Blue: Hurrah for chapter two:looking at the chapter: This story is just so… so…
Ivey: Sinister.
Blue: Exactly! I'm so excited! Review time! Neely- I'm glad you like my work! Hopefully I'll eventually get off my lazy butt and write my own original stuff. meow-the-be- Yeah it does make since, but Ivey is all upset because she has a crush on Akito :gets hit by Ivey:
Ivey: SHUT UP!
Blue:pouting: That hurt! Animefreaks13-If you think the first chapter was sad just wait. It gets way better (or worse depending on your opinion. Man are we going to make people suffer in this story…) Kerichi- Thank you very much! I love writing details though sometimes I think I go over board. Oh well. Anyway I hope you like this chapter too! Lyanne Tyler Davidson- Doing research is such a pain, but I do it cause I really want this fic to be as accurate as possible. AI eNzErU- Arigato! (Ivey: did you spell that right?) We promise to continue though unfortunately updates will be sporadic since I have responsibilities that have to come first i.e. work, nap time, feeding my cat, watching anime… you know… stuff.
Ivey: Blue doesn't own Fruits Basket or an ounce of grace. She fell down the stairs yesterday and screwed up her knee so now she can barely walk. It's so funny!
Blue:glare: You didn't have to tell them that!
Melancholy Requiem
By Blue
Chapter Two- I Want Love
Early the next morning Hatori went in to check Akito's fever and was greatly annoyed when he found his bed vacant. With an inward sigh he set off to find the head of the Sohma family who held such disregard for his doctors orders. If he didn't rest he would become even more ill than he already was and that would only lead to more work and stress for the dragon. First he checked all of Akito's private rooms, then the garden where Akito often liked to sit and watch the birds on warm, sunny days and next went to the dinning room with the hope that perhaps he'd just chosen to breakfast there instead of in his room. Having no luck he sighed out loud this time and headed to the last place he knew to look. Carefully opening the fusuma he peered into the darkened room to see Akito fast asleep on top of the futon. With silent steps he entered the room and fetched the spare blanket from the bottom drawer of the tansu and gently placed it over his patient. Deciding that Akito's check up could wait he left the room and went to make a cup of lemon tea with honey. A favorite of his that he'd been in the habit of drinking since he'd been introduced to it. 'Asa-nee made the best tea…'
Twenty years ago a young girl of fifteen was summoned to the main Sohma house on a rain Monday morning. Had anyone residing on the tree-lined road leading to the estate glanced out of their windows and seen the girl they would have thought her an oddly cheery sight on such a gloomy day. Dressed in a slightly large, mint green raincoat and galoshes she crunched along the pebbled path with her umbrella shielding her from the raindrops and her pink handbag embroidered with ballet slippers swinging lightly at her side. Her dark brown, shoulder length hair was pulled back into a neat bun at the nape of her neck while her bangs framed her face.
Though one might have thought her to be enjoying a carefree stroll in the rain upon closer inspection it could be noted that she was constantly worrying her bottom lip and her gaze was fixed on her feet. While she was a member of the Sohma family she was by no means one of the "inner circle" and only ever visited the estate for the New Years celebration, as was expected of every Sohma. She hadn't even met the head of the family, but she'd often seen him from afar and had heard the rumors of his unpredictable temper. The stress of being summoned for a private meeting with the head of the Sohma family, Akira Sohma himself, had her stomach in knots.
"Asa-san?" The girl's head snapped up in surprise to see a small boy with pale green eyes around the age of seven standing stiffly before her. Dressed in formal kimono and shielding himself from the rain with an expensive silk parasol, he had an eminent air about him that intimidated the older girl despite her advantage of height. His presence was so commanding that it wasn't until one of the two boys behind him, huddled under a parasol of their own, laughed that she even noticed them. Blushing nervously she bowed to the three children.
"Yes, I'm Sohma Asa."
"I am Sohma Hatori," he said with a bow. Seeing that his two companions were still whispering to each other rather than showing proper respect he gave a swift kick to the dark haired boy's ankle.
"OW! Haa-san that hurt!"
"Tori-san, you shouldn't kick Gure-san! It's rude!" the smaller boy with silver-white hair and starling gold eyes admonished Hatori. Hatori just gave them a pointed look and then tilted his head toward Asa, who had remained silently during the exchange. She would have smiled at their antics, but was worried that she would offend them. Both boy's eyes widened slightly and they bowed apologetically.
"This is Sohma Shigure and Sohma Ayame. We were asked by my father to greet you. If you would please follow us we'll escort you to his study." And with that he turned and walked through the open gate with Shigure and Ayame in tow. Asa hesitated for a moment as she watched the serious son of the head of the family walk determinedly down the path. Taking a deep breath she gathered up her courage and started after the three companions. As they meandered down the path Shigure and Ayame continued to whisper and frequently glanced back at their distant relative. It was making Asa very self conscious and she was almost relieved when they arrived.
Bowing her thanks to the three boys she and removed her shoes in the genkan. A female servant then took her raincoat and bag and showed her into the study. Before her was a man in his late twenties with long black hair and skin as pale as fresh snow. He sat on the tatami with his legs crossed with on elbow on his knee and his head propped in his hand. Asa immediately knelt on the tatami and bowed low, keeping her eyes on the ground lest she offend him in some way. Living in a westernized apartment in the city where such manners were rarely called for, the traditional atmosphere of the Sohmas made her distinctly aware of how disgraceful she must seem, not knowing all of the family decorum. After a minute of silence Asa started to think she might be expected to say something, but what?
