I do not own any of the content relating to the original Fruits Basket. I do, however, own Venus, Ashlynn, and Silver, and any other content related to them as well.
Chapter 2
Ashlynn's Point of View
"Silver, dear, are you awake?" I had managed to wake up early yet again, much to my dismay. I had given a couple sharp raps upon Silver's door, but there was no answer. Silently I opened the door just enough for myself to peek in. Silver's bed in the corner was empty with the black blankets made in a neat fashion. I opened the door further to allow myself in. The bathroom door was open with the light off. I placed my hands upon my hips in thought. I had not heard Silver leave at all that morning. Perhaps she would be with Venus.
I quietly shut Silver's door and walked across the railed walk and down the hall to Venus's room. I banged my fist on the door, but just like with Silver, there was no answer. I took that as a cue to open the door; while being extremely cautious of course. I opened the door just an inch. Nothing was hurled at the opening door so I seized the moment and walked in.
Venus's room was in complete disarray as usual. Sketches, clothes, and papers with Venus's beautiful scrawled writing all across them were strewn all over the floor, desk and bed. Her bed itself was not made. It practically never was. The comforter was on the floor and the sheets were thrown completely back. It looked as though a war had erupted all on its own. My green eyes shifted to Venus's bathroom. Again, just like Silver, the door was open and the light was off. I sighed, said "Hello" to Rei, and left the room, shutting the door behind me.
With a huff I strutted down the hall, the stairs, then to my room. I contemplated to myself, wondering where the two could have gone to so early in the morning. Especially without telling me first or by me at least hearing them run off somewhere. They weren't usually the quietest duo in the world when they spent time together. I wiped the frustrated look from my face and slapped Good Charlotte's Good Morning Revival album into my stereo. The beat helped me to relax as I stripped off my pajamas and climbed into my school uniform. Who in their right mind would want to wear one of these, honestly?
The track changed to The River as I finished changing. As the song played, I sang along at the top of my lungs. I wasn't the best singer in the world, but hey no one is perfect. I slipped on my pair of DC's instead of the usual school shoe. They were a lot more comfortable anyhow. I turned up the volume and waltzed into my bathroom, bobbing my head to the beat. I skidded to a halt in front of the mirror and gaped at myself. My auburn-black wavy hair looked like a rat's nest. My face turned into a deep scowl as I grabbed my green brush and worked in through the knots.
Around ten minutes later, I finished. I ran my fingers effortlessly through my now sleek, silky hair. Yet something looked off. I turned side to side, trying to decide what to do with my hair today. I finally decided to just pull some of it back. I grabbed two white skull clips and stuck them in my hair just over my right ear to hold most of my bangs out of my face. A few wisps were too short and hung free, but I didn't mind that so much. I added a matching white choker with black beads and left my room.
In the kitchen, I could still hear my music playing thanks to the wireless system that Venus had hooked up. If you wanted to hear you music, but couldn't take your stereo with you, all you had to do was flip a certain switch in the living room and your music would be played throughout the house. Of course it was a problem with everyone wanting to hear different bands, but we manage to compromise… most of the time anyways. Venus uses that "It's my house, so it's my rules" excuse on us. Yet that didn't matter all the time because the three of us like most of the same music.
The track changed to Broken Hearts Parade as I began to make myself breakfast. What to make though? Pancakes, eggs and bacon sounded good to me. I got down on my knees and rummaged around in a cabinet underneath the counter for the frying pans. I managed to find two so I guessed that would have to do. I flicked on the gas stove and placed the pans on the flat-surfaced top. The Good Charlotte CD had ended so I danced over to my room to switch the CD to Green Day while the pans heated up. With Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) blasting through the speakers, I skipped back to the kitchen. If anyone besides Silver and Venus ever saw me skipping, I think the earth's body count just might raise a few numbers.
The pans were still heating up to the required temperature so I began to mix the batter. Don't we all love Bisquick. I put the flour-like substance into the bowl I had gotten out then added the recommended amount of milk, eggs, and the extra presence of dark chocolate chips. If Venus was here, she would have absolutely loved to mix it for me. Not to mention the fact that she would eat half of it in the process. Yet she was not present so I grabbed the whisk and began mixing.
