The Zodiac Curse by Halicarnassus
Summary: An orphan with ties to the animals of the Chinese Zodiac. A young lord-to-be ruled by his desires. A curse that will plague a family for centuries until another orphan appears in their lives. This is a tale of how the Sohmas got cursed five hundred years ago and why Tohru Honda might be their hope of breaking it.
Alternate Universe of Fruits Basket
Drama/Supernatural/Romance/Humor
Disclaimer: Fruits Basket and its characters are the property of Natsuki Takaya
Cast of Characters in the Warring States Period:
Koji Sohma - heir of the Sohmas
Soichiro Sohma - Koji's father and current lord
Norika Sohma - Koji's younger sister
Maya - an orphan with unusual playmates
Keiko - the widow who found Maya and raised her
Kazumi - son of the village carpenter
Chapter One:
Japan. Warring States Period.
Keiko gathered firewood in the forest alone. A bandit killed her husband two months ago as he travelled to another village to sell vegetables. They had been married less than a year. It wasn't fair the way the Gods took him from her. It wasn't fair!, she thought. She knelt on the forest floor and gave in to her grief.
A child's laughter rang through the forest, drawing Keiko's attention. No families with children lived near. The only dwelling closest to the forest was her hut. She wiped away her tears and got to her feet. She felt an overwhelming urge to find the child before the bandits or anyone else did. She heard the laughter again and headed in the direction where it came from.
She walked into a clearing and saw a child of about six dressed in white and happily playing with 13 animals. The menagerie included a kitten, a sea horse and a pony. The unusual sight stopped Keiko in her tracks. When the girl turned to look at her, she gasped. The child's eyes were blue- green.
But Keiko's maternal instincts kicked in and she slowly approached the girl. The animals drew closer to their human companion and made warning noises. Keiko extended a hand which the girl grabbed. As if they sensed her intentions, the animals fell silent.
"What's your name little one?''
"Maya."
"Why are you here? Where is your family?"
"I don't know.''
"Where did you come from?"
"I don't remember."
"Would you like to come home with me?"
"Can my friends come along?''
"Uh...''
"Please? They'll be good.''
Keiko nodded then wondered where she was going to put so many animals. The girl let go of her hand and proceeded to hug or pat each of her playmates. As she did so, there was a puff of smoke and the animals turned into carved stone ornaments except for the kitten which turned into a small wooden figurine. Maya picked up the ornaments and handed each to a stunned Keiko who took off her head wrap to use as a makeshift bag.
Then hand in hand, they walked home.
News of the girl with the unusual eyes spread through the village and reached the local lord's castle. Norika Sohma, the 7-year-old daughter of Lord Soichiro Sohma, overheard the tale from one of the maids. She pleaded with her father to see the little girl.
"Norika, this child is not a strange animal to be gawked at. Leave her be."
But she paid no heed to what her father said and sneaked out with several of the court ladies to the village.
Keiko spent most of her time turning away the constant stream of visitors who wanted to catch a glimpse of her foster daughter. But crowds invariably gathered wherever Maya went. Keiko only hoped that in time, the novelty of Maya's eyes would fade.
She wasn't prepared for the court ladies who appeared on her doorstep with the village headman. She had no choice but to let them in and offer them tea. A girl dressed in expensive silk accompanied the ladies. When she spotted the ornaments, she eagerly tugged at one of her companion's sleeves.
"Look Aiko, she has the Jyuunishi! But why is the cat included? Didn't the story said the cat missed the banquet?"
Maya strode into the room and pocketed the ornaments. She kissed the wooden cat figurine then glared at the girl who spoke.
"Baka. You shouldn't remind the cat about the banquet. It wasn't his fault he was tricked!"
One of the ladies angrily stood up. "How dare you talk to Norika-sama that way!"
Norika raised an eyebrow. The lady-in-waiting fell silent. She turned to a still glaring Maya.
"Gomen ne. I wasn't insulting the cat. I love the story of the Jyuunishi myself. I was just surprised to see such ornaments here. I really came to see you.''
"Why would you want to meet me?''
"No one here has seen anyone like you before. They say you're not human because of your eyes."
"I've never seen anyone like you before, too. I think you dress funny. Are you human?,'' Maya said then laughed. It was an infectious laugh and Norika soon joined her. It took awhile before they could compose themselves.
"My name is Norika Sohma."
"I'm Maya. Do you want to play with my Jyuunishi and cat?"
"Hai."
As Keiko hoped, the villagers grew accustomed to Maya. After three years, they no longer gawked at her. Maya remained a mystery to her foster mother, however. The child had no memory of parents or a life before meeting Keiko. She never talked about how she met her animal playmates or how she turned them into ornaments. Keiko never saw the ornaments turn back into their animal forms again.
Lord Sohma didn't seem to mind that his daughter was friends with the orphan found in the forest. He raised no objections when Maya would spend the night at the castle. But his heir, 13-year-old Koji, did.
"Father, Norika shames us by associating with that peasant. That filth should know her place!''
"My son, let your sister be a child still. Her friendship with that poor orphan won't affect her chances in landing a suitable husband. She knows her duties to this family."
