Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Musouka ~ Dare to Dream ❯ Inner Demons of the Soul ( Chapter 12 )

Chapter Twelve

 

A child's life is like a piece of paper on which every passerby leaves a mark.

 

Sanotomono Proverb - Year 1824

 

The Tiger

 

Inner Demons of the Soul

 

“Hello! Kyo! It's time to go home!” Momiji called from the other side of the door. It must have been four hours sleeping in bed after Eriko suggested he got some rest. Now they both through daggers at the door, both thinking `How the hell did he figure out he (or I) was here?' “We can't stay here forever! We have New Years Eve in a few days!”

 

“I'm coming ya little runt!” Kyo hissed as he got up and stretched, it seemed that the rest suggestion did do him some good. He felt good already.

 

“See you later than…” he heard Eriko mumble as he opened the door.

 

“See ya,” he replied as he than closed the door.

 

It was till the day after the Sohmas left that it came to Eriko's attention that she didn't read the entire book nor read the journal. She grabbed the book and this time, decided to read some of The Cat chapter. She flipped the pages till they landed on the beginning of the chapter, there; her eyes began to scan, over and over again.

 

Those who know the tale of the Chinese Zodiac know full well that the Cat was the outcast, due to the Rat's trickery had it been fated to suffer generation after generation within a cursed family that related to most of the animals of the Zodiac, or so the prophecy had said-

 

“Eriko! We're going to go out to eat, wanna come?” Yuri asked from the other side of the door. Eriko sighed; it didn't seem she would get any peace here anyway.

Tokyo Crane

 

“How long is it suppose to take just to get our food?” Eriko whined quietly as she stared at the table's surface mindlessly. She sat next to Yuri and their parents sat across from them at the low table with their legs folded beneath them.

 

Inside of the Tokyo Crane were velvet walls with beautiful white Kanji written side-ways, up and down, and so on. There were some raccoons and dragons painted on it as well. But each dining room (each large enough to fit ten people) ran up and down a long hallway that made a square, thus a square-like building with a courtyard right in the middle that often had birds of every shape and size in it during the summer and spring. A beady curtain separated them from the hallways instead of shoji doors.

 

“Stop whining Imooto,” Yuri teased.

 

“Watch it,” Eriko hissed.

 

“Sorry about the wait,” they looked up. Yuri and Eriko exchanged puzzled expressions; it was the Zebra - Riku Sanotomono. He was a man around his early twenties with jet black, straight hair running down to his waist, the strangest part of it was that it had two white streaks run down on the hair near the face. He was fit and trim and stood around about a good 5'9” height. His eyes were a narrow shape of the color teal and he also wore a blank expression, he had that on a lot. Of course, it depends on whose face it is…

 

“How are you doing Riku?” Dikatou greeted. Riku only nodded. He worked as a waiter in the Tokyo Crane, but in the college he's in he's studying to be a botanist. Riku was a quiet man, but he has this odd love for plants and if anyone thought of stopping by his home, they would think they were in an enchanted forest of some sort.

 

“So how are you're studies going?” Sarah asked as he placed their food down. Eriko and Yuri began devouring the food instantly, thinking nothing of Riku still standing there. His teal eyes landed upon them and Sarah and Dikatou prepared for it.

 

“What do you think you're doing?” Riku asked, his voice somewhat deeper and his face suddenly dark. His pupils went small and were hardly visible. Sarah and Dikatou grabbed their bowls and sticks and jumped back from the table as Riku slammed both hands flat down on the table, not giving enough force to break the table of course. It was than that two more white strands flowed down next to the first ones.

 

“Don't you two have anymanners? This is a public restaurant for those who know how to sit and eat properly. Don't you think about the consequences that if you continue to slouch you'll become an old hump-backed old hag or a messy witch that can't seem to keep noodles out of her hair and be mistaken as Medusa? And with all these younger kids around I suggest both of you show a good example and straighten up before I do it for you.” Riku muttered dangerously.

 

“Konnichiwa Rikuyami,” Yuri said ever so politely with a bright smile. His face didn't falter for a moment, than his eyes flickered, replacing the nearly pupil-less orbs into bright and hyper and nearly blazing black eyes. His two streaks took control of the whole front side of his hair while the back remained black.

 

“Hiya Yuri-chan!” he cried happily, Eriko's form stilled when the end of her chopsticks entered her mouth and her eyes were replaced by dots. It was Rikugenki, within Riku's mind were four different souls, Rikuyami (Dark Cloud), Rikugenki (Happy Cloud), and Rikuhikari (Light Cloud) and of course Riku Sanotomono. Whenever one shows impoliteness or something inappropriate Riku shifts into Rikuyami, whom takes care of any disgraceful manner. Than there's Rikugenki, an extremely hyper (and ultra creepy) side of Riku where when Rikuyami encounters a sweet demeanor (a.k.a. Yuri's politeness and smile) he turns into Rikugenki. Last was Rikuhikari, the sweet and lovable soul that can give the most inspiration and the brotherly part of Riku, he shifts into his hikari when Rikugenki has to apologize for something. In shorter words, Riku has multiple personalities.

