Hey everyone! Ami here with Light in the background reminding me AGAIN of the small mistake I wrote in this little chat when I wrote 'Beyblade' instead of 'Fruits Baskets'. I apologize for my error. I must have been posting her other story or my own during that time which was Beyblade. Oh and please forgive all my other little mistakes. I try my best in order to catch them. I also wanted topost this on July 11th since it was my birthday but I didn't think it wasgood enough yet so it got put on hold till today. Anyways to end this long message, I'm going to just head straight to the disclaimer so you all can start reading and reviewing.
Disclaimer: (1) Light doesn't own Fruits Basket or its characters with the exception of the characters she has named/ created such as Seiji, Aiko, and Atsushi. (2) Light loves reviews and is always seeking opinions of what her readers like or dislike about her stories as well as her writing. So please review after reading even if its the most simpliest or extravagantly long since reviews often help to inspire and have more chapters posted. (3) Enjoy! If you don't like the story, than how can you even stand to read it. So all I'm saying is enjoy!
Well I think that's long enough as well as this newest chapter too. Till next time.
Light: Ami you talk to much.
Well that's just me I guess.
Chapter Five- Summoned
After the smoke had cleared, Yuki, Haru, Momiji, Tohru and Kyo found them selves inside the living room of Kyo's house.
"It looks like we're back here again. So how old do you think Kyo is now?" Haru asked, directing the question towards the entire group.
"Hmm… I don't know; maybe four or five?" Momiji suggested.
"Two possibly since the last time he was a still a baby." Yuki added.
"He's three." Haru stated as Tohru and Momiji both gazed at him with amazement and curiosity as to how he knew that while Yuki and Kyo looked at him skeptically.
"How did you know how old Kyo was, Haru?" Momiji inquired with wonder.
"Huh? What do you mean? I thought we were all just guessing ages."
Yuki just sweat dropped as Tohru and Momiji looked at him disappointed as Kyo almost tipped over before raising his fist in the air yelling, "Then why'd you say it so seriously that she'd believed you!"
Two voices which they all recognized at once as Aiko's and Seiji's came closer until both of them were in the living room and having a small argument.
"Does he really have to go meet Akito today? It's too soon. Can't she wait a few more years?" Aiko pleaded.
"Ren is a busy woman and to make her go out of her way even more is ridiculous. Everyone knows that the rat is already staying with Akito and with them both being the same ages, Kyo is old enough to live there without us having to worry about him."
"But Kyo is only three…"
"If Kyo is to ever become any sort of a man, you'll need to stop babying him, Aiko. Akito, I'm sure would know more about this curse than we would and with Kyo out of the house we can finally work on having a child of our own…"
"Will you drop that? You know the doctor said it's impossible for me to have another child after Kyo."
"We can always adopt." Seiji suggested as Aiko frowned even more.
"You'll never understand the bond between a mother and her child."
"He's a monster, there's a difference. Now don't start that crying again. You know I hate that." Seiji's voice changed from harsh to gentle before looking down at his watch on his right wrist. "That's just great. We're going to be late and Kyo doesn't even know we're going yet. We'll continue this discussion later when I get home."
"With Kyo," Aiko stated while Seiji followed after with "Alone."
With that said, Seiji headed up the stairs towards the second floor as the others followed after.
"Kyo's father wasn't a very nice man." Momiji stated as Tohru reached out and grasped his hand firmly before following up the stairs.
Reaching the landing, Seiji took a left and passed by two doorways before stopping at the third. Turning the door knob, he went inside, leaving the door ajar.
"Although I would rather you rot in this house till you died, Akito, on the other hand, insists that I bring you to the main house. Now get up and let's go." Seiji ordered as Kyo stood up from his bed in surprise from where the others had seen him playing with two figurines, a dragon and a man.
"Yes sir," Little Kyo mumbled obediently as he grabbed a tan jacket from his desk chair and follow Seiji out. The group followed them back down the stairs. Aiko stood at the bottom and watched as Seiji and little Kyo walked down. When little Kyo took his last step off the stairs, Aiko took her chance and started to straighten his shirt and jacket.
"Now be good Kyo and do as you're told." Aiko smiled as little Kyo smiled back.
"I will, Mom." Kyo replied firmly.
"Aiko, will you please stop fussing over him. We are already going to be late as it is." Seiji stated as he pulled Kyo away from Aiko's hands and towards the front door as he ordered harshly, "Wait by the car."
