Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Nace Para Morir ❯ Nace Para Morir ( One-Shot )

Nace Para Morir

By, Jamie1317kast

 

Down the line of tombstones, a lonely man reflects on times long past. The echo of children's laughter reminds him that his life once had color, instead of black and white sorrow. (Spoilers about Akito)

 

Disclaimer: Fruits Basket is copyrighted to Natsuki Takaya, not me. The poem ' Nevermore' belongs to Edgar Allen Poe. And the song Shigure sings does not belong to me (it's the ending theme to the ROTK) and the ' white shores' line belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien.

 

Rated PG-13

 

Nace Para Morir:

 

Sohma Estate, 2051.

 

 

The world was black and white, like an old movie, flickering with age and sorrow. For one man, at least, color no longer existed.

A harsh wind whipped through the gentle valley, stirring the birds from their nests. Birds, she had always loved birds. But she wasn't here anymore to hear them singing love songs to one another.

The heavy gates of Sohma House swung open to admit him, creaking with age. He knew they'd have to be replaced soon. Once inside the gates, they shut behind him loudly like a death toll.

Not that death wouldn't be welcome; he was weary of the world.

 

Shigure slowly led himself through the Main House grounds. His tired, dull eyes turned to watch the Sohma children play in their gardens. He passed the Dragon's House, and nearly expected to see Hatori in the office window. But, Shigure knew he would not see his dear friend, no matter how hard or long he looked. Hatori was dead. So were Ayame, Yuki, Kyo, and so many others.

It grieved Shigure to know that the family he had grown up with was gone. Gone, they were all gone.

Nevermore.

 

Nevermore past a curtain of mist. Nevermore beyond the white shores and green hills.

Nevermore to live, nevermore to die.

Nevermore.

 

He walked and walked until he reached the Sohma graveyard. The trees bare for winter; Shigure wrapped his black kimono tighter around his wiry frame. The grey world in front of his eyes held no joy, no color, and no happiness. He saw things as Dogs should see them; in black and white.

He had seen in color once. Once, when she was alive. When she was alive, there had been no end to the colors splashed across nature's luscious canvas. But after she had passed away, the colors faded.

Walking among the gravestones, Shigure dug deep into his memories, pulling up images of her. Her, his one and only Dios.

 

Sohma Estate, 1986.

 

Hace calor. It was a warm, spring day that Shigure remembered. Sweet children's laughter, like bells, caught his attention. His dull eyes widened as the colorful memory spread out before him in a burst of greens and blues. Memory-children ran in front of him, laughing gaily.

" Catch me, catch me!" His younger self cried, twisting away from her tiny grasp.

" No fair!" Akito yelled after him, " You're too fast!"

" Well, of course I am." Chibi-Shigure replied, " After all, I have four legs, and you only have two."

Akito pouted beautifully, unaware of her own irresistible cuteness. Her lower lip stuck out playfully, and Chibi-Shigure couldn't resist kissing her on the nose before skipping away again.

 

Sohma Estate, 1991.

 

A 21-year-old Shigure walked quietly through the halls of the Main House, toward Akito's room. He'd been away for awhile at college, but had decided to make a surprise visit to Akito.

As he reached the sliding doors outside of Akito's bedroom, he thought he heard noises. Thinking immediately that Akito was in trouble, or in need of Hatori, he threw open the door.

The stench of sex hit him like a slap in the face. He blanched at the strong smell, his dog senses overpowering his human ones.

He forced himself to look, to see.

Akito having sex.. W-with him!

The fury blazed in Shigure's eyes at the sight before him. Then, quickly composing himself, he put on his stupidest grin.

" Sorry for barging in like that, Akito-sama." Using the honorific as a slap in Akito's face for betraying him. " I just thought, you know, with how loud you were being, that you were sick again. But! I guess I was wrong. See ya."

He turned, and ran.

 

Sohma Estate, 2009.

 

Hatori led Shigure swiftly through the labyrinth of hallways that led to Akito's rooms. No words passed between the two men, but then again, no words were needed. Akito had been very sick the past week, more than usual, and Hatori had judged that Akito's time on Earth was coming to a close.

Akito was dying.

This meant, as far as Shigure was concerned, that he had failed in his duty to protect her from that horrible fate.

And he hated himself for failing her.

Shigure sat by Akito's bedside, fiercely refusing to let anybody near her except Hatori. He guarded her, day in and day out.

They talked often, between Akito's coughing fits. Now, she turned to him, eyes shining with pain. " Sh-Shigure..?"

" Hai, Akito?" He whispered to her, his arms holding her.

" I-I love you." Her soft voice stirred a choking emotion in his heart.

" I love you, too, my sweet Akito." He nuzzled her hair.

" Will you sing me a song?" She asked sleepily.

" Of course." He replied.

 

Lay down, your sweet and weary head,

Night is falling, you've come to journey's end.

Sleep now, and dream of the ones who came before,

They are calling, from across the distant shore.

 

Why do you weep?

What are these tears upon your face?

Soon you will see,

All of your fear will pass away,

Safe in my arms.

You're only sleeping,

What can you see?

 

On the horizon, why do the white gulls call?

Across the sea, a pale moon rises.

The ships have come to carry you home,

And all will turn, to silver glass,

A light on the water, all souls pass…

 

Hope fades, into the world of night,

With shadows calling, out of memory and time.

Don't say, we have come now to the end,

White shores are calling, you and I will meet again.

 

And you'll be here in my arms,

You're only sleeping.

What can you see?

 

On the horizon, why do the white gulls call?

Across the sea, a pale moon rises.

The ships have come to carry you home,

And all will turn, to silver glass,

A light on the water,

 

Grey ships pass, into the West…

 

When Shigure had awoken, Akito was dead.

He'd cried, he didn't remember much after that.

Only that, the colors started to fade, and bleed out.

Until he was left with only white, and black, and a million shades of grey.

 

Sohma Estate, 2051.

 

Present day Shigure stopped in front of Akito's grave. His dull eyes misted over with tears as he knelt to pay his respects. He gently kissed the cold stone, his tears making dark lines on the white granite.

He read again the inscription he had wanted carved into the stone, Nace Para Morir, Born To Die.