Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Family Connections ❯ Chapter 6 ( Chapter 6 )

Disclaimer: I don't own either series; I just decided to play with them for a bit.

As all of the Souma's and Tohru walked back to where Hatori had parked his car silence reigned. No one knew what to say. The reactions; or lack of reactions; that the four people had had to the curse was unusual. Everyone was thinking about a different aspect of the afternoon. Haru and Kyou mostly about the martial arts training that they had discussed with Ranma; Tohru about the letter and book that Ukyou had given her; Hatori about Kasumi's reaction to him and his reaction to her and Momiji about the conversation he had overheard between Kasumi and Mrs. Saotome. Kyou looked over to Tohru. Just before he could ask about the letter. . .

"Here's the car. Everyone get in. Tohru I'll drop you off at your job."

Chapter Six

Kasumi sat on her bed deep in thought. After Ukyou and Ranma's, interesting new friends had left, Kasumi had asked Auntie if she need any help with dinner. The Saotome matriarch had just smiled and told Kasumi to relax until dinner. She knew that Nodoka had noticed her reactions to the gentleman that she had brought home in her bento box. Kasumi wondered if Ukyou would mind if she called Nabiki tonight?

Many thought that the two sisters weren't close but Kasumi had always known that in the Tendo household the only other person that she could depend on had been Nabiki. Ranma had later gained that attitude but neither of the adult males nor Akane, could be depended on in most situations. She needed advice on how that man had made her feel. She was not a young woman given to silly crushes; with the death of her mother she had never had the time. Yet she had never felt this way about a man before.

Kasumi had always been intuitive about people. Many thought that she had simply foisted Ranma off on Akane but she had known that the boy needed another fighter to truly understand him and the only one in the family to come close to fitting that description was Akane.

Her mind went back to the very attractive man from this afternoon. It hadn't just been his appearance; even though he was what Nabiki would refer to as a hunk. The man had seemed to hold a deep pain inside. A grief that seemed to be eating away at him. She wanted to comfort him. To sooth his pain and share his grief so it wouldn't be such a burden. She needed to talk to Nabiki. Thinking of her sister she remembered the last serious conversation that the two of them had.

"So you're really going to go to Medical School?"

Hearing the question Kasumi turned and looked at Nabiki standing in the doorway of the kitchen. "Yes. Ukyou has offered to let me stay with her and since Auntie contacted Ukyou's family and received permission to be her temporary guardian she and Ranma-kun will be going too. You'll be going to college so that only leaves Father, Uncle Saotome and Akane here. Akane needs the training. Everyone assumes that she'll inherit the dojo so she has to learn to care for it."

"Ukyou. She seems so different ever since she got back. I don't know what it is about her that's changed so much. Physically she looks about the same. Maybe a little taller and defiantly in even better shape than when she left. Still, she's different. Prettier somehow, more . . . compelling in a way. I can't even described it."

Kasumi smiled. "It's in her eyes."

"Her eyes?"

"Everyone here, at least all of the girls after Ranma are just that . . .girls. Ukyou is now a young woman. It's not so much a physical change as a spiritual one. Her aura is stronger, purer. The idea that someone's inner beauty can be seen is the closes description that I can give. Ukyou has grown beyond the pettiness and selfishness that seems to take hold of everyone in Nerima and seeing it, especially after she has been away, makes it hard to describe. Ukyou has grown into the potential that she always had. The other girls are still too childish to have that kind of beauty. Maybe someday they can find it in themselves to let their inner beauty out."

Nabiki just stared at her. A soft smile came across her face. Kasumi knew that this was the real Nabiki. Someone that only she got to see very often.

"I'll take your word on it."

"Kasumi-chan, dinner." Kasumi came out of the memory with a start. That same inner beauty that Ukyou had had also been obvious in her cousin. Tohru had seemed to almost shine with an inner beauty. It was more delicate than Ukyou's. If anything Kasumi could almost see the fact that where Ukyou was a fighter Tohru would be a healer. Thinking of the girl made her remember the man again, Hatori Sohma. She felt her face heat. Yes, she defiantly needed to call her sister.

Tohru slowly looked up from the letter. She had just finished reading it and was still trying to process the information. The first thing she saw as she looked around was a pair of concerned cinnamon eyes. Kyou-kun.

Kyou watched Tohru carefully. The letter seemed to have stunned her. She had been completely silent and still. Even the rabbits whining hadn't seemed to penetrate her concentration. Suddenly she looked up and met his eyes. "Are you okay?"

She smiled at him, but it seemed forced. Then she handed him the letter. Kyou took it and began to read. He could feel his eyes getting huge as he took in what the letter said. Once he finished he again looked to the girl next to him. She seemed lost in thought. "Tohru?"

She looked up. "Please have Hatori-san and the others read the letter Kyou-kun. And everyone can look at the book too. Ukyou-san invited me to dinner tomorrow and said that I can bring as many people as I like; just tell her the number at school. Anyone who wants to can come, make sure to tell everyone that." While saying this she handed Kyou a book. Before he could reply the car stopped and Tohru got out. They were at her job. The last thing she said as she walked toward the building was, "Please Kyou-kun, I want at least you to go with me tomorrow."

