Chapter one; part I;
Fruits Basket
Compotier Succédané
Written by: Allyson the Great
Edited by: Mika
Extra help by: Sangly the Korean Mob Boss and Megiroth.
Author's preface:
This story is set in the anime, and it has been planned for over 16 months because of the disappointment in the manga of Fruits Basket. My editor and I have been reading the series of Fruits Basket for three and a half years, both having strange obsessions with it, in and out, here and there. Although, we seemed to stop liking the manga right after volume 8 came out. Right before we realized Akito Sohma was a girl, and how insanely grotesque the incest of the family is.
Fruits Basket was no longer cute after that. Revelation is a sick whore, I know. After that, we both became strict fans the anime and of the anime only. Therefore, this story is brought up.
My experience with writing is ridiculous. I've wrote around four stories, all incomplete. Nevertheless, I have written them and am proud of their existence in my mind. So you're not looking at some loser off the street who doesn't know what an adjective is. (No offense if you don't know...) I won't say that I'm an expert at English or anything, because that's the reason I have an editor - Mika. We all make mistakes sometimes - not to mention, I enjoy her romantic add-in's.
Anyway, Natsuki Takaya. . . I think she made a mistake with her series, so that is why I am writing this. She's a compelling control freak. For the sake of myself and all of the people I know who have turned against the entire series just for how incredibly implausible it is, I wrote this for them. If you were impressed with the manga, then this might not be quite the story for you. However, if you are open to new endings, please stay and enjoy my work.
When I say 'my', I should be spreading the word of more than one person. I have a million people I could dedicate this story to, but I choose not to. Mika is just as proud of this work as I am, and the story would be nothing without her ideas. Especially since the beginning of this was a three hour discussion while sitting - no, laying - on my bedroom floor eating popcorn and earlier eating miso soup. (Yum.)
Now, the story. . . This is a few weeks after Akito attacks Tohru. Tohru feels that Kyo, Yuki, Momiji, Hatori, Shigure... etc, have been acting weird around her ever since the unbecoming day. Especially Yuki and Kyo, who have been pondering it ever since Kyo turned into his true form. Another thing you should know is that by the end of the story, every Sohma will be paired up. And just to let you know, they're all made ups. Sorry if you don't like them, but I don't feel any of them are particularly annoying, and Tohru can't stick with all of the Sohma men. That would be called bigamy.
Yes, that means your precious Haru, Kyo, and Yuki are going to be paired up. . . Oh gasp. Go ahead and imagine yourselves as their pair, if you wish. Because there are some major teeth-rotting sweet parts in this story, made up by yours truly and the editor. (Our favorite is Ayame's pairing. . . Hehe!)
Yes, Rin and Kureno are still in the story. I'm not going to replace them, that would be tacky. I don't admire tackiness. They'll be paired up just like the rest of the Sohma's, so no, they will not be feeling left out. And just to let you know, Akito still hates the both of them. I made his hatred for Kureno earlier in his life. So yeah, you know when Akito stabs Kureno? That happens BEFORE the story. . . But Rin is still kicked out of the estates. (Strong mutual dislike between Akito and Rin. She still gets thrown out the window, but Haru is her best friend - not lover. You'll find out why Akito doesn't like relationships like HaruxRin and KanaxHatori in this story.)
Yes, Akito is a male in this story, just like he always has been in the anime. He's almost half-naked in the last episode of the freaking anime, so don't give me any arguments. . . I'll destroy you with the power of 4-kids and sexism. If I get any reviews on Akito being a female, I'm going to calmly ignore you. Sound fair, loves?
. . . No, I will not tell you if Akito dies at the end. That's one of the major plots of the story, guys! I can't just go SPOIL it all for you!
Just to let you know, I'm going to barbeque A LOT of Tohru's mom talks... Sorry, but they're ridiculous.
—
"Did you see her, Shigure?"
"Of course I did. . ."
"That was why Akito came. . . She was there to see Kyo. She wanted more than anything to apologize. . . But when she saw Tohru, she left."
"And that's why Akito was so angry with Tohru?"
"That's exactly why."
