Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket or it's characters. I don't own Amaya, she belongs to Paris-rose. Also, there's a line in here somewhere in this chapter that is from another fic. I fretfully don't remember who wrote it, but whoever did, I give you credit! But I own Akemi & their family & stuff. I also own the 'Wicked' soundtrack! (if you haven't figured it out yet, I'm a really big fan of musicals)

Enjoy the chapter. Please review. : )


Chapter 10 – Introductions and Deceptions


"I can't believe it," Akemi said finally, "I just can't believe it."

It was the week of exams and shortly after completion school would be finished for the year. Come spring, they would return to school. Well, Akemi would. Amaya had just completed her final year in high school. That spring, she would be going to college.

"You know, I don't really believe it either," Amaya said, "but hey, it's not a big college. I won't be swamped with classes all the time. I'm still gonna visit…and live at home for that matter. It pays to live nearby."

"I know," Akemi said, pouting, "but I'm sorta gonna miss you embarrassing me at school."

"Ah ha!" Amaya said, standing up, "so you WILL miss it! The truth comes out!" She did a small dance around the room, bragging in a sing-songy voice.

"Alright, I take it back. I'm most definitely not going to miss that," Akemi said with a sigh. Her sister laughed and sat down on her bed.

"Relax. It's exam week. Other than testing, it's gotta be the easiest week we have. Sure, studying is a real bitch but the entire weeks is pretty much open campus," Amaya said brightly. "You've got to learn to enjoy it."

"I will," Akemi assured her. "I'm just not sure how I'll do on the tests. My math grade won't be looking so well after the exam…"

"Why don't you ask Yuki for help?" Amaya suggested. "That kid's a frickin genius."

Akemi shook her head. "Nah, he's way to busy helping Tohru out. I know that she's having some real problems with other things, so he's been helping her with her stuff. I would just be a burden."

"And Kyo sure doesn't seem the type," Amaya said flatly. "I dunno. I could help you, but you can't trust me to do any better than you could. Hell, I fail all my math exams."

"No really, it's okay. Mom's pretty good at math, I could always ask her," Akemi said, thinking to herself.

"Yea, if she had time for us anymore," Amaya said scowling. "Since we've moved here, she's been over obsessive about redecorating everything. Seriously, I figured she'd be suspicious about our performing by now. It's been two weeks and she hasn't noticed!"

"Maybe she has and she just doesn't care," Akemi suggested. The two of them laughed immediately; the idea was outlandish. If their mother had found out about their sneaking out to play at a club, well, let's just say neither of them would be allowed near an instrument for a very long time.

"But don't you think she's been acting a little weird lately?" Amaya asked. Akemi nodded slowly.

"I have. She's really crabby and snaps at almost everything. The other morning when I asked her where the bagels were, she blew up at me." (A/N: Does this sound familiar to anyone else?)

"My guess is that she's on permanent PMS," Amaya said. The two shuddered at the thought.

"But then again, dad's sort of acting weird too. I mean, he's never usually this tense. Maybe he's uncomfortable being here to care for Grandpa," Akemi said, trailing off.

"You know, I swear it's like that old man doesn't even live here," Amaya said.

"Amaya!"

"It's true! He stays in that one room the entire day! He never leaves! The only time I've seen him is the day we came here; that long ago!" Amaya said. "Besides," she added quickly, "I didn't mean it as an insult."

Akemi sighed. "It's true, grandpa doesn't come out of that room very often. But I guess it's because he's that fragile. Dad said he was ill."

"Yea, but if I were ill, I'd be sky diving, making the most of what time I had left," Amaya replied coolly.

"That'd probably kill him," Akemi said, trying to imagine her grandfather skydiving (and enjoying it). She wasn't able to.

"Hey, what about that garden of yours? Aren't you going to plant one?" Amaya asked. Akemi nodded.

"Yea, but the weather's far too cold now. I'm thinking about starting as early as next month. April's supposed to bring good growing season," Akemi dug through her desk drawer and pulled out a drawing (not very well done) and put it into her sisters hands.

"What's this?" Amaya asked.

"A plan for my garden. I was thinking something fairly small, and just have a nice arrangement of flowers. What do you think of it?" Akemi asked eagerly.

"Um, I can't really say," Amaya said honestly, "this drawing looks like one big scribbled mess to me. Sorta gives me a headache…"

"Alright, shut up," Akemi hissed, grabbing the drawing from her sister' s hand, "I get it. I got the idea in class one day and wrote it down before I would forget it. It's just a doodle."

"Yea, but I can do better doodles with my eyes closed," Amaya said, sticking out her tongue.

"I never asked you-"

Their bickering was interrupted by the telephone ringing. Akemi picked it up.

