Fox's Curse

Ok I wanted to try and make a Fruit Basket one. The animal I chose to play in the zodiac curse is the fox. Yes it's over done I'm sure, I never read any but I have seen that the fox always seem to be Kyo's sister. But this time this its someone else. It may not be the most accurate as I have not read the manga in a long time. But things such as Akito's gender and the violet nature of Akito and all that will remain. I have just decided to combine the intro and chapter one.

I do not own Fruit basket, just Hikaru.

Intro

"Talking"

'Thoughts'

The fox was a cunning creature, very curious always trying to figure out things but the fox always got into trouble. It was never really popular with the other animals.

"Oh no Fox is coming, the fun is over" the sheep bayed loudly as the fox approached.

"The fun doesn't have to be over" The fox swished its tail and its ears perked up. "What are you guys playing?"

"It doesn't matter, you always find a way to mess the game up" the monkey replied.

"You're either too rough or you don't follow the rules" barked the dog.

Fox's ears went down; a little discouraged "Oh, well maybe next time, I'm busy anyway" Fox once again was optimistic as it trots away.

It went on like this for awhile until God called all the animals to a meeting.

"I am upholding a banquet for all of you"

The animals instantly started to chatter; Rooster chirped in excitement, Tiger purred in delight and so on. The animals clearly liked the idea of having a banquet especially Fox who wanted to use this chance to get to know the other animals better.

"Fox" it was Cat who approached later after all the other animals left.

Fox turned and wagged its tail when it saw Cat. "Hello Cat. Excited about the banquet?"

"Yes, but do you think the others want you there?" Cat asked.

Fox looked down clearly upset "I want everyone to like me Cat, everyone has a reason to be liked. Monkey is the most playful, Rabbit is the cutest, Rat is good at everything, Ox is the most easy going, Horse is the most graceful and the fastest runner" Fox comments.

"But what about me? I just seem to cause the most trouble for everyone" Fox said looking down.

"Not for me you aren't, come on, standing around won't make the banquet come any faster" meowed Cat as the two friends walk away together.

Cat wasn't very popular with the animals, the only animal he didn't like was Rat. The rat always challenging Cat to various things and always outsmarted him in the end.

Well Rat was up to his old trick and decided to trick Cat.

"Hello Cat" Rat squeaked

"What do you want Rat?" Cat hissed slightly in annoyance.

"I'm just passing around the news that the banquet will be the day after tomorrow" Rat said

"Oh, thanks for telling me, I didn't want to be there early" Cat said happily not even thinking it's a trick.

Everyone had a good time accept Cat and Fox who were tricked by Rat.

Akira walks into Kaibara High wearing the blue uniform that the girls wear. Her crimson colored hair shone in the sun and it made her stick out. She already got two comments about her hair color from girls and it made her annoyed.

She suddenly bumps into another girl and falls back looking quite stunned.

"Oh no I'm so sorry. I should have paid more attention" said the girl her blue eyes wide with worry as she bent to help her up.

"Oh it's okay I should have been paying attention too" Hikaru said getting up.

"Oh, I'm glad you are okay, I'm Honda Tohru by the way, what's your name" she said

"It's Fujiko Hikaru" she comments.

"Tohru-chan!" It was Momiji who ran over to her instantly.

Akira decided she better go on to class or at least find it.

"Hey who was that girl?" Momiji asked as Yuki and Kyo approached.

"I never seen her before…she must be new" Yuki comments.

"How would you know rat you may have just never noticed her before" Kyo said.

"Well with hair that stands out as much as yours no one would miss it. Try thinking before you speak" Yuki calmly replied which got Kyo annoyed.

"That was Fujiko-san, we bumped into each other a moment ago. I never seen her either, so maybe she could be new" Tohru said and the warning bell rings.

"Bye Tohru-chan!" Momiji walks to class as Kyo and Yuki walk with Tohru to class.

"Oh it's her" Tohru smiled and waved at Akira.

Akira caught her wave and nods slightly.

"Ah I see Honda-san has already met our newest student." said the Sensei

Akira stood in front of the class and bowed "I'm Fujiko Hikaru, it's nice to meet you" it was clear to Yuki that she was nervous.

Akira got some attention from some guys as she took a seat. She just sat calmly and answered any questions they asked her.

