Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Prince ❯ Ch. 1 ( Chapter 1 )

Dark Prince

 

 

 

Chapter One

 

 

 

From now on…together…together…I want to be with you.

 

The words haunted him as he ran through the forest, giving no heed to the branches that struck his face in his haste.

 

I want to be with you.

 

As he'd heard the words pour from her lips so softly, his heart had shattered into a million pieces. If he'd stayed and watched a moment longer, he was sure he would have made a fool of himself.

 

I want to be with you.

 

His foot caught on an exposed tree root and he fell to the ground. He lay there, his tears mixing with the muck. He didn't care that he'd lost his composure, breaking down like he'd done so many times as a child.

 

“Tohru,” he whispered, his hands fisting in the mud. Why had he foolishly believed that someone could want him? Why had he foolishly prayed that Tohru would be the one to save him, the one he would belong to?

 

I want to be with you.

 

“Not me.” He closed his eyes tightly against the image of Tohru looking up at Kyou with so much love in her eyes. He'd followed after her when she'd disappeared into the forest after Kyo, never expecting to have seen and heard what he did. Even as horrifying as Kyo had been, she still chose him. Why not him?

 

Akito, am I strange?

 

Hmm, yes you are. Humans who turn into mice are very strange. Anyone who finds out your secret will be disgusted! They would leave you!

 

The memory was painful, the first time he'd found out how dangerous it was for him to be close to other humans. He remembered how carefree he'd been, playing and laughing until…

 

“He was right.” He opened his eyes, staring blankly. He felt that ache inside, that ache that never seemed to leave, not even when he'd first met Tohru. With Tohru's presence, he'd felt the ache subside little by little, but it had always been there. Now it threatened to overwhelm him.

 

Pushing himself to his knees, he stared up at the sky. The rain had stopped and the clouds were beginning to part, the sun peeking out shyly.

 

Akito, am I strange?

 

The answer mocked him. How could he have ever hoped to have a normal life? Did he think he was special, that someone else would think he was special?

 

“Tohru,” he whispered, digging his nails in the soft dirt. She'd thought he was…or had it all been a lie? His eyes widened at the thought, her heart tightening in his chest.

 

“No! She wouldn't…she wouldn't lie…to me!” He said, his voice panicked. There were so many times when she'd told him as much, melting the ice around his heart bit by bit.

 

Yuki's kindness is like the light from a candle. The warm light lingers on.

 

He could still remember her smile, that gentle smile that slowly melted the ice. She wouldn't lie to him…

 

“Yuki.”

 

He didn't have to look up; he already knew who it was. He felt his body tense, a reaction that always came as a result of that voice. He wanted to sink down into the mud, disappear forever, but that was impossible. Just like the mouse he was, he was trapped in a cage, never to be set free.

 

“What are you running from, Yuki?” The voice held a breathless quality, belying the coldness that lay just beneath the surface. Yuki continued staring down at the ground, trying to ignore the voice.

 

“Did you see them?” Footsteps came closer and closer until a pair of polished black shoes came into Yuki's view. “Did you see Tohru and the cat? The way she looked at him, the way she touched him…”

 

“Shut up!” Yuki glared up at his tormentor, his gray eyes flashing. His anger faltered, however, when he saw the look of pure fury on the older man's face. Quick as lightning, the emotion disappeared and was replaced with a small smile.

 

“I know you didn't mean that, Yuki,” he said, kneeling down so that they were face to face. Yuki looked away, unable to face those cold eyes.

 

“I just want you to realize, Yuki, that she doesn't want you. She will never want you, not like I do.” One slender hand reached out to cup the younger man's cheek. “Don't you understand that?” He stroked the soft flesh.

 

Yuki wanted to deny the words that were being said, but somewhere, deep down inside, he wondered,

 

`What if he's right?'

 

“Haven't I always been there for you, Yuki? Haven't you always been my special boy?” The man leaned in closer until his lips were pressed against Yuki's ear. “Hmm, Yuki?”

 

Yuki could feel himself start to tremble, memories of his past pouring into his consciousness. He didn't want him so close, didn't want to feel his touch, but…

 

`What if he's right?'

 

“Y-yes,” he whispered, his voice broken. Despite all the pain and humiliation he'd suffered at his hands, Yuki knew that he was the only one who really accepted him as he was. The thin lips pressed to his ear stretched into a smile. “That's right. I've always saved you and now I will do it again, eh?” He pressed a kiss to the young man's temple and leaned back. Yuki finally turned to face the man.

 

“A-Akito, am I…strange?”

 

Akito looked at him, that smile still in place. “Of course,” he responded. “But I'm the only one who will never leave you, Yuki.” He stood and held out his hand. Yuki glanced up at the sky.

 

Yuki's kindness is like the light from a candle. It lingers on.

 

Would she remember his light? Would it linger on within her or would she forget, leaving his light to flicker and die?

 

`Tohru.'

 

He placed his hand in Akito's, rising to his feet. Akito held him close, his eyes narrowed. “I will send you far away from this,” he promised, a hardness evident in his tone.

 

`And away from the influence of that girl.'

 

“Yes,” Yuki responded sadly, his eyes glimmering with tears.

 

`Please don't forget, Tohru.'

 

Even if she didn't want him, he didn't want her to forget…his light.

 

~*~

 

Tohru's body ached and she was tired, but she was happy. She couldn't help smiling as she looked down at the sleeping cat in her arms.

 

`I'm so glad, Kyo, that you trusted me.'

 

She'd been so afraid when she'd seen him back at the lake, his true form frightening and grotesque. But even so, she knew that Kyo was still Kyo, that he was still the boy that she'd grown to love as family. She couldn't turn her back on family.

 

Despite her weakened state, a feeling of extreme euphoria floated over her. She'd finally managed to make a connection with Kyo; a connection she knew would only grow stronger as time went on. And now she wanted to do the same with…

 

“Yuki,” she whispered, her heart skipping a beat. Although she was fond of all of the Sohma family members, it was Yuki that held a special place in her heart. She cherished the times that they spent together, every moment that they shared. And being with Kyo at the lake, hearing him say the things he'd kept locked away for so long, made Tohru want to tell Yuki what was in her heart.

 

`I want…to tell you how I feel, Yuki. I want you to be able to trust me.'

 

Tohru found renewed energy as she quickened her pace, eager to get back home. She wanted him to know she felt, even if he didn't feel the same way. She would be happy enough with just his friendship, but even still, she wanted him to know.

 

`Yuki.'

 

*end*

 

A/N: First off, I don't own Fruits Basket or any of the characters *sigh* Secondly, for the sake of the story, I've decided to follow the anime instead of the manga, which disregards a lot of the things that happen in the manga so keep that in mind …and please do leave reviews! Thank you!