These are for Uo-chan & Toko-kun
(Third-Person POV)
*A few days later, Ichiro was getting beat up by three highschool boys in a parking lot*
Highschool Boy #1: Stay down! *one punched him in the face & the other one & he fell to the ground* I thought you were supposed to be tough, but he's nothing but a little wannabe brat! *he kicked Ichiro in the stomach* Hey, let's call the others.
Highschool Boy #2: Yeah. This'll be fun!
Highschool Boy #3: Make him get on his knees and beg!
*Suddenly, he got up & threw the pebbles in faces of first two. Then he made a run for it*
Highschool Boy #1: Why you little -
*Ichiro kicked him in the groin & ran away*
Highschool Boy #2: You'll pay for this, you little punk! Get back here!
*He ran through the streets until he thought he lost them in an alley*
Ichiro: Yeah, like picking a fight with someone younger than you makes you tough. Idiots should act their age. *some elementary school kids saw him coming out of the alley & ran away in fear when they saw his bloody face* What're you runts looking at? Keep walking.
*Suddenly, he bumped into someone. He was surprised to see it was Kazuko, wearing his school uniform & carrying his school bag & swim bag*
Note: He was on his way home from swim practice.
Kazuko: Ichiro? What happened? You're a mess.
Highschool Boy #1:*off-screen* Tokoyami!
Highschool Boy #2:*off-screen* Get back here, you little brat!
*The boys looked & saw two of the boys who attacked Ichiro at the other end of the alley*
Highschool Boy #1: We're not done with you!
Ichiro: Crap.
*Just then, without saying a word, Kazuko grabbed his hand & they ran in the opposite direction*
Highschool Boy #2: Hey! Get back here!
Highschool Boy #1: You're dead meat!
Ichiro:*in his mind* I'm only running because he just . . . Grabbed me.
(Fruits Basket - Opening Theme 2 - Chime)
(Third-Person POV)
*They made it to Kazuko's apartment. Both boys panted in exhausted as they stood in front of the door*
Ichiro: Wh . . . Why'd you help me?
Kazuko: I . . . I wasn't going to let you . . . Get beaten up by those thugs. I know I'll just regret it later.
Ichiro: I guess.
Kazuko: Come on. Let's go take care of those cuts.
*They went inside & Kazuko got out the first-aid kit. Just then, the door was slammed open & then slammed shut. They both turned & saw Tohru & Arisa, Arisa looking just as beat-up as Ichiro*
Arisa: Why'd you help me?
*She turned towards Tohru, who looked terrified & exhausted*
Tohru: One sec. I . . .
*She fell to the floor*
Kazuko: Tohru!
*He ran up to her & helped her up*
Ichiro: You alright there?
Tohru: Oh yeah . . . Please make yourselves at home . . . ** We should tend to your cuts right away, *she got out the first-aid kit* Uo-chan.
Arisa: Stop calling me that, dammit! *she took the kit* Gimme this.
Tohru: Of course. Sorry. I'm sure you'll handle it
Ichiro: Hey, I'm gonna need that when you're done.
Arisa: Yeah, yeah.
*Both Arisa & Ichiro sat in the living room while Tohru & Kazuko were in the kitchen*
Arisa:*in her mind* I can't believe I ended up back here again.
Ichiro:*in his mind* Didn't think I'd be back here so soon.
*They both noticed the shrine on top of a bookcase*
Arisa:*in her mind* That must be their Dad. Didn't know he was dead.
Ichiro:*in his mind* Their Dad us dead, huh? Bummer.
*Arisa opened the box & found a note that said "Get better soon!" taped to the lid & all the packets of medication with who who's written on them. She closed the box slid it over to Ichiro, who started to treat his own cuts*
Arisa:*in her mind* They're so disgusting! *they both looked in the kitchen & saw the twins cooking* That tofu she dropped was probably for dinner. Aw, well. They'll be fine.
*Ichiro turned on the TV & they both started watching the weather report.
Kid #1:*off-screen* Bye, see you tomorrow!
*They looked outside & saw two boys*
Kid #2: Later!
