TITLE: Somewhere, The Fates Are Laughing At Me
SUMMARY:For Rika Haruko, eating a blessed fruit which leads to being cursed like the one on the Sohma family and impersonate her twin brother are the least of her worries when she has to deal with love! Oh, and did I mention she has an active conscience?
DISCLAIMER: No, I do not own anime/manga/products of Fruits Basket, so don't attempt to sue me. Thank-you.
IMPORTANT: "..." speech )...( annoying A/N interruptions ------ Rika might have an annoying consience that talks to her throughout the story, I haven't decided yet.
Make them 16 (Hatsuharu and Momiji) or 17 (Tohru, Kyo, Yuki, etc.), the rest, I don't remember -.-
-.-
RECAP:
His sides was starting to hurt from the smoke and breathing became harder, but he kept running faster. Momiji ran past him, yelling something about getting the others. Hatsuharu got into the smoke and tripped over. He looked back and his insides froze.
Out of his mouth came one word.
"RIKU!"
Chapter 6: Flashbacks, Misleading Candies, Revelances, and New Homes !
oO...Flashback...Oo
"Waahhh! Rika! You just CAN'T leave yet!" a young boy exclaimed, catching up to a figure on the horizon.
"Please, Riku! Don't yell, you know THEY aren't to far off!" a young copy of the boy said, the only difference was the gender, eye and hair color; they were the color of sandy rust.
"Don't worry, sister! They're sleeping! No need to hiss at me!" the thirteen-year-old replied back.
"Demo..." The boy, Riku continued...
"But what, bro?" Rika asked.
"Why are you leaving so soon! We decided on next week!" He said, clutching an orange hat.
"The sooner I go, the sooner I get back cured from this curse, remember? I have to break this curse, or I'll never be free from them!" Rika exclaimed, trying to show her brother her point of view.
"I-I'm gonna miss you!" Riku said, trying to hug his sister, but she pushed him away.
"Don't, Riku! I don't want to change!" Rika said with some panic.
"I-I...It's just not fair..." Riku muttered. He took off his cap, took a long look at it and hugged it. He passed it to her.
"An indirect hug, Rika. I guess this is the as close as I am gonna get, ne?" He said with a strained smile. She took it and hugged it with all her might. She preceded to hand it back when he stopped her.
"Take it, Rika-chan." He said quietly.
"But! Bro, your lucky cap!" She said with surprise.
"Nah, it'll have better luck with you, 'cause you're gonna need it. And, I can kinda always be with you, right?"
"See you soon, Oni-chan!" Rika said, taking the hat. Her eyes were oddly bright and moist.
"Hmm, you better not forget me, Onii-chan! And don't talk to strangers, or get a boyfriend!" Riku replied to her. Rika stuck her tongue as a response. She didn't see it because she was walking away, but his eyes were oddly bright and moist, too.
oO...End Of Flashback..Oo
"Nggg..." Rika muttered as she slowly drifted out of her dream of the past to hard shaking. She didn't want to, since she was nice and warm and not cold as when she woke up, so she moved closer to the source. She failed to notice that her 'source' had a heartbeat that was beating a bit too fast. That, and something smelled nice, like fresh rain. But, the shaking kept on, so she had no choice but to open one eye, quickly and close them back again.
"Come one, Haruka, I'm not that stupid. Don't make me drop you." A male voice said nonchalantly. At hearing his voice, her eyes shot up and met warm gray eyes. She squeaked and fell on her butt. She failed to notice a faint streak of red across his face.
"Owwww...Hatsuharu! Y-you JERK!" Rika cried out, looking up at him. But all he did was raise his eyebrows and calmly ask, "Hey, Riku, is your voice changing or something? You sound just like a girl!" he said with a smirk, plopping down behind her. She was about to retort when a thought hit her.
"H-hey...where am I?" She looked around and saw a burnt area with unfamiliar objects smoldered with ash around them. Rika looked up and saw with some surprise a not too burnt orange cap near her feet. Recognition dawned on her when she realized that it was her brother's, Riku. Picking it up, she looked around again, after looking around once more she saw she did know this place-her home.
"Oh," was all she could muster. Her hard work was gone. Just gone. She hugged the cap close to her.
"Sorry, bro..." She whispered to the cap. Remembering her flashback, she brought the cap closer, closing her eyes, trying to hide the harsh reality. She felt Hatsuharu put a shaking hand on her arm, to get her attention, but she didn't look up.
