We Been Fooling Ourselves
(Kazuko's POV)
*We arrived back home & told everyone the news*
Tohru: Grandpa called. He said the renovations are wrapping up.
Shigure: They worked surprisingly fast.
Kazuko: Yes. The exterior walls aren't done, but most of the work's complete, so it's ready to live in.
Tohru: Grandpa said we could come back. So . . . *suddenly, she stood up*gasp* Oh no! I forgot! We haven't started cooking!
Shigure: We can scrounge something up. Or better yet, why don't we just go out to eat instead.
*I stood too*
Kazuko: It'll be fine. *we started to leave the room* We already have all the ingredients we need.
*We left & started cooking. I started thinking about a time when we still lived with Mom. She had just gotten home late from work*
(Flashback)
Kyoko: Hey. Sorry I'm late.
Kazuko: Mom.
*We had both stayed home from school that day because we had both caught a cold
Tohru: I hope work was okay.
Kazuko: Dinner'll be ready in just a second.
Kyoko: Augh! I told you two to stay in bed until your fever was gone!
Tohru: Oh no. Don't worry. Our temperatures have already gone down a whole lot.
Kazuko: You work so hard for us every day, we can't just do nothing, right Tohru?
Tohru: Right.
*We both got back to cooking. Just then, Mom pulled both of us into a group hug*
Kyoko: Thank you, sweeties. But sometimes, it's okay to be selfish. That's something we all deserve. You know?
*We both melted into her embrace*
(Present Time)
*Suddenly, the whistle of the teapot snapped me out of it. Tohru went to turn it off & burnt herself a little*
Kazuko: You okay?
Tohru: Yeah.
*I sighed*
Tohru: Thanks, Mom. But we're okay. I'm sure Grandpa's house is looking great now. We can be happy there too, right?
Kazuko: I guess . . .
Tohru: Besides, anything gotta be better then living in a tent, right?
Kazuko: You got a point there.
(Fruits Basket - Opening Theme - Again)
(Kazuko's POV)
*The next day, we were talking to Shigure, Yuki, & Kyo before we left. Tohru & I were wearing our winter uniforms. Tohru's was a blue classic naval-styled Japanese school uniform, a blue mini-skirt with pleats & ruffles at the hem, navy blue socks, & brown slip-on shoes. Mine was a blue sweater with white color around the edges over a yellow shirt, a light-blue necktie, blue pants, & brown slip-on shoes (look up "Kazuko & Ichiro - Winter Uniform" by "SwanGirl24" on "DeviantArt")*
Tohru: There's some leftover salted fish in the fridge. It'll go bad before too long.
Kazuko: You'll probably want to pick up soy sauce at the store soon.
Tohru: Oh, and garbage day's changed recently, so keep that in mind. What else? Um . . . Right.
*I handed them a folded piece of paper*
Kazuko: Here. This is our Grandfather's address. We'll leave it with you just in case.
Shigure: I guess tomorrow's the big day. You've both done so much for us. Thank you.
Tohru: No. Thank you. And I promise, you can trust us. We'll take the Sohma family secret to our graves.
Shigure: You'll enjoy being home again, won't you.
Tohru: Oh, yes! We'll settle back in just fine.
Kazuko: Yeah . . . Sure . . .
Tohru: Well, we should go pack up our rooms and get ready for moving day.
*She got up & left the room. I hesitantly followed her.
(Third-Person)
Shigure: I half expected you to stop them. Especially Tohru.
Yuki: Why would I? This was just going to be a temporary living arrangement.
Kyo: Rat Boy's right. Weird this isn't them going home. It's that they ever stayed here at all.
Shigure:*in his mind* Of course. And obviously everyone's fine with this development.
