To all the readers,
I mention at the first chapter that I would base this story to Puss in Boots, a classic fairy tale (But it's not that popular, I think,) but due to some ideas I cannot ignore, I don't know if I'm going to follow its original storyline. But I'll try.
Oh what the heck! On with the story!
"Yuki? What are you---" Haru began but surprisingly, he was out of words.. "How did you--- How can you--- Who is--- Why did you---"
"Ah… Honda-san, this is Sohma Haru." Yuki quickly said. "Remember what I told you a while ago that I have a friend who is a Sohma? Well here he is."
"Nice to meet you, friend of Yuki-kun." She bowed. "I'm Honda Tohru---"
"What?! I'm only a friend to you?!" Haru yelled. "What happened to you?! Did you have amnesia or something?!"
"Haru-san, old pal," Yuki glared at him. "There's so much we need to talk about." He smiled at Tohru. "It's a private male matter, Honda-san."
"A-Ah! I see. I'll leave now." She exited through the door and closed it behind her.
Another Sohma…. She thought silently. I've seen so much Sohmas in one day. Kisa… Hatori-san… and… Haru… I wonder why did this Haru get angry after Yuki called him pal. It doesn't sound right at all…
"What's going on?!" Haru asked.
"Listen. I haven't mentioned to her that I'm a Sohma." Yuki said quickly. "And I have no intention to tell her that because she might freak out and…"
"And…?"
"I don't want her to freak out. I want her to know that I'm there for her and…"
"And…?" Haru whispered.
"Are you even listening to me?!"
Haru grinned at his cousin. "This… is never like you."
"I know. But ever since I heard the conversation between Akito and Hatori, I couldn't think any longer… about being a Sohma, inheriting something that costs millions, dominating every land and…" Yuki sighed heavily. "And now I realized how hard it is when you're not rich."
"So… that means Kyou was right." Haru said. "You ran away---"
"I left---"
"---ran away and left your position in the Sohma mansion… for good."
"Yes…" Yuki sighed once more. "I just want some time alone."
"But you're putting Kyou on the line. Everyone blames him." Haru looked out of the window.
"Do you blame him?"
"Why should I? I can see now the truth behind everything." He glanced at his cousin. "What made you ran away?"
"I… can't tell you now…" Yuki whispered. "But all I know is that I can't go back yet."
"What are you going to do? Stay here and be a peasant forever???"
"I don't know… Haru-san…" Yuki looked at his cousin. "But can you go back to the mansion for me, just to see that everyone is ok?"
"Sure, I'll be leaving tomorrow." Haru sat down at the floor next to him. "And this girl…… do you like her?"
The nezumi smiled. "Maybe… I want to help her about something." He replied. "She needs money."
"Then give her some."
"Then she'll know that I'm rich! I can't just do that!"
"Got any other ideas???" Haru asked him.
"Well… I could ask some help with somebody…" Yuki grinned.
"Uo… I think it's not nice when that guy just shoved Tohru out of the room." Hanajima whispered as she stared blankly at the window. "It's not… respectful…"
"That's it! I'm going to kick him out of the house!" Uotani stood up but Tohru reached out to stop her.
"No, it's fine… he said it's some male business so…" And there's somebody else up there!
"But Tohru, he just,,, dominated your room!" she said angrily. "And he's just a guest!"
"He's a Sohma…" Both girls whispered. Uo sat back down and stared at them.
"A SOHMA?! In my house?! You got to be kidding me?!"
"It's alright, Uo-san. I'll go upstairs now." Tohru stood up and went upstairs.
"Hana-san…" Uo whispered quickly. "Do you think it's safe for Tohru to sleep with someone like him, a Sohma?"
"Fate…is fond…of seeing…" Hana whispered slowly. "…sacrifices… blood… cries…evil---"
"You're not helping!!!"
Yuki-kun! Where are you?! Answer me!
Is he here? Have you seen him?
I know he's here a while ago
Then you should have watched him very carefully, Kyou!
But---
Because of you, we lost a Sohma.
Stop saying that! Yuki's not yet dead! We still can find him!
You there, have you seen anything?
No not really…
Damn, where could he be???
Shigure! Stop gazing at the waterfall. Come down here or you'll end up dead---
Hatori, I think Yuki's not in the forest…
Then where is he???
…
…you're insane! He can't jump from here! He could die once he lands down there. Those are sharp rocks below the waterfall!
I know… but there's no other way he could… disappear…
Am I dead?
Am I going to live?
What is my reason to live?
Is it to lead a nation… to see others as somebody lower than I am?
To see them suffer?
AM I worthy enough to do such task?
Should I do it?
Yuki…
Yuki-kun!
Yuki-kun! Wake up!
Yuki opened his eyes and saw Tohru's large innocent eyes staring at him.
"You're… having a nightmare… right?" she asked worriedly. "I mean… you were tossing and turning in your sleep and… you were calling some names and…"
Yuki sat up and smiled at the girl next to him. "Yes, I was having a nightmare. Thank you for waking me up."
She smiled at him. "Okaa-san told me that the best way to calm yourself after a nightmare in the middle of the night is to enjoy a cup of coffee. Do you want some?" she asked.
"Ne, I don't drink coffee." He replied calmly. "But if you can fix a hot chocolate for me, that would be nice."
"Hai! I'll get it right away!" she stood and left him alone in the room.
That was the weirdest dream ever. Maybe that happened after I jumped from the waterfall.
They are all so worried about me… I hope they are alright.
