I DON'T OWN FRUITS BASKET!!!
Okay my computer doesn't check spelling or grammar very well so I was on my own for that so please don't flame me. I checked three times though so if I missed anything…my bad. If you wanna know the character's zodiac signs and ages for the story (things like that) scroll to the bottom to find out (I hope I got them all right ) you're probably wondering why I put it at the bottom dramatic pause ………… Idunno (muse: baka neko). But if you don't care then CONTINUE ! Oh and by the way, I did put when the time lapsed by putting a "…" thing but it gottaken off…I think thanks R.C.R.M (cough) anyway. Here read it's good for you!
CHAPTER TWO: Leeks and Baby Rice Balls
(One Year Later)
"I'm telling you Ayame, Kyo wont eat that," Hatori said, looking over his book at the snake.
"So why don't you cook lunch! This was a horrible idea! 'Let's go on a picnic!' Momiji says 'It'll be fun!' he says. Well cooking isn't fun at all!" Ayame pouted and covered the soup to keep it hot. He ripped off the pink apron and plopped down next to Hatori. An uncomfortable silence filled the room.
"What?"
"Nothing!"
"Well what were you staring at?" Hatori asked, a little annoyed his friend had been staring at him with that infamous pout.
"Hari you're soooooo much better than me at cooking! Why can't you do it?!" Hatori sighed. After placing his book down he walked over to the stove and began to stir the soup. Ayame smiled widely.
"Ayame go check on Shigure. Ask if he wants to come with us," Ayame nodded and walked down the hall. When he got to the door he spotted Ritsu leading Kyo and Yuki away.
"What's wrong monkey?" Ayame asked causing Ritsu to stop.
"Nothing Aya-chan just bringing them to get ready for the picnic," Ayame smiled and opened to door slowly.
"Gure?" He called into the dark room.
"Aya?" Ayame walked to the futon, where he heard his name emanate from.
"Hey Gure, I was just wondering if you wanted to come to the picnic with us today, you haven't been outside for awhile and everyone would love for you to come," Shigure sat up but didn't meet his friend's eyes.
"Where is it?"
"It's at the park, the one they put up about a year ago," Ayame said sitting next to him. Shigure chewed his lip for a while in thought.
"You don't have to, no pressure alright? But, everyone would love for you to come," Ayame stood again, taking Shigure's silence the wrong way. He was about to leave when Shigure's small voice reached his ears.
"I'll come," Ayame lit up.
"Really Gure?" He turned around and took his place again. Shigure nodded but still shifted uncomfortably with the idea.
"Alright I'll come and get you in an hour, just dress in something light okay?" Shigure nodded and smiled, despite the fact that he was a little worried about leaving his room. He watched Ayame skip away happily.
"But...why should you choose now after all this time?" Came a weak voice from the door. Shigure looked up.
"Akito," The dog's blood ran cold. He stiffened as the sick child walked further into his room. He came closer then Shigure would have liked and leaned down.
"She was weak wasn't she? Couldn't even handle you for a sibling," Shigure started to shake.
"No that's not t-"
"You're weak too, hiding in this room for three years, having your little friends save you every night, do them a favor. End it and save them the bandages," With that Akito strode out the room leaving the poor shaking teen to himself.
An hour later
"Shigure are you ready? Ayame said you agreed to come, right?" Hatori called through the door. It slid open slightly to reveal a pale but nonetheless smiling face. Hatori stared at his best friend.
"Let's go Hari!" Shigure grabbed the dragon's hand and began to walk down the hallway.
"Shigure are you al-?"
"It's a pretty day…just...let me have it," Shigure whispered stopping, turning to Hatori. Hatori stared for a while until he smiled and pushed his best friend towards the group.
"Come on everyone's waiting for you!" Hatori laughed for the first time in three years along with his best friend.
Picnic
"This is gross!" Kyo said, holding up the steamed leek.
"Aww come on Kyo! It's not that bad!" Yuki said, popping his own steamed leek into his mouth. Kyo made a face and looked to Shigure.
