Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ The Cousin of Death... ❯ Chapter 7 ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter 7:

Tohru's eyes slowly opened and found herself on soft, vibrant green grass. She smiled as the sun shone down on her skin, warming her greatly, but the cool breeze kept her comfortable. She stretched lazily but then suddenly sat up when she remembered what had happened to her.

 

Her hand quickly went down to her stomach and frantically ran her fingers over the lower right side of her abdomen. The wound that Akito had given her before he died was gone.

 

She looked around at her surroundings and despite the beauty of the green rolling hills sprinkled with vibrant yellow flowers and crystal blue skies, a wave of deep sadness welled within her chest, and tears sprung to her eyes. “Oh no…if I'm here…does that mean…” Her hand presses harder against her stomach as tears fell into the shirt of her school uniform. “Does that mean that…I'm dead?” She said aloud, her voice thick with emotion.

 

Tohru drew her knees up to her chest and cried softly under the sunny blue skies. A cool breeze whipped through her hair carrying a scent that made the little onigri freeze. `That's gardenia…okaasan always wore gardenia…it was her favorite perfume…' She thought and felt her heart still as a voice reached her ears.

 

“Tohru…” The voice that she would never forget called too her.

 

Her head slowly rose from her knees and she simply stared wide eyed at the sight before her, her mouth opening and closing, yet no words could escape. Tears fell from blue eyes though a smile traced her lips as she stared at what sat before her.

 

Her mother sat on the green grass before her, wearing a simple white sundress. Her reddish hair blew on the breeze framing her beautiful smiling face as she sat cross-legged a mere foot in front of her.

 

“Oh Okaasan!” She cried happily and threw herself into her mother's arms, hugging her tight and not wanting to let go.

 

Kyoko smiled as tears fell from her own eyes and wrapped her arms around her daughter tightly. She placed soft kisses on the top of Tohru's silky chocolate hair. “My beautiful daughter…for so long I've wanted to hold you like this again…”

 

Tohru cried happily into her mother's chest, clinging to her mother, never wanting to let go. She inhaled the scent of her perfume and let her mother's peaceful aura calm her troubled spirit. “Okaasan…since we're both here…does this mean…”

 

“That you've died?” Kyoko smiled and kissed her daughter's forehead before gently coaxing her to lay with her head in her lap. “No, my little Tohru, you're still very much so alive. You're asleep and we were granted the chance to see you before you ventured back into the waking world. The surgery was successful. You'll be fine…”

 

Tohru looked at her mother curiously at the word `we' but ignored it for the moment. She knew that her time with her mother was limited. “Okaa…I'm so sorry I didn't say goodbye to you when you left for work that morning…I-“ She was silenced with the red haired woman smiled brightly at her daughter and placed her finger to her lips, silencing her.

 

“Tohru…don't apologize. You don't know how proud I was of you when I stood there watching you sleep. You work so hard at everything you do. Before I left I kneeled down at your side and in that instant, I saw what a special and amazing daughter I had…and still have. I leaned down and kissed you on your cheek…and you know what you said?”

 

The teen girl shook her head slowly as Kyoko smiled down on her. “I don't remember…I don't even remember you kissing me.” She admitted sadly.

 

“You said `I love you so much, Okaasan…thank you for everything you've done for me…' Tohru, that was better than any greeting that I could have ever received that day. I left for work that morning with nothing but joy in my heart…and when that man ran into me, my only regret was that I wouldn't get to hold my precious little girl in my arms anymore.

 

“I was afraid that you would close yourself off the world, but you didn't. My strong little Tohru pushed herself even harder to do what I always wanted for her…and what you've always wanted for yourself. You've also found people who love you and accept you…and I am so proud of you.”

 

“Hai,” Tohru said with a fond smile. “I love the Sohma's despite the curse…in fact, I think that makes me love them even more. They may be different, but they are unique, like you always said I was.”

 

The elder Honda nodded with a smile. “I can tell you love them…I see it every time I see you smile when you're with them. I'm always watching over you my little girl and though I'm not with you in body, I am always with you in spirit. You…Arisa-chan, Saki-chan, I always watch over you all…” She said and brought Tohru's hand up, kissing it softly.