"Is that your hair's natural color?" one guy asked.

"Yes, it is, I know it's on the red side but it's really my own hair color" she said clearly annoyed by the question.

She sat through class very uncomfortable by being around so many guys and her heart started beating. 'Calm down, I'm doomed if I turn into a fox in the middle of class…though I have to avoid the guys, they seem to like me too much'

"Um…Fujiko-san?"

Hikaru looked up to see Tohru and two guys standing in front of her. One with violet eyes and grey hair the other with brown eyes and orange hair that stood out much like her own red hair and when seeing him.

"What is it Honda-san?" she asked and realized she had made it through class, though she virtually heard little to none of what the teacher had said due to her spending the class period trying to stay calm.

"It's time for the next class. Where do you go next?" Tohru asked the red head.

"Home Ec" I say to her.

Tohru's face lit up "Great, that's where I go, you have to meet my other friends" she said and took hold of Akira's hand.

Hikaru looked at the hand and back at Tohru 'That's strange…I only just met her and she's trying to be friends...'

"This is Yuki and Kyo" said Tohru, breaking Hikaru's thoughts. She looked up from Tohru to the guys. When her eyes locked to Kyo's something inside her just sturred. It was like she knew him from somewhere. 'But I'd remember someone with orange hair' she broke her gaze and looked to Yuki and dips her head.

"Pleasure to meet you" she said to them, though the fact they were guys she felt nervous.

"Why you look for nervous?" Yuki asked her. "It's alright, we won't harm you or anything" he added.

"Oh…I'm not used to being around so many people. I was in a private all girls school" she explained to them and got her bags. Turning to Tohru she asked "Shall we be going?"

"Hai. Bye you two, see you at lunch" Tohru said and the two girls walked down the hall.

"Did you feel that?" Yuki asked.

"Feel what you rat?" Kyo asked.

"That feeling…like she's one of us" Yuki replied with a sigh slightly annoyed the orange haired relative did not feel the same feeling he had.

"Eh…I did feel a little strange, but it was only when she locked eyes with me. I feel like I may actually know her" Kyo said as he took his time to think.

"How could you possibly met her dumb cat" Yuki remarked.

"I don't know. I just feel it deep inside. But anyway she can't be one of us. She's not a Shoma for one thing. And all the zodiacs are born so she can't be" Kyo explained.

"I know that much. All I know I shouldn't be feeling this way. We may have to ask Shigure when we return" Yuki said and the two of them made it to class without arguing for a change.

"Hana-chan, Uo-chan this is Fujiko-san" Tohru had taken Akira to their station for them to work together. The innocent teen hoped her best friends and Akira would get along and be friends.

"Yo, we have another Red head" Uo chan tied back her blonde hair and flashed Hikaru a grin. "Nice to meet you then Fujiko" she said sticking out her hand to shake.

Hikaru noted the tomboy attitude of this girl and took the girl's hand to shake. "Pleasure is all mine" she said.

"Hmm…fox" Hanajima comments and Akira tensed.

'How could she know? Please don't tell me she knows my secret' Hikaru felt her heart race.

"I get a weird vibe from you…I somehow think of a sneaky fox" said the girl in all black.

"Oh…that's weird" Hikaru said before the teacher's voice broke the chatter of the students.

"Alright class we are going to make cookies, I will grade you in taste and appeal. Since lunch is next be sure to take them to eat" she said and the class cheered.

"Cookies, piece of cake" Uo said with confidence. "Alright Tohru let's get started" she added.

Akira preheat the oven at their station and with assistance from Tohru helped get materials for their 'assignment' and the group of four baked cookies along with the class.

Soon tiny dings and beeps could he heard meaning everyone was finishing up. Soon their cookies were done and Hanajima pulls out the golden brown, baked to perfection cookies. "Beautiful, but that's to be expected thanks to Tohru" she said and Tohru smiles.

"But we all did it together" she said though Hikaru realized that Hana and Uo did nothing more than hand Tohru items she needed and helped cleaned the cooking area while Tohru actually did the baking. But she didn't seem to mind, smiling as the Hana and Uo praised her.

"Delicious as always group 4" the sensei said after taking a bite out of the cookie and moves on. A few burnt and tasteless cookies later the bell for lunch ringed.

