Crimson Threads


Woohoo! I'm so happy! I finally figured out how to make the coffee with out making it taste like toxic waste! Okay, so I never had toxic waste, but you know what I mean, right?

:DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to Fruits Basket, but I do own Mike, Ari, and Mayra.


I Will Show You
Ari, Mike, and Mayra stood in front of the Sohma Estate. They were all nervous. Especially Mike. The way the girls had described Akito made him seem like he was a dictator. Ari and Mayra told him about how Akito had hurt Hatori, Kisa, Rin, and how he tortured Yuki. Mike was ready to make sure no harm came to any of them, especially Ari. Hatori came up to them, and led them to Akito's door.

"Okay guys," Ari whispered. "Remember, don't say anything that might make him mad. Don't speak unless he lets you."

"But what if he attacks us?" Mayra asked.

"I can take him," Mike assured.

"No, I'll take it. I don't care if he hurts me. You guys are more important. Besides, he would rather pick on the little rat than you guys." Ari said.

"But Ari, he'll beat you to a bloody pulp!" Mayra whispered harshly.

"So? I have something to say to him, and I can handle a bit of action!" Ari smiled.

The other two sighed. Ari could be so naive sometimes. But there were moments when she was mature. Hatori led them into Akito's room. Akito was in his chair, with an air like he was a king. He held his little white bird in his finger. The four bowed down to them, and the three teenagers kneeled as Hatori stood by Akito's side.

"Are you the three who claim to be the new Zodiac members?" Akito said, looking at the white bird in his hand.

The three nodded. "Yes," Ari said. "We are."

"How did you become cursed?" Akito questioned.

Ari explained how they were in the accident, and how they had received Yuki's blood in the hospital.

Akito became interested. He got off his chair and leaned over to Ari. He took a finger and lifted Ari chin, so they were inches away from each other. "And what are your names?"

Ari gulped. "I am Ari Chang. The other girl is Mayra Lotem, and the boy is Mike Hanson."

"Well, Miss Chang, why have you come here to Japan?"

"We came so we could be accepted. We want to belong. We think we can because there are people like us here."

Akito filled with rage and slapped her. "You think you can belong! You can't! You are not a Sohma! Even if you are cursed, you will not belong here!"

Ari was in shock. Blood dripped from her mouth onto the floor. "You don't know anything..."

Akito slapped her again. "Who are you to know that!"

Ari stood up and came face to face with Akito. "Look at you. Right now, all we ask is to belong, and you reject us. We know the terrible things you have done. We know what you did to Hatori, to Rin, to Kisa. How do you know they won't accept us?"

Akito was mad with fury. He grabbed a nearby vase. "Because I am their God! They must follow everything I say!" He threw the vase at Ari, but she dodged and the vase broke into shards against the opposite wall.

Mike couldn't stand watching Ari being hurt. "Stop this Akito!"

"Mike, no!" Ari yelled. "I can handle this myself. I don't want you guys getting hurt!" She turned her attention to Akito, who looked like he was about to attack again. "Please calm down, Akito. All I'm saying is that we all care about you. But if you keep hurting us like this, then no one will be here for you."

"NO ONE IS HERE FOR ME AT ALL!" Akito screamed. He lunged at Ari, and grabbed her by the throat. He held her up against the wall, choking her. "How do you feel now? Do you feel, accepted?"

"Stop this Akito. I'll stay here if you stop this."

Akito's eyes widened as he loosened his grip on her. Ari gasped for breath as Mike stood up. "Stop taking your anger out on her. I'll be here to help you, Akito."

"Mike, what are you doing!" Ari yelled. "I told you I can handle this. I don't want to see you hurt!"

"Well, I don't want you to get hurt either!" Mike yelled. "Akito, if you want someone to talk to, I will come here anytime."

"Mike, you idiot!" Ari ran over and slapped him. "I'm going to handle this. Remember what I told you? You guys are everything to me. If he hurts you, I won't take it." She turned to Akito. "I'm going to show you that I care about you. I don't care if you beat me into a bloody pulp, I'm going to show you that there's a reason to live."