Just as my arm began to ache from stirring so much, the doorbell rang. "Thank goodness." I said to myself as I slammed the bowl down and ran to the front door. I yanked it open to find Yuki, Kyo, and Haru standing there soaking wet.
"Good morning, Ashlynn." Yuki said with a slight bow. Haru copied him while Kyo stood there with his arms folded across his chest, looking quite gloomy might I add.
"Well good morning to you, too Yuki-kun, Haru-san and Kyo-kun. Uhm, come in?" I questioned, stepping back to allow them to step into the foyer.
"Thank you." Yuki said as he stepped inside, Haru and Kyo behind him. I shut the door as soon as they entered, clicking all the locks into position.
"I apologize about the music." I said as I gestured above my head to the Green Day CD playing through the speakers. You could almost feel the walls shaking. The song had long changed from the previous to Wake Me up When September Ends. The boys just shrugged. "Would you like breakfast or something to drink? I've made too much for just myself."
"What are you making?" Haru asked. Kyo still looked to be quite somber.
"Pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Interested?" Haru and Yuki nodded politely while Kyo continued to remain silent. "What's wrong with him?" I asked as I nodded my head toward Kyo. "You know, you're lucky Venus isn't here. She would have a field day with your attitude."
That got him to perk up a bit.
"I'll have some too." He said, though clearly not pleased. I nodded, pleased with myself.
"Where is Venus?" Haru asked as we walked into the kitchen. I went to my post at the stove while the other three loomed around me. Kyo slumped against the wall, Yuki stood in the nook and silently looked out the window while Haru took a bar stool to sit at the island and watch me.
"She and Silver… I don't know. They are not home. I checked on them earlier and neither of them were in their rooms. I have no idea where they disappeared to." I bet I sounded very worried to him because that was what I sounded like to myself.
"You're worried about them?" Yes, he was right on the mark. I nodded. "Well… you said Venus could take care of herself, right? Shouldn't she be able to watch out for Silver?" He leaned forward to rest his elbows on the table while I flipped the pancakes over.
"Yes, that's correct. Silver can take care of herself too, but I'm not sure of what Venus does while she disappears. I don't want anything to happen to either of them, but most of all… I don't want one of them to get in trouble or hurt at the hands of the other."
"What do you mean?" he paused for a moment, looking down at the stove. "What exactly does Venus do?
"That's my point. I have no idea what she does. I know Silver goes a few towns over to the bookstore when she needs something new to read or just needs to get away for a while. But Venus, sometimes I really worry. It's probably none of my business, but I have a feeling that one day she is going to get herself into deep shit."
"I see…" I guess he had nothing else to ask at the moment.
"Is the food ready yet?" Kyo seemed to be getting back to his old self. I turned sharply to face him.
"It will be ready when I say it's ready." I spat out as I waved the steaming hot spatula in front of his face. He raised his hands up and went back to leaning against the wall.
"Where do you think they would have gone?" Haru asked me. I shook my head.
"I really don't know. I didn't even hear them leave this morning. And I usually do." That was when a light bulb flickered on in my head. If there would have been one atop my head, the boys would have been blinded by it. I put the last of the pancakes onto the plate and stuck it into the microwave to keep them warm. "Help yourself. I will be back to finish in just a moment."
I pointed to the overhead cabinet which contained our black plates then rushed over to the garage. I flung the door open and let out an extremely frustrated groan. Venus's black truck, black mustang, and Silver's metallic silver mustang were all occupying their parking slots. I held the door open while I continued to think, my eyes on my black and white motorcycle.
I slammed the door shut and stormed back into the kitchen. I wondered why I didn't hear them leave this morning. Those V8 engines were loud as Hell. Especially with the way Venus had them pumped up. She had her own mustang up to around 600 horsepower at the moment, maybe more. I didn't hear them simply because they did not leave in that fashion. I was stumped now.
I used making breakfast to vent my frustration. Those eggs would never have been whipped so hard in their life if they had ever gotten past this frying pan. The scrambled eggs hit the pan with a loud hiss, causing the sulking Kyo to jump. I couldn't help but laugh as he glared.
Yuki grabbed the bacon and began to slice it. I looked up and smiled my thanks. When he finished, I took the strips and placed them in the other pan. They hit it with an even louder hiss. The eggs cooked much more quickly than the bacon so I served that first. Everyone's plates sat on the other side of the stove for me to do so. The bacon finished up right behind the eggs. I placed a few slices on everyone's plate and we took them to the dining room.