*They went in opposite directions. The wind blew in through an open window. Tohru poked her head in the room*
Tohru: Uo-chan! *she shook her head* I mean, Uotani. I'd be honored if you and Ichiro joined us for dinner tonight. *they both sat on the floor in silence* Is everything okay?
*Kazuko came in after her*
Kazuko: What's wrong?
Arisa: Of course I'm uncomfortable. The home you guys have is . . . It's so foreign to me. I never had this. It feels wrong. I know I don't belong, so I'm basically an outcast. Which only makes me more uncomfortable. Thing is . . . Even if I have something like this, I'd still yell at my Dad and tell him to go to hell like I didn't give a damn. If my old man had dinner waiting for me after school, I just wouldn't go home. Or I would, but I'd refuse to eat it and tell him it smelled like crap. I know that's the truth, even if it's never happened to me before. No matter what my home-life is like, I'll always be the same delinquent. Either way, I'll still be this.
Ichiro: I feel the same. I sort of have the same thing at home, but I can never fully enjoy it. My Mom's always got dinner waiting for me, but it's always ruined by her arguing with my Dad. I can't even remember the last time we all just sat down and had dinner together. I know my Mom's cooking smells good, but I don't remember if it tastes good or not. No matter what happens at home, I'll always be the same delinquent too.
Arisa:*in her mind* So what are these feelings?
*They both got teary eyed*
Ichiro:*in his mind* Why do I feel jealous?
Arisa & Ichiro:*in their minds* Why do still I wish this was my life? *They lowered their heads**out loud* I'm an idiot!
Tohru: No, Uo-chan! Oops! Sorry! I didn't mean to say it. Uh . . .
Arisa: Whatever.
Ichiro: I don't care.
Arisa: What is it?
Tohru: Uo-chan . . .
Kazuko: Ichiro . . .
*The twins smiled & sat next to the two delinquents*
Arisa:*in her mind* The skyline at twilight.
Ichiro:*in his mind* The smell of dinner cooking.
Arisa:*in her mind* Houses full of light.
Ichiro:*in his mind* The home you go back to after a day with friends.
Arisa:*in her mind* Where others are waiting for you.
Ichiro:*in his mind* Kind people who welcome you home with a smile.
Arisa & Ichiro:*in their minds* Have I . . . Been lonely this entire time?
Kyoko: I just relaxed a bit. And it feels nice.
*Arisa thought back to the day her Mom left & Ichiro thought back hiding in his closet from his parent's arguments in elementary school*
Ichiro & Arisa:*in their minds* Maybe . . . I have been all my life. Maybe this whole time I've been looking for something.
*Kyoko came home to find the girls leaning against each other, asleep & the boys fixing dinner together. She smiled at all four of them
Ichiro & Arisa:*in their minds* Trivial moments. But precious ones nonetheless. Are those what I've been missing?
(Kazuko's POV)
*By the time Arisa & Ichiro finished telling the story, we had all finished eating*
Arisa: Man, listen to me. Blabbering on about what a sad sack I was back in the day.
Ichiro: I was just as bad.
Arisa: Anyway, the point is, *she hugged Tohru* I love her.
*Saki joined in*
Saki: Yes. Same.
*Ichiro hugged me around the shoulders*
Ichiro: And I love this guy just as much.
*I blushed in embarrassment*
Yuki: That's great. But what happened between you and her Mom?
Arisa: Oh yeah, right. I guess I kinda left her out for a while, didn't I? Hmm . . .
?:*off-screen* Hey, Uotani!
*We looked up & saw three middle school girls standing in front of our table*
Ito: We've got business with you, so step outside!
Takemura: Alone, obviously.
*Arisa ignored them & turned to us*
Arisa: Yo, weren't those noodles good?
Saki: Yes. More than satisfactory.
Ichiro: Definitely putting this place on my "come back" list.
*All three girls were shocked*
Ito: Did she just blow us off!?
*All three of them sucked down*
Takemura: You see that!? I told you we shoulda called her out earlier!
Ishihara: It cause you took forever taking pics of those pretty boys!
Ito: That's not my fault! I couldn't get a good angle from where I was standing! *while they were talking, we left the restaurant* Hey, wait! Where do you think you're going!? *Ichiro, Yuki, Kyo, & I turned back to them* Oh, wait. Not you guys. Just her.
