Thank you for taking the time to read my fan fic. This is a story that's
been boiling in the back of my mind ever since the first time I watched
this anime over a year ago. I think my brain was getting sick of it just
sitting in there and wanted it let loose on the world. =)
Also, I figured it may be a good idea to warn you that while I have seen all of the anime I am only up to volume two in the manga. If in the event I make some horrible mistake based upon something in further than I am, I would like to go ahead and apologize for this.
Also, The only character in this story that belongs to me is Adrian. All other characters belong to Natsuki Takaya-sensei.
I hope you enjoy Trading Pain, and please feel free to review, constructive criticism is very welcome.
Notes:
*Junnichi: Is in reference to the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Within the Sohma family there are 12 people who turn into these animals whenever their body is either put under a lot of stress or they are hugged by a member of the opposite sex. These 12 are called the junnichi.
Trading Pain
Chapter 1: Unfolding Secrets
"Somebody else knows our secret." Akito's words were soft but Shigure had no trouble understanding their meaning, nor the implication behind them.
"Who is it?" Shigure tried to sound nonchalant; even though he knew who ever it was would probably have to have their memories erased. Just like all those times before.
"We don't know."
"What?"
"We don't know her name. We also don't know how she knows either."
"How is this possible?" To Shigure this sounded like a bad dream or maybe an illusion of some kind. Either way there had to have been a mistake made somewhere.
"Yesterday, a young woman entered Ayame's store and purchased some ribbon. The young female clerk that works for Ayame's fell. "Akito reached out his hand letting a small bird land on his finger. "She would have fallen on Ayame if that woman hadn't saved them both. She put her body between the two of them, but Ayame didn't transform. He said that this person was definitely female. She then told him to be more careful, or he would get into trouble with his family. She then left the store."
Shigure just sat there unsure what to say. The story wasn't strange in itself, but the fact that Ayame hadn't transformed into a snake was more than bizarre, it was a complete mystery. The only times when the junnichi hadn't transformed when hugging a member of the opposite sex was when that person was also a junnichi. Did this young woman have a secret of her own?
Either way even though Ayame was his best friend Shigure knew he wouldn't be able to get the details from that narcissistic chatterbox. Hatori though wouldn't even have a problem; Ayame always did exactly what Hatori wanted him to.
"Ayame told me that the young woman was in high school." Hatori put away his medical book and turned his full attention to his friend Shigure. "He said that she had a uniform under her arm when she was in the store. He had also said that it was the same uniform that Ms. Honda owns."
"Wait you don't think Tohru had anything to do with this?" Shigure butted in. There was no way. Not his Tohru, she wouldn't tell a soul.
"Don't worry I don't believe Tohru has anything to do with this. However, we do need to discover this other girl's identity. Also the reason why Ayame didn't transform, was it just a coincidence, or could it be something else. As a doctor I find this very fascinating."
"Akito had me question Ayame from the very beginning. Everything, you were told by Akito I already went over with Ayame. It's unbelievable, but it is true."
Hatori reached up and rubbed his tired eyes.
"The real question that has Akito in an uproar is why? Was Ayame not transforming a fluke, or would it happen every time? Is she free from activating the curse, if so why? How does she even know our secret? Will she be willing to keep it? Will I be forced to have to erase her memories? Will that even work? There are just too many unanswered questions, and we need answers before anything can be done."
The thought of hunting an unknown high school girl held more than a little appeal to Shigure. He felt a grin spreading across his face as hundreds of young innocent high school girls dressed in those cute little uniforms paraded around inside of his mind.
"Tohru would probably help, but Kyo and Yuki..." Shigure could only shrug. They might find it fascinating that someone who was normal didn't trigger the transformation, but then again it was Akito who was doing the asking. Well, in the end it would be their choices to make.
"Well, then, should I give your love to this young high school girl. Maybe she's as charming as my dear bride."
"Tohru isn't your bride, and by the way have you gotten rid of that maid's outfit you had ordered for her yet. What if Yuki or Kyo finds it?"
Shigure just gave Hatori a big smile as he strolled out of the room, never bothering to answer that particular question. Men just had to have their romantic fantasies after all, especially novelists, they needed lots of inspiration!
