Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Gone Full Circle ❯ Set the Table ( Prologue )

Gone Full Circle

Ali the Co-Authoress Note: Ehehe, well… Welcome to yet another of Janie and Ali's magical, mystical, literary spews… Literary spews… That was a good one… Anyways, we hope you enjoy… We had fun writing it, so I don't really think we care if you actually like it or not.

Janie: Yes Ali, we do care.

ACN: Oh well, see, Janie knows more than I do. We do care (apparently). Review you lazy bastards… Er, please? Cause you love us that much? Yes? Oh, and don't tease me about the bad chapter titles. I take pride in thinking up the dumbest ones I can. Really. I do.

Janie: Ali, your sarcasm is burning.

Prologue: Set the Table (set the scene)

"What?" Kazuma Sohma was sure he couldn't have heard correctly. Kyo was so young! TOO young! He shouldn't even know what love meant, let alone been able to feel or recognize it. And, yet, he HAD just said it!?

"Shishou," The little red head murmured quietly. But then he looked up defiantly. "I know you heard me." In his youth, Kyo didn't feel any of the awkwardness he SHOULD have felt at expressing his love for his master.

"Kyo," Kazuma frowned into those eyes. Did he? Yes. Could he say that? Of course not! So, he said the only thing he could. "Kyo, I'm sorry, but, no."

"I do love you. More than anyone else." The kitten replied, not understanding what his saying this was suggesting. He had just wanted to tell Kazuma, he didn't realize a reaction was usually required afterwards. "And I always will." He was extremely positive about this as well. Even though he was young, he knew no one else would ever care for him like Kazuma did. And he loved the man for it. Really honestly loved. This was so hard for HIM, Kazuma. He didn't want to be too harsh with Kyo, but he had a false point to prove and was now determined to get it across.

"You're really too young to know what you're talking about, Kyo." Was all he said for a moment. "I'm sorry." He repeated then. The red hairs swayed with the shake of his head.

"I am not too young Shishou." He got that fiery defiance in his eyes.

"But, you are." He insisted softly. "I don't think you know what that is. What that means." The pretty red eyes narrowed at him. He knew what he was feeling, but he couldn't quite argue about not knowing what that means.

"That doesn't mean I can't still love you."

"No, but, I can't love you back." He sighed, vaguely unhappy about that. That one confused the little boy. And the first thing he thought was the first thing he said.

"Because I'm the cat?" That was the reason for everything else in his life. Why should now be any different?

"No!" He assured Kyo quickly. "It has nothing to do with that. I just can't..." He struggled to explain without flat out using the word 'pedophilia' or 'child molestation'. Kyo look skeptical about that. "It's really just because I'm too young?'

"Or because I'm too old," He shrugged with a small sigh. "Whichever."

"What about... When I'm older?" The cat cocked his head to one side. It wouldn't really help the age difference thing, but...

"We'll see." He relented that much. Yeah, they'd see. That was good enough for the red head. He'd told Shishou and now all he needed to do was wait. And he was to understand, that if you truly love someone, waiting wasn't a big deal. He smiled to that answer.

"Um, you're lesson's over now." Kazuma murmured rising from the crouched position he'd been in. The pretty kitty bowed and left. He usually went and shared with Haru what he'd learned after his lesson was over.

Haru, however, had been standing in the doorway, watching that day... watching EVERYTHING. Well, not everything. The temperamental ox had left around the time that Kazuma had said no the fourth or so time. Kyo was a little subdued as he went looking for his only friend.

"Where did Haru go... He's usually here..." the cat looked around, his unhappiness mounting. He always feared that his friend had abandoned him, like everyone else, when he didn't show up at their usual place. Or, Haru could have gotten lost on the way back from the bathroom... But, indeed, Haru did eventually show up. A little late, and a little worse for wear, but he did show up.

"You were lost again?" Kyo admonished slightly. The ox was so very bad with directions. The white haired little boy nodded mutely, a little embarrassed.

"I guess that's sorta my fault for being a little late too." The other boy had a rather short attention span. And might not have gotten lost if Kyo had showed up to help him. "I was talkin' to Shishou."

"Oh?" Hatsuharu was the first to admit that he wasn't the best actor, but he could still pull of a damn good clueless.

