(Chapter One: The Script)
A soft breeze blew outside as Tohru hung up the laundry. As she placed one of Yuki's shirts on the line she noticed the ring on her finger and smiled. She caressed it for a few moments and then went back to her task. From inside the house she could hear the phone ring, so she wiped her hands on her apron and walked inside. Once she arrived at the hallway she noticed Yuki had already answered it.
"Yes hold on a minute" Yuki replied into the receiver, "Miss Honda it's you're uncle."
"Oh" her face brightened, "Thank you Yuki" she said taking the phone, "Hello Uncle Kentaro."
"Why hello sweetie" he replied, "It's good to hear your voice."
"It's good to hear from you too. How long has it been?"
"Well let's see. The last time I would believe was last spring."
"Why you're right. When you were directing that movie. Is that the reason that you are back in town?"
"Well actually" Kentaro said, "I am doing another movie. Tohru listen, I'm not busy tomorrow, do you think you could meet me at that café again? I mean it is Sunday."
"Sure I'd love to. What time?"
"About noonish. That okay for you?"
"Mhm. That sounds good Uncle Kentaro. I'll see you tomorrow then."
"All right sweetie. Talk to you later."
"Bye" she replied sweetly as she hung up the phone.
She sighed contently and hummed a little tune as she walked back to the backyard to finish hanging up the laundry.
(Next Scene)
The next day Tohru grabbed her purse and headed downtown. Since Shigure was heading off to his office, he offered to walk with her. The night before Tohru had informed Kyo about the lunch meeting and he had smiled and told her to have a good time. He was working out at the dojo anyway and Yuki was having another student council meeting at Kimi's house. Shigure dropped her off at the café with a smile, and told her promptly that he would pick her up after his work was finished. Tohru nodded and waved goodbye to him. She spotted her uncle talking on his cell phone, sitting at a nearby table so she walked over. Kentaro said goodbye quickly to the person he was talking to and shut off his phone.
"Hey there sweetie" he smiled.
"Hi Uncle Kentaro" she bowed her head.
"Why don't you sit down? I've already ordered lunch."
"Oh okay" she nodded sitting across from him.
As she sat she noticed that there was a cup of water at another chair right across from her, but she paid it no mind. Kentaro sighed and turned to her. They were served their lunch and began to eat.
"So how's everything going for you Tohru?"
"Oh just fine Uncle Kentaro" she smiled.
"You graduate this year don't you?"
"Mhm. Very soon."
"That's good. Your mom would be so proud."
"Yea" she nodded again.
"I also heard that you've been in contact with mom and dad quite a bit."
"Mhm. We get along wonderfully now."
"You still with that same boyfriend?"
"Oh yes" she nodded happily.
"Well what's this?" he held up her left hand to see her finger.
"It's a promise ring. Kyo gave it to me a couple weeks ago" she smiled caressing the ring once more.
"You don't say" Kentaro smiled, "You know you are very lucky Tohru to have a guy like him. I have never even experienced such a thing."
"Really?"
"Mnm. But I hope to someday. But I would rather focus on my career right now."
"Oh I see. What's your new movie about Uncle Kentaro?"
"Funny you should ask that question" he grinned sheepishly, "In fact. Tohru I have a confession to make."
"Oh? What's that?"
"I did ask you here for a purpose."
"I figured that. What is it?"
"Well" he started to say but a tall thin man approached him carrying a stack of stapled together paper.
"Kentaro there you are" the man replied with a smile.
"Oh hey there Tom. Tohru you remember Tom Quincy?" Kentaro held up his hand.
"Oh yes of course" Tohru nodded, "Hello there Mr. Quincy" she bowed her head.
"And hello there too Tohru" Tom replied as he sat down, "Just the girl I wanted to see."
"Huh?" she said confused.
"You see Tohru" Kentaro took the lead, "Tom here is the one who wrote the script for the movie I am directing."
"Oh really? That's wonderful Mr. Quincy."
"Here it is" he handed her the stack of paper, "Look for yourself."
"Uh okay" she nodded looking at the top sheet, "Zodiac Curse the movie" she read and then blushed, "So you really did make it into a script?"
"Mhm yes indeed. I was so inspired by our last encounter. So I just wrote and wrote. And then I finally finished it."
