Learning to Live

Hi everyone! sorry I took so long, but here is the update, things are gonna start getting interesting now, I promise!
This chapter is dedicated to Redluna, who is a faithful reader of this story, here AND over and !
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or any related character. I do own Nanako and the Zodiac boys!
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Learning to Live
Chapter 3

The following Saturday, Ritsu’s apartment was full of Sohma cousins, arriving to celebrate the young monkey’s twenty-sixth birthday. Tohru, who arrived hand in hand with Kyo, kissed Ritsu on the cheek and wished him a happy birthday, her usual cheerful smile gracing her pretty face. The girl had offered to bring food for the party, and offer Ritsu had accepted with stammered thanks. So Tohru gleefully set about taking over Ritsu’s tiny kitchen. Kyo left her to it, knowing she was in her element. Kyo and Tohru still lived with Shigure, not wanting him to live by himself in that huge house (not that Kyo would admit it). Yuki had moved out a couple of years ago, and was living with Hatsuharu and Momiji. Yuki and Haru had been together since Haru had started University five years ago. Momiji just lived there because he could, and the three of them still stayed at Shigure’s most weekends.

Nanako was in her element as social butterfly. She fluttered around the cousins, chatting amiably with Kagura, or Momiji, or Yuki, or anyone who would talk back.
Eventually, she joined Tohru in the kitchen. Shigure sauntered over to Ritsu with a lazy grin. “Hatori and Ayame are on their way Ri-chan. Ha-san had to go and pick Aya up from the shop.” He said.
“That’s great Shigure.” Ritsu replied shyly. “I’m looking forward to seeing them.” Shigure blinked; he’d been hoping for a more traditional reaction from Ritsu. While he was happy that Ritsu had gained so much confidence, there was a tiny sadistic part of him that missed working Ritsu into an apologetic frenzy.

Any further ribbing Shigure may have attempted was cut short when a group of four young men walked through the door, led by a boy with black hair and blue eyes. But the one who really drew his attention was a small red head with the brightest green eyes he had ever seen. Momentarily stunned, he came back to himself when he heard Ritsu whimper. He stared at the young monkey, a slow smile spreading on his face as he realised that his cousin was attracted to the young man with the blue eyes.

Ritsu couldn’t help the whimper that escaped him when Keichiiro Nizawa and the other members of Zodiac walked through his front door. “I’m going to kill her!” he stormed into the kitchen.
Shigure grinned, ‘This will be interesting’ he thought, ambling over to engage that adorable little red head in conversation.

****
Ritsu was in the kitchen, freaking out at his best friend. “Nana! I know you invited him! What were you thinking?” he wailed.
“Don’t panic Ri-chan.” Nanako said cheerfully. “The more the merrier right? It’ll be fun!”
Tohru saw Ritsu wrap shaking arms around himself. She reached out and took his hands in hers. “It’s that boy with the blue eyes right?” she asked. Ritsu nodded. “He’s very handsome.” Tohru said with a kind smile, causing Ritsu to blush.
Nanako came over then and put her hand on her best friend’s arm. “Look Ri-chan, I invited him because he really seems to like you.”
Ritsu gave a shaky laugh, “Sure he does Nana.”
“I’m serious!” she said. “Do you really think I would’ve let him within three feet of you if he didn’t seem sincere?”
“No.” Ritsu said softly. “I suppose not.” Still, Ritsu doubted Keichiiro Nizawa was seriously interested in him.
“Good, now get out there and mingle!” Nanako said brightly.
“Yes, I think I heard Ayame arrive.” Tohru added.
Ritsu nodded, took a deep breath, and left the kitchen.

