Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Startling Surprises ❯ Finding a Cure for an Illness ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of Fruits Basket. Except Kei, I own her.

(A/N: This is really going to be a quick author's note, I think. Well, I finally got to watch The Clearing Sky which is vol. four in the Fruits Basket DVD collection. It gave me the inspiration I needed to type again. However, before I move on to my wonderful story I want to thank all of you who took the time to read this story.)

Chapter 3: Finding a Cure for an Illness

By Tainted InuShemeeko

Shigure rubbed the back of his head, as an uneasy hearty laugh came from inside side him. Hatori rolled his eyes at Shigure as he watched him, try to explain thing to the two boys.

“Well you see it's kind of like this um…”

Hatori sighed as he decided it would be best if he explained things to Yuki and Kyo.

“What Shigure is trying to say is that Kei has a curse of her own. However unlike us, she can touch someone of the opposite sex as long as they are the same sign as she is.”

Yuki gave what Hatori some thought before he asked,

“So Miss Minino was born in the year of the dog like Miss Honda and Shigure?”

Hatori's voice remained devoid of any emotion as he replied to Yuki's question.

“That is correct, now if you will excuse me I'm going to check on Tohru before I leave.”

The three of them watched as Hatori walked up the stairs to Tohru's room.

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Kei knocked softly on Tohru's bedroom door. She waited for Tohru's reply before she entered the room.

“Yes, come in.”

Once getting the okay from Tohru to enter, Kei slowly pulled the door open. She couldn't believe what she saw; that scared frightened young woman from eighteen months ago seemed so different now. Well, that didn't matter really; the only thing that mattered was that she was being taken care of.

“Hello Tohru, you probably don't remember me. Seeing how it's been a long time since we've seen one another.”

Nothing could have prepared Kei for her cousin's response.

“Aunt Kei! I'm so happy to see you.”

Kei laughed softly as she hugged the young woman, who now had her arms around her. Which only caused Kei to hug her tighter, oh how she had missed her. Now she knew she shouldn't have put it off coming to see her for so long.

“Oh Tohru, I've missed you so much. I should have come to see you a lot sooner. There were so many things I was unsure of and I was afraid.”

This caused Tohru to look up at Kei confused.

“Aunt Kei, what is it, what were you so afraid of?”

“It's nothing for you to worry about now. Let's concentrate on getting you well again. I'm sure Hatori has told you that getting yourself all worked up isn't good for your health.”

Guilt seemed to set in on Tohru's face as she bowed her head.

“Yes, I know. I just can't seem to help it.”

Kei smiled at Tohru as she helped her back into bed. It was true she was the one who was blessed, for Tohru was truly special.

“Alright, Tohru, now I want you to lie in bed and get some rest, and I'll see what I can do make you feel better. I'm sure I can do something that Hatori couldn't.”

Hearing this Tohru sat up in bed once more.

“Oh I didn't know you were a doctor, Aunt Kei.”

Kei then gently pulled the blanket up to Tohru's chin.

“Well Tohru, I'm kind of a jack of all trades. I assist the doctor to the Minino family; I'm also a writer whether it's a book or a song. The family usually has me dance and perform a song for special occasions. So you see, Tohru, there isn't much I don't do.”

A tear then fell from one of Kei's chocolate eyes. She then gently laid her forehead against Tohru's as she spoke.

“Tohru sweetheart, I'm so sorry, I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed someone the most.”

Tohru was startled at first by her cousin's confession.

“Oh no, Aunt Kei, it's alright really it is, I'm okay really Shigure and the others have been taking good care of me.”

Kei then returned a soft smile to her.

“You know, you're right, they have.”

Tohru yawned as she looked over at Kei and asked,

“Um Aunt Kei, how is it that you know Shigure and Hatori?”

Kei sat down on the bed beside of Tohru. Something shone in her dark pools as she started to talk to Tohru.

“Well, you see, I ran into them one day while going to school.”

Tohru's eyes sparked with excitement, as she looked up at Kei.

“Oh so you went to school with them?”

Kei just ended up smiling at Tohru.

“No, I didn't go to school with them. All of us went to all boys or girls private schools. I kind of bumped into one of them on my way to school, or I guess they bumped into me.”

Kei gently laid a hand on Tohru's forehead, as she spoke.

“It's really nothing you need to worry about. All you need to wonder about is getting better; we'll talk some more later; we've got a lot of catching up to do.”

Tohru's eyes began to droop closed as Kei kept her hand on her forehead.

“Ok, Aunt Kei, I'll just get some rest.”

A soft glow radiated from Tohru's body as Kei passed her left hand down her body. She then sighed with relief as she worked the fever out of Tohru. Kei now had proof that Tohru was free from their families curse just as Kyoko had been. If she had been cursed the strange fever she had gotten, would have turned her into a dog.

“Tohru's coming of age; at least she can live normally and won't be controlled.”

Suddenly sucked dry of her energy Kei sagged against Tohru's bed. Sometimes she forgot how draining using her gift could be.

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Just as Hatori reached Tohru's bedroom door he heard a poof, from inside the room. Which caused him to slide the door open, Tohru seemed to be sleeping peacefully Hatori then looked down toward the floor of her room where he saw a tan and orange dog laying.

