Fruits Basket
"Jyuunishi XIV"
Written By: Andrea MacFarlane
Email: luthien_anwamane2003@yahoo.ca
Rated: 14A (Later Chapters with become R for graphic violence and sexually explicit scenes)
Teaser: There's another jyuunishi?! Ever wondered why none of the jyuunishi are birds? Ever wonder why it's always the Sohma family members that are cursed? In ancient texts it is said that Buddha called forth fourteen animals, not thirteen, while the cat was fooled by the mouse, there was another animal unable to attend the celebration. With it's beautiful song, the canary was also invited to attend, but the day before the celebration it was captured by a human and imprisoned in a gilded cage. The canary implored with the human but to no avail and missed out on the celebration. Days later the canary managed to escape and made it's way to Buddha, begging to be allowed into the zodiac. But the new year had already begun and there was nothing Buddha could do for the poor creature. So as punishment for keeping the canary in a cage, Buddha set a curse upon the family of the man who had caged the canary. A man with the name of Sohma.
_____________________________________________________________
"Sing for me..." Akito murmured through the small opening.
Inside the darkened room was a small futon without coverings, an empty hearth and a lone figure dressed in rags. Silver eyes peered through golden hair tangles at the Sohma family head.
"Iie." came a soft reply from a voice one would swear was made of tinkling bells.
Akito's features contorted with rage and he yanked furiously on the cold metal bars separating him from the figure in the room. "You'll sing for me or you'll die!" he screamed.
Running footsteps alerted him to the approach of Hattori. He smirked devilishly, "You will sing, even if it's just your dying screams, I'll make you sing for me." he murmured before Hattori rushed into the room.
"Akito." he stated sternly before moving into the room to usher the frail family head back to his own section of the compound.
Inside the caged room the figure turned and as the light filtered through the small opening the profile of a young woman could be seen. Emotionless eyes closed shut as she slumped down onto the futon and slept.
***
"I won't be long Sohma-kun, I just want to speak to Hattori-san for a moment." Honda Tohru called out excitedly as she rushed into the Main House. On the direction of a maid she made her way into a section of the Main House she'd yet to visit. When she would have turned right towards what she'd been told was Hattori's area she heard someone singing down the hall to the left. Never before having heard such a melody Tohru felt drawn towards it.
The singing stopped moments before Tohru found herself in an empty room. Or at least she believed it to be empty until she saw a small grate in one of the walls. Her heart leapt into her throat when she saw something move inside it. Fear leapt inside her until she heard the voice on the other side, "Who are you?".
Tohru was surprised by the gentle voice, her fear slipping away immediately, "Honda Tohru," before she could help herself she asked, "Why are you in there?" Clamping her hand over her mouth she apologized profusely and bowed.
A soft laughter met her ears and Tohru looked into the amused silver eyes of the girl behind the grate. "I was hoping I'd meet you at some point Honda-san. You're the only other person besides me who's ever gotten Hattori to disobey a direct order from our all too unworthy leader."
On instinct Tohru moved up to the bars and gasped when she was able to fully see inside what she knew was a cage. Without warning Tohru's good nature gave an overpowering message that she couldn't ignore.
Inside the cage the girl watched Tohru rush back across the room and rip a decorative battle axe. When she lifted it from it's holding she yelped as it nearly cut off her foot as it imbedded itself into the floor. Confusion and curiosity overrode the girl's common sense, and she watched in fascination as Tohru hoisted the axe over her shoulder and hurtled across the room, lodging it into the wall of her prison. It was then that she realized this girl whom she hadn't even introduced herself too, was freeing her from Akito's prison.
As Tohru continued to hurl the axe at the wooden wall and it slowly began to crack and break away. Tohru managed to hack away just enough space for a person to pass through before the axe clattered to the ground, slipping out of her tired arms and blistered hands.
"D-Daijoubu desu ka?" Tohru managed to breathe out just before the girl slipped herself through the opening. When she stood in the full light of day Tohru choked back a cry of alarm.
Standing just over five feet, wrapped in a dirty piece of linen, grey with age, was a lithe girl no older then Tohru. Her silver eyes lay nearly hidden behind a mass of golden hair, tangled and bunched together as if it had never been combed.
The girl nodded towards Tohru and bowed in gratitude before she spoke, "My name is Sohma Aya, arigato gozaimasu Honda-san."
