AN: This is my first ever published thingy so please don't hate me if it sucks!
Disclaimer: Obviously I do not own Fruits Basket because if I did, I would not have permitted the anime to end so crappily!
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I sighed after I hung up the phone on John. I didn't believe that he had to work this weekend just that he would rather be with Sarah instead of me. I rolled over onto my stomach and picked up my box set of the Fruits Basket anime.
"Why can't life be as easy as it seems for Tohru Honda besides the whole orphaned thing?" I asked aloud to the room. I turned on the TV, turned off the light and pressed play on my DVD remote so that the 1st disc of the anime for Fruits Basket started that I had been watching before the long conversation with John.
Why can't I be Tohru? I would play up any chance I had to be with Kyo, Yuki even Shigure. I even kind of look like Tohru, well as much as a real person could look like a drawing. Although I am a bit older than her. I could be like her older sister. Yeah...older sister, right.
"If I was in Fruits Basket, I would definitely be the happiest I've ever been," I said aloud to the room as a whole.
"If you think that way, I can help," said a voice from over in the shadows. I sat upright, scared.
"Who's there?!"
"You want to be in this Fruits Basket so badly? What would you do for that?" the voice asked
"I dunno, almost anything," I said, aside, searching my night stand for some weapon with which to protect myself. There was a low mumbling over in that direction and it almost sounded like chanting but I didn't want to move from where I was.
I stared into the darkness, trying to see who was there. I fumbled around on the wall, trying to find the light switch to flood the room with light but so far it was eluding me. As soon as I reached the switch, the mumbling stopped and an odd tingling sensation went up and down my skin. I flipped the switch and the room lit up. Blinking rapidly, I looked over where I had heard the voice but no one was there. Suddenly, I felt extremely tired. So, I turned the light back off and went to sleep.
"Samii! Wake up!" said a very familiar voice calling out to me.
I lifted my head and stared into big blue eyes and jumped back.
"Ahhhh! Who are you?!" I screamed, backing away.
"I'm your sister silly! Tohru, remember?" she giggled at my reaction then started getting out clothes from a duffel bag on the floor.
"Tohru? Uh, right." What the hell is going on? Oh, obviously, this is a dream. Duh, stupid.
"You're groggier than usual today. Stay up late working on your novel last night?" Tohru asked with a smile.
"Yep, that was it. Um, I can't remember but how long have we been staying in this tent?" I asked her, standing up and looking for some of my clothes, none of which I found.
"Your bag is over there. We've been staying here for a little over a week," Tohru pointed over to a purple duffel bag with clothes spilling out. I walked over and pulled out a yellow sun dress. I smiled and slipped into it.
"Are you almost ready to go to school?" I asked her a little while later when it looked like she was going to leave.
"Yep, I am. Are you going to walk me like always?" she asked, grinning again. I never noticed how much she smiles.
"Of course I am, little sister!" I said, grinning back then enveloping her in a hug.
We walked out of the tent and Tohru immediately looked up at the sky.
"Look at that beautiful sky, Samii!" she said, directing my gaze to the bright blue sky, dotted with puffy white clouds.
Tohru peeked into the tent and said "See you later, Mom. Take care of the house while I'm gone okay? We'll be back!"
We started walking through the pretty forest that I had always adored when watching the movie. We passed over the familiar log bridge over the creek and finally Tohru spotted the Sohma's house.
"Look at this, Samii, did you know there's a house here?" she peeked into the front door and said "Seems so peaceful, must be nice."
I looked on the porch at the little zodiac figurines, waiting for Tohru to spot them and when she said, "Oh, look! How cute! The 12 animals of the Zodiac. Do you remember Mom telling us that story?"
"My word," and sure enough, there was Shigure's voice, "Do my eyes deceive me or are there 2 strange girls standing on my porch?"
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I was just looking, I didn't mean to barge in without permission!" Tohru spewed out a stream of apologies as she backed away quickly.
"It's alright, I just set them out to dry, no harm done but I find it hard to believe that these silly little things could attract your interest," the whole movie was enfolding before my eyes. I had watched it so many times that I basically had memorized it. Soon, Tohru will remark that of course, he didn't have the cat.
