ménage à fruits

[a fruits basket romance]

written by matt j. greco

Disclaimer:

Fruits Basket/Furuba is © Takaya Natasuki/HAKUSENSHA, TV TOKYO, Nas, Fruba Project. All names used herein were used without permission. All originally created names and characters are not relative to the afore-mentioned.  None of these may be used without personal consent of the author.

Author's Notes:

My apologies for the poor layout of the previous chapter. I realize that there were no breaks in between setting changes, (as in from a scene with Yuki and Kyou to Hatsuharu and Kisa.) However, Microsoft Word does not always cooperate. I will probably use tags from now on.

Also, to those of you, by the way thank you for the comments, they were very helpful, who talked of Kyou and Tohru, read the synopsis again. It does not say, "Kyou x Tohru." It says, "Yuki, Kyou x Tohru." I suppose I could have made that more clear though. Also, about the perspective changes. I realize that sometimes Yuki and an author's narrative may have been unclear, I tried to limit this by saying who was thinking, etc. (Whoa, pondered Yuki.) I will pay more attention to this from now on though.

That's it. Enjoy.

[chapter 2]

when the cat's away, the mouse will play

Yuki Sohma was lying on his bed, hands folded behind his head, staring up at the ceiling. It looked so plain, so bland, as if it was a metaphor to how his life was going right now. After the incident with Kyou, everything went back to the way it was, more of less. The normalcy was forced more than anything. There were countless awkward silences whenever he and Tohru happened to be alone in a hallway, or in their classroom together before school started for the day. His cousin was training even harder, ever since Kazuma-san had come for a visit to the house. Whenever the damned cat was speaking, Yuki noted that he would always go over what he was saying, especially around Tohru. If it seemed out of place for him, he'd quickly correct it. He suspected that the girl noticed it too, and Shigure had already undoubtedly picked up on it.

Maybe this ceiling of his wasn't so symbolic after all.

Hefting himself up on one elbow, Yuki stared out the window of his room down on the backyard. Tohru was working diligently as ever in the garden, arranging purple tulips and yellow marigolds. The way she tended to them, her gloves carefully handling and inspecting every leaf, every pedal, reminded him of everything he was not. Something naturally delicate, controlled, disciplined. Of course, externally, none of this was evident. Dubbed the Prince at school, though he was not particularly fond of this title, Yuki tried his best to appear composed and graceful. Not to attract the dozens of drooling fangirls, but to mask what was most important to him, his feelings. Should anyone even get a small hint of what was running through the boy's mind, opinions of him would never be the same. It wasn't that Yuki wished to lie to all of his friends and classmates, but he felt this was safest. He was able to handle himself best this way. He didn't have to answer to family members, teachers, anyone. Especially not Tohru. She would be most worried about him.

How disgusting. Hiding selfishly because he couldn't even understand himself.

All these thoughts were quite pressing, and the sun was shining brightly, only days after some heavy snow. This should be taken advantage of, and anymore mental analyzing would surely ruin it. Maybe he would take Tohru out somewhere. She deserved a break from all the housework she was doing lately. Obviously Shigure would never get off his butt and help mend damages, regrettably brought on by Kyou and himself, so the girl's hands were fuller these days than ever. Yes, that was what he'd do. Tohru needed to relax once in a while, and today would be perfect for such a thing.

Look at him, he thought to himself. Dancing around like a little girl. Always wearing those silly clothes of his. I suppose they fit best, but why must he feel he needs to add his femininity? No doubt taking after that Yuki.

Momiji, arms spread wide, was balancing gingerly along the spine of one of the Sohma house's tiled roofs. He had already slipped once or twice, but never lost track of where he was in the tune he sang. Even the birds seemed to be annoyed by this boyish lmelody. Should the little Sohma even come within yards of a branch, they would fly off, chirping angrily away. Momiji didn't seem to notice though, caught up in the sweet smelling breeze of the day. It reminded him of auburn leaves in the middle of autumn. One of those scents where a color could naturally be associated with an aroma.

What is this family coming to? Every time I catch a glimpse of that boy's persona, it reminds me of how carelessly he acts. Especially in that school. Running through halls, being jostled, but not paying attention. Bumping into little school girls is the least of his worries when it should be one of his firsts. This is a curse, not a celebration.

"Miss Honda?"