(Kazuko's POV)
*I started to pack my stuff, but then I paused as I held my picture of Dad. The truth was, I didn't want to go back, because I knew our awful aunt & annoying cousins will be there. We've never gotten along. Mostly because they take after they're Mom & berate Tohru for every little mistake. But I have to go because Tohru wants to & i promised myself that I would always be with her, no matter what*
Kazuko:*in his mind* I guess we were fooling ourselves. Thinking that we could all become a family. But I guess Tohru's dimness rubs off on me sometimes.
*I started thinking back to a time in elementary school*
(Flashback)
*The teacher stood in front of the blackboard. The words "Fruits Basket" was written on it. The rest of the class sat in a circle with a boy in the middle. I sat next to Tohru*
Teacher: All right, everyone. Here's what we're playing today. The Fruits Basket game. Let's all remember the rules and have some fun.
*The kid in the middle started pointing to people & giving them fruit names*
Kid: You're an apple. You're a banana. A cherry. A pear. A peach. *then he stopped at Tohru* Tohru, you're a rice ball.
Kazuko:*in his mind* The boys picked on Tohru a lot back then. He was being mean to her, the little jerk. But Tohru didn't understand that at the time.
Little Tohru: Yay! Rice balls are yummy.
*I sweat dropped at that. I was about to explain it to her when the kid pointed at me*
Kid: Kazuko, you're a grape. *after he named all the kids, he started the game* Okay, here we go! Apple!
*The kids all started calling names & running around the room*
Kazuko:*off-screen* The game went on and one by one the others were called. I stayed with Tohru and waited for it the rice ball's turn, no matter how many times someone called out grape. We waited, waited, and waited. But nobody called out. I got called over by the he teacher once the game was over.
Teacher: Kazuko, why didn't you participate in the game?
*I pointed to the other kids*
Kazuko: Because they weren't letting Tohru play.
*The teacher turned to the class*
Teacher: Is this true?
*The kids went speechless after that*
(Present Time)
Kazuko:*in his mind* They all got a lecture from the teacher after that. But . . .
*The next day, we arrived at Grandpa's new house. Him, our Aunt, & cousins were there to greet us with smiles, but I could tell most of them were fake*
Tohru: Um . . . The place looks great. Thank you for letting us stay.
Grandpa: We're glad to have you, Kyoko and Kazuma.
Female Cousin: C'mon, Grandpa. That's Tohru and Kazuko.
Kazuko:*in his mind* I guess it should have been obvious from the beginning. A rice ball doesn't belong in a Fruits Basket, let alone two.
(Third-Person POV)
*Shigure, Yuki, & Kyo found the breakfast Tohru & Kazuko left for them. On the cloth covering the plates was a note that said "Please warm up the food in the refrigerator. - T & K"*
Shigure: Evidently, they're gone. Not terribly sentimental as far as good-byes go. *Yuki put his shoes on & left* Well, that was a clean parting. Even so, you two left plenty of melancholy in your wake. *he turned to the map the twins had left* Goodbye for now.
*Both Yuki & Kyo had
(Yuki's Flashback)
Tohru: Really!? I love strawberries!
Tohru: Your kindness lights up like a candle.
Tohru: If we forget you, please befriend us again.
Kazuko: Yeah. I'd like that too.
(Kyo's Flashback)
Tohru: I actually really like you! I have always loved the Zodiac cat.
Kazuko: You're a bit weird, but a good guy. I hope we can be friends.
Tohru: Right handed jab!
Tohru: Sure, Sohma's great. But the thing is. So are you.
(Present Time)
*They both thought back to how much the twins brought joy into their lives*
(Kazuko's POV)
*I started unpacking my stuff in my new room, which I had all to myself. Unfortunately, Tohru has to share a room with our female cousin. Yep, we have a bigger house, but she has to share a room. Another reason I can't stand my Dad's relatives is because I look so much like my Dad that I'm the favorite twin, but it also means that they treat my sister like a nuisance. I paused & stared out the window at the rising sun*
Kazuko:*in his mind* I hope they managed to eat breakfast this morning. Maybe we should have waited for them to wake up so we could say goodbye properly. We just figured we'll see them again at school, so . . .
