Disclaimer: No, I don't own Fruits Basket (if I did, it would probably be about Yuki)

AN: Hello again! I hope you enjoy the chapter, I figured I'd start building the whole Yuk/Murasaki bonding concept. As it is, they already have a very nice friendship going, but this story is meant to be about them learning to understand each other in a way that no one else does. As always, I love reviews!


"Next year, we should definitely visit the temples together for New Years!"

"That sounds like a lovely idea."

"Saki-chan! You should've come with us this year, it was so beautiful!"

Murasaki smiles a little sheepishly at the comment.

"Sure, next year. I'm sorry I couldn't make it this year, that … the flu really got me this winter," she says with a small prayer that they take her white lie in stride and don't ask questions.

"Oh no, the flu? If I'd known, I'd have come over to take care of you, Saki-chan! Don't you live alone? Wasn't that difficult?" Tohru asks, eyes going wide with concern, and Murasaki waves her hand.

"It was alright, I managed," she says, reaching for a rice cracker. Around the picnic blanket on which the four girls are sitting, the sounds of lunchtime chatter and a few birds can be heard. But with it still so chilly out, the springtime songbirds have yet to emerge. "Which reminds me. Speaking of flu and health and illness, how about that fitness run we've got in three weeks? It seems a little cold still for them to be forcing us outside for so long," Murasaki says around a bite of rice cracker, effectively changing the subject.

"Ugh, you're telling me! I'm definitely ditching school that day," Uou groans.

The Tohru laughs a little nervously as Hana reaches for more snacks.

"I'm sure the teachers won't force us to do it if it's too cold," Tohru says, but Hana, who seems to disagree, shakes her head slowly, her long, wavy hair swishing back and forth hypnotically.

"They'll remain on schedule regardless of weather. However, there are … other ways of avoiding the fitness run."

At that cryptic comment, all the girls can't help but sweatdrop a little.


Yuki drags himself out of bed on Saturday morning to go on his usual run.

It's been a few years since he started the habit, but running has managed to keep him in shape, and while it is a pain to have to wake up early on the weekends, his stamina and asthma have both thanked him for the regular exercise. (Admittedly though, it is a balancing act of getting enough exercise and not overexerting himself).

~.~

This morning, the outside air greets him with a bite of January chill, and he rubs his hands together as he begins his run.

As he follows his usual path through the forest and into residential streets, Yuki allows his mind to pick through the happenings of the past week, only for it to land straight on the memory of Murasaki dropping off Tohru's notebook.

That marks the fifth time Murasaki has declined coming inside for tea. The poor girl had looked so cold, and yet she had still said no. The obvious explanation was that she was simply busy, or truly didn't want to intrude, but after five times in a row, Yuki is beginning to wonder if she just doesn't want to enter the Soma house.

Obviously, Tohru can't be the reason, and, much to Yuki's chagrin, Murasaki seems to get along famously with Kyo, often bantering with him about test scores, heated games of Rich Man Poor Man, and even their fitness class. (Murasaki is one of the few girls Yuki has ever met who can physically compete with Kyo in any capacity. Yuki remembers the incident vividly: after one of the other boys in class had suffered a hilarious loss against Kyo in an arm wrestling match, Murasaki had shocked everyone in the room by not only volunteering to be Kyo's next opponent with a sweet and polite "may I try?", but she had proceeded to have one of the most long, drawn-out matches the class had ever seen against Kyo, a match which ended as a draw only because the bell rang and they were forced to continue class. Later, when Uou had asked how on Earth Murasaki was so strong, the shorter girl had shrugged and said "I used to work with my hands a lot.")

~.~

Yuki turns a corner, only to nearly crash straight into another runner.

"I'm so so- wait, Yuki-san?"

Speak of the devil.

"Murasaki-san?"

Yuki supposes it was very good luck that Murasaki has such good reflexes, having stopped mere inches from crashing into Yuki in what would have been a very complicated transformation accident.

"I didn't know you ran," the shorter girl says, taking a few steps back from Yuki to give him some much appreciated space.

It is at this point that he notices Murasaki's appearance. Her hair is tied up in a tight ponytail, some loose strands of hair sticking to her forehead where the obvious shine of sweat has gathered. Her cheeks are flushed a bright pink, and she looks a little out of breath, but still full of energy.

"I think I could say the same of you," Yuki responds, smiling, and Murasaki graces him with a breathy laugh, one that for some reason leaves the boy feeling a little lighter and perhaps a little happier.

It is one of her uncanny and inexplicable talents, Murasaki's ability to improve Yuki's mood so quickly and so effectively.

