(note: if you require alt-text, please view here at archive of our own where full alt text has been added to every section of this comic page hungry love page 01 )
Page 01 of the "Hungry Love" comic version finally finished! I was debating posting it now or waiting until it was finished, but it's probably better to post the pages as they are complete instead of waiting however long it takes to make them all... once it hits the point where things get too spicy for Tumblr I'll post previews here and link off-site to the uncensored full pages (likely to AO3) like I do with fic.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: ゆらぎ荘の幽奈さん | Yuragi-sou no Yuuna-san | Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs (Manga)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Hibari Ameno/Oboro Shintou
Characters: Hibari Ameno, Oboro Shintou
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Living Together, Domestic Fluff, Feelings Realization, Confessions, First Kiss, Cuddling & Snuggling, Rare Pairings, I Will Go Down With This Ship, Femslash, Femslash February, Femslash February 2024, One Shot
Series: Part 3 of Femslash February 2024
Summary: Six months after moving in with Oboro, Hibari comes to a realization that will change things between them forever.
I’m gonna be honest, I wrote this in like 2hrs; it’s nearly 1am (so I missed the deadline for the 2nd day in a row), and so I haven’t really edited it. Sorry if there’s any typos. I’ll try to do a good polish/edit tomorrow when I’m awake again. :P
UPDATE: K. It should be all edited now. ^_^
UPDATE #2: I forgot to mention that you can also read this story on AO3, on FFN, or on DA
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Experience It All
Spoilers: Story is post high school graduation
Romance Level: Newly Dating
Word Count: 1493
Summary: It's the first apartment Kyo ever owned. The first one he and TOHRU ever owned. And he becomes surprised as to how many more "firsts" they have to go.
Kyo was buzzing with nervous energy. The keys to their new place clinked against each other as he spun the ring around his index finger, catching the keys and then spinning them in the opposite direction. Spin clockwise. Catch. Clink. Spin counter-clockwise. Catch. Clink. Spin clockwise again.
“Is this it?” Tohru clung to Kyo's left arm. She had been taking in the quaintness of the village he had moved her to, but upon hearing the jingle of the keys, she focused on the building before them.
“It's gonna be small,” Kyo warned, not moving as he took in the apartment complex. “It's not going to be like Shigure's place, or your grandfather's.”
“That's okay. Mom and I used to have a small place. Besides, I'm sure it will be way bigger than a tent.” She giggled, and hugged Kyo's arm close.
She had spent months in that tent, alone in woods she didn't realize had belonged to the affluent Sohma family.
Months. Alone.
Kyo had never been alone. Not really. He had been neglected, sure, and might as well have been alone. Still, he always had an adult near by. When he was real young it was his mother. Then, after she died and Kyo was all but disowned by his father, Kazuma Sohma took him in. He had loved Kyo, and the boy took that love for granted. Worse. He didn't accept that it was real, not before he met Tohru. Even when Kyo was lost within himself - after failing to save Tohru's mother – he wasn't alone. Kazume spirited him away to recover and revive. Then it was Shigure's turn to watch over Kyo.
For someone who felt isolated and unloved, he always had a guiding hand. He was the adult now; almost. He wasn't living in someone else's house anymore. This was his place. He held keys for his home. He was the master of this place. He wasn't sure he was ready for that sort of responsibility. Why couldn't he be a stupid kid again?
“Kyo-kun?” Tohru's soft voice brought Kyo back to the present. “Are we not in the right place?”
“No. No we are. Sorry. I was just-” He looked up at their apartment front door. He could do this, right? He could run a household. He could work full time as an apprentice at the local dojo. He could provide for Tohru. He could keep her happy and safe here. He could even save up enough for her to take the train back to Tokyo a few times each year to visit everyone. He was a man now. He could do it.
“Come on.” Tohru tugged a bit on his hand. “Show me our new place! I can't wait to see.”
Chuckling at her eagerness helped ease him. She could always do that. No matter his mood, she could always bring him to center. With a huge grin, he sprinted ahead, dragging her behind him as he took the stairs two at a time. She squealed with excitement as she ran with him.
“Ready for our new place?”
“Kyo-kun.” It was her turn to sound a bit nervous. “This is the first time it will be just the two of us in a home.”
“I know.” He pulled her into a hug, still marveling at the fact that he could hold her in his arms; feel her head nestled against his chest. “I'm sorry. It may be a bit lonely since you don't have others to keep you company while I'm out.”
She pushed away from him and shook her head. “We have all of these neighbors. I'm sure I'll find plenty of company here.”
“I know you well enough to know that it will be impossible for any of these people to not love you as soon as they meet you.” He gave her a quick kiss on the lips before resting his forehead against hers. “I'm sure in no time you'll have our place bustling just as much like a convention center as Shigure's house.”
Kyo unlocked the front door, and slowly sung it open. It was such a simple little abode. From the front door he could see the little galley kitchen to the left, the three-square-meter living room straight ahead, and the double glass doors to the porch just beyond that. There were three doors to the right: a bathroom, and two closet-sized bedrooms. Kyo wasn't even sure if the Western-style bed Shigure had bought Tohru a few years back would fit in her cubbyhole. As it were, his futon was probably going to carpet his room.
“Kyo-kun?” Tohru tried to scrunch down to look under Kyo's arm. Then she stretched on to her tiptoes to try to see past his shoulder. As she bobbed and weaved, Kyo realized he was still in the doorway, and was now broad enough to block most of it.
“Sorry.” He blushed slightly, and scratched the back of his head. “I- I know that now isn't traditionally when I'm supposed to do it, but-” He gulped and tucked the keys into his front pants pocket. “Would you mind if I, ya know, carried you in?”
Tohru's hopping ceased. Instead, a grin slowly stretched across her face, and her whole body appeared lighter; not as weighed down by gravity as it should. Holding her hands, folded, against her chest, she emphatically nodded.
