Hey my 1st Fruits Basket FanFic! Hope everyone likes it. I personally love the title cause it sounds cool. (I didn't just pick it for that reason.) This is a Kyo/Tohru cause I like them, and a Haru/OC/Undecided cause I know I was Haru/OC but I also want OC/ Other people and I only have one OC. I can't wait to really get into this. Big surprise around chapter 10 (I've done 1-8 already. 9-26 will be harder since I don't have any scripts to work with I'll have to watch the anime and write what I hear X-X this is based on the Anime NOT the Manga meaning Akito is a MAN. Please enjoy! ^-^
Disclaimer: I do not own fruits Basket or it's characters, i only own Rika and changes to the plot.
Summary: Kyoko Honda finds an young orphan girl, Rika, on the streets in the rain one night and takes her in. Years later, after losing Kyoko, she swears to always be there for Tohru and to take care of her, being a year older, she took the role of older sister. She also has a secret not even she knows about. – Rated T, Follows the anime, Kyo/Tohru, Haru/OC/?Undecided?
Non quoted Italics- thoughts
"Story like parts"- Flash backs
7 Years Ago (3rd Person)
Kyoko Honda walked down the sidewalk holding a medium sized umbrella as it was pouring rain. A small figure in a dark hoodie with their hands shoved into their pockets made their way in the opposite direction towards her. The rain being so heavy neither saw each other until they collided.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Kyoko said looking down. The figure looked up and Kyoko could make out the green eyes of a child in the dim light of nearby stores. "You look awfully young to be out by yourself in this weather." She said moving her umbrella to shield both of them from the rain.
"I can take care of myself!" The child said standing up straighter.
"Where are your parents?"
"I don't need parents!" The child crossed their arms. Kyoko crouched down, still holding the umbrella above them. The child looked down, dropping their arms.
"Do you have parents?" The child shook their head slowly. "Why don't you come home with me? You'll get sick if you stay out here."
"Why should I go with you?!" The child asked snapping their head up.
"You can't stay out here. I have a daughter myself. She's around your age… It's not safe to be out here." Kyoko said. "Come home with me until I can contact another family member." The child looked down. "Do you have any other family?" The child shook their head. Kyoko stood up. "Come on." She said holding out her hand.
"I'm not a baby. I don't have to hold an adult's hand." The child said crossing their arms again. Kyoko nodded and started to walk. The child swallowed walking after her. They glanced up at the woman who had offered them something they'd lost. The child reached up and took Kyoko's hand.
"My name is Kyoko Honda, what's yours?"
"Rika."
Present day (Rika's POV)
I finished getting dressed in my school uniform. The top was a little tight; I was a lot more… gifted than other girls. I sighed pulling at the top slightly. I brushed my long very light blond hair with light blue streaks. I looked in my small handheld mirror and observed my appearance. I had silver studs in both ears with rings along the shell of my left ear. I had a silver locket and another silver chain around my neck. I finished putting some eyeliner on before putting the mirror away. I looked at my hands to make sure I had everything I wanted on; ring on left pinky and ring finger, and right pinky. Watch on right wrist and Onyx bracelet on left.
I'm American, explaining my blond hair and big bust, my parent's and I moved when I was a baby. I don't remember the reason. My mother died when I was seven then three years later my father fell ill. I had been a homeless orphan for about a week when Kyoko took me in. At first Tohru and I didn't get along; I found her annoying and always too happy, and being younger she tried to copy me on many occasions. But after Kyoko died.. I couldn't abandon Tohru. She no longer had Kyoko to be strong and help her. I wouldn't replace Kyoko but I could do what I could. She actually wasn't all that bad. I was always just very stubborn.
"Rika, Look at that beautiful sky!" Tohru said as I got out of the tent we were currently living in in the woods. "See you later, Mom! Take care of the house while we're gone, okay? We'll be back!" She said as we started walking. You're probably wondering why we're living in a tent in the middle of the woods. Don't worry we're not crazy or anything… well I'm not. Up until last May, we lived with Tohru's Mom, Kyoko, my adoptive mother. It was just the three of us. But then she got hit by a car. After we lost Kyoko, we began secretly living here, on our own. It's defiantly not comfortable, there's not exactly a lot of room and it's hard to fall asleep at night. But we have to make do. I have to be strong for Tohru. Of course she is strong herself, but in her own way.
