Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket.
Japanese
English
Note: In this chapter there are some borderline T stuff.
Chapter 9
Lady Kine
The Sohmas and the Hondas all got ready to go to Lady Kine's house, seeing as it was already 6:15, and it would take at least 15 minutes to walk there. They'd have to walk, judging that they'd have to get a bus in order to have it so that they wouldn't have to. They all got dressed up in Kimonos and Yukatas, most of which Mika brought over, knowing that they'd have to dress up to see Lady Kine and that the Sohmas probably have anything appropriate.
They walked to Lady Kine's house. It was huge. Then an assistant motioned them to come in. The assistant whispered, as if in fear of waking a sleeping monster, "Milady would like to see Miss Tohru Honda, Miss Ayu Honda, and Miss Kira Honda first,"
Tohru looked at Mika. Mika said, "Go on in. You'll all be fine,"
As they walked away, Mika wondered, Did I do the right thing?
The specified people walked down a dimly lit passageway, the assistant whispered, "Milady is waiting for you in there. Go straight down the hall, and down the stairs. She is waiting in the room at the end. I am not allowed any farther, good luck," the woman smiled.
"Thank You," the teens whispered. They opened the door. Inside was a old stone passageway with stairs going down. It felt as if they were going down into a dungeon. They opened the door and stepped inside. The three knelt so low their foreheads hit the floor. "Good Day, milady," they said together.
"What's so good about it?" a voice coldly said from above. "Look at me, but keep kneeling," The three teens raised their heads, but stayed on their knees. Above them an elderly woman stood. She was in a black kimono. She was tall, as tall as Tohru. She was skinny and had white hair all in a neat bun. Her deathly pale blue eyes were cold. "Why did you return? You were so eager to leave me before, my little songbird," Tohru's eyes filled with hate as she bristled, glaring at Lady Kine. "Oh, did I make the little bird angry? Too bad," Lady Kine sneered, "But why did you return?"
"Well…" Tohru began as she started telling Lady Kine exactly why she and her sister had returned. The trio remembered the past…
(Author's note: The Language codes are now reversed. Japanese is now underlined while English is regular. By the way, all Hondas can already speak English and Japanese fluently at this point, even the younger ones.)
Flashback
2 Weeks after Katsuya's Death (Fall)
A 4 year old Tohru sat in front of the TV on the floor. Kyoko muttered to herself on the couch, "Katsuya, Why'd you have to go? Why?" Suddenly Kyoko got up, "I'm going to go join you Katsuya, I can not go on without you," She walked towards the door, Tohru following. Tohru was about to go out the door too, when Kyoko slammed the door behind her, not allowing her to follow. Tohru sank down to her knees and sat there, silently.
A two year old Kira walked in, her hair was tousled, from her nap. She looked around her and said simply, "Toh-chan, where's Momma?"
"I don't know," Tohru said quietly, tears falling onto the hardwood floor, "We're all alone," Then Tohru broke down completely, she sobbed, head in her hands.
"Toh-chan, don't cry," Kira said, hugging Tohru, "Even if Momma and Poppa are gone forever, you'll never be alone, cuz I'll always protect you,"
"Is t-that a p-pwomise?" Tohru whispered.
"Yeah, I'll always pwotect you. Forever,"
One Week Later
Tohru and Kira had been taken to the Honda Main House after their Mom was found unfit to take care of the cursed youth. Tohru and Kira looked around wide-eyed at the scene around them. They had never seen anything so HUGE!! They had been led into a small play area where they would wait for Lady Kine to see them. Inside there were two girls, one 5 year old, with white hair and pale blue eyes, and one 3 year old, with white hair and brown eyes. Kira and Tohru were pleased to see someone their own age, since they had been around adults all day that had to have everything perfect for their Lady. Currently, all of the four were all dressed in their kimonos that didn't have a scratch on them.
"Hi," Kira said, "My name is Kira Honda, I'm 2, and this is my sister Tohru Honda, she's 4,"
"I'm Miri Honda, I'm 3, and this is my sister Ai, she's 5. WE HATE YOU!!"
Then Miri punched Kira in the nose, holding her nose Kira kicked Miri into the wall.
"This is all your fault," Ai screamed, "If you sister hadn't hit my sister first!"
"Excuse me?! Your sister hit mine first!" Tohru shouted, then Ai punched Tohru in the eye. Kira defended her sister by punching Ai in the head. They fought and fought, until both Ai and Miri collapsed. Tohru and Kira cheered. Then an assistant came in.
