Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket
A/N: Second to last chapter, people. And it's quite deliciously long too! Eight pages!
xXx
"I still can't believe that Kyo… It makes me so damn angry! I mean, she just grabbed him, and KISSED him! I don't know what he did to woo her into his trap, but he's going to break her heart, I just know it! And even though Tohru's pretty strong, if it's Kyo, GOD WHAT IF SHE BECOMES SUICIDAL?" This was Rin's rant, as she paced down the festival, positively fuming, alongside Haru.
Haru, at this point, not being able to contain himself began laughing lightly.
"WHAT?" Rin turned on him, her yukata sleeves whipping with her movement. "What the hell's so funny, Haru?"
"Nothing, nothing, it's just… you're so worried, like a protective older sister or something." Haru said between chuckles.
Rin blushed and crossed her arms. "Well, you're like that with Yuki… sort of…" She huffed, looking in the other direction.
Haru put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. "Admit it. Tohru has become a dear friend to you. No matter how much you deny it."
Rin shrugged. "Who knows…?" She replied, her face growing hotter by the second.
Haru smiled and stopped walking, pulling Rin to a stop with him. "She's like that with a lot of people. And I'm glad… because she's probably responsible for giving you the strength to return to me… and that is the greatest gift Tohru could ever give me."
This only caused Rin's blush to deepen significantly. She slung her arms around his shoulders and scowled. "You know. You really have to shut up sometimes. You don't talk that much, but when you open your mouth, I just want to close it with mine." And before Haru had the chance to reply, Rin had done just that.
xXx
"Hiro-chan, what flavor would you like?" Kisa asked Hiro as she ordered ice cream.
"A-ah… chocolate…" Hiro replied, rather dazed. He couldn't get over how cute she looked in her yukata, and practically glowing in the festival lights. His face heated up every time she spoke. Those damn hormones are hitting his poor teenage self.
"Here you go!" Kisa said as she held up the cone, making Hiro practically jump.
"Y-Yes, um, here!" He handed her the money that he had insisted on paying.
After she paid for it, she turned to Hiro with a worried expression. "You've been awfully quiet all night, Hiro-chan… are you okay?"
It's because you're so damn adorable… Hiro thought, curling a fist. "N-no… nothing's wrong… I just… I'm told its part of growing up." He told her finally.
"Eh?"
"N-never mind?"
"Hiro-chan what—?"
"Damn it, if you keep asking, you're going to get it!" Hiro practically yelled, his face heating up.
"What? What will I get? I don't understand Hiro-chan, what's wrong? You can tell me, I won't think you're weird, no matter what!" Kisa insisted, getting slightly upset now.
Hiro finally gave up and pulled her into a kiss. A long one. Damn those hormones. As he broke off he whispered "Is it weird… that I can't control my feelings for you?"
"N-no… I… well…" Kisa blushed. "I-it's okay… just a little sudden… b-but, I don't mind!"
"Ah, look Mii-chan, some cousins of mine…" A voice came from near them.
"Oh, you're right, Rii-kun… What a cute couple!" A female voice this time.
The two turned to see Ritsu and Mitsuru, Shigure's editor, watching them from nearby.
"Look's like they've spotted us, Rii-kun…" Mitsuru said with a giggle.
Of course, you all know what's next.
"I'M SORRY! I'M SO SORRY. I RUINED YOUR ROMANITIC MOMENT WITH MY INTERRUPTION… AND I WAS SPYING! I APOLOGIZE TO YOU, AND KISA-CHAN FOR BEING SUCH A LOWLY SPY! I APOLOGIZE TO THE WORLD FOR BEING SUCH A VILE HUMAN BEING AS TO RUIN THE BLOSSOMING ROMANCES OF YOUTH! I'M SO SORRYYYY!"
Mitsuru looked alarmed for a moment, but she reacted quickly by leaning over to the sobbing Ritsu and placing a kiss on his cheek. Ritsu immediately calmed and stood up from his position of kneeling on the ground, asking for divine punishment (too bad Manabe wasn't there to supply it).
Hiro and Kisa were still slightly taken aback, but Hiro quickly recovered and smirked. "I guess Shigure's 'Poke of Justice' or whatever isn't the only thing that calms Ritsu down," he said with raised eyebrows, and Kisa giggled as well.
"EH? You mean there's another way? I thought my way was the only thing that would calm him!" Mitsuru flushed.
