Wow, this was on quite a bit of hiatus there for a while. I've had this idea for a good few weeks now, but my laptop kind of died on me and has just now gotten back from being repaired.
I recently watched Fruits Basket in full, and I loved it. It's one of the best anime I've ever seen, and naturally, I just fell in love with Shigure. So I dedicate this to him and all his glory.
DUPLICATE
CHAPTER ONE: KOYA SOHMA
"Shigure!"
The nose of the Sohma twitched, and he looked up from his writing.
"Yuki?"
He stepped out into the entrance, watching as Yuki slid the door shut behind him, something large and black cradled in his arms. Tohru bounded down the stairs with her friendly greeting to Yuki and stopped.
"Hello, Miss Honda."
"Uh, hi, Yuki... what's this?"
Yuki lifted his hand to reveal the bright eyes of a dog. Tohru heard Shigure's gasp of surprise as she called anxiously for Kyo, who grumbled his way into the room.
"What?" he asked in annoyance.
"Look, Kyo! What a pretty dog!"
"Eh?" Kyo looked at the dog, blinking rapidly. "Is that-"
"Koya." Shigure said softly, his fingers already stroking the dog's head. She whined and licked his hand, her eyes fixed on his face.
"Shigure." said a girl's voice, and for a moment, Tohru looked around for the source of it. And then-
POOF. Blue smoke billowed out around them, and as it cleared, Tohru saw her. A black-haired girl, clinging to Shigure, who had already wrapped his jacket around her naked body. Her delicate hands lifted to his neck, and she smiled at him.
"Shigure..." she whispered again, her breath on his lips. And he leaned forward.
"Not here!" Kyo's obnoxious voice broke through the silence as Shigure froze on the verge of a kiss. His annoyed eyes traveled to Kyo.
"I'll have you know, Kyo, this is my house, and I can do what I ple-"
"You're a member of the Zodiac!" Tohru lunged at Koya with a bone-crushing hug, forgetting that she was unclothed at the moment. Yuki and Kyo clapped a hand over their eyes as Koya was pulled from the privacy of Shigure's jacket into Tohru's arms.
"Yes... I am..." Koya replied, looking taken aback by Tohru's suddenness.
"But... you're a dog..." Tohru said, glancing quickly at Shigure. "Isn't... Shigure... the-"
"He is," she said, turning her head to smile at him again. "We both are."
"Put some clothes on!" Kyo shouted, having lifted his hand for a second and regretting it. "Geez!"
"Hn." Shigure's breath came out in amusement. He lifted Koya in his arms and retreated up the stairs, her giggling ringing in their ears. Kyo grimaced at the staircase.
"Who knows what that pervert's doing to her up there."
"Um... I don't understand..." Tohru said, still looking a bit confused. "How are they both dogs?"
Yuki smiled in exasperation. There were lots of things Tohru didn't understand.
---
"So... your name is Koya?"
Tohru set a cup of tea in front of her, smiling as she noticed that Koya was wearing her clothes.
"Yes," Koya said, taking a sip. "Koya Sohma."
"How are you the dog when Shigure's the dog?"
Koya smiled down at her tea. "It's a long story."
"I can tell it to you later, Miss Honda," Yuki offered as Tohru beamed at him. "I'm sure there'll be time. After all, Koya needs her rest."
"Oh yes," Tohru said, suddenly remembering. "Why did you transform? Was something bothering you?"
Koya smiled wider. "Well, Miss Tohru Honda, I see you do know all about our curse, as I've been told." She glanced at Shigure, who was by her side. "But no. I came here looking for Shigure, and bumped into an old man. Luckily I got away before the smoke cleared, and before the guy could figure anything out.
"But your clothes..."
"Lying in the middle of a park." she said, rubbing her head and laughing. "But yours fit nicely."
"They look good on you!" Tohru told her earnestly. "Don't they, Shigure?"
"They do," Shigure said in his soft voice again, lifting Koya's chin in his fingertips. Kyo took this opportunity to slam his empty teacup down loudly, and Shigure frowned at him.
"Anyway," Tohru said hastily, picking up Kyo's cup. "I don't mind, really!"
"Thank you," Koya said, turning back to her and standing up from the table. "I'm glad to see you're as nice as I've heard you are."
"Koya," Yuki said, and she looked down at him. "Are you going to bed?"
"I think I will," she said, turning for the stairs.
"Do you need somewhere to sleep?" Yuki asked. "I'm sure we can-"
"I'll sleep with Shigure," she said with a slight smile, her dark eyes seeking his momentarily before she swept upstairs. "Good night."
"Good night!" Tohru called up happily, appearing not to have understood what had just happened. Yuki glanced at Shigure, who was looking somewhat pleased with himself, and back down at his remaining tea.
"Shigure," he said in a low voice. "Don't do anything stupid."
"Me?" Shigure said in a sing-song voice. "I don't know what you're talking about!"
Kyo rolled his eyes and followed Tohru into the kitchen for a riceball, and Yuki narrowed his eyes at Shigure.
"Just don't do anything you wouldn't want Tohru to hear."
Shigure sighed mockingly. "You really think so horribly of me, don't you? Just because I've got Koya all to myself, all night..." His voice suddenly switched to one that concealed a smirk. "...you think I'm going to do something to her."
"I know you will."
"Ah, Yuki, how little you know of love."
"Love?" Yuki hissed, preparing to continue, but ran a hand through his hair and stood up. "Oh never mind, Shigure... it's not as though you haven't done it before."
Shigure grinned like a child with candy as Tohru came out with a platter of riceballs. Offering one to Shigure, she watched as he tossed it into his mouth and got to his feet.
"Um goina bed," he said, his mouth full. He swallowed the riceball and ascended the stairs, humming cheerfully to himself. Kyo watched him go with a mixture of disgust and amusement.
"Why's he so happy?" Tohru asked innocently, and immediately Kyo threw another riceball into his mouth. He shrugged at Yuki, who began fidgeting with the strings on his shirt.
"Tell you what, Miss Honda... how about I tell you Koya's story now?"
"Sure!" Tohru exclaimed, setting the platter down at the table and seating herself, as the two boys did the same. Yuki looked toward the staircase, a slight smile on his lips as though he was fond of retelling this.
"Koya and Shigure are... special."
T.B.C...
A/N: Bah! Not a great chapter, but next chapter will be better. I go into a nice (and probably not historically correct) explanation of Shigure and Koya's past... it's pretty interesting enough.
There won't be too many author's notes after this, but maybe if I have something important to say will I add one.
Keep reading and reviewing please!