Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket. It is © Natsuki Takaya. Original characters are my own. I did use the manga for who says what and when. Please leave a review to help me improve my writing, or to tell me how much you liked or disliked the story, but keep it nice!
You will notice some of the words have been italicized and bolded. This is because they are Japanese items or words. If the words are italicized, it's for emphasis on the word. If I have a whole sentence or paragraph(s) italicized, it's just a flashback. If it's in parenthesis, it's just a little muse by me, the writer.
Geta (gay-tah) - Traditional Japanese sandal, traditionally worn with a kimono or yukata.
Kotatsu (ko-taht-sue)- A low wooden table, often accompanied wit ha futon or heavy blanket in the colder seasons, a heat source underneath.
Kimono (key-moe-no)- Traditional robe-type garment worn my men, women, and children.
Hime (he-may)- Princess.
Matcha (maht-cha)- Powder-likefinely ground green tea leaves.
Rini Honda couldn't help but trail behind Yuki Sohma as she followed him into the forest on the outskirts of town. Slender pale fingers clutched her worn leather book bag; the material squeaking in protest to her grip, causing more seams to pop in the buttery soft handle. She groaned, slighting a glance up to Yuki to see if he heard her. He kept walking, oblivious. She closed her heterochromatic peridot and silvery-grey eyes with a sigh of relief, suddenly finding herself flat on her butt in the dirt trail, Yuki looking down at her.
"Is everything alright, Honda-chan? You're walking rather slow," he offered her a hand, grey hair falling into his amethyst eyes. Rini hesitated, almost afraid she might crush his hand with the slightest grasp, and carefully got up. Yuki took his hand back and watched her brush off of her knee-high school uniform skirt. "I'm sorry that I made you fall, Honda-chan."
Rini couldn't help but snort as she bent down to dust off her white knee-high socks with a lacy black floral pattern. "Please. I bumped into you, Sohma-kun. I wasn't watching where I was going and didn't notice you had stopped in front of me." A raven-colored herringbone braid slipped over her shoulder as she stood back up. "I should be the one to apologize. You're going out of your way to tutor me and I haven't shown any gratitude." She gave a bow. Over the years, Tohru's formality and her mother's teachings had sunk in, but had the tendency to get placed in the back of her mind every now and again.
"It's no trouble. My home is just a little further ahead," he said, turning, continuing to walk down the trail, Rini walking in step beside him this time.
"So…" Rini started, then closed her mouth, unsure of what to talk about. Yuki looked over at her, curious, until they came up to the house in the middle of nowhere. Rini stopped, looking at the house in awe. "You live here?" Yuki proceeded to walk up the steps, opening the door. Rini caught the babble of water as she followed him inside the large estate.
"Oh, good, Shigure doesn't seem to be awake," he said more to himself in relief, walking to the living room. Rini took her shoes and socks off and set them by the door, seeing a pair of geta apart from Yuki's shoes. Curiosity peaked, she followed in Yuki's direction moments later, seeing paper doors opened to a porch and a beautiful view of the forest, sunlight catching on the autumn-tipped treetops. Yuki had set down at a kotatsu, books and papers out in front of him. Rini sat across from him, doing the same. "Okay, what do you need to be caught up on?"
Rini looked at the books and papers with a sigh. "I don't know where to begin."
Shigure Sohma sleepily treaded down the stairs, tying his kimono, papers in tow under an arm, shaking messy black hair from his eyes. He gave a slight pause when he saw the brown Mary Jane shoes by the door. He peeked around the corner into the living room, only to see Yuki sitting at the kotatsu with his back to Shigure, a stack of papers and books beside him along with papers and books spread out convex in front of him.
"She went to the bathroom. Don't scare her when she comes back," Yuki chided, keeping his eyes on his work.
"The fact that we have a guest at all is surprising, and a female, none-the-less," Shigure wistfully mentioned, sitting adjacent to Yuki.
"Her marks plummeted from a couple months ago, she's had trouble getting them back up," Yuki explained in short.
"Hmm…she must be well-liked for your teacher to make sure she gets back on her feet." Shigure mused, looking at the girl's papers. Yuki made a noise in agreement, but never took his eyes off of his work.
"I didn't see the harm in helping her."
"Probably because you like her," Shigure smiled, hiding behind his papers.
