Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket blah blah blah (what I said on the other two)
Authoress Note: Haha! The Cliffy has been Continued!
Though her voice was soft everyone gasped in shock. Hatori jumped to his feet.
"But how!" he screamed, and then he turned his attention to Shigure and Ayame. "Do you know what he's going to say if we tell him that another person knows of the secret?" Everyone at the table seemed to know who "he" was and a look of fear crossed each of their faces.
"There's no need to get flustered," Shue replied gently. "No one had to tell me, and I didn't experience it for myself, so none of you are to blame."
Hatori looked at her, his bangs falling over one eye. "Then how did you know?" She sighed and looked out the window.
"It is my curse." She paused as everyone listened attentively. "Like a shadow with eyes, I can see all that the light doesn't illuminate. Such as hidden feelings, memories, and secrets. One's eyes can lead me deep into one's soul and draw out every sentiment, aspiration, recollection, and secrecy. I can see everything about everyone, but I can see nothing of myself. And so, I am always searching though I know not what I'm searching for."
"That's so sad," the girl named Tohru said quietly, looking at her tea with tearing eyes. "You must be terribly lonely."
Shue came to sit beside her. "Yes, it is lonely, but we all have such burdens." She used a gentle hand to raise Tohru's chin and searched her eyes. Releasing the girl, she smiled. "Compared to your pain, I should not be complaining. You have suffered a great loss and you must understand that such is out of your control."
The teen looked at her with a smile. Not one of her little fake smiles, this one was real. Shue focused her attention on the little girl, Kisa.
"The tiger, you are a shy one; who hides who she really is because you're afraid you won't be accepted." Her eyes moved clockwise around the table to Momiji.
"The rabbit, you always have a smile on your face, but your loneliness and feeling of forsake wrenches your heart to tears at night."
"The cow; a calm disposition and always daydreaming. Though thought to be oblivious, it's only because you're as lost on the inside as you are outside."
"The cat; fierce and hotheaded, you push that up front only to hide your pain and loneliness." She continued around, focusing on each person.
"The rat. Your past haunts you as do the physical scars, you have so much hidden sadness concealed behind such a beautiful face."
"The boar. Though you may seem violent when expressing your affection, you're merely trying to get close." By the time she reached Ayame, he was looking down at the floor.
"The snake is a cheerful soul who has many friends around him but who still yearns for the love of a kin." Yuki caught a quick glance of his brother looking at him.
"The dog is one who seems carefree. You do things as is your pleasure but inside worries for the safety of those around you." Finally her eyes rested on Hatori.
"And the dragon. Your are one who is calm, composed and doesn't worry of his own curse but more for the one who heads your family." Everyone looked at the doctor attentively.
Momiji's now sullen voice broke the silence. "Speaking of which, what is Mister Akito's animal, I've never heard anyone talk about that." Everyone was quiet as they racked their brains trying to figure it out.
"Akito doesn't have an animal. But he is still cursed." Hatori's voice was quiet and hesitant.
"But how can that be," Kyo complained, "you have to be born in the year of something." The phone rang from out in the hall and Hatori got up to answer it. He slid the screen door closed behind him as he left them in a dead silence. No one spoke, thinking of all that had been said.
From outside the door came Hatori's urgent voice. "Is he okay? When did you get there? Where was he?" There was a short pause as Hatori listened intensely. "Okay, I'll be right over. Just make sure that his pulse doesn't go over 150 a minute and doesn't slow to less than 50 a minute. His respirator is in the closet on the left." Another pause followed. "What! What do you mean the respirator's not there? Do what you can. Just keep him alive until I get there." A resonating crack echoed through the house as the doctor threw the phone down. Bursting through the door, he grabbed his coat and got all his things ready to leave.
"What's wrong, Tori?" Ayame asked, using his affectionate pen name that he'd given his old friend.
Hatori's face was overcast with a shadow deeper than any any of the family had seen before. "It seems we're not going to transfer to the main house this year. Instead, the party will be held here."
"Why!" Momiji screamed rising to his feet. "We always go there so why should we change the tradition this year?"
The man stood in the doorway, looking outside. "Akito's dieing." he answered shortly as he left without another word. They whole room was silent with shock.
"You see," Ayame's voice was quiet. "The young master was born on New Years Eve, exactly when the years were changing."
"That would be so much fun to celebrate your birthday on New Years," Tohru said excitedly. "I would feel so honored."
Ayame and Shigure bowed their heads. "But, we've never actually celebrated his birthday before. Never." Shigure stated with a sigh.
"Never?"
"Never."