FRUITS BASKET: WHAT MUST BE DONE
by Vashkoda
(Disclaimer: This work of fiction uses characters belonging to Takaya Natsuki and Hakusensha without their permission. I am getting no profit from it. I only do it because I think Fruits Basket is a great story, and I want to help keep it alive!)
Author's Note: I've watched the sub, but I have close to no knowledge of Japanese, so any corrections or comments would be appreciated.
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Tohru, Kyo, Momiji and Hiro were enjoying the late afternoon sun in a small clearing outside Shigure's house. It had been difficult to endure being in a stuffy classroom when it was so beautiful outside, so the four of them were now doing their best to enjoy what remained of the day."It's too bad Yuki-kun couldn't be here with us," said Tohru sympathetically. "I hope his appointment with Hatori-san is going well."
Kyo muttered something that didn't sound at all sympathetic.
"This year is going by so fast," sighed Momiji. "Soon we'll be out of school, and then you, Tohru, and Kyo and Yuki will all be going to the university. You'll move far away, and I won't be able to visit you any more." His eyes became watery as his face took on a look of absolute misery.
Hiro, who had been silent up until then, stood up suddenly and poked Tohru in the shoulder.
"Get us some cookies, would you? I'm hungry."
Kyo bristled at the young boy's lack of manners. "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, GIVING HER ORDERS?! SHE ISN'T OUR SERVANT! IF YOU WANT YOUR DAMNED COOKIES, GET THEM YOURSELF!"
Hiro looked nonplussed. "She works for you, doesn't she? She cooks, cleans and takes care of Shigure's house in exchange for room and board. I think that fits the description of a servant, don't you?"
Tohru looked horrified as Kyo seemed ready to beat the younger Souma. "No, it's okay, Kyo-kun! I can get the cookies. Hiro-kun and Momiji-chan are still growing. It's natural that they get hungry very often." She quickly stood up and brushed her dress before dashing off to the house.
"What did you do that for?" asked Kyo, his tone now more annoyed than angry.
Hiro turned his deep brown eyes on him. "I just saved your friend from an awkward situation. Like you, Momiji has a habit of speaking without thinking first."
Momiji cried out in protest. "Am not! Why are you always saying such mean things, Hiro?"
"Listen," said Hiro impatiently. "Tuition at the university is very expensive. Tohru can barely afford to pay for highschool as it is. It's most likely that she won't be going, and will either stay here taking care of Shigure or move on to some other job."
Momiji and Kyo looked stunned.
"Well...then I'll pay for it!" declared Momiji, as if that settled the matter. Hiro gave him a long stare.
"I don't care how big an allowance your father gives you. It still won't be enough."
"Bah, who cares about the university?" muttered Kyo, kicking a stone through the trees. "I'm not going. After school is over, I plan to train full time with sensei Kazuma."
Hiro shook his head, his expression becoming hardened and withdrawn. "Akito won't allow it. After all, one of his obligations as clan head is to ensure the family is looked after and gets a full education. Especially those special members of the family."
"He can't do that!" cried Kyo.
"I'd like to see you stop him," snorted Hiro.
Kyo said nothing.
Tohru was halfway to the house when she realized that she hadn't asked Hiro what type of cookies he wanted. They had many varieties, after all, for when the younger Soumas came to visit. A few times she had even passed out Shigure's dog biscuits by mistake. It had been quite embarrassing, but luckily no one got sick.
As she headed back, she could hear bits of conversation floating on the wind. She was relieved that there were no sounds of fighting.
"...tuition at the university is very expensive. Tohru can barely afford to pay for highschool as it is...."
She stopped in her tracks. Although she knew it was rude to listen, she couldn't make herself move.
"Well...then I'll pay for it!"
"I don't care how big an allowance your father gives you. It still won't be enough."
It was true. Tohru couldn't believe it hadn't dawned on her before that she might not be able to afford to go to the university with her friends after high school. Her life had been so wonderful after finding the Soumas, that she simply assumed that things would always stay as they were.