"No, I really like them, I don't think they're silly at all," Tohru said.
"Yes well I must admit, I'm particularly fond of them myself," Shigure said with a smile.
"Oh but I should've known, you left out the cat," Tohru said disappointedly.
"The cat? Ah I take it you're referring to the old folk tale about the Chinese zodiac?" Shigure asked.
"Uh huh, Samii, do you remember Mom telling it to us when we were little?" Tohru asked, turning to me and smiling sadly.
"Oh, you bet! And you so wanted to be a cat instead of a dog then. You felt so sorry for him that every time Mom told the story, you cried," I recalled from the movie.
"Not every time," she blushed.
"Funny, I wonder what he'll say when he hears he has a fan," Shigure mumbled then when Tohru questioned he quickly said, "You were born in the year of the dog? I knew there was something I liked about you, I mean aside from your pretty fa–" and a book bag landed on his head.
"Please forgive my cousin Miss Honda, he's a bit of a flirt but he's harmless, in general, it's usually best to just ignore him," said Yuki with a little smirk.
Tohru gasped then whispered to me, "Yuki Sohma! Oh Samii, I don't believe it, the prince of my high school, Yuki Sohma, is standing right here in front of me!"
"Ahhh, what do you have in that bag? A dictionary?" Shigure groaned.
"No, I have 2 of them," Yuki mumbled.
"So, you're one of Yuki's classmates from school and you're her sister? Let's start again, I'm Shigure, his older and much less violent cousin." Shigure lifted his hand in greeting.
"Hi, it's very nice to meet you!" Tohru said happily.
"And in case you didn't know, I'm Samii, her older and much less cheerful and perky sister," I introduced myself, smiling to Yuki and Shigure.
"Oh, don't say that, Samii Honda!" Tohru squealed, "You're always happy!"
"Ah, ah, ah but you're always optimistic Miss 'I'll never give up' and you're the one who had a better attitude with grandpa, in case you forgot," I pointed out, not knowing where the information was coming from.
"Well, what brings you to our home this morning Miss Honda and Miss Honda?" Yuki asked.
"Eh, it's Samii, not Miss Honda, that's her," I nodded at Tohru.
"Okay...but why did you stop by?" Yuki asked.
"Well you know we live...nearby," Tohru tried to explain.
"You do? Where at?" Yuki inquired, confused.
"Uh...right," Tohru said then turned around, "Okay, I think we'll be going now, it was nice to meet you."
"Wait, Miss Honda, since you're here, why don't we walk together?" Yuki asked.
"Uh...but Samii is walking with me," Tohru said.
"I don't have to if you'd rather walk with Yuki. Or I could walk with you guys," I said, not wanting to screw up the movie more than it already was.
"Okay, Yuki do you want to walk with us?" Tohru asked, obviously not wanting to be alone with him because she was so nervous.
We started walking in silence. Finally we got to the street corner and the fan club girls jumped out.
"WE LOVE YUKI! YUKI! LALALALALALALALA LALALALALALALALA!" Finally resting in their formation but when he didn't even glance at them they shouted, "YUKI!"
"Oh, god! I feel so sorry for you!" I said. They both looked at me in surprise because it was the first word said since back at the house.
"Why?" he asked.
"They are obnoxious. I bet Tohru will get crap from them later too." I said, rolling my eyes.
Yuki chuckled, "Yes I guess they can be a bit overbearing."
The rest of the way to the school was all quiet and we stopped in front of their school to say goodbye. I hugged Tohru and asked, "When do you get off work? I'll meet up with you and we'll walk home together."
"Around 11," she said, "You don't have to if you don't want to though."
"No, I will. Good bye Yuki, maybe we'll walk together tomorrow," with that I bowed then walked off.
With nothing left to do since I couldn't follow Tohru into school, I wandered the streets of the town. I had grabbed my wallet when I was back in the tent and bought some stuff to eat. When I wandered up to a library, I walked in and started reading some books. Of course, they didn't Fruits Basket, considering I was in it. Maybe I should've read it to know what went on after the series ended. I checked the clock after a long time and saw it was 10:30 pm.
