Zurinth Part Three: A Tiger and a Sheep
"I'm so sorry" Ritsu replied as they were sitting at a table, drinking more tea.
He was fully transformed back now and was looking sadder then ever.
"I should have told you that I was a boy. I was ashamed though."
"Oh no It's okay" Tohru grinned, "I don't mind. In fact I came all this way just to see you."
"Hmm? You did?"
"Mhm. I was directed here by Ayame Sohma."
"Oh Ayame. How is he doing? I imagine he is doing splendidly, not like me. I am the most worthless person in the world.
"No don't say that. There must be something good about you."
"Thank you for being so kind Tohru, but really there isn't. I have no talents to speak of, not like the others. That's why I was sent here to Zurinth."
"I'm still sure we can find something special about you. My mother always said everyone is special for something. That they were born just to be with someone. I like that. I like that idea that I was born to be with someone. That someday I will find that person. And there are many good qualities about you Ritsu. Like you have a very pretty smile."
He looked up at her in surprise.
"And a good heart I can tell. You're not worthless Ritsu. You're just as important as everyone else in the world."
"Thank you" he said, "I needed to hear those words again. Oh you wanted to see me, what about?"
"Uh well I'm locating all the members of the Zodiac, and I guess I find out that you're the Monkey."
"Yes" he nodded.
"And I was also told by Ayame that you can tell me where I can find the others."
"Oh of course" Ritsu stood up. He grabbed another map down from his shelf.
"They reside in a small village, not far from here, close to the mountains. If you have already met Ayame and Hatori, there are only three more left to find."
"Only three?" she asked.
"Mhm. Their names are Hiro, Kisa, and Rin."
"Hiro, Kisa, and Rin. Got it."
"Here's the map. It should help you" he replied.
"Thank you very much Ritsu" Tohru held the map close to her chest.
"No thank you Tohru. For your kindness."
"My pleasure" she waved as she exited the Hot Springs.
"Maybe" he thought, "I can find someone like that. Who will accept me also and whom I can eat jelly buns with.
****************
"This is it?" Kyo frowned looking at the shop in front of them.
"Must be" Yuki sighed.
Yuki knocked on the door but Ayame himself answered it this time. He stared at his brother before him before grabbing him tightly and pulling him into the shop. Kyo reluctantly followed grumbling.
"Oh Yuki! I can't believe it after all these years you have come to visit me. No doubt you missed me right. Of course you did. Oh and look you brought Lucky Kyo with you."
"I told you never to call me that!" Kyo shouted.
"Oh Lucky Kyo you haven't changed. So tell me Yuki what can I get for you? Tea? Cakes? Oh just name it brother and I will do it."
"For starters" Yuki said quietly, "LET ME GO!"
"Oh of course, I am so sorry. You can't breathe can you? And you can hardly talk if you're like that."
"We didn't come here to talk?" Kyo retorted angrily.
"Oh."
"Brother" Yuki sighed, "We're looking for someone."
"Oh. I see."
****************
Momiji caught his breath as he and Hatsuharu stopped at a lake.
"Haru I thought you said that you knew where you were going?" Momiji whined.
"I do know. We have to follow this river."
"Are you sure? I mean it is getting dark soon."
"Relax Momiji" Haru replied, "We'll be there before dark.
"Yea right" Momiji thought, "We probably won't get there until three days from now."
*******************
Tohru walked along the path till she spotted the mountains and the tiny village below it.
"That must be it," she said happily.
"Kisa! Kisa!" she heard someone call.
"Kisa? Isn't that the name of one of the?"
She ran in the direction of the voice and found a frantic woman behind a house.
"Oh Kisa where are you?"
"Excuse me mam" Tohru approached her, "You look upset. Is something wrong?"
"Why yes. My daughter has run away again.
"Your daughter?"
"Yes Kisa. I heard she got picked on at school again today."
"Oh. Well I can help you find her."
"You would do that. Oh thank you. But you might not be able to find her."
"I'll find her. I came all this way just to see her. What does she look like?"
"Well she's about twelve years old. Has medium length hazel hair and tan eyes. She was wearing a long yellow dress last I saw her."
"I'll find her" Tohru grinned, "Don't worry I'll be right back."
"What a sweet girl" the woman thought.
****************
"So my dear brother? What is it that you have come to ask me about?" Ayame asked.
Yuki sighed.
"I'm wondering if you have seen a young girl. About this high, long brown hair."
"Oh yes" Ayame interrupted, "You mean the princess don't you?"
Kyo and Yuki exchanged looks.
