Hello everyone!
I apologize for taking so long! My laptop is not in her best condition and I need to buy a new usb, because mine is braking up slowly,
but luckily still works into letting me save my hard work!
I hope you don't get dissappointing with this chapter, but it is a filled in and
my focus now, is to present all the Astros!
Which will happen in the next chapter! ^^
And I got more review! So me is happy! :D
Now to answer to one review from TheMidnightWriter101; Ruben is Zeus, Marcus is Ares and the twins are Artemis and Apollo, but Arista represents Hera, who is the Queen of Gods and Goddesses and also wife to Zeus.
Athena can't be Arista, because this Goddess of Wisdom is daughter of Zues and Metis.
But good work on it! ^^ -thumbs up-
Now, for the next chapter I want you all to figure out! Just to keep this as game in the story! xD
Who did Yuki didn't like so much from his past beside Akito? - If you are a true fruit basket, you will know this one.
And who in the main Gods and Goddess produced the God Eros? - This one is soooo easy!
Truths and a cup of Coffee
Rosalind didn't ask that question to Arista, just to know an answer. Like a superficial action she would make inside her mind upon meeting the young man within the question. She was on a mission to see Yuki Sohma again and without the order of Ruben or Nina behind her achievement. Rosalind wanted her cousin Arista to be happy and smiling again; the exact sentiment that the young man, who was Yuki Sohma, had caused yesterday afternoon within their conversation.
But she needed to be careful on where could she do her secret mission. 'In the park…?' The young woman pondered as she strolled down the path of the inquiry place toward the high school she needed to reach at the moment. But the thought was discarded like a used tissue. The Park wasn't crowed this ending month of October, because of the cold weather that was following close. People preferred to be in their homes or in stores where they could have warm beverages or food within their reach. 'Hm… I wouldn't mind some cup of coffee…' Rosalind mused happily to herself at the thought of coffee and also realizing the perfect place to have a conversation with Yuki Sohma.
Finally, Rosalind had arrived to her destination. She gently smiled at the sight of the building has her mission was becoming a success so far. The next step was to find Yuki Sohma and with her lack of school buildings and their systems, it was going to become difficult. Although with her luck so far, she might find him; she just needed to wait.
Rosalind gently pushed back the long sleeve of her light brown saggy jacket to take an observation of the time that showed on her leather brown wrist-watch. It was five minutes passed the average time of the ending hour of the school; Yuki must probably still inside the building. Apparently luck was gracing on her today like a light of holy glory, because the young man she was searching for was walking out of the building with the brown haired girl she met yesterday and a bright orange haired young man, who was still a stranger to her.
Let's see how this turn out to be…
Yesterday was an unusual event for Yuki and Tohru. Their encounter with Arista's cousins; a girl who rarely let anyone inside her fragile bubble to know anything about her or, in fact, about her origins and family, was unexpected. It reminded Yuki so much about himself concerning his own secret, until Tohru Honda came into his life and the secret was share with at least one person. And now he felt like he had taken Tohru's shoes upon knowing more about Arista Clark and her family.
Yuki Sohma was smart enough to know that the excuse the twins had told him and Tohru was a lie. He was too clever to let anything escape him, even the fact of not believing that Arista was sick at all. Something most had happened to her after the encounter he had with her in the park. If only another chance to talk with her cousins will greet him today. It might be an excellent chance for him to place the small pieces together and know the truth.
Yuki glanced in the direction of the school gate after the deep analysis he had done within his mind about the situation yesterday. To his amazement he had recognized the familiar sight of the female twin he had met yesterday. 'Rosalind was it?' He pondered, slowly recalling her name. Once he got close to Rosalind, a genuine smile framed her lips with the following greeting of, "Hello there!" Was heard from her.
The brown haired young woman that was Tohru Honda remembered the female twin and greeted her happily as well, while she took a moment to present Rosalind to Kyo, who had been looking at her like she might probably be one of Yuki's stalkers or some street traveler wondering around the area and just randomly greeted them. In other words, he was slightly glaring at her in suspicious, but then lightened up his facial frame upon knowing who she was.
