Spread My Wings (Fruits Basket)

Festivities

Sukochi's POV

The attendant, her mousy brown hair streaked with gray, ran her fingers through my hair, gently inserting an ornate butterfly hairpin into my bun. She proceeded to pull out a measuring tape and wound it around my neck, mumbling the numbers under her breath and continuing to measure my arms, my waist. "I'll make adjustments to your kimono accordingly," she murmured, tracing patterns on the golden fabric.

I nodded just as someone knocked on the door. She glanced at me, and I shrugged. "Sure."

"Come in," she called out.

In came Hatori, immaculate in a button-down shirt and slacks as always.

"You do know," I said icily, "it's bad luck to see a bride's dress before the wedding."

"So we're getting married?" He cocked his head to the side, annoyingly patronizing. "Is that honestly your excuse for ignoring me?"

I rolled my eyes. "Don't push it, Sohma." After engaging in a heated staring contest with him, I finally caved in. "Alright, alright, if you insist. Wait for me in my room- we can talk when we finish up here. Sound okay to you?"

He smiled- the rare sort of smile that reached his eyes. "I'd be honored."

Hatori was sitting cautiously on the edge of my bed when I came in, combing out the remains of the infuriating hairspray. "Hey," I greeted awkwardly, sitting beside him.

"Hello." He paused. "So, is that what you're wearing to the party?"

"Yeah, more or less. What do you think?"

He nodded gravely. "It's lovely. Golden dragons, huh?"

"I thought it was rather fitting," I said stiffly. "But yes. Akito's staff is really talented."

Cue the awkward pause.

"You're still going to the party, then?"

"Well yeah," I said coldly, "I wouldn't have sat through that brutal measuring session if I wasn't, right? And please- don't try to change my mind. I'm going, and that's final."

"I understand that," he replied quietly. "I was just wondering if you were still interested in going as my date."

I gaped at him. "You didn't think that I- no, no, that's not it at all/ I wasn't trying to shut you out, it's just I was really overwhelmed and exploded at you and...I'm really sorry. None of it's your fault, I'm just super emotional and really hard to deal with. But yes, totally. I would love to go with you."

"Good." He made a sudden motion to grab my hand. "I respect your decision, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm paranoid. So, Fujikawa, promise me one thing- you won't leave my sight the entire party."

I was startled by his urgency. "Hatori, you-"

"Promise me." His grip tightened.

"I promise," I said reluctantly, gently prying my fingers out of his. Cupping his cheeks, I gave him a tentative peck on the lips, much to his surprise. "Hey," I said breathlessly, "possessiveness can be sexy sometimes."

The astonishment melted off his face. "I should try it more often, then."

Hatori gave me a kiss on the cheek when I stepped out to meet him in front of the house, treading carefully as not to step on my kimono. "Careful," I warned him, "or you might smudge my make-up."

"We don't want that, do we?" he agreed, pressing another one to my forehead. "No make-up there, right?"

I smiled mysteriously. "You'd be surprised."