DISCLAIMER -- 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.

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 6: Introspective

            "Princess Odette," Ayame bowed with the bouquet behind his back.  "Please accept this gift of gratitude."  He held out the cluster of baby's breath.

            Odette raised her eyebrows skeptically.  "For?"

            "Watching over Tohru of course.  She's told us wonderful stories of the both of you."

            Odette took the gift gingerly.  "Has she?"  Baby's breath happened to be her favorite, even though the flower was particularly plain.  "Thank you Ayame-san.  They're beautiful." 

            Ayame flipped his braid over one shoulder proudly.  "Yes, Tohru-kun said you would like them."

            Odette wondered what else Tohru had said.  When were they having these secret conversations anyway?

The ride home was unusually silent, except for the occasional question from Shigure or Ayame.  Odette took this time to study each of her new-found friends. They were all so different, yet complemented each other perfectly.  Hatori being unusually quiet, Ayame unusually loud, Shigure was the comfortable middle ground.  They reminded her of a color gradient – a spectrum of emotions.  Odette knew could never decide which one was her favorite.  They were like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream.  She hid a smile behind the palm of her hand.  Ice cream?  C'mon Odette!  You're such and idiot.  Suddenly the car stopped.

"We're here."

Tohru ran out of the house, almost slipping on a patch of snow covering the front porch.  "Odee-chan!  You're back!" 

"Yes, and in one piece."  Yuki muttered, following her.  He noticed the personified garbage they brought with them.  "What are you doing here…again?"

"Dear brother!  Have you missed me?" 

"No."

Odette greeted Tohru and the both of them went into the house.

__________________________________________

"So…you met Akito then?"  Tohru asked as she poured Odette a cup of tea, ignoring the commotion outside. 

"Yes.  He's an…interesting person.  I'll say that much."  Odette reminisced over the earlier conversation that played center stage in her mind.  I can't tell anyone I know the curse…not even Tohru. She was not too fond of lying to her dearest friend, but she had no choice.  Odette hated that with a passion.  "Do you mind if I go upstairs and finish unpacking?  I'd hate to leave you here alone-"

"Oh don't worry!"  Tohru said.  "I'm not alone.  The others should be here in a couple minutes."

Odette seemed unconvinced.  "You sure?"  With Tohru's nod, she picked up her tea cup and took it to the kitchen, detecting a familiar smell.  "What are you making?"

"A surprise."

Odette turned to meet Yuki standing in the doorway.  When did he show up?  She turned on the faucet and started washing her glass.  "Surprise huh?  For whom…exactly?"

Tohru peeped over Yuki's shoulder with a bright smile.  Odette noticed the gray haired man had tensed at her best friend's closeness.  Tohru should be more careful.

"The food is for you Odee-chan!  But you'll just have to wait and see what it is!" 

Smiling awkwardly, not knowing how to accept all the attention being thrust at her, Odette shifted her wait from foot to foot.  "Well…uh…thank you.  You didn't have to..."

Tohru beamed.  "It's not a problem!  You deserve it!"

"No…I don't…really…"  Odette clutched the bouquet that was behind her back.  No one had asked her about it.  Did they already know?  What was this?  Giving her flowers…and food…  Tohru was still smiling at her, and Yuki was still smiling at Tohru.  They adored her…all of them.  I could never compete with that.  "I think I'm going to go upstairs now."  She rushed out the door, almost running over Shigure in the process.

"I'm sorry. Did I say something wrong?"  Tohru fiddled with her fingers, her head bent.  Yuki smiled kindly as the other three cousins entered the kitchen. 

"No Miss Honda…I think something is bothering her."  Yuki glanced at Shigure.  "Does she know?"

Shigure shook his head.  "No…or so she says.  Akito made us leave her alone with him for awhile…but according to her… he said nothing."

Yuki secretly wondered if she was lying.  Akito could have very well told her everything, and said to keep silent.   He cleared his thoughts and smiled when he noticed a tiny brunette staring at him.  Voicing these thoughts in front of Tohru would not be very wise. 

"Where did she go?" Hatori asked, leaning up against the wall.  Yuki wondered why he would care, since he appeared not to.    

Tohru looked toward the stairs that lead to the second floor and frown.  What's wrong Odee-chan?  Did I do something to hurt you?  She grabbed four more cups from the cabinet, remembering her duty has housekeeper.  "Would any of you like some tea?"  She asked with a plastered smile.  When they nodded, Tohru left the kitchen to retrieve her teapot and found a picture laying facedown next to the table leg where she and Odette sat.  "What is this?"  She picked it up and slowly flipped it over. 