"Have you come to pick up Arista's homework?" Tohru gently asked after the small silence that occurred behind the greeting between the two females.
"Actually…" Rosalind began to say with a small smile as she glanced in the direction of Yuki, "I just came to talk to Mr. Sohma." She pointed at him, remembering that Kyo was also a Sohma, even though it was obvious who Sohma she wanted since this is the first time she had ever met Kyo. But she didn't want any confusion to happen.
Yuki's dark purple eyes softly blinked at the unexpected request but at the same time he felt lucky upon having what he exactly wanted today. But why did she want to talk him only? Was the wary question entering Yuki's mind.
"Oh, that would be alright." Yuki answered with a light nod. He glance at Tohru and Kyo and told them, he will see them later at the house.
Kyo didn't want to follow the request his cousin have told him. He didn't trust easily, so he didn't trust this Rosalind Clark, but for some odd reason, people would always gather around him and reach out for his friendship. It must be his cat spirit's charisma; a trait that he figured out later was something Yuki envied of him.
It was when he had transform into the beast of the cat, when his adopted father and mentor have taken off to show Tohru; his beast side. But in the end it helped the trio to be more connected in many ways. Yuki didn't hate him, just envied his charisma and how people will be always want to be around him, plus just how Kyo could cool off with anyone, unlike the possessor of the mouse spirit.
In the way, Kyo realize his crush for Tohru was becoming more than just a crush and it was worth accepting the chance to probably be with her in the future, because she truly did care for him.
If only he knew how to make the first move…
"Alright, Yuki! We will see you back at Shigure's house! Come on, Kyo!" Tohru clearly understood and with a smile, she gently took Kyo's hand within her own and dragged him out of the school ground. Kyo was about to protest but the feeling of his hand around Tohru's made him lightly blush to forget about Yuki and keeping up with her.
Rosalind watched the pair walk away from them with a smile and she knew that between those two there was chemistry; she even thought it out loud to the young man beside her, "They do look like a nice couple."
Yuki gave the female twin cousin a side glance, before glancing at the gate where Tohru and Kyo had walked through. In that moment Yuki began to remembered the constant rivalry he used to have with his cousin upon obtaining the brown haired girl's attention, even a slight affection from her. But it was clear to Yuki that Kyo had won the battle and Tohru's heart in the beginning. "Yeah, they do…" He slightly commented in a soft tone as a small smile grace his face.
"Well then!" Rosalind suddenly shouted, making Yuki glance at her warily, as she stretched her arms above her head before placing her hands inside the pockets of her saggy jacket. "Are you up for a cup of coffee?" She asked with a smile at her companion.
The warm temperature inside the coffee and bake store was welcoming compared to the chilly weather outside the sliding doors. There was a reasonable among of people inside the store, causing the fusion of voices to be heard inside the room and only the ones among their own conversation could understand the many whispers.
In the middle of those many people and voices; there were two teenagers, who were getting comfortable with their cups of coffee and a few donuts plus other traditional Japanese pastries. Rosalind took a deep observation, as she watched her companion, that Yuki Sohma was a traditional young man of the Japanese culture, but also open minded to other things, which made him charming. Charming, indeed…
"Now, let's start with the reason of my visit, shall we?" Rosalind gently broke the silent between them with a smile, although her gray eyes showed hesitation upon speaking the next few words.
Yuki nodded at her waiting patiently for her to continue while taking a sip of his own cup of coffee, letting the hot liquid of brewed coffee beans slide down his throat gaining a warm sensation within his slight cold muscles.
"The reason of my visit is because Arista absent…" The female gently slowly let out. Rosalind was glancing down at her cup within her hands, letting the warm exterior of the cup warm her cold fingers having a nail light scratch the cover of the cup.
Yuki's dark purple eyes firmly stayed on Rosalind; he took a close note of her facial and body language as she spoke the subject about Arista. It made him wonder more about how important was Arista to her family.
