Lest we Forget

Anime/Manga: Fruits Basket/InuYasha

Rated: T

Genres: Friendship, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Humour, Romance, etc.

Pairings: Still undecided. I've been contemplating to simple pairings, to more typical pairings, to complete odd pairings (not far out odd, just undone pairings). Pretty much I still don't know what I'm doing about them.

CHAPTER THREE: EXPOSED SECRET

Kagura tried to keep going on life as she had, even back at her parents' home. She wouldn't let Akito the satisfaction of completely breaking her. Not only did she not want that but she was too stubborn to let him. So she continue to go to school, spend time with her other friends, and the like.

Her parents were still their overbearing selves. Saying things like she should have never left home. It made her mad just thinking about it. It was like they wanted her to stay trap at home. How could anyone be happy living a life locked away? Not that they didn't let her go off, but they preferred if she didn't. They even had the audacity to speak against Kagome. To be fair it was only because they didn't want their daughter to be punished, but still.

Just as before she left she barely saw Rin.

The estate was just as it was before. Nothing different. And while it was an open area it never felt welcoming. It never could be welcoming. Not with the life she lived.

It was just another day that she returned from University when she heard the gossip. An outsider knew the Sohma secret. They weren't going to have their memory erased. Akito was allowing an outsider to keep their secret. She dropped her bag and began kicking the thing closest to her which just so happened to be a giant boulder which had been placed for aesthetic value. Her emotions conflicted with her already tense body. She stressed herself and turned into a small boar… part of the secret some stranger was allowed to keep.

Leaving without a care for her things, she ran to the space Hatori worked. She transformed back into her human body just as she ran around the last corner. It was convenient for her as she could now slam the sliding door open. "Is it true?"

Hatori looked away and got a patient gown for Kagura who took the fabric but made no move to put it on as she looked at him desperately.

Hatori just stared at her with those eyes. Those fake apologetic eyes. He wasn't sorry at all! Clutching the gown tightly as her legs gave out, she cried on the floor. It was silent, but she couldn't stop the tears. Her friend has been threatened while Akito just lets some stranger in.

"Who?" It came out hoarse. She didn't even know if she wanted to know, but she asked anyway.

"Tohru Honda. She's staying at Shigure's place with Yuki and Kyo."

Her eyes widened. Tohru Honda. The person who was allowed to keep the secret was also living on Sohma property. It wasn't much of a surprise since Akito wouldn't be that generous. She'd be monitored. But the other shocking thing was. . .

"Kyo? He's back?" He hadn't told her. No one had told her.

"Yes. He'll be living with Shigure."

Kagura silently stood. She put the gown on and left the room in relative silence. Only the sound of the sliding door to be heard.

She picked her things up on the way back and entered the house. At least she didn't have to worry about her parents asking her what's wrong as they weren't currently home. She entered her room, using her back to close the door. She walked to her bed and flopped down. She felt so empty. She felt so alone.

Why was this the reality of her life?

Kagome stared at the sheet she had been given in class. It was one of those sheets for future plans. It was still the first trimester but the teachers wanted to help them through the year to help reach their goals and give their advice when needed.

Despite being two years older than the rest, she still didn't have an answer. She stared at the blank sheet she put on her desk. What did she want to do?

Putting the thought aside, overthinking would get her nowhere, she took a piece of paper and pencil and she started to write as she thought about Kagura. It wasn't the same living alone.

Kagura walked to Shigure's house. But with Tohru Honda, the unfamiliar person who knew their secret, she could feel her insecurities and shyness rise. Her steps became shorter and softer as she approached the house. So many feelings. So intense. She almost wanted to run away.

Kagura then thought of Kyo. Ah. She could finally see him again after four long months. Oh. But he didn't call the entire time. She suddenly fired up as she charged towards Shigure's house. Kyo!

A spasm shot through her as she was washing the dishes. The glass slipped through her hand, hitting the edge of the sink and breaking into several pieces.

"Huh?" Kagome raised a hand to her head. "I…"

She brought her hands up to hug herself.

"What was I…?"

Her hands shot up to her head as she fell onto her knees.

Kagura scrubbed and scrubbed. She couldn't do anything right, could she? Everyone hated her didn't they? That's what this curse life would lead her to. A dark, lonely, hated life.

She spent hours trying to clean up the giant mess she made. It didn't matter that her fingers had wrinkled from long water exposure, that she was sore, that she hadn't eaten. None of it mattered.

"You hate me too. Right Shigure?" The houses owner had been standing at the doorway watching her clean for a few minutes now.

"I don't hate you." He watched as Kagura's fingers tightened around the sponge further.

"Kyo hates me." Kagura's tone remained even.

"He's hot headed. After all these years you should know that."

Shigure made some comment about knowing a girl's feelings better than girls themselves. He had honestly expected a series of punches that were usually reserved for Kyo.

"You know how I feel." Her voice hollow. Shigure lived with the same curse as she did, but to think that he could truly understood how she felt at the moment was ridiculous. Sympathize all you will, but emotions can't be shared.

Shigure didn't reply back.

At least he knew when to be quiet.

"Why her?" Kagura finally asked. It had been bothering her for a while.

"Who? Tohru?"

"Who else would I be talking about," she said bitterly.