It was nearing the death of March, advancing on the birth of the neurotic season of spring; starting with April, one of the more popular months in the year. The obviousness of its arrival stood out in front of everyone like a sore thumb. The weather was adjusting it's humidity, the yellow sun pleasantly warmer, and the atmosphere around everyone was becoming desirable. Somewhere amongst this feeling was the busy teenage girl, Tohru Honda, who currently was looking forward to April's arrival.
Spring. . . Tohru had several reasons to look forward to this month. For one, it was the season when Yuki got intense with his gardening. The gardening that both he and Tohru favored as one of their hobbies, especially while doing it together. It also meant that the school year for 11th grade would be ending soon, and the stress of sadistic schoolwork would decline. . . Until September again. Of course, poor Yuki would be galled with the behavior of the first years.
Not only was Tohru currently browsing the lovely month of April through the narrows of her imagination, but she stood inside the house - Shigure's house - cleaning out the kitchen that was marinating in its usual state of filth. Spring cleaning, is what Tohru insisted on calling it when Shigure asked her assistance to clean the kitchen. Cheerful and humming, she gently swayed to the music that captivated the inside of her head. When she opened the cupboard that Shigure had requested she unclutter, she pulled out a rag - ready for any unkempt discipline.
Of course, she didn't mind cleaning anything around Shigure's household; as it was well-known as one of Tohru's other favorite hobbies - although she always found herself doing it alone. The filth of the cupboard wasn't a problematic thing, for she'd come across worse things while living in the household. The main bathroom, for instance. Especially since it was a house full of three males, two of them teenagers, one just acting considerablylike one. . . Although Tohru still respected them all the same.
She moved appallingly dirty glass bottles, loose papers, even things she couldn't recognize out of the cupboard. Most of the bottles were knocked over, cracked, and a few of them broken - leaving a trail of treacherous shards for Tohru to carefully clean up. A few somewhat repulsive unmentionables stood out, but Tohru threw away all of the items that looked useless, until the wooden shaft was bare of the most repulsive items. Tohru took the rag and began cleaning before she caught something out of the corner of her eye. That something was a small piece of paper sticking to the bottom of one of the bottles she had retrieved stacked in the cupboard.
Tohru picked it up sheepishly, staring quizzically at the paper. She half-considered leaving it where it was, but realized her mind was predetermined not to. It couldn't be anything of importance, could it? The bottle was older, dusty, and smelt as if it had been filled with some sort of alcoholic beverage. Carefully, Tohru began to peel the surprisingly thick paper from the end of the clinging bottle. It also came to surprise to her that it came off quite easily; not releasing any patches of paper to the glassy bottom.
The paper, which was no longer dubbed 'paper' in Tohru's mind, was actually a picture. A wallet-sized picture of a woman - a very pretty woman, Tohru
might add. Her hair was light charcoal, nearing an ebony brown sort of color, while fairly long, it still framed her face perfectly. Her skin tone was the color of the froth on a chocolate milkshake, giving her swarthy, citrine eyes a frosted, rough look to them.
Tohru turned the picture around to find a name, or something. . . Maybe the woman was another family member of the Sohma's? The horse or rooster, perhaps? Then again, why would anyone in the household have a picture of her? Tohru hadn't ever seen a family portrait of the Sohma's together, let alone, by themselves. . . Usually, they had a strict vendetta with the majority of their long-distant cousins.
The back ended up disappointing her, at any rate. There was nothing but smudged, black inked lettering that couldn't be read even if you squinted.
"Hmm? Did you find something, Tohru?" Shigure's pleasing, slightly singsong voice made Tohru jump. She looked over her shoulder to meet the older man's childish grin looming down upon her. Tohru smiled back brightly before arising from the floor.
"Yes, I did, Shigure-san," Tohru replied jocundly to him, holding out the picture. Happily, Shigure took it, his eyes flashing lightheartedly.
As he laid his eyes on the picture; his entire faceimmediately fell. From top to bottom, it was no longer smiling, no longer genuine. . . It had hardened. The creases in his usual youthful, handsome face became visible - especially around his eyebrows. All of the muscles in his face were strict and strained. His eyes - the grayness and usual happiness of them were soaked into the picture, like he had become entranced by it.
There was a difficult atmosphere between them, while Shigure did not say a word.
"Sh... Shigure-san?" Tohru called out gently, wondering if he needed a soothing voice to calm his discomfort. Shigure's eyes darted, leaving the picture to meet Tohru's face. She tried to smile at him, but because of the upsetting look branched out on his face. Tohru's words were congested in her throat.
