Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Musouka ~ Dare to Dream ❯ The Child that Wears a Collar ( Chapter 18 )

 

Kyo and Yuki stared at the Dog, with the almost greatest degree of hatred.

 

“You are truly a moron,” they stated as Shigure laughed.

 

“But I told you like you wanted me to!”

 

One of these days Shigure… Yuki thought.

 

One of these freakin' days I'll kick your ass! Kyo roared mentally.

 

“I'm home!” Tohru cried.

 

“Ah! Welcome home Tohru!”

 

“Nice one Moron and we said nothing for a whole damn hour!” Kyo roared.

 

“Am…I-I-I missing something?”

 

“Oh dear sweet Tohru! They're being mean!”

 

“Leave her alone!”

 

Tick…tock…tick…tock…tick…tock… ;

 

“Guess what? I met Yuri at the store,” Tohru announced as she started putting the food away, the boys behind her.

 

“Oh really? Was her mother with her? And how about Eriko?” Yuki asked.

 

“She was alone, her mother was working at home, her father was probably at work, and well, Eriko…she's at her Estate,” Tohru answered.

 

“Estate?” Yuki seemed to be the only one surprised by this information, and Kyo made sure he knew it.

 

“Yeah Estate ya damn Rat! She moved out and into it! That's why I was there!” Kyo shouted.

 

“Shut up you stupid Cat, I was not asking you.” Yuki stated.

 

“Than you were you asking sissy-boy?”

 

“No one in particular,”

 

“Oh really! Than anyone could answer you!”

 

“Morons hadn't do so,”

 

“You better be as sure as hell as not to be talking about me!” Kyo retorted, meanwhile, Tohru fingered the food in the bag and pulled out the steak, for some reason, something didn't feel right, Shigure saw the food too, and a surge of unease came to him.

 

“Yuki, Kyo!” Shigure said, the two went silent.

 

Tick…tock…tick…tock…tick…tock… ;

 

It had been an hour and Dikatou had Yuri stand outside as the police searched the house. It seemed the only thing disturbed was all in Eriko's room.

 

“We'll take it in for examination sir,” a cop told Dikatou as the men behind him carried the creature out to their cars. Yuri's face was in her knees with them drawn up to her chest and arms wrapped around them.

 

It was horrid, and she knew exactly what the voice meant. But why did it tell her? Why not Eriko?

 

Tick…tock…tick…tock…tick…tock… ;

 

“Yuri, your mother is on her way, but why don't you tell me what happened?” Dikatou asked.

 

“I just came h-home and n-no one was home and I-I felt a draft s-so I went upstairs….and…it w-was there…” Yuri said without moving. Dikatou got down on his knees and embraced his daughter. The Elephant was such a timid animal, yet even Dikatou had to question why she had to suffer so?

 

“Don't worry Yuri,”

 

“I'm all right, but D-Dad? What about Eriko?” Yuri asked, looking up at her father.

 

“We'll call the Estate and make sure she's all right.” Yuri felt somewhat relieved, but not at all completely. “I want you too to stay at the Estate…”

 

“What?”

 

“You heard me,” Dikatou said, “After that you would want to be with your sister more-”

 

“Cousin Dad…cousin…” she corrected, looking back down, he embraced her tighter.

 

“You don't have to go if you don't want to…”

 

As long as it will not bring that image to her eyes, I'll stay away from her… Yuri mumbled.

 

Tick…tock…tick…tock…tick…tock… ;

 

“Do you think it has something to do with Yuri?” Kyo wondered aloud.

 

“She's not telepathic, so how should she know?” Yuki asked.

 

“I was just sayin'!”

 

“Not right now you two, I'm calling up Dikatou right now, if it has anything to do with Yuri he'll tell us.” Shigure said as he put the phone to his ear.

 

Tick…tock…tick…tock…tick…tock… ;

 

“Hello?” Dikatou asked. “Sorry it took a while to get to the phone, I'm having some difficulties.”

 

“Konnichiwa Dikatou-san,” Shigure greeted, “No problem, I just called to see how you're family is doing is all.”

 

“Oh well, that'll be hard to answer.”

 

“How come?”

 

“Because I don't know how to answer.”

