Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket, the anime or the manga. The only character I do own is Kouen.
P.S. The way you pronounce Kouen's name is Co-in. Just a little info tid-bit. Enjoy :)
P.S.S. The chapter's are going to be long because each chapter is an episode.
Tohru Honda walked out of her tent and looked up at the sun. "Ah," she sighed, "Look at that beautiful sky!"
She looked behind her and realized she was alone. "Kouen," she said, "Wake up! We'll be late for school!"
"Mmm," Tohru's twin sister mumbled, "Five more minutes..."
"No, we have to go now silly goose!" Tohru laughed, pulling the small blanket off of Kouen.
Kouen sighed and sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She quickly changed into her school uniform and grabbed her bag. Then they both leaned into the tent and grinned at the smiling picture of their late mother. "See ya later, Mom," Kouen said with a wink.
"Take care of the house while we're gone, okay?" Tohru said with a giggle, "We'll be back!"
The two of them got up and began their daily walk to school. It wasn't very far away from their tent, they had made sure that it wouldn't be hard to get to and from school when they had chosen the spot for their make-shift house. They hadn't always lived in a tent. Up until last May they lived with their mom. It was just the three of them. But then the accident.... After they lost their mother, they began secretly living on there own. It's not exactly comfortable, but it's alright. And it's what they have to do.
As they walked down a small hill, they spotted a nice house nearby. "How long has that been there?" Kouen wondered.
"I don't know," Tohru said.
"Come on let's check it out!" Kouen said excitedly, grabbing Tohru's hand.
"Wait! Someone could be in there! We can't just go look at someone's house!"
Though Tohru and Kouen were identical twins, their personalities were extremely different. Tohru was always smiling and wanting to make people happy. She never wanted to be to much trouble and was rather shy sometimes. She was good at cooking and cleaning and pretty much any house work. Kouen on the other hand hated working, she was very outspoken in front of just about anyone, and she couldn't cook to save her life. She was very protective of her sister and if anyone messed with her they would end up with a black eye. However she was an amazing artist. She could draw such realistic pictures that some people thought they were photographs. Tohru always admired her sister's art work but she was never jealous. She just wasn't that type of person.
They came to the house and walked over to the front porch. "Hey," Tohru said, "Look."
Kouen looked at what Tohru was pointing at and saw little stone models of the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac. "How cute!" Tohru exclaimed.
"My word," someone said above them, "Do my eyes deceive me or are there two strange young girls standong on my porch?"
They both looked up and saw a young adult, maybe thirty years old, standing in front of them, reading the morning paper. "Oh no!" Tohru exclaimed, "We're sorry! We were just looking! We didn't mean to barge in without permission!"
Kouen rolled her eyes at her sister's behavior. Tohru always acted like this when she thought she did something wrong, when in reality she didn't. The man laughed. "It's okay," he assured her, "I've just set them out to dry, no harm done. But I find it hard to believe that these silly little things could attract your interest."
"No I really like them," Tohru grinned, "I don't think they're silly at all."
"Me neither," Kouen said.
"Yes well, I must admit I'm particularly fond of them myself."
Kouen looked back down at the little animals. "Aww, Tohru," she sighed, "They left out the cat!"
"The cat?" the man asked, "Oh, I take it you're refering to the old folk tale of the Chinese Zodiac."
"Uh huh," Tohru nodded, "Our mom told it to us when we were little..."
"A long long time ago, God decided to invite all of the animals to a banquet." Mother said, "He sent out word for all of them to come to his house the following evening. 'And don't be late,' he said. When the mischevious rat heard the news, he decided to play a trick on his neighbor, the cat. He told the cat that the party was the day after tomorrow. The very next day, all of the animals lined up for the celebration, and the rat led the way, riding all the way there on the back of the cow. Everyone had a wonderful time. Except for the foolish cat, who missed the whole thing. Hey, why are you crying?"
"Because," Tohru whimpered, "that poor cat, he must be so lonely!"
"I know," Kouen said, "We won't be a dog anymore, we'll be a cat too!"
"Yeah!" Tohru agreed, hugging her twin sister.
