Authors note: I do NOT own Fruits Basket in any way, shape or form, so please do not sue!
Chapter One:
It had been a week since her husband had left her. I thought we were happy! Kana thought miserably as she stared out of her window. Outside the snowflakes were dancing, but Kana was not dancing with them. She had fallen in love with him but somewhere down their short road of marriage, it had all fallen apart. She had tried to make him happy but it wasn't enough. I don't want to think of him anymore! Kana focused her attention to the display outside. "When the snow melts, it becomes spring," she said quietly to herself. It was reassuring somehow and Kana smiled. "Spring…" Then, without warning an image of a man with dark hair and a serious face burst into her mind. Hatori!
Kana began to pace nervously. Why was she thinking of him now? Why was she so on edge for thinking of him? Kana had once been in love with Hatori, but her feelings had not been returned and she'd moved on. I haven't thought of Hatori since I met my husband…well, my soon to be ex-husband…oh my! Kana jumped as the phone rang shrilly. She raced to answer it, vainly thinking for a second that it was her husband. Or Hatori. It was her mother.
"Hello, Mom,"
"Kana, darling. I was just calling to see how you were. Are you holding up alright?"
"Oh that was sweet of you! I'm doing better for today…at least."
"Dearest, I do so wish that you would come home. I hate thinking of you all by yourself. You need to be with family and with people who love you. Please just think about it."
Kana glanced around her empty, cold apartment.
"You're right Mom. I think that will do me good. I'll take the train home as soon as I can. I would love to talk more but I'm very tired."
"Yes…get some rest. I look forward to seeing you honey. I love you very much."
"I love you too, Mom. See you soon. Goodnight."
Kana hung up and slowly got ready for bed. She collapsed onto the big empty bed from sheer emotional exhaustion and fell asleep. A dream began to take over…
She was standing in a large warm room with Hatori, meeting him for the first time. She noticed how handsome he was and blushed. The picture changed and she was sitting in a coffee shop with him, heads bent together. She was talking with him and laughing. Next thing she saw, they were in his house. They were leaning towards each other, eyes closed. They kissed, and Kana felt her heart race. She went to put her arms around him. A sudden flash of light and sound. Then…
Kana sat upright in bed, her heart pounding. "It was just a dream," she told herself. But why that dream? Why Hatori? Why now? Those things I saw, they felt so real, I felt so happy. Oh…I'm being stupid. I'm just feeling lonely, that's all.
But it wasn't. Something was nagging at her…trying to break out. Something at the back of her mind. Or her heart.
