When Tohru dies in a car accident, all the Soma's are crushed. Still, life has to go on in Shigure, Yuki and Kyo's household, and they need a housekeeper. Minne Kuremoto is the one who is chosen, a bright, lively girl, who soon wins, if not the love, but at least the respect of the Sohma's. But Minne has big secrets to hide, and big secrets to discover. Will she take Tohru's place in the Sohma's hearts, even though Minne and the late Tohru are so different…?
Chapter 4:
Kyo: When Minne came back down, she looked…I don't know…strange! Sad, or maybe frightened, or even angry…
The party was over by then, Shigure having to drive Momiji back home. But I noticed a positive change in Momiji. And maybe even a positive change in myself. Minne didn't entirely fit, not as Tohru had. Not knowing the fact that we were cursed didn't help. But she still cheered the house up very well, and I even think that I was happy to have her here. After some time that evening, we went to bed, but the emotions from the party still lingered. I relaxed and fell asleep, dreaming about little colored pieced of clay and sandcastles.
Minne: Something, somehow, I felt like my heart had just been turned upside-down. I hated this place, hated this life, hated everyone around! I wanted to see Mina, to tell her everything, to talk it over. I wanted mother back! I wanted father to care. I wanted to forget everything. But still, I cleaned up, washed the dishes, and went to bed. Tomorrow, I would visit Mina. As soon as I got my first paycheck, I would take a day off and take the train to Osaka, to see Hirada and Omiei. I needed somebody to talk about this, to calm down. But for now, all I needed was sleep.
Yuki: Tonight, I dreamed about my Tohru again. She was so beautiful, in none other then one of Aya's dresses. Her face shone like an angel's, her hair fell to her waists in cascades of dark brown and her ocean-blue eyes glistened with tears. Tears of joy, or pain? I never managed to find out. That particular dream ended too soon.
The morning left me tired and uneasy. I dreaded to go down to the kitchen, dreaded to see Miss Kuremoto at Tohru-chan's usual place.
Still, my hunger got the best of me, and slowly, I walked down the stairs. She was sitting there, chatting with Kyo while eating fruit-filled pasties. Shigure was gone somewhere, probably having been out all night. Miss Kuremoto stopped talking when she saw me. "Yuki-san, there are some pastries in that bowl if you want breakfast. Tea is cooking, and will soon be ready. If you want anything, please tell me what." "Yes, thank you very much." I looked at her, and a current of cold passed between us. She stared at me icily, with disdain. How could she do that? How could she treat me like I was…somebody stupid, a little child, in my own home? But then she smiled a resigned smile. "I would like to know, as Shigure-san is absent, if I could take the afternoon off. Of course, I will prepare everything and get a cold lunch ready, and all the chores will be done. And I will be back by evening." She looked at me with a hopeful smile, as if afraid that I would forbid her. Stupid girl! Didn't she understand that all I wanted was having her out of the house which she was befouling this way! If only I could have let her know. But I looked away and nodded. "Of course, Miss Kuremoto. As long as you get all your chores done beforehand." And left the room. I was in a very bad mood today!
Minne: I stared after him. He'd just let me go so easily. I wondered if he really hated me as much as he had seemed to, yesterday. Did I really hate him as much as I thought I did? Maybe we were both just two people warped by misery and pain. Maybe he had suffered as much as I had, maybe worse. Maybe I had said something, done something that I wouldn't have noticed but he did, and it hurt the bruised spot, causing hurt. What had I done? Could I fix it? Was it possible? I shuddered at the thought, and suddenly, I felt like I needed to know more, understand more about the Sohma's lives. Something had happened, which had left none of the Sohma's indifferent, but what was it? WHAT?
-------------------LATER------------------
The rest of the morning had passed in a blur; small talk, small work, small thoughts.
When I came to the hospital, its cold and impersonality chilled me to the bone. And to think that Mina had to stay there all the time, alone. I walked slowly to her room, looking around, taking it all in. The harsh neon light, the sobs of the patients or their family, the smell, the smoothness of the walls. Standing before her door, I was suddenly taken by vertigo. I hadn't seen her for over a month. How would Mina react? Would she think I had forgotten her? Would she hate me? I swallowed my worries and opened the door slowly. There she lay, my beautiful, fragile Mina, as pale as ivory, so small-looking. Her dark hair wove its way around her face in messy tangles, her large brown eyes were half-shut, and her slender hands spread out on the sheets. She smiled when she say me. "Minne…" came out of her mouth in a soft whisper. "You came" I ran to hug her, overwhelmed by emotion.
