Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Seven Minutes in Heaven ❯ 00:03 ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: Fruits Basket and all its characters are properties of Takaya Natsuki-sensei and Hana to Yume comics. Everything else in this fanfic are figments of my imagination. Any similarities to name, places, yada yada yada are simply examples of the world's many coincidental mysteries. Earlier chapters of this fic is available in ff.net and mediamier.org

December 23, 2004

Seven Minutes in Heaven: 00:03

by Ina-chan

Once upon a time there was a poor mistreated girl. She was the nicest girl in the whole world but for some reason or other, the whole world was still against her and nobody liked her. Until one day a brave handsome and perfect prince on a white horse rode along and saved her from her misery. They fall in love, and they live happily ever after.

That's pretty much the generic summary of every romantic fairy tale. There are some variations, but almost every single one ends the same way.

With a kiss.

How stupid.

Then again, except for a handful blessed few, we all know that majority of the girls coming to this school are morons anyway.

"GET OUT OF THAT CLOSET SO I CAN KICK YOUR ASS!!!!"

Spoken like a true prince.

While half the female population of the school would probably disagree with me, I never did see the President as that brave handsome and perfect prince. Well... I have to admit that the fact he is able to tolerate Manabe is proof enough of his bravery. There is no doubt that the President is... well... he looks... good. Perfect? With his looks and his brains and charisma, he's probably the closest to what a lot of people would consider as "perfect"... depending on your personal definition of what perfection is, that is... But a prince?

No. The President is very far from being that perfect princely image. The truth is, he was probably more pathetic...

.........

Perhaps... "pathetic" is not the right word to use. Not in the sense that Todou would use to describe whom she calls a "loser".

That's Sakuragi.

It's pathetic, in a sense that, he seems to be allowing himself to be the victim of circumstance. While everyone looks up to him and admires him as being this model student... this perfect person... the truth of the matter is, he's merely a prisoner of everyone else's expectations. Perhaps, it's really more sad and lonely.

Being a member of the Student Council, I had a lot of opportunities to see the President in a light that most of his fan club hasn't. Like how he would have this sad far-away contemplative look when he thinks no one is looking at him during group gatherings. Or that flash of regret after he politely declines casual offers to hang out with classmates after school. Or that unreadable expression that flickers quickly across his face whenever he catches a glance of that orange-haired cousin of his... or Tooru Honda... or the both of them together. They were all actions and mannerisms that feel all too familiar.

I suppose that's the main reason why I think he's less than that perfect princely image. Even though he is constantly surrounded by people who say they love him, I very much doubt that he has a lot of people whom he can consider calling as real friends.

Then again, who am I to judge a person with things like that?

Though the thing I found most unforgivable was how he lets other people push him and use him. Like this Gardening club fiasco, for example. It's true that he got more than furious at Manabe for starting that stupid contest. But in the end, he did nothing to stop it. He could have stopped it if he wanted to. Sure his legion of fangirls would be disappointed, but they'll get over it. After all, their Prince had spoken.

But instead, he played along with it. While Todou and I distributed the pink heart-shaped raffle tickets with the class representatives who seemed to perpetually appear in front of the student council office, he wore that charming smile and thanked his love-smitten public for their support to our cause. Despite the fact that his eyes screamed that he wanted to be anywhere but where he was. By the end of the first day, we collected more than enough funds to repair the Green House and buy new equipment for the Gardening club.

It was then that we finally decided to cap the raffle ticket sales, to Manabe's protests. Students were still willing to buy more tickets until just before the weekend's track and field meet, after all. For once, Sakuragi actually agreed with him. Being one of the treasurers, it would have been logical for me to agree with them as well. For some strange reason, I found myself not being able to, despite their logic. In the end, the President won the argument when he pointed out that the student council room was in the verge of being declared a hazard by the Fire Marshall with the boxes and boxes of raffle tickets stored in there until Sunday.

Which brings us to the next subject matter...

What kind of fool would put her hope of complete and utter bliss on a piece of paper? A cheesy pink heart-shaped serial numbered raffle ticket to be exact. It's stupid and illogical. But nonetheless, the next 24 hours after the release of Manabe's statement to the school press, proved that sometimes the truth defies common sense and how women can turn into complete morons just for the sake of fulfilling a pathetic fantasy.

What is it with the notion of the fairy tale prince that makes a typical girl's IQ drop a few notches? I feel sorry for the President for becoming the target of this stupid school girl obsession of living in a fairy tale. I don't understand it. I don't think I ever will. And personally, I'm getting tired of these fangirls showing up in front of the student council office one after the other.

"A..anou... good afternoon."

Speaking of the devil...

"I'm sorry, there are no more tickets available for the raffle."

Since no one else was around this time, I suppose I had no other choice but to answer it. It was probably another one of those Prince whatever fanclub members demanding more raffle tickets.

"Hello... anou... It's not about the raffle tickets. I just wanted to know if... well... is Yuki-kun around?"

I couldn't help but blink when I saw who it was when I looked up to see the person standing by the open door. It was an image all too familiar, from the ribbons on her long brown hair, those huge innocent brown eyes, and the sweet tone of her cheerful voice. It was her...

