WARNING: SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE MANGA FOR THE WHOLE STORY!
Shattered Dreams
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket. I wish I did, but I don't.
Chapter 2:
"Akito… Actually, I do have something to say," he said carefully choosing each word. He licked his dry lips and slowly walked towards Akito. Akito, on the other hand, merely looked out the window but waved in acknowledgement to go on and say what he had to say.
"I was thinking…about today…" he started carefully choosing each word. He didn't want the head to go throwing vases about. Akito only kept looking out the window, eyes bored. "I was thinking that maybe… Instead of having, Honda-kun's memories erased today well… Maybe her memories could be erased after Hiro has had his graduation?"
There was an uncomfortable silence between them and slowly, Akito sat up, pulled his kimono upright and stood up in a creepy-like motion. Bangs covering his eyes, he walked cat-like towards Hatori—who meanwhile had sat down and was now kneeling.
"So…" he voice drawled out slowly, "you want me to wait until after that sheep's graduation, right?" Without letting the doctor nod or answer at all, he continued. "Well… I think not."
The doctor protested. "But! Akito! I'm sure that everyone will be um, will obey you then. If I were to erase Honda-kun's memories now, then Kyo and Yuki might not listen to you anymore. And if I were to erase her memories later on, then—"
"Silence." Hatori shut up immediately. Akito sneered at the doctor and slowly, the taunting words came out. "You only want me to wait so that maybe, just maybe I will die soon and then you won't have to listen to me anymore," his tone was mocking, "By the time it is time for Honda to have her memories erased, I will be DEAD! By the time, it is time for Honda to have her memories erased; another Juunishi will have a useless eye.
"Everything will be the same. One of the Juunishi will be a fool and think they can run away! However, as head, I will not let them! They must talk to me before they can do whatever they want! But I won't let them!" he smirked insanely, "Just. Like. That. Insufferable. Woman.
"Honda will be begging for her memories to be erased. Just like—oh, what was her name? Oh right, Kana. She thought that she could break the curse, oh but what happened to her? Oh right, she begged for her memories of you and the curse to be taken away." Hatori fumed.
Akito paused for a moment and walked over to the window. His hand reached out and a tiny white bird landed on it. He walked away from the window, eyeing the bird with such an intense emotion.
"Such an innocent thing…" he murmured and his hand grew to a fist with the tiny bird tucked inside. It cried, but wasn't heard. "Such…" he breathed deeply, closing his eyes. "An innocent, naïve, creature…"
Throughout the time when Akito was talking, Hatori had been kneeling still, watching Akito, eyes widened and frightened as though Akito was about to kill. But he had finally awoke from his "trance" and moved his head to look at Akito.
"Akito! How—what are you going to do with that bird?" he asked although he knew the answer. Shigure had told him many times that Akito did this, but he had always refused to believe.
"Simple…" he replied with another smirk. He squeezed his fist and in a whispery voice, "…ending its misery." He let go and the bird fell lifelessly to the ground. He looked over at the doctor and smiled his creepy smile at the doctor's expression.
Hatori Sohma had his jaw open wide.
--
His head jolted up at the sound of yelling. He leaned against the door and listened carefully, making sure that he didn't miss a word.
"You only want me to wait so that maybe, just maybe I will die soon and then you won't have to listen to me anymore." He frowned and raised an eyebrow. Was that…Akito? It sounded like him.
"By the time it is time for Honda to have her memories erased, I will be DEAD! By the time, it is time for Honda to have her memories erased; another Juunishi will have a useless eye." Useless…eye? What's he talking about? What's going on? He leaned in closer.
"Everything will be the same. One of the Juunishi will be a fool and think they can run away! However, as head, I will not let them! They must talk to me before they can do whatever they want! But I won't let them!" He frowned harder if possible. "Just. Like. That. Insufferable. Woman."