*Just then, Grandpa poked his head in*
Grandpa: Oh Kazuma, they're calling for you and Kyoko downstairs.
Female Cousin:*off-screen* It's still Tohru and Kazuko, Grandpa!
*We all went downstairs where our Aunt & male cousin was waiting for us*
Tohru: We're here. You wanted to speak to us?
Aunt: That'd right. We did. We need to discuss this sooner rather than later. The thing is, Tohru, I hear that you and Kazuko were living unchaperoned in a single man's home. I had a private detective investigate.
Female Cousin: Living with a guy! You're kidding! And I thought that between the two of us, I was the more mature one.
*I sent her a glare & she shut up*
Tohru: A private detective? To follow me? But why do that?
*I turned my glare to my aunt*
Kazuko:*through gritted teeth* Yes. Why did you do that?
Aunt: My son has ambitions. *we turned to our male cousin who had a smug grin* He wants to become a police officer. For that to happen, we can't very well have someone with a criminal record in the family, now can we? *she turned to me* Same goes for you, Kazuko. You want to be a teacher like your Father, right. Well, no school is going to hire you if they find out about this. *I clenched my fists* At first I thought a private investigation might be going too far, but they say Kyoko used to have violent tendencies. And you know, the apple doesn't always fall far from the tree. So, I was concerned. *she turned to Tohru* If you're going to live in this house, you need to make sure all of your actions are discreet from now on.
*I was holding in my anger. Insult me? Fine. But insult my family, especially my Mother & sister? And you're dead! Then our male cousin got up, got close to Tohru & opened his big mouth*
Male Cousin: Be honest, Tohru. While you were living there. They didn't you anything to you, did they? Anything indecent?
*That was it! I was just about ready to knock his teeth out when . . .*
SLAP!
*Grandpa beat me to it, by slapping him on the cheek*
Aunt: Dad, what's gotten into you?
Grandpa: Honestly, are during and taunting all you people know how to do? I'm very sorry about them, Kyoko, Kazuma.
Tohru: Oh, it's okay.
Kazuko: Tohru . . .
Grandpa: Please don't think too badly of them. They're terribly unpleasant people, but what can you do?
Aunt: How could you say that!?
Male Cousin: You're not exactly helping here! *I let out a snicker* What are you laughing at!?
Grandpa: What's wrong? Did I say something I shouldn't have? *he turned back to me & Tohru* Still. Nasty or not, they are my family. And I've invited them to share my home. If they say a few ugly things to me, well, I can tolerate it. But. There's no reason you both should stay here and put up with their petty backbiting.
Tohru: Are you saying . . .
*She clenched her skirt*
Grandpa: Oh no! None of that. I'm not trying to kick you out. It's just, I don't think putting up with things really suits either of you. Your Father said "He and Kyoko would always be happiest living somewhere they could spread their wings." Hard to do that surrounded by negativity and spite.
Kazuko:*in his mind* Dad . . .
Grandpa: So, you see. I think you both might need something a little more than this place. My dear, my boy, if there's somewhere you'd rather be, that's alright. I promise you, I'll understand.
Kazuko:*in his mind* I guess this is one of those times where it's okay for us to be selfish. But . . . With everything we already have . . . Mom loved us with all her heart. We have three friends who are there for us. And Yuki and his family, were so kind to us.
Tohru: You're offering us a place to stay, giving us a roof over our heads again. We can't be anything but grateful for that.
Kazuko: We know we're blessed. Truly.
Tohru: So I shouldn't say that what really I want . . . Is to go home!
*She started crying & I could barley hold back my tears as I pulled her in for a hug*
Kazuko: We both do. There's a difference between a house and a home. This is just a house, but that was our home. Our real home.
