Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket, its plot, characters, etc. but I do own my any OCs and my own plot/changes to the original plot.
Summary: This is a Rewrite. Kyoko Honda finds an young orphan girl, Rika, on the streets in the rain one night and takes her in. Years later, after losing Kyoko, she swears to always be there for Tohru and to take care of her. When the two meet the Sohmas she discovers a secret not even she knew about. Rated M, Follows the anime then Manga. (Male Akito)
Non quoted Italics- thoughts
"quoted" and large sections- Flash backs
Some parts are very similar to the other version of this but this one is ALL in third person and I added/changed some things about Rika. I'm posting the first five chapters all at once.
If there's anywhere I missed something and it's in first person please tell me. I reread each chapter but I still might have missed some.
7 Years Ago
Kyoko Honda walked down the sidewalk holding a medium sized umbrella as it was pouring rain. A small figure in a dark hoodie with their hands shoved into their pockets made their way in the opposite direction towards her. The rain being so heavy neither saw each other until they collided.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Kyoko said looking down. The figure looked up and Kyoko could make out the green eyes of a child in the dim light of nearby stores. "You look awfully young to be out by yourself in this weather." She said moving her umbrella to shield both of them from the rain.
"I can take care of myself!" The child said standing up straighter.
"Where are your parents?"
"I don't need parents!" The child crossed their arms. Kyoko crouched down, still holding the umbrella above them. The child's stance faltered and they looked down, dropping their arms.
"Do you have parents?" The child shook their head slowly. "Why don't you come home with me? You'll get sick if you stay out here."
"Why should I go with you?!" The child asked snapping their head up.
"You can't stay out here. I have a daughter myself. She's around your age… It's not safe to be out here." Kyoko said. "Come home with me until I can contact another family member." The child looked down. "Do you have any other family?" The child shook their head. Kyoko stood up. "Come on." She said holding out her hand.
"I'm not a baby. I don't have to hold an adult's hand." The child said crossing their arms again. Kyoko nodded and started to walk. The child swallowed walking after her. They glanced up at the woman who had offered them something they'd lost. The child reached up and took Kyoko's hand.
"My name is Kyoko Honda, what's yours?"
"…Rika."
Present day
Rika finished getting dressed in her school uniform. The top was a little tight; she was a bit more… gifted than other girls. She sighed pulling at the top slightly. She brushed her long very light blond hair with light blue streaks and looked in her small handheld mirror to observe her appearance. There were silver studs in both ears with rings along the shell of her left ear. A silver locket and another silver chain hung around her neck. Rika finished putting some eyeliner on before putting the mirror away. She looked at her hands to make sure she had everything she wanted on; ring on left pinky and ring finger, and right pinky, watch on right wrist and Onyx bracelet on left.
Rika didn't remember much about her past before Kyoko Honda took her in. Her parents died when she was young and she didn't remember much about them. Rika had been a homeless orphan for about a week when Kyoko found her. At first Tohru and Rika didn't get along; Rika found Tohru annoying because she always too happy. Being younger she tried to copy Rika on maybe occasions. But after Kyoko died she couldn't just abandon Tohru. Tohru no longer had Kyoko to be strong and help her. Rika knew she wouldn't replace Kyoko but she could do what she could to take care of her younger sister. She actually wasn't all that bad once Rika got used to her. Rika was always just very stubborn.
"Rika, Look at that beautiful sky!" Tohru said as the older girl got out of the tent they were currently living in, in the woods. "See you later, Mom! Take care of the house while we're gone, okay? We'll be back!" She said to the photo inside the tent as they started walking. The two weren't exactly living in a tent in the woods because they wanted to. Up until last May, they lived with Kyoko, just the three of them. But then she got into a car accident. After the two lost Kyoko, they began secretly living in the woods on their own. It defiantly wasn't comfortable, there wasn't exactly a lot of room and it was hard to fall asleep at night. But they had to make do. Rika had to be strong for Tohru.
