Epidemic (Of Darkness)
Chapter 2
a/n: this is going pretty quickly isn't it? I'm glad though. My partner is reading the 1st chapter right now…and I can't wait to see what she thinks. I hope you guys enjoyed it too. Especially you Freederth-chan (if you're even reading this) anyway please keep reading and don't forget to review at the end.
Disclaimer: sadly I do not own Fruits Basket or anything else used in this fic.
The sound of the rain pouring outside wasn't too relaxing. Tohru couldn't fall asleep. Even though her eyes kept closing drearily they would shoot open in the next second. Shia had finally fallen asleep an hour or two ago. She hadn't cried about what had happen, but she was distant, the glow in her eyes faded, her skin turned paler than before. Shia was like a ghost, she wanted to disappear out of sight.
Tohru could see her sister's heart breaking into pieces. Shia wanted her own life, not one like this. Being a slave to strange men. Doing everything for them, even sex. Whatever they wished the women gave. Except Tohru…Akito wanted her to be the one who watched the others' suffer, including the one thing she had left…Shia.
"Hello?" Came a soft, velvet voice as a boy with light sliver hair sticking to his pale face walked into the tent. His entire body was soaked through. Tohru groggily turned her head to look at him. "Look at you…" He sighed. "I'm sorry about this but Akito-san likes to be cruel to people. You can just say it's a habit I guess." The boy smiled gently, warming up Tohru's iced heart.
"I…don't mean to be a burden but…my sister…she's very cold." Tohru shivered as well, but she thought of Shia first before herself. Tohru rather freeze herself than see her sister congeal.
"Oh! It's not a burden at all. I'll go get her a blanket and some hot water?"
"Yes, please." He nodded and walked out of the tent. Tohru heard the rain grow faster and pour harder. She looked around at her surroundings. There were only three other girls in the room besides Shia and herself. One girl who looked to be the same age as Shia was beaten and naked at the end of tent. Oddly, she wasn't bound to anything, her ankles weren't even tied. "Uh…excuse me?" Tohru spoke up.
"Yes?" The little girl answered. It surprised Tohru, she didn't think the girl would actually talk.
"I'm Tohru Honda."
"I'm Kisa Sohma." Suddenly small cat ears popped up out of the top of the girls head and a long cat like tail extended from her lower back. They were orange with black stripes, like a tiger.
"Oh! You're a demon." Tohru stated shocked.
"Mhm. I am." Came her small voice. She was adorable.
"Um…I don't mean to pry but, why are you here?" Tohru asked.
"I'm a Sohma…and Akito-san rather not kill his own family members." Kisa answered straightforwardly. "Onee-chan?"
"Yes?" Tohru was so used to hearing younger girls call her onee-chan it didn't phase her that Kisa did.
"Why…are you here?"
"Actually…Shia and I were taken from our home." Her eyes were so dry she couldn't cry about it anymore. She knew she had to be strong. "My mother…was killed and the soldiers brought us here."
"I'm sorry." Kisa had crawled from her spot and was now leaning against Tohru's cold body.
"Kisa you're so warm." Tohru sighed in relief.
"Yes, there's a fire right outside. That's why I was laying there."
"Oh. Kisa…could you please lie next to my sister there?" Tohru moved her head, motioning to Shia's shivering body.
"Gladly." Kisa smiled lightly and walked over to Shia and lied down next to her. Kisa's body heat made Shia cling to the heat source, though she didn't know what it was. Her eyes still closed.
"Thank you so much." Tohru said gratefully .
"Can I tell you a secret?" Kisa began.
"You can trust me."
"My friend should be coming to help me out of here soon." Kisa blushed at the thought of her so called 'friend.'
"Is he just a friend?" Tohru smiled, her women's intuition right on the dot.
"Well, actually I love him more than that. He's got a bad mouth though." Kisa admitted.
"A bad mouth?" Tohru asked a little confused.
"Yeah, he says hurtful things to--" Kisa stopped talking as soon as the boy had returned at the tent.
"Made a friend I see." he smiled at Kisa then glanced at Tohru. "I got you a blanket as well."
"Thank you." She smiled feebly. "I'm Tohru Honda by the way."
"I know. Kyo told me all about you and your sister." The boy covered her sister with a wool blanket and placed the bucket of hot water next to her. "Kisa would you put this rag in the water for Honda-san here?" Kisa nodded and did as told.
"Kyo-kun?" Tohru asked worried, but relief at the sound of his name swarmed through her.
"Yes. He's out right now though." He cut the binds that were around Tohru's wrists and ankles.
"What are you doing?" Tohru asked astonished.
"Well, it's not like you can escape if you tried. There are thousands of soldiers out there that know you're a…" he stopped short. "A prisoner."
"Oh…" Her heart sank at the sound of the word. "By the way…what's your name?"
"Oh I'm sorry where are my manners? I'm Yuki Sohma." He smiled again.
"Thank you for untying me." Tohru bowed her head and crawled over next to Shia. Yuki nodded and snapped at Kisa with his finger and thumb.
