Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or Mamoru-chan –secretly owns her even though she doesn't know it- . .
Chapter OneOhayo, Shigure-ojisan! (1)
Guess what? Good news! Akira-kun gave us permission to leave the main house! Amazing right? I think Ayame-ojisan and Hatori-ojisan had something to do with it…who knows what those two are ever up to. Ne ne (2) Shigure-ojisan, you'll let Mamoru-neesan (3) and me stay at your house right? I know you will! So we'll see you soon okay?
P.S-Don't tell Kyo-niichan (4) okay? . Surprise! Surprise!
-Chikara-chan 3
Shigure Sohma stared blankly at the white stationary paper in his hand, little pandas bordered the edge. Definitely his niece's; along with that unmistakable handwriting. Chikara and Mamoru Sohma were siblings, his sister's (5) only two daughters. Though they, being she and her husband, had forgotten the Sohma's existed of course. Their memory had been erased after having two cursed children. However… these children were a side branch family. Even more scorned for their births than Kyo Sohma (the cat) was. Still having the "cursed animal gene" they change when hugged by the opposite sex, just not into a zodiac animal.
Mamoru turned into a wolf.
Chikara turned into a panda.
Oh, not to mention Kyo loathed them. Mostly because they were allowed in the main house, not locked away. That he knew of. What most Sohmas didn't know was members of the side branch couldn't leave without Akito Sohma's permission. If they did… well… it made Shigure shudder thinking about it. A smile soon replaced the grimace on his handsome face, his favorite nieces were going to visit.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"I… Will… Destroy… You…" Kyo growled out, his "fiancée" (Kagura Sohma) wrapped in a death grip around his waist. She sighed contentedly, gripping tighter, several cracks were heard. Probably Kyo's spine. Yuki only looked away from his cousin, going back inside to meet Tohru Honda in the kitchen making dinner. He blinked in confusion,
"You've made some extra it seems…" he noted, peering at the mass amount of food. She looked up at him, smiling.
"Oh, you don't know yet? Shigure-san told me earlier that you'll have company over for a while."
"Company?" he asked, confusion clouding his purple eyes more. She giggled,
"Mamoru and Chikara Sohma, he said were their names." Yuki was quiet for a minute. She blinked, her turn to be confused. "Yuki-kun?" without saying anything he stalked off to find his other cousin. This was not going to be a good day. Chikara was overly attached and affectionate, always fighting with Kagura over who was cuter. Then there was Mamoru who had eating contests with Kyo and always won, pissing the damn cat off and sending him into a hissy fit. Then he would start a fight, ending up getting his ass beat, especially when Chikara wanted to "have some fun" as she put it.
"Oh, Yuki-kun." Shigure smiled up at him as he entered, that smile faltered. "Tohru-chan told you did she?" Yuki sighed and sat down.
"Shigure… why are they coming here? I hope they aren't sneaking out again…" The black haired man shook his head.
"No… for some reason Akito-kun gave them permission to leave for a while." Yuki glanced up, then looked away again.
"How long?"
"Not sure." He handed over Chikara's letter, Yuki took it lightly between his pale fingers, glancing over the handwriting carefully. He smiled fondly. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy them visiting, actually he was very excited. He just didn't want them hurt again. His smile faded and his eyes dulled at the memory.
(Flashback warning)
A seven-year-old Yuki smiled happily as he wrote on a piece of note paper. Planning to ask his cousins to come over and play. He hadn't seen them in almost two years, since they weren't allowed to leave without Akito-san's permission. He folded it up just as Hatori was walking into his room for his annual check-up.
"Yuki-kun… what is that?" he asked, reaching for it. Yuki hid it, clutching the letter to his chest. He pouted at his doctor and family member. Hitori sighed, "It's for Chikara and Mamoru isn't it?" Yuki looked away. "If you want I'll take it to them."
"You can't read it or show Akito-san!" Yuki suddenly shouted. The dragon blinked, then sighed again, holding his hand out. Yuki seemed to think it over,
"I promise, Yuki-kun." Yuki grinned and handed it over.
