"JUST BE YOURSELF..."
Chapter Two: A Cloud of Doubt
Author's Note: Just in case you couldn't figure it out, even though this IS fanfiction.net and you PROBABLY know I'm completely dumbfounded how to make up original plot lines, Fruits Basket doesn't belong to me. Arigatou (thank you) to all my Otaku! (Fans) By the way, there is mild swearing in this chapter, which I don't usually use, but Kyo is Kyo, ne? I'll be very proud of whoever figures out what Kyo is talking about during his outburst to Tohru, just a heads up...
Tohru snapped up from bed and felt her forehead with the palm of her hand. A trail of sweat trailed down her forehead.
What was that? A dream...? Tohru thought about getting out of bed and walking around the house to cool down, but then she decided against the idea. The girl didn't want to wake up the whole residence.
Tohru lowered her head slowly back onto her pillow and sighed. It probably was just a dream, but she had had it so many times...maybe she would talk to Yuki in the morning, that was, if the right opportunity came. ------------------------------------------------------
"Good morning, Kyo!" Tohru smiled at the cat as he walked into the kitchen, with his grumpy attitude, as usual.
"Good morning to you too, Yuki."
The Soma boys acknowledged her with a nod, but nothing more. They both remained unusually quiet, almost challenging each other with the quiet.
Tohru quickly returned to stirring her pot, Yuki and Kyo were having one of those days...she could tell.
"Do you know where Shigure is? "Tohru brought the pot over to the table and placed it in the center, trying to break the silence.
"I think he went to deliver something to his editor..." Yuki trailed off, it was hard not to feel sorry for that poor women, Mi-i.
"What's for breakfast?" Kyo kneeled on the opposing side of the table as Yuki. He glared at the rat for a moment, angry for the same old reasons. Then he turned his glance away and aimed it at the floor.
"Leek stew, but I made some fish too, we can have a combination of the two today. The brunette was grateful she had thought about Kyo's feelings towards leeks, who knows what would've happened if she hadn't prepared the fish... Tohru untied her apron and placed it on the floor beside her. The room was getting quiet and the tension made her feel uncomfortable.
"Everyone sleep well last night?" she questioned in a cheerful tone of voice.
"Okay, I guess." Yuki replied, "what about you, Miss Honda?"
Tohru thought back to her dreams and hesitated, "like a baby!" she smiled and began to serve the other two.
"What about you, Kyo?"
The orange haired boy looked at her from the corner of his eye without actually moving his head, "Fine." he answered.
"That's good to hear." Tohru sat down at the end of the table in between the two.
The walk to the local high school building wasn't terribly far from Shigure's house, but to Tohru, it seemed like an eternity. For one thing, Yuki and Kyo were walking in front of her, heads turned away from each other. Both the rat and the cat's eyes were narrowed in anger and their steps were big and slow. Tohru was just waiting for Kyo to say something that would set off a fight.
All of a sudden Yuki stopped and turned to Tohru, "Miss Honda?" he addressed her, "I need to go and buy some supplies for the student council meeting after school today, I have to take a turn here. Don't wait up for me, I'll be back soon enough." Yuki shot Kyo a look out of the corner of his eye and turned down the street.
"Bye...Yuki." Tohru tried to acknowledge him, but he had already gone too far ahead.
For the next few minutes Tohru continued to follow behind Kyo, who had quickened his pace. Things fell even more silent then before, if that was possible. At that moment Tohru remembered something she had told the Somas at the hot spring:
"I won't worry next time. I mean, it's not like I won't try to help you...I will, if I can..."
"Kyo?" Tohru walked up beside the cat and looked up at his face, she thought he hadn't heard her because he had sustained to looking at the ground. "Kyo? Is something bothering you?"
The orange-haired boy looked up in surprise, his eyes widening. She had caught him off guard; he still wasn't use to Tohru's deep care for others, including the cursed Soma family.
"It's nothing..." Kyo trailed off looking away from the girl.
Tohru's heart sank; the boy still wouldn't open up completely to her. "If something's bothering you, you can tell me. I'll keep it a secret if you want. Everyone needs a confidant every now and then." the brunette smiled up at the sky, thinking of her mother.
"Same old, same old..." Kyo's words slowly dragged out of his mouth.
Tohru's face increased with worry, "the zodiac curs..."
