Anime: Fruits Basket
Creator: Natsuya Takashi
Author: Cheshire
"APPLE OF MY EYE"
Prologue: Sweet Runaway
"Monster! Monster!" An older woman cried out, pointing her bony figure at a young girl who was sitting on the cold ground, staring up at the woman with wide yellow eyes that were full of tears. Rain continued to pour from the sky against the two and the large estate's yard where they stood, the woman scowling and continuing to shout at the young girl. "Monster!" She cried for the third time, grabbing her purse and swinging it at the young girl who winced it pain when it hit the side of her face, sending her naked body into the muddy ground at her feet. "Police! Call the police!" She shouted, finally catching the attention of the family members who lived within the estate, curious on what had been going on outside. "Someone call the police!"
She shouted again, swinging her purse once again at the girl who tried to block it with her arms. The family members finally caught sight of what was going on and all gasped, whispering to one another as they stared in shock. "Saya! What are you doing?" Another woman shouted, running out into the rain and grabbing onto her friend who had continued trying to attack the young girl, who still held her arms above her head in defense. "This thing is a monster!" Saya cried, trying to get out of her friend's grip to reach her phone within her purse. "I have to call the police!"
"No! You have no idea what you are doing! Stop it!" The woman shouted, looking over at the younger girl with remorse, her eyes starting to fill with regret and sorrow as she watched her begin to cry and try to shield herself from all the eyes that surrounded the three. "I am so sorry..." She whispered, avoiding eye contact as she pulled her friend out of the yard, Saya continuing to fight against her grip as she glared over at the girl, who winced back at her harsh stare. "I hope you rot in hell!" She shouted one final time before finally being pulled into the house where the door slammed shut after her, all eyes of those watching slowly turning from the door and back to the young girl who hadn't moved from her spot in the mud.
The young girl's yellow eyes widened at the words and only silence could be heard amongst the pouring rain; her bare shoulders shaking not only form the cold, but the word 'monster' echoing through out her head... "Ringo! Ringo!" The young girl looked over to the main doors and watched as a young man with black haired hurried out into the rain and over to her, tugging off his jacket and quickly wrapping it around her shoulders. He pulled her frozen from into his arms and could feel her shivering against his chest, his lips turning into a scowl at the scene he had to witness. "S-Shigure...?" Ringo whispered, catching his attention. "Am I really a monster...?" His eyes widened at her question and he chose to ignore it, tightening his grip against her and gently starting to rock her in his arms. "No, you aren't a monster, Ringo. Never a monster..."
"Ringo!" A second voice shouted from the main house, surprising the two. Shigure turned his head to the see his best friend rushing over from the side of his mother and younger brother, whose purple eyes were staring over at his friend in horror. "Aya..." Ayame let himself fall to his knees next to the two and his own yellow eyes were filled with concern for the younger of the three. "Oh, Ringo..." He whispered, gently tracing his hand down her cheek and felt the warm tears from her eyes fall onto his skin, causing his blood to boil. "Ringo! Ringo!" The two teens quickly looked back to the house to see Ayame's younger brother, Yuki and his friend Hatsuharu trying to get out of their mother's grasps. "No, Yuki! Stupid boy, stop!"
"Hatsuharu! Stay here!" The older women shouted, Ayame's mother glaring over at her oldest son, the silver haired male glaring back and turning his attention back to Ringo; his eyes growing soft again as he brushed her red hair from her eyes. "What has happened here?" The friend's turned their eyes back a final time and they all widened when they noticed a young boy with black hair and dark eyes staring over at the three, his eyes narrowed at their position. "A-Akito." Shigure muttered, tightening his grip around Ringo, who shut her e yes in fear while gripping onto the front of his shirt; Ayame placed his hands on her shoulders, his eyes not leaving Akito's.
"One of Misame's friends saw Ringo transform back and started screaming before attacking her." Another man's voice spoke, causing Shigure and Ayame's ears to perk up at the sound. "Hatori?" Hatori made his way from the house and stood beside Akito, brushing his bangs from his face as Akito hummed in thought. "Attacked her you say?" He questioned, his dark eyes moving back over to Ringo, who was still clinging against Shigure. "My, my, causing such trouble after leaving my presence. Such a bad girl, Ringo." He said with a slight smirk, Ayame not liking his expression. "Akito-" He started but was silenced when the young boy rose his hand for silence. "How do you expect to make up for this mistake?" He demanded of the young red head. "We do not need failures in this family." Ringo's grip loosened on his shirt and Shigure shouted up at the young boy. "Akito, stop this! Hatori can just wipe her memory!"
"I know what Hatori can do and he will do it." Akito snapped, silencing everyone that stood around watching the scene unfold. "Ringo has not only put shame to herself, but she has also put shame upon this family and that, I will not take lightly. As the head of this family I expect everyone to learn and remember this night." He pushed and looked over at the trio, the dark smirk returning to his lips. "You, Ringo Sohma are a mistake, an eye sore, a fool, and you should be wise not to think otherwise." Her yellow eyes widened at his words and he continued. "This is not the first time you have brought shame to us that we have had to clean up, but now you will finally learn what happens when you fail me." He said and Ringo shut her eyes tightly in fear, pushing herself out of Shigure's arms which shocked both him and Ayame at her reaction. "Ringo?!"
The red head felt more tears slide from her eyes and she threw his jacket back at his face before sprinting out through the estate's gates and into the darkened streets. "Ringo!" The two shouted, pushing themselves up from the ground to hurry after her. "Stop." Akito's voice rung out, stopping the two from continuing the chase. "But, Akito-!" The black haired male shouted but he was stopped. "You are not to go after her." He told them, his eyes trailing after the red head. "She has to learn that she is a mistake, someone in this family we do not need. You will not, find her and bring her back." Shigure and Ayame turned to one another and Akito snapped, his eyes narrowing at the best friends. "Do I make myself clear?" Finally, the two nodded and Akito grinned as their heads fell forward, continuing to get soaked by the rain that continued to fall around the town. "Good, now come inside before you both catch colds." Both teens slowly walked back inside the main house and Hatori nodded to Akito before moving after his best friends, to make sure they truly didn't get sick. Akito crossed his arms in front of his chest and leaned against one of the wooden poles that held the roof over the patio, a low chuckle leaving his throat. "You won't be gone for long, you will return to me my sweet, sweet runaway."
End of 'Prologue: Sweet Runaway'
Next... 'Chapter One:Yellow Eyes'
8/20 - This chapter has been rewritten because I noticed a few little grammar mistakes here and there and it was bugging me! Haha~ Hope it looks better! Enjoy the rest of the story~!