"Yeah..." He got a slightly dreamy look. If you can imagine such a thing on, a just turned 7 years old, Kyo. He got lost in thought, suddenly remembering that he was planning to make sure Shishou fell in love with him over the years until he was old enough. Whenever that was?

"Was he helping you with that kick you were having trouble with?" Haru was really hoping that Kyo would just offer up the information, he didn't like spying on his friend.

Oh yes... That kick...

"No." Kyo wasn't very familiar with lying to his friends just yet. Especially not the only friend he had. Kagura would be all he had left if Haru left... And she most definitely didn't count. "I was telling him somethin' important. Well at least, I think telling him I love him is important..." His youthful self had not yet developed that phobia of feelings.

"Sounds important." The other agreed with a nod. "What'd he say?"

"The same thing adults always say." The boy glowered darkly. "I'm too young, and he'll talk to me again when I'm older." he calmed slightly. "But, he didn't say he didn't love me too. So I guess I'm okay with waiting a while." (Aaaah sweet youth!) Haru nodded thoughtfully, pulling his knees up to his chest and resting his chin on them.

"I can't say I'm surprised that he said that." He admitted slowly. He may have been six, but he wasn't stupid. He was quite aware of how some things worked. "Shihan's old enough to be your daddy, Kyo." He reminded him simply.

"I know that." The red head muttered defensively. But that didn't really change how he felt? He knew how it was to love a parent; he had loved his mother, even if she didn't love him. And that wasn't how he felt about Shishou.

"I'm just saying that you need to be patient." Haru shrugged. "Adults are weird about stuff like that."

He wasn't good at being patient. But this was an exception.

"I know, and I'm gonna be patient." the cat agreed. Haru smiled at him, but it was an oddly sad little smile. He was happy that Kyo had found someone to care about, but like most children are, selfish reasoning got the better of him, and he couldn't help but wish it were him.

"I didn't ask about that kick..." Kyo remembered after a while. Not noticing said sadness. "But I can show you what else he taught me today?"

"Okay!" Haru agreed quickly, automatically covering his expression with one of excitement.

The ox was a good study; the kitty always liked how he listened closely when you were explaining something to him. So they spent the rest of that afternoon like that. Kyo teaching him the new things he'd learned, and then the light sparring they always did to test them out. It was a lot of fun. Especially since the summer break was almost over. They were both in elementary school now. So when school was going, they didn't see each other in the afternoons like this.

When the sun started to go down, Haru knew he should have been going back, lest he get lost and loose all hope of making it back home before dark. Still, rather than a customary farewell that boys usually use with each other a wave, or perhaps a high five, he gave Kyo a quick hug. He got a surprised staring at. But the cat couldn't say anything about it to his only friend. So he chose to ignore it and called after the other boy:

"Don't get lost!" He had to go home soon as well. Shishou would be expecting him back. The red head smiled a little and turned to head back.

"Can try." Haru agreed, following up his hug with a wave before running off in the general direction of the dojo gate. Weird little kid... Kyo decided as he returned back to the house part of the dojo. Shishou would probably want him to take a shower before they ate. So for once he decided to do it without any prompting. Maybe that would make Shishou happy.

"You took your bath?" Kazuma asked him with a smile when he showed up for dinner that night. Kyo's master was doing an absolutely fabulous job of pretending that there was nothing awkward about what the cat had told him.

"I knew you would want me to." The little boy explained as he came in and took his seat.

"Good." He nodded, taking his own seat. Kyo was a good boy as they ate. He mentioned briefly his afternoon with Haru, he usually did. Only... Minus their little discussion. Going straight to how good Haru was getting at martial arts.

"He is improving." Kazuma agreed, with a nod. "In fact, I think Hatsuharu has a lesson tomorrow." he mused thoughtfully; the kitten smiled that heart melting little smile of his and nodded. He knew Haru's lesson schedule as well as his own. "And he has a belt test coming soon." He continued to recall. "I'm sure he'd appreciate your help training for that too."

"I work with him whenever I can." The cat told him. "I can't when I have school though." he scowled a little. He didn't like school. "School takes the whole afternoon..."

"His test is before school starts." Kazuma waved it off, taking a bite of rice. That urged another smile out of the little boy.

"That's good. I can give him lots of help then."

