Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ The Cousin of Death... ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

The Cousin of Death...

By Ezri-Candy

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket…I could never create something so wonderful…if you sue me, all you'll get is a few carpet fibers and a roll of one-ply toilet paper.

 

NOTE: Since the anime only tells part of the entire FB story and all the chapters of the manga haven't been released in America yet, I don't know what happens after the end of the anime yet. This story contains spoilers for both the manga and the anime so if you haven't seen or read it, reconsider reading this fic.

 

It takes place during their senior year, just so I don't get any angry emails or the like.

 

Chapter 1:

 

"Honda Tohru of the class 1-D seniors, please report to the main office. I repeat: Honda Tohru of class 1-D seniors, please report to the main office, you have a visitor."

 

"Eh?" Blue eyes looked up to the intercom with confusion clearly written on her face. Tohru looked to Yuki and Kyo and shrugged at their questioning glances.

 

"Miss Honda, you're excused." The sensei said with a nod.

 

She stood and left the classroom, mouthing the words 'I don't know' to Arisa and Saki as she left. Tohru had no clue as to who would want to see her bad enough to pull her out of class, but regardless, slipper clad feet propelled her down the hall.

 

Taking a deep breath, Tohru entered the office and stood before the desk. "Um, I'm Honda Tohru...I was called to the office?" She asked the secretary.

 

"Hai, your visitor is waiting in the conference room." She stood and led her to the door, opening it for her.

 

Tohru's heart rate increased and butterflies fluttered in her stomach when she saw who was waiting for her on the other side of the door.

 

Hatori stood before her, leaning on the long table in the center of the room. His hands were in the pocket of his black suit, exposing a bit more of the vest beneath his jacket. She couldn't help but to think how handsome the dragon was.

 

Yes, Honda Tohru was in love with the handsome doctor of the Souma family. Ever since she saw him at the school's festival when he brought Momiji to visit, she couldn't help the hot blush that flooded her cheeks. Hatori was a sweet, honest man that faced a lot of pain in his life...especially with Kana.

 

Her eyes traveled from his concealed hands on the slow journey to his eyes. 'He deserves to be happy...but Akito took his happiness away and nearly blinded him...” She thought to herself, her heart clenching in sadness.

 

Eventually her eyes met his handsome face and she didn't fail to notice the grim look in his eyes. "Eh, Hatori-san...” She started quietly, shifting from foot to foot. "You needed to see me?"

 

"Tohru-kun..." he said, trying to hid the concern in his voice. "Akito has requested a meeting with you...I have to take you to see him now."

 

Tohru froze as her heart stilled in her chest. He watched as her hand began to shake before she slowly brought it to her chest. A myriad of emotions crossed her face before coming to finally settle on fear and sadness.

 

'I don't want to see Akito!' Her mind screamed. 'I don't want to lose my memories! My friends and the good times we've had together…and Hatori...They're all I have!'

 

He watched as her breathing hitched and her eyes filled with tears. He fought against the sudden urge to move forward and take the sweet young woman into his arms. She reminded him a little of Kana, but Tohru...Tohru was so much more.

 

In Hatori's eyes, she showed undeniable strength and courage the last time she faced Akito. She remained strong and resolute when she faced the ailing man despite the bruises and scratches she suffered when he got too rough with her. He remembered how she had finally broken down whiled he was treating the few minor injuries she had sustained.

 

She had admitted that she was afraid, but for the sake of the friends she had made within the cursed members of the Souma family, but especially for the sake of him, she wouldn't cave. She wouldn't allow Akito to drive her away, to scare her or torture her mind with guilt like he had done with Hatori's love, Kana.

 

It was then that he realized that the sensations of warmth that flooded his chest when she was near, the smiles that he had to hold back at some of her antics were far more than he tried to make himself believe they were. He cared for her deeply, perhaps more than he should, but he deny what he felt for her anymore. He loved the little onigri.

 

Hatori shook himself from his thoughts when a small sob escaped her lips. He reached a bit deeper into his pocket and removed a handkerchief before moving forward. Tears were gently blotted from her cheeks and soon they slowed and eventually came to a stop as she tried to regain her composure and put a facade of strength up for his sake. Strong fingers tilted her chin so that she was looking into his hazel eyes.