Now she was stuck with the realization that once the new school year began, things would never be the same. Yuki and Kyo would move out of Shigure's house to live on campus. Hanajima would probably enter a university as well. Uotani was in a tight spot financially, much like Tohru, and would likely begin working full time at the store or coffee shop.
And Tohru herself...what would she do?
"Okasan, you wanted me to have an education. I will finish high school, and I know that will make you happy. But did you also want me to go to the university? Would you be disappointed if I don't go?" she asked softly to the wind.
The last bell of the day rang through the halls, which were soon filled with bustling students. Tohru waited for Uo and Hana to file out of their classrooms.
"Hello Tohru-chan!" called out Uo cheerfully. Her brow creased in concern as she noted the sad expression on her friend's face.
"What's wrong, dear?" asked the tall blond. Hana joined them a second later, the students in the hall marking a wide path around her as they hastily gathered their belonging and left.
"Perhaps Tohru is sick?" suggested the dark-haired girl, bringing a hand to the other's forehead.
"Ah, maybe she's caught 'prom-fever'! It was the only thing the girls in my classroom would talk about all day," groaned Uo in mock exasperation.
"P-prom?" stuttered Tohru, looking suddenly anxious.
"Aren't you going?" Hana asked Uo in surprise, not noticing that Tohru had become quite pale. Uo shrugged.
"It's always a hassle finding a guy to go with. I think most of them are scared of me."
Hana nodded. "I know the feeling. We aren't as lucky as Tohru, who has all these boys falling over her." At last she turned to look at Tohru, noting her wide-eyed expression.
"Uh, Tohru? You really aren't looking well. Do you want us to stop by the nurse's office?"
"No-no, that's okay!" Tohru quickly assured them, seeming to have suddenly snapped out of her daze. "Let's go! I don't want to make Uo-chan late for work, and I know that Hana-chan needs to study-"
Hana and Uo exchanged suspicious glances.
"Well, if you're sure...." began Uo, as Tohru grabbed both of them by the elbow and began steering them out of the building.
"There you are!" cried a voice beyond the door. Suddenly three girls jumped in front of them, blocking their path.
"I know what you're plotting, Honda Tohru!" snapped the oldest among them, proudly flashing her homemade pin decorated with a picture of Yuki. "I know you're going to ask Yuki-kun to the prom!"
"So what if she is?" asked Uo threateningly, causing two of the girls to nervously back away. "What business is it of yours?"
"Yuki is our business!" exclaimed the first girl, her words giving the other two courage. "But we're not here to cause trouble," she amended quickly, throwing a glance at Hana, who had begun to look annoyed. "I just wanted to warn you that we are now opponents in the glorious struggle to win the love of our Prince. I will do whatever it takes to make him go to the prom with me. Be prepared, and may the best woman win!"
The three vanished as quickly as they had appeared.
"Don't let them worry you," said Hana reassuringly. "Go ahead and ask Yuki to the prom. Uo and I won't let them try anything."
Tohru looked troubled. "But I...I haven't even decided if I wanted to go. And I don't know who I'd choose, or if they'd even want to go with me."
"Who you'd choose?" repeated Uo in surprise. "I thought you'd want to go with Yuki. Or is it that spazzy carrot-top boy you were thinking of?"
Tohru blushed. "I don't know. It's hard to decide, and maybe neither one wants to go. And besides," she said, suddenly remembering what had been on her mind earlier that day, "I probably can't afford to go. Those nice dresses are expensive."
Hana smiled at her. "My grandmother loves to sew. I'm having her make my dress. Maybe I could ask her to make yours, too. And yours, Uo-chan," she added. The blond looked at her in surprise.
"I thought you said you weren't going. Who would we go with?"
"Well, if we don't have dates, we could always go together just as friends."
"Oh yes!" said Tohru, suddenly relieved. "If I go, you both must come too!"
"All right, but don't use us as an excuse to wheedle your way out of asking one of those boys to the prom," warned Uo.
Tohru looked back at her sheepishly, her trick uncovered. But she did her best to hide her concerns, and smiled at her friends.
"Hai!"