Smiling back, Kyo knelt so he could scoop up her knees. Lifting her into a bridal carry, Kyo carefully stepped her over the threshold of their home. Their first home. Theirs. Instead of putting her down on the other side of the door, he continued to carry her to the teeny living room, and swung her around in a large circle. Hooting with excitement.
“Look at it, Tohru! This is ours! Just ours!” Kyo stopped in the center of the room, and lowered Tohru to her feet. While he was still leaning down, she kissed him.
“I love it.”
“Come on.” He took her hand and pulled her through the apartment. “This is obviously the kitchen. I hope it will be big enough for you to cook, but if not I'll figure something out for you. We could even put the rice cooker right here, just outside the galley. I could put a little table here or something.” He then ran to the bathroom. “It's not much, but it has a shower, and there's a hot spring nearby if you wanted to occasionally soak in a tub instead.” He pushed passed her, and escorted her to the first of the bedrooms. “This one looks a bit small. It can be mine if you'd like.”
“Yours?”
Kyo was too excited to register her question as he escorted her to the second bedroom. “Yeah. This one looks large enough for your bed. This can be your bedroom.”
“Mine?”
“And look! There's a large enough window for you to climb through, and the back porch runs the full width of our place. You could easily reach a line through here, and that way you don't need to leave the warmth of your room to hang up clothes even in winter.”
“Kyo-kun-”
He hopped through the window with ease and looked up. “I can even access the roof easily from here if I really wanted to!”
“Kyo-kun!” Tohru's voice was loud, but still meek.
“Hmm? Sorry. You wanted something, Tohru?” Kyo climbed back inside, and scooped her hands up into his.
“You said 'my room' and 'your room'.”
“Yeah.”
“I- well-” Her thumbs raced across his fingers; nervous energy shooting out of her. “I was- I mean, since we-” Her face bypassed pink and went straight to crimson. “I'm sorry, I'm being too forward. Nevermind.”
Now it was Kyo's turn to match a beet.
“Tohru, were- were you- do you mean- Did you expect us to share a room?”
She squeaked and ripped her hands from his so she could hide behind them.
Kyo was going to live without a supervising adult for the first time in his life, and his girlfriend wanted to share a bedroom. Wasn't he a high school student just a couple of weeks ago? How did life go this fast?
He gently bopped the top of her head with his knuckles, startling her enough to drop her shield of fingers. Before her surprise subsided, he cupped her face. He again rested his forehead against hers before pecking a kiss on the tip of her nose.
“You do not have to ask me twice to share a room with you, Tohru. We can use the other one for something else. Storage, or a library, or a study-”
“Or a practice room for you?”
“We can do whatever you want with it.” He scooped her into another hug, his heart racing with excitement. After three years with this woman, he still had so many Firsts to go through. He couldn't wait to experience them all.
Laios Touden has been suppressing some pretty powerful feelings - especially those he has for Kabru - and his angst emerges in a most monstrous manner.
Chimera!Laios AU, takes place post-manga.
RATING: EXPLICIT R18+ for sexual content, mild body horror
I know this is probably where everyone went with this prompt, but how could I NOT write about their wedding day when I am given the prompt "forever"? Also, I got caught up in a D&D session, so this entry ended up getting published at 1:45am on October 13th, when it was nearly good-to-go at about 5pm on October 12th... whoops...
Full story is below, but you can also read it over on AO3, on FFN, or on DA.
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Meet, Remember, and Love Again
Spoilers: Headcanon for their wedding; minor shipping spoilers for other characters
Romance Level: Exchanging Wedding Vows
Word Count: 2376
Summary: Kyo and Tohru finally get married
Kyo's leg twitched with nervous energy. The collar of his Jacobite shirt was already loose, but he tugged on it all the same. While Tohru made sure to pick out a comfortable suit for him, Kyo was still unbearably hot.
“Hey,” Yuki whispered in Kyo's ear, his hand firmly on the redhead's shoulder. “You're not getting cold feet, are you? I'm sure Tohru-chan would hate it if I had to kick your ass right now.”
“Enough, ya damn rat,” Kyo shrugged Yuki's hand off, but gave him a half-smile of gratitude. “Nothing is going to make me run away, that is, unless Tohru's hand is already in mine.”
“Good. At least you grew some smarts since high school.” Yuki smirked, and straightened out Kyo's collar for him.
“Yeah, well, wait until it's your turn up here,” Kyo playfully hissed.
As if on cue, the music started up, and a parade of bridesmaids walked down the aisle. Kisa had grown so much since Kyo last saw her, and it was a pleasant surprise to see her walk with such confidence. Next was Rin. She still had a dominant stride, but she certainly seemed more graceful and gentle – slightly – than when they were growing up. She had also restricted her punk accessories to a single thick, black tungsten band on her left hand: her engagement ring from Haru. Kagura walked in behind Rin. She looked like she was about to burst into tears, but her smile seemed genuine enough. Machi was the last to walk the aisle. She started off staring at the floor, as meek as always. Then a thought must have flickered though her mind, because she bolted her head upright and stared directly at Yuki. The moment their eyes connected, Machi stood tall and glided the rest of the way to the alter.
Kyo smirked, leaned back so Yuki could hear, and hummed the Bridal March. Yuki playfully pushed back against him. Then both men stood at attention. The whole congregation stood and turned, and Tohru walked into the doorway.
Her white gown was simple and flowy; cinched at the waist, and lacy along the bodice. Her shoulders were bare, but a delicate white ribbon was wrapped like a choker around her neck. Her hair was pinned up, but some tresses were strategically spilled down her neck and across her shoulder. Kyo couldn't believe she could ever be more breathtaking. He was wrong.
He wasn't sure if it was the elegance of the dress, or how her hair was pinned, or the sheer fact that she was going to be his wife in a few short minutes. Maybe it was a particular glow coming off of her from the joy they shared. Whatever it was, Kyo fell in love with her all over again.