"We had quite an interlude this afternoon."
"You what?" Kyo replied angrily.
"She had come all the way from Hari's just to see me. Isn't that wonderful. Naturally I couldn't turn her down. She was such a pretty little thing. We had tea and chats and she told me the whole sad story. Of course I wasn't the only one she wanted to see, shame really."
"What do you mean?" Yuki asked.
"She wanted to meet the other members of the Zodiac. So I told her where the Hot Springs were."
"And is that where she went? You stupid snake!" Kyo said.
"Yes, but there is no need for name calling Kyo."
"Thank you brother" Yuki rose, "We have to go."
"So soon. But you just arrived."
"I know, but we need to find the princess. Before Akito comes back for her."
"Oh Akito is involved in this. She didn't mention that. In that case, hurry brother. She shouldn't be too far ahead."
"Let's go Kyo" Yuki said as he dashed out the door.
"Fare thee well my younger sibling! We shall meet again!" Ayame laughed his usual annoying laugh.
"How could you possibly be related to that guy?" Kyo asked as they started jogging down the path again.
"Don't ask me" Yuki replied, "I think he was adopted."
****************
Tohru had spent most of the afternoon searching for the young girl.
"Kisa!" she called when she neared some bushes, "Kisa!"
She saw a yellow dress lying on the ground. Nearby in the bushes she spotted some fur.
"I wonder" she thought, "Could she have transformed? Kisa?" she called into the bushes.
Out shot a small tiger that growled and bore it's teeth at her.
"A tiger? That is in the Zodiac" she thought, "Kisa is that you?"
The tiger continued to growl.
"Don't be scared Kisa, I am here to help. Your moms awful worried about you. Don't you want to go back to her?"
The tiger cub shook its head. Tohru kneeled down to be face to face.
"It's because of what happened at school isn't it? The kids picking on you? I know what that feels like. I was always different from others. People like me aren't usually so kind. They're more commanding and selfish. I can't understand that personally, and that's why my peers picked on me. But the one thing I did know was that at the end of a hard day, after being in school with them, I could go home to my mother and she would comfort me. She would never look down on me. I'm sure your moms just the same Kisa. She loves you no matter what. I also know your scared. You're a member of the Zodiac, that's got to be hard enough. You're afraid your mom will hate you if you tell her how you feel don't you. I understand. The worst feeling in the world is to be hated by someone you love."
The tiger looked at her with sad eyes then a loud pop sounded. A small girl clutched Tohru's hand and rubbed it gently, crying.
"Thank you," she sobbed, "Thank you. I didn't know that anyone else could feel that way."
"You ready to go back to your mom now Kisa?"
"Mhm."
"Good" Tohru smiled, "But first let's get your clothes back on."
**************************
After putting her dress back on Kisa and Tohru walked up the path and were stopped by a small boy who looked to be about Kisa's age.
"Kisa!" he exclaimed when he saw her, "I have been looking all over for you. Where have you been?"
"I was lost" she replied sweetly, "But now someone found me" she smiled up at Tohru.
"Who's she?" he asked rudely.
"Hello there. I'm Tohru Honda. I helped to find Kisa."
"Big deal. So you found her. So what."
"Hiro that's not nice. Don't be mean to sissy."
"Hiro?" Tohru thought, "Another one."
"Sissy? Why are you calling her that? It's not like she's your sister or anything. What you think you can go around calling people whoever you want your sister. She's just a stranger. A strange person. It's not like she's your family member. She's not. We shouldn't even be talking to her."
"But Hiro. She came all this way just to meet us."
"What do you mean?"
"If you're Hiro and she's Kisa, you're both members of the Zodiac aren't you" Tohru asked.
"Hey, how did you know that? Who told you?"
"That's right sissy. I'm the tiger and he's the sheep."
"Kisa" he said angrily.
"She already knew that I was the tiger."
"You didn't have to tell her that I was the sheep. Why did you tell her? It's none of her business anyways."
"Well" Tohru grinned, "I could probably figure that on my own."
"How?"
"Easy. By giving you my special greeting. A hug."
Before he knew it, Tohru was embracing him and he had transformed into a sheep.
"Nice to meet you Hiro Sohma" she said as he shook with confusion.
"Oh Hiro" Kisa grinned.
************************************************************** ***
Authors Note: Part Three is done. One more part to go. I hope you are enjoying this part of the story. I did my best to put the fruits basket personality in here. So I hope you like it.
Next Chapter: Part Four: The Wild One Reconnects
Tohru meets Rin Sohma and is finally reunited with her friends.