Walking into the room Hatori walked over toward the dog and petted her head, as Kei nuzzled her dog nose against Hatori's knee, he spoke to her gently.

“You've over-taxed you body I see. Should I even ask how? Something tells me it has something to do with Tohru.”

The tan and orange dog sighed as she spoke to Hatori.

“I've just been under a lot of pressure. I'm sure if any one knows what that feels like it's you.”

Hatori gave it some thought before he answered her.

“I suppose you're right. I do know what it's like to be over worked. I must ask you something. When are you planning on telling Tohru?”

Hatori watched as different emotions played inside of Kei's brown dog eyes.

“I do plan on telling her, it's one of the reasons I came. It's just…I…I don't want to scare her. She's been through so much, it's one thing when you learn about someone else's secret, and completely different when you learn a secret that involves your own family.”

Hatori glanced over at Tohru who was still sleeping peaceful.

“I suppose you're right. Nevertheless, you will never be sure how well she will take it unless you tell her.”

Kei gave a soft inward sigh, because she knew one thing: he was right she would never know unless she told her.

“You know, Ha'ri, you're right. I won't know unless I tell her.”

Hatori's only response was a simple nod; he then brought a hand up to Tohru's forehead. He was startled by what he found Tohru's fever was completely gone.

“Impossible, I gave her something to lower her fever but there's no way it would have work so fast.”

A smile could be heard in Kei's voice as she spoke, a small giggle escaped her lips as well.

“Your right, her fever is gone too fast for it to be because of the medicine you gave her. I do want to thank you for caring so much for her.”

“But, how did you…?”

Kei just winked at Hatori as she answered him.

“Let's just you have your gift and I have mine. You can erase people's memories and I can heal a person, that is, if the injury isn't too severe.”

Hatori couldn't believe what he was hearing. She had a gift as well; well he didn't really call his a gift as much as he called it a curse. He guessed that was a part of the Sohma curse as well.

A few seconds later, Shigure popped his head through the door.

“Is everything alright in there, Ha'ri? You and Kei have been in there with Tohru for an awfully long time.”

He then noticed the tan and orange dog, that was sitting next to Hatori.

“Oh Kei, I see you've transformed and from the looks of it, it wasn't because of Ha'ri.”

Kei slowly picked up her clothes in her mouth and walked toward the door.

“No, it wasn't. Now if the two of you would excuse me for a minute.”

She then made her way down to the bathroom. Kei had just barley walked inside when poof, she transformed back. After she walked back out she was once again dressed in the simple lavender dress with white butterflies dancing up the skirt.

“There, all back to normal, or as normal as I can be.”

Kei then looked down the hallway where Shigure and Hatori were standing. Hatori looked at Kei as she walked up to then. He gave one more glance over at Tohru.

“Well, if the two of you can handle things from now on, I really must be going. I will be back later to give Tohru another check up; it was very nice seeing you again, Kei, and take care.”

Kei smiled as she watched Hatori head toward the stairs.

“Same here Ha'ri it was nice seeing you again. I hope we get a chance to talk again.”

Hatori spoke over his shoulder as he stopped for a moment.

“Yes, that would be nice.”

Both Shigure and Kei followed Hatori down the stairs. It was true they had a lot of catching up to do.

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Tohru slowly started to open her eyes when she heard a soft knock at her door.

“Uh…Miss Honda, mind if I come in?”

Her blue eyes widened at the sound of Yuki's gentle voice.

“Oh, Yuki, please come in.”

Yuki looked over at her with his soft violet eyes, he then asked,

“Are you feeling any better now?”

Tohru nodded in return.

“Oh yes I'm feeling much better, thank you for asking. Um Yuki, I'm sorry if I worried you.”

Yuki smiled lightly at her.

“No, it's all right, really. I'm just glad you're feeling better. Um…Miss Honda I was wondering, how is it you know Miss Minino?”

Tohru smiled over at Yuki as she answered his question for him.

“Well, you see, she's kind of my second cousin.”

His violet orbs widened in total surprise when he heard her confession.

“I see, so Miss Minino is your cousin. Earlier today, I thought I heard you call her Aunt Kei. ”

Tohru sweat dropped at hearing Yuki say this.

“Well, you did, see ever since I was little I always called her Aunt Kei. I'm not sure why. I guess it was because I always saw her and my mom as sisters, kind of silly, huh?”

Yuki just smiled at her.

“No, I don't think it's silly at all. Speaking of your Aunt Kei, she sent me up to get you for dinner, that is, if you think that you're up to it.”

“Oh yes, of course I'm up to it. I just can't believe she went to so much trouble.”

Yuki looked over at her confused.

“You are her family, Miss Honda, so I can't see why it matters. I mean she came here just so she could see that you were alright. I think that means a lot, don't you?”

Tohru giggled and then smiled at Yuki.

“Yes, you're right, it does.”

(A/N: Sorry if this chapter seemed short, but I liked it so I hope you do too. Read and review if you can.

Ja ne!

Tainted InuShemeeko)