"Tohru... You found this in that cupboard, did you not?" Shigure asked inquisitively. The tone in his voice made Tohru jump slightly. . . It was rough and whispery, something she was not used to.
"Yes, I did." Tohru replied. Again, trying to smile at his adjusted face. Shigure did not reply, just glanced at the photo once more, before putting it down next to his side. He held it in a firm grip, as if aggravated.
"... I must ask you not to ask questions about it, Tohru..." He said quietly, looking away; as if afraid to look Tohru in the eye. She understood and nodded, before proceeding with the mess that still forged itself inside the cupboard. Out of the corner of her eye, Tohru watched Shigure leave the room. His head slumped doggedly between his shoulders, while he fingered the picture in his hand.
Yuki arrived in the room a few minutes later, his lavender eyes landing, without delay, on Tohru.
"Oh, hello Yuki-kun!" Tohru greeted cheerfully. Yuki ignored her, examining the work she was doing before speaking.
"Miss Honda, is Shigure making you clean up his messes again?!" He demanded tempestuously. Tohru laughed and shook her head, smiling up at Yuki.
"Yuki-kun, I don't mind doing it... I like to clean, remember?" Tohru reminded him earnestly.
"Yeah, well. . . He still shouldn't take advantage of you like he does. Especially that with that. . . Maid outfit. . . " Yuki shuddered before growling. He exited the room in small stomps - ready to get revenge on his older cousin. Tohru laughed to herself; wondering what kind of pains Yuki would be afflicting on Shigure.
Shortly after that, before Tohru was done cleaning the cupboard, Kyo came through the door, not saying a word.
"Oh - hello, Kyo-kun!" Tohru welcomed warmly, before she noticed the state of unhappiness Kyo was in.
He looked undeniably miserable - his usual hot-tempered face looked saddened; especially by the way his mouth was curved into an unrelenting half circle. His usual crimson sharp eyes were wider - sick with worry. Even more unusual, there was no flaming temper that lingered in them. He walked to the refrigerator - not saying a word, his eyes hardly moving over the contents inside. Tohru was about to say something to him, but her words were ripped from her throat once again.
"Kyo. . . Are you okay?" Tohru inquired, wanting to gather him in a hug. The same worrisome look fell over her face, as if it was copying Kyo's. Kyo
could hardly look up and nod his head. It was slumped, while his eyes refused to meet hers, or even glance at Tohru's face.
"Kyo - " Tohru tried to call out again, her tone in a near whimper. She felt like she was begging to get his attention.
"I'm fine, Tohru! Why don't you shut the hell up and worry about yourself for once?" Kyo snapped, slamming the refrigerator harshly, before spinning around instinctively towards the door, for once stopping to open and close it.
Later that night Tohru walked down the stairs and crossed the house. Once more, she hummed to herself quietly and swayed slightly as she did so. After his little outbreak, Kyo was hanging out on the roof with the well-known look of frustration in his eyes. Tohru was trying not to wonder why he had snapped at her. . . He'd been so anxious and off since the episode with Akito last weekend. Yuki, however, was asleep from studying his midterms all day long. Tohru didn't have a legitimate reason to be worried about him. She walked past the kitchen, the front door... And then past Shigure's room, where an unfamiliar sight met her newly depressed eyes.
Shigure sat on the edge of his bed, eyes looking bloodshot and tiresome. For the first time, it seemed he even had an entire bottle of what could undoubtably be an alcoholic beverage, although it was yet unopened. Once more, the small, wallet-sized picture was in his hands. A frown embedded itself on his lips, seemingly disturbed. It seemed his situation was based on indignation.
"I don't know her face anymore..." Shigure said quietly to himself, although he said it so quietly and painfully, it was quite inaudible. It appalled Tohru when he took the picture and dropped it in the drawer of the night stand next to his bed harshly, without looking back at it.
Tohru continued to walk past his room without consultancy, feeling bewildered about what had just happened. . . The Sohma's were still hiding something away from her, of course. Tohru still didn't know what to expect from them, but. . . This did seem like a very peculiar subject. Especially since it came from Shigure, who usually didn't bring that much drama into the lives of the Sohma's. It seemed like he was so carefree - so free, in general. Often, it seemed like Shigure wasn't cursed, he was so social. Him and Ayame both. . . It was like they didn't. . . Care.
