I haven't written a fic of this imaginative scope ever, but fantasy is what I gear my original work toward so I am very interested in feedback! If you like Fruits Basket, fantasy, action, intrigue and romance please give this story a shot. It starts out in-series after whatever manga translation I've read last and gradually does its own thing. I hope to keep everyone in character, get into their heads, complicate their relationships, throw in some action, some carefully crafted and necessary original characters (don't be immediately turned off), some love, some danger, some drama and possibly break a curse. Tohru x (Yuki/Kyo), Kureno/Uo, Hiro/Kisa, Haru/Rin, ?/?
*kakigori is kinda like a snow cone. Shaved ice with flavored syrup.
No, I don't know why the title doesn't center. It looks centered before I upload. Thanks for reading!
Evermore
Chapter One
By zapenstap
The rooms Akito occupied were darkened. With the doors and windows to the garden open or the curtains pulled aside, white light from outside streamed into the darkened interior, but the sunbeams only stretched so far across the room's wooden floors and there were always corners that collected gloom. Today, the curtains were pulled halfway shut and the electric lights turned off. Akito claimed that the light hurt his eyes. Whether or not it was true was uncertain. It was sometimes difficult to tell Akito's lies and deceptions and conceits from his real ailments. Even Hatori could not be entirely sure.
Shigure knelt just inside the door as he always did, patience oozing from every pore, maintaining a soothing, knowledgeable smile. It was important never to appear upset, to always appear calm and in control and trustworthy, not demanding. Never that. When anyone grew demanding around Akito, or emotional, or rebellious, he became upset, and that was bad for everyone's health. Akito was the master and Shigure was loyal, but the relationship was painful. And yet, from this position he had to do what he could. Everything depended on Akito. It had to. He couldn't be wrong after all this time, after all his patient work. It could be frustrating when so much depended on so many minute details, but he had to see it through if there was to be any hope for anyone. And yet, as time drew on, nothing changed—or at least not anything significant—and he wasn't sure the minute fluctuations were enough. And yet… There had to be a way.
Patiently.
"Is it any different?"
Akito stood by the doorway to his garden, half slouched against the frame, his head leaning on the wall as he looked through the curtains at the flowers and plants and walkways that were maintained for him everyday. He watched his garden with a bored expression, his eyes hooded by the same gloom that darkened the room.
"No, Akito-san," Shigure said cleanly and clearly. It was no good mumbling, or trying to hide anything. Akito knew somehow. It seemed sometimes that he always knew what all the Juunishi, what The Twelve, were thinking and feeling, knew how to read them. That he was so intelligent was part of the problem, that and everything else. Controlling Akito was not an option. It never had been. All his life, ever since he was a baby, he could not be controlled or disciplined or taught any more than he could be touched and praised and loved, only doted upon, sometimes led, and if you were very, very careful, manipulated. But that was dangerous. Nobody knew more about manipulation than Akito. So under his calm smile, Shigure sweated.
"She really is worthless then," Akito murmured. He turned from the door, his eyes sliding across the room, glancing lazily at the white bird that fed from a water tray to the ikebana that sat so delicately on the empty table in the corner. There was little else in the room to look at. Akito had never had any possessions, no material things that a godhead did not need, unless one counted the Juunishi themselves.
His eyes fell next upon Shigure, and his lips curved into one of those secret smiles that hid some writhing mess of affection and hatred, frustration and bitterness. He wasn't angry today, and Shigure, who was sensitive to his moods after all this time of working with him, or trying to, was thankful for that at least. Sometimes he wondered if it wouldn't be a bad idea to rile him up more, to make him openly angry more often, to let him vent his pent up emotions, but he also feared any such action as the consequences could be disastrous. Patience for now. Minute changes.