"Well it was Akito's decision." Kagura somehow didn't believe that without some kind of other motive or pressuring.

"I'd thought you be happy that someone outside the family knew. It's a breath of fresh air."

The girl who got to live with Kyo. The girl who got to know the secret. Why did this girl get everything?

"Hey you're Kagura Sohma, right?"

Kagura who had been scared that her secret would be revealed.

Kagura who had been shy once high school had started and knew none of her peers.

Kagura who had been insecure because of her excentric, overbearing and sometimes violent nature.

Yet she hadn't thought Kagura to be misplaced. To be odd. She hadn't pitied her. In fact she would later remember the words "You shouldn't be scared of who you are. Kagura is Kagura and that's why you're my friend."

Kagura who felt included and free for the first time in her life despite still being trapped by the Sohma.

Kagura who gained a life outside the Sohma family.

"Hey you're Kagura Sohma, right?" Kagura shyly nodded her head. "I'm Kagome Higurashi. Let's be friends."

"If I'm supposed to be happy, why am I bitter?" It wasn't Tohru's fault. She knew that. By now she learnt the world is unfair and while Tohru was allowed to know, even just a little of their family's dynamics, she was now trapped too. Yet even so Kagura recalled the times that Kagome would forget and the time in the hospital. She trembled at the thought at the hospital. Kagome had stabily recovered but there had been days that Kagome had forgotten about herself. The doctors had said the severe phase was only temporary until she was able to put her thoughts back in place. Yet even in those moments…

Kagura peeked into the room. She had been expecting Kagome to be asleep but she had been awake and staring as she was looking in.

"You keep coming to see me, right?" Kagura didn't have a response to that. How did she know? "I'm Kagome." After a moment of an awkward silence. "I'm sorry I have to ask, but do I know you?"

Kagura shook her head. "I'm Kagura."

"Kagura…" Kagome repeated the name. "Then we'll just have to become friends."

Kagura ran away at those words.

"She's not a bad person." What was Shigure trying to convince her of? Did he really think her opinions of other people were that low? Sure she was jealous, but more than anything it was her frustration at Akito and the whole situation.

"I can tell."

Tohru had been kind enough to bring her a snack and help out which she had been grateful for despite wanting to do it all herself. It was the middle of the night when they finally finished and went to bed.

The next morning, Kagura got to eat some of Tohru's delicious food for breakfast. Kyo had been uncomfortable because Kagura decided to squeeze herself next to him at their little table, but otherwise they had all been busy eating.

Yuki put his bowl down. "Before I forget, a little over a week ago someone came to me asking about you Kagura."

Kagura stopped eating to look at Yuki. Shigure kept on eating and Tohru stopped and looked between Yuki and Kagura curiously. "Me?" She had a bad feeling about this. "Who?"

"Who would want spend time with you?" said Kyo who then got punched several times by Kagura.

Tohru flinched but the comment had been rather rude.

"I don't recall getting her name and I don't remember the message word for word. I meant to call you but you disconnected your phone." Kagura felt guilty about turning away Kagome's phone calls so she ended up unplugging the phone. Her parents didn't argue against her. "Something about not prying into your problems, not pretending to understand but that you're always welcomed home."

Kagura immediately stopped punching Kyo to stare at Yuki.

"That's a very good friend you have Kagura." Tohru didn't want to pry in what 'you're always welcomed home' meant. Kagura just continued to stare at Yuki. "Um… Kagura?"

"Where did you see her?"

"She goes to our school. Shouldn't you just talk to her yours—" Yuki dodged part of the table that flew his way when Kagura broke it. Tohru looked frightened and wondered if all the Sohmas were just naturally strong with a fighting spirit.

"The same school." Kagura dragged the words out. It wasn't that she didn't trust Yuki and Kyo, but the proximity still worried her.

Kagura charged at Yuki but he dodged.

"Stay away from her."

"Like I want to be close to any of your friends." Kyo tried to envision the kind of person who could put up with Kagura.

"We don't want to be found out either. It was the first time I've seen her. It'll be fine." Yuki just thought that Kagura never wanted to see the fright on her friend's face.

"Why don't you prepare some more food Tohru."

"Sure!" Tohru went to fulfill Shigure's request. After all, since the table was destroyed all the food went flying as well.

"Promise me! I can't take chances."

"Calm down," Kyo cut in. It was always Kagura and her theatrics. "We'd have to face Akito if that happens and we want that as much as you. Worst case scenario Hatori erases her memories." Kyo flinched as that just seemed to fuel Kagura's anger.

"That's hardly the worst case scenario." Kagura ran to the front entrance, put on her shoes and ran. She would have to come visit Kyo another time.

"With the way she acts it's like she expects death or something," said Kyo who laid on his back.

"Well death may not be so farfetched." Shigure used his sing song tone which completely contradicted his statement. "Has it been seven or eight times now that Kagome found out? Either way Akito has insinuated it's a possibility," he said in a lower more serious tone. Quiet enough to make sure the girl in the kitchen wouldn't hear.

Yuki and Kyo's bodies twisted to stare at Shigure in shock.

I will apologize now if any of the characters feel off or a bit OOC. It's been a long time since I've done anything Fruits Basket related so I'm reading some random chapters to try and get the feel of the characters again.