Chapter Rating: PG-13
A/N: Thank you so much for those of you who have encouraged me to continue this story. I didn't even realize how popular it has become, at least in my eyes. Because of it, it's made me want to continue and I've finally got the right inspiration for it. Thank you!
Disclaimer: I STILL don't own Fruits Basket, but I wish I did. ; However I do own Kei and Li.
Prologue - TohruIt's been… four years. Yes that's it. I haven't seen any of the Sohma family for that long. At times, it feels like it's been so much longer. Mostly at night too, when I sit outside in front of the dorm rooms and stare at stars like Kyou-kun and I used to do. Or when I walk through a store and examine the different kinds of flowers I never used to know about until Sohma-kun taught me. Every now and then I even go into a bookstore and try to find anything that Shigure-san might have written. But even as lonely as it gets, I suppose I'm… happy.
After my parents appeared and took me 'home', I tried my best not to be depressed. Most mornings I'd wake up and head down the stairs to get ready for breakfast and I'd find my mother already hard at work with it. She insisted I didn't need to help her, and I don't think she has ever realized how important something so simple made me happy. But I guess I didn't need to think so strongly about the past. I had a future to look forward too, and I could never forget my entire family.
And that's pretty much where I am now. I finished up whatever schooling I missed while living with the Sohma family and I've reached college. The slavery ban law has already gone into affect and many families are having trouble with getting everything together and having a life of their own. A few families just continue to work and be paid under their original 'masters'. There wasn't much fight over it either, like my parents had thought.
I worked hard to get into college, all the way living in Tokyo. It's a beautiful city too, so many lights and things to do. I've made quite a few friends but none as close as Kei and Li. Kei and Li are twins, Kei being five minutes older than his sister Li. Those two… they love fighting about who's older… almost the same kind of bickering that Kyou-kun and Sohma-kun did at the house. All three of us live in one dorm, since neither family can afford to pay all by itself. I myself personally enjoy every minute of college life.
Along with college I suppose I've grown a bit with it. Li insists I'm not so naïve anymore, however I'm still just as dense… I think. But I guess lots of things can change over time. Though… not everything, as much as I don't like to think about the past, he's still here. I've seen him in my mind but even now that picture of him is fading. I can't forget him, but certain expressions or trying to remember his touch, it's just fading. And I hate it. I think that's the only thing I can ever truly hate. That I can't remember him like I want too, fresh and crisp like I just saw him yesterday.
Selfish I suppose, but everyone needs something in life. That's what my mother says. I think she knows I miss them, she even insisted that I could go see them, but I knew… Akito wouldn't have aloud it. I could always do wrong and just –
" Tohru! You're not paying attention… again!" Blinking slightly, I turn and look at Kei, blushing a little as I see him and Li staring at me slightly annoyed. Li held up the math book and put in my face, pointing to a problem. " You know, we need to pass if we ever want to pass and get through college too you know!" Giggling a little, I nod and pull the book down to the table and stare at the equation.
" Damned if I know what it is…" Kei grumbled under his breath and ran his fingers through his short brown hair, blue eyes glued to the book and staring at it like it was going to cut off his fingers. Shrugging a little, I close the book and put it into my bag. " Maybe we should take a break. We've been working for nearly three hours and we've still got plenty of time before finals…"
" Two weeks to the day… tomorrow if I'm correct. Your right Tohru let's get out of here!" Li grabbed my arm and stuck her tongue out at her brother who huffed and copied me, shoving the book into his own bag and slinging it up over his shoulder. " Well I'll leave you girls to it, I've got to get some time in with the guys before they start calling me a girl." Li rolled her eyes and let out a whistle at him, winking before tugging on my arm to follow her.
Somewhere down the line, we ended up at the little shop not too far down into the city that we usually hang out at. Coffee, tea, and cake… you name the sweet and they've probably got it. For once though, I didn't order anything and watched Li nibble on the strawberry cheesecake in front of her. I was spacing again, which I happen to be doing a lot lately, and that's when it caught my eye. Someone with orange something standing to my far left. My eyes widen slightly just staring at Li, too afraid to look over. But somehow my eyes were drawn to the window.
Kei walked in, his head covered with his favorite orange cap on his head. I sighed just enough for Li to notice and she tilted her head and stared at him softly as she waved her brother over. " What's wrong? You look like you just lost you best friend…" I blinked a few times before shaking my head and giving her a soft shake of my head. " Just thought I saw something." I scooted over and let Kei slide in next to me, him wrapping an arm around my shoulders and giving me a goofy joking look before reaching across with his free hand and swiped a part of Li's cake right of her fork.
As the two argued playfully, I couldn't help but feel eyes on me. I shook it off and joined into the fight by stealing a piece of Li's cake as well, gaining a huge hug from Kei as we all laughed. I love my life… but somehow, it's still very lonely.
It was bland and kind of short, but I just wanted to set a basis for what's changed about Tohru and her life. The next chapter should be up soon and I hope you'll get into it. -- Samu