Sometime mid-May 2003

Scribbler's ramblings: Yay!  Another chapter finished!  Please review constructively!  I can't stop writing with exclamation points!  Oh no!  This is bad!  Isn't it?!

Disclaimers: I disclaim that I own Fruits Basket which belongs to Natsuki Takaya.

-=+=-

 

Sitting against the old oak tree was a couple.  A couple staring out at the red-yellow sunset, looking and probably feeling utterly perfect.  Surrounded by hundreds of trees, they were enjoying their time together, as each lone leaf would serenade them with a soft, swishy tune.  A man watching them from behind a birch turned away, eyes cast down, he envied their perfection, because he felt anything but.

-=+=-

Tohru's POV

It felt so wonderful, just lying in his arms.  Resting against his solid chest, feeling his warmth mix with mine, and his strong arms just holding me there.  Keeping me stable, always being there through thick and thin.  I looked up.  His vermilion eyes were staring straight ahead towards the horizon, and he snuck a glance down at me.  Our eyes locked.  He blushed and turned away, his sweet embarrassment making me giddy.  I sat up and kissed him lightly on his cheek.  He turned back to look at me and smiled that adorable half-smile of his, his tousled orange locks blowing gently in the breeze.  I settled back down, and buried my head against his neck.  It was…perfect?

-=+=-

Kyou's POV

            She was there.  Just like always.  I held her in my arms and never wanted to let her go.  I wanted to kiss her, tell her that I'd always be there for her.  Her strawberry perfume wafted through the air, intoxicating my mind.  But that wasn't the only thing that was intoxicating.  It was that feeling, the feeling that I get whenever I think of her, look at her, embrace her.  The feeling of total safety, of complete trust, of absolute love. 

I rested my chin against her head of soft, brown hair.  She snuggled closer to me, and I clutched her in my arms.  Leaning over slightly, I bent my head and stole a kiss from her right cheek.  She turned to me surprised, and my face burned slightly.  Smiling sweetly, she returned the kiss, and we locked lips in a short, silent promise.  A promise that we would always be there for one another.

            Suddenly, a strange feeling grasped at my heart.  One of hate, anger, and want.  I turned my head sharply, somehow sensing that someone was watching us.  But there was no one.  The forest around us was completely deserted, save for a few squirrels and sparrows.  And it wasn't someone I was sensing, it was something.  Something inside of me.  But the feeling was fleeting, and left me to settle back into my paradise.

            I looked back down at her, and saw that she was slightly put out that my strange reaction had ruined our moment.  Squeezing her gently in my arms, I nuzzled her, assuring that everything was alright … and we settled back into our state of comfort.  Everything was alright.  But a nagging thought plagued my mind, a thought asking Was it really?  Was everything really alright?

-=+=-

No one's POV

            Yuki wandered to his secret base, after stumbling upon the couple.  He was surprised and primarily had smiled.  He was happy for their happiness, for their belonging.  But, then memories had been played through his mind.  No, I wouldn't call them memories, more of ghosts of memories, for they really weren't there … they were never really there, and yet there's a feeling of something … something missing.

            He took out his tools and began weeding.  It had been only two days since the so-called "incident" had taken place at the House of Mirrors.  But he wouldn't call it an incident, after all the only "bad" thing that had taken place was the removal of the Jyuunishi curse from Kyou and himself.  Everyone acted weirdly around them though, as if they had never known that Kyou and him were best friends, and Tohru and Kyou were together.  As if they knew of something … more.  Even the unshakable Uotani had sent worried glances their way, as if wondering if their sanity was in check.

            Yuki thought more and more, taking out his frustration on the accursed dandelions threatening to take over his small patch of strawberries. 

(Strawberries are my favourite, Yuki-k…)

There they were again!  Those fleeting ghosts that haunted his head, that felt like memories and yet were blurred and unsure.  It was as if they were trying to tell him something, of his past.  But I know what my past was!  And I know what's happening in the present.  I'm going insane, crazy with curiousity of what happ…

Of what?  Did he actually suspect that something more had happened in the festival funhouse?  But that's not possible, nothing happened and nothing else will ever happen, because that was the past, and the past is…the past…unless…unless memories had been altered.  Unless that flash actually did have a bigger part to play.  Unless he was forgetting something important in his life, and perhaps Kyou-kun and Tohru-kun were too.  Baka!  That could never happen, I'm making too many assumptions.  Hat-san's flash erased only the curse and that is FINAL!

