Attention: TheKnightsOfThePentagonalOttomen Do Not Own Fruits Basket or any of the included characters. We do however own the Taiyou Family! Enjoy!
Editor's Note: I was really hoping to have this chapter edited and posted at about the 16th so that it would actually be a month update. However, my mom came up to visit me and I had exams this last week so I was unable to even open the word document! Once again I apologize and ask for your forgiveness! Hopefully this rather long, action-packed chapter will make up for my shortcomings as the editor of TKOTPO.
This chapter is dedicated to Caira, who was pissed off about not being mentioned more in the previous chapters! P.S. Vanya just likes to torture you…maniacal laughter
Chapter 7: Festival Beginnings"I think I am going to go." Announced Gypsy in a very matter-of-fact tone.
After hearing a statement so out of the blue, Sahara looked up from the table she was doing her homework at.
"What? Go where?" Sahara replied in a half bored tone. More toward the homework she was working on then the statement that was said by Gypsy.
"You know the school festival Alarice was telling the family about. A lot of people are going to go. I want to go." The sweet Gypsy stated while stirring the soup on the stove.
"But, are you going Sahara?" Dark Gypsy question in a mocking tone she was famous for.
Scoffing Sahara replies, "No thank you, I would rather shoot my self in the foot, then go to that stupid festival!" With another hiss, she turned her attention back to the math problem that was starting to tick her off.
"Well, I am going." Sweet Gypsy started getting dishes ready for the soup with a smile. "Besides, it sounds like some kind of auction it going to take place." Dark Gypsy said with and evil smile, "I want to place my bid in. You never know what you can get." Dark Gypsy began laughing manically at that thought.
"Well I am pleased to announce that all activities are arranged except the main even, the officers will be debating it and announce the final plan soon." Yuki Sohma announced to the class.
It was the morning of the week before the festival and all the class where getting ready. "All activates will being dispersed throughout the class so everyone can begin planning the event that they are given." Yuki and Alarice's class was chosen to work on the dunk tank concept.
"So all our class needs to do it get the dunk tank, arrange the prices, the location of the tank and who will be assigned to be dunked." Alarice was listing off the sheet of notes she was taking.
"Well, I got the permission from the P.E. teacher saying we can have the tank right next to the field." Yuki stated turning to Miss Taiyou, with a soft smile.
"Great! Now all we need to do is assign the people to be dunked. The average price is $2.00 per set of three balls. So…?" Alarice looked from the notes to ask the class, "Who is going to be dunked." With a smile that made her look like she was enjoying the task of assigning people.
"Well, I think orange top should go first. I know a lot of people who would love to dunk him in water." Uotani spouted while leaning on the two back legs of her chair to her desk.
"LIKE HELL! YOU DAMNED YANKIEE! BESIDES WHOEVER HAS A PROBLEM WITH ME CAN TELL ME TO MY FACE!" Kyo Shouted to the class.
"Man! Defensive much? What are you chicken? Is little Kyo-kyo afraid of water?" Teased Aiden, who was sitting next to Miss Uotani at the time, while sitting on the desk playing a card game with Miss Hanajima.
Aiden and Uotani started laughing at the remark and the way Kyo was starting to turn red from embarrassment-or anger-no one knew which.
"Uh...Um…Kyo...maybe it won't be so bad. How about I volunteer to be the girl that gets dunked too.?" Tohru asked, trying, not very successfully, to calm him down.
"Alright, I'll do it. I'll do it, and I'll prove I am better then you! You…you WOOSIE, RAM LOVER!" Kyo shouted at Aiden.
In that instant Alarice and Aiden froze. 'Did he find out about me? Does he know!" Aiden thought to her self. "How do you know about that?" Asked Aiden trying to sound calm and uncaring but Alarice knew better.
"I heard you saying it to some friends of yours. You love rams, you weirdo!" Kyo explained, punctuating his point with a laugh. Both Alarice and Aiden made an inner sigh of relief: Their secret was safe.
"Whatever at least I like a cool animal like the ram, unlike a certain CAT lover I know!" Laughed Aiden shouted, Uotani now laughing with her. Everyone was starting to get bored with all the fighting. They soon found themselves thinking about other things planned for the festival.
