Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket or InuYasha. Those rights belong to Natsuki Takaya and Rumiko Takahashi respectively.
Pairing(s): Hatsuharu Sohma/Kagome Higurashi/Yuki Sohma
Author's Note: This is the second FB/IY crossover that I've been working on, but depending on certain factors will probably be the first or third fic that I will post. Honestly, I am betting that this is the first one that I post, because this one follows the plotline of the second half of Furuba and only deviates a little with the addition of Kagome and the subtraction of one character from the Fruits Basket canon. All I can hope is that you all enjoy this story of mine.
Prayers
Chapter 1
"Is that so?"
Raven tresses were brushed with the greatest care as the slender young woman sat in front of her mirror. Tilting her head a bit as she held the cellphone between her ear and shoulder, she hummed as she glanced over towards the clock with stormy blue eyes. Crossing her long shapely legs, she flicked her bangs away from her face and an adoring smile bloomed onto her face.
"If you want me to be there all you have to do is ask To-chan."
Whatever was said next only made the smile on girl's face widen as she stood up from her chair. Closing her eyes, she nodded and looked out of the window towards the sun that was setting quickly behind the top of the trees.
"Tonight I'll start making my way there…No, you don't have to send a car."
Moving around the room towards the closet, she pulled out a tight white t-shirt and blue skinny jeans with one leg ripped off completely. Adjusting the phone in the crux of her neck as she slipped into the jeans with ease, the girl stood up straight and placed a hand on her hip as she grinned.
"Yep, I'm going to be running there…alright, I will be there before you know it."
Closing the top of the phone down, she slipped it into her back pocket and brought the white t-shirt down over her head. Shaking her head, she grabbed the wallet that was on the lavish dresser before making her way out of the room. Walking past the kitchen, she noticed her cousin's mother getting started on dinner and she only continued towards the front door.
Stopping right before the door, she sat down and grabbed her brown boots that were with the other two pairs of shoes and stuck one foot in one of them before a voice broke the silence.
"Gome-chan?"
Turning her head to look over her shoulder, the blue-eyed girl latched onto the smiling face of her cousin. A small smile grew on her face, as she watched her slightly older female come from the hallway. Her pretty brown eyes stared at the other questioningly, and her shoulder-length dark brown hair bounced with each step she made before she sat down behind the taller girl.
"Oh! You're going out again?"
Putting her other foot into the boot, and nodded. "Yep, I'll be back in a while."
Bringing a finger up into the air, the brown-haired girl's smile widen as she had an epiphany.
"We should go out somewhere together sometime…Oh! I know! Want to go to the summer house."
For a moment she paused before continuing with a soft chuckle at the suggestion, and stood up and tapped her foot on the ground to make sure they were snug on her feet. It wouldn't due for one to fly off while she was running.
"Ah, that sounds sort of specific Kagura-nee…sounds like you have some kind of motive to want to go there all of sudden."
Smiling widely at the teasing from the younger female, Sohma Kagura giggled and clasped her hands in front of her.
"It seems like you've caught me Gome-chan! They say that everyone is there and I thought it would suck for us to miss out on it!"
Leaning forward Kagura pinned her gaze on the other's back and continued, "I'm thinking that Yun-chan, Shii-chan, Haru-kun, and even Kyo-kun is there! We should totally go Gome-chan!"
Patting the back pocket holding her wallet and cellphone, the black-haired girl sighed and turned her gaze towards the door leading out of the house. Closing her eyes, she placed a hand on her hip and turned her body to face the other female. Blue eyes locked with brown and a sad smile took residence on the standing young woman's face, "You really seem to love Kyo-kun huh?"
Surprised at the sudden question, Kagura's animated chatter was cut short as she stared at the other with for a second in complete silence. Gathering herself, she placed her hands into her lap and stared at the other with a solemn expression. "Of course, I love Kyo-kun…."
Turning her back towards the other brunette, the black-haired young woman sighed.
"If that's so then why do your emotions tell me something completely different?"
Walking towards the door before Kagura could say anything, she slid the door opened and tilted her head back a bit to send the other girl a sad smile.
"Even as I continue to hear you say that, it doesn't lessen the pain I feel from watching you force yourself like this."
Closing the door behind her without a thought to the protests coming from her older cousin seconds later, she gazed upon the quickly darkening sky as blues and purple began to mix with the orange, yellow, and red that dominated the canvas called a sky above her. Not waiting another second, she took a deep breath and then dashed down the walkway towards the forest path with the wind rustling through her nape-length locks.
A moment later the door opened, and Kagura stood there.
"KAGOME! KAGOME!"
But silence met her cries.
Looking out from her place by the door forlornly, Kagura wrapped one arm around waist as she thought of the other girl's words. Biting her lip, the avatar of the Boar from the Chinese Zodiac closed her eyes.
"What's wrong? Did you two have a fight?"
Turning around, Kagura saw her mother coming from out of the kitchen while wiping her hands on her apron with a frown on her pretty face. Shaking her head, Kagura turned to look at the door that the younger girl had left through.
"No, she had just brought something to my attention that I had been hoping to forget for a long time now...though I've never wanted to admit it."