With these feelings and wild thoughts swarming swiftly around her mind, Tohru slept. It was a difficult task, considering there was a lot to theorize, but she did have school the next morning. And did not have the time to think about dark secrets all night long. Especially if Shigure had asked her not to question it, which to Tohru, was asking her not to ponder the subject either.
School. Monday mornings. Tohru always woke up a bit earlier on Mondays so she could get an early feel of being awake. It was 5:30 in the morning when she awoke, getting up, yawning, before cooking her usual breakfast for the three Sohma's, even though they wouldn't be waking for a while. She dressed first before anything else - her usual school uniform. The sailor-like blouse, dark blue and white, and her skirt. She smiled at this uniform - brushing off the skirt lightly, before heading down the stairs and beginning to cook.
Yuki was the one to wake up first - rubbing his lavender eyes, obviously still exhausted.
"Good morning, Miss Honda." Yuki yawned as well, before nodding to Tohru. The way his hair was ruffled, Tohru couldn't help but to laugh.
"Good morning, Yuki-kun... Did you sleep well?" Tohru inquired casually, moving quickly around the kitchen while Yuki settled himself at the table to speak to her.
"It would have been fine. . . If that stupid cat hadn't been hanging out there on the roof all night. Usually, I don't mind, but last night, he was pacing back and forth. . ." Yuki murmured, shaking his head delicately. Tohru didn't smile nor reply to this. . . She knew the kind of condition that Kyo was in right now. But if she wasn't allowed to wonder about a woman that Shigure was distressed about, she would definitely have to worry about Kyo.
"I don't know what his problem is. He's been acting weird since for the last week. . . I hope it's not making you feel uncomfortable, Miss Honda. Because if it is, I'll talk to him - "
"No, no!" Tohru interrupted, turning to Yuki, with her attempt not to cause any more problems. "It's fine, Yuki-kun. He'll be back to normal soon
enough." Yuki's lavender eyes fell on her, a smile spreading beautifully throughout the creases of his face; reaching his eyes, giving them a glow.
Kyo didn't speak, or gave any body motion of speaking. It seemed to give Yuki something to feel comfortable over, he talked the whole time they were walking to school. Tohru tried to include Kyo in the conversation, but Yuki told her not to bother. . . It was incredibly bewildering when Kyo didn't snap at Yuki for asking Tohru to avoid him. Tohru wondered if he wasn't paying any attention to the conversation. . . At all. It was like he was lost in his own little world. Again, Yuki suggested that if it were causing any pain to Tohru, he would talk to him, but Tohru simply brushed it off and told him not to worry.
School was more frustrating than usual. Meetings for the student council were held during the day, making even the most calm students tense; considering it was midterms, everyone was being violated, and undyingly stressed out. Even Yuki, who was unusually collected about his studying for school work, seemed rather timid about the exams.
Since the meetings drew out the hours of school, Tohru ended up confused between her classes. She wasn't sure which to go to. . . Was it fourth or third? What time was it, anyway? The administration obviously hadn't thought this through, because even Uotani was confused when Tohru ran into her. They both scattered - Uotani having a completely different classroom to arrive to. Eventually, Tohru found a clock - it was 1:45. As soon as Tohru realized which class she needed to go to, the bell rang - making Tohru's heart race, she started running through the halls as fast as possible.
There was more difficulty in getting there though - traffic in between the first years' hallway she was running though was crowded. Tohru tried to snake past all of the careless students, who were probably coming up with lame excuses to why they were late to the last class of the day, but it was impossible. The majority of them stood in front of her, ominously, unaware that she was even trying to snake past them.
Eventually, she cut through the first year hallway, and entered another one. This was the hallway she needed to be crossing; the hallway that would grant her the access to the classroom she was needed in. The classroom she was tardy for. In natural instinct, Tohru lunged for the doorknob; panic stirred through her - she wondered what her teacher would think. In the process of doing this, Tohru ran into an unknown personage she had not noticed, who had been walking in the opposite direction closely beside her. Tohru nearly knocked her to the ground when their shoulders collided.
