Hi all. I'm sorry it's taken so long to write this chapter but as most of my friends know I am a procrastinator. (Most definitely) -- This chapter was one of my favorites to write. I really got into it. Plus this chapter actually has to deal with more of the actual plot. SOOO.....I guess that's all I wanted to say. On with the fic.
Disclaimer: I do not own fruits basket, Natsuki Takaya does. But I do own Shade.
Chapter five Reclaiming memories
How did...how did I know that?
"It's just a coincidence," I murmured softly to reassure myself.
The sky had grown seemingly darker as if it were going to rain. But still the moon shined, luminescent in the stark sky. I smiled to myself and twirled my hair around my finger playfully. Tonight was the perfect night to walk home. But as soon as that thought entered my mind sheets of rain came pelting down upon me. Silently I cursed, this was just perfect. Wearily, I looked out upon the street. And as I was about to make my move to cross the street, something flickered beside me.
I looked down instinctively, scanning the area around me. The ground looked bare, wet, and inconspicuous. Still I knew my eyes weren't playing tricks on me, so I looked a little harder...a piece of cloth rippled in the wind. Its faded colors concealed in the brink of the storm. Curiously I inched closer wondering what was hidden under this thing. What I found was unnerving, an old woman curled under a blanket. That was all she had against the harsh wind and rain.
Her thin veined hand was raised and it beckoned me forward. The woman was dressed in rags. The clothes had been patched in so many places, that it was remarkable that any of the original fabric still existed. Her flowing white hair was pinned up at the back of her neck neatly with care. She looked up at me knowingly, her sea blue eyes slightly hinted with sadness.
As if I was pulled by an unseen force, I stepped closer. I couldn't control myself; I was entranced by her eyes. The old woman then reached inside her tattered pocket and pulled out something. It glinted in the soft moonlight, sparkling with magnificence. Almost compulsively I reached out and grasped it.
"Put it away quickly, no one must see it," she breathed out hoarsely. Hastily I shoved it into my pant pocket. The woman smiled intuitively and inclined her head to one side.
"Child," she croaked out, "what you seek for is in your pocket but what you need is in your mind."
What the hell is she talking about?
Nervously I tugged at my shirt, nearly ripping it.
Taking a deep breath the old woman began to talk again, "Remember my words Shade take them to heart and keep them guarded. Don't let anyone see what I gave you, one day your very life might depend on it."
And with that her eyes rolled back into her head, showing only the whites of her eyes. Then they fluttered closed...and she laid down.
This is like one of those old fairytales with a seer. Who is she... and I don't remember telling her my name! Hell, I didn't even talk to her!
Frantically I looked around, looking for somebody...anybody to tell me they saw that too. And to tell me I wasn't going completely crazy.
Why do I feel like someone is always watching me?
Sighing I made sure I had all my stuff, then I began to walk slowly towards my home.
Why of all days does it have to be this one? First going to Tohru's house and finding out about her secret then bumping into Akito at the bookstore. And now stupid crazy, fortune telling old ladies!
All of a sudden a honk broke me from my daze. I turned swiftly towards the noise and found my aunt's own eyes staring back at me.
Oh boy, I'm in trouble
Looking around I realized I hadn't walked very far from where I had talked to that woman. But when I looked for her form on the ground it was no longer there. I stared at the spot in horror.
We had just talked a few minutes ago. She couldn't have gone very far in this storm. Could she?
My aunt honked again and I turned to where she was waiting. Impatiently she waved at me to come. Groaning I ran over to her car and jumped in.
Why of all cars does she bring a convertible to pick me up in the rain?
She flashed a smile at me and began to drive. I knew we were going to talk when we got home so I stayed quiet. And let the raindrops cover me.
later that night...
Shade.....Shade
The voice called to her again
Images flashed before her eyes
Her childhood...her parent's death
Shade it whispered closing in
Remember.....
Noooooooooo!!!
I sat up shaking.
The dream... it was so real.
Sweat slide down my forehead, clouding my eyes slightly. I shook it off and jumped out of bed.
I remembered...the thing the old woman had given to me.
Hesitantly I walked down the stairs to the laundry room, my footfalls the only sound in the house. No one would be awake right now. It was four in the morning plus a Saturday.
Sliding the door open I made my way into the small confined room. Piles of clothes were everywhere and here and there were the remains of our track out of the rain. Silently I glided to my discarded pants; I remember putting it in my pocket. Bending over I picked my pants up off the ground and put them on the awaiting washing machine. I reached into the wet pocket and plucked the item out from its interior.
It was round and looked to be some sort of pendant linked to a chain. I traced my fingers over the many designs on the front. The pendant itself was made entirely of silver. Then I turned it over to reveal thirteen small symbols.
The twelve symbols of the zodiac?
I instantly recognized them even with all the years of wear.
Why were they here on the back of this?
The symbols formed a complete circle around one large symbol, which I could not make out. Curiously I touched this unknown symbol.
