A/N: I've been a mess these past few weeks. I've got tons of ideas for stories and yet my fingers did not want to move at all. I hope you like this new idea of mine. It involves Tohru, Kyo and Yuki. A few minor characters are Tohru's dad, Katsuya and a few that I made up. I have tried to keep some of the classic elements of the main characters present in their personalities but I wanted to do an original alternate universe type story. This story doesn't involve a curse per say but rather an untouchable love, etc etc etc mushy mushy mushy. Hope you like it! Please read and review!
Forbidden
By Anna Victoria
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Chapter One
It was happening again. Kyo moaned out loud, fighting back the terrifying old memory of a vivid winter day.
Otouto! His brother's desperate cry was the last thing he heard before plunging in to the frigid, murky water. The ice was too weak. He should have never let Hatsuharu affect his temper so. Why didn't he listen to his Aniki?
Blood hindered his sight. Dark red swirled around him, his feet pumped with all their might to reach the surface. The bottom of the lake was a never-ending abyss that threatened to swallow him whole. Nothing but arctic water surrounded him, it shocked his senses, instantly numbing his body. The heavy winter clothes that had protected him from the elements did nothing to help him now. They served to weigh him down as the water had soaked through in an instant. He opened his mouth to call for help but it only filled with water, soaking his lungs.
I'm going to die he thought in panic. His hands reached toward the light above him but obtained only inches of progress. His limbs grew weary and the side of his face stung. He vaguely remembered falling through the ice, the jagged edges sliced deep with in his face. The cold continued to consume him and soon he would be lost forever. He could not move his arms any longer. His legs had stopped kicking and his lungs burned for air. Kyo gripped onto the sheets as he waiting for the darkness to embrace him like a lover.
But suddenly, he was ripped from her arms as water rushed through his ears and swirled past his body as he felt himself being dragged to the surface. Warm hands clutched at his. Light broke through his closed eyes as he was whisked to solid ground. His lungs begged for air but they were filled with icy water.
"Kyo, stay with me!" The voice was familiar, full of authority and power even though it sounded so young.
"Otouto, you are not allowed to leave" Ah! It's Yuki!
Aniki! I'm sorry! The apology ran through his mind but his voice was trapped inside his dying body
Open your eyes or I'll never forgive you!
And as if on command, they snapped open. He expected to see his brother's face hovering over his, desperate violet eyes peering into dying vermillion and a bright white sky above them. Yet, he was met with only a dark ceiling, a brown fan slowly circling above him. He was no longer lying on the shoreline of the lake that had almost taken his life.
Kyo sat up in his massive bed and ran a hand through his orange hair; it gleamed even in the darkness of his room. Sweat glistened off of his skin as the effects of the dream seeped its way from his body. No longer able to sleep he rose from bed, pushing the twisted sheets from his legs and grabbed a pair of loose fitting linen trousers. Leaving his chest and feet bare, he made his way to the balcony that sat adjacent to his room, lungs still felt like they burned for air. Once outside, his hands clutched the railing and his chest swelled as he breathed in the night, hoping to shake the memories from his mind.
After a few minutes, he felt himself chill, goose bumps appearing across his arms. Kyo headed back inside his room and moved toward his desk. A computer sat there, always on and running in the event of any pressing business matters. Forever the business man, the only thing that kept the memories at bay was his work. His brother trusted him with their specialty clients. They were usually foreign and very rich which meant that they needed a lot of his attention. There weren't many of these types of clients but the projects that they brought with them made up for the lack of quantity. He made sure to handle each one with care lest he disgrace himself, the family, but more importantly, his brother.
Opening his email he expected his account to be flooded with request from his field supervisors but the inbox was practically empty save for one. It was a message from Yuki.
Otouto, I have found a valuable piece of information that may lead me to our father. I feel that this crisis will be over soon. With that being said, you are to retrieve Honda-san in my stead. All the arrangements have been made. Prepare to leave in the morning.
– Forever your brother, Yuki.
Honda-san, or rather, Tohru Honda was his brother's intended. They were to be married in a fort night as was arranged by Yuki and Tohru's father, Katsuya Honda, several years ago. This was a marriage of convenience and would prove very beneficial for each of the families involved. Yet, it left a sour taste in Kyo's mouth. He felt as if would rob his brother of a choice that should be made out of love, not out of obligation or duty to family. They had only spoken a handful of words to each other and only because Yuki has a habit of being in the right place at the right time. Their age difference was also a concern for Kyo. Tohru was only 13 and Yuki, only 20. The families decided that they would wait to finalize their agreement once they were much older.
