A/N:( blows kisses to all reviewers )Sorry, it was either artificial kisses or burnt smores. Don't hate me cause I can't cook....Anyway, new chapter!! I've been neglecting my stories lately, especially this one. Also, a little inside info....by any means, the curse is so not over with!! There was no mushy confession....yet. Just raw attraction....kinda.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket.
Easily Amused: A Fine Line Between Bravery and Stupidity
"I know she's in here!! You expect me to believe that she ran away in a country she had never visited and DIDN'T come here!? Don't make me laugh! Where is she?! Dusty Lynn LaFayette!! Get out here NOW!!" Ugh. Mom? No, i'm in Japan. Why is Dusty yelling like that? I scanned the sheets with my bare legs. These weren't mine or the hotel's. And I was sore; intensely sore. There was a slight movement on my waist and my mind began to send polaroids to my body, creating a slide show fit for Howard Stern's approval. I moved a bit underneath the giant hand, trying my best to keep the quiet so that Becky wouldn't barge in on my naked body. Sure, I was covered. But there was someone in here with me. Just as naked as the day the good Lord brought him into this life. I turned around, focusing on the boyish good looks of the man who had bed me. Oh no. No no no no no no. As soon as the morning light hit his face I let out the loudest scream I could manage, completing the horror by falling off the bed in an avalanche of cotton sheets. The door slid open and I could just imagine the display of shock Becky was mustering up.
"Dusty?!" I wrapped the sheet around me, thankful that Shigure had more than one to cover up his own form. It was a sea foam green, not really my color, but could work efficiently for a toga party. Ooh! Mental post-it to myself: Have a toga party when I get back home. Wait, Becky....must explain.
"Becky....What're you doing up this early?" I hopped over the mattress, barely grazing the still sleeping Shigure, just as Becky rested her hands on her hips.
"I should be asking you the same thing..." Man she resembled my mother when she was mad! And I didn't even sneak out past curfew this time. Of course it didn't help that I was covered in nothing but a sheet and in a bed with an equally naked man. Yuki was quickly by Becky's side. He was the one who had tried to stop her, i'm guessing.
"It's funny you should mention that....it's a great story...really..." I was getting nowhere with this. I should might as well lie and say that we were abducted by aliens.
"Son of preacher man! What happened to you, Dusty?!" Ah, maybe I had a chance out of this one after all. I wasn't worried or nothing. My mother had put me on birth control since I grew out of a training bra. But it's a little weird when you're best friend walks in on a very big accident. She began checking out every wound I had sprouted the night before. Damn, I was hoping to forget my incident with Akito had never happened. "Did he do this?" She pointed to Shigure's still frame. Oh no, Becky, he did SO much more....gah! Stop that, Dusty!! This is NO time to be acting like a giddy preteen swooning over some incredibly cute guy.
"No! Heaven's no! Becky be rational for a moment."
"Rational?! You want me to be rational?! You were a virgin yesterday!!" Ouch. She had a point there though. I WAS a virgin twenty fours hours ago. There was a long moan and both of us glanced down at Shigure.
"Yukiiiii turn the sun down and turn off the television. I don't feel like a drama movie this early in the morning..."
"Drama?!", Both me and Becky yelled. He came back to reality and sat up straight in bed, suddenly putting all the puzzle pieces together.
"Becky, it's no big deal. Really. I'm fine." Her long raven hair floated about her in a wild manner. I said something wrong.
"Dammit Dusty!!" Yep, REALLY wrong. "You slept with him!!" Something in me snapped. I was tired of all the damn interrogations. I'm not some three year old that everyone has to babysit! I know that this whole sex thing was a mistake! I know i'm in a country i've never visited! I know that i've haven't even known this damn family for a week and yet they've become a huge piece of me! I know this!
"Yes! I did! So what?! It's my damn life, Becky! Butt out!! It's none of your business who I sleep with or what my reasons are!!" Her face became paler than usual and I automatically regretted what I had said. Becky was just looking out for me and I had just told her to butt out. Big slap in the face in the friendship dictionary.
