This one was the most fun to write - because I get to have fun with Haru in it. Hope you like, and please review!
I dont own Fruits Basket - Just Mari ( and her parents that Ill mentioned every now and then)
"Just remember," Yuki told me quietly as we approached the school," Don't let any guy near you enough to where he could hug you." I nodded, remembering what Momiji had said back when I was still at the Main House. As soon as we got to the entrance doors, a group of girls started chanting Yuki's name, and it got really annoying really quick. Yuki sensed my annoyance, and gave me an apologetic glance.
"They always do that," he said softly, and I suddenly felt bad for him. I could tell he didn't like it, and he had been coming here longer than I have, so he's been around it longer.
"Right this way," he told me, leading me around the school a little, then to a door," Just tell the receptionist who you are, and she'll help you from their." I nodded, and then swallowed hard. Truthfully, I was frightened – not just about this being my very first day to school ever – but that Kyou was right – that I would need water every time I turned around, or that I'd fall asleep in the middle of class. I'd be humiliated, and I don't know what I'd do. With a deep breath, I entered the office, and walked up to the desk.
"You must be Miss. Marirra Sohma," a lady said, before I could even speak. I nodded, confused at how she could tell so easily. She must have known how I felt because she continued.
"Your cousin, Mr. Ayame Sohma came in earlier this morning and talked to me," she explained, getting papers out of a folder on her desk," Here is your schedule – I talked to your teachers about your needs, and they completely understand. If you need water, just raise your hand, and let them know. As for sleeping, if you feel as though you can't stay awake any longer, just let that teacher know, and come into here. You will be allowed thirty minutes to begin with, but after a while, we'll cut it down to fifteen minutes."
"Okay," I said politely, and took the papers she gave me. I saw the first one was a map, and saw a route traced to each of my classes.
"This ought to be simple enough," I thought to myself, as I walked out the doors. As I followed the map, I saw the Yuki-singers out of the corner of my eye, and soon, they were surrounding me.
"Listen here – if you think a new student like yourself can just waltz in and snag Yuki-kun for yourself – think again!" the one in the middle exclaimed bossily," If we catch you again with him –"She stopped, and shrank back like a scared child.
"Why don't you just get lost," another female student said, walking straight to her.
"You can't boss me around Yankee!" she said, but she sounded a little terrified.
"Can I shock them?" a dull, light voice asked, and appeared on my other side.
"If you want to Hana," the other said, not really caring. I saw what looked to be electric currents coming from her, and soon the Yuki-singers were running in fright.
"I guess there is no need to," the blonde said in a sad tone.
"Are you alright, Mari-chan?" I turned and saw Tohru behind me, and was grateful to have her there.
"Yes, thank you Tohru-kun," I smiled, then to the others, "Thank you two as well."
"No problem," the blonde smiled back, waving her hand like it nothing.
"This is Hana and Arisa," Tohru said to me, and then to them," This is Mari-kun – Yuki's cousin."
"Another Sohma, huh?" Arisa smiled, "It's nice to meet you… are you most like Kyou or Yuki?"
"Yuki-kun," I answered without hesitation," Why?"
"Mhmm, okay," she said, nodding," I guess we should be getting to class."
"That reminds me!" Tohru said cheerfully, turning to me," What class are you in?" I didn't really know, so instead of making an idiot of myself, I just showed her the papers.
"Mhmm, that's too bad," she said sadly," We're not in the same class. Do you want any help getting to your's?"
"No – that's alright," I replied, shaking my head," I think I'll get it." I was feeling thirsty, so I softly put my hand on my throat, like I was lightly scratching it, and Tohru nodded. Earlier that morning, back at Shigure's, we had set up a signal that I could use with them, to let them know without speaking that I needed water. Tohru and her friends walked away, and I started towards my classes. Sighing to myself, I walked around and found my class. Instantly, I brightened, because a couple feet from the door – was a water fountain. Quickly, I walked to the fountain and drank thirstily. The bell rang, and I nearly jumped out of my shoes. I had been in my own little world while drinking – and I hoped that I hadn't taken to long at drinking water. As soon as I entered the classroom, I felt as though all eyes were on me. Walking up to the teacher, I gave him the paper the office attendant had given me.
"Class, this is our newest student – Miss. Marirra Sohma-san," he said, while writing something down on the paper, then something on his desk, then to me he said," You can sit right back their. Is there a certain sign that you would use for water or sleeping?"
"Well, we have one for drinking, but not for sleeping," I answered truthfully.
