Still early May 2003

Scribbler's ramblings: Okay, here is the first actual chapter…O.o;  I'm sorry about the long and boring prologue…Whatever, hope you like this one though.

Disclaimers: Fruits Basket does not belong to me it belongs to wonderful *fanfare* T. Natsuki!  [*psag* did some research…But I bet the name is wrong T.T Gomen, I'm too lazy, correct the name if it's wrong]

-=+=-

Eternity.  There was no other way to describe it.  The two hour long drive to the Blue Moon Festival should have been a time of small talk and cat naps. 

Alas, cramming Shigure, Ayame, Kyou, Yuki, Haru, Hatori, Momiji, Tohru and three of her friends into even a limousine was a difficult task.  They were all cramped, tired and uncomfortable.  There had been countless times when a sudden stop would cause them to topple forward, into the laps of the individual beside them.  The threat of morphing was evident, and members of the Jyuunishi would sit rigidly in their seats, envious of the relaxation of Tohru and her friends.

Ayame and Shigure's eardrum crunching yowling was certainly no help.  "Llaw eht no reeb fo slettob on," they crooned, finally completing the last agonizing verse of "99 bottles of beer on the wall" backwards.  They had successfully screeched six different versions of the annoying chant.

            They started the seventh.

            Thankfully, Momiji was in no mood to join.  After infinite scowls, glares, and poundings from Kyou, he finally got the message and ceased singing.  Currently, he was in a state of utter boredom, his blond locks limp and brown eyes dozing.

The same could be said for the rest of them.  Occasionally, a head would droop down, lolled to sleep, only to jerk back up for fear of falling and changing.  The limo was engulfed in a dark mist of boredom.  Random grunts of conversation could be heard, but they would soon be extinguished.  Only Tohru and her friends had any success in hosting small talk.  Tohru was excitedly telling them about the two new Sohma family babies that would be arriving soon.  Sometimes she would glance at Yuki, seeking approval of the facts she revealed.  He would weakly smile and nod his head.  Kajiko, Uotani and Hanajima would react to the conversation appropriately, occasionally asking Tohru to repeat details they had missed.

Kajiko would let her gaze stray onto the faces of the Sohma family once in a while.  Out of all of them Sohma Kyou was the most interesting to watch…he would seethe whenever Tohru and Yuki made eye-contact for longer than two seconds.  Maybe he's jealous, she wondered, pitying him.  Knowing that the one you loved had affection for another was crushing.  Quickly she banished the thought from her mind.  How can I make such an assumption about a person?  I don't even know him that well.  But still, she couldn't shake the feeling that Kyou was in pain.

Hatori was the only one paying any concentration to his surroundings (…he was driving), but he was at his wit's end with the rest of the Mabudatchi Trio's "singing".  Sporadically he would flick his head back, sending a silent, hopeful prayer that they would cease.

            They didn't.

            Suddenly, kaleidoscopic colours could be seen through the trees alongside the road.  Flashing lights and the whirl of colourful rides popped up next.  Finally, the screams of ecstatic thrill-seekers and laughing of young, balloon-toting children could be heard.

            "We're heeeeeerrrre!" Momiji laughed, snapping out of his comatose state.

-=+=-

            Fighting their way through the enormous crowd, our faithful characters were able to reach the entrance of the Blue Moon Festival.  Each Jyuunishi member was extra careful, making sure that only their backs were exposed to the other festival-goers, in case there was an extra-clumsy person out there.

            Tohru had grabbed onto the arm of Yuki for extra balance, but it seemed that he also needed some help with his footing.  The jostling of the other ticket-holders nearly swept him and Tohru off their feet. 

            Kyou watched at a distance, quietly boiling over the fact that Tohru had put so much faith in Yuki.  No one, absolutely no one, had ever trusted him enough with their safety.  Apparently he was too unruly.  Unruly my foot, he thought, as he snuck another glance at the pair, so maybe I'm just a little temperamental…that doesn't mean that they can't trust me.

