"Just Be Yourself..."
A Continuation of the Fruits Basket Anime
Chapter Three: Looming Shadows
Author's Note: Again, I don't own Fruits Basket. Sorry to all my reviewers that it took so long to update, but I did it didn't I? I'll be reading stories of those who ask, as well, so if you want me to, tell me now. I'll try and post a lot of chapters in the next few days
Tohru turned around in surprise and smiled warmly towards her Yankee friend, "Uo!" she exclaimed.
"Hey." Uo signaled with her hand, addressing Yuki.
"Good Morning, Miss Uotani." Yuki forced a smile on his face. "If you'll both excuse me, I have a student council meeting to attend. I think I'll be a bit late to class, as well, Miss Honda."
"Bye...Yuki." Tohru bid quietly, seeing that Yuki had already begun to walk away. She shook her head and turned her attention to Uo.
"Where's Hana?" Tohru began walking with the blonde down the hall, "I haven't seen her today."
"Heh, she's in detention. Those sneaky little fan club girls told on her for zapping one of the freshmen. No big deal, for Hana."
"I suppose so..." Tohru looked behind her shoulder as if expecting Yuki to be there. They didn't really get to talk about her memory being erased; it probably wasn't a big deal, really.
"Hey, space cadet, you feelin' alright?" Uo pressed a hand against Tohru's forehead, her voice hinting worry.
"Oh sorry, Uo, I just had a bad dream last night. I'll get over it in a little while."
"Really? Me too. I dreamt that those dumb Yuki Fan Club Girls got everyone in the school, including that old creepy teacher who teaches drama, Mrs. Kodawachi?, to join their stupid cause of 'protecting the prince'. Then they made all the houses in that gated area, you know the little neighborhood that no one ever goes in, except for Momiji, or course. Well anyway they turned the houses into these big temples with the Prince's face on them and Kyo came and..."
Tohru began to tune out of what Uo was saying as they continued to walk down the corridor. She was starting to worry about the Somas again.
(flashback, FYI)
"Shigure, what exactly is the Soma curse?"
"...all you need to do is be yourself..." the dog had replied.
"Be myself," Tohru held up a fist in determination, "that's right! I'll just be myself!"
Uo put a hand on Tohru's head and patted her lightly, "you're cute, you know that?"
Tohru looked up at Uo before pulling open the classroom door. She had a feeling all of a sudden. She needed to go and see Akito, today.
--------------------
"Kyo?" Tohru stepped up next to the boy's desk after classes, rocking back and forth on her feet, "don't wait for me outside, okay? I'm going to Hana's house after school today. Please tell Yuki, too."
Kyo put down the book he had been writing in and stared up at her, somewhat caught off guard. "Why you telling me?" his natural response came out, though Tohru thought he meant it in a nice way.
"Just so you knew." The brunette turned and walked out the building. She couldn't see Yuki or Haru, they would both most likely be able to figure out her destination. And Momiji would only stall her in his own silly way, so Kyo was her last resource.
Running down the street Tohru tried to recall the way to the Soma's Main House. She had been there a couple times with Shigure and Hatori, but she didn't go very often.
The pale boy's face flashed through her mind as she ran faster, Akito. Leader of the Soma Clan, and for a reason she wasn't sure of, center of the Soma curse.
Finally reaching the gates to the Soma house, Tohru stopped abruptly. What was she going to do? Just waltz in there? A servant, or maybe even Hatori or Momiji would catch her if she just walked in. She barely even knew where Akito's room was.
Sitting down against the outside of the gate she looked up at the trees handing over the fence. Main house was so big, of course somebody would catch her. What an idiot she was.
Just about ready to go home, Tohru jumped up in surprise as the heavy wooden gate scraped open behind her.
"Follow me." A deep familiar voice commanded from inside the walls.
"Hatori?" Tohru peered in through the gap. "Are you sure it's okay?"
The doctor only stared back at her for a moment before he continued to walk. His white uniform blew out from behind him, his long bangs be thrown about in the breeze.
"You're here to see Akito, correct?" Hatori stepped up onto the nearest porch and pulled open the door.
"H...H...How did you know?" Tohru took off her shoes and quickly stepped after him.
The seahorse smiled a little bit, not giving her a direct answer, "I can't say I approve of you meeting with him, but I think it's necessary, so I'll help you."
Tohru's eye widened with appreciation, "Thank you, Hatori." She quickened her pace so she could catch up with the Soma doctor.
The hallways of the Main House wove on and on. They were dark and unlighted, no pictures, no anything. Lone shadows shifted across the worn wood of the floors and ceilings-more like a haunted house then a residence for people.
A few of the many side room doors were open. Tohru thought she Hiro and Ritsu sitting together in one of them, but she wasn't sure. Every time she passed one of the open doors she slowed her pace just a little to look inside. Of course, there wasn't really much. A few pieces of furniture, but dark, like the rest of the house.
"Hatori, how much farth..." Tohru took a step back and looked around her. "Hatori?" she called, as loud as she dared, "where are you, Hatori?"
The doctor was nowhere to be seen, and Tohru was scared. The shadows about her seemed to grow taller, and every noise began to make her jump as she continued on in the direction Hatori had been leading her.
"Well, well. What do we have here? You must be the Soma savior I've heard so much about, Miss Tohru Honda."
"Just be yourself..."