Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket, its plot, characters, etc. but I do own my any OCs and my own plot/changes to the original plot.
"Let's see... I'm pretty sure this is the right section..." Tohru said as the girls walked through the school library at towards the end of the day. "Ah! Here it is!" She said picking out a book. "'Fiery Spirit: The Inner Life of the Martial Artist'... Sounds exciting."
"Can I borrow that? Kyo's teaching me to fight." Rika said.
"Sure." Tohru said with a smile. "Okay, next stop... Gardening! Hmm..." She picked up one. "Oh, hey. This looks like a good one. ''Twelve Steps to a Happy Home Garden''" She picked up another. ''One Hundred Family Recipes''. I'll bet there are some great dinner ideas in here." They walked up to the desk and put the books on it. "I'd like to check these out, please." Someone walked into the room.
"Ah, Miss Honda. I've been looking for you."
"Oh?"
"You have a phone call waiting in the staff office. Come with me, please?"
"Yes sir..."
"I'll meet up with you later." Rika told her and Tohru left the room. Rika got the books and walked outside to wait for Tohru. After a few minutes she walked over and she had a weird look on her face. "What's the matter?"
The girls sat in front of Shigure at the table.
"We just found out the renovations are done." Tohru said. Shigure lowered the paper he was holding. "I uh, I got a phone call from my grandfather up at the school... He told me."
"Ah, I see... And if memory serves, you were planning to move back into the house once the work was done, is that right?" Shigure said.
"What renovations?" Kyo said coming in from outside.
"Oh, I guess we never told you, Kyo..." Shigure said.
"So what? Tell me now." He said.
"Well, you see... After mom died, we went to stay with my grandfather, on my father's side. But then we found out my aunt and her husband were gunna move into the house with us, and grandpa decided it would be a good idea to have some remodeling done, you know, to make more room for everyone. So he went away to stay with my aunt while the work was going on, and we stayed here so we wouldn't miss school." Tohru explained. "Well, we didn't stay here, here not at first, I mean. We were living in a tent for a while... But anyway, now that they've finished with all the construction, it looks like we can go back and..."
"Okay! Enough already! I get it.." Kyo said.
"I'm sorry, I just thought that... eh..."
"Don't mind him." Shigure said. "I think we caught him a little off-guard with the news is all... We've just witnessed a classic example of what I like to call ''misdirected rage''. I believe the technical term is ''being an ass''?"
"You are so full of it!" Kyo shouted.
"I guess I can understand. This does seem sudden." Shigure said.
"I suppose we should go ahead and get our things packed while we still have the rest of the afternoon." Tohru said. "We'll try to be out of your way by this evening."
"Please, don't hurry on our account. Feel free to take as much time as you need." Shigure said.
"Thanks, but I'm sure they could use our help straightening up and everything. And like the saying goes: ''never put off 'til tomorrow what you can do today!''" She said and the two got up. "So then, we'll be right upstairs if you need us." She said opening the door. They went to leave and Yuki was standing there looking kinda shocked. "Oh, Yuki... Thank you so much for everything you've done for us..."
"Yeah, thanks." Rika said with a smile.
"Uh... any time..." He said. The girls bowed slightly before going upstairs. They went to the room and stared putting their things back in the bags.
…
"Oh, Mom..." Tohru picked up a picture of Kyoko. "I can be such a fool sometimes. Can't I? You know, this reminds me of something that happened when I was little. There was this game all the kids used to play. ''Fruits Basket.''"
"What's that?" Rika asked. Whenever Tohru played with other kids Rika wasn't around. Being a year older her classes had recess at another time.
