Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Sentium ❯ Frame 01 ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer:

I don't own Fruits Basket.

Warning:

AU here. I've adapted the characters to what their original personalities would be given a situation such as the one they're in. If you don't like it then kudos for you. I do. ^_^

Sentium

Carpetfibers

Frame 01: Runaway

Dedicatum: Midnight runs

Pause, momentous,

And then break!

Don't fucking wait for the morning.

Just break, and

Then

When it's all done

Come back to me.

Come back.

__________________

Hey there sweetie! Its time to wake up, honey…you breakfast is getting cold.

I'm up, mom. I was just thinking.

Oh, what about?

Well, I told you about that job offer, right?

Yes, go on.

I'd have to move away.

Oh, sweetie…is that what's been bothering you? Ever since you graduated you've been looking so worried. Are you worried about me?

Yeah.

You don't need to worry about me! I'm the grown up here.

I know, Mom…it's just, I don't want you to be lonely.

Don't you even think about it. To be honest, I probably will get a little lonely, but I need to make friends of my own age.

Mom, are you sure?

Take the job, sweetie.

Ok; I will.

Damn it. She had the same dream again, replaying those words over. The what ifs of her life- if she continued to dwell on them, then she'd never move forward. What a messed up way to greet the world in the morning. Tohru sat up from her bed roll on the floor. Gray walls rose up to meet her, and the still sleeping bodies of over 20 boys who shared the room with her. She had kept up her disguise; it'd be the only way she'd be able to make it into the inner workings of the family that ran this tenement and the four others that housed runaways.

That's what she was now- a runaway.

Tohru packed up her bedroll into its case and stuffed it into her personal locker, grabbing a pair of loose jeans, a black sweat shirt, and a beanie to stuff her hair up into. There hadn't been time to cut it, so for now she'd have to cross her fingers and hope she wouldn't be found out. Last night had been close enough- she still didn't know if the guy made it out or not. After he had fallen, she had gone back to the tenement. She'd search the warehouse again in a few nights when the security had piped down.

Tohru stepped into the tiled bathroom, careful to lock the door firmly behind her. Her whole ruse would be up if some guy walked in and caught her naked. Her morning showers always helped clear her mind and focus her energies. She had only been in Chiyo for a week, yet already she had a job as a runner for the Sohma family.

The steaming water beat against her back, leaving red marks trailing down her pale back. The Sohma family was the whole reason she had come to Chiyo. They were the whole reason she had no one to return to.

"Damn them…"

She stepped out from the shower, quickly putting on her gender hiding clothes. She had no friends here, but that was fine by her. Who needed people? They only ended up leaving some way or the other. Tohru stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her face still looked too feminine- some of the guys had made comments the first night on how she was a 'girly boy.'

She traced the edges of her smooth cheek bones and her too long eyelashes framing too large brown eyes. Sighing, she tucked her hair up. There was nothing she could do about her face. If she didn't smile then there'd be no problems. She'd just fade away into the crowds, and they'd all miss her. They'd miss her until it was too late and she'd found her proof.

A knock on the door and sound of grumbling roused her from the mirror. The boys had risen.

"Honami- open the frickin door. What the hell are you doing in there?"

Tohru doubled checked one last time that her hair was all tucked up, and then opened the door. A dark haired boy just a little over her height waited just outside. His blue eyes were tight with impatience and he was stepping lightly from foot to foot. Just as soon as she had passed by, he raced into the bathroom.

Back in the main room, all of the boys were just rising and in various positions of motion, some half dressings, others still rubbing their eyes awake. The small circular windows, crisscrossed with thin metal bars, let in some of the predawn light. They were all runaways like herself- some running from abusive parents or from bad families; others ran because they'd always been running, and yet others were like herself, here for information.

She had spotted them easily; they were too full of energy, too healthy, and still carried that aura of youth, of a childhood. She supposed she must have looked like them at one time, but that was ages ago it seemed. Now, she moved into their midst practically hidden.

The square digital clock that kept track of hours, minutes, and seconds on the east wall rang the warning bell for the dawn runners. Tohru grabbed her tennis shoes, shoving them on as she made her way downstairs to grab a cup of coffee and pick up her morning assignment. She had been immediately hired as a runner for her knowledge of the back alleys, as well as her hesitation towards speaking. The usual boy was down in the front office, the entrance to his little haven blocked off by more of the steel bars that covered the windows.

"Honami," Tohru presented herself, holding out her hand to receive her orders. She was at the bottom of the food chain, but eventually she would get to a point where she could meet one of them, one of the Sohmas.

"Right, Honami- you're getting the orders verbal this morning. It's too sensitive to be written, if you get what I mean." The boy leaned in conspiratorially. When Tohru didn't react, he withdrew with a sigh.

"You guys are all the same, acting as if you're all walking on your graves or something."

"The assignment?" she prodded softly. She always spoke softly otherwise her voice would give her away.

"Didn't you hear me? I said you'd get it verbally." The boy looked exasperated.

"And?"

"You have to go to that coffee shop on Yuhara street, Satake's. He'll meet you there." The boy turned his back to her, rummaging through some papers.