"Is it good Shi-san?" Shigure smiled and patted Kyo on the head.
"Tastes like chicken Kyo-kun," Kyo stared at him for a while seeing if he was telling the truth. Finally deciding to try one, he popped it in his mouth like Yuki had. Everyone laughed as the boy made a face and spit it out.
"LIAR! That was gross!" Kyo wiped his tongue harshly with his hand. Shigure smiled looking at the sweet scene before him. He stood shakily; it had still been so long since he really moved about.
"I'll go get some toys from the car for Kisa and Hiro to play with," He walked through the bushes and past the trees. It was amazing he remembered where he was going. They weren't allowed to come here unless they stayed away from the real park, but it was still fun. He pressed the button to Ayame's new car key and dug around for Kisa's bunny and Hiro's action figures. When he found them (along with Momiji's drawing book and Hatsuharu's summer reading book) he locked the car back up and started for the forest. He hummed softly to himself.
'Shizuru it's a beautiful day outside…I-I wish you could be with me,' Shigure thought. He was almost there. He could hear Kyo screaming while Kagura yelled her violentthreats of love. His smile vanished however, as an arm wrapped around his waist. Another soon followed to cover his scream.
"Keep quite you little monster or I'll beat you so hard that curse of yours wont be your only problem," He knew that voice. He feared that voice. He hadn't heard that voice for three agonizingly long years. Shigure tried to struggle butwas stilltoo weak to do anything. He heard his father utter something before a sharp pain filled the back of his head.
Picnic
"Shi-san's been gone a long time nii-san," Yuki said walking over to a worried Ayame. The snake just nodded and begun to pace nervously.
"I'll go look for him," Hatori said running off into the forest.
"Wait for me!" Kyo called, running after him. They searched for hours, returning only when it became too dark to look.
"We should call Father then the police, he couldn't have gone to far," Ayame said after almost everyone met back at the car. Ritsu and Kagura came running, something in their arms.
"We found these by the bushes. It's some of our stuff," She held up the books and toys.
"I really don't like this Hari," Ayame said turning to the dragon.
"Neither do I Ayame. Neither do I,"
Warehouse
"Little bastard!" Shigure's father yelled, knocking the boy to the ground. Shigure yelped as he crashed to the hard stone floor. He felt his swollen eye and then the cut on his head. So many scars rested there. Most were results of his nightmares but a few were from his childhood. His father walked up and threw him into the wall.
"P-please," Shigure begged through a mouthful of blood. His father smiled sadistically.
"When has that ever worked you little demon?" His father picked him up, slamming him into the wall for a second time. The poor dog whimpered from the pain in his chest and head. He was sure he had a broken rib and maybe even formeda concussion. His vision blurred after another hour of torture and he finally fell into unconsciousness. His father scowled, calming down a bit. He felt sick; he couldn't even look at the child without feeling that way. He was done, he had let out his anger but this wouldn't be the last time. , Now to get rid of the brat. He'd leave him somewhere; drop him off in the middle of the street. Or maybe the road.
An hour later
"Tohru don't drop the bags sweetie," Kyoko Honda said smiling. Her daughter smiled back and grabbed the bag tighter. Kyoko stopped suddenly when her eyes darted to the other side of the street. After waiting for the cars to pass she ran across, awkwardly holding the bags and knelt next to theunmoving boy. He looked about sixteen and was badly injured. Tohru sniffled behind her at the sight of the boy.
"Is he alright?" Her small voice questioned. Kyoko nodded to her daughter and watched as she became more relieved. Tohru took the other bag her mother had been carrying as Kyoko picked up the boy. They brought him back to the house and treated his wounds. All they could do now was wait for him to wake up. Three hours later Tohru was switching out the rag on his head when his gray eyes opened slowly. He sat up quickly, causing the rag to fall off. He glanced around the room, panicked.
"Mommy! He's awake!" She called in her small voice. The boy looked directly at her for a while until Kyoko walked in.
