Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Prophecies ❯ The beginning of the end. ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: Don’t own it. Don’t want it. Too much responsibility.

Author’s notes: Hey, it’s Lilghost, back from a long absence and moved on from Gravi to Furuba. For anyone that comes to this after reading my other stories, I want to warn you that this one is completely different from those, and a more long and drawn out one. You may call this my fanfiction ’magnum opus’ in a way. Well, that’s all I wanted to say, and also, don’t worry, you aren’t supposed to like Akane.

  Prophecies  

Yuki could never say he wanted to die. It wasn’t true. He left Sohma house with every intention of living a full life, and to this day that is what he does. He lives.

Kyo could never say he wanted to live the life he was given. To die was welcome, but to live was his prerogative. He wanted to get into Sohma house to prove that he lived. And he lives.

Tohru could never say that she ever wanted anyone dead. No matter the pain she was inflicted with, she loved all and treated all with respect. Even Akito whom would happily see her dead, she wishes life and loves. She loves.

Hatori never wanted to love. He never wanted to heartache. Loving involves hurt and trial, and he didn’t need the addition to his double life as a doctor and zodiac member. Then came Kana, and there was nothing he wanted more than to love her. And her he does love.

Shigure loves all and is selfless beyond even Tohru herself. He has no qualm with Akito, not truly, his friends and family live at the main house, and he is often very lonely, yet he lives apart from all he knows to give the younger ones a safe house, a refuge. And he hears no thanks, the very flourishing of the children is his thanks. He is the caretaker. And he cares.

Akito could never say he wanted to die. It wasn’t true. He lived every day of his life in fear of the day that the sickness would be too much, and he takes this fear out on the ones that live because of his death. He is a forced savior. And he saves. And he dies.

None could predict the coming of the end of the curse. None could predict what it would take: the lives, the loves, the intermingled relations and sordid tragedy. The amount of secrets that must be kept.

For in China there are many legends that fall in line with the Zodiac legends. Yin and yang, 28 constellations, everything in balance, this is the way of the zodiac.

For one curse to be broken, all prophecies must be fulfilled.

And they will.

Tohru was cleaning. Of course. Kyo was practicing martial arts, and Yuki was studying. Shigure sat in his living room, waiting for something to happen. Anything. It was too quiet. As always when it is too quiet, there was a knock on the door. He rose and went to answer it, and to his surprise, it was someone he knew quite well. Quite well indeed

“Akane?” he asked softly. The woman looked up at him. She had long black hair and expressive gray eyes, and looked a couple of years younger than Shigure.

“Shigure-san. Pleased to see you again. Would you let me in now?” she asked him, hand on her hip. She wore a black sundress with big yellow daisies on it.

“Of course. I must say, this is a pleasant surprise...” he said, moving to the side and leading her into the living room as Yuki walked down the stairs. He stopped upon sight of the visitor.

“Akane-sama....” he breathed, not able to keep going.

“Yuki-san, you are looking well. The woman who lives here now, she is treating you well?” she asked him, smiling sweetly. But anyone that knew the Sohmas knew that it was the Sohma smile. Yuki nodded, walking the rest of the way down the stairs.

“Yes. Miss Honda treats me very well.” he stopped in front of her. Shigure gulped. Yuki embraced her quickly. “Why were you away so long, Akane?”

“Akito only just let me return.” she said, turning to Shigure. “I missed you, love.” she said to him. He flushed.

“I missed you too, of course. Oh, but you must meet Tohru. TOHRU!” he shouted happily, and Tohru came into the room, smiling.

“Yes Shigure? Ah!” she noticed the newcomer. “We have a guest? Pleased to meet you, I am Tohru Honda.” Tohru bowed.

“Akane Sohma.” she said to Tohru, bowing lower than Tohru. The questions started in Tohru’s mind. Could she be a member of the zodiac? There were some left... the cock and the horse. “Before you ask, no I am not a member of the Zodiac, but yes, I am cursed, and no, I do not feel up to talking about it. Shigure, is the bath drawn? Because I need one. And a bed, and maybe a newspaper.” she said, walking towards the bathroom as Kyo walked in.

“Hey, was that Akane? Haven’t seen her in awhile.” he said, flopping down on the floor in front of the TV. “What’s for dinner?”

“Why was she so short with me?” Tohru asked Yuki. Yuki smiled kindly at her.

“Akane is... not all that used to people. She has been on a very, very long trip and is glad to be home. She just... isn’t ready to talk about herself. It’s all very complicated.”

“Home? Does she live here?” Tohru asked Yuki. Shigure stepped in.

“Tohru, is that something burning I smell?” he asked her. Tohru ran off in a hurry to ‘catch the rice!’ Yuki looked up at the blushing Shigure.

“You have to tell her sometime, you know.” Yuki said to him. Shigure nodded.

“Of course. But now isn’t the time. I’m going to go make my bed up for Akane-chan, excuse me.” he said as he walked towards his door.

Hatori was delivering a baby. He did this without a female assistant rarely, if he ‘caught’ a girl he could very well transform, and no stressed new parent needs that. The mother was very stressed in this instant, it had been twins, and one of them was dead. The second was coming out quickly, and Hatori was getting worried. The baby shot out into Hatori’s arms, and he looked down and saw that the gender was female. And yet he did not change. This did not bode well. The mother lay in tears on the bed, upset over her baby.