"Haruka-san?" Tohru's voice brought her out of her daze and Rika looked up to the girl. Her eyes were filled with worry; she gingerly laid a hand on her shoulder as a sign of comfort. Just like Riku... Rika thought with a tug at her heart.
"Why are you living here?" That question cut to the air, coming out of Yuki's mouth. Rika was brought to the problem at hand, I need an excuse!
"I-I-err...aggggghhh..." She moaned and flopped backwards to Hatsuharu's lap again. She still clutched her brother's hat.
"Ehh! Riku-kun!" Tohru exclaimed rushing to her side.
"I think he's knocked out cold..." Shigure explained to her, inching nearer and nearer to the flower.
"Probably from the shock..." Kyo added. Noticing the distance between Tohru and Shigure, the cat slapped him back twenty yards.
"Tohru-chan!" Momiji said, "I think he's sick!"
"OH! We must help him, now!" Tohru said, jumping up. But, Shigrue's hand stopped her.
"My flower, shouldn't Haru-kun and you go home with Riku-kun? Yuki and Kyo will help salvage any remains..." He added, with a sparkling background.
"WHAT! How about YOU! And the rabbit!" Kyo spat out, his temper rising.
"We...will...CHEER FOR YOU TWO!" Shigure and Momiji both cried out with joy, both with thumbs up.
The last thing the trio heard was Kyo yelling,
"WHY YOU!" and shouts of laughter from the dog and rabbit.
"Baka..." Hatsuharu muttered under his breath, turned and headed toward the house. After sometime, Tohru spoke up.
"Eh...Hatsuharu-kun?"
"Hmmm? What is it?" The cow asked, glancing at her.
"Are you tired? We've been walking for some time..." Tohru asked with some concern.
"Nah, this guy's a stick. Nothing I can't handle." Haru commented, hiding the fact that he was a bit tired. Oh, just beat the shit outta him now, Hatsuharu! The dark side of him suggested.
NO! This guy's been through a lot. And why even hurt the poor boy? The other side pleaded. Hatsuharu groaned. He hated when the cow's spirit came out.
"Hatsuharu-kun?" Tohru asked with a confused face.
"N-nothing, Tohru, nothing." Haru grunted. He tried to block the two quarreling sides in his head. While doing so, he failed to notice that Rika was moving in his arms. He almost lost balance when she slapped him.
"OW! SHIT! Haruka! What the hell!" he exclaimed, dropping him down on the porch. Just then, Momiji came bounding down to the trio.
"Haru-kun! Haru-kun! Yuki and Baka Neko wants you to come back to help them!" The young boy cried out with a smile on his face.
"Psh, whatever..." He retorted, walking away.
"Hatsuharu-kun! The other way!" Tohru cried out, he turned and went on his way.
"Eheheh! Haru is pretty clueless, right Tohru-chan?" Momiji asked with a smile.
"Hai!" Tohru said with a returning smile. She went into the kitchen and came back with a bowl of cold water and a towel.
"First, Momiji-kun, we lower Riku-kun's temperature! You do that while I go get medicine, okay?"
"Okay!" Momiji replied, saluting. He swooped down and started the job. After a while, Tohru heard a cry of disappointment and ran in to see Momiji holding an opened...tampon!
"EEEEEEHHHHHHH!" Tohru yelled, hands in the air. "M-Mo-Momiji! W-why in the world are you holding that!"
"I-I found it in Haruka-san's pocket! I thought it was candy and opened it...demo...this came out!" Momiji confessed, holding up the tampon.
"NOO!" Rika yelled out, bolting up. She looked around and her eye's widened at the object in Momiji's hand.
"NANI! Momiji! If you need to change your...um...thingy... then go to the bathroom!"
"EH! But, I don't know what this is! I found it in your pocket, Haruka-san!"
"What kinda girl doesn't know-?"
"Riku-san, Momiji is a boy. Gomen, but...why do you have something like that in your pocket?" Tohru asked with a very befuddled look. Rika checked her pocket and then shot a look at Momiji.
"I-I-I'm well... errrm...how do I explain this...okayImreallyagirlbutthereasonwhyIcanttellyou-sorry." Rika said in a hurried voice. No! This can't be happening! I need to find the Sohmas! Rika thought, clenching her hands. Looking up, the busted teen saw a strange, befuddled look on the two. Sighing, she re-explained everything, everything but the reason why.