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Keichiiro spotted Ritsu the moment he walked into the apartment. The boy was stunning, with his simple clothing and hair falling loose around him. He was talking to a handsome man who looked to be Masato’s age. His eyes narrowed briefly when the boy smiled shyly at the older man. Then, Ritsu saw him and went pale, fleeing to the kitchen. The man Ritsu had been speaking to approached them. “You would be the one who’s got my little cousin all worked up.” He said curiously.
Keichiiro grinned. “I hope so.” He replied, relieved. Cousin huh? Out the corner of his eye he could see Kaoru staring at the man, his mouth agape, and his grin widened. Brothers, perhaps not, but it appeared Ritsu had a cousin that Kaoru had taking a liking to.
“I’m Shigure.” The other man said.
“Keichiiro. These three are Masato, Makoto and Kaoru.”
“You guys work with Ritsu?” Shigure asked, smiling at Kaoru, who blushed, but grinned back challengingly.
“Yeah, he’s our sound engineer; we’re in a band.” Keichii replied.
“I see.” Shigure said. “Well, be nice to him, he’s a little fragile.”
“We noticed.” Masato commented dryly. “He jumps at the slightest little… who is that?” he demanded suddenly, distracted by someone walking through the door.
Shigure followed his gaze, and chuckled, a dark sound that sent shivers down Kaoru’s spine. “That’s Ayame, he’s another cousin.”
“Ayame…” Masato breathed, his eyes following the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. “Excuse me.” He muttered and quickly made his exit, heading in the direction of the silver haired beauty, like a predator stalking his prey.
Shigure chuckled again. “I’m not sure who I feel sorrier for, Masato or Aya.” He commented.
Kaoru grinned. “Trust me, by the time Masato’s done being charming, your cousin won’t know what hit him.”
Makoto shook his head with a long suffering sigh. “The things I have to put up with.” He said cheerfully. “I’m going to get something to eat.” He wandered of with an absentminded wave.

Soon after, Ritsu reappeared from the kitchen, looking jittery, nervous, and more than a little scared, and Keichiiro almost immediately took his leave.
Seeing an opportunity here, Shigure offered Kaoru his arm, which the younger man accepted with a charming grin. As they sat on the nearby couch, they spotted Makoto standing alone by the dining room table. Kaoru sighed. “Sometimes I feel a bit sorry for Mako.” He said softly. When Shigure looked at him questioningly, he explained. “Keichii, Masato and I are all pretty boy crazy. ‘Sato may not look it, I know; being the big, quiet one and all, but when he makes the effort to be charming he always manages to find a willing partner. Mako’s different.”
“How so?” Shigure asked curiously.
“”Mako’s the youngest of us, but he’s always been the ‘settle down’ kind of guy. He’s been like this since we were kids.” Kaoru explained.
“The four of you grew up together?” Shigure wanted to know.
Kaoru nodded. “Not Masato though. We’ve only known him since we got signed. He was a studio musician the label gave us. We got on so well that he stayed with us.” The red head smiled fondly at the memory.
“Anyway, Mako had a boyfriend. They’d been together since Senior Year. Mako’s twenty-two now, so they’d been together for a long time, especially for a couple of teenagers.’
“So what happened?” Shigure asked.
“He caught him sleeping with another guy about a year ago.” Kaoru sighed. “Mako came home from the studio one afternoon and he was fucking some guy in their bed. Mako was heart broken, it nearly killed him. Apparently it had been going on for quite a while. He never talks about it, but I don’t think Makoto’s really over it even now.”
Movement out the corner of his eye made Shigure turn back towards Makoto, and he smiled. “Don’t worry Kaoru-kun.” He said as he watched Momiji approach the young drummer and engage him in conversation, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “I think Makoto’s going to be just fine.”

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Ayame and Hatori walked into the party around half an hour late. Aya had been fluffing around, primping and preening in front of the mirror until Hatori had forcibly removed him from the house.
Aya almost immediately zoned in on Yuki, and dragged a bemused Hatori over to talk to his younger brother. Hatsuharu and Hatori looked on in amusement as Yuki tried to find a viable excuse to escape. They may have got along better these days, but Yuki still never knew how to handle his brother at his most flamboyant. His chance came a moment later, when a man with strikingly chocolate hair and eyes approached them, eyes fixed on Aya. Yuki made his getaway as the handsome stranger strolled towards Ayame. “You have to be the most beautiful creature I have ever seen.” The stranger said, smiling charmingly. Ayame stared at him, speechless for what was probably the first time in his life. Hatori decided to make his exit, escaping to the kitchen, grinning almost imperceptibly to himself. This was going to be interesting.

