Four Seasons

Ch 1

Yes, I am rewriting/editing this story. ducks rotten vegetables I'm sorry! This is just one of my earlier (est) stories, and as I was rereading it one day, I found myself cringing at parts, and so decided to rewrite it. Also, this story is going to become much darker, at least for Elizabeth. I'm not going to reupload it all at one time, but chapter by chapter. So please be patient.

I hope you like the new version!

Disclaimer: If I ever owned Fruits Basket...I would live in a palace with a perfect guy and perfect kids...not going to happen.

I sighed, and ran my hand through my hair, which by now looked really disheveled with all the little random strands and other bits sticking out of place, especially from having repeated this action far too often in the past five minutes. Seriously, I must look like I have a pint of gel in my hair, which I rubbed with a blown-up balloon.

After I got a hold of myself, took a deep, calming breath, and told myself one of these times, hopefully at least before the day was over, she would get what I was trying to say. I sat down next to her, and said slowly and clearly, "Mii, I know that you think this guy is cute, but," I looked directly at her, and said softly, "I don't want to get hooked up with anyone right now."

But, as usual, Mii pretended not to hear. She dismissed me with a wave of her hand, "Oh Beth, don't worry, you don't have to get," she formed air quotes, "'hooked up' as you call it. I just want you to meet him. Believe me, you'll love him."

"But Mii, you're always complaining about how much he tortures you whenever he had deadlines due. And that all the other times he runs away from you or pretends he's gone, just to give you a hard time." I gave her a puzzled look, "how does that make you think I'll, love him?"

Mii rolled her eyes. "Beth, you're so clueless sometimes! It's just part of his personality, he likes to mercilessly tease people. Come on, please?" She clasped her hands together and made those huge, adorable puppy eyes.

I smiled at her and gave in. "Alright Mii, fine. I'll come with. But, should I change or something?"

We both glanced at my jeans, traditional Japanese sandals that I had finally learned to walk in without falling over, and blue sweater.

There was a quick moment of awkward silence, and exchanging knowing looks, when Mii said reassuringly, "No, of course not Beth, you look wonderful! Come on!" She grabbed my hand and led me out of our apartment.

After a quick break while Mii locked the door, we started down the road, towards this guy who I will supposedly love, or Mii thinks so anyway. But, I don't want to fall in love, or get close to any males. I, I just don't want that to happen again, and since all men are the same, I can't trust any of them.

When we were halfway down the road I suddenly stopped, and grabbed for Mii's hand, which wasn't there, considering she was past the block we were currently walking down. I ran after her, my sandals flopping on the hard street, like the flip-flops I missed so much. As I caught up to her, almost falling a couple times, I was painfully aware of all the other people scrambling to get out of my way, staring at me.

I grabbed her hand, gasping for breath; I need to exercise more, "Mii! Didn't you notice I stopped?"

She turned to me with her 'deer in the headlights' look. "Oh Beth, I'm sorry, I thought you were still with me!" She bit her lip, "but why did you stop, you're not hurt, are you?"

"No, of course not." By this time, I had finally caught my breath. "But Mii, isn't it, rude, to show up at his house randomly?"

Mii laughed her regular reaction. "You really do worry too much Beth. He won't mind, it's not like he has any work to do!"

"Well, all right." I quickly gave in, didn't she notice that I didn't want to visit this person, and then we reassumed our quick walking down the street, keeping a careful grip on each other's arms, mine looser then hers, just in case one of us would fall, or trip over.

After what felt like the millionth street we had walked down, I turned and asked Mii, who was acting like this was totally normal, "Mii, where does this guy live?"

Mii scrunched up her nose, "You really need to exercise more Beth. Don't worry, we turn here." She steered me onto a small path, right off the street.

I frowned at her from the side, then, when she didn't notice, sighed and gave up. "Wait, Mii, does this guy live in a tree or something?" I glanced around us, gazing up at the huge, looming trees.

