Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket. Goody goody.
Moshi moshi! I hoped you liked the prologue. Anyway, please read on!
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It was dark, very dark. There was pain everywhere. I felt like I had been stabbed a hundred times over, every time in a different place, and then thrown into a sea of rubbing alcohol. Yes, it hurt that much I blinked, opening my eyes. I was met with a white ceiling and too much florescent light.
"What happened?" I asked groggily. I couldn't remember anything. Well, I knew the basics. I was Tohru Honda. My hair was brown. My eyes were brown. I was Japanese. I lived with my grandfather because both of my parents had died. I had graduated high school. I had little money, and barely any chance to get into college. Yes, that was me.
A doctor, at least I presume he was a doctor, poked his head into my line of view and took a good look at me. Then, he answered with something I found to be horrifying. "You fell off a bridge, and I think you have amnesia, seeing as you can't remember anything."
I sat up immediately, sputtering. "But I do know anything! I'm Tohru Honda! I'm a high school graduate! I know stuff!" Suddenly, my head started buzzing and hurting. Ouch… I laid down again and rubbed my head.
"Kyoko?" A voice said. I knew that voice! See, I know stuff! It was Grandpa! My Grandpa! The one I live with! I know stuff, and you can't say I don't!
"Grandpa, tell them I know stuff. I live with you!" I exclaimed, my head still hurting. But that didn't matter right now; I wanted to prove I wasn't a bubble headed idiot that couldn't remember who she was.
"Tohru! You live with those guys now… don't you remember?" He asked, patting my head. That made it hurt more. And you know what made it even worse? I know comprehended that I didn't know who I was!
"But… but… I live with you! I don't have amnesia, and I do know stuff!" I cried, tears pouring down my face. I didn't want to be dumb, I wanted to know myself! Grandpa pulled me up into a sitting position and hugged me.
"It doesn't matter now, you're going to live with me and go off to college in the fall." He said, patting my head again. Then, he left to speak with the doctors.
"No…" I cried, covering my face with my hands as tears trickled down my tingling cheeks. "I want to remember!" Suddenly, a hand was placed on my shoulder. Uncovering my eyes, I looked over. There was a pale girl with her black hair in a braid standing beside me. Behind her was a taller girl with blonde hair.
"Tohru-chan, we're sorry you forgot. But, do you remember us?" she asked, and I shook my head no. She sighed and rubbed her forehead, frowning. "I'm Saki Hanajima; I used to be your best friend, along with the girl standing behind me, Arisa Uotani. You called us Hana-chan and Uo-chan."
"Oh, I'm sorry I don't remember! It's very rude of me…" I said, hanging my head. More tears rolled down my face. Why couldn't anything go right now? The hand was removed.
"You should have our phone numbers somewhere. If you ever need anything, Tohru, please call us. I'm sure the Sohmas say the same, especially Orangey." The other girl, Uotani said. I nodded, not really knowing who she was talking about, but that was a given, since I had amnesia.
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I sat, recalling the memory that always came back to me, full with riddles I cannot solve. A cup of green tea was in my hand and I stared at a gigantic window in the flat that I rented. Rain dripped down the cold glass in a rush, like tears coming from heaven, cried from angels' eyes. I couldn't see outside, everything was a blur. But if I could see, it would all be gray. My sweats were cozy, and I felt content, if only a little bit empty and restless. The only thing that could truly make this moment better is more memories to recall, a fireplace, and someone to snuggle up to and share them with.
In the ten years, yes, I'm now twenty-seven, that I had forgotten most of my high school years, I hadn't made any new friends, let alone friends who I thought of romantically. I was still alone as the day that those two girls who claimed they used to be my best friends walked out of my room in the hospital. Even my grandfather had died.
I started into the liquid in the mug I held. It was a deep gold, almost orange. It seemed very familiar, like I knew the color orange personally. But I had been acting like this recently. Every time I saw the color orange I would get a weird, bubbly feeling in the pit of my stomach. I don't know what it is, but I suppose it has something to do with my past. That Arisa Uotani girl did mention an "Orangey"… And the worst part of it was, I could also feel a revelation was approaching. It was like a giant weight was dangling above me by a slowly breaking rope. I had no idea when it would fall, but I knew it soon. I was living in apprehension and dread. What would this bring?
Suddenly, the phone rang. Tohru got out of her comfy chair and walked over, picking it up. "Moshi moshi, this is Tohru Honda." She said into the speaker. A moment later, she spoke again. "Yes, of course. I'll be there as soon as I can."
I sighed and placed the phone on the hook, and then walked into my bedroom. That had been the principal of the school that I worked in. yes, I taught. Right now, I was a preschool teacher, but every two years or so a teacher gets a different grade assignment there, so I should eventually expect to teach another grade.
I needed to pick out an outfit to go in for a quick parent teacher meeting. It was nearing the beginning of the school year, and some parents were wary about where they placed their little child. It was most likely their first time having their child, probably their only current child, away from home. So, they were very nervous.
"Hmm… maybe it will be the 'Orangey' Arisa was talking about!" I exclaimed, smiling as I looked through my wardrobe. Eventually, I picked out a brown plaid skirt that had a bit of orange in it and an orange blazer with a brown tie. I put two orange ribbons in my hair, brown leather sandal high heels, and some make up on and headed out the door with a brown leather jacket to catch a cab.
