Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ That Fated Day ❯ Waiting ( Chapter 3 )

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

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE
A Fruits Basket Fanfic

Written by Miyu, Vampire Princess


AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Ah, a spin-off...cause I don't think it could really pass as a side story. AU to the furuba universe, this story takes place several months following "That Fated Day". I'm a stickler for timelines. This part told from Shigure's point of view. Is it really love, Gure-san? Say it isn't so! Standard Disclaimer follows story.


Part Three - A FINE LINE




The alarm goes off for what seems to be the tenth time and I smack the snooze button once more. The person who came up with the idea for the button was either a genius or just plain lazy.

I roll over onto my back, sunlight from the window hitting me square in the face. I'm painfully awakened, just as I'm painfully reminded that I'm the only one in the bed. Again.

I haven't seen or heard from Rin in a three days. It's not unusual really. She does have a life outside of my bed. Still, after nearly a whole week of waking up to her wonderful scent and gorgeous body beside me, it feels...well, lonely.

If this is what being in love is really like, then perhaps I should go back to being my old self.

When did I change, you ask?

Exactly three days ago, during my last encounter with Rin, I realized that I love her. It was a stunning revelation to be sure and not exactly according to my master plan. Then again, the master plan hasn't really been the master plan for the past few days.

It's changed too.

I'm starting to think about things like a family, a wife and children. Of course those were part of the master plan to begin with. So maybe it hasn't changed much at all. But now, I feel as though I'm looking at it from an entirely new perspective.

I'm in love with Rin.

The thought sends shivers of anticipated delight through my entire body. In love. It's not something I had ever thought I'd have the pleasure of doing. It's not like touching, or feeling. It's simply there, filling and complete.

I sigh, savoring the feel of the soft sheets as they surround my naked form.
Memories of our last time together also send tingles through me, arousing my senses and my body.

Then the alarm goes off again.

"Son of a--!"

RING! RING! RING! CRASH!

The noise before my clock crashes into the floor is the phone. I grab my robe and rush for the hallway. The growling in my stomach tells me that it's almost lunchtime. If that's the case, then Kyo's already left the house for work.

RING! RING! RING!

"Moshi moshi," I say, nearly dropping the cordless phone to the floor as I make my way upstairs towards the bathroom.

"Konnichiwa, Shigure."

Hatori? What a surprise. "Ah, Ha-san. To what do I owe the pleasure of your call."

"We need to talk. Can you come over?"

I pause in mid-step, the bathroom door half opened. He sounds serious, but then again, doesn't he always? "Has something happened at the Honke?"

"Something like that, but I don't want to discuss details over the phone."

"I'll be over within the hour," I tell him, stepping into the bathroom. I hold the phone between my ear and my shoulder as I take off my robe.

"I'll see you then," Ha-san replies. Then without so much as a good-bye he hangs up. I'm not upset considering he rarely says good-bye on the phone. Still, there's a slow building anxiety growing in the pit of my stomach.

What's happened?

I run a number of scenarios through my head and still come up with nothing. Perhaps Akito had fallen ill again. Or something had happened to one of the younger juunishi. Kisa and Hiro had been disobeying Akito lately. Not that I'm surprised. I let myself dwell on the possibilities, but forget them as soon as I sit down to soak in the tub.

My peaceful soak is interrupted only by my thoughts of Rin. I can't get her out of my head. I want her in my arms, to feel her skin against mine. I'm a greedy bastard but I can't help it. The girl is mesmerizing. Her smell is intoxicating. Kami, I'm throbbing just THINKING about her.

Shit, if I don't get a grip on myself I'm going to be in the tub much longer than I should. And I do have to meet with Hatori.

Boy, do I have it bad! A lovesick little pup. That's me.

Cursing to myself I finish my soak, towel off quickly and head back to my room. Since I don't know what kind of emergency I'm running into, I put on my usual yukata. The ends of my hair are still wet, but the day is warm so they'll dry on my way over to the Honke. I don't even look in the mirror before leaving my room and heading for the kitchen.

