Akito Sohma lounged on the porch overlooking one of the many gardens that were scattered about the Main House. This was Akito's favorite garden. It had a peaceful fountain that bubbled over smooth stones of different sizes. He could get lost in his own thoughts just watching the water flow. The garden was shaded by many trees that cast a green light when the sun filtered through the leaves. For Akito it was a heaven on earth. None of the other Sohmas were allowed in Akito's private garden. This was his, all his and he planned to keep it that way.
As Akito watched the branches sway in the soft summer breeze a ball flew over the stone wall that separated the garden from the street. The ball was bright red and landed with a soft thump in the grass. For a moment Akito didn't recognize that it was a ball. He was too lost in his own world for much else to register. When it finally clicked in Akito's mind what the thing was he scowled. It was like a red blemish on his perfect world.
"Ryan you go get it!" A voice said from the other side of the wall.
"Me? Why me? It's your family's house, not mine." Another voice echoed.
"Are you kidding me? It's creepy over there! Besides you're taller."
"Fine, can you two give me a boost up at least?" The second voice said warily.
"Ok, on the count of three. One…Two…"
It was at this moment a person was launched over to the top of the wall. She made a grab at it and pulled herself onto the top. "That wasn't a three you morons! Can you all even count?" Giggles erupted from the other side of the wall and the girl who was perched on top of the wall rolled her eyes. She tucked some of her brown hair behind her ear as she glanced around the garden. When her eyes landed on Akito she smiled sheepishly.
"Hi, umm sorry to disturb you but do you mind if I get that ball back?" She pointed at the red ball and Akito shrugged his shoulders. His dark eyes were fixated on her. She was different, she wasn't Japanese. Her skin was lighter and her eyes weren't tilted. Her brown hair fell to her shoulders and curled slightly. She smiled at Akito and hopped off the stone wall landing next to the ball. As she bent to pick it up Akito noticed that she was a small person. Everything about her seemed to be small. Her frame was small, her nose was small, even her breasts were small. Her eyes though, her eyes were big and blue.
"What's your name?" Akito asked suddenly, his silky voice surprising the girl.
"I'm Ryan Sanders," She answered as she slightly bowed to Akito. "What's yours?"
"Ryan," A voice whined from the other side of the wall. "Hurry up!"
"Shut up twerps!" Ryan shouted as she turned towards the wall. "I'm…busy!"
There was a moment of silence before another voice called out, "Busy? With what?"
"With…girl things!"
"Like what?"
"Arg! Here's your damn ball now shut up!" Ryan shouted as she tossed the ball over the stone wall. "Stupid kids," She muttered under her breath.
"I'm Akito. Come and sit with me," Akito said as he sat up. The girl shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans and walked over to where Akito was. She plopped down next to him on the porch and smiled.
"Akito huh? I think I've heard that name somewhere before," Ryan said as she absently twirled a piece of her hair around her index finger.
"I'm the head of the Sohma clan," Akito said bluntly.
"That's it!" Ryan exclaimed. "Oh wait, you're the scary one. Or that's what some people…call you…ummm." Ryan's face flushed and she ducked her head.
"The scary one?"
"Yeah," She looked up at Akito a small smile on her face. "But you don't seem all that scary to me, granted I just met you and all."
"Yes, you have just met me. I'm sure over time your option will change. I know people in my clan don't actually like me. But they have to love me." Akito's voice had become dark and flowed over Ryan like silk. She shivered a bit.
"Yeah, ok you are kind-a creepy," She muttered. "But why do they have to love you?"
"No reason that I should tell you."
"Fine, geeze I was just trying to make conversation but if you're gonna be an asshole screw it. I'd rather play with the tweebs than talk with you," Ryan said scowling. Disgust was dripping from her voice and she stood up. Akito grabbed her wrist before she could walk off. His grip was strong and cold. Ryan looked down at her wrist and then up at Akito.
"Stay."
"Only if you say you're sorry for being an asshole," Ryan said simply. She tried to pull her wrist out of Akito's grip but it didn't work. He pulled her back down next to him forcefully. She fell awkwardly onto the hard wood of the porch. "Lemme go that hurt!"
"No one talks to me like that." Akito's voice was deathly calm. "No one."
"Well I just did. And if you don't let me go I swear I'll hit you. And…and…I can punch hard too!" Ryan glared at Akito and then started laughing. "Wow, I just sounded like such a dweeb."
"I like you," Akito said suddenly.
"You've got a funny way of showing it," Ryan muttered.
"You don't treat me like I'm made of glass. You treat me like a person." Akito released Ryan's wrist and she rubbed it absentmindedly.
"Well you are a person aren't you? Oh god you're not some creepy Japanese ghost thing are you?" Ryan looked at Akito through critical eyes. Akito chuckled and Ryan smiled. "See real person," She said. "Even if you are an asshole." A grin covered her features and Akito discovered that she was very pretty when she smiled.
The door behind the two slid open scraping against the wooden frame. Ryan and Akito turned around to see a tall man standing in the doorframe. His ink black hair fell over his left eye and he didn't appear to be a person who smiled very much.
"Akito you need to come inside now," The man said evenly. He looked at Ryan and raised an eyebrow. "And who is this?"
"I'm Ryan, sir, Ryan Sanders," Ryan said as she jumped to her feet and slightly bowed.
"Well Akito need to come inside now. No need for him to over exert himself."
"Yes sir," Ryan said bowing again. "It was nice to meet you Akito." She grinned at him and he couldn't help but smile back.
"Come again tomorrow whenever you feel like it," Akito said as he stood up. He adjusted his robes and walked over next to the older man. "And bring a movie to watch."
"Oh, but wait…what's the magic word?" Ryan said her tone slightly scolding.
"Would you please come over tomorrow and bring a movie?" Akito said as he glared at Ryan.
"I'd love to! Thank you so much for inviting me!" She exclaimed. She then turned towards the walk and took a few steps before stopping. "Do you think I could use the door this time?"
AN: Well I hope you all like it. This is my first Fruits Basket fanfic so I hope it goes over well. Tell me what you think cause I feed on reviews…like any other writer does. So till next time! Oh yeah and I only own Ryan, the two voices, and the red ball…that I borrowed from my next-door neighbor. J