"Oh, I am so sorry!" Tohru called over her shoulder, flipping around instinctively to the girl whom she had just nearly knocked over. She found herself quite allured by the looks of the girl; who was undoubtedly a little bit older than herself - probably by a year. She was quite a bit taller than Tohru, her face heart-shaped, praising her eyes, giving them an opulent gaze. The color of them varied between different shades of green; like peridot. The hair that rooted from her head was long, down to her elbows, and straw-colored; washing out her skin which was only a shade darker than ivory.
With the distinct looks of this woman, and the ungainly situation Tohru was currently in with her, Tohru considered she could be a member of the Sohma family. Meeting her here wouldn't make it inconsiderable, since she had met members at Kaibara Highschool previously. Tohru stood numb, trying to find the words while the girl smiled.
"Oh, it's alright. . ." The girl mumbled, brushing herself off, before Tohru's mind could wander back to the current situation. But before she could reply or say anything at all, the girl was halfway down the hall, and Tohru did have to be getting to class... She sighed, taking one last glance at the girl, and then entering the room.
Surprisingly, with Tohru's innocent, soft attempts to explain why she was late, her teacher waved defeat and shook it off - laughing as other students arrived even later than her. When it was all finally over, Tohru could feel total exhaustion begin to take place before it was even close to being over. Luckily, neither Kyo nor Yuki were on edge when they began walking back to Shigure's house... The fact seemed to lighten Tohru's mood quite significantly. Especially since Kyo was being abnormally withdrawn from their conversation.
"You wouldn't believe some of the first years today. . ." Yuki was muttering, tonelessly, loosening his tie in argent frustration. Tohru giggled at the details of frustration on his beautiful face.
"A group of boys asked me if I could physically teach them how to tie a tie..." Yuki recalled, obviously still nettled with the current situation. "I mean honestly - they've been in this school for how long now? And now they're asking me these questions?" Tohru laughed, feeling Kyo's eyes roll from beside her.
"Do you ever think that they don't like wearing ties?" Kyo blurted, his crimson eyes scowling at Yuki. Although with Tohru in-between them, it was much more difficult. Tohru jumped when Kyo finally spoke - his voice was cold, matching his eyes famously. Yuki was silent for a few seconds, undeniably annoyed, then smiled smugly.
"No, I just think they're too lazy to. . . Much like you. Or maybe you just don't know howto," Yuki retorted darkly, smile still smug. Kyo's head snapped towards Yuki as quickly as the insult escaped his lips - seething angrily.
"For your information, I know perfectly well how to tie a tie!" Kyo shouted, coming to a dead stop in his walking. Yuki did the same, and was about to give him the satisfaction of another dark reply, but a voice interrupted from behind the three of them - loud and distressed.
"Kyo! Yuki! Tohru!" It belonged to none other than Haru. Tohru knew exactly who it was as soon as she set eyes on his distant white and black hair. Haru was running at full speed, panting, before stopping deliberately in front of them. He put his hands to his knees in order to rejuvenate the flaming sensation in his lungs.
"Haru? What's wrong?" Tohru questioned softly. Curious on why Haru was so eager to find them.
"It's Momiji. . . He's gone!" Haru managed to say quickly, still panting, although he had straightened up.
"Gone? What do you mean?!" Yuki asked, quite bewildered. Haru shook his head furiously - obviously incredibly bristle with the current situation.
"It's Akito. . . He's sent him to some boarding school in Okinawa!"
"Okinawa?!" Yuki yelped, eyes wide with fury as well. Haru nodded, meeting Yuki's angry gaze.
"That's right. . . Hatori told me. He's been gone since Friday. . . Since Friday!" Haru shouted, making Tohru jump. "He didn't even let Momiji say goodbye. . . Or let him tell anyone! I'm going to kill Akito when I get my hands on him - " Haru turned around, about to break into another lung-breaking run, but Yuki stopped him by placing a hand on his shoulder. Haru then turned, scowling unnecessarily at Yuki.
"Haru, I think you better come back with us to Shigure's house," Yuki warned, voice almost a bellow. Haru mumbled something, before looking away from Yuki.
"Alright. . . But I will be heading back to the main house." Haru said darkly, eyes glinting with malice. Kyo and Yuki both eyed him suspiciously. Tohru took a guess that Haru's black side would be settling inside him shortly, and there would be no way to stop his rage. They were lucky as they were now - having Haru comply was the best they could hope for.