Liz-Kaguya, thanks for the title for the sequel! I really liked that idea! Anyway, here's the sequel for "Open Your Eyes Up to the World"! I hope you all enjoyed, and I hope the chapters don't come out too random like some of the other chapters in the first one. OK, where we left off was Tohru was engaged to an athletic American-Japanese guy, Melody is about four now, and after Akito's death Yuki became the head of the family. Thanks and I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket!
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Twenty two-year-old Yuki Sohma sat alone in the dark room which he now called his home. It had now been four years since the erasing of Tohru Honda's memory. If he could, he would go back and do everything all over again. But, as it was, nothing like that is possible. For four years his family had steadily become worse in all ways.
Kisa, who was now a junior in high school, had become tougher over the years. Hiro had followed suit, and the two got into more and more trouble as the days in high school wore on. It was almost as if they both believed that there was no point to being nice to others, if eventually they were just going to disappear from their lives as Tohru had. Momiji had moved off to Germany to continue a career in music, he never visited the family anymore, the few times he did visit, he was mostly silent and never laughed anymore. Haru had grown distant from the family, as his black side raged more and more, and fewer people wished to be around him. Kagura had to go into a clinic. The depression from losing Tohru and Kyo in the same year had caused her to go into an institution to battle out her depression. Nobody really knew how Kyo was, as he was put into confinement and refused to speak to anybody. Hatori had become engrossed in his work, and only seemed to talk about medical needs now. Ayame, had even lost the light in his eyes, and he had closed down his shop after realizing that he didn't have the heart to make clothes anymore. Ritsu had just stopped seeing everybody all together. Shigure had also stopped a lot of his nonsense. He no longer joked around, or manipulated people anymore. He just kept to himself in his office and occasionally spoke to Hatori on the phone. His editor had even begun to worry about how he got everything in on time without a fuss.
And what had become of Yuki? Well, he spent most of his days in the labyrinths of Sohma house. The only time he ever spoke to his family was the monthly visits they had with him where they were to discuss what they had been up to for the past month. Now, the group was smaller, and nobody was really doing much of anything. Although he was not like Akito with his temper or his fascination with birds, he did happen to strike a certain fear to his family. This pained him the most, seeing as they had never treated him like that before. He hated to create rules for them, which was why he let them do whatever they wanted, as long as it meant not going up against him. He still found it awkward to tell his family what to do.
Yuki sighed in irritation, as his thoughts quickly turned to Tohru like they did so often. Where was the riceball now?
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"Hey Honda! The rice isn't going to cook itself!" A woman yelled impatiently.
Twenty two-year-old Tohru Honda jumped in surprise. "Right! My apologies!" She called as she gave a hurried bow to her boss who disappeared with a loud sigh.
Once again, the girl had been caught daydreaming. Her wedding was only four months away which was finally going to get her out of this financial rut she had dug herself into. After the car accident that had happened to Tohru four years ago, her life had changed dramatically. She had spent most of her life in extensive living facilities, and in therapists' offices. She was always in the hospital undergoing surgery to give her back her ability to walk and to see. Although her vision was sometimes blurry, and her legs did give out, she got along all right. This had caused her to go through a great deal of depression though, and she was also in physiatrists' offices. After the arrest of her ex-boyfriend Jake, and the birth of her daughter Melody, Tohru was finally able to move on with her life. She had caused quite a disappointment to her family, who was ashamed that she was a teenage mother. She also had to cancel her application for a college in America, which her family had insisted that she attend instead of wasting her life in a dead-end job.
Of course, here she was in a dead-end job. Tohru was constantly working shifts all the time. She now had two jobs instead of three, and it still took up most of her time she should be spending with her daughter. From five o'clock to eleven o'clock in the morning Tohru worked at a restaurant serving breakfast for the sleepy customers that came in early to start off their day. Then from about one o'clock and on she worked in a catering business. The only time she really saw her daughter was when she was sleeping. Her fiancée, who she had met at the restaurant she had first worked at, had started to live at her apartment when she was able to live on her own. He was the one that drove her daughter to preschool and then to daycare, or his parents' house, or she just spent the day with him. As of right now, Melody barely even knew who Tohru was, seeing as Tohru was working so much to afford the rent and preschool education every month. Although Tohru did love her fiancée, she mostly got annoyed whenever he didn't help her with any money needs she might have. Most of the time, the money he earned working at a car repair shop was used to buy Melody some toys, or to buy himself something new, occasionally he would buy Tohru something nice as well. Tohru also took the weekends off from work, but spent that time doing grocery shopping and getting work done around the house. If you think about it, she really didn't have much of a life at all, which was true. Her friend Arisa Uuotani had moved away to pursue a career in modeling, and her other friend Saki Hanajima had moved to France doing God knows what. Oh sure, there was the occasional phone call from time to time or an unexpected visit, but it wasn't the same. Her grandfather had died a year ago, and her aunt and uncle rarely ever spoke to her. It was a hard life for Tohru Honda, but it was a price that she had to live with.