"Funny," the man said, "I wonder what he'll say when he hears he has a fan."
"He?" Kouen and Tohru said in unison.
"You were both born in the year of the dog," he said, "I knew there was something I liked about you. I mean aside from your pretty- Ow!"
A heavy book bag had fallen on the man's head. "Please forgive my cousin Ms. Honda," another voice said, addressing both of them, "He's a bit of a flirt, but he's harmless. In general, it's usually best to just ignore him."
"Yuki Sohma?" Kouen and Tohru gasped.
"What do you have in that bag, dictionaries?" the man asked, rubbing his head.
"No, I have two of them." Yuki responded.
"So," the man mumbled, "You're some of Yuki's classmates from 's start again. I'm Shigure, his older and much less violent cousin."
"Hi, it's very nice to meet you," Tohru replied politely.
Kouen nodded. "And what brings you to our home this morning Ms. Honda?" Yuki asked.
"Well you know we live... nearby," Kouen muttered hesitantly.
"You do?" Yuki asked, "Where at?"
"Uh," the girls stammered.
The boys stared at them. "Okay, I think we'll just be going now." Kouen said, "Come along Tohru!"
Tohru nodded, for once happy for her sister's abrupt attitude. "Well it was nice to meet you," Tohru said as they walked away.
"Wait, Ms. Honda," Yuki said, "Since you're both here, why don't we walk together?"
"Uh... sure," they agreed.
The walk to school was very quiet. Tohru was naturally shy and Kouen wasn't used to talking to boys. She didn't exactly know how to start a conversation. So she used the next best thing. Sarcasm. "Well you guys are sure talkative today," she mumbled.
Tohru blushed but Yuki didn't react. "So..." Kouen tried. Nothing. She sighed and resigned herself to the silence.
They got to school and Yuki said goodbye, going to his locker. That was when they attacked. The Prince Yuki Fan Club. They were a group of girls, dedicated to, well, Yuki. "Okay, start talking!" one of them shouted, "What was that all about?"
"Why were the two of you walking to school with Prince Yuki?" said another, "Details and they better be good!"
"I-it was just a coincidence," stammered Tohru.
"Well for your sake I hope that's all it was!" said that last.
"Every girl in Kawaya High class 1-D knows Yuki Sohma is the best looking boy in school!"
"And he's intelligent!"
"And great at sports!"
"And for your info weare the Prince Yuki Fan Club! We've got first dibs sister! So you better stay clear!"
"You're right," Kouen said, "You do have first dibs. I just hope, for your sake, that Yuki likes girls with black eyes."
She glared at them menacingly. They stared back. "Hey!" someone shouted behind them.
"What?!" the fangirls shouted back.
They spun around and froze. Arisa Uotani was standing right behind them. "She said it was just a coincedence," Uo said, "Now get lost before those big noses of yours get bruised."
The girls screamed and terror. "Now hold it Yankee!" one of them said bravely, "You're not gonna scare us with that street thug talk!"
"One more word," Saki Hanajima said, "and you'll all get buzzed with electric shocks."
"Ahh!" they all shreiked and ran down the hallway.
"Thanks," Tohru sighed, "I didn't think they'd ever leave."
"Were those catty little girls bothering you?" Uo asked, "Aww. Hana, don't actually shock anyone, okay?"
The four friends walked to the lunch room to get some breakfast. "The truth is," Tohru said, "I was so nervous walking with Yuki this morning. I couldn't talk to him. No, I couldn't even look at him."
"You're tellin' me," Kouen sighed, "I tried to force some words out of the two of you but it was like you lost your voice. You didn't even look up when I made that one wise crack!"
Tohru sighed. "I sense strange electric signals coming from that boy," Hana said quietly.
"Here we go again," Uo groaned, "Hana's electric report."
"Strange how?" Torhu asked.
"I don't know," Hana replied, "He's different."
"What's so bad about being different?" Kouen asked.
"Well, I admit he does seem to have an air of mystery about him," Uo said, "And there are some weird stories floating around too. I hear one of those fan club girls tried to ask him out once, but he just pushed her away. And I mean that literally, right in the hall! Then he left her on the floor and ran off."
