Unforgotten Memories

Chapter 1: Chances

I sat on the front porch of Hatori's office, tossing handfuls of bird seed onto the ground where the little birds hopped and chirped. I sighed and dusted the remaining seeds off my hands and leaned back against the sliding door, looking up at the bright blue sky.

"Hatori, why won't Akito let me leave the Sohma house?" I asked. I spent most of my time with Hatori, when I'm not with Akito. He was kind enough for me to live in his house too. He's like a second father to me.

"Maybe you are just special to him." He replied. It was clear that he was trying to focus on his work.

"But why am I special?" I pressed on. "Ever since I came back, he's been acting like an overprotective boyfriend. It's creepy."

"Well he does seem to like you a lot." I pretended to gag and Hatori laughed. I liked it when he laughed, and it seems like I am the only person that can make him. Ever since Kana left, he's been so serious. He was serious before, but this time it was different, kind of like depression. I remember the first time I had made Hatori laugh, it felt like the whole room instantly got brighter and happier.

"I just wish I could get out, you know? Get out from behind these walls and gates." I said while standing up and walking back indoors. Hatori straightened a pile of papers on his desk and adjusted the picture of Kana on his shelf.

"This might be a bit of a stretch, but tomorrow, Akito, Shigure, and I are taking Hatsuharu and Momiji to enroll in high school. Maybe he would allow you to come along?" He suggested. I thought about it for a few seconds.

Maybe since Akito himself is going, then I can go too. Then he wouldn't have to be worried about me leaving any time soon...but there again, I don't know if he trusts me just yet. I have tried to get out before...

"You really think so?" I asked finally.

"I think it's worth a shot. You're fifteen, maybe he would think you are more responsible. I would go now though, we have to leave early tomorrow."

"Okay." I turned and started to walk to the door, then quickly turned around again. "Hatori?"

"Hmmm?" He replied, not looking up from his work.

"Thanks." I said kindly. He lifted his head a little and looked at me from the corner of his visible eye and smiled.

I quickly walked toward the building where Akito was, starting to have second thoughts about the whole thing.

What if he got angry? Things could turn out bad.

But I fought against those thoughts and kept walking. I wanted to get out of here. I wanted at least a small taste of freedom.

I finally got to the building, going inside and heading straight toward Akito's room. I stood in front of his door, running my hand through my caramel colored hair and examining the jet black ends. Finally after a few minutes of standing there and thinking about the whole situation, I knocked quietly on the door. Then I opened it and went inside, closing the door gently behind me.

"Katsumi..." Akito's low, cold voice greeted me. He was perched up in a window, a small white dove resting on his index finger. He didn't even turn around to see if it actually was me. It was like he had eyes on the back of his head.

"Hello Akito." I said quickly, lowering myself onto my knees and bowing my head.

"What has kept you? I haven't seen you since early this morning." He said slowly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know that you needed-"

"You want something." He said sharply, cutting me off. I gazed up at him, startled.

"Well, yes. You see, I heard that you, Shigure, and Hatori were taking Momiji and Hatsuharu to school tomorrow, and I was just wondering...if maybe...I could go too?" I bit my lip nervously waiting for his answer. He gracefully stepped down from the window and walked slowly over to me, stopping about a couple yards in front.

"Hmm...I had a feeling that Hatori would tell you. And then that you would come to ask to tag along..." He said with a smirk. His voice was starting to sound more dangerous by the second.

"It's nothing permanent, I just want-" he cut me off again.

"There is a difference between want and need. Honestly, I don't see a reason why you need to leave here. It might just cause more problems. You need to stop dwelling on your silly little dreams and focus on reality." He said coldly, looking down on me.

"I'm not!" I pleaded.

"Then why even ask in the first place? It's obvious you hate it here. You just want to see that pathetic little brother of yours again." He smirked.

"He's not pathetic!" I said, the pitch in my voice rising.

"He's an outsider, a fool. Even his own mother didn't want him. Honestly, Alaina, how could you love a burden like him?" I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth.

"Stop!" I screamed, "Just stop it!" Akito smirked at me.

How could he say such hateful things? About my brother...and then calling me that awful name. I hate it.

Akito walked closer to me, taking his index finger and lifting up my chin so my eyes met his. He smirked again.

"See what you made me do?"