(Arisa's POV)
Arisa:*in her mind* Nope. I should probably keep my mouth shut. *I thought back to Ichiro & I having dinner with Kyoko, Tohru, & Kazuko* Because what I did next . . . Was seriously embarrassing.
(Kazuko's POV)
*We continued down the street with Delinquent Trio following us*
Ito: Stop walking away! I know you can hear me, Arisa Uotani!
Takemura: Quit ignoring us, dammit!
Kyo: So, you sure you don't know who these girls are? They're calling you out by name.
Arisa: I've never seen 'em in my life. That outdated delinquent act is so lame.
Delinquent Trio: Hey! Look who's talking!
Ito: You'd better take us seriously. Sure, we may be low-level punks at the moment. But we're gonna make names for ourselves around here by thrashing all the show-offs like you! Our delinquent army'll scare the shit out of people! And before long, this whole neighborhood'll be our territory!
Arisa: Good luck.
Delinquent Trio: She's mocking us!
Yuki: Delinquent army? What would that even look like?
Ichiro: Just a bunch of dumb kids causing trouble.
Saki: Perhaps it would be best if I took care of them.
Kazuko: Bad idea, Saki.
(Third-Person POV)
Arisa & Ichiro:*in their minds* The sad thing is . . . I used to be just like those kids.
(Flashback - 4 years ago)
*Kyoko, Arisa, & Ichiro were sitting at the table, shelling peas*
Arisa: I wanted people to pay attention to me. Even though I wanted to be left alone.
Ichiro: Same here.
Kyoko: No matter how old people get, they never stop being a little bit selfish. Everybody. That includes me.
Arisa: You think so?
Ichiro: Then why do adults act like they're so much better than us?
*Kyoko flinched & bowed her head*
Kyoko: My sincere apologies.
*She smiled at them*
Arisa:*off-screen* From then on, I went to the twin's house on the regular. Kyoko always welcomed me with a warm smile. I was grateful. She listened to me. And carefully considered my problems. Even though they were childish.
Ichiro:*off-screen* I started going there every day too. I would always tell my Mom that I was having dinner at a friend's house and she understood, knowing that I didn't want to be there when she and Dad started arguing. Kyoko became like my second Mom. She listened to my problems too and always gave good advice.
*Kyoko finished the last pea pod & held up the bowl*
Kyoko: Alright. These peas are ready to go!
*The twins came out of the kitchen*
Tohru: I appreciate your hard work.
Ichiro: Hey, why do you guys always talk so politely?
Kyoko: Ah, it's Katsuya's fault. Katsuya's the twin's Dad's name. He always spoke like that and they just kind of picked it up.
*She gave us the bowl*
Kazuko: Thanks for your help.
*Kyoko hugged both the twins*
Kyoko: But I don't mind it. It's adorable!
Kazuko:*embarrassed* Mom!
Arisa: You really are a doting parent. I guess it's cute.
Arisa:*off-screen* Before I knew it, I were comfortable in their home. We had no one to blame for that but Tohru, Kazuko, & Kyoko.
Ichiro:*off-screen* Anyway, that's we started spending so much time with them. We became friends with Tohru and Kazuko. And even started going to class. 'Cause if we went to class, we'd get to hang out with the Honda twins*
*All four of friends were sitting in the classroom, studying together*
Tohru: The battle of Sekigahara.
Arisa Okay. What about the third Shogun?
Tohru: Iemitsu Tokugawa.
Kazuko: Right. The year 1835.
Tohru: Hmm . . .
Ichiro: Here's a hint. A foreigner.
Tohru: Hmm . . .
Ichiro: Second hint. A boat.
Tohru: Aha! The arrival of Mr. Perry!
Arisa: Bingo. But you can drop the Mister.
Tohru: Oops. Force of habit.
Arisa:*off-screen* Studying was kind of fun once we understood how it worked. And the Honda twins were easy to get along with. Probably because they were always standing beside us from the beginning. Looking back on it, they were there for us. Even when we didn't know we needed them.