There's nothing edible in the fridge, at least that's my initial thought. Kyo left some soup from last night. The boy is actually a pretty good cook if you give him a chance. I settle for that. I need to fill my stomach before going to the main house.

I'm close to five minutes late when I finally arrive at the Honke. The doors are unlocked and the path is unusually quiet. Not a person in sight.

"Konnichiwa."

I can't help but be surprised. It's unlike Ha-san to welcome me at the door. Usually he locks it. He has a cigarette in his mouth too. My senses are suddenly alert.

Something's not right.

"Konnichiwa, Ha-san," I greet in my usual sing-song voice. "I came over as you asked." I stepped into his office, closing the door behind me. As soon as the door is closed, the smile leaves my face. "What's going on?"

Ha-san raises an eyebrow at me. "What do you mean?"

"Something's not right," I answer. And it isn't. My instinct tells me that something has happened. And without my knowledge! I wish I could say I wasn't upset.

"I saw Rin a few days ago."

His statement is so simple that I almost overlook it. Of course he'd see Rin. They both lived at the Honke. Then it occurred to me that neither one would seek out the other unless....

"Is she ill," is the first thing I ask, sitting down in a nearby chair. Had she been avoiding me on purpose? I can't blame her if she's been ill.

"That would depend on how you define 'ill'," Ha-san replies, stubbing out the butt of his cigarette and reaching for another in his pocket. I never realized how much he smokes when I'm around. But judging from the smell of him, he'd started long before I arrived.

Another sign that something is wrong.

Terribly wrong.

"What did Akito do? Did he hurt her again?" I'm somewhat relieved when Ha-san shakes his head.

"No, but if he learns of her condition he might."

Relief suddenly turns to dread. The pit of my stomach is laden with some heavy substance and I have this sudden urge to vomit. I'm panicking, something I never do. I've never panicked in my life.

Kami, Rin! Are you all right?

I feel myself standing, feel my legs moving towards the door. Once outside I'm running. The wind in my face does nothing to warm the chill now coursing through my body. I reach her rooms quickly, panting for air as I open the doors.

She's not here. Judging by the smell, she hasn't been here for more than a day. Her closet is nearly empty although the rest of the room looks untouched.

Again I'm running. I never knew I had this much energy in me. When I reach Ha-san's office I drop onto the stairs, sitting unceremoniously and knowing I look as miserable as I feel.

Ha-san is waiting for me again. And again, he's smoking a new cigarette.

"Out with it," I tell him. My voice sounds more miserable than angry and that only makes me angrier. Dammit, what happened?!

"I really shouldn't be the one to tell you, Shigure, but Rin asked me to."

This game has gone on far too long. It's not like Ha-san to just beat around the bush so to speak.

"Then out with it!" My anger is now apparent. The words roll off my tongue and a growl works it way up my throat. I stand, whirling to face him. "What's going on?!"

He sighs, taking a long drag of the cigarette. He looks at me sadly, a strange fire burning in his eyes. "Rin's pregnant."

Everything in me goes quiet for a moment. My muscles freeze and my heart skips several beats. I can't move. I can't think.

Pregnant? Rin?

Kami, help us!

"Does Akito know?" I can't stop the words from coming out although it's the first thought on my mind. I had not given much thought to him the whole time I've been lovesick over Rin. Shit! He will not like the fact that she's pregnant. And then when he finds out who the father is...no, that will ruin everything.

Who am I kidding? The plan's already been ruined. I've been walking a fine line for years. Only now it's about to snap.

Akito will have my head. Both of them and quite literally I'm sure.

Rin, can you ever forgive me?

"No," Ha-san answers after a pause. "Akito doesn't know, and I have no intention of telling him."

Again relief sets in, but it's only temporary. My stomach turns and anger mixes with panic. "Then where's Rin?"

