Warm my Frosted Heart
CHAPTER ONE: WILTED FLOWER
Despite the title, this may not be a romance...then again, it might be...
My Japanese is very poor, so I don't know if some of the words are right.
Disclaimer: Fruits Basket belongs entirely to Natsuki Takaya-san, the only thing I own is my character, Matsuyo.
--
Tohru Honda set breakfast, which was scrambled eggs, bacon, and baked potatos, before her hosts. One of the three men, a feminine boy with dark gray hair smiled at her.
"Thank you, Honda-san," He said. Tohru blushed. The purple eyes looked into her brown ones, and she turned away.
"Y-you're w-welcome, Y-Yuki-kun," She said. The boy with orange hair's head bent down at his meal, the red eyes looking up through a veil of bangs.
"Yeah, thanks," He mumbled. Tohru blushed again.
"You're w-welcome, Kyo-kun," She had gained control of most of her stammering. The final, a man with long dark hair, had already started eating. Yuki looked at him, the fork poised halfway to his mouth.
"Shigure, aren't you going to thank her?" He asked. Shigure didn't say anything, but winked at Tohru. Tohru cleared her throat uncomfortably. Yuki rolled his eyes as Tohru set down four cups and poured tea from the pot into them, then set the teapot down and seated herself
"This tea is delicious," Shigure said as he drank some from the cup in front of him. Tohru smiled as she ate some scrambled eggs. "Although I certainly could've gone for some LEEKS!" Kyo's fist slammed on the table, making all the plates jump.
"Hey, watch it, stupid cat!" Yuki cried as he was nearly splashed by tea.
"Shut up, you damn rat," Kyo retorted. Tohru sighed sadly as the verbal battle began. Never could they have a meal in peace. She smiled to herself, it made her life all the more interesting.
--
Sensei sat on the desk, reading a book while the class worked on their assignments. There was a knock on the door.
"Class, continue your work, I'll be back in a minute," She left the room and returned in five minutes. "Honda-kun, come with me." Yuki, Kyo, Saki, and Arisa, looked up as Tohru made her way out of the room. Tohru saw a girl with blueish-black hair.
"M-Matsuyo?" She asked. The girl turned around.
"Hey, Tohru," She said quietly. Matsuyo had dull, navy-blue eyes. Tohru ran over and hugged her cousin.
"Matsuyo-kun is the new student," Sensei said. "We hope you'll show her around, Honda-kun." Tohru nodded as Sensei brought them back to class.
"Students, we have a new student," Sensei announced. Everyone looked up to see the new girl standing next to Tohru. "Please meet Matsuyo Honda-kun." Arisa, Saki, Kyo, and Yuki's eyes widened. The girl before them bared no resemblance to Tohru. Her expression was sad and empty.
"Hello," Matsuyo said. "I'm Tohru-kun's cousin. It's a pleasure to meet you."
--
"You are Honda-san's cousin?" Yuki smiled and held out his hand. "I am Yuki Sohma, it's nice to meet you." Matsuyo examined him.
"Torhu writes to me about you guys," She said. "So you're the one all girls call 'Prince Yuki'?" Yuki placed a hand to back of his head, an embarrassed smile on his face.
"Yes," He said.
"I can't see why," Matsuyo continued. "You're not much to look at, and you seem really boring."
"Matsuyo-kun!" Tohru yelled incredulously. "I'm so sorry, Yuki-kun." Yuki was taken aback by Matsuyo's rude behavior, and Kyo was about to bust a gut laughing.
"Kyo-kun, right?" Matsuyo said. Kyo nodded. "Hmph. I won't waste words." Kyo ground his teeth.
"Why you little--"
"Hanajima-san and Uotani-san," Matsuyo turned to the two girls. "It is a pleasure to meet my cousin's good friends." Yuki and Kyo stood open-mouthed as Matsuyo kindly shook hands with Arisa and Saki. Tohru threw a look of apology at Kyo.
"Matsuyo-kun, is Obasan here?" She asked. Matsuyo shook her head. "Where are you staying?"
"Didn't mom send you a letter asking you if she could send me to live with you?" Matsuyo asked. Tohru's eyes widened. Obasan had! She had forgotten!
"Yes, she did," Tohru said. "I forgot. Yuki-kun..." She turned, not wanting to ask so much of her host, but where would Matsuyo live?
"No! No way!" Kyo yelled. "I am NOT going to live with that...that..."
"Of course she can," Yuki said, only a hint of reluctance in his voice. Tohru smiled.
"This should be interesting," Matsuyo said. "Living with Mr. Personality and Mr. Rainbows and Sunshine." She walked off and Arisa looked at the two boys.
