Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket or the song listed below.
"Chasing Cars" - by Snow Patrol
"Momiji-san! There you are! I was worried sick!" You whine, calling out to the boy. He sticks his tongue out, trying to fix his blue hat, as you approach.
"No need to worry~! Oh, look at you~! You're sweating~!" Momiji-san says, crossing his arms as he pouts his lips playfully. You sigh and smile, rolling your eyes. Momiji-san winks at you, taking your hand in his. You grin as he begins to skip ahead of you.
You knew exactly how and why you fell in love with him. It was when Momiji-san took you to the ice cream shoppe a couple weeks ago. When he held your hand, when he smiled at you, the way he happily ate up his ice cream, it was just everything that made him who he is. Momiji-san. Even thinking his name made you smile.
"What is it, kawaii-chan? What's making you smile~?" Momiji-san says, turning to face you again. You shake your head and murmur, 'nothing.' The only thing holding you back from talking to Momiji-san about your feelings is fear: the fear of rejection.
Momiji-san smiles again and continues to pull you along, taking you to the Sohma household. You knew of the curse, but you hadn't heard about it from Momiji-san. It was Hatori-san who told you, and as he said, "I'm only telling you this to protect you. Stay away from us, stay away from this family." You did take heed to his warning for a small amount of time. It wasn't long before you and Momiji-san became inseparable.
Momiji-san lets go of your hand and races to the door. He knocks loudly three times. The door opens and he grabs your hand once more and takes you in.
"Come on~! Don't be afraid~!" Momiji-san says again, beaming. You love his smile and the way his hair seems to light up in the sunlight. Suddenly, Momiji-san seems to become sad. You look into his eyes and ask, "Momiji-san, what's wrong?"
He looks at you, looks down at the ground and looks back to you with a small, weak smile, thinking about his curse that he believes is unknown to you.
"Nothing really," He squeezes your hand to reassure you, but it does nothing but make you shiver. You suddenly want to ask him about the curse. You were never told what animal he is. A wandering thought goes through your mind, and you decide to ask him this question.
"Hey Momiji-san," You start, bringing your voice to a whisper, "What animal are you? In the Chinese zodiac?"
Momiji-san immediately brightens up. Startled, he asks, "Y-You know?"
"Yeah! I wouldn't have asked if I didn't know!" You laugh.
"Hug me, kawaii-chan. You'll see," He says quietly, opening his arms to you. You slowly hug him. You feel his arms wrap around your waist before his body disappears. You notice a cloud of yellow smoke enveloping the two of you. You look down and see Momiji-san is gone.
Momiji-san?!
You look at your shirt and see an adorable rabbit clinging to your jacket. It quivers and shakes as he snuggles up to you. You can't believe how adorable he is.
Watch out. I'm going to change back. Close your eyes.
You obediently let go of the rabbit and shut your eyes. You hear a faint poof. You keep your eyes shut, though. You feel something soft and warm on your lips. You open your eyes to see what it is.
You find Momiji-san in front of you, his eyes shut, his lips on yours.
Am I... Kissing Momiji-san?! Is he kissing me?!
You quickly pull away, realizing the truth. Alarmed and surprised, you feel your face redden at the thought of his lips on yours. You turn away from Momiji-san to recollect yourself. When you look back to him, his eyes flutter open. He stares at you, occasionally blinking, making sure that he really just did that, that he really just kissed you. His face remains calm, absolutely serene, as if the moment had remained unblemished, the heat of the moment remained cold, no romance involved, nothing uncommon occurring. But yet, something had occurred, and Momiji-san is unsure of where this moment is heading.
His face is serious, an expression you've never seen on him before. His brown eyes remain focused on you, and his body is still. He looks as if he was just frozen in place.
You find the courage to say something.
"Momiji-san..." You mutter his name, unable to say anything else.
Momiji-san began spewing apologies in a panic, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry it was an accident, I didn't mean to.. it... it won't happen again, I-"
"B-but I want it to happen again!" You say, meaningfully, and immediately this quiets his apologies. He makes a small noise in shock, and his face becomes bright red. His face and body is frozen in shock and panic. After what seems like forever, his frigid face breaks, and is replaced with a terrifying look: a sullen, empty stare. Momiji-san gently takes your hand. His silence makes you worry, but you follow his lead. The uncomfortable silence is deafening. It makes you feel like you have done something wrong. Momiji-san takes you all about the Sohma compound, as if he is searching for something.
What could he be searching for...?
Suddenly, your long stroll comes to an abrupt halt. Momiji-san has taken you to a door. He knocks on the door three times. No one answers. Momiji-san lets out a small audible sigh and opens the door. He opens the door and shuffles inside. You quietly follow after him.
It's a girls bedroom. You blink. A bed sits in the corner, abandoned. There are papers littered on a desk by the window.
"Rin..." Momiji-san whispers, slowly shaking his head at the open window. The white curtains fly about helplessly in the wind, the window ajar. He sighs, looking wistfully at the ceiling before ransacking this girls closet.
"Momiji-san! St-stop!" You cry helplessly as you watch him rummage through kimonos. He ignores your pleas and emerges from the closet. In his small hands, he holds a white kimono with yellow intricate and beautiful patterns all over. You gasp at its beauty.
"Put this on. Rin won't mind," Momiji-san says softly, handing the kimono to you.
"M-Momiji-san, I couldn't possibly-"
"Please. I'll have a maid put it on you," Momiji whispers, insisting you put on the garment. You reluctantly nod. After seeing your response, Momiji runs out of the room to find a maid.
What is going on...?
