Fruits Basket Volume 6 Manga Translations
Episode 36
By Mei Eden

Translator's note: This episode is probably the most light-hearted 
in Volume 6, and it's a great way to end up the year before 
Christmas. ^_^ I hope you guys enjoy. It's my Christmas present to 
you all.


(Act 36 opens up with a full page spread of Kyou, his hands folded 
across his chest, and he's looking at the reader with a sexy kind of 
daring expression.)

The scene opens up in front of a nice, high-class-looking little 
store.

Tohru: "It's this store right here!"

Yuki: "Looks like it..."

Yuki holds a slip of paper in his hands, presumably directions to the 
store they're standing in front of.

Yuki: "I seem to have... a really bad feeling about this..."

"No..from the very beginning, I've been feeling uneasy."

Tohru starts in surprise.

Tohru: "Eh?! How could that be.. Don't worry about it.. From the 
outside, this store looks very decent and pretty.."

They stop in front of a flowery store sign with the words: "Credit 
First, AYAME'S Hat Shop" on it.

Tohru smiles and brings Yuki's attention to it. "Look! Even the 
store sign has a very unique design."

Yuki (thought bubble): "This sign... my god.. how suspicious 
looking. After seeing it, I'm starting to feel even worse.."

Tohru: <Today, I'm accompanying Yuki on his visit to see Ayame-san's 
store."

There's a little tiger with an arrow next to it that says "Flashback 
sequence".
Ayame: "Ah? What did you say?"

Ayame is sitting at a table with tea, and Tohru is sitting next to 
him holding the tray which she'd used to bring the tea to him. Yuki 
stands in the doorway, looking careless. 
Yuki: "I said.. if I can, next time.."

"I want to go see [older] Brother's store..."

Both Ayame and Tohru turn in surprise and stare at Yuki with SD faces.

Tohru: "!"

Yuki: "I want to understand Big Brother a little better."

Yuki: "That's all.."

Tohru looks up and smiles sweetly at Yuki.

Tohru: <Yuki is planning on improving his relationship with Ayame-
san! How wonderful!"

Ayame's looking up at Yuki in shock. Suddenly, he runs away.

Yuki: "?!"

Ayame throws open the bathroom door where Shigure is naked reading a 
book"

Ayame, a haughty expression on his face: "DID YOU HEAR THAT 
EVERYONE!!"

"Yuki... ice cold Yuki, Ice cold Yuki actually begged me with shining 
eyes to let him come see my store!!" 

Yuki's face is now in shadows: "...", and Tohru is peering out at 
Ayame, looking curious.

Ayame: "Today is the happiest day of my life."

Yuki:" Big brother.."

Ayame: "Hwaaaa…From now on, we brothers will be one in heart, 
prosperous as gold, (don't ask..I don't know what in the world he's 
talking about…)

Ayame gets on the phone, his left hand elegantly holding up the base, 
while his right one tilts the cradle so that it faces his rejoicing 
mouth.

"MR. ----- (name?), LISTEN TO THIS.. Yuki he.. Ice cold Yuki.."

Yuki, in the background, yells: "STOPPPPP!!!"
Then he snatches the phone away from a super happy SD Ayame.

Ayame: "With extreme honor, I invite you to come over to play! Choose 
a day, anyday..Just come this Sunday over to my store to play!" (And 
yes, the way he says it..does sound somewhat like a rhyme/song)

Yuki, still holding the phone a ways away from Ayame, stops and 
stares, befuddled.

Ayame: "Tohru-kun, you come along to play too!"

"A princess should always be by her prince's side."

Tohru's eyes become vertical lines as she becomes very confused, and 
little flowers appear in the background.
Tohru: "Eh?"

Then Ayame enters Kyou's room and points down at Kyou, still 
smiling. Kyou is on the floor lifting weights.

Ayame: "Ah! Kyou! If you don't come, that's perfectly alright!"

Kyou, a blood vessel popped in his head: "What are you doing, forcing 
yourself into other peoples' rooms and blabbing about nonsense, (then 
in small print) Go away you abnormal man!"

Yuki , sweatdropping: "How about it, Honda-san? Do you want to go 
together?"

Tohru blob: "Ah, yes, yes! If I'm not a bother to you, would it be 
alright if I came along?"

Yuki smiles. "Of course!"

Tohru looks up dreamily, surrounded by shoujo bubbles.

Tohru: "Actually, I've always wanted to visit."