"Arigato, Hatori-san."
0o0o0o0o0
Yuki was ecstatic as he watched his cousins, both seven like him, climb through the bushes quietly over to him in the dark. They couldn't see him as well he noted when he heard Mamoru's whisper of his name.
"Over here, Mamoru-chan." He whispered back. He held out a hand that was instantly taken up by Mamoru's free hand that wasn't being death-gripped by her sister. He pulled them into his room silent as mouse (AN: excuse this, no pun intended). He told them to stay there a moment so he could go grab the small light by his bed. He came back with it and almost burst out laughing. Both girls were covered in dirt and scratches, Mamoru pouted at him.
"Shut-up, Yuki-kun… we had to stay in the bushes the whole time! Look at Chikara-chan's hands.." she grabbed her sister's wrist and made her hold out her hand. Cuts from the ground lingered there, outlined in dirt. Yuki smiled at them.
"Well it's more than I could do..." he laughed quietly, "I'm too scared of Akito-san…"
"Well… we snuck over here for you…" Mamoru mumbled, messing with the end of her short hair. She looked back, not feeling Chikara's hand gripping her shirt anymore. "Ne? Chikara-chan?" Chikara whimpered and backed away slightly, Yuki and Mamoru looked to the main doorway and fear instantly struck their faces. Akito stood in the doorway, not looking exactly pleased at them being in Yuki's room. Mamoru grit her teeth and bowed her head in shame. "Ohayo… Akito-san…" she mumbled, loud enough for him to hear.
"Ohayo, Mamoru-chan." She looked up as his ice, cold hand touched her face; she flinched, but didn't pull away. "Poor, Mamoru-chan…your pretty face is all dirty and scratched…" he purred, her teeth clenched tighter together to keep her from shaking. Suddenly his hand was slapped away, Mamoru stopped a curse in her throat, looking over at Chikara whose hand was held out. Akito looked down at his pale hand, then looked at Chikara for what seemed no more than a half-second. Yuki had backed away more into the shadows. Mamoru didn't blame him at all, she would have too.
"G-Gomenasai…Akito-san… I…I…" Chikara whimpered out, clutching the front of her shirt and biting her lip, trying not to cry. Akito reached over and it seemed like he was going to pat her head. They knew him better. Mamoru bit back a scream watching her sister get slapped across the face.
"How dare you touch me, you filthy creature." Yuki watched as Mamoru snapped, tackling Akito to the floor. She punched the Sohma head several times in the face.
"How dare you touch her!" she screamed, continuing with her onslaught. "The filthy creature is you!" Yuki snapped his head up, watching as Shigure, Ayame and Hitori ran into the room. It took both Shigure and Ayame to pull Mamoru away, what with her lashing out at them as well, trying to kick Akito back down as he pushed himself up. Chikara was shivering in fear, crying not that far from where they were. Hatori kneeled by Akito, checking the injuries left. His nose had been broken and the left cheekbone cracked.
"Akito-sama… you should stay here for a mome-" Hatori stopped as Akito pushed him away, standing using his shoulder as support. He reached inside his robe and before any of them could reach for it, a knife was sticking out of Mamoru's shoulder. It had caught her cheek first, leaving a single line of blood on her face while her white t-shirt turned red in the right shoulder. She screamed more when it got pulled out, the shock wearing off. Everyone watched silently as the only noise in the room became Mamoru's sobs. But that was quickly broken when Akito shouted, Chikara had pushed him down and taken the knife.
"Ch-Chikara-chan…" Shigure called to her, trying to use a calm voice as he let go off the other girl. He reached out and hand, the small girl threw it, the blade landing in the floor directly above Akito's left shoulder. If she had hit him, it would have hit his heart. Mamoru held her bleeding shoulder as Chikara ran over to her and hugged her around the waist, sobbing "Neesan, neesan."
"Never again." Everyone turned to Akito at his voice. He growled, looking angrier (and more dangerous than ever), he pointed to the sisters. "I will never allow you to leave again!"
(Flashback end (AN: . long… angsty… flashback…))
Yuki sighed and Shigure patted his head. He smiled at the teen.
