Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Remains ❯ Chapter 2

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Yay! reviews!

Thanxs Katara & phalon22! In return i shall give u the most precious gift . . . KUDOS BARS!

or . . . a new chapter, which ever u like . . .

Disclaimer: basicaly all the characters are oc . . . so they belong to me!

Remains-

It was morning. Kenji, Ryou and, Kaya sat at the breakfast table.

Kenji shifted his brown eyes and looked at the two Sohma's. He met Ryou's collbat eyes. Ryou watched, as Kenji suddenly got up and started walking out the kitchen door.

“Kenji, were are you going?” asked Kaya.

He kept going like he hadn't heard her. After he was out of earshot, and had completely left the house, Kaya looked at Ryou.

“Where do you think he's going?”

“Probably going to Tadashi. . . He's probably going to ask him if that Sumi girl can stay here.” Ryou answered.

“Ya, but if that's it than why didn't he tell us?” asked Kaya.

“I guess he doesn't want us to get our hopes up,” answered Ryou. “Tadashi . . . he isn't the most accepting person. Is he? I mean . . . it took him a while to even let you live with us.”

They stayed silent for a while, all wondering if Tadshi might not let this outsider stay.

"Good morning." said a tired voice from the stairs.

“Kitty Kisa! You're up!” shouted Kaya as she stod up and lead a sleepy Sumi down the steps and to the table.

Ryou watched Sumi sit down next him and Kaya. As she did her orange hair rufled on his sholder and Ryou felt a chill.

“Oh, did I get up late?” asked Sumi.

“No, it's only 8:00.” Ryou said.

He watched her everymove, trying to memorize the way she moved. The way her red eyes darted from Kaya to the food as Kaya told her about school.

Sumi looked up and caught Ryou's eye. Ryou blushed and quickley looked down at his food.

He was so ashamed. He actually blushed.

I never blush. he thought. But for whatever reason, she made him.

~~~~

In the hallway, Kenji stod infront of a tall wooden door.

He tentitively brought his hand up and knocked. No answer.

He slowly knocked again. No answer.

Kenji sighed. He started to turn away when he finally heared movenment in the room. There was a rustle of sheets and a few mumbles . . . then silence.

He tried one last time and this time he heard a small grunt.

Well . . . that ment he's awake, Kenji thought.

“Uh . . . excuse me, Tadashi. I, uh . . . I need to speak with you.” Kenji said in a voice barely above a whisper.

“What? Who is this?” said a scratchy dry voice from the other side of the door.

“Sir, it's Kenji again..”

He slowly opened the door, light pooring into the dark room. Tadashi, wrapped in a blanket, looked Kenji's way.

“Oh, Kenji. Come in,” said the hunched figure.

Kenji came in and closed the door behind him. He walked over to the man and sat down.

“What brings you here again?” asked the man.

“You see Tadshi, do you remember when we dicided the cat spirit finally died out?” Yuki asked the question carefuly

“Yes, it was just last night. Why?”

“Well, I found the cat last night. Right after we talked.” Kenji stopped for a minute, then continued. “And we hoped that they could stay here, with us.”

There was along pause, in which were Tadashi was in sort of a dreamy state.

“So, the cat returned. . .” Tadshi looked at Kenji. “Send them in this afternoon. I would like to see this cat for myself.”

~~~~

Ryou lay on the couch, bored, and waiting for some excitement.

He knew that Sumi was a few feet away, sitting on the porch. He didn't think she knew he was there . . . but he definatly hoped she didn't know he was there.

After along period of silence, Ryou almost jumped when he heard someone walking into the room, and walk over to Sumi. He listened to every shuffle of feet and every breath of air that the two took.

“Oh, Kenji. I didn't see you this morning.” He heard Sumi say.

Ryou senced Kenji sitting down next to her, he heared him sigh. Something was wrong, of that he could tell.