"Yeah! That 'zodiac curse'." he interrupted her with a raised voice, "it's just that, it's just that, I still can't stand the damn Yuki! He gets everything! He's the better martial artist, he does better in school, and he does better with..." Kyo looked at Tohru as a light blush ran across his face, "he just...does better. It's not fair! I've trained at almost everything longer than HE has. I mean, we were born around the same time, weren't we? So why wasn't I the rat? Why was I looked down upon my entire life when he wasn't? Everyone likes him more then me, it'll always be that way, even when I try to beat him...even when I try my hardest...he'll always win."
Tohru took a step back in shock, "oh, Kyo." the girl's words came naturally, it was known among the Somas that she had a natural talent in cheering people up. And the Somas had always needed cheering up, too.
"Kyo, how many times must you be told?" Tohru hoped she didn't sound to scolding, "You are special Kyo. Haven't you seen how much people care for you?"
The two had stopped walking as Kyo looked away from the girl.
"Why do you really think Kagura cares about you so much? Just to laugh at you later? No, Kyo, Kagura cares about you. Whenever we're together she talks about you all the time. And Shigure is housing you, and you're master cares for you, even you know that. Hatori and Momiji and Haru and Kisa and Hiro and everyone care about your happiness Kyo, even though sometimes they don't show it, they worry about you Kyo. They feel happy for you when you accomplish things, and they share your burdens, at times. I even think Uo worries about you, sometimes..."
Tohru took a step closer to Kyo, "I wasn't lying when I said I always loved the cat from the Chinese tales, Kyo. I care about you too, Kyo. So stop feeling sorry for yourself right now!" the girl took on an unusually stern voice as she grabbed the cat's hand and began pulling him down the street.
"Stop feeling sorry for yourself! A lot of people care about you and we're sad when you're depressed or angry! So stop!"
The boy's cheeks lit up with a bright red glow as Tohru dragged him along. For a moment or two he was speechless, Tohru was such a kind person. All the Somas thought so.
"Th...Th...Thanks Tohru." Kyo began to be less forced walking with the girl and started to just follow her lead.
The girl didn't say anything, but simply smiled back at him and continued on to school."
--------------------------------- "L—O—V—E, WE LOVE YUKI! YUKI! YUKI! L-L-L-L-L-L-LOVE! L-L-L-L-L-L-L-LOVE! YUKI!"
The Prince Yuki Fan club (PYF) finished their morning drills before exiting and dismissing the bidaily (Author's note: Bidaily isn't a word, I made it up. But it means twice a day) meeting.
Once the majority of the girls had left, the Vice President pointed out the window, "Yuki alert!" she called the rest of the remaining girls over."
"He looks sad..." Minami whined, "What's wrong?"
"I bet it's that Tohru Honda! She isn't with him! We know how much time he spends with her!" Number two called.
President Matoko and the other girls turned on Number Two; "there is NO way he cares about Honda!"
Yuki looked around, where were Kyo and Tohru. They were both running late today. He had only left for about five minutes, where were they?
"Yuki!" a high voice called the confused boy from down the hall.
"Momiji, Haru." he addressed the two Soma boys coming towards him.
"What's wrong, Yuki?" Haru asked.
"Something's wrong?!"
A familiar female voice approached as Yuki conversed with the rabbit and cow.
"There you are, Miss Honda. I was just wondering where you were."
Tohru smiled, "no need to worry! We're both here!"
Yuki leaned to look past the girl. "Speaking of which, where is that stupid cat?"
"Oh, he decided to go to class and finish his Rich man Poor man game with Uo and Hana. They started it yesterday, but it never finished."
Yuki nodded and said good-bye to Haru and Momiji as they disappeared together down the hallway.
"Yuki..." Tohru's stressed-sounding voice began as soon as they were alone.
"What is it Miss Honda? Is something wrong?" the rat asked in a worried tone. He turned his full attention to the girl.
"Well...remember, when you were little? And all those kids saw you transform...?"
Yuki nodded unsurely.
"Well, I had this dream last night, and..."
Yuki's violet eyes urged her on.
"When I first saw you transform, I'll admit it was a bit of a shock, but something seemed...familiar."
The rat wasn't catching on to Tohru's point.
"I think I was there when it happened. I think I've already had my memory erased once, I think I've already met you."