"Hmm?" I looked over, as Tohru had stopped walking, and saw a house. "Look at this, Rika. Did you know there was a house here?"
"With this much land there was bound to be a house or two." She walked over to it. "Eh? Where are you going?" I asked following her.
"It's seems so peaceful. Must be nice." She looked down and saw little rocks with animals painted onto them. "How cute!" She said cheerfully. "The twelve animals of the Zodiac!"
"Neat." I said bending over next to her to look at them.
"My word…" I looked up to see a man standing on the porch holding a newspaper.
"Huh?" Tohru said looking up, surprised.
"Do my eyes deceive me, or are there strange young girls standing on my porch?"
"Ah, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I was just looking!" Tohru said frantically standing up and backing up a bit. I simple stood up straight. "We didn't mean to barge in without permission." She said a little calmer. The man chuckled.
"It's alright. I'd 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. I don't think they're silly at all!"
"Me neither." I said.
"Yes, well…I must admit, I'm particularly fond of them myself." He said kneeling by them.
"Oh. But I should have known…" Tohru said quietly, disappointed . "You left out the cat.
"The cat?" The man looked a little confused. "...Ahh…I take it you're referring to the old folk tale of the Chinese Zodiac?"
"Uh-huh…My 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…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 mischievous 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." Young Tohru began to sniffle. "Hey, why are you crying?" Kyoko asked.
"Because…that poor cat…" Tohru sniffed. "He must be so lonely.. I know, I won't be a dog anymore! I'll be a cat, too!" She said determined.
"You can't just change, stupid." Young Rika said sitting at the foot of the bed.
"Wouldn't you rather be a cat than a rooster?" She asked. The other girl crossed her arms.
"Yeah, I guess.." She mumbled.
"Funny…I wonder what he'll say when he hears he has a fan club." The man said quietly.
"H-he?" Tohru asked timidly.
"You were born in the Year of the Dog?" The man asked Tohru. "I knew there was something I liked about you, aside from your pretty fa-aa…" He was cut off as someone dropped their bag on his head.
"Eh?!" Tohru looked up startled while I glanced up.
"Please forgive my cousin, Miss Honda. He's a bit of a flirt, but he's harmless… In general, it's usually best to just ignore him."
"Ah, Yuki Sohma!" She said excitedly. I rolled my eyes. The "prince" of our high school, Yuki Sohma. I was a year older than Tohru so I was also a year older than Yuki. It was mostly the younger girls a few older that liked him. It's not that I didn't like him, I mean I don't even really know him, it's just that I'm not a crazy fangirl.
"Ow, what do you have in that bag? A dictionary?" Yuki's cousin asked.
"No. I have two of them."
"Why would you need two dictionaries?" I asked.
"The reason is in front of you." He said looking at his cousin who was rubbing his head.
"So- you're Yuki's classmates from school." His cousin said. I raised a hand.
"I'm a year older, I'm Rika." I said. He nodded.
"Let's start again then." He said. "I'm Shigure, his older and much less violent cousin."
"Hi, it's very nice to meet you." Tohru said.
"And what brings you to our home this morning, Miss Honda, Miss Rika?" Yuki asked.
"Well, you know…we live nearby…" She said nervously.
"You do? Where at?"
"Uhh.. Right!" She said sharply.
"Uhh…" The two looked at her. I cleared my throat.
"I think we'd better get going. We don't wanna be late for school. It was nice to have met you." I said looking to Shigure. I grabbed Tohru's arm and turned around.
"Wait, Miss Honda!" Yuki called out. We stopped and looked back. "Since you're here, why don't we all walk together?
"Uh…huh." Tohru said nervously.
"Sure." I said with a smile.
Once we got to school I left the two of them and went to my homeroom. Later I met up with Tohru, Saki and Arisa in Home Economics class. It was one of the only classes I had with them since they were a year below me, the other being gym.
"You know the truth is, I was so nervous walking with Yuki this morning. I couldn't talk to him-no, I couldn't even look at him." Tohru said.
"I know, it was such an awkward walk."
"I sense strange electric signals coming from that boy." Saki said.
"Here we go again, Hana's electric report." Arisa said.
"Strange how?" Tohru asked.
"I don't know. He's different." She said putting the cover on her knife.
"Well, I admit he does seem to have an air of mystery about him…" Arisa 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." Saki said a little annoyed.
"Mmm…Let's talk about something else." Tohru said.
"How's that job of yours going?" Arisa asked curtly.
