Crimson Threads


Heylo! I'm back! Ready to give you the next chapter of Crimson Threads!

:DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to Fruits Basket, but I do own Mike, Ari, and Mayra. The poem in this chapter is called "Mask of Happiness" by me.


At the Park
Ari's POV
I was confused. Why was Mike so moody today? I walked back to the house with Shigure, and snuck back into the house, hoping no one would see me.

Failed. Mayra saw me in the hallway. I tried to look cool. Note: hard when you're torn up and bleeding all over your face.

"Ari? What did you do this time?"

I had no idea what to say. "Ummm... I didn't do anything. I just went into the woods to find Yuki's secret base and got a bit beat up."

Mayra obviously didn't buy it, but she shrugged it off. Thank goodness. I ran into my room. I changed once again, and cleaned myself in the bathroom. After that, I went back into my room. I took out my laptop, and logged onto my site. I was in need to write poetry. I had to get my feelings out.

I laugh and smile

I play and spread cheer

I never show a tear

I just show a mask

A mask of happiness

To hide my sorrows

To hide my fears

To keep others happy

I never asked for endless happiness

But I don't want the pain

But when there's sorrow and trouble

The joy is greater and sweeter

No one understands me

No one really cares

And when I'm about to fall

No one's ever there

All I ask for today

Is to have a helping hand

One to lift my troubles

Blow the clouds away

I felt the poem took so much off my shoulders. Still, the poems I write always have something I don't understand. This time, it was the last stanza. Was I looking for love? No, that's not me.

I decided to ask Shigure to enroll us in school. I jumped down the stairs, and skipped over to Shigure's office. I laughed. Micchan was patrolling the door to Shigure's office so he couldn't escape. I walked over to her. "Can I go in please? I want to ask Shigure to enroll me into a school."

She looked as if she would say no, but she opened the door and pushed me in. That lady is mean...

"You need something Ari?" Shigure asked.

"Umm yes." I was thinking of how to ask him. "Do you think you can get us all enrolled into school?"

"Sure! I'll start now. I'm not even writing. I slipped the manuscript into her bag, but she doesn't know!"

We laughed, and I left the office. On the way out, I whispered to Micchan something about checking her bag. Five seconds later, I heard her crying for joy. She is so funny.

I went into the kitchen to get some food, but I saw Mayra and Kyo kissing. I quietly tried to sneak behind them. As soon as I got close enough, I pulled out my camera phone and snapped a picture of them. They screamed when they saw me, and Tohru and Shigure dashed in, thinking something had happened. Something did happen though. Kyo hit me on the head. But it was worth it. Talk about love at first sight.

I went into the den, to watch TV. Mike was in there. I plopped myself next to him. "Hey Mike! Watcha watching?"

Mike didn't say anything. I was really tired with the silent treatment. "Mike, are you mad at me? I mean, you know you can tell me anything that's bothering you."

Mike sighed. "It's nothing. Don't worry about me."

I got pretty annoyed. "Mike, I know there's something bothering you. Why can't you just say it? I'm your friend, remember?"

I think I hit a soft spot. He just got up and went to his room. I think he locked himself in there too.

"Ari, I suggest you should stop."

I saw Tohru sit down with me. "I just want to know why Mike won't talk to me."

"Sometimes, it's better if you let people solve things for themselves. Otherwise, he'll just get more confused." Tohru explained to me.

Sometimes I wish I was as smart as Tohru. But I can't get the look Mike had out of my head. Everything that's happened is burned into my mind. I can't get it out. I decided that I needed to talk with someone. I went up to Mayra's room. I knocked on her door, hoping she wouldn't be mad at me.

"Come on in!"

I went into her room. Her room's so empty, yet it has that messy look to it. Mayra was on her bed, reading a book. "Oh, hey Ari! Need to talk?"

I was amazed. "How'd you know?"

"You look like you need to, that's why."

I laughed. Mayra seemed to know everything about me. "Mayra, I think I made Mike mad, but I don't know why, and he won't talk to me."

Mayra sighed, "Remember how I told you that Mike likes you?"

"You mean the lie you told me?" Ari joked.

"Seriously Ari, He really does care for you. Especially since the talk at the park."

"I don't believe you."

"Fine, but it's the truth."


Mike's POV
I locked the door to my room, and I mentally slapped myself. Why can't I talk to her? She's the one I care about most. She deserves to know how I feel. She deserves to know. But I can't. She'll think it's all a joke. She's all that I have left. And I made that promise. At the Park.

Flashback

"Mike! Let's go to the swings!" Ari said.

"Okay!" I said. She pulled me over to the swings, where Mayra was waiting for us.

"Hey, do you guys believe in soulmates?" Ari asked.

"Nah," I said. "I think we can choose who we love."

"I believe in soulmates." Mayra said.

Ari agreed, "I think there's that one person that is meant for you, no matter what you think. Even if you never find them, they are still out there."

I was impressed. "Wow, Ari. You sounded like one of those Guru people."

She laughed. "No, I'm just Ari. Ari the normal teenage girl!"

Then two older guys came up. They were members of the local gang. One guy pulled Ari off the swing. "Hey, cutie, wanna go get some drinks?"

"I told you for the last time. I'm not going anywhere with you." Ari snarled.

"Oh come on, if you go with us, we won't ask you again." the other guy said, grabbing her hand.

She pulled back her hand. "NO."

The two guys chuckled. "Well, we tried asking nicely. too late now."

The bigger guy grabbed Ari and threw her onto the ground. I could see what was coming. I ran over and grabbed Ari and ran. We ran, with Mayra right behind us. We all ran into the woods. By the time we had lost them, Ari was in tears. She told us how they kept asking her to go with them. No one knew that this had been going on. Then and there, I promised that I wouldn't let her get hurt anymore.

End Flashback

I want to keep that promise. I won't let Akito hurt her. She's all that I have left.


Ari's POV
I've finally come up with a plan. To make sure that I won't bother Mike anymore. I didn't care about my promise to Akito anymore. And that was my plan.
Ooh! I wonder what Ari's plan is! Wait, I do know it! Mwa ha ha ha! I'll continue as soon as I can!

See ya later!

Sarah-chan