"Like I said, I sense strange electric signals," Hana said again.
"Um, let's talk about something else," Tohru said nervously.
"How's that job of yours going?" Uo asked.
"Oh, fine I guess," Tohru smiled.
"Fine?" groaned Kouen, "It's a nightmare! All we do is clean and scrub and clean and scrub!"
Uo laughed. "I know you hate it, K," she said, "That's why I didn't ask you. Anyway, you've been putting in a lot of hours lately, a lot more than usual."
"Yeah sure," Tohru said hesitantly.
"You're having trouble saving up for tutition aren't you," Uo said, looking at both of them.
"No!" Kouen and Tohru said in unison.
"It's just," Tohru mumbled, "well, yeah."
"That's odd," Hana said, "I didn't think tuition here is that expensive, and I don't remember either of you having to work this hard before. Unless something else has changed."
"No everything's is the same-"
"So what is it?" Uo asked, "Yo in some kinda trouble? You owe somebody? Your grandfather's giving you enough to eat right? He isn't taking your money?"
"No," Kouen said slowly, staring at Uo strangely.
"I know, I worry too much!" Uo said with a smile, "But seriously, if you need me to roug hsomeone up for you, you just say the word. Got it?"
"Okay," Tohru grinned innocently.
Uo's gonna kill us when she finds out! Tohru thought, But how can we tell our two best friends that we live in a tent?
I can still remember how tough it was on Mom after Dad died, thought Kouen, She had to work so hard just to make ends meet! But she never seems to mind. She always had a smile, just like Tohru. It's hard to believe that someone so smart and so strong could be taken away by an accident.
After it happened there were a lot of people we could have stayed with, I guess, Tohru thought,We chose to live with our paternal grandfather. He was always so nice to us. But he's retired now and living on his savings. We didn't want to be a burden, or at least I didn't, so we promised him we would work to pay for our tutiton ourselves.
After four months, the house needed some renovations and Grandfather went to stay with his daughter and her family until the work was done. He asked us if we had a friend here we could stay with. We told him yes but Uo lives in a one room appartment and Hana's got such a large family, we couldn't ask them. They've got enough to worry about. We'd just be in the way.
That's when it hit us! If we could somehow live on our own for a while then everyone would be happy.
They walked back to their lockers and got ready for class. As they turned the corner they saw Yuki at his locker. "Oh," Tohru exclaimed in surprise, "Yuki it's you! I mean it's... hi."
He smiled kindly at them. "It seems we're beginning to make a habit of bumping into each other," he said.
Tohru blushed and Kouen smiled back. The rest of the day went by as usual. When it was over and they were leaving the school, Yuki decided to walk home with them. "It was nice meeting your cousin this morning, he was funny," Tohru said, trying to start a conversation, "And those little Zodiac figurines he made were really cute."
Kouen nodded her agreement, happy that Tohru was being a little more social. "Yes," Yuki said, "But I thought I overheard you say how you wish there was a year of the cat?"
"It's an idea we had when we were kids," Kouen shrugged, "Silly."
"Cats," Yuki muttered, "Useless, foolish creatures."
"Huh?" Tohru and Kouen asked at the same time.
Yuki stopped walking. "Tell me Ms. Honda," he said, "How familiar would you say you both are with the history of the Chinese Zodiac?"
Tohru and Kouen looked at each other nervously. "We know the stories our mom used to tell us." Kouen said.
"Did you know that it was originally nothing more than a simple calender," Yuki said, "a mathamatical system to mark the passage of time. Only later did people begin to use it for things like astrology and fortune telling."
"Oh," Tohru said quietly, "I guess the story about the animals isn't true then."
"No, I'm not really sure how or when the animals first came to represent the years, but I don't believe they were there from the beginning. What I do know is that no time in the history of the Zodiac has the cat ever been included. So you see, the cat has been shunned by society for thousands of years. But as the story is told it still yearns to be accepted. Like I say, a truly foolish animal."
"Sounds like you really don't like cats," Kouen said, giggling awkwardly.
Yuki turned to face them with a smile. He grabbed one of the leaves that was falling from the trees. "I noticed this morning that you're starting to look a bit pale," he said to Tohru, "You should really take better care of yourself."