"Hmm?" Rika looked over, as Tohru had stopped walking, and saw a house. "Look at this, Rika. Did you know there was a house here?"
"With this much land there was bound to be a house or two. Weird how we never noticed it." Tohru walked over to it. "Eh? Where are you going?" Rika asked following her.
"It's seems so peaceful. Must be nice." Tohru looked down and saw little rocks with animals painted onto them. "How cute!" She said cheerfully. "The twelve animals of the Zodiac!"
"Neat." Rika said bending over next to her to look at them.
"My word…" The two girls looked up to see a man standing on the porch holding a newspaper.
"Huh?"
"Do my eyes deceive me, or are there two strange young girls standing on my porch?"
"Ah, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! We were just looking!" Tohru said frantically standing up and backing up a bit. Rika simply stood up straight. "We didn't mean to barge in without permission." Tohru said a little calmer. The man chuckled.
"It's alright. I'd just set them out to dry…No harm done. But-I find it hard to believe that these silly little things could attract your interest."
"No, I really like them. I don't think they're silly at all!"
"Me neither." Rika said.
"Yes, well…I must admit, I'm particularly fond of them myself." He said kneeling by them.
"Oh. But I should have known…" Tohru said quietly, disappointed. "You left out the cat."
"The cat?" The man looked a little confused. "...Ahh…I take it you're referring to the old folk tale of the Chinese Zodiac?"
"Uh-huh…My mom told it to us when we were little."
"A long, long time ago, God decided to invite all of the animals to a banquet…He sent out word for all of them to come to his house the following evening…"and don't be late!" He said.
When the mischievous rat heard the news, he decided to play a trick on his neighbor, the cat. He told the cat that the party was the day after tomorrow. The very next day, all of the animals lined up for the celebration. And the rat led the way, riding all the way there on the back of the cow. Everyone had a wonderful time. Except for the foolish cat. Who missed the whole thing." Young Tohru began to sniffle. "Hey, why are you crying?" Kyoko asked.
"Because…that poor cat…" Tohru sniffed. "He must be so lonely.. I know, I won't be a dog anymore! I'll be a cat, too!" She said determined.
"You can't just change, stupid." Young Rika said sitting at the foot of the bed.
"Wouldn't you rather be a cat than a rooster?" She asked. The other girl crossed her arms.
"Yeah, I guess.." She mumbled.
"Funny…I wonder what he'll say when he hears he has a fan club." The man said quietly.
"H-he?" Tohru asked timidly.
"You were born in the Year of the Dog?" The man asked Tohru. "I knew there was something I liked about you, aside from your pretty fa-aa…" He was cut off as someone dropped their bag on his head.
"Eh?!" Tohru looked up startled while Rika glanced up.
"Please forgive my cousin, Miss Honda. He's a bit of a flirt, but he's harmless… In general, it's usually best to just ignore him."
"Ah, Yuki Sohma!" She said excitedly. Rika rolled her eyes. The 'prince' of their high school, Yuki Sohma. Rika was a year older than Tohru so she was also a year older than Yuki. It was mostly the younger girls, and a few older, that liked him. It's not that Rika didn't like him, she didn't even really know him, it's just that she wasn't a crazy fan-girl.
"Ow, what do you have in that bag? A dictionary?" Yuki's cousin asked.
"No. I have two of them." Yuki said.
"Why would you need two dictionaries?" Rika asked.
"The reason is in front of you." He said looking at his cousin who was rubbing his head.
"So- you're Yuki's classmates from school." His cousin said. Rika raised a hand.
"I'm a year older, I'm Rika." She said. He nodded.
"Let's start again then." He said. "I'm Shigure, his older and much less violent cousin."
"Hi, it's very nice to meet you." Tohru said.
"And what brings you to our home this morning, Miss Honda, Miss Rika?" Yuki asked.
"Well, you know…we live nearby…" Tohru said nervously.
