I do not own Fruits Basket
As the Hawk Flies
Chapter 13 The Hawk was Wrong
Ki walked into the house after coming back from the hospital. He was surprised to see Shigure was still up.
"Finally back I see." Said Shigure
"So you're still up."
"Someone had to."
"Hey Shigure. I don't mean to be blunt but Ikari's uncle kicked him out and he really doesn't have a place to go."
"He can stay. He'll have to sleep on the couch but he can stay."
"Just like that?"
"Yes, o and for future reference I keep the sake' in my study." Ki was stunned.
"How much do you know?"
"Well I know that Ikari and Uo saw you, Kyo and Momiji transform."
"O well it looks like I'm losing a friend." Ki sighed
"I don't plan on telling Akito." Ki looked shocked. "I know I tell him everything but with each new outsider life around here seems to get better. Tohru, Ikari, Uo, you."
"I'm not an outsider."
"I disagree. You may be a Sohma and cursed but you are an outsider. You were never raised in this family. Everyone respects you. You can do what no other zodiac can. You can defy our god."
"It's not hard. You must remember I may be possessed by the Hawk but I'm not the Hawk. Just as my uncle is no god."
"Ki you don't understand as much as we try Akito controls us all. But seeing as I won't tell him about Ikari proves the curse is waning. Speaking of which when will he be arriving?"
"His uncle should be dropping him off later. The hospital just said he had to take it easy."
"Let me guess you want to stay home today and help him adjust?"
"If you could?"
"Don't worry I'll take care of it. Now to bed with you."
"Hey you're not my father."
"You want me to call him?"
"No it's too early to deal with him right now." Ki got up. "Wake me when he gets here." Ki headed upstairs.
Later that day.
O Ki time to get up Ikari has arrived." Called Shigure. Ki got out of bed and went downstairs. He saw Ikari being supported by Uo.
"Hey Ki how're you doing?" said Ikari
"Better than you. You still look like shit." Uo helped Ikari onto the couch.
"I'll see you later Ikari. I've got to get to school." Uo kissed Ikari.
"Ahh young love I simply must write a book about this. Two teenagers from rival gangs fall hopelessly in love. It will be the novel of the century." Said Shigure happily.
"Before you write the novel of the century you should give me the 200 pgs from the other one you owe me." Said a woman's voice. Ki looked and saw a woman with brown hair standing in the open door.
"O hello Mii. Sorry but I don't have them. I'll get them to you eventually." He started to walk away.
"Shigure how could you do this to me?" Mii broke down tears. Ki went after him and grabbed him by his neck hitting a pressure point which stunned him. He dragged him back to Mii.
"Now Shigure you promised this young woman 200 pgs so you'll be a good little dog." He turned Shigure around and pointed to Shigure's neck. "Just grab him here and he'll obey like a good little dog." Mii smiled evilly and grabbed Shigure's neck and dragged him to his study.
"I'm guessing Shigure's the dog." Said Ikari.
"Yeah, by the way he knows so you don't have to play dumb."
"That's good I guess. Shouldn't you be in school?"
"I figured I would stay home and help you adjust."
"What am I 5? Go to school. I'll just entertain myself by torturing the dog."
"Yeah I did have something fun planned." Ki went to the table and grabbed an envelope.
"What's that?"
"Just some pictures I took the other day. Time to give those fanclub girls something they'll never forget." Ki went to walk out but yelled back. "Hey Dog change of plans I'm going to school."
"Okay. Ki can you stop at the store on the way home? Tohru has to work."
"Sure thing." Ki walked out the door.
At school
"Hey Hawk aren't you supposed to be with Ikari?" asked Uo
"He said he'd be fine. Besides I had something I had to do."
"What's that?" Ki took the envelope from his pocket.
"Remember the pictures I took of Yuki and Rin?" Uo got a mischievous grin. "Want to break a couple of hearts?" Uo nodded. Ki took out his camera and handed it to Uo. "Take their pictures as soon as they see the photos."
"Lead the way captain." Ki and Uo walked until they found Motoko.
"Hey Motoko." Called Ki
"O hi Ki how are you doing today? How goes the search for Yuki's girlfriend?"
"Actually I've found her already."
"Who is it?" Motoko looked hopefully into his eyes. Ki handed her the envelope. Motoko opened the envelope and took out the pictures of Yuki kissing Rin. The fanclub was frozen in shock. It was at that point Uo took the picture. This snapped them out of it.
"AHH SOMEONE HAS STOLEN THE PRINCE FROM US." They all screamed. They ran down the hall and found Yuki. "YUKI TELL US IT ISN'T TRUE." Yuki looked at the picture they showed him he glared down the hall at Ki and stormed up to him.
