Fruit Salad

A/N: This is an alternate reality and the characters will be out-of-character (they will have different personalities). My lil cousin Cindy demontamer thought up of this idea! Yes, this is an Inuyasha rip-off of Fruits Basket! . My two fave animés! Only the story is not 100 accurate, like in fruits basket, the rat (Yuki) is shy, nice and quiet... However, in this story, I am making the rat a sneaky, annoying character (just wait and see :P) So, I suggest you forget everything you know about the zodiac members from Fruits Basket (or you'll get all frustrated and confused) and juss sit back and enjoy!

Oh, and this will be written from the narrator (moi) and Kagome's point of view (cast as the lovely Tohru Honda of this story).

Guide to reading this fanfic:

Normal text (like what you are currently reading) means I, the narrator, am telling the story.

Italicized and bold (like this) means the story is from Kagome's point of view.

Plain Bold just means I (or a certain character) want your attention

Plain italicized (usually with single quotation marks) means characters' thoughts. Eg: 'I wonder what school would be like with no homework…heehee'

Disclaimer: Fruits Basket belongs solely to the talented Ms. Natsuki Takaya and Inuyasha belongs to the brilliant Ms. Rumiko Takahashi. I only own…a lot of makeup.

Chapter 1: Eep! ∙.∙

"Souta! Hurry up!" Kagome said to her brother, handing him a muffin. As he clumsily ran off to his school, Kagome breathed in the fresh air. "Wow...the weather is so great today, mom!" said a cheerful Kagome to a well- kept and carefully guarded photograph, one of her only possessions. She held up a slender hand to shield the autumn shining sun from her eyes. "The clouds are all white and fluffy…ooh! There's one that's shaped like a bear there …well, I have to get going now, take care of everything while I'm gone guys! Bye!"

Hi! My name is Kagome Higurashi. This May, my mother passed away, leaving me and my little brother Souta and me behind. She raised me and my brother by herself, so when she was gone, our lives were really changed. And now, we live in a tent. It's a pretty long story…

I can't say my life is trouble-free…but I'm doing okay. No matter what happens in life, I never let it get me down! That's me --Kagome the optimist!

Kagome decided to walk around her surroundings for a little bit before heading of to school. She was wearing a white and green uniform with a red tie-ish thingy. She smoothed out her rumpled skirt a little and looked around, spotting a magnificent traditional Japanese-style house.

'Wow, look at this place! I didn't know a house was here. It's so peaceful…'

She walked to the front door, peering around a little.

Her eyes were drawn to a set of twelve oval-shaped stones laid out neatly in two rows on the porch. Each stone had a painting of each of the fabled twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac! She squinted to get a better look. These were even more special, they had the demon forms! She looked at stone of the fuzzy-looking rabbit demon with red hair on top.

'Oh my gosh! How cute!' thought Kagome to herself.

"Hello," said a sultry voice, "what's this? I must be seeing things."

Kagome turned to her right, startled. The man continued on, "A young girl…out here? My, oh my…"

Kagome blushed, embarrassed for being caught intruding a stranger's home. "H-hi! I'm so sorry for trespassing! I just saw these and…" She pointed to the intricately decorated stones.

She thought to herself nervously, 'Aaahh! There was someone here! EEP!'

The stranger, wearing purple robes and carrying a newspaper gently said, "Please, continue. I merely set them there to dry." He smiled. "I thought people today were bored by old-fashioned superstitions like the Chinese zodiac.

'Oooh! What a beautiful person!' thought Kagome.

"N-no! I think these zodiac ornaments are charming! These are from the feudal era demon version, right? Because that isn't a tiger, but a wolf-demon. And the ferret replaces the rabbit."

"Yes, but how did you know of that version…only a handful of people know of it. Oh, I like these, too," the man commented.

"But I guess you don't have the Inu-Mao demon…" said Kagome wistfully.

The man glanced up from the stones and looked at Kagome. "Inu-mao…? Oh, you mean...the Inu-mao from the zodiac legend? It's impressive that you know of that version."

'Yep, that's right! My mother told me that story all the time!"

Flashback: Kagome's mother hugged a very young Kagome and baby Souta close to her and recited the story fondly, she was very interested in the Chinese zodiac and even more so, the feudal era.