"You're absolutely right...See you back at the hotel." I watched my best friend leave out of the room, Yuki slowly sliding the door shut behind her. A famous person, obviously not me, once said that there is a fine line between stupidity and bravery. Well, I crossed that line. But i'd rather take stupidity any day of the week. It was so much more funnier that way. And everyone needs to laugh. It's the way to find true love. Or so i've seen on cable. I sat back on the bed, running my hands through my oddly lengthy hair. There was a light brush on my shoulder and I remembered that I wasn't alone. I was pressed against his body for comfort in a tight hug. Was this what they called love? I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed, only to be blinded by smoke and and covered in fur. No, no it wasn't love.
"Nooooo....," I whined. And i'm not much of a whiner. But hey, mistakes were made and now I was paying for them. I rolled over to the other side of the bed, grabbing my clothes and quickly getting dressed. He was back to normal just as I was tossing my hair into a less than neat bun. "This was a mistake....a big, big mistake." I threw the sheet I had previously been wearing at his naked physique.
"What? But I didn't turn into a dog last night. Unless...that is...you'd prefer it if I were a dog."
"What? No! I don't know why you didn't turn last night. But you were drunk and I was....well I wasn't...but still.." His tied the ends of the sheet together and pushed his way next to me.
"Wait a second, you were sober the whole time?" Now I felt bad. It started out as a way to see another side of the man, but I hadn't expected to get laid that night.
"Kinda. I mean, I had a few drinks, but I spit the rest of them out." He was shocked. Hell, I would be too if a woman took advantage of me. But he had been a jerk the days before last night and he deserved it.....right? "I don't maybe because you let your walls down or something. But it was a mistake, so no worries." I smiled and began the long limp home. He grabbed my arm right before I made it to the door. Part of me was satisfied that I had clawed Akito and scored in the same night. The other part felt bad for using Shigure like I had. And the rest, well the rest just hurt. I didn't think my first time could be so painful.
"Wait. I didn't protect you. Is that why you're leaving?" He was dead serious too. I hadn't given the idea any thought until then. Sabrina's man hadn't helped her out either and she placed a curse on the household. He was SO lucky I was out of my finding other religions stage. And that I didn't have a voodoo priestess around. THEN he'd be sorry. Double cursed. How'd you like that hot shot?
"No, Shigure. I'm leaving because you don't care." I was slowly gaining more courage than I needed. Fine line, people, very fine line. "I am head over heels for you and you stick up for the guy who almost killed me without even blinking. To you, i'm just a good time, right?" He said nothing. Way wrong answer!! "I got it. Crystal clear. You don't care about me. I understand that now. You don't care about anything do you? You thought that maybe I could break the curse somehow? I probably could've....who knows. And just FYI : I'll have much better lays in America..." What? I'm a woman now. It's practically the law to throw in a stinging comment after the end of something like that. I could've been angry at the fact that he didn't rush to my aid, fists flying and wisking me off my feet. But then again, he DID stop Akito from nearly bringing an early death on. But I was wanting the fists flying scenario.
I walked into the hotel room, half expecting the silence that I was received with. And there was Becky, neatly folding her clothing and setting them in her suitcase. I plopped on the bed, debating whether I should start a casual conversation and gradually go into our previous argument or just head straight into the problem with angers blaring and nails unsheathed.
"You better start packing. Our flight leaves pretty early in the morning." Okay, well thank you Becky. You chose for me. We go with casual conversation then. I was hoping to get the griping over with so I could sleep the rest of summer vacation away. Wait, in the morning?! I rushed back to the outside world, which more than likely angered Becky on a whole new level that I wasn't aware it existed.
I knocked on the door repeatedly, wishing out loud that Yuki would answer and not Shigure. It would be kinda akward after sleeping with him and then saying i'd have better lays in the future. Maybe I had a guardian angel like John Travolta in 'Micheal'. If that were the case, I would've slept with the angel instead of Shigure.
"Dusty?" Dammit. It was Shigure. I looked up towards the sky, physically restraining myself from flipping off the heavens. Me and that angel were going to have a nice little chat when I got back home. Home. That's what I was here for.
"I'm leaving in the morning. I came to say goodbye to everyone." From the corner of my eye, I could see Yuki peek out from the corner of the hallway. This was going to hurt in a few minutes.
