Summary: Another Zodiac Member shows up at Shigure's House…but why is she a mute? What's Her place in The Zodiac? And why is Kyou so surprised at her arrival?
Disclaimer: I can honestly say that things wouldn't be the same if i owned the wonderful characters of fruits basket!
Parings: KyoxOc
Warnings: N/A…Although Akito is a male in this story
Finding Your Voice
:----:Chapter Two: No change:----:
"H-he what!" Kyou managed to stutter.
Momiji hugged Tohru as his tears ran down his cheeks,
"He-How-Why, why did he do that?"
Yuki only sighed deeply as Hatori cleared his throat and then began speaking.
"All she was able to tell me was that Akito had blamed her for your return to the mountains."
The room was once again caked in silence as he continued.
"Ever since Akito beat her, she was kept locked away from everyone. However the day you returned, something set off Akito, and in the process of reprimending her, he crushed her voice box in his very hands. We've been doing rehabilitation ever since, yet she still cannot form sounds."
"Ari-chan had the most beautiful voice too, oh you would've loved her singing Tohru! She sang all the time, and every new years she would sing a song in front of everyone!"
Tohru looked sympathetically towards the stairs after hearing Momiji's words, as Kyou stood and left the room.
"Ah, Kyou-kun!"
"He'll be fine Tohru," Shigure replied as he clapped his hand together. "I do however wonder if anyone here know's how to speak sign language? Okay, did that even make sense?" He wondered.
"I know quite a bit actually. Mom taught me alot, she said communication was a good stragety in life."
Shigure only smiled at the girl as Yuki smirked.
"Oh Hatori-kun, Momiji-kun will you be staying for dinner?" She asked as Hatori shook his head.
"Oh please Hari-kun, please, please, please!" Momiji begged as Hatori let a small sigh escape his lips.
"Sorry Tohru but we've got to be getting back to Sohma house," he stated grabbing an upset Momiji. "Call me if anything happens Shigure!"
"Well that was...interesting?" Shigure questioned as Tohru bounded into the kitchen to prepare the meal.
Yuki just looked up the stairs as Shigure placed a hand on his shoulder, as if to comfort him, however it did not bring the relief Yuki had hoped for.
'Everyone seems to become sad once Akito-sama is mentioned, is the leader of the Sohma clan really that mean…Oh no the water!!' Tohru cried.
:-:
'Its so weird being here…that stupid Hatori, once Akito finds out about this, I might as well just banish my self from the name of Sohma. Also I had no idea that Kyou-kun was here too, same with that Tohru-san. Then Again when you're locked away by Akito…'
Ari placed a hand against her neck remembering the night as if it had been just yesturday.
"Does it hurt?"
Ari almost fell over at the sound of the voice. She hadn't expected Kyou to be able to sneak up on her like that, much less feel like sneaking up on her. Finally regaining her composure and balance she was able to sign to him.
'No'
"What are you saying...of course it hurts."
Ari sighed as she raised her hands.
'It's not your fault.'
She didn't really care weather or not he could understand her explicit hand movements, however she was surprised when he answered her.
"I know that. And quit looking surprised, Kazuma Sensei taught me some sign language in the mountains so I could communicate without words. I didn't think I would ever use it till now."
"Kyou-kun, Ari-san, dinner's ready!"
Ari brushed right passed Kyou who was slightly pissed at the fact she wouldn't really talk to him. Okay, so bad choice of words but it's the truth.
"I hope you enjoy the meal Ari-san!" Tohru stated as Ari gave her a small considerate smile.
"Ah, what the hell...LEEK!" Kyou cried as Ari rolled her eyes and Tohru began to aplogize for putting such a thing in the meal.
"Shut up you stupid cat!"
"Why don't you, you damn rat!"
Yuki wound up and punched the cat sending him right through the shoji door.
"I should really start charging you rent money for destroying my beautiful home..." Shigure cried as Kyou spat the wood chips from his mouth.
"Blame it on that damn rat, he's the one who started this. One of these days..."
Ari couldn't help but let a small smile grace her features. Those two were still the same as always. She picked up her empty rice bowl and brought it towards the kitchen.
"Oh Ari-san, you don't need to worry about that I-"
'I don't mind, really'
"Well if you're okay with it, then I will most definitely appreciate your help!" Tohru told her as Ari smiled.
It made her feel good that she had at least a few members of the house hold that could understand her. So the two worked on cleaning up dinner when finally Shigure poked his head through the door.