Uotani and Hanajima skirted to Tohru's side, escorting her to the alter as if they were her parents. The Yankee actually looked quite elegant with her hair now chopped short; still emulating Kyoko's look. Her makeup was subdued, and her gown was a lovely lavender that complimented her still-blonde locks. In her arms, instead of a bouquet, she carried Tohru's picture of her mom, so that Kyoko could attend her daughter's wedding.
Hanajima was still in her signature black, but it was a much more modern evening gown style than her standard Gothic look. Her long hair was woven into an intricate French Twist, giving her a very sophisticated air about her. She didn't wear a mourning veil – much to Kyo's relief – but she still held a handkerchief to her face; eyes welling up.
Tohru was grateful to have Uo-chan and Hana-chan escort her down the aisle. She was so nervously excited about everything that she could barely stand; her legs were shaking too much beneath her. Seeing Kyo made her all the more weak.
Kyo hated ties; hated having something around his neck. Even after the curse was broken, he hated having his neck restricted at all. Tohru had seen a bunch of pictures of Western pirates in loose-fitted but still elegant-looking cotton shirts. The v-neck collars plummeted to the chest, and was laced closed. These pirate shirts – Jacobite shirts, they were called – had a refined look to them, but would be comfortable for Kyo to wear. With a pair of dress slacks and shoes, and a paisley-patterned blue vest, he looked almost regal. There was no doubt that everyone would see him as a Western Prince; just as she had always pictured him.
His groomsmen – Yuki, Haru, Momiji, and Shigure – were in much more traditional dress suits: deep blue dress shirts, black slacks, and a black tie and vest. It made Kyo stand out a little, but neither of them cared. Tohru pointed out that her dress had a different style than the simple ballroom gowns her bridesmaids wore; and they both knew they couldn't really reign in Uotani and Hanajima. Sure, the bridal party would seem a bit disjointed, but their priorities were more on comfort and people being happy anyway.
Upon reaching the alter, Kyo stepped forward to take Tohru's hand.
“You better take care of our girl,” Uotani threatened softly.
“We will find out, and we will do whatever it takes to protect her,” Hanajima calmly added. Kyo felt the hairs on his body stand on end as she stared him down.
“Uo-chan, Hana-chan,” Tohru giggled, “We'll be fine. Thank you.”
The girls all embraced, and Tohru got kissed on her temples from both best friends at the same time. Kyo and the girls jointly helped Tohru to the alter, and Uo and Hana took their places as co-maids-of-honor behind Tohru.
The officiant welcomed their guests, and spoke briefly about the beauty of love, the trials of life-long companionship, and the rewards of putting in the daily effort to love each other. While Kyo and Tohru had paid close attention during their rehearsal the night before, in those moments the officiant's words washed over and past them. There was no one else in that room.
It was Kyo. It was Tohru. It was her hands in his. It was his orange eyes, and her brown ones. It was their equally shaky breaths, and trembling legs. It was their soft smiles and half-lidded glances. It was the mental countdown to them officially being one family.
“Sohma-san,” the officiant cut through Kyo's reverie, snapping him to the present.
“Hmm?” Kyo ignored the muffled chuckles of his friends and family.
“Your vows,” the officiant coaxed.
“Right.” Kyo blinked a few times to bring the words he practiced a thousand times to the forefront. Refocused on Tohru, he ran his thumbs over her fingers; playing with them. “Tohru, even when we didn't know it, you have been a constant in my life since I was a kid. I dunno if it was with the 'red thread,' but we were definitely tied together somehow. It terrified me to know that we'd be sharing a roof, but I think part of that fear was because I had wanted that so badly, and I didn't think I deserved it. Thank you for showing me that it was alright to want a future; to want a future with you. Thank you for telling me that I deserved to be loved. Thank you for rescuing me.”
Kyo pulled Tohru's right hand to his lips, and tenderly kissed her knuckles. “I was terrified of the idea of my soul being bound to another; forced to come together lifetime after lifetime. Now, I don't want anything more intensely. I want to start a new banquet with you. One where we are surrounded with love, acceptance, and happy memories. Oh! And lots of hugs.”
The Sohmas collectively chuckled and muttered their agreement to that last vow.
“Very lovely.” The officiant turned to Tohru. “Honda-san, please speak your vows to your groom.”
Tohru shook. She didn't think she had anything as lovely as what Kyo had just said. He had memorized it, no less! She slowly pivoted to Hana-chan to pass over her bouquet, and then turned to Uo-chan to accept her index cards. Still quaking a little, she held her left hand out to Kyo, and stared at her vows.
The second Kyo's hand again cupped hers, Tohru calmed. He didn't care. She could simply say 'I love you, and I want to be your wife,' and he'd be happy. These weren't for everyone else. They were for him, and for her to let him know how much he meant to her.
“Kyo-kun, you are sunshine and warmth that I didn't know I could ask for. You are the strength I don't have, and the safety I didn't realize I was yearning for. You are my smile and my joy. You are a subtle kindness, and a sweet gentleness. You've always been a prince in my eyes. You don't judge me, but you always try to teach me. Together, I hope we can always rise each other up, and grow more.”
She squeezed Kyo's hand to steady herself, and then looked up from her cards. She didn't need them for this part, but she did she need to look in Kyo's eyes. “I'm positive that my mom considers your promise fulfilled, because with you I am truly found, and I'm as safe and protected as I would have been with her. She would have been so proud of the man you became. I know, because I am.”
Kyo again pulled her hand to his mouth to kiss, tears spilling down his cheeks, and she felt droplets squeaking out of her eyes as well.
“Now, if you'll take the rings.” The officiant gestured to Yuki and Hanajima. The two of them stepped forward. Yuki handed Kyo Tohru's wedding band, and Tohru exchanged her index cards for Kyo's wedding ring.