"Your lives are going to be hell," She said. Tohru's head drooped.
"I am sorry that Matsuyo is like that," She said. Then her head snapped up and a look of determination came into her eyes. "I will make her a better person!" Yuki smiled at her.
"I hope so," He said. "I wonder what Shigure will think of her..."
--
"This is your house?" Matsuyo asked.
"Yes," Kyo said. "So what's the snide comment this time?" Matsuyo looked at him.
"It's nice," She said, shocking him and the other two. As they entered Shigure, who had been reading, put down his book and met them.
"Who's this?" He asked, gesturing to Matsuyo.
"I'm Tohru's cousin," Matsuyo asked. "You're Shigure-san, aren't you?" Shigure nodded. "Hmmm. Tohru said you were really nice, but you seem like an asshole to me." Shigure maintained his calm demeanor.
"What makes you think that?" He asked.
"Don't act so innocent," Matsuyo said. "I saw that book you were reading, you sicko." Shigure stepped back, flabbergasted.
"Well, you certainly are different from Tohru-kun. What's your name?"
"Matsuyo Honda," Matsuyo replied. "And I wish I could say it's a pleasure to meet you, but it isn't. Where am I staying?"
"You're staying?" Shigure looked at Yuki, Kyo, and Tohru. Tohru was looking back at him apologetically while Yuki and Kyo looked as though they'd rather throw Matsuyo out on to the street. Shigure smiled. Why not pay Tohru back for her work? "I suppose you can stay in Tohru's room." Tohru smiled and led her cousin away.
"How could you?" Kyo asked. "That girl is a..." Shigure held up a hand to stop him.
"I did it because Tohru-kun deserves to have a little family with her," He looked at the two boys. "Doesn't she? And maybe Tohru-kun's kindness will rub off on Matsuyo-kun."
"Maybe it won't," Yuki said quietly. Tohru ran down the stairs.
"Matsuyo is going to cook dinner for us!" She exclaimed happily. "She's a great cook! Obasan taught her everything!" Matsuyo followed more slowly.
"It would be an honor to cook for my dear cousin," She said. "And if it will make her happy, I'll cook for Boring-boy-kun, Hot-head-kun, and Pervy-san over there. I'm a vegetarian, just so you know, so no sushi or anything with any type of meat." Shigure smiled.
"Of course, Matsuyo-kun," He said. "Oh, and Yuki, Aaya said to let you know he'll be coming over in a few days to...what were his words?...Ah, yes...'To re-ignite the fires of brotherhood within you. So that you and he might once again love and respect each other.' He also said 'I shall keep the vow we made together under the pink skies in the setting sun as it reflected on the lake to always be together, you and yours truly.'" Yuki glowered.
"Your brother seems like a freak," Matsuyo said. "I suppose he has to be to complete you. He has too much personality to make up for the fact that you have none. You're like an oyster without a pearl, I suppose. Insignificant. Never to claim the jealousy of all others for the magnificence of your treasure, since you so obviously have none."
"You shouldn't judge someone until you meet them," Yuki said. "Even Nii-san deserves better than that." Matsuyo was inches from him in a moment, her eyes venomous.
"Thank you for your wisdom, Sensei," She bowed mockingly. "I shall remember it." Yuki's face flushed as he tried to contain his rage.
"Um, Matsuyo, I'll show you the kitchen!" Tohru said hurriedly, dragging her from the room. Yuki glared after her.
"That girl has quite a mouth," He said.
"That girl is Tohru-kun's cousin," Shigure said. "Don't explode, Yuki." Tohru ran back in.
"Thank you so much, Shigure-san, Yuki-kun, and Kyo-kun!" She said. "I'm sorry for the way Matsuyo has been acting! But thank you for letting her stay with us!" Yuki walked over to her and touched her cheek.
"Do you miss your family?" He asked.
"Yes..."
"Then we'd be happy to let her stay," Yuki told her. "If being with her makes you happy." Tohru smiled.
"She is my very best friend," She said. "Matsuyo and I played together when we were little. Her father was my father's brother. They're both dead. His name was Atsutomo. And he and my father loved each other...Then he married a foreigner...an Irish woman...and the family turned on him, but my father didn't. Ever since then, Matsuyo and I have been precious to each other, trying to keep our fathers' love alive with each other..." Yuki smiled sadly.
"That is sad, but it is a happy solution," He said. Kyo walked over and rubbed Tohru's head.
"I guess I can put up with her," He said. "Since you two are special to each other..." Tohru smiled.
Everyone should have...someone precious to them...Yuki-kun...and Kyo-kun too...because...having someone precious to a person...gives them...something worth...fighting for...