"Akito had something very interesting to say today." Shigure didn't even bother to look up from his newspaper. Knowing Kyo he wasn't even listening, and Yuki probably had a really suspicious look across his face. Not that Shigure could blame him. They were all still mad about how Akito had used Tohru in an attempt to break the family curse. Still that fiasco did have positive results for everyone; Tohru had been accepted, even by Akito. "A girl at your school knows about the junnichi."
This caught everyone attention. It was kind of like dropping a bomb on Hiroshima all over again.
So Shigure explained the situation. Yuki couldn't hide his interest at his older brother's lack of transformation. Still the mere mention of having her memories erased made his blood run cold.
Not again. He couldn't allow it to happen again, no matter what this girl thought of them, and of the curse. Still, the fact that someone knew and that they had been so close... Yuki couldn't help but wonder if she had seen it when no one realized that there was someone watching. He thought back to how many times Tohru had accidentally made them to transform at school, and realized that he really couldn't keep track of the number.
"Damn that Akito!" Kyo hissed. "If he wants answers he should find them himself!"
"This doesn't prove that she actually knows about the curse, and my idiot brother didn't transform." Yuki reminded them. "I'll agree it's strange, but we really don't know if she knows about the curse or not. Also, assuming that she did know, she obviously hasn't told anyone so far. I have to honestly doubt that she will tell anyone. We should just let her be. Besides what if she's like Hanna and that's why she knows? Erasing her memory would be pointless."
"Don't say that you damn rat!" Kyo could feel his hair standing on end at the mere mention of Tohru's friend's name. She really gave him the creaps.
"I mean psychic."
"I know what you meant! Either way it's none of our damn business."
"Yes it does seem rather pointless to investigate doesn't it?"
"I was hoping you would say that!" Shigure had an extremely pleased expression on his face. "So many high school girls,' Shigure knew he was drooling, but he just couldn't stop himself, "I wonder just how many there are at that school of yours!"
That pervert.
"Damn it! Alright, already."
"I'll do it."
"Now that's the spirit you two!"
Yuki and Kyo knew they didn't really have a choice. It was either this or never be able show their faces in school again.
Chapter 2: The Transfer Student
To every one's surprise the mystery girl is a brand new transfer student. Even more surprising is that she and Hanna have a considerable amount in common, but their gifts are very different. Why exactly didn't Ayame transform? Could it have something to do with her gift, and what is it exactly?
Also, I figured it may be a good idea to warn you that while I have seen all of the anime I am only up to volume two in the manga. If in the event I make some horrible mistake based upon something in further than I am, I would like to go ahead and apologize for this.
Also, The only character in this story that belongs to me is Adrian. All other characters belong to Natsuki Takaya-sensei.
I hope you enjoy Trading Pain, and please feel free to review, constructive criticism is very welcome.
Notes:
*Junnichi: Is in reference to the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Within the Sohma family there are 12 people who turn into these animals whenever their body is either put under a lot of stress or they are hugged by a member of the opposite sex. These 12 are called the junnichi.
Trading Pain
Chapter 1: Unfolding Secrets
"Somebody else knows our secret." Akito's words were soft but Shigure had no trouble understanding their meaning, nor the implication behind them.
"Who is it?" Shigure tried to sound nonchalant; even though he knew who ever it was would probably have to have their memories erased. Just like all those times before.
"We don't know."
"What?"
"We don't know her name. We also don't know how she knows either."
"How is this possible?" To Shigure this sounded like a bad dream or maybe an illusion of some kind. Either way there had to have been a mistake made somewhere.
"Yesterday, a young woman entered Ayame's store and purchased some ribbon. The young female clerk that works for Ayame's fell. "Akito reached out his hand letting a small bird land on his finger. "She would have fallen on Ayame if that woman hadn't saved them both. She put her body between the two of them, but Ayame didn't transform. He said that this person was definitely female. She then told him to be more careful, or he would get into trouble with his family. She then left the store."
Shigure just sat there unsure what to say. The story wasn't strange in itself, but the fact that Ayame hadn't transformed into a snake was more than bizarre, it was a complete mystery. The only times when the junnichi hadn't transformed when hugging a member of the opposite sex was when that person was also a junnichi. Did this young woman have a secret of her own?
Either way even though Ayame was his best friend Shigure knew he wouldn't be able to get the details from that narcissistic chatterbox. Hatori though wouldn't even have a problem; Ayame always did exactly what Hatori wanted him to.