-Mina, how are you? Are you alright? Do they treat you well? I barely contained the flow of questions, all pressing to come out.
-I'm…fine. She smiled. How are YOU?
-Oh Mina, I found a job, it's this family…you know, anyway, they're nice, and they pay me well, I'll maybe go to Osaka soon, to visit them, you know, I'll bring you something back, and then…then…MINA!
She had fallen against the pillows, faint. Only then did I notice, on her pale skin, the thinnest scars criss-crossing over her arms and face like some kind of twisted lace, etching strange drawings representing indefinable pictures, as if made by a five year old kid. The first time I had seen Mina, she was covered in too much blood for me to notice them, the second time, bandages hid the carvings. But now, so clear and visible, my heart ached with pain for Mina, who would have to live with these abominations all her life. Mina's eyes had fluttered open again: "Don't worry…they're…they won't…I'll wear long sleeves and makeup…Minne…"
-The MONSTER! The awful…how did he dare…? The cry escaped me burning my throat and ripping my lungs apart, but nothing felt as broken as my heart. Mina…Mina…, I whispered frantically, smoothing the matted hair from her face, arranging her pillows, smoothing the creases out of her covers over and over again. All the pain she must have gone through, all the…all…and now, marked forever by the monster…my sister was…the monster had…the beast had…
My thoughts swirled through my head, my mind, my heart, burning, crying with her, my dear sister. Tears fell out of my eyes, mingling with her tears.
-I will protect you Mina! I will hunt him down, I will kill him! Destroy him! Make him pain!
By then, Mina had fallen asleep, but inside me, everything boiled. Mina didn't deserve all this. Mina didn't deserve losing her father to a rich widow, didn't deserve losing her mother to alcohol, didn't deserve losing her home to denial, didn't deserve losing all the hope and all the joy over and over again…
I would keep my little sister from all harm. She deserved peace and love, no less. And she would get it!
Kyo: With Minne gone and Shigure sleeping, the house felt empty. The space Tohru had usually taken up felt painfully vacant, as if a black hole had formed, sucking out all the joy she had brought. Yuki had gone, to visit Akito probably. He did that often now, and I loathed him for the weakness. How I missed Tohru. How I had loved her, still loved her. Had she loved me? Maybe, if she had stayed around, I would have had the courage to ask. But she was gone, dead, and she had taken my heart with her. And I would do anything to have her back.
Akito: Yuki looked so handsome, staring into nothingness with acute attention, his eyes half-closed dreamily. "Akito?" he asked me with his sweet voice. "What happens when a cursed Sohma dies?" "A new Sohma gets born in his place, obviously." I answered with a chuckle. My little Yuki is so innocent! "Why do we need to be cursed?" he asked then. "Is there a purpose? A necessity?" I looked at him with surprise. "Yuki…don't think of things like that. You don't need to puzzle over mysteries. You are cursed, that is true. But here, with me, you will have everything you could ask for. I will take care of you, my Yuki. You will never be in need, ever happy in a world where everyone accepts you, knows you to be the strongest, the best. You ARE the best, Yuki! But only here, with us. Do you want to go back to the common humans, to become a common human? Stay with me, and you will be special, not hindered. Come to me, and you will be important, not mediocre. Be with me, and you will be loved." My speech felt so convincing; I hoped Yuki would not see the flaw in it. "That is not true" said my little favorite, and I winced. "For a few months, I've been accepted and loved, far from you. I've experienced appreciation, integrity, things I had never known while being with others. With Tohru, I could be myself. I was loved, but not cursed, not in her heart." "But Tohru is dead…!" I whispered. "She's not here to love you anymore. But I am…!" "Then, the only way is to break the curse." Said Yuki. His words were like a blow. I stood up. "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SAYING!" I yelled, losing control, I struggled to remain calm, and finally, managed to sit down. I looked straight into Yuki's eyes: "I am sorry, Yuki-chan. But the curse which lies upon you is cunningly wrought. There is NO way to break it…!"
And tears sparkled at the edges of Yuki's eyes. Victory was bittersweet, and I loved it…!
Chapter four. I have so many ideas for the rest! Please review to tell me if you like the story so far! And I can promise you some unexpected twists and turns, so stay tuned! 0
Kyo: I have nothing to say…! Sorry.
Me: It's ok hun; I have nothing to answer…! Except maybe that I've got some pleasant surprises for you all in the upcoming chapters!
Well…that's it! Ciao and c ya all in the next chappy! D
