Fruits Basket: Legend of the Zodiac
Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply.
I'm afraid my muse, Arashi, is still comatose from the Ayashi no Yuugi thing, so I'm temporarily borrowing my cousin's muse, Yume.
Chapter 10: Phoenix Rising
On the roof of the Main Building, the figures of the Seven Heads of Sumeragi stood there, sporting bruises and shallow cuts, and perhaps a sprained or dislocated limb as they looked over the compound. They stood there, silhouetted by the setting sun, assessing the damages to the Honda compound with sweeping looks, their eyes dark with anger and exhaustion. None of them were exactly eager to see the bill for the repairs to the house, but none were surprised by the extent of the damages. Attacks against their family were common enough, and the damages to the Sumeragi compounds scattered throughout Asia were often found on a much larger scale. The damages caused by the battle the previous night to the Honda compound was merely a drop of water in an ocean in comparison, although the number of injuries was unexpected.
Normally, such extensive injuries in the Honda Branch were rare. If an attack could render the Second Branch almost useless, then there could only be two reasons, number one, the Hondas had gotten lax and was not training their Omnyouji adequately, or two, they were facing something that they had never faced before in their Clan's long history. The Honda Branch of Sumeragi was known to be well trained in the arts of Onmyoujitsu, second only to the Main Branch which gave their Clan its name therefore, the latter was highly unlikely, and the former was impossible.
Tohru sighed. "Looks like I'll be staying in the compound for a while until we can get things back in order."
Tenshi nodded morosely. "Aa. The damage to the compound is very extensive, but it shouldn't take too long to repair, and besides, the Clan has had worse damages than this."
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It was seven o'clock in the evening, and it had been a long day. The residents at Sohma Shigure's house were worried about their missing fourth occupant, who had promised to return home that day, but had yet to make an appearance, and it was getting late. The phone suddenly rang, and it was Sohma Shigure who picked up.
"Moshi moshi."
"Hello? Shigure-san?"
"Ah, Torhu!"
"Something has come up. My duties require me to stay with my family, so I won't be back for a while. Can you let Sohma-kun and Kyo-kun know that I won't be back for a while, and can someone please bring me my school things?"
"Of course!"
"Domo arigato, Shigure-sa—K'so! Aya, don't do that! Matsuo, stop her!"
Shigure winced as the sounds of wood splintering and paper ripping as well as the distinctive crash of breaking glass and crystal echoed in the background along with an exasperated sigh from Tohru and two voices chorusing, "Gomen ne, Honda-sama!"
"As if repairing the damage to the compound isn't expensive enough…" Tohru muttered.
Shigure blinked as an inhuman roar suddenly came over the line and another voice yelled, "Honda-sama! Youkai!" followed by the sound of conflict and screams. Tohru groaned as the sound of splintering wood emerged in the background accompanied by the tinkling of breaking glass.
"Gomen ne, Shigure-san. But I really have to go now. As for my school things, it seems that it currently isn't in the best interest for a non-Omnyouji to come down to the Honda Compound at the moment, so just leave my things on the porch near the door. I'll send someone over to pick it up—Watch where you throw those kunai, Kaoru! Hina, do I look like a frigging Youkai to you? Aim those ofuda elsewhere!—Domo Arigato for your cooperation, Shigure-san! Ja!"
The line went dead, leaving Shigure to stare perplexedly at the receiver.
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Tohru Honda was not a happy Phoenix or Omnyouji. Her Compound was in shambles, and it was under attack for the third time in the past twenty-four hours, and the family was getting tired, not to mention that the Seven Heads were also in attendance. Not only that, the repairs to the damages caused by the conflicts would cost a fortune, and the cost of replacing certain items would cost even more, not to mention that many of the destroyed artifacts were irreplaceable and invaluable. No, Tohru Honda was by no means a happy Phoenix or Omnyouji.
To say otherwise would be asking for a fistful of kunai flying toward you, accompanied by several shikkis, and an enraged katana wielding Phoenix/Omnyouji in your face.
Did I mention that Tohru was not happy?
She quickly dropped the receiver onto the cradle and dropped in time to avoid a nasty fireball and quickly rolled to her feet, pulling out a fistful of kunai as she did so. Swiftly, she flung the kunai at the nearest youkai, striking it exactly; one between the eyes, two in the shoulders, and two more in the abdomen. She laced her fingers together and mystical energy formed a pentacle on the youkai. Swiftly, before the youkai could remove any of the kunai, she flung a sixth kunai right into the center of the pentagram, cutting the energy flow, and the magical backlash blew the youkai to pieces. The kunai blasted into the surrounding youkai and Tohru drew her katana and beheaded a youkai as she plunged into the fray.
