Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Beginnings ❯ Chapter 10 ( Chapter 10 )

Disclaimer:

Yeah, well, I don't own Fruits Basket, but I'd like to see them try and sue me. Ha! That'd be rich. I'd counter sue them for age discrimination as well as harassment and cultural discrimination. I'd point out that out of all the fanfic authors out there, they decided to pick on the poor white middle class white girl with the military family and conservative roots. The jury would be swayed by my tears and swoon over my writing. I'd have a book deal in two months, and own half the jyuunishi at the end of another two months. Yea, baby, bring on the law suite!!!!!!!

Oh, and could someone please put in quick details for me just what Kureno's personality is like. I mean, I have a little to go on, and I don't mind being liberal with my characterization, however, I'd prefer to stay factual and loyal to the characters.

Oh and if Shigure's character seems counterbalanced with other chapters before, ie: Chapter 8, just remember that no character is good unless they're multi dimensional.

Beginnings

Carpetfibers

Chapter 10

It had crept upon the huddled houses with the falling away of dusk, its caustic winds whipping away at the few leaves that clung tenaciously, yet hopelessly all the same to the many molted branches. The greenish haze of cloud cover sent tiny tremors across the air, the static energy literally electrifying the tiny hairs that covered the back of his neck. He craned his head sky wards, searching into the clouds for more harbingers of the incoming storm. How typical for it to match the house's mood. How typical for it to match the house's master. His master.

Hatori stepped to the edge of the patio, the voices behind him fading into a dulled hum. This sudden summons from Akito for all the Jyuunishi to return to the main house had his nerves frayed. Shigure had come over for dinner the past few nights, but would leave promptly at midnight with nothing more than a nod and one of his trademark smirks. Ayame had only come to the house hours ago, but he had stayed in his rooms, not bothering to come for lunch or make an appearance before Akito. Ritsu was supposed to catch up with Kagura and Rin who were scheduled to arrive later that evening.

Everyone else already lived in the honke; Momiji was staying with Hatsuharu who had also taken in Kisa. Naturally, where Kisa went, Hiro followed. The result being that the normally ambivalent teenager, having two others to care about, now had the look of a protective parent.

Haru's coldness towards Hatori had only intensified, the silence between them noticeably cooler in atmosphere than in the past. Not that Hatori really minded. For each of his actions there were bound to be consequences. It was the reality of life. He had a choice in every decision he made, even when Akito was the one making the orders. He could choose to refuse. But he hadn't and now this present was reality.

Kisa clung to Haru's hand like it was a link to life everlasting, and her normally timid eyes radiated fear at any adult's approach. It wasn't to be wondered at: her 'older sister' had disappeared along with two of her 'older brothers.' Momiji had suddenly turned, over night it must have seemed, into an apathetic humanoid, living but not. The adults around her were suddenly people who shouldn't be trusted. The only constants she had left were found in Haru and Hiro.

The fear in her amber eyes still hurt though. That she should have cause to fear him- and it was warranted of course- was just another sin to add upon his already heavy cross.

And through all of it, there stood the towering and ever immobile figure of their master, the ever sovereign- ever immutable, ever exacting, ever present lord of their lives and futures. He stood, neatly dressed for once, in his darkened corner, his mouth carefully hidden behind a well manicured hand. He stood watching his family, his 'pets.' Even from outside, in the growing cold of the incoming storm, Hatori could feel the piercing glare come from Akito's ever steady eyes, eyes that never failed to plan, calculate, and scheme. How could Shigure even think to hope that someday this twisted boy's heart could be capable of forgiveness?

From the edge of the patio, and from the corner of his one capable eye, Hatori caught a flash of long blond hair, followed by its darker match. Ritsu and Rin… Another flash trailed behind them, an all too familiar bag on her back…Ritsu, Rin, and Kagura. Out of the three, the only one to have perhaps truly found sanctuary outside of the house's walls was Kagura. Although, her form of escape had escaped himself over six months ago. She had her own reasons for wanting to find him, her Kyou. Despite their selfish origins, Hatori could understand. A part of him too longed for the three to be found, if only to end this maddening strangle hold of Akito's upon their lives.