"You do? Where at?"
"Uhh.. Right!" She said sharply.
"Uhh…" The two looked at her. Rika cleared her throat.
"I think we'd better get going. We don't wanna be late for school. It was nice to have met you." She said looking to Shigure. Rika grabbed Tohru's arm and turned around.
"Wait, Miss Honda!" Yuki called out. The two stopped and looked back. "Since you're here, why don't we all walk together?"
"Uh…huh." Tohru said nervously.
"Sure." Rika said with a smile.
Once they got to school Rika left the two of them and went to her homeroom. Later she met up with Tohru, Saki and Arisa in Home Economics class. It was one of the only classes Rika had with them since they were a year below her, the other being gym.
"You know the truth is, I was so nervous walking with Yuki this morning. I couldn't talk to him-no, I couldn't even look at him." Tohru said.
"I know, it was such an awkward walk." Rika said.
"I sense strange electric signals coming from that boy." Saki said.
"Here we go again, Hana's electric report." Arisa said.
"You and your signals." Rika said shaking her head.
"Strange how?" Tohru asked.
"I don't know. He's different." Saki said putting the cover on her knife.
"Well, I admit he does seem to have an air of mystery about him…" Arisa said. "And there are some weird stories floating around too. I hear one of those Fan Club girls tried to ask him out once, but he just pushed her away… And I mean that literally. Right in the hall. Then he left her on the floor and ran off."
"Like I said, I sense strange electric signals." Saki said a little annoyed.
"Mmm…Let's talk about something else." Tohru said.
"How's that job of yours going?" Arisa asked curtly.
"Oh, fine I guess. Why?"
"Nothing new to report, same old stuff." Rika added.
"I don't know…You two have been putting in a lot of hours lately. A lot more than usual." Arisa said.
"Uhh…Yeah. Sure."
"You're having trouble saving up for your tuition, aren't you?"
"No, it's just…well…yeah." Tohru said.
"That's odd." Saki said. "I didn't think tuition here was that expensive. And I don't remember you having to work this hard before. Unless, something else has changed..?"
"No, everything's the saa-" Tohru said panicky but Arisa cut her off.
"So what is it? You in some kind of trouble? You owe somebody? Your grandfather's giving you enough to eat, right? He isn't taking your money?"
"Mm, mm!" Tohru shook her head.
"We're fine. I'm supposed to do the big sister act." Rika said with a smile. Arisa chuckled.
"I know, I worry too much…" She said. "But seriously, if you need me to rough someone up for you, you just say the word. Got it?"
"Okay." Tohru said a little taken a back. Rika chuckled silently to herself and sighed. She and Tohru agreed not to let anyone know they lived in a tent. Arisa would surely be mad at them if she ever found out. Rika could still remember how tough it was on Kyoko after Katsuya died.
"Don't worry, girls. We're gonna be okay…We'll get through this together."
She had to work so hard just to make ends meet. But she never seemed to mind.
"Our first paycheck! We're rich!"
She always had a smile; she was always strong for Tohru and Rika. It's hard to believe that someone so smart and so strong could be taken away just like that in an accident.
When Kyoko died Rika told herself she would be strong for Tohru. She wouldn't ever give up on her or abandon her. There were a lot of people they could've have stayed with. Rika followed Tohru who chose to live with her paternal grandfather. He was always so nice to Rika whenever she would go with Kyoko and Tohru for a visit. But he'd retired, and was living on his savings. The girls didn't want to be a burden, so they promised him they would work hard to pay for their tuitions themselves.
A few months later…the house needed renovations, and Tohru's grandfather went to stay with his daughter and her family until the work was done.
He asked the girls if they had a friend they could stay with. Rika told him yes, but Arisa lived in a one-room apartment, and Saki had such a large family… they couldn't ask them. Those two had enough to worry about. That's when Tohru had her brilliant idea. If they could somehow live on their own for a while, everyone would be happy. Well except for them really but they could get through it together.