"Well, I believe Aiden would make a great dunk dummy! With her insulting the people, even more will come to quiet her down." Alarice said looking strait at her with eyes of triumph. "Alright so I am writing down Kyo Sohma, and Aiden Taiyou to be the dunk…"
Just at the moment the intercom rang. The student body president began to speak.
"Quiet everyone this might be important." The teacher shouted to the class. Everyone became quiet and listened to the announcement.
"Attention Kaibra High, this is your student body president Makoto Takei. I am here to announce what the student body office has decided on for the main event in the upcoming school festival. The teachers and main staff have already agreed with our decision so there is no going back. We have decided that he main event is to be an auction. But, not just any auction; as the classroom representatives will be greatly involved. In fact, the officers themselves are going to be auctioned off. We are holding a person action; where anyone can bid on a person of their choosing. If you win, you get to spend an entire day with that person. All officers must have a permission slip signed by a parent or guardian before the day of the auction for the festival on Friday. Thank you for your time, and everyone start saving for the lucky person you wish to bid upon." The President ended his speech with a loud click over the intercom. Everyone was now looking at Yuki and Alarice in amazement.
The two aforementioned students were in complete disbelief. 'Can they really force us to be auctioned? How could the teachers and staff allow such a thing?' Yuki and Alarice were thinking the same thing.
"Hahahahahaha…Yuki and Alarice are going to be sold like cattle." Kyo and Aiden burst out laughing.
"Well, maybe it will be fun?" Tohru announced, hoping to sooth the now chaotic atmosphere in the room.
"You better get you permission slip. You wouldn't want to keep everyone in waiting!" Aiden added jokingly. Everyone else in the room was at that moment, trying to decide who they were going to place their money on; also wondering if the whole thing was really just one huge joke.
"Here you are, you two, your permission slips to be auctioned off, don't forget to bring them back signed." The Teacher was smiling at the two, while holding out two permission slips. Yuki and Alarice walked over and picked them up as the bell rang, signaling the end of the day. They were now both looking very down and depressed, thinking about the festival. 'How am I going to get out of this?' Yuki thought to himself as he headed out of the room.
"HAHAHA! That's what you get for volunteering me for the dunk tank!" Aiden laughed in complete joy.
"What does she get?" Tempest asked while walking in their direction, followed by the brooding looking goat.
"Oh, it's just that the announcement over the intercom about the auction applies to Alarice. I won't allow her to worm her way out of being auctioned off like a piece of meat." Laughed Aiden again.
"OH! Be quiet you bitchy Ram!" Caira snapped at the ram. She was becoming increasingly irritated seeing the Aiden so happy, while she had to suffer with a hyperactive little kid.
"So, Tempest what is your class doing for the festival?" Alarice asked trying to sound like her old happy self, with little luck. The four continued on their way out of the school. They were right at the entrance and had begun to swap shoes at the shoe lockers.
"Oh, our class is doing something with rings and bottles, I think its like ring toss but different." Tempest explained with no feeling toward the event at all.
"That stupid little brat Momiji came up with it. I hated the idea but he got the whole class to agree; making everyone forget about my idea! Man I hate that guy! And the way he smiles all the time just makes me wants to punch him!" Caira slammed her fist into the palm of her other hand in anger.
"Well, at least you're not stuck working at the booth with the most pathetic, moody guy in the whole school. I mean, if that white haired freak says one thing about me I am going to…" Tempest trailed off, becoming annoyed at just the thought of working with Hatsuharu Sohma.
"You're going to do what, you man-chick?" Hatsuharu demanded in a very deep, annoyed voice. His eyes became darker, and his face became enveloped in shadow.
"I was saying…" Tempest turned to Haru and started walking ever so slowly toward him. "You are a pathetic, sissy, white-haired freak that I have the unfortunate obligation of working with." Stopping right in front of Haru, where everyone could see the display.
"Heh heh, I know you're a tomboy-chick with a bipolar attitude but, you are just afraid that I am better than you, and you can't handle it! So go run along and start acting like a girl." Haru tilted his head up to take in the whole view of Tempest, who was starting to shake.
