edit: It occurred to me I did a slight error. I am so sorry. While writing out the second chapter, I found out I mixed names up. Oops.
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"What is your original face, before your mother and father were born?"
I: Eternal Snow
Winter had a tendency to bring as much snow as it did cold, guaranteeing the white blanket to cover miles of Tokyo. December was arguably the coldest month of the year, if not January which brought windy days and rising prices of heaters. Despite what storybooks said, snow was anything but fluffy. Its ice coated Tohru's coat as she waited at the bus stop, collected mist of air leaving her mouth as she rubbed her mittens together to produce warmth. It was a frosty morning, and the bus scheduled to lift her up was several minutes late according to her pink wristwatch, hidden beneath her long sleeves.
She sighed, breath mushrooming into the freezing air as she smiled and tilted the gift in her hands upward. The orange bow on the white box was still perfectly attached - a bit wet now - but perfectly nevertheless. She began to inspect the wrapped present, turning it over frequently to study each side in worry of a possible dent. It had took a while, collecting coins on the streets and saving her little allowances, but she finally had afforded the perfect present for her mother. Although the only trouble that had stood in her way was sneaking out, she wasn't at all concerned about the awaiting consequences back at her grandfather's place. Besides, she couldn't take it back. It was all set in stone now, and she had to simply accept it happily and board the bus.
Nightfall already arrived in the city; few people roaming the streets by now. Hopefully, it wasn't too much trouble to the driver for driving this late at night. At least, to her it was late. It was precisely 9 o' clock sharp right now as she glanced at her watch once more. Tohru wrapped her arms around the box closer to her chest and gravitated her brown eyes back over to the streets stretching far from her range of vision. In the distance, the sound of a bus's engine could not be heard.
Where's the bus? the nine-year-old wondered. Her stomach churned uncomfortably like she just drank a pitcher of rancid and expired milk. It was only nervousness. Either that, or she had made a horrible decision giving in to her aunt's dinner. Inflating her cheeks, she tightened her grip on the gift and paced back and forth on the sidewalk, hoping it would at least provide her some heat for now.
Several moments from now, snowflakes would begin falling. It was the season after all, and considering the sheet of snow covering even the outskirts of the city, there was bound to be more arriving soon. She figured that she could wander around till the bus's arrival.
As she moved forward, her boots left a trail of footprints.
At some point during her journey, the snow practically went up to her ankles. And as each moment passed, each felt like a terrifying decade. Part of her thought she didn't even know where she was going. A mere wander transitioned to the point she didn't know where the bus stop was?
But she had to keep going. If she didn't, her mother's birthday would be left incomplete without a gift from her. She pulled the hoodie of her coat over her head even more lest of catching a cold. Even so, she probably already did with the amount of coughing she was exhibiting.
Tohru sneezed.
A quietly mumbled 'bless you' met her frostbitten ears and she gasped, once again the smoke of air leaving her mouth in a surprised puff. Like a dragon, she almost thought before she turned around. The person - a boy - seemed to have thought the very same thing since he smiled tenderly, his eyes hidden beneath his hoodie. Hers slipped down, revealing her flaying hair in the wind. She could only faintly see his pale skin.
A beat of awkward silence choked the atmosphere.
"H-hi..." she greeted as vaguely as possible, trying not to reveal her somewhat discomfort. Had he been following her the entire time and hadn't even bothered to say a word? It wasn't creepy. It was just sort of strange. Although he was probably lost, like she was. Either that or he merely wanted a playmate.
"Hi!" His personality totally contrasted the weather. It was warm and sweet-tempered, granting her the assurance that he wasn't a threat. Though truthfully he wasn't much of a threat to begin with. "Are you lost?"
"W-well... Uh..." Tohru peered at him, calculating his intentions. Maybe he was one of those children who helped the elderly, the ones who offered to assist them crossing the street and whatnot. She shook off that theory, since it clearly wasn't the time for elderly to even be out. She raised her hand and ran her fingers through it sheepishly, at last replying, "Yes."
He laughed and closed their distance, linking arms with her and leading her to a seemingly random direction. She almost dropped her box. "Why didn't you say so? I know a lot about the city. I'll show you where to go!"
"O-okay..." she mumbled, shyly giving him a sideways glance. "I was supposed to get Mom a present, but—"
"Oh! Is it her birthday?"
"Uh-huh. And yeah... You know what happened. There's supposed to be a sign that tells me where to go, but I think the snow covered it," Tohru said as they trooped over to who-knows-where. She closed her eyes, picturing her mother's reaction to the present. Her mother's happiness could even bring her all the joy in the world. "Umm, I'm going to this place near the outside of west Tokyo."
"That's not too far away," the boy commented with confidence. His silly little grin seemed to be elastic. Even if he frowned, it would simply revert back into a smile. "Hey, what's your name?"
"T-Tohru," she stuttered, her voice trembling. The temperature seemed to have dropped a few degrees lower.
His face softened a touch. "Are you cold?"
She shook her head, waving her hand dismissively. "N-no, I-I'm f-f-fffff-fine." She laughed. "I-it's funny. I'm in the same situation like last year, when I was getting a present for Mom. I almost ..." She bit her lip, appearing to contemplate whether or not to tell a stranger. Luckily, he understood and silently gestured for her to continue. "... Well, you know. I kind of forgot to dress extra w-warm."
"You're silly."
"I know, I know!" Tohru giggled.
