Author's Note: It's a new year and I'm here to bring you the New Year's chapter! Sorry it's kinda late, though! Please read and review!

A Furuba Cinderella

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket nor Cinderella. Happy?

Chapter 6:

Ducking behind the dark forest green bushes, golden eyes peeked out from behind it. A voice called out to him. "Aya-niisan?" asked the voice, sounding utterly exhausted and dying for thirst. "Where are we?" he asked with the same tone.

The owner of the pair of golden eyes neither moved nor waved in acknowledgement of the youth. Instead…he kept his golden orbs staring straight ahead through the thick green bushes and leaves. "Aya-niisan!" the voice asked again, finally the owner coming into view.

Leaves made a nice decorative assortment for the bi-colored youth's hair. He had a frown on and ragged clothing. His black robes were either torn or ripped to shreds. Dirt smeared his face and most of his robes. Yep, worst for wear.

"Did you even hear me!" asked the youth. His tone was rather impatient and finally gave up and walked towards the older man. "What are you looking at that's so interesting as to ignore me?" he asked to himself as he bent his knee down to peek through the thick leaves of the bush.

He couldn't see anything yet, so he moved a couple of branches out of the way and saw what filled him with rage. He turned around and grabbed the older male by his collar and gave him a smack.

"I can't believe you! You're a pervert even when we're trying to escape!" he yelled as he pulled the man up. The man's eyes widened in surprise and his mouth curved into a grin.

"Ah, Haru-kun…you care to join me?" he asked mischievously and oddly enough… Haru didn't even notice the evil glint the last time. Haru dropped the older man to his feet, which wasn't very far seeing as Ayame was very tall, sighed and walked over to the nearest tree to lean on.

Ayame stopped watching his younger cousin and went back to bushes to find that the woman had already gone when Haru had smacked him on the cheek. He sighed pitifully and brought up his right hand to rub his cheek. "Ne…Haru-kun…you could be more gentle," he said, trying to lighten up the situation.

"Aya-niisan…you're…you exhaust me…" he replied instead, still leaning against the tree. He rubbed his forehead and sighed. "We should get going…" He got up to a straight position and started to walk in one random direction.

"Uh…Haru-kun?" Ayame started as he reached out a hand to stop his younger cousin. The teen continued to walk, only turning his head. "You're going the wrong way," Ayame finished, putting down his hand and sweat dropping.

Haru cursed and walked back towards where he had thrown a fist at his older cousin. "Which way is it, then?" he asked quickly and as if he was in demand. The tailor only pointed left and stood up.

"You're right…we should get going…" he said and the both of them continue their way.

(--?--)

Locks of messy red hair stood against the blank white walls behind him as a grim frown painted his face. Head bowed and hand out ready for the white cloth to be wrapped around his hand. The youth's eyes were covered with his red hair.

His tongue licked his dry lips and he spoke first. "…Shishou?" he asked, breaking the silence. He didn't make a sign of any movement. He only sat there, waiting for his master to finish wrapping the bandage onto his hand.

"Hm?" the master asked, without looking up. He continued to wrap the bandages as it slid carefully around the injured hand and around and around… When the red-haired youth didn't answer, he stopped and looked up. "Kyo? What is it?" he spoke, voice filled of concern.

"I—" he started as he looked up with a face filled with determination only to cut short. "…Shishou...I…" he frowned again and stopped to sort out his thoughts.

Should I tell him? Could I tell him? I mean…I don't really…hate him, do I? Kyo frowned again and took interest in the patterns and designs on the floor below him. The master's voice woke him from his thoughts.

"You know Kyo…frowning a lot will increase your chances with the wrinkles…" the elder said with a small smile. He chuckled at his own joke and continued to wrap the bandages. He only glanced to see his son's reaction.

Kyo, the youth, only smiled ever so slightly and lowered his head even more to hide the smile. "S-Shishou…" he started to speak again, now laughing between the words. "Ha-ha…Shishou…could you hurry?" His head was now held up high so that the master could see those crimson orbs before closing with laughter. The master smiled softly at his son and cocked his head as if asking "What?".

The youth turned to see what his father was saying and he slowly stopped laughing. "The bandages…my hands are starting to sore from being held up like this for so long…" he finished and grinned as if he was a two-year-old having had just received candy.

"Of course." His father smiled back at him and continued to wrap as the night fell.