Tohru appeared to be startled for a moment, she had been working out here in the baking heat for at least an hour now, in complete silence, save for the blended sounds of birds and trees rustling in the gentle breeze. Turning, she was a bit surprised to see Yuki standing before her. He was dressed in a light azure shirt of silk, the purple threaded collar fastened neatly with matching buttons. Staring down at her, he wore a slight smile upon his face.

"Oh, Yuki-kun, I didn't expect to see you out here. I thought you had gone back to bed."

He chuckled a bit at this.

"No, I was just thinking in there."

"About what?"

"You need a break, Miss Honda." This sounded more like a statement than a suggestion.

"A. . .break?"

"Yes, you've been working out here for sometime now. I would think you deserve a little relaxtion. What do you say to me taking you out for a bite to eat?"

"Um. . ."

"Well, Shigure-san insists on cooking lunch for us; he didn't want to disturb you either. And, well, you know what I think of his cooking."

Tohru laughed, and took off her gloves, un-fastening the yellow bandana she wore.

"Alright."

*        *        *

The walk down to the park—the only ice cream place Yuki knew of that was nearby—was a strange one. He tries his best to keep it from being uneasy however. When one of them said something, it would often be short, and an observation of the weather or something of the sort. In between this would be long, unnerving silences. The two would often quickly turn their head to see if the other was going to say something. However, they both usually did this at the same time, increasing the awkwardness.

Yuki tried harder.

"So, Miss Honda, how are your studies coming along?" Quite the open-ended subject.

"Hm? Oh, fine. Exams are coming up, and I think I'm ready for them this time." She replied with a quiet giggle. Last time things didn't go so well. Despite Yuki helping her study, Tohru still managed to fail one of the tests.

There had to be something he could branch off of with here. Something to keep them occupied until they reached the ice cream vendor. He could offer to help her study again, but that might imply he thought she wasn't intelligent enough to do well on her own. Perhaps the topic of school would lead into talk about Momiji and Hatsuharu, and how they would be second-years in a few months. No, that wasn't expandable enough. Besides, Yuki wanted to keep the conversation centered on the two of them, not the rest of his family.

"That's good."

So much for that, he thought, forcing a smile.

The more Yuki looked over at the girl walking along side him, her head hung low, hiding her reddened cheeks, though he wasn't sure why she was blushing, he couldn't help feeling guilty. It seemed to him that this could be considered stealing Tohru away from the house. Of course, leaving it in the hands of Shigure and Kyou might be something extremely helpful to the two, but also potentially dangerous. Still, he hadn't mentioned they were going out or anything, though he suspected Tohru said something. Yet Shigure hadn't waved them off or anything, with a perverted glee and a knowing wink to Yuki.

Maybe this was all just a cheap ploy to take the girl away from where Kyou was near. That night, Tohru hadn't given up on him. She raced through the muddy forest, even spraining an ankle, and ignoring, for the time being, the cold words of Akito. She ran and ran until Kyou was found, by a pond; in that form he hated so. Though she was indeed crying at the time, Yuki doubted it was from fear. It was sadness. Tohru felt the pain Kyou must feel every time he transformed. How much he wished it didn't exist, how much more he had come to hate the curse because of it. Unlike the rest of the Sohmas, Kyou had to deal with something even more frightening, more unnatural. Tohru understood all of this, and shed her tears with the heart of that thing which stood before her.

Even as the two of them were thrown into the air and slammed to the ground by the power of this beast, she still held on. He grasped his arm so Kyou wouldn't harm Tohru. She held it because she wouldn't let him go. She loved him, no matter what secrets he revealed.

Though he may not have been able to distinguish just what kind of love this was, he still felt the same way. He was jealous. Jealous of Kyou.

"Oh, isn't this it?"

"Hm?" the sudden voice of Tohru brought Yuki out of his momentary lapse.

Apparently they had reached Hinatoshi Park.

Shigure was absent-mindedly humming to himself when he heard unnecessarily heavy footsteps coming down the stairs.

"Ah, Kyou-kun, not fighting with Yuki-kun I see?"

The orange haired boy didn't seem to pay attention, but just went over to the closet near the door of the house.

"I'm goin' out. I can't stand being cooped up in here anymore on a day like this."

"Suit yourself, but lunch will be ready in a few minutes."

"That's why I'm leavin.'"