            Hanajima was having a ball, absorbing all the eager denpa from those around her.  An almost lazy gaze adorned her eyes, her face nearly glowed.  Even her hair and black dress seemed to flow in an imaginary wind.  "Hana-chan, you seem extra-happy today," Kajiko commented.

            Hanajima merely floated past her, like some sort of black angel.  There was still something that haunted her thoughts though … something bad?  At the moment she didn't know, and she really didn't care … but somehow …

-=+=-

            "Tohru-koi!  Here's the cotton candy you asked for!" Yuki yelled, slowly making his way through the long queue to where Tohru stood.

            "Thank you Yuki-koi," she said, blushing.  She hadn't really wanted the cotton candy, but she knew that Yuki was going to burst if he didn't do something.  They had been waiting in the line for the famed "House of Mirrors" for nearly half an hour, and Yuki was getting uncharacteristically fidgety.

            The House of Mirrors was supposedly an amazing labyrinth of shadowed mirrors.  Each mirror had been carefully placed so that there would be a magical optical illusion around every bend.  In special rooms there would be disco and other sorts of lighting, bringing even more magic into the air. 

            Along with Yuki, Tohru was waiting in line with Kyou, Hatori, Haru and Kajiko.  The others had gone elsewhere, to rides with less people waiting in line or to play games.

Tohru could picture Hana-chan and Uo-chan at the Midway, using whatever skills they had to win cuddly, cheaply-made trinkets.  Uo-chan and her strong arm tossing a worn-out baseball at old, plastic milk bottles, and Hana-chan using her unusual "luckiness" to guess the right numbers at the try-your-luck games.  She had no doubt that they would go back home with their arms laden with prizes.

Momiji had sauntered over to the Blue Moon Talent Show, anxious to watch the multiple performers.  Shigure and Ayame would undoubtedly also be there, as two of those entertainers. Tohru had learned from Yuki that they would be using their "impeccable, angelic voices to woo the crowd" as quoted by Shigure.  A chill ran up her spine as she remembered their earlier stint in the limo. 

"Okay, last six people please!" the ride manager called.

Tohru looked around.  They were in fact the last six people in the line.  While lost in her thoughts, it seemed that the rest of the people waiting had left.  But why?  The fireworks! Tohru remembered, Oh no!  I promised Uo-chan and Hana-chan that I'd be at the fireworks field by now … but she pushed those thoughts aside as Yuki pulled at her delicate hand, "Come on Tohru-koi, let's go."

They entered through the humourously large door at the front of the silver and blue building, and were immediately plunged into a corridor of complete and utter darkness.  They walked for awhile, casually bumping into pillow-lined walls until, "Umm, Haru-kun?  You're stepping on my toe …" Kajiko timidly pointed out.

"… That's not possible Jiko-chan.  I'm absolutely positive that he's stepping on my toe," Tohru said.

"You're both wrong, he's standing on both of your toes," Yuki finally said, giving Haru a firm shove off the ladies' feet.

"Umm, yea, sorry about that," Haru apologized, quite blandly.

"Baka ushi," Kyou exclaimed, "You're so lost, you don't even know where your standing."  Yuki shot Kyou a warning look.  Kajiko didn't know of the Jyuunishi and calling Haru a cow was risky.  Kajiko however, took this slip as part of the insult, as cows did seem quite unintelligent. 

"I know where I am Kyou-kun.  After all, I'm quite obviously here, aren't I?" Haru observed.

"Oh no, Haru-kun, I'm positive that I'm here, you must be somewhere else," Kajiko said jokingly.

"O-kay…Where am I then, Jiko-san?" Haru questioned, while walking with the entire group.

In the darkness you could hear the exasperation upon the others' faces.

-=+=-

            "We have a winner!" yelled the festival worker with the straw hat.

            "Wonderful Uo-chan, another gift that we can give to the Sohmas as a token of our appreciation," Hanajima said.

            Uotani glanced at her watch, "11:46.  Wow, I didn't notice it had gotten so late.  We better hurry to get good seats in the field to see the fireworks.  I bet that Tohru-chan and her bunch are already there."