As little Kyo opened and closed the door, the others could tell that he heard his mother's voice as she whined, "But what if Akito makes him stay and I never get to see Kyo…"
The others passed through the house walls and followed after little Kyo instead of listening more to Seiji's and Aiko's conversation.
"I know this is a bad time to say this but it's really weird that we can pass through walls. I'm really going to miss doing that when this is over." Haru stated as Momiji glared weakly at him while Tohru focused on finding Kyo and saw him leaning against a nicely-waxed black car with silver pin-striping. His head was tilted forward and focused on the ground. As Tohru walked closer, she noticed wet streaks on his cheeks and knew he had been crying. He then sniffled and used his right arm to rub across his eyes.
Tohru knelt down besides little Kyo and frowned when she reached out to touch his cheek and her hand vanished though. "It's okay Kyo. Don't be sad." She whispered softly though little Kyo continued to cry as the present-day Kyo watched on unable to comfort Tohru and tell her that he would be fine even though he knew it was a lie.
The front door opened and little Kyo turned away as he wiped the last of his tears gone.
"What are you doing boy? I thought I told you to get in the car." Seiji stated as little Kyo stiffened.
"The door was locked, sir." Little Kyo replied as he turned to face his father's cold eyes as Seiji signed deeply.
With a small clicking sound after Seiji had push a button hanging from his set of keys, Kyo began to struggle with the door. Seiji pushed him to the side and opened it for him, allowing for Kyo with some help to get into the front seat as Seiji placed a seat belt around him and buckled him in. Shutting the passenger's door shut, Seiji went around to the other side and got into the driver's seat.
Tohru, Yuki, Haru, Momiji and Kyo watched as the car roared to life and Seiji backed out of the driveway and onto the road as the clouds above darkened to a gloomy grayish color and little drops of rain began to fall onto the road and their surroundings. They watched as the car vanished down the street before Yuki broke in.
"Now how are we going to follow them?" But before any of them could even think of a plan, the black mist returned and descended upon them. Clearing slowly away, the group found themselves surrounded by forestry, and familiar houses which they recognized almost instantly as belonging to the Sohma's estate. Although it wasn't raining anymore, the ground looked damp and gray clouds still filled the sky.
Tohru noticed Yuki shutter slightly but before she could even ask if he was alright, Seiji's voice as well as some footsteps on gravel began heading towards them.
"Don't you dare disgrace your mother and I, Kyo or I'll definitely see to it that Ren finds you a permanent home elsewhere. Understand me?" Seiji asked harshly while Kyo held his head downward and nodded as he mumbled, "Yes sir."
The others followed after, keeping up in case Seiji said more but he didn't. They walked in silence the rest of the way until they reach a door and when Seiji went to knock against it, it suddenly slid open revealing a young black-haired teenager with an all-knowing smile on his face.
"Shigure, you surprised me." Seiji replied startled but Shigure glanced down at Kyo instead who was close behind his father, yet never touched him. Shigure then looked up into Seiji's face and replied, "You're late."
"Bad weather and you know how Aiko is…"
"Akito isn't one to care for excuses. Come in." Shigure said smoothly as he stepped to the side and let both Seiji and Kyo walk in. Kyo quickly removed his shoes as a young maid laid out sandals for him and his father.
"I don't need any. I just came by to drop Kyo off." Seiji replied and the girl took back his sandals as Seiji looked to Shigure. "How long do you think Akito will keep him for?"
Shigure smirked while answering, "As long as Akito wants him for though it probably won't be more than an hour in my opinion. Just long enough to get acquainted with him."
Little Kyo gulped at that and was startled when his father spoke to him. "Kyo, you better do as you're told. I'll be back within an hour with your mother." Turning back to Shigure who bowed politely, Seiji bowed as well before sliding the door open, slipping through and then shutting it.
"You'd be wise to listen to whatever your father told you that is unless you'd rather see how angry Akito can become." Shigure advised seriously as little Kyo nodded in reply. Shigure's smirk returned again. "Good. Now follow me. I'd just hate for you to get lost your first time here."
Shigure started walking away as little Kyo almost tripped on the small step into the house trying to catch up to him. As they were walking, Kyo began to look around even though most of the walls were bare. Several maids were chatting off to the side of the hall when one elder lady met eyes with Kyo. She turned back towards the others and the three of them began to talk in loud whispers amongst each other.
"It's him." The elder began.