She had a lot to think about.
Humming in contemplation, Kagura's mother then moved over to the flowers that were sitting on the small table against the wall.
"I couldn't help but overhear you two talking about going to the Summer House with the others, but I don't think that would be wise."
Blinking in surprise, the dark-haired girl glanced over at her mother questioningly.
"Why is that?"
Bringing a hand up to her cheek, the older woman crossed her arm around her waist while pressing her cheek into the hand with a worried look. "I've heard that the Head of the family went over there yesterday."
Snapping her head in her mother's direction, surprise and dread was clear in her expression and gestures. "What?"
Her mother only nodded, "This doesn't leave the room, but if you were to get badly hurt too…Mama would just break down, I was shocked to find out what happened to Kisa-chan and I don't want the same to happen to you."
The trepidation she felt only seemed to grow by the second, because if there should be anyone that should be worried about being hurt by the violent man, it would be the others who had come to the summer house.
"But why would Akito-san go to the summer house?"
Running a hand through hair, the elder woman shook her head.
"Who knows really? Maybe he just needed a vacation…it is a summer home after all."
Suddenly, she smacked her open palm with her fist as she remembered a certain detail.
"Anyway, I think that Shigure-san was the one who had invited him in the first place."
Kagura took a step back as a look of betrayal found its way onto her face, "Shii-chan caused this?"
Anger swiftly replaced the hurt expression and she turned to kick the door clean out of its frame in complete rage.
"SHII-CHAN! YOU SON OF A BITCH! NEXT TIME WE MEET, I'LL SHOW YOU NO MERCY!"
Behind her, her mother only watched her daughter demolish the door with a straight face while fixing the flowers that moved slightly out of place with all the commotion.
"Kagura, you know that's the second time you've destroyed that door in as many months…besides I think that is probably the reason why Kagome-chan has left so abruptly."
Kagura stopped her demolishing of their family's personal property, and looked at her mother in shock.
"So he's finally calling her back then?"
Nodding, the woman crossed her arms.
"Yes, it would be the only reason why she would leave in such a fashion…only the Head of the family would be able to make that poor girl act like this."
Kagome practically galloped through the forest at an incredible speed, and she could feel her heart pumping in her chest at an accelerated rate. A large grin spread onto her face as she felt her spirit lift at the freedom just running brought to her. Her blue eyes seemed brighter as the moon illuminated them from underneath her dark bangs. Determination blazed through her and she pushed herself faster.
It had been a while now since she had seen her dear friend, and now she was needed.
No one else needed her as much as To-chan, this Kagome had come to realize after everything she had been through. And in order to pay back her friend for being there for her at that time, she had promised to always be there no matter when called.
Taking in a deep breath, she continued through the forest dodging trees and leaping over bushes with the grace that was fitting of her animal spirit. It would take her all of the night and half of the day, but she would reach the Sohma family's summer house.
'I wonder how much you all have grown since the last time I've seen you…'
Sitting out in the walkway facing the gardens, Sohma Yuki, the avatar of the Rat spirit of the Chinese Zodiac, flipped the page in the small novel he had brought with him. Today was the second day that Akito had made all of the Zodiac members besides Kyo come to this house away from Honda Tohru's presence. Why he was suddenly doing this, none of them knew.
'Even though I have the sneaking suspicion that Shigure does, because he is having too much fun with this…'
Gray eyes looked up from the page he had stopped on, and looked forward towards the garden. The gentle breeze that was rustling the grass, other foliage nearby, and ruffled his light gray hair. Soft footsteps coming up from behind him reached his ears, and he sighed as the very man he was thinking about came to a stop at his side. A grin was on his handsome face, and he placed a hand up against the overhanging.
"Oh my, Yuki-kun…I was sure you would be with Akito-san."
Turning the page, Yuki shook his head and crossed one leg over the other.
"No, today he's all over Haru."
For a second the older male said nothing as he tilted his head to the side making his short charcoal gray locks almost fall down into his face. Brown eyes watched Yuki's movements intently before he chuckled, "Well it seems that we will have some free time then."
Bringing a hand up to brush his bangs from his face, the grey-eyed boy continued to read.
"I wish he'd just let us go back, though it wouldn't be right to leave Haru…"
Not saying anything to that, Shigure's eyes darkened and a smirk slithered onto his face.
"Yuki-kun, what did Akito-san tell you yesterday?"
Silence fell between them as Yuki did nothing but close the book in his hands, and glance over at Shigure after taking a deep breath. Gray eyes locked with brown, and Yuki tilted his head back a bit as he stared at the man humorlessly.
"The truth…"
Getting up from his seat, he disregarded the book completely having lost any desire to read at the moment. As he made his way back into the house, he left Shigure with one question.
"Are you satisfied?"
The avatar of the Dog Spirit stayed there in silence before a dark chuckle slipped from his lips. His head turned and he looked out at the sky with an expression that would send chills down to the very bone.
"Am I satisfied? No, that day won't come for a long time yet."
Running his fingers through his hair, he stuffed his hands into the arms of his blue kimono and made his way back towards the sitting room. Soon all the pieces would fall into place, and he would be there to see everything come into fruition. That dream that he had all those years ago – he would be able to hold it with his own two hands.