 

“Last night I was walking home (he was an all Japanese native so he knows nothing of Christmas Eve) and I came across this milk carton and you know how Yami-kun scolds me he means it so I picked it up and had to carry to all the way home in the dark! It was a good thing it was completely empty but by the time I got it into the recycling I was tired so I had to stay up nearly half the night putting away some of my groceries than do my laundry-” Rikugenki's meaningless stories could go on and on and on if no one stopped him. It surprised even Eriko how he hadn't transformed and hadn't even knocked something over yet.

 

Suppose he'll be more careful this time- Tap! She stared at thefallen chopstick that was once in Yuri's hand, she spotted Rikugenki staring at it with the expression that he killed someone.

 

“OH NO! OF DEAR LORD OF THE HEAVENS DID I MAKE YOU DROP IT! I AM EVER SO SORRY!” His hair went white completely, leaving behind two black strands at the front of his face. His pupils minimized to a common size and his body sat politely at the table next to Yuri, while Eriko, whom was on her other sister's side, continued to eat her ramen.

 

“Greetings everyone, I hope everyone is well,” Rikuhikari simply said with a smile. Sarah and Dikatou found it safe and crawled back to the table.

 

“We hope the same for you Riku,” Eriko replied sarcastically as she finished her ramen and began collecting some fish on a plate.

 

“Do you mean my `friends' have been causing havoc again?” Rikuhikari asked, Eriko left the question to Yuri as she plucked an orange slice from the tray.

 

“Oh no no no no no no no no! We were all actually having quite a… … fun time… …” Yuri said uncertainly. Making Rikuhikari's left brow rise into his split white bangs.

 

“Honestly? Than it must have been you that had Yami-san transform into Genki-kun, and well…” the hikari looked down at the floor, expecting to see a reason to why his genki side would start apologizing. The chop-stick was all he needed for his answered. “That answers that, but why was Yami-san summoned in the first place?” he looked from one girl to the other.

 

“There was a horse running up and down the hallway,” Eriko answered. In a flash, Rikuhikari was at the doorway.

 

“I shall end the chaos at once!” he shouted as he separated the curtain, his hair flashing back to having to be completely black except for the single white strands at the side of each of the sides of his face, Riku returned. The hikari transformed only when he announced that he would help in some way, leaving the havoc to clueless Riku.

 

“Only one problem Zebra, you're it. Now get back to work,” Eriko said, it was than that several cries from impatient and hungry guests came to their room. The still form of Riku was still standing in the frame, sweat-dropping. In a flash, he was gone and moving back and fourth between rooms to catch up with his schedule.

 

“I suppose that means his studies are going great I suppose,” Sarah said as they watched Riku whiz by their room again with a tray full of chopped trout.

 

“I've never been so stuffed!” Yuri said happily as they climbed into the car. Dikatou started up the engine and they were on the road within minutes.

 

“Good, that means we don't have to stop for dessert,” Dikatou laughed as the three moaned in response.

 

“But if you wouldn't mind, could we stop at the school? I need to get some things I just now remembered.” Sarah asked.

 

“What kind of things?” Yuri asked.

 

“There's a new kid enrolling and I need his documents to get him set up, you two wouldn't mind would you?” Sarah asked.

 

“Don't care,” Eriko mumbled as she continued to stare outside the car.

 

It was near eight when they arrived at the school, while Sarah and Dikatou ran into the building to fetch the stuff, Yuri was sound asleep in the back seat next to Eriko, whom couldn't believe her own sister went to asleep within fifteen minutes! Eriko growled as she opened the door and closed it behind her as she got out for some fresh air.

 

“Get away from me!” Eriko turned to her right, everything was dark and seemly silent, but her ears never lied and she heard a cry of agony following the distressed cry. She followed the whimpering to the side of the school, a good distance out of earshot from the front. Eriko than peered to her right and her eyes widened. There were two figures, one small one tall. She could tell the smaller one was a girl, around ten, the other was a boy that could have been her age.

 

Even though it was night, Eriko's nocturnal eyes caught the boy's hair, a wavy black back in a ponytail and messy bangs. His eyes shone of vivid and crazed green and his smile was wicked. The girl had brown hair back in a pink ribbon and trimmed bangs right above her eyebrows. Her eyes as well, were a wavering flame of soft pastel blue, terrified of the boy in front of her.