Kazuma smiled softly at him and nodded.

They finished eating in a happy kind of peace. Kyo even cleared away the few dishes without prompting. He hoped it would please his Shishou. Kyo sure did seem to have matured quite a bit in the past... four hours or so, Kazuma noted absently, though he didn't put much more thought to the subject. Well, maybe mature isn't the word... Kyo still had to hold his ground on not wishing to do the homework that had been assigned over summer vacation. But, in the end, as always, he gave in and did it. Why do teachers have to be so stupid and assign homework over summer?

"Kyo, you know school's important." It was a song Kazuma had sung on more than one occasion, and it rung true once more. "Do your homework."

Reluctance is the key as Kyo grumbled and worked on the homework anyways.

Sure enough, Haru showed up the next day for his lesson, garbed in full Gi and a big grin. He loved coming here and being with Kyo and Kazuma. It was so much better than the Main House. The kitten had been waiting happily on the porch for his friend, and brought him inside, with a little smile of his own. He gladly announced the ox's arrival to Shishou, he had said he wanted to help Haru get ready for that belt test, and he was looking forward to doing so now. Kazuma kept Haru and worked with him well past the regulatory hour and a half, until his next students showed up. Then, he delegated the task of his young cousin's training to the other present child. Kyo took the task with an affectionate smile to Kazuma, and a friendly one to Haru. They wandered off to one of the back room when the next student appeared.

"Shishou reminded me about your test last night." he told the ox. "He said I could help you train for it too."

"Thank you!" The little cow grinned and bowed down to his ever-so-slightly-older senpai. His red headed friend blushed at that. Most people don't bow to him... Especially not his friend. He shook it off.

"No problem." Then he picked right up where his Shishou had left off.

And it went on like that until both boys were satisfied that Haru knew everything that Kazuma would be testing him on. Haru felt lucky that he still didn't have to go home for a while when that happened.

"Come on, Shishous still with his students. I'll get us something to eat." Kyo smiled, like only his child self can. He grabbed his younger, but still taller, cousin's hand and drug him right off to the kitchen. The cat wasn't the greatest cook... But he could manage to cut up some vegetables or something.

"You're bleeding." Haru stated unnecessarily a few minutes later. The other boy sweat dropped slightly. He gave the food to Haru, and went digging around under the sink in the cabinets of the very small kitchen. He'd cut himself enough times that Shishou had simply put a first aid kit down there for him. Since Kyo refused not-to-not cook. He knew the only way to get better was to practice, anyways. That's one of the first things he'd learned from Shishou.

"Mom told me not to touch sharp stuff, Kyo." Haru reminded him, staring helplessly down at the half cut food and knife on the plate in his hands. "She said if I got angry with one, it would be bad." No one had bothered to explain the finer points of his miner split personality to the poor thing yet...

"Mm all right. Just wait a second then." Came the muffled reply as Kyo pulled out the little red box and opened it. It took a little doing, but he washed it off and got the bandage around it all on his own. He put away the box, and while he was down there got a bowl. He put what he had cut in it and gave it to Haru, while he finished cutting the rest. The little ox sat down on the floor, munching hungrily and happily on the vegetables while he watched Kyo make his own snack. He'd mentally filed away where the first aid kit was, just in case the kitten needed it again. Kyo finished cutting the vegetables. And in a moment of thought, washed the knife and cutting board, and got himself a bowl. He joined his taller friend shortly after that.

"Shishou agrees Haru, you've been getting a lot better," he told his split personalitied (We know this isn't a word <_< hush.) friend. A tinge of bitterness got into his tone as he continued. "We should be able to beat that stupid rat if we keep getting better."

"Yeah!" Haru got a dark and excited look in his eyes. "Yeah! We'll get that rat!"

"Maybe, by the time that happens I'll be old enough..." The kitty mused quietly. That would be nice. Then he'd also impress Shishou by having beaten the rat that everyone thought he was inferior to!

That dark look vanished as soon as he said that.

"Nah," Haru shook his head, trying to cover up for his momentary lapse of mood again. "We'll kick his butt way before then." He nodded matter-of-factly. Kazuma and Haru are probably the few people who get to see Kyo's gorgeous smiles, before he's hurt and never wishes to show them again, that is. Anyways, he passed the ox a very happy and quite feral grin.