There were two small girls, both with braids and matching dresses, playing in a sandbox.

______________________________________________                  

            "Brrr…"  Odette shivered as she threw a knit sweater over her head and fixed its chunky collar.  Tohru's room was colder then usual.  She wondered what caused it.  First things first…  Picking up a large bag, she dumped out its contents.  The bed was littered with books, paint tubes, and pads of sketch paper.  The next bag was full of jeans, turtlenecks and ballet flats, her shoe of choice.  Odette sorted the piles and started putting things away.  "I've officially made a fool of myself."  She sneered.  "What was I thinking?"  Shoving her shirt into an empty drawer, she slammed it shut.  A tear trickled down her cheek.  "Now I'm ruining her things."  She opened the drawer again and examined it.  There was no damage done but she still felt guilty.  Odette remembered when she and Tohru were little girls.  Tohru seemed like absolute perfection, and if she happened to make a mistake, Kyoko would always assure her that it would be okay.  All you have to do is learn from them.  Odette remembered once incident when she and Tohru were playing in a sandbox…

            "Odee-chan look!"  Tohru squished the wet sand between her fingers.  "I'm making a cake!"

            Odette grimaced and stuck out her tongue.  "I'm not eating it."  She said matter-of-factly.  "I'm making a castle…with a moat and everything!"

            Tohru stopped what she was doing.  "Moat?  What is a moat?"

            Odette's chest puffed up with pride at her knowledge.  "A moat is a big hole with water that you put around a castle to keep people out."  She continued to work, but noticed Tohru scoot closer.

            "How does it do that?"

            "Alligators." 

Tohru fell backwards in fear.  "Oh no!  You're not getting REAL alligators…are you?"

"No…they're too exspensitive."

Tohru sighed in relief.  "What do the alligators do?  Is the moat like a vacation where they swim?"

Odette scoffed.  "No, of courses not.  They eat any people trying to get in the castle."

"WHAT?"

Odette laughed.  How could she forget that day?  Walking over to Tohru's desk, she set a picture frame on it.  Inside was the picture Kyoko had taken when she found the two of them playing outside in the sand.  Odette swore she had two of them.  I wonder were the other went off to?  

Suddenly she felt a breeze.  What the…  A window was open, the same window she used to escape.  How had she not noticed it earlier?  Looking out she saw the ladder was still there.  I wonder…  Abandoning her job of unpacking, Odette grabbed her most cherished copy of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and straddled the window pane.  "I should be an expert at this by now."  Chuckling at her sarcasm, she reached for the ladder, gained her balance, and started climbing up carefully. 

Almost there-

            "What do you think you're doing?"

            Odette jumped, losing her one-handed grip on the ladder and fell back ward.  "Ah!"  I'm gonna die!  I'm gonna die!  She stopped.  Someone had a tight hold on her hand and was pulling her up.  Slowly, one of her eyes opened.

            "You idiot!  If you can't climb then go back down!  What are you trying to do?  Kill yourself?"

            Odette breathed a sigh of relief.  "Kyo…"

            "WHAT?" 

            "Thanks."  Regaining her hold on the ladder, she dropped his hand.  Her cheeks were flushed, and she knew it was not the cold. 

            Kyo snorted and moved back to his previous spot.  "Whatever…just don't do it again."  He turned from her and muttered something about "stupid American girls".  Odette decided she would let that remark slide.

            Once she had her correct footing; she brushed off a spot and sat down next to him.  He's very tense.  Odette knew she was being ignored, so she inspected her book for damages.  She clutched the poor thing so hard when she fell, she was sure she had broken the binding.

            "You didn't answer my question."

            Odette looked up.  "Which one?"  So now he wanted to talk?    If he's going to be cold and aloof, so will I.

            "I dunno…pick."

            Pick?  She pulled her long ponytail over her shoulder.  "Well, no I wasn't trying to commit suicide, and as to coming up here…I don't know."  Odette dared a glance at him, only to find he was not looking at her.  The truth was, she just wanted some time alone, but she could not tell him that.  "I guess I was curious…wondering why someone would have a ladder on the side of their house…next to a window.  That sort of thing."  She was trying to lighten the mood, but Kyo did not seem very amused.  "I guess I got my answer."  He still would not speak, and Odette wondered if she truly bothered him that much.  "Why are you up here?  I'm assuming rescuing damsels in distress isn't your day job."  She detected a hint of a smirk and smiled inwardly.  Now we're getting somewhere.    

            "I like heights."

            Odette slumped and stared at him dryly.  How incredibly…vague.  "Is that all?  Hmmm…"  She remembered something Tohru had told her earlier.  "I hear you like martial arts?  And that you trained in the woods for a while…fighting bears-"

            "I did not fight bears!"