The other two- as different as night and day- were another of the jyuunishi who had strove for some independence, although in Ritsu's case it was more likely that Akito had simply tired of his parents' simpering natures. Rin, on the other hand, had ceaselessly tried to escape the clutches of Akito's dominance. She sacrificed everything for her independence, including her love…

But that was something else entirely. Hatori returned his eyes to their study of the horizon. All traces of sunlight were fading behind the deadened sky and the growing clouds hovered like giant omens of misfortune. A sigh escaped his lips; his cynicism of late had only grown, seemingly exponentially.

"Hatori-san? Excuse my intrusion; but its time for dinner…" Ritsu's words died off. The expression on the doctor's face was so- forlorn. Like some kind of tragic hero about to face his doom.

Hatori turned around, releasing another sigh as he stepped back into the room and kneeled at the slanted table, taking his place on Akito's right side and across from Kureno. Ritsu took his own seat next to Kagura who was chatting loudly with, or rather at, Rin who merely stared at her hands, a scowl across her pretty face. His eyes trailed around the table, resting momentarily on each face. Aside from Rin, Kagura, and himself, the collective expressions of the more local members of the jyuunishi resembled that of Hatori's from outside. It was like a deep depression was over the group.

He had heard some news about Yuki and Kyou being gone, probably on vacation or something. Or maybe Yuki had tried running away again, like when he was little. The only person who looked even remotely pleasant, aside from Kagura, was Akito. Between mouthfuls of rice, his steel eyes would light up, as if he found some thought particularly amusing. But as the dinner was winding down, the silence had grown to a level that couldn't be ignored. Even Kagura had hushed, as if the quiet was some deafening shout that drowned out all the rest.

That pleasant look that had flitted occasionally over Akito's eyes seemed to have been fleeting, for now he was staring fixedly at Momiji, a frown on his face.

"Hatori, I thought you said that he-" and there was no question as to who Akito was referring to- "was fine."

Hatori lowered his cup of tea, wiping away at his lip before answering. "As fine as can be expected."

"Why does he not eat?" Akito demanded.

"He's been somewhat listless since-" and Hatori's calm voice faltered for a moment, but then continued, "since that night."

"So he's rebelling still. Even now, when there's none of her left in his memory, when she's been erased. That is," he shifted his glared towards Hatori, eyeing the doctor's impassive face, "If you did your job correctly."

Hatori refused to respond, merely picking his cup back up and sipping once again at the tea. Ritsu looked back and forth, confused. Erase who? And why would Akito have had one of their memories erased? It was like this unspoken canon. The jyuunishi were to be untouched by this one such talent of their family's. And who was this she?

"As we're on the subject of disobedience and rebellion, Shigure, I've noticed that you've yet to move your things back here, to your home." Akito put specific emphasis the last words, probably trying to provoke the dog into snapping back.

Shigure merely shrugged and laughed carelessly. "Maa, I'm just too lazy. I have all those books, and my papers. Without my little flower there to help me, I'm lost. You'll have to forgive my sloppiness, Akito."

He half grinned before inclining his head towards Rin who sat next to him. "Ne, Rin, I see you've been busy growing up in that school of yours. Any time you need some special help studying, you just stop by my house, ne?"

Rin scowled and opened her mouth to reply but quickly stopped her retort. Shigure, curious, followed her gaze to Akito who stood at the head of the table, his face contorted in anger.

"You are defying me, Shigure! Such disobedience is not tolerated. You will bring your belongings here by tomorrow night with the purpose of staying, indefinitely." He stood, his thin chest heaving, and his lips still twisted in rage.

The silence following Akito's outburst was louder than before, if possible. Finally, Shigure dropped his napkin and leaned away from the table, his usual smile dropped. An old, aged thing unlike a smile in all respects replaced it, showing all the weariness and worry and even anger that was hidden behind the smirks and laughter.

"No, Akito, I will not."

Across from him, Ayame shook his head violently, his lips mouthing a message of warning to his friend. Shigure simply shook his head again.

"No, Aya, I'll come for dinner, even visit on holidays, but I will not live behind these walls again."

"You! Shigure, you! You can't-" Akito's words came out forced and choked, his anger almost tearing out his breaths.