"Ah… I-it is an honor to be invited into your home, Akira-san," she said shakily and then bit her lip. At the rate she was going she wouldn't be surprised if it started bleeding. She tensed at the sound of rustling fabric and her eyes flicked upward anxiously. Asa blinked in surprise to see the family head smiling slightly at her in an amused manner.
"You are Sohma. You are always welcome in this house," he said in a smooth voice. Tilting his head slightly he glanced out of the open shoji door into the garden. "You walked here, yes? How inconsiderate of me to call you here on such a dreadful day."
"It was no trouble!" she protested, sitting up straight. "I took the bus most of the way and then I only had to walk a little. I was happy to come! I mean I am happy to be here!" Akira raised his brow slightly at her nervous behavior and Asa mentally smacked herself.
"There's no need to be anxious, though I can understand why you would be. Perhaps tea is in order." Several quiet minutes later a servant brought their tea and Asa lifted the cup to her own lips after Akira had taken a sip. "You had your fifteenth birthday recently, is that correct?" Asa stared at him in befuddlement for a moment. It was all so confusing. 'Why would Akira-san bother to know when my birthday was? Why does he even know my name? I'm not important in the family so why am I here? This is so weird!' Shaking herself from her internal monologue she nodded her head.
"Yes, it was last month. March 27… my friend took me to a recital," she remembered with a smile. Asa had loved ballet ever since she was four and had seen the Nutcracker on television. She'd dreamed of being a dancer, but she'd never gotten the opportunity to take lessons.
"How thoughtful. And did you do anything with your mother?" Akira inquired with a knowing look in his eyes that Asa missed as she looked down at her cup.
"Mom was… busy." On Asa's birthday her mother had been a business trip. Asa's mother Nastu had always been a career woman. She'd never wanted children or marriage, but all that changed when she met Asa's father. Natsu fell deeply in love with Sohma Tetsuya and when he'd proposed she'd happily accepted. Not long after they married Tetsuya began talking about having children. The young bride was completely opposed to the idea, but her husband wanted children and she couldn't deny him. When Asa was born Natsu lacked the maternal instinct most women have and was often annoyed by the helpless baby who seemed to do nothing but cry and sleep and eat and demand attention. Five years later when Tetsuya died she suddenly found herself alone with a daughter she held no warmth for. And so she buried herself in work and left the grieving child to look after herself for the most part when she wasn't at school. Even if Natsu had been home for Asa's birthday there would have been no cake, no warm smile or "Happy Birthday!" It was unlikely that she'd even realize it was her birthday
The highlight of the day was when her best friend, Asano Hiroaki, showed up at three with a chocolate cupcake. He then told her he had a surprise for her and dragged her off to an auditorium on the other side of town. Of course she hadn't any idea where they were since he'd blindfolded her two blocks away to keep it a surprise to the last possible moment. Her heart had been aflutter when they took their seats in the very back and the music started. When he'd uncovered her eyes and she saw the dancers on stage she almost cried with happiness. After the ballet recital ended she'd hugged her friend and told him it was the best time she'd ever had. Hiroaki just blushed and told her it was nothing.
"What a shame to be without your family on such a momentous occasion," Akira commented and picked up his cup. "You're father, Tetsuya, wasn't it? He was one of us. After he died your mother was never inclined to involve herself or you with us. That's something I wish to correct." Asa looked at the man across from her warily.
"I've always gone to the New Years celebration," she said hesitantly.
"Yes, it has been a long standing tradition that all members of the family attend the New Years celebration, however it is also tradition for the Sohma's to look after their own. You, Asa-san, are as much a Sohma as your father was. That you have been so neglected is unforgivable. I offer you my sincerest apologies." To say Asa was stunned would be an understatement. She'd long since accepted that with her father went the caring aspect of a family. For Akira want to offer not only the care of the Sohma's, but also his apologies for not offering sooner was surreal. Though she didn't know what, Asa knew she should say something however when she opened her mouth Akira hissed and his hand went to his head as if he was in great pain. Setting down his cup, he got to his feet.
"You'll have to excuse me I'm not in the best of health today, but perhaps we could continue this visit next week?" Asa just blinked and nodded dumbly. "Good. It's still raining out so I'll have you driven home. If there is anything you need don't hesitate to come to us." And with a slight nod of his head he left Asa sitting there with her thoughts whirling. It wasn't until a servant came to fetch her that she got up.
As a servant was escorting the young woman to a car Akira lay in bed in his dark room. The god of the zodiac didn't flinch when the fusuma slid open and a middle-aged woman carrying a glass of water and a bottle of pills entered and bowed. Closing the door behind her she sat on the tatami placed the glass and pills in front of him and waited to be addressed. Akira sat up and took two of the small white pills.
"Atsuko…" he said and turned his gaze on the lavender eyed woman, the rat of the zodiac. "My time grows short. Have the preparations completed by the end of next month. I will have the girl willing to fulfill her roll by than."
"Yes, Akira-san."
Blue: I hope you liked it! Please review:hands Ivey a piece of paper to read:
Ivey: FYI: genkan is an entryway that all Japanese homes have where you take off your shoes. It's seriously rude to wear your shoes inside so you take them off and leave them there until you leave. Tatami is this mat thing that's usually made from some sort of grass or reed or something and it lines the floors in most rooms. It's like the traditional Japanese equivalent of carpet. We have no idea what the head of the Sohma's name is from twenty years ago. We picked the name Akira in honor of Akira Yamaoka. He's the twisted genius who wrote all the music for the Silent Hill games. It's only fair since his song Room of Angel inspired this story. Lastly, we think that the former head was Hatori's father because in the anime he talks about how he always erased people's memories when Akito or his father told him to. That's it. Later.