Forgotten Fruits Chapter 01

Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket or any of the characters in this. Don't sue me or I'll kick your ass. Well, not really, but y'know. XD


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The room was as dark and cold as death. Hatori couldn't remember it ever being this cold, even in winter. All the windows were closed and the curtains pulled across so that minimal sunlight could filter into the room. There was no warmth, there was no light. Just darkness and ice.

Hatori felt it, gripping his chest tightly like a merciless vice, as he opened the door and stepped inside. It hit him like a sledgehammer to concrete. The way the air in the room felt now was the first clue that told Hatori something wasn't right. It was so stagnant, so dead. It was so silent in that room that Hatori couldn't even hear the birds singing outside. How could this room have changed so quickly? Hatori had been in here two days ago, and while it had been cool it wasn't uncomfortably cold. Besides, it was summer. Even with the windows and curtains closed, how was it possible for the air to get to such a low temperature? There was no air conditioning in the house. Hatori found this all extremely unnerving. Still, with a deep breath he entered the room, keeping his discomfort hidden well.

"Akito...san?" Hatori whispered into the gloomy darkness. He could make out the black figure of his cousin on the other side of the room, sitting on the floor and leaning against the middle of the wall. "You wished to see me?"

"Hatori." The quiet voice came from the human-shaped shadow by the wall. "Please come and sit down with me." Hatori thought that his voice felt just as cold as the air in his room, but did not dare voice this thought. He did as he was instructed and sat down on the mat a few metres from Akito.

"How are you feeling today, Akito-san?" Hatori asked in a composed voice.

"My health is fine." Akito replied, and Hatori thought he could feel his cousin's gaze upon him, though he couldn't see it. "I called you here to talk about the girl." He explained in his slow, quiet, toneless voice.

"The girl?... You mean Honda-san?" Hatori asked, being careful not to call her by the more friendly name he usually used, Tohru-kun. "Honda Tohru-san?"

Akito chuckled, and though it was barely audible Hatori could feel the malice erupting from it. "Honda Tohru-san... a girl who meddles in what ought not to be meddled in..."

"What do you mean?" Hatori asked calmly, not taking his eyes off the dark figure before him. Where was this leading? And why had Akito brought up the subject of Tohru so suddenly, when he hadn't mentioned her in months?

"I see her, Hatori..." whispered Akito, in a whisper that almost brought a shiver to Hatori's spine. "When I close my eyes I see her..."

There was silence. Hatori considered asking Akito what he meant, but instead sat quietly, deciding it would be wise not to interrupt whatever Akito had to say. His eyes wandered down to the floor as Akito continued.

"I see her... and Yuki, and Kyou... it makes me sick." He spat the last word, as if speaking of this was something foul and disgusting. "And even Shigure... he has been blinded by her. They think she can save us... our family... but they are blind. They do not see the truth. She has pulled wool over their eyes and they don't even realise it." Akito turned his head slowly and a lonely beam of light reflected in his dark eyes. To Hatori they looked like a pair of evil, glowing eyes hovering in a world of pure darkness. Akito was staring straight at him. "Hatori... I only ask one thing of you now..."

"Hai, Akito-san."


"Erase the girl's memory..."

"Nani?!" Hatori said quickly. "Erase her memory? Why? Why now?"

"She has become too close to Yuki and Kyou for my comfort. I want her gone. She is a threat to our family. No one can understand us. Even she will betray us in the end. She cannot save us."

"But Akito-san, she is doing no harm living at Shigure's..."

"Shut up!!" Akito growled, getting to his feet. Hatori watched him cautiously. "This is an order, Hatori! I'm telling you to erase her memory! ...And the memories of anyone who knows she is living in Shigure's house. Do you understand?"

Hatori sat in silence, his fists clenched tightly on his knees.

"Hatori. Do you understand!?" Akito yelled angrily.

With a deep sigh, Hatori nodded. "...Hai, Akito-san."

"Good. I want it done by tomorrow. Make sure you find any of her friends that know where she is currently living. They will get suspicious if she has suddenly forgotten Shigure and the other two. And I want you to make sure, Hatori..." the icy stab of a thousand knives was thick in Akito's voice now, "...that the Sohmas never associate themselves with her again. After her memory is erased, it's the end."