Tohru would have responded in her usual happy manner but the sound of several people approaching gave new strength to Tohru as she grasped hold of Aya's arm and leapt through another doorway, heading back to the front of the house. Tohru didn't know why she felt this burning desire to help Aya, but something inside her told her that this girl was not bad, that she hadn't deserved to be locked away as she had. As they approached the front gates Tohru spotted Yuki still waiting for her and she called out to him in desperation.
Something odd had been in the air moments before Yuki heard Tohru call his name, and when he turned to greet her with a smile he saw what Tohru was bringing with her. He didn't even have time to react before Tohru grabbed his hand and pulled him along behind her with the other girl.
"Nani? Honda-san what's going on?" he asked as he ran along beside her.
"He's too cruel Sohma-kun, I had to save her! She'll be safe with us." Tohru replied enigmatically.
Yuki just stared back at Tohru and continued to run, if he left it alone it would work out. Tohru would never do anything terrible.
Aya let herself be dragged through the city streets, her bare feet being cut up by the hard black top beneath them. The fact that Yuki didn't recognize her was of no true concern, only two living members of the Sohma family knew of her existence. Both were still in the main house, both resented her in their own fashion.
It wasn't until they got on the gravel and dirt path, to what Aya assumed was the way to Tohru's house or perhaps Yuki's, that her minimal strength became depleted and her legs gave way from beneath her. Releasing Tohru's hand was the first thing she did as she fell, the second was to twist her body so she fell on her back.
Tohru's surprised cry brought Yuki's attention back to the girl she had been dragging with them. When he turned to see her lying on the ground he had to suppress an involuntary urge to go and pick her up in his arms.
Aya refrained from laughing when Tohru knelt beside her and began to apologize profusely. "Yamatte, it's not your fault, I've always had weak legs." When Tohru continued to cry Aya reached her arm up to grasp the girl's trembling shoulder, "Enough Honda-san, I'll be fine in a moment or two, but I won't be able to run anymore."
Tohru was so relieved she stopped crying long enough to help Aya back to her feet and then look towards Yuki who looked uncomfortable just standing there, unable to do anything.
When Aya was ready they started to walk slowly, she had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from making any sound as the stones and dirt of the road dug into her exposed feet.
Yuki watched Aya with interest for a few minutes as they walked before she glanced at him and he turned his eyes back to the road. When they approached Shigure's house he noticed Kyo sitting on the roof waiting for them to return. When Kyo spotted the blonde girl Yuki had another urge to hide her from the world, especially from Kyo even, as if Kyo would eat her before his very eyes. These feelings were unnatural for him, confusing him beyond measure.
"Honda-san, I'll go ahead and prepare things." Yuki muttered as he watched Kyo running towards them.
"Oy!" Kyo yelled as he came to a screeching halt beside Tohru. "Who the hell is this?"
Tohru looked somewhat nervous and even before she could fumble for the proper words Aya saved her by speaking, "You could say she was picking up another stray cat." It amused Aya to see Kyo's eyes widen almost imperceptibly. Before anymore could be said on the subject Aya moved Tohru forward and they pushed passed the suspicious cat.
When they finally reached the quaint little house Aya nearly choked on her own blood, she'd been biting the inside of her check so much the blood had begun to fill up her own mouth. So as soon as they entered the front foyer and Tohru called out for both Shigure and Yuki, Aya slumped to the floor and coughed up all the blood she'd been keeping in her mouth. Her feet were pounding with pain and she knew it would take at least a few days to heal. But knowing her luck Akito would find her long before and make her endure worse for having escaped.
With blood still dripping from her lips she looked up to see a horror stricken older gentleman and a frozen Yuki. Kyo stood behind her still confused by her earlier words and Tohru was rushing around trying to clean up the blood and move Aya at the same time. It was not an easy task, so to make matters more interesting, and to take her mind off the pain she decided to play with the other three Jyuunishi present.
"Well I'm glad to finally know that common courtesy and care has gone the way with chivalry and good will towards others, out the window, in men's cases anyways."
Yuki looked stricken, his hand twitching at his side, wanting to help but unable because he believed the curse would reveal all to her. The older gentlemen whom she guessed to be Shigure remained unmoving, studying her as if something on the edge of his memory itched to be released. And when her eyes moved to Kyo she could almost picture him in cat form, hair standing on end, tail ramrod straight and frazzled all the way through.
"Honda-san yamatte!" Aya yelled more out of pain then actual annoyance. "You won't change." she whispered immediately after. "If you pick me up you won't change."