"Don't worry, Yuki-kun… I don't know how, but they got permission… Chikara even says so right?" he grinned, "Be excited!" Yuki smiled softly at first, then it broke into a grin.
"Hai, hai, Shigure."
0o0o0o0o0
"Yuki-chan!" Tohru watched with a smile as a small girl pounced on Yuki, both happy to see each other. Her arms wrapped around his neck and legs around his waist, Tohru was about to protest, but didn't when Yuki returned the hug, not transforming.
'A Zodiac?!' Tohru thought excitedly.
"We aren't part of the Zodiac." Tohru screamed as the voice suddenly came from beside her. It wasn't a scary voice, pretty actually, she just wasn't expecting it. She looked over to see a boy with short, silver hair, his blue eyes were smiling, but his lips were in a single line. He held up a big black bag, nodding down at the rest. "Where can I put these?" he asked. She looked back to see Yuki being cuddly with the girl and decided she'd just show him.
"Um, this way, follow me." He reached down to lift up two other bags, smaller than the first he'd shown her and followed her inside. At the entrance he slipped out of his tennis shoes, the bottom of his dark blue jeans touching the ground and covering his feet mostly. She noted that his clothes looked almost too big on him. Tohru quietly wondered why he wore a sweater in this heat. "So, um… I'm Tohru Honda." She introduced, a bit nervously.
"Mamoru Sohma." He said flatly, her face pinked. His voice kind of whispery and light, not deep, but not girlish. She stayed quiet, not sure how to start a conversation with him. Then something popped into her head.
"Ano, Mamoru-kun…" he glanced up when she turned to look at him. "Why didn't Yuki change when that girl hugged him if you aren't part of the Zodiac?" she went quiet then opened her mouth again. "Wait… how did you know what I was thinking?" his lips twitched,
"The look on your face. It's always the same."
"Oh… but then why didn't Yuki…?" she trailed off. His head was tilted to the side and it almost seemed that he was looking past her. She turned her head to see Kyo pointing towards Mamoru, silent anger etched in his features. "Kyo-kun?"
"Ohayo, Baka neko-kun." Mamoru's voice mocked from behind her. Kyo growled, snapping from his reverie.
"Shut it, you annoying wolf!" she shot down the hallway at Mamoru, aiming a kick at his head. Tohru screamed for Mamoru to look out. But before she could blink, Kyo was on the ground, writhing under Mamoru's arm that pinned him across the neck. She hadn't seen him move. Kyo was growling out profanities and received a smack across the head.
"Baaaka neko-kun… there's a lady present." The silver-haired boy said in his whispery voice. "You shouldn't speak that way and attack others…" he smirked, "Especially ones who are stronger than you."
"Why you—" Kyo started, receiving another smack as Mamoru stood. He bowed at Tohru,
"Sorry you had to see that, Tohru-san." He picked up the bags again, "The room?" he asked.
"Oh… this way…" she pointed at a door and Mamoru nodded a thanks to her, walking in.
"God I hate that wolf…" Kyo growled from the floor.
"Wolf?" Tohru repeated. Kyo pushed himself up and started walking away.
"Yeah… wolf…" he mumbled, going down the stairs and out of her sight.
"Tohru-san?" she yelped at Mamoru's voice suddenly behind her, again. "Gomen…" he mumbled, she smiled and shook her head.
"Are you hungry?"
0o0o0o0o0
Tohru looked up, hearing someone walk into the living room. Mamoru had a towel on his head and was rubbing his hair dry. He had changed into a pair of loose black sweats and a normal black tank top, also extremely loose. Her eyes caught sight of a scar on his right shoulder as he sat beside Yuki. He turned to glance at her,
"Thanks for dinner, Tohru-san… it was good." She smiled brightly,
"I'm glad you liked it. I was going to make leeks but…" Kyo growled at the sound of his most hated vegetable. She only laughed nervously, Mamoru caught the hint. She was about to ask about the scar when she was tapped on the shoulder. Shigure leaned over to whisper in her ear;
"Don't mention the scar." She nodded slightly at him. Chikara then walked into the room, also fresh from the bath. Wait… Tohru blinked.
