What Goes On in a Man's Head
By Mayumi Takanashi
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or any of the characters.
Tohru Honda walked herself home from school today. Yuki and Kyo Sohma had been pulled from school that morning for unknown reasons. Since she lived with them, she debated whether or not to go straight home, or delay herself by taking a trip to the grocery store. After careful deliberation, she concluded that she stop by home, and if she was in the way, that she'd head to the grocery store. If she was needed, then she would go shopping later.
The girl cautiously opened the door, not wanting to disturb the other Sohmas. She set her backpack in her room and changed out of her uniform. Slowly, she searched around the house for the boys, but they were nowhere in sight. That was when she started to worry more than she already was. What if a member of the family had been hurt? Was it Hatori? Momiji? Kisa? She hoped that no one was injured.
Memories flooded through her mind. Reality started to blur, and images took place of her vision…
"I need to speak to Tohru Honda," called a teacher, peeking his head into the classroom.
She stood up, and then spoke quietly with the teacher in the doorway.
"I need you to come to the office," he explained urgently. "It's your mother…"
The two of them raced to the main office, while dread and terror filled Tohru's heart.
Entering the teacher's personal office, he gestured for her to sit down, while he sat on the edge of his desk.
"You might need to take this sitting down," he told her. "Miss Honda, your mother was in a fatal car accident, they don't think she will make it."
Chills were sent down Tohru's spine. Her body froze with cold horror, not knowing what the future held in store for her. Hana and Uo burst into the room, calling her name…
"Tohru?" echoed a voice, snapping her back to reality. She jerked her head up to find Yuki, Kyo, and Shigure staring at her with worried looks on their face.
"What did I tell you about spacing out when you're all alone?" said Kyo angrily. His tone of voice was different, more grave than usual.
"Sorry," said Tohru meekly. Kyo's face softened a bit.
"I'm afraid I have some sad news," said Shigure as he and the boys sat down at the table with her.
"Akito is no longer with us," he continued. "He passed away this morning."
"Oh no!" gasped Tohru.
"Yes, it is most regrettable," said Shigure. "His funeral will be tomorrow morning. You will all be able to go since it's not a school day."
"Miss Honda, you do not need to go if you do not wish to," Yuki said calmly. He did not sound saddened, which was understandable if you looked back on his history with Akito. "However, you are more than welcome to go, but I'll be staying home."
"You won't go?" Tohru said, surprised.
"You really should reconsider," pleaded Shigure.
"I'm not going either," stated Kyo.
"Not you too!" said an exasperated Shigure.
"No," Kyo replied.
"Oh, you two are so cold-hearted for not attending a family member's own funeral ceremony!" Shigure said dramatically, while clutching his chest. "Oh, my heart..."
"Let him rot in Hell," Kyo said in his usual irritated tone.
Tohru gasped again.
"That's no way to talk about the dead," Shigure scolded.
"I have to agree with him," said Yuki, absorbed in his own thoughts. Tohru's eyes widened with shock.
"Well, there is no sense in arguing," Shigure sighed defeatedly. "Tohru, are you planning on going?"
"Of course," she said.
Yuki and Kyo's faces widened with surprise.
"Thank you!" said Shigure, hugging Tohru.
"AHHHHHH!" she screamed. Usually, Shigure would have turned into a black dog, but he didn't! He remained in human form.
"Surprise!" he yelled happily.
"W-what h-happened to y-you?" she stuttered.
"Do you remember when I told you that since Akito was the center of the Sohma family, the curse revolved around him?" Shigure said, still laughing at her shocked face.
"Y-yes…"
"Until we find a new head of the family, our curse is temporarily lifted," explained Yuki.
"Why don't you just not pick a head of family so that you don't have to be cursed?" asked Tohru.
"If we don't, we'll all die in seven days," said Kyo, his voice quivering slightly. "Seven days to live…"
"That sounds really familiar…" said Tohru, pondering the dying-in-seven-days concept.
The three of them looked down. Tohru was still surprised, and worried.
"How will you pick a leader?" she questioned.
"Hatori is always in charge of that," Shigure answered. "It can't be a member of the Zodiac, but it has to be a Sohma."
"I see…"
Shigure stood up, and Yuki, Kyo, and Tohru did the same.
"Yuki and Kyo, you will go to that funeral!" demanded Shigure suddenly, knowing that he had an advantage now that Tohru was attending. "So go pick out an outfit for the ceremony!"
Yuki and Kyo obeyed. Knowing that Tohru was going made them feel that they had to protect her from all the men yearning to embrace a woman after being freed from their curse.
