Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Remains ❯ Chapter 1

Heya.

Please leave review wether u like my story or u have somethings that u absolutly want to have changed.

 

but no flames please.

 

Disclaimer: The Fruits Basket idea does not belong to me. But most of the characters do.

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Remains-

1

 

In the darkness of the room, Kenji sat infront of the head of the family. Tadashi, head of the Sohma's, was seated in the corner, facing the open door. It was lightly drizzling and Kenji knew that it would be raining hard when he walked back. Tadashi lifted his face slightly, unfocused and unfeeling. Kenji studied the man who looked a little to young to have that many wrinkles.

 

“I have decided,” Tadashi said. “That the cat spirit is obviously not alive.”

 

“But, sir, perhaps . . .”

 

“No,” Tadashi turned his face to Kenji. “I have decided. And what I say goes.”

 

Kenji lowered his head in respect. He would just have to look for the cat without the help of the other Sohmas.

 

Kenji nodded, stod, and bowed to Tadashi.

 

 

~~~~

 

She ran. Ran in the singing rain, while water from the puddles spashed on her pants. Her orange hair flew around her face blinding her already clouded eyes. Those red eyes of hers, that were clouded with fear. Fear, of the one thing that she had left in her life. Her father.

 

She could only hear where she was, so far she knew that she was running on concrete and was near the outside of a large manor.

 

Leaves were rusiling as she ran by.

 

She heard a car heading for her and quickly turned into the open manor door, out of its way. She ran between houses, so many houses all gathered to gether. Exhaustion took her as she gasped for of breath.

 

She needed to run! It felt better to run, she alwaysed loved to run away.

 

She came to a small grass patch. She got to a tree and suddenly, collapsed to her knees. Her foot hert and she knew that she had tripped on a root of the tree. God, she was so exausted.

 

'No! Wait! Oh man, I feel myself getting ready to transform.'

 

A tiggly sensation -like the one when you are about to sneeze- took over her body. A second latter, a familiar popping noise surrounded her. The bland smell of smoke engulfed her and she felt her body reflexively change shape. Now she sat there, her soul trapped inside the body of a cat.

 

She looked down at her now orange paws in the wet mud, I hate this!

 

She knew she was weak and now in her cat body, she couldn't go anywhere. She felt herself grow dizzy and her new feline body fell to the ground, unconscious.

 

~~~~

 

 

In the distance, Keji, with his jacket over his head walked toward his nearby house. He hear the popping noise and soon saw a faint orange smoke, swirling through the trees.

 

Kenji looked over at it, annoyed. 'I hope Kaya didn't go wandering again.'

 

He ran toward the disappearing smoke and pushed his way past the trees. He saw a small orange cat, surrounded by a pile of clothes.

 

“It's the cat,” he said eyes wide with wonder.

 

After all the years searching, they just suddenly popped up.Kenji ran toward it and wrapped in in his damp jacket jacket. He picked up their soaking clothes and started to run down the path toward his home.