I started off toward Tohru's work. My feet seemed to know where they were going so I just let them go. Suddenly, I was outside a tall building that I recognized. Somehow, I not sure why, I seemed to know everything about here even though there was never any description about where stuff was. It's like I grew up here.
She wandered out after a while and smiled, "Hi, how was your day?"
"Wonderfully boring without the greatest sister in the world! How about yours? Were school and work okay?" I asked as we started down the street.
"Oh, they were just fine, although, you were right about the fan club girls," and Tohru began to describe her day as the movie did. Finally we were walking up to our tent and I hear voices. Oh, crap, here's when Yuki and Shigure find us. I hurried into the tent to see Tohru talking to Mom's picture.
"Hi, Mom, we're home. I know it's late but I can't sleep, I've still got a paper to write. Samii, I'm going to go down to the stream wash up a little okay?"
"Alright, see you when you get back," I said but she froze in the doorway like I knew she would then laughter followed.
"Shigure, you don't think you're overdoing it?" Yuki asked underneath his laughter. I walked outside and stared them down. We walked to their house to talk, Shigure laughing all the way.
"So, you've been living in that tent by yourselves?" Yuki asked over Shigure's continued laughter and Tohru confirmed, "For how long?"
"I dunno, just a little over a week," Tohru said, head down, fists clenched.
"Well, that explains it, all of this land is Sohma property, it seemed odd that we'd suddenly have a new neighbor," Yuki explained.
"I'm sorry but please, can't we stay there a little while longer? It's only for a few more weeks then we'll go! We don't have much money but we can pay you. Please let us stay!" Tohru begged.
"Those woods aren't too safe, you've wild animals, landslides, the occasional weirdo prowling around, it's not a good idea for a couple of girls to be living out there alone," said Shigure with a straight face.
"So, you're done laughing?" Yuki asked.
"Don't you worry! I'm already used to the bugs and Samii doesn't mind either! And if we can stand up to them we can stand up to..." and Tohru started to fall.
Yuki felt her head and explained that she had a fever. Shigure jumped up and said, "Ice! I'll get ice! It's uh...uh..." he had opened the door to the kitchen which was piled high with trash.
"And you call the woods unsafe," said Tohru jokingly.
"Well, relatively speaking," Shigure pointed out then listened closely, "You hear that? There's just been another landslide somewhere."
"How do you know?" I took Tohru's line but I hadn't spoken in a while.
"Call it instinct," Shigure said and when Yuki asked if it was close, he said, "Close to the tent er- I mean not at all!"
Tohru and I looked at each other in horror then ran to the tent where we saw it buried under a mountain of dirt and mud. Tohru gasped then screamed, "Oh this is terrible, Mom's picture was still in there! I've gotta get her out! Mom! Mom, I'm coming!" she started to dig and I came up beside her and started to dig to but when she started to collapse from fatigue, Yuki put his hand on her back.
"Please, calm down, you already have a fever."
"But Mom...What am I going t do? If I don't get her out soon, she'll be hurt," Tohru said with tears in her eyes. Shigure enclosed his hand over hers.
"Don't strain yourself, we'll come back when it's brighter. I think your mom is probably glad it wasn't you in there and I think she'd be upset if you got hurt now, don't you? Which means Samii, you should probably stop too," Shigure said in a low, calm voice while I was still digging. I had the burning desire to get that picture out. He grabbed me around the waist and pulled me down then put a hand on my shoulder.
Tears filled my eyes then as I stared at the dirt heap that was our tent. Tohru stood up and hugged me. I squeezed her and we started walking back to Yuki and Shigure's house. They made us up some beds on the floor and tucked Tohru in.
"There, isn't that better?" Shigure asked when we had settled in, "Yuki's still looking for some ice if you want it."
"I'm sorry."
"You must be tired. It's a lot to happen in one day."
I pretended to sleep as Tohru talked to Shigure about losing Mom and how she couldn't get up to say "Be safe" to Mom when she was leaving the house. When Shigure asked why I couldn't've done it, she explained that I had gone over to America as soon as I graduated high school and was over there when the accident happened. I had left on bad terms. So Mom wanted Tohru to graduate so Tohru could explain to her how it felt to hold the diploma.
"It's amazing," Yuki said from the doorway then he went on to say how he could've done what we did but didn't have the courage.
