A/N: oh wow! I didn't think this would get that much favs and comments! Thanks ya'll! I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that has been craving this. Which is a surprise, since there are a very few isekai fics in the Fruits Basket fandom. So you can imagine my surprise from amount of support for this fic. Thank you

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Chapter One: "Encounter"

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Three things happen when Akito was six months old.

One, she crawled for the first time. She kept it hidden from Chitaka and the servants until she was able to show it to Akira. His smile, and Ren's annoyance was worth it.

Two, she attended her first New Year's banquet.

Three, during the same time, she has met another member of the zodiacs.

Of course, not all of them had shown up, since the rest of the group haven't been born yet... or currently just a baby.

'A huge shame. I really wanted to meet Kagura', since her zodiac sign as Aurora was in fact a boar. Guess she has to wait until Kagura is of age. If she recalls, Akito didn't meet Yuki or Kyo until they're at least around three to six years old. 'Bummer.'

Still, the banquet was surprisingly pleasant, despite Ren's remarks in the beginning half. Akito wasn't surprised at that, since she expected her mother to act up. That woman just had to try to sour everyone's moods when she couldn't handle - yet again - that all the attention was on her daughter.

Truly a jealous mutt that woman is.

If it wasn't for Akira, the banquet might have ended early. Thankfully, it didn't come to that. Her father left early, and taking her mother along with him, who happily shut up and follow him like a damn dog. 'Sorry Shigure'. No doubt Ren was pleased to have Akira to herself, leaving Akito alone with the zodiacs and the maids. If only her delusional mother knew the reason her husband did that. It was to make sure their daughter's first banquet would go well without any disturbance for the remainder of the evening. As the god of the zodiacs, she must attend to all of her banquets.

Not that she cared if Akira or Ren were still here with her.

Akito still enjoyed it nonetheless. She got to see Ritsu for the first time along with his parents. Based on Ritsu's appearance, he looks like he is about over three years old. Apparently old enough to do the New Year's dance with Kureno. As the year of the monkey has ended and the year of the rooster has begun.

Unfortunately, the dance didn't go too smoothly, since Ritsu is... you know, a "toddler". Like all toddlers, they aren't perfect and tend to make many mistakes, but according to Chitaka. No doubt most of the Sohmas with her stupid mindset. That isn't an excuse for a zodiac to do such a thing in front of their god. They should always maintain respect.

It wasn't long after continuous making mistakes throughout his dance, or hearing some of the maids' comments along with some remarks from Chitaka. That poor Ritsu eventually ended up stopping, then began crying loudly. It causes his parents try to go to him, but Chitaka stop them by ordering Ritsu to continue. Which he did not, and ended up having his mother and father began to apologize to Chitaka as the maid started to get frustrated. Ritsu's parents even apologized to her about their son. Neither one of them tried to go over to comfort him.

Yeah, she knows Chitaka told them, no, but still. They're his parents.

'Then again, it's the good ol' culty Sohmas that caused them to be like that.'

Luckily, Kureno went to Ritsu.

The moment Ritsu started to cry, Kureno stop in his dance. When he saw Ritsu's parents didn't go to him. He immediately went by the toddler's side. It was about a few minutes of Kureno's comfort and encouragement, that the dance began again, but this time Kureno help guided little Ritsu along. Whatever he said to him seem to have mostly calm Ritsu down and follow his lead.

All in all, what Kureno did made Akito smile as she watch himand little Ritsu finish their dance. It reminded her of the times she would do the same thing for her own siblings, except you know, there wasn't no dancing. Either way, she is surprised Kureno had this side of him. She should have remembered he did have somewhat of a older brother vibe to the younger zodiacs towards the end of the series. That he is also the type of person to put others' feelings before his own.

When the dance ended, Akito giggle loudly and clap her hands. It easily wipe away Chitaka's annoyance, and made the woman smile. Soon after everyone else did too. Of course, Akito didn't care about that, but rather she was more focus on the zodiacs, particularly Ritsu. Which is why she did what she did to help ease up the tense atmosphere.

