When Tohru dies in a car accident, all the Soma's are crushed. Still, life has to go on in Shigure, Yuki and Kyo's household, and they need a housekeeper. Minne Kuremoto is the one who is chosen, a bright, lively girl, who soon wins, if not the love, but at least the respect of the Sohma's. But Minne has big secrets to hide, and big secrets to discover. Will she take Tohru's place in the Sohma's hearts, even though Minne and the late Tohru are so different…?
Chapter 1
Minne:
I stared up at the house, in which I was soon going to clean and cook. And live. I wondered how the people would be: if they were nice or austere, secretive or exuberant, strange or normal…
The man who had called me claimed to have seen my ad in the newspaper; he had a cheery voice and used lots of adjectives. He said I would be perfect. He said he's pay me well. He said they received a few guests from time to time, and two boys about my age lived with him. He said a lot more, but I can't remember, I was so excited about getting this job!
I rang the doorbell. A young man appeared, with a serene face and deep grey-blue eyes. He was so handsome my breath caught in my lungs and I blushed violently. He smiled at me, a sad smile, and I smiled back. "Yuki Sohma" he said. "I live here". I nodded. "Minne Kuremoto", I said. "Are there any rules I need to know beforehand?"
-No, don't worry", he answered. "Follow you heart, I am sure you'll know what to do to keep this household going, Miss Kuremoto. We are three people here; you better be careful around Kyo-Kun, he is usually pretty deadly to anyone who annoys him. Shigure-san shouldn't give you any problems, although I have to warn you, he usually walks on the other side of the "reasonable" line…!
I giggled.
-Oh, don't worry, I'm used to the type…
-I am sure you are, or you'll have to get used to it fast, he said with a small smile. This is a strange house, with strange people, Miss Kuremoto, please remember that and do not let yourself get caught in.
-Oh…Oh, of-of course, Mister Sohma, I, I shall be very discreet and I'll try not to bother you at all, I said. This time, he did not smile, but nodded curtly.
-I am sorry, I have some business to attend to, but you are welcome to explore the house; Kyo-kun or Shigure-san can show you your room. Goodbye, Miss Kuremoto.
-Goodbye, Mister Sohma!
-Call me Yuki, I've never been used to titles…
-A-all right, Mister-uh-Yuki. Goodbye then.
I looked back at him, then, brushing away any lingering fears I had, stepped into the house.
Yuki:
As I walked past her on my way to Haru's, I thought how different yet similar she was to Tohru-chan. But I would not think of Tohru, not now that we had just managed to settle back into the normal current of life. I hoped that Minne would manage to do as much good work as Tohru had. I hoped she would find our curse. I hoped she could turn into Tohru and we would live happily ever after together, like we had. It was stupid of me, thinking about Tohru like that, like she hadn't gone…like she wasn't…dead. Tears welled in my eyes, as they had then, when Momiji ran in with the news. She's been hit by a car, by a damn car driven by a damn drunk man, who had never known Tohru, who had driven away as soon as he had killed her, who had killed the sun of my world, who had killed me. Yuki Sohma was no longer the same old Yuki Tohru had met. Yun-yun didn't even exist anymore. I had quit the student council. I couldn't keep it up, now that Tohru-chan was gone. Dear Tohru…
I reached the main Sohma residence just as the last tears dried on my cheeks. I couldn't have looked bad when I walked through the gates because some of the servant girls in the yard stared at me longingly. They had no idea that my heart had turned to ice.
I saw Haru, sitting on a bench, looking completely unconcerned by the sunlight, or the girls, or anything around him. I sat down next to my friend and gazed at the rosebushes, loosing myself in idle daydreams. Soon, I'd tell Haru about Minne. Maybe he'd like to meet her, just for the fun of it, maybe not. But for the time being, I would just sit and think, sit and dream, dream of times gone by, better times, times of joy, sunlight and smiles…
Minne:
I looked around. This place was big, and airy, and bright. The person who cleaned around here before me had sure done a very good job of it! I would try doing her credit by keeping the place as clean as she had. I walked into the kitchen, and saw a man sitting there, drinking a cup of coffee and reading a newspaper. Was that Kyo or Shigure. I was going to ask, when the man looked up at me.
-Minne-chan, welcome, welcome, welcome, he said pompously. Shigure-san, the man on the telephone most probably.
-Hello, Mister Sohma.
-WHAT? No…not mister Sohma, I am not QUITE that old yet. Shigure will do just fine. Would you like me to show you your room? It's a little patched up, having lived a few accidents in its time, but I am sure it will be quite comfortable. And then, just so you can get used to your new role, you could go and buy something for tonight's supper.
-Oh, of course, Shigure-san.
By then, we had gotten to my room, which was, if not very heavily decorated, pretty nice and extremely clean.
-This is where our old housekeeper lived. Make yourself comfortable.
The man, Shigure, smiled at me and left the room. I walked around a bit, looked here and there, then threw my heavy suitcase on the bed and sad down on the floor with a heavy sigh. I had gotten this far, now I had to wait for the first pay day, and I could send money to the hospital for…
I suddenly noticed eyes gleaming at me from under the bed.
