Disclaimer: Hello, I don't own Fruits Basket, Spongebob, a striped sweater, the song Striped Sweater, or Momiji's Onsen Song. Hmm, I think that's it for today...
Ha, hi. Like my disclaimer? -.-' Eh heh, I was listening to Spongebob songs. Sorry, I got carried away. Hmm, I think I might actually own a striped sweater, on second thought... Oh yeah, I have that blue, white, and aqua striped turtleneck sweater... Hmm, I used to wear that a lot... But that made me look like a library nerd... Maybe I am a library nerd... xD I used to go there almost everyday. But then it didn't feel like a library because of Jen... xD She's one of my crazy friends, kind of... I can safely say I never finished my math homework there. That's for sure... Ah, sorry I haven't updated in a bit. I've been kind of busy writing lyrics and songs. My band isn't going s great, though. Only two members... And my piano and trombone lessons have finally ended... Now I have to teach myself so I can play the piano in the band. But I have to learn guitar, also... And then we need a base guitarist and a drummer... Maybe Dom could lend me a hand with that... Hmm, but he never lets anybody touch his guitar, and he's going into high school... Nah, nevermind... He wouldn't be a good vocalist, either... We need a vocalist, too, now that I'm thinking about it... I can't sing on tune for my life, and Orange can't sing at all. -.-' Oh the joys of having a band... And then my dad's offering on helping out, which, if you haven't noticed, would be loserific. Gah... Just read on, I guess...
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"Hello, monster." Akito's cruel, sickly-sweet voice called out to me. I shuddered involuntarily as I saw the smirk on his face as he entered my cell, a stray ray of light dashing across his pale face.
"What do you want, Akito?" I growled, sitting up. I had been laying on my stomach before, just examining the feeling of how I moved up and down as I breathed. It was annoying, actually… Yes, I'm calling breathing annoying. Got a problem with that? I didn't think so. Get off by back.
"I've got a lead to where she is, monster. I'm close to finding the wretch." Akito whispered in my ear maliciously. I made sure he could see my bared teeth for that remark. "I was originally planning to kill her, but I'll make a deal with you."
"Like I'd make a deal with a dirty bastard like you." I hissed, feeling the hair on my back stand on edge. He laughed at my expression, just stroking my cheek absently. He's gay, I tell you, freakin' gay! Either that or he likes to play with his food. Personally, I don't like either choice. (Ha, I play with my food... Actually, it's only the meat I play with, and that's more like stabbing it repeatedly because I hate most meat my parents serve... but oh well.)
"Ah, but you might reconsider that, monster. I know you want to be free." I growled again. I knew he was right. I wanted to be free, I wanted it so badly. But if the deal was with Akito, I might as well sell my soul to the devil. In fact, I suspect he'd be kinder. Akito make Satan look saintlike. (xD Omg, holey! Haha, thanks, Fred, George, for the wonderful pun). "You tell me where the little wretch is and I'll set you free. Her memories will be erased, and she'll take your place. I'll treat her nice, little kitty."
I scowled as Akito purred and smirked. My blood boiled just at the thought of myself betraying Tohru just for my freedom. How low did Akito think I was!? He raised a hand to my chin, pulling my face closer to his.
"I promise I'll treat her nice. You won't have to worry about her, she won't even know you betrayed her! In fact, I doubt she'll know her own name. I can't tell what Hatori could accidentally do to someone with amnesia…"
"Bastard! How low do you think I could sink!? I'd never deceive her, not Tohru!" I slapped Akito's hand away, finally losing it. My anger was taking over, and before I knew it those horrible juzu beads that kept the beast within me silenced were ripped off and thrown on the dirty cement floor.
"Stop!" Akito screamed in fear, but he had no control over me. Not now… Not in this form. I watched blankly as my claws ripped through his flesh. I couldn't feel Akito's blood, hot and red, flowing down my great claws. The gory smell of blood, urine, feces, and decay that lingered in my cell no longer reached my nose. It was like watching the scene trough a television or fogged window. I couldn't control my body; it moved on its own accord. I was just there, nothing more, nothing less.
Finally, Akito had fled, and my anger died down. Soon, I was back to my human form. I didn't stay in it for long, though, because of my exhaustion. The world grew darker and smaller, and I saw from a cat's perspective. I was losing consciousness, and fast. I struggled to keep awake, but it was no use. I gave in and let myself sink into the cold, unwelcoming, lonely, yet warm, hospitable, and friendly abyss of oblivion. (Can you believe I wrote this while listening to The Candyman Can?)
