Fruits Basket Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Better Than Ever ❯ Unraveling her Secrets ( Chapter 5 )

Better than Ever

 

Disclaimer: I own nothing, once again - this is basically the standard disclaimer.

 

Author's Notes

It's been a month or more since I last updated… writing has been hard and… my inspiration is all dried up, like the bottom of a dry well.

 

Chapter 5 - Unraveling her Secrets

 

Somehow, everyday, Yuki always felt he had to put on a mask every morning - put on his charming, polite self and pretend as if nothing was wrong in the world. In the school's uniform he looked like every other boy at his school, besides the fact he had a fan club that consisted of most of the school's female students.

 

He wanted a sense of normalcy.

 

He knew he would never get that. When Kagome had come into his life, he had gotten a taste of what the life of a normal boy would've been like. He had been able to truly smile and be charming in his happiness. He didn't have to pretend anymore. When Kagome had announced her departure, though, he had been happy for her… but sad for himself. He was never one to be selfish; he wouldn't ask her to stay in high school with him and put aside her bright future. As days passed by and the day she would leave became closer and closer, Yuki felt he had to put back on a mask again - fitting it to himself once more.

 

On the day she left, his mask was firmly back in place - like nothing had ever changed.

 

They had promised to send each other letters, despite the distance, and try to continue their relationship. Letters over e-mails, they said, more intimate they agreed. Despite how much they had wanted their relationship to work, the long distance seemed only to speed up the disintegration of it. The letters were daily when Kagome reached the university, then later weekly in the month that followed. After that they became monthly, both of them busy with their separate lives. After a year, the correspondence between the two stopped.

 

It was during those two years of separation that she had changed, Yuki was sure of it. Kagome… What happened while we were apart?

***

Kagome knew Yuki had been too perfect to have been hers for long. He was the ideal man, polite, courteous, kind, intellectual, and being handsome was just an added bonus. When Kagome had left that day, it had dawned on her that she was leaving behind a fairytale. The train ride had given her enough time to think about how high school seemed to be just a fairytale; a place where perfect people had perfect relationships.

 

Yuki was a loving, kind, and loyal boyfriend. What was she? She was not so loyal but loved him as much as he loved her. He was perfect and she knew she was flawed. It would be a little while longer until she would realize that everyone was flawed, damaged to some degree. Even those who appeared to be perfect on the outside.

 

She equated reality with college and to her high school would be an alternate universe. When she had felt she had firmly separated herself from her past, she knew she would have to end things with Yuki - and so her replies to his letters became more sporadic and distant. Somehow, deep in her heart, she knew was doing the right thing because they were both too fragile. She was letting him go.

***

It was during the break before her second year of university that she met Shigure Sohma, only then she hadn't known him as Shigure but rather as the famous romance novelist Noa Kiritani - the author of the popular Summer-Colored Sigh.

 

She had remembered seeing a flyer on the university's campus, advertising a rare public book signing by Noa Kiritani at a book shop that was a twenty minute walk from the campus. A few days later she was at the front of the book store, in a long line of women and the occasional man, holding her own copy of Summer-Colored Sigh.

 

Kagome knew that Noa Kiritani didn't often make public appearances, so the long wait in line would be worth it. After all, how often was one able to see their favorite romance novelist? With that thought in her head, she stood in line for three hours - determined that her book would be signed. She smiled as became the third person in line, then the second - and then she giggled as she handed Nao Kiritani her book.

 

“May I be graced with your name, Miss?” his velvet voice asked. His eyes were covered by dark sunglasses.

 

“Kagome Higurashi, Kiritani-san.” She smiled, knowing that he could most likely see the bright red splotches on her pale cheeks. She felt her cheeks grow warmer as his fingers brushed over hers, retrieving the book from her hands. Her eyes followed his fingers as he flipped the cover of the book to write on the blank side. She shifted her eyes to his face, tracing the contours of his face with her eyes. She wanted to gaze into his eyes, but the sunglasses were black and kept them hidden from the world.

 

“Here you go, Miss,” he said, handing the book back to her. His lips quirked into a teasing smile, noticing her intense inspection of his facial features. The blush that had momentarily left Kagome's face came back full force as he smiled at her. She heard shuffling behind her and felt herself being pushed aside, as the person behind her became impatient. “Have a good day!” He called, watching as she backed away from the book shop. He sighed, watching her go farther and farther away from him.

 

“Next?”

***

Kagome smiled as she walked away from the book shop. She had felt a spark of chemistry as Noa's hand had brushed hers. The first spark of anything since she had left Yuki behind. She shook her head at the thought of Nao Kiritani actually liking a girl like her. He was a somebody and she was a nobody…

 

It's like me and Yuki all over again… She thought bitterly.

 

She sighed, remembering that Nao Kiritani had signed her book. She opened her book to look for his signature and perhaps, a note from him.

 

Call me and let's get together for some coffee.

 

She smiled at his note, looking below at his signature and number. She felt giddy, unable to truly believe that this was happening to her.

 

Things are looking up for me.

***

Imagine his surprise when the pretty girl from the book signing had decided to call him. He just knew he had to put his number in her book… or rather he had felt obligated to do so. It had been destined to happen.

 

It was fate, he thought, a grin spreading across his face, that brought her to me.

***

It had been ten months since Kagome had met Nao Kiritani or, as the person she had come to know, Shigure Sohma. A handsome older man with a perverse personality and an odd sense of humor.

