Tohru's Demons
Chapter Eight: In Which Tohru Sort Of Explains Herself: Part 2!
"Oh, poor Tohruuu!" exclaimed Momiji, interjecting himself between Kyo and Tohru and grasping her arm. Kyo bared his teeth furiously, looking like he wanted nothing more than to hit the Rabbit.
"She must be exhausted and starving!" went on Momiji plaintively, oblivious to everything but his kind-hearted friend. "Do you really think you should be carrying those big, heavy things around...?" Tohru laughed and handed Momiji one of her axes and he gasped, staring in surprise at the deadly thing in his hands. It was feather light.
"But how...?" Momiji breathed in amazement. Tohru giggled at his reaction.
"It's made of mithril. It's feather light, but hard and sharp as steel," she explained.
"Mithril... What do you use it for, chopping down trees?"
"Something like that..." Tohru answered evasively, her cheeks flushing. Yuki and Kyo glanced wonderingly at her, but they didn't comment.
But Shigure was staring the axes with something bordering on suspicion. There was an odd scent lingering around the blades that sent shivers down his spine, but he couldn't decide if they were of joy or of fear. His head was screaming at him that something was horribly wrong about that smell, but his heart was disagreeing with just as much fervor, and it left him very confused. That smell... There was almost something familiar about it, but he couldn't put his finger on it at the moment. He gave a mental shrug and determined to ask Tohru later.
Artemis was watching blearily as Tohru walked past him towards the door and tottered unsteadily after her. Tohru stopped and gave him a questioning look.
"Where are you going...?" she asked him finally.
"With you...?" He said in bemusement.
"But you can't. You're completely soaked... you'd get water all over the floor."
"You're the one that got me all wet in the first place!" Artemis bellowed defensively, pointing an accusing finger at her
"Can't you just stay out here...?" she asked.
"And do what?" he demanded.
"I don't know... Guard the house or something." She retorted carelessly. Artemis looked like he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"...What?" he asked, gazing incredulously at Tohru like she had lost her mind.
"Guard the house." Tohru repeated and continued walking.
"FROM WHAT?" he demanded loudly. "Th-that squirrel over there, what? There's nothing here to guard it from! If you hadn't noticed, there're no monsters around here!!! Well, if you don't count the C—"
"That's enough Artemis." Tohru said quietly. The demon glared at her as she walked past into the house, then plunked down on the edge of the porch with an indifferent "tch", muttering to himself.
Tohru sat gratefully on a cushion on the floor near the kotatsu and for a moment her mask slipped, and she looked as exhausted as she should well have been. Then the smile was back as Hatori handed her a plate loaded down with rice balls and she was soon devouring them with alacrity.
"So, what did you want to ask me..?" she asked after her third one, and pushed the platter towards Kyo. He pushed it back stubbornly and gave her a commanding look.
"But, don't you want one, Kyo...? You haven't had breakfast..." she said benignly, reluctant to keep them all for herself and not share.
"And you haven't eaten in three," Kyo pointed out doggedly. Tohru took another rice ball meekly. By now, the Sohmas were dying to hammer her with all sorts of questions, but they waited for Akito to speak first.
"Exactly what have you been doing?" The Head Sohma asked silkily, reclining back in his chair and staring down at the girl at his feet.
"Reconnaissance," answered Tohru, shoving the platter this time towards Yuki, who shoved it back again with a pointed look.
"What's that...?" Kisa asked, scrunching up her face in confusion, trying to discern the strange word.
"She was spying," Shigure supplied helpfully, and then blinked, realizing what he had said and turned excitedly to Tohru.
"You were?!" he squealed, looking absolutely ecstatic. Now all the Sohmas were looking at Tohru in interest and she blushed at all their attention and developed a sudden fascination with Shigure's floor.
"Well, um, I suppose so..." she stammered, offering the platter to Shigure, who refused with a cheerful smile. "I was gathering information on..." she stopped suddenly and shot a pensive look at Akito.
"On what?" he demanded impatiently, his temper flaring. The Sohmas flinched and glanced nervously at Tohru. She took a deep breath and slowly pulled out a crumpled sheet of paper that had been stuffed into her belt. She hesitated, gripping the sheet in her hand and biting her lip, and then held it out to Akito. He stared at her suspiciously and took it.
"What...?"
"Just read it. Maybe you can make more sense of it than I could." Akito curled his lip and snapped the sheet open, smoothed it and scanned it quickly. After a few seconds his eyes opened wide in shock and he jumped to his feet. The Sohmas stared at him in alarm as he gripped the sheet in both hands, his eyes now flying across the page. Suddenly he whirled on Tohru, his pupils contracting severely.
"WHAT IS THIS?!" he roared, shaking the paper at her.
"If I knew, I would have told you..." Tohru answered diffidently. Akito stared in disbelief at the paper, trying to comprehend whatever he had read.
"But... But this... this is talking about us!" He protested. There was an intake of breath from the other Zodiac members and they turned instinctively to Tohru, who nodded.
"I know," she said softly in a calming voice. "Do you know why you and the others are mentioned in a very antediluvian tome that was written in another universe? Because I'm completely stumped."
To be continued...
Disclaimer: This is getting monotonous... Takes a deep breath and says in a dull voice I do not own Fruits Basket. OH GOD, IT'S SO HORRIBLE HAVING TO SAY IT ALL-THE FRIGGIN-TIME! I CAN'T STAND IT ANYMOOOOOOOOORE!!!!!
Antediluvian: Ancient; prehistoric; very old. I just thought it would be funny if Tohru said a big word most people haven't even heard of.
Kotatsu: Didn't mention this earlier. It's sort of like a table with a heating blanket. 'sin the manga.
On a different note, have you noticed that Tohru is nothing like a hero, even though she is portrayed as one? Think about it, she's not the one that does all the growing and developing and she doesn't really learn any sort of important lessons along the way. It's the SOHMAS that do all the learning and growing, especially Kyo and Yuki. THEY are the ones that develop into better people, not Tohru. She's actually kinda pathetic... But it's such an awesome story, so I can't figure it out...
I don't know, I was just thinking about that one night at four o'clock in the morning because I have nothing better to do with my life... Tear. By the way, I am going out of town for two weeks. I'll probably still be able to update... aside maybe... but I'll most likely be busy with other things and not have time. If you're wondering, but you probably aren't, I'll be fishing and crabbing in Louisiana!
-Raha-