"I'm so sorry" Ritsu replied as they were sitting at a table, drinking more tea.
He was fully transformed back now and was looking sadder then ever.
"I should have told you that I was a boy. I was ashamed though."
"Oh no It's okay" Tohru grinned, "I don't mind. In fact I came all this way just to see you."
"Hmm? You did?"
"Mhm. I was directed here by Ayame Sohma."
"Oh Ayame. How is he doing? I imagine he is doing splendidly, not like me. I am the most worthless person in the world.
"No don't say that. There must be something good about you."
"Thank you for being so kind Tohru, but really there isn't. I have no talents to speak of, not like the others. That's why I was sent here to Zurinth."
"I'm still sure we can find something special about you. My mother always said everyone is special for something. That they were born just to be with someone. I like that. I like that idea that I was born to be with someone. That someday I will find that person. And there are many good qualities about you Ritsu. Like you have a very pretty smile."
He looked up at her in surprise.
"And a good heart I can tell. You're not worthless Ritsu. You're just as important as everyone else in the world."
"Thank you" he said, "I needed to hear those words again. Oh you wanted to see me, what about?"
"Uh well I'm locating all the members of the Zodiac, and I guess I find out that you're the Monkey."
"Yes" he nodded.
"And I was also told by Ayame that you can tell me where I can find the others."
"Oh of course" Ritsu stood up. He grabbed another map down from his shelf.
"They reside in a small village, not far from here, close to the mountains. If you have already met Ayame and Hatori, there are only three more left to find."
"Only three?" she asked.
"Mhm. Their names are Hiro, Kisa, and Rin."
"Hiro, Kisa, and Rin. Got it."
"Here's the map. It should help you" he replied.
"Thank you very much Ritsu" Tohru held the map close to her chest.
"No thank you Tohru. For your kindness."
"My pleasure" she waved as she exited the Hot Springs.
"Maybe" he thought, "I can find someone like that. Who will accept me also and whom I can eat jelly buns with.
****************
"This is it?" Kyo frowned looking at the shop in front of them.
"Must be" Yuki sighed.
Yuki knocked on the door but Ayame himself answered it this time. He stared at his brother before him before grabbing him tightly and pulling him into the shop. Kyo reluctantly followed grumbling.
"Oh Yuki! I can't believe it after all these years you have come to visit me. No doubt you missed me right. Of course you did. Oh and look you brought Lucky Kyo with you."
"I told you never to call me that!" Kyo shouted.
"Oh Lucky Kyo you haven't changed. So tell me Yuki what can I get for you? Tea? Cakes? Oh just name it brother and I will do it."
"For starters" Yuki said quietly, "LET ME GO!"
"Oh of course, I am so sorry. You can't breathe can you? And you can hardly talk if you're like that."
"We didn't come here to talk?" Kyo retorted angrily.
"Oh."
"Brother" Yuki sighed, "We're looking for someone."
"Oh. I see."
****************
Momiji caught his breath as he and Hatsuharu stopped at a lake.
"Haru I thought you said that you knew where you were going?" Momiji whined.
"I do know. We have to follow this river."
"Are you sure? I mean it is getting dark soon."
"Relax Momiji" Haru replied, "We'll be there before dark.
"Yea right" Momiji thought, "We probably won't get there until three days from now."
*******************
Tohru walked along the path till she spotted the mountains and the tiny village below it.
"That must be it," she said happily.
"Kisa! Kisa!" she heard someone call.
"Kisa? Isn't that the name of one of the?"
She ran in the direction of the voice and found a frantic woman behind a house.
"Oh Kisa where are you?"
"Excuse me mam" Tohru approached her, "You look upset. Is something wrong?"
"Why yes. My daughter has run away again.
"Your daughter?"
"Yes Kisa. I heard she got picked on at school again today."
"Oh. Well I can help you find her."
"You would do that. Oh thank you. But you might not be able to find her."
"I'll find her. I came all this way just to see her. What does she look like?"
"Well she's about twelve years old. Has medium length hazel hair and tan eyes. She was wearing a long yellow dress last I saw her."
"I'll find her" Tohru grinned, "Don't worry I'll be right back."
"What a sweet girl" the woman thought.
****************
"So my dear brother? What is it that you have come to ask me about?" Ayame asked.
Yuki sighed.
"I'm wondering if you have seen a young girl. About this high, long brown hair."
"Oh yes" Ayame interrupted, "You mean the princess don't you?"
Kyo and Yuki exchanged looks.