"Once upon a time, God told all the animals and demons, "I'm inviting you all to my banquet tomorrow. Don't be late!" The wolf demon heard this, got very excited and he went and got drunk at a local bar with other demons and went back home to his best friend and neighbour, the Inu/Mao demon, and slurred his sentences. He falsely blurted out that the banquet would be the day after tomorrow, and that he was appointed the new king of demons…among some other gibberish. The naïve dog/cat demon believed his intoxicated neighbour (even the part about him being king of demons) and stayed home the next day. The wolf had a massive hangover and forgot what he had said when he was drunk and feasted happily with the other animals the next day of the feast until morning, while the half dog-demon/half demon was completely unaware and left out. "

Her mother then paused and said, "Kagome, why are you crying?"

Kagome sniffled and said, "Poor thing! Poor, poor half doggy/half kitty!" She then stood up determinedly and said, "I know! I'll stop being only the dog demon and be an Inu-Mao demon too!" Her mother groaned, saying "whatever, I'm tired."

The man waited for Kagome to finish and said, "Is that so? I wish I could see the expression on 'his' face if he heard you say that."

Kagome looked at him with a clueless expression. "What? Who?"

The man smiled and said, "Oh, nothing. So, you were born in the year of the dog? Well, personally, I think that the year of the rat is the best, very sexy."

He winked, possessing a naughty sparkle in his eye, and went on, "I was born in that year, and the dog and the rat are very, very compatible...would you consider bearing---"

He didn't get to finish his sentence as someone from behind whacked him hard in the back of his head with a heavy book bag. There was a loud SMACK!

"Do you ever take a break from being a full time pedophilic pervert?" asked a deep, eerily calm voice.

The guy who was knocked in the head replied, "Okay, that REALLY hurt! What do you have in there, a dictionary?"

"In fact, I have encyclopedias A to C and D to F."

'WHAT kind of loser carries around encyclopedias at the beginning of the school year?' thought the man in purple robes, rubbing his head.

"Are you alright, Higurashi-san? My wretched cousin didn't offend you in any way, did he?" asked the figure behind Kagome.

Kagome looked up in shock. It was the elusive, popular 'Prince' of their high school. "K-Kishuro-kun! Good morning!" exclaimed a blushing Kagome. The prince was so handsome, and he was actually talking to her!

"Good morning" replied Sesshoumaru Kishuro, tossing his long silvery hair behind his shoulders.

The flirty stranger that was chatting with Kagome snickered. "You look so girly," he said, pointing at Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru turned and gave the loud-mouthed person an icy stare. "At least I only look feminine. You watch soap operas and read fashion magazines, Miroku. Not to mention other inappropriate novels…"

Miroku's cheeks turned pink and he said defensively, "Only to research about the female mind my young, inexperienced friend. After reading many issues of Vogue, Oprah and Chatelaine, I am now an expert in the field of women!"

Sesshoumaru had an indifferent look on his face.

Miroku turned to Kagome and said, "Hi, I'm Miroku the monk. I am Sesshoumaru's very-distant cousin."

Kagome bowed low, "Very pleased to meet you. I am Kagome Higurashi."

"Higurashi-san, what brings you here?" asked Sesshoumaru curiously.

Kagome stammered, "Uhh….Oh! I live nearby!"

Miroku was surprised. "Really?"

Sesshoumaru asked, "Near where?"

"Um…YEA" said Kagome, avoiding the question without any subtlety.

Sesshoumaru exchanged glances with Miroku. Miroku only shrugged.

Then he glanced at his watch.

"Well, it's getting late. Since you're here, why don't we walk to school together? We better get to school before the bell rings or Ms. Kusawagi makes us wait outside."

Kagome nodded meekly, following the prince as he headed towards his kingdom, Meadowvale School.

"Higurashi! We need to have a talk, NOW!" barked an enraged Yura. She shoved Kagome into the wall. Three other girls surrounded them, looking as mad as Yura was. Yura had short, black hair and had a black choker on (she was going for the whole bad/tough-girl look).

"Why did you arrive together with Kishuro-kun! You better have a good explanation!" She growled menacingly.

"Yeah!" piped up Yura's annoying little followers. "Well?" said Yura to Kagome.

"I-It was just a coincidence! We bumped into each other and decided to walk together since we go to the same school…and don't you think you're over-reacting a little?"

"Baka! Us? Overreacting? I bet you were stalking Prince Sesshoumaru! 'Coincidence?' YEAH RIGHT!"

"Indeed!"
"Yeah"
"You tell her!" shouted Yura's gang, encouraging their leader.