 

“GET AWAY FROM HER YOU BASTARD!” Eriko cried as she ran out at a fast speed and caught him in the cheek with a strong punch. His body went along with his head and into the ground four feet away. He was still, than he started to shake…from laughter.

 

“Quite a gutsy one ain't cha?” the boy laughed as he sat up, than stood up. The girl cried and ran behind Eriko, clutching her shirt.

 

“Not one yourself, picking on a young girl, not even the most temperamental and quick-tongued people would think about doing that,” she said, normally she spoke out of herself, but now the words just tumbled out of her mouth as flashes of Kyo, Yuki, Tohru, Shigure, Momiji, Hatori, and Haru zoomed past her eyes. “Now why don't you be a good boy and apologize than run home,” she felt the girl's hand tighten, than that's when it came to her, the stench of life; blood.

 

“Kami…” Eriko yelped as she looked to her right and spotted the source, a bundle of skin, bone, a torn dress, and blood.

 

“I had a bit of fun with her before you arrived, unfortunately, the kid saw the whole thing.” The boy laughed as he flipped his pocketknife out and revealed a steak knife. Eriko's gaze hardened, he tortured her, ripped, sliced, and cut her, made her scream in front of her own child!

 

“You stinkin' bastard,” she hissed, her eyes narrowing and her eyes flashed a deadly azure. The boy laughed insanely as he watched the girl cry into Eriko's back, shaking violently. “I'll kill you!” Eriko charged at the boy, the jerking moment made the girl lose her grasp and had her fall to the ground, crying.

 

“I would like to see you try!” the boy laughed, she stopped.

 

I almost let myself do that… Eriko thought with utter amazement and fear, her eyes widened to the point of possibly bulging from their sockets. …but was that the urge… The boy laughed and went running towards her. Her head was lowered, and her arms were at her side.

 

…of running away? No! It couldn't have been! Eriko cried as she lifted her head out of the shadows, her eyes narrowed and her eyes flashed again of pure azure. The boy jumped than went down, having his pocketknife and steak knife lowering. It couldn't be! I can't run away! I won't! Her hair began to bristle and her ears began to sharpen.

 

I can't because… Her mouth widened, revealing fangs, her nails began to sharpen, and her hair went in every direction. The boy's expression went to pure confusion as he brought his knives back and jumped away from the girl. A black tail began to form and her ears went up to the top of her head and turned black and reached for the sky. Her eyes glowed white than blue, and in a flash, she was a human with fox characteristics.

 

She had longer black hair sailing down her back with slick black fox ears, a long fluffy black tail, claws, and fangs sticking out from her upper jaw. Her eyes were narrow, and her orbs were azure, with no pupils. She smirked.

 

“What a-are you?” the boy asked, stepping away from the girl. She sneered again.

 

I can't because…

 

“Your demise,” she cackled. A high scream rang through the air, waking Yuri and having Sarah, Dikatou, and the janitor run out of the school.

 

“Yuri! Where's your sister?” Sarah asked as Dikatou and the janitor, Mr. Ying went to run to the side of the school.

 

What have I done…? Eriko wondered as she stared down at the bloody corpse of the boy, she peered down at her clawed hands, blood trickled down her arm. She had lunged her whole right arm right through the boy's chest and grabbed his heart. The heart was on the ground near him, still beating next to its formal owner.

 

Did I do this…? She thought, she looked back at her tail. Forget that! What in the world am I?

 

“Who's out there?” it was Dikatou.

 

Dad! She cried mentally, than she looked down at the collapsed girl. The fall she took must have sent her into unconsciousness. I'm sorry kid…but I can't let my dad see like this…

 

Than she turned to leave and began racing through the woods.

 

…or anyone else for that matter…

 

“Oh dear lord!” Mr. Ying cried as he and Dikatou raced to the bodies.

 

“SARAH! CALL 911!” Dikatou shouted to his wife.

 

“The girl's still alive, but the other two are sure goners,” Mr. Ying said as he checked each of their pulses (he didn't need to for the boy).

 

“Dad!”

 

“Yuri! Stay where you are!” Dikatou ordered. Yuri did as she was told, thus, didn't see the bodies.

 

“But Dad! Eriko isn't here!” Yuri shouted.

 

“You're kidding me! Eriko! Eriko!” Dikatou shouted out into the air. But to no avail, to him, Eriko was his second and beloved daughter. To Yuri, she was a sly and lovable (in a way) sister. To Sarah, an independent and desired daughter. To Kyo, a self-centered, yet beautiful and attracting `friend'. But to her, a beast with no reason to run, but a beast with a reason to hide.