Thankfully, it cheered the toddler up as Ritsu seem relax from the lack of the tension, and the attention. He's no longer the center of it. No doubt his parents are too. Particularly Ritsu's mother who seem ready to kneel and apologize again if needed to be. They were pleased it didn't have to come to that, since everyone was focus on the "god" of the zodiacs.

Quite honestly, it's very annoying, since she isn't used to this kind of attention. Let alone being restricted, since Chitaka refuse to let her down, or even get close to any of the zodiacs. They could only be near at a certain distance, and watch her from afar. The whole thing was irritating, but...

'I'm just glad that Ritsu is no longer crying.'

Akito glances pass the people around her over towards Ritsu and his parents, then back to the crowd around her. She ignores the maids' comments and search for the other zodiacs within the room. She sees Ayame talking to Hatori, who doesn't seem too interested in his conversation with him. She looks near them at Kureno, who was talking to Shigure by his side. No doubt about his dance; based on Kureno's ecstatic face that read seeking approval. Like a younger sibling would do to an older sibling. The notion heavily reminded her of her own siblings from her previous life, who would do the same thing to her.

It made Akito smile sadly at the thought.

Before those memories could be relived her mind every time she is reminded of her previous life, it goes away once she notices Shigure was staring at her. Again. Even though Kureno was talking to him, Shigure would mostly have his eyes locked on her. Then going back to Kureno. She could still feel his gaze when he isn't looking at her. The moment she was aware of his stares, and looks at him. His eyes would go to hers briefly, before Shigure gives her a smile. It's not the first time he would give her that smile of his, nor she knows it would be the last.

Either way, Akito would glance away and focus on something else to try not let the awkward set within her. Despite feeling Shigure's eyes still glued on her, she'd ignored it.

It's not always been like this.

In the beginning, she would smile back, but as of lately, it's kind of unsettling. The past six months, since her birth. She's been thinking over the plot of this series. At least enough to remember everything that she could about it. Keeping the memory of the series that could potentially help her to change things, and make everything better. While she was doing that, she remember something from the series that easily tip her off. That made her stop smiling back to Shigure as much as she used to. If not, it made her want to withdrawn away from him..

That very something was the most common fact of the series that every fan knows.

She cannot believe that she didn't remember this until months later.

That Shigure is in love with Akito.

Oh no, it is not like a simple love where it had build over time.

No, he fell in love with Akito before she was even born, through a dream he had of her conception.

The fact that she's Akito, just remembering and knowing that part... well... you can understand her reasons now. Of course, she knows simply ignoring him won't stop Shigure. She knows that. From rereading the manga, and seeing the s2 of the remake, she remembers how far Shigure would go to have Akito for himself. Regardless if she isn't that same Akito from the series,. His love is still there. That part of him will never change.

'The idea of him being in love with me... It's so fucking weird...'

It's bizarre. The idea of someone loving her before she was even born. It wasn't even if the fact Shigure is eight years older than her, since she herself feels like she is far older than him even though physically she isn't. It's the fact that he doesn't even know who she really is. And yet, he loves her to where he wants to be with her, despite her faults and personality.

Back in her previous life as Rory, Shigure's whole feelings for Akito and their relationship always sort of reminded her of Jacob and Renesmee from the Twilight series. The fact Shigure fell in love with Akito when she was in Ren's stomach.

'It's weird to think about.'

So she decided that it would be good if she tend to distance herself from Shigure. Not too much, but enough to show she has no interest in him in that regard in the future.

'... but Shigure never gave up on Akito, even to the end of the series... great...'

Just another thing she just needs to deal with in the future. First, Ren, and now Shigure. No matter how hard she will be different from the original Akito. Those two people will be forever tied to her. Whether she likes it or not. There's no changing that.

'Thanks Takaya, you just had to have people like those two be obsess with Akito...'

Months pass in a blink of an eye.

It was getting a little easier to not think about Shigure's feelings, since her mind was occupied on other important things. Such as her learning the Japanese's language, walking, and talking. She would rather get them out of the way as fast as she could, since there are things she need to do asap.

