Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Everything ❯ Rabbit, Monkey, Cow and Cat ( Chapter 6 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
AN: I love my readers, I love my reviewers, you beautiful people are the best anyone could ever ask for; ppiglette, sweet-girl8270, animefreak54, catgirverson3, 0otakufan, Ariyana, Sayuri, Night-Owl123, Liliath, Ms. Cassandra Chant, faLLen-dreams, PeaceSeeker (Happy Birthday!), Cookie Pixie and Yukako. Thank you for your wonderful reviews! Hana and Uo will be making an appearance very soon, worry not and will Tohru remember... [insert evil laugh]... Maybe, maybe not! Is this a Yukiru? It's a scandalous treat you will have to wait for...



On another note, I'm happy to hear that the Mii twist went down well. Stick around, things are going to get a lot more complicated! And in other news, my son sends gurgles of love to everyone and I've also put in an application to study in the NYFA's 3D-Animation programme, so wish me luck on getting a place! Hollywood, here I come!




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Cha pter Six.




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Previously...
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So much for feeling better. The woman he had secretly fallen in love with, wanted nothing to do with him and she was having a 'romantic evening' with some poor unsuspecting fool. Why couldn't she see that she was his reason for being, his reason for everything. But it wasn't like he could do anything about this new-found love. Hatori was an excellent example of that. His separation from Kana had devastated the dragon; even Yuki and Kyo were heart-broken when Tohru was sent away... So it was true, there was nothing he could do. And it wasn't as if he deserved love, regardless of the fact that he had fallen for his charmingly shrill editor.



He knew what his top priority was, and that was to help Tohru and her family disappear from Akito's radar. The clock wheels were turning; it would only be a matter of time before he could rest somewhat easily, having returned the Takagawa family safely back to Tokyo.



May the Gods forgive him for what he had planned.




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The shop was dark and empty as he entered through the front door. The bell in the door-frame jingled, announcing his arrival to the dark shop. He couldn't believe he had to return to work so late in the evening, it was above and beyond the call of duty for the albino snake.



"Mine?"



"Ah! You're back. Why so soon?"



He grinned secretly as his assistant stepped out from the back store room, dressed in her usual attire of a saucy uniform he had picked out that day, just for her. "The guest 'Gure-san was entering had to leave earlier than usual," he waved his hand, wincing as his scantily clad assistant switched on the main lights of the store.



"That's a shame," she commented absently, flicking through the pages of what looked to be a catalogue of some sort, "We have a lot to do before tomorrow though," she looked incredibly... Awkward, as she stood fidgeting; most unlike her.



The snake frowned to himself, "Oh... But I'm too exhausted to even think about work! How was your evening?"



Mine looked up from the thick book she was leafing through, "The same as always," she smiled blankly, "Dull but productive. I managed to pin together the final dress from the fabrics Midori-san picked out. Do you want to see it?"



With his excitement renewed, Ayame nodded vigorously, letting her depart to retrieve her master-piece. As his hands skimmed the various fabrics on show in his shop, he waited patiently for his assistant to show him the prototype dress.



"Here it is!"



His head tilted slightly to the right as he inspected the mannequin clad in an embarrassingly skimpy lingerie outfit, "Hmm..."



"Well..?" Mine questioned expectantly.



Ayame turned his golden orbs to the coffee brown eyes watching him with anticipation, "It's fabulous! Midori-san will love it!" He cried, clapping his hands before placing a gentle, yet well-earned kiss upon the blushing woman's cheek.



She stepped back, stunned and unsure of his reaction. "R-really? You like it? You really mean it?" Her fingers brushed the area his lips had covered and she almost giggled with disbelieving delight.



"Of course, silly girl," Ayame blared loudly, "It's one of your best creations to date." He beamed widely as she bowed at him with such hearty reverence.



"Thank you so much, Ayame-san, really, your praise means so much!"



There she is, my real Mine-chan! Ayame thought indirectly; he had an odd feeling that there was a strange air between the two that had been developing gradually of the past few weeks. He just couldn't divulge the problem.



"You're most welcome my dear little assistant," he said endearingly, placing his finger upon the tip of her nose, "Now, why don't you tell me what's really been bothering you?"



Mine frowned delicately, her demeanor changing abruptly like the daring seasons of Japan, "I don't know what you're talking about," she pulled away from her older counterpart, ignoring his question as she continued to bustle around the shop, putting away the mannequin and certain fabrics that had been left out during the day.