 

“Tohru-chan…tell me about your friends…”

 

Tohru smiled. “Yuki is the nezumi. He is very shy and he used to have a lot of trouble expressing himself. Over the last two years I've lived with them, he has opened up a lot, but he can still be a bit shy.” A blush tinted her cheeks. “I use to love him…but its more of a brotherly/sisterly love now. He still will say something flirtatious that makes me bush, but I know he's just teasing.

 

“Kyo…he harbors the vengeful spirit of the neko. He really had a problem controlling his anger, but since he started back at the dojo, he has more control over his emotions.” A chuckle escaped her lips. “The arguments he and Yuki use to have all the time have died down, but he still tries to beat him. He came close once, but Yuki threw him through the wall at Shigure's. Kyo protects me just like a big brother would.

 

“I saw the true form of his vengeful spirit a little over a year ago, and at first it scared me, but then I realized that it was just another part of him. He didn't choose to have that form…so I embrace that form as well.”

 

“Then there's Momiji, he's the usagi and very sweet. He's just so cute it made me kinda sad when he switched over to wearing the boy's uniform. I know it upset a lot of the girls for a while, but once they got use to his new uniform, they began fawning all over him.

 

“Hatsuharu is the Oushi…he had a horrible sense of direction, but its getting better. When he gets upset, he changes into black Haru, but now he has better control over himself. It seems that he only changes into black Haru when someone threatens his family or even me, but Yuki and Kyo can subdue him.

 

“Kisa and Kagura are like my sisters. They are so sweet and I just love them both to death.” She said happily, snuggling up to her mother, her cheek coming to rest against the soft white material that rested against her stomach. “Kisa is a cute little Tora and Kagura is Inoshishi. Kagura is so strong, it amazes me each time she drags Kyo away.” Tohru snickered as her mother laughed. “She says she does it just to get a rise out of him…”

 

The little onigri told her mother about Hiro, Ritsu, Rin and Kureno as well and what she thought of each of them before finally coming to the remaining three. “Ayame and Shigure…they are just wonderful. They are like my uncles. Ayame makes the most beautiful clothing, and has even made a few dresses especially for me and Shigure…well his books are great. I haven't read any of his more…adult books, but he says that when I graduate I can read them.” She said, blushing hotly as her mother's musical laughter reached her ears once more.

 

“Tohru, what of Hatori?” Her mother prompted with a knowing smile, that caused the girls already red face to flush even more.

 

“Eh?! Ano…well…” She sputtered for a moment before sighing. “Okaasan…I love him…and I want to be with him…do you think that its wrong for me to be in love with him? He's ten years older than I am and I'm only just about to graduate…” She trailed off.

 

“Oh my little Tohru…Age has nothing to do with love. As long as you both love each other, it will work. Your father was six years older than I was when we started dating, but it didn't matter. We still loved each other very much and we created our beautiful daughter. When you came into this world, you didn't even cry, you smiled at the doctor and smiled at us before falling asleep. It was the happiest and most beautiful moment of our lives…” Kyoko trailed off as a tear of happiness rolled down her cheek and into fabric of Tohru's shirt.

 

“Honey, if you love him, tell him. He deserves to know and you shouldn't keep it to yourself.”

 

“Your mother is right Tohru. You should tell him.” Another voice broke in, causing the onigri to freeze. She clutched her mothers dress tightly in her white knuckled fist and turned to see familiar violet hair.

 

“Akito…” She whispered in fear, but shook it away as she observed him. His eyes seemed warm and kind, and the smile that traced his lips was not malicious or evil. His aura had also changed. What was once chaotic and angry, was now peaceful.

 

“Do you truly fear me Tohru?” He asked.

 

She studied him for a moment before shaking her head. “No Akito, I don't fear you.”

 

He gave her a true but slightly sad smile. “Good. You have no reason to now. Tohru…I am sorry for what I've done to you.”