Ritsu put an arm around her and smiled. "Actually, I think I prefer your way. Gure-nii's hurts!" he added with a pout.
Kisa's giggles awakened the couple to their company and they both blushed and coughed.
"I believe we've found ourselves in a rather embarrassing position, huh, Rii-kun?" Mitsuru said breathlessly.
"Yes, I believe so…" Ritsu replied with a slight laugh.
"Wow, I guess that's another couple to the list of romances that have come forth this summer." Kisa giggled. "Oh, and I'm so happy for oneechan!"
"Feh." Hiro responded nonchalantly.
"EH? What do you mean by that?" Ritsu asked, tilting his head.
"Well, a lot of people have been staying with us at the summer home this year, including oneechan's friends, Yuki-nii's friends, and a good deal of others who aren't in the family." Kisa explained. "And due to that, a lot of summer love has popped up unexpectedly."
"Wow, Kisa-chan, you're so mature!" Ritsu mused. "Besides you and Hiro-chan, who else has come up?"
Kisa and Hiro continued to supply the long list of couples that had emerged, and by the time they were finished, Ritsu and Mitsuru were practically gaping.
Ritsu recovered and lowered his voice. "But…won't Akito-san be angry about this…? He doesn't know about Mii-chan and me either…"
Hiro's hands curled to fists and his eyes hardened. "Well, he gave us a visit a while ago. Beat the bloody shit out of Ayame, and nearly threw a coffee table at Yuki and his girlfriend. But Yuki's idiot friend knocked Akito out just in the nick of time. It's been quite a summer…" He finished with a sigh. "But tomorrow's going to be our last night here. The summer's ending…"
"Ah, then, do you mind if Mitsuru and I stayed there for tonight and tomorrow. It sure sounds like a lot of fun." Ritsu suggested.
"Um, sure… I don't think it's our place to say, but I'm sure we have an extra room or so. So… yeah it should be okay." Hiro shrugged, and then watched in horror as Ritsu stiffened. He sighed. "Three, two, one…"
"I'M SORRY! I'M SO SORRY FOR INTRUDING! HOW VERY RUDE OF ME, INVITING MYSELF OVER LIKE THIS! I APOLOGIZE TO YOU, AND THE REST OF THE PEOPLE LIVING THERE FOR BURDENING YOU WITH MY SORRY EXISTANCE. I'M SO—"
Chu.
"—So… rry…"
Mitsuru straightened, blushing. "Ahem. Anyway. I guess we'll see you then. Come on Rii-kun." She tugged on Ritsu's sleeve.
"H-hai, Ja ne, Kisa-chan, Hiro-chan." Ritsu waved.
"Ano, Ritsu-nii!" Kisa called. "I just noticed, you're wearing men's' yukata!"
"Oh, yeah…" Ritsu nodded. "I've been kind of trying to break the cross dressing habit…" He said with a slight blush.
"Yeah… I asked him to… I figured that if we were to go out together, he should avoid wearing women's clothes…" Mitsuru shrugged.
Kisa smiled. "Well, you're looking very nice in it."
"Thank you… and… Kisa-chan…" Ritsu added. "I'm happy to see you lively again. You've been doing well for someone who was too shy to even talk to me just a few months ago… I wonder… if it's because of Tohru-san…?"
"Probably." Kisa agreed, blushing.
xXx
"YUUUKIIII!"
Yuki stiffened and pushed Machi. "Walk faster…"
Machi looked up. "Eh?"
Too late.
"Yuki, how delightful it is to see you and Machi-chan on such a lovely date this evening!" Ayame exclaimed in his usual flamboyant way, Mine following close behind.
Yuki admitted defeat and turned around to see them wearing the most extravagant yukatas that could be made, Ayame's hair tied back samurai style, and Mine's in a delicate bun. He regretted it immediately.
"Ah, such a lovely romance, blossoming through rough times, is kindling a flame of angst and passion, with a love that transcends time." Ayame said dreamily, Mine standing tearfully in the background.
Yuki and Machi both blushed, and not only because of the various stares they were attracting. Yuki's hands formed a fist. "What about you two? Aren't you on a date?"
Ayame stopped in the middle of his rant, eyes wide and cheeks tinted pink, and Mine turned noticeably red. But to Yuki's horror, instead of backing down with embarrassment, he placed a hand on Mine's shoulder and exclaimed loudly. "Why deny it? A couple must not hide it when they're in love, should they, Mine?" Ayame took Mine's chin delicately in his fingers and pulled her face close to his.