"Well then goodbye." Ouch. This was going to hurt right now. Tears began to poke their ugly little heads out and threatened to shed. He went to close the door when I suddenly panicked and stuck my foot in to stop it. Thank you 'Law and Order' detectives for teaching me that small number.
"That's it?" No friggin way! I wasn't leaving to another country without some romantic confession or with him period. I came way too far for that.
"You were expecting a warmer goodbye after our tiny confrontation?" Good point. But yes, yes I was. Call me selfish but, okay don't call me selfish. I'm sensitive when it comes to referring me to Ebenezer Scrooge. I mean, let's face it. I'm FAR from being a greedy, stingy old man who let the love of his life walk out on him. I am a giving,caring young woman who is ABOUT to let the love of her life walk out on her. Big difference, kids.
"It was out of anger!! Geez! Besides, I don't see you begging for forgiveness." That felt good. Too good. It was enough to get Martha Stewart off. I shudder to think of such possibilities. I watched Shigure cross his arms over his chest and pout. Wow, Meredith couldn't even pull off a stubborn pout like that.
"I see. Fine." That was it. I could feel the sake burn through me from last night and balled my fists up. I wasn't going to hit the guy. But it sure would've felt good.
"FINE!!" Mental post it: next time I get the urge to k.o. someone, I better act upon it. I stormed off the Sohma territory, ready to sock a male within a twenty mile radius. As I left, I could Yuki plea desperately for Shigure to follow me. I wanted the writer to listen for once. Because in truth, I wanted that dramatic ending that starts out with a heated arguement and ends in a waterfall of kisses and heartfelt confessions. I received neither.
The plane ride home wasn't much better either. I was placed next to Kimmi who not only snored like there was a donkey stuck in her throat, but also felt that it was necessary to comment on every single scene in the movie the plane was showing. Becky refused to talk to me and Frankie thought it safer to ride next to her rather than an angry female who had just lost her virginity and was sporting several injuries.
"Look at the costumes they chose for this movie. They're horrible." My mother always taught me to avoid confrontations at any costs. In fact, she made me memorize a little poem to calm my nerves - Three, two, one, one, two, three. What the hell is bothering me? (A/N : Special thanks to the writers of 'Family Matters for that one!!)
"It's 'Les Miserables' Kimmi. It's set during the French Revolution. The attire is perfectly fine for depicting the novel." I felt a little better showing off my knowledge of Liam Neeson's film choice and the French Revolution. Who knew I actually paid attention in class?
"Ugh. They're horrid." Three, two...aw screw it.
"Kimmi! It's the proper costume for that time period! Now shut your mouth and just watch the damn film!!" She simply smiled nervously and sat back in her chair. Jesus H. Christ! Did this girl ever get angry?! It was then that I noticed the guy in the next row chasing Frankie's form every time she got up with his eyes. I leaned over my arm rest, whispering so that my friend wouldn't beat me to a bloody pulp later.
"Go talk to her. She's really cool with strangers. Her name's Frankie." He flashed a smile and I hastily covered my face with the nearest magazine, keeping a watchful eye on my handiwork. Within the hour, Frankie was moving over to the empty seat next to him. That was my cue to take my chance to talk to Becky. I plopped my rear on the cushion, ditching the magazine that did so much more than inform me of the latest political scandal.
"Go away." Becky's tone was threatening, a predatoral warning to the female that had betrayed the pack. But I was going back with my tail between my legs. Ugh! This is no time to bring up dogs!!
"Would you just hear me out, Beck?"
"Thirty seconds." Wow, she must've cooled off since we last spoke. The last time I had tried making up with her, she only gave me twenty seconds.
"I didn't mean what I said. I don't want you to butt out of my life. I mean, you're my best friend. It's kinda hard to keep you out of it." She tried her best to keep the tough bitchy attitude up, but failed miserably. She smiled brightly and I thought I could see tears in the dim light.
"Really?"
"Well duh." She hugged me quickly. Becky was never one to openly show emotions.
"I'm so glad you found someone though, Dusty. He's cute, smart, funny and he seems to really be into you." I sunk down in the chair.
"Yeah. About that. I ruined any chances of a relationship." I don't remeber the words Becky said. I could feel the giant WHAP of a magazine grazing the top of my head.