 

“Akito…I've already forgiven you and I don't hate you.” She smiled at him. “I'm just glad that you've found peace.”

 

“I was wrong…I think you are the one…” He said cryptically. Kyoko nodded with a smile before he continued. “Tohru…it is very important that you Hatori how you feel. You love him, so tell him. You see why its so important that you tell him soon enough. He may or may not be able to say it back right away…I…I hurt Hatori very badly when I told him that he couldn't marry Kana…I hurt him because he loved her…” He said sadly.

 

“I will…” Tohru said firmly. “I don't mind that he probably won't be able to say it. As long as I can see it in his eyes, I won't mind one bit.”

 

“Tohru its time for you to wake up.” Kyoko said and watched her daughter moved to her knees and wrapped her arms around her.

 

“I love you so much okaasan…” She whispered.

 

“I love you too, my little Tohru…go back to them…to him.” Her mother said and pulled back slightly from the embrace and kissed her daughter's forehead.

 

The three stood and Tohru turned to Akito as he stood in his yukata, his plum colored lock blowing in the cool breeze. With a shy smile she moved forward and wrapped her arms around the former Sohma family head. “I forgive you…” She whispered. “Please…be at peace Akito…”

 

Akito froze for a moment…He couldn't remember the last time anyone dared touch him without his permission, let alone embrace him. When the curse took control over his mind and body during his fifteenth year, his heart became cold and his body began to fail. Such was the fate of the previous heads of the Sohma family. After bearing the brunt of the juunishi curse for so many years, the mind becomes weak and madness begins to set in, causing the family heads to lash out in violent and often deplorable outbursts.

 

His eyes burned as tears slid from his eyes. His grip on the young woman tightened as he whispered in her ear. “Thank you Tohru…and be happy with Hatori…” He said, kissing her forehead.

 

Suddenly a warm white light poured from Akito's body, causing Tohru to gasp as a wave of pure energy surged through her body. Akito released the young woman as she faded away as Kyoko came to stand by his side.

 

“Akito…what was that light?” She asked.

 

He only smiled. “It was my gift to her and the rest of my family. I only hope that it works. Its all up to her now.”

 

o-o-o-o

 

AN:

 

Inu: Dog

Neko: Cat

Nezumi: Rat

Oushi: Ox

Doragon: Dragon

Tora: Tiger

Inoshishi: Boar

Onigri: Riceball

Usagi: Rabbit

Hebi: Snake

Okaasan: Mother

 

 

Okay, like I said, I haven't read past book 5 in the manga so I actually have never read about Rin and Kureno, though I do know what they are in the juunishi. I'm not going to give any spoilers as to who is who with those two.

 

I hope you all liked this chapter, even just a little bit. -grins- I told you that Akito would redeem himself (in a way…) ^___^ and you'll just have to wait to find out what the gift was.

 

I had written out responses to each of you, but I got the blue screen of death and lost it all. I wish I had time to write them all over again in their entirety, but I have to get to bed soon.

 

Nawat: -I sent a little info to your email about some of the charries. I'm glad you're still liking it!-

 

Vasney -I glad I could addict you!! I hate soaps, never seen one but I know how popular they are-

 

Ladysnape -I am honored that you think that! I hope this chapter lived up to the last-

 

abcd1234 -you got it!! Hope I keep your interest-

Lil brown puppy -Thank you very much!!-

 

Animefreak -Akito can be a bastard, but I had to have him somewhat redeem himself-

 

Porcella -Thank you so much! I love Kagura, I laugh my ass off when I see her in the anime. I updated AS too :-D-

 

Well, those are no where near as detailed as the ones I lost, but I really do appreciate all of your reviews.

 

For an awesome Fruits basket fic, check out Broken by Nocturnem's Koneko (one word when you search for it in the fb section). Its on media miner and rated R but its great. Akito is a bastard in that one and its not completely done yet, but I think its worth it. If you can't find it, let me know and I'll send you the link.

 

I gotta go! Thank you all again and I will update again soon!

Ezzy

 

Edited 6/30/06