Ayame sighed. He marched over to her and clasped her upper arm before dragging her to the side, "Mine," he warned, "I know when something is wrong. Now will you tell me, please?"



She hesitated, a look of fear crossing her face before she caught the sincerity of his voice.



Her employer was hardly ever serious and when he was, it was a rare occasion indeed, and one to be cherished. She licked her lips, blinking away the confusion she felt. How could she tell him that she saw him a few weeks before? How could she let him know that she had found out his most darkest, deepest secret? She couldn't... It would devastate their relationship, of that she was certain.



And besides, it was not her place to probe into other peoples business, but... This matter was entirely different. This was beyond different, it was utterly bizarre. She didn't know if she had dreamt the entire thing or if it had actually happened.



"I-" She stammered, before clamping her mouth shut.



No... She couldn't tell him she had seen him change. But--it explained a lot about his nature, why he never let anyone close to him, why he never allowed himself to be overly friendly with members of the opposite sex. Sure, he was flirtatious to the extreme but he never allowed himself to be close to anyone. Because if he did... He would change into something so strange that the person he grew close to, would probably run away.



But not her... So, did that mean she should tell him that which she knew?



For weeks she had been battling with herself, but in that moment, with his caring golden gaze, Mine made her final decision.



She would let him tell her on his own terms; of course, she would nudge him along the way, if necessary. But, she decided, for now she was going to pretend everything was normal between them. Even though she felt severely awkward in his company... Which was probably one reason why he didn't tell a single person of his little problem.



"It's nothing," she said suddenly, making the shop-keeper jump from his own thoughts, "I'm just having a spot of man-trouble, that's all," she lied half-heartedly.



"Oh?" The look on his face showed that he was surprised. It was almost as if he didn't expect her to have a social life beyond his shop! She still hadn't told him that she was in a serious relationship, but she couldn't understand her motivation for keeping her love-life a secret from him. Perhaps it was because he never seemed to become intimate with anyone; she didn't wish to flaunt it in his face...



"Is it anything I can help with?" Ayame asked, looking somewhat put out by her sudden remark.



She hesitated before placing her palm against his cheek, "No, thank you."



A glimmer of wonder filled the snake as she looked up at him with veiled eyes. His instincts told him that she was half lying, half hiding something from him. But at that moment... He didn't want to know exactly what it was that she seemed to hiding.



All he could focus on was the warmth and gentle weight of her hand against the cold, smooth skin of his cheek.




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"For you, Honda-san."



It was so beautiful.



The yellow, golden ribbon he had given her, warmed her heart and soul with it's intent. It was a testimony to how their friendship had grown, and she loved him all the more for it. Everything about him was princely, his manner, his conduct; she was so lucky to have him as a friend!



"Thank you, so much," she replied gratefully, looking up into the violet eyes that peered down at her with expectation.



She watched in awe as he raised one end of the dangling ribbon to his lips, before softly kissing the tip. She smiled, hiding her blush. She didn't want this moment to end.



"I wish you could remember," he sighed, brushing her cheek with his soft fingers, "I wish I could have told you how much I loved you..." He leaned closer, as though he were moving to capture her lips in a soft, gentle kiss.




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She jolted awake.



A pair of strong wet arms wrapped around her naked torso, holding her tightly. "Tohru?" Her husband's concerned voice soothed her pounding heart. She shifted slightly in the hot, bubbling water of their villa's private onsen.



"I'm ok," she sighed, rubbing her cheek against her husband's bare shoulder, "It was just a... Dream." It felt more like a memory, but she didn't know where it came from...



She smiled sleepily as he gently kissed her temple, hugging her closer to him so that she rested in his lap. As all dreams do, the memory of it faded away with the gentle breeze that kissed her cheeks. The night air was cool against her bare flesh, in comparison to the hot steam of the onsen.



It served to be a soothing combination; the perfect end to a rather long evening. It's not that she didn't mind having dinner at a restaurant, it was the fact that Shigure-san insisted they return for drinks at his house. She felt that she was being rude for not offering first, but there was nothing she could have done to sway his mind.



The sound of the evening crickets chirping in the distance, lulled her thoughts away from such trivial worries.



As the warm water lapped against her skin, her eyes wandered towards the brightly burning stars in the heavens above; so beautiful, so still. They were small, wondrous specks of enigmas, some glittering and some content to lie in the shadowed blanket of the universe, untouchable yet revered by all. It was such a romantic setting, that for the first time since they journeyed to Fukushima from Tokyo, she felt that she was on a vacation!