"You could call it amazing, but I don't think the word does it justice.
"Yeah it is...can you keep an eye on them? I'm going out a while." Yuki said, handing the ice bag to Shigure.
"What? Where? You're not going to dig up that tent? You are...do you want me to help you? It won't be easy alone."
"You're right, but I don't believe I said I was going alone," Yuki said and left. With that, I drifted off into sleep.
"Mom?" I woke up to Tohru sitting up quickly, staring at Mom's picture, "Mom you're here..."
"But how could she..." I started but Yuki interrupted.
"Good morning. How're you feeling today?" Tohru stuttered and he said, "I've brought your things for you. I think this is all of them, if you'd like to check."
"Yuki! This must've taken you all night," I said staring at the bags but knowing how he did it. He laughed and told me not to be silly.
"So then how did you...I mean there was so much!" Tohru tried to get out what she was trying to say.
"It's a secret," Yuki said mysteriously then after a bit he said, "I know the place is dirty. And the idea of living with 2 strange boys might seem a little awkward but there are extra rooms upstairs and you're welcome to stay there if you like," Yuki went on. I could see comprehension dawning on Tohru's face.
"No, no, no, no that's out of the question!" she shook her head furiously.
"We're not that strange!" Yuki said, looking exasperated.
"No! I didn't mean it like that!" she said shaking her head some more.
"Of course, it won't be free," said Shigure, appearing out of no where, "I intend to pay you for your services."
"For our...services?" Tohru stuttered.
"As our brand new housekeepers!" Shigure exclaimed, "we'll just take these things to your rooms now, I assume your references will all check out?"
"Wait!" I said.
"I can't let you do this! After all the trouble you've gone trough already please it's too much!" Tohru rambled off quickly.
"Miss Honda and Samii, we're doing this because we want to. You don't have to worry because it's causing us any trouble and besides, where else can you go?" Yuki asked.
"Well, if we're going to stay here, we'll work for room and board and that's it, we don't want any money and we want to know all the rules of the house and we-"
"Relax, it's alright. You can do things your own way here. The only thing you have to do is be yourselves, fair enough?" he asked with a smile. We followed them upstairs, a little ways behind them and as we walked, I examined the trees discreetly and finally I found the one Kyo was standing in. I smiled to myself, knowing what was to come.
"Well, all's well that ends well, I guess," Tohru said to me as we walked into the room, "but I'm still not sure how we ended up in Yuki's house or borrowing some of his clothes. It's like being in a dream." Tohru looked at our clothes then at Yuki.
"I apologize for the smell, we've had this room closed off for some time. It's probably best to keep the windows open for a while." Yuki said.
The ceiling started to making cracking noise and suddenly it caved in. then standing right before us was Kyo.
"Yo, time to pay the piper, rat boy. I'm here to collect." he said, grabbing his shoulder.
"Funny, I'd've thought he'd send somebody bigger," Yuki said, turning around, resting against the windowsill and smirking.
"That's right you better get your tough talk out of the way because I'm about to wipe that stupid little smirk right off your face!" Kyo said then lunged at Yuki.
"Wait, stop, don't fight!" Tohru said then, slipping on a piece of wood, grabbed Kyo from behind, making him transform.
"Yuki, what were all those crashing sounds I heard downstairs, Kyo's not here is he?" Shigure asked from the doorway as I ran to Tohru's side.
"I'm so sorry, are you alright? I-" Tohru held up then orange cat and we both had looks of astonishment on our faces as we looked at it, "Ah, I turned him into a cat! I'm so sorry I don't know how it happened but we're going to help you okay?" Tohru yelled at him, shaking the cat, hoping it would turn back to it's orange-headed human counterpart. "Hurry, we gotta get him to a doctor right away!" A piece of wood fell from the ceiling and Tohru fell onto Shigure and Yuki, making them transform as well. We stared at the rat and dog that had just appeared.
"I think this must all be a dream, everyone's turning into animals!" I said, from behind Tohru then everything went black. I woke up again but in my room in the real world. I looked around, giving into the fact that it was all just a dream. I threw the covers off but was astounded to see I still had the yellow sun dress and dirt on my hands. What is going on?