Koji was still seething when he left his father. Why can't he see the problem? When he becomes lord, no one would dare bring trash like that into the castle. He frowned when he saw his sister and that peasant girl by the garden. Norika was even letting that girl wear her old clothes!, he thought angrily and walked toward them.
"So you're here again."
Maya looked at a scowling Koji and smiled sweetly. His scowl deepened.
"What do you want big brother?''
"Norika, I told you before about bringing your friend here.''
"Father doesn't mind her being here so why should you? Leave us alone."
"Don't you talk to me like that."
"I apologize. Now will you please leave us alone?"
He was about to walk away when he spotted what they were playing with. He stared fascinated at the Chinese Zodiac ornaments that seemed to glow. Like Norika, he loved the tale of the Zodiac.
"Where did you get those?," he asked Norika.
"They're mine," Maya softly said. It was the first time she spoke to him. For some reason, her voice stirred something within him.
"Now where would a peasant get such things? You probably stole them."
Maya turned her blue-green eyes on him and just shook her head. She wasn't angry at him.
"I've had them since I was little. I even have the cat, see?" She held up a wooden figurine; it looked clearly out of place among the other ornaments. But still, he also wanted that cat.
"How much do you want for them? Even that ugly cat."
"I'm not selling them Koji-sama."
"Baka. Peasants always need money. How much do you want?"
"I'm sorry. But they're not for sale, Koji-sama."
"You dare refuse me? Listen peasant, I could just take those away from you if I wanted to."
A terrified Maya knelt before him and bowed deeply.
"Please don't take them away, Koji-sama. They're my friends,'' she pleaded and touched his feet. Her touch sent a shiver through him.
Norika glared at her brother and helped her friend to her feet. Koji looked at the crestfallen Maya, turned on his heel and left.
By the time she reached fifteen, Maya was already the area's reigning beauty. The number of lovestruck men -young and old - were too many to count. To his dismay, Koji Sohma found himself among them. He fought the attraction for years but soon realized it was a futile fight. The peasant girl he thought he disliked as a child was now the beauty who haunted his dreams. He made excuses to be near her whenever she visited the castle.
He wasn't stupid enough to visit the village. Tongues would wag if he did and he couldn't let gossip ruin his father's plan to find a noble lady for him to marry.
It was Maya's nature to make others happy. She felt that Koji needed a friend so she smiled at him more, treated him kindly and disregarded the hurtful things he said. He thought she returned his feelings and made plans accordingly.
He would marry whoever his father picked for him but Maya would become his concubine. She could never be his wife. She was poor and had no connections. But they would be together somehow. He would make his move on her next visit to the castle.
Summary: An orphan with ties to the animals of the Chinese Zodiac. A young lord-to-be ruled by his desires. A curse that will plague a family for centuries until another orphan appears in their lives. This is a tale of how the Sohmas got cursed five hundred years ago and why Tohru Honda might be their hope of breaking it.
Alternate Universe of Fruits Basket
Drama/Supernatural/Romance/Humor
Disclaimer: Fruits Basket and its characters are the property of Natsuki Takaya
Cast of Characters in the Warring States Period:
Koji Sohma - heir of the Sohmas
Soichiro Sohma - Koji's father and current lord
Norika Sohma - Koji's younger sister
Maya - an orphan with unusual playmates
Keiko - the widow who found Maya and raised her
Kazumi - son of the village carpenter
Chapter One:
Japan. Warring States Period.
Keiko gathered firewood in the forest alone. A bandit killed her husband two months ago as he travelled to another village to sell vegetables. They had been married less than a year. It wasn't fair the way the Gods took him from her. It wasn't fair!, she thought. She knelt on the forest floor and gave in to her grief.
A child's laughter rang through the forest, drawing Keiko's attention. No families with children lived near. The only dwelling closest to the forest was her hut. She wiped away her tears and got to her feet. She felt an overwhelming urge to find the child before the bandits or anyone else did. She heard the laughter again and headed in the direction where it came from.
She walked into a clearing and saw a child of about six dressed in white and happily playing with 13 animals. The menagerie included a kitten, a sea horse and a pony. The unusual sight stopped Keiko in her tracks. When the girl turned to look at her, she gasped. The child's eyes were blue- green.
But Keiko's maternal instincts kicked in and she slowly approached the girl. The animals drew closer to their human companion and made warning noises. Keiko extended a hand which the girl grabbed. As if they sensed her intentions, the animals fell silent.
"What's your name little one?''
"Maya."
"Why are you here? Where is your family?"
"I don't know.''
"Where did you come from?"
"I don't remember."
"Would you like to come home with me?"
"Can my friends come along?''
"Uh...''
"Please? They'll be good.''
Keiko nodded then wondered where she was going to put so many animals. The girl let go of her hand and proceeded to hug or pat each of her playmates. As she did so, there was a puff of smoke and the animals turned into carved stone ornaments except for the kitten which turned into a small wooden figurine. Maya picked up the ornaments and handed each to a stunned Keiko who took off her head wrap to use as a makeshift bag.
Then hand in hand, they walked home.