'Oh man! Tempest is pissed; I hope she kicks that kid's ass!' Though Caira, while standing next to Alarice. Caira was slouching with her hands in her pocket, only slightly watch the fight taking place.
'When can we go home, hay wait is that who I think it is coming!' Though Caira with annoyance.
'We don't need this, I don't need this. I just hope…' thought Alarice with her mind on other pressing matters.
Haru and Tempest were exchanging verbal insults back and forth. The last thing any of the spectators heard were the two of them shouting, "You unfeminine tomboy!" "You pansy, weak, piece of crap!"
With that last shout they both started moving toward each other. Haru was throwing a punch with his right arm, which Tempest blocked using her left. At the same time the punch was thrown, Tempest tried to kick Haru in the side, only to be block by Haru's left leg, both freezing in the position. Both were surprised the other was able to block their attack. Now they were going to fight each other for real. Now they knew they were both skilled in fighting. They were going to have a showdown.
"COME ON! HIT ME!" Haru shouted and came after Tempest with a left side kick. Tempest stepped back just in time for him to miss her.
Becoming even angrier, Tempest came at him with an upper cut, shouting "BRING IT ON!"
"OH MAN! This is getting good, but I didn't know Haru could fight! Man! Look at them; no one is gaining the advantage." Aiden clenching her fists, with a look of excitement watching the fight unfold.
Just then, Momiji was leading his two older cousins, Kyo and Yuki, to where Hatsuharu was fighting with Tempest. "See, I told you Haru started a fight with that scarlet-haired Taiyou girl from my class. Hey! Where is Tohru?" Momiji once again becoming easily distracted from the major problem at hand.
"She left to go to her job, but never mind about that what are we going to do. Haru has gone black and is now waist-deep in a fight with Miss Taiyou." Yuki said in his soft yet concerned voice.
"We've just got to go and stop them. I'll grab Haru and hopefully we can put a stop to it that way." Kyo said matter-of-fackly. He started to walk over to the fighting pair when a voice stopped him in mid step.
"You weren't planning on stopping the little fight they are having were you?" Aiden asked in the same playful voice she used to mess with Kyo in class.
"GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Kyo Shouted, sidestepping Aiden; who continued to block his way.
"Come on, you woos, just let them fight!" Aiden quipped, once again blocking his path.
"DON'T CALL ME A WOOS, AND GET YOUR ASS OUT OF MY WAY BITCH!" Kyo shouted again. He started to move past her when he heard her reply to her remark.
"Come on Scardy Cat, leave them alone. Or are you afraid that your cousin might get beat by a girl!" Aiden laughed but stopped abruptly, sliding forward to avoid Kyo's back arm slice aimed for her side.
Aiden instantly went into a fighting stand. Feet apart, hands up getting ready to attack or defend.
"Alright, that's IT!" Kyo shouted and came after Aiden with a right high punch. Aiden cought his punches in her open palm, then using his hand as a brace for a low spinning kick. Kyo reacted just in time to step out of reach, and went back into a fighting stance. Aiden, half crouching on the ground just looked up and smiled.
'Good. I'll finally get the chance to kick this weirdo's ass! I've had an urge to fight with his guy ever since that weird feeling I got when I first saw him.' Aiden thought to herself. She stood up and got back into her fighting stance; again ready for a good fight.
Aiden made the first move; coming straight at Kyo, setting herself up for a kick on his left side right at his ribs. But he was already prepared and blocked her with his left hand. Kyo then readjusted his swing so his left hand landed right on her jaw. Also able to sense his attack, she blocked his attack and used her left hand to push the punch to the right, missing her completely. They broke away to assess each other again; at which point they started fighting again.
While the two fights were happening, Momiji just stood there eating candy and just watching in absolute entertainment. Then he noticed Caira was standing there all bored, and then a thought came to him. He changed his direction and started walking towards her…
"You know, I think you should stop the fighting, I mean your cousins did start it." Momiji informed Caira, a sweet smile on his face; making Caira even more annoyed than she already was.
"Listen you little brat, I could care less if your family or my family gets hurt or in trouble! SO JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" Caira declared as she left for home.
"Wait! You have to stop them! Stop! Please! You have to help me stop the fighting!" Momiji complained to Caira.
"I don't have to do anything; and besides………HEY!"