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"Hmm…" Tohru was humming to herself as she swirled her delicate fingers through the water in the small lotus pond, complete with koi, in my room. "This is boring…"
Hanajima and Uotani were out doing their jobs, and I had nothing to do. I had already cleaned the whole house, and dinner wasn't going to be for a while, so I couldn't start cooking… I couldn't go out and get a job, either. That would include listing my name unnecessarily, which would make it easier for Akito to find me. Besides, my salary I had gotten from SMAART was way more than enough to keep my rent up for a few months. In fact, Kameko was taking are of that for me.
"Yuhi you yamani. Teru-teru Momiji! Kaeru yatokage ga, kon'nichi wa." I sang, smiling absently at an orange koi. As he watched my fingers brush the top of the water's surface. "Koi no arai. Tabu no ko umani!"
"Oh God, she's singing, Kisa!" a sarcastic, masculine voice said. Just then, Kisa, Momiji, and two people I didn't know burst through my bedroom door. I screamed and jumped back, seeing as I was only in a towel. Before I had been enjoying the old-style Japanese bathtub in my own private bathroom and had never bothered to change. The cool autumn breeze on my exposed skin had felt just too good. And besides, Hanajima and Uotani's house was hidden away behind a small forest, just as I remember Shigure's house was.
"I'M SO SORRY FOR INTRUDING!" One of the people who I didn't know screamed, crumpling to her knees in a deep bow. Upon closer look, however, I saw that "she" was a male. I was looking past the long reddish-brown hair, girlish, wide eyes, and traditional kimono. Or maybe I just had a feeling, a feeling like I knew this person.
"I'm sorry for having no sense of dignity. I should have gotten dressed, instead of lying here in a mere towel." I said, bowing back to the man. The other man that I didn't know blushed and turned away, as did Momiji. Kisa just looked out my window. Finally, I noticed my towel was much too small to bow in. "A-Ah, sorry! I don't know why Hana-chan and Uo-chan gave me a small towel in the first place, though…"
"Maybe they were hoping Kyo-nii would come to visit you. He did fight Akito yesterday…" Kisa muttered still looking away. Blushing, I grabbed an outfit and zipped into the bathroom to put it on.
Soon, I came out in a jean skirt and a pink and yellow striped turtleneck (xD I'd like to call this little number Striped Sweater… The best time to wear a striped sweater is all the time! One with a collar, turtleneck, that's the kind! Cuz when you're wearing that one special sweater… Okay, I'll stop now).
"That was my onsen song, right Tohru-chan?" Momiji asked happily. I nodded and smiled at him before busting into the kitchen, muttering something about tea and snacks.
"Stupid woman, we came to take you away!" The man nearly screamed as he watched me pour hot water into little tea cups. I looked up at him. My eyes must have been full of fear or sadness, because he sighed and lowered his voice. "Akito knows roughly where you are. We're here to take you away before you or your friends are hurt."
"Hiro-kun, we've got to go soon…" Kisa said, pulling on his hand gently. "The plane will leave in two hours." Then, she turned to me. "I made sure you were under a different name. That's how Akito-sama found out."
"Thank you, but if I leave before finding all the Zodiacs then I'll never be able to break Kyo-kun's curse!" Momiji bounced over to me and wrapped his arms around my middle in a hug. I waited for a puff of smoke, but it never came.
"Tohru-chan, Kisa-chan and I brought Hiro and Ritsu along so you could remember everyone! The only person left to remember is Akito, and we're not letting you anywhere near him. How will remembering break Kyo's curse?"
Tears filled my eyes. I didn't know. I still didn't know how to break Kyo's curse… Wiping them away, I shook my head in protest and pulled away from Momiji.
"If Akito's all that's left, then so be it. Thanks. I'm going back to Tokyo, and I'm going to meet Akito. I'll remember and find a way to break the curse." Kisa opened her mouth in protest, but I cut her off. "You can't stop me. I'm going to break Kyo-kun's curse. Nothing can stop me."
"I thought it may come to this…" Hiro said, sighing. Ritsu, Kisa, and Momiji looked over to him in surprise and fear.