"Oh, fine I guess. Why?"
"Nothing new to report, same old stuff." I added.
"I don't know…You two have been putting in a lot of hours lately. A lot more than usual.
"Uhh…Yeah. Sure."
"You're having trouble saving up for your tuition, aren't you?"
"No, it's just…well…yeah." Tohru said.
"That's odd." Saki said. "I didn't think tuition here was that expensive. And I don't remember you having to work this hard before. Unless, something else has changed..?"
"No, everything's the saa-" Tohru said panicky but Arisa cut her off.
"So what is it? You in some kind of trouble? You owe somebody? Your grandfather's giving you enough to eat, right? He isn't taking your money?
"Mm, mm!" Tohru shook her head.
"We're fine. I'm supposed to do the big sister act." I said with a smile. Arisa chuckled.
"I know, I worry too much…" She said. "But seriously, if you need me to rough someone up for you, you just say the word. Got it?"
"Okay." Tohru said a little taken a back. I chuckled silently to myself and sighed. Tohru and I agreed not to let anyone know we lived in a tent. Arisa would surely be mad at us if she ever found out. I can still remember how tough it was on Kyoko after Katsuya died.
"Don't worry, girls. We're gonna be okay…We'll get through this together."
She had to work so hard just to make ends meet. But she never seemed to mind.
"Our first paycheck! We're rich!"
She always had a smile, she was always strong for Tohru and me. It's hard to believe that someone so smart and so strong could be taken away just like that in an accident.
When Kyoko died I told myself I would be strong for Tohru. I wouldn't ever give up on her or abandon her. There were a lot of people we could have stayed with. I followed Tohru who chose to live with her paternal grandfather. He was always so nice to me whenever I would go with Kyoko and Tohru for a visit. But he's retired, and living on his savings. We didn't want to be a burden, so we promised him we would work hard to pay for our tuitions ourselves.
A few months later…the house needed renovations, and Tohru's 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. I told him yes, but Arisa lives in a one-room apartment, and Saki's got such a large family… we couldn't ask them. They've got enough to worry about. That's when Tohru had the brilliant idea. If we could somehow live on our own for a while, everyone would be happy. Well except for us really but we could get through it together.
After school I met up with Tohru and we went down to the lockers to get our shoes.
"Eh?" I looked to see Yuki at his locker.
"Oh! Yuki," Tohru said surprised. "it's you! I mean it's… Hi." She said shyly.
"It seems we're beginning to make a habit of bumping into each other." He said with a smile.
The three of us walked back towards our 'homes'.
"It was nice meeting your cousin this morning. He was funny. And those Zodiac figures he made were really cute…" Tohru said.
"I'm not sure funny is the right word to describe him." I said.
"Ah, yes...but I thought I overheard you saying something about how you wished there was a year of the cat?"
"It's an idea I had when I was a kid…Silly." She said shyly.
"Cats…useless, foolish creatures." He said lowly, menacingly. I mean wow, his whole attitude just suddenly changed. He stopped walking. "Tell me, Miss Honda. How familiar would you say you are with the history of the Chinese Zodiac?" He asked.
"I know the stories my mom used to tell me..."
"Did you know that it was originally nothing more than a simple calendar? A mathematical system to mark the passage of time. Only later did people begin to use it for things like astrology and story-telling…"
"Oh. 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 from the beginning. What I do know is at no time in the history of the Zodiac has the cat ever been included. So you see, the cat has been shunned from society for thousands of years. But as the story is told, it still years to be excepted…Like I say, a truly foolish animal."
"Sounds like you really don't like cats."
"No kidding." I said as he turned around.
"…. I noticed it this morning that you're starting to look a little pale…" He said to Tohru. "You should try to take better care of yourself. Perhaps we'll bump into each other again tomorrow…" He said before walking away.
"I told you, you were starting to look pale." I said crossing my arms. I had brought it up the day before but Tohru said she was fine.
"I'm fine." She said. I sighed, rolling my eyes.
"Come on, let's get back. You have work tonight." I said as we started walking to the tent. We both worked at the same job but we had different nights off. Tonight was my night off which worked out well because I had gotten a lot of homework.
That night I waited for Tohru to get home. I had finished all of my homework and had looked at what Tohru needed to do in case she needed my help. Tohru pushed open the tent and came in.
"Hi, Mom." I glanced up from a book I was reading. "I'm home. I know…it's late." She said looking at me. "But I can't sleep yet. I still have a paper to write."