After school Rika met up with Tohru and they went down to the lockers to get their shoes.
"Eh?" Rika looked to see Yuki at his locker.
"Oh! Yuki," Tohru said surprised. "it's you! I mean it's… Hi." She said shyly.
"It seems we're beginning to make a habit of bumping into each other." He said with a smile.
…
The three of them walked back towards their 'homes'.
"It was nice meeting your cousin this morning. He was funny. And those Zodiac figures he made were really cute…" Tohru said.
"I'm not sure funny is the right word to describe him." Rika muttered.
"Ah, yes...but I thought I overheard you saying something about how you wished there was a year of the cat?" Yuki asked.
"It's an idea I had when I was a kid…Silly." She said shyly.
"Cats…useless, foolish creatures." He said lowly, menacingly. His whole attitude just suddenly changed. He stopped walking. "Tell me, Miss Honda. How familiar would you say you are with the history of the Chinese Zodiac?" He asked.
"I know the stories my mom used to tell us..."
"Did you know that it was originally nothing more than a simple calendar? A mathematical system to mark the passage of time. Only later did people begin to use it for things like astrology and story-telling…"
"Oh. I guess the story about the animals isn't true then…"
"No. I'm not really sure how or when the animals first came to represent the years. But I don't believe they were from the beginning. What I do know is at no time in the history of the Zodiac has the cat ever been included. So you see, the cat has been shunned from society for thousands of years. But as the story is told, it still years to be excepted… Like I say, a truly foolish animal."
"Sounds like you really don't like cats."
"No kidding." Rika muttered as he turned around.
"…. I noticed it this morning that you're starting to look a little pale…" He said to Tohru. "You should try to take better care of yourself. Perhaps we'll bump into each other again tomorrow…" He said before walking away.
"I told you, you were starting to look pale." Rika said crossing her arms. She had brought it up the day before but Tohru had said she was fine.
"I'm fine." She said. Rika sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Come on, let's get back. You have work tonight." Rika said as they started walking to the tent. They both worked but not at the same job so they had different days off. That night was Rika's night off which worked out well because she'd gotten a lot of homework.
That night Rika waited for Tohru to get home. She'd had finished all of her homework and had looked at what Tohru needed to do in case she needed her help. Tohru pushed open the tent and came in
"Hi, Mom. Hi, Rika." Rika glanced up from a book she was reading. "I'm home. I know…it's late." She said looking at Rika. "But I can't sleep yet. I still have a paper to write."
"Don't worry I'll help you." Rika said with a smile. Tohru returned it.
"I'm just going to go down to the stream to wash up a little, okay?" Rika nodded before going back to her book. Tohru opened the tent flap and stopped. Rika looked up, raising an eyebrow. Then she heard someone laughing insanely.
"Shigure, don't you think you're overdoing it?" Rika heard Yuki say. She got up and got out of the tent. Shigure started laughing harder when he saw her. She frowned and hit him on the head with her book.
"Ow!" Rika glared at him and he shrunk back some. She looked to Yuki who had face palmed.
The four went back to Yuki's house with him and Shigure, who snickered the whole way. They sat at a table. Yuki and Shigure, who was still snickering loudly, on one side and Tohru and Rika on the other.
"So…You've been living in that tent by yourselves?"
"Uh huh." Tohru said.
"For how long?" Yuki asked. Rika glared towards Shigure who had turned to the side.
"I don't know. Just over a week?"
"Well, that explains it. All of this land is Sohma property. It seemed odd that we'd suddenly have new neighbors."
"I'm sorry…but please… Can't we stay there a little while longer? It's only for a few more weeks then we'll go! We don't have much money, but we can pay you! Please let us stay?"
"Those woods aren't too safe…" Shigure said. "You've got wild animals, landslides, the occasional weirdo prowling around."
"How often do you go for walks?" Rika asked him with a small chucked and he gave her an offended look but kept talking.