            Hanajima nodded, and they both hurried off to the designated field for fireworks.  The show was going to start at precisely 12:00 and they didn't want to miss seeing the wonderful explosions that would take place in the air.  The Blue Moon Festival was particularly famed for its fireworks and of course, the scarcely seen blue moon.

Looking up at the twilight sky, one could see that the moon was indeed a pale blue.  Though occasionally shadowed by a wisp of cloud, it still cast a magnificent glow into the sky, unlike any other ordinary moon.  The orb of light seemed so elegant.  It lay there, floating in the ocean of a sky, surrounded by randomly winking stars.  Perfect.

-=+=-

            There's something wrong in the air.  The denpa has suddenly gotten awkward … something is definitely going to happen.  But what?  Nothing has happened so far, and I've had an amusing time, surely I'm wrong … I thought to myself, briskly walking through the crowded area.

            "Hana-chan, hurry up!  We're going to be late, and you know how much Tohru-chan values punctuality," Uo-chan cautioned to me.

            I quickened my pace.  There has to be something … Where is Tohru-chan? I asked myself.  I pictured her inside the "House of Mirrors", her and her reflection dancing with Yuki to different coloured strobe lights in the dim mirrored room.  I would have told Uo-chan that it didn't matter what time we got there, but it seemed to me that she wanted to see these fireworks for herself.  No matter, I don't mind rushing…but what's wrong.  I've had this phantom of a future thing haunting me for too long, now what is IT?

            Accidentally, I sent a small electric shock to those surrounding me.  Uo-chan paused, looking up in the sky, "Odd, I could swear that something just shocked me just then.  Hunh, must be the blue moon messing with my mind," and she continued on her way.

            Yes, the blue moon!  That must be it.  Encountering such a rare natural phenomenon must be muddling my judgement.

            Putting my thoughts at rest, I sped up further, catching up with Uo-chan.  Together we trotted to the meadow.

-=+=-

            Yuki, Kyou and Tohru approached the last corridor of the "House of Mirrors".  Hatori, Kajiko and Haru had gone ahead, almost at the exit of the mysterious abode.

            Yuki and Tohru held back, occasionally laughing at their comical counterpart giggling back at them from the mirror.  Even Kyou would sometimes smile, amused by the outrageously large forehead and miniscule legs the polished metal would portray. 

Farther up ahead, Haru was absentmindedly staring at his feet, still pondering about where he was.  He walked along the complicated hallway, deftly avoiding mirrors and finding the right way through.  Kajiko on the other hand, was having a tough time finding her way through.  She would constantly walk into mirrors, believing that they were a few feet farther ahead.  Hatori would turn sharply around corners, obviously not very amused with the simple festival ride.  However, he would pause once in a while, and his gaze would stray towards the younger teenagers.  He envied their amusement and carelessness, if only she were here…

After walking into her reflection again, Kajiko clumsily backed up.  Simultaneously, Haru popped around the corner, observing the ground.  With a small scuffle, they collapsed into each others' arms.  Arms entangled, Kajiko attempted to get up, "I am so sorry Haru-kun, I must be so very clu-"

Her words were cut short, as a loud "pung" ensued and an eruption of black and white smoke smothered her.  She stepped away, her back against the mirrors, "Haru-kun?!  Are you okay?!  I'm sorry if I somehow set you on fire!"

"I'm fine Jiko-san," Haru replied, twitching his pierced ears.  He looked at her quizzically, "I should be asking what's wrong with you Jiko-san."

"Talking … talking … talking mule?!?" Kajiko panicked.

"Mule?  Isn't it obvious that I'm a cow?" Haru questioned angrily, surrounded by countless reflections of black and white cow spots.

But Kajiko had already fainted, utterly shocked by the discovery of a talking cow in the place of her black-and-white haired acquaintance. 

"Baka ushi!" Kyou scolded, "How could you be so clumsy!?  And talking to her in Jyuunishi form!  What kind of a-"  However, his words were cut short as Yuki clamped a hand over his mouth.  Haru was on the brink of becoming Black, and having a rampaging cow in the House of Mirrors would be dangerous to everyone.