"Um… Chikara-chan?" Chikara looked over at her, sitting in Mamoru's lap.
"Nani?" Chikara's white hair clung to her face in some places that were still wet, a small part of her hair was black, trailing to mid back. Tohru thought her pajamas were cute. A white, frilly at the top, spaghetti strap tank top a panda design on it. The white shorts barely reached her knees.
"Natta (6), Chikara-chan!" everyone jumped at Mamoru's voice as he suddenly flung the towel on Chikara's head, rubbing it around. "You have to dry your hair properly, baka! You'll catch another cold damnit!"
"Gomen, Mamo—ack! Be softer!" Mamoru slowed down and Chikara sighed. "You were asking me something, Tohru-chan?"
"Oh right… um… were you in the bath together?" Chikara looked confused.
"Well… yeah… we always take our baths together." Tohru blushed a little.
"I.. see…"
"They are siblings after all." Yuki commented, leaning on the table to glance at the brown haired girl.
"And it isn't like either of them has something the other doesn't." Kyo put in from his spot laying on the floor. Tohru spluttered,
"N-N-N-Nani?!" everyone paused, looking at the flustered girl. Then all at once, Yuki, Kyo, Chikara and Mamoru were glaring hatefully at Shigure. He laughed nervously, backing away towards the door.
"You didn't warn Tohru-chan that Mamoru was a girl? Yuki and Kyo growled at Shigure.
"Ahahaha…I thought it would be more entertain… ing?" his voice rose and octave at the end, looking up into the frightening face of Kyo.
"You… BAKA!!"
0o0o0o0o0
Tohru looked up from her book at hearing a knock on her door.
"Come in." she said politely, closing it in her lap. The door cracked open and Chikara poked her head in. Tohru smiled and sat up more, "Ah, Chikara-chan. Come on in, come on in." the small girl stepped in the doorway, closing the door behind her. Tohru patted beside her on the bed. Chikara went and crawled in next to her. "What do you need, Chikara-chan?"
"Gomen… Tohru-chan." She said in a quiet voice, looking away. Tohru blinked, confused.
"For what?"
"We're imposing… and you had to be confused and embarrassed because of Shigure-ojisan… " Tohru almost closed her eyes just to listen to Chikara's voice. Just like Mamoru's it was very pretty, but unique to the older sister's. It was more soprano, like a bell, but quiet and shy. Almost childlike. She wondered how old Chikara was.
"No need to apologize." Tohru told her, smiling. "I actually like meeting the Sohmas. And I really don't think you're a bother at all." A smile broke out on Chikara's face.
"Really?" Tohru blushed as thin arms wrapped around her. "Arigato, Tohru-chaaaan!" Tohru patted her head and they stayed that way for a while. "I was scared, you know… leaving the house… I thought that Akito-san might have been lying… that maybe he'd force us to come back again…" her arms had tightened. "Neesan was scared too… but she wont admit it… baka…" Tohru waited for more, but realized Chikara had fallen asleep when her arms relaxed a little and her breathing went even. She tucked Chikara into her bed and shut out the light. Kissing the small girl's forehead, she whispered in the dark.
"You don't have to be scared anymore."
0o0o0o0o0
-End Chapter One-
(1): It's saying "Hey/Hello/Good morning, Uncle Shigure!"
(2): "Ne ne", basically is like going "Hey hey!" like, to get someone's attention.
(3): "Big sister Mamoru"
(4): "Big brother Kyo"
(5): Look, I realize Shigure doesn't have a sister, shut up it is my story I can say what I want. Plus it isn't like I'm making her play a big role, someone just had to give birth to these two right?
(6): "Natta!" the way Mamoru said it was like going "Hey, what the hell?!"
AN: If you like/love/want to kill the authoress for (o.0)/are now obsessing over this story then review please I love feedback from people who have read it. I even made the 1st chapter extra long just for you Fruits Basket otakus (anime obsessor lol). So love me too and review.