 

~~~~

 

 

A little girl with black and white hair sat on the couch, looking out the window, having her eyes slowly intermigle with the rain.

 

She sighed, When will Kenji be back?

 

Kenji went to see Tadashi again, he spent to much time with the head of the Sohmas in her opinion. She liked Tadashi, respected and sometimes admired him. But he was still so emotionless.

 

She heard someone open the front door. She went over and saw her cousin, Ryou fumbling with his umbrella. She smiled and ran over to great him.

 

“Hey Ryou! Welcome home!” she shouted. He looked over and smiled.

 

“Oh, hey Kaya.” Ryou then looked around the room. His eyes darted through every inch of the room. Kaya picked up on what he was searching for.

 

“Kenji isn't here,” she then walked back over to the window to wait. “He went to see Tadashi.”

 

“About what?” Ryou sounded worried. Kaya shrugged, she had no idea. Ryou sighed and slowly started to walk up the stairs. “Well I'll be upstairs.”

 

“Painting?” Kaya asked excitedly.

 

She loved the fact that Ryou was an excellent painter. Sometimes he would even allow Kaya to pose for him. Ryou looked down at his little cousin. He gave her a curt nod and continued to walk up.

 

Kaya sighed and looked out the window again. She saw a faint figure running out of the forest and to the house. She could make out Kenji's blonde head through the rain. Kaya quickly ran to the door to open it, squealing with excitment all the way.

 

Kaya didn't even have time to open the door, as Kenji ran right past her and into the kitchen.

 

Kaya followed close behind her cousin. Kenji picked up a clean warm towel and started to dry a small orange cat that Kaya had never seen before. She stared at the bright orange color of the cat, and the sort of hollow aura that dirtied the beautiful fur.

 

Suddenly, a thought struck her. “Kenji, is that a Sohma?” She asked with eyes full of wonder.

 

“Yes Kaya.”

 

“But I have never seen a kitty one before.”

 

“Neither have I,” Kenji said quietly. He brushed a strand of blonde hair from his face. “Tadashi decided that the cat spirit died out, but I guess not.”

 

He held back the urge to go rub the fact into Tadashi's face.

 

“Is that bad?” Kaya asked.

 

“For the cat's sake maybe,” he answered distantly.

 

The cat in his arms stirred. “We had better put them in the guest room. We don't want them to transform back while they're in my arms.”

 

“That would be funny,” Kaya said, following close behind.

 

Kenji quieckley walked up the stairs, slowly seeing how the rythm of his feet matched the fast beating of his heart. The guest room was nere the stairs, which made it all the more easy.

 

He opened the door and put the cat on the soft bed with their clothes on the floor. He then quietly shut the door. Kenji looked back one more tme before shutting it.

 

“Hey Kenji,” Kagura said. “Is the kitty a girl or a boy?”

 

“I think a girl, but I'm not really sure.” he said.

 

'I didn't really think about checking . . .' he thought.

 

“Now where is . . .” he stopped when he heard a door open on the end of the hall.

 

Kenji turned and saw Ryou emerge from his room. Ryou suddenly stopped when he saw them. He looked questionably at the door, which Kenji still had his hand on.

 

“Hey Ryou!” Kaya shouted.

 

Kenji nuggwed her and put a finger to his lips. Her eyes grew wide and nodded. They didn't want to cause a disturbance.

 

“What's going on?” Ryou asked.

 

Kenji looked at him. He motioned for the two to follow him down stairs.

 

When they got down stairs, Kenji sat down at the table. Ryou follwed and Kaya sat on the couch.

 

“Well. That was the cat of the zodiac.” Kenji said. He waited for the questions to fly.

 

“You mean like the one in that story?” Kaya asked.

 

Kenji nodded.

 

“So, what?” Ryou looked at Kanji in the eye. “Where did you find them?”

 

“I found them behind the tree by Tadashi's house. They should transform back any minute.” Kenji looked at them both seriously. “And when they do, we will sit them down calmly and explain to each other what happened.”

 

“Maybe we should check up on the kitty.” Kaya said looking up at the stairs. “If I was in a different house after I transformed back, I would be scared.”

 

“Yes, well . . .” Kenji started but suddely they herd a popping sound from upstairs.

 

Kaya squealed and ran for the stairs. Kenji huriedly tried to stop the excited girl before she did scare the new commer. He managed to grab her right before she could open the door.

 

Kaya looked at him, surprised. Kenji shook his head at her, she nodded. They bothn looked at the door. Ryou joined them and they all stood, waiting for a sound.

 

Russilinmg was heard, the a gasp. Heavy breathing was heard as rusiling got louder. Kenji could tell that they were getting dressed and from the voice he could tell that it was a girl.

 

They heard hurried footsteps coming to the door.

 

The door burst open and revealed a girl with bright orange hair. She ran strait into Kenji and almost toppled to the ground. Kenji quickley grabbed her hand befor she hit the floor.

 

She slowly opened her eyes and looked up at them.

 

Ryou saw her red eyes and something in his gut stirred. 'Those eyes would be amazing to paint.'

 

“Wow! Kitty girl is so pretty!” squiled Kaya.

 

The two boys were brought back to reality, along with the girl. She suddenly started to try to pull away from Kenji.

 

Kenji reflxivly held tighter and pulled her up. He held her with both of his hands as she tried to get free.

 

She finally managed to break free and ran straight for the window.

 

The three of them were stunned as she grabbed the rim and jumped.

 

Ryou emidietly ran to the window. He saw he get up of the ground, unhurt and start to run of into the forest. Kenji was behind him and they watched as the girl ran off.

 

“She's runnig away!” Ryou shouted as he ran out the door.

 

He headed for the front door and sprinted out side without so much as a jacket. Ryou trusted his instinks, and they told him to run after her.

 

Kenji looked out the window and saw Ryou running off after her.

 

Kaya looked down with him, she then grabbed Kenji's arm and started to pull him to the front door.

 

“Come on Kenji!”

 

“No,” Kenji said gently.

 

Kaya stopped and looked up at him. He bent down to her height and smiled.

 

“Don't worry, Ryou will bring her back.” He said.

 

Kaya nodded.

 