"Hello, Kamikara residence, this is Akemi."

"Hi Akemi!"

Akemi smiled. "Hi Tohru, how are you?"

"Good, thanks for asking. Look, I was wondering if you wanted to come over this afternoon. There's somebody here I really want you to meet. She's a friend of mine."

"Sure, hold on a moment." Akemi put the phone agisnt her shirt and said, "Tohru wants me to come over. Do you want me to ask if you can come too?"

Amaya shook her head. "Nah, I've got stuff to do. More packing. Oh, and I'm arranging some new stuff for our next show. Transposing keys, etc."

"Will you still give me a ride there?" Akemi asked anxiously.

Amaya nodded and continued packing.

Akemi picked the phone back up. "Alright, I'll be right over as soon as Amaya gets her lazy butt up."

"Oh, she can come too if she-"

"She says thanks but no thanks. She's got lots of work to do today," Akemi repeated her sister.

"Alright," Tohru said, sounding a bit disappointed. "I'll see you soon."


Akemi and Tohru brightly waved goodbye as Amaya drove off. Tohru frowned slightly.

"It's a shame she couldn't stay. I think she would have liked to meet Kagura too," she said softly.

"Who?" Akemi asked.

"Kagura Sohma. She's the guest I want you to meet. A distant relation to Shigure, somehow. She explained it once, but I really don't remember," Tohru rambled as she lead Akemi in the house. "Hey Kagura, where did you go?" She called out.

Akemi stood in the front entry way awkwardly as Tohru walked around the house trying to find 'Kagura'. She was suddenly startled as a hand reached out and grabbed her foot from nowhere. She nearly screamed, if she didn't hear a faint "Shh!"

"Akemi, be quiet! I'm hiding!" The voice hissed. The hand let go of her ankle and she whipped around. The front hall closest where coats were hung was open slightly, revealing a pair of eyes peeking out.

"Who is it?" She asked worriedly, then stopped. "Kyo…is that you?"

"Shh! Don't say it to loud. I'm hiding from her," he said in a deadly whisper. She knelt down to understand him better.

"Who? Tohru?"

"No, idiot! Kagura!"

"Who is she?" Akemi asked, "She can't be that bad. I'm sure you're just overreacting."

"Are you kidding? She's a terror! She's a total-"

"Sweetheart! Where are you? Kyo? Kyo! Answer me!" Akemi heard a voice call down the stairs. Moments after, a girl plopped down faster than Akemi could blink.

It wasn't so much the girl's physical appearance that made her look childish, rather what she wore. Her baby pink dress that frilled at the bottom (with puffy sleeves, of course) was worn over faded blue jeans. On her back hung a very childish backpack, shaped like a cat. And still, Akemi took an instant liking to her.

She got up off the floor immediately before Kagura noticed.

"Who are you?" She asked, suddenly spotting Akemi.

"My name's Akemi. I'm friends with Tohru, Yuki and Kyo. It's very nice to meet you. Are you…Kagura?" Akemi bowed respectively.

"You know my name? That's great! I'm so happy!" Kagura gushed. Skipping formal introductions, she ran up and hugged Akemi. Completely taken by surprise, Akemi could not do much but pat her back awkwardly. Suddenly, Kagura's grip tightened significantly as she pulled away.

"Wait, did you say you were friends with Kyo?" She asked, eying Akemi suspiciously. Akemi nodded. "Is that all, huh? It better be, because I couldn't stand for a rival! I love Kyo more than anything, and no one will take him away from me, ever!" She gripped Akemi's arms tightly.

"No, you're quite mistaken. Kyo and I are only friends, really. I've only just moved her and he, Yuki and Tohru were my very first friends. And if he's yours I'd never imagine stealing him from you," Akemi explained.

"I'm not hers, dammit!" A sudden cry came from the closet. Kagura let go of Akemi's now aching arms and looked inside the closet.

"Kyo!" She squealed happily, "I was looking for you! What in the world are you doing in the closet?" She asked.

"Hiding from you, you crazy bitch," Kyo mumbled under his breath.

"What did you say?" She said, in her slightly-dangerous-but-oh-so-happy tone.

"Uh, I said I have a back itch," He covered quickly, knowing that he would end up battered and bruised if he were to speak against her too loudly.

(A/N: Okay, I saw that in a wonderful x-over fic somewhere, and I love it! Thank you to whomever used it first, the idea belongs to you!)

"Kyo, that made no sense," Kagura complained, "the next time I ask you a question, make sure your answer make sense."

Akemi laughed nervously. She could tell that although Kagura cared deeply for Kyo, the feelings were not returned. It was obvious to her that Kagura's strong personality might try Kyo's patience.