"Sorry." Kisa apologized and stood next to the older Sohma. Tohru looked at the two confused.
"Here Kisa." Yuki slipped a beautiful silver dress that was only knee high, over her head and onto her small body.
"Hopefully we'll meet again Onee-chan." Kisa hugged Tohru and then walked out of the tent with Yuki.
She was alone again…it seemed like more and more she was on her own. No one to guide her, to tell her everything we'll be okay, to hold her and love her. Tohru was scared to death, but she knew she had to be strong for Shia. Though, right now Shia despised Tohru. She wanted nothing to do with her.
"It'll be okay Shia. I'm here." Tohru whispered and lightly planted a soft kiss on Shia's cheek. Tohru twisted the soaked rag out so it was damp. She placed the rag over Shia's eyes. "You still look cold."
Tohru noticed Shia wasn't wearing any clothes anymore and started to take Kyo's shirt off. But she hesitated. The smell of him was sweet and comforting, she didn't want to let it go but Shia would probably freeze if she didn't. "I love you Shia." Tohru whispered and dressed Shia in Kyo's shirt and breeches, leaving her naked and cold.
"Hmmm…there has to be something around here to wear." Tohru stood up, the cold wind wrapping itself around her exposed skin, making her shiver violently. She walked to the end of the tent and found a baggy robe. "Thank goodness." Tohru wrapped the black robe around her body, immediately warming her up.
Tohru blushed as the sound of a low grumble shook her starving stomach. "Ugh….I haven't eaten in a while…" She looked around her. There was nothing except for two other girls, Shia, and herself. "The soldiers must have some food." Tohru shivered as she moved the flap of the tent and walked outside.
The rain was still pouring down, freezing Tohru at contact. Everyone else didn't seem to mind since they were all under awnings, keeping them dry and warm. Little fires sprouted to life all around, cheers and laughter filled the cool air.
"You!?" Came a shocked voice. Tohru turned around and saw her friend from last night.
"Rin-san!" Tohru ran to her and embraced her.
"Hey!" Rin pushed her off, rolling her eyes. "Jeez, don't act so friendly."
"Why?" Tohru asked a little confused.
"Because…" She paused and pulled Tohru into a tent, thankfully no one was in there. "If Akito-san sees that we're attached to each other it will give him something to hurt me with." Rin's expression was dark, but also sad. Maybe something had happened to her.
"Okay, but…we are friends?" Tohru asked hopeful.
Rin sighed reluctantly. "Yeah whatever." Tohru beamed a smile and hugged Rin again. "Okay, okay! I have to go."
"Where are you going?" Tohru asked as she followed Rin out of the tent and into the shower of the rain.
"I have to go help my squad. They got stuck outside the wall of trees." She answered quickly.
"The…wall…of trees?" Tohru questioned.
"Don't tell me you've never heard of--"
"I've heard of it." Tohru interrupted. "I just can't believe you actually travel there."
"Oh…yeah well the demons found a way through it and-- why am I telling you this?" Rin asked herself.
"I don't know." Tohru answered anyway.
"It was a rhetorical question."
"Oh."
"I have to go." With that Rin dashed out of the camp.
"Wow…she's fast." Tohru commented before turning around. Her stomach growled at her again. "Oh! I almost forgot why I even came out here." Tohru meandered through the crowd of soldiers. The rain splashed large droplets all over her, the heat from the robe dissipated and a colder breeze wrapped itself in a blanket around her.
Tohru walked aimlessly now. She had seen plenty of food to eat but the truth was, she was too afraid to approach the men. She sighed and sat down in the cool mud, more and more goose bumps popped up on her body. Finally, the cold got her, slowing her heart rate and making her tired. She heard her heart beat slower and slower as she shut her eyes. Tohru's body slumped over, her cheek pressed into the freezing mud.
"Tohru?" She heard a harsh voice call her. Immediately thinking it was Kyo she tried to open her eyes, but she had no will. She was too tired and cold to move. Tohru's body was so exhausted it couldn't even produce shivering to warm her.
She gasped as a warm hand was placed on the frozen skin of her neck. "Dammit, you're freezing." Suddenly she was hoisted off of the mud-spattered ground and into a warm embrace.
The heat burned in Tohru's throat, constricting her lungs. She could feel the sweat roll down her forehead and immediately woke up. The sun glared at her, blinding her chocolate brown eyes. Reflexively, her arm covered her face.
"It's so hot…." She grumbled to herself. Tohru propped herself up on her elbows and looked around to her unfamiliar surroundings. She felt the wet dew soak into her body, the grass was a brilliant green. The sky was a deep blue with big white clouds floating by. There was no breeze though…no wonder it was so hot.
"She's awake….finally." Tohru turned her head and saw Rin walking away to meet up with someone. Tohru was too far out of sight to see who it was.
"Guten aberd!" Tohru's eyes widened at the cute blonde who sat only an inch away from her. He was smaller than her and his hair was curly and golden colored. Tohru's eyes suddenly caught his two, yellow rabbit years protruding from his head.
