Tsubaki looked in the mirror one last time as she fixed her kimono. A beautiful lilac colored one which complimented her hair very well. As she then walked towards a certain room. "Akito, we should leave now."
"You'll be going with me, Tsubaki." Akito said as she read through her book.
Tsubaki slightly titled her head. "I thought you would be taking Kureno." Whenever Akito left the estate, she would usually be accompanied by Kureno so it was rather baffling for Akito to ask for Tsubaki instead.
"And let Kureno meet the others?" Akito scoffed as she flipped the page. "Don't make me laugh."
And now here she was, Tsubaki was seated on the front seat along with the driver and in the back seat there was Akito...and Shigure.
Tsubaki mentally cursed at the man presence. He was all suited up looking all prim and proper which made him look more annoying than usual.
Letting out a quiet sigh she looked outside taking in the surrounding. It was nice to see the outside world more. Soon the drive came to a halt, making the passenger exit the car as they had arrived to their destination.
Akito looked around, as she stood still. She then turned to look at Tsubaki. "I want to look around."
Shigure hummed in response before giving Tsubaki a smile. "I have some work so I'll go on ahead." He stuck out his tongue and he laughed. "Tsubaki knows the way since she visited this school before so she can show you around. Shigure quick left the scene. I'll go bother Mayu-chan for the time being!
Tsubaki glared at the man's retreating figure as she then turned to Akito and smiled. "Let's get going then Akito."
Akito without a word followed Tsubaki as they began to walk around. "I did not know you already visited this school before."
Tsubaki coughed in surprise. "Well..." She regained her composure. "This was the same school Hatori, Ayame and Shigure attended so I came to see their school festival once."
Tsubaki awaited a response as she turned to face Akito only to find her younger sister stare at someone, intrigued.
Looking at where Akito's attention had turned, Tsubaki noticed a girl, from her uniform it was a student, in a distance.
Surprisingly Akito started walked towards the student. Does Akito know her? Tsubaki followed Akito. The girl, who had brown hair which was tied at the back with a blue ribbon, also stared at Akito as she let out a confused sound. "Akito-san...?"
"That's right, Honda Tohru-san." Akito replied. This response made Tsubaki take a second look at the girl in surprise. So she is the girl who is living with Shigure and the rest.
The girl in response quickly bowed to Akito to show her respect.
The day seemed to be filled with surprises for Tsubaki as the next thing Akito did was smile at Tohru. Akito then hummed. "Well, you strike me as feminine and gentle. Thank goodness you seem to be a good person." She continued. "To add on you're extremely cute."
This flustered Tohru as she quickly shook her hands in denial. "What? Oh no, you flatter me-"
Akito laughed "Sorry it took me so long to introduce myself. I'm rather shy of strangers." With a smile still on her face. "I'm Akito, the current Sohma head. Pleased to meet you."
Tsubaki looked at the two girl continue to interact as she heard hurried footsteps in a distance making her turn around. Tsubaki bit her lower lips. Don't come here, Yuki!
"Akito!" The boy called out, immediately making Akito turn as she then walked towards him.
"I missed you,Yuki." Akito said as she opened her arms. "It's been forever since I last saw you. You look grown up and even taller-"
"What did you do? What did you do to Honda-san?!"
Akito stopped talking upon Yuki interrupting her. She then smiled. "Nothing. I simply said hello."
"More importantly, Yuki...I wanted to ask you something. " Akito's expression changed as she then walked towards Yuki as she then cupped his face. "Why did you skip the New Years?"
Tsubaki took a few steps towards them, ready to intervene.
"When you do something like that, it really hurts my feelings. Do I have to re-educate you? In your special room." With each word Akito spoke, Yuki seemed to become more and more lifeless. Tsubaki noticed that way Yuki was trembling yet she did not do anything. "Will I be forced to spend long days teaching you proper disposition again?"
"Akito-" Tsubaki was about to stop Akito when Tohru rushed forward and pushed Akito away.
"I'm sorry. We have to go back to our classroom..." The girl meekly said, her voice trembling. "Or we'll get in trouble."
"Oh I see." Akito simply said as she walked away. "I hope you have a fun school life here, Yuki. Let's us also get going Tsubaki."