*All four of them stood in a school hallway, talking. Just then, a teacher saw them*
Teacher: Miss Uotani! Mr. Tokoyami! *she came up to us* What do you think you're doing bothering them?
Arisa: Hey, hold on. We were only talking.
Ichiro: Yeah, so chill.
*She ignored them & turned to the twins*
Teacher: Tohru, Kazuko, are you okay?
Tohru: Yeah, why wouldn't we be.
Ichiro: They're right, Sensei. We were just talking, that's all.
Teacher: Uh . . .
Ichiro:*off-screen* Thing is, to the people around us, we apparently didn't look like we should'a been friends. Which I can understand.
*Kazuko was in the boys locker room with some of the members of his swim team*
Member #1: Hey, Kazuko. Have you and your sister become friends with Uotani and Tokoyami?
*Kazuko thought for a moment*
Kazuko: Well . . . I wouldn't call us friends yet. But I think we're getting pretty close.
*The member who asked was stunned. The other members were listening & were skeptical*
Member #2: . . . Those four can't possibly be friends. They're like, worlds apart.
Member #3: I heard that the teachers have been keeping a close eye on them.
Member #4: I don't think we should hang out with Kazuko anymore.
Member #5: Yeah, for all we know he could be doing bad stuff behind the scenes.
Member #6: You're right. If he and his sister are friends with delinquents.
*Out the locker room window, Ichiro heard everything*
Ichiro:*in his mind* You can say whatever you want about me, but I don't want Kazuko getting rumors spread about him because of me.
*Not wanting to hear anymore, he left*
*He walked outside & found Arisa, sitting outside one of the cooking classroom windows. He kneeled down next to her*
Ichiro: Hey, what're you -
Arisa:*whispering* Shh!
*She pointed towards the window & Ichiro peeked inside. He saw Tohru making muffins in her cooking class when a classmate came up to her*
Female Student #1: Hey, so I had a question.
Tohru: Yes?
Female Student #1: You and your brother are close with Uotani and Tokoyami, right? Like best friends?
*Tohru's face suddenly turned red*
Tohru: Well . . . I . . . *she started whisking really fast* It would be an honor to be their best friends so I hope maybe one we will be. *then she realized something**in her mind* But what if Uo-chan and Toko-kun don't feel that way. *our loud* Sorry . . .
*Her classmate started whispering with each other*
Female Student #2: No way. They can't be friends. They're just too different. It doesn't make any sense.
Female Student #3: Pretty sure our teachers have been keeping an eye on all four of them too.
Female Student #2: Who knows. Maybe the Honda twins are different outside of school and do horrible stuff in secret.
Female Student #3: I mean, if they're hanging out with Uotani and Tokoyami, I bet you're right.
*Arisa & Ichiro heard everything*
Arisa:*in her mind* How can I go in there. I don't care if anyone talks about me, but I don't want them spreading any rumors about Tohru and Kazuko.
Ichiro:*in his mind* Maybe it'd be better for them if we stopped hanging out with them.
Female Student #4: Hey, you made too many of those, Honda.
Tohru: Nope. These are for Uo-chan & Toko-kun. I also promised Kazuko I'd make an extra one for him.
*Hearing that made both Arisa & Ichiro smile. Then they both made a big decision*
*That night, Arisa was meeting with her gang. Then she told them something*
Gang Member #1: Huh!? You wanna leave the gang!?
Gang Member #2: Must've lost your damn mind!
Gang Member #1: Do you think you can just say you're done and we'll forget about ya? If you wanna quit, you gotta take the punishment.
Arisa: I know.
Gang Member #1: Then I don't want to hear any complaining.
Gang Member #3: Circle up on her!
*Akimoto left as the other members were gathering around her*
Arisa:*in her mind* This is terrifying. I wanna run. So badly. But I can't. Because . . .
*She thought back to Tohru, Kazuko, & Ichiro*
Gang Member #1: First one's on me!
*She slapped her & sent her flying into another member*
Gang Member #4: Uh-huh. Your night is just beginning.
*She got punched around back & forth by the members of her former gang*
Arisa:*off-screen* I wanted to change my life. *she thought to her, Tohru, Kazuko, & Ichiro sharing muffins together* It was the first time I'd ever felt that way. I didn't want to live like that anymore. I would be different. I had to. Because of them.