"Do you want to go inside?" Hitoshi whispered quietly into the shell of her ear.



Tohru shook her head, "What time is it?"



"It's nearing midnight."



"Can we stay here a little bit longer?" She asked, yawning before she spoke again, "It's so peaceful, Hitoshi. I don't want to move from here... Ever."



She smiled as he chuckled whilst rubbing her bare back gently, "Tohru...?"



"Mm?" She looked up questioningly.



"I know I don't say this as much as I should but--I love you, very much. You know that, don't you?" He looked down at her with such sincerity, that it almost broke her heart.



"Hitoshi," she reprimanded softly, "Of course I know that you love me, there isn't a day that goes by when I don't feel loved. I'm so lucky to have both you and Toshi in my life..."



"But?"



"But," she continued thoughtfully, "I'm so scared that one of these days, I'm going to lose you."



He frowned, "I don't understand?"



"I'm scared that I'll lose you like my mother lost my father; I'm scared that Toshi will have to live his life without you... I never speak about him much but, I miss my father the same as I miss my mother. There's a void that only a father can fill and when I lost my mother... Everything just collapsed around me. I don't want that to happen to our son."



Hitoshi held her tightly, desperately trying to make her feel safe, "Tohru, you're not going to lose me and neither is Toshi. I will always be here for you," he lightly kissed her lips and before she had time to reply, her troubled thoughts melted away with each gentle stroke of his tongue against hers.



The couple seemed to remain oblivious to the four different pairs of eyes that spied upon them from behind the garden walls.




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The sharp sound of the alarm clock pierced through Hatori's skull. He grumbled to himself as he sat up, before being startled by three figures, slumbering at the foot of his bed.



What the hell? Was the first thought that came to mind, the second was the reason for the trio's appearance.



He cleared his throat loudly, hoping to awaken them.



All three jumped abruptly before turning to gaze at him in bewilderment.



"Haru, Momiji, Ritsu?" Hatori stared at the intruders, "Care to explain why the three of you are here?"



The trio glanced at one another expectantly, before erupting with a stream of questions that accosted the poor dragon's ears.




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A burst of laughter spilled from her rosy lips.



The morning was beautiful and bright and the warm breeze lifted her spirits as it tousled her unbound hair.



She swiftly ran after her overly zealous son in the warm sunshine, holding her floor-length skirt up from the moist grassy earth that tickled her feet. Tohru felt awful that her husband could not be with them; business had called him away again, much to her disappointment. They should be on vacation, not working!



But she was here, and she was enjoying the quality time with her only child.



"Toshi!" She cried breathlessly as he weaved between the scattering villas, before diving into an area of thick foliage. She smiled, following him before she suddenly realized that they were no where near their villa and had currently entered a wooded location; which must also be part of the Sohma family's estate.



They must have run quite far from their temporary home, to be surrounded by such a quiet, forested area.



A disturbing thought came to her; it was strange how the Sohma estate was so eerily quiet, as if no-one lived in the many houses clustered behind the large gates, especially with the added forest. Perhaps it was just her, but Tohru found it slightly unnerving. It was a good thing that she had her son to keep her from thinking such troubled thoughts.



"Toshi?" She called out once more, looking around the area with wonder. How on earth did they end up here? The Sohma estate never ceased to amaze her with its secrecy and beauty.



Her son still had not answered her call.



She was beginning to feel a minute pang of worry form in her subconscious, like a dark cancerous shadow threatening to engulf her. She halted a moment, finding herself standing in front of a curiously built house. To her right stood her son, who also seemed to be entranced by the looming grey wood structure.



"Toshi, come here," she whispered, not knowing why she was speaking so quietly. It was as if she did not want to disturb the house in it's peaceful rest among the tall trees of the glade.



"'Kasaan, someone's there!"



Tohru's eyes snapped towards the window where her son had pointed to. Her heart began to soar like the spreading wings of a newly freed eagle, fluttering against her ribcage without rhyme or rhythm as she saw a mysterious shadow jump back from the window.



Thinking quickly, she moved to her son's side and pulled him close, frowning as she inspected the lonely house. It was all too odd to comprehend; why was this house segregated from the others on the Sohma property? It looked rather pathetic, with it's wood frame, standing all by itself; she had to feel sorry for the person that owned the house.



