Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Return To Innocence ❯ One-Shot

Sohma Yuki, Prince of Kaiwabara High. An attractive, elegant and enigmatic youth who attracted everyone who saw him; haunted and tormented by who he was, this is the story of how one girl brought him out of the darkness.

        Yuki’s P.O.V.

        Tha t’s not the beginning of the end,
        Thatâ€& #8482;s the return to yourself,
        The return to innocence.

I couldn’t believe it. Honda Tohru, my ever smiling and cheerful classmate, actually had to face tougher problems compared to me. Her mother, her sole support, had died, and she was living alone in a tent, juggling her studies and her part-time jobs in order to survive and fulfil her mother’s wish for her. It shamed me to think that I had thought that my situation was the absolute worst. But to say that what she did was amazing would be insulting to her.

That’s why I decided to ask her to stay with us, although it meant that our secret would risk exposure. Boy, I didn’t know it then, but my thought turned out to be true. I can’t blame the baka neko completely, but he DID give us away. Stupid cat. Our secret wouldn’t have been exposed if he hadn’t butted in. Or at least, it wouldn’t have happened so fast. But as much as I hate that thought, if it wasn’t for him, life as it is now wouldn’t be the same. It probably would have been worse.

I can still remember that day. We had just been exposed, and Shigure said that he would be reporting this to Akito. I felt so powerless, helpless, so unable to stem the tide, to protect Honda-san from him, and from losing her memory. All because of one curse.

I remember waiting outside the girls’ changing room, waiting for her to come out, to talk to her, to explain, to apologise. And when she did come out and saw me, she was so passionate about keeping our secret, even saying she would swear it in blood and burn it into her hand. Where on Earth did she get that? I couldn’t help it, I couldn’t stand it anymore, I had to apologise to her. And apologise I did, and explain everything to her, even that incident when I was seven years old and a girl accidentally bumped into me.

But did you know what? She understood, forgave me for not being able to help her, and she even asked me to be her friend again! I was stumped, I couldn’t believe it. She actually didn’t mind that? She didn’t mind the fact that I could turn into an animal? Akito’s words from when I was seven still rang in my mind. “People find it disgusting that you can turn into a mouse; what human being can do that?†But here was someone who was proving him wrong. Honda-san really wasn’t bothered about it. She just accepted me, Shigure and the baka neko just as we were, cursed by the vengeful spirits of the Jyunnishi.

And I could feel some kind of warmth rising in me, melting the icy barrier I had erected.

        Love – Devotion
        Feeling – Emotion
        Love – Devotion
        Feeling – Emotion

It was incredible. Honda-san had only started living with us for a few days, and yet, it seemed as though she had been there forever. Everyday, I thanked fate for dropping her into our laps. The house never seemed cleaner or brighter than ever with her in it. It even seemed happier and more cheerful. Less like a house and more like a home. Of course, baka neko had to come live with us and go to the same school, but I could live with that...I think.

Sometimes, when I walk to school or go back, it doesn’t seem to be so lonely anymore. I didn’t feel as though there was something keeping me apart from everyone else, with Honda-san walking next to me, chattering away and keeping me company. And even when she couldn’t walk back together with us after school, it was as though there was a warm, loving spirit nearby, which took care of me, and made me feel as though I wasn’t alone anymore, that there was someone watching over me.

The day the renovations at her grandfather’s house were over was the day I dreaded. And it came all too quickly. We were all shocked, and I felt as though someone was tearing out my heart. I didn’t want her to leave. She was now a part of me, even though I never admitted it to myself. I couldn’t let her go... and yet, this was her family, her grandfather, who could look after her. What could I say to make her stay? After all, I was a stranger, just a classmate of hers, nobody special. Who was I, to ask her to stay? But, I could feel myself bleeding to death slowly with the death knell sounding in the background. She was never going to come back, I thought.

The day arrived when she moved out. I couldn’t bear watching her go, so after she said goodbye, I disappeared into my room quickly and try to mend my broken heart. Shigure didn’t help matters one bit, with his incessant whining and comments. Finally, I couldn’t stand it anymore. I just had to go after her. Obviously baka neko felt the same, and the two of us started to search for her.

When we found her, it was apparent that she, too, had missed us. And before you could say “Jack Spratâ€, we had whisked her back home. Or rather, the house that had become our home. For without Honda-san, it had seemed empty and bleak. But with her in it, it was truly a home. I guess people knew what they were saying when they said that home was where the heart is.

        Donâ̈́ 4;™t be afraid to be weak,
        Donâ€& #8482;t be too proud to be strong,
        Just look into your heart my friend,
        That will be the return to yourself,
        The return to innocence.

I can still remember how painful it was when I was seven. I was so small and weak, powerless to defend myself against Akito’s onslaughts, physically and emotionally. Onii-chan had left me alone, shaking my timid and grasping hand when I had needed it most of all. And now, being the irritating idiot that he is, he is now trying to win back my favour by being loud-mouthed, hearty and being a complete and total ass.