"That's optimistic at best," Rini said, taking her seat. "Yuki doesn't like any girls at school, or so the rumors say," she gave Yuki a wink, going back to her homework. He blinked in surprise. Where had this personality come from?
"And you must be our lovely visitor," Shigure looked at her, smiling. "I'm Shigure Sohma, Yuki-kun's cousin."
"I'm Rini Honda, I'm in Sohma-kun's class," she gave a polite bow of her head. Yuki put his books and papers in his book bag, finished with his work. Shigure watched Rini do her homework, or rather, kept his eyes on the red and white juzu bead bracelet on her left wrist. Yuki eyed him suspiciously.
"Would you like to stay for dinner?" Shigure offered, breaking the silence.
"Oh, I couldn't-" she started to protest.
"It's the least I could do for a guest in my house," Shigure waved off her decline, obviously refusing to take "no" for an answer. Rini looked at him for a moment.
"Then, if it's not too much trouble, could I bring some home for my sister, Tohru?"
"Thanks for coming over, Rini-chan! I'll see you in the next couple of days!" Shigure waved goodbye to her from the front door.
"Thanks for dinner, Sohma-san!" She waved goodbye to him as well, walking off down the dirt path, sunset rays giving her enough light to help her see where she was going, a bag of take-out food clutched tight in one hand, book bag in the other. Shigure shut the door with a smile. Yuki looked at him, a mix of emotions on his face.
"What was that for?" he finally asked.
"As far as I'm concerned, Yuki, I have yet to meet a friend of yours. It's the least I could do for our first guest in…ever." Shigure explained.
"She's not a friend, I'm just helping her with school."
"Then, I think I helped you make a friend."
Yuki looked at him, unsure and untrusting of his true motives, but sighed in exasperation. "Thanks for not embarrassing me."
"Oh, trust me, it was tempting," Shigure smiled, walking to his study and picking up the phone, dialing one of the numbers he knew by heart. "Hatori, you are going to love this."
Yuki watched him go, shaking his head. As he turned to go back to the living room, he spotted money sticking out from underneath the phone at the end table in the hallway with a note that read "Thank you" in Rini's handwriting.
Rini walked into the Twilight Manga Café in town, take-out food still in hand, heading to the backroom for the employees to set it in the refrigerator. Tohru wouldn't be off of work for another few hours, no sense in leaving the food out if she didn't have to while she waited for her sister. Miyuki Hamasaki, Rini's boss and the owner of the café, walked in, having seen Rini go into the backroom. "How was your catch-up session with Yuki Sohma?" She wiped her delicate hands on the towel hanging from the waist tie of her chocolate brown bib apron, the café's logo embroidered in the top left in strawberry pink and white letters, her name tag underneath. Her black shoulder length hair was in it's usual ponytail, bangs framing her face, showing off her olive-colored eyes and kind features.
"Degrading. I feel dirty all over. And his cousin-" she shivered in disgust.
"Well, if you want to wash off that disgusting feeling, you know where the bathrooms are upstairs," Miyuki gave her a side hug with a smile and chortle.
"Get back to work, Miyuki-san, I'll play customer for tonight while I wait for Tohru." Rini said, happiness in her voice, but not in her expression.
"If there's anything I can do to make sure you stay in school, let me know. School is much more important that this," she motioned to the area around her.
"You sound like my mother," Rini scowled, crossing her arms, looking at her.
"I only graduated from junior high; I missed out on so much. I don't want to see that happen to you."
"Now you really sound like my mother." Miyuki chuckled, going back to her work. Rini soon went and sat in one of the springy armchairs with a Mogeta manga in hand, taking in the rare moment of being by herself with nothing to do. "Miyuki-san? Can I have some tea, please?"
"Wow…" Tohru Honda climbed out of the tent and marveled at the bright morning sky, a smile instantly spread across her face, her coffee-colored eyes sparkling, long brunette hair in it's usual ribbons. Rini looked up at the sky as well. "It looks like today's going to be another hot one." Rini groaned upon hearing this, trudging off into the forest. Tohru followed after her, cheerful as always. She looked at her watch. "Rini, let's explore the area!"
Rini rubbed the sleep from her eyes, yawned, and followed after Tohru off in a different direction, soon crossing over a stream. Why did this look a little familiar to her? Oh, wait.
