Skiergirl-It's finally here. My Fruits Basket One shot. Yes, it will turn into a drabble series but for now it's my Furuba One shot. So, I hope you enjoy this one and whatever comes.
Oh, and there are no spoilers in this story. There will be various spoilers in other stories but this one is safe. As long as you read up to the eleventh book you'll understand everything. And, I warn you now some of this is based off of what some one said in the eleventh book and some other thing I'll explain at the end.
Finally I don't mean to offend anyone with what I wrote about God. Knowing Fruits Basket and the eleventh book I'm sure you readers can understand that what I said was for the story's sake only.
And I don't own Fruits Basket. Wish I owned Kureno though. Unfortunately Akito and Natsuki Takaya do. So, I'm out of luck.
Cat Nip
She may have been scared out of her poor mind but she still had agreed to go to the Haunted Mansion. After all it was for Haru. And besides she had to face her fears. So, facing her fears of scary things was what she was going to do. Of course she couldn't help thinking of how she had come here. And, how it had taken place only hours ago.
Flash Back
She, Tohru, had been cooking breakfast for Kyo, Yuki and Shigure. Quite suddenly there had been an energetic burst of knocking on the door. Leaving her pancakes and other breakfast foods behind Tohru had scurried to the door and opened it to find Momiji bouncing up and down on his toes. Behind him was Haru looking as calm as usual.
"Haru's famous!" Momiji had explained before coming in and announcing it again. "Haru's famous. He's famous!" Obviously Momiji was rather excited. He had forgotten to explain why Haru was famous and so had left everyone confused.
Kyo though had stood up and grabbed the rabbit by the color. "What do you mean by that? What in the world could he do to become famous?"
Momiji had replied. "You know silly." He then went on to again exclaim. "Haru's famous!"
"We DON'T know what you're talking about stupid rabbit." Kyo exclaimed letting Momiji go in disgust. "If we did we wouldn't all be wondering what the hell you were talking about!"
At this point Haru had spoken saying. "The man who managed the Haunted Mansion we went to. He wants me to rewrite a story for a new exhibit they have."
Tohru had heard all this and had broken into a smile. "You ARE famous Haru. Everybody will see what you write!" Smiling even more Tohru bounced away to tell Shigure who had been asleep even though Tohru had been cooking breakfast for him.
"Yeah!" Momiji had exclaimed. "And we're all invited to go with him. And we can see what amazing things Haru writes!"
'Amazing?' both Kyo and Yuki had thought to themselves almost identical expressions of disbelief on their faces. They both remembered Haru's first story with the son and mother. That had been bad enough. And now the manager was asking for another story. It seemed both of them were the only ones who were sane.
"You'll run them out of business!" Kyo had exclaimed.
"And besides." Yuki said calmly. "Tohru doesn't like scary things. Remember?"
At that Momiji had frowned. He had forgotten Tohru was afraid of scary things. "I forgot." He admitted. "But, maybe she won't want to come." He said this hopefully though he knew it wasn't possible. After spending so much time with Tohru and after the last encounter with the Haunted Mansion he knew Tohru would face whatever came at her. And of course there was no way they could have left her behind. Not when she already knew what had been going on.
"Stupid rabbit." Kyo muttered as Tohru came back in the room. "Shigure says he wishes Haru luck and that he has a great editor for him."
At this both Kyo and Yuki looked rather off. They both knew how Shigure tortured Mii, his editor, and there was no doubt he had some scheme in mind. Though how Tohru had woken Shigure up if he had been asleep was a mystery.
"We're ready to go at any time." Momiji said quietly. "But, if someone doesn't want to come they don't have to."
"Well I definitely want to come." Tohru said excited having somehow forgotten herself she was afraid of scary things.
So, the five of them had left for the Haunted mansion. And it was only when Tohru had seen the place again that she remembered her fear.
End Flash Back
Tohru now continued to stare at the entrance of the Haunted Mansion. Haru, Momiji, Kyo, and Yuki surrounded her all of them looking at least a bit worried.
"You don't have to go in." Kyo said sounding annoyed. "If you're afraid, you're afraid. You don't have to face your fears. None of us would think any less of you."
The others nodded as Yuki spoke. "Yeah, and besides you could hurt yourself if you closed you eyes like you did last time. And just because Haru got away with destroying the props before don't mean he can do it again."