"NANI?!"
Seemingly by instinct Tohru began to intrude to try and help the situation, "She was in a cage, but she was in the main house, just off of Hattori-san's rooms, I had to break it open, I had to save her."
Aya watched the trio of Jyuunishi with interest, and when Shigure's eyes widened almost imperceptibly she began to chuckle sadly. "You're going to send me back aren't you Shigure-san, you know who I am, you think you know why he kept me in there, but you'll never know the truth, neither of them will tell you the truth. The truth would make you hate them, make you all hate them."
Before Aya could speak again the feeling of being lifted into strong arms, no the feel of anyone's arms around her flooded her entire being with emotions she'd never experienced. Never being hugged, held or even touched for her entire existence, it was as if a dam had broken inside her, and as she looked into calculating and fiery red eyes her steel exterior broke. Before she could stop herself the tears flowed from her eyes as she clutched Kyo with all her might.
Tohru began to cry as well when she saw Aya crying, and both Yuki and Shigure looked on the scene in fascination. Without a word Shigure turned his back on them and went into his study, closing the door soundlessly behind him.
"Take her upstairs Kyo, she probably wants to bathe and then take her into my room, she'll sleep there until we can find something else for her." Yuki ordered quickly, and for once Kyo obeyed without question, Tohru fast on his heels trying to comfort the still sobbing Aya.
Watching someone else hold this mysterious girl was odd for Yuki, never had he wanted to be closer to another girl, with the exception of Tohru, and for someone he'd never even seen to crawl this deeply under his skin confused him. The fact that the Jyuunishi didn't transform when they hugged her was another miracle, one that he'd get answers for. If this girl could bypass the curse he wanted to know why and how, he would resort to any means to obtain his goal. Something like this could not be ignored, and for Akito to hide her like that, knowing such a person existed, it went far beyond his duty as the family head. Like he wanted the Sohma's to remain cursed.
______________________________________________________________________
End Notes: What's gonna happen when Akito find his little prisoner missing? Will Tohru be punished for rescuing her? Why won't Aya succumb to Yuki and tell him the truth? How does Shigure know about Aya? Find out the answers to these question and more in the next installment!
"Jyuunishi XIV"
Written By: Andrea MacFarlane
Email: luthien_anwamane2003@yahoo.ca
Rated: 14A (Later Chapters with become R for graphic violence and sexually explicit scenes)
Teaser: There's another jyuunishi?! Ever wondered why none of the jyuunishi are birds? Ever wonder why it's always the Sohma family members that are cursed? In ancient texts it is said that Buddha called forth fourteen animals, not thirteen, while the cat was fooled by the mouse, there was another animal unable to attend the celebration. With it's beautiful song, the canary was also invited to attend, but the day before the celebration it was captured by a human and imprisoned in a gilded cage. The canary implored with the human but to no avail and missed out on the celebration. Days later the canary managed to escape and made it's way to Buddha, begging to be allowed into the zodiac. But the new year had already begun and there was nothing Buddha could do for the poor creature. So as punishment for keeping the canary in a cage, Buddha set a curse upon the family of the man who had caged the canary. A man with the name of Sohma.
_____________________________________________________________
"Sing for me..." Akito murmured through the small opening.
Inside the darkened room was a small futon without coverings, an empty hearth and a lone figure dressed in rags. Silver eyes peered through golden hair tangles at the Sohma family head.
"Iie." came a soft reply from a voice one would swear was made of tinkling bells.
Akito's features contorted with rage and he yanked furiously on the cold metal bars separating him from the figure in the room. "You'll sing for me or you'll die!" he screamed.
Running footsteps alerted him to the approach of Hattori. He smirked devilishly, "You will sing, even if it's just your dying screams, I'll make you sing for me." he murmured before Hattori rushed into the room.
"Akito." he stated sternly before moving into the room to usher the frail family head back to his own section of the compound.
Inside the caged room the figure turned and as the light filtered through the small opening the profile of a young woman could be seen. Emotionless eyes closed shut as she slumped down onto the futon and slept.
***
"I won't be long Sohma-kun, I just want to speak to Hattori-san for a moment." Honda Tohru called out excitedly as she rushed into the Main House. On the direction of a maid she made her way into a section of the Main House she'd yet to visit. When she would have turned right towards what she'd been told was Hattori's area she heard someone singing down the hall to the left. Never before having heard such a melody Tohru felt drawn towards it.
