Title: A Look Into the Future
Summary: A look into the possible future (10 years) of our favorite cursed family. Chapter 1: Kisa
Rating: G
Warnings: There may be slight manga spoilers, though at the moment, none that I know of. Also, very very slight Hiro/Kisa.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket but it is on my Christmas wish list.
Note: If I continue this, each outcome will be different. For example, if you absolutely love Kyo/Tohru, but one chapter is Yuki/Tohru, swing by another time and there will probably be various pairings and such.
Kisa shifted uncomfortably in her seat as the awkward silence just got longer and longer. The editor was rereading her manuscript for the second time, and looked like someone had smacked him over the back of the head. She had forgotten his name, or maybe he never said, but in her mind she simply called him Seiuchi. Kisa finally decided to say something as the editor started reading it a third time.
"Do you…do you like it?" She asked softly, holding her breath and praying that it was good enough.
"Like it?" the editor thundered. Kisa winced a little at the volume of his voice; even after all this time she hated loud noises. "Sohma-san, I love it! You will be the next great author, known throughout all of Japan!"
Kisa exhaled gratefully and allowed herself to smile a little. She had spent two years writing it, and when she was finished, bashfully presented it to Shigure, asking if he would edit it. Shigure had been bursting with pride that he had "inspired another writer destined for greatness!" and Kisa didn't have the heart to tell him it was actually Tohru that inspired her. Much to Kisa's embarrassment, Shigure called every one of the relatives and Ayame decided a party was in order.
Despite her protests of "But it hasn't been published," and "It's not that good…", the entire family was proud of their shy little Kisa coming out with a book. Hiro's little sister had even started calling her 'sensei'.
It was finally Hiro and Hatori alternately nagging Shigure, or in Hiro's case, threatening him, and in Hatori's, lecturing him, that made him contact his publishing company and various editors.
Kisa was very grateful of course, but was more than a little intimidated by the big, boisterous man that Shigure sent her to in Tokyo. Thank goodness for Hiro.
"Really?" Kisa asked, hoping against all hope that this man was going to agree to publish her book.
"But of course, m'girl, but of course!" Seiuchi beamed. "It's obvious to see you're related to Sohma Shigure! Why, his talent must have rubbed off on you!" In a way, he reminded her a little bit of Ayame, though Aya himself would scoff at the idea of being anything like this big man. "I'll have it published as soon as I can!"
Kisa smiled, and pushed a strand of amber hair back. She stood up and bowed. "Thank you, sir, thank you very much!"
"Nonsense!" He said, waving his hand, "It's you that wrote it, not me! Now, off you go, I'll contact you when it's edited and ready and you'll tell me exactly what you think of it then!"
Kisa bowed again, and walked as calmly as she could out of his office. In the little waiting room, an old woman was knitting casually and Hiro was pacing impatiently. He looked up when she entered and asked anxiously, "Well, how'd it go!" Instead of answering directly, Kisa's face lit up and she embraced Hiro tightly. And that was all the answer he needed.
Eight months later the novel Cursed, a story about a young girl who stumbled upon a family's terrible secret, became one of Japan's bestsellers.
A/N: Okay, for my non-Japanese familiar readers, I have arranged this:
Seiuchi: walrus in Japanese
"Sohma Shigure…Sohma Kisa": In Japan, last names come first.
Sohma-san: A polite and formal honorific, basically the equivalent of Miss Sohma
"Hiro's little sister…": In the 10th or 11th volume, we discover Hiro's mom is pregnant and because this takes place ten years in the future, Hiro has a little brother or sister. I made it sister for this story.
Sensei: Literally means teacher or master, though it's also used for certain professions. In the mangas, Shigure is referred to as 'sensei' by several people.
"She stood up and bowed…": Common courtesy in Japan to bow.
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