"That's him, the one born as the cat?"
"Yes, he's definitely that one, the outcast and shame of the family."
"Why do you think it's here?" The eldest asked.
"I heard that Akito summoned him."
"Hopefully for a punishment," One exclaimed with pleasure.
"Yes, I do hope you're right. That child becomes a horrible beast or so I heard. So disgusting," The elder servant replied.
"Now ladies, I highly doubt that Mrs. Sohma is paying you all to stand around and gossip on such trivial matters. You could even lose your job if someone reported this to her so I suggest you get back to work." Shigure stated as he passed by.
They all bowed and replied, "Yes Master Shigure," before scattering in different directions.
Shigure and little Kyo walked next to each other in silence for several moments as the others followed close behind. Suddenly Shigure looked over at Kyo with a mischievous grin on his face.
"It's funny in a sense on the name your mother ended up choosing for you, don't you think?" Shigure chuckled as little Kyo's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"What do you mean?" Little Kyo asked.
"Obviously you don't know the meaning of your own name. Demon. Kyo translates to mean demon. It's like almost like you becoming the cat was your destiny."
Kyo continued to look at Shigure confused which only caused him to laugh harder and ruffle little Kyo's hair. "You'll understand in a few years exactly what I mean by that."
"Shigure was such a nice kid." Tohru smiled as Shigure began matching his pace with little Kyo.
"I wouldn't go that far…" Yuki said as Kyo added, "Yeah right. He's definitely up to something."
"Whether or not Shigure's a nice guy, you have to give him some credit for helping Kyo out." Haru cut in. "He could've just let those maids continue bad-mouthing him and done nothing. Having others talk about you behind your back is one thing but to know that you can hear them and still have them continue to bad-mouth you, just pisses me off."
Haru's hands curled inward into a fist as Yuki broke in, wrapping his arms around himself. "Calm down Haru before you bring out Black Haru. Even with Black Haru, you wouldn't be able to change the past," then his tone saddened as he finished, "None of us are capable of changing it even if we wished we could."
"You're right Yuki," Haru nodded as his hands reached out and clutched Yuki's in his own.
"Okay, you can let go of me now." Yuki stated as he tried to pull his hands from Haru's grip.
"Oh…right. Yeah," Haru laughed sheepishly as he released Yuki. "It's just when you say the most serious yet cool things I can't help but admire you."
"Oh!" The group turned towards Tohru when she cried out. "Where were you guys when you first met Kyo? I haven't seen any of you yet." Tohru asked with curiosity.
"Haru and I were only two so we couldn't do much at that age." Momiji joined in. "What about you, Yuki? You're the same age as Kyo and didn't Kyo's papa say you were living here?" Momiji asked.
Everyone turned to look at Yuki who looked lost in thought.
"Yuki?" Tohru asked with worry as she touched his arm. Yuki looked down at her with a confused expression. "Are you all right?"
Yuki gave a light nod as a small smile formed on his lips "I'm fine. Why?"
"Well you seemed lost in thought when I asked where you were during this time." Momiji stated as Yuki's body shifted.
"I was here…living with Akito." Yuki answered expressionlessly.
"Really? But I thought you were with Ayame and your mother." Tohru asked as Yuki's face became strained.
"It was around this time I think when Akito asked for me to stay and my mother complied. Ayame was too busy with his own things and so my mother thought it was best for me to just live here." Yuki remarked as though it meant nothing even when his eyes clearly displayed sadness and pain.
Tohru grabbed Yuki's hand and smiled weakly.
"Really I'm okay. It's all in the past anyways." Yuki smiled back towards Tohru who nodded in response.
"Scheming rat…" Kyo mumbled to himself angrily as he watched Tohru holding onto Yuki's hand.
"Hey, where'd Kyo go?" Tohru asked, pulling her hand from Yuki's and noticing that little Kyo had disappeared.
"Tohru, he went in here." Momiji called from down the hall as he pointed at a closed door. Tohru and Yuki caught up as they all began walking straight through the door as though ghosts.
"I still find that very cool." Haru stated with a smile before frowning as his eyes set upon someone he very much feared and hated. All of them grew very quiet so much that even the slightest hitch of Yuki's, Haru's and Momiji's breathing could be heard. Even Tohru reached out and grabbed the first two hands on either side of her self which happened to be Yuki's and Momiji's.