“As you exchange rings, recite your commitment to each other,” the officiant said. “Sohma-san, you start.”
Kyo delicately slid Tohru's engagement ring off her hand, never once taking his eyes away from hers. “For the girl you were, for the woman you are, and for the wife you shall be to me. I choose you to be my only one.” He then slid the wedding band onto her hand. “With this ring, I thee wed. I take you as my friend, my lover, and my wife from this day forth and into the fullness of time, where we will meet, remember, and love again.”
Tohru couldn't see anymore. She just kept blinking tears away. She had no clue that Kyo was shamelessly letting his tears just spill. She felt him slide her engagement ring back on after her new wedding band, and she squeezed his fingers.
Taking Kyo's left hand in hers, Tohru slid the wedding band over his fingernail, and let it rest there. “For- for the- for the boy you were,” her voice shook and cracked. She knew she was about to start sobbing with joy, but she had to resist. The ceremony was almost done. Just a couple more minutes, and then nothing could take Kyo from her. “For the ma-man you are, and- and for the- the husband you shall- you shall be- be to me. I choose you to- to be my very only and solitary one.”
The polite chuckle rolled through the congregation. Kyo mouthed 'you got this' to Tohru, and she slid his wedding band the rest of the way onto his finger.
“With this ring, I thee wed. I- I take you as my friend, my lo-lover, and my husband from- from this day forth and into the fullness of time, where- where we will meet, and we'll remember, and we'll love again.”
Kyo mouthed 'I love you' to her, and she quickly mouthed it back.
“Beautiful! I now pronounce you The Sohmas: Kyo and Tohru. You may kiss.”
Everyone cheered as Kyo cupped the back of Tohru's head, and pulled her to him, his other arm wrapping around her waist. Her arms circled his neck, and she rocked onto her toes. Their lips met, and neither wanted to separate again. They were a family. They had been for a while now, but it was finally official. He was her husband. She was his wife.
It was actually Uo clearing her throat that caused the two to break, their cheeks flushed from the excitement and mild embarrassment at kissing so passionately in front of everyone.
The recessional began to play, and hand bells rang. Hanajima passed Tohru's bouquet back to her, and Kyo escorted his bride – his wife - down the aisle. They passed through the back doors, and started their receiving line. Uo and Hana followed, linked arm-in-arm. Then Yuki walked with Machi, both a-blush with thoughts of their own potential trip to an alter. Rin and Haru were a bit more playful on their trip back up the aisle, Haru nipping a bit at Rin's neck. Momiji escorted young Kisa, the two of them talking bubbly about the ceremony while trying to still look serious. Finally, Shigure escorted Kagura to the receiving line, muttering comforts into her ear.
As they waited for their guests to spill out and congratulate them, Kyo pulled Tohru against his side. She nuzzled his chest, and he breathed in the scent of her hair. He then played with her rings, and she did the same: spinning his band around his finger.
“How does it feel, to wear a ring?” she asked.
“Like the greatest thing in the world.” He kissed the top of her head and squeezed her tight. “You're my wife now.”
“You're my husband! Kyo-kun is my husband!”
“Forever,” he whispered in her ear. “Forever and for always.”
“Until the end of time, and beyond.”
Kyo angled her chin, and he leaned in for another kiss. He could never get enough of them, and he knew he could indulge for the rest of his life. Tohru was just as greedy, and wept as she thought of her parents.
Their love story lasted for eternity, but Tohru and Kyo's would last longer than that.
This story is a birthday gift to the wonderfully awesome Tohru to my Uotani, @chibisunnie.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHIBI!!! <3 <3 <3
**WARNING** This story is post-manga
“Is She Your Mama Too?”
Summary: The curse has been broken. Tohru and Kyo have moved away, and Yuki will be leaving soon too. As life around him changes so drastically, Momiji decides it's time to get back the life he was owed. He only hopes it wouldn't bring any pain this time.
Word Count: 5058; completed story
Rating: General Audiences
Characters: Momiji Sohma, Momo Sohma, their parents, Hatori Sohma
Triggers: Please be warned that this story talks about voluntary memory suppression, parental abandonment, forced separation from family and isolation, and severe mental illness. (If you read my story and find something that is triggering, please let me know so I might warn others. I am sorry, I don’t really trigger so it’s hard for me to remember to do this)
You can find the story at my normal three locations:
On AO3, on FFN, and on DA
“Is She Your Mama Too?”
The room felt so large that he was drowning in it, but at the same time he felt crushed by the walls being so close. There were too many pieces of furniture. There weren't enough. His whole body ran cold, but his face and ears were hot and clammy.
Momiji wasn't sure why he was so nervous. He had talked with them before. He wasn't really supposed to, but he had. This would be different though. Would they hate him? Would they be glad? Would they...
Embrace him?
He paced around the room once more. He picked at his nails. They weren't painted this time. He figured he needed to give the best impression. He wished he had at least put a clear coat on, then he could chip it back off as he waited.
“Momiji?”
“Ha'ri!” Forgetting his mature poise for a moment, Momiji skipped over to the door; again a childish fifteen.
Hatori held his hand out; reminding Momiji that he was far too tall to try to leap onto his back anymore. Standing as stoic as ever, Hatori lingered in the doorway.
“Are you sure this is wise?” Hatori's voice was even; neither filled with encouragement nor scrutiny.
“I- I don't care. Akito wanted to make things right with me, and I asked for this. I want to be with them; to be able to call them by their proper titles. I'm tired of being alone. It may be selfish, but don't I deserve it? If Kana were still single, wouldn't you have wanted this?”
It was too far. Momiji knew instantly that he had gone too far. Still, Hatori was calm. He even smiled a little.
