Disclaimer: Fruits Basket and Inuyasha belong to Natsuki Takaya and Rumiko Takahashi... for now. But soon they'll be OURS! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Authors' Notes: Unfortunately, Kagome Hime is not here today. She's currently enjoying her vacation in New York, hopefully still working on her fanfic parts. But until she comes back, which will be very soon, allow Red Kitsune to present to you... The first chapter of A Feudal Fairy Tale: The Zodiac Curse!
Chapter One: The Calm Before the Storm
'Everyone is so quiet', Tohru noted to herself as she sat down to a silent meal. On a typical morning, Kyou would be getting his butt kicked by Yuki, Shigure would be teasing the two until one of them shut him up, and Tohru would be busily preparing breakfast while trying to calm everyone down.
But today it seemed as if someone drained the life out of them. The atmosphere was tense and foreboding. Kyou didn't even make a single complaint about the leek dish Tohru had prepared! Now Tohru knew there was something wrong.
"Um… Eh… is the food okay?" Tohru asked timidly, "I know Kyou hates leeks and I'm sorry but I-"
"Nonsense, Tohru-kun! Of course we appreciate this divine meal our little flower prepared for us, seasoned with her love," Shigure joked as he always did, but his eyes held no mirth.
"Yes, you prepared a lovely meal, Honda-san. I'm sorry we made you feel otherwise," Yuki flashed his princely smile.
Beside him, Kyou grunted in consent.
Everyone relapsed into silence again.
"Okay, if there's anything you want to say, just tell me," Tohru laughed nervously, she was desperate to break the silence.
"Actually, yes, there is something I've been meaning to tell you, Tohru-kun," Shigure placed his chopsticks on the table, "Yuki, Kyou, and I are going over to the main house again today. Is that alright?"
"Oh, sure! You guys go ahead, I'll just stay home and do some cleaning," Tohru replied cheerfully.
Lately, they've been going to the main house very frequently. Shigure, Yuki, and Kyou never told Tohru about what happened or what it was about. She knew they were hiding something from her, but she decided not to ask. It was all so mysterious, and Tohru was never really good at figuring things out. But she knew it had something to do with the phone call last week from the main house.
Tohru sighed inwardly. 'What is going on? Why is everyone so quiet?' she wondered for the hundredth time this week.
……...
Meanwhile, in a different universe, a fifteen-year-old girl carrying a pink bicycle in the feudal era, thought to herself, 'It's strange... There's been no sign of Naraku over the last two months. I have a feeling he's planning something.'
"Ow! Would ya watch where you're going, wench!" A voice growled irritably.
Snapping out of her reverie, Kagome realized she had accidentally run her bike over Inuyasha's foot.
"Oops! Sorry, I didn't see where I was going," Kagome apologized.
"You seem distracted this morning, Lady Kagome. What's on your mind?" Miroku patted her gently on the shoulder. At least, that's what he started out doing. Before Kagome could react, the monk's naughty hand slid down to her rear.
"Gah!"
This time, Kagome ran her bike over Miroku's foot, on purpose. "I was just thinking about Naraku. Don't you think it's kind of weird how we haven't seen a trace of Naraku for a long time? I just have this feeling that something bad is about to happen."
"Yes, I have the same feeling too," Sango agreed, "We've collected a lot of jewel shards. It's almost too easy."
Miroku, who was still nursing his trampled foot, spoke up, "It's like he's giving us the jewel shards. Knowing Naraku, he probably has something up his sleeve."
"What the hell does it matter? You guys sound like you want him to come back, or somethin'," Inuyasha burst out, "The point is, the more jewel shards we get, the more powerful we become. The less jewel shards Naraku has, the weaker he'll get! I don't care what Naraku plans, just stop yakking and start hunting some damn jewel shards!"
"Inuyasha! We're people, not dogs for you to command," Kagome argued back, "we've been walking for over two hours, and don't you think it's time for a break?"
"How are we supposed to defeat Naraku when all you do is whine and daydream?" Inuyasha demanded.
"How are we supposed to defeat Naraku when all you do is yell and boss us around?" Kagome countered.
Sango sighed, "There they go again. You know, Inuyasha wouldn't have to suffer so many sits if he only yielded to Kagome for once."
Shippou, who had been previously dozing, popped up, "Yeah. Doesn't he ever learn?"
"Nope. After all, this is Inuyasha we're talking about," Miroku pointed out.
"Good point," Sango and Shippou both answered. Even Kirara mewed in agreement.
In the distance, they heard Kagome shouting, "OSUWARI!" and the all-too-familiar sound of Inuyasha landing face-first on the ground.
…………
"Seven days?"
Kyou's voice cut through the silence like a blade.
There were mixed reactions when Hatori delivered the grim news. Shigure's face was unreadable. Not a hint of emotion was displayed in his features.
Yuki was a different story. Every emotion he felt towards Akito, every thought he had about him, every secret desire buried within his heart, now raced through his mind like lightning.
He was scared. He was afraid about what would happen to the Jyuunishi without their god. He was afraid of the ceremony. It was so disgusting and horrifying, he pitied Akito.
Yet, at the same time, he felt sadistically happy. He felt like he was liberated from a dark shadow. 'Akito deserves his punishment... He deserves to suffer...' A little voice whispered in the back of his head.
'No! Tohru would be appalled at me for thinking this way,' Yuki was ashamed at himself for having such an inhumane thought, but he could not suppress it.
"How is Akito?" Yuki barely managed to choke out the words.
"I'm not quite sure myself. His vital organs are in perfect working order. In fact, he refuses to take his medicine. His behavior is strange, even for him. Akito told me he..." Hatori took a deep breath, and then released it, "Akito wants Tohru to attend."
"NO!"
Yuki and Kyou shouted together.
"Miss Honda is not a Zodiac member! She doesn't deserve to go through this! Tell Akito that there is no way-" Yuki was cut off by Kyou.
"No way in hell that she's coming! I don't care what that bastard..." Kyou's voice suddenly trailed off as the rice-paper door slid open.
"You were saying...?"
Learning against the doorway, was Akito, with his mouth curved into a smirk.
"Akito, you should be resting."
"I'm fine, Hatori," Akito snapped. He turned to Shigure, Yuki, and Kyou. "You know how it hurts me when you talk behind my back. I'm not dead yet, you know," Akito laughed, "Tell me, you disgusting cat, what were you about to say?"
"Akito! How nice to see you, you're looking very good," Shigure greeted merrily," We were just having a disagreement with the ceremony. Perhaps it's not wise to bring Tohru along." Shigure added the last statement carefully.
Akito cocked his eyebrow in mock surprise. "My, I had no idea that you guys could be so rude. Whether or not Tohru Honda attends the ceremony is for her to decide, is it not? After all, Tohru is practically part of the family now, isn't she? Sharing the family secret, living under the same roof, cooking your meals, washing your clothes, I dare say we've all become quite attached to her," Akito's gaze fell on Yuki and Kyou, who both tensed up. He turned around and slid open the screen door. "Well, that settles it then. I want to have Tohru Honda as our guest of honor..."
Akito added over his shoulder just before he slid the door close, "...At my funeral."
Kit and Kag's Corner: Welcome to Kit and Kag's Corner! This is just a little section where Kagome Hime and I, Red Kitsune, write our little comments about the chapter and possibly hint at an upcoming chapter.
Congratulations, Anime-Luney, you're the first fan to review our fanfic! Thank you for taking the time to review. Don't worry, the Inuyasha and Fruits Basket gang will meet soon, very soon…