"Well, I run. Not usually this way, but I'm extending my routine to train for the fitness test in three weeks," Murasaki says, stretching since she's paused in conversation with Yuki. It occurs to him that he might run into her more often on these Saturday mornings.

"Ah, that would explain why I don't usually see you. This is my normal route. I suppose we'll be bumping into each other more often," Yuki smiles, eliciting another one of Murasaki's laughs. The lightness returns to Yuki's chest.

"I suppose so. Anyway, I should get going. I need to make it back to my apartment in time for an appointment," Murasaki says, before carefully jogging around Yuki. "See you in class, Yuki-san!" she calls over her shoulder before disappearing down the street.

Yuki is left alone with his thoughts again, this time with a small smile playing at his lips.


It becomes another one of the tiny things they share: morning runs. The next Sunday, they run into each other again in the same place at about the same time, and after that incident, they agree on a shared new route to accommodate them both. Murasaki jogs her way to the edge of the forest, where Yuki meets with her, running with her all the way back to her apartment, at which point they part ways and Yuki returns home.

~.~

On their first Saturday with this new route, Yuki is surprised to learn that Murasaki lives alone.

"Yeah, the rest of my family is in Tokyo," she says as they both turn a corner. They slow to an eventual stop at one end of a crosswalk, waiting for the light to change.

"I hope it's not rude of me to ask, but what do your parents do?" Yuki asks as they both catch their breath. Murasaki rubs her hands together (clad in gloves, Yuki notices), taking a few deep breaths before finding her voice.

"My dad is the chairman of a district of private schools, ranging from elementary to high school campuses. My mother does a lot of secretarial work at the private high school in that district. What about your parents?"

It is the first time anyone has ever asked him about his parents.

"I'm not close to my parents. To be honest, I'm not really sure what they do specifically," Yuki admits, looking at the light ahead of them. A red "halt" symbol still glows ahead of them.

"I see. Well, that's a shame. They're missing out on being the very proud parents of a very hardworking son. Although, sometimes I wish you wouldn't work so hard, it must be so exhausting. Even princes need to rest," Murasaki laughs jokingly.

The light changes, and she runs ahead of him, but Yuki is momentarily caught off guard by her words.

In front of him, a green light shines, urging him to move forward. And just below it, Murasaki's ponytail swings back and forth, as if asking what it is he's waiting for.

"Yuki-san?"

She turns around, blinking at him from across the street.

"I'm coming," he says, crossing, holding her statement in his mind.

Even princes need to rest.


They arrive at her apartment about ten minutes later.

It's situated in a nice neighborhood, quiet, but nice.

"Thank you for letting me join you. Would you like a drink before you head out again?" Murasaki asks as she opens the apartment complex gate, but Yuki shakes his head.

"Thank you for the offer, but I wouldn't want to intrude."

"You wouldn't be, it's really no trouble."

Yuki looks up at the apartment building. It's a nice place, far too nice for a high school student living by herself, and curiosity wins him over.

"In that case, could I trouble you for a glass of water?"

"Of course, come on in."

~.~

She lives on the third floor. Her apartment is incredibly spacious, almost the size of a condo or a small house, and Yuki takes a moment to observe his surroundings.

Her living room, which leads into the kitchen, is neat. It definitely looks like a girl lives here, but not a high school girl and not by herself. The furniture is too put together.

And she has so many books.

There are shelves on both sides of the room, and upon closer inspection, he notices that they're filled with books of classical music history, symphony scores, music theory textbooks, composition analysis-

"Ah, that. I see you've noticed the ridiculous collection."

Murasaki is standing beside him, water in hand. He takes it, wondering since when she's been able to sneak up on him. Usually, zodiac members are rather cautious in the presence of strangers, and constantly aware of their surroundings, but something about her puts him at ease.

Too much at ease. He shouldn't even be in this apartment. It's dangerous, not to mention a little bit improper.

"I didn't know you studied music," is the only response he can come up with.

"I don't. Not anymore."

The finality of her statement catches him off guard, and she seems to notice it herself, because she laughs nervously. "I-I mean, I used to. That's why I have all this. My parents made me hold onto it, they want me to start playing again. But I'd rather not, and I think it's about time I start making my own choices."

"I understand."

She looks up at him, surprised, and he smiles.

"You do?"

"I think so. I'm tired of other people playing God over my life," he says.

Yuki almost laughs at the irony of his own statement.

"Huh. I guess we have even more in common than I thought," she murmurs pensively.

He looks back at her to see that she, too, is smiling.