Mine, although able to keep up with Ayame, wasn't quite up to par with his charisma, and blushed, looking down. "Ayame, really, we're in public." She was completely oblivious to the fact that she was actually adding to the scene.
"We shouldn't hide it from the world any longer, I'm too in love to go on this way. Mine, I shall claim to the world that you belong to me!" Before Mine could protest, Ayame sealed his love with a kiss to her lips.
This caused the small crowd that had formed to watch the show to cheer.
Yuki and Machi took this opportunity to slip away, sweat dropping.
xXx
"Hatori-kun?" Mayuko asked nervously. "Are you sure Akito-san doesn't know about us…?"
Hatori nodded and placed a hand on her head. "Don't worry about it."
"But—" Mayuko looked down. "I'm scared… I don't want him to hurt you again…"
Hatori smiled. "Don't worry about it. If there really were inevitable danger, then I wouldn't be with you right now… I'd be too afraid of Akito hurting you to go out in public with you. But right now, I'm feeling safe… so for the time being, we can be normal couple…"
"I don't like how you said 'for the time being'…" Mayuko frowned, causing Hatori's smile to fade.
Hatori's hand slipped down to squeeze her shoulder. "Mayu… I just don't want you to get hurt because of me…"
"God, we're just a paranoid couple aren't we?" Mayuko said jokingly, but immediately turned serious again. "Hatori-kun… do you and all of your cousins have to hide around in relationships like this?"
Hatori nodded morosely. "When they don't… Akito… gets mad… and generally someone gets hurt. Losing an eye, being pushed out of a window, being beaten until you're afraid to speak… it's almost normal. Which is what makes this so frightening. Akito is really a child, not wanting to be abandoned… except with a lot more brute strength. But I don't blame him for it, either. He… hasn't exactly had much of a childhood either…"
"T-that's terrible! I mean, for us adults, it's horrible for us to even think about this, but these are just children! I mean, that young couple, Hiro and Kisa, I think their names are, they're what, thirteen? What kinds of lives have these children lead?"
"Mayu… you have no idea what you're getting yourself into by being with me, and getting involved with this family. There are a lot of sinister things that happen within the walls of the Sohma honke… most of these children have lead harder lives than most ever even have nightmares about. Yuki was abandoned by his mother and mentally tortured for most of his childhood. Momiji and Rin were both disowned by their families at a young age, and everyone including his parents ridiculed Haru all his life. Kisa was pushed to the point where she was too frightened to even speak, and became mute for a long period of time, as Hiro suffered the guilt of believing this was because he loved her. And Kyo… Kyo… he was blamed for his mother's suicide, and shunned by the rest of the family, and never been accepted into their lives." Hatori poured out all the secrets and dirty truths about his family that tortured him for so long. "We can't even go to the authorities about this, it's just something we have to live with."
Mayuko was in tears now, covering her mouth with shock as tears poured out and the faces of these suffering children flashed through her mind. "That's… so sad… these kids… Hatori-kun…!"
Hatori gently kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry I burdened you with these things, I just needed to tell someone. I've been forced to watch their fates unfold all my life and it's unbearable. But recently… especially this summer… I see their faces, and see the joy that they're experiencing. It could almost make up for all the terrible things they've had to face. They laugh so freely, and all the insanity and fun they've had this summer seems like heaven for these kids. Even with Akito's surprise visit, I feel like it's made their bonds even stronger. They're able to love and live a happy life. It makes me so happy. And I think… it's all due to Tohru-kun…"
"Honda?" Mayuko asked through sniffs.
"Yes. She came into our lives quite unexpectedly one summer three years ago. All the things she said, the kindness she gave to us, even though she knew about everything going on in our family, she accepted us and showed us love we never knew before. Slowly, she brought us all into the light. I have to admit, if it weren't for her, then I would have never had the courage or heart to accept my feelings for you or yours for me. To all of us… she's become so dear…"
"It's remarkable, isn't it, what one girl can do… I have noticed that… she has this positive aura surrounding her that affects everyone." Mayuko agreed.
The two shared a silence before Hatori reached out and wiped her tears before placing a soft kiss on her lips. "I'm sorry. I've burdened you and depressed you tonight. Come on, let's try to have some fun tonight, okay?"