"It's like musical chairs. Each group picks a fruit name. The person who is it calls out a fruit and that fruit group has to get up and find a seat. The group who can't find a chair is then IT." She explained. "Everyone one picked a fruit and they said I was the rice ball. I guess they were only trying to tease me a little bit, the way kids do sometimes... But I didn't know that then. The game went on, and all the other kids were called, one by one. Everyone was running, and laughing... And the whole time I sat there, smiling, hoping one of them would shout out ''Rice Ball'' so I could play too... Yeah... Even since back then, I've never been very good about thinking things through... I should have known. There was no way I could have joined the others. A ''rice ball'' doesn't belong in a ''fruits basket''." She said. Rika patted her on the back.
"I would've call rice ball." Rika said. "It's a lot cooler than the fruit. A rice ball is unique." she said. Tohru smiled at her and Rika grinned.
…
"There's some fish left in the refrigerator. Eat it soon, so it doesn't go bad, okay? And you're almost out of soy sauce, so you'll need to pick some up at the store... Oh! And don't forget, they changed the day they pick up the garbage, so be sure you put it out on time... What else...? Oh... Here! I wrote down our grandfather's address and everything. So if there's anything you can't figure out, you know where to find us!" Tohru said.
"Thank you, Tohru, Rika. You really are too good to us." Shigure said.
"Not at all! We're the ones who should say that to you! Uh... And don't worry. We won't tell anyone about your family curse! Cross my heart and hope to die!" Tohru said. Rika nodded in agreement.
"Speaking of which... Where's that cat?" Yuki asked.
"I'd think you know by now. After all, sulking on the roof does seem to be one of the strange little ways Kyo shows he cares... Anyway, good luck settling into your new home." Shigure said.
"Thanks." They left the house and stopped to look back at it one last time before walking to Tohru's grandpa's house.
"It's nice to see you again." Tohru's aunt said. "I didn't expect to see you so soon... You certainly don't waste any time." She looked at Rika with a weird look. "Rika." She said. Rika had met her once before with Kyoko and Tohru when they went to visit Tohru's father's grave. They didn't like her very much since Rika was a kid Kyoko just picked up off the street.
"Ah, Tohru! Rika! Welcome home!" Tohru's grandpa said coming over.
"Hi, Grandpa. It's good to be back."
"Hey gramps." Rika said with a smile.
…
The girls were in their bedroom and unpacking. Tohru was sitting on the floor.
"I hope they found everything." Tohru said with the books she'd gotten earlier in her lap. "I probably should have stayed to make sure they had their dinner, at least."
"They're probably fine Tohru." Rika said. Suddenly Tohru's cousin came in the room.
"Hey! Are you done putting your junk away or what?" She asked.
"I'm sorry! I'm, uh, we're almost finished!" Tohru said.
"I swear. What's the point of moving into a bigger house if I'm gunna get stuck sharing a room with people? Just put that stuff somewhere I can't see it." She said before leaving.
"Why that little..." Rika muttered, gritting her teeth, glaring at the door.
…
"Say, I found these socks in my drawer. You put them there?" Tohru's uncle asked holding a pair of purple and yellow socks.
"Oh... is that not right?" Tohru asked.
"Do these really look like something I'd wear?"
"I-I'm sorry. I must have thought they were yours..."
"Oh, I swear, what's the use? Make a note: these are grandpa socks. Remember that."
"Tohru, could you spare a moment?" He aunt called.
"Coming!" She said getting up. Rika got up from her place on the floor; she had been folding the clothes. Rika followed Tohru into the kitchen and saw her looking in the cabinet. Her aunt sighed and opened a cabinet and got a big plate out.
"For future reference, we keep the serving plates over here." Tohru sighed. Rika frowned and bit the inside of her lip.
…
That night Tohru walked into the bedroom. Rika was sitting in a chair backwards looking out the window at the moon. It always seemed to comfort her; all alone up in the black sky. Sure it had the light from the stars surrounding it but none of them were as big and singular as the moon. It was independent from the stars and much more beautiful. Tohru walked over and stood next to her and looked out as well.
"Do you want to go back?" Rika whispered.
"Huh?"