"What is the one for drinking?" I showed him, placing my hand softly on my throat, and he nodded," I'll keep an eye out, but if I miss it, just raise your hand – alright?"
"Yes sir," I nodded, and then went to the seat he had pointed me to.
The rest of the day passed slowly, and I was on my way to lunch, when someone called out to me.
"Mari-chan!" I turned around and saw Momiji skipping up to me.
"Hello Momiji-kun," I smiled, and then I saw that he wasn't alone.
"Mari-chan, this is Haru," Momiji smiled, noticing that my eyes where on the guy behind him," 'Member what I told you about him?" I thought back to our conversation at the Main House, and then nodded.
"It's nice to meet you, Haru-chan," I smiled politely.
"Yeah," he smiled," It's nice to meet you too. The last time I saw you was ten years ago."
"Ten years ago," I said softly, then to myself," The accident was eight years ago…so I was still pretty young the last time I saw him."
"It's alright if you don't remember," Haru said nicely, then was interrupted by a boy.
"What's this?! Another problem student perhaps?!" Haru acted as though he wasn't there, but I turned toward him.
"What do you mean?" I asked nicely, wondering what problem I could be.
"Don't play innocent!" he exclaimed.
"President Tokoyia, how are you?" Yuki asked, coming from almost nowhere.
"Oh, Yuki – How nice of you to show up! Perhaps your just here to 'cover up' for the newest problem student like you did with Hatsuharu!" Tokoyia exclaimed, and I saw Haru using his pinky to clean out his ear. I don't know how, but I could tell he was getting annoyed.
"Um, excuse me," I said politely, and Tokoyia looked back at me," How am I supposed to be a problem?"
"Your hair!" he exclaimed.
"It's her natural hair color," Yuki said, his expression as though he had done this before. I looked at Haru, and realized that Yuki had probably done this on Haru's behalf before.
"NATURAL?!!" Tokoyia exclaimed loudly. I looked at my hair – It was light brown in most places, then in some it was shaded a black, and then a darker brown here and there and the tips where white. Before now, I never thought much of it, but now that Tokoyia brought it up, I began wondering.
"Maybe it has something to do with me being a chicken?" I thought to myself, studying my hair.
"HOW ON EARTH IS THAT NATURAL!? BROWN AND BLACK WITH WHITE TIPS!? ITS AS BAD AS WHITE WITH BLACK ROOTS!" Tokoyia shouted, and I looked at Haru – realizing that it was his hair that Tokoya was mentioning.
"Cow…" I thought," He's the cow…black and white…so his hair matches his colorings…just like mine must."
"Shut up," Haru said simply, making Tokoyia looked stumped, and Haru turned toward him, continuing," Stop shouting like your king of the friggen' world. Your making my ears bleech you bast***." I stood their stunned, and then all of a sudden, Haru just exploded.
"Who Do You Think You Are Anyway, Huh?" Haru asked, grabbing Tokoyia by his collar," Do you think your God? Cuz If Not Then You Have No Right To Be Criticizing Her Hair – Or Mine!" He began shaking him, and all I could do was stand their, shocked at what I was seeing. I didn't realize that Tohru and Kyou had appeared, and where now standing beside me, Momiji and Yuki.
"This is his 'Black' side," Yuki said softly to me, but loud enough I could hear over Haru's rampaging. I nodded as though I was listening, but my mind was too wrapped around what I was seeing. Haru let him go after a couple minutes, and then turned towards me. Soon, he was in front of me, and he was softly holding my chin, his face just mere millimeters away. Before anything else could happen though, he was on the ground, nursing his head, and Yuki was placing his arm back at his side.
"That Black Haru is just too much," Yuki said dully, then to me," Are you alright?" I stood their, too shocked to move, which made Yuki worried.
"Mari-chan?" Yuki asked, moving in front of me, waving a hand slowly in front of my face," Are you okay?" Finally, I blinked, and shook my head, clearing it.
"Yeah – I'm okay," I finally answered," Sorry – I was just really amazed at all that just happened… I'm still a little stunned to be honest."
As I sat in my final class of the day, I found myself constantly thinking of Haru.
"We are alike – I guess," I thought," Our hair stands out because of our animal form… and the way we act is kind of similar… " I remembered watching his go from white Haru to black Haru, and had to fight with myself to keep from laughing.
"It was funny to watch," I thought," I don't know why, but it was amusing to see Haru act like that… I guess… maybe…I might actually like-like Haru…" The teacher called on me for an answer, and surprisingly, with all my stray thoughts, I got the answer correct. The bell finally rang, signaling the end of a very interesting school day.