Funny enough, the order wasn't the correct way it had went. Akito learned walking first, which she saved for Akira to witness again. It was about a month after that was the language, then talking. Her first word was reserved for Akira again like her other first times.

As much as she is reluctantly fond of Akira, she hasn't forgotten that he also had a part in Akito's horrible personality. Whether he didn't mean to, or not, he still had a blame. Of course, not as much as Ren, but still a part. Honestly, she still prefers him over Ren, despite that.

It's sad to think that he will be dying in few more years.

It's because of that, Akito thought it would be nice to give him her firsts, since he doesn't have that much time to live. It bothered her that she is getting attach to him to where she'll be sad when he dies. She didn't want to deal with that kind of loss again. She wanted to distance herself from him, but with his death door lingering around the corner. It was hard to go through with that plan.

Tohru isn't the only person that tends to put others before herself.

In her previous life, she too did the exact same thing. It's a shame that part of her carried over to here, because as much of a good trait that seems. Her selflessness had mostly brought her pain and misery. To the point where Akito had often wonder how does Tohru is able to handle that. Constantly giving, and giving, while getting hurt in return. One after another.

Perhaps one day she could ask her.

If it wasn't of her being the incarnation of the god spirit, suspicious would have been raised about the heir of the Sohma clan.

That's one good thing she can say about being the so called god of the zodiacs.

Akito didn't need to force herself to play dumb and try to act her physical age. If you ask anyone within the main estate about her, they would say that she's genius. A once in a hundred of years prodigy. Do not be fooled by her appearance. Sure that she appears one years old, but once you hear her talk, and actually get to know her. Those looks can be very deceiving as she seems much, much older than that. As many would say, it's to be expected. She is the god of the zodiacs. She wouldn't behave like a normal baby. She isn't normal. She's different from everyone else. She's far special to be ordinary.

Because of her maturity and intelligence, everyone worshiped her more. Praises were thrown at her every day by the servants and members of the Sohmas clan alike. While groveling was nice, and all, but not everyone adored her. There are some that feared her, like the younger servants. They would gossip how disturbing it was for a mere toddler could act so adult-like. Some would even go so far to avoid looking at her, or be around her presence together.

While there are others, or rather one person, openly despises her.

Ren.

As Akito continue to excel, so does her mother's growing disdain towards her as more and more she's stay in the center of attention within the Sohma's clan.

Luckily for her mommy dearest, Akito doesn't have Akira's attention as much as she used to. With her growing intelligence and hunger for more information than to simply act like a toddler. Akito doesn't have much time to spend with her father. Not when she has Chitaka or the others give her lessons about the Sohma family, their records containing about past zodiac members, reading. The list goes on and on, but you get the idea. Thankfully, Akira allowed all of that, since he too bought the whole notion of her different given her status. Sure at times he does treat her like a child, but over all Akira was no different from everyone else in the Sohma clan.

To him, his own daughter was above him. For that, he must treat her as such.

Like she mention before, good culty Sohmas' brainwashing at it's finest.

Anyways, it is true that Akito doesn't need to do all of this. She could let herself act like a normal toddler, and simply wait until years later. And yet, she doesn't want to. She can't act like a toddler, because she isn't a normal one. That wasn't the main reason for doing this. It's because time waits for no one. It's better to learn now than later when it's too late. Other than obtaining more knowledge for her use. Her being seen as prodigy will definitely help in the future.

Unlike original Akito, she doesn't plan to let Ren get good amount of authority within the Sohma family.

People like her mother needs to be reminded of her place, and Akito will be gladly to do so when the time comes.

Over two years of her life had began here, Akito's world has been nothing, but her bedroom, and the main estate.

Thankfully, she was introvert from her previous life. Even so, being constantly shut within the large estate with no one, but the servants that she doesn't consider herself to be close with. It can get suffocating to where she needs time to herself.

Akito rarely see the zodiac members. Only at the banquet or fleeting glances, since she's far too busy with her studies. It's probably for the best, considering there is one particular individual she wants to distance herself as much as she can for the time being. And yet, she didn't expect to run to that person so soon.