As Akito passed Tsubaki, she took one last look at Yuki who continued to stand still, lifeless making Tsubaki remember the times Yuki was back then when he was trapped in his room.
Yuki, Is this person, Honda Tohru-san, so important to you that despite your fears of Akito you rushed in to protect her? Tsubaki wondered to herself. Is she the person who is causing you to change?
Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard Akito besides her laughing. "That woman... Honda Tohru is so ugly..."
...
"It is painfully easy to define human beings. They are beings who, for no good reason at all, create their own unnecessary suffering."
Tsubaki read out loud a book she was reading. It was Natsume Sousuke's 'I Am a Cat'.
This wordings applies to her and the rest of the zodiacs but then again are we really human or souls of the ancient taking form.
*Knock Knock*
It was quite late into the night so Tsubaki wondered who it was. The door to her room slides open, revealing a maid. Tsubaki recalled her working under her mother, Sohma Ren.
"Ren-san is asking for you." Tsubaki knew already as soon as she saw the maid. Nodding she closed the book, as she walked with the maid towards her destination.
Tsubaki after opening the door, her mother immediately walked towards her and then embraced her.
"Ahhhh~" Ren hummed as she pulled away and looked at Tsubaki's face. "I missed you so much~"
Tsubaki simply put on a smile and she looked at her mother's gleeful face. "I missed you too, mother."
After that Tsubaki stayed like a doll as her mother continued to fawn over her. Usually Tsubaki would be happy at thee attention she was getting from her mother but today it was rather strange, it wore her down.
After spending more than half an hour Tsubaki stood up. "Mother, I feel tired so I will retire for the day." Tsubaki smiled upon her mother's approval as she walked back to her room.
The lady sat in her room for a long time, drowning in her thoughts. Memories of the past washed up in her memories again and again.
"Tsubaki, you are a kind child." Her father would say.
"My dear Tsubaki." Her mother would hum at her arrival.
"You can love only me." Akito would demand.
That was the type of love she was always familiar with. The love she had ever gotten was due to her having correlation with something be it either appearance or the bond.
And in the future is only this type of love was bestowed upon her then... Tsubaki did not want that. She wanted to reject these type of love but then what if no other live was given to her? Could she remain sane and be a normal person with feeling?
"God...my dearest master." Tsubaki whispered to herself. "I am very lonely."
There was no reply only the sound of the cicada from outside, indicating summer, was the response. Maybe it was because she was dwelling into her emotions too much but then Tsubaki noticed her tears had fallen onto the cover of the book she was reading.
"Tsubaki?"
It was as if she had no control over her body, Tsubaki before even processing whose voice it was, she rushed towards the door and opened it. "Kureno..." She breathed out. "How is that that you always show up when I am most vulnerable?"
Kureno who had his eyes wide opened, tilted his head slightly before he started to flail his arms around in denial. "I was going around to get some fresh air when I say the lights to your room was still on so I came to check." What a sense of Deja vu.
Tsubaki did not reply as she simply stood in front of him. Her arms rose slightly as she grabbed Kureno's finger as if a child holding their parent's.
Kureno smiled at her behavior as he then leaned down to meet Tsubaki's eyes. "What are you thinking about?"
Tsubaki's mind went back to when she saw Honda Tohru. She heard many stories related to her through various people. Hatori,Shigure,Ayame,Hatsuharu,Momiji and Kisa. They all seemed to say the same thing about her except Akito. She is an ugly person.
Tsubaki tightened her grip. "I was wondering what is considered beautiful." If Honda Tohru was not?
"You're beautiful."
Tsubaki's eyes snapped back to look at Kureno. The man had a nonchalant look on his face with his lips curled into an innocent smile. Tsubaki's felt heat rush in her face as her nose scrunch. She raised her hand and lightly hit his head.
On a closer look Tsubaki's eyes were red. Had she been crying? Is she hurt? Had she been in pain? Kureno thought to himself. BuSt despite that, her mere presence managed to make his heart elate.
He knew it was wrong. He promised to stay with Akito his whole life but a part of him whispered to himself that by staying with Akito meant he can always see Tsubaki.
