Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Musouka ~ Dare to Dream ❯ Touching Moments ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter Five

 

First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.

 

Epictetus Sohma - 1960

 

The Rat

 

Touching Moments

 

“JUST BECAUSE WE ARE SLEEPING IN THE SAME ROOM DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU CAN GO WHEREVER! NOW GET OFF ME YA RAT!!!!” Eriko's eyes opened slowly (Yuri jumped and fell back on her arm; ow.) It seemed that Yuki's morning self had rolled over on Kyo in his sleep, thus waking up the Cat and got him screeching.

 

How can it be the second day with these people when it feels like time is going too fast for my taste? Eriko wondered as she drew her covers back over her head. She could hear Tohru trying to get the two to reason while Yuri seemed to be saying something about her preparing breakfast for Tohru.

 

“Don't mess anything up Kyo, we're not at home.” Yuki said. ( he had woken up completely a few minutes ago.)

 

“That goes the same for you!” Kyo snapped. Eriko sighed and decided she would take a shower while they were arguing, and if those two did fight in the house, she would have to have all locks locked.

 

“You're awake!” Tohru cried as she saw Eriko walk out of her room. Yuki and Kyo were still arguing in the next room, and Tohru's head was just poking out of the doorframe.

 

“Yeah, just keep those two from breaking any doors,” Eriko said out of sarcasm as she vanished into the bathroom with her clothes and towels.

 

It wasn't till the warmth of the water caressed her skin till she felt completely relaxed and untroubled. The doors were locked and no one was there to bug her as she began scrubbing at her skin.

 

Those two always call each other Rat and Cat, why? Shigure mentioned them being in born in the year of the Rat, Dog, and Cat, but the Year of the Cat never existed…She began scrubbing her head with Herbal Peach-scented Shampoo as she groaned. But besides, those years aren't that big of a reason to call others by those particular names, something's up, and I smell it! She rinsed out her hair.

 

Well, whatever it is, I'll figure it out one way or the other…She got out and dried off and quickly got dressed. Today she was going to wear a maroon sweater and tan Jeans with a black belt. After putting her hair up in a ponytail, she walked out the door just to find a broken door lying in front of her.

 

“I'm so sorry! But Kyo lost his temper and he and Yuki began fighting! Than Yuki kicked him and sent him flying into the door and the door went flying and it landed onto the floor just a few minutes ago! I'm so sorry! So sorry!” Tohru babbled on as Eriko stared down at the door. Not only was she clouded by surprise, but also her blood boiled. She didn't even notice Yuki standing next to Tohru, staring at the ground. Kyo was no where to be seen.

 

“Honda…” Eriko whispered, trying to keep her voice leveled, her head drooped. “Will you be kind enough…to go downstairs…and tell Yuri…to get our next door neighbor…Nakkou Shinomei over here…to fix the damn door…” Eriko steamed, her face shadowed. Yuki and Tohru looked at one another and slowly backed away and walked down the stairs.

 

“Hmm…what's wrong with you two? You look like you just seen a ghost!” Shigure laughed as the two entered the dining room. But by Yuki's glum expression and Tohru's nervous one, his eyes looked from the stairs to Yuki, and he nodded. Shigure put his head low and lifted his newspaper to keep out of sight.

 

“Everything's so quiet all of a sudden, but why do you two look like someone that's haunted?” Yuri asked as she came out of the kitchen with everyone's food.

 

“Yuri, Eriko wanted you to go and get someone called Nakkou Shinomei from next door to-” Tohru began before Yuri smiled softly.

 

“You broke a door didn't you?” she asked calmly. Yuki sighed, and she took that as a yes. “All right, after I set up breakfast I'll go and get him.” She said, she hurriedly laid down all the dishes, Yuki and Tohru sat down on one side next to Shigure. Yuri soon vanished to put on her shoes, and with the click of the door, they knew she was gone.

 

“I think Eriko's angry…” Tohru said.

 

“In a loathsome manner,” Yuki corrected as Shigure dug into his food.

 

“I wonder what this is? But it's delicious!” Shigure said as he ate the French Toast.

 

“Oh! Hello Sanotomono-san, why are you here so early?” Nakkou asked, he was a tall man in his fifties with short gray hair, tanned skin, and weary brown eyes. He wore a red and blue plaid shirt tucked into some blue Jeans.