"To see what a store that sells only nurse's and maid's uniforms is 
like... I really want to see it.."

Yuki looks shocked, as if she's said something he never even 
suspected.

Yuki: <Nurse..? Maid..? What.. is this..?>

Tohru's laughing in the background, lost in her thoughts.

Shigure, from the bathtub, still reading a book: "Just don't make the 
misunderstanding between you two worse, and it should be ok."

Tohru: <It was like that..>

The little tiger/ animal returns with the sign "End of flashback 
sequence".

Tohru: <Today is the date that we set..>

Yuki and Tohru are once again standing outside Ayame's store, and 
Yuki looks at Tohru, a bit determined.

Yuki: "Well the, let's go in!"

Tohru, happily: "OK!"

They walk into a very cute, nice-looking store filled with cloths, 
paintings on the wall, and shelves of stuffed animals. Yuki notices 
a piece of art/ painting-type thing on the wall.

Yuki: "A hand-made art piece?"

A hand appears around the wall.

Voice: "Customer, I'm really really sorry, but.."

"..we're closed for today!"

The owner of the hand comes out, kneeling a little on her knees. 
She's a girl wearing glasses with dark hair up in two braids and 
dressed in a maid's outfit.

Maid: "Ah.."

Tohru clasps her hands together, her eyes wide open in awe. Yuki 
just looks taken aback by it all.

Tohru and Yuki: "..?!"

Maid: "Eh?"

Ayame, from a back room:" Mine (pronounced Mee-nay) , the lower 
collar on this dress is a little.."

Mine turns around.

Ayame sticks his head out the back room.

Ayame: "!"

Yuki looks at his brother in surprise.

Then Ayame runs out,... and he's wearing a beautiful wedding dress- 
complete with bows, ruffles, poofy sleeves, and the bride's bouquet. 
^_^ He looks like a really pretty girl.. 

Ayame: "YUUUUU-KIIII---"

Yuki's face completely dark : <What is.. What is.. THIS FAIRY-LIKE 
STRANGE, MONSTROUS APPEARANCE???!! > (ok..my dictionary translated it 
as..strange-fairy-demon type thing..)

In the next scene, Ayame has gotten out of the bridal gown and into 
an over-coat dress-looking thing over a black turtleneck. Yuki and 
Tohru are both sitting at the couch, and Tohru is staring in wonder 
at Ayame.

Ayame: "HAHAHA! My apologies, this was a bridal gown that one of my 
customers commissioned. I was only trying it on to check the final 
result."

Yuki, his face blank: "... a guy's body.. is a good fit to check the 
result?"

Ayame:" Of course..there are some male customers who also request 
this type of clothing.."

Yuki, surrounded by a dark aura: "(in scary lettering) ... GUYS... 
DRESS LIKE THIS.?"

Ayame, in his lofty little world with one hand lifted in the 
air: "Everyone has one..no.. two, or three secrets that they don't 
want the outside world to know about!"

Yuki, his hair REALLY covering his eyes now: "That…that is.. What 
kind of place is this... store?!?!"

Tohru looks curiously at Yuki.

Ayame, his hand placed elegantly under his chin (yes, he looks pretty 
^^): "It's really simple, some customers come here specifically to 
buy hand crafts."

"Other customers come especially to commission clothing."

"After I receive the commissioning contract, as the store boss, it's 
up to me to produce the layout. No layout is too hard for me."

Then, Ayame whips out a frilly, young girl's dress and a poofy-
sleeved shirt.

"This is a small sample of my finished products."

Tohru blobby is in shock mode: "Whaaaa!! (noise of awe. ^_^)"

Tohru:" So that's what Haru-san meant when he told us about this 
place.. Ayame-san, you're really impressive."

Ayame: "What you say is very true. I AM really impressive!!"

Yuki: "Ugh.."

Ayame flips his hair, looking, as always, very arrogant ^^: "What's 
wrong, Yuki? You too should put down some of your dignity and 
rightfully praise your brother."

Yuki, his mind still on the clothes: "..Why..do you always have to 
make that type of clothing.."

Ayame:" Because it's popular! (then in small print) Maid uniforms 
take in the most profit.)

Yui: "..popular.."

Ayame: "THAT'S RIGHT! Maybe Yuki, you have trouble 
understanding..that these.."

"ARE ALL A MAN'S ROMANTIC IDEALS!"

He looks determined, his fist in the air, as if to prove his point.

Yuki looks unamused, and Tohru still is curiously watching all this.