She always made him breathless to the point he wonders if anyone else in the world feels such strong emotions? And right now the way she was looking at him made her look so frail, Kureno wanted to cover her and never let anyone see her so weak...except for him.
Tsubaki noticed Kureno's tender expression towards her as he leaned in towards her. The man looked as if he was hesitating his actions as he opened his mouth to speak.
He may confess his feeling to me again! With that thought Tsubaki quickly raised her hands and she covered the man's mouth to prevent him from speaking further.
I'm sorry but I'm scared. I am yet to grow out of my coward's skin. If you were to bask me in your love I'm sure I'll be a victim. Tsubaki cried to herself. If the love you are giving me is same as the love I have always received, I don't want it!
Kureno felt his heart break at the unsaid rejection, his lips trembled but he still managed to smile. Tsubaki once said she loved his smile as it made it seem the whole world was fine.
He gently grabbed the hand which was covering his mouth as he then placed a light kiss on her palm as he then made her lovely hands cup his face as Kureno dwelled in her presence. This is fine.
...
It must have been because of the heat but Akito was in a rather foul mood. However in Tsubaki's opinion, the way the wind flew in the room ringing the wind chime, filling the room with a melodic sound calmed her.
Akito was staring outside the window, head resting on the window sill as she stared down from the top floor. Suddenly her eyes got focused. "Tsubaki, get me a cold drink..."
Tsubaki wondered what caught Akito's attention as her little sister's lips curled up but she did not question anything.
Rather she stood up as she left the room. Akito not once turned to look at her leave. Walking down the steps, she entered the kitchen. Picking out a glass and pouring a drink along with ice cubes.
While walking back, she noticed a familiar figure. A small boy with brown hair carrying a box. "Hiro?"
"Ah!" The boy exclaimed in surprise. "Tsubaki obaa-san." Tsubaki mentally frowned at the suffix aunt attached to her name.
"Here to visit, Akito?" Upon reaching a affirmative response. Tsubaki turned around. "Wait here, Hiro. I'll also get you a drink."
After she poured another glass she walked back to Hiro who was patiently still waiting on the same spot.
The boy smile at her return as she showed her the box he was carrying. "My father bought some moon cakes from his visit to Kanagawa. I brought some for you and Akito."
"I'm sure Akito will be pleased."
Upon nearing Akito's room, the duo heard distant voices making Hiro turn to her. "Is someone else paying a visit?"
Tsubaki shook her head in denial. "No...It was just me and Akito a few moments ago."
"Realize how worthless you are!"
Tsubaki rushed in immediately upon hearing Akito's shout. What she saw made her frozen. Akito was cornering Akito to the balcony as she continued to speak venom like words towards young Rin.
"You're only here to fill in the number of spots!" Akito pushed Rin more to the edge of the balcony. "You should be aware of that!"
"I don't want you..."Those words made Rin completely lifeless. Tsubaki remembered her parents speaking to her in the same way. In a blink of an eye Akito then pushed Rin from the balcony.
Before Tsubaki knew it, she heard sounds of glasses falling and a gust of wind on her face as a shocked whisper came from Akito. "Tsubaki...?"
I'm so close. Tsubaki outstretched her arms towards Rin who stared her, bewildered. Upon coming in contact with her, Tsubaki quickly pulled her into as embrace. One hand holding her by the waist other one on her head to protect Rin.
Tsubaki twisted her body making her be the one facing the ground. On impact with the ground, she felt a brief amount of sharp throbbing pain before all parts of her body seemed to numb.
She weakly turned to look at Rin seemed to have passed out. Tsubaki noticed the ground beneath her and Rin was turning red. She wondered whose blood it was. Hopefully it's mine. Tsubaki thought.
With her almost closing eyes she looked at Akito one last time. Her little sister was shouting, beside her was Hiro who had a shocked expression. I'm sorry you had to see this, Hiro.
Akito kept on shouting as Tsubaki wondered what she was shouting about. She could not hear anything. Don't stress out, Akito. Tsubaki tried to say. You'll get a fever again.
But no words managed to come out of her, as Tsubaki felt her vision blank.
In her state of blankness, Tsubaki wandered around. She was in a familiar surroundings. She was in the Sohma estate.
