Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket! P
Hallo! Guten tag! I hope you liked the prologue! Don't worry, everything will get better for theZodiacs, eventually. -sweatdrop- Eventually. Like at the end of the story. Ah well. Sorry that Tohru and Kyo weren't in the prologue. Tohru's in this one, though!
Kyo - -cough cough cough-
... And so is Kyonkichi. Happy now? Ah, sorry. That was directed to Kyon-Kyon over there. Hee hee. Read on!
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Two weeks later, the Zodiacs were reported to be seen outside Zolapan as a caravan all their own, performing, and occasionally pillaging unguarded pockets, for money.
At about the same time, the whole Zolapanians aristocracy was found dead in their swan down beds, their throats slit and their sheets stained red. Only the Baron's family, the Hondas, who had been on vacation in their summer palace, was alive to take the throne.
The Hondas were great friends of the Zodiacs and lamented their leaving very much. However, they couldn't believe their great fortune for their survival. People blamed them for the death of all those ranking above themselves. However, others blamed Akito. In truth, the Hondas were a quiet, peaceful family that would never hurt a fly, even if it was chowing down on their food.
Either way, there was no one above them that could possibly pinpoint them with a trial, so the Hondas became the new royal family. Katsuya Honda became king, and his expecting wife, Kyoko Honda, queen.
In about half a year, Tohru Honda, the new princess was born. She was a happy, beautiful baby who had laughed when she was born instead of crying. Just before her birth had been news of a new cat that was a cousin to the still-living, still-reigning Akito Sohma.
Kyoko and Katsuya were humble monarchs and raised their daughter to be so. As she grew, she became happier, more beautiful, and kinder. She was Zolapan's crown jewel and her people loved her. All was well and prospering for the Zolapanians.
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"Hana-chan, Uo-chan!" A sweet-looking girl called as she ran down a lavish hall. She had pretty brow eyes and silky chocolate-brown hair. Every so often, she would trip on her too long golden and pink kimono. "Where are you?"
"Oi, Tohru!" A voice called, and the girl spun around to see a blonde-haired, brown-eyed girl in an equally fancy kimono. Beside her was a black-haired, black-eyed girl wearing a black kimono. "We're here!"
"Oh, thank goodness! Mom is letting me go out if you come with me!" Tohru said, adjusting her pink sapphire and diamond-jeweled tiara.
"Then let us dress conspicuously, Tohru-kun. We must blend it, or you will be mobbed." The second girl, Hanajima, said, pulling Tohru's tiara off her head and putting it in a little pouch she was carrying.
"Yes… I suppose we must. But I'm not even wearing my junihitoe…" She said, looking over at the other two girls' kimonos, which both consisted of a little gold, the color of aristocracy.
"I've got some old kimonos from my gang life we can use." Offered the blond girl. The three dressed easily in ragged yukatas of normal, non-royal colors. They also donned waraji, the shoes of the common people.
"Come on, I wanna check something out!" Called Uotani as she, Tohru, and Hanajima trotted out of the palace courtyard on brilliant horses.
"What is it, Uo-chan?" Asked Tohru, stroking the black mane of her brown horse. She gathered the white skirts of her kimono as she rode sidesaddle, her eyebrows furrowing. Uotani had always had a sense of adventure, and they might easily get in trouble if she wanted this bad to go somewhere.
"I suppose she wants to see the Outlands, perhaps meet a Zodiac caravan or two." Hanajima patted her own black horse's side getting it to speed up a little. "I don't mind, and we can take care of you, Tohru."
"T-the Outlands!?! The Zodiacs can be dangerous, and the animals that live there are, too!" Hana patted Tohru's shoulder affectionately, sighing.
"We'll protect you, Tohru-kun. You don't want to get caught in here in these peasant clothes, do you?" Tohru gulped in response looking down to her ratty clothes. There had been a recent attempt on poisoning the royal family and security was tighter. Guards would immediately imprison any commoner without a pass to being there, thanks to Katsuya's idiotic, self-acting advisor, Manabe.
"Let's go."
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A man with bright orange hair and tan skin walked though the Outland forests, his figure cloaked in darkness. He sighed, his brown dragon leather boots kicking up loose dirt and rotting leaves. As the wind whistled and blew through his red silk cape, he grew thankful for the brown dragon leather vest and white peasant shirt he wore. It was only early fall, but the temperature was dropping like rocks in water this year.
He sat down by a river that trickles slowly, creating an unpredictable melody, the birds in the trees the vocalists. All seem quiet, tranquil, peaceful. Of course, that wasn't to last.
"IIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEE!!!!" A scream pierced the peace and the man jumped up, his head swiveling towards the sound. He was gone in a flash, his muscled legs carrying him faster than any normal human.
The man appeared just in time to see a bay horse whimper, rearing. As it did, its rider, a beautiful girl with silky brown hair, fell off the horses back and towards the ground, her arms flailing. She screamed, her pitch matching the yelp from before, and her head collided with the ground, rendering her unconscious immediately.