"Ayame told me that the young woman was in high school." Hatori put away his medical book and turned his full attention to his friend Shigure. "He said that she had a uniform under her arm when she was in the store. He had also said that it was the same uniform that Ms. Honda owns."
"Wait you don't think Tohru had anything to do with this?" Shigure butted in. There was no way. Not his Tohru, she wouldn't tell a soul.
"Don't worry I don't believe Tohru has anything to do with this. However, we do need to discover this other girl's identity. Also the reason why Ayame didn't transform, was it just a coincidence, or could it be something else. As a doctor I find this very fascinating."
"Akito had me question Ayame from the very beginning. Everything, you were told by Akito I already went over with Ayame. It's unbelievable, but it is true."
Hatori reached up and rubbed his tired eyes.
"The real question that has Akito in an uproar is why? Was Ayame not transforming a fluke, or would it happen every time? Is she free from activating the curse, if so why? How does she even know our secret? Will she be willing to keep it? Will I be forced to have to erase her memories? Will that even work? There are just too many unanswered questions, and we need answers before anything can be done."
The thought of hunting an unknown high school girl held more than a little appeal to Shigure. He felt a grin spreading across his face as hundreds of young innocent high school girls dressed in those cute little uniforms paraded around inside of his mind.
"Tohru would probably help, but Kyo and Yuki..." Shigure could only shrug. They might find it fascinating that someone who was normal didn't trigger the transformation, but then again it was Akito who was doing the asking. Well, in the end it would be their choices to make.
"Well, then, should I give your love to this young high school girl. Maybe she's as charming as my dear bride."
"Tohru isn't your bride, and by the way have you gotten rid of that maid's outfit you had ordered for her yet. What if Yuki or Kyo finds it?"
Shigure just gave Hatori a big smile as he strolled out of the room, never bothering to answer that particular question. Men just had to have their romantic fantasies after all, especially novelists, they needed lots of inspiration!
"Akito had something very interesting to say today." Shigure didn't even bother to look up from his newspaper. Knowing Kyo he wasn't even listening, and Yuki probably had a really suspicious look across his face. Not that Shigure could blame him. They were all still mad about how Akito had used Tohru in an attempt to break the family curse. Still that fiasco did have positive results for everyone; Tohru had been accepted, even by Akito. "A girl at your school knows about the junnichi."
This caught everyone attention. It was kind of like dropping a bomb on Hiroshima all over again.
So Shigure explained the situation. Yuki couldn't hide his interest at his older brother's lack of transformation. Still the mere mention of having her memories erased made his blood run cold.
Not again. He couldn't allow it to happen again, no matter what this girl thought of them, and of the curse. Still, the fact that someone knew and that they had been so close... Yuki couldn't help but wonder if she had seen it when no one realized that there was someone watching. He thought back to how many times Tohru had accidentally made them to transform at school, and realized that he really couldn't keep track of the number.
"Damn that Akito!" Kyo hissed. "If he wants answers he should find them himself!"
"This doesn't prove that she actually knows about the curse, and my idiot brother didn't transform." Yuki reminded them. "I'll agree it's strange, but we really don't know if she knows about the curse or not. Also, assuming that she did know, she obviously hasn't told anyone so far. I have to honestly doubt that she will tell anyone. We should just let her be. Besides what if she's like Hanna and that's why she knows? Erasing her memory would be pointless."
"Don't say that you damn rat!" Kyo could feel his hair standing on end at the mere mention of Tohru's friend's name. She really gave him the creaps.
"I mean psychic."
"I know what you meant! Either way it's none of our damn business."
"Yes it does seem rather pointless to investigate doesn't it?"
"I was hoping you would say that!" Shigure had an extremely pleased expression on his face. "So many high school girls,' Shigure knew he was drooling, but he just couldn't stop himself, "I wonder just how many there are at that school of yours!"
That pervert.
"Damn it! Alright, already."
"I'll do it."
"Now that's the spirit you two!"
Yuki and Kyo knew they didn't really have a choice. It was either this or never be able show their faces in school again.
Chapter 2: The Transfer Student
To every one's surprise the mystery girl is a brand new transfer student. Even more surprising is that she and Hanna have a considerable amount in common, but their gifts are very different. Why exactly didn't Ayame transform? Could it have something to do with her gift, and what is it exactly?