DISLAIMER -- I do not own Fruits Basket, or any of its characters. However, I do own this story and any original characters not from Fruits Basket
Any similarities between this story and others are purely coincidental and I apologize for the inconvenience.
Translations:
San Added to the end of someone's name out of respect.
Kun Like "san" only it's used for endearment.
Chan Basically the same as "kun" only used normally for girls and younger children.
If I'm wrong, please inform me.
I'm not too fond of using a lot of Japanese in fics, for the simple reason that some people don't understand what I'm writing.
That is one thing I'm trying to avoid. However there will be times when I'll use some words here and there, just to get the feel.
Warning:
This is a Mary Sue. If you do not like this type of story, please do not read.
I appreciate reviews, but not flames.
Also:
I cannot promise a new chapter every week. This story was made purely
for my pleasure and love of Fruits Basket and writing. School has kept
me very busy this year, so I will update when I can. All I ask of my
readers is patience. I'll get this fic finished sooner or later.
Story: Je Pretend Que Tu Fais Bien
Author: rembrandt77
Chapter 1: The Visitor
It was unusually quite in the Sohma house that winter morning. Yuki and Kyou were sound asleep, after spending half of the night fighting over a "lost" article of clothing. And Shigure, after being threatened by his editor, was peacefully finishing up his manuscript which was due the day before.
"Ahh. What a lovely morning." Tohru Honda said, basking in the rays of the morning's light, while drinking a cup of freshly brewed tea.
She had been living in the Sohma house for over three years now, and found that she enjoyed spending time with them above all else. "Shigure-san?" She waited for his usual greeting.
"What is it my little flower?"
Tohru blushed. "Would you like some tea? I just made it and hoped that maybe it might help you finish your writing."
"Oh, yes that was wonderful of you to do. I would love some of your tea, Tohru-kun."
She smiled lightly, taking a cup out of the cabinet. Shigure is so nice for letting me stay. I'm so blessed to be in such kind company. She walked carefully, not wanting the tea to spill.
"Here you go Shigure-san. I hope you like it." Tohru waited patiently as he accepted the cup and took a sip of the warm, green liquid.
"Mmmmh, It's wonderful my dear, as always."
Tohru thanked him for his compliment, and quickly departed from the room.
Shigure smiled, finishing up a sentence as she left. "You've been such a blessing. Tohru…stay always." Absentmindedly, he stared into the cup, as the liquid swirled distorting his reflection.
"I'm looking for Tohru Honda. Does she still live here?" A petite girl with dark brown hair and green eyes asked anxiously, standing in front of an elderly man. "Am I correct with my assumptions?"
The elderly man scratched his head. "No, she doesn't live here anymore. Why do you ask? I'm sure all Tohru's friends know where she lives by now." He raised a wrinkled brow. "Who are you anyway?"
The girl's eyes wavered. "Well…I am a friend…I guess I just forgot." Great…that was smooth.
The old man did not seem too convinced. "Oh, don't worry my dear. I know where my granddaughter lives now, if I could only find that address…." He left to search.
"You're…granddaughter?" I thought he looked familiar. Must be Tohru's father's dad.
"Yes, yes." Only the man's back could be seen, as he was shuffling through the drawers of a small table. "Ah, here we go! This should be able to help you."
The girl took the paper after the elderly man scribbled some numbers on it. "Thank you sir, for all your help." Without another word, the girl was down the street.
"Hmmm, strange girl…but at least she has good manners."
Oh Tohru, will I ever find you? The girl rummaged through her pocket, looking for the paper. She smoothed out the wrinkles. "Hmm, Sohma house is it? I hope it's easy to find." Turning back to Tohru's grandfather's house, she ran to retrieve her suitcases. Good thing he didn't see them. She pulled one out from behind a bush in the old man's yard, once she was sure no one was watching. "What would they think of Tohru's "school companion" carrying around American suitcases?"
Snow was quickly falling from the sky in large flakes. The wind was bitter and nipped at her skin.
"Great, this should be loads of fun." She huffed, trudging along and cursing the snow as she went. "I hate snow."
She walked for what seemed like hours, and fatigue crept up on her slowly, like a thief. Or a ninja. She chuckled rubbing her ear. "Numb, should have wore earmuffs." Her coat was getting damp and she pulled it tighter around her for warmth. I hope your close Tohru…because I'm going to freeze to death!
"Good morning, Miss! Just your friendly mailman!"
"Oh, hello." Tohru greeted the man with a smile. She watched him sift through his bag.
"Here we go." He handed her three envelopes. "Sorry about this one." The mailman pulled a slightly discolored, crumpled envelope from his pocket. "It must have got lost in the bins."
Tohru ran her fingers over the envelope. The ink on the address was smudged. "How did you know to send it here?"
The mail man smiled. "Well your name is Tohru isn't it?"
Tohru gasped. How did he…?
"I heard your brothers call you that when I delivered the mail yesterday."
Brothers?
"Anyway, see here?" He pointed at the smudged address. "If you look carefully enough, you can see the name Tohru. See?"
Tohru didn't see, but she took his word for it. "Oh, but aren't there other Tohru's in Japan?"
The mailman sighed. "Yes…but I only know one!"
"Miss Honda, you should wear a scarf before you go outside." Yuki said, leaning in the door way. "It's gotten colder in the last hour."
"Oh Yuki! You're awake!" Tohru turned from the mailman and grabbed the scarf as he suggested. "Uh, well thank you sir, if it's not for me then I'll…um…give it to you tomorrow!"
The mailman smiled and bowed. "Good day, Miss Tohru."
"Oh wait!" Tohru called after him. "Do you know where it came from?"