"What is the meaning of this?" the assistant scolded, "Milady won't be happy about this. But she wants to see you now,"
The assistant led them like she would 12 years later, so the two toddlers went down to Lady Kine. They stood awkwardly in the doorway. "Bow," a younger Lady Kine said. They bowed at the waist. Lady Kine went behind them and kicked their buts so that they were sprawled on the floor. "That is how you're to bow to me," she sneered. "So these are Katsuya's daughters, I see that you look quite like him except for a few key characteristics. The dragon," Lady Kine motioned for her to get up, "Blonde hair, Lady Kine said as she played with a few locks, "Disappointing. I see you got that from the unclean mother's side. The most important aspect however are the eyes, the that shows the color, rarity, and power, of the dragon," Kine tilted Kira's chin upwards and peered into her eyes, her eyes widened for just a second and then narrowed again, "The Blue dragon, the rarest of all," Kine spat, "You have a large amount of dragon power, but very little of your Father's Powers. How disappointing. Bow again," Kira bowed.
"The phoenix," Kine motioned at Tohru, and she stood, "You look like your father. I see you also have his powers, strongly, too, " she said.
"Thank You, milady," Tohru said quietly, half relieved that Lady Kine wasn't going to start yelling at her, too.
Lady Kine slapped her, "That's not a good thing, brat,"
"DON'T HIT MY SISTER!!!" Kira got up and charged Lady Kine. Lady Kine raised her hand and threw Kira against the wall, knocking her unconscious. Tohru sniffed, holding back tears.
"Kira," she thought.
"Now, let's continue," Kine said, "The Phoenix has remarkably good vocal cords. So to test, sing,"
Tohru began singing quietly. "Louder!" Lady Kine shouted.
Tohru sang louder, making up the words as she went,
"I wish the world was happy,
a smile on every face,
a peaceful place our world would be,
not a single unhappy case.
In this world there will only be love,
all will be happy,
light will fill this world of the dove,
no death, only life will there be.
I hope this will happen, the world of love,
a world full hope,
Just love until then, peaceful dove
and learn how to cope.
I know this will happen someday,"
Lady Kine sat there listening, knowing that what she sang was making up as she went. She was shocked by Tohru's voice, it was unlike anything she had ever heard before, Kine half expected Tohru to sprout wings, like an angel. She checked herself, this simply the phoenix. Nothing special. Even the words were simplistic. Stupid, things like that would never happen.
"Enough," Kine shouted, "You are singing lies!"
"No, no I'm not! This will happen someday, at least in my world! Why are you so angry?" Tohru cried.
"ENOUGH! YOU WILL BE IN THE DUNGEON FOR 3 DAYS!" Kine opened a door and threw Tohru down the stairs. The door slammed behind her. Tohru stared into the darkness knees to her chest, crying softly. She heard another door opened, and thumps as Kira fell down the stairs. She wished someone would save her.
1 Year Later (Summer)
Kira sat underneath a tree, in a park. She looked up when she saw a boy sitting in the tree. "HELLO!" she shouted. The boy fell out of the tree, shocked, on top of her. He had grey hair and eyes. They didn't change. "Are you cursed?" the shouted together. "Yes," they said in synch.
"Who are you?" Kira said.
"My name's Shinji Honda, the wolf, I'm 4," Shinji said, "I'm new here. Who are you?"
"I'm Kira Honda, the dragon, I'm 3," Kira said, "But why were you in a tree?"
"I was hiding, it's my first day, and I just came here with my brother, Toji! He's my twin! He's the Panther,"
"Why? Oh, you ran away from Assistant Lady!" Kira said.
"Yeah, Toji and I split up to hide separately,"
"Well, in a tree is a terrible place to hide,"
"It was the best place I could find on short notice," Shinji shrugged.
"Oh…" Kira smiled suddenly, "Fine, then I'll find a better place then!"
"Where?"
"It'll even fit Toji!" Kira cheered, "It's a great hiding place, but Toh-chan probably knows an even better place!"
"Who's that?"
"My older sister, Tohru, she's 5,"
"Okay…"
Meanwhile…
"Kira? Kira?" Tohru called. Then a boy fell out of nowhere (he was in the tree), on top of Tohru. He had tawny hair and green eyes. "Please get off of me," Tohru said.
"Sorry," the boy jumped off of Tohru.
"That's okay," Tohru said, "What's your name?"
"My name is Toji Honda, the Panther, I'm 4," Toji said, "Who're you?"
"I'm Tohru Honda, the Phoenix. I'm 5," Tohru said, "But, why were in a tree?"
"I ran away from the assistant lady, with my brother, Toji, the wolf. He's my twin," Toji said.
"Oh," Tohru said, "I have a sister, Kira, the dragon, she's 4,"
"TOOOH-CHAAN!" Kira shouted, tackling Tohru. Shinji and Toji watched from behind.
"Kira! I was looking all over for you!" Tohru cried.
The four introduced themselves and then went towards an oak tree, It's trunk was huge. Tohru pushed a part of the tree and the group went inside the tree. It was a hollow space inside the tree that could hold at least 15 people. They all sat inside for ages, and they have been friends ever since.