Tohru saw the house and looked at in in awe, much like Rini had done. Before she had time to open her mouth to speak, Tohru was wondering off towards Shigure's home. "Tohru!" Rini hissed, following after her. Tohru looked around the near the porch, amazed, noticing a wind chime that had caught a light breeze, tinkling gently, then looked down, seeing hand painted ornaments of the Chinese zodiac. Rini hurried over, glancing at the ornaments. "C'mon-"
"Girls…out here? My, my…and high school girls, no less!" Shigure had the morning paper in hand, wearing another kimono.
"H-Hello! I'm sorry for trespassing! I just saw these and-" Tohru started, panicked and shocked. Rini just shook her head.
"Please, continue, I merely set them there to dry," Shigure said. "I thought you young people were bored by old-fashioned superstitions like the Chinese zodiac." He smiled, looking at Rini, giving her a wink. She blinked, looking at him.
"N-No! I think these zodiac ornaments are adorable!" Tohru stammered, flustered.
"Hmm…aren't they? I like them, too," Shigure sat down on the porch adjacent to Tohru and Rini, looking at the ornaments.
"But I guess you wouldn't have the cat," Tohru said, having counted out twelve zodiac ornaments.
"Cat? Oh, you mean the cat from the zodiac legend?" Shigure looked at her in puzzlement then surprise at her apparent knowledge of the legend. Tohru nodded, smiling.
"That's right! Mother told us that story all the time!" Tohru recalled how she felt bad for the cat in the story, and declared that she would no longer be the year of the dog, but the year of the cat. "That's how much I like the cat."
"Is that so? I wish I could see the expression on his face if he heard you say that," Shigure mused, more to himself.
"What?" Tohru asked, confused.
"Oh, nothing," Shigure said, dismissing what he said with a wave of his hand (non-existant Jedi powers!). "So, you're born in the year of the dog? I knew I felt connected to you. Can't you feel it? I'm a 'dog', too, you-" he was interrupted by Yuki's book bag smacking Shigure in the head. "…see…" Tohru looked at Shigure in shock. Rini just looked at Yuki.
"Really. Must you always act like such a letch?" Yuki looked at him in mild disgust.
"Okay, that hurt. What do you have in there, a dictionary?" Shigure whined, ego and head bruised.
"Two of them," Yuki corrected with a slight satisfaction. Tohru just looked at the two of them, unsure of what to do, surprised to see Yuki standing in front of her. "Are you alright, Honda-san? My cousin didn't do anything to you, did he?"
"So-Sohma-kun! G-Good morning!" Tohru stammered, flustered again. Rini just nodded her good morning.
"Hmph! Must you always make me out to be a pervert?" Shigure huffed.
Rini was grateful to hear the final bell in the school day. Walking to school with Yuki, the Yuki fan club members spying on her and Tohru throughout the day as a result, Saki Hanajima saying that she shared similar waves with Yuki, hearing more rumors about Yuki from Arisa Uotani, she couldn't think she'd take anything more about the "Prince." She gave Tohru a pat on the shoulder as she passed her still sitting at her desk. "See you at home later."
"Yeah, girly, don't work too hard," Uo gave Rini a hug. "You're too young to get married to your job."
"Married to a waitress job, that'll be the day," Rini scoffed, feeling Hana's arms wrap around her in a more intimate embrace.
"Stay a little while, Rini. Surely Miyuki-san will understand."
"Would if I could, but you know you're welcome to come by and visit me, not like you guys don't already," Rini returned Hana's embrace.
"Yes, we will visit the great Zodiac after our shopping is over!" Uo declared exuberantly. Rini rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"Hey you two, take the PDA outside," Mayuko Shiraki, their homeroom teacher, called from her desk at the front of the room, a joking tone in her voice. "Honda-chan, c'mere a sec."
Hana let Rini go, giving her a quizzical look, along with Uo. "I'll see you guys later. You two get me something nice while you're out," Rini gave them a wave as she walked over to the teacher's desk.
"I've been looking at your papers over the course of the day and I have to admit, I've noticed an improvement with Sohma-san's help," she informed, pleased. Figures.