"Dusty!!" I felt bad. Not because Becky has always rode my ass, complaining that I need to find someone and the moment a potential someone comes along, I let my temper het the best of me. But I also felt bad at the fact that I wanted Shigure to be that someone. Really bad.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket.
Easily Amused: A Fine Line Between Bravery and Stupidity
"I know she's in here!! You expect me to believe that she ran away in a country she had never visited and DIDN'T come here!? Don't make me laugh! Where is she?! Dusty Lynn LaFayette!! Get out here NOW!!" Ugh. Mom? No, i'm in Japan. Why is Dusty yelling like that? I scanned the sheets with my bare legs. These weren't mine or the hotel's. And I was sore; intensely sore. There was a slight movement on my waist and my mind began to send polaroids to my body, creating a slide show fit for Howard Stern's approval. I moved a bit underneath the giant hand, trying my best to keep the quiet so that Becky wouldn't barge in on my naked body. Sure, I was covered. But there was someone in here with me. Just as naked as the day the good Lord brought him into this life. I turned around, focusing on the boyish good looks of the man who had bed me. Oh no. No no no no no no. As soon as the morning light hit his face I let out the loudest scream I could manage, completing the horror by falling off the bed in an avalanche of cotton sheets. The door slid open and I could just imagine the display of shock Becky was mustering up.
"Dusty?!" I wrapped the sheet around me, thankful that Shigure had more than one to cover up his own form. It was a sea foam green, not really my color, but could work efficiently for a toga party. Ooh! Mental post-it to myself: Have a toga party when I get back home. Wait, Becky....must explain.
"Becky....What're you doing up this early?" I hopped over the mattress, barely grazing the still sleeping Shigure, just as Becky rested her hands on her hips.
"I should be asking you the same thing..." Man she resembled my mother when she was mad! And I didn't even sneak out past curfew this time. Of course it didn't help that I was covered in nothing but a sheet and in a bed with an equally naked man. Yuki was quickly by Becky's side. He was the one who had tried to stop her, i'm guessing.
"It's funny you should mention that....it's a great story...really..." I was getting nowhere with this. I should might as well lie and say that we were abducted by aliens.
"Son of preacher man! What happened to you, Dusty?!" Ah, maybe I had a chance out of this one after all. I wasn't worried or nothing. My mother had put me on birth control since I grew out of a training bra. But it's a little weird when you're best friend walks in on a very big accident. She began checking out every wound I had sprouted the night before. Damn, I was hoping to forget my incident with Akito had never happened. "Did he do this?" She pointed to Shigure's still frame. Oh no, Becky, he did SO much more....gah! Stop that, Dusty!! This is NO time to be acting like a giddy preteen swooning over some incredibly cute guy.
"No! Heaven's no! Becky be rational for a moment."
"Rational?! You want me to be rational?! You were a virgin yesterday!!" Ouch. She had a point there though. I WAS a virgin twenty fours hours ago. There was a long moan and both of us glanced down at Shigure.
"Yukiiiii turn the sun down and turn off the television. I don't feel like a drama movie this early in the morning..."
"Drama?!", Both me and Becky yelled. He came back to reality and sat up straight in bed, suddenly putting all the puzzle pieces together.
"Becky, it's no big deal. Really. I'm fine." Her long raven hair floated about her in a wild manner. I said something wrong.
"Dammit Dusty!!" Yep, REALLY wrong. "You slept with him!!" Something in me snapped. I was tired of all the damn interrogations. I'm not some three year old that everyone has to babysit! I know that this whole sex thing was a mistake! I know i'm in a country i've never visited! I know that i've haven't even known this damn family for a week and yet they've become a huge piece of me! I know this!
"Yes! I did! So what?! It's my damn life, Becky! Butt out!! It's none of your business who I sleep with or what my reasons are!!" Her face became paler than usual and I automatically regretted what I had said. Becky was just looking out for me and I had just told her to butt out. Big slap in the face in the friendship dictionary.
"You're absolutely right...See you back at the hotel." I watched my best friend leave out of the room, Yuki slowly sliding the door shut behind her. A famous person, obviously not me, once said that there is a fine line between stupidity and bravery. Well, I crossed that line. But i'd rather take stupidity any day of the week. It was so much more funnier that way. And everyone needs to laugh. It's the way to find true love. Or so i've seen on cable. I sat back on the bed, running my hands through my oddly lengthy hair. There was a light brush on my shoulder and I remembered that I wasn't alone. I was pressed against his body for comfort in a tight hug. Was this what they called love? I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed, only to be blinded by smoke and and covered in fur. No, no it wasn't love.