 

Sometimes Kagome would meet up with Shigure at a café close to her apartment or they would talk on the phone. He always called her though. She hadn't understood why in the beginning of their relationship, but after dialing the phone number he had written down in her autographed book - she understood. The number he had given her at their first meeting no longer worked, having been disconnected two weeks afterwards. Shigure had simply explained it by saying it was for his own privacy. After all, he wouldn't want his phone number to end up in the hands of a deranged lunatic who happened to be a fan of his books.

 

She had acknowledged to herself that it was just one of his quirks that made him who he was.

 

But lately, Kagome had begun to wonder if Shigure was related to her Sohmas.

 

It had only recently dawned on her that he could be related to the people she had left behind.

 

Well his last name had been a clue and lately she had begun to dream again about Yuki. Mostly she dreamt about the night she had with Hatori. Memories would replay themselves in her mind, but the outcome would always be different.

 

If she dreamt about Yuki, usually she ended up staying in high school with him. From there, her life would be happy. Then she always woke up after graduating from high school, wondering what would've happened if she had stayed. There was always the `What Ifs'.

 

If she dreamt about Hatori, it was usually a replay of their night together. She would find herself next to him the day after, watching him as he awoke. But then she would always wake up, frustrated at herself for wanting something that could've never happened.

 

Stop torturing yourself, hoping for more when you only have memories to comfort you.

***

It was during the eleventh month of their friendship that Kagome met another member of the Sohma family.

 

His hair had her eyes widening. The top of his head of hair was white and the roots were black.

 

Is his hair for real? She wondered, her eyes scanning his head for signs of a weave, extensions, or anything to signal to her that his hair was not real.

 

“Hello, miss, my name is Hatsuharu Sohma.” He looked familiar but she just couldn't place him.

 

“Hello, my name's Kagome.” She smiled, offering him her hand to shake.

***

It wasn't until two months after their initial meeting that Kagome had begun to feel comfortable with him.

 

One time, she had taken him to her favorite park during winter.

 

The trees were bare and the landscape was covered in a white blanket of snow. The grey of the sidewalks stood out again the white.

 

She walked through the park, Haru as she now called him, right next to her.

 

“Don't you just love the snow?” she asked, jamming her hands into her pockets as the wind picked up.

 

“It's cold, white, and wet.” He observed as they continued to walk.

 

“But it paves way for Spring.” She said.

 

“I repeat, it's cold, white, and wet.”

 

“It's a blank canvas on the ground. You can do anything with it!” She was trying so hard to get him to see things her way. “See!” she said, stopping and then falling backwards onto the snow. She moved her arms and legs as she laid down, making a snow angel.

“You're just going to get a cold.” He stood watching her with his arms crossed. She sighed in response. Suddenly, a thought struck her.

 

“Well, I guess you're right…” She got up, turning her back to him. She slowly brushed the snow off of herself, pretending to pat her pants and shoes. She scooped up a ball of snow in her hands and quickly turned around, launching the ball at Haru. She laughed at the incredulous expression on his face. Her laughter seemed to unfreeze him. He rolled his eyes and then a devious grin broke across his face.

 

Uh-oh…

 

Splat! She felt wet snow on her face, sliding down and leaving a wet trail behind. Then she felt her body get hit by a multitude of snow balls.

 

“Ah!” she cried, running away from him.

***

Don't get involved with the Sohmas, or else.

 

That was all the note slipped underneath her door had on it. She shivered in fear, even though it was only one sentence, she could practically feel the evil intention rolling off it in waves.

 

She wondered if the note had come from the Sohma Head… Yuki hadn't mentioned much about him, but he had been the reason that no one had known about their relationship. He had said that they would have to hide it in public. For whatever reason, she had listened to him. For that same reason, she wouldn't stay away from the Sohmas.

 

Later that evening, she called Shigure and talked to him for a lengthy amount of time. She tried to chatter away, as if nothing was wrong. She didn't know if her act was really working.

 

Later that month, Shigure and her had lunch at a bistro nearby.

 

A day later, as she was shopping in the mall a crowd surrounded her. She felt people bump into her. She gasped as someone jabbed her in the ribs and stepped on her toes. Looking around she noticed no one suspicious looking around her.

 

How did that get there?

 

A note had appeared in her hand. It looked similar to the one she had received a while ago.

 

I warned you to stay away. Next time you won't be jabbed in the ribs.

 

She hadn't thought the first one had been a serious threat, but now… She didn't know.

***

A month latter, the second note forgotten, she decided to go get ice cream with Haru.

 

The next day, she was looking at an outfit in a local boutique's window when she felt someone forcing her into the window. Time seemed to slow down as she fell through the window, the glass shattering around her. She could feel pieces of glass biting into her skin. She could see the blood.

 

Then, everything became a blur. Kagome only remembered certain parts of that day.

 

People rushing around her.

The ambulance.

The hospital.

Her family.

Her friends.

Shigure and Haru.

Get well gifts… and flowers.

 

And the next day, she got a note.

 

This is what happens when you don't listen…

***

He was tired of pretending, but he would keep pretending as long as he could. At least that was what he kept telling himself.

 

Everyone had gone to their respective rooms after Kagome had abruptly left. He had so many questions for her. Most importantly, he wanted to know how she had changed. What had happened to her while she was away?

 

“Yuki, are you okay?” Tohru asked, poking her head into his room.

 

“Yes, I'm fine Tohru. Do you need some help with dinner?” He smiled and got up to help her. Inside, he wasn't alright.

***

Tea Room -

 

Sorry guys, I just needed to get this chapter out. I felt like I couldn't expand the length more without reiterating to the point of boredom.