Author's note: This is my first attempt at a Fruits Basket fanfiction. I hope everyone enjoys it.


"Momma, can I open a present?" Sayuri questioned. The child was sitting on her knees next to the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. Her soft brown eyes that twinkled with excitement were glued on the brightly wrapped gifts around her.

"Okay sweetie," her mother responded softly, "but only one." The girl gasped in excitement as she began to open her present. She did so gently, turning up the paper so that it wouldn't rip.

"Can you tell me a story too?" She asked, freeing the one fold from the tape which held it in place. Her mother smiled fondly as she watched.

"Once upon a time there was a princess. This princess was very powerful. She was the head of her family and had great power over many people. Even though she had this power and many people all around her she was always lonely."

"That's sad," Sayuri said, pouting disapprovingly before again starting to pick at her present.

"Oh it was, but it gets better. You see, the princess became very angry and cruel and took it out on the people she wanted to bring closer, pushing them further away in the process. Then one day, the princess servants and family found a peasant girl and took her in. Soon the peasant was the object of fondness for everyone in the house." Sayuri made a noise of acknowledgement and gently lifted the flap on her other side of the gift. "This made the princess angry. There was a simple girl taking away all the love which was rightfully hers. The princess said many mean hurtful things to the peasant. Each time the peasant would forgive the princess and even say she was sorry herself"

"If the princess was the one being mean, why would the girl apologize?" Sayuri questioned, her eyes rising from her gift which was two thirds of the way open by now.

"Some people are just like that sweetie. Anyways, one day the princess accidentally hurt the peasant pretty badly. The moment it happened she began to think how she d been behaving. The next time she met the peasant, they became friends, and the princess wasn't lonely anymore."

"That's good! I don't like sad endings." Sayuri's tone was matter-of-fact. She lifted the last seam of paper and opened the box and gasped. "It's cute mommy. Isn't it the Zodiac?" In her hands was a little box with fourteen slots. "It even has the cat! Oh momma, I love it! Wait." Sayuri pulled out a figure that was definitely not an animal. "What's this?"

"It's an onigiri." That earned an incredulous look from the child.

"An onigiri? Why would there be an onigiri in the zodiac? That's weird." The woman laughed.

"Isn't it? Now it's bedtime."

"Aww, but mom..."

"Go on, get changed and your father and I will come to tuck you in." Sayuri sighed and stood. She gently cradled the case against her chest as she walked out of the room.

"Why Akito, I didn't expect such a nostalgic story from you" Shigure said, slipping in behind her to wrap his arms around her waist. "It was sweet of you. I may just have to tell Tohru." He kissed her neck and she froze momentarily before turning in his arms.

"So what?" Akito asked defensively. Shigure chuckled.

"Nothing, my dear. Let us go tuck in our little one, who looks so much like her beautiful mother." Akito smiled and nodded, following him to Sayuri's room. She found herself thinking about how lucky she was to have them.

She wasn't ever lonely anymore.


END

Note: so what did you think? Reviews are appreciated.