News of the girl with the unusual eyes spread through the village and reached the local lord's castle. Norika Sohma, the 7-year-old daughter of Lord Soichiro Sohma, overheard the tale from one of the maids. She pleaded with her father to see the little girl.
"Norika, this child is not a strange animal to be gawked at. Leave her be."
But she paid no heed to what her father said and sneaked out with several of the court ladies to the village.
Keiko spent most of her time turning away the constant stream of visitors who wanted to catch a glimpse of her foster daughter. But crowds invariably gathered wherever Maya went. Keiko only hoped that in time, the novelty of Maya's eyes would fade.
She wasn't prepared for the court ladies who appeared on her doorstep with the village headman. She had no choice but to let them in and offer them tea. A girl dressed in expensive silk accompanied the ladies. When she spotted the ornaments, she eagerly tugged at one of her companion's sleeves.
"Look Aiko, she has the Jyuunishi! But why is the cat included? Didn't the story said the cat missed the banquet?"
Maya strode into the room and pocketed the ornaments. She kissed the wooden cat figurine then glared at the girl who spoke.
"Baka. You shouldn't remind the cat about the banquet. It wasn't his fault he was tricked!"
One of the ladies angrily stood up. "How dare you talk to Norika-sama that way!"
Norika raised an eyebrow. The lady-in-waiting fell silent. She turned to a still glaring Maya.
"Gomen ne. I wasn't insulting the cat. I love the story of the Jyuunishi myself. I was just surprised to see such ornaments here. I really came to see you.''
"Why would you want to meet me?''
"No one here has seen anyone like you before. They say you're not human because of your eyes."
"I've never seen anyone like you before, too. I think you dress funny. Are you human?,'' Maya said then laughed. It was an infectious laugh and Norika soon joined her. It took awhile before they could compose themselves.
"My name is Norika Sohma."
"I'm Maya. Do you want to play with my Jyuunishi and cat?"
"Hai."
As Keiko hoped, the villagers grew accustomed to Maya. After three years, they no longer gawked at her. Maya remained a mystery to her foster mother, however. The child had no memory of parents or a life before meeting Keiko. She never talked about how she met her animal playmates or how she turned them into ornaments. Keiko never saw the ornaments turn back into their animal forms again.
Lord Sohma didn't seem to mind that his daughter was friends with the orphan found in the forest. He raised no objections when Maya would spend the night at the castle. But his heir, 13-year-old Koji, did.
"Father, Norika shames us by associating with that peasant. That filth should know her place!''
"My son, let your sister be a child still. Her friendship with that poor orphan won't affect her chances in landing a suitable husband. She knows her duties to this family."
Koji was still seething when he left his father. Why can't he see the problem? When he becomes lord, no one would dare bring trash like that into the castle. He frowned when he saw his sister and that peasant girl by the garden. Norika was even letting that girl wear her old clothes!, he thought angrily and walked toward them.
"So you're here again."
Maya looked at a scowling Koji and smiled sweetly. His scowl deepened.
"What do you want big brother?''
"Norika, I told you before about bringing your friend here.''
"Father doesn't mind her being here so why should you? Leave us alone."
"Don't you talk to me like that."
"I apologize. Now will you please leave us alone?"
He was about to walk away when he spotted what they were playing with. He stared fascinated at the Chinese Zodiac ornaments that seemed to glow. Like Norika, he loved the tale of the Zodiac.
"Where did you get those?," he asked Norika.
"They're mine," Maya softly said. It was the first time she spoke to him. For some reason, her voice stirred something within him.
"Now where would a peasant get such things? You probably stole them."
Maya turned her blue-green eyes on him and just shook her head. She wasn't angry at him.
"I've had them since I was little. I even have the cat, see?" She held up a wooden figurine; it looked clearly out of place among the other ornaments. But still, he also wanted that cat.
"How much do you want for them? Even that ugly cat."
"I'm not selling them Koji-sama."
"Baka. Peasants always need money. How much do you want?"
"I'm sorry. But they're not for sale, Koji-sama."
"You dare refuse me? Listen peasant, I could just take those away from you if I wanted to."
A terrified Maya knelt before him and bowed deeply.
"Please don't take them away, Koji-sama. They're my friends,'' she pleaded and touched his feet. Her touch sent a shiver through him.
Norika glared at her brother and helped her friend to her feet. Koji looked at the crestfallen Maya, turned on his heel and left.
By the time she reached fifteen, Maya was already the area's reigning beauty. The number of lovestruck men -young and old - were too many to count. To his dismay, Koji Sohma found himself among them. He fought the attraction for years but soon realized it was a futile fight. The peasant girl he thought he disliked as a child was now the beauty who haunted his dreams. He made excuses to be near her whenever she visited the castle.
He wasn't stupid enough to visit the village. Tongues would wag if he did and he couldn't let gossip ruin his father's plan to find a noble lady for him to marry.
It was Maya's nature to make others happy. She felt that Koji needed a friend so she smiled at him more, treated him kindly and disregarded the hurtful things he said. He thought she returned his feelings and made plans accordingly.
He would marry whoever his father picked for him but Maya would become his concubine. She could never be his wife. She was poor and had no connections. But they would be together somehow. He would make his move on her next visit to the castle.