Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits basket, but Julian, and Trent are mine! Pairings: There aren't any romantic pairings in this fanfic, at least not yet A/N- Occasionally, in specific lines of dialogue, there will be words in brackets. These words are simply thoughts, and are not spoken aloud.
Julian paced back and forth in the lane as she thought, not daring to glance at the place where Shigure was crouched in the bushes, butt naked. How did these things happen to her? Why did they happen to her?! She didn't understand. It wasn't fair.
"What are we going to do?! "She whined as she dropped to her knees in the middle of the path, tears of frustration stinging the corners of her eyes.
"...Why don't you go see if you can find me something to wear? The grocery...maybe they threw out my suit." Shigure suggested from his spot in the bushes, his tone hopeful.
"Maybe. I haven't thought of anything better." Julian muttered as she got to her feet again, turning to head back into town. She stopped suddenly and turned back to glare at Shigure, pointing her finger at him.
"You'd better stay there! It would be just great if someone saw you and you got arrested for public indecency! "She yelled, her injured arm resting in the sling she'd made with Shigure's tie. He'd thrown it over to her after he'd planted himself in the bushes, saying he didn't need it.
"...If this is too much trouble for you, you could just hug me and turn me into a dog again."
Julian stared at him like he'd grown another head in silence, an eyebrow cocked in skepticism. "Are you insane? You're naked. I don't hug naked men. It's a policy of mine. Just stay there. I'll be back." She said flatly, turning and walking away without a backward glance.
Shigure watched her walk away before he ducked down into the bushes again.
"I hope she hurries. I think there may be poison ivy in this bush." He muttered, wrapping his arms around himself. It was a bit chilly out. And it looked like rain.
It took a little work for Julian to find the alley behind the grocery store, but find it she did. She saw one of the clerks's for the grocery store dumping trash when she peaked around the corner and a pleased grin flittered across her face.
"Yes! His suit better be in there!!" She muttered as she hurried over to the dumpster after the clerk went back inside, pushing the lid up with her good arm. She peaked in and gagged from the stench; dismayed to see the bin was already ¾ of the way full.
"Great. "She muttered, all her hopes more or less dashed to pieces as she dragged a sturdy looking crate over to the bin. She stepped gingerly up onto the crate and took a deep breath, leaning down into the bin. She picked threw the trash on top as she looked for Shigure's suit. The stench was horrible and she had to come up for air several times as she rummaged through the garbage, becoming annoyed as her search was fruitless.
"This is a nightmare." She mummered in frustration as she pawed through the trash, shoving her hand into a half full container of gooey yogurt.
"Sick!!" She exclaimed as she pulled her hand free, wrinkling her nose as she shook her hand, trying to dislodge the slimy substance. Suddenly she heard the window overhead creak open and she looked up as a young woman dumped a basin of water out the window, her mouth falling open in appalled horror as the water hit her with a splash.
"Mai! You should be more careful. What if someone was down there?" Julian heard a guy say as the lady turned from the window.
"Oh, it's ok. No one was down there." The woman replied nonchalantly, shutting the window as Julian glared up at the window in fury. No one down there her butt!! What was SHE?! Nothing?!
"What have I done to deserve this?!" She muttered as she stepped off the crate and squished off, soaked from head to toe. Today wasn't going well.
"There. There's your dang clothes. You'd better appreciate all the trouble I went through to get those for you! "She grumbled as Shigure's hand snaked out of the bush, grabbing the clothing and pulling them in to the bush.
"Thanks. It's a bit cold out here. They're a bit snug, but they'll work. Thank you. Um, where'd you get these from anyway?" He asked after a few minutes, stepping out into the path as he buttoned up the last several buttons on the shirt.
"I stole them off of some lady's clothes line." Julian muttered darkly as she wrinkled her nose. She still smelled like garbage. Not a pleasant aroma.
"What? "Shigure asked, looking a bit panicked as he glanced up at her. What he saw staring back at him was shocking.