"I knew she couldn't do any good," Akito continued, and Shigure settled himself for the long train of thoughts that Akito had stored up to tell one of the few people who would listen to anything he ever said. "That's why I let her try. Because it's hopeless. Life is hopeless. When I die, I want you all to know how hopeless life is. You will thank me for telling you, so you don't have to go through the hardship of discovering it for yourself. Even Tohru Honda will come to see that it is true. Just watch." He paused, as if considering something. "Do the rat and the monster still fight?"
"Almost everyday, Akito-san."
He smirked. "Of course they do. You see? That is the way it was meant to be. That is how it was decided. Everything follows a plan and the plan can not be changed. You are all mine. You are all cursed. Even when I die you are still mine. There is nothing except the Curse. But for awhile we will be happy, living out our time together. For a time before I die, after graduation, all the Twelve will be together, the way it was meant to be, and I will take care of everyone. That is my happy dream for you."
Shigure remained silent, but his silence was acceptance and they both knew it.
Akito took a few shuffling paces, moving very slowly as if to conserve energy. He never moved quickly unless he was angry, and then he struck like a viper, lightning quick and too fast to counter. The expression in his eyes deadened for a moment when he stopped just before Shigure's kneeling form, staring into the shadowed corners of the room. He looked away, ignoring the dog at his feet as if Shigure didn't exist, then turned his head and took note of him abruptly. His lips curved in a smile, light dancing in the deep places of his dark eyes. "It is good that you are loyal to me, Shigure. It is good that you know your place." He leaned forward, looking just past Shigure's eyes. "The others will also come to know their place. It is my will and my wish that everyone knows where they belong so that they can be as happy as they can be, being forever cursed." He straightened, and turned, walking slowly over the water dish where the bird sipped obliviously. "They will understand one day why it has to be so. Just remember, it is because of me that anyone is able to live."
"You are the most important, Akito-san."
"Of course I am. That's how it was decided." He paused, and then said negligently, "you may leave me alone now."
Shigure stood, suppressing the urge to sigh. He watched Akito's back for a minute, feeling sorrowful and regretful and fighting the twinges of frustration. How long would they have to play these games? Akito was ignoring him now. His head was bent over the white bird, coaxing it onto his finger. Shigure gathered himself to go.
It was then that Akito's neck snapped up suddenly, his eyes flying open. A brief instant of what looked like shock twisted his face, and then he let out an ear-splitting shriek that shook the walls. The bird ascended into the air in a flurry of white feathers as Akito wilted to the floor, clutching his head and screaming.
Shigure was by his side in a moment, kneeling to touch his shoulders, shaken by the sound. His eyes scanned Akito's form but there didn't seem to be anything the matter with him. "Akito! What is it? What's wrong?"
Akito lifted his head, teeth gritted in something like pain. One of his hands clutched the hand Shigure's had placed on his shoulder, long thin fingers curling around the writer's wrist. His screams died, but his lips twisted in a snarl. He stared off into nothing, hardly noting Shigure at all. "It's not me." He panted, his voice sounding strained. His eyes blazed. "Find Hatori!"
*****
"It's hot today," Arisa said, brushing her hair off her forehead with the back of her hand. "What do you guys say to some ice cream or kakigori or something? Tohru? Hana? Kyo? Prince?"
"Well," Yuki murmured in his usual soft tones. "Something to eat couldn't hurt. I don't know of any places near school, though."
"Wha? Are you kidding?" Arisa said. "Prince, you really need to get out more. Are you telling me you come here for most the day everyday for three years and you've never explored the area around campus?"
"Most people attend classes during school, Arisa," Saki Hanajima interposed in a dead-pan tone.
"Oh yeah," Arisa intoned. "I guess with your being class president and all you probably shouldn't skip. What about before school?"
"He sleeps until the last damned minute," Kyo said.
"Late riser, huh?" Arisa said before Yuki could respond with a biting reply. "I never would have guessed it about the Prince. What about after school?"
"I have meetings most days," Yuki replied.
