The Sohma Institute
By Lady of the Ink
Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket, but you knew that. I hope. I do own this story, and all the plot twists it contains.

Chapter Eight
Knowledge Gained


Something was going on at The Sohma Institute.

A night of reading and comparing had left Tohru with this one definite fact. At first, she had held tightly to her different editions idea, but that had soon been disproved. Right inside the front covers had been the same date, meaning they were from the same printing.

Things only got stranger from there. While the copy she had been given seemed like a strict, but otherwise normal type of rulebook, comparing it to the other brought some glaring differences to light.

In her copy, talking with people who worked on other floors was strictly forbidden. In the other one, talking to people outside the building about their work wasn't allowed, but there was no mention of restriction concerning those within. There were also whole sections that appeared in the new one that weren't in hers. Most of these concerned employee functions, and it made sense that hers would be different.

But when she got to the sections dealing directly with patients, she couldn't come up with any such logical reasons. Almost everything in those sections was different, from the amount of information the aides knew about each patient, to the contact with doctors and family members.

The thing that really made her uneasy, however, was the information that the other book held on the twelfth floor. Her floor. While the map of the building in her rulebook had the twelfth floor clearly marked as a limited private patient ward, the other listed it as housing a testing laboratory. It was coded as off limits to all but employees with the highest clearance. There was no mention of the four patients that she knew were there.

Tohru didn't think for an instant that this was something she was simply misunderstanding. The foreboding feeling that had hit her on her first visit was back, weighing heavily in the pit of her stomach. Something was going on inside those walls, and she was fairly certain it was something serious.

Why would someone go to such lengths to hide the existence of four people? Who was so intent on keeping the people who worked with those patients from talking to anyone else? Whoever it was had to consider keeping Yuki and the others secret a fairly important task if they were willing to go so far as to mislabel floors to keep people away from them.

Flipping back to the staff page of her binder, Tohru scanned the listings. Starting at the top, it gave the names and positions of the higher-ranking employees. As she read, something caught her eye.

Institute Administrator: Akito Sohma

. . . . . . . Executive Assistant: Kureno Sohma

Medical Staff Administrator: Hatori Sohma

. . . . . . . Executive Assistant: Kana Sohma

'Well,' she thought, 'that certainly explains their choice in naming the place. It's obviously a family kind of thing, if so many of the higher-ups are Sohmas. But does that have anything to do with the secret of the twelfth floor?'

Leaning forward until her forehead connected with the desk with a thud, she tried to collect her thoughts. She just had too many questions with not enough answers. In order to figure things out, she was going to have to get some more information. That meant keeping her eyes open and asking questions without raising suspicions. Easy, right?

It was just after noon, and Tohru was taking advantage of her lunchtime to start on the employee and patient notes Ms. Almont had sent along with her. Taking her lunch with her, she had found an empty bench outside and laid out her things. Setting down her lunch, she proceeded to eat with one hand while using the other on the files.

Spreading them out in a fan shape, she noticed one with a sticky note attached to the front. Picking it up, she could see "Read First" scrawled across the yellow surface. Shrugging, she flipped it open.

The first paper that it contained was a color-coded chart. Looking closer, she saw that it seemed to be a rating system on patient behavior and staff responses. Curious, she quickly read the six levels of temperaments.

Red: Patient is extremely agitated, with no response to calming techniques. They refuse to obey commands, or display outright defiance or make violent actions.

Action to be taken: Patient is to be confined immediately in locked room with all privileges revoked. Such measures are to remain in effect until repealed, which can only be ordered by the Administrator.

Orange: Patient is argumentative, and is easily angered to the point of retaliation, both verbal and physical.

Action to be taken: Patient is to be immediately isolated from others. Freedom becomes limited and monitored, based on the level of the offense. Degree of said action is to be decided by the floor supervisor.

Yellow: Patient remains calm unless reasonably provoked, and is responsive to orders from staff.

Action to be taken: Favorable actions- all scheduled freedoms are allowed, and fraternization with other patients is encouraged.

Pink: Patient is friendly, outgoing, cheerful, and well behaved. (Ideal mood status)

Action to be taken: Favorable actions- all scheduled freedoms are allowed, requests are to be processed for consideration.

Gray: Patient is withdrawn, and remains so for extended lengths of time. They are non-responsive to both positive and negative attention.

Action to be taken: Medical action- Patient is to undergo constant monitoring and daily visits from the assigned counselor. Reports are to be made every day and submitted to Dr. Hatori Sohma ONLY.

White: Medicated

Action to be taken: (none)

Tohru reread the chart twice. While it appeared innocent enough, there was something in the wording that made her frown. Again, there was the feeling that there was more to this than she could see at first glance. The strictness concerning who reports were to be sent to and which doctor was to be contacted in specific cases seemed . . .odd to her.

She tilted her head to the side. Did the severe rules concerning the staff members have something to do with the secret of the twelfth floor? Perhaps only this Dr. Hatori Sohma knew that there were patients there, hence the need for him to be the only one summoned should one of the four need medical attention. But the fact that the administrator, the head of the whole establishment was mentioned meant that whatever was up could go the whole way to top. How many other people were in on the secret?