"Hai, Akito-san..." sighed Hatori. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, but he had no power to stop it. He knew he couldn't oppose Akito. Akito was the master of the Sohma family. When Akito ordered you to do something, you did it. And if you didn't, you were in trouble.

"Good, Hatori." Akito said in a sickeningly soothing voice. "You may leave now."

"Hai, Akito-san. I will go to Shigure's house now." He got to his feet and bowed to his cousin, his master, then turned and silently left. When he entered the hallway outside and closed the door to Akito's room, he was incredibly grateful for the pleasant summer heat. He was almost sure that, while talking with Akito, his insides had completely frozen. The summer air was warming him up quickly, but he still felt colder than Akito's chilled room.

He sighed, leaning against a wall and closing his eyes. Hatori, he thought to himself, what are you going to do now?

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Hatori was at Shigure's front door, standing so still he could have been a wax figure. He was contemplating whether he would open it or not. He knew what he would have to do if he went inside that house. He knew what he would have to say. He knew how they would all react. They would be angry at him, so angry. He was angry at himself even, and angry at Akito. Akito knew that he, Shigure and the others all cared deeply for Tohru. He knew she was having a positive effect on the family. And now he was going to take all of that away, simply because of his spite and hatred towards a curse he had been given at birth.

And Tohru... he knew Tohru would hate him when he told her what he would have to do. He would be taking a part of her away forever. He would be taking away some of her most precious memories, and the most precious times in her life. She loved living here. She loved being with the Sohmas. And now, all of it was going to be taken away from her, wrenched from her loving grasp to be thrown into the great nothingness of forgotten memories.

And what about Shigure? Shigure was his best friend. How would Shigure react? He, surely, would also hate him, as would Kyou and Yuki when they found out. Hatori wasn't planning on telling them tonight, only Shigure and Tohru, but he knew they would find out soon after. Swallowing uncomfortably he began to slowly raise his hand towards the door.

But all of a sudden the door slid open before Hatori had the chance to even touch it. In surprise he backed away quickly and gazed wide-eyed into the familiar face of his best friend.

"Ha-san," Shigure began, with a mildly amused expression upon his face, "You've been standing out here for ten minutes. What is the matter?"

Hatori almost couldn't speak. He didn't know what to say; no words would come to him. All he could manage was a stuttered, "Shi-shigure..."

"Aha!" Shigure suddenly blurted, pointing straight up into the air. "I see it now! You've come to declare your undying love for Tohru-kun!! Oh my!! You're like a blushing teenager preparing to tell his high school sweetheart his feelings, unable to bring himself to knock on his crush's door---"

"Shigure!" Hatori said in a warning tone, almost angrily. Shigure's voice halted. His hand slowly lowered back down to his side, and he stared at his friend with surprised, dark eyes. Silence fell between them.

"Shigure? Hurry up and come back inside, Honda-san's dinner is almost ready!" An annoyed-sounding Yuki called from inside the house.

"We were just about to have dinner," Shigure said quietly, staring straight into Hatori's eyes. "Would you like to join us, Ha-san?"

Hatori sighed. "Shigure... I'm afraid what I have to tell you will probably take away your appetite..." He looked away at one of the windows on Shigure's house. He couldn't look into his best friend's eyes. "It's not good, Shigure... Akito-san called me over today and gave me some orders... it's important that I tell you them right away. I won't stay for dinner, but please won't you come for a quick walk?"

Shigure was silent for a few moments. He sighed and looked over at the forest behind Hatori. Then he turned towards the inside of the house and yelled, "Tohru-kun, put my dinner in the oven, I'm going out for a few minutes!"

"Nani?" Came Tohru's voice. Hatori winced at the sound of it. That sweet, innocent voice. She had no idea what was going to happen tomorrow. She appeared at the doorway next to Shigure, peering up at Hatori curiously.

"Actually..." Hatori started, "Tohru-kun had better come along too."

"Ara?" Tohru blinked, her green eyes shining in the evening sunlight. "Why? What's wrong?"