"But really, are you cold now?"
"Huh? Oh! Not anymore, I guess," she answered. His company sort of gave off a warm feeling. Just like the other boy that showed up a year ago. "Anyway... I fell in the snow. I felt so cold..."
.
Her body collapsed on the ground, her arms feeling numb. The biting breeze gave no comfort to her state; it made it only worse. Her hair flayed in the wind like a curtain, her eyes clenched closed. Hopelessness swept through her mind, knowing that it was the possible end. She didn't want to die yet. On the other hand, she didn't want to face her mother's face of disappointment upon discovering the gift was lost in the blizzard. Tohru shivered, her hands folded together under her chin in prayer, her thin jacket the only barrier from the storm.
She apologized frantically in her mind, not exactly aware that her mother couldn't hear her in no way possible. Somewhere else, her mother was peacefully speaking to her husband, not acknowledging the fact her daughter was out of her bed and freezing to death. Tohru could hardly blame her, though. She sneaked out on her own.
Her eyes fluttered open. No other building lay in sight. She was completely, utterly doomed. Everyone was in their houses by now. All she could see was the crystals blasting into the thickly-covered grass. Abandoning her visual exploration, she once again closed her eyes. She tried to think of the positive things.
If she died there, she would be part of spring, wouldn't she? She'd be one with the flowers and the post-hibernated rabbits. She'd be one with the grass where kittens frolicked upon, chasing after one another. She'd be one with spring.
Tohru forced a shaky smile, the corners of her chapped lips turning up. One with a season, where everyone was happy. The lost little girl clutched the snow one last time before turning over on her side, accepting her ill fate, where she would be engulfed with snow until the next season came. Memories of her life flickered before her eyes.
She softly whispered good-bye and made a quiet laugh, as if in pity of herself. She loved everyone. Everything.
They said when you died, you'd be one with the moon and stars.
That way, she'd always see her parents down below.
That was better than more than all the love in the world.
Someone's hesitant footsteps approached, thudding dully in the snow. They coughed a bit, but it seemed as if they paid no mind to it. She could hear the sound of a jacket unzipping, the sound of a scarf dropping. Her eyes slowly opened to the point the figure was fuzzy. The person was illuminating, for whatever reason. Perhaps this was the light people meant when you died? Her vision resolved a little more, and she identified them as a boy no older than her.
He lifted her up slightly, laying her on his lap. He wrapped her neck around with the scarf, not too tight for her to choke but not too light enough to make it useless. The scarf was white. She couldn't utter a sound. Now, his arms weren't covered by any clothing at all besides the short sleeves of his shirt. The boy began to put his jacket on her, their bodies in an embrace.
She was sure that her face was flushed, possibly a fever on her part. He cradled her in his arms as he dragged her out of the storm, struggling because of the weight he wasn't used to carrying. His body wasn't built to carry a girl at this time and age yet, anyway.
The last thing she saw was the glowing moon, its imprints partially clear.
.
"... If I ever meet that boy again, I'd like to thank him with a thousand words," she murmured, a blissful look adorning her face. "When I woke up, I was in my bed. My mom told me a boy had dropped me off and run off before she could thank him right."
"Did she ever get the present?"
"No..." She shook her head. "But she said it was okay. I didn't really listen, though. I promised to get an even better present this year."
She stopped walking, as did he upon discovering she had. He tugged his hoodie down, revealing blonde hair. They were there, at the destination she was supposed to be. She smiled at him gratefully and ran over to her mother. He didn't move.
Her name was still engraved on the stone. It was faded from the all the rain even for a year, but she could still feel it if she brushed her hands past it. Kyoko Honda. She placed the gift on next to it, bidding her a polite farewell and meeting back with the boy, whose face was stricken and stood at a respectful distance. She tilted her head to the side.
"Is something wrong?"
He blinked, returning back to earth. He shuffled quietly, searching for the words to say. "I... Your mom...?" His voice died in his throat and he swallowed.
She nodded. "And my dad."
Her words hung in the air, producing a beat of silence. It was no wonder why she was lost. She had never been here before. She had been so insistent to give her mother a present. She had been so nervous.
Her parents were dead.
Author's Notes
It's a bit refreshing writing Fruits Basket again. I've been writing so much Vocaloid, I almost forgot how it was like, maintaining everyone's character and all. As I wrote this, I wondered why I always created AU stories and never ones that applied to actual plot. To this day, I don't even really know. Who knows? Maybe one day I'll write a story that won't be an AU.
But eww... I really don't like the 'flashback'. I was never really good at writing flashbacks, especially if they were between conversations. :/
The Jade Rabbit is indeed a well-known legend. My uncle (while most of my family is Vietnamese, he's Chinese) told me about it when I was stargazing. He told me the the stain on the moon was the rabbit who leaped into the flames.
The Snow Angel is not a legend you'll find on the Internet, nor will you'll find it if you ask people on the streets. I mean, unless you visit my granny. She told me this story, and I admit I'd stand at the window wishing for the angel to come visit me. Needless to say, I was a strange child.
The angel was genderless, she said. It was up to me to interpret it. I chose it to be a female, because I favor friendship a lot. If I could, I'd write a story revolving around friendship rather than romance. Sadly, not many people would read it. OTL That doesn't mean the angel in here will be a girl. That would be a weird plot twist.
Leave a review, pretty please? c: (And tell me if I had any typos. orz)