He turned back away from them and began to walk off. "Perhaps," he said, "we'll bump into each other again, tomorrow."
The two girls stood watching him as he walked off. "Well that was weird," Kouen said with a snort, "Uo was right about that air of mystery thing."
Tohru nodded. "But I'll pretend I didn't hear that pale remark," she said determinedly, "I can't afford top let anything bring me down. I've got too much to do! Beside, Mom probably had it much much worse."
Kouen groaned. "Does that mean we still have to do work today?" she asked.
"Of course," Tohru said, "We have to get enough money for tuition and food now that we are living in a tent."
"Fine," Kouen muttered, "But don't expect me to be a happy helper."
So they worked. Kouen tried keeping her grumbling to a minimum but she was still constantly muttering to herself. Tohru rushed around, cleaning everything in sight. When they were done they were both exhausted. They walked slowly back to their tent at eleven o'clock that night. "Hi Mom," Tohru said weakly as they walked through the zipper door, "We're home."
Kouen just moaned and collpased on the ground. "I know," Tohru sighed, "It's late but we can't sleep, we still have a paper to write."
"No," Kouen said, "I'll get up early tomorrow or something! Please just let me sleep."
"Come on sleepy," Tohru laughed, "At least go wash off in the creek. We both need to."
"Okay."
Tohru grabbed the towel they had and went back outside, Kouen following close behind. Suddenly Tohru stopped. "What is it?" Kouen asked, pushing past her. Then she saw why her sister had stopped. Right in front of them, staring at them like they were the strangest things on Earth, was Yuki and Shigure Sohma. They stared at each other for a moment before Shigure broke down in hysteric laughter. "Shigure," Yuki muttered, "Don't you think you're over doing it?"
The Sohma's took the girl's back to their house. They sat down at the table, Shirgure struggling not to explode in laught again. "So," Yuki said, ignoring his cousin, "You've been living in a tent by yourselves?"
"Uh huh," Tohru and Kouen said quietly.
"For how long?"
"I don't know, just over a week." Kouen mumbled.
"That explains it," Yuki said, "All of this land is Sohma property. It seemed odd that we'd suddenly have some new neighbors."
"We're sorry," Tohru said, "But please, can't we stay there a little while longer? It's only for a few more weeks, then we'll go! We don't have much money, but we can pay you."
"Please let us stay!" Kouen begged.
"Those woods aren't too safe," Shigure said, "You've got wild animals, land slides, the occasional weirdo prowling around. It's not a good idea for a couple of girls to be living out there alone."
"So you're done laughing?" Yuki muttered.
"Don't you worry about us!" Tohru said, jumping up, "We're already used to all the bugs! And if we can stand up to them we can stand up to...."
Suddenly she sighed and fell back to the ground. "Ms. Honda!" Yuki said kneeling next to her.
Kouen put a hand on Tohru's forhead and frowned. "You have a fever," she said.
"Ice!" Shigure shouted, jumping up, "I'll get ice! It's in the-!"
He opened the kitchen door and froze. The kitchen was piled high with trash and pretty much anything that would fit in the room. "And you call the woods unsafe," Tohru mumbled.
"Well relatively speaking," Shigure replied.
Suddenly a wolf howled outside. Shigure froze and frowned. "There," he said, "You hear that? There's just been another landslide somewhere."
"Really?" Kouen asked, "But how do you know that?"
"I guess you could say it's instinct," he muttered.
"Was it close?" Yuki asked.
"Close to the tent- uh I mean not at all!"
Kouen gasped and jumped up. "We have to check it out," she said sternly.
The unusual foursome walked back to the tent. When they got there they saw a huge pile of dirt where the tent used to be. "Oh this is terrible!" Tohru shouted, "Mom's picture was still in there!"
Her and Kouen ran forward and frantically started digging through the dirt with their hands. "Mom!" Kouen shouted, "Mom we're coming!"
"Please, Ms. Honda," Yuki said to Tohru, putting a hand on her shoulder, "Calm down, you already have a fever."