"So you're the cat?" The silky yet cold voice of Akito asked with sarcastic curiosity. Little Kyo stood with wide eyes before nodding his head timidly. Akito continued on. "Shigure, I still don't see what makes him a monster." Akito asked Shigure playfully while watching little Kyo's response. "Why do you think all the adults accuse him of being one?"
"I don't know, Akito." Shigure replied simply.
"He's the same age as Yuki but yet he is so much healthier." Akito sneered while reaching down to caress little Kyo's cheek softly." Do you think that's fair?" Akito continued, stopping only when he reached little Kyo's chin. "That a monster like you deserves this health," Akito glared callously at Kyo before roughly lifting little Kyo's chin upwards and closer. Little Kyo frowned and glared back.
"Come and look at this Shigure. The little monster is challenging me. Such a dumb beast so much like his mother thou…" Before Akito could finish, Kyo moved his chin from Akito's hand and bit hard on the closest piece of skin he could reach which happened to be Akito's left hand ring and pinky fingers. Akito screamed loudly as he pushed little Kyo away roughly. As Shigure rushed to Akito's aid, little Kyo watched from the wooden floor with an expression of fear and regret. Tohru and the others, on the other hand, stood speechless. The thought of Kyo just biting Akito was making their brains overwork. None of them said anything until Hasuharu broke out laughing.
"He…ha ha ha… Kyo…ha ha ha ha… h-h-he bit…ha ha ha ha ha Akito!" Haru breathed as he laughed and began to clutch his sides. Calming down until he was able to be understood, Haru stated, "The great god Akito bit by the cat Kyo. This is just too funny to be real." And then Haru had another fit of laughter.
"I'm really surprised that Kyo did that." Yuki joined in, his voice filled with surprise and then agreement. "Though I do have to hand it to him, it was a pretty gutsy move." Yuki chuckled.
Just then their attention turned back to Akito as little Kyo made a small whimper. Akito had regained composure and was now looking at little Kyo fiercely. A small knock came from the door as a woman's voice floated in. "Master Akito, Master Shigure, the cat's parents have return."
Little Kyo's eyes grew wide upon hearing this as a cruel smile formed on Akito's lips. Akito yelled "Bring them here!" before speaking cruelly towards little Kyo, "You'll regret what you did, monster."
"Yes master." The woman's voice replied in response as her footsteps echoed away.
Little Kyo's face turned from fear to panic as he stood up, ran and dropped down at Akito's feet, clutching the bottom of his robe. "Please don't tell mommy and daddy what I did! Please! I don't want daddy to send me away!"
Akito only laughed coldly as he tried to pushed little Kyo off of him. "You should have thought of that before you bit me!" Akito turned towards Shigure and yelled, "Get this thing off of me!"
Shigure began to help Akito and soon pried little Kyo off after several tugs. Although Shigure was now keeping distance between the two, little Kyo continued to reach out his hands towards Akito, sobbing.
Another knock came from the door as Kyo froze, silent in Shigure's arms while tears streamed freely down his face. The woman's voice filtered through saying, "Mr. and Mrs. Sohma are here. Would you like them to come in?"
Akito rushed towards the door, grabbing a chunk of little Kyo's orange hair as Shigure released him. Little Kyo screamed in pain as Akito slid open the door and held Kyo's face up as more tears fell.
Akito reached down as little Kyo struggled and slipped the dual colored beads from Kyo's wrist before dropping him down onto the wooden floor. Almost instantly little Kyo's body began to smoke and change into a grotesque beast. Aiko's scream reverberated against the hallway walls as Akito looked down with revulsion.
"That is the cat's true form." Akito declared with loathing. "I can't stand it. It smells disgusting. It is disgusting. This is your son. This is what you helped bring into this world." Akito continued while dropping little Kyo's beads besides him. "It's disgusting. I can't bear to look at it anymore." Akito added while wrinkling his nose and turning away, heading back into the room. The door was slammed shut as only an pokerfaced Shigure, an ashamed Seiji and a terrified Aiko were left in the hallway with a repulsive looking Kyo.
Kyo's father looked away disgusted and unable to look down anymore as Aiko continued to stand frozen in place, her screaming dying away, leaving only her mouth hung open and her eyes wide as humanly possible looking down at her son.
Tohru watched on with distressed eyes as Haru shielded Momiji in a hug to comfort the crying rabbit whilst Yuki shifted his eyes downward.
