DISCLAIMER: I claim no ownership of Fruits Basket.
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Mythology
Part Two: Secret Defiance of the Blossom Deities
Seven: Worth
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"Something has to be done," Ayame announced one day as the three of them sat together enjoying a—up to that point—silent lunch out.
Hatori and Shigure stared at their friend, expressions of mild surprise on their faces.
"About what?"
As if Shigure didn't already know.
"Tohru-kun. Tohru-kun and Akito-san."
The other two men shifted almost uncomfortably.
"Ayame—" —be sensible, be reasonable, be careful
"You know, Tori-san. You know what will happen."
And Hatori did know.
"And what should be do, Aaya? Defy the closest thing we have to a god?" Shigure gave a laugh, fake and hollow and bitter. "Is she worth it?" he spat.
The words felt so bitter in his mouth. But this was a test, Shigure reminded himself. All a test.
Shigure watched shrewdly as something unfamiliar contorted Ayame's features. Rage, maybe, or possibly some weaker equivalent.
"How can you say that?" the dressmaker asked, his voice a furious whisper and his hands fluttering wildly. "She—She is worth—"
"Settle down, Ayame." Hatori sighed. "It's all right," he lied, trying to be a mediator even as Shigure's words cut him to the marrow.
And Ayame did settle down, because even on matters such as this, Hatori's will was important as though it was Ayame's own. The silver-haired man rested his head against his folded hands.
So the table was silent for a little while longer as the three Sohma men contemplated each other and the situation and… life in general until at last Hatori spoke, his voice steady even though something—something—roiled beneath it.
"We really can't afford to lose her like this, Shigure."
The writer laughed again, and it was humorless, foreign, and devastating.
"Like this," he echoed. "We'll still lose her, won't we, Haa-san?"
And Hatori looked at his cousin with a carefully blank expression. A "yes" in Hatori-speak. A "yes" which meant that once this was all over, if they were able to steal her away, Hatori was willing to do the best thing for her—erase her memory before they sent her away.
"Well," Shigure continued, "I hope that no one minds suffering Akito's wrath for the rest of his relatively short life. Defiance of the gods isn't something that one takes lightly, is it?"
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Author's Notes:
Sorry-sorry for the delay. Tuve estudiar mucho para la clase de matemáticas en el mes pasado. Eheh. That is, I had lots of studying to do for math last month…
The Mabudachi Trio is very, very serious here, isn't it? I kind of like the thought of the three of them not getting along as well as everyone thinks they get along – like behind all of their super-friendship and craziness, they're breaking apart from the inside. Dunno.
Next Chapter: Chapter Eight: Love.
Oh, I've given up on trying to post responses on the LiveJournal. So here they are…
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Thank You!
Lucinda the Maid – Psychic indeed! XD It's funny when that happens, isn't it? …I worried about Ayame's... melancholy angst for a while before I finally finished the chapter and got him back to his usual self. Characterization is probably my main worry... Anyway. Has this last chapter kind of cleared up the meaning of the section title for you? Or is it still a little vague? :grin: I try my hardest with the vagueness. It's terribly fun to keep people guessing. :blinks: Oh. Actually, Hatori's chapter, Porcelain,was the one before Shigure's. It was really short, though, so… :wince: Thanks for your reviews! They're always so wonderful…
catgirlversion3.0otakufan – :wince: I tried to make the chapters longer, but they just don't work when they're too long. Some of the next ones are longer. It must be very unsatisfying, but I can't help it. I'll try to speed up the updates. Thanks so much!
chiisana-inori – You can't imagine how wonderful it feels to read your reviews. I like showing the more melancholy sides of their characters, but I'm never quite sure that I'm getting it right. So thanks!
waterrose – Thanks so much for reviewing!
love, fluorescent