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For: untitled Hatori fic
Series: Fruits Basket
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At the party only Juunishi can attend,
the Juunishi of the new year and the previous year perform a
dance.
- Sohma Shigure,
Fruits Basket volume 2, p.134
Dancing in
front of the family, Hatori decided, was probably the lesser of two evils.
The other evil in question was a heavily
beaded, bright red silk dress that his cousin Ayame dangled excitedly in front
of his nose. “Look at this,
Tori-san! Isn’t it divine?”
Hatori stared at the robe.
The sleeves were puffy.
The skirt fell in soft waves down the
front.
A huge flower made of sparkling sequins
covered the chest.
Swish, went the fabric as Ayame held it
even closer to his face. It reeked of
mothballs, cologne, and something distinctly Ayame. “Now, aren’t you glad Akito allowed me to help design the costumes
for the Dance this year? What do you
say, eh?”
“Aaya,” Shigure piped up from the other
side of the room, “you’ve made Ha-san so happy he’s speechless.”
“Ah, is that so? Is that so, Tori-san?”
Ayame beamed. “I knew you’d like
it! To tell the truth, I fashioned it
with you in mind…”
“It looks more like a Momiji costume
though,” Shigure pointed out.
“---Well yeeees, actually, I thought of
Momiji first (five years old, his second Dance, how exciting!), but I did
take Tori-san’s love for red into consideration (although I can’t remember if
he loves women in red or wearing red himself, is there a difference?),
so I came up with this design and the family seamstress thought it was a
refreshing change from the old costume---”
For a moment Hatori contemplated wringing
the family seamstress’ pale little neck.
“It certainly is. It’s lovely.” Shigure
grinned widely. He was obviously
enjoying himself. “But I couldn’t help
noticing that it doesn’t have a train.
Shouldn’t it have a train?”
Ayame made a face. “You’re so silly, Gure-san. You can’t put a train on this...”
Hatori started feeling around in his pocket
for a cigarette.
“…That’s what the chintz on the headdress
is for.”
That was the
last straw.
Hatori turned to his cousins and pointed at
the door. “You two. Out.
NOW.”
[ snip ]
“Harii!” Momiji waved enthusiastically from the door
of the practice hall. The small blonde
boy was wearing leotards and ballet shoes and looked like he was enjoying
himself. Hatori managed a wan smile at
his cousin before turning back to the satiny slippers he had been trying to
shove his feet into for the past fifteen minutes.
Nobody told him he had to wear ballet shoes
for practice.
He really felt
like killing someone at the moment.
Momiji hopped
on the bench beside him. “Maybe if you
don’t spread your toes out like that you can get the shoe on.”
“I am not
spreading my toes out.”
“It sure looks
like it to me.”
“You be quiet,
Momiji.”
“Okay.” His cousin shrugged, fished out a candy bar
from an invisible pocket and started to unwrap it.
[ cut ]
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