"Right!" he agreed with an enthusiastic nod.

"I think--I think that Shihan really does like you." Haru mused quietly after a few minutes. "The way you like him, anyway." He wasn't sure why he was encouraging this when it made him feel so sad to consider it but, hey, whatever made Kyo happy, right?

A pretty little blush spread on the red heads face.

"Really?" Shishou hadn't said one way or another. It would be great if he did... It would be easier to wait knowing he had something to look forward too. Or maybe it would be harder since he already knew it was there? He wasn't sure.

"Mmhmm." The ox nodded. "You really like him. Don't you, Kyo?" he wondered quietly.

"Oh yes!" The kitty beamed happily. "More than anything else." See, sadly he's young and doesn't realize this might, possibly, hurt his only friend's feelings. Indeed, Haru's expression fell a little again, though he didn't mention it and simply busied himself eating.

"Shishou and you are my favorite people." Kyo noted quietly. "You're the only ones who really like me even though I'm the cat."

"Kagura likes you." Haru corrected, snapping back to reality. "Kagura REALLY likes you..."

"She hits me all the time." The red head grumbled. "And I can't hit her back cause she's a girl. I don't see how hitting me makes her like me."

"You should see her when you're not around." The little ox shrugged. "Besides, didn't she make you propose to her last week?"

"Yeah. But, she was gonna drop a boulder on me! I don't wanna marry her, though." Kyo scowled. He loved Shishou anyways! So there.

"I don't want you to either." Hatsuharu mumbled, not even realizing he was talking until the words were out and it was too late to take them back.

"Hn?" His friend looked over at him with interest.

"Uh---nothing." He tried to cover it, barely aware of the pale tinge spreading across his cheeks. "I should probably be going." He added quickly. "I'm going to be late as it is." This was a blatant lie, but it was all he could think of to get out of that uncomfortable situation.

"Oh..." The kitten sighed. "Okay, just try not to get lost, okay??" he offered anxiously.

"I'll try." Haru agreed with a grin, getting up and placing his bowel on the counter before waving good-bye, then walking off and wandering his way out of the dojo and toward, the at least general direction of, the main compound. Kyo watched him go sadly and then went to watch over his Shishou's remaining classes. The thought of Kazuma certainly brightened him up.

Well, Haru made it to the grounds, but found himself more than lost a few minutes after arriving there. It was about an half hour before he recognized anything---he'd never been on that part of the compound before. But, he didn't like what he saw. Yuki? How had he gotten so far off course? He felt anger bubbling in him, the longer he stood there staring at the other boy---who wasn't really paying attention to him, and then it all just... snapped.

"I HATE YOU!" He burst out, letting the words tumble without really paying attention to what they were. Yuki started, and turned wide violet eyes on him. "It's YOUR fault everyone laughs at me! It's the dirty, scheming rat's fault! It's all your fault!" Yuki looked rather surprised about his outburst, but he stayed silent as Haru ranted. "You're the reason I'm slow. The reason I'm stupid!" He halted quite suddenly, panting a little and trying to get his temper back under control. Once he was sure he wasn't going to start yelling again, Yuki spoke.

"Is that... true?" The little rat asked, his expression much calmer, kinder. "Are you... like that? Are you..."

"No..." Haru realized, eyes wide and mortified about his temper tantrum. "No, I... I'm... not stupid...I'm not stupid..." He felt tears burning at the back of his eyes, and clenched his hands on his Gi pants in an attempt to will them back. "Don't judge... based on some story... and laugh."

"Yeah..." Yuki's mouth turned up kindly at the corners in a small smile. "I know how you feel." He stated. Suddenly all that anger that he had felt so recently seemed to ebb away. Haru felt calm for the first time in ages. Honestly calm... He felt an odd warmth too.

"Yuki..." He stated softly. "Your name's Yuki?"

"Yes." Yuki nodded softly.

"Will you meet my friend?" He wasn't sure why he asked; it was probably a bad idea. Kyo really didn't like the rat, and---until just now---he hadn't either. He wasn't sure what he was feeling now.

"Sure..." Yuki nodded. "Tomorrow?" Haru nodded happily, and rambled off where they could meet, before turning around and scampering off to find his way back to his own room.