Ayame: "Maid's, Nurse's, Waitress's, etc..and even sailor 
uniforms... and all other various types..they're too numerous to 
count."

"These are all the romantic ideals a man chases after.. in the 
reality of life, chasing after one's dreams isn't a sin!"

"Drinking in the sweetness of watching women while they're bathing 
also is a kind of ROMANTIC ideal."

Yuki yells, "That's a SIN though!!"

Mine comes into the room, carrying a tray of tea.

Mine: "You guys seem to be having a happy conversation together!"

"No wonder the Boss said he wanted to take a day off today. It was 
because his little brother was coming to visit."

She looks at Ayame and Yuki, smiling.

Mine: "Yup yup..Just by looking at you, you guys look exactly the 
same on the outside."

Ayame: "AHAHAHAHAHA!"

Yuki sweatdrops, and Tohru is spaced out.

Yuki:"Oh..nice to meet you."

Mine smiles back cheerfully.

Mine: "Nice to meet you, Little brother. I am this store's one and 
only sales clerk, Kuramae Mine."

Yuki: "If I may ask, the clothing that you're wearing now.. could it 
be.. this store's uniform? Is it?"

Mine: "EH??? No~!"

Mine poses on one leg, the other bent at the knee and up in he air.

Mine: "This is the way I personally like to dress up."

Tohru has her hands clasped in admiration: "It's so cute..."

Yuki: "..."

Suddenly, Mine's eyes turn into bright stars through her glasses 
(like Tsuyoshi in Kodomo no Omocha).

Mine: "..I noticed this earlier.. This young lady is.."

Tohru, flustered: "Ah? Nice to meet you! I'm Honda Toh.."

Mine points one finger at Tohru.

Mine: "Tohru-chan! You like to dress up like this too?!"

Tohru: "Uh?"

Mine: "Do you want to try something on? Of course you want to!"

Ayame: "Here she goes again!!"

Yuki: "?"

Mine grabs Tohru's hand and strokes it, looking very very scary.

Mine: "Let's go change clothes ok?... <3"
Yuki looks horrified. 

Ayame puts up one finger, as if making a point.

Ayame: "Mine has a strange hobby; whenever she sees a cute girl, she 
wants to help her change clothes."

Yuki reaches up a hand to stop Mine.

Yuki: "Wait, wait a minute, Kuramae-san."

Mine, still with starry weird eyes: "Little brother! What kind of 
clothing do you want to see Tohru-chan wear?! I think she should 
wear something clean and nice.."

"So, please wait a moment!!"

Ayame looks devious: "Mine, I think `That one' would suit her best."

Yuki, his head exploding with frustration: "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, `THAT 
ONE'?"

Mine has her arms around Tohru's neck in strangle-type hold, and 
Tohru looks spaced out, kind of like in Tohru-shock mode.

Mine: "OH THAT ONE? BOSS! That one for sure is very sexy/ 
attractive."

Mine: "Come with me, Tohru-chan!! You'll definitely like this piece 
of clothing!!"

Yuki goes for the door that Mine and Tohru went through, only to find 
it locked. He leans his head against the door, and his face is dark.

Ayame, smiling and drinking tea : "Don't worry! Mine is also a human 
being- she won't do anything bad. She only wants to plan a look for 
Tohru."

On the next page, Mine is behind the door, holding Tohru, and the two 
of them are looking at the closed door.

Mine: "..This way, those two brothers can have a good conversation 
with one another."

Tohru:"!!"

Mine: "It's a rare opportunity for them to be able to talk well 
together." 

Tohru stares up at Mine in wonder.

Mine: "Are you willing to help with this?"

Tohru smiles happily: "Yes!"

Tohru(?): "If they can not quarrel, and have a good talk, that will 
be good."

Mine(?): "Even quarreling is good!! It can help them to understand 
one another better!"

"The Boss's greatest fear is.."

"that there is `nothing'"

Mine smiles a bit to herself.

Mine: "Quarrelling is not a problem, although fighting to the point 
that blood is drawn is bad... Blood getting on the merchandise is 
bad."

Tohru sweatdrops: "Ahahaha.."

Tohru: <It's because everyone understands each other too well, that 
they will get into fights,..probably>

Tohru thinks of Kyou yelling at Yuki, and smiles softly.

Mine gets a scary look on her face again: "OK! No matter what 
happens, LET'S START CHANGING CLOTHES... <3"

Tohru, shocked: "EH?! We really are going to change clothes!?"