"Or what? What will you do, Akito? Will you make Hatori erase my memory too? I'm not a boy that you can force under your fingers. You have plans and schemes; well, I have plans too, and schemes of my own. You aren't the only one who thinks ahead, who thinks of the future. I too have a future I'd like to see, and not you, not Hatori, not anyone- not even Tohru will come between me and what I want! If I have to sacrifice it all, then so be it. At least it will end…"

"Shigure." Hatori's hand was at his shoulder, imploring him.

"No, don't worry, Ha-san. I'm not going to run my mouth anymore. I've grown tired, and I think I'll go home."

Shigure shrugged off Hatori's hand and rose, straightening his yukata, that mocking smile of his lighting up momentarily.

"Then you will find them, Shigure? You'll still find them!" Akito's ragged voice held a trace of desperation, a part of him realizing that he was losing this battle.

Shigure paused by the edge of the parapet, his figure outlined clearly, every detail of his face mapped out perfectly.

"No. But I won't stop you from finding them either," he said quietly.

"I'm sorry…" Ritsu began tentatively. Immediately every eye focused on him. His face blushed crimson. "Demo, find who, Akito-san?"

The curiosity had been driving him mad. He just had to ask, timidity aside.

"Kyou, Yuki, and Tohru," Haru answered.

"I'm sorry to trouble you further, but they're missing?" he asked, surprised. He could have sworn that he had seen Yuki in Dayu just two weeks ago. "Have they not returned from vacation yet?"

Something in Ritsu's question alerted Shigure, and he paused from finding his shoes by the doorway. That same bit of difference piqued at Akito as well, for the man kneeled back down and stared intently at the now stammering monkey.

"What do you mean, vacation?" he demanded.

Ritsu's blush only increased, as did the growing suspicion that he just said something very, very wrong.

"From vacation…I saw Yuki and Tohru just two weeks ago, or at least I thought it was them. Yuki looked different; his hair was longer and Tohru looked older, so I was probably mistaken. I'm sorry for taking up your time with this nonsense! Please forgive me!" Ritsu bowed his head until his hair just barely grazed the table top.

Again, Akito's cold voice demanded of him. "Where? Where did you see them?"

"Dayu…I saw them in Dayu…" he whispered, knowing for sure that he had just done something horrible. He didn't know how or even what exactly, but he could feel the glare from Shigure's eyes on his back. "I'm so sorry…so sorry."

But Akito's attention had traveled elsewhere. Who would have expected that a creature as worthless as that monkey would actually deposit information quite as valuable as this? He turned towards Kureno, picking at the cuff of his hakama absently.

"I'm sending you there immediately. You'll leave tonight and you'll not come back until you have concrete information for me." He turned his back on the group, shuffling towards the room's back doors that led into the inner chambers. "The rest of you are to stay here. I'll see you at dinner tomorrow."

Ritsu stared at the door Akito disappeared behind with growing horror. What had he done? Just what had he done? All he had said was that he had seen Yuki and Tohru…

"Ano, Ritsu ni-chan, did Tohru onee-chan look fine?" Kisa's soft voice was barely audible, but it was enough to pull him from his self recrimination.

"I'm sorry, Kisa-chan, but I only saw her for a moment." At Kisa's crestfallen face and Hiro's malevolent glare, he quickly added, "But she looked fine, different, but fine. I'm sorry I didn't get a better look."

"I'm so glad…" Kisa's small smile warmed his heart but it was only passing. He still didn't know what he just did.

"Please, Hatori-san, why is everyone so sad, and why is Akito looking for Tohru and Yuki?" Ritsu asked, his voice still trembling.

The doctor pulled out a cigarette, ignoring Haru's suddenly dark look and lit it. It was only after he had inhaled deeply that he answered.

"And Kyou. He's looking for them, because they ran away just over six months ago. You just inadvertently told Akito where they might be hiding."

Ritsu ducked his head, his cheeks reddening once again. But the curiosity was still too strong. "I'm sorry…why did they leave?"

Hatori exhaled slowly, the smoke swirling across the table clouding everyone's vision.

"Akito attacked Tohru and then ordered me to erase from her memory everything about this family and her mother. The end result was that they left."

The cigarette wasn't lasting nearly as long as it should have, and quite reluctantly, Hatori ground it out in the ashtray. The meal's events and the events that would subsequently follow would need time to be thought over. But that time would be later. Too many eyes were staring questioningly at him, seeking answers, answers he didn't want to give at the present. It was Ayame who surprisingly enough saved him from the moment.

