taking a seat with the other man. Which one was the father? It had to be this one, what woman could resist him? Then... why was he seducing other women with his eyes and why was another man with them? The receptionist's thoughts were cut off when a third man, this one dark and mysterious, approached saying simply "Ayame." The warm honey eyes brightened as they looked at the taller man and then both men crossed the room to the young woman's side.

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Tohru filled in the forms as quickly as she could. She wanted to get out of there, everyone was staring at her and it was making her nervous. Well... more accurately everyone was staring at Ayame, Hatori, and Shigure. Tohru knew it was strange for her to be there with three men, all of the other women were there alone or with one companion. Tohru noticed that for some women the father was with them, while others were with a best friend or a parent.

Tohru's eyes fell on one girl who looked sixteen or seventeen, there with her mother it seemed. The girl was the only one in the room not looking at Tohru's entourage. She was looking at the ground with a sad expression on her face. Her mother was staring daggers at Shigure and Ayame, who were sitting very close on either side of Tohru. When the mother looked at her, Tohru smiled, fighting the urge to run and hide. 'What a scary woman! That poor girl,' Tohru thought as the woman studied her for a moment then huffed and whispered something to her daughter. The girl just nodded.

"Ne, Tohru, aren't you going to finish the paperwork?" Shigure asked, drawing her attention back to the task.

"Oh, uhm, yes, sorry," she replied, a little frazzled from having her inattention caught.

"Ah, Gure, we're distracting your little flower. Don't be embarrassed, Tohru, we have that affect on everyone. Isn't that right, Tori?" Aya switched to a lower tone "He can't get any work done with us close, either."

'That's because you two never shut up,' Hatori thought, but said "You know, Tohru, you can tell them to back off."

Tohru looked to her left, past Shigure to Hatori. "Oh it's ok... it's not their fault, I like having them near."

"Did you hear that, Aya? She likes us near," Shigure said, drawing out the last word.

"Well, Tohru darling, you can have us near any time you want." Aya said with a dashing smile, making Tohru blush.

"Ha'ri too, I'm sure" Shigure added and yelped when Hatori pinched him.

"Shame, shame, Shigure, forgetting how rough Tori can be," Ayame said and reached behind Tohru to pinch Shigure's other arm.

"Tohru, they're abusing me!" Shigure whined, tears streaming.

Tohru looked between the three of them trying to follow what was going on. Life never failed to be interesting when Ayame and Shigure were together, especially when Hatori was around too. Tohru smiled and giggled as she thought 'Life is more interesting around any of the zodiac members.'

"And now my flower's laughing at me!" Shigure wailed.

"Serves you right," Hatori said, trying to keep the mirth from his voice.

Shigure's eyes widened when Tohru took his hand, kissed it, and winked at him, keeping his hand held tight in hers.

"Don't I get a kiss?" Aya asked after a moment.

Tohru began to answer but was cut off when her name was called.

"Don't forget the paperwork," Hatori said, handing her the clipboard as she started towards the nurse who'd called her name.

"Thank you, Hatori," she said and smiled brightly. His eyes softened as he watched her hand in the forms and follow the nurse through one of the doors off the waiting area. Tohru looked older since the last time he'd seen her, though it was still hard to think of her as an adult. She was a grown, pregnant woman but he would always see the young girl who'd started his heart moving again. It was strange, feeling alive after being frozen for so long. Yes, curse or no curse, Kana or no Kana, Tohru had helped him feel alive again. Hatori looked at his cousins. It seems she'd made them all feel alive.

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While Tohru was away, Shigure used his curse-heightened hearing to listen to the conversations around the room. He frowned at what he heard. Maybe coming here hadn't been such a good idea after all. He should probably listen to Ha'ri more often... nah.

"It has to be the one in the yukata, she kissed him."

"Just on the hand and the white-haired one looked upset. And look at him! It's that one."

"But did you see the way she smiled at the one in the suit, and the way he watched her? That one's definitely in love with her."

Shigure raised his eyebrow and glanced at Hatori, then froze at what he heard next.