*She kicked got kicked by one of the members & fell to the ground*
Gang Member #1: Come on, get up. How long you gonna lay there?
?:*off-screen* I think she's had enough!
Gang Members: Huh?
*They all turned, looked up, & saw Kyoko, looking like a superhero*
Gang Member #1: Who's that!?
Arisa: Kyoko . . . I . . .
*Then she passed out*
*When she woke up, she saw she was on Kyoko's back*
Kyoko: You awake?
Arisa: Kyoko!?
Kyoko: Easy now, or we'll both fall. Plus your legs hurt. *she readjusted her & kept walking* Some older girl from your gang dropped by the house tonight.
*Kyoko opened the door & Akimoto on the other side. Tohru & Kazuko stood behind her in their pajamas*
Kyoko: The one with the mole on her chin. She knew what was going to happen and that she couldn't herself. So she asked for my help.
Arisa: Akimoto . . .
Akimoto: It's just that . . . I like her. You know how it is. If she wants to go straight, then she should.
Kyoko: She said leaving the gang would be the best thing for you. So . . .
Arisa: Senpai . . .
Kyoko: But anyway, I'm sure that quitting took a whole lot of guts. You did good.
Arisa: Don't say that. It just caused trouble. Even for you.
Kyoko: Oh no. It was nothing. All I did was shoo a few kids on back to their houses. I wouldn't call that hard. You know, this wasn't so bad. You had someone kind in the gang looking out for you. Many people have gone through a lot worse trying to get out. You really are a lucky one.
*Arisa started crying*
Arisa: I'm stupid! I don't learn anything til I get hurt! I'm such an idiot!
Kyoko: One thing I've discovered, is that sometimes you can't understand your feelings until you make trouble and get hurt. Sometimes we don't know how we feel until we're at our worst. Then it all becomes clear. You can rebel against what's pure, but then, when you find yourself filthy, you start to long for the very thing you turned away from. You have to know gentleness to feel pain. Just as you only notice the darkness if you have the sun. You can't underestimate either. Cause everything has its purpose. So, even if you screw up sometimes, it's never for nothing. As long as you make sure you recognize that. Those mistakes will nourish you and help you grow even stronger. Least, that's my theory.
Arisa: Listen Kyoko . . . I just . . . Your son and daughter . . . I want to be Tohru and Kazuko's best friend! I want them to be proud to stand beside me! That's the reason I quit! I had too . . .
Arisa:*off-screen* I was determined to make myself better for them. Even if it meant leaving my old life behind.
*They arrived at the apartment, where Tohru & Kazuko came out to greet them*
Arisa:*off-screen* It's a little embarrassing to think about how much I bawled at she carried me back to her house, as if she was giving me a piggy-back ride. But . . . It wasn't for nothing.
*Meanwhile, Ichiro opened the door of his apartment to find his parents arguing, again*
Haruna: So now you're telling me that it's my fault!?
Ichiro's Dad: Who else could be to blame!?
*Ichiro took a deep breath slammed the door behind him, getting his parent's attention*
Ichiro: Mom. Dad. I've been putting this off for too long. We need to talk.
*His parents looked at each other in concern*
*They all sat down in the living room. His parents actually listened as he told them how he felt about their constant fighting*
Ichiro: And I guess . . . That's why I keep causing problems and hardly ever come home . Because I was feeling like I was suffocating in all this tension you guys created from your fighting.
*His parents were surprised by what he said. Haruna got up from her spot & hugged her son*
Haruna: Oh, Ichiro. I'm so sorry we made you feel that way. That wasn't our intention.
Ichiro's Dad: I guess thinking about it now, we're both to blame for all this. I'm sorry too son.
Ichiro: Well, it's going to take a while for me to forgive you both. But I guess we can start by eating that delicious looking dinner together before it gets cold.
*His parents smiled & nodded at each other*
Ichiro: That was the first time in a long time that all three of us sat down together and ate dinner. And I gotta say, my Mom's a better cook than I thought.
Arisa:*off-screen* For a while after that, people picked fights with me. But I cama out of things okay. It's really amazing to not be alone. Unfortunately, I never saw Akimoto again. I heard around town that she moved far away.