Chapter Two: A Cloud of Doubt
Author's Note: Just in case you couldn't figure it out, even though this IS fanfiction.net and you PROBABLY know I'm completely dumbfounded how to make up original plot lines, Fruits Basket doesn't belong to me. Arigatou (thank you) to all my Otaku! (Fans) By the way, there is mild swearing in this chapter, which I don't usually use, but Kyo is Kyo, ne? I'll be very proud of whoever figures out what Kyo is talking about during his outburst to Tohru, just a heads up...
Tohru snapped up from bed and felt her forehead with the palm of her hand. A trail of sweat trailed down her forehead.
What was that? A dream...? Tohru thought about getting out of bed and walking around the house to cool down, but then she decided against the idea. The girl didn't want to wake up the whole residence.
Tohru lowered her head slowly back onto her pillow and sighed. It probably was just a dream, but she had had it so many times...maybe she would talk to Yuki in the morning, that was, if the right opportunity came. ------------------------------------------------------
"Good morning, Kyo!" Tohru smiled at the cat as he walked into the kitchen, with his grumpy attitude, as usual.
"Good morning to you too, Yuki."
The Soma boys acknowledged her with a nod, but nothing more. They both remained unusually quiet, almost challenging each other with the quiet.
Tohru quickly returned to stirring her pot, Yuki and Kyo were having one of those days...she could tell.
"Do you know where Shigure is? "Tohru brought the pot over to the table and placed it in the center, trying to break the silence.
"I think he went to deliver something to his editor..." Yuki trailed off, it was hard not to feel sorry for that poor women, Mi-i.
"What's for breakfast?" Kyo kneeled on the opposing side of the table as Yuki. He glared at the rat for a moment, angry for the same old reasons. Then he turned his glance away and aimed it at the floor.
"Leek stew, but I made some fish too, we can have a combination of the two today. The brunette was grateful she had thought about Kyo's feelings towards leeks, who knows what would've happened if she hadn't prepared the fish... Tohru untied her apron and placed it on the floor beside her. The room was getting quiet and the tension made her feel uncomfortable.
"Everyone sleep well last night?" she questioned in a cheerful tone of voice.
"Okay, I guess." Yuki replied, "what about you, Miss Honda?"
Tohru thought back to her dreams and hesitated, "like a baby!" she smiled and began to serve the other two.
"What about you, Kyo?"
The orange haired boy looked at her from the corner of his eye without actually moving his head, "Fine." he answered.
"That's good to hear." Tohru sat down at the end of the table in between the two.
The walk to the local high school building wasn't terribly far from Shigure's house, but to Tohru, it seemed like an eternity. For one thing, Yuki and Kyo were walking in front of her, heads turned away from each other. Both the rat and the cat's eyes were narrowed in anger and their steps were big and slow. Tohru was just waiting for Kyo to say something that would set off a fight.
All of a sudden Yuki stopped and turned to Tohru, "Miss Honda?" he addressed her, "I need to go and buy some supplies for the student council meeting after school today, I have to take a turn here. Don't wait up for me, I'll be back soon enough." Yuki shot Kyo a look out of the corner of his eye and turned down the street.
"Bye...Yuki." Tohru tried to acknowledge him, but he had already gone too far ahead.
For the next few minutes Tohru continued to follow behind Kyo, who had quickened his pace. Things fell even more silent then before, if that was possible. At that moment Tohru remembered something she had told the Somas at the hot spring:
"I won't worry next time. I mean, it's not like I won't try to help you...I will, if I can..."
"Kyo?" Tohru walked up beside the cat and looked up at his face, she thought he hadn't heard her because he had sustained to looking at the ground. "Kyo? Is something bothering you?"
The orange-haired boy looked up in surprise, his eyes widening. She had caught him off guard; he still wasn't use to Tohru's deep care for others, including the cursed Soma family.
"It's nothing..." Kyo trailed off looking away from the girl.
Tohru's heart sank; the boy still wouldn't open up completely to her. "If something's bothering you, you can tell me. I'll keep it a secret if you want. Everyone needs a confidant every now and then." the brunette smiled up at the sky, thinking of her mother.
"Same old, same old..." Kyo's words slowly dragged out of his mouth.
Tohru's face increased with worry, "the zodiac curs..."