"Uh…Hello." She answered nervously. Tohru wasn't sure if he spoke English or not.
"I'm Momiji, what's your name? you sure are cute. Why are you wearing that filthy robe? don't you have any dresses. You'd look like you'd have a dress since you're so pretty. What brings you here? How old are you where'd you live?" The boy just continued asking questions, never giving her a chance to speak. Tohru giggled lightly and he stopped talking to beam a smile at her.
"Well let's see…I'm Tohru Honda…" She thought to herself to remember everything he said. "I have nothing else to wear. I would have a dress but I lost them. I was actually…kidnapped--" Momiji's eyes widened. "I have no clue where I am and I came from the far south."
There was a complete silence as the boy stared at her with an open mouth, shocked. "I'm sorry that you were kidnapped! Those terrible soldiers, I swear they have nothing better to do and you know what?!" he waited for her to reply.
"No…what?" She went along.
"They smell bad! Always working and they act like they have sticks up their--" A loud thud echoed and Tohru's eyes widened as she saw a tanned fist ram into the boy's head. "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! KYO HIT MEEEEEEE!" Momiji whined, tears water falling from his eyes.
"Would you shut up! You're so annoying!" Kyo scolded as he gave the rabbit a noogie.
"Kyo-kun!" Tohru called excited. She got to her feet to stand in front of him.
"Hey. So you're okay now?" He asked, worry running in his eyes.
"Ooooooooh! Kyo's got the hots for Tohru!" Momiji teased.
"SHUT-UP!" Kyo punched him in the head and once again, the waterworks started up. "Ugh…." Kyo grabbed Tohru's dainty hand and dragged her into the forest that she just noticed was surrounding the little camp. Tohru looked back to see about eighty soldiers sitting and talking.
"Kyo-kun where are we?" She asked confused.
"We're right outside the wall of trees." He answered her straightforwardly. Her eyes widened with disbelief.
"I had no clue there was a forest outside the wall." Tohru looked around her at the fresh vegetation.
"Yeah, no one knows except the humans. We're using it to give us cover." Kyo explained as he continued to drag her deeper into the trees.
"Where are you taking me?" He stopped abruptly, making Tohru run into his back. "Ouch." She rubbed her nose.
"Listen…" His face became very serious as he gripped her shoulders. His garnet eyes smoldered into hers. All she could do was nod. "Shigure told me that…" He hesitated. "That if we have no use for you Akito will kill you."
"I…I don't understand." Tohru breathed in an unsteady breath.
"Most of the women at camp have a purpose. If the soldiers no longer want them…they," He paused, swallowing hard. "They kill them." Her eyes lowered to her feet as it sank in. Tohru's heart started to feel heavy. But she wasn't thinking about herself…
"What about Shia? What's going to happen to her?!" Hysteria clung to Tohru's mind as she began to pace. "I have to get Shia. I left her there all alone…what if, what if--" Tohru rammed her head into a tree and fell on her back, the force knocked the wind out of her.
"Tohru!" Kyo sighed and sat at her side. She gasped for air, unable to get anything. "Shh…slowly try to take it in." She did as told and her lungs stabilized. "You're bleeding, we better get you cleaned up."
Kyo pulled out a leaf that was in his back pocket and bit into it. White colored droplets oozed out from the plant and fell on the thin cut on Tohru's forehead. She could smell it's mint aroma. The fragrance was so strong it burned her nose, making her eyes teary.
"I thought I should tell you…and." he delayed for a moment. "I wanted to tell you that I'm going to make sure you stay alive."
"I'm not having sex with those men. I'm sorry but…I'd rather die." She said it with innocence, not even a hint of rudeness in the sentence.
"You wont have to. You're…going to be my slave." he spurted out finally.
Her eyes widened and she shot up, her forehead colliding with Kyo's this time. "Ouch!" "Dammit!" They yelled in unison.
"I'm so sorry Kyo-kun I--" He raised his hand to stop her.
"It's fine." Kyo grumbled and rubbed the red spot on his forehead. "Your sister will be fine. And you'll be able to keep an eye on her if you're my slave." he continued with the idea. "it will most certainly keep you alive and at the same time I'll try to keep Shia breathing too."
Tohru thought to herself as Kyo pressed the leaf back onto her forehead, which was even more red now. "What kind of things will you have me do?" She asked curiously.
"Cleaning, cooking, and taking care of my horse. That includes saddling him and all of that."
"That's it?" Tohru asked incredulously.
"That's it." Kyo answered. "I wont need anything else from you."
"Okay…I'd be happy to be uh…you're slave." She smiled feebly and winced at the pain as Kyo dabbed more plant medicine on the bruise.
"I bet you're starving." he grabbed her hand and helped her up, leading her back to the camp. Tohru's stomach yelled a low growl. Tohru's face flushed and nodded.
"yes, I'm very hungry." She held her stomach and followed Kyo to the clearing.
That's it for this chapter, sorry it was little boring I promise it'll be better in the next one. Please r&r! thank you. And I really wanted to thank all of you for your wonderful support!