Here is the next chapter of this fanfic. Hope you like it. Im introducing a new character in this one ( from the anime/manga ). So, so far, Ive mentioned Akito, and Ive had Momiji and Hatori both talk. I mention everyone in this one, but later, they actually come into play. Hope you enjoy - and be on the watch for the third chapter!
I dont own Fruits Basket or any characters - excepts for Marirra ( Mari )
"Is there anything you want to know?" Momiji asked me, drinking his own hot-chocolate with care. I thought a little, and then a question popped into my head.
"How many others are cursed?" I asked.
"A total of thirteen of us – if you included Kyou," Momiji answered and I was shocked.
"That many?" I thought to myself, and then asked," What about the Chinese Zodiac…I don't really understand..?"
"Well – there's me, I am the hare," Momiji began," Then there is Ritsu, the monkey; Hiro, the sheep; Rin, the horse; Ayame, the snake; Hatori, the dragon; Kisa, the Tiger; Haru, the cow; Yuki, the rat; Kagura, the boar; Shigure, the dog; and if you included Kyou, he's the cat."
"Ritsu…Hiro…Rin….Ayame…Hatori…Kisa…Haru…Yuki…Kagura…Shigure…Kyou," I thought to myself," Monkey…sheep…horse…snake…dragon…tiger…cow…rat… boar…dog…cat…" After running those thoughts through my head, another question popped up.
"Where do I stand in all this …if anywhere?" I asked quietly.
"You are the chicken," Momiji answered, and I could tell that he had been prepared to answer, and he wasn't laughing, so I knew he was sincere.
"And Akito?"
"Well…Akito is mainly the head of the family…she –"Momiji began to struggle slightly with what to say, but soon, Hatori came back into the room.
"Hope he hasn't gave you too much information," Hatori said, with a faint smile, checking my temperature with the back of his hand," You seem to be cooling off…that's good." He picked up my empty glass and set it on the stand, then left again; turning left, probably back to Akito.
"Had he been listening? He practically came in as soon as it got complicated for Momiji to answer," I thought, and then lay down, resting my head.
I don't remember falling asleep, until my eyes open and I found it was dark outside. I rubbed my eyes, and found that a little more of my strength had returned. I've been able to stay in consciousness for about a week now, but my strength is still poor, and my memory is still blank. Hatori sometimes tells me things, like when I ask him about when I was little, he would answer me. The most frequent visitor I get is Momiji, and I enjoy his company, but I am kind of bored of the same two people always coming around. I want to meet others…Shigure…Ayame…Yuki…Kyou…Kisa…Someone. It was raining, lightly, but still, it was raining – I could just barely hear it, hitting the roof with a soft pat-pat sound. Sighing, I slowly sat up, not wanting to use too much strength at once. It took a little while, but I was sitting up, nevertheless. I sat for a little while, allowing my strength to return a little.
"Up already?" I blinked, and looked up. Hatori was standing in the doorway, looking in at me.
"Yeah – I couldn't sleep anymore," I answered.
"Just remember what I told you," he said, before he continued on his way, to check on Akito. I nodded, and counted to thirty before trying to stand up. He had been working with me on giving my strength time to regain itself after I used a little bit of it. When I got to thirty, I stood up slowly, allowing my body to move at it's own pace. I stood still for another thirty seconds, and slowly, taking my time, began walking toward the door. I was doing fine, until I tripped over my own two feet and fell. Hatori quickly came around the corner and helped me, allowing me to rest my back against his steady arm.
"Too much at once," he said simply, and I nodded reluctantly.
I looked around and saw someone looking out a window across the yard, but they soon disappeared behind the curtain and I never saw them again.
"Who was that?" I wondered, "Oh well, just another face I'll never remember." I got tired of not being able to remember anything. For once, I wanted answers to all my questions. Sure Momiji and Hatori answered questions I had, and I was glad, but I wanted to actually remember these things. Hatori slowly helped me up, and I regained what balance I had acquired in the past week.
"Thank you," I told him, truly appreciative. He nodded once, and then went toward where he stayed.
I blinked my eyes open, and saw the sun just above the horizon. I had fallen asleep again, this time I was laying on a swinging bench by the garden.
"There you are!" Momiji's voice says happily and soon he was standing in front of me.
"Hey," I smiled, and sat up slowly, so that he could sit down on the bench.
"So, why are you out here?" he asked.
"I woke up last night and couldn't fall back asleep, so I wondered around for a little bit, and ended up here. I guess I fell asleep," I said sheepishly, and Momiji nodded. It was silent for a little bit, then I remembered that I had some more questions.
"Momiji?" I asked, pulling my legs up to my chest, and hugging them.
"Yeah Mari-chan?" he looked at me, curiosity in his eyes.
"Who all lives here?" I gestured toward all the houses that where in the Main Sohma Estate.
"Mainly Sohma's," he answered," But there are some that live here who know of our secret."
"Will I ever be able to leave the Main Estate?" I asked, wondering.
"Yeah!" Momiji nodded," If you want, I can get Ha'ri to take us to Shigure's so that you can meet him, Tohru, Kyou and Yuki!"
"Who's Tohru?"
"She's a girl who stumbled upon our secret accidentally – and has been staying with Shigure, Yuki, and Kyou," Momiji explained," She keeps our secret well." I nodded slowly.
"Tohru…lives with Shigure, Kyou, and Yuki…" I thought, but I knew I wouldn't remember anything. Almost as if he was reading my mind, Momiji spoke.
"Tohru is a recent addition," Momiji said," Akito doesn't really like her knowing the secret, but Tohru does well." I looked around because I heard footsteps, and saw a young girl. She looked so cute, and I have seen her a couple times, but never asked about her.
"Momiji – who is that?" I asked, gesturing toward the girl.
"That's Kisa-chan," he answered, then louder, he called out to her," Hey! Kisa-chan! Can you come over here?" I saw her look at us, and then slowly make her way towards us.
"Kisa-chan, this is Mari-chan," Momiji said, introducing us.
"Nice to meet you Kisa-chan," I said politely. She just looked up at me; her eyes were filled with kindness, but also with sadness.
"Kisa-chan has lost her will to speak," Momiji informed me kindly," Its okay Kisa-chan. Do you think that it I got Ha'ri to take me and Mari-chan to Shigure's, that you would want to come as well?" Kisa nodded enthusiastically, and I smiled.
"Alright – I'll be right back," Momiji said, and ran off to find Hatori.
"You can sit up here if you want," I said kindly, offering her the seat that Momiji had left. I saw her hesitate, and wondered what had happened to her to make her this way.
Soon, though, she sat down in the seat next to me, but she kept her eyes down. It was real quiet, then, after a couple minutes, I heard Momiji's voice.
"Come on!" he called to us from across the garden," Ha'ri said we could go right now!"
"That was quick," I thought to myself, and I got down from the swing. I started walking, and then I felt someone softly grab my shirt. With a look down, I realized it was Kisa. She looked up at me, as if asking if that was okay. I nodded and smiled, and together we walked toward Momiji and Hatori.