 

“…”

 

“Is Yuri all right?” Shigure asked.

 

“How did you find out already?” Dikatou asked out of sudden surprise.

 

“You mean something happened?”

 

“Yeah, Yuri came home from the store and found a-” Dikatou explained the situation to Shigure, the Rat, Cat, and Onigiri watched him pale slightly at every moment of being on the phone. His hands began to shake slightly, and Shigure's eyes closed seemly calmly.

 

“All right, is there anything we can do?” Shigure asked, his voice tone strangely out of place. Once happy and out-going, now seemly petrified and anxious. “Are you sure? What about Eriko? And Noami? Do they know about this yet?”

 

“No,”

 

“Is there anything I can do? Any of us?” Shigure asked. “Yes, I think that is necessary, but I might have to ask the Head of out family first…”

 

Tick…tock…tick…tock…tick…tock… ;

 

“If you can do it, please contact me at once,” Dikatou said, “Good bye Sohma-san.” Shigure waited for a few moments after the hang-up before putting down the receiver himself. He stood there for a moment, trembling.

 

“Shigure? Are you all right?” Tohru asked.

 

“Yeah, and what happened?” Kyo asked.

 

“It seems that I need to visit Akito tonight,” Shigure muttered.

 

“Don't ignore me damnit! Answer me!” Kyo shouted, Shigure turned around and they immediately winced. He looked chilled to the bone, either from fright or sadness they weren't sure, but he looked too serious for comfort.

 

“I'll tell you than,” Shigure said in a dull tone, Tohru quickly sat down, sensing her guardian's low esteem at the moment. As soon as he sat down, they noticed his breathing was labored. “It seems that Eriko-chan will be living here for a while if we have Akito's approval.”

 

“Why?” Kyo asked. Shigure sighed deeply, closed his eyes in thought than reopened them.

 

“When Yuri came home today, she found…”

 

“What!”

 

Tick…tock…tick…tock…tick…tock… ;

 

“A dead fox Kyo, it was greatly severed from head to toe, Eriko's room was drenched in its blood and fur and it was unfortunate for Yuri to have first discovered it, if discovered it at all. Her mother had gone to school to pick up things so she was alone at the time. She refused to leave home I'm afraid, but Dikatou has insisted on having Eriko live here for a short period of time, probably till the end of school terms. You three wouldn't mind would you?” Shigure asked.

 

“We wouldn't mind at all,” Tohru answered.

 

“But why would they want Eriko to live here instead of Yuri, she's the one that saw the bloody thing!” Kyo growled.

 

“Yes, why do they want Eriko living here if it probably traumatizes Yuri much more, since she is the one who saw it after all?” Yuki asked.

 

“Because…” To protect her… Shigure thought. “Eriko does not want to continue living at the Estate and wishes to return home, so Dikatou insisted that she lives with us.” Yuki eyed him suspiciously; he was not a good liar.

 

“Whatever, when is she arriving?” Kyo asked.

 

“As soon as Akito accepts the offer, and if he does, than she will be arriving by tomorrow.” Shigure said as he got up and walked out of the room. Kyo grunted than walked out as well, Tohru and Yuki looked at one another, than she went back to the kitchen to resume putting away the groceries. Yuki hung his head for a moment, deep in thought. Than he went after Shigure.

 

Shigure was already in his suit by the time Yuki reached his room and was heading towards the door with a jacket when Yuki came up to him.

 

“You were lying,” Yuki stated, Shigure sighed again and turned towards his younger cousin.

 

“Sorry Yuki, but I can't tell you the truth just yet. Take care of the house while I'm gone.” Shigure said seriously as he put his shoes on and left. Yuki's gaze softened, why was Shigure doing this? With everything people trust him with, you would think he would trust people with his own secrets.

 

As much as I gate to admit it, Yuki thought, But he better get back to himself or I might just start thinking that pigs can flying…

 

Tick…tock…tick…tock…tick…tock… ;

 

Eriko sighed as she placed her head on her pillow; Ginry was snuggled up under her chin. Ever since Kyo left Ginry focused most of her young energy on Eriko and Aikoko seemed fine with it. Her black locks sprawled out on the silky fabric and glistened from the moon's light that streamed through the window. It was still a bit chilly outside, but she would live.