I knew exactly what he was thinking. Normally, my eyes are deep purple color, but whenever I get upset they turn gold, like cat eyes. I guess it has something to do with the zodiac curse.

Akito pulled back his hand and started to head back over to his window.

"Akito...please...just one time. I promise never to ask again. I'll stay here, forever. If you just let me go."

He stood there for a few seconds before turning around again, staring into my eyes.

"Very well. But don't come crying to me when it's not what you expected." I nodded quickly, standing up and straightening my shorts.

"Now leave, I've got some important business to attend to."

I hurried out the door and closed it behind me. Then I smiled to myself. This would be the first time in three years that I am able to leave Sohma Estate.

"Katsumi! Katsumi!" The little blonde boy said, jumping up and down in front of me. "Do you get to come with us too? Do you? Do you?"

"Momiji, let her breathe." Hatsuharu said calmly, placing a hand on Momiji's head.

"Oh sorry, I'm just excited!" He said.

"Yes I do." I said with a smile. His face lit up.

"Yay! Kyo and Yuki will be so happy! And you'll get to meet Tohru!"

I didn't think about that before. This will also be the first time in three years that I will be seeing Kyo and Yuki again. I haven't seen them since training. And this Tohru girl, could she be the one everyone has been talking about recently?

"Alright everyone. Lets get going." Shigure announced, interrupting my thoughts. Akito made his way down the front steps of the main building. He gave me a sinister smile, then got into the passenger side of the car. The rest of us piled in and headed for the school.

The whole way there Momiji blabbed on and on about how excited he was. To be honest, I was extremely jealous of Momiji and Haru. They get to leave the estate every day and go to school while I have to be stuck behind the walls and be homeschooled.

The car finally pulled into the driveway and stopped in front of the school. When Akito got out of the car, it felt like the whole atmosphere suddenly went cold and gloomy. The six of us headed inside for the entrance ceremony. It was very long and boring. I felt like falling asleep, but I kept catching Akito looking at me so I sat up straighter and tried to stay awake as best as I could.

Finally it was over and we said goodbye to Momiji and Haru and they took off to go find their classes. We were heading toward the exit when I thought I saw a flash of familiar bright orange hair.

"Um I have to go to the bathroom." I said suddenly, thinking over about how awkward that must have sounded.

"Alright, let's go." Akito said stepping forward toward me. I raised an eyebrow.

"You're not going to go in with me, are you?" I said. He narrowed his eyes.

"Akito, I'm sure she'll be fine. She's responsible." Hatori said, giving me a wink. Akito finally agreed, and I broke away from them, dodging all people in my way, especially the boys, and followed the orange-haired person's path. I quickly turned the corner and sure enough, there was Momiji, Haru, Yuki, Kyo, and a girl with long brown hair and blue-green eyes, who I guessed to be the famous Tohru.

Momiji was the first to see me and he waved.

"Katsumi! You're still here!" He shouted cheerfully. The others began to turn around.

"Oh!" The girl said, then gave me a huge smile.

"Wow, it's been a while." Yuki said in a kind voice and smiled at me, then he turned to the girl. "Miss Honda, this is Katsumi Sohma. Katsumi, this is Miss Tohru Honda."

"Well it's a pleasure to meet you, Tohru." I said kindly.

"Oh no! The pleasure is all mine!" She said with a bow.

"Katsumi is part of the Chinese zodiac too!" Momiji said while rocking on his feet.

"Really? This is exciting!" Tohru exclaimed.

I think she is overreacting a little...

"Oh, there you are Katsumi. Akito has been getting impatient and he sent me to get you." Shigure said, standing by the corner. My smile fell.

"I didn't mean to make him worry."

I could honestly care less...

"You mean, Akito is here at the school?" Yuki asked, fear flashing in his eyes.

"Uh-huh." Momiji said quietly. "He came to the entrance ceremony for Hatsuharu and I." Yuki tensed up at once.

"Anyway, we really need to get going. Akito won't want to wait any longer." Shigure said with an apologetic smile, and started to walk away. Disappointed, I turned and said goodbye to the others and followed Shigure around the corner. But something Yuki said next caught my attention.

"How did she finally convince Akito to let her out of that house?" He asked.

"I heard she had to beg." Momiji said quietly.

"It's sick, isn't it? Having to beg to leave someplace where you have been forced to stay for years. It just shows how messed up Akito really is." Hatsuharu said.

