Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or any of it's characters.
Warnings: Shounen-ai/Yaoi implications (or perhaps blatant), dark/angst, language, and possible gore.
Pairings: Read and find out
Summary: He's their best friend and, yet, he's their worst enemy. He hides behind his joker's mask and pretends he cares, but he doesn't. What does he want and can they stop him before he destroys them all?
Harakiri: -growls- Well, you can thank my friend, Ashes of Death, for this. Never tell me about Shigure being evil and scary right after I read a vampire story, dammit!
Random Evil Chibi: Aw, but it's a good idea!
Harakiri: I'll agree with that, but I need to work on "The Ties That Bind"! sighs Such is my life. Well, don't expect happy fluff from this, folks. I doubt there'll be romance…
R.E.C.: Pffft! Sure…
Harakiri: -glare- But if there is any it'll probably be chock-full of angst. Anyways, enjoy minna-san!
R.E.C.: And NO FLAMING! If you don't read the warnings it's not Harakiri's fault, so DON'T COMPLAIN!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Eternity is Forever Prologue-Their Story
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For as long as they had known their family had always thirsted for blood. There were no records of their family ever yearning for sustenance that did not involve murder. It seemed that their family had been that way since the beginning of time and they accepted it. But they were also special in another way…
Almost three hundred years ago, a monk placed a curse upon their family after he found his daughter murdered by one of them. Fourteen members were selected to house the spirits of the animals of the zodiac with one to bear the brunt of the curse. At first it seemed nothing was amiss, but soon they found out exactly what their curse did. It didn't seem to bother them too much, tho. Turning into an animal when being hugged by someone of the opposite sex wasn't so bad. It's not like they were a hugging type of family anyways. Unfortunately, the one to suffer the brunt of the curse was their leader, the head of their family.
It wasn't that bad at first. The only thing that affected him were a few waves of dizziness here, loss of balance there, but soon he began to lose his mind. He would lock himself in his room for days on end claiming that if he left "they" would come for him. Soon the madness took it's toll and he took his own life. The loss of their leader put them in an uproar, but soon they calmed when they learned of his heir.
Soon they forgot about their old leader and began teaching the child their ways. Unfortunately the child began the experience the same things as his father. It was then that they began to learn of the curse's true nature, but they never fully understood until the one housing the spirit of the sheep was killed and the next child that was born changed when hugged by another of the opposite sex.
Those who did not carry the curse began to panic and fear they too would become cursed so, to ease their minds, the cursed ones moved into the inner part of the family complex. Many years came and went without a word from the inner complex, but soon they began to emerge and mingle amongst the others once more…all but their leader. Those who were not cursed began to despair as they learned of their leader's plight and soon became filled with the desire for revenge. Unfortunately the old monk who had cursed them died, but there was one other…
Blinded by their rage they blamed the one housing the spirit of the cat for their misfortune. Rumors had spread that it was he who killed the monk's daughter, thus causing him to place the curse upon their family. He denied it, saying that it was the one who housed the spirit of the rat who killed the girl, but they would not hear of it. The cat was marked as a traitor and killed for a crime he did not commit and the next one born as the cat was shunned by the others.
So the years passed by; cursed ones were killed and replaced and their leaders all succumbed to madness, but the family still lived. Even today, the Sohma family still lives; in their family complex, with their traditions, hidden from the world. But how long will they continue to exist…? After all, eternity is forever and who could live as they do…forever?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Short and extremely crappy, but it's a prologue so I can get away with it. XP Intrigued? If so leave me some reviews, 'kay? I'd really appreciate it. Oh and if you're in the mood for dark and mysterious why don't you go check out Ashes of Death's "Deadly Dreams"? Especially if you're a Haru fan. Well, 'til next chapter, minna!