"Don't worry I'll help you." I said with a smile. She returned it.
"I'm just going to go down to the stream to wash up a little, okay?" I nodded before going back to my book. Tohru opened the tent flap and stopped. I looked up, raising an eyebrow. When I heard someone laughing insanely.
"Shigure, don't you think you're overdoing it?" I heard Yuki say. I got 'up' and got out of the tent. Shugure started laughing harder when he saw me. I frowned and hit him on the head with my book.
"Ow!" I glared at him and he shrunk back some.I looked to Yuki who had face palmed.
We went back to Yuki's house with him and Shigure who snickered all the way. We sat at a table. Yuki and Shigure, who was still snickering loudly, on one side and Tohru and me on the other.
"So…You've been living in that tent by yourselves?
"Uh huh." Tohru said.
"For how long?" Yuki asked. I glared towards Shigure who was turned to the side.
"I don't know. Just over a week?"
"Well, that explains it. All of this land is Sohma property. It seemed odd that we'd suddenly have a new neighbor."
"I'm sorry…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 I can pay you! Please let us stay?"
"Those woods aren't too safe…" Shigure said.
"You've got wild animals, landslides, the occasional weirdo prowling around."
"How often do you go for walks?" I asked with a small chucked and he gave me an offended look but kept talking.
"It's not a good idea for two girls to be living out there alone."
"So, you're done laughing?" Yuki said.
"Hmm…"
"Don't you worry about us!" Tohru said standing up. "We're already used to all the bugs! And if we can stand up to them, we can stand up to…" Suddenly she started to fall over.
"Tohru!" I gasped catching her. Yuki was suddenly next to us putting a hand on her forehead.
"A fever." He said.
"Ice! I'll get the ice!" Shigure opened the doors to the kitchen and grimaced at the mess."Its uh-It's…"
"Hn. And you call the woods unsafe?"
"Well, relatively speaking. Hm." He suddenly stopped "There. You hear that? There's just been another landslide somewhere."
"Really? But-how do you know that?" Tohru asked?
"I guess you could say it's instinct."
"Was it close?" Yuki asked.
"Close to the tent-er, I mean- Not at all!" He said in a sing-song voice. Tohru was suddenly up and running to the tent. The three of us followed her. The whole tent was covered with just a bit of orange sticking out.
"Oh! This is terrible! Mom's picture was still in there! I've got to get her out! Mom!" Tohru said as she started using her hands to dig.
"Tohru stop!" I said trying to pull her back.
"Mom, I'm coming!" She suddenly stopped. She was panting heavily.
"Please calm down." Yuki said coming over. "You already have a fever."
"But, Mom…Wh-What am I going to do? If I don't get her out soon…sh-she'll be hurt!" I frowned.
"Don't strain yourself." Shigure said putting a hand on hers. "We'll come back when it's brighter… I think your Mom's probably glad it wasn't you in there. And I think she'd be upset if you got hurt now…Don't you?" I helped Tohru up and we made our way back to the house.
"There. Isn't that better?" Shigure said. I lay next to Tohru who was under a blanket. Shigure was sitting crisscross next to her. "And Yuki's still looking for some ice, if you want it…"
"I'm sorry…"
"You must be tired. It's a lot to happen in just one day…"
"Mmm…we… lost our home again…" She opened her eyes to look at me. "I'm sorry Rika." I shook my head, stroking hers gently. She closed her eyes again.
"Are you okay?" Shigure asked her.
"Yes…It's sad…but, not as sad as other things…"
"Like what?"
"Like…not telling Mom "be safe" on the day she died…I said that every morning…Bye. Be safe. Except that day. I didn't say it…" I frowned. "I had a test. So Rika stayed up helping me study almost the whole night. 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…"
"Tohru." I said quietly. "Stop blaming yourself for what happened to Kyoko." She opened her eyes again and looked at me sadly.
"I used to think about quitting school…working." She said closing her eyes again. "Mom told me she didn't finish school. But she always wished she did."
"That's why I need you to stick with it. So you can tell me what it feels like to hold that diploma in your hand. And then, maybe, you can have the life I never got to have…"
"When she said that, that's when I knew…Why she worked so hard…It was all for us. 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 to, no matter what…I have to hold that diploma in my hand…I have to…for her…I can't give up…just because…of a fever…like this…" She trailed off slowly falling asleep.