“Perhaps, but that will forever be in my past. Zodiac or no, what I did to her - the pain I caused her – couldn't be easily forgiven. So I don't know if I could ever tell her. Either way, I am quite happy now, and so is she. That's what's important.” Hatori crossed to a window. Glancing casually out of it, his hands in his pockets, he again smiled. “What you're doing is brave, even if it is selfish. I wish the happiest outcome for you.”
“Papa told me that you'd talk to Mama; help her understand everything.”
“I will, once they get here. He wanted to ease her into everything; let them know about the Zodiac curse. Your sister won't know the full extent of what your mother went through, but I'll help your father explain everything to your mother once we're alone.”
“Will she hate me again? Once she knows the pain I caused her?”
“It wasn't you.” Hatori placed a hand on Momiji's shoulder. “It was the curse - and her own mind - that caused her pain. It was never you.”
“But I'm making her remember it.”
“You can change your mind. Your father isn't telling them anything until they get here. You can simply host a lovely dinner party for Sohma family members if you want. Your mother still thinks you're a kind boy who has taken to her husband due to your family ties.”
Momiji pulled away from Hatori, and sat on the sofa. He was still so unsure as to what to do. Was it cruel to make his mother remember? Let her know that she abandoned her first child for over a decade? Would it be equally cruel for Momo to find out she had a brother that had been stolen from her? Would she be the one who felt abandoned? Could he do that to her?
Would it be more cruel to stay away? He had the opportunity now to be with his family. His father wouldn't have to strain with a double life. His mother, who had always been so kind to him once she thought they weren't related, would be able to reconnect with a child she once couldn't hold. His sister, a bright and wonderful girl, had told Tohru that she wanted Momiji to be her older brother. He could be granting her wish. They could be a family. No more complications. No more forgotten memories. They could start to heal.
Was he being selfish? Which option would be better for everyone?
The doorbell rang before he could decide.
“Ha'ri?”
Hatori sent a servant to answer the door, then knelt before Momiji. He placed a hand on the teen's knee.
“This is your decision. I trust you thought it through. I will help you however I can. You are not alone in this, I promise.”
“Thank you!” Momiji pulled Hatori into a hug, his eyes welling up with tears.
“Sohma-san, Momiji-san,” the servant cleared her throat, “your guests are in the foyer. Shall I bring them in?”
Momiji and Hatori stood in unison. Hatori gave Momiji a quick sideways glance, and Momiji gently nodded.
“Yes, please, see them in.”
The servant bowed, then retreated to collect Momiji's family. If all went well, he could leave with them that evening. He could go home. A home he never stepped foot inside, but one he desperately wished to return to.
A moment later, the servant escorted the trio into the living room. Momiji's father was a well-built man just reaching his forties. He was well-groomed, but the stress of running a business already created some gray streaks through his hair, and some wrinkles around his eyes. By his side was Momiji's mother, a thin woman with Momiji's blonde, wavy hair. It was pinned up that evening, with a thin lock of it draped down her cheek as an accent. Her clothes were clearly high-end, and draped loosely but elegantly on her. She just had her fortieth birthday, but she still looked about Hatori's age. A few laugh lines around her eyes and the corners of her mouth were the only tells of her maturity. Clinging to their mother's hand was Momo. She wasn't nearly as little any longer. She had become a surprisingly tall nine-year-old. Still, she hovered close to her mother's hip, as she always did when she was unsure of her new surroundings. Her hair had more brown in it than Momiji or their mother, but it had the same waves, inherited from their German half.
“Welcome.” Hatori walked forward to great their guests with hand shakes and polite bows. “Mamoru-san, Freida-san, Momo-chan, thank you all for taking the time to come out and visit.”
“The pleasure is ours, of course.” Momiji's father Mamoru shook Hatori's hand; a lightheartedness in his voice. “Thank you for inviting us over for dinner in the first place. Might I ask for the occasion?”
“Well-”
“Momiji-kun?” Momo's soft voice chirped out. “Were you invited too?” She quickly dropped her mother's hand and skipped over to Momiji.
“Momiji?” Mamoru's voice grew tight; unsure.
“Momiji-chan?” Freida's face contorted in confusion. “You were asked here for dinner? Shouldn't you be having it with your parents?”
Both Mamoru and Momiji flinched. Slightly.
“You see,” Hatori interjected, “Momiji, he-” he glanced past his shoulder, searching for the correct phrasing before turning back to his guests. “He had to live away from his parents. In truth, he has his own home here on the main estates, and he has been living alone for some time now. Since his house is so close, and he is still under aged, I had offered to peek in on him, and have him come here to share his meals with me. I'm a poor excuse for a guardian, but it seemed to have worked out.”
“Oh, you poor dear.” Momiji's mother pressed her hands to her chest, and her face softened as she looked over at him. “It's no wonder your mother never seemed concerned by your late-night trips to my husband's building.”
“Yes, sorry about that.” Momiji hid his German accent as a conditioned reflex of being near his mother. He had gone most his life speaking with a near-perfect Japanese accent whenever she was around; anything to further distance himself from her so she would never remember he was hers. “I don't know if you remember, but my friend Tohru worked in that building, so I frequently stopped by to keep her company.”
“Ah, yes, I do vaguely remember you with a young cleaning girl. Well, I hope you didn't distract her. My husband was paying her well to do a task. I'd hate to know that he was paying for sub-par work because you couldn't find a more suitable social environment.”
Mamoru rested his hand on his wife's shoulder to still her.
“Hatori-san,” Mamoru's words were sharp; warning. “What is this?”
“I'll explain. Please, Mamoru-san, may I speak with you alone in the other room?”
Mamoru's eyes darted from each person to the next. His face was stiff and blocky; his jaw tight.
“Come along, Mamoru-san,” Hatori rested a hand on the man's shoulder, trying to direct him out of the room. “Momiji can play host for a few minutes. Then we can have a nice dinner together.”