When the silence set in and all I could hear was the sound of jaws grinding, I realized that my CD had stopped playing. So we continued to eat in silence; until the rain started up again. We all turned to look out the window. The sky was completely gray and only getting darker. The rain came down in sheets. No, more like blankets, comforters. I couldn't even see half way down the driveway. The towering pine trees looked like giant, black, fuzzy dusters looming ominously on the other side of our private road.
I turned back to see Kyo sink lower in his seat. He continued to poke at his food which annoyed me. If I was to cook for someone, they better eat the damn food or else I will make them. He glanced up at me. I must have had one Hell of a look on my face because he began shoveling the food into his mouth. I tilted my head down to my food as a smirk spread across my face.
We all had finished our breakfast and taken our plates to the kitchen. I cleaned up the breakfast mess and went to my room while the three boys remained at the table.
I turned off my stereo and stared at it for a moment. I really wish that I did not have to go to school. The yawn that erupted at that moment reminded of what little amount of sleep I had. I groaned as I finished my yawn and snapped my mouth shut. My feet dragged across the floor as I scooted toward my closet. I leaned on the door frame as I yawned again. My lack of sleep was getting the best of me and I didn't like it. I reached down, grabbed my backpack and swung it over my shoulder. I left my closet in its open position as I exited my room, shutting my door.
My dragging feet caused me to stumble as I walked down the hall. With a thud, my shoulder hit the wall and I put my hands on it to brace myself. My head spun and I was blinded momentarily as I was hit with a severe head rush. When the dizzy feeling resided, I opened my eyes to find Kyo standing in front of me with a hand on my shoulder.
"What do you want?" I snapped. I didn't mean to. He was only trying to help after all. It was just my natural response to the fact that someone actually wanted to help me for once.
"You shouldn't go running into walls like that." He bluntly stated. I rolled my eyes at him as I pushed past him and walked back into the kitchen. I felt my face twisting about. I was clearly frustrated with myself. I absolutely hated when other people, besides Venus and Silver, saw me in this condition. I hated when people saw me as weak.
I made my way to the fridge, using the counter tops and walls to balance. I could feel Kyo's presence in the room. You could just feel the swirling emotions. Not to mention how they collided with mine. I didn't like it one bit. I opened the fridge, trying my best to push him out of my mind as I rummaged about.
A smirk spread across my face as I located Venus's stash in the very back of the fridge. I pulled out a Monster energy drink and clicked the lid open. This was just what I needed. Venus would just have to cope with the fact that I was taking one of her precious life supports.
"What is that?" Kyo asked. I turned and gaped at him.
"You've never had a Monster before?" I half asked and half shouted. He shook his head.
"Never." Way to be short and to the point. I turned back to the fridge and grabbed another Monster. I threw it at him when I turned back around.
"Try it." I said with that smirk still upon my face. "You'll love it." Well maybe he wouldn't, but I didn't really care at the moment. Now Venus would have to deal with two of her lives gone.
Not like she didn't have cases of them in the fridge. Not like she couldn't just go out and buy more. Not like I cared, once again.
I broke off from my thoughts and turned my gaze back to Kyo. He had polished off the whole can. I couldn't help but laugh. He raised an eyebrow at me.
"What?" He asked, practically yelling.
"Oh, nothing, nothing." I continued to giggle to myself as I turned away and shut the fridge. He sure as Hell would be feeling that later. Then would come the crash. That was the best part.
When I turned back around, I was hit full force with his emotions. Colors swirled around me. There were only different shades of red and blue which told me that he was feeling angry, frustrated, confused, or all of the above. Kyo was a very clear broadcaster when it came to his emotions.
I clamped my eyes shut and did a few deep breathing exercises. I see why Venus does this all the time. It actually does help calm the nerves. If that was even possible for her. When I reopened my eyes, the colors were completely missing from my vision. Though I could still feel them probing and vibrating inside my mind. I did my best to ignore them.
"I suppose it is time that we leave this place." I said as I glanced at the large stainless steel clock that was mounted on the red kitchen walls. It read about ten until seven. I assumed that I would be walking with the boys to school today considering Silver was not here to accompany me.
