Hi there! This is Blue here with my first fanfic ever!
Ivey: First fic my ass! This is just the first one you've had the guts to post.
Blue: Ivey! Watch your language! Everyone this is my muse Ivey… she's not exactly nice… or helpful… or sane. Come to think of it what do you do around here anyway?
Ivey: ::flicks Blue off:: I'm the one with all the ideas bitch!
Blue: So I guess this means if we get bad reviews its all your fault right?
Ivey: ……
Blue: Just say the disclaimer so we can get on with the story already.
Ivey: Fine but you owe me soda and some snow caps or I won't talk to you for a month. Blue does not own Fruits Basket. If she did she wouldn't be driving a '92 Saturn and dressing like a bum.
Blue: HEY!
What's Left Unsaid
Servants employed in the Sohma palace are expected to be silent, obedient, and efficient. It is not acceptable to run late or leave dust on a shelf. For a mistake to be made warrants either dismissal or extreme reprimand. It was for such an incident that a young maid found herself being yelled at in the middle of the hall by the head servant Makoto. She had been carrying a basket piled high with freshly washed linens and rather expensive silk tunics when she stepped on the hem of her skirt, tripped, and fell down the marble steps dropping everything.
"You stupid little girl! What did you think we were doing?! Did you even think at all? Now all of the prince's things have to be re-washed and hung to dry! It'll take half the day!" Makoto was on a roll with his lecture while the girl was on her hands and knees frantically gathering up the sheets with trembling hands. Tears welled up in her eyes and she bit her lip in a vain effort to hold them back. The head servant's face twisted into an angry scowl and he backhanded her. "Look at me when I'm talking to you! You're lucky I don't fire you on the spot! You're the more useless than your mother was! At least that tramp could cook!"
"MAKOTO!"
The head servant whipped his head around with an annoyed "WHAT?" Makotos eyes widened and he paled slightly as he realized just whom he had snapped at. Leaning against a doorframe to the right of the stairs with his arms crossed was a man in his late twenties with longish black hair and a mischievous smile. It could easily be discerned from his high quality olive green tunic with gold embellishments that he was a man of importance. Makoto cleared his throat and bowed.
"Lord Shigure-" Makoto began but was swiftly cut off by the aforementioned man.
"My, my, my… Makoto what are you screeching about? I could hear you half way across the castle," he inquired with a tilt of his head.
"Forgive me my lord I didn't mean to disturb you. However I was dealing with an inept servant." he replied shooting a disgusted look at the girl who was now kneeling with her head bowed in respect and to hide her tears. The lord's eyes narrowed slightly at the man before him.
"I see… Why don't you go supervise the cooks or something? I'll take care of this."
"But milord-!" Shigure raised an eyebrow with a bemused expression as if to ask if he was questioning him. Withering slightly for being deprived of his tirade the head servant turned on his heel and departed in a huff. Once he was around the corner and out of sight Shigure knelt in front of the girl and lifted her chin with his finger. Tears stained her cheeks and she hiccuped from the effort to hold in her sobs.
"Poor little flower… Whatever did that mean Makoto do to make you cry?" he asked wiping her face with the edge of his sleeve.
"I-I'm so sorry (hiccup) sir it's all mmy fault (hiccup). I always get in everyone's (hiccup) way and I broke one of the really nice teacups this morning and just now I fell down the stairs and ruined the sheets and-" Shigure took the finger under her chin and placed it on her lips shushing her.
"Now, now don't you worry your pretty little head. We have plenty of teacups and the wash isn't ruined just slightly dirty. Whose are they?"
"Prince Yuki's sir." Shigure grinned and chuckled.
"Yes, well his highness isn't as uptight as some so he won't mind waiting for you to rewash them. Besides he'll probably get dirt on his clean clothes soon enough. Are you all right? You didn't hurt yourself coming down those stairs did you?"
"No, my lord, just a few bruises," she replied.
"You can call me Shigure. And does my clumsy little flower have a name?" The young maid blushed slightly at the endearment.
"Tohru Honda… It's very nice to meet you." Tohru gathered up the laundry with Shigures help. "Thank you for all your help," she said with a smile as she curtsied and then hurried off down the hall. Shigure stared after her for a moment and thought to himself 'what a strange young girl.'
Blue: Ok so there's the first chapter! I hope it doesn't suck too bad. Don't forget to review. I'll try and update as often as I can. I already have chapter two mostly done so you won't have to wait too long!
Ivey: You know your not going to get any reviews, right? No one likes you. You don't even know what a Beta Reader is.
Blue: ::Buries head in hands:: Why are you always so mean to me?!?