Mayuko nodded before giving him a smile. "I have been wanting to give the shooting range a try. The thought of guns gives me a strange thrill."
Hatori laughed. "What, am I dating a woman or a man? Or maybe a serial killer?"
xXx
Uotani had somehow found herself alone. Everyone else seemed to be paired off, and she was straying about in the memories of a guy she'd only met twice. "I really need a boyfriend." She sighed, feeling more depressed than ever.
Part of her wished she had never met Kureno, and then she wouldn't have fallen so far for him. Then he wouldn't be plaguing her mind constantly like a buzzing fly. But the rest of her, the one that generally drowned out her sensible, practical self, screamed that she could never regret meeting him. Because regretting that you met someone… regretting that you fell in love with him… is the worst. And she knew she wasn't capable of that. She hit herself in the head. "God, I've got it bad."
She stopped at a vendor selling birds. She saw a certain red sparrow looking lonesome in its cage. She reached out and let it peck tentatively at her finger. It cocked it's head and looked at her with pleading eyes, as if saying, "I'm lonely too, so why don't you please take me with you?" Her hand squeezed to a fist.
She didn't know why, but looking into that bird's eyes made her want to cry so much. He said that he didn't want to see her. He made it absolutely clear. But… even so… I want to see him… and be with him… so much…
A warm hand curled around her fist and she felt the heat of another behind her. She opened her eyes. The hand was much too big to be Tohru's or Hanajima's or even Manabe's.
"Arisa…"
Her heart skipped a beat at the sound of the voice that called her name from behind her.
"I've been thinking a lot…" It continued. "And… I've decided… that I have to stop pretending that these emotions aren't real, and stop telling myself you were only a good dream never meant to last. Because you're here… and you're real, and you're waiting for me the way I'm waiting for you. I want to be with you. Even with the hurt and consequences. I can't stay away like this. I love you."
That did it. Those three stupid words can do so much to a person. She turned around and flung her arms around him, crying for all it's worth. "Kureno, Kureno… I love you too… just… please… don't go away again…"
"It's a promise then." He leaned down and kissed her.
Uotani laughed. "You'd better not break it, bastard, or I'll beat the shit out of you."
Kureno laughed too. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Uotani stopped. "Hey Kureno… can you get this bird? It just seemed so alone… and I can't have any pets in my apartment, not even a sparrow, for god's sake, so would it be too much for you to take care of it for me?"
Kureno looked at the bird and almost laughed at the irony of the fact that it was a red sparrow. "Sure… and one day, when I'm free, the three of us can live somewhere together… somewhere far off and beautiful." Kureno mused with a smile, wrapping his arms around her.
"Sounds like a plan to me."
xXx
Hanajima and Kazuma had just finished a playing a game, and were enjoying themselves quite well, considering the air of discomfort that still lay upon them after their previous conversation. Finally, not being able to contain herself, Hanajima grabbed the sleeve of Kazuma's yukata.
"Kazuma-san… please… Tell me… why?" She looked up at him with pleading eyes. She wanted to know. She wanted to know more than anything.
Kazuma sighed and trailed a calloused finger down her cheek. "The truth? I don't know why. But… for some reason, I feel strangely attracted to you. It's almost pedophilic with the age difference and all, but you're just so much different from other women I know. I don't understand it myself, why I'm drawn to you this way. But… you know we can't be together now. It would be much too strange, and I'm sure there would be many who disagree. But…"
Hanajima's breath was caught in her throat. She didn't know how to respond to this man she had admired for so long felt the same way about her, despite their entirely different worlds. "But?"
"But, as people grow older, age differences get smaller… so… if you would only wait for me, I'd wait for you… when you're older… out of school and out of college, even if it takes a few years, I'll be willing to wait. And on that day, when you come, I'll be there to say 'Welcome home.'" A long silence passed, and Kazuma blushed slightly. "It seems I've said some embarrassing things… I—"
"Please… Please… wait for me!" Hanajima confirmed with a determined look. "I swear I'll return to you, older and more mature, ready to be with you. So please…"
Kazuma smiled. "Then I shall. Take as long as you need, I'm not a man to go against his word. So you don't go against yours."
Hanajima smiled. "Then, can we seal this promise?"
Kazuma raised an eyebrow. "With what?"
Hanajima smirked. "A kiss, of course. To keep me satisfied for the time being."
Kazuma smiled in a teasing way. "You're pretty demanding you know."