Tohru smiled. Walking in the midst of all her friends, she was content to be silent and enjoy their company. As they talked to one another, she listened, reminding herself of all the things she loved about these people whose personalities were so different and admiring the way their differences made their good qualities sparkle so uniquely. She wondered how she could be so lucky to have such great friends, diverse people who cared about her as much as these people did.
"What do you want, Tohru?" Arisa asked. "Ice cream or kakigori?"
"Uh…either sounds fine to me," Tohru replied.
"Can't you make up your mind about anything?" Kyo demanded. "You're as bad as that damn Yuki. It's not that hard. Ice cream or shaved ice?"
The five of them were walking on the sidewalk just outside the school's main building. School had gotten out a little early because an all-school assembly at the end of the day hadn't gone as long as planned. Yuki was upset about it. The assembly was planned by the student council, but half of what they were supposed to present hadn't been organized because the council members were flakes and Yuki couldn't do all the work himself. Tohru had listened to Yuki complain about student council a time or two, but though she didn't tell him, she secretly thought that this was good for Yuki. Being in a leadership position forced him to make decisions, which, as Kyo noted, he wasn't always good at, and it was challenging him in social ways too. Tohru remembered that Yuki had been afraid to be the council president, and almost hadn't agreed to do it, but she was glad he did. She hoped that with time he would surprise himself and…
"Hello? Hey! I asked you a question!"
Tohru blinked out of her thoughts, looking in confusion at Kyo. Then she remembered. Ice cream? Shaved ice? "Oh! Um…uh…" She rubbed her head in embarrassment and confusion.
"Be nice to her," Yuki said sharply. "Give her time to think!"
"It's not a difficult question!" Kyo snapped back, and eyed Tohru sideways. "She looks like she was thinking about something else entirely."
Tohru realized she must have been staring at Yuki and flushed scarlet. Yuki was appraising Kyo coolly. Kyo's teeth were clenched as he glared back in response.
"Tohru has trouble staying focused sometimes," Arisa said.
"You're one to talk," Saki murmured.
Tohru swung her eyes between Kyo and Yuki, frozen as she watched their faces change from mere annoyance to genuine dislike and disintegrating sharply into anger. Yuki's soft, delicate features took on a blade-sharp edge has his eyes narrowed and glinted fiercely. Kyo's face turned a shade of angry red, his fists clenched and his shoulder muscles shaking. "Um…you guys?" Tohru interjected, waving her hands. "I didn't mean to start a fight. I'll decide okay?" She squeezed her eyes shut, envisioning ice cream and kakigori and trying to feel out which one seemed tastier. "Ice cream!" she said. "No! Kakigori!
When she opened her eyes, Kyo and Yuki were still eyeing each other, but with her last utterance Kyo broke eye contact with Yuki, put his fist on his hips and looked at her. "Come on now. Really."
Yuki smiled at her. "It's okay, Miss Honda. Take your time. We'll be happy with whatever you decide."
"I would like some chocolate truffles," Saki said suddenly, interrupting Tohru's blank reply, one finger on her chin and eyes raised to the sky.
"Oh yeah," Arisa said, turning to her. "That sounds good. I know a chocolate shop down the street that's got some really good selections. Let's go there."
Yuki and Kyo both blanched, freezing in time and space. "I thought you said you were hot!" Kyo shouted.
"Well, now I feel like chocolate," Arisa said, declining a verbal battle.
"I've decided!" Tohru cried, raising a triumphant hand into the air. "Chocolate ice cream!"
"Yeah, sure." Arisa gave a slow, measuring blink. "I know an ice cream shop too."
"With truffles," Saki added, and began walking supposedly in the direction of the shop, eyes staring straight ahead at a determined goal that only they could see. The others slowly fell in on her heels.
"Fine," Kyo said, and his eyes remained glued to Yuki in an unspoken challenge. Yuki did not say anything.
"Uh yeah," Tohru said nervously. "That sounds good. Let's go."