Tohru nodded slowly. She knew the coffee shop pretty well; it was the first place she had scoped out when she came to Chiyo. It was reputedly owned by the Sohmas. But she had broken into the back offices and dug through the desks and files- and found nothing, nothing but back logs of the café's financial accounts. It had been all numbers and nothing that could tell her what was happening with the missing runaways.

Nothing that could tell her what had happened to her friends.

Now, as she left the tenement and the boys that filled it behind, she couldn't help but wonder why she was being called to Satake's.

_____________________

Interlude .01: Fiction

First meet,

Then leave-

Same old cycle, same old

Merry go round on some fucking kiddie ride.

So what if I get pulled?

So what if I fall?

It's the same old,

Same old.

_____________________

Satake's was the usual type of place for a street like Yuhara. Hidden behind a couple of big boulevards, the street used to be part of the upper class district, but rezoning, poor street repair, and the creation of red light district just two blocks further north drove whatever civility left in it away. The café was decorated in an iron motif- lots of spirals and roses. All of it was rusted over and desperately in need of a cleaning. The neon lit sign that read 'Satake's Café: Homestyle Cuisine' had only four of its letters working, giving the whole place the perfect shady crime look.

It was ridiculously cliché, and Tohru knew it, but she also knew that inside, the place looked like money- rolling money.

Absently rechecking that her cap was still tightly on, Tohru finally entered the café, pausing just inside to let her eyes adjust to the dim lighting. The only person in the café besides the waiter was a dark figure over in the far corner. The lights didn't let her get a good look at him, but Tohru knew that if it was her guy, then he'd eventually approach her.

She sat at the opposite end of the café, tucked into a reddish pine booth. The waiter came over immediately, offering some of their coffee, but she waved him off, choosing instead to stare out the window. Outside, Yuhara was slowly coming to life. People were exiting from the tiny apartment houses that lined the street, mugs in some hands, brief cases in others. She even spotted some of the runners from the tenement. One of them was the boy from the bathroom that morning. Unwillingly, a small smile came to her lips.

Even if they were runaways, a good deal of them were still kids.

"Honami, is it?"

Tohru started in her seat, surprised by the nearness of the cool voice. Its owner slipped into the booth in front of her, his face coming into full view. He had to have been early twenties if even that. His face was almost feminine, with slim cheekbones and grayish hair that framed them- in fact, if it wasn't for his eyes, she might have guessed he was a girl in disguise like herself. But those eyes, those violet eyes were hard and cruel and ever so dead.

She nodded in reply to his question.

"Good; and I see you're early which is even better." He gestured for her to reply, but she stayed silent.

"And quiet- Enoki at the house said that you were a quiet one which is why I requested you." He motioned the waiter, pointing to his half empty cup of tea. Leaning back slightly into the plush of the booth, he ran his cold eyes over her face, taking in every detail, almost as if memorizing it. It took every ounce of self control Tohru had to not get up and leave. It was unnerving; and she was positive he would find out- he would know.

The waiter silently filled up his cup, and then offered her some as well. She shook her head politely and returned to waiting for her assignment.

"Honami, do you know who I am?" he asked finally, taking a sip of his tea.

"No sir."

"You must be new then."

"Only to Chiyo, sir."

He looked up sharply at her comment, as if measuring something. Then his cold eyes returned to looking out the window.

"I'm one of the Sohma's. Yuki Sohma to be exact. Now do you know who I am?" Whatever good humor he forced into his voice was obviously insincere, because those eyes of his never once lightened up.

"Yes, sir." Tohru tried to keep her voice under control. This was it! This was the key! If she could keep her cool and do whatever it was that he needed, she could have access to them.

"Honami, recently, our family's been under some pressure from the mayor to produce certain results. Unfortunately our efforts have plateaued due to unforeseen elements. And it's this which brings me to your assignment. You'll become a liaison between my family and the runaways. You'll become our eyes and ears, and report directly to me or to another of my family."

"Just what do you want me to watch for, sir?" she asked, again keeping her voice soft. This was just too close to home for her. If only he knew…but he didn't and it was all to her advantage.

"I think you know, Honami." A small smile graced his features, the effect contrasting with eyes yet again. What did a person have to go through to get eyes like that so early in life?

Yuki folded his hands, pulling out his wallet, obviously ending the meeting. Tohru got up from the booth, nodding her farewell and made her way to the doors. He called out once more just as her hand fell to the door knob.

"Honami? I suggest you dress normally when you meet with us. Your cover will be even more effective."

Tohru held back the wince she felt. Damn it, he knew. She nodded yet again and spoke in a normal voice.

"Yes, sir."

"Tonight then, midnight in the Sakura Tea House over in Ishida."

________________

Interlude .02: Non-fiction

Fast paced, a race and then

Crash and burn.

Just in my dreams do I find reasons,

Reasons for breathing,

Reasons for caring.

But then the beat comes,

And all at once,

I race,

Pushing faster just to

Crash and Burn.

No reasons,

Just burning.