"Ari-chan," he sang as Ari sweat dropped. "Would you mind coming with me? There's a few things I would like to discuss with you."
Ari nodded and after receiving a 'go ahead' look from Tohru she followed Shigure to to his office where she knelt down on the floor.
"Now then Ari, Ha-kun just called, and apparently Akito-sama is allowing you to stay."
That sentence had aroused suspicion in Ari's mind, however she let it slide and continued listening to Shigure.
"You will be transferring to the same school as Kyou, Yuki, Tohru, Momiji and Hatsuharu. So you wotn feel so alone, not to mentiont that your extremely high grade average has allowed you to bypass the entrance exams"
'Thank you' She signed, however all she recieved was a blank stare.
Picking up the pad of paper on Shigure's desk Ari wrote thank you on it and headed up the stairs to her and Tohru's room. It was then that she noticed the school uniform and sighed. Why was it that the skirts had to be so damn short? Well whatever the reason, she didn't like it.
Thats when a bag containing her belongings caught her eye. Hatori or Momiji had to have brought it in. Noticing the time she sighed and began to make up the futon. Once that was finished she pulled on her pajyama's and took out a small picture from her bag. Laying down on her futon, she couldn't help but smile as she remembered the day in which the picture was taken. She was standing in between Kyou and Yuki, Momiji was crying from being hit on the head by Kyou, Hatsuharu was looking at Yuki with a lustful gaze and Kyou was trying his best to sheild himself from Kagura.
:----:Flashback:----:
"Get back here you damn rat!" A young Kyou cried as he chased Yuki. "One of these day's I'll beat you till you say sorry!"
"Sorry." Yuki replied arrogantly causing Kyou's anger to flare even more.
Ari just sighed and shook her head. Every new years was the same, Kyou and Yuki would fight, she would laugh, Momiji and Haru would come talk to her, Kagura would show up and chase Kyou declaring her love for him, and they would all celebrate another year of being part of the cursed Sohma family.
"So they're fighting again?" A ten year old Hatsuharu asked as Ari nodded. "I love watching Yuki like this, it just makes me love him so much more!"
Ari just shook her head in slight disgust and amazement, but soon smirked.
'She's right on cue' she thought as Kagura, who was looking more angry then normal made her way in Ari's direction.
"Ari! What does Momiji mean when he says that you lo-"
Ari cut her off, as she covered the girl's mouth and pinned her to the ground.
"Say one more word you stupid boar, and I'll make sure you won't walk for a week!"
Kagura only stuck her tongue out as she backed away. Though many people didn't like it, they all knew that Ari was destined to be the one who would take over Akito's position as head of Sohma house, and because of this, they had to obey.
Ari pulled herself off of Kagura as Momiji came running in her direction.
"Momiji, I should kill you!"
"Oh, heh sorry Ari-chan."
Ari just composed herself and took a deep breath.
"Kyouuuu-kuuuunnn!" Kagura sang as the fight between Yuki and Kyou stopped and the poor cat set off in the opposite direction.
'I feel sorry for Kyou' Ari thought as she walked towards Yuki.
"You think he'll be okay?"
"Serves the stupid cat right," Yuki replied noticing the look on Ari's face. "So then what Momiji said is true?"
"What do you mean?!"
"You really love him don't you?" Yuki recieved a silent answer as Ari averted her gaze to the ground. "But of all people why Kyou?"
"We're the same..."
Ari would've continued however Haru's waving caught her attention, and her raised eyebrow was answered by a finger pointing in Akito's direction.
"He want's me to sing I suppose," she stated as she made her way towards the man she hated more than anyone else.
"Let's hear that beautiful voice of yours Ari-chan, you wouldn't want to ruin your reputation would you?" Akito stated as he slowly walked away, however he said one final thing that caused Ari to shiver in fear.
"What would you do if someone took that from you?"
:----:
Ari didn't realize she was shaking until the sound of the picture falling woke her from her trance. She could hear all the calls of good night and sighed rolling over in her futon. Tomorow was going to be a long day.
:-:
A/N: Okay here's the deal. I have decided to rewrite this story. So it may be a little while till the tenth chapter but my new years resolution was to update and finish all my stories starting with this one.
I believe I have developed a lot more as an author since this was written which is why I am rewriting it. So feel free to tell me how you feel about the new version, or just sit tight untill the newest chapter!
-xoenviouslust!
