Blue: Hurrah! Yet another Fruit's Basket fic. But… uh… :looking at the first chapter and the plans for the story: Ivey where did you come up with this? And why another tragic story? Our last Furuba fic was depressing too.

Ivey: Don't like it? Tough, I'm the muse so I have control over the ideas. Deal with it or quit making me come up with stuff.

Blue: Fine, fine… Anyway I've only watched the anime and read up to Vol. 7 in the manga so as to any rumors about Akito really being…uh… well most of you know what I'm talking about so I won't spoil it for those of you who don't. Point is we're sticking with the anime version of Akito.

Ivey: Blue doesn't own Fruits Basket, but I do own my Aki-sama. :completely obsessed with Akito:

Blue: You do not :sweatdrop: And do you have to call him that?

Melancholy Requiem

By Blue

Chapter One- Room of Angel

Within the main house of the Sohma family was room that no one dared enter. The head of the family, Akito Sohma, had long ago forbidden anyone from even coming near the sacred space. On one occasion, a recently hired maid had gone in to clean and when she was discovered moving several items from a self to dust, Akito had gone into a fit of rage. The young woman was startled when she was yanked back by her collar and dropped the delicate crystal swan figurine held within her hand, shattering it into tiny pieces on the wooden floor. With a cry the boy shoved the woman aside and attempted to gather up the fragments. The maid watched in horror as he collected all the jagged shards in his hands causing numerous cuts on his palms and fingers from which blood dripped down his arms and stained the sleeves of his yukata. It hadn't taken more than a glance into those furious eyes and a hiss for her to get out to shake her from her daze and jolt her into fleeing. Half an hour later Hatori was picking slivers of glass from Akito's hands and the maid was sent off to seek other employment.

Very few people remembered or knew to whom the room had belonged and even fewer had ventured inside in the last twelve years. All of those on the inside wondered, no one ever asked. On restless nights Akito would often venture out from his quarters in favor of the desolate room that seemed to draw him. This night was no different from the rest as Akito quietly slid the fusuma door to his room open just wide enough for his slender form to slip through and carefully shut it behind him. It wouldn't do for Hatori to hear him. The young god of the zodiac had another one of his fevers and the good doctor would insist he return to his futon and rest. Only the rustling of his silk sleeping yukata and the soft padding of his feet on the floor echoed in his ears as he slipped through the maze of corridors toward his destination.

As he entered the room he made his way blindly to the corner where he knew a paper lamp stood and turned it on. For a few moments he squinted as his eyes adjusted to the dim light and took in the ambience of the familiar surroundings. On one side of the room was a massive bookshelf filled with dozens upon dozens of novels. In front it was a low table made of a dark cheery wood with two plum colored cushions embroidered with white flowers on either side. On the opposite wall was a tansu made of the same rich wood as the table and next to it a futon of the same design as the zabuton was laid out.

While the room was traditional in a sense it had several aspects that would make any artisan of feng shui shudder. Instead of the simplistic flower arrangements and kakejiku most often used to decorate the house of Sohma, the shelves of the tokonoma alcove were filled with stacks of cassette tapes, a stereo, a cracked, porcelain doll and various other knickknacks that could be viewed as junk. Set atop the tansu was a pink music box painted with sakura blossoms and a crystal figurine of a dancer on point. Akito gentle lifted the lid on the music box and a melody that seemed almost sad filled the room. Next to the dancer was a small jade dish that held the remains of the crystal swan. Hatori would have thrown them out, however Akito had demanded that it be repaired. Being told that it was beyond salvaging sent the young teen into a sullen state for the next week. Thankfully Shigure had suggested that he should at least keep the pieces in a safe place and Akito had the container purchased.

Moving soundlessly over to the bookcase, he ran his fingers lightly over the spines of the books. Most of them were books on ballet though there were some fairytale stories including a worn copy of Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales; stories that had been read to him on occasion. Letting his hand fall to his side he slowly made his way over to the futon and laid himself upon it. Burying his head in the pillow he curled up on top of the covers. The scent of the woman, practically a child really, who had once occupied this futon had long since vanished. Closing his eyes, Akito let the melancholy melody lull him and his mind wander with thoughts of her… the woman-child who lived in this room. She had rarely left this small sanctuary after she'd learned the truth about Akito's role in the life of the Sohma's. The woman who always struggled to smile for him even though the mere sight of him brought her sorrow. The girl called Asa Sohma whom he despised, yet so desperately loved. His mother…

Blue: I wonder if anyone will like this one… I hope someone does. Pretty please review!

Ivey: Can we go to sleep now?

Blue: Don't you want to get started on the next chapter?

Ivey:raises eyebrow: You have to ask?

Blue:sigh: I'll take that as a no…

Ivey: Damn straight. Oh... FYI: A tansu is like a dresser, a zabuton is a cushion thingy, a futon is a bed, and a kakejiku is a scroll/painting thing. Also chapter two should be longer than this disgraceful first chapter. Later!