I've had an Undertale AU for Furuba pretty much ever since I finished the game as a first-timer last year, but haven't done much besides ponder it. This scene hit me while reading an UT fic, unsurprisingly enough. Also unsurprisingly, I have an OT3 in that fandom too. Guess who's in which role here :D PS The music box plays "For Fruits Basket".

She wedged herself further into the cat statue's hollow, drawing her knees up to her chest. It was much roomier inside than it had looked, and drier. And almost warm. It wouldn't hurt to rest for a short while, would it?

I have all the time in the world. Don't worry about me.

The silvery voice in her head was teasing, but she thought she heard sadness behind the words. Just like how sometimes, if she closed her eyes and focused really hard, she could almost see an amethyst-eyed boy around her age, floating in the dark.

Her right hand brushed something metallic. Searching, she grasped the thing, brought it to her lap, and stared down. Her chest tightened, but it didn't feel like she'd caused it.

"Cute," she whispered, and turned the music box's crank.

Tinkles of melody filled the space with a gentle, hopeful tune, and yet her body tensed, at odds with the pleasant want to hum along.

That isn't yours. Put it back.

The voice was harsh enough to startle her. "Oh, I-I'm sorry!" The melody continued while she set it down. "I should have asked."

The tune seemed so familiar, even though she was certain she'd never heard it before.

How long are you planning to stay here? I don't want to hear that.

"I'm really sorry," she said again. She undid her small backpack and looked through it for some of those strangely-energizing biscuits, wilting a bit when she found none. "Just a few more minutes. Is– is that okay with you?"

No response.

The vague weight in her mind had lifted, and her body felt relaxed, her stomach calm. She found herself humming with the music box already. It did seem a little melancholy, though.

By the time she pulled a bottle of spring water from her backpack and drank some, the music had looped several times. She gathered her things, donned her backpack, and crawled out of the statue.

After a moment's thought, she placed the umbrella she'd left at the statue's side over the statue instead. It wasn't raining(?) very hard, but this seemed the right thing to do; cats didn't like water, after all.

She clasped her hands and bowed briefly. "Thank you very much for letting me rest, Cat-san. Goodbye."

When she straightened, the cat's one raised paw looked a bit higher. She smiled softly, then turned and continued walking.

Though her eyes had adjusted to the darkness, it was still difficult to tell if, or when, her surroundings were changing. This meant she had to pay attention, which was good because that meant she wouldn't be distracted by her thoughts, or the tinge of emptiness in her mind, the feeling that a fraction of her was missing.

One hand along the oddly smooth wall helped orient her until, suddenly, the wall ran out. She would have stumbled and fallen to who knows where if the sight greeting her hadn't frozen her to the spot.

Surely, the cavern yawned somewhere miles above now, but she couldn't stop the feeling that she'd left the underground and stood under the open night sky. In the distance, there was a castle, parapets winking in a faraway red glow. The wet air shimmered, but she felt cold. She stared, mouth agape, determination trembling within her alongside the awe and fear.

A small weight returned to her mind just before the voice spoke, but she still jumped slightly.

Yuki.

"Y-Yes?"

Earlier, you asked me my name. It's Yuki.

"…Oh. W-Well." She looked up, at the star-like stones high above her. "I'm very pleased to meet you."

And I you… Honda-san.

"Please call me Tohru." A quiet giggle left her. "I think we shouldn't concern ourselves with formalities since you're…" She shook her head. "It's all right." As she stared again at the distant castle, she took a deep breath. "We're almost there."

Yes. One more region, first.

She pointed toward the red glow. Like there was someone next to her to see it. But the voice hummed in confirmation.

"I'm glad you're back again, Yuki."

No reaction. But her steps over the dark ground were more confident even though she still couldn't see the path.

(Far, far behind them, in the tall grass, the orange cat followed.)