He was the loudest of those who opposed the marriage proposal outright. Kyo, being only 17 at the time, had barged through his brother's office, his temper getting the best of him yet again. "An arranged marriage? Why, Aniki? Isn't there something else you could have done?" Yuki just smiled at him and said "Don't worry, Kyonkichi. Ever thing will work itself out." He remembered sulking out of Yuki's office, a slight blush on his face from the nick name Yuki used to tease him.
Still, it puzzled Kyo, why would he agree to this when his quest for our father takes up most of his time? He kept the thought to himself, not wanting to question his brother's motives. Reading through the email one more time, he replied simply:
If that is what you wish – Kyo
There was an attachment included that detailed his itinerary. He only had a few more hours until he was scheduled to depart. Kyo saved everything he would need on his flash drive and shut his computer down. He stared at his reflection in the monitor. A scar had stayed with him since his fall through the ice shown through on the glass, even in the dead of the night. It started at his left temple and made its way down to the corner of his mouth. Kyo traced it lightly with his finger, the vow he made to his brother echoed with in him.
As you have saved my life, it is yours forever.
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Tohru had just unpacked all of her things when Azumi told her that the Sohma entourage would be arriving tomorrow morning. Of course, they would be staying a few days, she assured Tohru, but it only gave her less than a week to reconnect with her childhood home.
She had just returned from the states after majoring in international studies at Yale University. The stress of jet lag combined with having to leave with her soon-to-be-husband made her feel as if the universe was out to get her. Azumi walked over to Tohru, who stood at the end of her balcony, and opened her arms. An old habit that Tohru would never tire of, she ran into them and received a warm hug. It was Azumi who had taken care of her after her mother died and the embrace made her feel like a little girl again.
A little girl who was to be married to man she barely knew. The thought sounded so scandalous but that was how she felt. Tohru was always kept inside of her family compound growing up, one of the last times she had traveled outside ended in tragedy. She was only granted her college reprieve after many arguments with her father. In the end, she pulled out the "dead mommy" card and used it on her father. Tohru had felt very guilty for that particular tactic but she had no choice. Besides, her mother had always wanted for her to live and see the world, to become an educated, modern woman.
Not that it did her any good in her current situation. She was barely 20 years old and in an arranged marriage! Not very modern if you ask me Tohru thought, absently. Yet, this was the price she was to pay, she had agreed with, to be allowed her four years away from home. It was there that she discovered that she was just a normal girl who happened to be part of one of the wealthiest families in Japan. She was younger than all of her class mates as she graduated high school 2 years in advance but she found herself a small close knit group of girls that she could call friends. It was difficult at times, especially when there were people of the opposite sex involved. Tohru purposefully avoided having to talk to men aside from her father, an adverse effect of that terrible night. And yet, here she stood; to be married to man she knew nothing about with in a month's time. Her only memories of him were during the few weeks proceeding the night her mother's life was taken. The thought made her want to laugh hysterically.
Azumi seemed to sense Tohru's distress as her tensed with in her arms. She grabbed her by the shoulders and stared straight into Tohru's dark blue eyes. "Listen to me, meija," Tohru smiled at the Spanish endearment, Azumi was a big fan of telemundo, "Yuki-sama is a brave and kind man. Do not forget, he was the one who saved your life. Thank goodness he did, I do not know what I would do with out you!" Azumi exclaimed, bringing Tohru back into her bosom.
Sighing reluctantly she slinked out of Azumi's arms. "I'm going to go for a swim." Tohru said as she walked back into her bed room. Sadness followed her as she left the warm light of the balcony.
Oh, my wonderful Tohru, Kyoko would have wanted so much more for you. But, hopefully in time, you and Yuki-sama will grow to love each other. Azumi said a little prayer for her, asking Kami-sama or anyone that was listening to help Tohru find her happiness.
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It was a bright, warm day when Kyo arrived in town. The weather outside was a stark contrast to the small tempest that had started brewing inside him. Stepping out of the black limousine the Honda's had provided; he put his custom made sun glasses on. He would wear them until he reached the inside of the Honda compound as his eyes glowed bright red in the sun. He did not want to startle any of his future family members; his scar was an eye opener already and not something that he could easily hide. Kyo normally enjoyed his job but if asked to make a public appearance he would do so only grudgingly.