What does this mean? That I need to go back? To do what must be done? To finish something that I cannot ignore?
Damn, I don't know what to do…
His eyes caught something on the floor next to him. It was a piece of note scribbled in small cursive letters. He picked it up and read the message.
I need to go ahead of you. Sorry. If you really want to help this girl, just remember that you are a Sohma and Sohmas can attract crowds. She'll notice that so keep your guard down.
If you think that your idea is right and effective, good luck then. I'll be telling Hatori that you're ok.
I'll see you soon. Haru Sohma.
He smiled after he read the note. He surprisingly saw a small phrase below the paper.
PS. I also think that this Tohru is very cute… and helpful. She even fixed me a cup of chocolate before I left. I kinda like her and I know that you also do.
"Haru…" he chuckled.
The next day, Tohru woke up very early and packed her things up.
"A job?!" Uotani laughed. "Tohru, you're too young to have a job. Besides, why so sudden???"
"I'm a Honda and I need to pay the expenses that my father left." She said quickly as she gathered her things and headed towards the door. "Thank you so much for letting me stay for the night. I promise I'll return here if I had no one to talk to. I promise I'll write and I'll call when I need anything. I'll just see you guys soon. Bye!" she closed the door behind her.
Uo stood there speechlessly after her friend left. "She didn't even give me a chance to say goodbye."
"She'll be ok…" Hanajima whispered. "But… I sense something---"
"Shut up, Hanajima Saki!"
"Sorry!" Tohru panted as she met Yuki at a nearby gift shop. "I'm so late…"
"It's ok." He smiled. "Hey, I need to make a phone call. Can you just wait for me here?" he asked her.
"Yes, it's ok! I'll just see some gift items inside."
"Ok. I'll see you. Just stay here, ok? I'll be back." He left her inside the shop.
Tohru went inside the gift shop and stared at the small figurines on the table. "AH! Jyunishi figurines! They're so cute…"
"Really?" she heard a girl's voice behind her. She looked around and saw a very familiar little girl standing behind her. Both of them stared at each other for a minute.
"Kisa-chan???"
"Onee-chan…" Kisa replied.
"Oh my! How did you get here???" Tohru kneeled so that she's about Kisa'a level.
"Uh… I took a ride… from the mansion---"
"With me." Tohru looked up and saw a young man with a long silvery hair. He smiled at her warmly. "Ah, you must be Honda Tohru. Kisa talked about you a lot and… true, you ARE an image of beauty."
"Eh?" she blushed lightly.
"Ne-chan, this is Sohma Ayame-san." Kisa whispered. "He really adores women with a beautiful faces, like you."
"EH??? Kisa-chan!" she blushed even more. "I'm not beautiful as you think---"
"NONSENSE! Look at you!!!" Ayame reached out to make her stand. "You are magnificent. A perfect replica of a true woman! You should be famous! You can't put this beauty into waste!"
"But---"
"Do you have a job?" Ayame asked her handsomely.
"Ano, not yet." She smiled. "But I'm trying to---"
"Then come with me! I can make you famous and rich with the help of my sewing skills and your smile to the human race!"
"EH???" This is so confusing!
"Ayame-san weaves clothes." Kisa whispered.
"Not just any clothes, I weave the best robes of the monarch family around the world. Trust me, I can help you as much I can help myself." He smiled. "I've been looking for a female model for months and heaven finally sent me an angel to guide me."
"Please, ne-san, all you have to do was to wear his clothes and pose on the camera. It's nothing else." Kisa whispered.
Tohru thought for a while. This way I could get money and at the same time, be famous. I remember what Yuki-kun said, you don't need to have a job just to get money. All you need is to be famous.
"I'll take it." She said enthusiastically. "I'll be your model."
"EXCELENT! Then what are we waiting for? We should get started already!" Ayame held her hand and went outside.
"Where are we going?" Tohru asked.
"I need to take your measurements soon. I'm so excited I wanted to start right now!" he said happily.
"But I'm waiting for someone---"
"Then let this someone wait. You're going to be famous soon and I know he won't mind that." He yelled at her. "Don't let him be a hindrance to your career!"
"Don't worry, ne-san. I'm sure this somebody will understand you." Kisa said happily. She opened the door of the carriage and smiled at Tohru. "Please come inside."
"Go! GO! GO! We haven't got all day!" Ayame gently pushed her inside and went in after her. "To my house immediately!"
"Yes, sir." The servant replied.
"This is going to be fun!" Ayame clapped her hands.
"Where are you Yuki?! Answer me!" Yuki heard the voice at the other end of the line. "Are you ok? Are you feeling well?!"
"I'm fine, Hatori-san." Yuki replied calmly. "I just want some time alone."
"We need you here now!"
"I want this freedom… I don't want Akito to control me again… I can make my own decisions…"
"I know." Hatori sighed. "But everyone here is worried about you, even Akito is. Please just come back when you're ready, ok?"
"Of course I will. I'm a Sohma." Yuki whispered.
"Good. But I want to talk to you. Can I meet you somewhere?"
"I don't know about that." He looked at his watch. "Look, I have to go. Someone is waiting for me."
"Who? A peasant?" Hatori asked firmly. "What are you thinking? Making friends with a peasant won't take you anywhere!"
"…you're wrong. Because this girl… made me happy… made me special… I'm sorry, Hatori-san. I need to go." He hung up.
"So, it's a coincidence…" he heard a voice behind him. "I guess I'm a bit lucky today."
Yuki looked around and saw somebody he knew. "…Kyou."