A rustle from inside the house caught her attention.



Breathing deeply, she forced herself to speak, "Excuse me? Is anybody home?"



There was no answer.



Tohru gripped her son's hand tightly before slowly making her way up to the doorway of the quiet house. She didn't know what she was doing, or who the person in the house was, but she was fascinated by the reason the person chose to live here. It was the only thing that kept her feet moving up the wooden stairs to the platform the house had been raised upon.



Hugging her son closer to her side, she gently knocked on the door. She couldn't help but feel worried. The person living in the house must be a Sohma, so it should be safe; she was more worried as to why they chose to live away from the other houses. It seemed like such a lonely life.



"Hello?" She called out again, "Is anybody home? My son and I are lost, and we need directions back to our villa," she added. It wasn't a complete lie, but it wasn't the truth either. Tohru was simply curious, and her husband believed it was her one and only vice. A vice that caused her to land into more trouble than she was worth.



She jumped and took a step back as the door slowly opened, revealing a young orange-haired man glaring at her with melancholy amber eyes that surpassed their years.



"What do you want?" He snapped, glancing at her son before staring at her with irritation and fascination bubbling forth from his sharp, angled features.



She couldn't believe how unbelievably young and handsome he was. But there was something in his eyes... A deep pain or sadness emanated spilled out from behind the angry facade. It made her want to empathise with the man, to rid him of his private troubles.




"I-I'm sorry," she stuttered pathetically, "We don't mean to disturb you but... Could you please give me directions to the main housing area of the estate?"



He looked like he was going to shout at her, but as soon as he noticed the apprehension in her eyes, his anger seemed to dissipate like that of a wilting flower, deprived of the life essence it so desperately required. "It's that way," he grumbled, pointing in the opposite direction of the wooden house.



She smiled gratefully, "Thank you--" She stopped mid-sentence a Toshi tugged gently on her skirt.



"'Kasaan, I need to go!"



Tohru shook her head in amusement. She couldn't ask him... Could she? She wasn't one to go into strangers houses but this man looked and felt vaguely familiar to her. Not only that, but she felt incredibly relaxed in his presence, even though he had barely spoken three words to her. She looked at the orange-haired man hopefully before posing her question, "Would you mind terribly if he used your bathroom?"



To her surprise, he stepped aside to allow them in without much protest. They were led into the house and shown the bathroom before he walked away towards the kitchen area of the house. Ok... So he wasn't much of a conversationalist and he seemed reclusive; she would have to keep her guard up.



"Call me when you're finished, ok?" She said quietly, looking down at her son with a smile before she followed the orange-haired man into the kitchen.



"I'm sorry about that," she apologized, stepping into the dimly lit kitchen with suspicion and curiosity.



"It's fine," he replied nonchalantly.



There was an awkward silence before Tohru found the courage to question him.



"So... Are you a Sohma as well? There are so many Sohmas here, it really is overwhelming. You must feel incredibly privileged to have such a large family."



Something akin to shame and pain flickered across his face before he answered her, "Yes," he mumbled, clearing his throat, "My name is Sohma Kyo."



"I'm Takagawa Tohru," she reciprocated brightly, bowing in a formal greeting, "Thank you for letting my son use--"



"'Kasaan!"



Tohru blinked in amusement, "Excuse me," she uttered, before making her way to the bathroom. As she wandered down the hall, one thing was apparent: it looked as though Kyo-san lived by himself. She felt somewhat sympathetic towards him. She knew what it was like to live alone, and she was certainly glad that she had Hitoshi and Toshi. It must be terrible for the man to live in the forested oasis... All alone.




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Hatori stared sternly at the three intruders, now seated on the floor of his office. Angry did not begin to describe how he felt. He was absolutely furious with their invasion of his privacy. In all his years, he had never witnessed such a maniacal, disappointing--



"Why didn't anyone tell us?" Momiji questioned, breaking the heavy silence that had befallen the quartet.



He turned to face the grown man, "We didn't think it was necessary to inform you," Hatori replied resolutely.



"So you say," Haru retorted, "How would you like it if you stumbled across her in your back garden with her husband no less?"



The dragon looked away, his jaw clenching, "I don't know what you mean."