"Alright finally, let's eat" Uo said happily.

"Fujiko-san are you ready for lunch?" Tohru asked after splitting the rest of the cookies eveningly in a small bag.

"She left as soon as the bell rung" Hanajima replied.

"She's fast" Uo replied.

Meanwhile Hikaru was blazing down the hallway carrying her lunch, swerving and maneuvering around people, particularly males as if she so much as bump into a boy it's all over.

She made it to the lovely scenery outside and sat under a Cherry blossom tree and proceeded to eat it, slowly calming down but still on guard, the possibility of a random guy appearing was still high.

"Fujiko-san?" it was a male voice and she tensed and looked over to see violet eyes.

"Hello…Yuki…well I'm not…" she paused knowing it was his first name.

"Sohma, Sohma Yuki" he replied.

"Ah…Sohma-san. Am I in your favorite spot?" she asked.

"No, I just saw you alone and Tohru was asking for you. And she's waiting with Hanajima-san and Uotani-san" he replied obviously inviting her to sit with them.

"Hm…alright" Hikaru gathered her things and saw a hand extended to her, she looked up and saw him with a calm expression on his face, politely offering to help her stand. She couldn't help but blush that a guy wanted to help her up. In her old school she haven't even seen a boy let alone be touched by one. She took hold of his warm and gentle hand and in a swift tug, she was back on her feet.

"Arigatou Sohma-san, you are extremely polite" Hikaru said to him.

"Ano…I wish to have my hand back now Fujiko-san" Yuki said and only then did she realized she was still holding his hand.

"Oops, gomen nasai" she said releasing his hand, face burning.

The two approached a large picnic like table that kids can use to eat outside on nice days. It was in a nice position under a Sakura tree. Tohru's teal colored eyes lit up the moment she saw Akira.

"Hey, I was worried I couldn't find you. I saved you some of the cookies we made in class" she said holding up the bag that was tied together neatly.

As she approached the table she saw that one other guy was there and she got nervous slightly doing everything she can not to show it because obviously Yuki could tell she was nervous.

"Oh, it's the girl from earlier. Hi there!" Hikaru was taken aback by the loud and bubbly nature. To her he was just bright as a young child. He looked like a middle school kid at the most going by his height and features. His large brown eyes lit up as much as Tohru's.

"Hello" she responds as she took a seat by Tohru.

"There you are" Tohru hands her the bundle of cookies.

"Arigatou" she accepted them and took out her boxed lunch and continued to nibble on her rice.

"So shall we all introduce ourselves?" asked the young looking boy.

"Fine brat" said Kyo who just ate his fish.

"Well I'm Sohma Momiji! And You've met Yuki and Kyo, we are related" said Momiji.

"You know I'm Honda Tohru and these are my best friends Saki Hanajima," Tohru points to the girl in black who calmly waves at Akira. "And this is Arisa Uotani" she said pointing to the girl with long blonde hair.

"Fujiko Hikaru, Nice to officially know everyone" she said dipping her head in a bow to show her appreciation.

"Hika-chan!, It's nice to meet you, your hair really stands out like Kyo-kun" Momoji said stating the obvious.

She wasn't sure how to respond to Hika-chan however and chose to ignore it "Oh...yea it does. But it's my hair color" she said to him.

"Try Tohru-chan's cookies, she bakes great sweets" Momiji said recalling he had a bit of Tohru's.

"Oh, ok. Why not?" I took one out the bag and took a bite.

"Well?" Tohru asked anxiously.

"Its…great" Hikaru was pleased by the cookie, it was delicious.

"Kawaii!"she snapped out of her cookie munching and looked at Momiji and then everyone elses amused face.

"Nani?"

"You made the cutest face ever" Arisa said. In her moment of pleasure her eyes narrowed like a fox.

"You remind me of a fox" said Tohru and Hikaru tenses.

"Oh, I've always been called Kitsune for that reason… but I can't help it" she said to them.

"It fits you well, Fujiko-san" said Yuki and they all ate together.

"So you were in a smaller all girls school?" Momiji asked after they finished eating and everyone was asking questions.

"Kyo went to an all boys school. As I recall he acted crazy on his first day of class" Arisa said.