"What happened to YOU?!" he blurted out in surprise, his eyes wide as he stared at her.
"Don't you LIKE my new look?!" She snapped as she glared up at him, idly brushing the left knee of her red and white striped capri's. Like that would get rid of some of the grime.
"This is all YOUR fault!" She hissed, pointing at him as she continued," I went through heck for you! I searched through putrid garbage for your suit, but did I find it?! No! Then I was nearly knocked off the crate I was standing on when some crazy lady dumped a basin of ice water out the upstairs window! So then I smelled like WET GARBAGE! Next I slunk down one alley after another, nearly getting lost before I found a house with some laundry hanging out to dry. And I tore my pants when I fell over the top of the fence and it started to rain when I grabbed those pants and shirt for you! That's why they're a bit damp. I decided stupidly to get back by cutting though some yards, where a huge snarling dog with a mouthful of teeth chased me. I tripped and fell over a cat then, that's where the scratch on my face came from, and my leg hurts now too! Because that stupid dog bit me! And to top it off, I now smell like wet rotting garbage and dog! It's not a pleasant aroma! And while I may have been able to explain the broken wrist to your cousins, I doubt I'll be able to make excuses for my PRESENT appearance!" She yelled as she got to her feet, limping toward the house.
"...I'm sure we can come up with something. Maybe no one will be at the house when we arrive?" Shigure called after her, his tone hopeful.
"The way today has been going? I highly doubt it."
"Everything certainty smells good, Miss Honda." Yuki said with a smile as they sat down to eat that night, his chopsticks in his hand.
"Why, thank you! Everyone eat up! There's planet for all of us. "She said with a smile as Kyo muttered something under his breath, picking up a piece of cod with his chopsticks.
"So, um, Hatori. I've been wondering. What exactly do you tell Akito when you go to check on him? I'd assume he knows you're staying with us..." Yuki asked Hatori, a questioning look on his face as Tohru and Kyo both turned to look at him as well.
"I told him Shigure is ill. Let's just leave it at that." Hatori replied dryly as he reached for the salt.
"What are you going..." Yuki began to ask when they suddenly heard the front door slid closed.
"Oh!! That's sounds like Shigure! "Tohru exclaimed happily as they heard what sounded like Shigure chattering away in the entryway. She leapt to her feet and hurried for the entryway, Kyo and Yuki close on her heels. Hatori remained seated at the table, picking up his cup of tea to take a sip.
"Well. Won't they both have some explaining to do." He muttered.
"Ok. Here's the plan. Tohru normally serves dinner about now, so maybe if we're extra quiet and you hurry, you can get upstairs to change before anyone notices we're back. "Shigure whispered to Julian as he quietly slid the door open. He stepped aside and Julian hurriedly limped past him, making it halfway up the stairs before Shigure closed the door loudly, chattering to himself as he stood in the entryway.
"Bless you, Shigure!" She muttered under her breath as she made her way up to the hallway, before she heard Tohru and the boys greet Shigure at the door. She limped down the hall to Tohru's room, closing the door as quietly as possible. Now, if he could just buy her enough time to wash off and change before anyone came looking for her, she was golden. Unless Hatori was there...
Whew. Another Chapter down. And it's still the same day in the fic...lol. Anyway, I'll probably update by this weekend at least! Stay tuned!
Thanks to my reviewers for this chapter and the chapter before it!!
krenya-alenak- Glad ya liked it! Yeah, Kiddy Grade was a bit tough for me...but I tried to make things as clear as possible. I hope the other anime's I use are easy to understand...lol
Myu Higurashi – Hey! One of my faithful's!! Thanks for continuing to read! I'll return the favor and check you're stories out!! Aww, you're so sweet...but it's hard for me to imagine I'm the best.
foxgrl991-He he!! Hope you like this update!! It was fun to write!!
Sinfulpurgatory – Yeah, I get a kick out of Julian...In the earlier chapters she was a bit nicer it seems...guess her true side is showing now, he he he.
Lhuntathraeil-:)