Hatori tried to give her a comforting smile, but instead of making her feel better it only made him feel worse. He couldn't smile at this girl, not when he knew what he was going to be taking from her all too soon.

Shigure, sensing Hatori's discomfort, decided to get the ball rolling. He was curious as to what Hatori had to say. "Well, come along Tohru-kun," he said, closing the door behind him and starting towards the forest. Hatori walked along beside him and Tohru quickly followed a few metres behind.

Tohru was feeling very uncomfortable herself. She allowed Shigure and Hatori to walk a few metres ahead so she had some space to herself. For some reason she wanted to walk slowly at her own pace and not try to keep up with them. For some reason, she didn't want to be walking with them. She didn't know what was going on, and it was horribly confusing for her. It was worrying her. She could feel her heart pounding inside her chest. Judging by the way Hatori had acted, she could tell he had some bad news. Sighing, she lowered her head and stared down at the dirt as she walked.

A few minutes later Shigure had led them to a quiet, secluded part of the forest. It was a small clearing surrounded by tall trees. There were a few large tree stumps here, of which Shigure chose one and made himself comfortable upon. Hatori did the same and Tohru, who arrived at the clearing last, chose a smaller stump to sit on next to Shigure. Looking around, she recognised this little clearing. She sometimes came here when she wanted some peace and quiet; she could just sit down and think about things without being disturbed.

Leaning back on his hands, Hatori sighed and glanced up at the orangey sky above. The sun was setting; it would get dark soon. He would have to make this talk as quick as possible. But where could he start? His throat felt dry. He didn't want to begin.

"Ha-san," Shigure's calm voice penetrated the cold silence between the three people. "What did you need to tell us?"

Hatori lowered his eyes and looked straight into Shigure's dark gaze. "Shigure... Tohru-kun," He glanced down at Tohru as he said her name, but then his eyes fell to the grass between them. "Akito-san called me over today and gave me some orders. He wants Tohru-kun's memory to be erased."

Tohru let out a shocked gasp. Shigure felt all his limbs go stiff.

"Wh-why?!" Tohru asked in a panic. "Why now? I- I-" Her voice trailed off and she stared at Hatori in total disbelief. Was she really hearing this?

"I'm sorry, Tohru-kun, but it's Akito-san's orders, and I cannot go against them." He looked at Shigure, but Shigure did not return the glance. He was staring at the forest to his right, sitting silent and still. It was a sharp contrast from the mood he had been in when he had opened the door to greet Hatori only ten minutes earlier. "He has asked that I erase your memory, and tell Shigure and the others... not to associate with you again after."

Now Shigure was looking at him. It was a look of disbelief and anger.

"This is-- this is--" Shigure began, looking down at the grass. "Stupid. Insane. Outrageous!" He stood up from the tree stump he was sitting upon and glared down at Hatori. "How can he expect us to be fine with this?!"

"I don't know." Hatori replied calmly. "He doesn't like how close Tohru-kun has become with us. He doesn't like it... he wants us to have nothing to do with her."

"Argh!" Shigure grabbed the nearest rock and flung it angrily into the forest. Tohru could hear it smashing into branches and upsetting birds. She watched Shigure in shock. This was the first time she had seen him angry like this. After a few moments Shigure sat down again, letting out a deep sigh. "When does he want her memory erased?" He asked calmly.

"Tomorrow." Hatori replied, not looking at either Tohru nor Shigure.

"Tomorrow?" Tohru asked in a small voice. "Tomorrow? That means... I have less than a day left to spend with Yuki-kun.. and Kyou-kun.. and Shigure-san."

Shigure glanced down at the young girl and saw tears shimmering in her eyes. In an act of compassion he placed his hand gently over her head. "Tohru-kun..."

"And this time I can't even be friends with you again..." She looked away. She wouldn't let them see her cry. She had to be strong, though it was hard when her insides suddenly felt hollow.

"I am so sorry, Tohru-kun." Hatori apologised. "Also, we have to erase the memories of any friends you have who know you have been living at Shigure's house..."

Tohru sniffed. "Hana-chan and Uo-chan have gone away for the summer holidays," she stated. "They're visiting family."