"But Mom," Tohru said weakly, "What are we going to do? If we don't get her out soon she'll be..."
Shigure took her hand. "Don't strain yourself," he said calmly, "We'll come back when it's brighter. I think your mom's probably glad it wasn't you in there. I think she'd be upset if either of you go hurt now. Don't you?"
Tohru nodded and stood back up. Kouen put an arm around her and they walked back to the Sohma's house. Shigure made a little bed on the ground in one of the empty rooms for the two of them to share. "There," he said as they got comfortable, "Isn't that better? Yuki's still looking for some ice if you want it."
"I'm sorry," Tohru whispered.
"You must be tired," Shigure smiled, "It's a lot to happen in one day."
"Mmmhmm," she mumbled, "I lost my home again."
Kouen shivered, despite the heat radiating off of her sister's body. "Are you okay?" Shigure asked.
"Yes," Tohru replied, "It's sad. But not as sad as other things."
"Like what?"
"Like not telling Mom to be safe on the day she died," Tohru whispered, "I said that every morning. 'Goodbye, be safe!' Except that day. I didn't say it. I had a test, so I stayed up studying almost the whole night. But when it was time for Mom to go to work, I didn't wake up. I couldn't tell her be safe. And she never came home. I used to think about quiting school, working. Mom told me she didn't finish school, but she always wished that she did. When she said that, that's when I knew why she worked so hard, it was all for us, me and Kouen. And with everything she did, I couldn't even get up long enough to say goodbye when she was walking out the door. Not even that one little thing. And then she was gone. So now I have to finish high school like Mom wanted me too, no matter what. I have to hold that diploma in my hand. I have to. For her. I can't give up... just because... it hurts... like this...."
Kouen blinked the tears away and acted like she was sleeping. She didn't want Shigure to ask where she had been on the morning of her mother's death. Her story was different than Tohru. The night before, Kouen had asked if she could go to a party with Ou. Her mother had refused and told her to stay home and study with Tohru. They got in a fight and Kouen had stormed upstairs and not spoken to her the rest of the night. Or the next morning. And then she died. Kouen and Tohru's mother was gone, and Kouen didn't even get to say she was sorry, or that she loved her. Kouen bit her lip to keep from crying. Suddenly she heard the door open and Yuki started talking. "It's amazing," he said quietly, "She always seemed so cheerful at school. You'd never guess she's been suffering like this for so long."
He was quiet for a while and Kouen thought he had left. "When I was young," he said finally, "there were many times I wanted to run away from Sohma house. I never did, I could always find some rationaliztaion to stay. The fact of the matter was I just wasn't strong enough or I could have left. I could have lived in the woods, by myself in a tent. I could have done what they did."
He sighed. "You can call it amazing," Shirgure said, "but I don't think the word does it justice."
"No," Yuki said, "No it doesn't. Do you mind keeping an eye on them? I'd like to go out for a while."
"What?" Shigure asked, "Where? You're not going to try digging out that tent? You are, aren't you. Do you want me to come with you? It won't be an easy job for you alone."
"You're right," Yuki said, "But I don't think I said I was going alone."
"Be safe Yuki," Shigure said as the mysterious boy left the room.
The next morning, Kouen's eyes flickered open to the smiling face of her mother. It took her a moment to process the information then she gasped and sat bolt upright. "Mom!" she exclaimed.
Tohru yawned next to her and sat up. "Mom's back!" Kouen said, pointing at the picture.
Tohru's eyes widened and she gasped too. "Good morning," a voice said from outside the open door.
They both looked up and saw Yuki standing there, holding a few bags and smiling at them. "How are you feeling today?" he asked, like a friendly nurse at a hospital.
"Um, I guess I..." Tohru trailed off awkwardly.
"I've brought your things for you," he said setting the bags down on the porch, "I think this is all of them. if you'd like to check."
"Huh?" the twins exclaimed.
"Yuki!" Kouen said, "This must have taken you all night!"
He laughed and smiled. "Don't be silly," he said.
"So, then how did you... I mean there were so much!" Tohru said.
"It's a secret," he said mysteriously.
Creepy! Kouen thought but she was still very thankful.
