Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket

"Mai!" Chiyo scolded. "There is no food in this apartment at all! When were you planning on going shopping?"

I shrugged from where I was curled up on the couch in comfy sweatpants, absentmindedly tapping a pen against the spiral notebook I had open in front of me. It was just one of those days where I avoided my computer like the plague and wrote out everything by hand. Currently, I was working on my sequel to the novel that hit best-sellers list, but I was stuck.

I freaking hate writer's block.

Chiyo marched over and took the notebook. "Oh, no you don't. I know that look. You have writer's block, and I know the perfect cure!"

"I want to write. Please, Chiyo?" I tried the puppy-dog eyes. Someone used to say that they worked every time... Who was it?

"Nope!" Chiyo set the notebook and pen down on the counter and grabbed her purse. "Come along, Mai! We're off to get soba noodles!"

"No," I groaned, stuffing my head into the pillow. "I just want to stay here."

"Nope, you're coming with me." Chiyo grabbed the pillow. "Go put on some clothes and we'll leave. You look pale. Did you eat today?"

I ignored her and shuffled off to the bedroom, throwing on random clothes without paying attention. I just wanted to figure out where I wanted this scene to go... I didn't want to go out and socialize with someone, even if it was Chiyo. I just wanted... I just...

What did I want?

I walked back out, lost in thought. I came to when Chiyo sighed, examining my clothes. "Good enough. Come on!" She tugged me out of the apartment, me grabbing my keys and locking the door after us. We walked down the stairs and out the door, Chiyo chatting the whole way, upbeat and cheerful, while I was a dark cloud by her side.

We walked down the road, passing by soba noodle shops. Chiyo claimed that she was looking for a certain one, saying that it served the best noodles I would ever taste. I rolled my eyes at that, causing a lecture about my health.

"Aha! Here we are." It looked like all the other shops... Sighing, I followed Chiyo through the door and seated ourselves in a booth, looking over the menu. My stomach clenched as the smell of food reached my noise, and I couldn't tell whether I was hungry or just sick to my stomach...

I sighed and set my menu down. "I'm not really hungry-"

"Mai." Chiyo's voice was firm and not to be crossed with. "You are eating. You hear me?"

I sighed again and returned to the menu. "Just order me whatever's good."

The waiter came over and Chiyo ordered me the same thing that she wanted. After the waiter left, I slouched in my seat, closing my eyes. Chiyo was on her phone, texting someone, and the quiet chatter of the diner filled my ears, soothing me.

A loud voice broke through the clamor of the room.

"What'd you say, you rat?! You wanna take this outside?!"

"Don't be stupid, cat. We're inside the diner. Do be quiet."

My heart stopped as my eyes snapped open. I whipped my head around, eyes widened in shock, to see three teenagers walk into the diner. One of them had fiery orange hair and red eyes that brimmed with anger and a challenge, as he brandished his fist at the other boy. The other boy had silver hair and a bored look on his face, while the girl with long brown hair tried to break up their fight.

Sohma...

The boy with orange hair's eyes fell on me, and he froze. "Mai?!"

The other boy whipped around, and his eyes widened. They recognize me... They know who I am!

My heart pounding loudly in my ears, I shakily climbed to my feet. "I know you three... Where do I know you from?" My mouth was dry.

The girl's face was shocked as she looked back at the boy with silver hair. His face was also shocked, and he took a step back and didn't say anything.

Sohma...

"Sohma? Does that name mean anything to you?" I could feel tears pricking at my eyes, and I could feel Chiyo's shocked eyes on me, but all that mattered were the three teenagers that I knew... I knew so well...

The silver-haired boy seemed to get a hold of himself. "I'm sorry, miss. I don't think I know you." He turned to the others and started to usher them out of the diner.

Ignoring the fact that we had an audience, I ran out of the diner as they started up the street. "Wait!" I begged. "Please!"

The three of them turned around, and I fell to my knees, pain sweeping through me. "You said my name," I directed to the boy with the orange hair. "I heard you. I know you know me. Just please... What am I forgetting? A whole year of my life, gone?! It hurts... The pain is always present... I can't do this anymore!" Tears ran down my cheeks. "Please... just tell me I'm not going crazy..."

A memory swept through me.

"I'm so used to celebrating Christmas that I forgot that we don't celebrate it in Japan," I said, laughing a bit. "I know I only spent five years in America, but five years is a lot!"

"I can imagine," a boy with silver hair murmured as he flipped a page in his book.

The boy with orange hair was practicing his punches by the table, while the girl was cooking happily in the kitchen, singing a tune to herself. As I hung up another decoration, the sliding door opened, and a tall man with shaggy black hair and warm eyes stepped in, smiling cheerfully.

"Ohoho, Mai-chan! Setting up for New Years?" He grinned at me.

"Someone's got to do it, Shigure," I replied with a laugh.

I gasped with shock as I came out of it. "Shigure..." I murmured, testing the word out on my tongue. It was so familiar, and I was suddenly overwhelmed by the wave of emotion that accompanied it. I fell to the ground, hazy and disorientated, hearing from far away the gasps of the teenagers, and Chiyo's panicked voice, but that didn't matter.

All that mattered was the darkness that rushed over me, and a familiar warm smile that encompassed me like a soft glow.

"Mai..."

I knew nothing after that.

A/N

Ello! Eva here! So sorry about the wait. Marching band will be the death of me... *glares* Gotta love it, though!

So yes, the story. I wasn't expecting that plot twist when I was writing it, to be honest with you all. I didn't know it would take that dramatic of a turn o.O So we see some more memories come back, some more depth of emotion, and more Sohmas. I hope you like it so far.

After this story is done, I am planning on writing a prequel on Mai coming back to Japan and how she met Hatori and fell in love... I don't imagine that this story will be too long, but hopefully I can finish it before my senior year is up.

Thank you to all my lovely reviewers! I'm glad you like it so far :)

Please review!

~Eva Sirico~