Dance With Me

By Lil' Tapioca Sunshine

A/N: This story is based on my personal experiences over one summer…just tweaked a little in order to fit the characters of Fruits Basket into it. I don't own Fruits Basket but I do own this story! There are lyrics in this story from popular songs but all of the poems are original...by me!

It's the heart, afraid of breaking,

That never learns to dance.

It's the dream, afraid of waking,

That never takes a chance.

It's the one who won't be taken,

Who cannot seem to give.

And the soul, afraid of dyin',

That never learns to live.

"Mommy? You're gonna buy me ice cream right? This afternoon, when you come to pick me up from school. You promised!"

"I can't, sweetie. You have to do it on your own."

"Mommy, you promised you would always be with me, no matter what…I can't do it on my own. I can't, I can't, I CAN'T! MOMMY! Don't leave!"

The alarm clock woke her from her dream and she sat up with a start. It had been years since that old nightmare. She had almost forgotten. Who was she kidding? She will never forget. But what could have triggered it again?

Wearily, she shook her head as if to shake the thoughts out of her head. She felt like she hadn't slept at all. But she couldn't do anything about it now. Her class started at eight o'clock. Her CLASS! Panicking, she threw a glance at the clock and was horrified that she only had ten minutes to get to a class that was at least twenty minutes away without the likely morning traffic.

Jumping out of bed, she pulled the clothes that she had carefully picked out the night before off of the hangers. She threw them on and with fingers made clumsy by panic desperately buttoned her blouse. Still, despite her rush, she couldn't help glancing at her mirror. She stared at her reflection. Same old hair…just as straight and boring as ever. Same old mouth…same old chin…same old face. She paused when she looked her reflection in the eyes, and saw something that wasn't there before. Was it hope? Determination? She leaned closer to the mirror to see for sure.

BUMP!

"Ouch!"

"Nothing's changed," she thought, "I'm just as clumsy as ever." And with a sigh, Tohru Honda picked up her books and ran out the door.

Her morning had not improved but if anything, become even worse. She had arrived thirty minutes late with the teacher well into the lecture. After apologizing profusely, Tohru had been told to sit in the back in one of the seats remaining empty. Unfortunately, she could not see the notes that the teacher put up but did not dare to ask for a seat up front. When the class was finally over, Tohru again approached the teacher and meekly asked her forgiveness.

The teacher only scowled and said, "Miss Honda, right? In the future, I would appreciate it if you would make it to my lectures on time. I am only asking for common courtesy here. If you feel like this is too much to ask, I suggest you drop this class and go study elsewhere."

Tohru's eyes stung painfully from the teacher's sarcastic tone but she forced the tears back and replied earnestly, "I'm sorry, this won't happen again. I promise you. And, if it isn't too much to ask, do you have any copies of the notes that you were giving earlier? I wasn't able to see in the back."

"Well, I'm glad to hear that you will be coming on time from now on. As for the notes, I do not mean to sound harsh, but have you heard the phrase, 'Beggars can't be choosers?' I'm sorry but I have no extra notes for you, nor can I change your seat. Is that all you have to say? I'm running a bit late and have to run. Have a good day, Miss Honda."

With that, the teacher walked briskly out of the classroom, leaving Tohru by herself, overwhelmed and shocked. Never in her life had she been so rudely spoken to before. Yet just as she was about to allow herself to wallow in self-pity, she remembered…

"She'll never make it past the first week."

"Ha, not even the first day."

"She doesn't know what it's like out there. The "Little Princess" has been pampered all her life. Her father gives her whatever she wants. She has maids to cater to her every whim. I don't think she even knows the meaning of the word "no."

"Miss Honda is not spoiled, though. She has always been considerate and kind to the maids…like her mother. She is also amazingly resilient like her mother. She may appear helpless and defenseless on the outside, but she holds some of that fierce indomitable spirit inside of her. It just hasn't showed up yet. You watch, someday, Miss Honda will amaze us all."

"So you say, but I still have my money on her giving up after the first day."

"I'll raise you five dollars and I say she'll be calling Daddy for a limo ride home before the first day is even over."

Tohru clenched her fists together and vowed, "I won't give up. I'll do it for you, Mom…and myself." She straightened up and unconsciously tugged on a strand of her hair while thinking, "Haven't I been waiting all my life to get out of that house and be on my own? None of them think I can do it, not even Daddy. I know they all think I can't stand on my own. Daddy only agreed to this because he was feeling guilty about forgetting my birthday. I know that he thinks this is ridiculous too. But who cares what they think? As long as I believe in myself, I can do it…right?"

She picked up her books and started walking out the door. She looked at her watch. Class had ended early. She still had half an hour before lunch would be served at home. Shrugging, Tohru decided to explore the campus. It was a beautiful day and the trees provided shade from the bright sun.

As she walked, she drifted back into her thoughts, "Am I just fooling myself, Mom? I mean, I've never been on my own before. Look what a mess I've made of it so far. The first day, and I managed to be late to class and offend the teacher too. But I can't back down now, I just can't! Not when everyone is watching, waiting for me to fail. No, I won't let you down Mom!"

"YIKES!"

Tohru stopped herself, mere inches before crashing into a pole. Several passerby's were giving her curious looks and she quickly blushed pink under their scrutiny. She had better pay more attention to where she was walking or else she wouldn't be so lucky next time. As she looked around, Tohru's attention was caught by a beautiful cathedral-like building with rows of windows and a sign above the entrance that read, "Library." "Wow," she thought, "it looks so peaceful and serene. I wonder if I'm allowed to go in there?" Taking a breath, she pulled the heavy door open with effort and stepped inside. She was greeted by a swoosh of cold musty air that smelled of books and she smiled, "Maybe I'll actually meet someone nice here." Little did she know what was waiting.