Like a Switch [Fruits Basket]

Chapter 7

Like a Switch

Chapter Seven

You perused the meat aisle of the local supermarket with a careful eye. If you were going to spend time cooking at all you wanted to do it in a fit of desire or inspiration. You didn't want to cook on an automated level. You didn't want cooking or eating to be a chore you had to get done. Which was why you were being so picky and spending a lot of time picking things out. You knew that most of the other customers might have thought you had a hard time with the language on the package or something because even Momiji had tried to help you with that. While it was true that you might never be as proficient as a extremely well read native speaker, you knew more than enough Kanji to be proficient for everyday things. Your collection of light novels back at the apartment would be proof enough of that.

Instead of being overtly rude to him when he tried to help, you simple started to pick up reading one of the labels aloud when he stopped for a small breath. That had gotten the point across loud and clear. Besides him assuming that you had a hard time figuring things out wasn't the most frustrating part. That was reserved for the tiny whispers in the background from all the Japanese housewives over the fact that Momiji still had a grip on your hand. PDAs and all that jazz weren't nearly as common in as in other places. Which was probably why your job and others like it flourished as well as they did.

Momiji never seemed to notice the whispers and stares as he happily kept you company. He hummed a song under his breath as you passed from the meat section to the vegetables. It didn't take you nearly as long to decide on those as it did the meat. After that the sauces and prepackaged or canned items went by quickly. Momiji lined up right behind you in the queue, closer than what was probably the standard. Considering the standard was already quite narrowed compared to places in western countries as it was that put him rather close to you. He was a hair's breath away and you knew that was closer than he needed to be. Even if he would normally need to worry about an accidental hug in the supermarket, that wasn't something that should be an issue right now. His occasionally hugging and near constant handholding would have ensured that he wouldn't transform. Unless there was like a fan club for him that had a plan to attack him with affection all at once.

You giggled to yourself at the mental imagery that thought brought with it. As he was so close to you, Momiji heard your laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"I just imagined you getting attacked with hugs by a fan club."

Momiji laughed as the line moved forward. The cashier started to ring up your things.

"I don't know about that. I'm not the one with a fan club. That's Yuki."

You blinked. Yuki; last name of Sohma no doubt. That was the name of teenager you had gone on a date with and entertained at the club. It was possible that they were one and the same - the one he was talking about and the one you've met. It was also possible that he knew nothing of the zodiac curse but you were starting to doubt it. After all, even if they were cursed the members just had this quality to them that drew others in. It might have been enough to spark a fan club if he was an admirable person in other ways.

You paid for the bagged up items. Momiji and you both grabbed one bag each to split the burden.

"Tell me about him?" You asked as you and he walked out of the store.

"Yuki?" Momiji inquired. You nodded. "Well we go to the same school now but he's a year older than me. He's the representative for his class."

"That's a lot of responsibility," you mused quietly.