Reluctantly, Momiji's father followed Hatori out of the room, holding his gaze on his wife until the last moment.
“Would you like some tea?” Momiji scooped up the already brewed pot. Resting a hand on the side of the ceramic, he checked if it was still warm. The tea was still good. Before getting responses from the ladies, he poured three cups, and rested them on the coffee table.
Freida sat across from Momiji, but Momo plopped onto the seat beside him on the sofa.
“Momo generally doesn't take to strangers the way she does with you.” Freida sat with her back perfectly straight, but she smiled as she picked up her cup of tea. “You must have a kind soul that she recognizes.”
Momiji blushed. He focused on his balled up hands on his knees before stealing a quick glance over at Momo. “She seems to have a kind soul as well. You did such an amazing job raising her. I can tell how much you two love each other.”
“Are you close to your mother? Even though you can't live with her?”
Momiji scooped up his tea, and took a long sip. Shaking his head, he rested the cup back on the table. “Not as close as I'd like, but I do try to stay up-to-date with her. I like knowing what's going on in her life. My father's too, although it's a little easier to talk with him.”
“Such a sweet lad. I'm sorry you two can't be all that close, but I'm sure your mother is lucky to have you as a son.”
Momiji dug his fingernails into his palms, fighting back tears. A sad smile inched across his face.
“I hope she truly feels that way.”
“I promise you, dear boy, she does. Every mother cherishes her children, especially ones brought up as finely as you.”
Momiji drank the rest of his tea. He got up to pour himself some more. He had to focus on anything but his mother's words. He prayed for Hatori to hurry and come back. Half way through his second cup, the tears spilled over.
“Momiji?” Momo's little hand rested on his forearm.
Freida gasped, and leaned forward so she was closer to him. “Momiji-chan, are you alright?”
Momiji shook. This was hard. This was harder than any other time he spoke with them; any other time that he had to pretend they weren't his beloved mother and little sister. He was free now. He had escaped. They could all be together. Yet he was still pretending. This wasn't what he wanted. This hurt so much worse than before.
Ha'ri, he mentally pleaded, please, hurry.
“I am so sorry.” Freida rested her hand on Momiji's, making him jump a little. “You can't be with your family, and here I am asking you about them. It must hurt. It was unkind of me to push like that. Please forgive me.”
Momiji rested a hand on top of his mother's, and then reached over to Momo's shoulder, comforting both women. Wiping his tears, he smiled.
“No. It's okay. It was nice hearing you say that my mother must be lucky to have had me.”
“Are you okay now?” Momo leaned close, inspecting his face for any lies. It made him laugh sorrowfully.
“Yes. Thank you, Momo-chan. Sorry to have caused a scene.”
“Momiji?” Mamoru's voice echoed from the doorway. He rushed to his wife's side, studying both her and their daughter. “Darling, what happened, is everyone alright?”
“Everything is fine, Love.” Freida pulled her husband down to sit beside her. “I just got a bit too personal about Momiji-chan's family, and it made him a touch emotional.”
“Momiji's family?” Mamoru's gaze darted to Momiji. The teen shook his head, silently telling his father that neither of the ladies knew their connection to him.
“I feel like this is a fine segue, don't you, Mamoru-san?” Hatori pulled over a chair and set it between the two couches.
Mamoru's grip tightened slightly around his wife's hand.
“Mamoru? Is something the matter?”
“Freida-san, Momo-chan,” Hatori spoke calmly, with his most refined bedside manner. “There is something about the Sohma family that you need to learn.”
“Mamoru?” Freida glanced over at her husband, who was rigid; scared. Still, he slowly nodded his head.
“Momo-chan, do you know the story of the Chinese zodiac?” Hatori gave her a gentle smile to help reassure her.
“God hosted a banquet for the animals, but the rat tricked the cat into staying home. The other twelve had a great feast, and the zodiac is in the order that they arrived at the banquet: starting with the rat and ending with the boar.” Momo looked over at Momiji to check that she was correct. He nodded, then turned to Hatori in order to help direct her attention there too.
“We're not entirely sure why our family, but the Sohmas were cursed generations ago,” Hatori continued. “Fourteen members of the family would be possessed by the vengeful spirits of the twelve zodiac animals, the slighted cat, and the god that hosted the banquet in the first place. Part of the curse was that those possessed could not be embraced by the opposite gender. If they were, they would transform into the animal that possessed them.”
“Hatori-san, should you be telling these children such fairy tales as if they were fact?” Freida shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Mamoru squeezed her hand tighter.
“Let him speak, my darling.”
“The curse has since been broken,” Hatori continued in a calm tone. “Those once possessed are no longer bound to the Sohma who was God, nor do they transform when hugged. They will never become their animal counterparts again.” A touch of glee slid into those final words.
“If this supposed curse is broken, then how does anyone know it existed? What does that have to do with why we're here?” Freida again fidgeted in her seat, constantly crossing, uncrossing, and recrossing her ankles.
“We know because I was once one of them: the dragon. Momiji was the rabbit.”
“What?” Freida shrieked.
“Wow!” Momo gaped at the teen beside her.
Momiji blushed and hung his head, unsure where to look.
“Momiji had to live away from his family because his mother could never hold him, and-” Hatori paused as he tried to determine how much Momo needed to know.
“It broke her,”Mamoru chimed in. “It utterly destroyed her.”
“Did you know this woman?” Freida inched away from her husband, pulling her hand from his.
Hatori stood up, waited for a confirming nod from Mamoru, and then turned to Momiji.
“Momiji, perhaps you would like to show Momo-chan the garden?”
“Wait.” Freida was becoming frantic. “Wait, why does Momo have to leave? She needs to stay here, with me. Mamoru, are you going to listen to this man state that he used to be a- a dragon, and that Momiji-chan was a rabbit, and then let our daughter leave with one of them?”
