KyonKyon: Ok, so I haven't updated my other stories but I absolutely had to write this one. I just read Vol.4 of 'Fruits Basket' and I was touched by something Momiji said. And so, I am going to write a story, which I had been thinking about for some time now. Please read and review! Thank you very much.
"It doesn't matter if they are good or bad memories…so long as they are mine…I want to hold them in my heart for always…because I truly want to believe…that I will overcome them…Someday I will overcome those memories…and turn them into memories that I can be proud of…" Tohru Honda, Vol.4
"Momiji would still rather live with the pain of those memories…even if it's a terribly sad memory…even if it's a memory that will cause nothing but pain…even if…it's a memory that I might wish to erase from my mind forever…I believe that, if I hold onto those memories instead of trying to run away from them…one day…if I try really hard…one day I will be able to overcome those sad memories and turn them into something positive…I believe that. I believe that no memory is ever worth forgetting…not a single one…that's why I wish…she hadn't chosen to forget me…I wish she would've fought harder…but I guess I was just being selfish…" Momiji, Vol.4, when he was talking about his mother.
"I want to stand by you…forever and EVER! I never want to leave you! I still want to…I still want to live with you…I want to study with you, to laugh with you, to eat with you…to simply be with you…why's that so hard?" Tohru cried, holding onto Kyo's sleeve, her fists clenched in a death grip.
"Because I don't believe…I don't believe that I can give you happiness…" Kyo replied, jerking his head away to the side to hide his hurt, his fear…and his tears.
The night was silent with the only sound being Tohru's heartbreaking sobs.
"I believe…for the both of us…I believe…I will NEVER let you go! NEVER! I love you, Kyo…even if you were to fight it, I will always be there…I will always be there to catch when you fall…when you feel tired, I'll offer you my shoulder…when you feel like crying, I'll cry with you…"
…………………………………………
" I…see…" the words so quiet that it seemed to have been carried by the wind and left inside the dim room.
Hatori could not look up.
He could not look at this girl whom he would have to hurt.
His fists tightened at his sides.
Why? Why? Why?
So many why's and no answers…as always.
He was always hurting people…DAMN THIS CURSE OF HIS!
" Hatori…it's not your fault…it isn't…" she said softly and Hatori gave a startled sigh when he felt her warm hands gently touch his cold ones.
" You've always been a person whom others can depend on…you'll look after the others for me, won't you? Please look after Kyo for me…I…he's such a silly boy…"
" Tohru…" Hatori croaked out, looking up at her face for the first time, daring to finally raise his eyes to look up at her.
He stopped astounded.
She was smiling.
Crying, yes…but smiling…
" Hatori…I've never regretted meeting the Sohma's…remember that…never…each one of you filled up my life with your love and my memories of all of you…will reside here…" with this, she pointed to her heart, "…and not here…" tapping her head gently.
Soft footsteps were heard outside the door and the door opened gently to reveal a dark figure.
" Now, Hatori…now…" the voice taunted and Tohru closed her eyes, giving Hatori a small shaky smile for the last time.
" I'm sorry…" he whispered hoarsely, covering her eyes gently with his large hand.
"Your sins are absolved…" she whispered, her hand gripping Hatori's left and then her hand fell limp.
…………………………………………………
" Who am I? Why can't I remember? How did I get here? Why're there so many questions? Why's my mind blank?" the boy thought, panicking. He didn't know how long these questions ran through his mind but the answer was always a blank.
" Who am I?" he whispered in the darkness of the room.
" You are…my brother…" a voice came from across the room and the boy jumped at the sound.
" What? My brother? I…I can't remember…I…" the boy stammered confused, squinting around to look at the figure shrouded within the darkness.
The figure moved forward and the light went on. The boy winced, throwing his hands in front of his eyes. When his eyes got used to the light, he looked at the figure…his brother.
His eyes widened as he looked at the tall man.
He was wearing a white shirt, rolled up at the wrist, and it was messily tucked into his pants. His black hair fell onto one of his eye and he had the most penetrating look.
The boy frowned, tilting his head slightly.
" How come I don't remember you?" he asked softly.
" You were in an accident…I'm afraid that you hit your head and…you have amnesia…" the man…no, his brother, said.
The boy looked down, clenching his fists and then looked up briefly, his face twisted in pain, shame and anger.
"I…I'm sorry…" he said lamely and dropped his head, refusing to look at his brother.
" For what?" he said gently, sitting on the bed.
" I…I can't remember you…or myself…I…I don't even know what I look like!" the boy burst out, nearly in tears.
The pressure on the bed lifted and the boy shut his eyes in misery. Soft footsteps.
Then to his surprise, his brother sat beside him.
" This is what you look like…onii-chan…" he said almost awkwardly.
He looked up to see the mirror in front of him.
Seeing the reflection, he gaped at himself.
So, this is what he looked like.
But it felt so weird…so wrong…He didn't feel like this…
Was this really him?
His fingers ran along his sharp cheekbones and then towards his almost crimson eyes.
Touching his soft orange hair, he looked up at his brother, dismayed.
" What's wrong?" he asked, frowning.
" We…we don't look alike! How can we be brothers?" the boy cried out.
His brother smiled.
" You look…just like yo- I mean… mother…let's just say that I took after someone else…" he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
" Oh…ok…um…what did I use to call you? I mean…I'm sorry but…" he said, feeling nervous.
" Call me…nii-chan…" he said after a pause and the boy grinned gladly.
" Ok…nii-chan…"
…………………………………………………………
The door closed softly and Hatori came out looking worn out and tired.
Another man stood at the doorway.
Seeing him, Hatori motioned towards the other room across the hall.
He followed Hatori, his footsteps silent and quick.
" Why did you do that? You know Akito wanted him gone… " Shigure said, gently cupping his cup of tea.
" There…are many things in this life I have done…many things I have regretted…which I have bitterly cursed myself for…for once…I want to do the right thing…" he said softly.
" Is this the right thing, dammit? If Akito finds out…" Shigure said harshly.
" He won't…I'm sending Kyo away…away from all this…away from Akito…and Tohru…" he said, looking at Shigure.
Shigure looked shocked then smiled softly.
" To send him all alone…" he began.
" Who said he was going to be alone?" Hatori interrupted.
" What? What did you say?" Shigure said, shocked again.
Hatori lit up a cigarette and then blew the smoke out.
Looking at Shigure, his best friend, he gave a small smile.
" I'm going with him…I'm leaving the estate…"
" You…can't…Akito will never let you go…and who will look after Akito?" Shigure said, looking panicked.
" I can and I will…after what Akito made me do to Tohru…I can never live with that…I had always been a puppet for Akito…my happiness was gone…my life…what life? But I never blamed him once…not once…but when Tohru came along, everything changed…I felt so ashamed of myself…and of Akito…why was he like that? I never questioned that before, why start now? I will never forgive him for what he did to Tohru…to Kyo…to us…I am leaving…"
" You know he will hunt you down, don't you? He'll always manage to find you…" Shigure said sadly.
" So be it…it can't be worse than the life I have now…"
I absolve your sins, Hatori…