"It's a very good script too" Kentaro added with his hands under his chin, "He is quite talented."
"Uh yea" Tohru replied, "Wonderful. But I don't understand what this all has to do with me?"
"Why it has everything to do with you my dear girl" Tom said.
"What?"
"Tohru what he means is, he wants to offer you a part in the movie."
"Oh? A part? Me?"
"Mhm" Tom nodded, "And not just any part, but the lead part."
"Huh?" her eyes became wide, "You can't be serious?"
"Oh I am very serious. The studio executives wouldn't have it any other way."
"To be perfectly honest Tohru" Kentaro replied, "You are the reason that they acccepted the script in the first place."
"What do you mean?"
"We showed them a tape of your performance in the last movie I did and insisted that you'd be the one to take the role."
"And besides" Tom added, "I based my main character off of you any way."
"You did? Why that is very kind of you?"
"Yes" he said with joy, "Imagine a lonely girl, with no family of her own discovers this family with a terrible secret and becomes a part of their lives."
"Yes" Tohru giggled nervously, "Imagine that. It's almost unbelievable."
"Exactly" Kentaro replied, "Which makes a fantastic story."
"Uncle Kentaro can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Of course. Would you excuse us for a moment Tom?"
"Of course" he nodded, "I'll be right back."
"Take your time" Tohru grinned and then sighed.
"What's the matter sweetie? Don't you think it's a great idea?"
"No it's a wonderful idea" she shook her head, "It's just me in the lead role. I don't think I'm ready for this sort of thing. Besides I already told you that I wouldn't be interested in something like this."
"I know you did" he nodded, "But Tom really wants you for the role. And so do the studio executives. Look you don't have to make the decision now. I don't want to put any pressure on you. And even if you decide not to do the role I'll understand. I still need you to do me a favor though?"
"What's that?"
"At least come by the set and see Kandis."
"Kandis is going to be here?" Tohru replied excitedly.
"Mhm and she's very anxious to see you. But she'll be staying at a hotel this time. Her cousin is also going to be in the film."
"Oh really?"
"Mhm. Tohru listen take the script home with you. Read over it and see what you think. That will help you to make your decision."
"How long do I have?" she asked scooping up the script in her arms.
"About a week. I'm sorry" he shook his head, "That's as long as I can give you. I have to start shooting soon."
"That's okay Uncle Kentaro. I can make a decision by then, I'm sure" she stood up, "Just so I know, you do have someone to back me up with in case I say no right?"
"Mhm. So take your time in deciding."
"Okay" she smiled, "Thanks for the lunch Uncle Kentaro. I will think about what you said."
"Okay honey. Bye bye" he waved as she ran over to Shigure who was waiting for her.
Tom came back over and sat back down.
"So is she going to do it?" he asked.
"I don't know" Kentaro smiled, "We'll see."
"Oh I hope she decides soon, she would be so perfect."
(Next Scene)
After telling Shigure, who merely smiled about the movie idea, Tohru walked into the kitchen and began to wash vegetables off for dinner. Yuki noticed her sigh as he entered the kitchen.
"What's wrong Miss Honda?" he asked in concern.
"Oh I don't know."
"Didn't you have a good time with your uncle?"
"Oh no I had a wonderful time. It's just I have a problem."
"What kind of a problem?"
"Well" she picked up the script that was near her, "Come into the sitting room and I will show you."
"All right" he raised his eyebrows slightly as he followed her in.
Tohru sat down at the table and he sat across from her.
"Okay Miss Honda" Yuki replied, "What's bothering you?"
"Well Uncle Kentaro and I had a wonderful lunch. We talked for a little bit and then he told me the reason he wanted to meet me."
"Mhm. Go on."
"He told me that he was doing another film."
"Did he want you to be in it?"
"Yes but that's not the reason I was worried. Well here" she handed him the script, "This is the script he gave me."
"Okay" Yuki said with a smile peering down at the title, which afterwards his face turned pale, "Zodiac Curse the movie" he read and then saw the writing underneath and frowned, "By Tom Quincy."
"Mhm" she nodded, "He was there too."
"Well uh" Yuki replied, "Wow uh. I don't know what to say."
"I don't know either. But the weird part is" she hesitated.
"Is what?"
"The part they want me to play is the main character."