But then again, most people tried Kyo's patience.

'His non-existent patience,' she thought to herself dryly.

"Akemi, will you be my friend?" Kagura asked eagerly. Akemi nodded.

"Of course, I'd love to be your friend." Akemi smiled. Kagura gave a cry of glee and jumped up and down.

"Yay, I made a new friend!"

"You're in for it," Kyo told Akemi bluntly.


Although slightly nervous at first, Akemi soon found Kagura to be lots of fun. That is, except for her temper. It was unlike Kyo's temper. When she got angry she lost control. Usually on Kyo.

Poor Kyo was miserable.

Now she, Kyo, Kagura, Tohru and Yuki were out and about town, running errands and stopping in shops to browse once in a while.

"Kyo, I'm cold," Kagura informed him.

"So? Who the hell cares?" He asked, annoyed. She frowned.

"Kyo, I'm cold! You're supposed to put your arm around me!" She pressed.

"Hell no! I'm not doing any such thing!" He replied heatedly.

"Kyo!" She got the familiar glint in her eye, saying she was deadly serious. "Please?"

"Alright fine!" He yelled. Reluctantly, he moved closer to Kagura and put his arm around her. She smiled happily to herself. Akemi and Tohru giggled. Yuki shook his head amusedly.

"What are you giggling about?" He hissed.

"It's just so cute!" Tohru said. Akemi nodded.

"Especially how she gets her way! It's so cute I can't stand it!" Akemi broke into a fit of giggles. Kyo looked as if he would kill her.

"Ah, don't hurt me!" She shrieked, running away as fast as she could down the street.

"Hey, get back here!" He yelled, running after her. Tohru looked and Kagura and both laughed.

"She's in for it," Yuki said observantly.

Akemi didn't get very far before Kyo caught up and cornered her. The ground was still covered in snow, so Kyo took the opportunity for revenge by it. He packed up a snow ball and hit Akemi right in the face. She yelped in surprise and wiped the snow from her face promptly.

"Kyo!" She yelled angrily. He immediately regretted that decision as she grabbed a handful of snow herself. It surprised him how fast and hard she could whip snowballs.

It wasn't long before Kagura, Tohru and Yuki had joined into the snowball fight. After a good fifteen minutes, the five were completely exhausted. They sat on a bench, catching their breath.

"Akemi, I had no idea you were that good at snowball fights," Yuki said, between gasps of air.

"No kidding! You were amazing!" Tohru agreed.

"You kicked everyone's ass," Kyo said, "even mine."

"It's from all those years of Amaya's torture," Akemi said, "It's no talent. I promise, or my name isn't Akemi Yoku Kamikara."

Kagura stiffened. "Did you say…Kamikara?"

"Yea," Akemi said, "that's my last name. Why?"

She turned to Kyo and Yuki and said fiercely, "You knew? This entire time you knew she was a Kamikara and you didn't do anything about it?"

"That is her last name, but why should it matter?" Yuki asked.

"Yea, what the hell are you talking about Kagura?" Kyo asked. "Even Shigure knows. I don't see why it matters what her last name is."

"None of you know?" Kagura staggered.

"Know what?" Tohru asked confused.

"The Kamikara family has been the enemy of the Sohmas for centuries. They've been taking our fortune bit by bit," she turned to Akemi, "it's because of your family my father nearly lost his job!"

"Kagura!" Kyo yelled harshly, "it's not her fault! Just leave her the hell alone!"

"I…didn't know," Akemi said softly. She stood and looked Kagura in the eyes and said honestly, "I'm very sorry."

Then she took off running around the corner and darted into a store unseen. Kyo and Yuki ran down the street after her and ran right passed the shop they had slipped into. Akemi took out her cell phone (which she had recently gotten as a gift from her parents for her birthday) and called Amaya.

"Hey, what's up little sister?" Amaya said cheerfully.

"Are you busy?"

"No…why?" Amaya asked, "Are you okay? What's wrong?"

"I'll tell you when you come pick me up," Akemi said, trying to control her tears, "I'm downtown. Meet me at the coffee shop, okay?"

"Alright. I'll see you then." She hung up.

Akemi took a deep breath to calm herself. This was horrible.

Her family, taking money from the Sohmas? Her mind was reeling. What hurt more than the deceit, guilt and embarrassment was the terrible feeling that she had just lost four of the greatest friends he had ever made.


I finished this chapter earlier than I expected. : ) Your welcome. And see, I finally got Kagura in. Yay me!

Previews for the next chapter:

Akemi works out her problems at the coffee shop. Just guess who with.

More with the Sohma/Kamikara conflict

Sleepover at the Sohmas…will she discover the secret?

Love you guys! Don't forget to review!

Lola