Suddenly a vision...A tall young man and woman holding hands appeared before my eyes.
"Akiko this....this is for you," the young man murmured. He held out what appeared to be the same pendant above her head and placed it around her neck.
"What is it?" the woman asked curiously, tilting her head back.
"It is the, "Heart of the fallen." It's been in our family for generations." he said while wrapping his arms around her. He buried his face in her long black hair that cascaded down her back.
She smiled and looked up into his eyes. "We'll be together forever right?" her voice filled with joy.
He grinned and cupped her face. "Forever."
I clutched the pendant closer... what had just happened? It was as if I had seen a flashback. Looking around while I had been there, I realized that this had happened a long time ago. All the furniture was out dated and all the china looked brand new even though it was made in the old style. Silently I stood there trying to figure out what had happened.
The woman...she looked familiar as if I'd seen her somewhere. But.....no that's crazy.
Thinking I had gone entirely delirious I headed back to my room.
"All I need is some more sleep," I murmured to myself.
The stairs creaked as I went up and nearly woke up our animals.
Now that would be bad.....our dogs tearing up the house while we are sleeping. I wish that was the least of my worries...
I sighed and opened my door.
It was going to be a long night....I mean morning or whatever.
As I stepped into my room, I set the pendant on the table next to my bed. I wouldn't want to lose it.
The next day...
Rays of sunlight filled the room spreading over my pale face. I felt like shit. I had laid there for hours just staring out the window concentrating on the frail horizon. The sky was bright with colors of pink and orange, filling my window with a warm feeling. I knew I needed to get up soon but with this site intent on keeping its mark... I lay there. The events of yesterday kept playing over and over in my head.
Shigure talking on the phone about looking for some guy, meeting Akito at the bookstore, and the old woman's warnings. I couldn't forget them it's as if someone was trying to tell me something. Maybe something I'd forgotten....something that happened in the past. I couldn't ....I just couldn't explain anything.
Sighing I swung myself up and out of bed. Then decisively I reached out with my hand and grabbed the pendant off my bedside table. It stared at me incessantly, glittering in the dawn of light. My room became shades of gray absorbing the light refracted off this pendant. Looking hard at it I wrapped my hand slowly around it.
What is so damn important about this? Is there some reason I need it?
"Don't let anyone see what I gave you, one day your very life might depend on it."
What did she mean?
"It is the, "Heart of the fallen." It's been in our family for generations."
"Shade! Are you up yet? Come eat breakfast!" a feminine voice called loudly from the staircase.
Without thinking I threw the necklace over my head and stuffed the pendant out of sight. I had to hurry up or she'd come up here. Tossing on my grey wrinkled robe I swiftly walked out of my room and closed the door. I crossed the hallway to the little staircase that led to the kitchen. As I crept down the stairs whiffs of food joined me, the smells of pancakes and sausage. Grinning to myself I hopped the last two remaining steps and landed in the kitchen. Four people occupied the table. I recognized all of them instantly, my aunt, her husband, and two of my distant cousins. (Miyoshi and Isako)
They smiled at me timidly, still very nervous about my presence even though I had been living here two years.
"Good morning, Ms. Arishima," Isako said softly, sweeping her hair off her shoulder. Her dark brown hair was lightly strewn with gray and her eyes were a deep shade of blue. She was always dressed in the traditional robes, never in jeans or dresses.
Miyoshi my other crazier distant cousin was totally and absolutely different. Though the twin of Isako she always adorned short skirts and faded jeans where ever she went. She said it was her right as a woman of the twentieth century to wear them or as I call it... trapeze in them. She can always make me laugh with her weird but accurate notions.
My aunt and her husband were surprisingly alike though their personalities couldn't be anymore different. She was always the optimistic one and he the biggest sadist of our family. With their light brown hair and hazel eyes they were almost always mistaken as twins.
I smiled in return to their polite greetings and walked quickly up to the table to take my seat. While still uneasy about me, they were very polite. Rummaging around on the table I managed to fill my plate at least a little. It seemed as if they had started eating quite a bit before I came down. But nevertheless the food was delicious even though I ate most of it alone. I often wondered why they ate before me but I never asked them personally. It didn't occur to me to that they hated me in anyway so I left the issue up in the air.
For ten minutes I sat there playing around with the pancakes that currently sat on my plate. My appetite had completely left me at the sound of them leaving.
"Remember to clean your dishes when your done!" my aunt yelled as she ran out the door. She was going to be late to work today.
Groaning I stood up and made my way to the trashcan, filling it up with the remains of our pointless meal. Then I crossed the kitchen to our large silver sink. My aunt had just got this put in last week and prided herself in having a sink so up to date. Curiously I peered down into the sink as if something magical or spectacular was going to happen.
If this sink is so "special" why didn't it clean the god damned dishes itself.
Sighing I set the rest of the dishes in the sink and turned on the water, holding my hand under the facet to find the right temperature. I don't like washing dishes but since I had to....I would.