Hatori just wanted this day to end. He also wanted to be alone to think about what he was feeling. Not even Kana had gotten such a reaction out of him at first sight. He didn't know what to make of it. He had the feeling that trying to erase their memories would be pointless, at least to the girl Ukyou if she had indeed cured Ranma of a curse then she had power. They finally came into sight of Shigure's house. Hatori could feel himself relaxing. He just had to drop of Kyou then he could take the other two home and unwind in his office and think about what had happened. The car stopped. Hatori turned to say good night to the neko when he was interrupted.

"Tohru wanted me to show everyone some stuff so you need to come. You can stay for dinner if you want. I can't make anything as fancy as Tohru does but I can heat up what she left and add stuff to it so everyone can eat." Hatori had never seen Kyou look so serious. This had to be important. He simply nodded and turned off the car.

Momiji was active but something about him seemed off. Hatori made a note of this and decided to talk to the boy later to find out what was wrong. Kyou walked in front but was actually tugging Hatsuharu along so he wouldn't get lost. Opening the door and leading everyone inside Kyou suddenly stopped and groaned. Hatori walked up to see what was wrong and felt a headache beginning to start.

At the table sat three males. Shigure and Yuki were to be expected, Ayame was not. The two older men were laughing annoyingly and Yuki looked ready to kill them both. Shigure looked up. "Ha-san. Not that you're not always welcome but our little flower isn't here to cook for us tonight. She's at work."

"I know. We dropped her off before coming here."

"Eh?"

Yuki just shook his head then turned to address Haru. "Did you have a nice time visiting with Ukyou and Ranma? Did you stay to long and call Hatori to pick you up?" All four of the Sohma's who had come in from the car looked at each other. What to say? Kyou suddenly stepped forward.

"I'm going to go make dinner. Tohru wanted everyone to read this letter and look at the book afterwards if you want. Ukyou invited Tohru to dinner tomorrow and told her should could bring as many people as she liked, just to give her the number at school. I'm going with her. After you read the letter you guys can decide if you want to go or not." Finishing his speech Kyou handed the letter and book to Hatori, he felt that he should read them first, then marched into the kitchen. The others could decide what to do.

Momiji watched Kyou go into the kitchen then turned to look at Hatori. No matter what the letter said he was going to go with Kyou and Tohru tomorrow. He had noticed Tohru reading the letter in the car and had seen her give it to Kyou to read as well. When he heard her tell Kyou to have everyone read it he had held his curiosity back. Now he could find out what it said. Hatori opened the letter and started to read it aloud. Momiji watched the shock come across the faces of everyone in the room. The only one who seemed to take it in stride was Hatori. Actually, Hatori looked like he was almost expecting something like this.

Once the letter was finished everyone stared at the book. Hatori had placed it on the table before reading the letter. Now Shigure began to leaf through it. Momiji went into the kitchen to join Kyou as the others began to talk. He didn't want to listen to them right now. He was still going over what he had heard Auntie Nodoka say to Kasumi. The only other person that he felt would understand his pain over what he heard was Kyou. Gathering his courage Momiji walked into the kitchen.

Tohru was exhausted when she got home from work. She slowly walked down the path to the house. She saw that even though it was late the only light on was the one in the front room. She quietly let herself in and took off her shoes. Walking into the room she saw that Shigure and Hatori were sitting their talking quietly and smoking. Ayame was asleep on the floor. Both men looked up when she walked in. Noticing how serious they looked Tohru sat down. Shigure was the first to speak.

"We haven't told Akito but Hatori will do so tomorrow morning. So far the people joining you will be Hatori, myself, Ayame, Yuki, Kyou, Haru, Momiji, Kisa and Hiro. Kisa happened to call when we were discussing it to ask you to do something with her and Hiro tomorrow since it's your day off. Momiji was the one to answer the phone and he told her everything and she in turn told Hiro who demanded that they be allowed to come."

Tohru nodded and looked at Hatori. The doctor could see the worry and fatigue on her face. "Don't worry none of this is your fault. I'll make sure to explain this to Akito. Just go up to bed. Kyou did a load of laundry since both Momiji and Haru have to wear their uniforms tomorrow. That's what is hanging in the wash room. Momiji is in Kyou's room and Haru is in Yuki's. Good night."

Tohru stood up and smiled to the two men. "Good night, and thank you."

Tohru knew that her face was bright red. She had had another dream. This one the most intense one ever. The things that she and Kyou had been doing had been . . .well, Tohru didn't know that people did those kinds of things. She didn't know how she would be able to look at Kyou today without remembering.

"To-ru!" Momiji bounced into the kitchen. Behind him came Hatsuharu and . . .Tohru felt the warmth in her face. She knew this would happen she couldn't look at him and not think about the dream. She had to forcibly tell herself to not stare. She smiled at the three and went back to cooking. Yuki came in groggy as usual. She told everyone to sit down and started to bring out the food.

The table was crowded with so many people. Tohru caught herself staring at Kyou four times during the meal. Twice at his hands and twice at his mouth. Every time she glanced his way one of the two was being used as he ate. Either chewing or his hands on the chopsticks. Yuki asked if she was okay and she brushed off his concern. What could she say? 'No, I'm having erotic fantasies about Kyou with cat ears and a tail?'

Ukyou looked up as Tohru and the two Sohma's walked into the classroom. Ranma was sitting on top of the desk talking to her. The three walked over. Ukyou smiled at the girl.

"Ukyou-san I want to thank you for the dinner invitation. A total of ten people I hope that's not too many."

"Not a problem sugar. And call me Ukyou, remember. We are family."