How sad - the last chapter... I hope you like it. Please dont forget to review.
I dont own Fruits Basket but I do own Mari and her parents (names at least)
My eyes blinked open, and I saw a dim light outside.
"Great – back at the Main House… now I'll never remember anything," was the first thought in my head, then I thought about it a little more," If I was at Akito's… wouldn't she have had my memories already taken from me? When I was too tired to fight back?" I looked around slowly, and saw two things beside me. It was a cup of water and the picture of me and my parents. Confusion slowly started to creep inside me, and I was beginning to wonder if I was truly even at the Main House. I sat up and drank the water slowly, thinking.
"No way," I thought," Could I possibly be-"I set down the cup quickly and quickly walked to the door, opening it. My breathing became quicker, and a smile started to spread across my face. I found myself almost running to the front of the house. I came around the corner, and straight into someone.
"Gure-kun!" I exclaimed happily, hugging him," I'm so sorry I ran off without telling you – please forgive me."
"How could I not...Ari?" Shigure smiled, hugging me back. My eyes opened, and I saw Yuki standing a few feet away.
"Yuki!" I exclaimed, and ran to give him a hug. I could tell it was a bit of a surprise to him, but he still hugged me back.
"Do you forgive me?" I asked him.
"Of course, Ari-chan," Yuki smiled. I looked around at everyone who was there, happy to remember them all. Then I remembered someone else.
"Gure-kun, how long have I been asleep?" I asked him.
"About twenty-six hours," he answered," It's Monday morning."
"Where's…Haru?" I asked, kind of hesitating. That caused almost everyone to become still, the smiles slowly fading, and the room was filled with a dark, worried feeling.
"What's wrong?" I asked, instantly alert.
"Umm… well," Shigure said," Once he brought you here…Hatori was ordered to take him back to the Main House… and that was yesterday at about three in the morning… and we haven't heard anything-" Shigure stopped because my hands were starting to ball into fists.
"If she does anything – ANYTHING – to hurt Haru, I swear our confrontation a couple days ago will seem like child's play," I seethed.
"Let's not do anything to brash," Shigure said, trying to calm me down," I'm sure Haru is just fine." I stayed still for a couple minutes, trying to calm down, and then I sat down, and pulled my book bag over to me.
"Yuki – would you mind helping me on my homework?" I asked, as polite as I could, still calming down.
"Not at all Ari-chan," Yuki said, nicely, sitting down beside me.
"You're going to school today?" Kyou asked, puzzled.
"I need something to take my mind off of the Main House and… Yes, I'm going," I answered, trying not to yell at him. He seemed to notice that I was trying to control my anger, and he kept quiet after that. After about an hour, Tohru announced that breakfast was ready, and I was a little relieved. My head was starting to hurt, and my stomach kept growling. I ate in silence, as did everyone else. Shigure made attempts to start a conversation every now and then, but no one seemed to want to talk much. As soon as I was done, I went to my room and got my uniform on. Slowly, I walked back to the front of the house, and saw that Yuki was waiting with my book bag in his hand.
"Thank you – for everything." I told him, taking my bag softly from him.
"No problem, Ari-chan," Yuki smiled, and we waited for Kyou and Tohru. I realized that hopefully…just maybe… Haru would be at school today… and then I would be able to rest in peace. I became quickly impatient through only a couple minutes, wanting to be on my way. It seemed like forever before Tohru came downstairs and Kyou from the roof, finally ready to go.
I left the others as soon as the school was in sight, eager to know if he was here today. Yuki and the others soon caught up to me, only because I stopped.
"He usually gets here from that direction," Yuki told me, gesturing with his head.
"Thank you," I told him, truly appreciative of his helpfulness, "I'm glad he's my cousin – I don't know what I'd do without him." I began to watch, alert of anyone who appeared from over there, hoping for a sign that Haru would be here.
"Okay – look here," sighing, I turned around to face Yuki's fan club," If you think that you-"
"Shut up!" I told her, and she looked taken aback," There is nothing going on between me and Yuki – you know why? Of course you don't because you never think before you act or speak – all that goes through your mind when you see another girl with Yuki is that she must be destroyed – Well get this through your head – Me and Yuki will never date because we are cousins. Okay? And if you even think about going after Tohru next, you had better think again – I am NOT in the mood for anyone who wants to hurt anyone I care about. Now, if you don't mind – Get Lost!" They quickly scrambled away, and Arisa, Tohru, and Hana came up to me.