~~~~

 

 

Outside the house, the girl found her self running agian, this time though, she was being chased.

 

She was loesing speed, still tired from running before and was starting to get dizzy again.

 

She heared the footsteps nearing her and she ran faster. She heard the sound of cars and the city.

 

She soon felt her feet touch the street outside the manor. She stopped to catch her breath.

 

She felt a light on her and heared a car horn. She stod paralized as the car grew closer, her feet stod frozen. She wondered if this is what it was to stare at death. If it was, death was slow and almost blissful.

 

She then felt two arms push her out of the way, their owners body pulling her toward saftey as they held onto her.

 

They rolled and for a minute the girl felt warm and safe as she held on to the body that saved her. They stopped rolling and the girl looked up at her savior.

 

He was looking down at her, wet black hair clinging to his pale face. She emidietly recognized him as the boy from the house.

 

~~~~

 

 

Ryou looked down at the frail creature in his arms, her eyes were scared and she held her tighter to him.

 

She suddenly gasped and pushed away from him.

 

Ryou, suprised held onto her as she tried to pull away. She had one last puss and Ryou let go.

 

She started to run but he grabbed her arm and pulled her to him. She struggled and he held on as best he could.

 

She suddenly realised that he was holding her and she ceased her stuggle.

 

Ryou felt her relax and eased his hold on her.

 

“How . . . how can you be holding me?” she shyly asked.

 

“What?” he asked quietly.

 

“How can you be holding me, wihout me transforming?” she asked quietly. She knew she was delirious and he probably didn't understand aword she was saying.

 

Ryou smiled.

 

“Because, I'm just like you,” he answered.

 

She burried her face into his chest and he tightly held her as she cried.

 

~~~~

 

 

Back at the house Kaya looked impatiently at the window once again.

 

“Kenji, when do you think Ryou and Kitty Girl will be back?”

 

“I don't know,” Kenji answered.

 

Kenji looked out the window and saw two figures emerging from a corner. He quikly got up and ran out the front door.

 

“Kenji!” Kaya was confused. She looked out the window and saw Kenji running toward Ryou and the girl.

 