Mine: "OF COURSE!"

Back in the room, Ayame and Yuki are sitting on couches opposite of 
one another. Yuki is sipping tea.

Ayame: "Sounds like, Yuki, you may be student council president next 
year! (then in small print): I heard from Shigure"

"It's clear that this is because you've fallen under your brother's 
good influence!"

Yuki: "NOT AT ALL."

Ayame, still off on his high: "People say that little brothers become 
the way they are by watching their older brothers.."

Yuki: "I SAID that has nothing to do with it! I don't want to be 
like you at all!"

Ayame stops, his eyes wide open.

Ayame: "? What is the meaning of this? You're attitude... is very 
impolite."

Yuki puts down his teacup.

Yuki: "… To be like Older Brother..is.."

Yuki sighs a little.

"From my point of view, even this store of yours isn't `correct'… The 
way I think and the way Older Brother think are totally opposite... "

Yuki: "To say it simply.. our personalities clash."

Ayame, the back of his hand to his cheek: "EN! (affirmation) WHAT YOU 
SAY MAKES SENSE."

Yuki: "DON'T BE SO QUICK TO AGREE!"

Ayame: "But in life, people will always have failures. The slow, 
long road to truth also begins with the first step. Therefore, the 
two of us must work hard together to face it!"

Yuki: "OLDER BROTHER, YOU NEED TO WORK A LITTLE HARDER!!"

SD Ayame: "What do you mean, talking like this, actually, I am a very 
hard-working businessman."

Yuki sighs, his eyes closed in exasperation, and falls back into the 
couch.

Yuki:"......"
"What should I do.. eh.."

Ayame puts his hand to his forehead.

Ayame: "My apologies.."

Yuki opens his eyes.

Ayame: "What do you know, I'm really too happy."

"Because you will actually sigh with emotion over me."

"This is..a love that brings back memories..!"

Ayame's hand is still covering his face.

Ayame: <You definitely haven't forgotten..>

<The heartless me,>

<Towards the hurtful, idiotic me,>

<You alwas extended that..>

Ayame flashes back to a timid, younger Yuki (maybe 5 or 6), reaching 
up to Ayame with his little hand.

<..extended that begging..>

A younger Ayame looks back at his little baby brother, carelessly.

<that..>

<shivering little hand..>

<But I carelessly threw your little hand away from me.>

There's a flashback of young Ayame's arm shaking off Yuki's little 
hand.

<You will definitely..never forget.>

<Because, from my point of view, towards Yuki's existence, there was 
no like or dislike, only `nothing'>

<But now, when I think of Yuki using the same attitude towards me, >

<for the first time, I feel very afraid!>

There's a picture of Ayame laying his head on Mine's lap, his eyes 
closed, as Mine looks down on him with caring eyes.

<In actuality.. the attitude of `an uncaring heart'>

<is such a lonely feeling!>

<Understanding it only now, is probably too late.>

<But Yuki,>

<Right now when you look at me..>

<you sigh emotionally over my words.>

<Right now, you>

<sit before me,>

<trying to understand me.>

Ayame looks over at his brother, his eyes very sad.

Ayame: ".. Even though our personalities clash,..and we have 
different opinions about things, what does it matter!"

"Because, the two of us are different people to begin with, some 
things I have, and some things you have. When we were born, that's 
the way things were."

Yuki looks back at his brother calmly.

Ayame: "Compared to me, you have a kind heart."

Ayame sits and looks at his brother, his eyes kind and serious.

"I really..appreciate it!!"

"That's the way I truly think!"

Yuki stares at his brother, his mouth slightly parted as he thinks 
over Ayame's words.

"As for me, compared to you, I have much better temperament, like the 
disposition of one of the royal family- a high-class type of 
temperament..... Of course you must really appreciate it too!"

Sparkles appear around Ayame, and the print next to him says: "I can 
feel it!"

Yuki looks down, exasperated. 

Yuki: "(thought bubble) Really.. This person isn't humble and polite 
at all."

Yuki suddenly looks up: "(thought bubble) Oh..that's right.."

The back door opens, and Mine sticks her head through.

Mine: "Boss, am I interrupting your conversation?"

Ayame: "Hwaaa~ You guys are done changing clothes? Hurry and come 
out so we can see."

Mine grabs Tohru's gloved hands.

Mine: "Tohru, really,.."

Tohru steps out a little shyly, her feet clad in black dress shoes.