"To Shigure's… I do… I don't like it here…"
"But we said we'd only stay until the house was ready."
"Are you happy being here Tohru?" Rika asked. "Wouldn't you rather be there?" She was silent. Rika sighed. "I'm going to get some sleep. Night Tohru."
"Night.. Rika."
The girls walked to school, it was a different route but they'd taken it before so they knew the way. They walked into the school and went to their lockers. When they got there Kyo had just put his shoes away.
"Well, hi there! Good morning!" Tohru said.
"Uh... Yeah, hi." Kyo said before walking away. Tohru looked sad.
"Come on I'll walk you to class." Rika said with a smile. She nodded and they made their way to her classroom. When they turned the corner they saw Yuki standing there.
"Miss Honda, Miss Rika. Good morning." Yuki said.
"And a good morning to you." Tohru said. Rika smiled.
"So. How is life at grandfather's house?" Yuki asked.
"Oh, fine I guess. Everyone's been really nice to me so far. They're making me feel right at home!" Rika looked at her but didn't say anything.
"That's good. Sounds like you're fitting right in."
"Uh, huh."
"What about you Miss Rika?"
"I'm fine…" Rika said scratching the back of her head. "Uh look.. I'll see you later Tohru." she said. "Bye Yuki." Rika waved slightly. He nodded and she turned to go to my classroom.
…
Later that day they got 'home' and Tohru's aunt and uncle were waiting.
"Oh, hello. We're back for the day." Tohru said.
"Tohru, Rika, could you spare a moment?" Her aunt asked.
"Sure..." Tohru said and Rika nodded. Her cousin leaned on the counter.
"It's my understanding that you've been living in a house with three men, is that right?"
"No way! You two were shacked up!? Nice going!" Her cousin said.
"I had a detective agency do some checking up on you." Her aunt said.
"Yeah? No kidding! So those kinds of things still exist nowadays?" Her cousin asked.
"I don't understand. Why would you go to all that trouble?" Tohru asked.
"Why should it matter who we were staying with?" Rika asked. "Why the hell would you hire someone like that? You don't trust us to tell the truth if you asked?" Rika crossed her arms. Tohru's aunt glared at her.
"On account of our oldest son. It's his dream to become a policeman. So you can see how it might cause a problem for him were anyone in his family to have a criminal record..."
"A criminal record?!" Rika asked.
"Or someone in his family working…in a place like that." Her aunt said looking at Rika. Rika clenched her fist.
"There's nothing wrong with where I work!"
"At first, I did think hiring a detective agency seemed a bit extreme." Her aunt continued. "Until I remembered how wild Kyoko was in her youth... 'Like mother, like daughter,' as they say. Or so I feared. Of course you're a lot more like Kyoko." She said glaring at Rika. "Now... as long as you are living in this house, I have to ask you not to do anything so reckless in the future... and Rika, you'll have to find another job."
"I'm not-!"
"Tell us Tohru... Rika…" Her uncle stood up, stressing Rika's name as if he meant it towards her more than Tohru. "Living in a house with three guys? I'll bet you had all sorts of fun, didn't you?" Rika glared at him and went to move when Tohru's grandpa slapped him.
"Grandpa, what did you...?" Her aunt started to ask.
"Don't you know how to do anything besides ridicule others?" Her grandpa said. "Tohru, Rika, I apologize... Please don't think poorly of them... They're just disagreeable folks by nature."
"Grandpa! What is gotten into you?"
"You can't say that!" Tohru grabbed Rika's hand and pulled her out the door before closing it. She walked towards the stairs.
"Tohru?" Her grandpa said. "Please understand, this family is dear to me. And this is where I live. Even if they do say a few thoughtless things, I can tolerate it. However, there's no reason for you two to put up with it to keep living here." Her grandpa said.