"No, the yukata one's in love with her. Did you see the look on his face when she kissed him? Pure desire, and that was a lover's spat if I've ever seen one."

"It was surprise, not desire, so it wouldn't be him. It must be the one that got jealous. You don't get jealous if you don't care, it's the white-haired one."

Shigure glanced at Aya. Real jealousy? No, Ayame was thoroughly satisfied with his little partner-in-crime. How Aya, of all people, had managed to find a woman that suited him so well would forever be a mystery.

"Maybe it's all three."

"All three love her?"

"And all three..."

"Oh that's scandalous!" and then lower, "I like it."

Shigure laughed to himself then stopped. This was Tohru they were talking about. That wouldn't do, he'd give them something better. He got Aya's attention and patted the open seat between them. "Aya, you're much too far away," he said.

When Aya settled into the seat beside him, Shigure said none too softly "Take me to the movies tonight, we never go out anymore. I feel like an old married couple." Then he leaned close to whisper in Aya's ear "People are thinking Tohru's banging all three of us, gotta get that idea out of their heads."

Ayame nodded imperceptibly then actually blushed when Shigure's tongue flicked his earlobe. "Not in public!" he said softly but loud enough to be heard. Aya was quite surprised that Shigure had done that, this was different than playing around Hatori.

Shigure smiled. Good, that was the desired effect. He'd known there was very little, if anything, he could say to make Ayame blush, so he had resorted to action instead of words. (Didn't actions always speak louder, anyway?)

Hatori, thankfully, missed the little show, but the gossips didn't. Shigure put his hand on Ayame's knee and winked at him, a sign that it had worked. A new round of whispering began. "So that's how it is with those two, it is the one in the suit." Shigure grinned. He loved it when a plan came together. It worked well this way, too. Since it brought too much attention for all three of them to come, just Hatori would be accompanying Tohru next time, if the father wasn't 'around' by then.

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Meanwhile....

Tohru stood in line for the bathroom behind the young girl from the waiting area. The girl seemed to be doing better outside of her mother's oppressive demeanor. The girl held her head up and glanced at Tohru now and then. "You seem to be feeling better, is that your mother that came with you?" Tohru asked and smiled at her.

The girl seemed surprised and said "Yes... uhm... is your husband with you?"

"I'm not married," Tohru said, unable to keep all the sadness from her voice.

"But those three..."

"They're some of the father's family, and good friends to be concerned and come with me so I wouldn't be alone." Tohru said.

The girl looked thoughtful for a moment. "Doesn't that make them your family, too?"

Tohru smiled warmly. "I guess it does."

"They're related? That must be some family!" The girl said. How was it possible for three such handsome, yet completely different men to be from one family?

"Hai, they're cousins, and yes, it's quite a family."

"Is the father that good looking?" The girl wanted to know.

"No," Tohru grinned as she thought of Kyo, "better."

"Better?" The girl's eyes grew wide.

"Well, I think so," Tohru said and added with a bow "I'm Tohru."

The girl returned the bow and said "Pleased to meet you, Tohru, I'm Kimiko."

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Tohru went back to the sitting area to wait for the actual exam. She was beginning to wonder if she'd be here all day. She was told to wait until her name was called again, and then she could bring the father back to speak with the doctor in his office. After that, the actual examination would take place in an adjoining room. Hatori had also explained the whole process to her several days earlier, but he hadn't mentioned how long it would take.

As she took her seat, this time between Hatori and Shigure, Tohru looked over and smiled at Kimiko, who smiled back. Sometimes simple, friendly chatting was enough to help someone feel better. This was hard enough for Tohru, and she had the support of three wonderful men along with her two best friends. She couldn't imagine how hard it must be for a teenage girl whose mother was obviously not supportive. It was hard for Tohru to imagine a mother not being supportive in general, her mother had always been there for her and if she was here now, she'd be supportive. Tohru was sure of it.

"Hatori, when you've come here before, has it taken a long time?" Tohru asked causing Shigure to almost choke on the green tea he'd gotten from the vending machine.