"I see." Hatori sighed. "Well... we'll have to tend to them when they return."

Then silence overcame the group, swallowing them in its merciless jaws. They sat there together for a long time, watching as the sky above turned deep shades of orange then finally began to fade to dark purple.

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By the time Shigure and Tohru got back to the house, the sky overhead was already dotted with millions of sparkling stars. Kyou greeted them at the doorway, frantic and wanting to know where they had been and why they took so long.

"Oi! Answer me!" Kyou yelled when Shigure walked into the house, completely ignoring him. He then looked to Tohru, who looked back at him with tears in her eyes. "N-nani?" Kyou asked, his anger dying away and worry replacing it. "What's wrong?" But Tohru also walked past him without saying a word. She followed Shigure to the living room where they both sat down at the table. Kyou quickly joined them.

"Where is Yuki-kun?" Shigure asked Kyou calmly. Kyou, who was completely confused, didn't even have to be asked to go and get Yuki. He stood up straight away and rushed off to find him.

Shigure and Tohru both sat in silence until Kyou returned with Yuki. Yuki was wide-eyed and curious. He sat down with Kyou without making a sound and waited patiently for Shigure to speak.

"Ha-san had bad news," Shigure began.

All at once Kyou blurted out, "Where is Hatori now?! What's the news? What's going on?!"

"Shut up, baka neko." Yuki said in annoyance. Kyou grumbled something but complied anyway. He wanted to hear what it was that Shigure was going to tell them.

"Ha-san has gone home now," said Shigure, replying to Kyou's question. "The news is that Akito-san has given him some new orders. Tomorrow afternoon, Hatori is going to come to... erase Tohru-kun's memory..." He looked at both Yuki and Kyou solemnly. They stared at him with wide eyes before quickly snapping their heads towards Tohru, who just stared down at the table, her tears flowing freely.

"Honda-san..." Yuki breathed. He then turned toward Shigure again. "Why now, Shigure?!"

"I don't know. Ha-san doesn't even know."

"And you're just going to let this happen?!" Kyou asked angrily through gritted teeth. "How can you?!"

"What else can I do, Kyou-kun?" Shigure replied, noticable anger rising in his voice. "I'll tell you what else I can do - nothing! I can do nothing."

"You aren't even going to try!" Kyou spat.

"Baka!" Yuki snarled at Kyou. "Don't take your anger out on Shigure!"

"He's not even going to attempt to try--"

"Because he can't!!" Yuki yelled, balling his fists. "This isn't his fault! Leave him alone!"

"You're all fools! Why do I live with you?!" Kyou asked furiously, looking from Yuki to Shigure and then back to Yuki. "You're useless! Don't you even care about her?"

"Of course we care!" Shigure bellowed. "But I can't go against the master of the Sohmas! If he makes a decision, there's nothing that can be done. It's out of my hands--"

"Nothing is ever in your hands, you fool of a dog!" Kyou hissed.

Shigure fell silent. Anger pulsated right through Yuki's body so fast he thought he would erupt. "You're not helping either, baka neko--"

"Stop it!" Tohru's shrill voice split through the argument and had all three males staring at her in surprise. "Stop it..." She cried, tears rolling down her cheeks. "If this is my last night.. to spend with you all.. then I want it to be a good one.."

"Honda-san.."

"Please... don't fight... this is precious time for me, precious time that I want to be spent on good things... I want to have fun with you all... I want to have a happy time with Yuki-kun, Kyou-kun and Shigure-san. You all make me happy..." She sobbed into her hands. "..A-and I'm going to miss you."

Shigure sighed, and spoke in a soft, soothing voice. "Let's just make the most of the time we have left together." Yuki and Kyou nodded.

Tohru slowly looked up, wiping the tears from her eyes and sniffing. "I must have done something wrong... something to upset Akito-san.." she said, her voice shaky. "I did something bad..."

"No, Tohru-kun," Shigure interrupted her. "Never. Tohru-kun has never done anything wrong." He got to his feet, a mixture of determination and anger apparent on his face. Without another word he headed for the hallway. Yuki leapt up and followed him, catching him when he was at the foot of the stairs.

