"And I'm Haunted,
by the lives that I have loved
And actions I have hated
I'm haunted
By the lives that wove the web
Inside my haunted head"
Haunted (Poe)
Haunted
"Talking"
'Thinking'
StressedMemories
In this forest full of leaves, she sat all alone. She watched the sun slowly slide below the horizon a sigh left her lips. Her tired green eyes watched as the sky turned pink and splashed the clouds with tones of orange and yellow. The corner of her lips slowly lifted and she sighed. A breeze traveled passed her and she stood up from her seat on the dying leaves and cool grass. She pulled the jacket closer to her body not bothering to pull her auburn hair from the jacket. Inhaling the cool fall air, she sighed as she heard the voice upon the wind again.
"It's okay to cry…you try and act happy…but if you don't let the sorrow out you'll be even more miserable."
She softly chuckled and thought, 'Forget it…you'll never remember anything again Tohru.'
Tohru softly sighed as she slowly walked back to the stone path. She had been out of high school for two years. It had been two years since her accident. Someone had found her body in the park lying next to a bike. The person was kind enough to call an ambulance and get her help. She had apparently crashed into a tree. The accident had caused to her to get amnesia, the doctor said she would never remember anything short-term about her life before the accident. She often wondered whom she was forgetting. Tohru sighed again; she had never thanked that Shinshou guy for calling the ambulance.
"I may not remember you fully…but I do know what I want."
'Voices…just distant memories,' Tohru sadly thought as she walked along the path.
Her eyes traveled to a laughing couple and she sadly smiled. They walked past her hand in hand. The smile faded into a wistful look before she shook her head. She was never one meant for relationships. Tohru had found herself feeling out of place with any man that she dated. It was hopeless for her, as her date talked; she would wistfully stare at him, but not see him. She didn't know what she was waiting for, but she sighed again. She stopped at the edge of the park and stared into the city. People quickly rushed by her and she frowned. This was not the life she wanted. Tohru stepped out into the rush of people hoping to lose herself so the memories that wouldn't come, couldn't haunt her.
Tohru came to a crosswalk and pushed a button. Her eyes caught sight of garnet and she froze. He was across the street staring at her. His garnet eyes ate her mind and she struggled for a connection. A headache was her reward for the memories that wouldn't come. She cursed her bike accident and took a step off the sidewalk. Tohru broke eye contact with the stranger and gazed at the painted white lines as she walked across the street. A horn blared and her head shot up to gaze at the car speeding towards her.
Kyou grumbled as he brushed his orange hair from his face. It was slightly windy today. He figured it would be windy on the day he had to walk back from his training. He scratched the back of his head and sighed. People pushed against each other and bumped his shoulder as he walked through the crowds. He hated the evenings, to many people were out and about. Kyou didn't like people; they bothered him even though he was becoming more tolerant to them.
"I don't regret this…"
Kyou deeply scowled as he continued to walk. It had been two years and he stilled had memories that haunted him. Every so often, he would hear a voice whispering to him. The doctor told him that it was because he had amnesia and some of the memories were fighting to the surface. He hated not knowing what he was missing. It bothered him that he forgot…and it seemed important. Kyou scowled again, he was never going to spare with Kagura again. She had hit him so hard that he had to be rushed to the doctor; she was the reason for his lack of memories.
Kyou growled as another person bumped into him. He pushed out of the traffic of flesh and stood on the curb. Kyou took a deep breath to calm himself. He let his eyes wander across the street and he froze. She stood there at the crosswalk waiting for the light to change. He could see her auburn hair and noticed that there was something sad about her. She lifted her head and her gaze landed on him.
"How can you bear to be so alone in the cold sky?"'Memories…why now?' Kyou wondered as he continued to gaze her.
Her eyes looked haunted. He watched her eyebrows furrow as she struggled with something. She looked away and took a step off the sidewalk. His garnet eyes shot to the crosswalk sign and he saw it was red. Kyou quickly heard the car horn blare and he shot off toward the woman. His pupils widened as the car came closer to her frozen form.
"Tell me moon, how do you survive each night knowing that the sun is so close…yet so far?"
Tohru slammed her eyes shut and threw hands up in weak defense. She wondered if anyone would miss. Car tires squealed. Tohru felt the tears come to the surface and suddenly something hit her and she felt light. She gasped and whimpered as she hit the ground. Her jaw clicked and she didn't dare open her eyes. Tohru waited for the pain and numbness that she would follow. She didn't want to open her eyes.
"Are you okay?"
Tohru unsurely opened her eyes and she groaned in slight pain. Garnet eyes gazed down at her and she felt her face flush. He was right on top of her and studying her for signs of life. Tohru raised a hand up and wiped the dirt from his cheek. His pupils widened and he raised an eyebrow in question.
"You're hurt," Tohru softly said as she noticed his scratched arm.