What insufferable woman? "Honda will be begging for her memories to be erased. Just like—oh, what was her name? Oh right, Kana. She thought that she could break the curse, oh but what happened to her? Oh right, she begged for her memories of you and the curse to be taken away."
Hatsuharu Sohma fumed. Kana didn't ask for it. She wanted to protect Hatori! He finally realized who was in the room with Akito. He pressed his hands onto the wood, making sure he didn't make a sound.
He made a face when he couldn't hear anything else clearly. He heard a few soft voices, thinking that it was Hatori and that he had it under control, set off back into his journey to find his room.
Pushing himself off the door, he stood up straight and scratched his head. "Where…am I?" he muttered to himself as he took off in a random direction and started to walk.
Was that Akito? Why was he yelling? Isn't he supposed to be happy about what's going to happen today? I thought he would be happy today. And was that Hatori inside with him? But why—His thoughts were cut off when he heard sobs coming from a room.
He turned around and faced the door. He listened to the pleading. "Why! Why! Why does Ha'ri have to do this! I—" he didn't bother to hear anymore and instead, raised a fist and knocked.
A shocked gasp came from inside, a raid of footsteps scurrying about as if trying to sort the room out and the door opened.
In the doorway, stood Momiji Sohma, of all the Sohma's…it was the one who was supposedly the most cheerful and happy-go-lucky.
It's end of the world, isn't it?
--
He jumped at the sound of knocking on his door and gasped. Had they heard him crying? His eyes widened in fright. He got up quickly and started to hide the picture in his hand.
Where to put it? Where to put it? He thought frantically to himself as he searched for the right place. There was another knock on the door, and he threw the picture inside his candy drawer.
He ran over to the door, nearly tripping over a loose article of clothing in the process, and opened the door. Puffy-eyes and all.
"H-Haru!" he said, in a shocked voice. "W-what are you doing here?" Haru stared at him with such an intense amount of concern in his eyes that they started to water. "Haru?" Momiji Sohma asked, as Haru walked closer, stopping right in front of him.
Momiji felt hot, tears dripping and sliding down his face. He looked up and saw Haru staring at him with a sad and pouting face. "Today's it, huh?" he asked in a whispery voice.
The cursed-bunny nodded sadly and motioned for his cousin to come into his room. The cursed-cow followed. Once inside the room, Momiji went and picked up a box of tissues from his bed. He took up and offered his cousin.
Haru gratefully took one.
--
One look at Momiji's face told him that he had been crying. He ignored his cousin's questions and walked over to him, pressing his forehead against his cousin's.
He didn't know what took over him, what came over him. All he knew was that today was it. Today would be the last day he would see his cousins happy and smiling. Today was the last chance they had to…just maybe break the curse. They could have been free, but they weren't.
He started to cry.
Hatsuharu Sohma, one of the only Sohma's who didn't cry, who didn't release his emotions much when he was in his white mode, who wouldn't even cry after his girlfriend had broken up with him, who only cried after his ex-girlfriend was locked in the cat's room; was now crying.
Who wouldn't move forward…
He stared at his cousin and quietly, in a whispery voice, he said, "Today's it, huh?" He felt his cousin's head move up and down into a nod. He lifted his head off the bunny and saw his cousin motioning him into his room. He followed.
There, he gratefully accepted a tissue from Momiji. Momiji smiled sadly at him. "Haru…we should really be getting ready," he said quietly. Haru looked up from wiping his nose and nodded.
"Could you help me find my room, first of all?" he asked quite bluntly. Momiji giggled and nodded.
"Of course."
--
"Hiro-chan?" Sohma Hiro looked up at the sound of his name. He looked up to see a tall, young female with amber eyes and golden hair, wearing a light pink dress, decorated with lace and bows. Her hair was pulled up and two small and cute pink bows held her hair up on each side of her head. Only her worried face didn't match the outfit.