“Freida, honey, please. Let the children leave for the moment. We'll fetch them for dinner.”
“We're staying for dinner?” she screeched.
“Momiji,” Mamoru turned to his son, “Take Momo. Now.”
“Mama?” Momo shrank into the sofa as her wide eyes scanned her mother.
“Come along.” Momiji stood and held his hand out to Momo. “I brought my violin along tonight. I was told you know how to play too. Want to show me what songs you can play?”
“Papa?” Momo stared at her father. He nodded for her to go. Slowly, she reached her hand out to accept Momiji's, and he escorted her out into the garden.
“You- you said you have your violin?” Momo kept her distance now, her voice low.
“I do, but first I need to talk to you, if you don't mind.” Momiji walked into the center of the garden, his hands behind his back as he looked up at the rising moon.
“Okay.”
“Are you scared? Of me? Of Hatori? Of that curse?”
“No, but Mama looked scared. Is she going to be alright?” Momo glanced back at the house. She played with the folds of her skirt, and shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
“I'm not sure, but I hope so. Ha'ri is going to do everything he can to make sure of that.”
“Were you really a bunny? When a girl hugged you?”
“I was.” Momiji spun on his heels and leaned in towards Momo, a goofy grin on his face, and his index finger by his cheek as he winked. “A very adorable little yellow bunny. Yellow like my hair. I didn't mind turning into an animal as much as the other Zodiacs did. Probably because I was so cute.”
Momo giggled. “I wish I could have seen you then.”
“Me too. I think it would have been fun to have you pet my head and scratch my long ears.” He held his hands on the top of his head and wiggled them like bunny ears. Somehow, he already missed his real ones.
“Was it scary, to be possessed by a 'vengeful spirit'?”
“I don't think they were really vengeful.” Momiji sighed and turned towards the bamboo water feature just off the porch. He listened to the bamboo softly rap against the stone after pouring the water into the small pond. “I think the Zodiac spirits just wished to be together again. Maybe that's why the curse broke. They finally felt like they had enough time, and they could move on.”
“Was the dragon scary?”
“Well, you have to keep this a secret, okay?” Momiji again winked as he held a finger to his lips. Momo vigorously nodded. “Poor Ha'ri actually turned into a baby dragon when he transformed.”
“A sea horse?” Momo gasped, her hands zipping to her mouth to hide her laugh.
“Exactly!” Momiji bopped Momo on the nose.
“Are you sad you couldn't see your mama all this time?”
“Very sad, but I was happy that she was doing well. I loved seeing her smile.”
“Can you see her now that she can hug you?”
“I hope so.”
“Momiji?” Momo curled her fingers deep into the folds of her skirt. She stared up at Momiji with pleading eyes. Pleading for the truth; pleading for the answer she always wanted. “Is my mama also yours?”
Momiji swallowed deep. He wasn't sure how he was going to tell her, but he should have known a girl as brilliant as Momo would have been able to figure it out.
“Ja.” Momiji dropped his false accent; letting his German articulation leak back into his words.
“I knew it!” Momo started hopping up and down, the way Momiji used to when he was younger. He always thought it was because he was possessed by a rabbit, but maybe it was just a family trait. Either that, or maybe Momo picked it up from watching Momiji from afar for the past year or so.
“You look so much like her,” Momo continued. “She says she doesn't see it, but you really do. You used to wear frilly and girly clothes before, and it really made you look like Mama. Now that you're grown you also look like Papa. I don't know why Mama can't see it. Does she not want to? Was she afraid that I would be scared of my brother turning into a rabbit whenever I hugged you?”
“No. Mama and I stopped living together long before she had you. It was too sad for her to have a son she couldn't hold. It was too much for her to bear, and she got very sick. I wanted Mama to be happy and healthy, so I went away.”
“But she thought you had other parents. Did she say that just to confuse me? It seemed so cruel now that she asked about your mother when that's what she is.”
Momiji knelt so he could be just shy of eye-level with Momo. Taking her hands in his, he spoke softly and solemnly. “Momo, I don't wish for you to get scared, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Hatori can hide memories so the person forgets. When Mama got really bad, she asked him to get rid of all memories of me. She doesn't know I'm her son.”
“That's- that's awful!” Momo ripped her hands from Momiji and stepped away from him. “Mama wouldn't do that! She couldn't!”
“Momo, she was sick and in pain. She couldn't think of me without it hurting. She loves you so much, though. She would never do that with you. She's also been kind to me since she forgot she was my mutti. It's all okay.”
“No! No it's not okay! You're my brother! I've wanted you to be my big brother, and you are, and I didn't know it!” She crashed into him, nearly tipping him over as she squeezed his shoulders, sobbing.
“It's okay, Momo.” Momiji stroked the back of his sister's hair as he pulled her into a tighter hug. “I'm here. We have so many years left to make up the time we missed. It will be okay.”
“I barely knew you, but you meant so much to me.” Momo continued crying in her brother's arms, squeezing tighter each second.
“I watched you grow up, Momo,” Momiji confessed. “I was supposed to stay away, but I couldn't. I watched Mama walk around with her pregnant belly, and I watched her parading you around proudly when you came home from the hospital. I noticed that she would take you to pick up Papa from work each night, so I went to the building too in order to watch the three of you. Mama looked so happy, and she loved you so much. I was so glad.”
Sniffling, Momo pulled away, wiping away tears. “It should have been you. Mama should have been happy to have had you.”
“I know.”
“It's not fair.”
“It wasn't, but it can be now. You and I can be brother and sister now, if you'd like that.”
Momo laughed. “Are you kidding me? Of course I want that! You silly!”
Momiji also laughed. “Good. I really wanted it too.”
“What about Mama? What's going to happen with her?”