 

~~~~

 

 

Outside Ryou saw Kenji coming toward them.

 

He tightened his grip on the girl sholders as Kenji ran toward them.

 

Kenj looked at the girl, who's head was tilted down, hidding her beautiful red eyes. Kenji pulled his rain coat off and put it over her trembeling form.

 

Ryou watched as the girl he held looked up at the visiter and how Kenji put his arm around her waist supporting her.

 

They both lead her inside, passing a very exciterd Kaya. They walked her up the stairs and into the room she escaped from eairlier.

 

They sat her on the bed, Ryou sat by her side and Kenji closed the open window. She still held Kenji's jaket close as Kaya trotted into the room.

 

Ryou looked at the girl intently, ignoreing his hurt feet from runnig and his wet ash hair that stuck to his skin.

 

“Ya! Kitty girl came back!” Kaya shouted, bounding over to her.

 

She pussed Ryou out of the way and sat there between them. She looked up eagerly at her. Kenji sat down on the chair by the desk and looked at their guest.

 

“Well, we have alot to tell you,” he said. “I'm sure that you are aware of what you are.”

 

The girl looked at her hand. “Well, no. I mean, whenever I feel weak, or whenever a boy holds me, I turn into a cat.”

 

“The same goes for us. We all turn into animals of the zodiac, whenever a member of the oposite gender holds us or whenever our bodies are under stress.”

 

“Ya! We're the Sohma family!” Kaya shouted.

 

“Sohma?” she asked.

 

“You are too, part of the Sohma family that is” Kenji informed her.

 

“But, the cat. . . the cat isn't part of the zodiac,” she added.

 

"A long, long time ago, God decided to invite all of the animals to a banquet. He sent out word for all of them to come to his house the following evening.. 'and don't be late!' he said. When the mischievous rat heard the news, he decided to play a trick on his neighbor, the cat. He told the cat that the party was the day after tomorrow. The very next day, all of the animals lined up for the celebration. And the rat led the way, riding all the way there on the back of the cow. Everyone had a wonderful time Except for the foolish cat. Who missed the whole thing.” Kenji finished his story and looked intently at the girl.

 

“Oh, I think I've heard that story before,” she said.

 

“But, how come you were never at the new years party?” Ryou asked.

 

“Huh?”

 

“I don't think that she new she was in the Sohma family, Ryou. She must have not been documented as one at her birth. So we had no idea of knowing either.” Kenji explained.

 

“Ya but didn't your parents wonder why their baby turned into a cat?” Kaya asked.

 

The girl tensed and a tear fell from her face.

 

Kaya gasped. “Oh! I'm sorry! Did I say something?!”

 

“No. Sorry, I just. . . I'm just not really comfortable talking about that with strangers yet,” she mumbled.

 

“Well, that's right. I mean, here we are talking and you don't even know are names,” Kenji said.

 

He walked over and held out his hand. “Kenji Sohma, I'm the rabbit of the zodiac.”

 

She shook it and smile at him.

 

Kaya tugged on her sleeve, “I'm Kaya, I'm the ox!”

 

“And I'm Ryou, the dragon.” Ryou said.

 

“More like a sea horse!” teased Kaya.

 

“So, your the cat and if you don't mind me asking, what's your name?” asked Kenji.

 

“Sumi.” she answered.

 

“Well Sumi, if you like, you could stay the night. We have so many extra rooms that are normaly waisted here,” Kenji offered.

 

“Thank you, I would love to learn more about the zodiac.”

 

“Ya! That means I have someone to play with!” Kaya said. “I like to play Hide-n-Seek! And Jump Rope! And Hop Scotche! Hey! Do you know how to play Tag!?”

 

“Well, uh, I . . . I guess.” Sumi said, shacken from the young girls loud voice.

 

“Ya! Come on!” she pulled the teen of the bed and lead her to the living room.

 

“Kaya seems to like her,” Ryou said, standing up.

 

“Did you really think she wouldn't?” asked a smiling Kenji.

 

~~~~

 

 

It was late and Kenji sat on the porch, looking up at the sky.

 

He heard a shuffle of feet and turned and saw the orange haired Sumi walking down the steps. She looked at him and smiled apologticaly.

 

“Sorry, did I bother you?” she asked timidly.

 

“No,” he said softly. “Come, sit down.” She walked toward him and sat to his right. “So, young Sumi, what are you doing up?”

 

“I have alot on my mind, and I wanted to make sure that . . . that this wasn't all a dream,” she said.

 

“That's is understandable, but I asure you this is real.”

 

“I know,” she then looked up at him with curious eyes. “Um, Kenji, if. . . if uh, you don't mind me asking, were is your family.”

 

Kenji pointd to the house, “They're all sleeping in there,” he said.

 

“No I mean . . .”

 

“No, I know what you mean. But honestly, my family is in there.” he said thoughtfully. “You see, I'm 18. Going into college and my brother is about 3 years yonger. My cousin is even younger.”

 

“But uh . . .”

 

“Ryou, my adoptd brother is just starting highschool. You see, my mother had me young and my father died soon after. When I was four my mother thought I needed someone from the zodiac to keep me company, so she adopted a one year old Ryou.” Kenji sighed. “My mother didn't need to have another zodiac child. And I don't think mother could handle another one. Soon, my new step dad divorced my mother and she just couldn't handle two animals running around.”

 

“So, uh were is she now?”

 

“At home. She comes to see us sometimes. She kicked us out as soon as I finished highschool and went off to college. Kaya moved in after our aunt died. So now we live in the same house. Tadashi wanted Kaya to stay with someone a little older than me, but we convinced him in the end.”

 

“Who's Tadashi?”

 

“Oh, he is the head of the Sohma family. He carries the full weight of the zodiac curse. The head of the Sohma's is always supossed to die young because of the weight that they carry. But Tadashi is the oldest one to live, he's now 38.”

 

“That's not that old. But, we all die. I mean we all die, some sooner than others . . . some later. It's life.”

 

“You dont feel sad for him?” Kenji asked, looking over at her with glazed eyes.

 

Sumi shook her head.

 

"No."

 

Kenji stared at this new comer. Things will definatly be interesting with her.

 

 

 

 

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Okay.

 

Sucky?

Great?

Stupendious?

Or . . . just stupid?

 

Leave a review. Not a mind reader -damn-.