"Look you! Just because the kind-hearted, perfect hunk of a prince walked you to school doesn't mean he's interested in you…don't get all flattered!" said Yura, hissing. She licked a talon-like fingernail in a sinister way.

"I'm not!" said Kagome, a little scared.

"HEY!" someone said from behind. "Kagome said it was a coincidence, didn't she? Stop pestering the girl and stalking people. Oh, and get a life."

Yura scowled.

"Sango-chan! Kikyo-chan!" squeaked Kagome. Sango was a real tough ex-gangster girl.

Yura sneered. "Well, well. What's this? Trying to scare us off with your psychopathic buddy? We ain't scared of her, just because she carries a huge boomerang around (which is a violation of school rules by the way!)"

Although Yura didn't seem scared, her friends sure did. They were hanging on to each other, shivering at memories of Kikyo cursing them mentally.

"I could BEEEEEP them with poison waves…" said Kikyo ominously.

Yura's face turned ghostly white, and she and her buddies dashed out of site.

"Th-thanks for saving me," said Kagome. Sango patted her head and said, "You poor thing…Kikyo, don't blast anyone with your miko powers. You know Kaede will get angry. Wait…do you even have poison waves…?"

"So, what was the prince like?" asked Sango during Home Economics class.

Kagome finished frying the fish and replied, "Um, I was really nervous. Kishuro-kun is so handsome…I just froze up. We didn't even talk."

Kikyo said, "Hmm…I sense a strange aura from him. It's familiar though..."

Sango glanced over nervously. Kagome said, " 'Strange?' How so? "

Kikyo sheathed her knife. "I don't really know how to explain."

"What's to explain?" said Sango, "The guy's a walking enigma. Never talks about himself." She continued, "I hear a second year girl once confessed her love for him…and when she tried to hug him, he flung her away. Devastated her." She looked somber and upset for a second.

"I-I didn't know that. I wonder why." Kagome thought of a couple of reasons.

Maybe he has a secret girlfriend already, or he was a weird body condition. Maybe he has B.O…Wait, why did Sango-chan look so upset? WAS IT HER THAT LIKED KISHURO-KUN?

Kikyo tasted their cooking assignment. "Yes…It is the mystery that makes him so intriguing."

The Home Ec teacher stomped towards their cooking area, pushed up her thick lenses and said, "You there! STOP YAPPING AND GET COOKING--- Oh. Oh my."

She looked at the delicious-looking dishes the group had prepared.

Sango said dryly, "Hey bug-eyes. Can we go now or should we wait until you close your stinky, gaping mouth?" Sango had a rotten temper when it came to annoying teachers, bullies (even though she was kind of one herself) and perverts.

"Who do you think you're kidding? Higurashi-san made those for you!" said the teacher angrily.

The rice cooker made a 'click' sound. "Rice is done" said Kikyo. All she did today was clean the knife and watch the rice. She liked making others do the work for her.

The teacher turned and walked away, twitching and fuming because of Sango.

"Oh, I'm going shopping with Kikyo today after school. Wanna come with? Oh, wait, you're working aren't you?"

"Yeah, I don't want to be late," said Kagome.

"Having to pay for school all by yourself sucks. But you shouldn't have to work every day just to pay for your tuition. This is a public school! You need to chill out and have fun too, you're a teenager!"

"After I graduate, I want to be able to support me and Souta. That's why I need to start saving up now!"

Sango started tearing up. The tough chick loved her friends dearly. "Aww Kagome, you're making me cry! It's so sweet how you're always looking out for your lil bro…makes me wanna run home and hang out with Kohaku sniff sniff Here, have an extra serving. You need the strength."

Kagome smiled and said, "Thanks."

Sango handed the bowl overflowing with rice and asked, out of the blue, "You're still living with your dad's family, right!"

Kagome gulped and said, "Yes!"

Sango's eyes narrowed. "Are they giving you enough food? They're not cheating you out of your wages are they?"

Kikyo, who wasn't really paying much attention, said, "Mmm…delicious. I just need a little wasabi to go with this…"

Kagome felt guilty for lying to her best friends.

I can't tell them the truth…If Sango-chan knew I was living in a tent, she would be outraged. She would burst into grandpa's house on her motorcycle!

After school, Kagome rushed to her locker so she could get to work quickly. She spotted a silver-haired figure. "Kishuro-kun! I'm sorry about intruding this morning." She bowed down low.

"It is I who should apologize. Please forgive my cousin's rudeness," said Sesshoumaru.

"Oh, no! He was wonderful…we were just looking at his Chinese zodiac ornaments."