"It's not a good idea for two girls to be living out there alone."
"So, you're done laughing?" Yuki said.
"Hmm…"
"Don't you worry about us!" Tohru said standing up. "We're already used to all the bugs! And if we can stand up to them, we can stand up to…" Suddenly she started to fall over.
"Tohru!" Rika gasped as she caught her. Yuki was suddenly next to them putting a hand on her forehead.
"A fever." He said.
"Ice! I'll get the ice!" Shigure opened the doors to the kitchen and grimaced at the mess. "Its uh-It's…"
"Hn. And you call the woods unsafe?"
"Well, relatively speaking. Hm." He suddenly stopped "There. You hear that? There's just been another landslide somewhere."
"Really? But-how do you know that?" Tohru asked.
"I guess you could say it's instinct."
"Was it close?" Yuki asked.
"Close to the tent-er, I mean- Not at all!" He said in a sing-song voice. Tohru was suddenly up and running to the tent. The three of them followed her. The whole tent was covered with just a bit of orange sticking out.
"Oh! This is terrible! Mom's picture was still in there! I've got to get her out! Mom!" Tohru said as she started using her hands to dig.
"Tohru stop!" Rika said trying to pull her back.
"Mom, I'm coming!" Tohru suddenly stopped. She was panting heavily.
"Please calm down." Yuki said coming over. "You already have a fever."
"But, Mom…Wh-What am I going to do? If I don't get her out soon…sh-she'll be hurt!" Rika frowned.
"Don't strain yourself." Shigure said putting a hand on hers. "We'll come back when it's brighter… I think your Mom's probably glad it wasn't you in there. And I think she'd be upset if you got hurt now…Don't you?" Rika helped Tohru up and they made their way back to the house.
"There. Isn't that better?" Shigure said. Rika lay next to Tohru who was under a blanket. Shigure was sitting crisscross next to her. "And Yuki's still looking for some ice, if you want it…"
"I'm sorry…"
"You must be tired. It's a lot to happen in just one day…"
"Mmm…we… lost our home again…" Tohru opened her eyes to look at her. "I'm sorry Rika." Rika shook her head, stroking Tohru's gently. She closed her eyes again.
"Are you okay?" Shigure asked her.
"Yes…It's sad…but, not as sad as other things…"
"Like what?"
"Like…not telling Mom "be safe" on the day she died…I said that every morning…Bye. Be safe. Except that day, I didn't say it…" Rika frowned. "I had a test. So Rika stayed up helping me study almost the whole night. When it was time for Mom to go to work, I didn't wake up. I couldn't tell her "be safe". And she never came home…"
"Tohru." Rika said quietly. "Stop blaming yourself for what happened to Kyoko." She opened her eyes again and looked at Rika sadly.
"I used to think about quitting school…working." She said closing her eyes again. "Mom told me she didn't finish school. But she always wished she did."
"That's why I need you to stick with it. So you can tell me what it feels like to hold that diploma in your hand. And then, maybe, you can have the life I never got to have…"
"When she said that, that's when I knew…Why she worked so hard…It was all for us. And with everything she did I couldn't even get up long enough to say "goodbye" when she was walking out the door. Not even that one little thing. And then she was gone…So now, I have to finish high school like Mom wanted me to, no matter what…I have to hold that diploma in my hand…I have to…for her…I can't give up…just because…of a fever…like this…" She trailed off slowly falling asleep.
"It's amazing…" Shigure and Rika looked up to see Yuki standing in the doorway holding a thing of ice. "She always seems so cheerful at school…You'd never guess that you two have been suffering like this for so long…" He said. "When I was young, there were many times I wanted to run away Sohma House… But I never did. I could always find some rationalization to stay… The fact of the matter is I just wasn't strong enough, or I could've left…I could've lived in the woods by myself, in a tent…I could've done what you did…" He said glancing at Rika.