I scrubbed for what seemed like hours but eventually I finished and all the dishes were set out to dry. Wiping the sweat off my brow I set off to get ready. After all...I was meeting Akito in a few hours.
little while later...
Silently I adjusted my new black trench coat that I had bought last week. It was going over the black shirt and pants I had decided to wear for this occasion. I had this weird sense of style. I love to wear black and anything dark. I mean anything... literally.
My long black hair was parted straight down and I had it draped over my shoulders. I never put it up or in a ponytail because...well I guess it was sort of a habit.
I tucked in the pendant once again under my shirt to keep it hidden. Some how I felt safe knowing it was right there than having it in a drawer in my room. Taking one quick look to make sure my eyeliner wasn't smudged around my jade green eyes; I stepped out of my room.
Finally I was ready especially after staring at my face for practically two hours. I set out for the little bookstore on what I liked to call "Main Street". In all actuality it was called "Ten Knights Avenue," but who cares anyway. Its not like I was going to get in trouble or anything plus that name had some truth to it. Ten Knights Avenue was one of the busiest streets in this forsaken little town.
"Tomorrow at 1 pm meet me here."
I couldn't stop thinking about him...I don't know why. I felt foolish feeling this way besides I barely knew the guy. And he was very rude to me the first time we met.
What made him change his mind?
Slapping the top of my head in attempt to rid myself of my stupidity I crossed the street to the little bookstore where we had first met.
"It is none of your business girl!"
I can still remember all the things he said to me. But with the impending meeting so close... I pushed back all the unpleasant memories of our acquaintance and stepped into the bookstore. He can't believe that I would actually wait outside for him in this heat, does he?
The cashier instantly recognized me and gave me a little wave as I made my way to the cushioned seats of the reading area. Books were piled everywhere; on tables, the floor, and chairs. Looking to my right I found what I was looking for... a cute little manga that I myself had just discovered only about a week ago. Already immersed in the detailed pictures and dialogue of this eccentric story, I plopped into a nearby chair, pushing the books underneath me onto the floor. No one ever bothered to clean this place up anyway. I sat there for hours this way...just reading.
When I had finished the book I realized that it was getting late.
Where is he?
Concern led to panic then anger, I was so pissed off. I couldn't believe he had stood me up.
The nerve! Who the hell does he think he is...
Impulsively I reached into my pocket for the small slip of paper he had given me.
(118) 441-1874
Then obsessively I repeated the number over in my mind, and lept up off the chair to the awaiting pay phone in the corner. Cursing all the way I grabbed the phone angrily and dialed the number. People nearby looked at me oddly probably wondering if I was crazy.
There is going to be hell to pay! I swear it... Akito you....you bastard!
The phone began to ring and silently I waited. I waited for someone...anyone to pick up the phone so I could give them a piece of my mind...but no answer came.
So making the most drastic decision I've ever made in my life, I dashed out of the bookstore.
4221 Pour Tojour...well Akito it seems as if you'll be seeing me after all.
Filled with cold and bitter sorrows
My soul today darkness borrows
You left me lonely then forgot
With my tears your life is bought
I tell my self that light has gone
So that now hopeless I can go on
Whispering curses before I die
Yelling with strength that is a lie
You call me a monster and you fear
With each passing day the end is near
I did not want to be this voice
It's not as if I had a choice
No one ever wanted me
Even now they do not see
They never gave me help or cared
They never asked me how I faired
Never asked me if I cared to die
Never knew alone I cry
Now it's too late my time is running out
I was given but one choice one route
One choice is no choice at all
Born to die I'll only fall
Because my only friend is fate
My existence is a wretched state
By: Serena Bunny
Note: This poem is on Serena Bunny's account but she did not write it one of her friend's did. Also I think everyone should give props plus reviews to her because this poem is damn good!
Three, two, one
One, two, three
What the hell is bothering me?
(Family matters)
I just loved this poem soo much that I had to re-quote it from Audrey Bogart's fb fic. It's hilarious; I think all of you should go take a peek at it. . I know, I know I should have been working on my fic but I needed to get some bogo off the brain! Get it, bogo off the brain! passing bystander turns and stares at the weirdo...then runs away Ne ways here are the review responses for my last chapter:
cindy17- Thanks and don't worry I have no intentions of not continuing this story. Oh and also thanks for telling me about the translation mistake.
inuyashagirl411- Thank you, I 'm glad you loved it!
Ookami Aya- Thanks for the review! Yes I fixed everything; I didn't want anything to be wrong with my fic. Also you'll have to wait for the last question...all will be revealed in later chapters. Hmmm...Shi-chan as an actual dog's name...I think that's soo cute! I want a dog named that! No fair!
IloveFrey- Yes I love those poems also, they are the best! Thanks for the review and I hoped you liked the ending poem by Serena Bunny's mystery friend!
evilducktape101- Thanks for the review! Lol I'm going to be reading that book this year too! Was it really that bad?
Oh and once again my thanks out to mickyX for editing! .