"Don't do this, Hiro-kun…" Kisa whispered in his ear, wrapping her arms around his. "Please don't do this…"
"You're coming with us no matter what. Kisa's taking her time to save you, so I won't let you refuse. Grab her!" Suddenly, burly men that could easily take on Akito's surrounded me, frowning. They seemed nicer and didn't wield any guns, but I still didn't like the looks of this situation.
I screamed as they came closer. Fear took over me, until I remembered the night Kyo and I warded off all of Akito's men together. Smirking, and silently apologizing, I kicked one man over like I had seen Kyo do. It wasn't with half as much power, but hey, it worked. It also sent my skirt riding up…
Recalling how I had clobbered two men when I had gone into that forced handstand, I quickly went into it, grabbing one man's head between my ankles and hurling him into another man. A bang of two men's heads together sent them down to the floor.
I squealed as a man grabbed me from behind, pinning my arms down on him. Now I only had my legs to use. As two men approached from either side of me, I kicked out into a split stance, hitting both of them in their weak spots. In my captor's shock, he forgot about holding me tightly, which gave me just enough room to wiggle and kick him in the same spot.
Panting, I looked over to the four remaining men that shielded the door from view. That didn't last long, however, for a loud war cry was heard and a metal rod sent one flying. Uotani then kicked the one beside him away as the two remaining men dropped, revealing Hanajima behind them, smirking and dusting her hands off.
"Holy shit, Tohru, remind me to never mess with you." Uotani muttered, staring at the circle of men around my feet. I'm pretty sure that's what my kidnapping committee was doing, too, for they were all too quiet.
"I was wondering why I sensed danger…" Hanajima muttered, walking over to one of the men she had defeated and kicking his side lightly. "If I knew this would happen, I would have stayed here today…"
"I'm fine, Hana-chan. See? I don't have a single scratch!" I lifted my arms and did a little dance to show I hadn't been hurt. Hiro choked behind me. The reaction was a little late…
"Those were my best guards…" He muttered, and I looked, astonished, over at him. Uotani and Hanajima turned to glare at him. I shivered. I would have to be subject to that glare. If looks could kill, Hiro's ghost's, ghost's, ghost's, ghost's ghost would have died after the first second.
"And why did you try to kidnap Tohru?" Uotani asked, her teeth clenched and a small growl behind every word. Hiro laughed nervously, taking a few steps back.
"Akito has guessed Tohru's around here. She refused to come with us on a plane to somewhere else. Apparently, she wants to go back to Tokyo to meet Akito. That could be deadly, though."
"Tohru-kun," Hanajima said, turning to me with a sad look on her face, "if it is for your own safety, please go. Being on the run like this must be difficult, but you can't take chances. If you went to the man who wants to kill you, surely nothing could go right."
"I have to help Kyo-kun. It's a long story, but this is the only way. I must remember Akito. Then, I'll get out of there as fast as possible and search for a cure." I said, tears welling up in my eyes. "I have to help him."
"Why, Tohru? I know you always want to help people, but why do you need to help Kyo-nii?" Kisa asked, and I could tell there was a bit of happiness in her voice.
"Why do I? I just have to… I don't know why…" I said, talking to myself more than anyone else. But in my heart, I knew there was a reason. It was a reason that I didn't want to admit to, but it was there. 'No, I don't love him. He said so himself… I don't love Kyo-kun! But then what is this feeling? Nyoko said he was my lover…No, she was wrong, but I wonder…'
"Tohru-chan…" Momiji said sadly, watching as my expressions changed as I continued my inner battle.
"I'll go to Kazuma-san! I'll train with him like Kyo-kun did! I'll be stronger for Kyo-kun!" I ran out the door, jumping over all of Hiro's guards.
Uotani sighed as I ran past her, and I felt everyone's eyes following me. But then, something dawned on me and I sheepishly walked back in the door.
"Er… How do you get to Kazuma's house?"
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Haha, Tohru's so brainless. Anyway... Review! I had originally planned for Tohru to sing The Candyman Can by Sammy Davis Jr., but I decided it would be better to use Teru-teru Momiji, aka Momiji's Onsen Song. I wanted her to sing a happy, cute song, but I guess Teru-teru is good, right? And I was listening to my Spongebob playlist, so I gave Tohru a striped sweater. xD Haha, sorry about that. This was supposed to be dramatic, but I think I spoiled it with the songs... OH WELL! Haha, ja' ne!