Tooru Honda.

"The President has gone off to a meeting. I could take a message for you. Is there something you needed?"

Her eyes widened in horror as she shook her head almost violently.

"Oh! No! I wouldn't want to trouble you! I could always talk to him when I see him later!"

When she sees him later? I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the comment. I heard that Tooru Honda does seem to have a close relationship with the President and members of his family. Though, I, myself, never really pondered deeply into that particular situation.

But now that I think about it... if Tooru Honda does have such a close relationship with the President, that would explain why the President didn't even try to stop Manabe's ridiculous proposition. But if that was the case, what kind of relationship does Tooru Honda have with the President for him to endure such humiliation? His actions were definitely beyond the call of duty as President of the Student Council.

Despite of myself, I couldn't help but feel intrigued.

"Anou... I just wanted to bring this for the student council office... a thank you gift from the Gardening Club."

I didn't notice it until she held it out to me. It was a potted plant with purple butterfly-shaped leaves and white flowers. I took it instinctively, not really knowing what else to do and to say.

"All of you have done so much to help us. I know it's not much, but please accept it."

And with that, she made a polite bow and with a shy smile, turned and made her way down the hallway to disappear with the crowd. So there was nothing left to do but return to the office and set the plant down somewhere. I ended up putting it on the President's desk. A waft of air from the open door played with the plant's leaves, making it flap playfully like little butterfly wings around its white flowers.

I think I understood why, at that point. Why the President felt that he had to do something to help her. There was something about Tooru Honda. Though she's not very pretty or popular, in fact, Tooru Honda is as ordinary as any girl could ever get. But still... there's just something about her. Even by meeting her briefly, you can feel a certain warm aura about her. In the end, that you can't help liking her.

"Ararara? What do you have there Machi-chan?"

My eyebrow twitched involuntarily as that girl's annoying syrupy voice announced her presence behind me.

"A present from the Gardening Club."

"UWAAAAAA!!!! That's so nice of them! But don't you think that it should be by the window so it'll get more sunlight? Here let Kimi take..."

My hands instantly tightened around the pot protectively, not giving Todou a chance to move it from its current place. I don't know why, but somehow it felt right to assign the President's desk as the plant's new home. Todou took a step back instinctively as I gave her a murderous glare.

"Okay, let it stay there then... AH! Kimi also got the last book of tickets! Everyone has been so busy with organizing this and with all the excitement... Kimi just realized that we haven't purchased tickets for ourselves! "

Eh?

"What kind of student council members are we if we can't support our beloved Yun-yun with his cause, right? <heart> And since we're both girls, Kimi figured that we should have first dibs on how many tickets we should put in... right? <heart>"

Sure, whatever. Knowing Todou, she probably just wants to have a chance to go out on a date with the President, since he successfully avoided any attempts Todou made to get him to go out with her in the past. It's just like her to involve everyone in her plans to cover up her own hidden agendas. Despite of myself, I took the ridiculous pink heart-shaped paper and stared at it blankly.

And once again, I'm struck by the foolishness of this situation. It was obvious that Todou would not be immune to this insanity. After all, she is the absolute personification of a Prince Yuki fangirl... the absolute personification of every Prince Yuki fangirl's dream to be exact. Pretty, confident, and has the opportunity to be with the President six days a week.

"Ara? Machi-chan? Aren't you going to fill out yours? Don't you want it?"

Of course, I didn't want it. Whether it be for a good cause or not, it's still stupid. Why should I involve myself with this girl-romantic-hope foolishness? I don't believe in this! I don't believe in fairy tales and princes and kisses that can give you a happy ending! I should just take this stupid raffle ticket and rip it to shreds. That should show how much I think of it!

"Well, if you're not... do you mind if you give your ticket for Kimi? It WILL be a shame to put it to waste, ne? Waste not, want not! <heart>"

Then someone tell me why?

"Anou... ah... Ma-ma-machi-chan... if you want the ticket, a-a-all you have to do is say so..."

Why can't I do just that?

"ITTAI! Machi-chan! Let go! You're hurting Kimi's wrist!"

Why is it so hard to let go?

End of Seven Minutes in Heaven: 00:03

To be continued...

******

Author's squawk:

Yaaay! I finally got over the Sushi Girl wall! Heh-heh... My sister calls Machi, "Sushi Girl", because she originally thought that her name is "Maki". Anywayz, it fits her still `cause Machi's a cold fish. ^_^. As you can tell... I don't like Machi very much. In fact, I DESPISE her!

Very special thanks to RJunkie and Adria who both motivated me and beta-read this little pain in the behind. I'll need help again with the next chapter... which is going to be in Kyou's point of view... another character that Ina-chan despises with a vengeance. Kyou has fallen from grace in my eyes with each passing chapter in the manga! And they say Yuki is the one who's weak... Kyou's the pathetic one with how he's slowly turning out in the canon. And I don't mean the sad and lonely type... ^_^.

Comments, criticisms, and flame throwers to ina_chan@yahoo.com

Ja!

Ina-chan