Momiji nodded. Tohru shook her head though. "No, I have to face my fear. I want to do this for Haru. And if the only way to see the exhibit is by going through the haunted mansion then I will. And besides it won't be so bad a second time. I know what to expect."
That said Tohru went straight inside the entrance. The others soon started to follow but they didn't get far when they heard Tohru's screech.
"She's hopeless." Kyo muttered shaking his head.
Meanwhile Haru had taken Yuki by the shoulder and was steering him ahead of Tohru and towards the exhibit which was at the back of the whole thing.
This left only Kyo and Tohru together since Momiji had followed Haru bouncing and laughing.
"Think of stories. Think of stories. Think of stories." Tohru chanted to herself as she tried not to look around. But as things popped out at her she inevitable screamed loud enough to scare someone else. Luckily though only Kyo was close enough to hear her. And he was more worried for Tohru who seemed ready to die of fear at any moment.
So, speeding up he went to her side and looked away from her. "You should turn back." He said quietly. Even now he wasn't great at making conversation with her. He always got nervous or embarrassed. "You already proved you can face your fears. And besides whatever Haru writes wouldn't be worth reading."
Tohru shook her head. "No, I loved his story last time. And even if this story doesn't have a happy ending or is scary I want to hear it. It's the least I could do for Haru for bothering to come all the way over hear."
This said she sped up and continued chanting as she walked still screaming at every slightly scary thing. Kyo shook his head wishing he could change her mind. But it seemed there was just no way to do that. Tohru was just too determined to turn back. This was just what made Tohru, Tohru.
'And that's why you love her.' A small voice said in the back of his head. But he ignored it. After hearing what Akito said he knew there was no way he could be with Tohru. Not for, forever. Maybe not even until he graduated. 'But I'll still spend every moment I can with her.' He told himself shaking off what Akito had said. Shaking off the fact Akito had said he didn't deserve to love.
After a few minutes of Tohru's screams and screeches there was a sudden quietness. Kyo was behind so he couldn't understand why. Becoming a bit worried he sped up and walked through a door that led into a dim room. The room looked plain besides for a tall figure that was in the shadows of the corners. He could see a smaller figure just to the side of the taller one.
Figuring the smaller figure to be Tohru he went to her. Of course he wasn't worried about Haru or the others. He figured they had gone to a better lit place or were talking with the manager about what Haru needed to write.
As he came closer to Tohru he could see her staring at a yellowish looking paper. There was faded but still legible print on it. Obviously she was reading that and looking upset to boot.
"If it's that scary don't read it stupid!" he exclaimed suddenly very worried for her. Tohru though shook her head and slowly looked to Kyo.
"It isn't scary…not really." She said quietly. With that she looked to the large figure beside her. "The story isn't." she said in an even quieter tone.
Frowning Kyo looked to the figure Tohru was staring at. And even he thought it was horrid. It was tall and grotesquely mismatched. The head was too small for its body and its ligaments looked wrong.
Not only was there that but at its elbows and knees bone popped out. As if they were deformed wings. And the things chest was a spongy sickly brown color that looked infected and somehow evil. Worst of all its face was upside down so that its eyes were at its chin and its mouth was right below its hair would have been. It finally was a sickly gray color that made the monster look scary enough to scare the wits out of the bravest person. Tohru though was staring at it. She looked absolutely terrified but it seemed she had zoned out.
Wondering why Kyo turned to the yellowish paper beside the figure. The paper, which was the story Haru was to rewrite, went as followed;
When the world was young and just beginning and Adam and Eve were not yet born there were thirteen creatures that roamed the Earth. All of them were evil, vile creatures whose only intent was to destroy the Earth. One day though God came down to Earth to talk with the creatures. He showed compassion to all of them and showed the creatures how to love. He showed them the riches and treasures the Earth had to offer. Finally he showed them why they should celebrate love and not destroy it or anything else. Twelve of the creatures quickly reformed one after the other. One though, one who had always been odd, disagreed. This creature knew that together they could defeat God and be the rulers of the Earth.
Sadly though no one agreed. And slowly but surely the creature was the only one left. He knew that God would punish him or worse, try to reform him. So, deciding to go all or nothing the creature forced God into a fight. The fight went on for days and days as God refused to hurt the creature. Finally though the first of the animals to reform got in the fight and defeated the other creature.
The creature was angry to have had one of his own kind turn against it. But there was nothing it could do. For God laid down his punishment. God said that the creature could never succeed. And its true form and power would be locked up forever and ever. Finally, for all eternity and beyond the creature would be shunned. No one and nothing would ever accept the creature in whatever form it would be forced to take. Weakened the creature couldn't get away and fell to the punishment.