 

“Well, we have a few guests at our house, thus, one of our doors got into the middle of the two of our guests that just can't get along.” Yuri explained softly with a smile. Nakkou smiled.

 

“Well than, I suppose you want me to come over and fix it eh?” Nakkou asked.

 

“Hai Nakkou-san,” she answered.

 

“All right, let me fetch my coat, shoes and my tools and I'll be right over.” Nakkou said.

 

“Arigatou,” Yuri said as he shut the door and she walked back over to her home. Hopefully Eriko blew off some steam….

 

“Did you eat all of the food?” Eriko asked quietly as she stared at the empty black tray in front of her on the stove, Shigure sighed heavily, rubbing his full stomach. Yuki and Tohru long departed the room when Eriko entered it.

 

“Well, it didn't seem you would be coming down anytime soon after having another glowering contest with Kyo.” Shigure said.

 

“We weren't doing that you baka!” Eriko snapped, stomping out the room. While Shigure hummed contently.

 

“Hello Shigure,” it was Yuri's voice, Shigure turned around and spotted the gray-head with a man behind her, most likely Nakkou Shinomei.

 

“Greetings Yuri, and you must be Nakkou Shinomei! I'm Sohma Shigure! How do you do?” Shigure greeted happily as the two men shook hands, Yuri stood at the side. Than he turned to Yuri. “That breakfast was delicious, whatever was it?” Yuri smiled.

 

“It's called French Toast, but anyway, the door this way Nakkou-san.” Yuri said happily as she and Nakkou walked across the room and up the stairs. Shigure smiled, maybe he should have considered telling her of Eriko's bad mood so far.

 

“Oh, good to see you again Eriko, I hope you're having a good winter break so far.” Nakkou said as Eriko peered out from her door.

 

“Never been better.” She stated plainly before shutting the door again.

 

“She's a bit upset,” Yuri pointed out.

 

“Yeah, kind of figured that on my own…” Nakkou responded, sweat-dropping.

 

“Yuri,” as Nakkou began to work on the door, Yuki was coming out of his room and spotted the Elephant, she smiled.

 

“Yes Yuki,” she said back.

 

“I was wondering, if we could take a walk to talk for a bit.” Yuki suggested.

 

“Oh! Sure,” she responded as she and Yuki walked down the stairs and out the door (After telling Shigure that they would be back soon) and than they began walking down the street, thankfully there was no ice, and the snow melted a bit.

 

“Can I ask you something?” Yuki asked, to start off the conversation.

 

“Sure,”

 

“Ever since we went to the zoo, Eriko has been easily provoked by Kyo, and any other thing thrown at her. Not trying to be nosy or anything, but being her sister and all. I thought it would be easier to get answers out of you than her.” Yuki said calmly.

 

“Well,” How should I explain this, I can't just say it's because we're cursed! Yuri thought. “When we were young, Yuri and I depended on one another for comfort, courage, and a shoulder to cry on. We had caring parents, but we went through things that they just didn't understand.” Yuki's eyes widened a bit, than resumed their original size as she continued.

 

“In school Eriko was picked on a lot, I guess it was because she corrected every mistake someone made in front of her, she even corrected the teacher in class. It got other kids to laugh at her and start rumors. Certain teachers began making it harder for her during terms and she was sometimes sent home…crying.” Yuri said, remembering the day for once her life, Eriko was red in the face, with tears running down her cheeks none stop and Sarah could do nothing for her since she couldn't even embrace her. “Soon, she began to sob less and less, talk less and less, than finally became quiet. Only till she needed to talk or eat she opened her mouth. But what started the greatest horrible rumor of her, was the fact that she was so cunning, and had nerves of steel. Whenever someone annoyed her, she made sure they regretted it. It's funny though…”

 

It reminds me how the Zodiac members were treated…like Kisa, and even Kyo…Yuki thought miserably.

 

“…how her timing on those things were great, and even than, we were close. But now, as time wears on, she's probably going to have to leave me, and Mother and Father and we'll probably never see her again…” Yuri said.

 

Why? Yuki wondered.

 

“Because, well…it's family matters really. Nothing you should get concerned about,” Yuri said. Yuki folded his arms and looked down at the ground as he walked. “But, ever since she fought with Kyo, it seemed that she awoke.”