"So, Katsumi isn't allowed to leave Sohma house?" I heard Tohru's voice ask.

"Not usually. I was surprised to see her here today." Yuki replied. "You could have at least said hello, Kyo."

"I didn't know what to say!" Kyo hissed.

"You don't know what to say to someone that you haven't seen in years and who used to be your best friend?" Yuki said, raising an eyebrow.

"That was a long time ago...I'm surprised she even remembers us." Kyo muttered.

"She still had on that stupid little bracelet that you made her years ago to match yours."

I looked down at the black and white handmade beaded bracelet that Kyo had made me when we were eight.

"Katsumi, really, Akito is going to get angry." Shigure whispered in front of me, pulling me back into reality.

"Do I have to go back?" I asked, looking down at the floor. He sighed.

"I know, but for right now, yes." He said, putting a hand on my shoulder and walking me out of the building.

Akito was already in the car when we got there and didn't even say a word about taking so long. He just sat and stared out the window the whole ride home.

Once we got back to the estate, I hopped out of the car and immediately started walking toward Hatori's house.

"Hey can you run an errand for me?" Hatori asked as soon as he stepped into the house.

"Yeah, sure." I replied. He handed me a small package and told me that it needed to go to the main house for Akito. I started to walk to the main house, taking as much time as I could. I knew that Akito doesn't like to be disturbed this late, so I would have to track down a nurse and give it to them.

I got inside the house, found one of Akito's nurses, and told them that it was from Hatori for Akito. They thanked me, and I started to head back to Hatori's.

I wonder why Hatori didn't give the package to Akito while he was in the car. He had to have had it with him then...

I grabbed the side of the sliding door and slid it open, closing it behind me and turning on the light.

As soon as I turned the light on, I was greeted by a pile of bags full of random stuff. My stuff.

"Hatori? What is going on here?" I called down the hall. He came out of the room that he had let me stay in with two more bags of my things.

"I'm helping get out of this madness." He said. "Don't ask questions, just grab your coat and some bags and lets go."

I did what I was told and he turned out the lights and lead me out onto the porch. The sun was starting to set already. I was completely confused at what caused Hatori to act on this so quickly and out of the blue.

"Ok, we are going to have to move fast if we want to make it there by the time it is completely dark." He said guiding me along the walls toward the entrance gate.

"Make it where?" I whispered.

"What did I say about questions?" He said back.

"Right."

We got through the gate without a problem and continued walking down the road. It was too risky to take the car.

It felt like we had been walking forever, leaving town and walking more through the woods. We came to this small opening in the woods, and Hatori pointed in the direction of a narrow path twisting its way around the trees.

"That's the way to Shigure's, you will live there from now on." Hatori said, almost sounding a bit sad. My mind was still jumbled from everything that was happening so I wasn't sure what to do. I just did the first thing that came to mind.

I quickly walked up to Hatori and gave him a hug.

"Thank you." I said quietly.

"You better hurry, it will be getting darker soon." He said, scratching the back of his neck. I smiled and let go of him and backed away toward the path to Shigure's house.

"Will I still see you?" I asked, feeling a little choked up, but not wanting to cry in front of him.

"From time to time. I'll be down to check on everyone to see how things are going."

"But, Akito...he'll find out I'm gone, and he will suspect you..."

"Don't worry about that. I'll take care of everything, I promise." He said with a smile. I nodded and began to turn to face the path.

"Oh, and Katsumi?" I heard his voice ask. I turned back around. "Thanks for the laughs."

Oh gosh...now I'm going to start bawling...

I tried to hold myself together as best as I could, but I ended up running to Hatori again to give him another hug. I heard him laugh.

"Oh, and the orphanage is right on the outside of town, on the right side of the path we walked down." He said quietly. I gazed up at him wide-eyed.

My brother...

"Thank you." I said again, letting go of him once more.

"No problem." He said with a small smile. "Now go."

I turned and walked to the beginning of the path, only turning around one more time to give Hatori one final goodbye wave, then started down the long path to Shigure's house.

This was it. I was free.

~Author's Note~

Thanks for reading my first chapter of my Fruits Basket fanfic! I love this anime a lot, so I knew I had to write one for it. Katsumi's past is a little confusing right now, but I will make sure it is explained better in future chapters, and the reason why she hates being called Alaina. But again, thanks for reading and please review! I want to know what you think about it :)

~DreamingOfOceans (Kara)