Tohru fretted as they walked. Kyo and Yuki flanked her on either side, Yuki gliding in step with her on her left and Kyo striding forcibly on her right. She kept her arms and elbows in, shuffling along between them as she looked back and forth from one to the other, trying to read their thoughts in their expressions. Kyo wore his feelings on his sleeve, his expression suppressed frustration and determination fueled by an angry rage that he simmered for the purpose. Yuki's face was unreadable, cool and composed, a mystery hidden behind a careful mask. His eyes were large and luminous like mirrors. Sometimes those eyes expressed such deep hurt and uncertainty that Tohru ached for him deep in her breast, but right now they were icy walls, not windows, and nothing of his thoughts could be read in any of his features.
Tohru's own expression wilted a little as she thought about these two young men who were so different and so special to her. She was sure they cared about her a great deal, though she wasn't sure when or why, and she cared deeply for them, so deeply that she could never take sides. She wouldn't allow herself to think on anything that would complicate the situation further. She could never choose one over the other. It was much easier for things to remain as they were. Yeah. Sure. She was their friend, and they were hers, even though the feelings she had were so very deep, so deep that they sometimes frightened her when she was alone and thinking of them… even though…
"Wait," Saki said suddenly, and stopped.
Kyo almost bumped into her, and flushed under Yuki's assessing stare.
"I sense something," Saki continued. She scanned the surroundings, her eyes gliding over trees and bushes and rooftops.
"Like what?" Kyo demanded casually. "Can't it wait? I'm starving."
"Something strange," Saki said.
Tohru stared at her friend. Sometimes Hana's electric pulse picked up signals that were unusual. She could detect the Sohma curse, Tohru knew, even if she didn't know what it was. Every once and awhile Tohru worried that Hana would figure it out, but so far nothing like that had happened, perhaps because Saki was afraid of her own power and rarely used it for anything except shooing the Prince Yuki Fanclub when they became bothersome. That she was picking up something now that worried her enough to say something about it was troublesome.
"I'm curious," Arisa said. "What does it feel like?"
"I'm not sure," Saki said. Her expression was always flat, her emotions carefully constrained. "It feels…supernatural." Her expression narrowed. "I'm not exactly sure how to describe it. Energy waiting to be expelled, a watching presence…"
"I don't feel anything," Kyo said, scratching his head. Kyo shrugged his shoulders, looking from side to side nervously. Tohru noticed him fidgeting, something he rarely did. He spun the bracelet on his wrist, spinning it around and around. "But you know, you're creeping me out," he said to Hana. "I think the strangest thing around here is you." Tohru watched Kyo worriedly. He never touched that bracelet.
"Maybe some ice cream will help?" Arisa suggested. "It could be one of those fangirls stalking Yuki. They're kind of supernatural. Well, they're not normal anyway."
"Maybe," Saki said, but the way she said it sounded like 'no, definitely not.'
"Stop that," Yuki said suddenly in Kyo's direction. Tohru heard the "stupid cat" inference that was dropped in front of Saki and Arisa. "Stop spinning that thing. You look like an idiot. It's probably nothing."
Saki flashed Yuki a look, then glanced at Kyo's bracelet. "Yes," she said, and turned abruptly away. "It's probably nothing. My electric signals tell me there is chocolate this way."
"Aw, come on, Hana," Arisa said, catching up with her in a light trot as Saki continued on her way to the ice cream shop with a purposeful glide. "I believe you."
Tohru was left with Yuki and Kyo as Arisa followed Saki out of school grounds and around the corner.
"Um, maybe we should catch up?" Tohru said, gesturing vaguely in the direction of Arisa's retreating form. She smiled to lighten the mood, but nobody was looking at her.
Yuki was staring Kyo down, his face a cold mask of disapproval. "You draw attention to that cursed thing and you'll get us all in trouble."
"We're both cursed," Kyo said, but he looked away, avoiding Yuki's glare. "Just leave over, okay? It felt funny."
"What are you talking about?" Yuki demanded.