Kyo:
OUT OF ALL THE POSSIBLE SITUATIONS! Why HERE, why NOW! Just when the damn girl had come in with that stupid dog! If I had still been a cat, I might have crept out without being seen, but who ever heard of a naked guy creeping about in a girl's bedroom while the girl is in it, unnoticed.
And no doubt she had noticed me now!
-Turn around immediately, I growled at her.
-Who the hell are YOU! What are you doing UNDER MY BED, she said. And why aren't you wearing anything? What kind of damn PERVERT are you?
This wasn't the reaction I was expecting. Maybe living with shy, impressionable, sweet, beautiful Tohru had made me think that all girls were kinda like her. Still, I tried again.
-Get out of the room, now!
-Get out of the room? It's you who's gonna get it, dude, this is my room, and you have nothing to do here! GET OUUUUUUUT!
"Uh-oh…", my mind said. "She seems tough!" HA! No one's too tough for me!
-Get out of the room or I'm coming out from under the bed! I yelled.
-Go on! And then you'll get out of my room and leave me to unpack!
-EXACTLY! ---uuuh…but-but…I'm…not very dressed now…, I cringed, ashamed. I was giving excuses to a girl! I disgusted myself! What was I afraid of, that she HIT me? She was just a girl, after all…
A girl who was using a broom to dislodge me from my hiding place. I crawled out, and she threw a sheet on me.
-NOW are you going to go? She said with an exasperated voice. Suddenly, I just wanted to show the little housemaid how superior I was to her. I towered in front of her.
-What did you just do to your maaaaassterrrrrrrrr, I said with a booming voice, and enjoying in advance the frightened expression on her face.
Then it happened. She kicked me. And in the place where it hurt most too. I yelped with pain and my vision dimmed.
-I am sorry but who do you think I am? Your SLAVE? We're in the 21first century dude, I'm not gonna get down on hands and knees to worship a guy who sits naked under my bed! Now GET OUT!
I swallowed my pride with great difficulty. I wanted to yell at that little bitch, tell her just how she was gonna suffer for this, but a place on my body reminded me that I couldn't afford to blow up just now. I left, vowing to get some revenge…
Shigure (e-mail):
Dear Hatori,
The new girl, Minne, is very nice and respectable. Me and Aya are going to have to convert her soon! ;)
I miss Tohru, and I'm sure you do too. Yuki is broken, and it's like all the progress he made with Tohru never counted. Kyo doesn't talk about Tohru anymore. Sometimes, I hear him moaning in his sleep, and he rarely bursts out at us. At least, he still calls us damn dog and stupid rat when he's annoyed, and sometimes has fights with Yuki. But anyway, I was talking about Minne: she's very normal. I guess I chose her because she reminds me of Tohru, or maybe it's just because she's very cute! She seems to know where she's going and what she wants to do. She's polite, but she's not Tohru and she never will be. When she walked in, I was hoping for a miracle. I was hoping she's bump into me, or Yuki or Kyo, and she'd find the curse, and then she'd be Tohru taking off the mask and saying: "This was a Hiro's idea of a joke, I am so sorry I made you sad. Do you want some coffee now?" Then I could be happy about Tohru AND beat Hiro up for being so rude…
Well, Ha'ri dear, I suppose my hopes are vain and such things have no chance of happening!
It was nice telling you my life, and I hope you'll tell me yours too. I've lost my will to live, Ha'ri, do you realize…
I didn't even think of what Minne'd look like without her skirt!
I am ashamed of myself!
Well, goodbye, my little sea-horse,
Swim well!
Your beloved Shigu.
Minne:
I sat down on my bed, exhausted and worried. If that…person who had just gone out of my room was Kyo Sohma, then I was in BIG trouble. I couldn't afford to lose another job, not when Mina needed all the care she could get. I had been so happy to finally get out of my home, and to get some work…being independent, that's what it's called. More like free, I thought. FREE! And I would probably lose all that, again.
I sighed. Again, too. I wouldn't lose this second chance, NEVER! I'd go downstairs and apologize immediately, and then all would be well.
At least, I hoped so…
Because Mina needed me!
Well, this is the first chappy of my first Furuba fic! I hope you liked it…and that it wasn't too boring! PLS REVIEW & TELL ME WHAT U THINK!
Kyo: I think this fic sucks bad!
Me: And pray tell why, master Cat.
Kyo: WELL WHAT ELSE COULD I SAY WHEN I GET KICKED GOD KNOWS WHERE BY A STUPID GIRL, YOU STUPID AUTHOR!
Me: Oh…oops…I'll find a way to solve that in the next chappy grins evilly ;D
Kyo: …"a way" WHAT WAY? HEY, DON'T YA DARE GO AWAY….NOT NOW…ANSWER ME WHAT WAY YOU DIMWIT &&$#!$...
Me: Hehe gets on her magic carpet and flyyyyysss away to the stars …catch me if you can, Kyo-chan!
Kyo: Grrrrrr…kill that damn writer…