Hours passed since Hatsuharu had been called by Akito, and Yuki was relieved to see that the older male hadn't hurt his usually mellow – unless something made him go black, cousin. The gray-haired boy noticed that Haru seemed a little agitated, but otherwise alright. Anyone could tell that Akito , once again had done everything to verbally abuse the younger male while using that mockingly loving tone.
Even now Yuki could remember those years he had spent trapped underneath the angry man, and even though the gray-eyed boy was getting past the damage done to him from those years…he still somewhat feared Akito. And he felt as if this would always be a single truth in his relationship with the family head.
As Haru came to sit down next to him in the courtyard, he seemed to notice the slight twinge of sadness that was visible in Haru's brown eyes.
For a long moment, none of them said anything and Yuki only flipped the page in the book he had reclaimed earlier after leaving it behind. Haru was sitting, leaning slightly forward with forehead resting on his clasped hands. The wind ruffled his spiky two-toned hair, and caused his accessories to jingle as they bang into each other.
"He mentioned Kagome…"
Snapping his head in Haru's direction at the unexpected name, Yuki stared at the younger male in shock. The book fell from his hands into his lap, and his gray eyes were wide as the other boy sat up.
"Kagome?"
Nodding, Haru grimaced and ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
"While I was with Akito, I had asked him about Kureno and he had mentioned Kagome in the passing…"
Closing his eyes, Haru put his face in his hands and sighed. Yuki gulped as he felt something get stuck in his throat. The subject of Kagome was always a sensitive topic among their age group, and even now he was shocked that the other could talk about her. After all, Haru had to have been hurt the most with him having feelings for their slightly older cousin for as long as he could remember.
"Akito said that he summoned her here."
Yuki almost fainted.
Akito was going to bring Kagome here?
The man was finally going to let Kagome reunite with the rest of the Zodiac despite having kept her from attending even the banquets for some unknown reason?
Yuki narrowed his eyes as he found himself trying to come up with a reason as to this sudden shift in Akito's behavior. First appearing here at the summer house, taking them from Tohru, and now he was bringing Kagome back into the fold. Something was definitely up, and he knew that he would to at least try to have mostly everyone come out unscathed in the end.
"You know she rejected me when I asked her to be my girlfriend?"
If Yuki had been standing, he would have face faulted at the random statement.
Looking at Haru, the Rat avatar honestly looked surprised.
He had no idea that the younger boy had actually confessed his feelings to their cousin, but that was also a side effect of him trying to keep away from the Main house and most of the family at one point.
"I had no idea…"
Smiling softly, the younger boy only stuffed his hands in his pocket and tilted his head up.
"It was a bit before Akito had banned most of us from seeing her, but though it hurt I can see now that it was a bit too soon for what I did."
Tiling his head in Yuki's direction, he stared at him with a straight look.
"After what happened to her, I would've rejected myself too."
Confusion was clear on Yuki's face, and that only caused Haru's smile to widen. He looked as if he was contemplating on whether or not to continue, when he shook his head. Sighing, Yuki got the silent message that he cousin was giving him as he glanced at his watch. It was about time that they left to go back to Tohru and Kyo.
Hopefully the Cat avatar hadn't done anything remotely stupid, though even Yuki had to admit that the idiot has matured a lot since the cheerful girl had come into their lives.
Thinking of Tohru, a small warm smile formed on his face.
Yuki was sure that the girl would be very delighted to meet Kagome, and her likewise, if she was as kind as he remembered.
A sudden beep noise almost caused him to jump up from his seat, but he turned his head to see Haru pull out a cell phone. The straight-faced boy flipped the top up and clicked a button before a soft gasp flew from his lips as his brown eyes widened. Curious, Yuki leaned over and his eyes slowly widened as he read the message along with him.
The ocean is beautiful today, I'll be seeing you guys soon.
I finally have an answer to your question Haru…
- Kagome
On the other side of town, Kagome came to a complete stop at the top of some stairs. Her short black hair was ruffled by the wind, and she deeply inhaled the salty scent that came from the ocean. The dark sunglasses on her face blocked the sun rays from hurting her eyes, and she stood without a care in her short denim shorts, black tube top with a short denim vest over it.
Males that walked past her kept sending her glances, and no one could blame them. The young woman was very attractive, and held an air of confidence that seemed to draw their eyes.
Bringing up, she pulled the sunglasses off her face with flourish and looked ahead of her with blazing stormy blue eyes with a smile.
"I'm finally back."
Well that was a lot of typing for me, especially when all I have written down are certain events that I want to take place in chapters, and I have to fill in the blanks. Hopefully this system will help me finish my stories. Firstly, I would really appreciate anyone who reviews and tells me what they think. While some don't know why people seem to ask/demand reviews instead of just doing stories for personal satisfaction, it's just a simple fact that most can't get it without knowing that someone actually liked what you spent hours coming up with and working.
Making the stories just for personal amusement is all well and good, but that's really not why people do it.
This is also the Unbeta-ed version, which will stay this way until I find a beta that is interested at all.
So please R&R…