"No, he has a house in a clearing in this forest. You know I've never really wondered why until now. It is a little weird I guess." Mii explained, and then gave her all-knowing smile.

"Yeah." While glancing around, I caught a glimpse of a large house half hidden by some trees up ahead of us. "Is that his house?"

Mii followed my finger and gave an excited yip. "Yep that's it. Don't worry, you'll love him!"

"Right. But this house is sure out in the middle of nowhere." I commented quietly, as we walked closer to the house. When we were standing in what I guess you could call the front yard, I suddenly realized, "Mii, what if there's no one home?"

"Well, I don't know. I guess I didn't really think of that." She shrugged. "Oh well. If they're not then we'll go have dinner someplace or something."

I had to hand it to her; she definitely knew how to handle a situation. If you can't do it, do something else.

"True, but then we would have come all this way for nothing. And I almost hurt myself too." At her doubtful look, I sighed. "Maybe not, but I did almost trip."

Mii, ignoring my self-defense, walked onto the porch and knocked on the sliding wood door.

"Sensei? Are you in? Shigure!" She called, sliding open the door and taking off her sandals.

"Not here!" called a man's voice, oddly muffled.

"I think you just ruined your cover, Shigure." Another voice scolded the first.

As I followed Mii through the second door and down a hallway, she seemed like she knew where she was going, I suddenly smelled … smoke?

Mii rushed into a room, and I slowly followed, and then quickly recognized it as a kitchen. Inside, a strange, although that hardly gave it credit, sight met our eyes.

A man with black hair, much more disheveled then mine, and wearing a traditional robe, turned around. "Mii, this isn't the best time for a visit!"

"You stupid mutt, just go get the fire extinguisher! Where'd you put it?" shouted an orange haired boy, standing next to the black haired man.

"I don't know!" He whined hopelessly.

A grey haired boy leaning against the counter sighed and walked over to them. "We don't need the fire extinguisher stupid cat. Here," the boy walked over to the window and opened it; he turned off the stove and burner, and put the pot with its burning contents in the sink and turned on the water, causing more smoke and a loud sizzle.

As the smoke cleared and everyone's heartbeats slowed down, they relaxed and silence enveloped the room.

Finally the black haired man spoke. "Wonderful job Yuki! That was very quick thinking!"

"It was common sense, anyone with a brain would have thought of it." The boy, Yuki I guess, told the other two, as if it wasn't a big deal that he had saved the house from burning down, which it probably wasn't for them.

"Wanna say that again girly-boy?" Orange hair threatened, moving into a fighting stance.

"What, you didn't hear me the first time?" Yuki asked, turning away.

"Now you two," the black-haired guy scolded, putting a hand on top of their heads, "just because our dear sweet Tohru isn't here with us, doesn't mean you have any reason to fight."

"Get off me you dirty mutt!" Orange hair shouted, twisting out of black-hairs grasp and ran out of the room.

"We weren't fighting Shigure, we were merely arguing. It's different." Yuki corrected, moving away from black hair and noticing Mii and me for the second time.

"Um, hi." I greeted him, raising a hand. He raised an eyebrow, walked past me and out of the room. Well, that was interesting, never mind the Japanese politeness I had gotten used to. Or he was probably just tired, I would be if I had to live in a house out in the middle of nowhere with orange-top and black hair.

I looked up to see black-hair teasingly patting Mii on the head. She was currently in the middle of looking bewildered and angry at the same time.

"Now Mii, did you forget to take your pills again?" He asked, smiling one-sidedly at her.

"What?"

"I know that you think I'm always behind on my deadlines-"

"You always are!" Mii protested loudly.

-"but you came too early my dear, our deadline is not for another week!" Black-hair stared worriedly at her. "Did you change the calendar too far? Or is something wrong with you? More than usual I mean?"

Mii now looked ready to scream and then hit him, "Can't I come for a friendly visit without being examined?"