There are some days where she feels the need to be by herself. Like a moment to take a breather away from the whole Sohma's bullshit. Trust her, it can get very exhausting with the whole praise and cult-like behaviors. So she would be by herself. She would have the servants leave her be, but she'll take it a step further sometimes. Sure, being her bedroom alone is nice, but being outside away from people was even better.

To the Sohmas, someone like her is meant to be inside. Kept away from the outside world that cannot understand their culture. Which she could care less, but Chitaka is very insistent on not letting her be outside by herself. Only when she's with her or other servants. So Akito would leave her room, and sneak to outside.

It's not easy given how many servants roam throughout the estate, but given her small size. It's easier to hide, especially in the garden with all the bushes and trees. That no one expect someone her size would hide in.

Of course, if you were like, let's say a dog. It would be easy to locate her in her secret hiding place. Of all dogs, it has to be this one.

"Akito?"

She lifts her head up to see Shigure looking around the shrub she's hiding behind at her. She forces herself to keep a neutral face by gazing at the book in his hand. Instead of displeasure that he found her.

'What is he doing here? I thought today no zodiac members were at the estate.' Akito thought, unless Chitaka lied to her. No, she would easily see it. Shigure must have come here of his own whims like usually does. Regardless if he is allowed or not.

"What are you doing here?" Shigure asks.

Despite that this is the first time they've ever had one on one interaction with each other. It was obvious by the look on Shigure so called surprise face. He knows why she's here, and yet, he pretends he doesn't.

'It's one of the things I hate about this know-it-all guy... but fine, I'll indulge him.'

"I wanted to take a break, and go outside." Akito calmly says as a normal toddler shouldn't behave. And yet Shigure doesn't appear to be disturbed by it. Not that she expected him to be, given the character she remembers him as. So she continues. "I didn't want any of the servants accompanying me."

'But I bet you might had figure that out, huh?'

Whatever Shigure was going to say next was stop as he puts up his finger at her into a hush gesture. He pulls back and leaves her behind the shrub. Suddenly, Akito hears incoming footsteps and one of the servants' voices.

"Shigure! Have you seen Akito-sama?! We can't find him anywhere."

'I was only gone for fifteen minutes. Can't I have a little privacy?' Akito thought to herself with a frown, before she puts her face back to calm neutral one. She stays silent, and waits for Shigure to respond. He does without hesitation, and a second afterwards.

"Sorry, no I haven't, but I'll let you know if I see him."

"We would appreciate it." The servant said as Akito hears them retreating back inside the estate. "Chitaka will be furious if we don't find him soon..."

Once she hears they were gone, Akito lets out a sigh of relief, and smiles. Of course, that doesn't last long when Shigure appears again around the shrub. This time he stands next to her, looking down at her with a smile as he holds his book against his shoulder.

"Well, so you can act like kid." Shigure points out in a teasing tone, then quickly says, "When you want to."

He must be talking about the rumors of her being a genius, since he hasn't seen it himself in person. Until now. Not that she's surprised by that, since gossip is like a wild fire among the Sohmas. Shigure is the type of person that either starts it or fans the flame.

"I'm not the only one it seems." Akito replies as she points out his behavior as well. Shigure may be ten years old, but every fan knows that someone his age is a little wise and knowing to act like that.

Akito stands up onto her feet. She brushes the leaves off the knees of her kimono, and looks up at him. Even at ten years old, he's rather tall compare to her. Not that she's intimidated by it or of him in any matter.

Anyways, she should thank him, and be on her way.

"But thank you, Shigure."

Of course, she should have known Shigure wouldn't make it any easier for her to leave him. Now that he finally has her in his reach.

"You know my name? I'm shock." He said, his surprised sounding so fake. That it almost made Akito want to snort at him, but she restrain herself from doing so. "I thought you wouldn't, considering you seem to avoid anyone outside the main estate."

Was she that obvious?

No.

She's not.

It's just that Shigure has always been the most observant out of everyone. Much to her annoyance, but if he wants to play this game. Fine.