"Well that doesn't sound too terrible."
"No no Yuki you don't understand. I would be playing myself. See" she pointed, "I would play the young girl who got lost and was found by the cursed family and brought into their home."
"And you're name is Tora Hirota? Huh? That's just like Tohru Honda."
"Exactly. Mr. Quincy based the character off of me."
"Oh. Well are you going to do the part Miss Honda? Because if you did, it would be very easy for you. I mean you would be playing yourself."
"I know. I don't know. I have a week to decide. I don't know what I am going to do."
"What's your biggest fear Miss Honda?"
"It's just going to be strange. Playacting my real life on a stage, I mean it's like I really am giving away the secret."
"But Miss Honda it's only a movie. It's just speculation. Everyone is going to think it's fake. No one's going to know about the truth."
"Maybe" she nodded, "I should ask Kyo about this."
"Why?"
"I don't want to do something that will make him uncomfortable too. Is he home yet?" she rose after Yuki had handed her back the script.
"He's upstairs" he nodded as she left the room, then he sighed and leaned his head into his palm, "Who would have thought that drunken old man would actually accomplish this."
(Next Scene)
Tohru knocked on Kyo's door with soft taps.
"Come in!" he called.
Tohru entered the room.
"Oh hey Tohru" he smiled as she walked over, "How was lunch with your uncle?"
"It was fine" she nodded, "But Kyo I need to talk to you."
"All right" they both sat down on the wood floor, "This sounds serious."
"It might be. I was asked to be in another movie."
"Really?" his right eyebrow rose, "What did you say?"
"I haven't decided yet."
"Well, why don't you?
"I just don't know about this one Kyo."
"What's holding you back?" he asked.
"This" she sighed as she handed over the script.
"All right" he said curiously, "What's this?"
"It's the script. Just read the top and you will see what I mean."
"Okay" he nodded with a slight grin, "Let's see, Zodiac Curse the movie" he replied slowly and then looked down and frowned deeply, "Written by Tom Quincy?"
"Mhm" she nodded again.
"But how? Wha? What was he? You got to be kidding me?"
"Nope he was there this afternoon."
"Okay. I see you're problem" he gave her back the script, "Tohru what role would you be playing in this?" he asked.
"Myself."
"Huh?"
"I would be playing Tora Hirota."
"But that sounds just like your real name."
"I know he based the character off of me. That's why he wants me to play the role I think. And not only that the studio executives that are doing the film, they want me to do it too, or they wont sign."
"That is quite the predicament."
"Yea."
"What do you want do Tohru?"
"I don't know. I don't want to let my uncle down, and all those people. And I certainly don't want to make you or any of the other Sohmas feel uncomfortable."
"No Tohru you didn't hear me. What do you want to do? This isn't about them or me. This is about you. You decide. Not based on what we will think or feel. But how you feel and think. It's okay to be selfish sometimes remember?"
"Yea. Well to be honest. I am kind of curious about how it would turn out. And I wouldn't mind working on a movie set again. It was kind of fun."
"So is that your answer?"
"Yes" she nodded certainly, "I'm gonna do it."
"And I will stand behind you all the way" he smiled.
"Thank you Kyo" she stood up with a smile of her own, "For helping me make my decision."
"No problem" he nodded, "You should go call your uncle right now."
"You're right" she replied, "The sooner the better. I will see you later for dinner" she opened the door.
Kyo got up from the floor and took the latch on it to close it behind her. As he closed it he frowned a bit.
"Zodiac Curse the movie?" he said out loud, "Ayiyi!!!"
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Hello everyone! I'm back with the first chapter of book ten! Hope you enjoyed it!
To Raizard333: Thank you for your reviews and your comments about Akito! I know about him really being a woman but early on, like I mentioned in one of the books I decided to stick with my main story line. Is was quite a shock for me to find out what Akito really was, and I really didn't want to mess with the story dynamic from the first Riceballs in a Fruits Basket series! But thanks again and keep sending your great reviews!
To Haru's Girl: Hey there! Hope you're reading because Kandis is back! That's right she's back in the next chapter! Can't wait to hear from ya!!
Next Chapter: Meeting Co-Stars
Tohru has decided to live her life out on the soundstage. What will the cursed costars turn out to be like? Find out next time!!