"Y-you want us to-"
"Ah, it's not like that. I'm not trying to chase you out of here. It's just that it wasn't like Kyoko to put up with anything, and you are her daughters. Do you understand? Kyoko would be more vivacious living in a place where she could spread her arms wide. Your father would have said so as well."
"My father? Really?" Tohru asked.
"Mm-hm. So, if there's somewhere you'd rather be, Darling, you can go."
"But, that wouldn't be right! How could I be anything less than grateful for what I have? I've been blessed with a mother who loved me, an older sister who care for me, two wonderful friends, Hana and Uo. What more could I possibly want when I have people in my life who care about me as much as they do? There are so many people who've been kind to me. Yuki and the others... and you! You've given me a place at your table, a roof over my head... I should feel like the luckiest girl in the world... I have so much to be thankful for, right here." Tohru said and Rika could see tear welling up in her eyes. "So... where else would I rather be...? Except... I didn't think that leaving Yuki and the others would make me feel so... so lonely. There was still so much I hoped to learn about all of them... I wanted us to go on eating our meals together, like a family... where I could to talk to them about so many things... everything. The truth of it is, I didn't want to leave them at all. I felt like I belonged there..." She said crying covering her eyes. "I wanted to stay in that house with Yuki, and Kyo, and Shigure... I wanted to stay." She said.
"We both did." Rika added quietly.
"In that case... ...why not come home?" Yuki asked. The two turned to see him.
"Yuki-"
"Who is this?" Her aunt asked as the three of them watched. Kyo suddenly reached up and grabbed the side of Tohru's head.
"C'mon. Let's go." Kyo said.
"Kyo? You're here too? But then..." He started dragging Tohru towards the door.
"Uh... No wait, Kyo... I..." She tried as they left.
"I hope you don't mind. The door was unlocked so we let ourselves in..." Yuki said. "Can I find Miss Honda and Miss Rika's things upstairs?" He turned to Rika as if silently asking her to show him.
"Now, just a moment. Who are you? What is going on here?" Her aunt asked.
"Don't worry. We'll be out of your way before you know it." Yuki said.
"Ahh... I get it now." Her uncle said. "These must be two of the guys the little tramp was shackin' up with. Right Rika?" Rika glared and gritted her teeth. Yuki walked forward and stood in front of Tohru's uncle.
"Don't you ever talk about Miss Rika that way again. You low-life." He said darkly. He turned to her and she showed him the way upstairs.
"Thanks Yuki." Rika said quietly.
"I couldn't let him talk about you like that." He said. Rika smiled. They grabbed the two bags and started packing.
"So did you miss us that much?" Rika asked with a small smirk.
"Of course. The house was much different with you two gone. That stupid cat was getting annoying and Shigure kept going on and on about missing Miss Honda's cooking and your- uh.. and you." They chuckled.
"We missed you guys too. It didn't feel right being here. I felt more at home there with you Kyo and Shigure than I ever have anywhere else." Rika said with a smile. She bit her lip. "I felt like I had a family again." She bit her lip harder as tears began to prick her eyes.
"Don't cry Miss Rika." Yuki said reaching over and wiping away a tear. Rika chuckled.
"Yuki, just call me Rika... okay?" she asked with a smile. He smiled back and nodded. They left the house and walked down the side walk and meet up with Kyo and Tohru.
…
"Oh, come on! What did I say? Why are you crying?!" Kyo exclaimed.
"Can we go? Please, I... I wanna... I wanna go home... Take me back to the house now, okay?"
"So walk, already." He said taking her hand. "I'm not gunna drag you the whole way there." Rika smiled at them.
"Hey Yuki." He looked over at her. "Wanna hold my hand?" she asked smirking and he blinked a bit surprised.
"I Uh.." Rika rolled her eyes and slipped her hand in his. He smiled, a bit of pink coming to his cheeks, and they walked after Tohru and Kyo.
…
They got to the house and Shigure was waiting on the porch. Rika waved over my head. She saw him smile and wave back.
We're home.