With that, he pulled out a green hooded sweatshirt from the rack, tossed it quickly over his head, and headed out. The door slammed behind him, as always.

Shigure sighed to himself, plopping himself down next to the table. He'd just have to eat the food himself.

"Two please."

"What flavor?" the ice cream vendor asked the boy.

"One strawberry and one vanilla."

Yuki looked back over his shoulder. Tohru was sitting on one of the park's benches, swinging her legs. Apparently she was watching some children play by the fountain, soaking themselves in its water. She smiled and looked up over at Yuki. Seeing his eyes were on hers as well, she turned her head back, her cheeks darkening a bit again.

"Here ya' go."

The man placed two ice cream cones in front of Yuki. He paid, got his change, and took the food over to where Tohru sat.

"I assumed you wanted strawberry, Miss Honda."

"Oh, strawberry's fine. Thankyou."

Yuki sat down next to her, paying attention to the distance he left between them. Leaning back, he looked up at the passing clouds. Two seagulls flew overhead, running into each other playfully. On the other side of the park, a couple sat kissing gently, holding hands. Tohru had noticed as well, as she quickly looked down, tasting her ice cream. Things like this always seemed to happen when two friends, who might have been more, were together somewhere. Signs, Tohru would have called it. Mockery, in Yuki's opinion.

More silence ensued, and Yuki desperately broke it.

"How is it, Miss Honda?"

"Oh, it's fine. How's yours?"

"I suppose I haven't tried it yet." Yuki said, laughing a bit.

"I guess not." Tohru pointed to where some of the ice cream was about to drip off the cone.

It landed on Yuki's arm, and the two laughed. "I always seem to wait too long to start eating ice cream." Yuki remarked.

"Here." Tohru reached behind her and picked up a napkin.

Yuki looked at her, slightly puzzled.

Looking down the whole time and blushing again, she carefully wiped the drop off of his arm.

"There." She said, observing her work.

For a moment, Tohru didn't let go of Yuki's hand. He caught her gaze, and both were silent.

Like a ripple in an undisturbed pond, more ice cream fell, this time onto Tohru's hand. Yuki stared at what had happened for a second, then laughed. She happily joined in, and wiped the spot with the same napkin.

"Miss Honda, these will be gone at this rate." Yuki said through giggles.

Kyou, not paying attention to where he was going, tripped on a loose chunk of sidewalk. Cursing, he rubbed his ankle and looked up to see where he was. A tall black metal gate was next to him. Stenciled letters on the rods read 'Hinatoshi Park.' Looking over the top spires of the gate, he could see people running around, chasing each other on the merry-go-round. Parents watched their children playing by the center fountain. At least half the park benches were full. In the corner, the ice cream man was busy handing out cone after cone to eager kids with fists full of coins.

And off to the side, on a particular bench, were Yuki and Tohru, enjoying themselves. They both were holding ice creams, laughing over something. Tohru was going through napkins, wiping her and Yuki's hands. He couldn't make out why. They were laughing, having a good time. Kyou hadn't seen either of them smile so much in the last few days. They were away from all the other Sohma's. Together, but alone. As if the time they were spending here was in secrecy.

Kyou turned, punching the stone wall next to him, and walked home.

"I left it right over—" Kisa stopped what she was saying, seeing Yuki and Tohru laughing on a bench.

Hatsuharu and Hiro both came up behind her, watching.

Yuki, pausing a moment from what he was doing, looked over and saw them.

"Oh, Kisa. . ."

Tohru looked up as well, startled.

"I didn't know you three were. . ." Yuki stopped, seeing what Kisa held in her hand. Clutched in her palm was a single white magnolia; Hiro was standing next to her as if he was a guardian. Hatsuharu looked over the heads of both of them directly at his cousin. His eyes locked upon him, as he frowned slightly at what he saw.

It was then Yuki realized what day it was. And why Kisa was holding that flower.

He had forgotten her birthday.

Author's Notes:

Okay, there you have it, the second chapter. Hopefully you liked this one better than the first. I feel I went into the heads of the characters, or at least Yuki, more so than before. Also, this structuring will most likely work out better for you. It's neater and not as condensed. The next chapter changes gears over to Hatori, as he decides to go see his ex-wife. Also, I am looking for a reader to preview each chapter before it is posted. If you are interested, email me at ourladyshadow@hotmail.com. Thanks. – Kain Lorelus