She comes out demurely, her hair tied up in little butterfly bows 
with ruffles. She's wearing a frilly little dress with the same 
ruffles as her bows around her shoulders and a bow at her neck. The 
sleeves consist of two poofs that go down to her elbows, where 
they're tied with ribbons and then the sleeves open up and go to her 
wrists. (I'm not very good at describing this dress..I think I'll 
scan it in and show you guys)

Tohru: "You..what do you think?"

Yuki is staring at her in surprise. Both Ayame and Mine are on the 
side laughing.

Ayame: "He's shocked into silence!! (He's saying that Yuki is so 
amazed by her appearance that he can't speak). Tohru is best suited 
for this kind of innocent, white-colored, white flowered, white poofy 
dress!"

Mine: "Yup yup <3 A beautiful young girl who sits next to the white 
flowered curtains of the window, sipping red tea, as she reads 
poetry, it's too romantic!!"

Ayame turns to Yuki: "Yuki, you participate too!"

Yuki looks surprised: "Wha?..Ah.."

Ayame: "What's wrong, what's wrong? Such a sweet-looking girl, and 
you don't understand how to portray tenderness towards her? Then 
allow me.."

Ayame takes Tohru's face between his fingers and leans over as if to 
kiss her. Her face is alllllll red.

Ayame: "Let me give you love's kiss..."

Yuki: "NO! STOP ITTT!"

In the next scene, Yuki, fuming, is leading Tohru away.

Mine and Ayame are laughing together ("hahahahahahaha"), and Ayame 
has a bandage on his head.

Ayame: "He actually hit me!! Ah.."

Mine: "He actually has the ability to lose control and hit people.. "

Ayame: "But Tohru really was very cute. Even someone who does this 
for a living is filled with warmth, it really is deserving of 
praise."

Mine: "Haha! That is my happiness! (I think..that's what she's 
saying)"

Then Mine turns to Ayame, "Then, ..?"

"The Boss is finally able to begin interacting with his little 
brother?"

Ayame, thoughtfully: "Eh? How do I say it! I don't know!"

"In the end, perhaps it is only I.. who feel as if I have gained 
something from this."

Mine smiles kindly up at him.

In the next frame, Yuki is sitting on the couch, looking a little 
sad, and Tohru is bright and happy right next to him.

Yuki: "Honda-san.. I've come to understand my brother..a little 
more."

Tohru: "Oh!"

Yuki:" Certainly, Big brother he.."

"REALLY IS LACKING IN …."

"If I don't accept this personality of his, in the end, it'll be me 
feeling pain, me hurting!"

Tohru: "Ah! Ah"

Yuki, his face dark: "I'm really starting to feel sorry for myself."

Tohru smiles and sweatdrops.

Yuki: "..But..this time I feel like.."

He flashes back to Ayame and his conversation.

Ayame:" [that's the way] I truly feel."

Yuki smiles.

Yuki: "Also,"

"I was able to see such a cute Honda-san!"

Tohru looks shocked.

She turns red and puts up her hands in protest.

Tohru: "Ah!"

"No..how is.. "

"Not at all.."

Yuki moves in close to her as she covers her face.

Yuki: "Don't cover your face.." He looks at her ever sooo sweetly- 
most definitely prince Yuki scene.

Ayame puts his hand on Yuki's shoulder.

"IT REALLY IS... very romantic."
"What you're feeling right now, in your heart, is what I call `Man's 
romantic ideal'. Men, as animals, will, because of a piece of 
clothing, have their hearts moved."

Yuki: "What.."

Ayame: "You don't have to explain.. I've experienced it before, I 
understand your heart very well. How about this, today I'll be 
Yuki's.."

Yuki has a dark aura around him, and his holding Ayame by the front 
of his shirt.

Yuki: "THAT'S ENOUGH.."

Mine, to Tohru: "In the end, they still quarreled.."

Tohru smiles sweetly.

Mine: "You'll take good care of him, won't you?"

Tohru:"Yes, of course."

Ayame and Yuki are still arguing.

In the next scene, Hatori is working on something, his phone held 
quite a distance away from his ear.

On the phone, Ayame: "To put it simply, Tohru's cute appearance 
became Yuki's romantic ideal memory."

"Hello, Hello, Hatori-san! Are you thinking of Tohru's cute 
appearance? I won't allow you to think of it!"

Hatori, annoyed: "Don't treat me the same as Shigure."

--End of Episode 36--