"Ki how dare you show that picture to them. They're the last people I wanted to see those pictures." said Yuki harshly
"I did you a favor Yuki. Maybe now they'll finally move on with their lives." He pointed towards the now sobbing fanclub.
"I don't care. This is not how I wanted everyone to find out."
"Find out what Yuki?" asked Haru as he came on to the seen. Yuki suddenly became very nervous and he dropped the photo.
"Absolutely nothing." Haru bent down and picked up the photo and stared at it. Haru's eyes saddened.
"Yuki how could you do this?"
"Haru it just kind of happened." Haru looked down at the floor and began to shake violently. Yuki was sure he was going to go Black. But Haru just bottled his rage and gave the picture back to Yuki and walked away.
"What was that?" asked Ki
"Haru and Rin used to date. He did take that better than I thought he would but he'll snap later on."
"Why don't you people tell me these things? I love fixing people up. But I hate breaking people's hearts." Suddenly the photo was snatched from Yuki's hands. Ki looked and saw a boy holding the photo.
"Yun-Yun I knew you were a ladies man." Said the boy. Yuki sighed.
"God why did it have to be Kakeru?" said Yuki. Then a girl with black hair took the photo from Kakeru.
"But Kimi thought Yuki liked Machi." Said the girl.
"Machi!" Yuki gasped. Yuki looked over and Ki looked as well. He saw a girl with brown hair who he assumed was Machi. She was holding one of the photos.
"Yuki how, why?" said Machi. Ki noticed tears forming in her eyes but unlike the fangirl's these tears were real. She dropped the photo and ran breaking down.
"Machi wait." Called Yuki. As Yuki ran by Ki saw something flash in his eyes. Something that was more than concern. Ki stood there his blood cold. He stooped down and picked up the photos that were on the floor.
What have I done? Ki thought. What was that in Yuki's eyes? That was more than concern for a friend that was love. But it couldn't be. I'm never wrong Yuki and Rin were meant for each other. I think. Ki got up and followed after Yuki. I have to get to the bottom of this. He came to an abandoned classroom. He looked in and saw Yuki walking up to a sobbing Machi. Yuki went to put his hand on Machi's shoulder. She jerked away.
"Don't touch me." She hissed.
"Machi it's not what you think." Said Yuki
"Then what is it? You looked like you were enjoying your self with that girl." Yuki sighed.
"I'm not going to lie I did enjoy and I did think I had feelings for her."
"You thought?"
"Yes but the other night I went out to dinner with her."
So that's where he was. He told us he had a late meeting. Thought Ki
"When I was with her we both realized there was nothing between us. Our attraction was purely physical. We both were in love with someone else."
"You love someone else. Let me guess that Honda girl." Yuki stood if front of her and put his hands on her shoulders.
"I do love Honda-san but only as family. It was her love that allowed me to love another." He lifted her head so there eyes met. "She allowed me to love you." Machi blushed slightly. "You know you're cute when you blush."
"Yuki y you love Me." She asked haltingly.
"More than any thing in the world." They looked into each others eyes. There faces started getting closer until finally their lips met. Unfortunately for Yuki the kiss was so blissful he lost his head and pulled Machi closer.
POOF
Ki had to stop himself from running in there but he didn't want Yuki to know he was spying. Also he wanted to see how Machi would react. If she reacted badly he would have to erase her memory.
"Yuki where are you?" She looked down and saw Yuki's clothes. "Why are his clothes here?" She saw the lump in the clothes. She moved the clothes and saw the Rat sitting there. "Yuki?"
"Yes it's me. I'm sorry you had to see me like this. I'll understand if you never want to see me again."
"Yuki why are you a rat?"
"This happens whenever I'm hugged by a girl. My entire family is like this. We change into the animals of the zodiac when hugged by a member of the opposite sex. Can you leave now? Who would want to be with a freak like me?"
"But Yuki I love rats." She scooped him up and hugged him to her chest. "I always wanted one when I was little. Now I have one." Yuki was blushing very hard. Machi noticed his blush. She realized what she was holding him to and blushed hard herself. She put him back down. "O Yuki I'm sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you."
"It's okay Machi. It felt nice to be hugged." Ki stepped back he had seen enough. But he was very confused. On one hand he was happy that Yuki had found love but on the other hand he was sad.
I was wrong. But if I was wrong about them could I be wrong about Kyo and Tohru. Or…Or Saki and I. Ki walked up the stairs and to the roof he needed to think.
With Saki
Saki suddenly felt very depressed.
"Ki he's sad." She said. "I have to help him." She walked off to find him.
On Rooftop
Ki was sulking on the rooftop. He was surrounded by many birds. (A/N Ki has a connection with all birds not just hawks.)