"We had quite an interlude this afternoon."
"You what?" Kyo replied angrily.
"She had come all the way from Hari's just to see me. Isn't that wonderful. Naturally I couldn't turn her down. She was such a pretty little thing. We had tea and chats and she told me the whole sad story. Of course I wasn't the only one she wanted to see, shame really."
"What do you mean?" Yuki asked.
"She wanted to meet the other members of the Zodiac. So I told her where the Hot Springs were."
"And is that where she went? You stupid snake!" Kyo said.
"Yes, but there is no need for name calling Kyo."
"Thank you brother" Yuki rose, "We have to go."
"So soon. But you just arrived."
"I know, but we need to find the princess. Before Akito comes back for her."
"Oh Akito is involved in this. She didn't mention that. In that case, hurry brother. She shouldn't be too far ahead."
"Let's go Kyo" Yuki said as he dashed out the door.
"Fare thee well my younger sibling! We shall meet again!" Ayame laughed his usual annoying laugh.
"How could you possibly be related to that guy?" Kyo asked as they started jogging down the path again.
"Don't ask me" Yuki replied, "I think he was adopted."
****************
Tohru had spent most of the afternoon searching for the young girl.
"Kisa!" she called when she neared some bushes, "Kisa!"
She saw a yellow dress lying on the ground. Nearby in the bushes she spotted some fur.
"I wonder" she thought, "Could she have transformed? Kisa?" she called into the bushes.
Out shot a small tiger that growled and bore it's teeth at her.
"A tiger? That is in the Zodiac" she thought, "Kisa is that you?"
The tiger continued to growl.
"Don't be scared Kisa, I am here to help. Your moms awful worried about you. Don't you want to go back to her?"
The tiger cub shook its head. Tohru kneeled down to be face to face.
"It's because of what happened at school isn't it? The kids picking on you? I know what that feels like. I was always different from others. People like me aren't usually so kind. They're more commanding and selfish. I can't understand that personally, and that's why my peers picked on me. But the one thing I did know was that at the end of a hard day, after being in school with them, I could go home to my mother and she would comfort me. She would never look down on me. I'm sure your moms just the same Kisa. She loves you no matter what. I also know your scared. You're a member of the Zodiac, that's got to be hard enough. You're afraid your mom will hate you if you tell her how you feel don't you. I understand. The worst feeling in the world is to be hated by someone you love."
The tiger looked at her with sad eyes then a loud pop sounded. A small girl clutched Tohru's hand and rubbed it gently, crying.
"Thank you," she sobbed, "Thank you. I didn't know that anyone else could feel that way."
"You ready to go back to your mom now Kisa?"
"Mhm."
"Good" Tohru smiled, "But first let's get your clothes back on."
**************************
After putting her dress back on Kisa and Tohru walked up the path and were stopped by a small boy who looked to be about Kisa's age.
"Kisa!" he exclaimed when he saw her, "I have been looking all over for you. Where have you been?"
"I was lost" she replied sweetly, "But now someone found me" she smiled up at Tohru.
"Who's she?" he asked rudely.
"Hello there. I'm Tohru Honda. I helped to find Kisa."
"Big deal. So you found her. So what."
"Hiro that's not nice. Don't be mean to sissy."
"Hiro?" Tohru thought, "Another one."
"Sissy? Why are you calling her that? It's not like she's your sister or anything. What you think you can go around calling people whoever you want your sister. She's just a stranger. A strange person. It's not like she's your family member. She's not. We shouldn't even be talking to her."
"But Hiro. She came all this way just to meet us."
"What do you mean?"
"If you're Hiro and she's Kisa, you're both members of the Zodiac aren't you" Tohru asked.
"Hey, how did you know that? Who told you?"
"That's right sissy. I'm the tiger and he's the sheep."
"Kisa" he said angrily.
"She already knew that I was the tiger."
"You didn't have to tell her that I was the sheep. Why did you tell her? It's none of her business anyways."
"Well" Tohru grinned, "I could probably figure that on my own."
"How?"
"Easy. By giving you my special greeting. A hug."
Before he knew it, Tohru was embracing him and he had transformed into a sheep.
"Nice to meet you Hiro Sohma" she said as he shook with confusion.
"Oh Hiro" Kisa grinned.
************************************************************** ***
Authors Note: Part Three is done. One more part to go. I hope you are enjoying this part of the story. I did my best to put the fruits basket personality in here. So I hope you like it.
Next Chapter: Part Four: The Wild One Reconnects
Tohru meets Rin Sohma and is finally reunited with her friends.