That thought immediately brought Ms. Almont to mind. Obviously the older woman knew about both the patients and the fact that their presence was to be kept under wraps. But did she know why? Was she part of the cover-up, or just a pawn in it?

Just what was going on in that innocuous looking building?

Knowing that she wasn't going to get any answers if she just kept sitting there, Tohru turned back to the first folder. Behind the chart were four identical sheets. Patient rundowns, she found.

'At least these will be helpful for tonight,' she thought before grabbing the first one.

Diagnosis Summary:

Patient 12-D, Hatsuharu, has displayed symptoms of a bipolar-like condition. Intense mood swings occur, albeit usually only with provocation. There has been little information gained on the overall cause of these temperamental phases. When not in an argumentative mood, patient 12-D is likable, if a bit dazed at times.

Staff who will be working with this patient are reminded that, most importantly, they are to reassess the mood of their charge often. Failure to do this may result in a change of attitude catching them off guard. Also, patient 12-B is to be kept apart from patient 12-D when either are having a yellow or above day. If provoked, exposure to patient 12-C seems to have a calming effect, a fact that staff are to keep in mind.

Various medications are being tried to bring the patient under control. Due to this, his health is to be monitored closely in weekly checkups, performed by Dr. Hatori Sohma ONLY. Staff are not required to be present during this procedure.

Usual Mood Rating: varied between yellow and orange

Tohru flipped to the next sheet of paper.

Diagnosis Summary:

Patient 12-B, Kyou, has displayed violent and sullen tendencies to the point of not acknowledging orders from the staff. Although the patient does generally follow the rules, such obedience is often delayed and accomplished in a grudging manner.

Staff working with patient 12-B are to note that fraternization with other patients is to be allowed only after careful consideration of mood and approval by the supervisor. They are also reminded that 12-B and 12-A are not to be left alone without supervision under any circumstances. (Failure to comply with this rule will result in immediate reprimand.) Association with 12-D is also to be on a monitored state.

Although there are no known illnesses, due to a family history of problems, the patient is to have a checkup no less than once a week. Dr. Hatori Sohma ONLY will perform this checkup. A staff member is not required to be present.

Usual Mood Rating: Orange

As she moved to the next to last one, she was surprised at the difference. While both Kyou and Hatsuharu's problems seemed to have a common thread, this patient, Momiji, was in an entirely different category.

Diagnosis Summary:

Patient 12-C, Momiji, can be considered an easily handled case. The patient is well behaved and even-tempered, often displaying a need to please. However, the patient has a tendency to be clingy, and eager for undivided attention. Actions are often immature, and the patient may have problems deciding what is acceptable or safe behavior.

Staff assigned to patient 12-C are reminded of the following things: While affable and likable to most others, patient 12-B seems to have an aversion to patient 12-C's company. While not in an overly violent in nature, 12-B has been known to strike out. It has also been noted that patient 12-C has something of a calming effect on patient 12-D.

As to medical treatment, it is feared that the current mental state may have a damaging effects on the physical well being of the patient. Until said assumption is proved or disproved, Dr. Hatori Sohma ONLY will be making a weekly analysis of the patient's condition.

Usual Mood Rating: Pink

Tohru paused for a moment before moving onto the last report. By process of elimination, it had to belong to Yuki. She was aware of a fluttering feeling in her stomach at the prospect of finding out more about him, even if that information was written in a cold and clinical way. Although she had only just met him, there was something about the sadness that seemed to surround him that drew her in. Already she cared about him, and wanted nothing more than she wanted to help him get well.

Her thoughts drifted back to that moment when she had gone back to his room for her magazines. When his eyes had locked onto her, there had been a sensation of connection. She wondered if he had felt it too.

The sound of people talking somewhere behind her brought Tohru out of her thoughts. A glance at her watch confirmed that she was running low on time. Deep, introspective thought would have to wait if she wanted to get through the reports before her next class. With a deep breath, she flipped to the final page.

Diagnosis Summary:

Patient 12-A, Yuki, has displayed extreme introversion, with no acknowledgement of staff or visitors. Several attempt have been made to bring the patient out of said state; all have been unsuccessful. To date, little knowledge has been gained from the patient himself.

Staff is reminded that the patient has shown an aversion to patient 12-B and 12-D when either of the latter are in agitated moods. With 12-B, hostility has followed on both sides, beginning verbally and progressing to physical violence if the situation is not immediately remedied. With 12-D, further wariness becomes apparent, sometimes remaining for extended periods of time.

Due to a weakness of the respiratory system, the patient is to have a checkup no less than once a week, more often during adverse seasons. Dr. Hatori Sohma ONLY will perform this checkup. A staff member is not required to be present.

Usual Mood Rating: Gray

'But he acknowledged me,' she thought. 'And not just once, either. Maybe that's a sign that I will be able to help him.' Suddenly feeling just a bit better, Tohru gathered her things. Tossing the remains of her uneaten lunch in a nearby trash basket, she headed for her next class.