Outside, the wind blew gently. Sesshoumaru's silver hair flowed freely in the wind. He thought for a moment. "Did I hear you correctly when I heard you wanted to be born in the year of the 'cat/dog' instead of just a dog?"

Kagome was embarrassed to have been overheard saying that. She brushed back her hair from her face and answered, "Er…I was eccentric when I was little."

"Oh, I see…" said Sesshoumaru. "The Inu-Mao is an over-violent, hot-headed fool."

Kagome was confused. "Huh? Hot-headed?"

Sesshoumaru added, "Did you know…that the Chinese zodiac is actually a timekeeping system of tens and twelves……." He went on to explain that animals were added later on, and for an unknown reason. And one village even added demons into the story.

"So you see, there was never room for the Inu-Mao in the zodiac. And it's better that way. The cat-dog would throw off everything. It really is an inferior creature."

Kagome blinked stupidly. "So Sesshoumaru-kun, you hate the idea of a dog-cat hybrid?"

Sesshoumaru gave her a very cold smile.

Kagome looked at her clip-on watch. "AaaaaH! Is it that late already? I'm sorry Kishuro-kun, but I must go to work now!"

Sesshoumaru said, "Higurashi-san…," he touched a leaf to her forehead, "I noticed this morning…you don't look so well. It's been quite hot lately, and the humidex was very high. You shouldn't overexert yourself." He then walked ahead. "Well…see you later."

"………."

Kagome was pink. She thought to herself, 'He really is mysterious and intriguing…my head is spinning from just being around him.'

"DON'T GET A SWELLED HEAD!" said the menacing voices of Sesshoumaru's groupies. Kagome spotted Yura's head from behind a tree close by. 'Eep!' she thought. 'They are so creepy…'

Yura stepped out and said, with her arms folded, "Don't take advantage of Kishuro-kun's kindness! Or even think about touching a single hair on his head!"

Kagome gulped, replying, "I-I won't!"

Kishuro-kun, you don't need to worry about me. Because I'm sure mom had it much, much worse.

My father died of an illness a month after Souta was born, and my mom worked and worked to support our family.

She was always there for us.

She was our cheerful guardian. It never occurred to me that she could die.

There were arguments about who would take us in. Everyone had their own difficulties and reasons, like their houses were too small, or they couldn't possibly take on more children…

Eventually, the family decided that we should live with grandpa (from dad's family) in his shrine. He loved my mother like she was her own child, and adored us. He lives off a pension (being the head of a shrine doesn't pay much) so I promised to pay our expenses myself. That was in May. But 4 months later…

Grandpa called me and Souta to sit down and talk. "My daughter's family is coming to live with us. I thought it would be nice to remodel the place before they arrive. It is getting quite old and unsteady. During the remodeling, I'll be staying with them. I'm sorry, but could you each stay with a friend during that time?"

But Sango-chan lives in a small apartment with her father and her own little brother to take care of, and Kikyo-chan lives with her intimidating aunt. I couldn't bear to trouble them for however many months it may take to remodel! Souta-kun is a shy kid, and asking to live with them would make him feel like he is imposing on them.

Then it hit him…

"Let's pitch in our allowances now and buy a tent!" said Souta. "We're going to be living together forever anyways, right, Nee-chan? Why not start learning how to depend on ourselves now?"

I replied, "That's right! You make your own luck. It all in how you think about things. Even if it means having no money and living in a tent!"

So even if instead of being visited by door-to-door salesmen, we're visited by mosquitoes and slugs,

Even if a simple storm threatens to blow our home away, like the other day,

We'll never give up!

(After work)

Kagome sighed."Today sure was busy!" Kagome said to herself, walking home alone in the dark.

Meanwhile, Miroku and Sesshoumaru were also out walking. "My, my, my. Look at the time. I almost forgot about dinner." He let out a dramatic sigh. "Take-out every night is no way to live."

Sesshoumaru said, "Then you should make dinner, Miroku."

"But you are so picky, you hate everything I cook" whined Miroku.

Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes. "That's because you put pickles in curry, and lemons in fried-rice."

"Hmph! As if you're one to talk. You may be smart, Yuki-kun, but your homemaking skills leave much to be desired. What we hopeless, young bachelors need is a 'flower' to brighten up our barbaric lives. And by 'flower' I mean 'woman'." He winked suggestively.

"Well, aren't you progressive," said Sesshoumaru.