            His expression was truly priceless.  Yuki was right.  That did rile him up.  "You sure?  I think you're the person that fancies those sorts of things."  Odette could practically see the steam shooting from his ears.  Man when he's angry…he sure is angry.  She did not know why, but his rage and humanity seemed to comfort her.  Out of all the Sohmas she had met, it occurred to her that Kyo was the only one that truly voiced his feelings.

            "And WHAT do YOU mean by-"

            Odette shushed him with her hand.  "Look."  She pointed down the roof to the front of the yard where Shigure, Ayame, and Hatori appeared.  She smiled at Kyo.  "I have a brilliant plan.  You in?" 

            He noticed she was whispering.  "What is it?"  He watched her point down to the snow, make a ball in her hand, and then point to the three men.  Kyo smiled. 

            "I'll take Shigure…you get Aya."

            Kyo made a ball.  "What about Hatori?"

             Odette stopped what she was doing and stared.  "Do you really want to hit Hatori?"

___________________________________________________

            I wonder where she went…  Shigure stepped out into the snow, hiding his arms in the sleeves of his kimono.  Ayame and Hatori had followed him.  They had been showing up more often, and he could not help but believe it was because of Odette.  Though they seemed to have so romantic interest in her - that did not mean Shigure would pass up any moments to tease. "So Ha-san-" 

SMACK!

Something cold and wet and struck him from behind.  Reaching up, Shigure felt it.  "Snow?"

            Ayame bounced from foot to foot.  "Oh cold! COLD!"  The wad of snow that had been stuck to the crown of his head fell down the back of his coat in his frantic brushing. 

            Shigure looked up and saw Odette and Kyo, sitting contently on the rooftop and looking completely innocent.  She was engrossed in the book she was reading, while Kyo was turned to the side, one elbow resting on a propped-up leg.

"I'd like to thank my mother and my father for those long grueling years of softball."  Odette said loud enough for everyone to hear, but looked at Kyo as she spoke.

Shigure chuckled.  So Tohru's friend was feisty too?

"Sweet princess Odette!  What being has possessed you to go against us?" Ayame shouted, exercising his wonderfully melodramatic speaking skills.  "Have you been tainted by Kyo-kun's evil?"

Odette chuckled and shook her head.  "He hit you Ayame-san," pointing to Kyo, who was steaming over accusation of being evil.  "I took out Shigure."

"Speaking of which…"  The writer began, still brushing the snow from his hair.  "I can't help but notice Hatori was never hit."  Shigure grinned evilly and scolded.  "Are you playing favorites?"

"No, Kyo's scared of him."

"I NEVER said that!"

Odette ignored his outburst.  "Plus, it's hard to throw two snowballs at once."

"You didn't want to hit him either!  Why are you saying it was all me!"

"Odette-san, the phone's for you."  The one-man uproar was stopped as Yuki appeared from inside the house.  "I believe it's your mother, she sounds upset."

Odette nodded, not seeming overly concerned, and climbed down the ladder.  Kyo followed.  "Did she say what it was about?"

Yuki shook his head.  "No."

________________________________________ 

            "Mom?"  Odette had run inside so quickly she had forgotten to take off her shoes.  Beneath her was a puddle of water collecting on the floor.  "Mom answer me!"  She screamed in English, gaining the attention of more then a few house members.  Odette could here someone speaking in the background, but it was unintelligible.

            "Odette?  Odette!"  A woman's voice shouted into the receiver, causing Odette to flinch in pain and move the phone away from her ear.

            "Mother!"  Becoming alarmed, Odette clutched the phone tightly under her fingers; one hand was wrapped in the cord.  "What's going on?  What's wrong?"

            The others sat at the table, listening intently, though none of them knew fluent English. 

            "Mom!"  There was a silence and Odette gripped the phone tighter.  Has someone died?  Grandma?  Grandpa?  "Mom?  Are you still there?"

"Yes, yes!  Odette!  I'm having a baby!"

Dun dun dun!  Please review!  It makes me happy!  ^_^

Note:

            I named this chapter "Introspective" because of the scenes where Odette dug within herself and examined her feelings toward things and others.  I also hope that her feelings give you readers more insight into her makeup and why she is the way she is. 

            After running out of the kitchen and up to Tohru's room, Odette says she can't compete with her best friend and how kind she is toward others.  I have found myself feeling this way on more then one occasion because Tohru is so good and seems to do no wrong.  One automatically judges their character against hers and finds only faults.  This is why I'm making Odette more jealous of Tohru then protective like Uo and Hana.  I think it makes her more human that way.