"I guess you'll have to deal with that, considering you just practically proposed to me."
"That wasn't a proposal, it was a promise."
"Now, isn't that the same thing?"
They stared at each other with similar smirks for a long time before Kazuma finally gave in and leaned over to kiss her gently on the lips.
They parted reluctantly, and Kazuma laughed, both blushing slightly. "I'll be waiting."
xXx
As they got off the Ferris wheel, and Kyo bought Tohru some cotton candy, something apparently caught her eye. "Kyo-kun? You must be hungry! You can leave me and buy some popcorn, okay? I'll be waiting on the grass over there." She pointed.
"Are you sure?" Kyo asked.
"Yeah, go on ahead!" She grinned, a little too enthusiastically.
"Uh, okay. I'll be back in a bit, okay?" Kyo waved, and left Tohru, who immediately approached the thing she had seen.
xXx
Akito tore through the happiness of the carnival, feeling like a complete idiot. She hated herself so much at that point. She was a filthy woman and couldn't do anything about it. And slowly, all of her precious juunishi was leaving her too. She was falling deeper and deeper into this pit of despair and loneliness. And the festival didn't help either. It was too suffocating, full of memories she didn't want to remember. She was forced to recall the times when she was happy, going to the festival (held exclusively for the Sohma family only, of course) with her father. She felt so alone… everyone was leaving her.
She finally collapsed onto the grass on the opposite outskirts of the festival, near the Ferris wheel. She curled her knees up to her chest and hid her face in her hands. She didn't want anyone to see her in such a state. They would never listen to her if they saw her in such a miserable state. Father… father… please… save me… She felt tears slip from her eyes and she tightened the grip on knees trying hard not to begin sobbing uncontrollably right there. She could hear it so clearly, her father's voice.
"Are you okay Akito? Did something happen? Here, do you want some cotton candy, I'll listen if you want to talk…"
That's what he had said after her mother had slapped her at the festival. And she had gone running right into his arms. God his voice was so clear even now. Almost as if… Wait… it was real!
"Akito? Akito?"
She slowly, hesitantly began to look up. "F-father…?"
"Akito-san?" Tohru was crouched down next to her, clutching a bag of cotton candy, and looking genuinely concerned.
This just pissed Akito off. She jumped back and scowled. "What the hell do you want? Do you think I'm going to fall for your stupid kind words like the rest of them? I can see that you're just trying to steal away everything that's precious to me! What sick satisfaction are you getting right now, watching me fall apart like this? Do you enjoy ruining someone's life?" She yelled, even as tears slipped past her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. "Everyone's leaving me because of you! You're the reason why I'm so alone! It's all you fault!" She sobbed now, and curled up again, covering her ears with her hands. "I don't want… to be abandoned! Father…!"
"Akito-san… I'm… sorry…" Tohru crawled closer yet, discarding the cotton candy. "You're right. I was selfish in not seeing how alone you were, I'm the worst… but… Akito-san, just because there is someone else in their lives, doesn't mean they've forgotten you! It's something I've learned this summer. There is room in everyone's hearts for more then one person, if only you'd let them in…" She stroked Akito's head gently, tentatively. "I'm sure… there is someone for you as well out there…"
Akito looked up, tears still streaming from her eyes, before throwing her arms around Tohru and sobbing into her chest. "I don't understand… why? Why do you have to be like this? Someone… who everyone loves more than me! Why are you so kind, and cheerful, and everything that I'm not?"
Tohru smiled and rubbed her back. "You give me too much credit, Akito-san… I'm sure you too are a kind person. I can feel it… your innocence… just like a child's. And in this yukata, you look very beautiful."
Akito straightened and looked at Tohru strangely for a long moment, until she apparently spotted something over her shoulder, and quickly stood up and dashed away. Tohru was confused, and turned around to see what Akito had seen. It was Kyo, heading towards her, looking up at the Ferris wheel distractedly. He looked forward and spotted Tohru, and quickened his pace to catch up to her.
"Hey, are you okay?" He asked.
Tohru smiled. "I think we'll all be okay now."
Kyo looked at her with a puzzled expression. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing."
As Akito ran through the festival a second time, the tears wouldn't stop falling from her eyes, no matter how much she wiped them. Because just for a moment… looking at her then… hearing her voice, feeling her touch… It was just like… Father…
xXx
Ohhh what will happen now? Find out in the next chapter!