After several minutes of growing anxious, Momiji-san returns with a young woman in tow. She bows to you, a small smile on her mouth.
"Let me help you, Ms. It won't take long. Momiji-sama is going to return shortly," the maid says quickly, trying to undress you.
"O-Okay," You say as the maid begins her work.
Rin's kimono fits you handsomely. You admire the piece in the mirror, waiting for Momiji-san to return. The door to Rin's room flies open. You gasp.
Momiji-san enters, his brown eyes concentrating on his tie. He is wearing a light yellow tuxedo, in order to match your kimono. His tongue is sticking out slightly, and his hair has been combed. Momiji-san shakes his head, trying to make his hair less fancy. You giggle. He gives you a goofy smile and leads you out of Rin's room.
Still confused, you take in the entirety of the Sohma complex, and yawn. Momiji-san hasn't said a word since he asked- begged- you to wear the gorgeous kimono. He takes you to another door. This door seems to have its own haunting aura. Being near whatever is behind that door makes you feel very uncomfortable. You shift your weight to another foot. Momiji-san's hands are shaking as he knocks on the paper screen door. The door opens and Momiji-san quietly takes you inside.
The room is dark. You shiver in fear. At the end of the room in the furthest corner, there is a window and in the window, a boy lays lazily on the pane, looking at the sky, as if he is wishing for a better life. Momiji-san gets on his knees and bows his head towards the male. The boy snaps his head in our direction, his eyes filling with rage and a bit of interest.
"Why have you come? Why have you come without permission?!" The boy asks, his eyes twitching, his voice increasing in volume.
You imitate Momiji-san out of fear. You bow your head and get on your knees, shaking. You do not know who this boy is, but he seems to have all the power in the world in his hands. You hear Momiji-san shift, moving onto his knees to speak.
"Akito-sama, I am here today to ask you for a favor," Momiji-san states boldly. You hear no sign of fear or uncertainty in his voice. Momiji-san, what is happening..?
"A favor? Why should I do you a favor? " Akito-sama sneers, crossing his arms and turning his head towards you.
"Akito-sama, are there times where... where you feel so alone? Like there isn't anything in the entire world that can fill that empty pit inside your heart? I bet you feel that a lot, Akito-sama, and that's why you are so cruel to us, the rest of the zodiac. You feel empty. Is that not why?" Momiji-san asks, his defiance awing and inspiring you.
"Y-You wouldn't know anything, rabbit! What the hell do you want? Do you want your friend here to forget about your existence? I think that can be arranged, Momiji. You're testing me. Spit it out." Akito-sama says coldly to Momiji. You can't see anything but the mat beneath you. You can only hope everything is okay.
"Please, Akito-sama, I have no intention of being like you. I do not want to feel alone anymore. Who else is going to be torn from me!? My mother and sister... They don't even know who I am!" Momiji-san cries out in fury.
"I don't want to be alone! I don't want to be anything like you. Please, Akito-sama, this beautiful girl in front of you, she will heal the hole I have. If you had that choice, the choice to end this darkness that consumes us all, would you take that risk? She and I, we will be wed when we are of age, and I ask of you, please bless-"
"THAT'S ENOUGH! NO, NO MARRIAGE, NO OUTSIDERS, NO ONE ELSE! YOU ARE CURSED! THERE IS NO LOVE OR HAPPINESS FOR ANYONE HERE!" Akito-sama roars. You hear the sound of a slap and then nothing. You gasp and sit up, looking at Momiji-san. His nose is bleeding a bit, but he quickly wipes it away with his hand. He glares at Akito-san and stands. In rage you stand as well.
"You both sicken me. To ask such a question, knowing what happened to Hatori. Idiots. Imbeciles." Akito-san spits out his words and turns away. He turns back around to face you and Momiji once more, only to fiercely glare and speak two words.
"Get. Out."
"When will you understand? You are alone. Akito, you are so alone, and you don't want us to leave you behind. Well, we won't," Momiji-san says, his hands behind his back, his feet scuffling against the ground as he takes you by the hand to leave. He turns one more time to say something to Akito-san. For the first time, you see Momiji-san glare, you see pure anger in his caramel brown eyes.
"It's not like we ever had a choice," Momiji-san says curtly, slamming the paper screen door behind him. You blink the tears out of your eyes, stunned at what had just happened.
"Kawaii-chan, you listen to me," Momiji-san says quietly, lifting your chin, and giving you a big smile.
"I love you. I love you so much. No matter who tells us we can't be together, no matter who says no, we will be together. We will get married. We will make so many memories, I promise." Momiji-san says softly, guiding you to his room.
You let more tears leak from your eyes, finally knowing Momiji-san loves you. Even after what had just happened you can't help but smile. He leads you to his light blue bedroom. He pulls you in and shuts the door. His smile lights up your heart. He skips over to his radio and hits the play button.
"Listen~!" Momiji-san shouts, as the song starts.
We'll do it all
Everything
On our own
We don't need
Anything
Or anyone
"We'll be the happiest couple ever~! Be my girlfriend~! I'll make you feel special~!" Momiji says happily, kissing your hand. You laugh and nod, smiling and crying, and laughing, all at the same time. He pulls you onto his bed, and you both look up at the ceiling as the song continues.
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel
Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life
Let's waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads
I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life
All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see
I don't know where
Confused about how as well
Just know that these things will never change for us at all
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
"Will you spend the rest of your days in this family with me, kawaii-chan?" Momiji asks seriously, holding your hands in his.
"Do you even have to ask?" You whisper to Momiji. His eyes light up and he smiles, before leaning in to kiss you, marking the beginning of something incredible.