Momiji stood up and brushed off his knees. “I don't know. Hatori is trying to talk her through her memories, bring them back gently so she can remember them without them hurting too much. He and Papa are reminding her that I love her very much, and that I'm not mad at her for forgetting me. I just want us to all be a family again. But if it's too much, Hatori might hide those memories again. She may never remember who I really am.”
“But I can still remember that you're my big brother, right? And I can call you that?”
“Ja! You can call me big brother anytime.”
“Good.” Momo grabbed Momiji's hand and started swinging it. Momiji swung into her rhythm, and soon flipped his arm over her head, forcing her to spin.
He did it again, then pulled gently away from her. Soon they were dancing in the yard, laughing and playing as siblings should.
“Momiji? Did you truly bring your violin?”
“I did.”
“Could you play something for me? I love listening to you play.”
“Sure.” Momiji jogged over to one of the side doors.
“Mo-Momiji?” Freida's voice squeaked from the main entrance out into the garden.
“Oh! Freida-san!” Momiji dropped his accent instantly.
Momo stiffened, her eyes darting between her mother and Momiji.
“No. No, I- I believe you are to call me Mom?” Freida choked out the last word, as if she still wasn't quite sure how to properly say it.
Tears. More tears. Momiji could barely see through them. He vaguely registered Momo's happy gasp.
“Is- is 'Mama' alright? Like Momo calls you?”
Freida kept her distance, but nodded.
“In that case,” with some effort to retrain himself, Momiji spoke with his German accent in front of his mother. “Hi, Mama.”
Freida covered her mouth as she fought back her own tears. “Momiji, I am so sorry for what I've done. How could a mother forget her own child like that? Could you ever forgive me?”
“I did. A long time ago, Mama.”
“Can- can I hold you now? You're not going to change?”
“Not anymore. I am me.”
Slowly, cautiously, Freida walked over to Momiji. Her hands inched towards his cheeks, her thumbs wiping his tears, and then her fingers stretched up to his hair.
“Momo told me,” she muttered, “Momo told me we looked alike, but I couldn't see it. How could I not see it?”
“It's okay, Mama.”
Freida slinked her arms around Momiji, as if she were learning how to hug him. She was. She was so unsure as she lowered his chin to her shoulder, her fingers running through his hair.
Just as cautiously, as if he were approaching a bird, Momiji wrapped his arms around his mother's back.
The hug was slow to happen, but quick to break. Freida gasped as she pulled from Momiji. She wove her hand in front of her, as if warding him away.
“I'm- I'm sorry. I- this is all so much. I need time. I'm so sorry, Momiji, but I just need time. This is too much.”
“Mama?” Momo walked over and took her mother's hand.
“Momo! Oh my goodness, I'm sorry. You- you've had a brother-”
“I know. Momiji just told me.”
“But you've known this whole time, haven't you? How could I have not? I'm his mother? How could I-?”
“Mama, it's okay. He's not mad.” Momo squeezed her mother's hand.
“Momiji, would it be cruel of me to ask you to stay in that house? Just for a little longer?” Freida sighed in disbelief. “I don't even remember our first home! We moved because your father was afraid just the rooms of that house could remind me of you! This is too much.”
Freida collapsed against Momo, causing Momiji to sprint to her side.
“Mama, it's okay. I'll stay put. We don't have to be in the same house. I'm just happy I can see you, and call you Mama.”
“Is everyone alright out here?” Mamoru stood in the doorway, his voice still as tight as when he first saw Momiji that evening.
“Yes, my love,” Freida forced herself back upright. “I'm just- it's a lot to take in.”
“I'm sorry,” he replied. “I'm sorry I was the source of all of this mess. Akito-sama suggested that Hatori-san wipe your mind in order to ease your pain, and I had talked Momiji into agreeing to it. Then I hid him from both of you. I am so sorry.”
“Papa,” Momiji gave him a sad smile, “I'm not mad.”
“Well, I'm a little mad,” Momo pouted, “but I can forgive you if Momiji can.”
“I'm sorry, Momiji.” Mamoru walked over to help his wife back inside. “I think we need to skip dinner tonight.”
“I understand.”
“Papa, can I stay?” Momo tugged gently on her father's sleeve. “That way you can take care of Mama instead of worrying about making dinner for me? I promise I'll come straight home when I'm done.”
Mamoru looked between his re-found family. His face was hard, and his brows furrowed, but both softened slowly.
“I could escort her home, if that's alright,” Momiji offered.
Mamoru stared at his son, then glanced over at his wife.
“Have her home by eight. It's a school day tomorrow, and both of you need your sleep.”
“Thank you, Papa,” the siblings said in unison, then giggled at their accidental chorus.
“Momiji?” Freida weakly called for him. When he caught her gaze, she continued. “I was right before. About your mother. She is lucky to have such a strong, brave, caring, kind, and forgiving boy.”
Momiji simply nodded, afraid he wouldn't be able to get words out anyway if he tried.
Mamoru and Freida said their farewells for the evening, and headed home. Hatori hosted a simple dinner for Momo and Momiji, but quickly took his meal to his office so the siblings could catch up. After they were done eating, Momiji played some of his favorite songs in his violin. Momo confessed they were her favorites too, mostly because of how frequently she watched him practice them in his room.
The hours quickly ticked by, and, after thanking Hatori for everything, Momiji escorted Momo home. Their father greeted them at the door, and quickly escorted Momo inside to get ready for bed. Mamoru reassured Momiji that his mother was doing alright, but she did need time to adjust. They had agreed to start by having Momiji come over for brunch on Sundays.
Momiji wasn't able to manage his goal of stepping inside that new home that evening, but he would on Sunday. It would only be three days that he'd have to wait. He could wait three days. Then six days after that. And another six days after that. Then, maybe, he could move out of his house, and finally move home.
The thought made him skip home, like the happy spirit of a rabbit still resided inside him. It would be a battle to fully have his mother back, but he already had his sister.
He couldn't wait to write Tohru about his victory.
