Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket.


Chapter 11: What's The Hurry?

Her feet carried her away as she rushed along the stacks of paper and shoved her way through, brushing past the wide table legs on her way out. With a leap she cleared the confetti pile covering the door, bursting through with a tired huff and patting her dress down to rid of any paper.

With a satisfied smile Tohru looked up, finding the flowers from before planted in rows upon rows. "There's more than I thought," she walked towards one, running a hand along its thick stem. The flowers were much taller than the ones she had back at home, reaching twice the size of an average one.

She frowned. Was this new world overgrown too or was she just small.

Murmurs and harsh whispers echoed towards her ears, coming from above. She took a step back and stood on her tippy-toes, inclining her head back to find the source. Her lips pursed at the sight of a handful of animals sitting around a table on top of one of the flowers, huddled together and deep in discussion.

"No! That's not fun, we have to-!"

"Oh shut up, you always come up with boring ideas!" a grey mouse cut off one of the birds of prey, slamming his fist and rocking the table.

Tuning out Tohru wandered off with an unsettling inkling in her mind, prodding her thoughts. They can't possible be part of the twelve Zodiac. She would know, having met them all during her visit to the Sohma house. So why can they talk if they're just regular animals?

Walking back she spotted a gravelled path wedged into the flower garden and decided to follow it, shaking her head and stopping before an orange flower. Two petals in the shape of cat ears adored its head and a few twisted leaves acted as whiskers, curving out from the stem.

"It looks just like Kyo," she giggled, patting one of its lower leaves.

"Nyaa!" it hissed, flapping its frail leaves and whiskers in surprise.

Tohru stumbled back. She hadn't expected the neko to talk. She didn't even realise it was alive! Her eyes ran over the angry cat, making out a few cusses as it shook its head with fury. She scratched her head muttering, "Y-You really do remind me of Kyo."

The neko flower twitched, bouncing from its stem as if to chase after the girl but it roots kept it grounded. It wasn't going anywhere."Nyaa, nyaa, NYAA! Meow, nyaa!" it growled, but Tohru couldn't understand it at all.

"I'm sorry, I don't speak cat." She smiled apologetically but the neko crossed its leaves over one another, sticking its petal nose in the air. "...Kyo would probably be able to translate, except he's not here. What a shame-"

The sound of pattering feet stopped her.

Momiji stood pacing behind a cluster of bluebell, clutching a pair of gloves and fan to his chest. Worry lines appeared on his forehead as he walked back and forth still in his Zodiac form. "Oh! I forgot about the Duchess!" he whined, twitching his tail in aggravation.

Tohru gasped hurrying towards him. "M-Momiji! I thought I lost you," she wheezed reaching the rabbit in a few steps.

Momiji looked up at the sound of his name, gazing at Tohru with conflicting eyes. "Tohru, you finally caught up. What took you so long?"


Posting Date: 20th May 2014

Words: 575

Symm: Here's another chapter! Enjoy ;)