"Nooooo....," I whined. And i'm not much of a whiner. But hey, mistakes were made and now I was paying for them. I rolled over to the other side of the bed, grabbing my clothes and quickly getting dressed. He was back to normal just as I was tossing my hair into a less than neat bun. "This was a mistake....a big, big mistake." I threw the sheet I had previously been wearing at his naked physique.
"What? But I didn't turn into a dog last night. Unless...that is...you'd prefer it if I were a dog."
"What? No! I don't know why you didn't turn last night. But you were drunk and I was....well I wasn't...but still.." His tied the ends of the sheet together and pushed his way next to me.
"Wait a second, you were sober the whole time?" Now I felt bad. It started out as a way to see another side of the man, but I hadn't expected to get laid that night.
"Kinda. I mean, I had a few drinks, but I spit the rest of them out." He was shocked. Hell, I would be too if a woman took advantage of me. But he had been a jerk the days before last night and he deserved it.....right? "I don't maybe because you let your walls down or something. But it was a mistake, so no worries." I smiled and began the long limp home. He grabbed my arm right before I made it to the door. Part of me was satisfied that I had clawed Akito and scored in the same night. The other part felt bad for using Shigure like I had. And the rest, well the rest just hurt. I didn't think my first time could be so painful.
"Wait. I didn't protect you. Is that why you're leaving?" He was dead serious too. I hadn't given the idea any thought until then. Sabrina's man hadn't helped her out either and she placed a curse on the household. He was SO lucky I was out of my finding other religions stage. And that I didn't have a voodoo priestess around. THEN he'd be sorry. Double cursed. How'd you like that hot shot?
"No, Shigure. I'm leaving because you don't care." I was slowly gaining more courage than I needed. Fine line, people, very fine line. "I am head over heels for you and you stick up for the guy who almost killed me without even blinking. To you, i'm just a good time, right?" He said nothing. Way wrong answer!! "I got it. Crystal clear. You don't care about me. I understand that now. You don't care about anything do you? You thought that maybe I could break the curse somehow? I probably could've....who knows. And just FYI : I'll have much better lays in America..." What? I'm a woman now. It's practically the law to throw in a stinging comment after the end of something like that. I could've been angry at the fact that he didn't rush to my aid, fists flying and wisking me off my feet. But then again, he DID stop Akito from nearly bringing an early death on. But I was wanting the fists flying scenario.
I walked into the hotel room, half expecting the silence that I was received with. And there was Becky, neatly folding her clothing and setting them in her suitcase. I plopped on the bed, debating whether I should start a casual conversation and gradually go into our previous argument or just head straight into the problem with angers blaring and nails unsheathed.
"You better start packing. Our flight leaves pretty early in the morning." Okay, well thank you Becky. You chose for me. We go with casual conversation then. I was hoping to get the griping over with so I could sleep the rest of summer vacation away. Wait, in the morning?! I rushed back to the outside world, which more than likely angered Becky on a whole new level that I wasn't aware it existed.
I knocked on the door repeatedly, wishing out loud that Yuki would answer and not Shigure. It would be kinda akward after sleeping with him and then saying i'd have better lays in the future. Maybe I had a guardian angel like John Travolta in 'Micheal'. If that were the case, I would've slept with the angel instead of Shigure.
"Dusty?" Dammit. It was Shigure. I looked up towards the sky, physically restraining myself from flipping off the heavens. Me and that angel were going to have a nice little chat when I got back home. Home. That's what I was here for.
"I'm leaving in the morning. I came to say goodbye to everyone." From the corner of my eye, I could see Yuki peek out from the corner of the hallway. This was going to hurt in a few minutes.
"Well then goodbye." Ouch. This was going to hurt right now. Tears began to poke their ugly little heads out and threatened to shed. He went to close the door when I suddenly panicked and stuck my foot in to stop it. Thank you 'Law and Order' detectives for teaching me that small number.