"Oh," Tohru said simply.
"I know the place is dirty..." he said.
"What?" the twins asked.
"And I realize that the idea of living with two strange boys might seem a little awkward," he continued, "But there is an extra room upstairs, you're welcome to stay there if you like."
Tohru's eyes widened. "No no no! Out of the question!"
"We're not that strange," Yuki mumbled.
"No I didn't mean it like that!"
"Come on Tohru!" Kouen begged, "Just until Grandfather's house is finished!"
She jumped down from the porch and walked over to Yuki. "Wook at his wittle face," she said in a baby voice.
Yuki blushed and Tohru just stared at her. "Okay if you won't do it for him, do it for me!" Kouen sighed, "I don't wanna live in a tent for the next few weeks! I want a bed and food and indoor plumbing!"
"Of course it won't be free," Shigure said, making Tohru jump, "I do intend to pay you for your services."
Tohru and Kouen stared at him. "Services?" they asked.
"As our brand new housekeepeer!" he shouted as if he was unveiling a prize.
Yuki and Shigure grabbed they're bags and carried them in the house. "We'll just take your bags to your room then," he said, "I assume your references will all check out."
"Wait we can't let you do this!" Tohru shouted, "Not after all the trouble you've gone through already! Please it's too much!"
"Ms. Honda," Yuki said, "We're doing this because we want to. You don't have to worry that it's causing us any trouble. And besides, where else can you go?"
The two girls were silent. "He's got a point," Kouen mumbled.
"Well if we're gonna stay here, we'll work for room and board and that's it," Tohru said, "I don't want any money."
"But I'll take some if you have any."
"Kouen!"
"Fine, no money."
"Relax," Yuki grinned, "You can do things your own way here. The only thing you have to do is be yourself. Fair enough?"
Just be yourself! You'll be fine.
"All's well that ends well I guess," Tohru mumbled.
Kouen sighed and looked around. "I'm still not sure how we ended up in Yuki's house... or borrowing some of his clothes," she said self consiously.
"It's like being in a dream," Tohru agreed.
"I apologize for the smell," Yuki said opening one of the windows in the vacant room Tohru and Kouen would be staying in, "We've had this room closed off for some time. It's probably best to keep the windows open for a while."
Suddenly the roof seemed to explode and bits of wood fell down on the three of them. "What that hell?!" Kouen cused, ducking out of the way just in time.
When the dust cleared, they saw a boy about their age with bright orange hair standing in front of them. "Yo," he smirked, "It's time to pay the piper, rat boy! I'm here to collect!"
Yuki turned around and leaned against the window. "Funny," he said, "I would have thought he'd send somebody bigger."
Orange Top glared at Yuki. "That's right, you better get your tough talk out of the way while you can," he shouted, "'Cause I'm about to wipe that stupid little smirk right off your face!"
He lunged at Yuki, obviously out for blood. "Wait!" Tohru shouted, "Stop! Don't fight!"
She ran forward and slipped on a piece of wood. She fell forward and grabbed Orange Top around the waist. There was an explosion and a puff of orange smoke. Tohru landed on the ground with a thud. "Yuki," Shigure said, walking in, "What were all those craching sounds I just heard? Kyo's not here is he?"
Tohru jumped up. "I'm so sorry!" she shouted, "Are you alright I-!"
She froze as she looked at Orange Top. Or what used to be Orange Top. "That's a-" Kouen whispered.
"Gyaa! I turned him into a cat!" Tohru shouted, waving the little orange cat around, "I'm so sorry! I don't know how that happened, but we're going to help you okay! Hurry we need to get him to a doctor right away!"
"Tohru look out!" Kouen shouted, pointing at a piece of wood that was falling from the broken ceiling.
But the debris hit Tohru anyway. She stumbled under the impact and kareened into Shigure and Yuki. There was a poof of blue and pink dust and the other two boys were gone. Tohru looked around and saw a dog sitting in Shirgure's clothes and a rat sitting in Yuki's clothes. "I think this all must be a dream," Kouen said weakly, "Everyone's turning into animals!"
Well that's chapter one! I hope you liked it and don't forget to review! :)