"Nicely done," Arisa told me, smiling.
"Thanks," I said, trying to calm down. Then I quickly turned around, resuming my search," I hope I didn't miss him." The warning bell rang, and my shoulders sank. I hadn't seen him… but maybe he arrived while I was busy with the stupid fan-club. Slowly, I walked to my first class, praying that wherever he was that Haru was alright.
"He done everything to keep me safe," I thought," And I don't want him getting hurt on my behalf." The day seemed to drag on and on, and the end of the day came slowly. With my shoulders and head down in misery, I slowly dragged my feet to my locker. I picked my books that I needed for homework that night. I sighed, and closed my locker, and then slowly made my way out of the school.
"Go on ahead," I told Yuki, Tohru, and Kyou," I want to walk alone today." Yuki nodded sadly, and then they turned and left.
"Just don't do anything-"Kyou began.
"Drastic, I know," I sighed, cutting him off. I slowly walked toward the forest, hoping that maybe that was all I needed, some time alone, to sort things out in my head. Slowly, I smiled, remembering when Haru had been the one to find me when no one else could – how he had softly picked me up…
"He saw me in my zodiac form!" I exclaimed to myself, blushing. I couldn't remember anyone ever seeing me in my zodiac form- and that's saying something because I had my memories back. With all my thinking, I didn't realize where I was until I looked around.
"The cemetery," I thought," Just like a couple days ago – when I was running, I didn't know where I was going till I saw where I was." Slowly, I walked through and came upon the two tombstones, and crouched down onto my knees.
"Hey mom…dad…" I thought," I know that your always there, watching over me – but right now, I want you to watch over Haru, and make sure he's okay. I'm worried about Akito hurting him – And I don't want anything to happen to him." I sat there in silence, wrapped up in my own thoughts, and wasn't aware of the company I was getting until I heard his voice.
"Back again?" I jumped up in surprise, and spun around quickly. There he was, standing just about ten feet away.
"Haru!" I exclaimed, running to him, and hugging him. I held him close, not wanting to let go – afraid he'd disappear.
"Momiji told me that you looked really depressed at school today," Haru said, as I finally stopped hugging him.
"Yeah…" I said, feeling a small blush color my cheeks.
"Would you mind me asking why?" I was quiet, not sure if I could tell him without turning a deep red, and he lifted my face softly with a gloved hand. We looked each other in the eyes, and I found myself answering.
"I was worried about you." Before I knew it, he was hugging me tightly, but not to tight to where I couldn't breath, but tight enough I could barely move.
"Mari…"Haru began," …I love you." I felt my breath catch in my throat, and a tear escape my eye.
"I love you too, Haru," I whispered, and managed to move my arms and hug him back. I felt him move his head, and I looked up at him, only to find him leaning down to kiss me.
I arrived back at Shigure's as the sun was setting. I smelt food being cooked, and knew it was almost dinner time.
"Sorry I'm a little late – hope I didn't frighten anyone," I said, as I came into the room. Yuki looked up and smiled, glad that I was back.
"Welcome home, Mari-chan," Yuki said politely, and I smiled back.
"Ah," Shigure said, coming around the corner," I was beginning to wonder if you would come back." He smiled, so I knew he was playing around with me.
"I had to clear my head, and get all my thoughts organized," I told them, then sat down and done my homework, with Yuki helping me when I became stuck. Dinner was done just as soon as I put away my last paper. As we ate, I looked around at the people surrounding me, and smiled to myself.
"As long as I have people who care about me," I thought," I'll be alright. Sure, I might be cursed, but even the cursed can live a wonderful life. And tears only help you get through the sad moments, and help you move on. My life will always be hectic at times – but it's times like those, that I look forward to." After dinner, I got ready for bed, and as I lay in the darkness, about to fall asleep I remember that evening, and the last word I thought before I fell asleep was:
"Haru."