Kyo touched the beads on his wrist. "It…prickled. Just for a moment. It's gone now." Yuki continued to stare. Kyo's teeth clenched. "You know, that psychic girl was creeping me out. I probably just imagined it." He looked at Tohru suddenly, noticing her staring at him with concern and worry. Anger boiled in his eyes. "What are you looking at? I said it's nothing!"
Tohru flinched.
Nobody said anything for a full minute. Kyo flushed and looked away, ashamed of his outburst and unable to meet her eyes.
"It surprises me again and again how much of an idiot you are," Yuki said condescendingly. Tohru bit her tongue. "What surprises me even more is that I bother to spend time in your presence. I don't know how anybody can stand you." Tohru suddenly felt two pairs of eyes turn to look at her.
Kyo bristled.
"There's a reason the Cat is an outcast," Yuki said.
"There's a reason they say the Rat is hateful!" Kyo shouted back.
Tohru's stomach jumped until she felt queasy. Yuki was just blowing off steam from the day's frustrations but Kyo was really upset. She could see it all over his face and in every shake of his body and stutter in his tongue. He was blaming himself, blaming his temper, his lack of self-control, maybe even his existence, and Yuki was just making it worse, perhaps without really realizing it. She opened her mouth to stop it, but she knew, even before a whisper of protest escaped her lips, that it was too late.
"Damn you to hell, you damn rat!" Kyo exploded, his face flushing red with rage and shame and desperation. Fury tensed his muscles as the orange-haired youth flung himself at Yuki. "I'll kill you this time!"
All that fire met a wall of cool ice as Yuki stepped smoothly backward, blocked Kyo's first punch, deflected his second and sent him sprawling backward with a well-aimed kick. Kyo toppled, thudding violently against the ground with a string of curses. He hit the earth and rolled face-down, clouds of dust flying up where his body landed.
"Yuki…" Tohru appealed.
Kyo leaped suddenly to his feet, shoes scuffing the dirt. His eyes caught hers briefly, filled with pain and spent rage that has disintegrated to frustration and a deep, soul-scorching shame. His eyes caught hers and then he turned, dirt on his cheek, and bolted out of her sight, disappearing alone into the woods.
"…don't," Tohru finished. Her heart ached. "Oh, Kyo."
Yuki watched Kyo disappear from where he stood. It was plain that he was angry too, both at Kyo and at himself. "I don't know why I act like that around him," he said. "Miss Honda, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things, at the very least for your sake. I know you want us to try to get along. It's just…I don't know. I lose my temper when he's around."
Tohru lowered her eyes. She hoped that Yuki just couldn't see how Kyo was hurting like she could. She couldn't let herself believe that Yuki was aware of Kyo's pain and was that insensitive to it. Well, maybe he was in some ways, but…
She felt Yuki's hand on her shoulder. "Miss Honda, he's not hurt, just angry with me. He'll come back home by dinner, I'll bet. Please, let me escort you home. Unless you still want some ice cream? I'll buy you some if you'd like."
They cared so much about her. It was really amazing.
She shook her head. "No," she said. "It's okay. I shouldn't get upset. We'll just go home and I can get started on dinner." She smiled for his benefit and he smiled back as she allowed him to walk her home. She would talk to Saki and Arisa later since it might be difficult to find them now. She didn't know where the ice cream store was either!
*****
Kyo ran until he was tired, stopping when he could run no more and putting his hands on his knees, leaning forward to keep from getting dizzy. Heaving deep breaths, he waited until his heart beat slowed a bit and then sat down on a boulder that jutted up out of the ground. He had run between trees, jumped a fence and ran past various school buildings until he found himself behind the school's maintenance building on the far side of campus. Here there was a furnace, a coiled hose, a discarded rake, a dumpster and a view of the street, but no people in sight. It was the perfect place to be alone.
Not that he was going to cry or anything.
Instead he just sat, taking in breaths and turning his thoughts over in his head.
Yuki was right. That was what hurt so much, what cut so deeply.