"I sent her to live with a relative in town for a few days."

Ha-san offers me the last cigarette in his pack. I smile in thanks, putting the paper between my lips and lighting it. After the first long drag I can feel myself relax more. My anger begins to fade, but the panic remains.

"Where is she staying?"

"Shigure, I don't think it's a good idea. I've already had to stave off Akito's curiosity. If he finds out you're seeing her outside the Honke he'll be furious. Hell if he finds out you've been seeing her period he'll kill you both!"

"Let me worry about Akito." Yes, let me worry about him. But I know that being in his good graces -- if that's what one could truly call them -- would not save me this time. But maybe I could save Rin...and our child.

The thought alone makes me want to smile. My child. I'm not sure I'm ready to be a parent, but it suddenly sounds very appealing.

Dammit, what were we talking about again?

"Shigure--?"

"Just tell me where Rin is."

Ha-san sighs, taking another drag from his cigarette. Blowing the smoke from between pursed lips he replies, "She doesn't want to see you."

Ouch. That hurts. I manage not to flinch visibly, but damn! She's carrying our child, dammit! My child! She'll see me whether she likes it or not.

"Ha-san, it's not like you to play such games." My tone is light, a bit of my old self returning.

"I'm tired of having to watch out for your sorry ass," he responds, his tone almost as biting as my previous one. "We're not teenagers anymore! Just what the hell were you thinking, Shigure?! Sneaking around with Rin?! Don't you learn anything from your cousins' mistakes let alone your own? You're walking a very fine line here. If Akito finds out--!"

"Hai, hai. Gomen nasai." It's not like me to apologize, but in this instance I think it's appropriate. Ha-san does look out for me. He looks out for everyone. I allow myself a moment of guilt before brushing it aside.

"Don't apologize to me. You should apologize to Rin." Ha-san's voice is still angry, but not as before. "The poor girl has already been through so much with Akito. And Haru." A sigh. "She depends on you Shigure. She will never admit to it, but she does."

The guilt returns like a ton of bricks. "I love her."

I don't see so much as feel Ha-san's response beside me. He's surprised, completely in awe. Yeah, that was my reaction when I realized it too. I take another long drag from the cigarette before putting it out in a nearby bush.

"Shigure...?"

"It's the truth," I tell him, knowing what he'll ask. "You don't have to believe anything else I say. But THAT is the truth."

"What about your plan?"

"What plan," I scoff. "There is no plan. Not anymore."

"What if she won't see you?"

I shrug. "She'll see me. She'll probably also try to kick my ass, but she'll see me."

There's more silence, then I hear Ha-san walking back into his office. His footsteps are light as he returns. I look at him out of the corner of my eye as he extends a hand to me. In it is a small piece of paper with an address written on it.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Shigure," he says, offering me a small smile.

"You and me both," I reply with a smile of my own. "Arigato, Ha-san."

"Don't thank me," he replies, walking back into his office. "Not yet anyway. The longer this goes on, the more curious Akito will get. Don't let him find out the wrong way."

The office door closes and I'm left to contemplate if there's a good way to break the news to Akito. The answer is simple. No.

But Akito can wait.

A sudden burst of energy and I'm jogging for the front doors of the Honke. The address is on the other side of town. It will take some time to walk and I'm not all that familiar with the bus schedule. Perhaps I should've asked Ha-san if I could borrow his car. Of course, he'd have to drive.

I'll get there, one way or another.

Rin, I'm coming for you.

And our child.



~TO BE CONTINUED~


DISCLAIMER:
Fruits Basket is owned by Natsuki Takaya/HAKUSENSHA - TV TOKYO - NAS - Fruba Project and licensed by FUNimation Productions, Ltd (for distribution in the USA). All copyrights go to them and not me. All characters are used here without permission. Some liberties have been taken...and not necessarily for myself.... ^_-