1 Year Later (Winter)
A six year old Ayu stumbled through the snow at 8 o'clock at night. Her cheek was visibly bruised, her right arm obviously broken, her left ankle was sprained, from the way that she limped and whimpered with each step, in the snow there were bloody footprints, since she had no shoes. She had a long scratch across her forehead which bled profusely, and she clutched her side in pain from cracked ribs. She was dressed for summer weather. Ayu collapsed outside a house with a cherry blossom tree in front and went unconscious. A girl ran out into the snow in her nightgown and shouted, "Kira, there's a hurt girl out here!" As the light hit her face you could see it was Tohru. Kira ran outside, also in her nightgown.
"Oh my god!" Kira shouted.
"Help me get her inside!" Tohru shouted. Kira ran over to Tohru and picked up the very light girl. Ayu transformed into a lion cub. They brought the lion cub into a room with a bed on the second floor. "Go get Shishou!" Tohru shouted as Kira bustled out the door.
Tohru looked at the cub. She could see everyone of her ribs, several of which didn't look right. Two of the legs didn't look right either. "Who did this?" Tohru muttered.
Then Ayu muttered in her sleep, "Milady, don't do it!" Tohru's heart broke.
The Next Day
Ayu woke up abruptly. She looked around her. "Oh, you're awake," Kira said. Ayu moved to get up but winced. "Don't get up. You'll be okay now Cub-chan! Mika-sensei told us all about you!" Kira said, "Oh, yeah, I told them I'd tell them as soon as you woke up! I'll be right back, Cub-chan!" Kira ran from the room.
Ayu sat there mystified. "Who was that?" she thought, "Weirdo,"
"You're up Yu-chan!" Tohru hugged Ayu gently. Ayu got up gingerly.
Kira measured herself next to her. "Yay! Finally, someone who's shorter than me!"
"Kira! That's not polite!" Tohru admonished.
"I need to go back to milady," Ayu whispered.
"No," Kira said, "You don't. Mika-sensei made sure of it," Ayu cried tears of joy.
"Hey," Shinji and Toji chorused, "Who's she? Why's she crying?"
"Thank You," Ayu hiccupped.
"No," Shinji said.
"Problem," Toji said.
"Even though we don't know what you're thanking us for," Shinji and Toji said. Everyone laughed, even Ayu. Ayu joined the group.
2 Years Later (Spring)
The group was playing tennis. They played Shinji and Kira vs. Toji and Tohru, Ayu playing against the backboard. Kira randomly said, "How about we come up with a club," Causing everyone to miss the green balls that were going towards them except Kira who took it in stride.
"Why?" Ayu said, "We're already going to be Butterflies or Fireflies in 5 years,"
"'Cause it'd be fun," Kira said, serving the ball, causing them to miss the ball again.
"Time," Toji said, "What would you name it?"
"PRANK," Kira said.
"Come on, it's not that bad of an idea," Tohru said.
"Agreed," Shinji said.
"It's not a bad idea, I guess," Toji and Ayu said.
And thus PRANK began.
6 Years Later (2 years ago)
They had gotten a mission to succeed where their parents had failed. To defeat Syphos. PRANK, Tatsuya and Mika all went together.
But as opposed to the disaster years before, the Hondas were winning. Kira was fighting Zan with Ayu. They fought together. "ICE SWORD!!" Kira shouted.
"NOBLE RAPIER!!" Ayu shouted and they charged together. They fought fiercely and Ayu fell, nearly immediately.
Kira screamed and fought even more fiercely and shouted, "Guardians of The Dragon! Hear My Cry! Aid Me in this Clash of Good and Evil!! Help Me Save the World!" All 5 guardians rushed to the blade. It glowed with pure white light. It was covered with pure white snow and ice. Kira was dressed in white icicles and blue dragon scale boots and gloves with the fingers cut off. Kira forced Zan back and sliced his stomach. He fell to the floor unconscious. Kira howled a victory cry.
Meanwhile…
Tohru fought against Syphos. She fought alone. She shouted, "FLAME BLADE!!" The entire sword became fire. She shouted "WILDFIRE BLAZE," The fire grew. Tohru fought fiercely and was miraculously able to stay on par with him. Her eyes were filled with hate.
She chanted, "Guardians of the Phoenix! Hear My Cry! Aid Me in this Mêlée of Good and Evil! So We May Soar Again," The sword's flame intensified and grew. A giant Phoenix appeared behind her and she became dressed in red and orange feathers. It was a strapless dress with a miniskirt She had red heels on and pink feathers in her hair.
She forced Syphos back, and hit him in the chest, and knocked him unconscious.
A Few Minutes Later
The Police carted Syphos away as the Hondas watched. Syphos saw Tohru and screeched, "TOHRU HONDA I'LL GET YOU!! YOU AND ANYONE WHO IS YOUR FRIEND WILL NOT COME OUT UNSCATHED!!"
Mika said, "You just try," they then all went home not knowing that one year later, Syphos would escape again.
End of Flashbacks
Present Day
Tohru explained why they had returned, and Kine said, "I hope you are ready for your punishment," She grabbed Tohru's hair and yanked it, Tohru cried out…