"But before I do say anything further, I'm curious to know, Mr. Sohma. How did you know that my brother and I were lying to you yesterday?" Rosalind asked leisurely taking her gray eyes off her cup and fixed them on Yuki's eyes. She felt the intensity of his eyes.
Yuki gently narrowed his eyes as he thought of his words careful before letting them free, "From the period of time I have got to know, Miss Clark, I had notice several of hints which made me confident to know that you were lying." He lightly flicked the plastic stick inside the coffee before he continued, "In the invitation of Ms. Tohru to my cousin's house, Arista had a bruise of her wrist and the next day she didn't speak any word to us, plus she seemed to be getting sick…"
Yuki took a pause for a moment. He was debating whenever to tell Rosalind about his family secret and his discovery about her family secret as well. Would it be wrong to talk about it? His logic said, it was a bad idea, but his emotions said otherwise. It could make their conversation easier than trying to cover it up with lies.
Lies… They had been in Yuki's life for a long time that he didn't want them anymore.
Rosalind was surprised from the information she was getting at the moment. But why would she be surprise? Ruben had hurt Arista and the other Astros just so they would know he was in control. It was how their ancestors worked within their family. The one gifted to be God of them had the word on their actions and if it wasn't fulfilled has he instructed; he or she will suffer the consequences. But years passed and new ways had changes their own rules, like for example, Ruben had declare that the Adult Astros could have a life as they wish for, but only in a close range where he can know their location, families, jobs, money, etc.
In conclusion their whole life.
Probably Rosalind shouldn't be surprise if Arista had a bruise causing for Yuki to be suspicious on how her cousin was treated and not to believe their lies, like they thought he would be. Yuki wasn't an ordinary young man and something told her, she wasn't mistaken.
"I know your secret, Ms. Clark."
Rosalind's gray eyes slowly moved toward the young man before her, just realizing she had been glancing in the distant as she was thinking through his words, but suddenly raise an eyebrow in confusion and suspicious with what Yuki wanted to imply with secret. "Excuse me?" She asked gently, her voice sounding cautious into extending the conversation in the wrong direction.
Yuki took note of her tone of voice as he went into a forbidden topic in both of their lives, but he wasn't going to let this moment slip out of his fingers, not now when he had the chance. "I know who you really are Rosalind Clark." He pressed on as his eyes gently narrowed, firmly staring at her, not wanting to get her out of his sight and to see every expression in her eyes for they were the gate to a person soul.
"Mr. Sohma, I do not know what exactly you mean by "knowing who I really am"." Panic was clearly in her voice, but was covered by the tone of harshness for Rosalind didn't like where this conversation was going. It was suppose to be about Arista, not about her. Her grey eyes slightly flicking from side to side, not wanting to meet Yuki's firm and strong stare; it was frightening and in that moment she realized the error of not coming with her twin brother, Roswell.
Dark purple eyes narrowed a further more as he heard the denial respond. How much can she pretend with him? But then he reminded himself that he was in this situation before Tohru enter his life and became the keeper of their secret and the only one to know so far and probably the Clark family didn't have the ability to delete memories of those involve, like the Sohma did. It must be the reason why Rosalind was working so hard into keep the secret still a secret within the family walls.
"Ms. Clark…" Yuki gently began to say, at least changing the strong expression upon his features as he addressing her once more, "I have my own family secret… I am curse by the Rat sign in the Chinese Zodiac." He truthfully confessed and brought the attention of Rosalind once more toward him; her grey eyes were looking into directly act him searching for any sign of him lying to her, but when she saw none of it, Rosalind was shocked.
Is true, Yuki Sohma isn't an ordinary man…
"You are cursed too…?" Rosalind slowly and softly whispered as she asked still in shock as her grey eyes were wide like a deer froze in the road and about to be hit by a car. Yuki gently nodded at her, not wanting to repeat himself in a public place. Even thought everyone seemed to be involved so much in their own conversation to even care. "Wow… I can't believe this… Are you pulling my leg here?" Rosalind suddenly said as everything began to take place in her mind, but calmed herself quickly when she took in her surrounding and remembered when she was at the moment.