As little Kyo lifted his upper body, the others saw that he was no longer the naive orange-haired boy with light tanned skin but a darkly browned creature with sharp teeth and vast claws for hands and feet.
Little Kyo noticed his mother and reached out his left hand towards her which he immediately realized was different. Examining his body more, little Kyo began to touch his chest, then his legs before he began to panic. Looking back towards his mother for help, little Kyo began to cry which turned into a strange howl that only frightened Aiko more as she clung onto Seiji's body. Little Kyo reached out his claw again towards his parents as he sobbed but Aiko's loud scream again made little Kyo stop and lower his claw from the rejection.
The silence of the hall lingered for several seconds before a light pounding of feet captured Kyo's attention. A young boy around Shigure's age with black hair and solemn eyes walked closer until he was standing over little Kyo's hideous body. Kneeling down besides little Kyo, the boy picked up the dual- colored beads and began speaking.
"May I see your hand?"
Little Kyo's fierce eyes held fear as he studied the young man.
"I won't hurt you but I do need your right wrist."
Slowly little Kyo extended out his claw-like hand towards the boy as the boy began to slip the dual-colored beads back on.
"He'll be back to normal in a second, Mrs. Sohma." The young boy replied as he finished placing the beads back onto little Kyo's wrist.
There was a small poof and when the light reddish smoke cleared, a little naked three year old Kyo was curled tightly in a ball on the ground.
"Hatori, Akito will punish you for this…" Shigure stated disapprovingly.
"The only reason I'm here in the first place is because Akito called for me. How was I to know that this was Akito's doing? Knowing your tactics, since you're looking pretty smug standing there, it was easy for me to assume that you were the one who did this."
"Hmph, maybe I could have or maybe I couldn't." Shigure answered derisively before stepping around little Kyo's body. "But you shouldn't just assume, Hatori or else someday you might get hurt by assuming incorrectly." Shigure looked back and winked with a smirk before disappearing around the corner.
"Everything appears to be okay now. Just remember to leave the beads on." Hatori stated before heading into Akito's room and re-closing the door.
"What am I?" Little Kyo sobbed out loud as he looked up at his mother. Hesitantly Aiko kneeled down besides little Kyo, despite Seiji's protests. Softly she began patting Kyo's head as he cried. It was silent for several moments before Kyo coughed and looked up at his mother.
"Is… is daddy going to send me away?" Little Kyo hiccupped as tears began to fill and trickle slowly down Aiko's cheeks as she smiled weakly. "Of course not. I would never let that happen."
Little Kyo studied her face with uncertainty but Aiko continued smiling. "Come here and sit on mommy's lap."
Little Kyo moved closer as Aiko wrapped her arms around him and within that embrace Kyo transformed again but this time into a small kitten. "Don't worry. I'll always protect you and never let this happen again."
Tohru had tears falling down softly against her cheeks as Momiji, still in Haru's arms, pulled away a bit to watch the display of motherly affection. Yuki watched on too, with unreadable emotions as Haru displayed mixed feelings of both anger and sorrow.
"Poor Kyo-kun..." Tohru whispered with sadness.
"Akito didn't always used to be like this. I don't know what happened but Akito was nice and normal when we first met. It was only a short time later that Akito seemed to change into someone more violent and cruel." Yuki explained as the others listened on with the exception of one who scoffed.
"Easy for you to say, you damn rat. You don't have any idea what I went through. Nobody does. They didn't have to face all the ridicule that I did…" Kyo's voice softened as he turned away from his former self being rocked by his mother. "Why is this happening? I know Akito has something to do with this but why? So that they can pity me…" Anger suddenly rose in Kyo's voice, "Dammit! I hate that. When I get out of here I'm going to kill whoever did this to me even if it was Akito."
"I don't want them to keep seeing my past or they'll find out too much. There has to be a way out of this." Kyo stated miserably as more anger filled his voice. "Dammit! But I can't do a damn thing if they can't even see me."
But the others just continued to watch as Seiji signed heavily and reluctantly reached down to helped his wife and child up.
"I knew he would disgrace us…" Seiji trailed as Aiko glared at him.
"Please be quiet," coldness never held in Aiko's voice before broke in. "Kyo's tired and I would like to go home."
Aiko, who was still holding a now-purring kitten, turned from her husband and began to lead the way out as Seiji followed behind silently. But everyone continued to look on, obscured from their view the emotional torture each childhood memory was bringing the Kyo they knew. The darken mist returned once again, ending the memory and unleashing another.
