Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Phoenix Tears ❯ Prologue ( Prologue )

Tucking her small child in, Kyoko laid down on the futon next to Tohru. "Do you want me to tell you the story of the Chinese Zodiac?"

"Aa, onegai Kaasan!" she exclaimed excitedly.

"Alright then…

"Once upon a time, God told the animals, 'I'm inviting everybody here to my banquet tomorrow. Don't be late!' and requested that the Rat tell his friend the Cat, who was not present, and extend God's invitation to the feline. Hearing this, the Rat lied and told his friend that the banquet was the day after tomorrow. 'Thank you so much,' the Cat said, and went on his way, ecstatic about being invited. The next day, the animals raced to the banquet, each eager to be the first. The tiny Rat rode upon the back of the Ox, and arrived first. The Ox came second, and then the Tiger, and the Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and last of all, the Boar. They all came and were added into the Zodiac…all except for the Cat, who had been tricked." A small sniffle attracted Kyoko's attention. "Why are you crying, Tohru?"

"Poor thing! Poor, poor, poor Cat…" she cried. "I know! I'll stop being a Dog and be a Cat!"

"Whatever. I'm tired," Kyoko yawned. "I'm going to go to bed. Oyasumi, sweetie."

"Good night Kaasan!" What Tohru didn't know was that Kyoko had left out a portion of the story, figuring that since Tohru had gotten so worked up over the Cat, it would be best not to tell her of the Phoenix.

And the Dragon, angry at the Phoenix's lead in the Zodiac race, killed his best friend in a fury. Grieving and regretting the loss, the Dragon fell behind, and the noble, most revered beast placed fifth to the banquet. The Phoenix was reborn from its ashes and took the form of a woman. Doomed to die in flames, just as the Dragon…was doomed to sorrow…

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"Suman, Sohma-san, I'm late."

"Your desk is over there," he said curtly, gesturing to the small corner opposite his own. "There's some paperwork there I'd like you to file." She placed her bag over by the desk and turned to the man.

"My name is Sohma Hitori," she said, bowing. "I have not had the pleasure of hearing your name, nor my job description. I was only sent here by Shigure-san on Akito-sama's orders."

"Sohma Hatori." Odd, how their names were almost completely the same. "Before I answer your second question, tell me…Toshi wa okutsu desu ka?"

"I'm fifteen years old, sir."

"Then you won't be of much use to me as a nurse, but I can use you as a secretary, as well as a companion to Akito." Hitori winced inwardly, though her face, like Hatori's, remained set in stony calmness. She had heard of Akito's rather violent temper, and didn't think her tendency to use candor when speaking would help much. "How soon can you start work?"

"May I ask one more question first, sir?"

"Hai."

"Must I live in the Honke? Is there anyone outside I could live with?" She sighed. "I don't much like the atmosphere here. It's too quiet." 'Almost eerily so…'

Hatori debated. Living with Ayame was out of the question. The girl was too pretty to avoid being a model for him, and her soft ways might be agitated by and suffer under Ayame's flamboyant personality. That only left one person…and Hatori was even hesitant about Hitori living with him.

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This is my first shot at a Fruits Basket fanfic, so please be nice. PLEASE? I've tried to stay with YuYu Hakusho fics up until now, but I wanted to try something new. If I make any mistakes, please point them out to me, but refrain from flaming me.