.:Fruits Basket:. New Era
Chapter 1:
Ariel's POV
Does it matter if I have anyone by my side? Pfft, like I ever did, living alone like this, running away. Going from country to country on my own, living by my own rule that's me. The only downside is this stupid curse, engulfing me taking more control of me every passing day. When in the world is this thing going to go away! Come on it left the Sohmas! Well, from what I heard. The Sohma Family…I've heard of them, my sister never stops mentioning them when I visited her. I'm Ariel Yaome; I am cursed with a wild animal spirit that consumes my life each passing day. Every time I get too stressed or angry I turn into this beast, a panther. And it always happens in the WORST timing in my life! I hate being like this! Turning into some animal, I'm starting to even look like this thing! It's tearing me apart! I get angry even thinking about it. My family is separated across the world, according to the year they were born and cursed. Sadly I was born in Vietnam and in Vietnam there is no year of the Rabbit, but the year of the cat. At least I didn't get a pathetic animal like that…Recently my younger sister Masumi had told me that our family is being "reunited" with the Sohmas. After their New Year's Eve banquet, lucky me I have to sit with the other outcast till that ceremony is over with. Masumi told everyone to meet our perspective zodiac members, this new generation that's been passed on. And I never want to meet that cat, I've heard so many horrible things about that monster, the cruel thing is a killer. And I was born through that spirit, I can't wait till this crap is over so I can go back home (wherever that is…).
Narrator's POV
Two weeks remain for the New Year's Eve Banquet and everyone is getting anxious for it. "I can't wait to see your dance this year Hakira-san!" Bunnii said with enthusiasm towards her. She gave her a quick smile and continued working on her studies to become a doctor. She rolls her eyes, "don't you have better things to do Bunnii? Shouldn't you be getting ready as well?" Bunnii smiles at her, "Nope! I have everything ready! Oh, I wonder what Toyo-san is doing. I hope he gets invited too!" Hakira looks intently at the computer screen and then turns slowly towards Bunnii, "Don't count on it Bunnii, he wasn't invited last year and I don't think Shen plans on inviting him anytime soon." Bunnii looks at her sadly and starts to think to herself, "maybe he'll change his mind if someone persuades him" She looks up to her with hopeful eyes; Hakira rolls her eyes again and returns to her work. "I am not going to persuade him, nothing makes him change his mind once he makes a decision. He likes everything to be traditional…" "PLEASE!" Bunnii says holding on to the bottom of Hakira's dress tightly. "Pretty please! It's fun to have him around, and he's part of the family too!" Hakira sighs, "why don't you tell that to Shen yourself Bunnii?" Bunnii gasps and let's go, "He's too scary!" Hakira laughs to herself and turns to her, "then why make me ask him something that'll only get him angry?" Bunnii looks at her blankly, "oh well!" She smiles and walks out of the office, Hakira returns working. 'He'd never let an outsider in, even if he's family' Hakira thinks to herself while typing up her report. She sighs and gets up to file when someone comes rushing in. "HAKI-CHAN!" Hakira rolls her eyes and groans, "what is it Yami?" Yami strolls in elegantly and jumps up on Hakira's desk and looks at her lovingly, "are you ready for the banquet? Daddy made my dress perfect for the occasion! And I can't wait to see that dance of yours!" Hakira turns around and sees Yami playing with her papers, "Get down from there, you're going to get me in trouble again. " Yami jumps down, "Now how could I get you in trouble, if the only thing I ever do is come and keep you company and tell you EVERYTHING!" She says with a big smile and waving her arms in the air, she jumps to hug her but Hakira moves to the side making her fall. She goes to her seat and organizes her papers. "Oh, Haki, why do you have to be so mean?" "Why don't you go and play with Ayakira? I'm sure she'd love your company." Yami looks at her playfully, "Oh silly, her dad is helping her finish her first novel! Anyways, I need to tell you what Miyuki and I did today!" Hakira rolls her eyes and lays back and tunes out Yami's chattering and goes to work.