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Twenty minutes later, I stepped out of a cab. Thanking the driver, I walked on the sidewalk towards a huge school campus. This was the school I worked at. It was a school for little Einsteins, to prepare them to grow up to be geniuses. Everything was up to date, and looked it, too. The appliances were shiny and black; the seats were all chic, suede-covered stools and chairs, the amenities and appliances were all top of the line and were updated every summer. Since Beethoven was proven to mature minds, it required to be playing at all times. I got a salary that not even the advanced, big brained third graders that were already into trigonometry could comprehend. This was my job, and I loved all aspects of it, even if though seemed that some of the babies I took care of were smarter than I was.
I smiled at the guards in black suits blocking the entrance. They knew me like the palm of their hand, and I them. "Hello, Kenji, Manzo," I said, "a bit drab today, don't you think?" They nodded simultaneously then moved out of the way of the main doors, letting me though. There, I pressed a buzzer so the secretary would let me in. "Hello, Kameko. It's Tohru. I have an unexpected parent teacher conference."
The lock buzzed open and I pushed the door in, walking though to the hall. As I walked though the hall, I looked to the floor tiles my heels clicked on. They were pure marble. Did I mention the school was filthy rich?
I walked to my classroom and went to the combination pad beside it. I punched in the combination, two, two, five, three, six, four, and then went to a pad, which I placed my finger in. the scanner read it correctly, and then the door swung open on its own.
The inside of the room was beautiful. The walls were a dark red. There was a reading area with tan suede bean bags circling around one large suede chair which I usually sat in. surrounding that were four bookcases, each having just enough room to file in and out of the area.
The second area was for artwork. There were a dozen little easels once again around a big one I used. There was also a round table that could fit my little class on. Millions of cabinets held top of the line clay, paint, brushes, canvases, and other art materials.
Then, the third and last area had a bunch of little desks all lines up in rows, all made of gorgeous, unscathed mahogany, facing towards my desk. On that desk were a window XP computer and a laptop. Inside every small desk was a laptop just like mine as well as writing utensils.
All around the room on the walls were famous paintings like the Mona Lisa along with my past student's works. Along one wall was a huge line of Plexiglas windows that could slide open to let students out to a field the "o" shaped school went around.
As I looked around my room in fondness, there was a knock on my door. I snapped my fingers and it opened automatically, letting in the nervous parents I had been called in for.
The mother had long, shiny black hair that went down past her waste. She was wearing a rather skimpy black corset dress and high black boots. I was perplexed at why someone who looked like such a tramp would want their child to come here. But I must admit, she looked beautiful. No, not just beautiful, she looked like a goddess come to life.
The father didn't surprise me any less. The top of his hair was oddly white, but his roots were black. He wore a black leather jacked with a black shirt underneath and a bunch of silver necklaces. His pants were black leather, and I swore I saw combat boots on his feet. He looked like a trouble-making biker.
Their child peaked out from behind her mother's legs. She, too, had long black hair, but the very tips were white like her father's roots. She wore a little black yukata with a white obi.
"Konicchi wa, I'm Tohru Honda, the preschool teacher here!" I said, smiling brightly at the little girl. The parents took one look at me then stared at each other in silence. Finally, their attention turned to the little kid, who was timidly playing with the fold of her kimono. I couldn't help but smile even wider because of her overwhelming chibi cuteness.
"Hello, Honda-san. I'm Isuzu Sohma, and this is my husband Hatsuharu Sohma." The woman said, staring at me warily. Sohma, where had I heard that before? Oh yeah, that's something Arisa mentioned to me! But I feel like that goes back more, could it be what I forgot?
"Well then, come sit down! You can sit down anywhere!" Isuzu nodded then picked up her child. She walked over to a bean bag and sat down in it, soon to be accompanied by her husband. I sat in another bean bag so I didn't seem dominant by sitting in the bigger, higher chair.
"My wife and I were worrying about the welfare of our child here, Nyoko. She's very distant, and she needs special care because of it." Hatsuharu said, addressing the matter.
I nodded, staring at the little girl in Isuzu's lap. She was once again playing with her yukata. She stopped instantaneously and stared over at me with huge dark brown, nearly black, eyes. I smiled, and she giggled happily.
"I like Tohru Sensei!" She said and climbed out of the bean bag with difficulty. When she finally was helped by her mother, she clambered up into my lap and hugged me. I was taken aback at first, but soon I returned the hug, reminding myself why I worked with kids.
"Well, that takes care of it! She seems to have taken to you immediately. Expect her to be in your class, Honda." Isuzu said and got up. She took Nyoko out of my lap and walked to the door. I could have sworn I saw a smile adorn her face, but it could have been a trick of the light.
"That's wonderful, Isuzu-san! Thank you!" Hatsuharu stood up as well, walking to his wife's side.
"Call me Rin, Honda." She said, and then walked out the door. I waved after her and Hatsuharu.
"Bye, Rin, Nyoko, Haru!" I said, but stopped myself. Where had that come from!?! Hatsuharu never told me to call his Haru! I shook my head; the weird feeling of déjà vu was starting to get to me.
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Ok, so it's a bit happier this time. Maybe it shouldn't be under tragedy. Oh well. Please, review! I love reviews! Ja' ne!