Curse me
By: Senko Tenrou
Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket or the song "You'll Be In My Heart" by Phil Collins.
A/n: Sorry this took so long!!!!
Review Responses:
Anonymous: Jade: Thanks for reading and I'm glad that you liked it!!
Chibi Keiko: Glad you like it!!
Anonymous: Stinky-chan: Yeah, about the rooster thing, I do know that Kureno is the rooster in Fruits Basket but I have no idea who he is nor do I understand hid personality (even though my muse is named after him, lmao) – ditto with the horse, Rin. In the story, unfortunately, I only have the resources that I gathered from the anime DVDs.
Drownin' in my Tears: Yay!! Be happy!! I updated!!!
Anonymous: Rei-san: I'm glad you liked it!! Thanks. 231-54N Gotta love the l33t
Machoupichounette: Whoa!! I got the name right!! I feel special… Thanks for the review and I'm glad you liked it!
Deanna/Angel: I'm glad you liked it heehee
Zeheria: OMG I haven't heard from you in, like, … forever!! Glad you and Segenti like it Kureno-kun says hi, too!!
Anonymous: animelubber: Lol, glad you like… Sorry it took so long – blame the writer's block, lol…
Maxraybeyblade: Ooo, I'm glad you liked it
San San as Herself: Glad to hear from you!! Sorry it took so freaking long to update thisone story – I'm not sure why… Writer's block has never been this bad before…
Chapter Two
Shigure blinked. Surely, she hadn't… Why would she want to…? "What?"
Tohru faltered. She'd spoken clearly, right? "Will you take me, Shigure-san?" she repeated mildly.
The dog averted her question with a wave of his hand. "No, no. I heard you. I meant, why do you want to go?" Shigure shook his head to express his confusion.
Tohru blinked in bewilderment. What did one usually do when one wants to see a person above them? "Err, to speakwith him…" she explained slowly, as if speaking to a child. Why was Shigure being so unreasonable??
The man sighed, realizing that Tohru obviously wasn't getting his point as to why anyone would go see Akito willingly.
"Please, Shigure-san?"
Shigure closed his eyes and exhaled a long breath. That girl was toocute to resist sometimes... He nodded slowly.
Tohru grinned. "Thank you!"
Come stop your crying
It will be all right
Just take my hand
Hold it tight
I will protect you
From all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry
Tohru tried really hard to smile warmly when Akito joined her in the room and had to wonder why she felt her stomach drop – was it fear? Why would she be afraid of Akito? Maybe for the fact that he nearly blinded Hatori-san in one eye… She couldn't stop herself from thinking. Paling as Akito glared at her, she gulped. Maybe he remembered their last encounter after Kyou's – err – incident? She struggled with all her might to smile now – just to bring life to the room…
She was now regretting her choice in asking Shigure not to come in with her. She looked around nervously. She and Akito were probably the only ones around this time of day; that thought made her laugh uneasily – only causing Akito to snap a "Shut up" her way. Her mouth clicked shut immediately.
"What are you here for, girl?"
Tohru, as if just realizing whom she was speaking to, lowered her eyes with respect and fright. "I—I need to speak with you about your decision on that girl, Akito-san," she looked up tentatively, "I – err – I don't think it was fair to the rest of the Sohmas…"
Akito didn't respond immediately, looking irritated. "What does your opinion have to do with anything that goes on in this family?" he demanded softly with a look that sent shivers down Tohru's spine. He sat back, arms crossed, and waited for an answer when she didn't reply quickly enough.
Tohru chewed her lip, debating on her words. "Well…" she started, and then ended, not liking the way it was sounding. She sounded so nervous! "They're so depressed, Akito-san!" she finally blurted out, before gasping and covering her mouth. She slowly pulled her hand away moments later, saying, "I'm sorry… but, Akito-san, they're so downhearted that they allowed something like this to happen—"
"That sounds like their problem…" Akito interjected without care of her sentence.
"Akito!" Tohru unthinkingly reprimanded. "This is your family we're speaking of!" Akito's brow lowered in anger and Tohru's eyes widened like saucers; she pulled both hands to her lips and bowed low, apologizing, "I'm sorry – I wasn't thinking!"
"Apparently…" Akito drawled, relaxing again. "Now, what were you saying, Tohru?"
Tohru looked up again. "I was saying that I don't see how you would let your own relatives go through that," she answered defiantly.
For one so small,
You seem so strong
My arms will hold you,
Keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here
Don't you cry
Akito stood to give his fragile frame a more menacing look. "I don't see why I couldn't… They did it, not me…" he replied softly.
Tohru stood also, looking up at Akito for the height difference. She lifted her head to meet his eyes. "I'm sorry, Akito. I'm truly sorry that you feel that way… For your family and your own sake, you should understand when I tell you it's not the right way to feel. You, of all people, should care most about what your family is feeling and how you make your choices… I'm sorry that it's so hard for you, but it's the right thing to know and do." She finished and looked down again, dreading his response.
