Ai Shi Teru
Yay! This is my first Fanfic. I really like FruBa and all the characters in the story, except for some ofcourse.
This is a story that will carry on for ages so don't get too bored with it now, because it's only
Chapter 1! The protagonist is a new character I added, so please read and review and I'll continue it!
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket...but if I did well, my imagination woul run wild...
Chapter 1:
"Are you awake?" someone asked. There was pure darkness, not a glimpse of light to be spotted. "Darling?"
"Who said that?" She shouted. Not only was the obscurity troubling her, the chill was ever so frigid. "Who is this? Why can't I see you?"
"You're so demanding," the voice replied, "do you ever have fun?"
"Fun?"
"Fun. You're such an abstinent person. Really darling…"
"Who is 'Darling'?"
"My point exactly."
She slowly looked behind herself, but there was nothing but dark. Everywhere there was endless black. She felt as if it was like a cavern of impending doom.
"Darling…"
She jerked her head around again and faced a body, to her fright.
"Why are you so hard?" The body began to tightly embrace her.
"Get off of me…" she ordered, but no fidelity.
A hand lifted her chin towards the mystery figure's face. She knew it was a human being, yet the face was overshadowed.
"Darling…" The being leaned his head in, revealing its mouth. She did not understand. Who was this being? And what is its motive?
"Wha…"
"Are you awake?"
The girl awoke with a gasp, then quickly sat erect.
"Finally," Akito said with an annoyed sigh. "I thought I'd have to force you up. Now get me breakfast."
"Yes, right away," she answered, then got up slowly and made for the door, her head still woozy.
"Shiyo! That was an order, now scram. I'm hungry!" Akito exclaimed, making Shiyo move faster in an awkward waddle.
Down some stairs, around a corner she trotted. Another corner, then more stairs, until she reached an old door, went through and began her duty.
"Darling…" she said to herself. 'Darling?' She thought 'How odd. I've never heard that word before. Wonder what it refers to?'
Shiyo steamed the rice and stripped nori. It was the usual this morning: miso soup, with rice, and a wide selection of delicacies.
Shiyo Souma had been serving Akito for years. Her parents mysteriously disappeared, so she was taken in by her wealthy Aunt Mise in a remote region in the mountains. She was educated by her Aunt and her companions, who harshly disciplined her. One day while harvesting plants on the steep fields, she come across an old man and enjoyed conversation with him. Shiyo slipped over the wet grass and fell on him, transforming into a black chicken. After her curse was discovered by Mise, she was consistently shunned and was thrown out of the house. Somehow the Souma's had been notified, and took her in at once.
Because of her discipline, she never questioned what she was ordered to do or how she was treated. It seemed to her that her life was meant to be like this, and thought that everyone else's was as austere as hers, which is why she never complained.
Shiyo was only distantly related to the Souma's, yet still possessed their blood and name.
'Who was that person? And what was it doing exactly?'
Shiyo grabbed one of the salmon and began slicing it.
'Odd… 'tsk' It's probably just a thought. Just an insignificant dream, nothing more. Better forget about it. I have important things to do.'
When she was finished cooking and preparing the food, she hurriedly took the large hefty tray up back to Akito's rooms. She was used to this routine every morning, having mastered not to harm the tray of breakfast whilst running at speed across the many halls and up the numerous staircases. It only took her forty seconds to reach the room, slide open the door, place down the tray and close the door again.
Shiyo took back the tray and walked steadily to Akito, who was now sitting on the veranda.
"You were faster yesterday," Akito informed, "that was like a minute."
"I will be faster tomorrow," said Shiyo, "if you want your breakfast so hastily."
Shiyo laid the tray beside Akito's frail body, then began tidying their futons.
When Shiyo took residence at the Souma house, she was only seven. Years past with her behaving the same way she had been taught to behave with Mise, and educated herself in the same manner. She never went to school, and was the most isolated of all the Souma's. But when Akito's companion left, Shiyo was instructed to take his place, thus modestly served Akito ever since. She practically lived in Akito's rooms.
"Shiyo, you stink and you look it. Get out of that putrid wear of yours and change into something more presentable."
Without a word, Shiyo took out one of her antic kimonos out of one of her boxes and changed into it on the spot. Akito and Shiyo did not feel uncomfortable revealing their bodies to one another. It wasn't spurned to do such a thing in Akito's private quarters.
Shiyo tied the materials around her body as she watched herself in the narrow mirror on the wall.
Shiyo grew black thick hair which reached over her shoulders to her chest. Her face was peculiar; having her right eye auburn brown and the other cerulean grey. They were large and fitted onto her face. Her skin was creamy but pale, giving her a mysterious façade. She was average height, about one hundred and sixty centimetres, possessing a slender yet curvaceous edifice, her legs long and smooth. She was indeed catching, but only Akito had observed this closely and did not wish to notify anyone, so she covered it up due to jealousy. It was the main reason why Akito ordered Shiyo to wear complete black at the New Years celebration accompanied with a long dark veil across her face and chest. Shiyo was instructed to never leave her side on these occasions, as well as not communicating or watching anyone but Akito.
"What a cloudy day," said Akito, "it suits what your putting on."
Shiyo turned to Akito, who had been watching her.
"Is that so," Shiyo responded, "how observant of you."
Shiyo finished clothing herself then obediently kneeled next to Akito. Akito was eating calmly, while Shiyo gazed out to the house precincts.
"It's always the same." Akito broke the peace. "How many times have I had miso soup served with other useless matter?"
"About four times this week," she answered, "Miso soup and rice are good for your health."
"Perhaps. But this crap is boring me."
"Is there something else you'd prefer? Rice is still essential for you though."
"You could at least flavour it, starting from today."
"With what?"
"With something. Use your imagination."
"My imagination might disappoint you."
"With cabbage then."
"We don't have any today."
"Well get some more!"
"I'm afraid I can't."
"And why not?"
"You instructed me not to leave the house."
"Well get someone else to!"
"Like who?"
"Somebody! That's enough talking from you this morning."
Silence inundated the whole room that morning.
That afternoon, Shiyo went to the kitchens and ate her share for the whole day; rice balls filled with tuna. Shiyo only ate once a day, and only had little time to herself. It was part of her daily routine. Shiyo thought that the soul purpose of her existence was to serve Akito forever, which she accepted since her discipline had taught her to always serve without complaints.
Shiyo filled her hand with rice then began to shape it.
'Better hurry,' she contemplated, 'Akito needs attending to before the evening.'
While Akito basked in Kureno's company, Shiyo had to leave her rooms. Kureno used to be the only one who used to actually talk to Shiyo, but even they didn't socialise much. He used to be cursed but was somehow freed from it. Shiyo had taken up his burden of being cursed by the Rooster, the reason why she was brought to Souma house. Akito did all she did to prevent Kureno and Shiyo from even looking at one another, which made Shiyo think that it was for the better good.
After eating she read through some of the books she kept, studied them well, then practised memorising them. She improved her skills on the 'Biwa' and the 'Koto' then practised her self defence. Shiyo had extraordinary capabilities. Although she knew she had to always serve Akito, Shiyo had the need to educate herself. It was what she was taught to do in her spare time. Being constantly busy and serving Akito had to be Shiyo's only source of joy, since she believed she had to enjoy everything she did to get the most potential out of things. This came to her naturally. No complaints.