“Sumi, this afternoon . . .” Ryou was now listening intently. “I just talked with Tadashi, the head of the Sohmas. . .”

“Ya, you told me about him last night.” Sumi cut in.

They were talking last night? Ryou thought.

“Yes, well, he wants to meet you this afternoon.” Kenji paused. “Is that okay?”

“I guess, why wouldn't it be fine?” she asked.

“Oh, no. . . it's fine.”

Ryou sat up so he could see them. Their backs turned away from him and he saw Kenji look at her, then he put a hand on Sumi's sholder. “If you want, I could go with you.”

“No, it's fine, I can go alone.”

“Alright, just . . . just be careful, okay.”

Kenji stood up and Ryou quickley ducked back on the couch. He heard Kenji walk out the door.

He sat up again and looked at Sumi.

She sat still for a while . . . he then saw her sholders start to shake, which was fallowed by sobs.

He heard tears dropping onto the floor and he knew he had to do something.

Ryou timidly got up and sat down on the porch with her. She looked over at him when he sat, eyes still the same red, but puffy and tears were strecked down her face.

“Why are you crying?” he asked.

She looked back at the ground, and Ryou didn't get an answer.

“What was so bad that you're crying over it?”

Sumi didn't move.

“Crying's not gonna help, just makes things worse you know. You have to be strong, nothing is really worth crying over.”

He didn't mean to be so rough. But he didn't know how else to handle this.

Sumi then tenced up.

“Yes there is.” she whispered, defiantly.

Ryou looked at her, stunned.

“Sorry,” was all he said.

A few acward moments passed and Ryou finally looked at her. Sumi's head was still down.

Say something! He thought.

“It's, well . . . you see, Kenji . . . he,” she couldn't finish.

“Kenji what?” asked Ryou.

Sumi stood still.

Ryou sighed. “Look, I don't know what hapened to make you like this,” his voice became softer wth every word. “But whatever it is, you . . . you can tell me. I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to.”

He then looked up at her, he saw her staring wide eyed at him.

She nodded and looked down at her hands.

“You know what Kenji said, the whole `just be careful' thing?” she paused. “Well that's the last thing Hitoshi said to me.”

“Hitoshi?”

“My older brother. He's a little older than Kenji, well into college. It's actually a miricle he went.”

She said all of it sadly, depression deep inside her words. Ryou had a feeling he should stop the conversation there, but he was honestly curious about this mysterious girl.

“What do you mean?” Ryou asked blankly. Sumi laughed.

“He's not dumb or anything. Hitoshi's actually brilliant, big math tycoon. He was actually supposed to take care of me instead.” Ryou's eyes widened. “You see, my dad. Well, he . . .”

She tentitivly pulled her jacket sleeve up to her elbow. Ryou gasped as he saw multiple scratches and scars on her arm.

“You mean you're dad . . .”

“Ya, he wasn't the nicest guy in the world. . .well he had been hurting us for a while and mom finally divorced him. She gained custidy of both of us, and just when Hitoshi was supposed to start college, well . . . she was killed.” A tear escaped her red eyes. “So, Hitoshi wanted to take care of me, but I told him to go to college. He went, and I went to live with pop.”

Sumi whipped away the escaped tears. Ryou saw a small bracelet on her arm.

“That braclet is nice.” Ryou pointed to the braclet on her arm.

“Ya, Hitoshi gave it to me and told me never to take it off.”

“Why?”

“I don't know.” Sumi said sadly.

“So did you run away . . . from your dad?”

“Ya. I'll be honest, I was afraid to before. But he said something about killing Hitoshi if I didn't keep what he is doing to me a secret. I snapped then, I ran and well. . .” she laughed, blushing. “Kenji found me, he reminds me so much of Hitoshi. They even look alike and when Kenji said to `just be careful' . . . like Hitoshi did after he left for college, well . . . it was to much.”

“So did your parents know about the zodiac?”