"Of course, I know your name. I know all the names of the zodiac members." It wasn't a lie, since she does know everyone's names. She just isn't going to admit that she was avoiding him. "I'm just busy, so that's why I don't see many people. I don't got the time to socialize."

"And yet, here you are." Shigure gesture around them.

Her left eyebrow twitch at that. 'Has he always been this much of an ass?' Akito thought to herself, instead of replying to him and just remain silence. She must have frown, or something, since Shigure seems to look more pleased by whatever expression she's made on her face from what he said.

"Well I'm glad. This is the first time I've seen you, since the banquet." Suddenly his smile disappears off his face. Shigure puts his hand under his chin as he tilts his head and looks puzzled. "To be honest, I didn't think the rumors were too true about you... I was hoping to see a cute little toddler run up to me, and say "Gure-nii, Gure-nii, let's play." Shigure lets out dramatic sigh. "So you can imagine my disappointment that I get a minature Chitaka instead... Very dull indeed..."

"I don't know why you expected I would. I'll never call you that in the first place." Akito said, annoyed and maybe embarrassed that he would even think such thing of her to say to him. Even though she should be more focused on the fact that she's breaking her facade as he intended she would. Which she doesn't notice as she is also offended by what he had said. She doesn't want to be compare to someone she doesn't like. "Also I'm nothing like Chitaka. She's too serious and enjoying the floor I walk on. Almost everyone here are, it's annoying."

That made her sound like an actual child, but she's speaking the truth.

It's true that she is more close to Chitaka than her own mother, but she doesn't like the woman the most out of everyone. If anything, she is a necessary evil she has to deal with. If she had a choice, she would rather not to interact with her at all. She just has no choice. Just as she has no choice, but to deal with everyone putting her on pedestal, and seeing her above them like she's a divine being.

Luckily for her, this person in front of her doesn't see her as that. Even to the original Akito too.

To him, she was just a person.

A normal person.

"Then perhaps you should see other people, who aren't serious." Shigure points out with a knowing smile. No doubt implication towards himself and the zodiac members, she's hasn't seen in a long time.

Maybe she should.

It's not like Shigure is the only zodiac member she could interact with.

He isn't the only one that has been waiting.

"You're right." said Akito. "You and the others have been waiting for me for a very long time."

It wouldn't be right of her to denied her zodiacs from seeing their god once more.

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A/N: I remember in the series that the older zodiacs would often played with Akito when she was child. So at the end was the start of that. BTW I had to get an update out, since ya'll have been waiting for one. If it ended awkwardly that's why. I just hope this is good. I've been holding back as I want to watch all of the final season. I can't believe it's happening ya'll. All of Fruits Basket is finally going to be animated and be over this year!

EXTRA(S):

✦Why was Ritsu not wearing feminine clothing at Akito's first banquet? ― I've remembered that Ritsu ask Kagura if he could keep one of her dresses she let him wear. Both of them seem to be older like Ritsu appear to be 6-8ish, while Kagura was 4-6ish. So I'm assuming that's around the time Ritsu began to start dressing feminine. At Akito's first banquet, Ritsu wasn't even four years old yet. So that's why. BTW I've always got big brother vibes from Kureno with the younger zodiacs similar like Hatsuharu so I thought to add that here with him and Ritsu~

✦New Year's Dance / Banquet ― if I recall Momiji was four when he dance with Hatori that year when Yuki first met Kyo. Ritsu is close to that age, so I thought why not have him participate in dance for that banquet. Also imagine little Ritsu and Kureno dancing together~

✦Shigure and Akito ― I know some of ya'll are going to ask why Shigure wasn't disturbed by Akito not behaving like a toddler. He knows that Akito is different as he mention he has heard the rumors. After hearing those rumors, Shigure isn't put off by it. As you can see from their interactions, he's intrigued by it. Given how Shigure is in the series. It would make sense of him to be more accepting of Akito acting like this than most people would. So I hope you understand why I've had him like this as I tried my best to have him remain in canon.

REVIEWS ARE LOVE~