"Don't go telling my business yankee"

"Whatever carrot top" the two were at it again making Yuki sighed.

"Those two have similar personality waves" Saki replied as she took a sip of her drink, watching them fight in amusement.

Tohru, Yuki and Momiji looked to Hikaru "So did you have any friends?" Tohru asked.

Hikaru just smiled "Well, it wasn't easy for me to talk to people…like this wouldn't have been possible had I not decide I want to try leaving the comfort zone as well as everyone being kind" she said.

"Aww, Hika-chan we'll be your friends!" Momiji exclaimed happily, his brown eyes wide and innocent. "Right Tohru-chan?" he asked turning to Tohru.

"Of course, but only if Fujiko-san wishes to be"

"Aww, Tohru is so kind" Arisa stopped fighting with Kyo and cuddled with Tohru who had this smile on her face.

"She makes friends so easily" Saki also had her arms around Tohru who just had a silly smile on her face, enjoying the love her friends gave her.

Hikaru stared for a moment and stood up giving them all a bow "Thanks for talking with me, I think I'll go now" I told them.

"Aww do you have to?" Momiji asked.

Before she could answer the bell had rung making it a good excuse.

"We love Yuki, we love Yuki! Y-U-K-I Yuki!" a group of girls cheered as Yuki heads home with Tohru and Kyo.

"Those girls need a life, you are nothing what they think you are anyway" Kyo grumbled.

"You are jealous because your harsh attitude makes girls not like you as much" Yuki said calmly making Kyo get annoyed. But before he could explode he caught red in his sight.

"Hey, it's Hikaru" he said making Tohru and Yuki look over. Sure enough the red head was walking down the street, not much further ahead than they were.

"Fujiko-san!" Tohru called and she stopped and turned around.

"Hey, you guys stalking me?" Hikaru asked once she allowed them time to catch up.

"As if" Kyo said making her snort,

"So what is it?" she asked them.

"Oh, well Kyo spotted you walking alone and well I felt we should walk home together, we both walking in a general direction" Tohru said.

'Wow I've been really running into them all day. Tohru does seem kind enough though' Hikaru tried to put on a smile with little success.

"Thanks I can walk home with you" she said and walked along Kyo and Tohru. She glanced at him and deep within her something stirred again.

"What is it? Got something to say then say it" Kyo asked, getting a bit annoyed and she snaps out of it.

"Gomen...I just…fell into a daze" Hikaru said dismissing her first thought of Kyo being familiar to her.

"Hey, you look a bit flustered, are you alright?" Yuki asked after taken notice of Hikaru's face and thought she saw her wobble slightly with every other step.

"Oh I'm fine, just a bit winded. I normally catch the bus home" she explained to him impressed with his observation skills.

The three chatted a little until Hikaru came near her destination. "This is my stop I'll see you tomorrow" she said and bowed. "You know…I'd like to thank you for being so kind. Especially you Tohru" she goes to her apartment compelx, leaving the three alone again.

"I hope she can be our friends. It must be lonely moving to a new school and trying to make friends" Tohru said as they headed home.

"Well it's not like she had friends to miss at her old school anyway." Kyo said recalling that she didn't talk to people much when Momiji asked if she had any friends.

"Don't say it like that Kyo, maybe she's just shy. Or maybe she wasn't liked because of her hair like so many of you" Tohru said in defense of Hikaru making a point that in fact many of the Sohmas wasn't liked for their hair color.

"Shigure?" Yuki asked the novelist as Tohru was cleaning the dishes of the diner they had just cooked with Kyo helping her.

"Yes Yuki?" Shigure had looked up from reading a book interested to what his cousin would ask of him.

"The cat and I are a bit perplexed by this situation" he said.

"Well then ask away then" Shigure was curious now and it showed as he leaned over the table.

"Well this new student arrived today. However as I interacted with her I have a weird feeling and Kyo felt something as well. I can't explain it as if she's a member of the zodiac" Yuki was trying to explain his feelings he had gotten from Hikaru today.

Shigure gave Yuki a look before answering "This silly, all twelve zodiacs are born and are all Sohma" Shigure said thinking it was silly. "You may just got a little crush on her or something and just getting confused" he said brushing it off with a wave of his hand.