 

“Awoke?” Yuki asked, suddenly re-interested.

 

“Yes, she's been silent and quick-tongued all her life, but as soon as she began shouting at Kyo and he shouted back, than her, it seems her heart has began to warm up again. It'll take a while for her emotional scars to heal and for her mind to catch up with life and live it's fullest. But maybe…” She'll be able to change, and not run away… Yuri thought. “…she'll someday get into a good relationship, and hopefully that boy will understand. But it's too soon for me to say.”

 

“I can see that you wish for the same thing too, for someone to understand your pain as well. I know not if you've gone through anything painful like your sister, but it's plain to see you want to be understood as well,” Yuki said with a gentle smile, she smiled back.

 

I have also noticed her smiles, Tohru must have too. They were…unusually bright and happy, could they have never have existed before we met? Yuki wondered as they turned into the woods on a trail.

 

“It's all done erm…Yuri?” Nakkou asked about an hour later, Yuri was no where to be seen. He had finished with the door and had walked into the kitchen where Shigure was still at.

 

“Oh, are you looking for Yuri-chan. Sorry to say she and Yuki left a while ago.” Shigure told the elderly man.

 

“Oh, is that so. Well I can't leave without saying good-bye to her, so might as well stay. And let's see, almost lunch…” Nakkou pointed out after looking at his watch.

 

“Oh splendid, I'll-”

 

“Not cook,” Eriko interrupted as she stepped into the room. Shigure sweat-dropped.

 

“That wasn't what I was going to say, I was really-” Shigure said.

 

“Than what were you going to say?” Eriko asked.

 

“Oh…erm…yeah, about lunch. Who wants to cook?” Shigure asked.

 

“I won't mind doing a family recipe, and besides, when Yuki and Yuri return they can have something to snack on.” Nakkou said.

 

“That would be great,” Shigure said.

 

“Oh, are you sure?” Tohru's voice asked she must have heard the offer from somewhere and decided to pop in.

 

Better hurry to my room before there's a full house… Eriko sighed as she left the room. But I wonder where Kyon is? Maybe I should do a bit of investigating, I highly doubt I'll get an answer from Shigure… (Shigure sketches a woman happily in the background)

 

“Hmmm…” His scent is leading out of the house, Eriko thought as she walked out of the house and shut the door behind her. She could hear the slight chatter from the kitchen. She sighed and followed the scent around the house till it started going up from the back. How? Oh…She spotted the ladder, it reeked of Kyo.

 

“Oh, so here you are…” Eriko said, peering over the roof and spotting Kyo laying down on a patch of bare roof with no snow on it. He freaked and nearly slid down the roof. “Why are you on the roof when there's snow on it?”

 

“WHO ASKED YOU!?!” Kyo shouted back.

 

“No one needs to ask me anything baka!” Eriko shouted back.

 

“DON'T CALL ME THAT SHOUJO!”

 

“Shut up Idiot,”

 

“WHY DON'T YOU!?!”

 

“I'm not the one making all the noise!”

 

“BE QUIET!”

 

“You would do a favor to the world if you can manage to calm down a little,” Eriko said.

 

“What would it matter?” Kyo asked stubbornly as he lay back down with his hands behind his head. Eriko hung onto the ladder.

 

“Whenever you disappear, are you always on the roof?” she asked.

 

“Yeah, so?”

 

“Just wondering Baka,” she looked at the ground from her height than shivered slightly. She hated heights just as much as running away.

 

“Why did you come up here for?” Kyo finally asked.

 

“Believe it or not, I was searching for you. Just curious where you go when you're not around.” She answered.

 

“Whatever,” Kyo growled.

 

“Everyone! Lunch is ready!!” They heard Shigure cry loudly from the kitchen. Eriko sighed and took a step down.

 

“Are you going already, I need to get down too to eat!” Kyo asked, waiting for her to get down enough for him to start climbing.

 

“Shut up!” she snapped, she tried not to look down and winced when she did. When she took another step down, Kyo noticed her fear, but refused to do anything about it.

