Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ A Gift of Fruit ❯ Perfection ( Chapter 8 )

Perfection

#50 Chalk

Sari_15

Fruba Challenge

Words:982

 

*no REAL spoilers…though set post 124*

 

Her eyes held to the couple, a strange sense of irritation overwhelmed her at the sight of them. Kuragi Machi hated perfection, having been forced to live a life where flawless still wasn't ever good enough. Her every accomplishment raising the bar even higher, but never acknowledged for what she'd done to warrant the expectations. `If I could just take my eyes from them…'

 

A moth to a flame, Machi couldn't draw her eyes away from the pair. Neither, apparently could the rest of the school, as they were the main source of gossip as rumors spread like wildfire. Machi was certain that none of them were true, if anyone had paid close attention they would have seen it coming. She didn't understand why everyone was so surprised.

 

Machi watched as the boy took the girls book bag from her, ignoring her adamant protests while taking her hand in his and dragging her slowly out of the school. The only thing different about the scene was the bandages around the girls head; Machi had watched the pair do that routine for months. This was nothing new, but so many people never paid attention before.

 

`I heard she broke Sohma-sempai's heart by choosing his cousin!'

 

`I heard he's only with her because he feels sorry for her.'

 

`I give them a week; they are the biggest mismatch couple I have ever seen. Supposedly, he's just a jerk, I can't see Sohma-kun letting it go on very long. She's probably doing it to make him jealous. Those cousins fight over everything.'

 

Machi slammed her locker shut, watching Kyou Sohma open the door for Tohru Honda as they headed home for the afternoon. “People are blind, I think,” she commented to herself.

 

“No, people just see what they expect to see,” a voice said from behind her. “They didn't pay attention to it, so it came as a surprise.”

 

Machi hugged her bag to her chest, whipping around as her heart thudded in her ears. “Where'd you come from?” she demanded, trying to calm herself down from the sudden appearance of Sohma Yuki.

 

“Nowhere!” he laughed, holding his hands up in front of him. “I just wanted to say `hi'.”

 

Slowly, Machi dropped her bag back down to her side, turning toward where the couple had been, but were now gone. “I just don't see how people couldn't see. They're perfect.”

 

“Hardly,” Yuki sighed, putting a hand to his forehead. “Sometimes what people see on the outside isn't always what is going on. You can't really judge people, especially relationships, from what you observe. Unless it is yours, you really don't know what is going on…so no…they aren't perfect. They are good for each other though.”

 

“You don't sound too sure about that,” Machi replied, looking up at him from beneath her fringe of bangs.

 

Yuki sighed, obviously upset by her observation. His stance stressed, full of tension, Machi couldn't help but wonder what exactly bothered him by the entire situation. She'd always found his bond with Tohru Honda confusing and different, he was very protective and caring toward the girl. Tohru was the first one Machi had ever seen him drop the façade he showed the rest of the world before his friendship with Kakeru had started to change him. To her surprise, Yuki grabbed her by the arm and dragged her behind him, heading for the exit doors. “Yuki, what are you doing?” she asked, mentally wondering what his fan girls would think about this. It wouldn't be the first time she'd be attacked by them, it probably wouldn't be the last either.

 

Walking through the door, Yuki continued to drag her as she stumbled behind him, trying to keep up. They made their way down the steps, across part of the lawn before Machi lost her hold on her book back. The contents of which currently spread across the courtyard. “Damn it!” she growled, pulling her arm away from him as she dropped to her knees.

 

Yuki dropped down beside her, looking around the lawn before handing her a textbook with a smile. “She…lives with us.”

 

Machi paused, hand grasping the textbook as she stared at him in disbelief. “She…I…No! How long?” She was stunned, how had no one heard about this? No wonder they had always been so protective, walking her everywhere, not letting anyone speak ill of her. It was starting to make sense now.

 

“About four months into my first year,” he sighed, picking up a remote control from the ground. Looking at it for a moment, he looked up at Machi with an amused smile before handing it to her. “The entire time I was there, watching this whole relationship unfold around me…but I didn't see so many of the things that kept them apart.. Even as I've watched it happen, I didn't see their pain or upset. I couldn't understand past `they make each other happy'.”

 

Yuki handed her a half-broken piece of chalk, a large grin on his face. Ripping it from his hands, she growled, “I don't know how that got in there.”

 

“You definitely aren't `perfect' either.”

 

“I never said I was!” Machi yelled, shoving the chalk into her bag with the rest of her belongings.

“You are weird though,” he laughed, handing her one of her notebooks. Machi felt her cheeks heat in embarrassment. “It's a compliment.” Yuki assured her.

 

“How is that a compliment?” she huffed, taking the proffered papers from his hands. “You're weird too…”

 

“Good,” Yuki answered, grinning. “It keeps us from being boring. It's that part of you that makes me happy.”

 

Machi stared at the ground, willing the tears that had suddenly swam into her eyes to disappear. “Thank you,” she managed to choke out, unable to make eye contact with him. `That's what I like best about you, I never feel boring when you are around.'

 

 

I do not own Fruits Basket or the characters affiliated with the Manga and Anime. They are the property of Natsuki Takaya…I am just `borrowing' them for my own nefarious deeds. I own nothing, suing me won't help anyone.

Sari-15