Tohru: We shouldn't be asking for even more than what we already have. We shouldn't miss the Sohma family so much. Sohma and Kyo . . . I wanted to get to know them better. I wanted to keep eating with them. To keep talking about everything under the sun. I wanted more. The truth is . . . I didn't want to leave. Sohma, Kyo, Shigure. I wanted all of us to stay together. Learning about each other. I wanted it so much!
Kazuko: I wanted that too. I wanted to stay and become better friends with Yuki and Kyo. Learn more about their family and make new memories with them.
Yuki:*off-screen* Come on. *we both looked up & our eyes went wide to see Yuki in front of us**on-screen* It's time to go home.
(Third-Person POV)
*A few hours earlier, back at Shigure's house, Kyo was pacing back & forth, irritated. The note the twins had left them was still on the table, in front of Shigure, who was reading a newspaper. Yuki was reading a book*
Yuki: Would you stop? That angry pacing is distracting me.
Kyo: If it bothers you so much then go read in your room! What's with them? Kicking them out for some renovations. Then casually summoning them back when their over with.
Yuki: What else would they do? Seems perfectly normal to me.
Kyo: It isn't normal at all! They're treating them like their disposable! Like what they doesn't even matter!
Yuki: This from the idiot who left home without so much as a word and dropped off the map for four months.
Kyo: You wanna fight!? 'Cause I'm ready!
*Yuki closed his book*
Yuki: You're the angry one. *he stood up* But if you want a beating, then let's go.
Kyo: I'll show you who's getting beat! Outside now, Rodent Boy!
Shigure: Will you children please calm down? My poor house can't take it.
Yuki: I am calm.
Kyo: I'm calm as hell!
Shigure: Clearly.
Kyo: Dammit!
*He laid down on the porch. Yuki put his book down & looked at the note the twins left. He looked at Shigure & Kyo*
Yuki: I'm going to take a walk.
*He picked up the note & left*
Shigure: Enjoy the fresh air. *Kyo got up & started looking around the room* What's wrong? Looking for something?
Kyo: Yeah. Just . . . Nail clippers.
Shigure: If you're looking for the note Tohru and Kazuko left, you're out of luck. Yuki took it.
Kyo: That bastard!
*He ran out of the house & a mysterious grin grew on Shigure's face*
*Yuki followed the directions on the map & looked around the neighborhood*
Yuki: It's hard to find just from the information on here. So what now? I guess I could ask around.
Kyo:*off-screen* Hey! *Kyo was barreling down the street towards him**on-screen* Hold it right there! Hand over that note now or I'll kill ya!
*He got ready for a punch, but Yuki gave him a high kick to the face*
*Back at the house, Shigure sneezed*
*An hour later, Yuki & Kyo were still looking*
Yuki: Not this one. Or this one.
Kyo: Hey, moron! You just took us in a circle!
Yuki: I don't get it. The house should be in this block of buildings.
Kyo: Well, none of the nameplates said Honda, so obviously it's not. Give
*He went to grab the note, but Yuki pulled it away*
Yuki: Hands off.
Kyo: Listen. It just got remodeled, so it'll be all new and shiny, which means if we haven't found it yet, we're looking in the wrong place!
*Just then, Yuki remembered something the twins told them*
(Flashback - Yesterday)
Kazuko: Yes. The exterior walls aren't done, but most of the work's complete, so it's ready to live in.
(Present Time)
*Yuki ran towards a house that was covered in plastic*
Kyo: Hey! Where do you think you're going?
*Yuki pushed back the plastic that was covered, revealing the name "Honda"*
Yuki: Here it is.
Kyo: It's totally still under construction.
Yuki: Just outside. Come on, we can least go and talk to them.
Kyo: Yeah.
*Yuki knocked on the door, but their was no answer*
Yuki: There's no answer.
Kyo: Maybe they can't hear that wussy knock of yours. My turn. *he stepped up to the door & took a deep breath* EXCUSE ME!