"…Do you honestly think that you could do better?" Akito finally asked after several moments of silence. "Do you truly think that you could run this family smoothly?"
It was soft, but Tohru had heard. She looked up at Akito. His face was hard with suppressed anger and he was fighting a twitching brow. "I didn't say that!" she protested instantly.
He wasn't even listening to Tohru anymore. "You seem to care so much – do you think you could do a better job at it than me???"
"Akito, I didn't – that wasn't what I—"
"Do you or do you not?" he demanded forcefully, banging his fist on the coffee table that sat beside him.
Tohru shrugged uncomfortably. "I—"
"Just answer the question!!" Akito roared, causing Tohru to yelp and duck her head.
"I—I suppose I could…" she muttered unintelligibly... but Akito got it.
"Is that so?" he scoffed, "For this pitiful excuse of a clan?"
Tohru looked up in surprise at Akito's words, gasping softly. That was awful to say about his family! "Akito!" she exclaimed on instinct.
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always
"What, now – did I say something wrong about the enchanting, little family of mine? Well, you can't do anything just yet…" Akito glared at her. "You want the job, you got it… I, hereby, hand the position of Head for the Sohma clan." He declared flatly. "Hope you enjoy… Then again – no, I don't… I'll step down and let you take your trueplace in this family…" he rolled his eyes scathingly.
A small gasp sounded from just outside the door, followed by a quick scamper of feet. Akito looked over at the girl who stood rigid with shock. "I'll let you handlethat, too… Have at it…" Akito deadpanned, sliding the shoji out of his way and leaving the room for Tohru to gape at.
-
Momiji scurried through the Sohmas door, laughing and cheering aloud. "Yuki! Kyou! Shigure!! Come quick!! You'll never, in a billion years, guess what happened at the Sohma house!!"
Shigure came running in, the only one of the three that knew where Tohru was, while Yuki and Kyou lagged behind, looking aggravated – they'd obviously been fighting by the revengeful look on Kyou's face and, not to mention, the bruise forming on his cheek.
"Well!? Guess!!"
"Akito died a horrible death?" Yuki shrugged flatly only to receive a fierce shake of the head from Momiji.
"We have a new, pretty lady member?" Shigure tried hopefully.
"Sort of!" Momiji hopped up and down happily.
"Sorry to say, but I like the nezumi's idea…" he said, jerking a violent thumb at Yuki ("It's not polite to point, Kyou," Yuki scolded with a monotone, bored voice, twisting Kyou's thumb downward) and rubbing his cheek while watching his thumb move in an unnatural position with awe.
Momiji blinked and shifted uncomfortably at the pair's actions before bouncing again. "None of that!!" he exclaimed exasperatedly. "Akito said, while he was talking to Tohru, (A nervous laugh erupted from Shigure as the two boys glared murder at the inu, "You lied," they accused mercilessly) that she could do a better job as the Head Sohma (The threes' expressions slipped into shocked faces) and… he gave her the position!!!" Momiji whooped loudly, throwing his fist in the air, while he still bobbed up and down excitedly.
Yuki's iron grip on Kyou's thumb fell slack and they all stared with disbelief at the usagi, who was still cheering. His eyes blanked out and he blinked. "Momiji… did you just say that—that Tohru is now… Head of our family?"
Momiji nodded enthusiastically.
Kyou followed in suite of Yuki. "Maybe it's a trick of Akito's…"
Shigure began laughing hysterically, already rolling on the floor.
Why can't they understand
the way we feel
They just don't trust
what they can't explain
I know we're different but,
deep inside us
We're not that different at all
I can do this… I can sodo this… I can really do this… She chanted over and over, walking out of the Sohma estate. She had no idea how she'd gotten this far; she'd have sworn her knees would have given out before she could leave the room. Her knees were wobbling so badly that it was nearly impossible to walk in a straight line. Such responsibility… It was already getting to her. She was scared out of her wits!! …How do I tell them?
She stopped in her tracks. O no… what do I tell them?
Will they be mad?
O my god, she realized, I practically kicked out their Leader!!
She breathed slowly, calming herself down. They won't hate me… I hope… she whimpered quietly, shielding her face and picturing the results. She couldn't imagine their shock… or anger. Tohru finally pulled herself together and continued to Shigure's home.
Arriving at the house, Tohru took a deep, calming breath. She gave it to her panic, and turned to take a relaxing stroll around the perimeter of the household. She tried to calm her nervous heart to no avail and nearly jumped from her skin when she heard the shoji slide open from behind her, just as she was leaving.
"Tohru?" a voice called.