 

"Tohru...I won't do it." He said firmly.

 

"Do what?" She asked, in a slightly choked tone.

 

"I won't take your memories away...even if Akito tells me to. I can't and I won't."

 

"But Hatori-san! Don't defy him for my sakes! I don't want him to hurt you anymore!" She nearly embraced him, but instead, tiny hands came up and clasped his tightly.

 

“Tohru…listen to me please…” He said quietly. “I can't take your memories away from you because losing you would hurt too many people. I…” He paused and corrected himself. “We would miss you…

 

“For now, I want you to be the same strong Honda Tohru you've always been. The one that didn't run away from our juunishi curse and the young woman who didn't give in to Akito. Can you do that for me Tohru-Kun?” He asked, his free hand coming up to run through her silky chocolate strands comfortingly.

 

Tohru closed her eyes and found herself tilting her head to rest on his strong hand. After taking a deep breath, blue eyes met hazel. “I will stay strong for Hatori-san…”

 

He graced the little onigri with an honest but sad smile as his thumb gently ran across the soft skin of her cheek. “Thank you, Tohru-kun.” A beeping sound filled the room, breaking the room's two occupants from their thoughts. Hatori reached into his pocket and removed his phone. A curse escaped his lips as a familiar number popped up on the caller ID.

 

Giving her a regretful look, he answered his phone. “Souma Hatori.”

 

Tohru watched the man closely, but his face remained impassive. `I wonder who he's talking to…oh no! I hope it's not an emergency!” She worried as he spoke quickly.

 

“…Hai, I'll be there soon. Keep him comfortable until then and call me if there are any changes.” He said and hung up the phone, a sigh escaping his lips. “Akito has been very ill as of late, and his condition is deteriorating…but he still demands your presence. Go retrieve your things Tohru, I will check you out.”

 

“H-Hai!” She said and quickly darted out of the door and into the hallway. Soon she arrived at classroom 1-D and went straight for her desk. Books were hastily packed into her bag and she ignored the looks from her classmates and teacher. She looked over to Kyo and Yuki who were just as confused and very concerned.

 

With a look of strength they had never seen in her eyes before, she mouthed one word. “Akito.”

 

Immediately the two boys were on the feet, each wearing a mask of utter terror at the name of the man whom had tormented and ruled over them for years. She shook her head once more, telling them to stay and gave them a warm smile. “I'll be fine…I'll see you later Yuki-kun, Kyo-kun. Please tell Uo-chan and Hana-chan not to worry and I'll see them later.” She whispered to them and saw them hesitantly nod.

 

Smiling to them, she slung her bag over her shoulder and darted for the door. She smiled at Arisa and Saki before leaving the classroom to.

 

Hatori was waiting for her outside of the office and walked with her to her locker where her shoes were quickly donned. They walked out side and to the parking lot where Hatori opened the door to his black Mercedes for her then closed it and climbed into the drivers seat. Soon they were on the road and on their way to the main house.

o-o-o-o

AN: Okay, this is my first Fruits Basket fic, but I hope to finish the last chapter tomorrow after I get home from work. I got the idea to this fic on the way to work on Friday and started working on it while I was there. There are actually five chapters to this story and depending on the reviews I get, I will post the rest over the next few days.

 

Hell, I don't care if I don't get reviews, I'm still gonna post it -Grins- I love to write, and I'm not gonna be a review hog and say `I'm not going to post until I get (insert number here) reviews.' I trust that people who enjoy the fics that I write will review and I will openly thank them in the next chapter's AN. That's just the way I do things ^___^

 

I also welcome emails. You can find my addy in my profile. I pretty much check it every day unless my DSL is being a bitch, then its whenever its wants to work for me.

 

 

Ezzy

 

PS: I want to dedicate this little fic to my bud Pyrobaka06. She is the one who introduced me to the greatness that is Fruits Basket. I don't know if she'll read this but `THANK YOU MEH PYPY!!!!' -tacklehuggleglomploves-

 

Oh and by the way… I LOVE THE MEN OF FRUITS BASKET!!!! (they are all just too hot for their own good and Momiji is just darling!) I LOVE TOHRU! (So naive and innocent…you can't help but to love her!!)