*Yuki grabbed him by the face & pushed him to the ground*
Yuki: Wait!
Kyo: What the hell did you do that for!?
Yuki: Shh!
Tohru & Kazuko's Aunt:*off-screen* At first I thought a private investigation might be going too far, but they say Kyoko used to have violent tendencies. And you know, the apple doesn't always fall far from the tree. So, I was concerned. *they snuck around to the back & peeked in through an open curtain, leading to the back doors* If you're going to live in this house, you need to make sure all of your actions are discreet from now on.
*Then their male cousin stood up & got close to Tohru*
Tohru & Kazuko's Male Cousin: Be honest, Tohru. While you were living there. They didn't you anything to you, did they? Anything indecent?
*Yuki & Kyo were ready to charge in & defend her when . . .*
SLAP!
*The twin's Grandpa had slapped him*
Tohru & Kazuko's Aunt: Dad, what's gotten into you?
Grandpa: Honestly, are during and taunting all you people know how to do?
Kyo: Okay, what the heck's going on?
Yuki: Like I know.
Kyo: We can't do anything out here. Let's go and bring them back.
*He was about to go in, but Yuki grabbed him by the shoulder & pushed him to the ground*
Yuki: Get down!
Kyo: What is with you!?
*Yuki covered his mouth*
Yuki: Shut up. Think about it. The important thing here isn't what we want, it's what Miss Honda and Kazuko want.
*Kyo pushed his hand away*
Tohru: You're offering us a place to stay, giving us a roof over our heads again. We can't be anything but grateful for that.
Kazuko: We know we're blessed. Truly.
Tohru: So I shouldn't say that what really I want . . . Is to go home!
*She started crying & I could barley hold back my tears as I pulled her in for a hug*
Kazuko: We both do. There's a difference between a house and a home. This is just a house, but that was our home. Our real home.
Tohru: We shouldn't be asking for even more than what we already have. We shouldn't miss the Sohma family so much. Sohma and Kyo . . . I wanted to get to know them better. I wanted to keep eating with them. To keep talking about everything under the sun. I wanted more. The truth is . . . I didn't want to leave. Sohma, Kyo, Shigure. I wanted all of us to stay together. Learning about each other. I wanted it so much!
Kazuko: I wanted that too. I wanted to stay and become better friends with Yuki and Kyo. Learn more about their family and make new memories with them.
Kyo: Let's go!
*He turned to Yuki, only to find him gone. He opened the back door & was shocked to see him in front of the twins*
(Kazuko's POV)
Yuki: Come on. It's time to go home.
Tohru: Yo - You're here . . .
Aunt: Who's that?
*I noticed my male cousin's cheeks were pink. I smirked. He was gonna be in for a shock when he finds out Yuki's gender*
Tohru: Wait, Sohma. I don't understand -
*Suddenly, Kyo grabbed her by her forehead*
Kyo: It's time to go.
Kazuko: Kyo, you're here too?
*he started to drag Kyo out of the room*
Tohru: But - I - Kyo!
Yuki: We're sorry for the interruption. You're was unlocked so we left ourselves in. Are Miss Honda and Kazuko's things upstairs?
Aunt: Now just a moment. What is this about?
Yuki: Can't you tell? We've come for Miss Honda and Kazuko.
Male Cousin: Wait. Are you from the house where Tohru was playing live-in girlfriend? That would mean you're actually a guy!
*Suddenly, Yuki flicked him on the forehead, hard*
Yuki: Be careful how you speak about Miss Honda in the future. Scum. *he turned to me* Ready to go?
Kazuko: Are you kidding? I've been wanting to leave this house since before I got here.
Aunt: Wait, Kazuko!
Kazuko: But before I do. *I picked up my male cousin by the collar & punch him in the face, hard. he fell to the floor with a bloody nose* That's for accusing my sister of being a whore! *I turned to my aunt* For going behind our backs! *I turned to my female cousin* And for being a brat.