"It's amazing…" Shigure and I looked up to see Yuki standing in the doorway holding a ling of ice. "She always seems so cheerful at school…You'd never guess that you two have been suffering like this for so long…" He said. "When I was young, there were many times I wanted to run away Sohma House… But I never did. I could always find some rationalization to stay… The fact of the matter is I just wasn't strong enough, or I could've left…I could've lived in the woods by myself, in a tent…I could've done what you did…" He said glancing at me.
"You can call it amazing. But I don't think the word does it justice…"
"No…No, it doesn't."
"Do you mind keeping an eye on them? I'd like to go out for a while."
"What? 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…but-" He glanced at me. "I can handle it."
"Be safe, Yuki." Shigure said as Yuki left. He turned to me. "You should get some sleep too. We have another Shiki-futon." I shook my head.
"I'll be fine. You can go to bed. I'll watch her." I said sitting up slowly looking down at her with a quiet sigh.
"Let me at least get you a pillow." He said getting up and walking out to the hall before coming back with a pillow.
"Thanks." I said taking it. I moved over and lied down.
"You should really get some sleep or you might catch a fever too." I sighed.
"Fine." I said closing my eyes and letting my consciousness fade away.
The next morning I woke up and looked up to see Tohru sitting up. I said up and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes.
"Huh? Mom, you're here…" She said picking up the picture. "But how did you-?
"Good morning!" Yuki said. We looked up to see him standing there with bags in his hands. "How are you feeling today?"
"Uhh, I, guess I, uh…"
"I've brought your things for you. I think this is all of them, if you'd like to check.
"Yuki, this must have taken you all night!" Tohru said flustered.
"Don't be silly." Yuki said.
"So then how did you-? There was so much…"
"It's a secret." He said.
"Oh…"
"I know the place is dirty…"
"What?"
"And I realize the idea of living with two strange boys might seem a little awkward… But there's an extra room upstairs. You're welcome to stay there, if you'd like."
"No, no, no! Out of the question!" She said getting up even more flustered.
"We're not that strange…" Yuki said.
"No! I didn't mean it like that!" I chuckled at Tohru standing up.
"Of course, it won't be free…" Shigure said suddenly popping up, in a teasing voice.
"Eh? Ahh.."
"I do intend to pay you for your services."
"For my…services?"
"As our brand new housekeepers!" Shigure said in a sing-song voice "We'll just take your things to your room now. I assume your references will all check out?" He said in a more serious voice.
"Wait! I can't let you do this!" She said. "Not after all the trouble you've gone through already! Please it's too much!"
"Miss Honda, we're doing this because we want too." Yuki said stopping and looking back at us. "You don't have to worry that it's causing us any trouble… And besides…where else can you go?"
"Oh… Well, if we're going to stay here, we'll work for room and board, and that's it! I don't want any money! And I want to know all the rules of the house!"
"Relax. It's alright. You can do things your own way here. The only thing you have to do is be yourself…Fair enough?" Yuki said.
"Just be yourself... You'll be fine..." I heard Kyoko's voice say.
Later that morning Tohru was up in our new room while I was sitting at the table down stairs with Shigure.
"So, You and Tohru.. You're sisters?" I shook my head slightly.
"Kyoko took me in when I was little."
"So you're an orphan.."
"I don't need any pity. It doesn't change who I am. Parents or not.. I had Kyoko.. and I still have Tohru." I said. He smiled.
"How old are you? You're year of the rooster, right?" He asked. I nodded.
"I'm a year older than Tohru."
"When is your birthday?" He asked smiling. I rolled my eyes.
"Down boy." He looked at me a little surprised but chuckled. "Why else would you be asking?" I asked with a smirk. "Why are you laughing?"
"Oh it's nothing.. Just your choice of words." He said. Suddenly there was a crash from upstairs. "Hm? I'll go see what that was, you stay here." He said getting up. He left the room and a few minutes later Tohru came running down the stairs.
"Call a doctor! Or a Vet! Or anybody!" She yelled. I got up and stared at her. She was carrying a black dog, an orange cat and a small white rat.
"They have pets?" I asked.
If you can tell each chapter is 1 episode ^_^ now i start school on tuesday so i'll probably post another chapter then after school or on Wednesday. I also have a job now! (1st one ever! hey I'm 16, pretty sure it's 14 and up right?) so that's Tuesdays and Thursdays after school until 8.
Tell me what you think and if you want more!