"Cut the shit, Hatori-san," Hatsuharu exclaimed, jumping to his feet, "You didn't even tell us that she was here, let alone married! And from what we witnessed yesterday, I wouldn't be surprised if she had a kid too!" The lack of response from the older man was enough for Haru to reach his own conclusion, "I don't believe this," he added wearily, "This can only mean one thing, Akito-san is up to something."



"I know that," Hatori snapped back.



"I want to meet her!" Momiji crowed, trying to dissipate the tension, "I've missed her."



"No," Hatori scolded gently, "It would be hazardous for her to meet with you all at once. It might trigger her memory of everything and the consequences for that happening will be dire." The dragon could not believe how the young rabbit had grown so much in the past nine years. It only served to remind him how old he was becoming. Thirty-six--and still alone...



"U-uh-m... Hatori-san?"



He turned to the timid voice, that had been unsurprisingly quiet throughout the entire discussion, "Yes, Ritsu?"



"W-well... I don't mean to burden you with my stupidity but-but isn't Tohru-kun already in danger by being at the Honke?" Ritsu looked down, as though he were ashamed of his audacity to question the older man.



Hatori pondered the question briefly, "Yes," he said to himself, "You have a valid point, Ritsu... Shigure said that he wanted Tohru-kun and her family to leave the Honke as soon as possible, but it seems as if Tohru-kun's husband is planning to stay longer in the estate before accepting Shigure's offer to stay at his home."



"Why would he want them to stay at his house? What's Shigure-san up to?" Haru's wary voice interjected, glancing at the doctor with curiosity.



"That... is Shigure's prerogative," Hatori concluded, standing from his comfortable chair, "In the mean time, I suggest the three of you avoid her and her family to the best of your capability and please... Avoid alerting the other members of the Jyuunishi about her presence at the Honke."



"I still don't think it's fair," Momiji whispered to the nervous Ritsu who sat beside him.



Ritsu shrugged sadly, "I-I don't care about fairness... I just find it awful that we can't talk to her, after all these years."



The seated trio stood with the doctor before they made their way towards the exit of the dragon's private home.



"One more thing," Haru said quickly, as he stepped out of the door, "Who else knows?"



Hatori did not know if he should answer that question. He decided to tell them, in case they ran into the other Sohmas and accidentally spoke of Tohru's stay at the Honke, "Myself, Shigure, Ayame, Yuki and of course Akito. Make sure that no-one else comes to know of her whereabouts."



The ox frowned as Yuki's name was spoken, "How is he?" Haru asked softly, watching Momiji and Ritsu make their way down the winding path of Hatori's house.



Hatori almost smiled at the young man's concern, "He's coping, Hatsuharu, you don't have to worry."



Upon receiving the answer to his question, Hatsuharu nodded and left as silently as he came.




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"Thank you, really, thank you so much!"



"You can stop thanking me," Kyo grumbled dryly, as he showed the sudden guest to the door.



It had been a good thing that Yuki had told him of her arrival at the Honke. Otherwise, the shock he would have received would have been enough to put him into a long-term coma.



Although their meeting was short, it was good to know that even after all these years, she was still so damned energetic! He wondered where she stored the abundance of cheerfulness that constantly surrounded her. It was like a beckoning light, calling out to him, calling for him to touch it... It was the way he had felt when they first became friends, all those years ago.



But if that wasn't bad enough, her son was equally perfect! If the truth be told, Kyo couldn't wait for the pair to leave; he just wanted to be left alone in peace. But nine years of wondering, nine years of pondering had brought him to this day and the question he continually asked himself late into the night...



What would he do if he saw her again?



And today, he received his answer.



All he could do was stare and grumble his way through a conversation with her, and possibly manage the occasional smile while he tried to reign in his temper at her absence. The only good thing about her departure nine years ago, was the new-found confidence she seemed to acquire. It was nice to see her so comfortable and relaxed in her own skin; no self-made apologies even parted from her lips, which was always good as it was the one thing that Kyo wished she could have changed about herself.



He watched the mother and son bid him farewell before they walked away into the distance, hand in hand.



The years had been good to her... For that, he was incredibly thankful.



She certainly looked more beautiful than ever. Motherhood suited her. It gave her an extra glow around her aura that seemed barely visible to the naked eye, but it's potency seemed to pull any acquaintance of hers even closer into her orbit.



He did not know if he would ever see her again and that pained him. But there was one thing he knew for certain...



"Her husband is one lucky son-ova-bitch," he stated loudly to the silent trees, swaying in the balmy breeze.




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