Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket. But I do own a Fruit Cake. Mmmm
CHAPTER 7
Amnesia. That's what the doctor had said when Tohru found herself in a comfortable room surrounded by unfamiliar faces. She counted, her mind fuzzy. Thirteen. Thirteen people were crammed in the small room with her, looking upon her with sad and eager eyes. Amnesia. It sunk in, but how?
"I'm sorry," one of the thirteen said hesitantly. "You were walking out of the super market and I ran into you." Most unlikely, he thought with a sigh, but continued, "You fell to the ground. Do you remember anything?"
Tohru reached around in her brain carefully, sorting through the memories that didn't seem to belong to her. "Uhm," she said, "I'm living with my grandfather. He's getting the house renovated while living with my aunt and uncle. I was supposed to stay with a friend, but I can't remember who..."
Her head felt heavy and her eyes drooped. The thirteen gathered around her and had to lean in to hear her whisper, "I'm sorry." Then she was out.
They stayed, the loyal Juunishi. Nothing would go back to the way it was all those months. She wouldn't remember anything. That infamous "anything" group also including her best friends and her mother. It wasn't supposed to end this way. Wasn't that what Tohru had said that night? She didn't know how right she was.
"We could have done something, you know." Kyo said, his voice an uncommon mixture of sadness and guilt. He was glancing at his bracelet, twirling it unconsciously with his fingers. A look of defeat and grief was plastered on his face. Although Tohru was temporarily gone in a deep sleep, her former characteristics lingered in the old house, as if a ghost in its haunting area.
Hatori glanced at him, his heart sagging as he looked at the lost look on Kyo's face. Without Tohru, there was nothing left for him. For anybody. You could just say that she was dead, and bury her remnants. That would have been easier, knowing that she could be gone once and for all. But, this way, the young men that had grown to love her would have to see her at school and around town. "What could we have done Kyo?" the doctor said resignedly, trying to make it sound like it was a done deal. "You saw what Akito was doing to her. She would have died."
Kyo glanced back at his bracelet, knowing what Hatori was saying was true. But Kyo never cared for the truth. As the old saying goes, the truth hurts.
Around the room, the collection of gloomy people stole half hidden glances at their Tohru. The fairy tale story of "Sleeping Beauty" foolishly made its way into Shigure's mind. Spindle, along with fairy godmother's and magic potions. But dark. Not like the bright and cheery one the media often put on T.V., trying to convince young kids that yes, dreams and wishes do come true. But they don't. At least, not for the Sohma family. And that's when he started writing.
Tohru awoke a few hours later, the crowd in the room fast asleep. She pushed a blanket off of her and placed it on the red head on the floor beside the couch. She got a sharp pain in her arm and glanced down at the bandages. I must have cut myself when that person bumped into me, Tohru thought dismissively. She looked up to see a handsome man with medium length at work behind a crowded desk. Funny, she thought. She had an overwhelming feeling of déjà vu. This has happened before, me and him alone in a room of sleepers.
"Uhm, excuse me?" she called out quietly.
Shigure glanced up and smiled. He capped his pen and said, "Do you need anything?"
Tohru swayed slightly, still feeling a bit light headed. "No," she answered, "I was just wondering where I am. And who you are..."
Shigure smiled again and said, "I don't know if you remember, but we had explained that you got bumped into." Tohru nodded and Shigure flinched slightly. "Well, we carried you to our house. My cousin is a doctor, so he took good care of you."
Tohru nodded and, gaining her composure, bowed. "Thank you so much. My name's Tohru Honda. How can I repay you?"
Just remember, Shigure thought sadly. "No, no. There's nothing you have to do, it was our pleasure. If you wish, you can stay for breakfast and then we will drive you home."
Tohru nodded and said, "Thank you. You're so kind... Mr...?"
"Ah! I forgot my manners. I'm sorry, Shigure Sohma."
Tohru smiled and said, "That name sounds so familiar. I just can't seem to place it with anything..." she was quiet a minute and then asked quietly, "When will my memory come back?"
"I'm sorry," Shigure answered. "I'm not the doctor. But, he'll tell you in the morning."
"Oh! What time is it? It must be awfully late for everybody to be asleep already."
Shigure glanced at the clock and said, "5:42. They should actually be arousing soon."
"Oh, then please, let me make breakfast for all you've done for me. I know it isn't much, but I'm not sure I can do much else."
Shigure smiled and nodded, grateful that Tohru hadn't changed. "I'll lead you to the kitchen."
The twelve remaining woke up rather early for their late night. Yuki rubbed his eyes and asked, "Is she gone?"
"You know Tohru." Shigure answered with a sad smile, "She's in the kitchen."
Yuki and Kyo, right along with Momiji, Kisa, and Haru, jumped up, already heading towards the kitchen. So it was all a bad dream! Yuki thought wistfully, Tohru's not leaving! But one look at Shigure's face made him realize that he was mistaken. Shigure shook his head solemnly and said, "She wanted to repay us. She's making breakfast. Afterwards she's leaving."
Hatori had already awaken and asked, "What's going on?"
Haru glared at him and Momiji said, "I hate you," with more venom than anybody would have ever thought could come out of the dear Rabbit's mouth. And with those three words, they knew it was the end. Momiji meant those words, and with the truth, so did everybody else. Once again, Hatori took the blame and placed it upon his own shoulders instead of Akito's.
Haru took Momiji's hand, along with Kisa's and dragged them out of the room. Hiro trudged along, reaching out for Kisa's hand and holding onto it like it was his life support. He kicked himself mentally, while wishing to do so physically. Young Hiro Sohma regretted the mean things he had said to Tohru. He had treated her with disdain, jealous that she had won over Kisa's heart. But, along the way, she had melted the ice off of his as well. And he had no way of letting her know. I hate you Hatori, the words felt so easy in his mind, but he couldn't let them escape his lips. He felt enough regret at the moment. He didn't need another victim on his shoulders.