"Yeah! That 'zodiac curse'." he interrupted her with a raised voice, "it's just that, it's just that, I still can't stand the damn Yuki! He gets everything! He's the better martial artist, he does better in school, and he does better with..." Kyo looked at Tohru as a light blush ran across his face, "he just...does better. It's not fair! I've trained at almost everything longer than HE has. I mean, we were born around the same time, weren't we? So why wasn't I the rat? Why was I looked down upon my entire life when he wasn't? Everyone likes him more then me, it'll always be that way, even when I try to beat him...even when I try my hardest...he'll always win."
Tohru took a step back in shock, "oh, Kyo." the girl's words came naturally, it was known among the Somas that she had a natural talent in cheering people up. And the Somas had always needed cheering up, too.
"Kyo, how many times must you be told?" Tohru hoped she didn't sound to scolding, "You are special Kyo. Haven't you seen how much people care for you?"
The two had stopped walking as Kyo looked away from the girl.
"Why do you really think Kagura cares about you so much? Just to laugh at you later? No, Kyo, Kagura cares about you. Whenever we're together she talks about you all the time. And Shigure is housing you, and you're master cares for you, even you know that. Hatori and Momiji and Haru and Kisa and Hiro and everyone care about your happiness Kyo, even though sometimes they don't show it, they worry about you Kyo. They feel happy for you when you accomplish things, and they share your burdens, at times. I even think Uo worries about you, sometimes..."
Tohru took a step closer to Kyo, "I wasn't lying when I said I always loved the cat from the Chinese tales, Kyo. I care about you too, Kyo. So stop feeling sorry for yourself right now!" the girl took on an unusually stern voice as she grabbed the cat's hand and began pulling him down the street.
"Stop feeling sorry for yourself! A lot of people care about you and we're sad when you're depressed or angry! So stop!"
The boy's cheeks lit up with a bright red glow as Tohru dragged him along. For a moment or two he was speechless, Tohru was such a kind person. All the Somas thought so.
"Th...Th...Thanks Tohru." Kyo began to be less forced walking with the girl and started to just follow her lead.
The girl didn't say anything, but simply smiled back at him and continued on to school."
--------------------------------- "L—O—V—E, WE LOVE YUKI! YUKI! YUKI! L-L-L-L-L-L-LOVE! L-L-L-L-L-L-L-LOVE! YUKI!"
The Prince Yuki Fan club (PYF) finished their morning drills before exiting and dismissing the bidaily (Author's note: Bidaily isn't a word, I made it up. But it means twice a day) meeting.
Once the majority of the girls had left, the Vice President pointed out the window, "Yuki alert!" she called the rest of the remaining girls over."
"He looks sad..." Minami whined, "What's wrong?"
"I bet it's that Tohru Honda! She isn't with him! We know how much time he spends with her!" Number two called.
President Matoko and the other girls turned on Number Two; "there is NO way he cares about Honda!"
Yuki looked around, where were Kyo and Tohru. They were both running late today. He had only left for about five minutes, where were they?
"Yuki!" a high voice called the confused boy from down the hall.
"Momiji, Haru." he addressed the two Soma boys coming towards him.
"What's wrong, Yuki?" Haru asked.
"Something's wrong?!"
A familiar female voice approached as Yuki conversed with the rabbit and cow.
"There you are, Miss Honda. I was just wondering where you were."
Tohru smiled, "no need to worry! We're both here!"
Yuki leaned to look past the girl. "Speaking of which, where is that stupid cat?"
"Oh, he decided to go to class and finish his Rich man Poor man game with Uo and Hana. They started it yesterday, but it never finished."
Yuki nodded and said good-bye to Haru and Momiji as they disappeared together down the hallway.
"Yuki..." Tohru's stressed-sounding voice began as soon as they were alone.
"What is it Miss Honda? Is something wrong?" the rat asked in a worried tone. He turned his full attention to the girl.
"Well...remember, when you were little? And all those kids saw you transform...?"
Yuki nodded unsurely.
"Well, I had this dream last night, and..."
Yuki's violet eyes urged her on.
"When I first saw you transform, I'll admit it was a bit of a shock, but something seemed...familiar."
The rat wasn't catching on to Tohru's point.
"I think I was there when it happened. I think I've already had my memory erased once, I think I've already met you."