"No I am not and you can't tell Arista or anyone from your family, Ms. Clark. Can I trust you on that?" Yuki asked as a request to her, gaining a confident nod from her and he was satisfied with it. "Now, what were you going to say about Arista and her reason of her absents?" Now with the hidden secret out of the way from their dry conversation and covering stories, there's wouldn't be a problem now, right?
'Oh, boy…' Rosalind thought filling herself been in stressed up and cornered since she already had a story made up in her mind, but she learned that Yuki wasn't stupid and now he came from a family of a curse as well, which would make the story pointless. "Listen well, Mr. Sohma for this is hard for me to say and I have a feeling you won't like it." Rosalind slowly warned her eyes drift down to the untouched pastries on the table, but by looking at them she realized how hungry she was; most be how anxious she was becoming, which brought her hand to reach for one and began to slowly nib the chocolate bread before speaking, "As you most know… Every family has a head that controls them and they have to listen to no matter what. Well, his name is Ruben and he… Um… Well… He…" Suddenly her mouth felt dry, like she was forbidden into saying these words to Yuki. Rosalind took a sip of her now warm coffee, feeling a bit better than before, although she didn't want to stare at Yuki yet, even when she was feeling slight anger energy from him. "Ruben beat up Arista…" She whispered it fast and in a low tone, hoping Yuki didn't heard it but he did…
There was a close fist upon the table and the owner wasn't very happy about the news he had heard just about now. Yuki had closed his eyes when the words reached his ears as he was trying to conceal the anger within him. Why was he angry? Because a man shouldn't hurt a woman and Yuki is a gentleman, so he wouldn't hurt any female unless is necessary. But beside that, Arista is his friend and he won't let anyone hurt her, even if he just know her for a few months, but it felt so much more. Especially when their stares locked in that magical moment he could still picture in his mind…
The exchange moment was perfect to the point that it became special for each individual in their hearts has they keep an intense glance between each other. Not a care for the world that surrounded them, but only them and the scenario that surrounded them. The soft light of the early sunset rested against the gentle currents of the river that was in front of them, giving it a soft glow of yellow and orange, but still keeping the light blue color of the sky. The wind that moved gently and smoothly against them with Sakura petals to show the currents of the unseen air that seem to be dancing around them, while the whole scenario join to make a soft music with their own natural sound...
Suddenly Yuki's world got interrupted at the touch of a soft hand upon his fist. Dark purple eyes slowly appeared under the eye lids that had cover them to stare at the woman across from him. Rosalind had a sad smile upon her lips and Yuki was surprise to see even a smile on her face.
"I know is hard… But you can't do anything… Not now." Rosalind voice was gentle and soft as she was comforting a small child, but Yuki wasn't a child, although her voice was nice to calm him down a bit more. "The time will come, even sooner than you expect, Yuki Sohma. You just have to wait, but I promise you this, I will be taking care of Arista and my brother also."
Yuki didn't know what to say to her words, but a short nod came out as a respond to Rosalind. He was glad there was someone inside the family that could watch Arista for him, but he needed to do something; anything at all. He felt useless…
"I will reach to you if anything happens, Mr. Sohma. You will be the first to know." Rosalind gently said patting his hand with the hand she had over his before standing up from the chair she occupied across from him. "See you next time, Yuki Sohma." She waved her farewell, after picking up the pantries she wanted and her coffee then walked toward the exit of the store.
After she had left, Yuki sat in silence with many thoughts passing through his mind. Only the sound of many whispers of the people around him reached his ears as he finally moved to stand from his chair and left the store, like a quiet mouse. The people never did notice his departure, not like their care for their own lives had their own attention and drama.
And a half full coffee and untouched pastries were still upon the table left behind unwanted…