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Kazuma Sohma sat in the kitchen watching as the hours ticked away before his first students arrived for the day. It was a hard life he had grown accustomed to. He never got to see his son, and Kagura and Haru had stopped coming for training. He never got a phone call from anybody, and his life was mostly a lonely one. He still missed the days when Kyo would come in to train, and would mostly spend his time talking of Tohru, or how much Yuki had made him angry that day.
Kazuma frowned at the thought of Tohru. It had been four hard years since Tohru had left their family with not one memory of them. Kazuma often missed her cooking and the times that she would come in to discuss with him of what was going on within the family, even with her disabilities, which he had heard were cured for the most part, she still had managed to come to see him. Kazuma could still remember when she had come that warm day to confide in him about finding a cure for the Zodiac curse. It was so long ago, but he had still felt a certain pang of hope at the thought that she might be able to cure everyone. Now, his heart only twisted with guilt as he realized that he had only taken advantage of the young girl to satisfy his own needs.
Kazuma hung his head sadly, it looked like his needs would never be fulfilled now.
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Seventeen-year-old Kisa Sohma walked the dark, empty streets of Japan in silence. Could this town be any duller? She knew Hatori was probably out looking for her right now, but she didn't care. She didn't need anybody. Her mother had abandoned her because she could no longer take the stress that Kisa was inflicting upon her. Now she lived with Hatori, who couldn't even control her. Once again, Kisa had gotten suspended for a fight she had started with another girl for calling her slut, now they were threatening to expel her. What did she care anyway? If it wasn't for the fact that Hatori was forcing her to stay in school, she would've dropped out a long time ago. As it was, she was all ready failing all of her classes. At the very last second, she would pull a passing grade and move onto the next grade level. Funny how everyone used to make fun of her, and now they all feared her. Kisa shrugged at the thought. All she wanted was a cigarette, and to find her buddy that was selling her favorite drug off the street. First, she just needed to find the perfect person to steal money from before she could get her prize.
Sure enough, she spotted a woman walking a little ways in front of her on the street. Odd how she was out so late at night, but she appeared to be lost, as she was looking at a small slip of paper muttering to herself. This woman was tall, and drop dead gorgeous from what it looked like. She was about six feet tall with a slim figure with curves in all the right places. She was probably the envy of all the girls at her school. The woman also had a cigarette poking out of her mouth. Jackpot! She could get money and a free pack of cigarettes all in one jump.
Kisa backed up a little bit before racing towards the woman, just as she approached her, the woman whipped around and grabbed Kisa's arm, which was a couple of inches away from her purse.
"What the hell do you think you're doing bitch? You were not just about to steal from me were you? That's a very stupid mistake to make." The woman said dangerously.
Kisa struggled from this woman's grip, but the woman managed to fight back and shoved her under a street lamp.
Both of the women stared at each other in obvious shock.
"Shit." Kisa muttered under her breath.
She had tried to steal from none other than the legendary Arisa Uuotani.
"Wait…Aren't you one of the Sohma kids? Kisa, right?" Uuo said cautiously.
"What's it to you?" Kisa snapped back.
"Don't you think your cousins are going to get just a little aggravated with the fact that you're now pick pocketing?"
"Whatever. It's not like they care anyway. I don't need anybody, I take care of myself." Kisa snapped.
"Oh, is that so? Well listen punk you picked a rotten night to screw with me. And don't think I'm still not pissed off at your family from what you did to Tohru." Uuo said angrily.
Kisa's eyes narrowed. "We didn't do nothing to your little perfect princess." She spat.
"Really? That's funny. Then how come right after her daughter was born, she all of a sudden magically forgot who you were? She was looking at me as if I had just sprouted an extra head. And when I mentioned that she lived with the Sohmas, she only laughed at the ridiculous idea. I don't know what your family did to her, but all I know is that your family was fucked up right from the beginning." Uuo snapped.
Kisa glowered at her. "Tohru's the one who's fucked up. She was the one who chose to forget."
Uuo slammed her head hard against the street lamp. "Big talk coming from a little shrimp. Let's see how tough you are when I drag you back to your house."
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Kisa glared at Uuo who had dragged her all the way back to the main house, only to discover that Hatori had gone down to Shigure's place. This only led to the blonde woman to start swearing. Not only was this a huge waste of her time, but she really did not want to run into the "writer guy" again. Still, Kisa's act was not about to go unpunished. Nobody messed with her and got away with it.
Still, Uuo could only frown, remembering what a sweet little girl Kisa had once been. What had happened to her? Sure Uuo generally hated the Sohmas for doing whatever the hell it was they did to Tohru, but she was still concerned with the sudden change in attitude with Kisa. She hadn't seen or heard from the Sohmas in years. So, were they all like that? And what had become of Prince Charming and Orange Top?