After that millions of years passed. What had happened quickly turned into legend. Still though it is said there is a creature that is and always will be shunned. And it is said that this creature exists today, perhaps living in your home.
"That's so fake it isn't even funny." Kyo said after a very long moment of silence. He knew perfectly well the story was about him. Or, that was, the cat. It was a very different story but it was about him none the less.
"That poor creature." Tohru said. "For that to happen to it." No, Tohru didn't realize who the story was about. She had just been feeling great empathy for the hulking horrid thing. "For it always to be shunned. I know it had bad intentions but still…God should have given the poor thing a chance. I bet after it lost it would have reformed. And then things would be great."
Kyo shook his head. "No, that would never happen. Once people and other animals came to Earth the creature would destroy them. It'd have to because that's what it was born to do."
Tohru shook her head hard. "No, no matter what no creatures destiny is to just destroy. Someone or something may have to look for why they were born but there always will be a good reason even if it doesn't look like it at first."
Kyo shook his head. "But no one would believe it. They'd want the creature dead."
"I wouldn't." Tohru said stubbornly. "I would want that creature to find its purpose. And, if I ever met the creature I would stay with it and help it accomplish its mission so it could be accepted."
"No one would let you. They all would stop you or try to kill you too. And besides the story isn't true."
"Well, if it was. I'd protect it even if I died. I'd protect, defend and help it even if God himself was going against me. I know I would because it would be right. And besides after living through so much pain the creature would need happiness. It isn't right for it to
live in sadness for all eternity no matter what anyone says, even God.
"Do you mean that?" Kyo asked stunned. He knew Tohru had no idea she was talking about him but it was still truly amazing. "You mean even if the creature didn't want you to fight for it because you'd get hurt you'd do it anyway?"
Tohru nodded. "Of course. It'd only be right I'd have to help even if I did get hurt. After all the pain would be nothing compared to what the creature went through."
Kyo sighed so many ideas running through his head. It was really hard to keep up with them. Finally he walked closer to Tohru and quietly asked her. "Do you promise?"
Tohru said nothing. Not because she didn't promise him but because she was confused. She didn't see what she was promising. Still though that didn't stop her long because she trusted Kyo. "Yes, I promise." She said sincerely.
Kyo though still wasn't convinced. He could see that she didn't understand what she was getting into. And that meant he'd have to explain himself a bit.
"I mean do you promise to do what you said. Never back down no matter what."
Understanding a little better now Tohru nodded. "Yes, I promise." She said figuring Kyo somehow knew the creature. "I'll do all of what I said."
Kyo smiled sadly at this. 'I promised myself not to get her involved.' He told himself. 'But I can't leave her out of this forever. One day she'll know I'll be locked up. And one day she'll fight Akito. So, maybe it is best she knows.'
As he finished thinking this, tears started rolling down his eyes. It was too much. His love for her, the commitment she made that only meant something because Tohru didn't know who she was talking about. Everything.
Tohru quickly saw this. 'His true voice.' She thought. 'Or really close to it.' Then, aloud, she asked worriedly. "What's wrong Kyo-kun? Why…why are you crying?"
Taking a deep breath Kyo sighed, wiped away his tears but still continued to sob silently. "Because Tohru. Because." He said simply.
Tohru knew he wasn't done speaking so she stayed quiet listening intently as she intended to help him in any way possible.
"Because that creature is the cat. It's a different story but it's true. And because…because…I…well…I love you Tohru. I love you so much that it hurts. Sometimes I can barely stand it."
With that Kyo lost control of himself and couldn't say a word more as more tears rolled down his eyes. But this time they were not only sad they were happy too.
Tohru really didn't know what to do. She knew she didn't understand everything but she understood a lot more. More then she could handle. But still she had to do something. So she carefully put a hand on Kyo's shoulder. "I'm still keeping my promise. I want to beat Akito." She said determined revealing a lot in that statement.
Kyo knew this so he wiped his eyes one last time and hugged Tohru tightly.
And then…Poof
The End
Skiergirl-There that's the end. If you're confused about where this takes place check the…seventh book I think. The setting is explained there. Once again I hope you enjoyed my generic little thing. It was bugging me for the longest time. I wrote it up once and then it was lost. And that's why it was so long in coming.