            In his sudden anger he had pounded his weed-digger down, totally destroying the center of a very spiky weed.  Unfortunately, the hand that had driven the tool down was now torn and bleeding lightly, a consequence of his misdeed.

            Kuso, Yuki thought as he pulled out small thorns embedded in his hand.  He packed up his things, and silently walked away from his garden.  He paused and took one look back at the small strawberry plants lining the wall of one side, Maybe …

But he turned away, leaving whatever doubts he had behind.

-=+=-

            Perfect?  This was perfect … Kyou-koi's curse has been removed, and we're perfectly happy together.  We've always been happy together … Tohru's mind pulled up memories, memories of when they walked through the forest at night, of when he made her leek soup, of the first time they met, and Kyou's embarrassed apologies.

            She giggled.  Kyou looked down at her fondly, and moved into a more comfortable position, hugging her tightly.

            There was another time you felt perfect Tohru … whispered a voice at the back of her head, when you were with him.  A memory flashed through her mind, one of where Yuki and her were joking at his secret base.  The details were fuzzy though, and soon replaced with a thought of her and Kyou at the supermarket.  Nani?  What just happened?  Did I just imagine being with Sohma-kun?

            And strangely she couldn't remember.  Whatever had happened in her head had happened quickly, and all she could remember thinking was Kyou and her at the supermarket.  She shrugged the notion off, and snuggled deeper into Kyou's chest.  I don't know what just happened, and maybe I don't want to …

            The voice in her head sighed, Sometimes ignorance isn't bliss.

-=+=-

            He felt peaceful, calm, serene.  But everything won't stay peaceful Kyou…nothing ever really stays the same.  Someday she'll leave you, somebody'll snatch her away…is it him?  Maybe him…his subconscious whispered.

            And there was that feeling again.  Anger, hate and want all wrapped in one neat package.  Jealousy.  That was what it was…jealousy.  But what was he jealous of?  He had Tohru, and without the curse, everything was falling into place.  Except it wasn't as if he was jealous now, but jealous then.  Back when he didn't have…

            Didn't have what?  I've been able to talk to Tohru-koi for a while now…and there's nothing missing now…but it wasn't the present he was worrying about, it was the past.  The past feelings he's had, the past thoughts.

            But that's not the thing I should be worrying about, he scolded himself, I should be wondering why I feel so jealous.  It was a common feeling once.  Before while I was around … them.

            Who were they?  And what did they have to do about this?    

            Kyou wanted to ponder further, but the sun had already set, and the sky was dimming.  "Tohru-koi, I think we better get home now," he said ruefully, not wanting to be released from this paradise.

            "Of course Kyou-koi, I still need to make dinner as well," Tohru had replied, sending a small yet hesitant smile his way.

            Maybe she's having doubts as well…he thought, shocking himself, pah!  What would she have doubts about?  Unless…unless she doesn't feel right with me…unless she's part of the "they" that I've been thinking about.

            But those beliefs were difficult to grasp for Kyou.  Someone (aside from him) with Tohru?  Did she actually used to have feelings for another, or was he having dark premonitions of things to come?  It didn't matter, all that mattered was that somehow, he knew he was going to lose her … and there was nothing that he could do about it.

            Feeling totally helpless, it was all that he could do to wrap his arm around her shoulders … and hope that this small symbol of love could keep them together.  

-=+=-

            "Shigure-san!  We're back!" Tohru announced as she walked into his home, Kyou by her side.

            "My beautiful flower and the careless neko are back!" Shigure said, while wrapping Yuki's hand in some gauze.

            Kyou bristled at his comment, "I am not careless you ecchi inu!  And don't call Tohru-koi that, you sound like a perverted old man who chases high school girls…" he trailed off as he saw Yuki's bound hand.  "Oi nezumi, what happened there?"

            "Carelessness at my secret base," Yuki replied calmly, making sure that his hand was tightly bound.

            "Eh?!?  Sohma-kun should be more careful!  After all, if you don't take care of yourself then you'll get sick and if Sohma-kun would get sick, then he would be sick and…" Tohru fretted.