It was due to Akito’s torture that I was determined to become the best in everything I did, be it physically or mentally. Of course, being the Jyunnishi rat ensured that I did everything perfectly.

And when I met Kyou, well, sparks flew. That was inevitable. After all, he was the cat, the one who was tricked by the rat, and he never did forgive the rat for what he did to him. I could have told him that it was foolish for him, the cat, to ever join in the Jyunnishi circle. What was the point of getting into it? All that being in the circle brought was more pain, despair and anguish. But would the cat listen? No. He was determined to beat the rat and claim its place. How contemptible. And I wouldn’t pretend to lose just to give him the satisfaction of having beaten the rat. No way. And that is the reason why the rat and the cat are constantly fighting, even now.

As I grew older, I couldn’t bear to stand Akito’s torture any longer, couldn’t stand his controlling my life. I defied him by taking and passing the entrance examination to Kaiwabara High, a co-ed school, instead of taking the entrance examination to the all-boys school he wanted me to join. And with Shigure living in the area, it was a little easier to persuade him to let me go. And thankfully, he did release me, in the end.

But you know what? Even though I was free from him physically, I was never really able to escape him mentally and emotionally. He had me trapped. Until Honda-san came along. Like a ray of sunshine, she chased away all the dark clouds that still hung around me. With her around, I could believe that life was indeed beautiful, and slowly, I could feel myself become more human and approachable, less like an ice sculpture.

        If you want then start to laugh,
        If you must then start to cry,
        Be yourself don’t hide,
        Just believe in destiny.

She taught me how to laugh again. I still treasure that memory. The look of sheer determination on her face, and she still missed the ping pong ball she was trying to hit. Her facial expression when that happened was just too comical for words. That did it, I had to laugh. But I hadn’t wanted to do it in front of her because she might be offended, or else she might feel hurt. Besides, I didn’t want that baka neko to see me laugh. So I left the hall in a hurry to stop myself from laughing in her face. All I did, however, was make her come after me; all concerned and worried as to why I had left the hall so hurriedly. I couldn’t help it then. I started laughing even as I apologised to her. And then, as soon as I stopped, I handed her my White Day present in return of her Valentine’s Day gift: a pair of yellow hair ribbons.

And, before I realised what was happening, she had become the light of my life and the rock on which I could cling to. If I was sad, she would come to me, all concerned and caring, always there to comfort and console. I could break down and cry in front of her, tell her my fears and doubts and still be comforted just by being in her mere presence. When she was happy, I was happy. Happy to see her laugh, to see her face light up with joy when she though of something delightful and nice. The only thing that marred my happiness was the lurking fear that she loved Kyou instead of me. What would I do then? I didn’t know. I prayed that I would never know.

Our graduation day was one of the best days of my life. It was the day she told me she loved me and the day we shared our first kiss. Of course, I had been close to her and had held her hands before this, but I wasn’t sure if she returned my feelings or not, until today. I was the happiest man alive that day. Not even Akito would be able to break our bond, of that I was sure.

        Donâ 364;™t care what people say,
        Just follow your own way,
        Donâ€&# 8482;t give up and use the chance,
        To return to innocence.

It had been cloudy the day we went to Akito, asking his permission for us to get married. I was sure he would refuse and that he would probably throw a tantrum, and sure enough he did. I wasn’t afraid for myself, I was just afraid that he would harm Tohru-koi. Luckily, we managed to calm him down enough that he didn’t go into seizure. I had known he would refuse, but I wasn’t about to give up. Instead, I just kneeled there and asked again for his permission. After all, he HAD consented to let Tohru stay with us and nothing was going to stop us from being together, even though it meant defying the entire clan. I told him as much. But it was Tohru who actually saved the day. She won him over with her gentleness, the same gentleness that won the Jyunnishi over. And so it was, we finally got married.

Kyou hadn’t been too happy when we first became a couple, but now, on our wedding day, I wasn’t too surprised to see him turn up, with a very happy and exuberant Kagura by his side. Fortunately for him and for us, she had finally been able to control her mood swings and was not waving Kyou around like some flag or toy. And it was fortunate for Shigure and Ayame-niichan that they were far away enough that they wouldn’t get any fists of Death from me for making all sorts of lewd comments. Of course, though, Hatori was there to make sure that they didn’t get into anything extreme.

I was surprised though, when Akito actually came. Although all he said was that whatever happened was none of his business and left soon after that, it was still a surprise that he had decided to come at all. And what was more surprising was that he let Kureno stay for the ceremony. Uo, of course, wouldn’t let leave his side and vice versa.

The rest of the day went by so fast; it was like a blur to me. Before I knew it, we were alone in our room, and night had fallen. I smiled happily as I met Tohru’s eyes. For now and forever, we would be together. And I was finally free of the shadow of the Jyunnishi curse.

        Thatâ& #8364;™s not the beginning of the end,
        Thatâ€& #8482;s the return to yourself,
        The return to innocence.   End