"I saw that face you old dog, you know "Kyo had come out of the kitchen with Tohru and they overheard everything.

"What's going on?" Tohru asked

"Don't be silly Kyo." Shigure said in defense. "And apparently Yuki and Kyo are convinced a new student at your school is like us which is impossible" Shigure turned his attention from Yuki and Kyo to Tohru bursting into an uneasy laugh.

"Fujiko-san?" Tohru asked looking surprised at them.

"Well you hiding something Shigure cause you acting way too suspicious" Kyo growled in annoyance at the dog zodiac member.

Shigure sighed and ran his hands through his black hair "Well…Ok then…everyone take a seat cause this is a long explanation to what could have possibly be the cause for your perplexity" Shigure said and the three of them take a seat.

"Alright. Of course everyone here knows the zodiac legend. Now however there is a legend inside the legend. The forgotten story within the legend of the zodiac signs." He stated.

"So it's a legend that people have forgotten?" Tohru asked starting to wonder how is it that Hikaru would be related to all this.

"Yes Tohru. Now the cat lost to the rat and hence was excluded from the zodiac as we all know. Sorry Kyo we don't need you to get offended right now" Shigure said as he saw Kyo stiffen and his face hardened.

Tohru placed a hand on his shoulder and he calmed down again leaving room for Shigure to continue. "However it is only known in the Sohma family that there was another excluded animal. An exiled animal that was even more isolated than the cat. The fox was a cunning and sly, swift and wise animal. However the animals did not accept the fox no matter what it did. When the banquet came both the fox and the cat did not go. While the cat was only isolated the fox was rejected, never to be loved by god or the other animals in the zodiac. The fox is said to carry a spirit that's angrier, more revolting, more vengeful then the cat's. In Sohma history its recorded that the fox has made its appearance. However they are rare and are not born as much as the other animals of course. Some have recordings of dreams of foxes. It is also said that when a fox is born trouble will become of the family for its vengeful spirit would wipe out ethe zodiac as revenge for its exile. So whenever one is born it must be killed." Shigure explained the story grimly.

"However I do not believe the legend is true and its possible that it was made up to scare the zodiac children into being good. A reminder how lucky they are in comparison to the cat and the fox." Shigure said changing his tone.

"So you think Hikaru could be the fox?" Kyo asked Yuki.

"It could be possible. I can't help but have this feeling. Kinda like the feeling you get when you meet a zodiac member for the first time. Or is it possible other families have curses placed upon them just as ours has?" Yuki commented not sure what to make of the information given.

They were interrupted by a soft hicup noise. They look and Tohru eyes were wide and watery.

"Tohru what's wrong?" Shigure asked. "Did my story scare you?" he asked as Kyo and Yuki looked on in confusion.

"It's just…poor fox…the fox reminds me of the cat which I always thought must be lonely. But the fox never had anyone to care about it. The animals didn't accept it and it never can go to the banquet or fit in…and if Fujiko-san is the fox then I feel so sorry for her. Carrying the burden of her zodiac animal deep down somehow feeling the pain of the fox" Tohru said as tears streamed down her face showing intense empathy for the girl she only just met in one day.

She leaned on Kyo's back without thinking and POOF in a cloud of orange smoke Kyo was now a orange cat looking annoyed by the change after hearing a story like that. "Now that's just great" he grumbled.

"Oh no I'm so sorry!" Tohru squeaked as she realized what she just done, she sat back up suddenly and fell back against Yuki who was nearby and POOF in a cloud of lavendar smoke Yuki had transformed.

"Oh no Yuki…Kyo I'm sorry" Tohru said holding her head down.

Shigure howled in laughter, it always mused him how she would somehow make them transform.

"It's fine" Kyo grabbed his clothing in his mouth and walks off into the evening air.

She cupped the little Yuki in her hands and holds him near her face. "Gomen Yuki…I didn't mean to make you transform" Tohru said to him.

With his paw he wiped some of her tears away "It's alright Tohru, if it made you stop crying it doesn't matter?" he said to her.

"It's just I feel so bad. I'm reminded how hard it is for everyone to transform when you are hugged by someone who's the opposite gender. And how the curse has affected everyone." Tohru said to him. "I even upset Kyo this time" she added with a sigh.