“They must have, they never told me, but they had to. They always locked me in my room, a tutor would come every day to teach me, it was always a girl. I was treated like an animal.”

She had a chooked sob, and then the tears over flowed.

She sat drowing her self in tears and Ryou hadn't a clue what to do. He had never been in this situation before, he had no idea how to comfort a crying girl.

Ryou tentively started to reach his hand for her sholder, he stroked her back shyly and she leaned into his touch.

She suddenly threw her self in to Ryou's surprised arms. She rested her head in his chest and he slowy braught his hands around her waist.

It felt weird to him, to be held by a girl. He had never been able to experience it before.

He started to relax and he found himself drifting into an imaginary land, were he could always feel as warm and strong as he felt now.

“So, does this mean you and I can be friends?” Sumi asked.

Ryou's eyes opened wide and he loosened his grip to look at her face. His arms barley touching her back, and her body fully off him, he was pulled back to reality.

“Huh?” he asked stupidly.

“Well, does this mean we can become friends?” She looked up at him with big teary eyes.

“Well, uh . . .” he started, but was interupted by an exuberant little girl.

“Kitty Sumi!”

They both looked and saw Kaya running toward them. She pussed Ryou away from Sumi and sat infront of her.

“Kitty Sumi, could you please do my hair for me? Ryou tried but he did a horrible job.” Ryou now regained his balence and stood up, looking upset.

“I'm a guy what do you expect?” he strogly told Kaya as she pulled Sumi up off the ground.

“Stop it stupipy head! You're just jealous cause Kitty Sumi likes me better!”

Kaya pulled a stunned Sumi up the stairs, leaving Ryou standing there.

What Kaya said suddenly rejistered in his mind and ran upstairs to give Kaya a peice of his mind.

He ran up the stairs a little to fast and slipped on a step. He tumbled down a few steps and hit his head hard on the ground.

Ryou slowly lifted himself up and rubed his head. Oh man, that hurt. He heard someone running down the stairs. He looked up and saw Sumi standing over him.

“Ryou, you okay?” she asked worriedly.

Ryou was dizzy and his head was spinning, the only thing that kept him concious were those red eyes that he was transfixed on.

Ryou heard Kaya yell to Sumi. Sumi turned her head for the slightest second. Ryou suddenly felt uncouciousness surround him and then he saw blackness.

Sumi looked back over to Ryou and found his eyes closed.

“Oh no.” she said.

“What happened?” Kaya asked from behind her.

“I'm not sure.” Sumi held his face in her hands. It was cold. “Kaya, go get Kenji!”

“Okay!” Sumi watched as Kaya quickley ran up the steps to Kenji's room.

~~~~

A few hours latter, Ryou was safely tucked in his bed, sleeping.

Sumi was on the couch downstairs, thinking about all the members of the Sohma's.

Kenji, who reminded her so much of Hitoshi.

Ryou, stodic and mysterious, but she was already getting to see his real self.

Sweat adorable Kaya, who was like a younger sister already.

Kenji down and saw Sumi laying on the couch, staring at the ceiling.

He smiled, remembering how many times he did the same thing.

Kenji walked over to Sumi and polietly coughed. Sumi looked up and saw Kenji standing at the foot of the sofa. She sat up and smiled at him.

“Sumi, you need to speak with Tadashi now.” Kenji said, trying to smile.

Sumi looked down and nodded.

~~~~

Kenji looked over at Sumi as he led her to the main house.

She had a determind look, but her eyes showed that she was scared.

He unsunciously grasped her hand, she thoughtlessly returned it with a squeeze.

He's so much like Hitoshi. Sumi thought. Maybe he could be my new gardian, after all he has been there for me the whole time I've been there.

They reached the oak doors and stopped.

She looked warrily up at the intimidating door. Kenji squeezed her hand before letting it go to open knock.

“Uh, Tadashi sir. The cat is here to see you.” Kenji said polietly.

“Send them in.”

