Crimson Threads


Hopefully, I can convince my mom to let me stay up for once. Or I can sneak downstairs later... I'm brilliant.

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


Dedication
Ari walked over to the Main house. She was going execute her plan. She walked into Akito's room. Akito looked over at her. "I see you're back. Are you ready to show me that I'm wrong now?" Akito smirked.

"No. I can't show you why you should live." Ari said. "You have to experience it. But, if you lock yourself inside, you'll never see the good things in life. Sure, there are bad things in life, but without them, the good things don't stand out as much." Ari looked at the floor, knowing Akito was probably glad that she wasn't able to carry out her promise. "Go ahead, punish me."

"Ah, but my Mike has changed the deal." Akito said, "I only can punish you if he tells my secret."

"You're a woman, aren't you?"

Akito stepped back in shock. This bitch knows? She smirked. "Well, I guess my Mike failed me. Now you will pay for his faults."

"Wait a minute. Did you just say 'my Mike'? Who are you to go around, claiming people like they're a piece of property?" Ari scoffed.

"You insolent little rat," Akito snarled. "I am the god of the family! I can do what ever I want!"

"You really are a spoiled child. Remember, life's not always fair. You don't get everything you want." Ari said.

Akito eyes filled with fire. "You have no right to speak out of turn! Prepare to receive your punishment!"

Ari smirked. "Gladly."


Mayra woke to a rainy morning. She sighed, knowing how cranky her Kyo would be. Mayra came down to the kitchen. She sat down next to Kyo, but something was wrong.

"Something's wrong... I'm not yelling at anyone. And it's really quiet..." Mayra muttered.

Shigure came into the kitchen. "Mike, did you find Ari?"

Mike shook his head. "The only place I didn't look was at the Sohma estate."

"Wait, Ari's missing, and you guys didn't tell me?" Mayra yelled.

"Didn't Kyo tell you?" Tohru asked.

"No!" Mayra yelled. "Kyo, you knew this?"

Kyo sighed. "I would have told you, but I didn't want you to worry."

Mayra slumped in her chair. Why am I the last one know everything?

The phone rang and Tohru picked up. "Hello? Yes, he's here. Do you want to talk to him now? Okay, hold on a moment."

Tohru handed the phone to Shigure. "It's Hatori. It sounds like he has news."

Shigure looked at the phone. "Hi Hatori!" After a few moments, Shigure's face dropped. "You found Ari? What happened! Is she alright? Well, that's good...I guess. When can we see her? Oh. Okay. Well, we'll see you later. Bye." Shigure got up and hung up the phone.

Mike couldn't stand the silence. "Where's Ari!"

"She went out yesterday. She went to Akito's. She said that she couldn't keep a promise or something. Akito punished her." Shigure bluntly said. "She's badly injured, but we can see her after you four come home from school."

Mike felt like this was all his fault. Even though he made a new deal with Akito, Ari was still hurt. He didn't know if he could see her. Shigure sat down next to Mike. "Do you think you can go to school today?"

Mike shook his head. "Can I stay home?" Mike meekly asked.

Shigure nodded. Mayra, Kyo, and Tohru left for school, while Mike had locked himself in his room. I gotta tell her how I feel soon. Otherwise, who knows what else she'll do to keep us away from Akito.


Ari woke up in a strange room. She tried recalling the night before. Akito had whipped her multiple times, and thrown a variety of things at her. Vases, plates, rocks. Plus the push out the window didn't help much either. Still, Ari felt like she had accomplished something. She didn't feel pathetic in anyway. She felt like she had the power to take down Akito.

Hatori entered the room. "Miss Chang, I see that you're awake. Don't try to move much. You have many bruises, and you lost quite a bit of blood. But otherwise, nothing more. I suggest you try and get some rest."

"Hatori, I did something stupid, right?" Ari asked.

"I would call you act stupid, but you didn't try to predict your outcome." Hatori sat down at his desk. "Tell me, Ari, what makes you think you can change Akito?"

"I can't change him. He has to be able to change himself. Sometimes, you have to find your own faults, and try to change yourself. The only help you get is other people pointing out your faults."

Hatori was stunned at the girl's wisdom. She had a gift. Like Tohru. Tohru could look past people's faults. Ari could change people. She had the power to inspire people. Ari muttered something about how life was perfect, but then fell asleep.


Mike's POV
I couldn't take it anymore. I had to see Ari now. But Shigure wouldn't let me, not until the others came home.

I sat down at my laptop. I logged into my account for my Xanga. I typed a new post. I realized I hadn't posted at all in the past two months. Should I tell everyone about Ari's accident? I decided not to. Otherwise, someone would realize the Sohmas were real. Plus someone might try to take us back home to D.C.

I was about to turn off the computer when I noticed I had new e-mail. I opened my inbox. It was from Ari! Although it was from half a year ago, I still opened it. I had lost Internet privileges for a year, but since we came to Japan, I've been on the computer a lot. I opened it, and there was a URL to a website. According to Ari, she had made a website, and wanted people to visit. I clicked it, and there were poems there. Dark poems. I didn't know she had this dark side to her. There were poems, talking about living nightmares, horrors that would never fade, and... broken hearts? I scrolled down to one poem. It spoke of a love that could never be. At the end of the poem, Ari had written a mini explanation to the readers about this poem.

There's a boy that I've known since... forever. I think I love him, but even if I do, it can never be. He's the smart popular guy, while I'm the weird kid. He's my friend, but nothing more can ever grow.

I dedicate this poem to Mike.

I think when I read the last part, my heart skipped a beat.


Normal POV
As soon as the bell had rung, Kyo, Mayra, and Tohru ran home as fast as they could. Shigure and Mike were already waiting in the car. The other three hopped into the car, and Shigure sped their way to the Main house.

As soon as they reached the Main house, Mike didn't even wait for Shigure to turn off the car. As soon as the car was parked, Mike burst out of the car, heading to Hatori. Mike flung the door to Hatori's office open. "Where's Ari?" Mike panted.

Hatori said nothing, but led the eager boy to Ari's room. Mike found himself in an empty room, eerily similar to Akito's, except much sunnier.

"Mike? What are you doing here?"

Ari's voice made Mike spin around. But at the sight of her, he wanted to crumble. She was wrapped up in bandages, and her face was bruised. Mike ran over and hugged her. He began crying, much to Ari's confusion.

"Mike? Are you okay? Did I scare you?" Ari had never seen Mike cry like this. "I'm sorry. But I thought if I could keep you and Mayra away from Akito, you two would be happy."

"What about you?" Mike asked. "Did you ever think about what could happen to you?"

"Yes. I knew that If I hurt myself really badly, then you would get mad at me." Ari's head fell in shame.

Mike pulled Ari into a hug. "I finally saw your website. the one with the poems. And I saw the one about me."

"Umm... about that..." Ari panicked.

Mike hushed her. "It's okay. I don't deserve someone like you. But you're all I have, Ari." Mike leaned into Ari's ear, and in a hushed whisper, finally said what he had been trying to say. "I love you Ari."


Awww... I can't help but put that in right there...

See ya next time!

Sarah-chan