 

If I wouldn't know better I would think there's a fox behind me… she thought as she bit her bottom lip. She went back to the Kitsune no Hon and became annoyed greatly when she discovered most of The Cat pages blank, which was quite odd. And not only were they blank, several other pages were blank. They couldn't have been extra sheets…

 

“Mistress Fox…” Eriko looked up, it was the vixen that visited her over a week ago.

 

“What are you doing here?” she asked. The vixen sat on her hutches, it was really bothering her to how she crept in without her knowing except her gut.

 

“It is nearly time…” she said in the silky feminine voice that smoothed out words as she spoke like it was valuable poetry. “Fate is angered and is ready to take you deeper in its mists…”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

Tick…tock…tick…tock…tick…tock… ;

 

“Time shan't stop for the innocent nor caring Mistress Fox, I suggest you find him that's dearest to the Cat's heart…he will tell you…” the vixen said, ignoring her question.

 

“I'm not going to beg for English answers you know!” Eriko growled, the fox seemed to smirk lightly as she than turned tail.

 

“Time shan't stop for those before, it won't stop for you Mistress Fox…do spend your time wisely, as your time is growing thin…” the vixen said before her body was swallowed by the darkness.

 

“Remember dear, you both suffer in such a similar way, it won't be such a surprise if you don't run away.” The fox said, her voice seemed to linger in Eriko's thinking space. As much as she liked riddles, she hated how they were too tricky for her.

 

Tick…tock…tick…tock…tick…tock… ;

 

“Eriko?” Eriko's eyes shot wide open, it was her, it sounds so familiar! Why couldn't she remember? “Go to him! He'll tell you what you want!”

 

“Who?”

 

“The one dearest to the Cat's heart!”

 

But how could she know who that was if she didn't know who the Cat was?

 

“The one who holds you close…even when you are gone…” Maybe what she was trying to say was that, she had a true guardian after all…

 

Tick…tock…tick…tock…tick…tock… ;

 

“So, what's so interesting about this girl? Eriko Sanotomono was it?” Akito asked as he stared up at the dove on his index finger. He sat on his futon with the kimono sliding off his shoulder on his left. Shigure sat before him, with Hatori nearby.

 

“She's in need of our help Akito,” Shigure stated firmly.

 

“Yet you wish to help her, what help does she acquire Shigure?” Akito asked.

 

“Constant supervision, and friends.” Shigure answered.

 

“Why?”

 

“She is undergoing something that is traumatizing her life Akito, she needs help that only we can offer, and her family agrees. Even Mei,” Shigure explained, Akito frowned as the dove flew from his finger, Akito's eyes laid upon the Dog's orbs.

 

“Mei Sanotomono? We have never met, maybe we should be aquatinted before I have one of her relatives live among us.” Akito suggested.

 

“They have lived with us before Akito,” Shigure said.

 

“But that was for a week, or are you talking about the younger years?” Akito asked.

 

“Both Akito,” Shigure answered. “And if you allow her to live with us, I will somehow have Sanotomono-san meet with you.”

 

“Mei Sanotomono? Or another representative?” Akito asked.

 

“Mei cannot speak for herself, she is a mute and at the same age as you Akito. You must give her some credit for taking care of her whole family for this long.” Shigure stated.

 

Tick…tock…tick…tock…tick…tock… ;

 

“I can give her that much, but I do wish to meet whomever will come over from their Estate.” Akito demanded, “Than I shall have Eriko live with us.”

 

“If that is all Akito, than I am truly grateful. Hatori and I will try to talk them into it,” Shigure said as he than got up along with Hatori and left the room. Akito grinned as another dove came and landed on his shoulder. “Kureno!”

 

“Yes Akito-san?” Kureno asked as he appeared at the door.

 

“Help Shigure and Hatori transport the Sanotomono representative when they date it, and do some research on this Eriko Sanotomono.” Akito demanded.

 

“As you wish,” and with that, Kureno shut the door.

 

“Eriko Sanotomono…interesting…” Akito thought, his grin becoming wider. “The Child that Wears a Collar…”