            Kyou gently brought a hand up to cover her mouth, "Don't worry Tohru-koi, Yuki-kun is strong and can take good care of himself.  Can't you nezumi?  Oi, nezumi!"

            Yuki hadn't heard Kyou the first time, he had been surprised at what Tohru had addressed him as.  "Um, yea, I'll be fine Tohru-kun, you shouldn't worry so much."

            "But still, Sohma-kun should look after himself … " but she had gotten the message and started to walk towards the kitchen, "I'll begin to make dinner okay?  All of you must be very hungry."

            "Ahh, my beautiful flower is always caring about others first," Shigure said, his eyes sparkling, "your old Shigure-san could also use some caring—" and he was promptly smashed into the wall by Kyou.

            "Ha, that should teach him a lesson, eh Yuki-kun?  Yuki-kun, I'm talking to you!" Kyou hissed, angered by his friend's dazed behaviour.

            But Yuki was lost in his thoughts.

-=+=-

            Sohma-kun…why does that seem so strange to me?  She's always been calling me that…right?  Or is this just another long-lost memory that could have possibly been eras…Yuki stopped thinking there. 

Why am I never content!?  Why can't I just accept the fact that now I am free of the Jyuunishi curse?!  Why can't I let sleeping dogs lie…why do I wish to meddle with the past and my memories? 

            (Because you know it isn't right)

            There are so many things which I could just let be…and allow Kyou and Tohru to be happy!  Everyone else in the Sohma clan is happy for us!  We're enjoying our life for once, without the curse…and everyone's content!

            (Because you're really not happy)

            Everything was perfectly fine until you started questioning this, Yuki thought, hating himself, everything was alright.

            (Because there really is something MORE)

            "NO!  There is nothing more!  This is the past that I'm thinking of…that past that has already happened!  The past that is not able to morph or change!" Yuki forcefully said out loud.

He was sitting up in bed.  His thoughts had taken him right through Tohru's delicious dinner and his preparations for bed.  They had nagged him for the first few hours of his restless sleep, and when he had finally dozed off, they had haunted his dreams, waking him.  "Nothing," Yuki murmured, and his thoughts carried him elsewhere.

Nothing held so much meaning for him.  Nothing was how he felt … empty and without meaning.  School, pah! it doesn't mean anything when you have no one to succeed for.  He had no real friends.  Friends he could talk to, who could take him out of his depression…no one…nothing.

Why do I even care so much? … It's because I need someone. 

"NO I DON'T!  That's not true.  I DO NOT need someone … because no one needs me," he exclaimed, voice softening at his last five words. 

Yet no matter how much I say I don't need someone, I know I do. 

"WHICH IS NOT TRUE!" Yuki burst out. 

NO!  I need someone. 

"I don't need someone," he pressed.

What I need to do is start thinking that I don't need someone, instead of wanting to think I don't need someone. 

It's thinking that you are, but instead wanting to think that you are.  It's believing in someone, but instead thinking you're believing.  It's being so unsure of your own thoughts, you get lost in the maze of your mind.  It's the pain that you feel for no reason, but knowing the reason.  The emptiness in your heart that you know doesn't exist.  And you wonder why it's there.  How it's there.  But that's just another question for you to answer, and you're already so lost.

He sighed and his body sagged.  Looking out his window he could see the dark gray sky, darker silhouettes of trees tampering with its takeover of the view.  There was no moon, no stars … nothing which he could stare at and wonder.  Wonder if there was, somewhere out there, a person who felt just as dismal as him, and was looking at the moon seeking solace.

Wanting to bury his depressing thoughts, Yuki lay down slowly.  The moment his head hit the cushiony pillow endless images dashed through his mind.

[[The button had caught in his hair, and he was already having trouble taking off the ridiculously feminine outfit the seniors had crafted for him.  He had been utterly humiliated…having to don the dress in front of everyone, especially her.  "Eh?!  You shouldn't take that dress off!  You'll catch a cold!  And with your already weakened lungs…" she had fretted. 

He reddened…now he was making her worry; how many problems would he cause for her?  "You need to take care of yourself…because you are a very special person," she said, softening.

