Fruits Basket
For Justice, Romance, and Good Health
OPENING NOTES: Hey, I haven't updated in approximately two weeks and a day. Great, no? I am not going to lie; I was procrastinating. Yeah, and I give you a chapter that isn't as long as my usual chapters. But hey, at least you get a chapter that's longer than the introduction, right? Uh-huh, I'm really pathetic.
Never mind that, though. I don't own Fruits Basket- Natsuki Takaya does. Enjoy this new chapter! Seriously, take it or leave it. :P
Case Two: Kureno and Arisa
Part One: Shigure
"Honda-san, what's wrong?"
Tohru Honda looked up from her untouched noodle soup. Yuki Sohma was staring at her worriedly.
"Nothing's wrong, Yuki… I'm just concerned."
Yuki was confused. "Concerned? For what? Um, or… for who?"
Tohru sighed and said, "Uo-chan has been acting strangely. Lately, she's been thinking about different things during school and doesn't really pay much attention to what she's doing."
"So you mean her head is in the clouds?" Yuki inquired.
"No. She isn't daydreaming, she's… thinking. Just thinking, like she has problems. She wouldn't tell me or Hana-chan anything, though," Tohru replied.
"I see."
Suddenly, the door slid open to reveal Shigure Sohma. He had a wide smile on his face as he glanced at the food on the table. He sat down and said, "So what's going on? Anything exciting in your young high school lives?"
"No, there's nothing you need to know about, Shigure," Yuki answered quickly before Tohru could say anything else. He knew that Shigure had the uncanny ability to meddle into other people's affairs.
Shigure stared at Yuki and shrugged, beginning his meal. Kyou, who was silent the whole time, glared at everyone. "I'm staying over at Shishou's this weekend."
This time, it was Tohru who stared. "What? Oh. Well, um, you better start packing, then, Kyou-kun…"
It was obvious that she didn't really want Kyou to leave but decided not to prevent him from spending time with Kazuma Sohma.
Shigure gazed at Tohru, then at Kyou. Now that's another couple that needs help, he thought to himself, but not now. Not when I can see a second case coming our way… Two cases at once will be hard. But I'm not even entirely sure if this new information is a new case at all. Maybe I'm jumping to conclusions. Just maybe…
Yuki and Kyou started arguing about something again and Tohru just continued eating, not bothering to stop them. She was too worried about Uo-chan, anyway.
This was going too far.
Hatori Sohma couldn't exactly do everything for Akito. He had his own life too. Said cranky Zodiac god was very pissed off and was in a terrible mood when Kureno had finished tending to him.
Akito complained to Hatori. He was wondering if Kureno was with someone, and if he was busy daydreaming about girls or vacations in five-star resort beaches. Hatori had no idea how to answer this.
To cut it short, Kureno wasn't taking his time with Akito seriously and Akito took out his anger and confusion on poor Hatori.
And whenever Hatori would try to talk to Kureno about it, the rooster spirit would just say that he was fine and walk off thinking to himself.
Hatori had enough. He called Shigure.
"Shigure. Shigure. Shigure, listen to me!"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Yuki and Kyou here are having a lively fight. It's hard not to eavesdrop. They're shouting and the windows are practically shaking! Their language is so colorful," Shigure commented, interestedly listening to the cat and the rat swearing at each other.
Hatori sighed exasperatedly. "Shigure, there are more important things in life than listening to two teenage boys curse each other."
All he got for a reply was, "Hatori, do you know what a brick shithouse is? And how the hell do you stick catnip up someone's ass?"
"SHIGURE!"
"Yes, dear?"
Hatori rolled his eyes. "Shigure. There's something wrong with Kureno. He's out of it lately and Akito's been complaining. It's like Kureno's sick- but he was perfectly fine when I last gave him a check up. So I think he's thinking about something. Do you have any idea what he could be thinking abou- Hey, are you listening?" Hatori broke off, narrowing his eyes at the phone.
"The chicken boy's thinking about something, hmm?" Shigure said offhandedly, contemplating on what he heard from Tohru during dinner. "Hatori, I think we just found ourselves a new case."
Hatori groaned. "A new case? You mean that matchmaking thing you and Ayame had me join?"
Shigure grinned. "Yeah."
"Involving who, may I ask?"
"Kureno Sohma and Arisa Uotani," Shigure answered triumphantly, going over a freshly-formed plan in his head.
Hatori sighed and hated how the dog spirit had a knack for these things. Of course Kureno was thinking about Arisa. And there was no denying that the girl was thinking about him too. "I am not getting involved in this."
"Oh yes you are."
"No, I'm not."
"You already are."
"No, I am not!"
"Aw, come on! We get to help people, you know!" Shigure countered.
"No, you're not getting me with that anymore," Hatori snapped, "What makes you so sure that the two aren't perfectly capable of helping themselves?"
Silence. He had a good point.
Shigure replied quickly, "Well, all they're doing is thinking. Thinking, Hatori, thinking and isolating themselves from everyone else. Is that the mark of a couple being able to help themselves?"
He had struck a point as well.
"Fine. You got me. I'll help- as long as it doesn't have anything to do with making embarrassing phone calls like I did with Yuki," Hatori retorted impatiently, running a hand through his messy hair, "That was absolutely ghastly, you know."
"Don't worry. Aaya and I will be center stage for this one. You won't regret it," Shigure assured, smiling evilly.
It was ironic how Hatori had instantly started regretting his agreement as soon as this statement was said. All he had to do now was wait until Shigure gave him a signal to start his part of the unknown plan.
The plan that Hatori had dreaded so much to hear about the next day.
"Hello, this is Ayame Sohma speaking. What can I do to fulfill your wildest dreams?"
Shigure chuckled. "Well, I don't know. Maybe you should listen to my wonderful news."
"GURE!" Ayame exclaimed happily, "I have never been more delighted to hear your voice. Long time no see, my darling; have you been cheating on me?"
"Of course not. I only think of one, and that one is you, Aaya."
Ayame replied, "I will love you forever."
"And so will I," Shigure answered sweetly.
They both burst into laughter. "All right!"
"Anyway, I have some serious things to tell you," Shigure said, "Hatori and I have realized that there is a new case in our hands."
Ayame gasped dramatically. "Oh, that is serious!"
"I know. And it happens to involve one of our dearest cousins Kureno," Shigure said, smirking, "He and Arisa Uotani have a deep relationship yet they both don't have the nerves or the conscience to step in and explore it any further. They both seem to think it's a hopeless case."
"But not for us. So, what should we do for them, Gure-san?" Ayame asked excitedly.
Shigure grinned. "I'm not sure yet. I'm still planning. Don't worry, though; I'll be able to tell you and Hatori tomorrow. It's sure to be a perfect plan…"
Ayame had instantly believed in Shigure as soon as this was said. He had no regrets or doubts whatsoever as to what the plans may be since his excitement overtook his worry. All he had to do was wait for Shigure to give him a signal to start his part of the unknown plan.
The plan that Ayame had awaited so much to hear about the next day.
Author's Note: Yeah, that's the only thing Shigure's going to do for this whole case. Plan and manipulate Hatori and Ayame into carrying out his plans. There's a good reason, though! Read on to the next chapters, and review. Please? I 'll give you a cookie! Anyway, the next chapter will feature Hatori, who shall give Kureno a second chance by- AHEM. Just read. :D
-Pasta W 19.
