ATK: Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter! I think that is one of the quickest responses I have ever gotten. Lol. Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter. Oh, warning for everyone! If you haven't seen all the episodes in the anime, then this chapter will have a MAJOR spoiler. You have been warned!
Title: Don't Forget Me
Rated: PG-13 for Kyo-kun's language.
Disclaimer: I do not in any way, shape or form own Fruits Basket!!
Summary: Hatori and Shigure think they have found out how to break the curse. When Akito finds out, he orders Tohru's memories to be "erased". A year later, Tohru starts to regain her memory, and possibly forgotten feelings as well? But will she be able to regain her memory in time to finally free the Sohmas? R and R.
Chapter 1: Do I Know You?
One Year LaterHonda Tohru walked down the rows of desks and placed her bag on top of hers. An unusual disturbed look was plastered on her face as she mindlessly fumbled through her bag.
"Hey Tohru. What's wrong? You look upset."
Tohru turned around and smiled at her two best friends, Arisa Uotani and Saki Hanajima. "Oh, nothings wrong. Whatever made you think that?" Tohru put on her usual smile and act of nothing is ever wrong.
"You just looked worried or upset or something. Is everything ok at your grandfather's house? It has been a year since you started to live with him again." Uo recalled. She remembered when Yuki had called her house saying Tohru had fallen while cleaning the kitchen and hit her head.
Flashback"She did what?!" Uo screamed into the phone. "Well, is she ok? She isn't hurt too much is she?"
"No, no, she is fine. But it seems that she has had a temporary memory loss. I think it would be best if she went to live with her Grandfather until this clears up. I don't want her freaking out or anything."
End Flashback"No, everything is fine. I guess I'm still a little tired, that's all. Stayed up pretty late studying for today's quiz." Tohru quickly lied.
"What? That was today? Damn it, I totally forgot!" Uo smacked her forehead and mumbled something to herself.
"Yes, it seems I have also forgotten about today's quiz. But the electric signals in the air tell me that it should be rather easy," Hana said in her usual trans-conscious state.
Tohru just sweat dropped at her friends' carelessness and sat down in her seat. She put her head in her hands and stared off into the distance, only to be awoken by an orange haired boy rushing into the classroom.
"Damn it! I told you that leaving that damn dog to the cooking this morning would make us late!" He thundered at the boy behind him, who had a look of being generally pissed off on his face.
"Than next time you can cook breakfast."
A need to rush up and calm the orange-top boy down filled Tohru. It puzzled her greatly on why there was such a need when she barely knew these boys, other than the fact they were in her class. It had started about two weeks ago and with each day passing, the feeling became stronger. Then, last night, she had the strangest dream in her life; one that she could almost feel was real but not real at the same time.
Dream
Tohru held onto the arm of a hideous beast as he flailed her around, trying to knock her off. She felt part of her go numb against the cold and pain she was feeling, but she never let go. "I am a fool. Really, I have no power at all. I'm afraid. Right now, I'm afraid of you, but still...I want us to stay together, from now on, too. I want to eat our meals together, and study together, and worry together...I want you to listen to what I want. And I want to listen to your complaints too. So, I want us to stay together!"
End Dream
Tohru shook her head and watched the two cousins fight with each other. Suddenly, both of the boys turned their heads in her direction, startling her. They stared at each other, as if to communicate inside their minds. Then, as quickly as the moment came, it passed away and the bell rang for school to start.
"Ok, class," Their teacher came in and the students went to their desks. "Get ready, we'll start right off with the test this morning." A groan emitted from the class as the teacher passed out papers.
Tohru closed her eyes and tried to shake out the image that was now caught in her mind, but she couldn't seem to forget it. Turning her head, she glanced at the two Sohmas from the side of her vision. What's wrong with me?
After everyone had handed in his or her test, the teacher cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "Now, class. Today I will be giving you a project concerning the rapidly upcoming New Year." Another groan rose from the class. "You will do a research project on one of the twelve Chinese Zodiac Animals." The teacher turned started to turn around when a hand shot up. "Oh, uh, yes Honda-san?"
"Um, sensei, is it alright if I do the thirteenth Zodiac?" Tohru asked shyly.
Kyo and Yuki immediately turned their attention to Tohru. Lucky for them, they sat in back so no one could see the utter shock on their faces.
The teacher laughed lightly. "Honda-san, there is no thirteenth Zodiac Animal."