Masato grinned at the speechless look on the silver haired man’s face. This should be easy.
Aya quickly tried to regain his senses, looking the man up and down. Well, if this just wasn’t the most handsome man he’d ever seen? Noting the glimmer in the man’s eyes, Aya suspected that he knew it, too. The silver haired man grinned. He’d enjoy putting this man down a peg or two. ‘Or six’ Aya thought dryly. Not, he admitted, that he wasn’t incredibly attracted to the man; he just needed to understand that Aya wasn’t going to swoon at the sight of him. No, Aya was going to make him work for it.
“Why thank you sir.” Ayame replied with a charming smile of his own. “How nice of you to say so.”
The man bowed slightly. “My name is Masato Hanayashiki.” He said.
“I am Ayame Sohma.” Aya answered him, a slightly haughty ring to his voice.
“You are Ritsu’s cousin?” Masato asked.
“That’s right.” Ayame nodded. “And how do you know my little cousin?”
“My band has been placed under Ritsu’s care.” Masato answered. “It’s a very recent event, but we have all been quite taken with your young cousin, especially Keichiiro over there.” He jerked his head towards his friend and a very nervous looking Ritsu.
Aya, momentarily forgetting about Masato and his arrogant manner, peered over in Ritsu’s direction. “Oh my…” Aya gasped, watching Keichiiro flirt with a blushing Ritsu. “Don’t worry” Masato said. “Keichii will do right by your cousin. He’d never hurt anyone intentionally.”
“Good. He’d have a lot of people to answer to if he did.” Aya replied decisively. He looked over at Ritsu again. “Still, maybe this friend of yours will be good for him.”
“Well maybe.” Masato agreed amiably, eager to turn the conversation back to the one that resulted in Ayame being in his bed that night. “So, do you think I could be good for you?” he asked, leaning over Aya and pressing him into a nearby wall, smiling suggestively at him.
Aya resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Was this guy predictable or what? “Oh, I highly doubt that.” He remarked, sliding out from under Masato’s arms.
“What?” an astounded Masato sputtered, caught unawares.
“I said, I doubt that you’re very good for me.” Ayame replied with a cheeky smile. “Two can play at this game!” he thought smugly. He turned and winked at the older man. “But that doesn’t mean that you aren’t welcome to try your luck anyway.” He flashed the stunned Masato another of his charming grins, and walked away.

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Makoto sighed to himself as he headed towards the huge pile of food situated on the dining room table. Those three were unbelievable sometimes! The only reason Keichii had insisted they come to the party was because of his infatuation with the birthday boy in question, and Kaoru had zoned in on Shigure the instant he walked through the door. As for Masato… well, Masato had been that way as long as Makoto had known him. The moment he had laid eyes on Aya he was gone, but Makoto suspect that Ayame Sohma would give him a run for his money.

As for himself? He had always been the one with the long term, steady boyfriend. That was, until Jiro had cheated on him. For a long time Makoto had thought that he was drowning in the pain and sorrow that betrayal had brought, but eventually the despair had faded and been replaced by a fear of it happening again. Makoto’s lonely musings were suddenly interrupted by a young man with a shock of blond hair. “Hello!” he said cheerfully.
“Uh… hi.” Makoto replied, surprised by the cheerful boy.
“I'm Momiji.” The young man said. “I'm Ritsu’s cousin.”
“Just how many cousins does Ritsu have?” Makoto wondered vaguely. “I am Makoto.” He responded quietly.
Momiji grinned at him. “I know. I’m a follower of your band.”
Makoto grimaced. A fanboy, great.
Momiji laughed and pulled him to sit on a nearby chair. “Don’t worry; I’m not going to start getting hysterical or anything.” He promised, and then chuckled at the relieved look on Makoto’s face. He then proceeded to snag two plates heaped with food and a pulled up another chair for himself. “Are you a friend of Ritsu’s then?” Momiji asked. “Its good to see him finally making some.”
Makoto nodded and quickly explained the new setup at the studio. “Ritsu doesn’t have a lot of friends?” he asked curiously.
Momiji shook his head. “Ritsu was a naturally shy kid, and his tendency to dress like a girl meant he got picked on a lot. Nanako was his first real friend outside the family.” He winced, and added. “Actually, even most of the family had trouble with Ritsu. I always liked him, but others have been less accepting.”
Makoto smiled slightly. “Well, I don’t know him too well, but he seems like a lovely guy. Keichii is really smitten with him.”
“I can see.” Momiji said delightedly as he saw Keichiiro talking to Ritsu while the young monkey blushed. Then the rabbit turned his attention back to the boy in front of him. Makoto was a beautiful boy, but something about him screamed heartbreak and insecurity. Momiji decided then and there that he would do his best to see him smile without sadness in his eyes. So Momiji put on his most charming smile and his best puppy dog eyes and said. “So, what would you say to having lunch with me next week?”
Makoto stared at him. “All this just to hit on me?” he thought. Out loud he said. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not, just as friends?” Momiji persisted.
Makoto studied the boy carefully, wondering if he was for real, and why he’d want to go out with someone he’d just met. He didn’t believe this ‘just as friends’ thing, not for a second. Still, what was the harm in one lunch? “Fine. One lunch.” Makoto agreed with a sigh.
Momiji grinned widely. “Great!” he said happily. “How’s Wednesday for you?”
“I’m recording until 11:30, after that I'm free.” Makoto replied.
Momiji’s grin grew. “Sweet! It’s a date!” he crowed
Makoto couldn’t help but wonder what he was getting himself into.