Ichiro:*off-screen* After that, I stopped hanging out with the school ditchers. They tried to pick fights with me for that, but I handled them no problem. School grew on me and Arisa. We met Saki in our second year. But shortly after that, my parents announced that they were getting a divorce. I wasn't all that surprised since I knew it was bound to happen sooner or later. My Dad got married to his new girlfriend and moved to America with her. He always sends child support and presents on holidays and my birthday.
*They remembered when Kyoko threw them a party to celebrate entering high school*
Arisa:*off-screen* Kyoko always laughed when we were around. She really liked us. But then . . . One day all of that changed.
*The apartment window went dark*
Ichiro:*off-screen* We couldn't believe that the apartment window, our beacon of hope, had gone dark. We missed her. She saved two random delinquents. People she didn't have any obligation to. Kyoko was honest and warm. At heart, a big softie. We both loved her.
(Kazuko's POV)
*Arisa & Ichiro seemed to be lost in thought as they kept walking. We went up to them*
Kazuko: Uh . . . Guys.
*They stopped & turned to us*
Ichiro: Yeah. What's up?
Tohru: Well, things are . . . *Saki was releasing her dark pressure on the Delinquent Trio* Getting a little out of hand back here. It's kind of scary.
Arisa: Hanajima, take it easy on 'em. They're just dumb kids.
Saki: I'm well aware. I'm being as gentle as possible. They're fine.
*Yuki & Kyo were sitting on a nearby bench & leaning against a wall*
Ito: Don't mess with us, loser! You're gonna regret underestimating us this whole time!
Ichiro: Aren't you done taking yet?
Ito: You shut up! I'll send you flying!
*She in for a punch, but Arisa blocked her*
Takemura: Come on, stretch! Let her have it!
Kyo: If the kid was smart, she'd have aimed low. She's got a lot to learn.
*She stopped struggling*
Arisa: If kind of a blessing to be underestimated sometimes. If you wanna show off how tough you are, there are plenty of other ways to do that. Stop acting out like this while you still can. Before something serious happens. If you want someone to scold you, I'm happy to do that anytime. *she let go of the kid* Alright, let's head back.
*We all walked down the street*
Kyo: Finally.
Tohru: I'm glad everything turned out okay.
*We arrived at the train station*
Kazuko: We should be getting home. It's getting late.
Arisa: Sounds good.
Tohru: And thank you for such a wonderful time. It was a blast, really.
*We all waved goodbye as we headed for home*
Kazuko: See you tomorrow.
(Third-Person POV)
Arisa:*off-screen* Kyoko isn't around anymore. However, she left important things for us here.
Ichiro:*off-screen* Her words, her feelings, and best of all Tohru and Kazuko.
Arisa:*off-screen* These things nourish us. And because of them, we've been able to grow.
*Later that evening, at Arisa's apartment, she was making dinner, when she heard the sound of a can opening. She rushed into the next room to find her Dad, about to drink a beer*
Arisa: Drop it, right now! *her Dad flinched* Your Doc said to start drinking less, Old Man!
Mr. Uotani: Whoops. You caught me.
Arisa: Yeah, yeah. Real cute. Put the can down. And back off the salt. Dummy. You're hopeless, Pops.
*Meanwhile, at Ichiro's apartment, he was also making dinner. Just then, the door open. He knew who it was*
Ichiro: Welcome home, Mom. Dinner's almost ready.
Haruna: You're such a good, responsible boy, Ichiro. *she went over to the couch & sat down* I know I can trust you, so I'm constantly leaving you to do the things that should be my job. I'm a bad Mother.
Ichiro: Hey, come on. Don't say that.
*His Mom smiled & hugged him*
Haruna: What did I do to deserve such a good son? So, what's for dinner tonight?
Ichiro: I'm glad you asked. I'm making your favorite. Karaage with rice and vegetables.
Haruna: Wonderful. Oh, by the way. *she took a small brown package out of her purse* This package arrived for you. It's from your Father.
*Ichiro was surprised as he took the package & smiled*
Ichiro:*in his mind* Dumb old man. It's really hard to hate him sometimes.