The singing stopped moments before Tohru found herself in an empty room. Or at least she believed it to be empty until she saw a small grate in one of the walls. Her heart leapt into her throat when she saw something move inside it. Fear leapt inside her until she heard the voice on the other side, "Who are you?".
Tohru was surprised by the gentle voice, her fear slipping away immediately, "Honda Tohru," before she could help herself she asked, "Why are you in there?" Clamping her hand over her mouth she apologized profusely and bowed.
A soft laughter met her ears and Tohru looked into the amused silver eyes of the girl behind the grate. "I was hoping I'd meet you at some point Honda-san. You're the only other person besides me who's ever gotten Hattori to disobey a direct order from our all too unworthy leader."
On instinct Tohru moved up to the bars and gasped when she was able to fully see inside what she knew was a cage. Without warning Tohru's good nature gave an overpowering message that she couldn't ignore.
Inside the cage the girl watched Tohru rush back across the room and rip a decorative battle axe. When she lifted it from it's holding she yelped as it nearly cut off her foot as it imbedded itself into the floor. Confusion and curiosity overrode the girl's common sense, and she watched in fascination as Tohru hoisted the axe over her shoulder and hurtled across the room, lodging it into the wall of her prison. It was then that she realized this girl whom she hadn't even introduced herself too, was freeing her from Akito's prison.
As Tohru continued to hurl the axe at the wooden wall and it slowly began to crack and break away. Tohru managed to hack away just enough space for a person to pass through before the axe clattered to the ground, slipping out of her tired arms and blistered hands.
"D-Daijoubu desu ka?" Tohru managed to breathe out just before the girl slipped herself through the opening. When she stood in the full light of day Tohru choked back a cry of alarm.
Standing just over five feet, wrapped in a dirty piece of linen, grey with age, was a lithe girl no older then Tohru. Her silver eyes lay nearly hidden behind a mass of golden hair, tangled and bunched together as if it had never been combed.
The girl nodded towards Tohru and bowed in gratitude before she spoke, "My name is Sohma Aya, arigato gozaimasu Honda-san."
Tohru would have responded in her usual happy manner but the sound of several people approaching gave new strength to Tohru as she grasped hold of Aya's arm and leapt through another doorway, heading back to the front of the house. Tohru didn't know why she felt this burning desire to help Aya, but something inside her told her that this girl was not bad, that she hadn't deserved to be locked away as she had. As they approached the front gates Tohru spotted Yuki still waiting for her and she called out to him in desperation.
Something odd had been in the air moments before Yuki heard Tohru call his name, and when he turned to greet her with a smile he saw what Tohru was bringing with her. He didn't even have time to react before Tohru grabbed his hand and pulled him along behind her with the other girl.
"Nani? Honda-san what's going on?" he asked as he ran along beside her.
"He's too cruel Sohma-kun, I had to save her! She'll be safe with us." Tohru replied enigmatically.
Yuki just stared back at Tohru and continued to run, if he left it alone it would work out. Tohru would never do anything terrible.
Aya let herself be dragged through the city streets, her bare feet being cut up by the hard black top beneath them. The fact that Yuki didn't recognize her was of no true concern, only two living members of the Sohma family knew of her existence. Both were still in the main house, both resented her in their own fashion.
It wasn't until they got on the gravel and dirt path, to what Aya assumed was the way to Tohru's house or perhaps Yuki's, that her minimal strength became depleted and her legs gave way from beneath her. Releasing Tohru's hand was the first thing she did as she fell, the second was to twist her body so she fell on her back.
Tohru's surprised cry brought Yuki's attention back to the girl she had been dragging with them. When he turned to see her lying on the ground he had to suppress an involuntary urge to go and pick her up in his arms.
Aya refrained from laughing when Tohru knelt beside her and began to apologize profusely. "Yamatte, it's not your fault, I've always had weak legs." When Tohru continued to cry Aya reached her arm up to grasp the girl's trembling shoulder, "Enough Honda-san, I'll be fine in a moment or two, but I won't be able to run anymore."
Tohru was so relieved she stopped crying long enough to help Aya back to her feet and then look towards Yuki who looked uncomfortable just standing there, unable to do anything.
When Aya was ready they started to walk slowly, she had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from making any sound as the stones and dirt of the road dug into her exposed feet.
