8 8 - The Proposal

The couple arrived at the restaurant a few minutes earlier than Kyo had made the reservation. He had his arm still wrapped tightly and protecting around his partner. Tohru was happy, her right hand resting on his raven-dyed shirt and a smile on her pink lips. They snapped out of their loving, honeymoon gaze and noticed a short queue in front of them. The cat gave a sigh of relief, glad they had made it with a little time to spare, even he couldn't of predicted how busy the restaurant would be tonight.

Several other parties had already been either seated at the bar area or escorted to their tables. The ginger-haired man heard next please, being called assuming it came from the head waiter standing behind a wooden podium, ready to greet them.

"Good evening, Sir," he spoke formally in a well-spoken tone, with just a hint of an Italian accent. This had to be the man Kyo had spoke with on the phone earlier today. The cat nodded at sir, and the waiter moved to nod at his companion, "Madame." He gave her a flash of his Italian charm, rubbing the cat up the wrong way, making him pull his partner in closer. Tohru let out a soft giggle at her partner showing off his more protective side.

The waiter gathered up a couple of crimson-leather menus, with the word written in gold cursive script, and lead them towards the back of the restaurant. The couple had separated themselves and instead chose to walk hand-in-hand towards their table. The waiter laid the leather books upon the dressed table, and pull out the armchair for the brunette.

"Oh, thank you." She said after a minute, not remembering where she was. The whole evening had seemed too much like a dream already, she felt as if she needed pinching. She walked over to take her seat but turned back to the waiter before sitting, "Thank you." Tohru said with a smile.

Kyo held out his hand, the Italian waiter took it instantly. The men exchanged looks before the cat quickly sat down, "Thank you."

The waiter bowed his head, "My colleague will be over in a few minutes to take your drink order. Hope you have a pleasant evening." He replied with a smile before returning to his station. The ginger-haired man looked at his partner, she was busy wearing her deer in headlight look, bewildered by her surroundings.

Tohru bent close to the table, "Where exactly are we?" she asked casually. The question was a little nerve-wrecking, did she not see the sign as we walked in? Kyo thought to himself. He tilted his head to the side as if to ask the question aloud. This prompted his partner to explain herself, "I know it's the Lotus Blossom, my favourite." The cat breathed a sigh of relief. The brunette looked around, a confused look on her pale face.

"But we're in the fancy section," she whispered to him across the table. Usually the couple had been placed closer to the bar, both of them knowing only those with a lot of money could only bribe their way to the tables near the garden, "How did you manage to get this table?" she queried, raising an eyebrow. She was asking for a figure rather than an answer.

Kyo shook his head, "It's not what you think," he began to say, but their conversation was interrupted by a female waitress in her early twenties wearing a buttoned up white bloused paired with a black halter-waistcoat and skinny-fit trousers. Her jet black hair was curled and tied back into a plaited ponytail.

Tohru looked up from her menu to see one of her old high school classmates, Saki Hanajima, a grin plastering her face, "Hanajima-San!" she called but immediately slapped a hand across her mouth, realising she had spoken a little too loud. Noticing the glares from other couples, she raised her other hand to the fellow diners as an apology.

The cat grimaced, much like Arisa, Saki had never been a big fan of the Sohma, but then she always give him a weird vibe. Upon seeing his former class mate, a chill ran up his spine, making him shudder. He put on a fake yet awkward smile to greet her with.

She bowed her head, much like the previous waiter, "It is nice to see you both." She said politely. Saki produced a small notebook from her waistcoat pocket, the cover dyed the same red as their menus, along with a stumpy pencil. She lifted her head first to the brunette.

"What can I get you to drink?" she spoke softly, like a cat purring.

Tohru took a quick peek at her menu and pointed to one of the items on the mocktail list, "Could I get a the Sakura splash please?" she asked politely, noticing a odd look from her partner. She met his gaze, "What?"she said suddenly feeling her pale cheeks warm.

