Crimson Threads


Awwww... It's the last day of spring break... BUT I STILL HAVE THE WEEKEND! Since I gotta go back to school soon, I won't be doing these "5-updates-per-day" things anymore... boohoo... and I actually like this... yesterday I actually got a cramp in my hand from typing so much... Who knew that could happen?

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


I'm Sorry
Ari was in shock. Mayra was right. He does love me. No, no one could love me. I'm just a freak. If they knew the real me, they would run in fear. No, he doesn't really love me.

"No, Mike. I don't think you love me."

Mike was confused. "Of course I love you. You're all I have."

"No, no, no. I know this for a fact. You just care about me. Like a sibling. But it's not love." Ari got up and sat herself against the wall. "Trust me, Mike. I'm doing this to protect you. From me."

"What are you talking about? I thought you were trying to protect us from Akito. Why do you have to protect us from yourself?" Mike asked.

"Because I'm a freak. My dad was right." Ari muttered.

"Don't listen to your dad! He doesn't know you at all!" Mike screamed.

"But he knows enough to tell the truth about me."

"Ari, listen to yourself! You're making no sense anymore! First you go and make a deal with Akito, when you know it'll end like this. Then you purposefully make her hurt you like this, and now you start listening to your dad. If you wanted to listen to you dad, then you should have never come here!" Mike started panting. "Ari, you're not yourself anymore. Where's the Ari I talked to at the park? Where's the girl I ran away with?"

"She never existed, Mike," Ari sighed. "All this time, I've been putting up a front. The only ones who have seen the real me is my family. I'm a freak of nature. And now that I'm the rat, that gives Akito more reason to hurt me. I don't care anymore."

Mike gave up. The girl he had loved had gone. Ari was dark now. She didn't have the sparkle in her eyes. There was no glowing smile on her face. They had disappeared like they had never existed.

"Ari? Are you okay?" Tohru and the others slowly came in. "Hatori said you two were in here, so we decided to give you two some time alone."

"Ari! What did that bastard do to you!" Mayra screamed.

"He's not a bastard, Mayra." Ari corrected. "He's a bitch. That spoiler I found online was true."

"Wow... Akito a girl... It still doesn't make sense to me." Mayra paused, then panicked again. "Ari! How could you let yourself get beaten like this?"

"Oh, it's nothing. Just a bunch of bruises and cut, but otherwise, I'm fine." Ari put up a smile, to fool everyone in the room. It had worked on everyone, except Mike.

"Well, I'm just glad you're okay," Kyo said, looking at the floor. "I mean, sure, the quiet was good, but it was killing me, and I can't stand seeing Mayra so worried."

"Ari, are you sure you're okay?" Shigure asked. "I mean, Hatori is a doctor, but he can't treat how you feel."

"I'm fine Shigure. Thank you guys for worrying so much." Ari stood up and walked over to Shigure, hugging him. "I'm so glad to have you all. You're nothing like my real family in America. Thank you all so much!" Ari began crying.

Shigure hugged her back, with none of the intentions he would normally have. "Don't worry Ari. You're home now."


The ride home was silent. Hatori said she could go home, but she should stay home from school for the rest of the week. Shigure and Ari were in the front, while Kyo, Mayra were in the middle of the van, and Tohru and Mike were in the back.

Tohru could see how sad Mike was, but she couldn't figure out why. "Mike? Are you okay?"

Mike shook his head. Tohru was concerned, but decided to let it go. She felt this was something he had to figure out for himself.

The van pulled up at home, and everyone piled out. Ari slowly walked back to the house, staggering, but refusing to let anyone help her. Mike just walked to his room and locked himself in. Mayra and Kyo went into the backyard, so Kyo could teach Mayra a bit of martial arts. Shigure went into his office. Maybe, for my next book, I should tell the story of a boy and his love for his best friend. Shigure sighed. He hoped this story would have a happy ending.


Ari managed to go up to her room, without falling at all. She sat on her inflatable chair, and grabbed her laptop. Why must my life be so horrible. She signed onto her screen name, and saw Mike was online. Oh, please tell me he didn't see me sign on. After a couple moments, she figured that he was doing something else, and had left his computer on. Ari sighed and went to update her website.

My life is falling apart. I'm in a place where no one knows me. And all the horrible moments keep coming back again. I don't know how to get rid of them this time. Last time, I had hope. But this time, I have no idea what to do.

Mike said he loved me. I had no idea what to say. I told him it wasn't love he felt. All he did was care for me. I didn't want to break his heart, but I can't let him get hurt. Well, not by the real me. If he actually knew me, then he would understand why I have to do all this. I hope one day, I can show people the real me and not get shunned or hurt.