"That's it?" No friggin way! I wasn't leaving to another country without some romantic confession or with him period. I came way too far for that.
"You were expecting a warmer goodbye after our tiny confrontation?" Good point. But yes, yes I was. Call me selfish but, okay don't call me selfish. I'm sensitive when it comes to referring me to Ebenezer Scrooge. I mean, let's face it. I'm FAR from being a greedy, stingy old man who let the love of his life walk out on him. I am a giving,caring young woman who is ABOUT to let the love of her life walk out on her. Big difference, kids.
"It was out of anger!! Geez! Besides, I don't see you begging for forgiveness." That felt good. Too good. It was enough to get Martha Stewart off. I shudder to think of such possibilities. I watched Shigure cross his arms over his chest and pout. Wow, Meredith couldn't even pull off a stubborn pout like that.
"I see. Fine." That was it. I could feel the sake burn through me from last night and balled my fists up. I wasn't going to hit the guy. But it sure would've felt good.
"FINE!!" Mental post it: next time I get the urge to k.o. someone, I better act upon it. I stormed off the Sohma territory, ready to sock a male within a twenty mile radius. As I left, I could Yuki plea desperately for Shigure to follow me. I wanted the writer to listen for once. Because in truth, I wanted that dramatic ending that starts out with a heated arguement and ends in a waterfall of kisses and heartfelt confessions. I received neither.
The plane ride home wasn't much better either. I was placed next to Kimmi who not only snored like there was a donkey stuck in her throat, but also felt that it was necessary to comment on every single scene in the movie the plane was showing. Becky refused to talk to me and Frankie thought it safer to ride next to her rather than an angry female who had just lost her virginity and was sporting several injuries.
"Look at the costumes they chose for this movie. They're horrible." My mother always taught me to avoid confrontations at any costs. In fact, she made me memorize a little poem to calm my nerves - Three, two, one, one, two, three. What the hell is bothering me? (A/N : Special thanks to the writers of 'Family Matters for that one!!)
"It's 'Les Miserables' Kimmi. It's set during the French Revolution. The attire is perfectly fine for depicting the novel." I felt a little better showing off my knowledge of Liam Neeson's film choice and the French Revolution. Who knew I actually paid attention in class?
"Ugh. They're horrid." Three, two...aw screw it.
"Kimmi! It's the proper costume for that time period! Now shut your mouth and just watch the damn film!!" She simply smiled nervously and sat back in her chair. Jesus H. Christ! Did this girl ever get angry?! It was then that I noticed the guy in the next row chasing Frankie's form every time she got up with his eyes. I leaned over my arm rest, whispering so that my friend wouldn't beat me to a bloody pulp later.
"Go talk to her. She's really cool with strangers. Her name's Frankie." He flashed a smile and I hastily covered my face with the nearest magazine, keeping a watchful eye on my handiwork. Within the hour, Frankie was moving over to the empty seat next to him. That was my cue to take my chance to talk to Becky. I plopped my rear on the cushion, ditching the magazine that did so much more than inform me of the latest political scandal.
"Go away." Becky's tone was threatening, a predatoral warning to the female that had betrayed the pack. But I was going back with my tail between my legs. Ugh! This is no time to bring up dogs!!
"Would you just hear me out, Beck?"
"Thirty seconds." Wow, she must've cooled off since we last spoke. The last time I had tried making up with her, she only gave me twenty seconds.
"I didn't mean what I said. I don't want you to butt out of my life. I mean, you're my best friend. It's kinda hard to keep you out of it." She tried her best to keep the tough bitchy attitude up, but failed miserably. She smiled brightly and I thought I could see tears in the dim light.
"Really?"
"Well duh." She hugged me quickly. Becky was never one to openly show emotions.
"I'm so glad you found someone though, Dusty. He's cute, smart, funny and he seems to really be into you." I sunk down in the chair.
"Yeah. About that. I ruined any chances of a relationship." I don't remeber the words Becky said. I could feel the giant WHAP of a magazine grazing the top of my head.
"Dusty!!" I felt bad. Not because Becky has always rode my ass, complaining that I need to find someone and the moment a potential someone comes along, I let my temper het the best of me. But I also felt bad at the fact that I wanted Shigure to be that someone. Really bad.