Looking up, he met her sweet smile with a sheepish grin.  "I would put it back on, but the button's stuck in my hair," he said, unsuccessfully attempting to pull it from his head.

She leaned over, tediously working it out of his purple-gray locks, and that would have been the perfect moment…the perfect moment to…]]

[[They were at the onsen, and he had wandered outside for some odd reason…to laugh perhaps?  She had followed him there, curious of what he was doing.  Turning around, she had caught him offguard and he was surprised.  "I-I wanted to give you…this," he said, struggling to get a small package from his pocket. 

Gingerly, he handed it to her.  She unwrapped it, and a smile graced her face.  "It's beautiful, thank you," she had replied, tying the wavy, yellow ribbon to her hair.

Taking the other end of the ribbon in his hand, he had cleared it away from her beautiful face.  Using all the courage he could muster, he bent over and kissed…

the ribbon…]]

[["Strawberries are my favourite!  We should plant them together sometime!" she had piped up eagerly.

            At once, he had gone to his local nursery and purchased a few small strawberry plants.  They had no blossoms or even buds at the time, but that was the plan.  They would be able to grow these plants together…and while doing that become closer friends, or possibly something more.]]

            Yuki woke up again, more startled than angry.  Those were certainly not only images…they were memories.  True memories of a time with someone, someone who was special to him.  But why had he only remembered them now?  There really was something more, Yuki, his conscience told him. 

I have to tell the others! Yuki thought, hastily getting up from bed.

            He was about to exit his room, but remembered that it was the dead of night.  He could hear Tohru's soft breathing in the room beside him, and Kyou's light, rhythmic snoring carried along the hall.  Tomorrow, I'll tell them tomorrow, he thought, excited and yet worried about the spooky news he had to tell them.

            Now you remember that there was something more…but do you know who that girl in the memories is? the small voice in his head asked.  The girl!  Who had she been? Yuki pondered, his tired eyes drooping.  He climbed back into bed.  Her face was fuzzy in the memories, but there was something about her nature…that reminded me so much of someone…

            He was lying completely in bed now, his right cheek pressed against his pillow.  Someone…special…to me…who?…ah yes, her…it had…to…be

            Tohru. 

And he felt deeply into sleep, vaguely dreaming about her… and barely remembering his last thought.

-=+=-

            Hanajima was busily looking out her window.  She was accustomed to staying up late, watching the wonderful sky and its oddities.  Tonight the sky had been unusually grey, but finally it was clearing up.  As soon as the clouds parted from the moon, she noticed that there was a slight tinge in the dazzling white of the orb…and tinge of

            Blue.  And the last time there was a blue moon, something strange happened to Tohru-chan, Kyou-kun and Yuki-kun…I just know something else will happen tonight.  But I find myself asking the same question…what?  What will happen in this night cursed with the sapphire moon?

-=+=-

            At the Sohma clan houses, two babies were born, within mere seconds of one another.  Each of their cries were heard throughout the house, a sign of healthy new life.  But these births had been two months premature, and two equally painful wails accompanied their cries.

-=+=-

Scribbler's ramblings: Yay!  End of chapter…hopefully you enjoyed this one (because it's the one I actually enjoyed writing)!

I know that the memories in Yuki's mind are kind of messed, but I don't really remember what exactly happened…seeing that I've only seen those select episodes once…and the subtitles were screwy…and although this does seem to be one really elaborate "excuse", it isn't.

So yea…I'll write the next chapter in a bit…if I don't go crazy with school…and certain friends.  And gomenasai about the fluff, I cannot write fluff.  At all.  Just because I am the chocolate in the Neopolitan ice cream.  I am the ryu and yagi…so there :P

Please review constructively, otherwise I'll have to send mutant pillows upon thee (their main attack?  Feather shooters! …ka-FLUFF!).

Read my friends' stories please, because I enjoyed reading them.  There's Autumn's Farewell and The Matrix by kcarrie [user id: 382952].  Both are parodies of a Korean show and The Matrix (respectively) with a Fruits Basket twist!

There's also Case Wide Open and Missing Love by BaKaBaBi [user id: 383491].  Both are hilariously funny and quirky stories involving Akito's death mystery and the Furuba characters' eccentric love lives!  Go read and review!