And you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
Don't listen to them
'Cause what do they know
We need each other,
to have, to hold
Tohru's head whipped over her shoulder at her name to see an older man standing at the door, sticking his head out to peer around at her. She blinked and tilted her head to the left. "Yes, Shigure-san?"
The man, now titled as Shigure, pointed at the doorframe he was leaning against. "Shouldn't you be coming inside about now?" he asked curiously, wondering why she'd passed right by the door.
Tohru looked from the shoji, to Shigure, to her path ahead, and back again to Shigure. "I was, err, going to go around and use the back entrance so I wouldn't disturb you all…" she fiddled with her clasped hands behind her back.
"You wouldn't disturb us at all, Tohru-kun; actually, we were waiting for you to arrive…"
Tohru's color drained and she froze. She felt the dread pool in the pit of her stomach again. Why are they waiting? They must know something was up… O no! What have I done? She searched frantically for a reason not to come inside. "Err, Shigure-san, I'm glad to hear that you care enough to wait for me, but, um, I was planning to take a walk and think about what Akito said to me…"
Shigure grinned. "But, why not share it with us? Sharing information is the best way to ponder over it…"
Tohru bit her lip and sighed. She had no other options. She gulped and nodded. "Sure…" she replied awkwardly.
Shigure's eyes lit and he showed her inside and Tohru followed him, feeling her knees tremble with worry. He took her through the house to where everyone was gathered, sitting around the table while Momiji bounced around and chattered to the boys – the two looked overly annoyed and ready to hurt the rabbit.
Tohru smiled weakly at the scene before her. It was so entertaining to her how the small boy could irk Kyou's temper – though he seemed to control it pretty well at the moment – and bring the worst of Yuki – though only at certain times.
Momiji looked up, along with the two older boys, when Shigure came in. Tohru ducked behind the inu, bowing her head, in embarrassment of the attention. "Hello," she greeted timidly.
An uncomfortable silence stretched out as the three (Kyou, Yuki, and Tohru) struggled with a sentence that would bring up the conversation with Akito.
"Tohru!" Momiji suddenly exclaimed, forgetting about annoying the pair of boys at the table. He bounced over to her and stood on his tiptoes so that he could look into her eyes. "I heard that Akito-sama made you leader!"
Kyou and Yuki sweat-dropped and nearly lost their balance, practically mirroring Tohru's shock. That was the easy way to start it off, they supposed…
They'll see in time
I know
When destiny calls you
You must be strong
I may not be with you
But you've got to hold on
They'll see in time
I know
Tohru felt the color drain from her face once again. How did…? Was that the sound that she and Akito had heard – Momiji running away?? It was all too confusing for her in one day. "Wha—What are you talking about, Momiji-chan?" she asked with feigned naivety. She blinked at four boys (Shigure had sat down, interested, with Yuki and Kyou when Momiji announced what he'd heard) and cocked her head cutely to stray them from the accusation.
Of course, this distraction caught Shigure's attention right away and he turned to the three other boys. "Yes, what on earth areyou talking about?" he demanded, siding, immediately, with Tohru.
"But… Akito-sama said…" Momiji began before trailing off in confusion.
While Momiji murmured to himself, restating what he'd said earlier to the occupants of the Sohma house, Yuki and Kyou cast incredulous looks back and forth between Shigure and Momiji. Tohru, sighing, dropped to her knees before the table and held her aching head with her eyes clenched tightly – brain pulsing from so much confusion and misunderstanding… She opened her eyes again when she heard one of the boys call her name.
We'll show them together
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
"Honda-san, is there something wrong? Are you feeling all right?" Yuki asked while Momiji, Shigure, and Kyou argued amongst themselves, trying to get the facts straight.
Tohru barely nodded and worked up a convincing smile for his sake before closing her eyes to concentrate on fighting the pain that sweltered throughout her head. She felt worse than before – taking away the Sohmas leader and lying to them all in one day… She felt plain dreadful. And, above all, she couldn't ignore how confused and pained she was.
Her head pulsed violently when Yuki joined in on the argument ("Get your ass over here and help me sort this out, you stupid nezumi!" Kyou hissed) and the chatter increased to an unreasonable volume. She closed her eyes to cool her head before opening them, feeling rather unstable, and stood up in front of the four males. "Please… just be quiet…" she murmured softly because she found only a ounce of strength left to speak – only barely enough – but, strangely enough, they heard her and the buzz of voices and shouts stopped instantly.
Tohru pulled a hand to her forehead, feeling weak, before she collapsed to her knees again, fists clenched in her hair as she lost consciousness and her world went black.
From this day on,
Now and forever more
Oh, you'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be in my heart, always
Always
Tohru? They panicked.
A/n: Well, I tried to make this one longer than I would usually try because I made you guys wait so long… Sorry about that, really…
Hope ya'll liked it,
Senko Tenrou