*Author's Note: Hi Everyone! Firstly, thank you for stopping by! If you are here because you're familiar with my other work, know that although this is an entirely different fandom/genre I do still plan to eventually finish that piece. Perhaps writing fanfiction again will inspire me to complete it. Feel free to leave me a note to nudge me in that direction if you're so inclined. 😊
That being said I just recently discovered Fruits Basket a few months ago via the reboot and I absolutely fell in love with it. The idea for this story would not leave me alone and has finally driven me back to writing after a long hiatus. I plan this to be Part 1 of a 2 Part series. Kyoru, mostly AU. Haven't decided yet how citrusy things will get but I am open to opinions. No current plans to include major spoilers but I wanted to put it out there that I have read the manga and from what I have written so far, there are some (IMO minor) things included or eluded to that have not come up yet in the anime. At the very least if you're anime only you'll probably want to make sure you're caught up through the Season 2 finale before reading this. I am super excited to share with you all! Stay safe and healthy. xoxo ~Prose
Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Fruits Basket, just a fan.
PROLOGUE – The Beginning of The End is the Beginning
One fine, unremarkable day shortly after the New Year in her second year of High School, Tohru Honda forgot her umbrella at home.
The night before she had fallen asleep at her desk studying for a test, therefore waking up later than she would any other day. Because she woke up late, she rushed through her morning routine. Because she was worried about getting breakfast and lunches together, she was not paying attention to the TV, and because she was not watching the morning news, she did not catch the weather report as she normally would.
With cheerful abandon Tohru wished her dear Soma housemates a good morning, rushed through breakfast and ran out of the house without a care…the pretty, forsaken pink and white polka-dotted object still sitting forlornly in the holder by the door.
Even still, on any other day this would not have been cause for concern, for she tended to keep a few extras in her locker just in case. This was a habit born in part out of a slightly scatterbrained nature, but most notably out of the desire to have umbrellas on hand should any friends be in need, much like a mother hen caring for her chicks (and a decidedly useful one, when one's housemate happens to be possessed by the Zodiac cat).
On this day, of all days, it had been overlooked her stock had not been replenished since the last big rainstorm, and so the place they usually resided sat sadly, unfortunately empty.
On the other side of town Tohru's teacher for that oh-so dreaded class (the one with the test that caused her so much worry) woke up to the sounds of her newly adopted six-month-old puppy playfully eating its way through the contents of her garbage can. This included some items (that will remain unnamed) adorable little fluffy canines should never, ever consume. Therefore, said teacher spent her morning rushing the poor, silly pooch to the emergency vet and the test with which consumed Tohru's night was postponed and soon forgotten by all.
Still, though the clouds began to roll in, the sun was shining brightly in the sky as the day wore on. Because the teacher wasn't there Tohru and her classmates were given a free period. Like the kind soul that she was, she happily volunteered to take some books back to the library for the substitute, and so wasn't there when someone delivered a message for her. That message, in the form of a hand-written note, was placed loosely on top of her desk amongst the small scattering of items left there. So, it should come to no surprise that it was promptly blown off of her desk at the first gust of wind coming in through the open window, never to be read by its intended recipient.
Little by little the light began to ebb but Tohru's smile never faltered; even when her two favorite Soma's reminded her they would not be walking home together that day. She set out wrapped up best she could against the chill, a chipper farewell on her lips as she waved goodbye to her friends, hoping they kept safe and warm in the quickly deteriorating weather.
Halfway home the skies opened, and the rain came down in torrential sheets. The wind picked up causing the icy water to blow sideways, slowing her down as she trudged against the onslaught. By the time she got home she was completely soaked and nearly blue from the cold.
Still with her usual, irrepressible spirit Tohru simply laughed it off and got herself warmed up and dry as quickly as she could. With a nice hot cup of tea in her hands to sooth the remaining chill she patiently waited at the kotatsu until everyone returned safe and sound.
To no one's surprise the next day found her feverish with a terrible cold. The boys demanded she stay in bed, no school or work or chores, and for once Tohru complied without (too much) complaint. When the unanticipated phone call came, she was too ill to answer or to venture out for envelopes as Shigure might have suggested. Because she was sick an opportunity was unknowingly missed, never to be repeated.
Some days later a plain manilla envelope appeared the mailbox addressed to one Tohru Honda. It too, was as unremarkable as that fateful day, unadorned as it was with any markings or return address. Enclosed was a clear, jeweled case containing a DVD and scrap of paper, a sticky note on the cover simply stating, "I'm sorry."
Such simple choices with unintended consequences. Actions have weight; feather to lead, water to air. Action…. Reaction…like an alchemical formulation. No one could have been prepared for the unforeseen effects, or how far they would stray from the intended path forward, and it was all due to one. Simple. Decision.
This was the beginning. The turning point no one could know…the forgotten umbrella against the tsunami still to come.
*Author's Note: Music is hugely impactful with my writing process, and I am known to hit shuffle on my very eclectic library when I'm in the groove. I do like to often share the names of songs that I drew some sort of inspiration from in my chapters so if you see a "muse tunes" callout that is what they are. I have none specifically for the Prologue, but the story title is from "The Other Side" by Ruelle. Great song and perfect for this fic, check it out.