“Hatori-sama... my baby... a boy?” she asked, noticing that Hatori was able to hold it in his arms. Hatori shook his head and set to cutting the cord and washing it.

“No. A healthy, bright eyed baby girl.” he said quietly. The mother blanched.

“Then.... she must be...” she said. A poof of smoke, the first transformation of the baby happening on it’s own, and a quivering baby monster sat in Hatori’s arms. Hatori dropped it, and the mother blacked out. No, this did not bode well at all.

Akane entered the kitchen to find Tohru hard at work.

“Oh... I was going to make dinner... alright then, never mind.” she said, turning around. Tohru spun and looked at her.

“Oh, Miss Akane! No no no, don’t worry about it at all, I have it covered, anyways, you are a guest here!” she said, bowing. “I couldn’t forgive myself if I let a guest cook.” Akane started laughing a deep belly laugh. “Um... did I say something funny?” Tohru asked her, looking up.

“No, no, not on purpose you didn’t....” Akane replied, holding her stomach. “You are just... exactly like my brother told me. And I am no guest here, I live here dear, my things arrive tomorrow.” she said, helping herself to some water. “Did Shigure not tell you about me?”

“Um, no, I guess he must have forgot...” Tohru replied, feeling a little stupid and uncomfortable.

“I’m his wife. Shigure’s wife.” Akane smiled over her glass, and she looked eerily like Yuki. “I’m Akito’s sister as well. I will be head of the family when my idiot brother finally passes.”

“Oh...” Tohru started going anime crazy. ‘Wow, I didn’t know Shigure was married! Of course, it makes sense now that I think about it. Why would a bachelor need this big of a house? And why would he be so very close to Akito?’ “So, then, Shigure is Akito’s brother-in-law?”

“Yes, that is generally what ‘married’ means.” Akane said a little coldly. “Or did I stutter?” Tohru blushed at the comment. ’Oh no, I don’t think she likes me... maybe I did something to make her upset? I think I did... maybe because I didn’t know about her, yeah, that’s it.’ Shigure entered the room.

“Oh, goodness, Akane-chan, are you telling Tohru horror stories? She looks absolutely frightened of you!” he said, putting a hand on her shoulder. And there glistened the gold wedding band that hadn’t been there before. Akane put a hand on his, the hand with her own wedding ring.

“I’m telling the worst of them all.” she leaned up and kissed his cheek. “Love, how come you never told her about me?”

“So she knows now?” Shigure asked. He looked at Tohru, whom turned to tend to her rice. “Well, then, I guess we can truly celebrate your return now.” Akane smiled at him and turned and walked out of the kitchen. Shigure stood in the uncomfortable silence. “I’m sorry, Tohru, it isn’t something I kept from you on purpose...”

“Oh, no, I understand.” she said, smiling at him. “That kind of thing is private.”

“Yes. Excuse me, I am going to go take a bath.” he said, leaving as Yuki ducked in.

“Miss Honda, what are you cooking?” he asked, leaning over it.

“Um, just some miso soup!” she said with another smile. Tohru was much better at the Sohma smile than anyone else-- no one knew when she was doing it.

Hatori walked to his phone. He had safely wrapped the child up after it changed back, and was cradling it. He hadn’t the heart to revive the mother just yet. He dialed Shigure’s house. When Shigure picked up, Hatori didn’t bother to say hello.

“Check on Kyo.” he demanded.

“Who is this? Har’i? What a pleasant surprise!” Shigure said happily.

“Check on Kyo now, Shigure. I’m not kidding. We just had a baby born over at the main house.” Hatori told him, looking at the baby’s sweet face. Her orange-red eyes glittered at him, and a tuft of her orange hair poked out of the blankets. Hatori was glad she wasn’t crying-- thank god for small favors.

“Oh, well, um, one moment.” Shigure said, not fully comprehending, but knowing it must be bad. He walked to the living where Kyo was watching TV., and slunk back before Kyo noticed him. “He's fine Hatori. Watching TV. What is this all about?”

“I want to speak with him. I want to hear him.” Hatori replied, exhibiting an unusual amount of concern for the boy.

“Well, alright, but if he shouts at you it’s your fault.” Shigure told Hatori, putting the phone down and walking back to the living room. “Kyo-kun, there is someone on the phone for you.”

“Yeah? Who?” Kyo asked, not looking up.

“Hatori. He says it’s rather important, and he sounds frazzled. I dare say I even noticed a hint of fear in his voice.” Shigure answered. Kyo got up and walked to the phone, picking it up and putting it to his ear.

“Yeah, what?” he asked.

“Kyo, how are you feeling? Alright?”

“WHAT IS THIS, THERAPY HOUR?! I’M FINE, LET ME GO BACK TO MY DAMN TV SHOW!” he shouted into the phone.

“Alright, you sound fine, regardless, I am coming over there this instant. Ask Shigure if there is any place safe in the house for a baby and the mother to sleep?” Hatori bounced the baby that had started to cry at Kyo’s yelling. He heard some whispering in the background, and then Kyo’s voice returned.

“He’s says there might be, but Akane got back today and he’s not sure if there will be enough beds.” Kyo replied. Hatori nodded, and caught himself.

“Alright. I will be there in ten minutes, and if you start to feel woozy or sick get Shigure. In fact, I want you to stay by his side until I get there.” Hatori hung up before Kyo could say no and went around to get the car. He would hold the baby while he drove, and he hoped he could get there in time.