"Nope!" Black-hair beamed. "You know, and I know, that you would never do anything without a reason, especially if it's coming here!" Then he suddenly disappeared from her side and reappeared at my side. "And why pray tell, my lovely flower, have you decided to grace me with your delightful presence?" I stared at him, he was worse than Mii!

"I just came for the ride, it was Mii's idea." I told him, successfully putting his attention back on Mii.

"And what was the reason behind your visit?" Black-hair continued to question us, although if it were me I would have given up earlier.

"Can't I just come over to visit you?" Mii wailed, sobbing uncontrollably. This caused black hair to pat her on the head again, smile cheekily, and answer, "Of course you can."

Mii broke off her sobbing and stared at him. "Then why do you give me such a hard time?"

"Because I like to."

3, 2 1 … I counted silently….and...

"Sensei! You're so me-ean!" and she started sobbing again. Black hair and I stood silently in the kitchen, watching her cry her heart out.

"Mii, please be a dear and don't flood my kitchen, it's had quite enough damage done to it." Black hair handed her a towel and gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder.

When she didn't stop crying he gave me a helpless look over her shoulder. I almost laughed at his expression, but instead smiled back at him and walked over.

"Shigure, did you break another woman's heart?" Yuki asked, returning to the kitchen.

"It's not me! She just started crying and now she won't stop!" black-hair whined, looking helplessly at us.

"I'm sure there's more to the story than that." Yuki walked to the fridge, gently pushed Mii aside and took out the milk.

Well, if no one was going to stop her, then maybe I should try. If they waited until she stopped on her own, then she would be too tired to guide me home, and I didn't want to get lost.

I walked up to her, bent down and handed her a hanky. "Mii, its okay, just calm down. He wasn't trying to be mean, he was just teasing you."

But that didn't work, even though she did take the hanky and wiped her eyes.

"But why! Why does he always insist on teasing me!" She whined, getting very close to her sobbing point.

I looked over at black hair, who surprisingly seemed to be enjoying himself.

"Well?"

We all turned to Yuki, who was watching us, leaning against the counter, and drinking a glass of milk.

"'Well' what?" Black hair repeated, acting clueless.

"I mean, well aren't you going to answer the poor woman's question."

"Oh." He paused and stroked a thoughtful pose. "Because it's fun."

The rest of us alternated between sweat-dropping and staring at him.

"What?"

We turned to see Mii standing, with puffy eyes and her 'deer in the headlights' look.

"You tease me, just because 'it's fun'?"

We turned to watch black-hairs response.

He smiled. "Mmm hmm." At our expressions he added in a clueless fashion, for real this time, "Is that wrong?"

"At the level that you do, yes." Yuki answered, then put the glass down and walked over to me.

"Do you live with her?" He pointed back at Mii.

"Y-yes."

He blinked at me. "How?"

I looked over at black-hair, who was in what sounded like a humorous argument with Mii.

"I could ask you the same question."

He gave me a small smile. "I know, it's difficult isn't it?" Yuki wrinkled his nose a little.

"True, but at other times its fun. Mii's fun to be around, most of the time."

"Hey, is that women gone yet?" Orange-hair came back into the kitchen, looking a little less annoyed.

"Look yourself." Yuki commented icily.

"I am ,you girly-boy." Orange-hair spat back.

"It doesn't seem like it."

"Watch your mouth you damn rat!"

"I don't need to, but what about yours?"

This was like a tennis match, looking back and forth, back forth. Oops, dizzy.

"All right, I've had enough of your yapping! Let's go!" Orange-top pushed up his shirt sleeves and moved, into... a fighting stance?

"I don't yap, and I'm not going to fight you. You would just get hurt."

"Shut up and fight me!"

"No."

Back and forth, back and forth, back and-

Hee hee! Same cliffhanger!

I'm sure all of you have noticed that it is basically the same, just with a few tweaks in places. Also, I am posting this chapter without it first being editing by Ashchan... so if there are any errors anywhere.. raises hand my fault.

Well, thanks for putting up with this change. See you soon!

-mijichan