"It's okay." Tohru suddenly said. Rika looked up in surprise.
"W-what?"
"I said, it's okay! I'll understand that even if you won't tell me why you, a girl, is dressing up as a boy! My mom used to say that people have to keep things to themselves, even if it's a huge secret like this! I won't tell anyone! I promise-I-I'll even spill blood!" Tohru said with a fist in the air.
"Hai, hai! Me too, if Tohru does it, so will I!" Momiji said.
"R-really! How-how can you guys be so...so accepting!"
"Because we know..." Tohru started.
"How it feels like to keep secrets!" Momiji finished with a knowing smile.
"Hmm, thanks, guys!" Rika said, sniffing. Riku! Others are accepting me, like you! She thought happily. She reached out and hugged them both hard.
"EHH! Riku-chan!" Momiji yelled in panic. The sandy-eyed girl pulled away in confusion.
"What's wrong? And my real name is Haruko Rika, but...please continues calling me 'Riku-kun'" Rika said. Momiji's eyes widened and looked at his hands and felt the top of his head.
"No bunny ears!" Momiji cried out, jumping up to check in the mirror.
"Oh! Momiji! You're right! Tohru exclaimed, checking him with him.
"Okay..." Rika said, looking at the two teenagers, who were whispering quickly to each other, who then turned back to her. A few hours later, the dog, cow, cat and rat came through the door, announcing that Rika's cloths and such were okay, since they were in suitcases, and some photos and other things were saved as well. She was invited to dinner and while they ate, Tohru piped up.
"Riku-kun! I'm so sorry your home was burned down!"
"Ehh...that's okay." Rika said, playing along. She barely ate with the thought of having a new home.
"I agree! Riku-kun! Where are you going to stay from now on?" Momiji added.
"Err..." was the only retort.
"I know!" Tohru said, slamming her fist down to her palm, "Why not Riku-kun stay with us! We have many extra rooms!"
"I don't know, Honda-san..." Yuki began, but he was cut off by the cat.
"HELL NO!" Kyo yelled, slamming his bowl down.
"Tohru-chan, I'll have to agree with these two, here." Shigure said with a slight frown, waving his chopsticks to the direction of the cat and rat. Rika stared at her bowl of untouched rice with a crestfallen face.
"B-but...where will he go? Can't he just stay a day or two? Until she-err, I mean, he finds a new house?" Tohru said with a frown, her eyes moist and large.
"Ehh..." Shigure said. Not that face! He thought with a sinking feeling. With a groan of defeat, he scum bugged to the flower's request. Momiji and Tohru cheered and started asking where Rika would like to stay. After much discussion, it was decided (much to Yuki's alarm and paranoia) that Riku would bunk in the room right next to Tohru's. After that, Rika gobbled up her dinner happily and even offered to do the dishes. When Hatsuharu left with Momiji being a guide to the main house for him, Tohru led her to her new room.
"Thank-you...Tohru-chan. And...Good-night." Rika said with a low bow.
"Oh, it's okay! Very, very okay! Good-night um...Riku-kun?" Tohru said unsure what to call her, her real or fake name? But her question was answered by the smile Rika gave her. As Rika lay in bed with the moon in her face and everyone sleeping, trying to get over the shock of events, Tohru gently opened the door and said,
"Rika-chan, are you awake?"
"Hmm? Yes, Tohru-chan?" the cursed teen replied.
"I just wanted to say...welcome to the Sohma house," and with that, she left, without hearing the surprised and almost choked gasp that came from the figure on the bed.
-.-
Hitaru: Finally!
Mini-Waffle: I think you rushed it...
Hitaru: Sob. Sorry, I didn't want the readers to wait...
Mini-Waffle: Where's the second one?
Hitaru: What?
Mini-Waffle: You know, the PROMISE you made?
Hitaru: Oh! But….there was only 6-ish reviews! SORRY! IT'S JUST THAT, I WAS HOPING FOR 10…CAN I ASK FOR 6 MORE FOR THE NEXT ONE?
Mini-Waffle: Oh, you moron! AND I AM NOT YOUR ARM RESTY THINGY!
Hitaru: I know, your Angel's…and Johnny's…and both Chris's….
Mini-Waffle: Okay! I get the point!
...And they all walked away