Yuki watched Aya with interest for a few minutes as they walked before she glanced at him and he turned his eyes back to the road. When they approached Shigure's house he noticed Kyo sitting on the roof waiting for them to return. When Kyo spotted the blonde girl Yuki had another urge to hide her from the world, especially from Kyo even, as if Kyo would eat her before his very eyes. These feelings were unnatural for him, confusing him beyond measure.
"Honda-san, I'll go ahead and prepare things." Yuki muttered as he watched Kyo running towards them.
"Oy!" Kyo yelled as he came to a screeching halt beside Tohru. "Who the hell is this?"
Tohru looked somewhat nervous and even before she could fumble for the proper words Aya saved her by speaking, "You could say she was picking up another stray cat." It amused Aya to see Kyo's eyes widen almost imperceptibly. Before anymore could be said on the subject Aya moved Tohru forward and they pushed passed the suspicious cat.
When they finally reached the quaint little house Aya nearly choked on her own blood, she'd been biting the inside of her check so much the blood had begun to fill up her own mouth. So as soon as they entered the front foyer and Tohru called out for both Shigure and Yuki, Aya slumped to the floor and coughed up all the blood she'd been keeping in her mouth. Her feet were pounding with pain and she knew it would take at least a few days to heal. But knowing her luck Akito would find her long before and make her endure worse for having escaped.
With blood still dripping from her lips she looked up to see a horror stricken older gentleman and a frozen Yuki. Kyo stood behind her still confused by her earlier words and Tohru was rushing around trying to clean up the blood and move Aya at the same time. It was not an easy task, so to make matters more interesting, and to take her mind off the pain she decided to play with the other three Jyuunishi present.
"Well I'm glad to finally know that common courtesy and care has gone the way with chivalry and good will towards others, out the window, in men's cases anyways."
Yuki looked stricken, his hand twitching at his side, wanting to help but unable because he believed the curse would reveal all to her. The older gentlemen whom she guessed to be Shigure remained unmoving, studying her as if something on the edge of his memory itched to be released. And when her eyes moved to Kyo she could almost picture him in cat form, hair standing on end, tail ramrod straight and frazzled all the way through.
"Honda-san yamatte!" Aya yelled more out of pain then actual annoyance. "You won't change." she whispered immediately after. "If you pick me up you won't change."
"NANI?!"
Seemingly by instinct Tohru began to intrude to try and help the situation, "She was in a cage, but she was in the main house, just off of Hattori-san's rooms, I had to break it open, I had to save her."
Aya watched the trio of Jyuunishi with interest, and when Shigure's eyes widened almost imperceptibly she began to chuckle sadly. "You're going to send me back aren't you Shigure-san, you know who I am, you think you know why he kept me in there, but you'll never know the truth, neither of them will tell you the truth. The truth would make you hate them, make you all hate them."
Before Aya could speak again the feeling of being lifted into strong arms, no the feel of anyone's arms around her flooded her entire being with emotions she'd never experienced. Never being hugged, held or even touched for her entire existence, it was as if a dam had broken inside her, and as she looked into calculating and fiery red eyes her steel exterior broke. Before she could stop herself the tears flowed from her eyes as she clutched Kyo with all her might.
Tohru began to cry as well when she saw Aya crying, and both Yuki and Shigure looked on the scene in fascination. Without a word Shigure turned his back on them and went into his study, closing the door soundlessly behind him.
"Take her upstairs Kyo, she probably wants to bathe and then take her into my room, she'll sleep there until we can find something else for her." Yuki ordered quickly, and for once Kyo obeyed without question, Tohru fast on his heels trying to comfort the still sobbing Aya.
Watching someone else hold this mysterious girl was odd for Yuki, never had he wanted to be closer to another girl, with the exception of Tohru, and for someone he'd never even seen to crawl this deeply under his skin confused him. The fact that the Jyuunishi didn't transform when they hugged her was another miracle, one that he'd get answers for. If this girl could bypass the curse he wanted to know why and how, he would resort to any means to obtain his goal. Something like this could not be ignored, and for Akito to hide her like that, knowing such a person existed, it went far beyond his duty as the family head. Like he wanted the Sohma's to remain cursed.
______________________________________________________________________
End Notes: What's gonna happen when Akito find his little prisoner missing? Will Tohru be punished for rescuing her? Why won't Aya succumb to Yuki and tell him the truth? How does Shigure know about Aya? Find out the answers to these question and more in the next installment!