Kyo met her gaze with a smile, "Don't you fancy a proper drink, like a glass of wine maybe?" he asked her, wondering why she didn't want to drink. She replied with a shake of her head.

"I feel a little lightheaded," she whispered to him, then turned to the waitress, "Can you add a small glass of white wine, but to come out with dinner please?" she queried. Saki nodded adding both of the drink choices to her notebook.

"And for you?" she turned her attention to the ginger-haired man, who was trying his best not to slump in his armchair, but was clearly struggling. He awkwardly readjusted his position and sat up.

"Just a cider for me please," he replied, "Thank you," he quickly added. The waitress nodded and noted this beside his partner's order.

"Would you like a few more moments for food, or would you like to add them to the order now?" she queried, taking a brief moment to look up from her leather-bound notebook.

Tohru looked over at her companion before turning to her friend, "I'm ready. How about you Kyon?" she asked. Kyo felt his cheeks ablaze, a little embarrassed about his nickname being said aloud. He nodded at both his partner and the waitress.

"Great," Saki replied, "What can I get for you this evening?"

"I'll have the prawns to start, and for main," the brunette was first to order, taking another gander at the menu in her hands, "The lamb please." She said, handing the waitress back the crimson-covered book.

The cat was humming to himself as he took his final look at the menu, "Actually," he took a moment to reconsidering, "The chicken to start and the steak please." He handed the menu back to the waitress.

Saki quickly jotted down their order while accepting the menus back from the couple, "Certainly," she said while she scribbled. She tucked the crimson books under her arm and read the order back to them, "Is there anything else I can get for you this evening?" she asked. The couple shook their heads.

The waitress bowed her head once more, "Thank you. I will just get the drinks for you now," she said with a smile before disappearing to the bar. The pair were left to discuss their days, making a little conversation before their drinks arrived a few moments later.

"The starters won't be much longer," Saki said when she returned, handing the couple their drinks.

"Thank you," Tohru replied politely, taking a quick sip of her sakura iced tea from the paper straw. Her ginger-haired companion flashed a cheeky smile to the waitress before she disappeared and took a mouthful of his cider.

Not a few moments later did their starters arrived from a male waiter neither of them had met before. He was a small and timid young man with honey-blonde hair. He had a sheepish smile on his lips that told the couple he was a new starter at the restaurant.

"I have the chicken skewers?" he asked, glancing at the plate then back at Kyo. The ginger-haired man raised his hand.

"Cheers buddy," he said quickly, taking the plate from the server's hands. He too had a smile on his lips, Tohru could of sworn she saw a little drool salivating at the corner of his mouth.

"And the prawns for you Miss?" the waiter asked politely. The brunette nodded and allowed him to place the meal in front of her, "Can I get you anything else?" she inquired, but the pair shook their heads in reply.

"That's everything, thank you," Tohru replied. The waiter put his right hand on his chest and gave a small bow of his head before turning around to leave them to their meal. Both of them tucked into their food happily engaging in polite dinner conversation about their day. Time faded quickly, while they enjoyed each other's company.

Everything is going smoothly so far, Kyo thought to himself., looking up to glance at his beautiful partner sitting opposite him. He considered what would be the best time to execute his proposal, they were both halfway through their main course now.

Tohru looked up from her meal to meet her partner's gaze, "What? Kyon, is there something on my face?" she asked, her cheeks flooding with a pinkish hue as she grabbed the nearest napkin and began dabbing her mouth. The cat shook his head, the smile on his lips grew larger. His companion let out a sigh, placing a hand on her chest, "You had me worried there for a second."

"I was just thinking," Kyo admitted aloud.

"Ooh?" Tohru wondered curiously.

"Just wait," he replied quickly, "I promise it'll be worth it." His companion nodded in reply and continued to eat her meal. The brunette paused for a second, realising what her partner had said and begun to let her mind run wild with possibilities.