"What is it, Kisa?" he asked, tilting his head to one side. He slowed his pace and let his distant cousin catch up. He looked at her worried face once more and simply sadly asked, "It's about that Honda girl, isn't it?" He didn't have to ask anymore, because his cousin had nodded.
Her head bowed, and her eyes looking straight at the ground, taking extreme interest in them. He looked at where Kisa was looking. Soon, he heard her sniff once or twice and saw that there were wet droplets on the hard, dry, concrete.
He lifted a hand and slowly placed it on her cheek. "Kisa…" he murmured, slowly bringing her closer and enveloping her into a hug. There were slight hiccups and shaking from the cursed-tiger, but they both ignored it.
Kisa looked up and smiled. "Thank you Hiro-chan," she said quietly. "Thank you…"
Hiro smiled back. I love you…he thought to himself, but I can't… Akito will punish us both, I believe… He didn't let that thought get him.
"C'mon, we have to get going. You want to see that Honda girl's graduation, don't you?"
He led her to the gate.
--
She sighed and looked at herself in the mirror.
Such a twisted fate… she thought to herself as her mind went towards Tohru. She felt empathy for the poor girl. What she's about to face. About three years' worth of memories – gone - done the drain.
She heaved her torn, ragged, heavy - but nevertheless, her favorite backpack over her shoulder and smiled sadly. "Today is it," she murmured to herself. She walked over to her desk and packed a few needed supplies.
A bento lunch box, wrapped in an orange handkerchief decorated with a lighter shade of orange cats, neatly tied in a bow. She also packed a small envelope and a few other unimportant things.
She walked back to the mirror and pulled up her short, light brown hair into a half-ponytail and carefully placed in kitty earrings. She smoothed out her green dress, picked up her backpack filled with the things she just packed and opened the door.
"Mom! I'm going!" she shouted as a tall, short-haired woman came running from the kitchen.
"Dear? Are you sure?" she asked in a concerned tone.
Kagura Sohma nodded and said, "I have to be strong for Tohru."
She walked out the door, leaving her mother back in the kitchen, drying the dishes and smiling.
"My daughter's all grown up."
--
Kagura Sohma didn't know where to go exactly. She took off in a random direction and soon found herself taking the route where she would usually go to try find Isuzu.
She grimaced at the woman's attitude. Since when has that woman always been so bitter? She thought as she frowned.
She just turned the corner, and knocked twice on the door. When no one answered, she let herself in. "Isuzu-san? You there? Please answer!" she shouted as she quickly slipped her shoes off. She frowned and counted the shoes again. An extra pair…was there a guest?
Two words told her why Isuzu hadn't answered.
"I'M SORRY!"
--
She scowled and brushed her now-shoulder length hair out of her face. She adjusted her black mini skirt and pulled her thin shirt down. She paced in her room once more before stopping in front of the mirror.
Did Haru hate her now? What did Akito say? How did he react? What about the other Sohma's? Thoughts ran through her mind as she sat and hugged her knees together. She gazed sadly in the mirror again, tracing a small scar on her leg.
"Stupid… How could I even think that the curse could be broken?" she asked herself as her hands flew up to her head, holding it as if she had a headache.
Her head jolted up at the knock of a door.
She walked over and opened the door.
--
"Um…" a timid voice called from the door. His head cocked to one side, looking at his cousin. "Isuzu-san?" he asked, nervously chewing on a seam of his kimono. The door shut immediately.
"Eh?" he asked, confused. He knocked again and when no one answered, he let himself in.
He wandered through the hallways of the apartment before ending in front of a large wooden door. He knocked and no answer replied. He let himself in again and was greeted by a yell.
"Ever heard of knocking!" yelled the frustrated woman. She tossed a pillow at him, hitting him straight in the face.
Hurt, and disappointed, Ritsu Sohma left the room. He frowned. Usually, he would have gone off into his usual frantic apologizes and annoy his cousins, but today… he just didn't feel like it. Like something was out of place.