"Whaaaat? Wouldn't you like to have a woman around the house? Oh!...Isn't that Kagome-san?"

"Wow, you're great at remembering the names of girls…" said Sesshoumaru.

Miroku grinned. "Yes, yes, I do have a gift, don't I? Anways, it is awfully late to be wandering around in these woods. Does she really live nearby? (And is it just me, or does she seem a little drunk…)"

"Hmmm…" said Sesshoumaru thoughtfully. "I heard her mother died. Perhaps she moved here…?"

Miroku raised an eyebrow. "But that's impossible. We're not renting this land to anyone…"

Kagome wobbled a bit. 'Ugghh…I feel so tired.' She arrived at her little dark-green tent, kneeled down and said, "I'm home, Souta, mom. yawn I'm sleepy, but I still have to finish up my homework."

Souta nodded and continued doing his own homework.

She held up the picture of her mother. "Oh…so…dizzy. Maybe I should wash my face---"

"Nee-chan!" cried out Souta, alarmed.

Her eyes opened wide. Standing in front of her was Sesshoumaru and his cousin Miroku.

"…………………………….." (Awkward silence)

Then, Miroku burst out laughing, "AhhahahahahahahahahahahahHAHAHAhHAhHAHAh!"

Sesshoumaru advised, "Miroku, don't be rude."

Kagome was now crimson red, she felt like she would die of embarrassment. Souta hid behind her.

Sesshoumaru invited them to have some tea at Miroku's house, and she explained their whole story. Miroku was still laughing his head off and slapping the table every now and then. He even doubled over and rolled on the floor, clutching his robes and beads.

When she was finished, Sesshoumaru paused, and said, "I see…so that explains living in the tent. How long have you and your brother been living there?"

Kagome hung her head and said, "For about a week"

"I wondered how you could be living nearby. You know that this hill is our family property? We haven't rented it out or sold it."

Miroku's laughter died down to a few snickers. "A girl! In a tent! Pfft...hehe"

Kagome tensed. "Um…then, if it isn't' too much trouble, could you rent me a camping space? I'll leave as soon as my grandpa's remodeling is done. I don't have much money, but I can pay. Please?" She looked up with large, watery eyes.

Miroku said, "That place is dangerous. The cliff wall is unstable, and you never know when some escaped convict or something passes through. Besides, where will you plug in your hair dryer?"

Kagome stood up, "It's okay! I don't mind the slugs!" 'Ack!' thought both Sesshoumaru and Miroku. "I can take care of myself! Please? I'm….begging…you…" Kagome collapsed.

"Higurashi-san? You don't look well" said Sesshoumaru urgently, then leaving the room to get the medicine kit.

"Sis, you have a fever!" Souta ran to Kagome's side.

Miroku got up. "Oh, I'll get ice. Ice…huh. Now, if I were ice, where would I be hiding…?"

Kagome opened her eyes and saw the filthy kitchen. "It's like a garbage jungle…" she said, without thinking.

"Oh! That's nearly poetic!" cried out Miroku with a grin. Then he heard a couple of squeaks in the night. "There was a landslide just now."

"What?" cried out Kagome in alarm. "The ground is still weak from the storm."

"Wait a minute, uh…how did you know?" asked Souta suspiciously.

"Call it 'animal instinct'" said Miroku with a secret smile.

Sesshoumaru came in the room with the medicines. "Stop messing around. Where was the landslide?"

Miroku shook his head. "Always so solemn, Sesshoumaru-kun."

"Sis, what if it was near our tent?"

They went to the site of the landslide, and it was exactly where Kagome and Souta's tent was pitched up.

Souta's bottom lip trembled. "Mom…" He hugged his older sister.

"Th-Th-This is terrible…! Mom's picture was in that tent! Mom!" Kagome was overwhelmed. She went down on her knees and began digging through the earth.

Sesshoumaru said, "Higurashi-san…calm down. You're not well."

"But, but—Mom! I have to save her!" protested Kagome. "She's in pain!"

Miroku put one hand over hers. She looked up at him. "Let's come back when it's light out. If there's another landslide, and you get hurt…your mother will be in even more pain."

"Okay." Her red face went pale, and she faint again.

To be continued…next chapter.

Reader Poll: Which Inuyasha characters should be cast as which animal from the zodiac? Review and vote! Oh, and should Kagome remain all sweet and Tohru-like, or should I make her gradually more spunky? Please, please, PLEASE review! You can even flame me if u want! Helpful criticism is always wanted!