_________________

Yuki waited a good half hour before leaving the café, dropping some change on the table for a tip. The meeting with the girl had gone over well. He had been surprised when she had walked in- his first thought had been that there was a mistake; Enoki had described Honami as a boy, very quiet, and most importantly, invisible in a crowd. But after seating himself across from her, and studying her face, he was sure- Honami was no boy. But whether or not the girl got her kicks from cross dressing was no concern of his. He was to get eyes and ears on the lower levels- new ones.

Akito had ordered it, and what Akito ordered was law. Somehow their old contacts had been compromised, and now with the missing runaways- especially that large group of girls who were taken from their room in one of the Sohma tenements- everyone in the family was worried.

Not that he cared though. He was just doing this job until his contract was finished and he could finally leave. He had just another year left, and then Akito could no longer lay claim to him. All the rest…well it could just wait. When he could leave Chiyo and all the Sohmas behind, he'd start to care again.

Yuhara's sidewalks were already over flowing with pedestrians heading to and from work. The night crawlers had the dreary look of hours spent doing things they'd rather not discuss; their clothes had that particular scent that only this part of Chiyo could give a person. The others- that is, the ones who only passed through Yuhara as a short cut to the northern side- looked carefree as they glanced at designer watches and clutched leather brief cases. Yuki felt sick watching them walk through a street that could only taint them.

He hated walking in Yuhara. He remembered when, as a child, he had played on these side walks with school mates, and everything felt clean and safe. Now, if a kid was seen on the street, he was most likely there to pick pocket or beg. Or he was one of the Sohmas' runaways.

Stepping off from the large boulevard, Yuki headed down a side street to his parked car. All the locals knew and recognized a Sohma car; it went without saying that it was completely off limits. He slipped into the black Mercedes, and carefully shut the door. Pushing in the disc he had been listening too earlier, a concerto by Brahms, Yuki leaned back into the leather seats, closing his eyes. In a few minutes he'd have to brief Akito on the meeting with Honami, and then he'd have to check up on Kyou- that idiot.

Stupid bastard had chased down some girl the night before and ended up with three cracked ribs and metal shavings ingrained into his skin. Hatori had spent the better part of the night stitching up Kyou's sides, all while Akito sermonized.

Damn that idiot. Why couldn't he just get the job done? Didn't the fool know that now he'd be forced to clean up his mess? Yuki's mood was not at all improved either by having had to go down to Yuhara's. He hated it there.

Yuki pulled out his cell phone, pressing the speed dial. He didn't want to have to deal with Akito after spending over two hours in that place. All he wanted now was a hot shower and some time in the green house. Who'd figure a guy like him liked plants? The phone was picked up by the second ring.

"Speak; I'm listening." Akito's voice echoed in the cell delay.

"I'm going to stop by my place before heading over. The meeting went over fine. Honami will do." Akito didn't need to know that Honami was a girl just yet. Who knows- maybe he could work the girl to his advantage somehow.

"Be here for the meeting tonight. Shigure has news." Akito always had this ability to make his polite sentences feel like orders. Even when he phrased them as requests, Yuki could sense the dull anger behind them. Akito had power, and he used it.

"Tonight then." Yuki made to hang up but Akito's voice stopped him.

"One more thing."

"Yes, sir."

"Its about your contract. I need to discuss its revising with you. I have a proposition I think you may be interested in."

Yuki knew better than to trust anything Akito described as being beneficial for someone other than himself. But Akito could not be refused as Yuki knew all too well. Disobedience brought immediate punishment.

"Yes, sir."

"Oh, and Yuki?"

"Yes?"

"Dress nicely."

Yuki hung up the phone feeling more drained than before. How was it that he let Akito get under his skin so easily. Akito made him feel afraid- he was the only one who could do that. It was like some sick game, this game he played with Akito. He knew that the chances of him leaving and getting away with it spot free were slim and nil. Still though, he pressed and pressed, testing how far he could go before Akito would reign him in- how far he could get and still not get scratched.

But Akito hadn't pulled him back at all, rather Yuki had pulled himself back just as he fell within inches of that proverbial fine line. The Brahms soared into a searing violin solo. Fuck it…what was he doing wasting his time thinking about Akito?

He shifted the gear into reverse, swiftly pulling into the street. A few more jerks and he was racing down the narrow lane, ignoring the shocked looks of people who recognized his car, recognized the familiar crest of the Sohmas. Like it was something otherworldly- it was just the Chinese zodiac. And as Akito liked to say, he was the god, and Yuki the rat, the clever animal who would forever be first to the party and last to leave.

Last to leave.

Damn it all.

___________________

Interlude .03: Ever After

Languid,

Drowning this fear,

Its that fucking nursery rhyme,

Touching the braided hair

And knowing it'll come.

A rushing of waters,

All screaming-

Shouting-

This is hell.

My hell,

And I'm fucking drowning,

Drowning in your tears.

Author'sNotes:

So I'm nuts…and I have a third one in the works. This is going to be way different from Beginnings, obviously, plus the plot is more convoluted. And if you're wondering about the curse- its all going to be a surprise.

Please review!