He decided to wait a few minutes before going back and trying to calm down the angry horse. Instead, he walked into the kitchen, kimono and all. He surveyed the kitchen and began to work at once.
--
Her eyes widened when her cousin had left the room without a single apology. Usually, he would have gone off into his frantic position and apologize for everything he did…but today, he didn't.
She shrugged it off and continued to pity herself.
Only an irresistible aroma lured her out of her room.
--
Within minutes, the kitchen was filled with irresistible smells that could lure any animal out. He smiled, finally pleased with himself for once. He backed away from the food that he had laid out and admired it.
Although there were only three dishes, each dish were filled as though every inch of it was not to be spared. One dish had a whole pile of riceballs, filling up every part of the dish. Each riceball, itself, had a different taste to it. A different flavor.
The next dish was nira-tama. Again, the dish was filled at every inch. The eggs were boiled and then fried again, making it a nice cooked taste. The leeks were cut and cleaned by hand and were very green.
The last dish were…just plain pancakes. Emitting a sweet aroma, the pancakes were golden brown and were every inch—looked delicious. (Oh, just great. Now I'm hungry.) There were no syrup, or butter or anything else occupying the pancakes.
Ritsu looked very please with himself indeed.
--
"R-Ritsu?" asked Rin. The brown-haired male turned around and faced his younger cousin.
Frantically, he assumed to his usual position. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! I just thought that you might be hungry! I'M SO SORRRRRRRRYYYYYYY!" he frantically ran in circles around the kitchen.
Rin ignored him and instead, walked over to the dishes of food. She glanced at them and asked, "Ritsu… Did you make this?" She raised an eyebrow.
Ritsu stopped apologizing and nodded. His eyes widened with realization and he started up his stage again. "I'm so sorry I used your kitchen without asking!" he yelled, but was immediately poked by the side of his hip by Rin.
She picked up a riceball and started to chew on it. Swallowing a mouthful, she whispered, "Thank you…" Ritsu didn't seem to hear at first, but he nodded, with a thoughtful smile at the end.
"It's no problem," he answered, "…Say… Is it really true?" He decided to start a conversation. With him working at the hot springs with his mother and Rin in the hospital, they never really got time to talk much.
Rin looked up from her second riceball. "What is?" she asked after swallowing.
Ritsu looked sad at first, but answered anyways. "Tohru… Her memories…?" Only three words told Rin what Ritsu had meant.
Slowly, the woman nodded.
"I remember when you weren't this bitter, Isuzu-san…" Ritsu continued, looking out a window. Both were now sitting down on a couch, the food dishes sat in front of them on a table.
Rin froze. She choked back the rice and finally, in a hoarse voice, asked, "What do you mean?"
The cursed monkey on smiled sadly before continuing. "Whenever you were with Haru-kun… You would smile, laugh and do what normal people did. Haru-kun would care for you and I could really tell that you both loved each other…"
The cursed horse nearly spit out her rice from her third riceball. Her eyebrows furrowed together and she stood up, arms tightly on her sides. "Get. Out," she whispered immediately.
"Wah-? But Isuzu-san!" he protested.
The horse continued. "Did you not hear me! I said, GET OUT!" she yelled, pointing to the door.
The monkey didn't move. He shook his head "no" and continued to stay there.
"FINE!" she shouted, finally giving up, "If you don't move, then I WILL!" She stalked over to the door and walked outside, slamming the door shut and loud.
Ritsu Sohma slumped down to the kitchen floor, paralyzed and terrified.
Author's Note: Hm…this chapter is pretty short, don't you think? But nevertheless interesting, right? Right? So, this chapter is about eight pages… Is that still long enough? Anyways, I have a slight cold right now so if you want me to feel better and type up the next chapter faster, then please review.
Thank you for those who reviewed! I really appreciate it! Cookies to everyone who reviewed! (A plateful of cookies appear out of nowhere.) Here 'ya go!