-What Goes On in a Man's Head-
Tohru also looked through her closet for an outfit. The black dress that she wore to her mother's funeral and the anniversary of her death was hung from a hanger on the wall for tomorrow…
"Mother?" Tohru whimpered. She kneeled beside her hospital bed.
"My baby," she answered hoarsely. Kyoko tilted her head to better glimpse her daughter one last time. Bruises and scratches covered her face, making tears well up in the young girl's eyes.
"I love you," she whispered to Tohru as she gripped her daughter's hand.
"Don't leave me!" she chocked. Kyoko's palm went limp. Tohru grasped it tightly as she rested her forehead on the edge of the bed, sobbing…
"May I come in?" asked a male voice from the doorway. It was Shigure.
"Yes," answered Tohru, wiping away a single tear.
"Now that the curse has been lifted for a while, you may find yourself in many sticky situations," he warned her.
"What do you mean?" the innocent girl inquired.
"Well, there are many guys out there that are eager to take, um, advantage of this curse-free period, and you are an easy target," explained Shigure.
"Ohhh!" exclaimed Tohru, understanding his words and feeling a bit uneasy by this piece of advice.
"I'd stay on guard if I were you," Shigure stated.
"Oh, okay!" said a dizzy Tohru.
He turned to go, but froze suddenly.
"Uh, before I go…" his voice trailed off.
"What's wrong?" asked Tohru sweetly.
"Can I have a hug?" he blurted out.
"Well, of course, Shigure!" exclaimed Tohru, knowing that it must be the first hug he's gotten in a long time.
-What Goes On in a Man's Head-
The funeral the next day was very gloomy and depressing. It was held within the gates of the Sohma estate, where a rather large cemetery was located for deceased family members. Rain was pouring down heavily, and black umbrellas were open everywhere. It looked like black polka-dots scattered on the ground from a bird's-eye view.
Throughout the funeral service, various Sohma family members spoke a small speech about the late Akito. Their words were kind, yet none of them meant what they said. Even though most of the guests were somewhat glad that Akito was gone, there was a feeling of great loss within their hearts…
"We are gathered here to mourn the loss of Kyoko Honda, who passed away on May 1st of this year. Let us bow our heads in silence as we pray for her safe journey to the other world."
Tohru's tears flowed gently down her cheeks, mixing with the rain that fell upon her head. She didn't care about how soaked she was, she just wanted her mother, she just wanted to give her a great big hug one last time…
"Miss Tohru, do you have any last words you want to say to your mother?"
She merely shook her head, the rain dripping from her hair and her clothes…
After the service, Tohru approached Hatori, who was looking through a small leather notebook. He glanced up and greeted her with a small smile.
"How are you doing, Hatori?" asked Tohru kindly.
"Very well, thank you. I was just looking through the Sohma book to find a new head of the family," he replied, showing her the pages with scribbled names upon them.
"Wow! There are so many!" said Tohru in amazement.
"Yes, but there are so many requirements to take note of," said Hatori. "I have a few in mind, but I thought it would be nice to have a little rest from the curse."
"So you're going to announce the new head of the family on the last day?" she asked.
"Shigure told you about the temporary lift of the curse, didn't he?"
"Yes, and I'm really happy that you all have break from it!" exclaimed Tohru, but suddenly her face grew wide with horror.
"BUT I DON'T MEAN THAT I'M HAPPY THAT AKITO'S DEAD, BECAUSE I'M REALLY, REALLY SAD, SO PLEASE DON'T THINK THAT I MEANT THAT I'M GLAD HE'S GONE, 'CAUSE I'M NOT AT ALL!" shrieked Tohru, attracting startled stares from other guests.
"Shhh! It's okay, I didn't think that at all," said Hatori with widened eyes, trying to calm her down.
Tohru took a deep breath of the wet air, and the other guests began to continue their quiet conversations.
"So, are you glad that you get a break from the curse?" whispered Tohru.
"I have something in mind…" said Hatori, his voice drifting off. He gazed up at the sky, with a gentle expression crossing his face.
Author's Notes: So did you like it? I know that Akito would probably have his body cremated or something, but I wanted it to be just like Kyoko's funeral. In case you didn't get the italicized writing, those were flashbacks of Tohru's. I don't think I'll include any more of them, but you never know. Things come up! I promise I'll update soon, but for now, just review! I promise you there will be more romance, you just wait and see! And don't worry about your favorite Tohru pairing, 'cause it will probably be in a future chapter! However, if you have one in mind, don't be afraid to include it in the review that you are now going to give this fanfic! Now click on the "Submit Review" button and press Go! "I'll be waiting." -A direct quote of Saki Hanajima.