Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket! Who would have guessed?
Hello there! I'm sorry that I'm writing yet ANOTHER story when I have three already in progress, but I had an idea. Then I ran it acroos my friend Orange Cube and she okayed it, so I guess it belongs on here. This was originally baed on the Lion King II: Simba's Pride, which I do not own. But then it took the form of something more unique, sort of. I also researched government to make this better. The research I did will be summarized and put into an extra at the end of this story for those of a curious mind. Thank you, read on!
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Once there was a land called Zolapan that consisted of two races held together by partnership. The Zodiacs could change into their patron animal in the Chinese Zodiac, as well as talk and control them. The humans would use these Zodiacs to their advantage, hiring them to control their animals in return for high pay. But one day, there emerged two more kinds.
There had been the Zodiacs in Zolapan since the dawn of time, but there was no cat or God from the legend. When a cat and a God were born at the same time, the society made their choice. The God could control all the animals, while the cat turned into a foul monster when without his juzu beads. They shunned the cat, making him bitter and cruel. They worshiped the God, making him King of all Zodiacs.
It was discovered that there could only be one God and one cat alive at the same time and that they could be born from any Zodiac at any time. When their successor came into the world, the last one died. The life of the cat was long, stretching out his misery, unless he killed himself. The life of the God, however, was short, limiting his powerful reign.
This did not bother the kings of Zolapan, for they were great allies with the Zodiac Gods, and they still had more power. However, one year, a female God was born and a great opportunity arose. The young prince was to marry the Zodiac Goddess.
The Zolapanians rejoiced, for finally the two races would be joined as one and their power could easily double. The evil king of the neighboring country called Malilofa was worried that this would ruin his secret plan to invade the land and make it his own. So, he plotted to destroy the new bond.
He thought for years on end as the Goddess and the prince grew towards marrying age. The ideas wouldn't come and his opportunity was fading. Finally, the wicked king devised a devious plan.
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"Akito, your highness, the Prince is here to see you." A man with short black hair and pale skin said, bowing towards a majestic, jewel-covered chair.
"Yes, Shigure. Let the disgraceful man in," replied a young girl donning a kimono, only looking to be ten or so. She had short black hair that shined in the little light of the room, and her eyes were just as cold and black.
The man bowed again and opened giant doors, light splaying onto Akito's figure as she sat. The young man entered, not even offering so much as a kind "hello". He had jet black hair pulled into a ponytail and was wearing a man kimono of his own. Sighing, he made his way to Akito's side and sat beside her on the giant throne.
"You shouldn't have a man alone in your rooms with you, Akito," he said, sneering at the man who had opened the doors for him. The man just smirked back.
"Shigure is my manservant, Chin-Hwa. It is typical of a high-ranked Zodiac woman to have a manservant." She grimaced when the man's hand brushed against her cheek softly and continued downward sluggishly. "I am not your wife yet, so don't size me up just yet. If you treat me so, I just might run away with my manservant that brings you much worry."
"I don't think that would be a good idea, my dear. You belong to me." As Chin-Hwa trailed his hand downward still and Akito stood stock-still to refuse him any pleasure, another man cleared his throat nervously, pacing at the open doorway. "I must go now, but don't worry, I'll soon be back… to marry you."
Akito watched them go, not moving. Only once the doors closed once more did she let out a sigh and collapse into a relaxed position on her throne. Shigure, the manservant, exhaled heavily as well in relief. A smile grew on his face as he approached Akito.
"Did you really mean what you said?" Akito nodded to the question, sliding over slightly so he could sit. "Well then…" He took the seat gladly, climbing on top of Akito. "I'll be glad to prove I would do the same."
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Their affair made its way onto the front page of every newspaper in Zolapan. There was no proof that it was real, for there were no pictures of them. It was also all done by an anonymous journalist. However, no one cared. Even hermits knew of it. Chin-Hwa was not one to check up on local news, however, for he didn't care in the least about his people. But eventually, he found out. Akito found herself in court on the behalf of not only herself, but all her people, the Zodiacs. King Soo, who was foul-tempered, was both the judge and jury.
"Speak!" He bellowed, banging the wooden hammer on the stand hard. Akito looked down, frowning. Her lawyer was Hatori, who was also the royal Zodiac doctor.
"We do not have proof of the affair of Goddess Akito and any manservant of hers. Therefore, you cannot con-..." The Zodiac was interrupted by the king banging his mallet once again. The whole crowd hushed, afraid of what would come next. The Zodiacs huddled together in fear far away from the fuming humans.
"Shut up, dragon! We all know what happened, despite the lack of evidence." He stared long and hard at the Zodiac Goddess, then her people behind her. "I will be merciful; none of you will be killed, unless you resist my punishment."
"And what is that?" A random Zodiac called out, pushing her way to the front. She had long, black hair that coiled to the floor in silky tresses; and was pulling a little boy with white hair and black roots with her.
"All Zodiacs are here forth… EXILED!" A gasp shuddered though the Zodiac half crowd as King Soo announced their punishment. "None of you Zodiac sorts are allowed back into Zolapan or you will be killed! Get out now, or else you will all be shot. You will not need your belongings."
"But you honor!" A baby started crying in the crowd a small poof was heard, the customary sound of a transforming Zodiac.
"GO!" King Soo yelled, grabbing the sword at his side. As he held it out, knights rushed in from all sides, herding all the exiled away. Those who resisted were killed on the spot, and those who did not keep up at a frightfully fast gallop out of the court were trampled.
And the crowd of humans just stood there, watching their former partners and friends be killed ruthlessly. And yet, their faces were cold as stone.
Akito too was cold as stone. Hatori had long left her side, but she stood there, glaring evilly at King Soo. This angered him, and to drive her away, he advanced on her with his sword. She pulled out her own.
"Leave Zolapan, or I will kill you." He said unemotionally, lifting his sword to her neck. She didn't even flinch when the frigid metal scraped her skin hard enough to send blood trickling down to stain her kimono.
"I have a third choice, your majesty." Akito said, sneering at King Soo's title. Then, in the blink of an eye, she drove her blade right through Soo's heart, killing him instantly. Then, she sheathed her bloody sword and pranced away into the dark of the night, disappearing in the fog that had rolled in unexpectedly.
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Ooh, the drama! Poor King Soo. I didn't like him to begin with. In fact, he seems like a dictator sort. Screw him. For once, I like what Akito's done. The Zodiacs don't deserve that... Not all of them. Anyway, review! Arigatou and ja' ne!