"Ah don't worry about Kyo, hearing the story may have made him think about his situation with the zodiac as well. And it's said the cat and the fox share a link to one another. Probably because they are both rejected animals or they were actually friends maybe" Shigure said to ease Tohru's mind.

"Well that would explain why she kept staring at Kyo. And how Kyo said he had this feeling that went deeper than meeting the zodiac members" Yuki said and suddenly he transformed back stark naked making Tohru blush and look away.

"Sorry Honda-san" Yuki said as he got dressed again.

"It's ok, I'm going to go check on Kyo" Tohru said leaving the house and heading to the spot on the roof where she was sure he was leaving Yuki and Shigure alone.

"She's really taken a shine to Kyo it seems" Shigure remarked as he picked up his book again.

'Don't you think I know that Shigure?'

"I think I'll go for some fresh air myself. Go check on the strawberries why I'm out" Yuki said as he got to his feet and headed outside.

Hikaru was a waitress in a café constantly serving or cleaning tables and worked two hours pass her normal time as too many people came in, making it hard on everyone else if she left. Hikaru sighed as she felt herself becoming hotter and hotter and felt sweat drip down. She wiped the table of the last customer, picking up her tip they had left her. As she was wiping she started seeing double and wobbled a little.

"Woa there Fujiko, why don't you leave now, it's not much longer before closing and you need to be heading home anyway" it was the boss, an older woman who kept an eye out for her sometimes as she was the youngest employee at the café.

"H-hai" Hikaru said, changing her clothing in the bathroom. Changing from her black and white waitress dress uniform to jeans, flip flops and a simple t-shirt and heads out the door.

Mean while Yuki was left to think about all he has heard. A possible fox zodiac and clues that could be actually true. Her oddly colored red hair, her face expression that made her look like a fox and her own statement that people at her old school called her Kitsune. "It's possible" he said. He was also reflecting on the chance that Tohru and Kyo were getting close. 'Kyo would be put away soon enough…he wouldn't even accept an outsider with the zodaic members. I still ponder on why he let her keep her memories' as Yuki looked up he saw someone wobbling in the street.

As the figure approaches he sees familiar red hair "Fujiko-san, and she's not well" he approached her. "Fujiko-san".

"S-Sohma-san…" Hikaru then collapsed into Yuki. POOF she turned into a fox before hitting the ground.

Yuki's eyes were wide afriad he would transform but she didn't touch him before transforming herself. He looked around and was glad no one was watching. He scooped her into his arms along with her clothing and felt the heat radiating from her and knew she had a fever.

"I knew she wasn't well earlier" he said and took off running back home with her in his arms. "You'll be alright" he murmured gently to the unconscious fox.

Yuki got back home winded and his face was pink.

"Yuki? What's wrong with you?" Shigure asked and suddenly Yuki started coughing and fell to his knees but not letting go of the bundle in his arms.

"Yuki!" Tohru came down when she heard the commotion, Kyo not far behind.

"I'm calling Hatori" Shigure said dialing the phone but Yuki was calming down.

"I'm fine…it's…Its Fujiko-san…we were right" he said in between coughs and held out the fox wrapped in clothing.

"That's Fujiko-san?" Tohru was shocked.

"It's fur has the same color as her hair, it has to be her" Kyo said and took the bundle from Yuki who reluctantly handed her over.

"We got her Rat, you just worry about yourself" Kyo said.

"We need ice and towels" Tohru said and they went off to cool off Hikaru.

"Hatori is on his way" Shigure said hanging up the phone. "You know you used to have asthma attacks Yuki. You need to not over due things, you must have been running as fast as you could" Shigure said to Yuki who was slowly getting better.

"I was…but I couldn't let her be out there exposed like that. I had to get her out of the area in case people start to notice." Yuki wheezed and then he froze at the realization.

Hatori lived in the main house with Akito. If he came over and saw Hikaru then he would go back and tell Akito. And if what Shigure said about the fox zodiac being killed then she is in danger.

Well you have it. My first Fruit Basket chapter to my first Fruit basket fanfiction. I hope you all will like it. I know I have lots of fanfiction on hold. But senior year's a bitch, when things have settled down I can write more. I will get back to every fanfiction.