The horse whinnied, its hooves hovering dangerously over its rider. The man took action immediately, grabbing the horse's reigns and pulling it to the side of the girl. What had startled the horse, though?
A snarl. That was the source of fear. A wolf jumped out from the trees, growling at the girl's limp body. The man sighed, hoping this rescue he was making would just end already. He easily drove back the wolf with a sword that had been at his side then looked over to the girl who had caused him trouble.
"Looks like I'll have to take care of you, too." He said, sighing.
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"Tohru!" Uotani yelled, her eyes wide with worry as she galloped though the woods on her golden horse. Her horse tripped, nearly sending the blonde girl off. The poor mare had a wound on her right foreleg and was limping. Uotani didn't care, she was bloodied up herself. Tohru could be dying out there!
"Toooohru-kun!" Another voice yelled. It belonged to Hanajima, who was riding though another part of the forest, feeling guilty for letting Tohru get lost after she promised to keep her safe. A pack of wolves had attacked and the best way to escape was by splitting up. That had turned out to be a bad idea…
"Tohru!" Uotani called again, her voice cracking with tears. She galloped over to Hanajima, pulling up beside her depressed friend. "We have to go back to get help, Hana!"
"Yes, we will get in trouble, but Tohru's life is more important." She agreed, nodding slowly. Then, they sped off, tears welling up in their eyes. "Godspeed, Tohru-chan."
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"Nnn…" Tohru moaned, opening her eyes. She was greeted with the sight of a slightly worried, unfamiliar face of a man with tan skin, red eyes, and orange hair. "Oh!" she sat up quickly, scooting away from him.
"Are you alright?" He asked as she put a hand to her buzzing head. Tohru nodded slowly, looking around. Hey were in a small thicket.
"Yes, I'm well. Please, what happened?" She adjusted herself, sitting on her knees like a proper princess. The man sighed, looking off to the horse on the side.
"You fell off your mount when a wolf attacked and banged your head." Tohru nodded, remembering. A smile tugged at her light pink lips and a little red blush bloomed into full view on her cheeks.
"Thank you for saving me, hero-san." She nearly whispered, looking down at her hands resting in her lap. "You are very brave."
Her savior blushed as well, though if you weren't looking at him, you couldn't tell from his voice. "Not really, gypsies have to be prepared for the worst. This wasn't the worst, though."
"Wow, you're a real gypsy!?! That's really cool!" Tohru stood up, trying to bow. However, she was still unsteady from her fall and the man ended up catching her in his arms very far away from his body. Even so, they both blushed. "A-ariga-…"
"Put the princess down, gypsy!" A stern male voice yelled as a soldier marched though the brush and towards the two. A doze or so soldiers followed him, all bearing sharp silver swords. Behind their numbers were two girls, one blonde and one black-haired, sitting in chargers, glaring at the man in hatred.
"Yeah, put Tohru down, or I'll beat you to a bloody pulp!" Uotani yelled from her mount, raising a sword of her own. Beside her, Hanajima silently lifted up a jeweled wand.
"P-princess!?! I think you've got the wrong girl!" The man yelled back to them, but he was silenced when Tohru slipped out of his arms and her tiara slipped out of her pocket. She fell on it, cracking the thin crown in half. "Oh my God, you are the Princess!" He backed away as if she had the Black Death, his eyes unbelievably wide.
"And you're Kyo Sohma, the cat." Hanajima stated quietly, glaring at the man's juzu bead bracelet. Tohru gasped, scurrying towards the guards. Her crown lay forgotten on the ground, far beyond repair.
"I'm sorry; Otou-san says I shouldn't talk to the Zodiacs. They are ripe for misplaced revenge and I am a target!" The guards nodded, advancing on Kyo with their sharp spears. "Wait! Don't hurt him! He saved me." Kyo's eyes widened even more, and the guards obeyed reluctantly.
"Tohru, we should go now." Uotani said, eying the zodiac cat warily. "He might bring backup." Tohru nodded, holding out her hand.
"Please, give me my horse." She pleaded, and Kyo obliged. As he handed her the reigns, their hands touched, causing a blush to rise up both of their cheeks. She mounted and rode off, leaving Kyo staring after her, but not before she mouthed a sorrowful "thank you" first.
"Princess Tohru…" Kyo muttered, picking up the crown. "I think I shall be seeing you again."
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Aww, kawaii! Orangey saved Tohru! Yay! However... Kyo-Kyo, your last line was rather... stalker-ish.
Kyo - W-what!?! I didn't mean it that way, it was in the script! I'm not a stalker!
Tohru - Kyo-kun, you did sound rather scary...
Haha, Kyonkichi's a stalker! Hope you liked the chapter! Review please! Arigatou for reading and ja' ne!
Tohru - Yes, Please review! Arigatou! Ja' ne!