"Ka-gu-ra! I have the Perfect Masterpiece for you! You and Rin HAVE to come to my store tonight! You can help me bring over some things I'm working on…just think, you can be GLORIOUS models for the Magnificent Ayame. Come, Hurry!" Ayame trilled away at their ears while seizing their arms and racing away to the door. He leaned back for just a moment to pass on a very un-subtle wink.

Haru merely nodded at Hatori, his grim expression wavering only slightly. He gently picked up Momiji's still body and took Kisa's hand in the other. Hiro followed behind them, looking much like a back guard. Kureno bowed out from the room as well, leaving Hatori, once again, alone to his thoughts.

The man suddenly felt more tired than he had in years. Whatever had been behind Shigure's supposed noble notions were most likely from selfish grounds. Yes, Shigure was brave, and yes, he was ever so clever. Hatori admired him for these qualities, as well as for the dog's innate ability to know a person's character perfectly within minutes. However, the uses to which Shigure put them quelled at the few semblances of ethics Hatori had left. Not that he was a man to think as such. He didn't judge; no, he would never judge.

He still trusted that despite these pretenses at being wicked or having subplots in the wake, Shigure would make the right choice. He always had in the past, even when he supposedly was following his own agenda. He wouldn't turn away from the ones he cared about. As usual, Hatori figured that Shigure had given this little 'show' tonight to simply lay the flooring for future protection. Shigure was setting himself up to be a fall guy.

What Hatori could not puzzle out for the life of him was what this fall was to be. What was it that Shigure saw so clearly that led him to think that he would even be needed as a scapegoat? It was this uncertain future that Hatori could not see, could not make out, that was at the root of his fears. It was this great unknown that made his few hours of sleep become tormented things full of black visions and familiar voices.

What was it that Shigure was planning and waiting for?

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'it's the same small room from all my other dreams. They start in the same place every time: in that twisted dark cubbyhole with its knotted floorboards and web clogged cracks. How well I knew those markings; each tiny groove had been traced by my fingers when I could run no further, close my eyes no longer, or escape from the pain any more. It was that room that became my Pandora's box, holding all my rage and anger and sorrow and fears, and yet it became the place where my hopes were birthed. How ironic that it should be in that place that I ever even dreamed of being happy.'

"You do know why you're here, don't you?"

"No, Akito-san."

"Its Akito-sama! Remember who I am!"

"No, Akito-sama."

"You're here because you've been disobedient."

"Yes, Akito-sama."

"You've been saying bad things about me behind my back to the others, haven't you?"

'How pathetic I was…I always fell for the baiting, always believing that in this one time, this one instance, right would be done; I'd be rescued, and my perseverance would be rewarded.'

"No, Akito-sama. I haven't said anything behind your back."

"Are you calling me a liar?"

"No, Akito-sama."

"So then, you admit to saying these things about me?"

"No, Akito-sama."

"Then you think I'm lying! And what do I do with liars?"

"You punish them, Akito-sama."

"So tell me then, which is it? You won't have to be punished if you simply tell the truth."

"I didn't say anything about you behind your back, Akito-san."

"Akito-sama! Akito-sama! And you're lying! You're a dirty, lying rat, and rats should be taught their place, don't you think? Don't you agree, Yuki?"

"Yes, Akito-sama."

'He loved to hit me; he actually took pleasure in seeing how far he could go before I'd break, before I'd do anything to end the pain. It was really that breaking that he wanted. And he'd be so kind afterwards. He'd treat each wound himself, soothing away the pain, making me actually believe- actually conceive that maybe this time he had changed. How ridiculous…'

"Don't you love me, Yuki? Don't you love me?"

"Yes, Akito-sama."

"Say that you love me, Yuki."

"I love you, Akito-sama."

"And you'll never leave me, will you?"

"No, Akito-sama."

"Promise me, Yuki."

"I promise, Akito-sama."

"I can only depend on you, Yuki, the one closest to me. The one who arrived first, who sought my audience more than the rest. You're meant to be close to me, to never leave my side. Its how it should be. Always."

"Yes, Akito-sama."

'Akito-sama? Akito-sama? Damn him…lord of anything, master of anything. He was not master of me anymore. Even when it came to the day that I'd return, I wouldn't be one of his things, another pet of his. I'd be free, even if trapped behind those walls. I won't cower in fear anymore…'

"Do you really think so, Yuki? Do you really think you can stand up to me?"