As it was the first time he would meet most of the Honda's he dressed to impress if only out of respect for his family. Normally, he hated suits and their confining next ties yet there he stood in a vanilla colored Armani, his thin tie matching the color of his eyes. He had brought two members of his staff with him to assist in the retrieval. At the thought, Kyo shook his head in disgust. He sounded as if he was here to procure property, like an inanimate piece of art or a section of land. This was another person's life he would be taking away!
Struggling to keep his temper under control, Kyo proceeded to make his way to the main entrance.
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Tohru sat in her room, combing through her chocolate brown hair nervously. Of course, she was nervous; she had every right to be. Azumi had just finished dressing Tohru in a bright yellow strapless number that ended at her knees, a black sash tied across her waist with a small diamond brooch clasped just in between her breasts when a servant announced that the limo had just pulled up. Tohru could see the immense drive way from her balcony but resisted the urge to run to it to take steal a look at Yuki.
She remembered him being tall and lithe. He had long violet hair, gathered neatly behind his neck in a black tie with only a few strands making their escape around his face. It was his face that she most remembered, being so young at the time. Yuki had a kind smile, his eyes warm with compassion. He had spoken only a few words to her the day after the tragedy. Not wanting to disturb her while she grieved. There had been a few other times that they ended up in the same business function together, yet their age difference had made making conversation difficult. Most times she sat there numb to the world; the loss of her mother was still fresh in her mind. It was also during this time Yuki and her father, Katsuya struck a deal that would dictate the rest of her life.
Even if her marrying Yuki preserved her family's business, she felt angry and betrayed when her father told her. The merger meant that Sohma & Sons and Honda, INC would be untouchable financially. Their client base would expand, her father wouldn't have to terminate half of his work force and everybody was happy. Everybody was happy, except for Tohru. She was only 13 at the time, she knew what marriage was but it wasn't until later that the facts of what being man and wife meant were truly explained to her. Any time the thought of being intimate with a man would make her nauseated and all she could see was the face of that horrible brute that nearly took her essence the night her mother died. Tohru only hoped that Yuki would still be the same, kind person that had saved her all those years ago.
"Meija, It's time." Azumi had said quietly, poking her head through the door. Tohru looked at herself once more in the mirror. Her hair came down her shoulders in soft waves, a few pieces were pinned up to give her a more formal look, she wore her mother's favorite diamond studs in her ears and she had done her make up to accentuate her eyes, just a dab of her favorite strawberry scented lip gloss graced her lips. Tohru took a deep breath as she slipped on a pair of short white laced gloves and headed to meet her future.
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Kyo cursed silently to himself. The servant had announced the wrong Sohma brother had come to call. It seemed there was a lapse in communication. He would have to try even harder now to contain his temper, he hated mistakes, only because there were times the cost of those mistakes was too high.
The wide, dark mahogany doors opened slowly to reveal a grand reception room. Kyo stepped through, holding his head held high. Katsuya Honda stood at the other end, dressed to the nines in a dark blue suit, hair slicked back revealing a few streaks of grey. Kyo began to make his way closer when he noticed the girl standing behind her father. She kept her eyes downward, her hands clenched in front of her in hard fists. It would appear that Yuki's intended was about as happy about the situation as Kyo was.
The moment that Kyo addressed Katsuya, his rough voice breaking through the silence, Tohru's head sprung up. Stranger! This is not Yuki! Run!
Kyo noticed that she had begun to breathe a little faster. He looked at her hands as they began to nervously twist around one another. Curious, his gaze made its way to her face and he almost stopped dead in his tracks. Her eyes were the deepest blue he had ever seen, yet, they were wide with disbelief, anxiety and also fear. She looked like she wanted to run for her life, the only thing keeping her in place was the hand of her nurse made, who gaze bore in to Tohru in hard concentration.
Quickly regaining his composure he addressed Katsuya again, "Please forgive the miscommunication, Honda-sama. My brother, Yuki Somha, had urgent matters of business that could not be ignored. He requested personally that I come in his stead. I am Kyo Sohma, Yuki's younger brother." Kyo bowed deeply and waited for a response.
"Ah, yes. I remember. You were in high school the last time we met. It is good to see that excellence runs in the Sohma blood line."
"Thank you, Honda-sama." Kyo acknowledged the compliment by bowing deeper.
"Please, no need for formality here. We are to be family after all." Katsuya's voice was light and welcoming.
Kyo straightened himself, "Yes, sir."