Hatori was the one to take action.  "Haru, go outside and hide in the bushes until you've changed back," he ordered, tossing Haru's clothes and other accessories over his back.

            Haru lumbered slowly out the back exit, still fuming from being called a mule.

-=+=-

            "11:57 and I still don't see them!" Uotani mentioned restlessly.

            The fact that Tohru and her friends were still missing from the fireworks field was worrying her.  Tohru was usually extremely punctual and there were only 3 minutes before the fireworks began.  "Uo-chan, you worry too much," Hanajima commented, although she was feeling very strange her self.

            Flashes of something … possibly something bad … would flood her mind every now and then, and she was believing less and less that it was simply because of the blue moon.  Moreover, Hanajima was unable to mentally picture Tohru's location; the feeling of total helplessness was terrifying.  Where are you Tohru-chan? they both wondered.

-=+=-

            Hatori crouched down and placed his right hand over the unconscious Kajiko's eyes, gingerly laying her across his knee.  He mustn't let her fall on him, otherwise they would have two out-of-place animals on their hands.  Hatori clasped her right hand in his left, and was about to erase her memories when …

            "Wait!  Hatori, the mirrors!" Yuki yelled.

-=+=-

            "10…9…8…7…6…5…4…" the crowd bellowed.

            Hanajima and Uotani chanted as well, anxious to see the colourful explosions erupt in the witching hour sky.  They had long since given up worrying about Tohru, suspecting that their friends had merely found a better area to view the fireworks.

-=+=-

            "…the mirrors!"

            It was too late, a brilliant flash traveled from Hatori's hand to Kajiko's eyes.  But it didn't stop there.  The clean white light bounced off the mirrors, and was headed towards the others' direction.

-=+=-

            "…2…1…0!"

            The first firework lit the sky, showering a fistful of spiraling yellow light through the air.  Milliseconds later a powerful bang wowed the crowd, frightening young children who now knew that fireworks were pretty and yet startling at the same time.

            The exact same time of the leading firework, a strong jolt traveled up the spine of Hanajima, causing her to twitch erratically.  "Are you scared of the fireworks Hana-chan?" questioned Uotani, a glint of fearfulness in her usually strong eyes.

            Not afraid of the fireworks, afraid of whatever's going to happen now, Hanajima thought, propping herself on her elbows.

-=+=-

            The now magnified light traveled and bounced its way to Tohru, Yuki and Kyou.  It was coming from all over, the multiple mirrors aiding it in its deadly path.

                Tohru was paralyzed with fear, eyes widening, Will I forget?  About Yuki and Kyou, the Sohmas … my family?  This can't be happening, not now, not when I've finally found Yuki, when I've finally found the missing piece of the puzzle that is my life … I can't lose them … They're …

-=+=-

"Tohru-koi!" Yuki yelled, dramatically leaping towards her direction, attempting to shield her eyes.  He couldn't lose her, he didn't want her to lose the memories of him, of … us.  What if she does forget?  Will I be nothing but a useless obstacle blocking her path?  All of my days with Akito were a long-lost memory when she popped into my life … I can't lose her … she's …

-=+=-

            Kyou also lunged toward Tohru, the effects of the white light on him didn't matter.  All that mattered was protecting Tohru, protecting the one person that loved him, cared for him … The one person that would trust me, the one friend in my entire life, the one being that helped me with my godforsaken curse … I can't lose her … she's …

-=+=-

            … my saviour, was the last thought that passed through each of their minds, as the powerful white light engulfed them.

-=+=-

Scribbler's ramblings: *psag* What will happen?  I've written part of the second chapter, but it'll take me the better part of a week to finish it … sorry to the people who may actually enjoy the story.  Like I said before, if you really absolutely hate it, make sure that the reviews are at least constructive otherwise I will send my army of miniature snowmen to hunt you down [but it's spring so their all basically puddles…beware the puddles]