"Yes! You can't control me anymore."

"Stupid, silly little child. I don't have to control you, you already belong to me. So many moments belong to just the two of us, all those memories- I hold your history, Yuki. Do you really think you could escape it?"

"I don't need to escape it. You can't manipulate me like you did when I was a kid. I was younger…and weak."

"But you know you can't refuse me, Yuki. You value your life too much, too much. And you know that you owe this precious little life of yours to me!"

"I don't care. I don't care! I'd rather die than- than go back to that way again!"

"Who ever said that it'd be you? There are different ways to die, different ways to be killed. The loss of someone close to you for example. It'd just tear away at you if you knew that you were responsible for a certain girl's death, wouldn't it my Yuki?"

"You can't touch her! I wouldn't let you!"

"And if you had no choice? What would you do then? You'd return to me, wouldn't you? And you'd be happy. With me."

"No…"

"But yes, Yuki. Oh yes; its true."

"No!"

"Why fight it?"

"I said-

"No!"

He woke with a flash of awareness. The voices that had argued away in his head had only been in his head. Akito wasn't there; he wasn't real. None of it was real- just twisted parts of his memory and fears.

"Too real…"

"Oi- be quiet kuso nezumi." An sleepy, yet never the less angry voice whispered loudly from over Tohru's huddled form.

"Baka neko, lower your voice, you'll wake up Tohru," Yuki replied quietly, the response almost automatic. His head was still ringing from the all too vivid nightmare. An ongoing mantra of its not real, its not real went through his mind. But the words did little to clear his thoughts.

"Milk helps." Once again, Kyou's voice interrupted.

"What?" Yuki snapped. Why didn't the cat just go back to sleep?

"Milk helps with dreams…getting back to sleep and all," Kyou replied awkwardly, obviously unsure with his civil tone.

"Figures a cat would suggest milk as a cure-all," Yuki intoned, a little surprised by the concern that had been hidden in Kyou's voice.

"Its just to make you shut up! Your heavy breathing and crying and makes it hard to sleep! Kuso nezumi…" Kyou shuffled over in his blankets and pulled them up over his ears, scrunching his eyes closed. Across his mouth traced an annoyed scowl.

Yuki stared blankly for a moment, the mantra still running through his thoughts. Mutely, he stood up from the blankets and opened the front door. A gust of cold air snuck past him and into the room as he grabbed the glass bottle that held their milk from the ice bucket. Not paying attention to the cat's pointed stare, Yuki poured himself a glass and sipped at it carefully. Half way through the cup, a heavy warmth spread its way through his stomach, tying down his nerves and letting the weariness of the day push away his thoughts. The cat had been right…

Yuki stuffed the bottle back into the bucket and closed the door tightly, and noting Tohru's consistent shivering, wrapped another blanket over her. Still feeling Kyou's eyes on him, he lightly brushed her cheek with a kiss, and crawled into his blankets. Before the wave of weariness completely overtook him, Yuki whispered loud enough for Kyou to hear,

"She still hasn't decided, so don't be so jealous baka neko."

She still hasn't decided. She still hasn't decided. A brand new mantra took over the little pieces of consciousness left in his mind, of a decidedly more soothing nature. Best look at the cup half full; cup runneth over; home is where the heart is and all that jazz.

But even behind his weariness, and behind these superficially optimistic thoughts, the same train of worry followed its steady course. The sands were falling, more granules finding space as more left. This hourglass counting away at some time clock that had no definite beginning nor end painted a dismal picture. He felt himself trying to push the sands back, convince them that they were better on that side of the glass, but the end result was that he was being slowly buried.

He needed to find some plan, some way to prevent this dream life of theirs from collapsing. He had to find a way to break the glass and let the sand spill free. He had to.

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Author's Notes:

As always, I just wanted to thank my loyal readers. You guys make me mad happy. I really want to write little notes of appreciation for everyone, but I'm mad tired right now.

Oh and the reason why this took so long to post was because I was reading the newest Harry Potter. Anyone else feel like lynching J.K.Rowling? I think she needs to be taught a lesson on what might just happen if she takes such a long time in writing the next book. Any takers?