Battered But Not Broken
Disappearance and Darkness
Chapter One
She couldn't have guessed that today, everything would have fallen apart so completely.
Her usual mornings consisted of rousing herself from bed and getting ready for school. Soon after the Prince would wake up and go about his morning routine while she began making breakfast for everyone.
As breakfast was nearly finished Shigure would find his way to the kitchen, his arms stretched over his head as he would ask what was for breakfast and commence his morning perversions, only to be met by an annoyed Yuki.
Tohru would call up the stairs to Kyo that breakfast is ready and as usual, he was still asleep, so she would head upstairs to wake him. Every morning she was met by sleepy grumbles, until she would simply smile and tells him the time, which usually helped him wake fully, if not too quickly. He then would rush her out of his room so he could quickly get ready.
Tohru always returned downstairs to find Shigure already helping himself to the breakfast that she prepared, while Yuki would pesters him of how rude, selfish and perverted he is, causing Tohru to nervously laugh and serve herself, Yuki and Kyo, who about that time comes rushing down the stairs to find he was not truly so late as he thought. She would smile at his loud angry complaints and try to cheer him up, only to be met by a now more annoyed Yuki, who would express his opinion of the other two rather easily, which only further angered Kyo and sends Shigure on his half-hearted crying fits. Soon everyone finishes eating and Shigure would go about his writing. Tohru says her goodbyes as they leave for school.
But this morning Tohru woke and went about her routine and didn't hear the Prince rouse from his sleep, and Shigure had not wandered into the kitchen in his usual tired manner as she began cooking. She was beginning to become worried. She went upstairs and knocked on the Prince's door, calling him softly. There was no reply. She pondered if she should go in and make sure he was alright, but feeling that would be invading his privacy, she decided that checking Kyo was a better idea, but came up with the same result.
She began to panic and rushed back down stairs and tried Shigure's room. Nothing. Her worry getting the best of her, she let herself in and with no Shigure to be found, she ran back up the stairs, losing her footing but luckily catching herself before any serious injury could have occured. She continued her rush, more carefully, up the rest of the stairs, finding both boys rooms empty as well.
"Shigure-san! Yuki-kun! Kyo-kun!" She cries as she makes her way quickly back down the stairs, finding smoke filled the house.
Tohru gasped, realizing she left the burner on in the kitchen and rushes to turn it off and discard the now ruined breakfast. She opened the front door and cracked a few windows to air out the house and picks up the phone to dials Hatori, only to be sent to voice mail.
She hastily left a message. "Hatori-san? This is Tohru. I can't find Shigure-san, Yuki-kun or Kyo-kun anywhere. Please, please answer the phone! I don't understand. Where is everyone? Please, if you see them tell them I went to school and hope to see them when I get off work tonight. Thank you, Hatori-san." With a heavy sigh, Tohru set the phone back on its receiver, trying to calm her frayed nerves.
After taking a few deep calming breaths, she grabbed her bag, suddenly having lost her appetite, and walk to school alone, for the very first time.
-Kaibara High School Hallway-
"What do you mean their gone?" Uo questioned in a rather loudly.
"Yes, I don't understand Tohru. They would not have gone anywhere without telling you of it beforehand and leave you all alone without reason." Hana tonelessly said.
Tohru shook her head miserably. "I don't know, they-they just weren't there. I don't know what happened. I'm so worried." She sobbed as tears threatened to fall.
Uo and Hana hugged her, Hana stroking her hair softly.
"It'll be okay Tohru!" Uo said reasurringly. "Don't worry so much. The Prince is perfectly capable of taking care of himself and Orange top."
"But-"
Hana's calm voice cut her off. "Of course, if Kyo chose to be his thoughtless self, I think that could prove difficult for Yuki."
Tohru's mind was reeling with all of the sudden possiblities her friends could be in until Uo broke her train of thought.
"Hey, they'll be fine! Come on class is starting soon, you don't want to be all depressed to start your day do you?" She said as she patted Tohru's head.
"No, you're right. Thank you for making me feel better." She mentally shook herself. How could she worry her friends like this? She had to stay strong and trust everything was alright. She wiped her tears as she and her best friends headed into the classroom and she silently sent a prayer that everyone was alright.
-Unknown-
Yuki shifted, feeling cold and uncomfortable. Why was his room so cold? He didn't leave the window open again did he? He softly rubbed the back of his hand over his eyes and blinked, looking towards his window.
His brow furrowed as he blinked again and was only greeted by darkness. His eyes were open weren't they? He softly brushed his finger across his eyelids blinking again, feeling the brush of his long lashes. No, his eyes were open, then why couldn't he see?
He paled. No, he couldn't be there again. Not again!
He pushed himself up, only to hit his head on something cold an hard. He winced and rubbed his hand over the newly forming knot on his forehead as his other arm braced against whatever he was lying on.
It was freezing and hard and a bit rough. Metal? He felt above him to find the same rough coldness, not even an arms width away. Panic took him as his hand trailed down the the metal and met a rough edge that dropped to the floor. He stretched his legs, feeling with his foot that it barely was long enough to allow him to lie flat.
Fear shook him as he cowered to the corner. What happened? Why was he in this box instead of the other room Akito had for him? He couldn't remeber anything! As he pressed himself further against the cold metal, he felt something catch his sleeve above him. Slowly he reached out and felt the length of it. It was some kind of small box shaped hole, with more metal covering it.
Frantically he tried to push against it, as each breath became harder and harder to take. No, he couldn't have an asthma attack now. He couldn't. He tried to calm himself and take deep breaths, or as deep as he could. He slowly curled in on himself, an all too familiar position to his body since childhood.
His lips trembled as he whispered breathlessly. "S-someone, anyone, please! Help me!"
The only thing to answered his plea was the haunting chuckle that plagued his nightmares.
-Outside of Tohru's Job-
As she stepped outside, she felt a sudden chill. There was no reason for it, it was actually rather warm tonight. She tried to chase away the chill by rubbing her arms as she started walking home, before it became dark. She hadn't seen Momiji or Haru today, at school or work.
"I hope Momiji and Hatsuharu-san haven't disappeared too." She mumbled to herself.
She kept thinking that Momiji would just pop out from behind her, cheery as ever and assure her that everything was perfect. Her thoughts remained on her hopes and prayers that her friends would be home when she arrived or that Hatori had answered her call.
Her nerves had got the better of her and she found herself running half of the way home. She had nearly fallen through the shoji door and had expected Shigure to be upset about the near breaking of his house, but there was no scolding from the playful Shigure, or a warm 'welcome home' from Yuki, or even an agitated Kyo following her around the house. No lights were on and the faint smell of burnt food still lingered in the air.
She collapsed to the floor, tears falling down her face. No one had returned.
Why? Why hasn't anyone returned? She pulled her legs against her chest and sobbed, burying her head on her knees.
As she cried she remembered the phone. She stumbled into the wall as she checked for any voice mails. There were none. She picked up the receiver and called Hatori as she wiped her tears. The phone rang this time, but no answer came to the desperate girl. Tears were freed again as Hatori's voice spoke in her ear. Before she could find words to speak, the final beep sounded, ending her time to try. Her sobs were all that were recorded.
Unable to hold her anymore, her legs gave out. She crumpled to the floor, crying out.
"Why! Did I do something wrong? Please, somebody." Her sobs shook her uncontrollably. "Don't leave me me alone." She whispered.
To be continued...
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Well this is my first Fruits Basket fan fiction. If I've made any mistakes feel free to send me a message or review and I'll be sure to fix it as soon as possible! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
(Edited, fixed, whatnot on 8/8/13)