You're a monster. You were born a monster and you will always be a monster.
Akito's voice. Damn him. Kyo wished it was easy to say "screw it. I don't believe you." He wished he could just shrug it off, go his own way. But he couldn't. Even he, the outcast, cursed and excluded, could not defy Akito, could not talk back to him. Why? Why couldn't he just be himself, what other people thought be damned? Why did it matter so much what Akito said?
I'll still come and visit you. I'll be by your side. You won't be lonely.
In a cage.
Was his fate to be alone with only Akito for company? As soon as he graduated High School he was going to be locked up. He tried not to think about it, to live his life with the time he had. And for the time being he had Tohru, for just a little while, someone who accepted him, even if she was afraid of monsters. Lifting his wrist, he looked at his beads, knowing them for what they were. Human bones, a reminder that someone somewhere sometime in the past had died so that he might wear the shape of a human being for awhile when really…he was a monster. Who had thought that worth it? What magic had even made it possible? He could never understand and yet he was grateful for it. And hated it. But did he hate himself? No, he couldn't. For some reason he really couldn't.
Kyo stood up, stretching his back and looking toward the sky. Blue skies again. Always blue skies whenever he felt down. It reminded him of Tohru, so tranquil and lovely and high above. He scratched his head. She was kinda like a cloud in a way…all floaty and bouncy and pure and cleansing. Or was that a bit of stretch?
He was kinda hungry. Thinking of Tohru made him think of food. What time was it? He'd been sitting and thinking for awhile. It was probably pretty close to dinner time. And Tohru was making salmon tonight so he really wasn't about to miss it. He could just avoid Yuki for awhile, not that he didn't always try to avoid Yuki. It wasn't like he had to talk to any of those people. Sometimes his thoughts just popped out. And then he got in trouble. He could never be polite and withdrawn and diplomatic like Yuki, not that he would want to be anything like Yuki ever, though it did annoy him how easily Yuki learned things and how good he was at everything he tried. Still…
Kyo was still musing when he caught a sound like the scrape of metal, a metallic twang that rang in his ears. Immediately, ever muscle in his body was alert. He turned, raising his hands and bracing his feet defensively, catching the whisper of danger in the air as a shadow rushed at him from an unexpected angle. He wasn't sure what he expected. Some idiot playing a prank perhaps, but whatever he could have foreseen, he never could have anticipated the flesh-tearing pain in his side as a knife pierced deeply into his body.
The pain left him speechless, crippling his senses.
His legs buckled and he collapsed, his scream sputtering into a shocked gasp that failed to expel energy. His breath swallowed itself and he struggled to cry out as he felt the weight of someone pinning him down, crushing his lungs. A hand darted out, and he felt his chin slam up against his teeth as his jaw was struck from underneath, silencing any sound he might have made. His eyes briefly caught the image of boots, a male form, of dark hair, but he couldn't keep them open. His own hands flailed, but there was blood on his fingers, and the sensations in his head were haze. Pain consumed everything, a flare of sharp, biting fire that pushed out all emotions and muted all his senses.
The weight left his body and he cried out raggedly, one hand going automatically to his side, covering a wound that bled through his fingers and upon the grass. A shadow moved over him, a body stepping over him, he surmised, and then disappeared, his assailant vanishing, leaving him where he lay. Kyo couldn't think about it. He could hardly think at all. His body was weakening with the loss of blood. If he transformed he might not survive. Hell, he might not survive anyway.
He struggled to breathe, struggled to get to his knees, pressing his ripped shirt to his side, a shirt that was soaked through with blood. He looked down at the wound, feeling nauseous by the sight of it, sickened in his stomach, and realized at the same time with greater horror that his bracelet was gone.
TBC
Thus ends chapter one. This story is original in its conception, but it is also a bit of a project so if you like the story and want to see more, please write a review. I do like writing for myself, but I also like my work to be read by other people. It means a great deal to me. Thank you very much! Please proceed to the next chapter. ^_^