"What makes you think Hatori's been here before?" Shigure asked her before Hatori could answer.

"He said that he accompanies all the Sohma women on their first visit..." Tohru replied, puzzled. Shigure must not have known that.

"Really, Ha'ri?" Shigure said. So Hatori did care for Tohru, it was going to be so fun to tease him about it.

"We were here for a while, yes." Hatori replied, knowing he was going to catch hell later... for the lie to Tohru and for other things. He sighed. 'Why did they have to come along?' he thought, again. Now they were going to ask questions. If he had wanted this particular business aired, he would have done it a long time ago.

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In the doctor's office Tohru sat talking with Ayame, who was sitting in the other chair. Shigure and Hatori were standing somewhere behind her, talking in low tones. When the doctor entered they both came to stand behind her and she heard Hatori swear under his breath.

"I'm Dr. Tanaka, you must be Honda Tohru." He bowed slightly in greeting. "I must say it's quite unorthodox to have three men accompany one woman..." he trailed off, looking closer at Hatori. "Dr. Sohma? Well, well! How long has it been? And now you're bringing me a second young lady?" He grinned then abruptly sobered. "I was sorry to hear about Kana."

Tohru, Shigure, and Ayame had identical looks of shock but all three quickly recovered. Shigure looked at Ayame, but couldn't see his face. Had the snake known?

"It was a long time ago," Hatori said.

"So..." Tanaka looked at the three men then at Tohru. "Who's the father?"

"I am" Shigure and Ayame said in unison. Tanaka's eyes grew wide.

"He's not here, Dr. Tanaka," Tohru answered.

"Oh, well how do you know the Sohma's?" the doctor asked, more than a little surprised.

"The father is another of my cousins," Hatori answered, his look telling Tanaka to get on with the appointment and not ask any more non-medical questions.

Tanaka sighed inwardly. Still the same Hatori, even in med school he'd taken everything way too seriously.

After Tanaka asked some questions and answered even more, the three Sohma's were instructed to wait in the office while Tohru went to the adjoining room for the actual exam.

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When Tohru and the doctor left there was uncomfortable silence.

"What are they going to do to her in there?" Ayame asked finally.

"It's called a vaginal scan, women don't like them but it allows for a more accurate check of the fetus before 16-20 weeks." Hatori answered in full doctor-mode.

"Did Kana have one?" Shigure asked softly.

Hatori winced as he heard the hurt in the dog's voice. Shigure was really saying 'We're your best friends, how could you not tell us that Kana had been pregnant?'

Hatori looked at Shigure and Ayame then focused on some distant point out the window. "We were going to tell you after... but then... and she lost the baby. There was nothing to tell, nothing to be done about it. Then time passed and I couldn't exactly bring it up."

"Tori, how many times do we have to tell you?" Ayame said with a degree of seriousness he only showed around these two, the two who had been his best friends since before he could remember. "There doesn't have to be something to do about it. Your pain is our pain, share it with us and we'll split it three ways."

There was silence for a few minutes. "Well enough of that! There's only so much soberness a man can take in one day. I know who the father is, but I'm not telling!" Ayame declared.

Well this chapter wasn't exactly what I'd planned and it was certainly longer than I thought it would be. I both love and hate when that happens. ^_^; Hopefully the next chapter will be easier (and faster) to write. If I can get time away from homework to write. I also have my webpage to take care of, and a few new web projects that need my time. ::smiles:: I like making web graphics and things, makes me feel talented (even though Photoshop is the real talent, haha).

I like the way one author put it, I hope s/he doesn't mind if I quote "if you've come this far you've obviously read, so please review". I will add, though, please be kind since this is my first fan fiction and I'm very sensitive. Bad reviews... "I don't know if I could take that kind of rejection!" (Toy Story... never mind, I'm crazy.) I proofread it myself, which is hard to do, so there's probably still some errors (though I hope not so many that it's hard to read). Please let me know of any glaring errors and I'll fix 'em.