"I'm wrong she doesn't love me. How could she?" He stood up and punched the wall. "I'm a monster. Just like my uncle told me. Nobody could love me. I'm just a monster who killed his mother."
"You're wrong there are people who love you." said Saki.
"You don't know what you're talking about. You saw that thing I became. Who can love that?"
"Nobody can love that thing. But Ki that thing isn't you."
"Still it would probably be better if I had never been born. My mother could have lived. She could have stayed with her family with my father." He broke down. Saki walked over and slapped him across the face.
"Snap out of it. Do you really think the world would be better if you've never been born? Look at all you've done. If it weren't for you Ikari would be dead. Kyo and Tohru wouldn't be together. There would be no hope of the curse being broken and then there's the most important thing. I would have never met you." She looked with tear filled eyes into Ki's eyes. Ki stared back into her eyes. What he before could not read he now saw everything. He saw how much she loved him.
"Saki."
"Shh. Don't speak." She leaned forward and kissed him. Ki fervently returned the kiss. They stayed like that for nearly three minutes but finally separated. They looked into each other's eyes for a long time. Finally Ki couldn't take it anymore. He reached out and pulled Saki close to him relishing in the seconds of warmth he felt before he transformed.
POOF
"I love you." said Ki. Saki looked at the hawk she held in her arms. She lifted him up to her face and nuzzled him.
"And I you." she went to set him down.
"Wait. Just a little longer. Can you hold me a little longer?"
"Of course." She held him against her.
"I will break the curse I want to be able to hold you. I want to be with you forever." They sat like that for several minutes. But finally Saki set him down and went away to let him change back.
POOF
Ki changed back. He got dressed and went to join Saki. He kissed her on the cheek.
"Thank you."
"No Ki thank you." They left the roof and headed to class.
After school at store.
Ki had gone to the store just as he promised. When he was leaving the store he wasn't paying attention and walked straight into a woman. Ki stepped back expecting to transform. He was surprised when he didn't.
"I'm sorry I didn't see you. It's my fault. I don't deserve to live." Ki stared at the frantic woman.
"Excuse me are you a zodiac?" asked Ki tentatively
"O NO I'VE LET OUT THE FAMILY SECRET. I'M SORRY WORLD." Ki ran up to her. (A/N Okay you all know who this is. Ki doesn't realize that he's not a she.)
"Please calm down you didn't do anything. I just assumed because I didn't transform when you bumped into me." He whispered. The girl stopped.
"But why would you transform? Wait are you the one everyone at Sohma house is talking about? The Lost zodiac."
"Am I really that famous? Ahh but how could I not be? Who could resist the perfection that is Keoni Aya Sohma?" Ki looked at the girl who was starring at him blankly. "O I'm sorry I started acting like my father for a minute."
"No I'm sorry I shouldn't have distracted you. By the way I'm Ritsu Sohma."
"I expected as much. It seems every zodiac has some strange quirk. So what brings you here?"
"Well I wanted to talk to you but Shigure said you were at the store so I came to find you."
"O okay but I can't talk right this second. I have to get these groceries home before they spoil."
"O I'M SORRY BECAUSE OF ME YOUR SHOPPING IS RUINED. NOW YOUR MONEY HAS BEEN WASTED. I HAVE DELAYED YOU AND NOW THEY ARE RUINED. PLEASE LET ME TAKE THOSE FOR YOU." Ritsu took the groceries from Ki and ran down the street. Ki just stood their starring blankly.
"What a strange girl."
Shigure's House
Ki walked into the house. Shigure and Ikari were talking. Ritsu was sitting nervously on the couch.
"Hey Ikari you look like you're doing better."
"O thank God you're here. This chick has been apologizing for everything."
"I'M SORRY I'VE ANNOYED YOU!" screamed Ritsu. Shigure poked her in the side. She fell to the ground.
"It's the magic spot." Said Shigure.
"Well I see you've met Ritsu. She's one of the zodiac.
"Really which animal?"
"I don't know."
"Hey why don't you hug her and find out." Said Shigure giggling. Ikari hugged Ritsu. Nothing happened. Shigure burst out laughing.
"I'M SORRY I SHOULD HAVE TOLD I WAS A BOY. NOW I'VE EMBARRASSED YOU." Ki poked Ritsu in the side. He fell down.
"That really is the magic spot. Now Ritsu what did you want to talk about?"
"Well it's well I've heard how you helped Hiro and Kisa and Kyo and Tohru. So I was wondering if you could help me."
"What's this? The timid Ritsu has a crush. May I inquire as to who it is." Said Shigure
"O no this is so embarrassing I shouldn't have brought it up. She wouldn't like me. I'm a nervous wreck."