Just then, Momiji grabbed Caira's backpack with a look of absolute determination and began to run around the group laughing.
"Get back here right now! GIVE IT BACK!" Caira shouted and started running after him. When she was just an arms length away, Momiji kicked into rabbit mode and began to run at great speed: Leaving an even more pissed off Caira in his wake.
Meanwhile, Yuki took this time to walk over to Alarice, noticing that she seemed to be very distressed, an almost scared expression gracing her gentle features.
"Are you alright Miss Taiyou?" Yuki asked, his voice saturated with concern. "Oh um, yes. I must apologize for my cousin's behavior. But you see, when they start to fight, it's practically impossible to stop them."
"Oh, no. I am the one who should be apologizing. My cousins are being very inconsiderate. However, I think the best course of action is to let them work this out on their own, don't you agree?" Yuki noted with a sad smile and a tilt of his head. Alarice smiled.
"Is that the best you got?" Aiden question Kyo, after trying another spin kick with no success.
"SHUT UP!" Kyo shouted back, trying to shush her. He was becoming quite agitated, not being able to land one hit. He did keep his spirits hi though, because she had not landed a hit either; meaning it was still a tie and he still had an opportunity to win. The fighting between Aiden and Kyo continued until they noticed something that made them stop cold. They both focused their intensity on the battle between Haru and Tempest's battle. Something wasn't right.
The insult and martial arts battle between Tempest and Haru was slowing a little. For both were getting tired and slowing in the pace they first started out in. The fighters were lagging. It was then that Tempest spotted and opening. Haru was temporarily distracted, looking down at the floor and she took the chance to give him her right upper cut.
But, just at the same moment Haru too saw and opening and was moving low to give Tempest a low kick to the calf. They both contacted but neither blocked: Sending each other flying backwards from the force.
Everyone was stunned at the display. Aiden and Kyo had stopped their fighting to see what was happening. Yuki and Alarice were stunned. Even Momiji slowed down. Caira, however, was too mad to see what had happened. Tempest was on her right knee with her hand over her left calf; while Haru was bending over with his hand covering his left cheek. In less time than it would take to blink, they were face to face with each other. Both of them were holding onto the collars of their schools uniforms, when a splash of cold water cascaded down over the two.
Haru blinked. "That was fun, lets do it again" He stated in his calm, white Haru tone. Tempest just shook her head to free her hair of some of the cool moisture, and replied with a sarcastic smile, "Yeah."
"Well, it was fun, but I think the show is over. Later." Aiden said calmly to Kyo, performing a perfect back flip to remove herself from range before he had time to react. Kyo just stood there stunned and confused.
Even Momiji stopped dead in his tracks; abruptly ending his little fox and hound game with Caira (who was now way beyond pissed). She, had just caught hold of the back of Momiji's shirt when the teacher had run into the hall and splashed Haru and Tempest with the bucket of cold water in an attempt to stop the fighting.
Caira shouted in frustration, "GOD DAMN IT! I WAS SO CLOSE!" She grabbed her bag and started stopping toward the entrance to the school. Aiden was following suit when the female teacher shouted, "Hold it right their Miss Aiden Taiyou! You were fighting too. So you, your cousin Tempest, and Kyo and Haru Sohma will all march your butts down to the principal's office. NOW!"
The four of them started walking down the hall, leaving the their other four family members to stand there and wait.
'Oh great now their going to call our guardian, and then Vanya is going to tell Margo!' Alarice thought frantically to her self.
'HARU! You did it again. How much more trouble can you get into. What if she had bumped into you? What would have happened if you had transformed?' Yuki thought to himself.
"I don't need this! I am going home!" Caira proclaimed, storming out the door.
"I am sorry for all the trouble my cousins have caused, but I too must be getting home. Have a good day Miss Taiyou." Yuki said right after Caira had walked out of ear shot.
"Oh No! I am the one who is sorry. It was my cousin's fault. They love to fight: Especially when their opponents are of equal strength." Alarice piped in with her sweet responsible voice.
With that, Yuki smiled and started his walk home. Leaving Alarice and Momiji alone together, standing at the entrance of the school: Both of them thinking the same thing: 'What can go wrong next?'