(--?--)

Only the sound of clothes being dipped in and pulled out of the wet, soapy water was heard as morning came. A bit after the sun had come up, a female's hum was now heard and the chirps of birds.

The female who was humming was hanging up the laundry by now and only kept humming as she did so. Her mind, completely forgetting the young man who had transformed into a mouse, was completely concentrating on hanging up the laundry.

"Let's see…this dress should go here…" she mumbled notes to herself as she kept doing her chore. "…and this sheet over here…" Once the last sheet was hung up to dry in the sun, she stepped back to look at it. Once she approved of it, her hands became fists and she placed her fists on her hips and smiled. "There!"

A rustle in the bushes behind her caught her attention. Eyes widened and filled with fear, she turned around to face the bush. "W-Who's there?" she asked nervously as she slowly walked towards the bush. She picked up a small tree branch that had gotten loose from a tree and held it above her head, ready to strike.

(--?--)

Back to the village square again…he thought to himself as he made his way through the thick bushes and canopies of the woods. He grunted and muttered, "Damn…too much…" He continued to brush off the leaves and branches off of him and finally reached his destination.

Making sure that his hood was on, once again, he walked around the square, looking for the item he had wanted. He finally found the correct booth and walked up to it. He bent down and looked at the items.

Nothing was interesting. Only a small dagger caught his attention. It was beautifully hand crafted (as it said from reading the parchment) and held a single opal jewel in its handle. It was a dirty silver color as if it was an antique. The blade itself looked to be brand new. As if it had never been used before, but the handle would change anyone's, who looked at it, mind.

He slowly reached out a hand and picked up the dagger, fingering the carvings. The carvings on it were dragons. About two or three of them and then there seemed to be a cloud of smoke or something next to it.

Yuki stared at it in awe as he fingered each carving and stared at the jewel.

The man at the booth watched Yuki with an air of curiosity as he tilted his head as if to say, "What are you doing?" and didn't notice the other customers. The man spoke first.

"Oy, young lad," he addressed to Yuki without the knowledge how his name, "yeh wanna buy that? One of me greates' items on sale, yer know…" Yuki finally looked up when the man ended his sentence.

The man had messy and scraggly black bread. He wore small glasses that seem like it didn't fit and a navy blue robe, almost matching Yuki's robe color. "I got it from me gramps. They say he was the best ole man ever…" Yuki continued to watch the older (much!) man as he continue to speak to him as if Yuki was an old friend.

"I loved me gramps… But cha know…they say that, that dagger is magic!" he suddenly said as he looked up at Yuki and pointed at the dagger with one enormous finger. It was then, that Yuki noticed that the man was well…let's say…larger than average men.

The huge man suddenly let up a laugh, scaring the many customers that were there, except Yuki. "Look at ole me…yappin' away ter some stranger…" He looked down at his hands which were in his laps, wringing them as if feeling sorry for himself. "So…yeh wanna buy it?" he suddenly asked.

Yuki looked up at the sudden change of direction and nodded. "How much, sir?" he asked politely, looking back down again. His hand went his small stash as he waited for the price.

The man let out another laugh. "Yer good, lad. Know what?" the man picked up the dagger that Yuki had, had in his hand a bit earlier and handed it to him along with a blue ribbon sash and a place where you could keep a dagger. "I like you, lad. Lucky yeh, today, yer get this ole dagger. Free of charge." The man smiled at him as if he were Santa.

Yuki's head went up and looked at the man in the eye. "Thank you, sir…" he muttered and started to walk away slowly, only to turn back and ask the man for his name.

"Me name's Rubeus Hagrid, but jus' call me Hagrid. What's yer name, lad?" he asked with a goofy grin. He was already starting to pack away items.

Yuki hesitated for a moment, thinking that it wasn't wise to tell a stranger his real name if he was wanted. Instead, he thought up of the first name he could remember.

"Tohru." He said slowly, testing his new temporary name. "My name is Tohru."

Chapter Start date: December 10th

Chapter End date: December 13th

Chapter post date: January 1st

Author's Note: Wow…I actually finished this chapter in three days… That's a new record… Wow… Oh and I decided to bring Hagrid in. I thought he'd make a nice character here in this story. But only Hagrid, so….sorry! Oh and I don't own him, either! He rightfully belongs to J.K. Rowling! So don't sue!

So yeah…please review or flame or no update. And no plushy either… (Hugs Yuki-rat form plushy). If you review, you'll receive a plushy! Just name the one you want and I'll give it to you! So please review!