"What are you doing?" He asked his older cousin. "Where are you going?"

Shigure stopped and turned to face Yuki. "I'm going to put on my suit and visit Akito-san."

"Now?" Yuki said in disbelief. "I don't think Akito-san likes visitors so late, it's dark already..."

"I want answers, Yuki-kun. And I want them now." And with that the dark-haired man climbed up the stairs and disappeared from Yuki's view. Yuki returned to the living room and sat down at the table next to Tohru-kun, feeling both worried and and little dizzy from the shock of the news he had received this evening.

"Honda-san," He said soothingly when he sat down. "It will all be okay. After your memory is erased, I'll just approach you in school and become your friend again, like we were planning that time when we first met and thought your memory might be erased."

Tohru looked down at the table as she spoke. "We can't do that, Yuki-kun... Hatori-san said that Akito-san doesn't want me to have anything to do with your family ever again... he wants me out of here for good..."

"Nani?!" Kyou spat. "This doesn't make sense! And it's all so sudden. What has happened that has angered him like this?"

Yuki sighed and ran a hand through his hair in frustration. The fact that he was confused and upset was bad enough, but having Kyou's irritating voice drilling into his head was almost driving him insane. "Baka neko. Can't you stop talking with that annoying voice of yours?"

"What?!" Kyou yelled, grinding his teeth in anger. "Kuso nezumiiii!!" He folded his arms and glared at the far wall. If his stare had been fire, that wall would have erupted in scorching flames right then and there. Kyou's blood was boiling uncontrollably. He needed to get out of there quickly or he knew he would totally explode. Biting his lip and clenching his fists he got to his feet and stormed outside, slamming the door so hard behind him the wood cracked and fell apart.

"Hey!" Shigure had reappeared in his best suit. "You've gotta pay for breaking my house!" He yelled. It was pointless, though, because he was pretty sure Kyou hadn't heard him at all.

Outside in the cool summer air, Kyou climbed angrily up the ladder at the side of the house and clambered onto the roof, a spot he often visited to cool down. He made himself comfortable at the top of the roof and stared out over the deep forest, eyes scanning the tops of the trees. He pulled his knees up to his chest and folded his arms across them.

He needed to think, and he couldn't do that with kuso nezumi around, always criticizing him. Tomorrow afternoon, Tohru's memory would be erased... by Hatori. That damn Hatori. Kyou felt his fists clenching once again; oh how he hated Hatori right now.

A few minutes later he heard the door of the house slide open from below and Shigure's footsteps as he stepped out onto the varandah.

"Hey." Came the familiar voice from below. Kyou slowly slid forward, down to the edge of the roof and peered down to see Shigure staring up at him solemnly.

"What do you want?" Kyou asked.

"Are you alright?" asked the older, dark-haired Sohma.

Kyou looked away and was silent for a few moments. Then he quickly muttered, "Yeah. I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"

Shigure couldn't help but smile. Kyou was so arrogant.

"I'm sorry about all this, Kyou-kun." Shigure then said in the most serious, apologetic voice Kyou had ever heard coming from his clown of a cousin. "I know you don't want it. I don't want it, either. I'm going to go and speak with Akito-san about it. Maybe... maybe I could change his mind."

Kyou still didn't look at him. "I thought you said it was out of your hands."

"Hm. Well, it probably is. But I guess it wouldn't hurt to try. What's the worst Akito-san could do?"

Kyou suddenly thought of Hatori, and the damage Akito had done to his left eye. Hatori was almost blind in that eye. He was so ashamed of it he even hid it all the time. Kyou suddenly felt a pang of fear rising in his chest. Fear for his cousin.

"O-oi." Kyou murmured, finally looking back to Shigure, who had turned to walk away. "Be careful. Akito-san... is dangerous."

Shigure smiled. "Arigatou, Kyou-kun."

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A/N: Wa-hey. First chapter done. Hope you enjoyed it, and it's my first Furuba fanfiction so I hope it isn't really cliché or something. o_O; Sorry if it is. I'm hoping that even if it seems to be cliché now, future chapters will be unique and interesting to read. Um. Yah. I have the whole story planned out up here *taps her head*