Yuki entered the kitchen followed by Haru. A sudden cracking noise echoed through the silence causing us all to jump. All four of our gazes turned to the nook windows. I couldn't help but smile slightly as we all let out an exasperated sigh at the same exact time.
"Or maybe not." I said, the sentence coming halfway out as a question. "I don't think we will be making it to school today." I forced myself to sound disappointed, but deep, deep, deep down inside I wanted to run around like a little kid and scream, "Yes!"
We all gazed out the window. The sky looked practically black. I couldn't see across the driveway anymore. Not even the silhouette of the pine trees could be seen. With all of us silent, I could hear the rain pounding against the house. My thoughts traveled back to my girls. I began to deeply worry about Silver and Venus again. I felt like a mother goose who misplaced her goslings.
"I think it would be best if you three were to stay here. Until the weather lightens up enough for you to walk home anyways. Venus would kill me if I touched one of her babies. I think Silver might do the same. My motorcycle only seats one." I began babbling as I trudged off toward my room. It was just too early in the morning for me. Just a few more hours of sleep would be nice.
I then realized that the boys hadn't moved. I turn and dragged my feet back to the kitchen.
"Make yourselves at home." I said as I waved my hands above my head. "Just don't… don't touch what you don't have to. I don't want Venus eating anyone."
They all laughed at what I said. I didn't. Seeing the serious look on my face, they stopped.
"I'm going to go back to sleep. If Silver and or Venus come home, someone wake me up." They all nodded as I turned and practically sleep walked to my room. I was hardly aware of myself as I removed my horrid school uniform and crawled into my cozy bed. The last thing I remembered hearing was someone flop on the couch, another rummaging through the kitchen, and the other stomping up the stairs. I hoped that they wouldn't do anything stupid as I drifted off to sleep.
I violently woke to someone shouting. I thought it was Kyo trying to get at Yuki again, but then I realized… Venus was home. Whoever she was mad at was seriously in for it.
I figured that she must be upstairs because her words were muffled. I shot out of bed like a rocket when I heard something collide with a wall.
"Venus!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as I ran up the stairs. My throat became a bit scratchy after I did so. I slid to a halt and ducked as a boot came hurdling in my direction.
"You bitch!" she screamed at me. "You let them into my house!"
"Venus, calm down!" I knew that there was no reasoning with her, but I had to try.
"Don't tell me to calm down! This is not your house to invite people into, it's mine!" She continued to scream at me. I was deathly afraid that she was going to lose it this time. "And you!" She pointed at Haru with a dagger clutched in one hand and a hard cover book in the other. "Get your ass out of my fucking room!"
"Make me." Haru flatly stated as he leaned one shoulder against the door frame.
"Haru, you might want to listen to her." I said as I tugged on his arm. I was shocked as he smacked my hand away. I widened my eyes at him, slightly shocked. This didn't seem like the Haru I had seen so many times around school.
"Make me." He repeated. "Or are you just going to stand there and yell empty threats at me?"
"Don't mind if I do." Venus was in it to win it, she was in for the kill. I glanced at Haru who refused to move. Was his hair darker? I turned to look down the hall. Where was Silver?
"Yuki, Kyo! You might want to get up here!" I yelled down the hall. "Now!" I added. Haru was about to launch at Venus who had her hands held up, ready for whatever he would dish out. He crouched and launched, and while in mid air, he was tackled to the ground by Yuki and Kyo. I hadn't even heard them coming up behind me.
I took that as my chance to grab Venus. I jumped behind her and pulled her arms up tightly behind her back. I knew this was dangerous, but I wouldn't or couldn't let her get a hold of any of the three.
"Yuki, Kyo, take Haru and leave." I demanded. Venus struggled against me, her strength threatening to snap my forearms. I was hardly strong enough to hold her, it usually took both Silver and I to contain her. She continued to verbally lash out at him as Yuki and Kyo dragged him out of her room.
"Let me go Ashlynn, I'm not done with his worthless ass!" She was just taunting him now. I knew if Yuki and Kyo would not have been in the house… Well, I would have been in for it. Haru was struggling against his restraints as well, but he was semi-allowing himself to be dragged out of the house.
I waited until I heard the front door slam shut before I released Venus's arms. I sank to the floor as I held my arms to myself. They ached terribly. I hadn't even blinked and Venus was already gone, down the stairs and to the front door.