 

“Any day now,” Kyo said, at this point Eriko was trying to hard to keep her fear bottled up to reply. “Are you scared of heights?” he asked when she took another step down. “Well, why did you climb up here? If you only knew you were going to get stuck, like a…kitten or a cat?”

 

“As if you care,” she said quickly. Taking another step down.

 

“Ya know, you can tell other people you're scared. I don't really follow my own advice much really I'll admit…” Kyo said, not facing her. She took another step down; her hands began to shake horribly.

 

“But I'm curious, you're so quiet…and sarcastic,” Reminds me too much about Hiro! Kyo growled mentally. “It's hard to tell if you're happy or even sad, being angry isn't any problem for you, proved that at our house.”

 

“So, if we're being honest than…” Eriko stuttered, enough to get Kyo's attention. When he looked at her, her eyes were shadowed, but she was trembling.

 

“Hey, do you err…want help?” Kyo asked out loud. She didn't move for a moment, than she looked up at him.

 

“If we're being honest than…” she repeated it looked like she pulled off her mask, now it looked scared and lost. “…I'm really scared,” she admitted quickly, before looking back down and taking another step. She never realized just how tall the first story was, and now, she regretted it.

 

“Well, erm…just take a few steps at a time and um…keep looking up, I don't care if you cry…” Kyo said, blushing slightly.

 

“You don't?” she asked, remembering the last tine she cried, no one understood enough to comfort her, Yuri and her parents tried, but they just didn't get it. Even though Yuri was cursed too, being the Fox had a heavier burden.

 

“No,” Kyo said back, with that, she did look up. “So, why are you always quiet?”

 

“I've had it…rough,” she answered, taking a step down.

 

“How rough?” Kyo asked.

 

“I don't feel like talking about it.” She said, taking another step.

 

“Don't blame ya, if you've even had half a bad life, than don't let it kill you.” Kyo stated as she took another step.

 

“Was your past hard?” Eriko asked, sounding more sympathetic.

 

“You could say that,” Kyo replied.

 

“Sorry,”

 

“What?” She's apologizing? All right, I'm freaked, Kyo thought.

 

“I'm sorry, I've been…a little harsh on you and your relations that I didn't even think about any of you, but instead more of myself and Yuri.” Eriko said.

 

“Don't worry about it, Shigure doesn't care at all what people say to him, Yuki just brushes it off, and Tohru, well, she likes whatever people say.” Kyo said.

 

“What about you?” she asked. Taking another step down, trembling less and less.

 

“Oh well, I don't tend to pay attention nowadays to what people say to me, except what Yuki says,” he answered.

 

“That's good,” I let everything everyone said to me get to me, and personally, I took every word to heart and my heart, began to freeze… “But thanks Kyo,” You reminded me how to speak up for myself, even if you don't know it, you've been helping me gain my old independence back, I couldn't ask anymore from people like you. But, I've been asking for too much already…

 

“Thanks? For what?” Kyo asked, Eriko hoped he didn't hear that.

 

“Well, um…ah!” As soon as she took another step, the wood beneath her for snapped and she lost her grip.

 

“WATCH OUT!” Kyo yelled as he lunged for her hand with his left, and as soon as he caught it, his right one gripped the side of the ladder than, he gently placed her on the ground and flipped and landed on the ground himself.

 

“You're quite the acrobat.” She complimented, the scene went too fast for her to see him leap off the roof for her, but she certainly saw his flip.

 

“Whatever,” he growled, forgetting the past subject completely. He finished brushing his pants off, than looked at her. His eyes widened, she was…smiling. So were her eyes, dancing with confidence and delight. “Hey, don't take anything seriously!”

 

“Why not?” she asked.

 

“Just…don't all right!” She's kind of cute when she smiles, but it's not like I'm going to admit that… Kyo thought.

 

“Kyo, can I ask you something?” she asked.

 

“What?”

 

“Where did you get that ladder? We don't have one,” Eriko asked, suddenly realizing that.

 

“Somewhere back there in the woods.” He answered.

 

“You idiot that was there for five years! No wonder it looked so unsafe!” Eriko shouted.

 

“THAN WHY DID YA CLIMB IT?”

 

“Guess we're the only one's eating,” Shigure said to Nakkou and Tohru as they listened to Eriko and Kyo arguing.

 

“I guess so,” Nakkou said as he began eating some noodles and octopus.