Female Cousin: Hey, I didn't say anything!
Kazuko: You didn't have you. *I turned back to my aunt & male cousin* Listen you two. You're both pathetic. Thinking the worst about other people without even bothering the get to know them. That's just sad. See if I ever come back to this house again.
Aunt: Wait, Kazuko. It's not what you think -
Kazuko: Save it. *I stomped out of room, went upstairs, quickly packed my stuff, & marched out of the house, with Yuki behind me as he carried Tohru's things. I could hear my aunt calling me from behind, but I ignored her. but I stopped & turned to Grandpa* Thanks for everything, Grandpa.
*Grandpa just nodded with a smile. Then I left the house with Yuki & up to Kyo & Tohru. Tohru was crying*
Tohru: . . . Even if it is selfish. That's what I want . . . To be with all of you . . .
*Kyo took her hand*
Kyo: Then come on. Let's go home.
*He started pulling her down the street*
Tohru: But, Kyo! All of my stuff!
*Yuki moved one bag to the other hand & took her free one*
Yuki: Let's go.
*Then she looked at me & I gave her a grin*
Kazuko: Together.
*I walked behind all three of them as we walked home together*
(Tohru's Imagination - Third-Person POV)
Boy: Okay, next is . . . *he pointed at her younger self* The rice ball!
*Little Tohru smiled as she & Little Kazuko got up & ran towards Yuki & Kyo. She took both of their hands
(Reality - Kazuko's POV)
Kazuko:*in his mind* I'm sure, right now. Tohru's feeling like the luckiest person in the world . . . And so do I. You were right, Mom.
(Third-Person POV)
*Meanwhile, back at the Honda residence, the twin's aunt & male cousin were sitting at table, exhausted & nursing his bloody nose*
Aunt: Okay . . . What in the world just happened?
Male Cousin: He was really a guy.
Aunt: I'm exhausted . . .
Male Cousin: He was really a guy.
Grandpa: Be well, Kyoko and Kazuma. You both made the right choice.
Female Cousin: It's still Tohru and Kazuko, Grandpa.
Male Cousin: He was really a guy!
(Kazuko's POV)
*We made it back to Shigure's house, who clapped up on our arrival*
Shigure: You captured the fair maiden and Prince! Congratulations, boys.
Kyo: You make us sound really creepy when you put it that way.
Yuki: Let's go with rescued the fair maiden and Prince.
Tohru: Um . . I guess we're moving back in here then.
Kazuko: Yep. *I took my shoes off & started heading inside* I'm gonna go put my stuff in my "real" room.
Shigure: You do that. And if there's any fall-out, you just leave it to me.
Kazuko: Sure thing.
Tohru: Oh no! I couldn't ask you to do that! We've put you through some much trouble already!
Shigure: Now don't be silly. It's good you're both back. These two tried awfully hard after all. Couldn't have been easy. Swallowing their pride. Stealing your note. Dashing off on a desperate search for you. It was impressive. I have to say. I've never seen our Yuki go to pieces quite like that.
*Yuki blushed*
Yuki: I did not go to pieces! . . . That much.
Kazuko:*in his mind* He totally did.
Kyo: You liar. You're face was basically screaming regret after they -
*Suddenly, Yuki kicked him in the jaw*
Yuki: I believe that was your face.
Kyo: Damnit, Yuki!
*The two of them started fighting. Again*
Shigure: It's not a perfect home, but it's both of yours. If you want it.
*Tohru didn't say anything, but I smiled and him. Then she smiled as well*
Kazuko: And I wouldn't have it any other way.
Tohru: Yes!
Kyo: Today's the day I take you out!
Yuki: This just keeps getting more embarrassing.
Kazuko:*in his mind* And so, after a really exciting day, Tohru and I back at Shigure's house. A place where we truly belong. Exactly where we want to be. Home. With our new family.