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Hatori escaped to the kitchen as soon as Masato said to his opening line, chuckling to himself at the perplexed look on Ayame’s face. Now that was going to be fun to watch. From a safe distance of course.
With the tiniest of smug grins still on his face, he turned and kissed Tohru on the cheek. “Hi Hatori.” She said cheerfully.
“Hello Tohru.” Hatori smiled at her kindly.
“What were you laughing at out there?” Tohru asked.
“Ayame.” Hatori replied blithely.
“O-oh, I see…” Tohru sweat-dropped comically.
Hatori chuckled again. “While I admit that laughing at Ayame is a common occurrence, he’s currently being hit on by some guy.” He said dryly.
Tohru giggled, and so did another girl that Hatori hadn’t noticed before. Now though, he realised she was very beautiful, with long black hair and bright blue eyes and full lips. He also realised that she looked familiar, and then quickly realised that he’d seen her face plastered on billboards all over the city. She was a singer, or something.
The girl walked past him to peer out the door, Tohru right behind her. “That’s Ayame over there.” Tohru told the girl, who giggled again.
“That’s Masato Hanayashiki.” She said. “He’s with the band Zodiac. I invited them.”
“Zodiac is it?” Hatori thought wryly. “That’s ironic.”
Tohru turned back to the kitchen. “Oh right!” she remembered. “Hatori, this is Nanako Takamura. Nana, this is Hatori Sohma.”
Nanako bowed, a gesture that Hatori returned minutely. “It’s nice to finally meet you Hatori-san.”
“Likewise.” He said coolly, claming up and falling back on old habits.
Nana looked up at him, a calculating look on her face. She looked like she wanted to say something, but seemed to decide against it at the last moment. She found the older man attractive, almost hauntingly so. She longed to know more about him, but something told her that he would never open up to her. She grinned to herself. Perhaps she should try and break that façade. It could be fun, to see the real person behind that stern exterior.

Deciding to let things slide for now, she smiled prettily at him and flicked her long black hair over her shoulder before returning to her previous kitchen tasks, plotting ways she could ‘accidentally on purpose’ run into him again. Hatori blinked, taken aback, but let her be.
Little did he know that Nanako Takamura always got what she wanted, and she wanted him.