Near the mountains
"HA!" She punches through another block of wood and steps back. She breathes in and rubs her hand softly. "You're getting better every day Kyoko" Kyoko looks up at her dad and smirks, "well I need to train hard if I want to get as good as you, and beat that stupid rat…" Kyo laughs to himself and walks toward the entrance for his shoes, "I think we're done for today, go find your brother so we can go home." Kyoko nods and runs out to go find him, "Toyokuro!" She looks around, "where the hell is he?" Her ears perk up a little as she begins to hear rustling in the background. She turns around quickly and immediately puts her guard up, "who's there!" The bushes rustle more and something quickly passes by her, she turns again and looks around. "Toyo?" Something jumps from behind her and hugs her tightly, at the same time she transforms into an orange little cat in his arms. "Ha-ha, I got you again baby sister!" Toyokuro says with a big smile hugging her tightly. "Ok, ha-ha now can you let go of me? Dad's looking for you and I'm getting squished!" Toyo laughs again and loosens his grip but keeps carrying her, "I'll take you home like this instead your quieter like this anyways" She looks up angry at him, "Hey!" He laughs again and picks up her clothes and starts to walk towards the Dojo. Kyo looks up and sees Toyokuro holding a orange cat and Kyoko's clothing and smirks, "I see you found him." Kyoko rolls her eyes, "he ambushed me! See, this is why I need more training! If I can't even beat him, what makes me think I can beat that stupid rat Miyuki." She frowns and buries her face in Toyokuro's shirt. Kyo thinks to himself and then looks back at her, he takes her from Toyokuro's hands and carries her, "you know this is the closest thing to a hug I'll get from you" Kyoko looks up at him sadly, "I…I know." He holds her tight and begins to walk down a path, "you shouldn't worry too much about beating Miyuki in anything you know." Kyo says looking straight forward the whole time, Kyoko moves a little in his grip and places her head on his shoulder, " I have to dad! It's the only way I'll be accepted in the zodiac and it's her fault anyway! It's always the rats' fault that the cat can't be in the zodiac!" Kyo sighs and keeps walking holding on to her, Toyokuro looks at Kyoko smiling, "It doesn't matter if your part of the zodiac, your still my favorite cat!" She gives him a sad smile and turns back to Kyo, "you'd never understand Dad; you've never been in my position…" Kyo looks down to the path and sighs closing his eyes. They stay quiet the whole walk to their house, Tohru stands at the doorway happy and smiling as usual. "Your back! I hope you guys are hungry I made you something to eat." She goes towards Kyo and gives him a quick kiss and hugs Toyokuro, "where's Kyoko?" She looks around blankly, Kyo smiles and holds up their orange little kitty, "she had a little ambush from the onigiri behind me" Toyokuro smiles and hands Tohru Kyoko's clothes. Tohru laughs and picks up Kyoko "oh well, then go inside and wait in your room till you go back to normal and then meet us at the table ok?" She says smiling, Kyoko looks up to her and smiles back, "Ok mom" She grabs her clothes and runs back to her room, mid-way she transforms back with a giant cloud of smoke surrounding her. Toyokuro and Kyo close their eyes quickly and Tohru freaks out, "Oh my God! Uh…Um…Here!" Tohru takes one of Toyokuro's jackets and gives it to Kyoko quickly. Kyoko laughs and puts it on and runs to her room. "You two can look now!" Kyo goes up to Tohru slowly, "you still freak out like always don't you? How many times has this happened to her?" Toyokuro walks up behind them, "only about a million and one times." He smiles and walks to the table and swipes a rice ball.
Meanwhile…
"How long till we get there?" Ariel says annoyed as usual, Masumi looks back at him serious. "Soon, so stop complaining!" She walks faster and reaches a bus stop, "why are we going to the Main Sohma house again?" Ariel says looking more annoyed than usual, "because we need to talk to the head before we 'intervene' after the banquet." Masumi says leaning on the bus stop pole. Ariel starts to get angry and pins Masumi to the fence behind them, "you mean you told everyone to get ready for a party that hasn't even been set up yet?" She smirks at him and pushes him off, "calm down before you transform, and no I didn't, I'm just making the final arrangements. As in trying to persuade the head to let all of the Sohma's attend, including the cat." Ariel looks blankly at her for second and then starts to calm himself down. He gets quiet and looks away waiting for the bus to arrive, "that's better, the quieter you are the sooner I'll get everything ready for the big day." He rolls his eyes and looks up into the sky, 'I don't even want to be here.' The bus comes in and they both go in and sit near the back far from other people. Ariel looks intently out the window thinking deeply to himself about what he'll encounter during the time he'll be staying here. Masumi smiles to herself and looks at Ariel, "stop being so grumpy and lighten up! At least you'll someone, half as angry as you." Ariel glares at her and turns back to his window, She sighs and lays back. "Why do you have to be such a party pooper?" "Why do you always have to be so annoying?" She laughs and slaps his shoulder; Ariel's anger intensifies but only a little and then starts to calm down again. He whispers low into her ear through his teeth, "are you trying to piss me off?" She flicks his nose and looks at him playfully, "maybe…it's fun to get you angry." He glares at her and turns around, he whispers to himself, "Damn wolf…" She smiles and leans toward the other way waiting for their, stop.