Walking along the along hallways so saw two figures, two children were sitting down in a distance. One had long silver hair and other one with brown hair. It was Tsubaki and Kureno when they were younger.
"Tsubaki-nee" Kureno who was beside Tsubaki called. "Today I learned something new so I wanted to share it with you."
"Tadhaa!" Kureno pulled out a daisy making Tsubaki beam at the flower. "Apparently you can tell whether a person likes you if when you pluck the petals of the flower."
Tsubaki tilted her head in confusion, as this was something completely new to her. Kureno beamed as he leaned towards her. "Look! I'll show you."
The boy then started plucking the petals, one by one.
"She loves me.
She loves me not."
The boy kept on going, repeating the words again and again until he reached the last petal. "She loves me." He said with a tone as if he was holding his breath.
He beamed as he turned to Tsubaki and smiled. "The person I like, likes me back!"
"That's great, Kureno!" Tsubaki smiled back at the boy who was continued smiled. The boy leaped from his seat as he then hugged Tsubaki.
Young Tsubaki did not understand his sudden affectionate action but she did not question him. She simply embraced him back.
But the grown up Tsubaki who looked at the memory cried. Did you love me from way back then, Kureno?
Tsubaki ran in her dream. She wanted to see Kureno. She wanted to meet the current Kureno. In a distance she saw the man standing, as Tsubaki continued to run towards him. She wanted to tell him something.
She reached out her arm so she can hold Kureno. I want to see you!
"I want to see you..."
Tsubaki opened her eyes. She stayed in daze as she took in her surroundings. The white walls, minimal furniture and IV stand near the wall show that Tsubaki was in the hospital.
Feeling a pressure near her leg, Tsubaki then turned her attention to that. There was a person sleeping as if they were waiting for her to wake up.
Carefully Tsubaki's straighten herself as she leaned her back on the headboard of the bed. She raised her hand and placed in on the person who was asleep.
"...Akito."
Akito stirred in her sleep as her eyes fluttered open. She seemed to be in daze for a moment. "Tsubaki..." She whispered. "TSUBAKI!"
With a shout Akito stood up and slapped Tsubaki across her face. "Why? Why did you jump after that vixen?!"
Akito walked towards her as she grabbed Tsubaki's collar. The shout must have caught the attention of others as the door to her room slammed open.
"Akito, Calm down!" It was Hatori. He rushed in and started to separate Akito from Tsubaki. "Tsubaki is still recovering."
"Why? Are you trying to leave me?!" Akito paid no heed to Hatori as she continued to scream at Tsubaki. "What would have happened if you died?!"
Tsubaki did not reply as she listened to Akito. Akito then started to cry as she sat on the ground in tears. "I still need you..."
Tsubaki felt a nauseating feeling within her from guilt. Her heart was ripping apart seeing Akito breakdown like that because of her. Akito is someone who is delicate and always be treated with care but right now Tsubaki was the one who broke her.
Slipping out of bed, Tsubaki sat on her knees and she then wiped Akito's tears making her master look at her. "I'm sorry, Akito."
Akito then brought her hands on Tsubaki's face, inspecting her. Akito's grip on her face tightened, scratching her. "Are you alright now?" Akito whispered.
Tsubaki smiled, paying no heed to the pain instead leaning into Akito's touch. "I'm fine, Akito..."
...
A/N:
Uahhhhh I can't believe Fruits basket had ended. It has always been my favorite show alongside of Gintama. Some of the beautiful scenes were cut off from the manga which was unfortunate but we still managed to get a well-adapted and complete version of the show.
Each character was never left out and was beautifully written, each playing out a wonderful story of their own. Fruit Basket is indeed a masterpiece so we all have to thank the mangaka Natsuki Takaya!
(*꒦ິ꒳꒦ີ)
This chapter was also very fun to write because I really enjoyed writing the scene between Tsubaki and Kureno. ALSO OUR ANGEL TOHRU IS INTRODUCED Yayyyyy~ ＼(≧▽≦)／
With the show ending, this story is also coming to an end since I don't intend to make it beyond 10 chapter. This story was only written for my self-fulfillment. However! The number of reads I have gotten is insane!
Thank you so much for reading this story and hopefully you'll read it till the very end!
Thank you and see you in the next chapter~