Has he planned something? She thought to herself as she reached for her wine glass. She took a long sip as she thought. Her mind was sentenced to silent when she heard footsteps behind her. It was her high school friend, Saki, returning with a couple of menus.

"How was everything with your meal?" she asked politely.

Kyo sat back in his chair, placing his hands on his stomach, "It was delicious, thank you," he said nodding towards his place.

"Yes it was lovely, thank you," Tohru replied with a smile.

"Can I interest you in dessert this evening?" the waitress asked handing the couple their own menu each.

The brunette took a quick glance at the list in front of her, but decided upon her choosing her favourite dessert on the menu. The same thing she always ordered, "I'll have my usual please," she said quickly, handing the menu back to the server. She got up from her chair, "Sorry, I must nip to the restroom." Tohru quickly hurried off in the distance. Kyo saw his opportunity and took it.

"Can you make that two chocolate sponges please?" he asked the waitress. She nodded in reply and jotting down the order on her notepad, "I have another request. Can you ensure this is put on the top of my partner's cake please?" he asked, pulling a small velvet box from his trouser pocket and showed off the diamond ring inside.

Saki took a step back away from the table and raised an eyebrow at her old classmate, "Are you sure about this?" she asked, but in a more warning tone. She didn't want anyone to hurt her old best friend, even if they had fallen a little out of contact after high school. She returned to the table, hovering close to the cat's face, "I'd hate to bring out my little voodoo doll once more," she said darkly.

Her voice sent chills down the man's spine, he cowered in his chair, shuffling down to half his regular size. An nervous half-smile was plastered on his face as he shook his head violently from side to side, "No, thank you," he managed to choke back.

The waitress returned to her normal height, she slipped the velvet box into her apron and begun collecting up the plates when she noticed her friend walking back to the table, "I'll just get your desserts now," she said quickly, in a monotone voice before disappearing back to the bar area, a short distance away.

"Everything okay, Kyon?" Tohru asked, tilting her head to one side, noticing her partner was still slumped low in his chair.

He nodded as he re-adjusted himself, "Yeah, everything is fine," he replied with a smile and outstretched his right hand towards her. His companion accepted it instantly, interlocking her slender fingers with his. Tohru, with her free hand caught a small brunette lock and tucked it behind her ear. The pair sat gazing into one another's eyes until they were interrupted by their waitress.

Saki returned to the table holding a plate in neither hand, both of which were hidden underneath a sterling silver cloche. She handed on towards the ginger-haired man and gave him a quick wink to reassure him that uis request had been fulfilled before turning to his companion and placing the other two in front of her.

"I hope you enjoy your dessert," she said with a smile. She placed her hand over her heart and gave a single bow of her dark-haired head to the couple. Saki turned to walk away, leaving the pair in peace while they tucked into their meals.

Kyo was first to remove the silver cloche from his plate, the sweet smell of chocolate whafted towards him. His mouth begun to salivate, but then his mind quickly remembered his plan. The proposal. Across from him Tohru still had not removed hers, instead she was busy taking another sip from her glass.

"Here, allow me." He offered, removing the cover himself with a free hand. He flashed her his trademark smile and she giggled.

"Oh Kyon-kun," Tohru said with a smile, setting down her glass. That's when her tree-bark dyed eyes fell upon the small velvet box sitting beside her chocolate dessert. A beautiful diamond ring gazed back at her. She glanced at the item in front of her then back to her partner, "K-kyo, I.. Wait, are you serious?" She asked, a little taken back.

"Yes, Onigiri I mean it." He replied almost instantly. He slipped off his chair to retrieve the small velvet box and dropped to one knee, before holding up the ring towards his partner. "Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" Kyo asked her softly.

Tohru's expression softened until she no longer resembled a deer in car headlights. She outstretched her pale hands to cup his cheeks, "Nothing would make me happier," she replied with a smile. "Yes," she said quickly to confirm her answer.