Sumi was thrown off by the groggy voice. This guy was supposed to be in his late 30's, but he sounded almost 70.

Kenji looked at her.

“Are you sure you don't want me to. . .”

“No, it's fine.” Sumi gave him a fake smile. “Thanks though.”

Kenji nodded sadly. He slowly opened the door and watched as Sumi stepped into the dark room.

She felt the door close behind her.

She saw a shadow in the corner move. Her heart was beating rabidly for some reason.

She was so scared.

Sumi dreaded that she might transform infront of him. Oh God, she hoped that she could keep her cat spirit inside her. Sumi needed show the head of the family how strong she was.

“So, you are the cat.”

The voice came from the stirring shadow.

She looked in that direction but she couldn't see anything but the darkness of the room.

“Yes. . . I am.” Sumi shakenly said.

She hoped that Kenji would come in and save her, but she knew he wouldn't.

“No need to be shaken.” The voice was getting softer. “I am glad that the cat spirit is still alive.”

“I didn't fully know what I was until last night.”

Sumi was growing more and more comfortable with this stranger.

“How odd. And no one ever told you?” She could feel him look at her worridly. “I should asume that they knew perfectly well what you were.”

“Well. . . you see, my parents. . .”

“I understand. My parents were the same, but in the end they informed me.” She heard a chuckle. “I was eight when they did, but I still knew before you.”

“Your parents kept it from you too?”

Maybe there was someone one who could finally understand her.

“Yes.” She felt his eyes shift to her braclet. “I see you have your braclet. That means they defianatly knew.”

“What about my braclet?”

“Nothing.” he sighed. “Here you are, a young lady. A girl with a haunted past, asking to come into our home.” He paused for a minute. “I don't want you to cause trouble. . .”

“I won't.”

Sumi was worried, could he really not let her stay. She had already grown attach to everyone. Sweet little Kaya. Kind, understanding Kenj. Mysterious Ryou. Each one was already special to her.

Plus, she would have to go back to her father. No! I won't let myself go back to that life!

“Please sir, please.”

A sigh was heard, “Very well. You may stay.”

Sumi looked up. The light from the window was shinning on the left of his face. She caught a glimps of the wrinkled yet handsome face. This man, Tadashi, head of th Sohma's, would now be the one to run her life.

~~~~

Kenji waited patiently on the couch. He was worried.

Sumi was going to Tadashi, the head of the zodiac. There more he thought about it, the more he worried.

Tadashi wasn't cruel, but he was untrustworthy. Kenji hoped that the man would let her stay. Kaya would be heart broken if she left.

I would miss her too.

It was strange, but in two short days, Kenji had felt a number of feelings toward Sumi. At first it was pity, whiched changed to wonder, then to amusement, and now it was strange.

Kenji already admired her. She was strong, but not cocky. Trustful, but not foolish. Smart, but not snobby. He hoped that they would get very close in the future.

Kenji suddenly heard light foot steps and looked up just in time to see Sumi step out from the door. She looked over at him and smiled.

“Whats up?” Sumi asked, looking at him fondly.

“Nothing.”

They were silent for a while. It wasn't acward, just peaceful. Kenji desperatly wanted ot know if she was leaving. If indead she was, well. . . he would try anything to make her stay.

“So. . . uh.” he started.

“Kitty!” shouted a Kaya as she ran toward Sumi. “Sumi! You really aren't going to leave are you?! Because a Kenji said you might! But you can't because you're my big sister now! And I don't want you to!”

Tears were in Kaya's eyes and Sumi felt horrible for making her feel this way. She cupped Kaya's head in her hands and smiled at her.

“Kaya. . . I'm not going anywhere.”

As soon as Sumi said that Kaya was hugging her and dancing around the couch.

Kenji sighed, thank goodness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hope you like!

Please R&R

So . . . u learned some more dout Sumi. Lets see wat next chap has in store. . .

Next Chapter-

Sumi has her first day of school and meets some new friends.