I stood and hobbled down the stairs, heading straight for the kitchen. I rummaged around in a drawer and found what I was looking for. Pain killers worked miracles in this house.
I looked up as I slammed the drawer shut to see Venus standing with her arms folded in the doorway. Her stance was wide and clearly furious. I could tell that she was battling inside herself. Her eyes were flickering back and forth from pitch black to her usual ice blue. She was battling the wolf inside. They seemed to favor black at the moment. I had to be careful of what I said to her now.
"Where is Silver?" I asked. That couldn't be too upsetting.
"How the fuck am I supposed to know!" She shouted as she threw her arms up in the air.
"Alright, alright we'll just have to find her then." I offered.
"You go find her!" She shouted again as she stormed out of the kitchen and flopped on the couch. I heard the TV flicker on, the sound of a DVD being inserted into the player, and the beginning of Hot Fuzz following it. She had an obsession with that movie, I swear.
Yet I guess that meant that I was required to go search for Silver. Once Venus set her mind to something, there was no changing it. Well… you probably didn't want to try to change it. Not like I would know. Silver would have gone into a mock coughing fit right there if I had said that out loud and if she was here with me.
Now the only question left was… where do I look for Silver? I sat at one of the stools at the kitchen island and rested my forehead on the cool granite counter tops. I was starting to get a headache and the cool rock felt nice; extremely blissful.
My thoughts began to drift back to the boys that I had so hurriedly pushed from my home. The sound of the pounding rain made me wonder if they had made it safely. I would be able to find out tomorrow if the weather lightened up.
A knock at the door caused me to jump from my deep thoughts. I heard Venus growl and throw the remote to the ground.
"Don't even think about it!" I yelled as I leaped down from the stool. I didn't want her doing whatever she felt like doing right now to whoever was on the other side of that door. "You keep your ass on that couch. Don't even think about getting up. I will answer the door."
"Good, I didn't want to answer it anyways." She retorted. Typical.
I opened the door to find a soaking wet Yuki and Kyo standing in front of me. I was about to greet them when-
"Look at you, Orangey! You're all wet!" Venus popped up behind me and yelled right in my ear. Apparently she thought this was funny. OK, OK, I thought so too, but not as much as her. She started laughing to herself as she flaunted off toward the other room. I didn't really care where she went off to. She was out of my ear and that was all that mattered.
"I believe this is yours?" Yuki said, half saying it as a question. He stepped back to allow Silver to step forward and into the dry, warm house. She hung her black fedora on the rack by the door as she did so.
"Thank you Yuki, Kyo." I gazed at them a bit longer. "I'm guessing Haru is home?"
The two nodded. Well, Kyo looked more like he was dozing off.
"Yes," Yuki continued. "We passed her on the way home. Haru didn't want to walk back so he just kept walking home."
"Thanks… Would you like to come in, again?"
"Just for a bit would be wonderful. That is if it is alright with Venus."
I saw a hand wave from over the back of the couch so I assumed that to be a 'whatever' sort of gesture. That was probably all we were going to get from her now. Maybe some more yelling too…
I allowed the boys to step in and I shut the door behind them.
"Make yourself comfortable." I added. They hung their coats and slipped their muddy shoes off.
"Silver, what is that?" I asked, pointing to the bag that I just noticed she was holding.
"I found dicks!" She yelled, pulling one out. Next thing I knew, Venus was next to us, digging through the bag. She pulled one out and gazed at the yellow and red wrapping. On it said 'rellerindos'. Ripping off the candy wrapper and tossing it aside, she shoved the whole thing in her mouth.
"Oh my Johnny Christ!" She managed to moan out. "This is so… so… oralgasmic!" She leaned against the wall and slid to the floor, the boys' multiple-expression-holding faces staring the whole time.
"Venus… look what else I got."
"Whoa, wait! Let me get out of the room first!" I tossed my hands up in the air and squeezed my way out of the foyer. Yuki and Kyo followed without me having to ask.
"Kids! We can have orgies!" Silver and Venus shouted in unison from the other room as they tore open a bag of Sour Patch Kids.
"Oh no…" I mumbled to myself as I pulled a grape Popsicle out of the freezer as I heard them muttering something about being creepers and or pedophiles, knowing what Hell I would be in for later after they had consumed every piece of their candy.