"Hey you're awake. We were worried about you,"
"W-who are you," The boy asked fiddling with one of the bandages that covered his arm.
"My name's Tohru! That's my mommy her name's Kyoko," The girl said, pronouncing their names carefully. The boy nodded and smiled slightly.
"It's nice to meet you, I'm-" He stopped and thought for a while. Kyoko sighed. She had feared this would happen, knowing the boy had been bleeding badly from a concussion.
"You don't remember your name do you?" She asked. The boy scrunched his face thinking for an answer. He finally shook his head tears formed at the corner of his eyes.
"I…don't," The girl, Tohru cried too.
"Did you forget?"
"He has amnesia sweetie. Do you feel like going to the police station, they should be able to match up some prints and get you home," The boy nodded and stood with some help. Two hours later they left the station, a very angry Kyoko driving them home.
"Who wouldn't have prints or, or anything on a kid! You'd think they'd at least have your birth records!"
"Don't worry about mommy she's really nice but sometimes she gets a bit angry," Tohru said it so causuallythe boy justnodded. They got home and Kyoko helped the boy into the house.
"Well what should we call you? I can't keep calling you kid," A boy with orange hair flashed in his head.
'Is it good Shi-san?'
"Shi-san?" The boy whispered.
"Shi-san!" Tohru jumped at the new name. Kyoko sighed.
"Alright guess we'll go with that,"
"Yay! Shi-san!"
"Alright Tohru, Shi. What would you like for dinner?"
"Kashiwa-mochi!1" Kyoko's eyebrow twitched. It was hard saying no to her favorite food but they needed something more filling to eat.
"Steamed leaks?" Shi asked timidly. Kyoko smiled.
"Alright that sounds good! And we can have Kashiwa-mochi for dessert," Tohru squealed and went to clean up for supper.
"Shi you might be staying here awhile if the police can't find your parents. I'll set up you're room after dinner okay?" Shi nodded thanking her for her kindness. Thirty minuets later they all sat down to eat supper. Just like they'd do for the next month and a half.
(One Month Later)
"Shi-san! Wait up!" Tohru called as they walked home from the park. Of course Tohru wanted to stay longer but it had started to rain. Shi covered the girl with his coat.
"Can't have you getting sick on us! Kyoko's working late tonight so I'll make dinner," They kept running, exchanging words every so often. Shi didn't even notice the girl in front of them before it was too late.
"Oh, I'M SORRY! I DIDN'T SEE YOU! I DIDN'T MEAN TO GET IN YOUR WAY I'M SORRY!" The girl stopped and looked closely at the pair. Her eyes widened.
"S-Shigure?" Shi's eye's widened. Memories flashed in his head.
"Ritsu?" Shigure was too confused to even question the monkey's attire before he passed out.
Kashiwa-mochi: rice cakes wrapped in oak leaves (Kyoko's favorite food vol. 4)
Well that's it!And as promised here are the ages! I don't know when the next chapter's gonna be posted but it took me a while to do this one and stupid school's taking up all my time (damn homework ;-; ) soI'll try my best!
Okay ages!
Shigure: dog/1st chapter: 12-15 2ndchapter: 16
Ayame: snake (my year!)/ 1st chapter: same ages as Shigure
Hatori: dragon (cough cough really a seahorse XD kawaii)/ same as Ayame and
Shigure (okay not doing them all like that it's tiring to write)
Yuki, Kyo, Tohru: (in order) rat, cat, …rice ball(okay well it's not a zodiac but it's her symbol)1st chapter: 2-5 2nd chapter: 6
Kagura: boar (pig) 1st chapter: 4-7 2nd chapter: 8
Momiji and Hatsuharu: rabbit, cow (ox)/ 1st chapter: 1-4 2nd chapter: 5
Ritsu: monkey/ 1st chapter: 6-9 2nd chapter: 10
Kisa, Hiro: tiger (kawaii!!!!) sheep/ 1st chapter: 0-1 2nd chapter 2