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The moment Ritsu came out of the kitchen, Keichiiro made a beeline for the beautiful boy, determined to finally wring a conversation out of him. Keeping Nanako’s warning from earlier in the week in mind, he carefully approached the long haired sound engineer with an amicable smile on his face. “Hello Ritsu-chan.” He murmured.
Ritsu blushed, rather adorably in the other man’s opinion. “H-hello.” He whispered, flustered by the attractive singer’s presence.
Keichiiro suppressed a grin, and reached into his pocket. “Happy birthday.” He said, producing a small, wrapped present. Ritsu’s eyes widened, he hadn’t anticipated a present from a man he barely knew. Then again he thought wryly, I hadn’t anticipated a man I barely know showing up here!
“T-thank you, v-very much.” He stammered finally.
“You’re very welcome.” Keichiiro answered with another hear stopping smile. “Will you open it?” he asked.
Ritsu nodded, and with unexplainably trembling fingers, began to untie the ribbon around the package, before sliding his long, slim fingers under the tape that held the wrapping together. Keichiiro shuddered inwardly, as a stray thought flitted into his mind, whispering evilly about other things that Ritsu’s fingers might be able to do. Fiercely squashing the little voice in his head telling him to ravage the beautiful young man, Keichiiro watched Ritsu’s pretty face as he lifted his present out of the box, eyes wide, mouth agape.
“Oh!” Ritsu exclaimed quietly, as he stared, awestruck, at the beautiful pendant the older man had bought him. “It’s beautiful.” He said.
“Just like you.” Keichiiro couldn’t resist replying, smiling when Ritsu’s blush intensified. “May I?” he asked, and Ritsu nodded dumbly.
“This gem is a yellow Tiger Eye.” Keichiiro told him as he fastened the diamond shaped pendant around the monkey’s slender neck. The singer fought the sudden urge to bend and kiss the flesh at the boy’s throat as the smaller boy lifted his hair out of the way. “I think it matches your eyes beautifully.” He couldn’t help but trail his fingers ever so lightly down the back of Ritsu’s neck before stepping reluctantly away.
Ritsu felt as though his blush had permanently stained his cheeks. “T-thank you.” He whispered. “You didn’t have to.”
“I know that.” Keichiiro said kindly. “But I wanted to.” He reached over and took the younger man’s hand in his own. “Ritsu, I really like you, and I find you very attractive.” The singer told him seriously. “I would be honoured if you would go out on a date with me.”
Ritsu immediately had the strong urge to throw himself at the man’s feet and scream apologies, for there was no way he could ever be good enough for the handsome vocalist. “I-I don’t think…” he began, but Keichiiro cut him off.
“Please, Ritsu? It would make me so happy if you said yes.” He said softly.
Ritsu looked around wildly, and saw Nana coming out of the kitchen with a plate of food. His best friend was looking straight at him; a tiny smile on her face told him she had heard everything. As he looked in her direction, the plea for help shining in his eyes, she jerked her head in Keichiiro’s direction, and nodded vigorously. She thought he should say yes.
Ritsu took a deep breath, and turned back towards Keichiiro. He could see the worry in the dark blue eyes. Staring at the floor, he managed to answer, “All right Keichiiro-san, I’ll go on a date with you.”
The other man let out a sigh of relief. “Thank God!” he said, squeezing the hand he still held. “For a moment there I thought you would say no.”
Ritsu couldn’t help a small smile. “It was a close thing.” He mumbled, still staring at the floor.
Gentle fingers grasped his chin and lifted is face so he was gazing into those impossibly blue eyes. “I’m glad you didn’t.” he said softly.
He slowly pulled away and stepped back. “I think I’ve pushed you enough for one day.” He said apologetically. “I’ll pick you up after work on Monday for our date. Is that all right?” he asked, and Ritsu nodded dumbly.
He smiled. “Good. Until then, Bright Eyes.” he said, and kissed Ritsu’s hand before he turned and walked away, the other band members excusing themselves from the other Sohma’s to follow him, Kaoru in particular looked happy, having got himself a date with Shigure the following Friday. The three boys knew from Keichiiro’s ecstatic grin that Ritsu had agreed to a date, and they clapped him on the back in congratulations.

Still rooted to the spot Keichiiro had left him in, Nanako decided to check on her best friend. “That’s very pretty.” She said, pointing to the pendant around Ritsu’s neck. “Was that a birthday present from Keichiiro?”
“Oh!” Ritsu exclaimed, coming out of his stupor. “Yes, it was. It’s a Tiger Eye.”
Nanako laughed. “Well! He couldn’t have chosen a more perfect gem!”
“What do you mean?” Ritsu asked curiously.
“The Tiger Eye promotes confidence and clear thinking, and also helps convert anxiety, fear and obsessiveness into logic and practicality.” Nanako told him, and even Ritsu had to smile at the irony. “He told me he thought it matched my eyes.” he giggled.
“There’s one other thing.” Nana said with a wink, “The Tiger Eye is also the birthstone of people born in the Year of the Monkey.” Ritsu stared at her. “Talk about coincidence, huh?” she laughed delightedly.

Ritsu however, wasn’t sure it was such a good thing Keichiiro knew him so well, even if it was unconsciously.

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The end of another chapter! I hope you guys all enjoyed it, and will pretty, pretty please, leave a review! They make me so happy!