"You can call it amazing. But I don't think the word does it justice…"
"No…No, it doesn't."
"Do you mind keeping an eye on them? I'd like to go out for a while."
"What? Where? You're not going to try digging out that tent-? You are. Aren't you? Do you want me to come with you? It won't be an easy job for you alone."
"You're right…but-" He glanced at Rika. "I can handle it."
"Be safe, Yuki." Shigure said as Yuki left. He turned to Rika. "You should get some sleep too. We have another futon." She shook her head.
"I'll be fine. You can go to bed. I'll watch her." Rika said sitting up slowly looking down at her with a quiet sigh.
"Let me at least get you a pillow." He said getting up and walking out to the hall before coming back with a pillow.
"Thanks." She said taking it. Rika moved over and lied down.
"You should really get some sleep or you might catch a fever too." Rika sighed.
"Fine." She said closing her eyes and letting her consciousness fade away.
The next morning Rika woke up and looked up to see Tohru sitting up. She sat up and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.
"Huh? Mom, you're here…" Tohru said picking up the picture. "But how did you-?
"Good morning!" Yuki said. They looked up to see him standing there with bags in his hands. "How are you feeling today?"
"Uhh, I, guess I, uh…"
"I've brought your things for you. I think this is all of them, if you'd like to check."
"Yuki, this must have taken you all night!" Tohru said flustered.
"Don't be silly." Yuki said.
"So then how did you-? There was so much…"
"It's a secret." He said.
"Oh…"
"I know the place is dirty…"
"What?"
"And I realize the idea of living with two strange boys might seem a little awkward… But there's an extra room upstairs. You're welcome to stay there, if you'd like."
"No, no, no! Out of the question!" she said getting up even more flustered.
"We're not that strange…" Yuki said.
"No! I didn't mean it like that!" Rika chuckled at Tohru standing up.
"Of course, it won't be free…" Shigure said suddenly popping up, in a teasing voice.
"Eh? Ahh.."
"I do intend to pay you for your services."
"For our…services?"
"As our brand new housekeepers!" Shigure said in a sing-song voice "We'll just take your things to your room now. I assume your references will all check out?" He said in a more serious voice.
"Wait! I can't let you do this!" She said. "Not after all the trouble you've gone through already! Please it's too much!"
"Miss Honda, we're doing this because we want too." Yuki said stopping and looking back at them. "You don't have to worry that it's causing us any trouble… And besides…where else can you go?"
"Oh… Well, if we're going to stay here, we'll work for room and board, and that's it! I don't want any money! And I want to know all the rules of the house!"
"Relax. It's alright. You can do things your own way here. The only thing you have to do is be yourself…Fair enough?" Yuki said.
"Just be yourself... You'll be fine..." Rika heard Kyoko's voice say.
Later that morning, Tohru was up in the girl's new room while Rika was sitting at the table down stairs with Shigure.
"So, You and Tohru… You're sisters?" Rika nodded her head slightly.
"Kyoko took me in when I was little."
"So you're an orphan."
"I don't need any pity. It doesn't change who I am. Parents or not… I had Kyoko... and I still have Tohru." Rika said. He smiled.
"How old are you? You're year of the rooster, right?" He asked. Rika nodded.
"I'm a year older than Tohru."
"When is your birthday?" He asked smiling. Rika rolled her eyes.
"Down boy." She said. He looked at her a little surprised but chuckled. "Why else would you be asking?" She asked with a smirk. "Why are you laughing?"
"Oh it's nothing... Just your choice of words." He said. Suddenly there was a crash from upstairs. "Hm? I'll go see what that was, you stay here." He said getting up. He left the room and a few minutes later Tohru came running down the stairs.
"Call a doctor! Or a Vet! Or anybody!" She yelled. Rika got up and stared at her. She was carrying a black dog, an orange cat and a small white rat.
"They have pets?" Rika asked.
So there's not much difference between this version and the old version so far.