"I'm glad to hear that it's helped a little," Rini replied politely with a nod of her head. She wondered how long she would have to keep up her enthusiasm about the school's sex symbol.
"I'd work with him as much as possible, maybe even go to see him on your days off. You'll be in tip-top shape in no-time."
"I'll keep that in mind," Rini nodded.
"Alright, get going, I know you have work," she shooed her away. Rini gave a slight bow and hurried out the door.
Yuki was leaning against the wall across from the classroom doors. Rini gave a slight pause when she saw him, closing the door behind her. "Ah, Honda-chan," Yuki straighted himself. Rini turned, walking down the hall. Yuki caught up with her, walking alongside her. "I wanted to return this to you." He handed her an envelope. Rini stopped, taking it from his grasp and peering inside, handing it back to him.
"I don't want this."
"The dinner was Shigure's treat, odd as it was. We're not going to take your payment."
Rini looked around to see if anyone was possibly spying on them, folding the envelope in half and tucking it under her uniform shirt, out of sight, unnoticeable. It made her feel like a prostitute. "Thanks," her voice was flat with an edge of annoyance. "I'll see you tomorrow," she started to walk off.
"What did Uotani-san mean when she called you 'Zodiac'?"
Rini stopped a moment, opening and closing her mouth. She shook her head and kept walking, calling to him behind her. "It's what she's been calling me since I've known her. If I told you why, I'd have to kill you."
Rini was happy to be working, even if she was waiting tables and making coffee in a Hime Lolita outfit that reminded her of Neapolitan ice cream. The lacy "vanilla" bodice and petticoat and tiered lacy "strawberry" skirt was covered by the "chocolate" bib apron that was worn over it all, with matching striped stockings and dark brown Mary Jane shoes. Hana and Uo had already come and gone, the customers slowing down to a mere trickle as it got later in the day.
"Ah, the typical Friday-night slow down," Miyuki said with a satisfied sigh, sipping on some coffee behind the counter. Rini, whose tables had emptied, each one thoroughly cleaned and restocked with condiments and napkins, joined Miyuki at the counter, making herself a matcha latté, a couple other waitresses busy at work in their various sections. "What could go wrong with such a good day?"
"Miyuki-chan!" the voice practically sang her name from the front door. Miyuki and Rini both looked to see an overly ecstatic Shigure, Yuki beside him shaking his head.
"I believe it would be that, Miyuki-san," Rini said, her good mood suddenly deflated. "How does he know you? I've never seen either of them here before."
"It's a long story."
"You're just as mysterious as Yuki-kun sometimes, Miyuki-san, you know that?"
Miyuki only smiled. "Go seat them." Rini opened her mouth to argue, but received an reproachful look. She grumbled, walking over to them, reaching them with a bow. "Good evening, and welcome to the Twilight Manga Café. This way, please," She snatched up two menus and proceeded to take them to the table farthest away from the front counter. Shigure instead went to the closest table toward the counter where Miyuki was.
"Shigure, don't be rude," Yuki said, watching him.
"Non-sense," he said, waving off Yuki's statement (more non-existant Jedi powers!). Rini looked at Yuki, who looked at Rini, both unsure of what to do.
"If it's not too much trouble, may we sit up there?" Yuki asked politely.
"By all means, it's still my section," she said, gesturing to Yuki to proceed. Yuki gave a polite nod and joined Shigure. Rini followed, feeling the eyes of the other waitresses on her, as well as a couple of the patrons.
"Ah, Rini-chan, so good to see you again. I had no idea you worked here," Shigure said, smiling.
"What can I get for you two to drink?" Rini had placed the menus in front of them, paper pad and pen in hand. Miyuki came over, setting tea in front of them both.
"I can take it from here, Honda-chan. You head on home to your grandfather, you've worked very hard today," Miyuki smiled. Rini gave a bow, hurrying to the back room to change. She emerged moments later in her school uniform, book bag in hand.
"Good night, Miyuki-san! See you tomorrow!" she waved goodbye, hurrying out the door. Miyuki waved back, and once Rini was out of sight, pulled out the adjacent chair to Shigure and Yuki, sitting down.
"Do I need to close down early?" Miyuki asked, looking at Shigure, expression between upset and worry.
"It would be best if you did," Shigure said, taking a sip of his tea. "We have a lot to catch up on."