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It was five in the morning, and the various members of the Honda Compound were exhausted, none more so than the Fifteen Guardians. The entire compound was quiet, and guards had been set to guard the Compound while its inhabitants took a well deserved rest. Near the heart of the compound, where the more important members of the family lived, the figure of the Thirteenth Head of Honda could be seen moving restlessly from one room to the other, the dark shadow of her figure showing clearly against the rice paper walls of her home in the Compound. The battles had taken a lot out of the teenager, not that she would ever show it while her duties required her to be strong for the protection of her family. She knew what was expected of her, what type of behavior was appropriate and tolerated for one of her stature and position, and she knew what action she was allowed to take as Phoenix of Honda and as the Thirteenth Head of the Second Branch of the Sumeragi Clan. Her responsibilities to her family came first, her education second, and the Prelude, the War of the Zodiac, would prevent her from attending school as often as she would like.
Tohru snorted derisively as she stopped her pacing and opened the shoji doors and looked out at the sunrise.
'Things are heating up. The Zodiac is coming closer and closer to destruction as every minute passes, and every moment is spent in the desperate attempts to guard Japan's spiritual Balance and our own lives. The Zodiac is near by, but where is it?'
Six o'clock. The second shift was beginning. Tohru closed her eyes, and flames burst into existence around her, and when the flames died down, in place of the chestnut haired teenager was a red and gold phoenix, whose meter long tail feathers dripped fire which disappeared once it hit the ground. The phoenix spread her wings and flew out of the compound and into the rising sun, trailing behind her a series of gentle trills.
It was dangerous for her to leave the compound without telling anyone, she knew, but the sensation of flight, the freedom that she felt with the wind whistling past and the steady beating of her wings was something she loved. It seemed that there was so much work lately, what with the Prelude and the constant care she was expected to take in the presence of the Sohmas, a quick flight in her phoenix form was one luxury she no longer could afford. She trilled a single joyous note as she swooped through the clouds, twittering happily, enjoying the moment while it lasted. She knew that she wouldn't be attending school today or tomorrow with Hana and Uo, not with the compound in shambles, but she would stop by Shigure's house to pick up her school things around eight nonetheless, just in case she found the time to go to class later on.
Several hours later, Tohru happened to glance down, and she gave an amused chirp. She had flown all the way to Shigure's house without even realizing it. She easily spotted Kyo lying on the roof, his eyes closed, and judging by the fact that he was soaked by the early morning dew, he must have fallen asleep there last night. It was early, but she couldn't just leave Kyo as he was, he'd get sick. Cursing her compassion, Tohru swooped downward to wake the more volatile of her charges.
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Kyo woke to find himself feeling cold, though he felt rather warm at the same time. A soothing wave of peace seemed to overwhelm him, and he turned over onto his side. Warm, narrow, bony fingers with sharp nails squeezed his shoulder, and the next instant, Kyo leapt up almost fearfully, nearly throwing himself off the roof in the process. Frantic trilling caught his attention the next moment, and Kyo looked up to find a large bird with red and gold plumage hovering above him, violet eyes wide and distressed, the long golden tail dripping fire which vanished the moment it touched the roof.
"A phoenix…" he breathed. The bird warbled several flustered notes before settling once more on his shoulders and taking flight once more, tugging his damp shirt upwards an inch or two, trilling all the while. Kyo caught the gist of what the Phoenix was trying to tell him and rolled his eyes as he climbed own the ladder and walked back into the house, and said, "Alright, alright, I'm going inside. Yeesh, for a bird you sure do know how to nag."
'Bird? BIRD? Oi! Just who do you think you are, calling me a BIRD!' Tohru thought, warbling angrily, while digging her talons indignantly into Kyo's shoulder, being careful not to break the skin.
"Ow! I'm sorry! Ow!"
"What's with the ruckus?" Shigure said as he came downstairs, followed by a half awake Yuki.
Tohru launched herself off Kyo's shoulder and burst into flame. The fire formed a human figure and faded and she glared at Kyo. "Nag of a bird, huh? Next time, if you fall asleep on the roof, I won't bother waking you up, and you can catch pneumonia for all I care! If fact, I think I'll just push you off next time!" she poked the cat firmly on the chest as she ranted.
"Good morning, Tohru!" Shigure singsonged far too gleefully for the early morning, "What are you doing here this early?"
Tohru spun around, the broad sleeves of her shikifuku flying around her and smiled cheerily at Shigure. "Ohayo, Shigure-san, Sohma-kun! I'm here for my suff! My duties to my family take priority over other things, and I can't run down here from the compound for my school things and then to school! Sorry for the inconvenience, Shigure-san!"
"Oh, you're no inconvenience, Tohru. In fact, none of us were sure when you would come to pick up your things, so you'll find it next to the door."
"Arigato, Shigure-san!"
Tohru transformed into a phoenix once more in a burst of flame, and the large fire bird flew toward the door. She descended on her school things, and her golden talons closed around the strap of the backpack and briefcase. She trilled a single warm note, and the shoji slid open, and with a powerful flap of her wings, launched herself out of the door and into the morning sun, trailing behind her a warm song.
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