Uuo approached the door to Shigure's house and knocked loudly on the door.
A few moments passed before the door slowly opened to reveal Shigure standing in the doorway. Almost immediately he glared at Kisa who glared right back.
He turned to Uuo and asked slowly, "Are you a cop?"
Uuo stared at him in surprise. By this time, Hatori had appeared behind Shigure, who was also glaring at Kisa. Both of the men really hadn't changed much, except for a few worry lines on their facial features.
"No, I'm an old friend. I came back into town only to be jumped by your cousin. I thought I might as well return her to you and let you handle the discipline.
Shigure squinted at Uuo for a moment before something came over his face. "Arisa Uuotani, the Yankee. Long time, no see."
Uuo smirked at him. "None other than. I'm surprised you still even remember me, seeing as you seemed to have forgotten Tohru so easily."
By this point, Hatori had dragged Kisa into the house and there was loud arguing in the background.
Shigure's eyes grew sad. "I haven't forgotten about Tohru, but dark times have come over our family and it's best that she no longer lives with us anymore." He said bluntly.
Uuo blanched at him. "But…You're her guardian you can't just…"
"I was her guardian, I'm not anymore. I think I've said enough for one day, enjoy the rest of the night."
Before she could even reply, the door was closed in her face.
Uuo stood there for a moment. That was unlike Shigure. And what did he mean by "dark times have come over our family and it's best that she no longer lives with us"? What had become of that family? They always had been strange, but never like this before.
Uuo sighed and turned back to the slip of paper. It was time to continue her original reason of why she was here, to visit Tohru.
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Tohru rolled over in her bed to the sound of a persistent knocking. She gave out a loud groan and stumbled over to the door. She flung it open to reveal Uuo standing there smiling at her.
"Surprised much?" Uuo said excitedly.
"I think it would just be easier if you called first." Tohru mumbled.
"So, I saw Shigure last night." Uuo said slowly as she walked into the apartment.
"Who?" Tohru said, beginning to rub her temples.
"Shigure Sohma. You know, Yuki's perverted novelist cousin?" Uuo said, turning to face her.
Tohru stared at her blankly. "And I'm supposed to know him how…?"
"Oh come on Tohru. I don't get it. What's up with this? You don't remember anybody. What the hell happened while you were in that house?"
"Uuo, we've been through this before. I never lived with Yuki and his family. I don't know who any of these people are." Tohru said in exasperation.
"You did live with them! You knew every single one of them. They were you're family how could you not…"
"…Everytime you come over you always do this! Why do you always try to convince me about things that never happened? It's just because you don't like my current living situation isn't it?" Tohru said impatiently.
"Yeah, I'm not happy with how you're living, but come on, I wouldn't lie about this. Even Hana's tried to convince you, I don't know why you can't remember." Uuo said angrily.
"Listen, you're here let's not get into an argument about nothing again. Let's just have a nice time for the short time you're here." Tohru said in exasperation as she went into her room to go change.
She hated it when Uuo did things like that. Everytime she saw her, the first thing she always mentioned was some person that she didn't know, and it was beginning to frustrate Tohru.
What really made Tohru feel so uneasy, was that ever since Uuo had started mentioning these people, she would always hear these voices in her head, sometimes even see faces. She knew that she didn't know them, but still, the voices sounded so familiar.
Tohru closed her eyes, as a prickling sensation filled the back of her head. Now they just seemed to come at will.
"Did you know that Hari can barely see out of his left eye? Hari had a girlfriend once, Kana. I remember that she was really nice. When she found out about the Zodiac, it didn't even bother her. She just laughed about it."
"Don't strain yourself. We'll come back when it's light out. I'm sure your mother's just happy it wasn't you in there, right?"
"That is the cat's true form. Do you find it revolting?"
"I never thought anyone would say those words to me…Not to me."
"Is that all we do is run? Is that all we do?! Well I for one am tired of running. I don't want to do it anymore!"
"Say it, say that you'll never get involved with the Sohmas again!"
Tohru gasped, as she forced herself to block out the voices. She wondered if this was just paranoia, or a sign that her depression was coming back. Maybe that didn't make any sense, but what other reason was there? Was she going crazy from too much work?
"I really must be dreaming mom. Everyone's turning into animals!"
"Shut up." Tohru said through gritted teeth as her voice echoed in her head.
Maybe this was just her imagination, and Uuo's crazy ideas were starting to get to her. But even so, Tohru wondered if maybe there really had been a time where she had lived with the Sohmas. If that was so, then why couldn't she remember them?
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Yay! First chapter done! I hope it wasn't too bad. Reviews are always great, along with helpful advice to make this story even better and more enjoyable! Thanks for reading!