What is going on? Where is Yuki? Tohru thought in a panic. I can handle seeing Yuki, I had met him before, but not someone else. I need to get out of here. Tohru tried to appear calm as her anxiety threatened to break loose. Thank goodness Azumi was next to her otherwise she would have bolted for the nearest exit. Her eyes darted toward this new person, quelling the fear with in her, when she noticed something peculiar. With out a second thought to her distress, she spoke out load to this new person, "Why are you wearing sunglasses inside?"
Kyo's head whipped around to look at Tohru in surprise. The question sounded so juvenile and innocent. Her voice was soft and hesitant, the effect it was having on Kyo was doing strange things with his stomach. Her apparent discomfort with his presence seemed to have dissipated at the discovery of his unusual habit.
"I was just explaining that to your father, Honda-sama," Kyo forced his head to turn back to Katsuya, "I wear these only when meeting new people. I feel as if I need to explain myself before I take them off. This way the initial shock is lessened."
"Initial shock to what, Sohma-kun?" Her interested had peeked and her anxiety had nearly disappeared, she stepped a little closer to where her father and Kyo stood. Azumi glanced at Tohru with a puzzled look. She had never taken to a new person so easily before. Kyo's head tilted slightly at the sound of the less formal honorific but he did not mind it at all.
"My eyes," she saw small smile raise the corner of his mouth, "Are a little different." He explained at the same time pulling the glasses off of his face. He kept his eyes downward as he handed his glasses of to one of his servants. After what Tohru thought to be the longest moment of her life, her curiosity level through the roof at the delay, Kyo finally raised his head and turned to look at her fully.
A gasp threatened to escape Tohru's throat. Until now she had only seen one side of Kyo's face. Now that he was looking darkly at her, square in the eyes, she understood why he kept his eyes hidden until an explanation was provided. Not only were they the brightest color of red she had ever seen, they burned through her like a rabid fire. His eyes, on top of the scar that stretched across the other side of his face made Kyo look very menacing, almost like a youkai in one of her old children's books. Tohru felt her heart start racing, and blood rushed through her, a tingle of something unfamiliar warmed her insides as Kyo's eyes continued to drill into her. They seemed to be anticipating a repulsed reaction but when he saw only curiosity and wonder reflected back from her, her deep blue eyes washing over him like water, he felt relieved in the fact that she didn't look away. Why was he relieved? Quickly, he broke contact and regained himself yet again.
"I thought before that you and Yuki looked nothing like brothers but I can see the resemblance in the way you carry yourself and in your bone structure, even though your coloring seems to the exact opposite of each other." Katsuya noted as he watched the exchange between his daughter and the younger Sohma.
"The Sohma's are unique in that way. My second second youngest brother, Momiji, has blue eyes and yellow hair, where my youngest brother, Hiro has dark green eyes and brown hair. Yet, we are all from the same two parents."
"Amazing," he heard Tohru whisper under her breath, forcing his eyes to stay glued to her father even though the sound of her voice made his heart skip a beat. The faint smell of strawberries drifted toward him which only made his mind's eye picture Tohru dabbing her full, lush lips with gloss. His breath quickened as the urge to take her from the room to find out what made him react this way to her strengthened. Thankfully, Katsuya spoke again.
"Well, it's been a long day! I'm sure you would like to be shown to your quarters to freshen up. I also invite you to join us for dinner when you are ready." Katsuya said in an obvious dismissal as he moved back toward the main entrance.
"That would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, sir" Kyo bowed as Katsuya walked past him. A servant appeared at Kyo's side and motioned for him to follow. Kyo kept his eyes focused on to the back of the servants head knowing that if he looked back he would be met with those clear blue eyes and flurry of long brown hair again. The compulsions he was having would take control and he would not be able to reign himself in.
With out saying anything to her as he walked away, Tohru continued to follow his retreating form and noted to herself that she liked the way he walked, especially the way everything, especially from the waist down, fit like a glove when he moved.
"Meija, you seem a little flushed." Azumi stated, being careful not to mention the obvious reaction that Tohru had to Kyo-sama.
"Uh, yeah, I think I'll retire to my room until dinner time. Please call me when it is ready." Tohru's voice rang clear but her eyes were glazed over, her mind reliving the past few moments of emotions.
Azumi watched Tohru float back toward her room, worry stretched across her face. Be careful, Meija. He is not the one that you belong to.
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A/N: Whoo! End of chapter one! That was fun right? Hope you liked it! Please RXR!