"But that is where I can help you. I'll help you. I can help you be more confident."
"Really?"
"Of course he can Ri. If anyone can help you it's Ki. He is Ayame's son."
"I thought there was something familiar about you. The son of the great Ayame."
"Yep that's me son of the Snake. So Ritsu who is the lucky girl?" Ritsu blushed slightly.
"Well it's um Ka-Kagura."
"Well I can't say she is not a fine choice. And this shall be my greatest challenge. The Boar and the. What are you anyway?"
"The Monkey."
"The Boar and Monkey shall be together. Come on I'll walk you back to the main house. We can talk along the way." Ki and Ritsu walked out of the house and started walking toward the main house. "So Ritsu why is it that you wear girl's clothing?"
"I've always been nervous even as a child. When I was younger I found that wearing women's clothing calmed me down. That's how I met Kagura. She gave me my first dress."
"So she's fine with you being a cross dresser?"
"O yes of course. She's always been a good friend."
"But do you care? If you were more confident would you wear men's clothing instead?"
"Do you think I should?"
"Only if you want to. Like you said Kagura doesn't care. So if you'd rather dress the same you can."
"No for Kagura I want to try. I'll wear men's clothes."
"Okay but know this. I won't help you like I helped the others. I'll help you with your confidence but it will be up to you to make your move. I won't put you into situation where you'll be forced. It'll all be up to you understand?"
"Yes."
"Very good with me helping you you'll win lady Kagura's heart in no time." They continued walking until they finally reached Sohma house. "Well goodbye Ritsu. Drop bye the house tomorrow and we'll start you're training."
"O I will. Thank you." Ritsu walked off. Ki went to leave the grounds.
"Going somewhere Keoni?" said a cold harsh voice. Ki turned and stared at his uncle.
"Yes uncle?"
"Come with me." Akito lead Ki to the room where all the symbols were. Akito closed and locked the door. "Sit down." Ki sat down his uncle did likewise.
"What do you want now uncle?"
"Such insolence. One day you'll learn respect for your god. But for now I say good bye to you."
"Wait what?" but Ki was cut of as the symbols began to glow and a mystic force struck him. He opened his violet eyes
"Hello Akito. I take it your well." Said Oni Taka. (A/N I'm not going to underline Oni's lines I'll tell you when he switches.)
"Shut up demon. You are weak. What was this I heard about Keoni controlling you?"
"Please I let him control me. He thinks I'm getting weaker but his days are numbered. Hawk's Moon is coming. I'm not sure when but I can feel it. On that night my power will increase ten-fold. My demonic powers will return and he will be destroyed."
"Good then this fool's errand will be over. And my power over the zodiac will not wane."
"It has already begun to wane."
"What do you mean?"
"Did the Dog tell you there are two new outsiders who know of the curse? One of which now resides in his house."
"What?"
"Yes apparently he felt there was no reason to tell you. O wait there is some news concerning your precious Rat. It appears that Yuki has fallen in love with a girl at school. She also knows of the curse." Oni looked at Akito his face was seething with rage.
"This has gone too far. They think they can defy me. I will punish them."
"There's more do you know of the Cat's relationship with that girl. Or the Ram and Tiger. And now Ki is planning on helping the Monkey and Boar together."
"Thank you Oni you are a good servant. Keep this up and there may be a way for you to regain your place in the zodiac." Oni bowed.
"It is an honor to serve you. My goddess."
"How dare you address me like that? Our business is done." There was a flash of light.
"Uncle what happened?" asked Ki
"Nothing nephew." Akito got up and opened the door. "You may go now." Ki got up very confused and left the room.
Shigure's House
Ki walked into the house.
"O hello Ki you're back." Said Shigure. "What's wrong?"
"What? O nothing. Hey Shigure call my father and tell him to come over tomorrow."
"Why?"
"Tomorrow starts Ritsu's confidence training and I'll need you and my father to help me. This will be my greatest challenge."
"You do know that it'll mean Kyo will find out about Ayame?"
"Yeah but he would find out eventually. Besides it could be a good father/son bonding experience."
"Yeah I'll do that." Ki walked out and went to find Ikari.
Well there's another chapter down. You're probably wondering why I changed Yuki's pairing. Well I was reading some fics that revolved around student council and I realized how many characters I was cutting out. And if I did Yuki/Rin that would leave Haru with no one. Also I felt it would be interesting to see how Ki would react if he found out he was wrong. Which gave rise to that section of Saki/Ki fluff. O well next time phase one of Ritsu's training begins but is interrupted when Akito calls a meeting for the entire zodiac including Ki. But what happens when Oni Taka comes out and this time Akito doesn't have that special room to protect him. In chapter 14 Akito's Secret: God or Goddess.