Akito stared at the two. He could obviously tell that the girl would do anything to prove him wrong, and that the boy was madly in love with this 'Ari' girl. He chuckled. "Are you sure that you're willing to prove me wrong, Ari?"

She nodded, "Even if it's the last thing I do."

"And Mike," Akito turn his attention to the boy. "Are you willing to come here?"

Ari looked at Mike with a 'you-better-not-say-yes' look. "Yes. I am."

Akito looked over at Mayra. She was still kneeling, petrified with fear. She was stuck with fear. Akito walked over to her. He grabbed her hair, pulling it with great force. He looked over at Ari, whose face was filling with fury. "If you don't keep your word, Miss Chang, then I'll treat this girl here as if she was my beloved Yuki."

"Why would you want to hurt her, if you can hurt the actual rat?" Ari asked.

"You mean she's not the Rat?" Akito asked.

Ari smirked. "I am. How about this. If Mike and I break our word, you can hurt me in anyway you want. I don't care if you hurt me. Because you can't."

Akito liked this girl. She had spunk. "Deal. You three are dismissed." Akito left the room, while Hatori, Mayra, and Mike rushed over to Ari.

"Ari! Are you mad!" Mayra screamed. "He'll kill you!"

Hatori agreed. "Mayra is right. He'll hurt you badly if you don't keep your word."

Ari chuckled. "I don't care. I'm not going to get hurt. I'm gonna prove him wrong."

Mike sighed. "Ari, you just made this into a life or death situation, you know that?"

"Yep. But like I said. I'm going to come out on top. Soon, Akito will learn to love us like we are accepted. He'll learn that. I'm gonna show him." Ari laughed, but then there was a giant 'poof,' and Ari had transformed into a rat.

"Miss Chang," Hatori said, "you're under a great deal of stress. I suggest you three go home and you to rest up."

Mayra nodded and Mike picked up Ari's and her clothes. The three walked back. Mayra feared for Ari's fate. Ari was stubborn, so there was no way Mayra could convince Ari to change her mind. Mike was too, so that made it worse. Mayra thought of going back to Akito's by herself, but she feared that Akito would think Ari had sent her and would end up hurting Ari. Oh! This is so hard. I don't want anyone to get hurt, she thought.

Mike and Mayra arrived back at Shigure's house. Mike put the rat in her bed, and covered her with her blanket. Mike went back into his room. How was all this going to work? Should he go back to the Main house now? Mike sighed. All this thinking was making him hungry. Mike went into the kitchen, to find Kyo, Shigure, and Tohru in there, eating lunch.

"Oh! Mike, you're back!" Tohru smiled. "Would you like some lunch?"

Mike nodded, "I need it, especially right after what just happened."

Mike told them about their visit. As he told the story, Tohru's eyes welled up with tears. When Mike finished the story, Tohru had already began to make some soup for Ari when she woke up. Mike quickly ate his food and got his jacket.

"Where are you going?" Shigure asked.

"Back to the Main house." Mike said. "I gotta make Akito change the deal. I won't take it if Ari gets hurt anymore." Before anyone could say anything else, Mike had gone out the front door.

"Hey guys! Where'd Mike go?"

The three turned to see Ari coming back downstairs in a sweater and sweats. She yawned. "What's up? It looks like you just saw a ghost." She laughed as she plopped herself next to Kyo. "Where'd Mikey-boy go?" She looked at Kyo and poked him in the side. "Come on, kitty cat, tell me!"

Kyo jumped when she poked him. Ari chased him around the house, poking him until Kyo gave up. "Mike went back to the Main house! Now stop poking me!"

Ari stopped, shocked. "He's gonna try to change Akito's mind. I won't let that happen!" Ari ran over to the door, trying to get her shoes on.

"Ari, you shouldn't go. You're hurt!" Tohru said.

"Well, if I don't go, then Mike will get hurt, and I won't stand for that." Ari dashed out the door, looking for Mike on the way to Main house. Mike, when did you become such an idiot! Don't do this!


What will happen to Mike? Will he reach Akito before Ari finds him? Keep reading to find out!

See ya later!

Sarah-chan