The mailman shrugged. "I don't rightly know, but with that many stamps, it sure must have come from some distance."
Tohru nodded as the man walked away, feeling a presence beside her. "Oh Yuki! I was thinking about going on a little shopping trip. We were out of a couple ingredients so I –"
"It's alright, no need to explain yourself." Yuki said. "I think I'll accompany you." Secretly, he was curious as to what the letter contained.
"Oh, okay."
"Not without me." A very sleepy Kyo mumbled, almost toppling down the stairs.
"Good morning Kyo! Did you have a nice rest?"
Yuki smiled at the bright girl next to him. She's always so kind, even to that stupid cat.
"Yeah, I guess." Kyo's face reddened. "Well are we going or not!" He was becoming very uncomfortable with the two of them staring.
Yuki cast him a knowing glance, but Tohru looked utterly confused.
"Oh! I'll be right back!" Tohru ran to Shigure's room. "Shigure-san, we're going to the store. We should be back in a little while, is there anything you need?"
Shigure stretched. "No, no. Just go and enjoy yourself Tohru." He winked, obviously implying something in his last remark.
"Thank you Shigure, I will." She smiled at the man who provided her a roof over her head. "Oh, I almost forgot." She handed the letters to him, keeping the one "addressed" to her in her pocket.
"Oh thank you, but I think you forgot one." Shigure knew she was hiding it from him. It seemed unusual for Tohru to hide anything.
"Oh no no! I'm not even sure if this is our mail!" She waved her hands in the air, making the letter fall out of her pocket. Shigure picked it up.
"Oh, well I'll inspect it then. Who knows…maybe there's a bomb in it?"
"A bomb!-?"
"SHIGURE!"
"Don't hurt me I was just kidding!"
"Kidding my-"
"Ow!"
Shigure sighed as he watched the three leave, bandaging his head. "She's not too quick sometimes, but I guess her kindness makes up for it." He whimpered, wrapping the gauze a little too tight. "If only she could teach that to Yuki and Kyo."
It had been fifteen minutes since Yuki, Kyou and Tohru's departure, and Shigure settled into a warm blanket admiring the serene sight before him.
It was the cover of his new romance novel.
"Wonderful! I should send this to Aya. I'm sure he'll approve." Gingerly, he placed it on the table next to his finished manuscript. Mit-chan will be so happy…
Darn!
He sneezed.
"Oh dear, maybe I should call Hatori. It seems I'm coming down with a cold." He sneezed again, but not before grabbing the phone.
"Hello Ha-san!"
"I'm busy."
"Oh that's no way to treat a best friend!"
Hatori grunted.
"I think I'm coming down with a cold. Could you come over and give me a diagnosis?"
"Why come over when I can give it right here?"
Shigure was silent, waiting.
"You're an idiot." Hatori hung up the phone.
Shigure laughed, hanging up as well. "He'll be here in fifteen minutes, tops." Shigure went back to his room, searching for the letter he "borrowed" from Tohru. "Hmm…I wonder what's in it."
The envelope was definitely worse for wear. The edges were torn and wrinkled; and it smelled of something awful. Shigure opened the flap with little effort, and pulled out the piece of paper inside. He opened it up and read.
Dear Tohru,
Hey! How've you been? Sorry if my Japanese sucks. I've been working on it. Anyway, I heard about Kyoko. Saying sorry in a letter seems insignificant, but I am sorry. She was a great mom. I was thinking about maybe coming down to visit during your winter break. You know, spending Christmas together like how we used to. Kyoko would have wanted it that way, don't you think? Well, write back soon. My new address is on the envelope. Can't wait to---
Shigure smiled sadly. The envelope must have gotten wet, because the rest of the writing was blurred. So much that he couldn't finish reading it. Folding the paper back up, he placed it into the envelope and sighed. It was already winter break. Tohru didn't get the letter on time.
There was a knock at the door.
Shigure placed the letter on his table. Wonder who that could be? Definitely not Ha-san…
He peeked out from behind the door, but instead of finding Hatori, there stood a young girl.
"Um, hello there?" He smiled. High school girls, high school girls…
"Hello sir. Is Tohru Honda here?"
Her cheeks were rosy, perfectly matching the tip of her nose. Shigure smiled softly as she shivered.
"Tohru's not here right now, but she'll be back in an hour or so. Why don't you come inside until she arrives?"
She looked hesitant at first, but remembered how cold she was and decided it wouldn't be very smart to wait outside. "Umm…okay."
Shigure closed the door behind her as she slowly entered, studying the house closely. He offered to hang up her coat.
"Oh, thank you." She said, nonchalantly rubbing her ears.
"So," Shigure started, sitting across from her in the main room, after fetching for her a cup of steaming hot tea. He wanted to laugh as she smiled, inhaling its scent with satisfaction and thanked him quietly. "Are you a friend of Tohru's?"
"Ah, yes I am. I don't think she knew I was coming though."
Shigure kept a polite smile, but grew increasingly suspicious of the girl in front of him. Could this be the girl in the letter? "Oh, dear! I'm afraid I didn't properly introduce myself." He bowed slightly. "My name is Shigure Sohma."
"Uh, Odette Cohen. It's nice to meet you." She held out her hand, but quickly pulled it back. You're not in America anymore stupid!
It was obvious to Shigure that this girl wasn't Japanese, but with such an unusual name, he couldn't tag a nationality.
There was another knock.
"Excuse me, Odette." He said, trying her name on his tongue. I wonder what Hatori will think? Shigure pulled open the door.
"Ah! Ha-san!"
Hatori grimaced as he dropped a red-clad body to the floor.
"And…Aya?"
Ooh cliff hanger! You'll have to wait 'til chapter two!