Ari-chan

Ari sighed. Hopefully, no one would look at her site. After all, she had only gotten 7 hits, three of them from her, seeing if the layout was working. Ari closed her laptop, and started drawing in her sketchbook.

She started drawing herself as an anime character, along with Mike and Mayra. Eventually, Ari ended up drawing Kyo, Tohru, and Shigure also. After inking the picture, she scanned it into her laptop, and began coloring it in with Photoshop. She decided to make everyone a certain color. Kyo was obviously orange, and Mayra was yellow, because she was almost as hyper as Ari was herself. Tohru was pink, because she was so soft and kind. Shigure was a darker blue, because he was friendly, but still held some secrets. Mike was green, because he was calm all the time.

Ari wasn't sure of what to make herself. She first thought of red, her favorite color. Red could perfectly represent her anger. But, if she used black, it could convey mystery. She decided to use mainly black on herself, and added red slashes on her clothing.

Ari looked at her picture. It felt perfect, yet still missing something. She couldn't find out what it was, but she let it slide. Ari started cleaning up, when two envelopes slid under her door. Ari grabbed one and opened it. Inside was a note.

Love is
Patient and kind...

It always protects, trusts, and hopes...
Love never fails.

-1 Cor 13:4-8

I love you Ari. I'll wait until you can love me back. Even if it means waiting forever.

Mike

Ari sighed. She knew he loved her. She couldn't believe it though. And she couldn't accept it. He just loved the girl that she put up to hide the person underneath.

Ari picked up the other envelope, and opened that one too.

A friend loves at all times.

Friendship is the Golden Thread that ties our hearts together.

Even if you never love me back, I will always be you friend. Please talk to me. I know you're hiding something. You even said it yourself. I'll be at the secret base you told me about at 5:30.

Mike

Ari couldn't take it anymore. How much longer would she have to wait before she could tell everyone the truth. Did Mike really think he could meet up to what he said? Ari shook her head. Mike doesn't know what he's saying. I have to show him now. Even if he hates me afterwards, it'll be for is own good. I have to show them all. Otherwise, they won't believe me.

Ari looked at the clock. 5 o'clock. Mike was probably going to the secret base. Mike always left early to go somewhere. Half an hour was all she needed to pull off her newest plan.


Mike sat at the secret base. He wanted to be there before Ari was. He looked at his watch. 5:30. She should be here by now. Well, she's never on time. I'll wait a while. Mike looked at the garden before him. He saw something red growing. It was strawberries. Ari would be so happy to see them. He remembered, one time, she had tried to grow strawberries. It had turned out she grabbed a packet of roses instead of strawberries. Ari was a bit disappointed, but she just gave the flowers to their teacher who was moving away that year.

"Mike! I'm so sorry I'm late!"

Ari ran over to him, gasping for air. "I didn't see your note until five minutes ago. I'm so sorry I'm so late!"

Mike quickly helped her stand. "It's okay. You shouldn't tire yourself like this. Especially after Hatori said to rest."

"Still, I'm so sorry," Ari panted.

"Calm down, Ari," Mike said. "So what did you come here for?"

"You were right. I am hiding something from you. I just don't know if I should show it to you."

Mike sighed. "I'll be your friend no matter what. Even if you think I'll hate you, I'll still be here for you." Mike took her hands into his. "Just please tell me. I want to accept you for who you are, nothing less."

Ari started crying. She took her hands out of his, and held his head in her hands. "I'm so sorry, Mike."

Ari squeezed her hands, and Mike fell unconscious. Ari carried his body out of the forest, and walked over to the car. Inside, Shigure, Tohru, Kyo, Mayra, and Akito were unconscious. Ari continued crying as she placed Mike along with them. I'm so sorry Mike. You have so much to live for. I'm just blocking you from achieving so much more. Ari sat in the drivers seat and sped the van away from the house, into the woods. Ari drove the car as fast as she could on the empty road. I regret for having met everyone. All I've done is burdened their lives. Ari stopped at an abandoned building. Hopefully, her plan would work. Mike had ruined her plan from last time, but her final plan was flawless. It had to work.


What could her final plan be? I know! Stay tuned!
Review Responses

luvsit: Don't worry, 12 will come soon!

Nika Phoenix: I never liked "it" either. He reminds me of this creepy kid in my class...(Shudders)

insertnamehere: (such a creative name...) I'm sorry I killed Yuki! (Cries uncontrollably) I'M SO SORRY! (this is funny, because I'm born in the year of the Monkey)

Kyo'sbaby: 12's coming soon!

Galasriniel: I know. Fluffiness is rare for me. Last time my friend wrote a fluff in our fanfic, I felt like it was contaminating my brain. I guess she's rubbed off on me.

See ya next time!

Sarah-chan