"B-but...the Cat..." Tohru began to argue. The teacher looked down at her, clearly getting annoyed with her persistence.
"Honda-san, the Cat is not part of the Chinese Zodiac. There are only twelve and will forever be only twelve, no more no less. No matter how you try to show it, the Cat in the legend is no more than a character that has been added after generations of story telling. No, you may not use the Cat in this project."
"Oh..." Tohru said quietly and looked down at her desk. The harsh sound of a chair scrapping against the tile floor turned everyone's head towards the back. Kyo stood up and rushed from the classroom, slamming the door behind him. Everyone in the class was silent for a few minutes before a whisper swept through out the class.
Lunch/ On top of the roof
Yuki, Hatsuharu, and Momiji all sat around in a circle and ate their lunches quietly. It was rare for all four cousins to be seen together like this, but something told them to stick together today.
"Where..." Haru began until he heard footsteps coming from the staircase. All four Sohmas turned and watched the door open. Haru's eyes widened as he saw Tohru emerge. He watched Yuki drop his food and stand up.
"H-Honda-san?" Yuki asked, slightly shocked.
Tohru stepped forward slightly and closed the door behind her. Her face turned a light shade of pink from being watched by all of them. "Um, I-I'm sorry for disturbing you during your lunch. Um...Sohma-san? Why is it you and your cousin, Kyo-san, always fight with one another?" Tohru asked shyly. She didn't fully understand the reason why she needed to know, but the nagging feeling just wouldn't go away.
Yuki's shoulders dropped slightly and he sighed. "Well, I guess it is just because of our backgrounds. In our family, he wasn't highly regarded because...of a certain situation when he was born. Ever since I was little I was told he was bad and to always look down on him. Everyone in the family was. And as a result, he was always taught that I was the bad person. It is just a psychological aspect that has been drilled into our minds."
"Oh, because I remember..." Tohru stopped in mid-sentence as she thought over what she had just said.
"You remember what?" Haru pressed, trying to get the answer he was looking for.
Tohru just shook her head and smiled. "Oh, nothing. I was just speaking randomly. Please excuse me for interrupting your lunch." She turned to leave until a hand pressed against the door, keeping it closed. Looking up, Tohru came face to face with Haru, who seemed more serious than before.
"What is it you remember?"
Tohru turned and looked at Yuki and Momiji. Sighing, she explained to them the weird thought that had passed her mind just this morning.
Flashback"Don't worry about those two. They hate each other with a passion. They see each other and they fight. I guess its part of them being possessed by the Cat and Rat. Now, let's hurry and clean that cut for you," Shigure said as he began to gently wipe away the blood from Torhu's forehead.
End Flashback
"Honda-san! Y-you remember?" Yuki exclaimed slightly. Tohru gave him a puzzled look.
"Remember what? Please, tell me why I am seeing these things!" She begged. "I know you, I mean, I really know you but I just can't seem to figure out how or why!"
"Tohru-kun!" Momiji squealed and ran towards her, throwing his arms out wide. He jumped towards her, trying to hug her for as long as he could before Poof! smoke surrounded both of them.
Tohru stared down at the yellow rabbit that she was now holding in her hands. A thought raced across her mind as she stared into his eyes. "T-that's right! The spirits of the Zodiac and the Cat possesses the Sohma family! And you're the rabbit."
Tear glinted in rabbit-Momiji's eyes. "You remember! Tohru-kun, you remember!" He leaned onto her chest, listening to her heartbeat as a wave of happiness and relief filled him.
"I'm sorry, but I still do not remember your name or a lot of other stuff, like the other zodiac members. I am still so confused on how I know all of this," Tohru put her head down, ashamed for some reason.
Yuki placed a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. "It's ok. You'll figure it out soon enough. After school today, why don't you walk home with Kyo and I. Maybe we can help you out."
Tohru nodded and smiled up at Yuki. "O-ok." Glancing at a clock on the wall, she gently placed rabbit-Momiji on the ground and turned back towards the door. "I'll be going back to class now. I guess I'll see you guys after school then?"
Yuki nodded and watched her enter back into the staircase. Maybe there was a chance that she would regain all her memory and they would finally be free of this damned curse that had been placed upon them hundreds of years ago.
ATK: Ok, this chapter REALLY SUCKED!!!! I apologize for such a poorly written chapter, but it is kind of hard to write something like this and not sound too cliché or cheesy. Oh well, even though this wasn't my best please review!!!!!