Kyou raised another eyebrow before he felt himself twitch. His arm was cut, but she was the one almost hit by a car.
"You were almost hit by a car…and you ask how I am?" Kyou calmly asked.
Tohru sheepishly smiled.
"You're either very caring…or stupid," Kyou grumbled.
"ARE YOU OKAY?" The person questioned as they jumped out of the car.
Kyou pushed off of Tohru and watched as the man teen ran towards them. Tohru pushed up into a sitting position and grimaced.
"I'm fine," Tohru assured as she smiled.
"Are you sure? No whiplash?" The man questioned as he ran a hand through his short blue hair. His pink eyes held something that Kyou couldn't understand.
"You're lucky that she doesn't sue you!" Kyou shouted as he jumped to his feet and glared.
"It was an honest mistake…didn't see her!" The man assured.
"It's okay," Tohru interrupted as she stood up and bowed to the man. "I should have watched for the signal Mr…"
"You can call me Juni," The man supplied.
"Since there is no damage done, all's well," Tohru happily assured.
"If you're sure," Juni warily drawled.
"If she won't sue you then I will!" Kyou growled.
"Please leave this be," Tohru whispered to Kyou.
His garnet eyes turned to her with doubt. He sighed and relaxed at her pleading look. Kyou looked back to Juni and saw that the man was already by his car.
"Have a good life Tohru," Juni called out as he winked and then sped off.
Tohru mindlessly blinked as she watched him completely vanish from sight. Kyou looked to the girl now named Tohru and raised a questioning eyebrow.
"I didn't introduce myself," Tohru mumbled.
Kyou took her by the arm and walked them both out of the street. He didn't feel like playing any more car dodge. Kyou reluctantly released Tohru's arm and rubbed his neck. He was going to be sore in the morning.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Kyou questioned.
"Eh?"
Kyou raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"I'm fine, I'm fine…no need to worry," Tohru hurriedly assured with a smile.
"Relax," Kyou firmly said and she quieted a bit.
"I'm Honda Tohru," Tohru introduced as she bowed.
"Sohma Kyou," Kyou gruffly replied as she smiled again.
"Thanks for saving me," Tohru thanked again.
"Yeah, well try not to be an airhead," Kyou grumbled.
"I'm sorry," Tohru mumbled.
"Can't help who you are…no apology needed," Kyou assured as he noticed her sadden.
"Allow me to make this up to you!" Tohru seriously said as she stepped closer to him.
"What?" Kyou questioned as he took a step back from her. Their noses were almost touching.
"I got you hurt and ruined your clothes, allow me to thank you for saving me," Tohru explained.
"There's no need too," Kyou assured as he felt his cheeks heat.
"Please…my mother always told me that one kind act deserves another!" Tohru begged.
'She's lucky I'm not like Shigure,' Kyou thought with a nervous smirk.
"Okay Tohru," Kyou replied as he tested her name.
"Thank you, you won't regret this Sohma-san," Tohru happily replied.
"Kyou," Kyou corrected as she frowned in confusion. "Just call me Kyou."
"My apartment isn't too far from here and I'm sure that Uo-chan is home, I can bandage you up there," Tohru offered.
"That would be nice," Kyou replied as he softly smiled at her. His stomach growled. Tohru chuckled. "Would you like to go to eat with me?"
Tohru's eyes widened in surprise before she looked away in thought, she grinned and answered, "I would love to."
"You like pizza?" Kyou questioned as they safely crossed the street.
"Yeah," Tohru quickly replied and smiled.
Kyou gazed at her excitement but then smiled at her.
"Then we can get pizza," Kyou assured.
"I don't want to be anymore trouble," Tohru protested.
Kyou sighed and lightly bopped her on the head. She froze and stared at him in confusion.
"If you were any trouble then I wouldn't have offered," Kyou assured.
Tohru beamed at the new reassurance and grabbed his hand. She quickly pulled him along the sidewalk.
"Let's hurry and get you bandaged!" Tohru shouted as Kyou grinned.
Kyou watched as she glanced over her shoulder and smiled at him. He couldn't help but smile back.
'She seems familiar,' Kyou thought.
'Maybe…I don't need my old memories,' Tohru thought as the sun finally set.
"I am here to bear witness to a tale so old, a tale that constantly repeats…"
The End
Final Author's Note:
I'm glad that this is finally over (does a little happy dance). I did totally rewrite the Epilogue, because the first one utterly pissed me off. This came out a better than what I originally had written
And Mr. Shinshou was in this chapter again…he just had to make another appearance and it's no coincidence that his name is Mr. Juni Shinshou (winks)
And the Sohma's weren't gods, at least I didn'tintended themto be gods. There were supposedly twelve protectors, one for each zodiac animal and what happened was the God's sort of got stuck with the animals they protected when the curse was placed upon the family. There is no 13th protector; the name I use for him is a different spelling for the rat's protector-Kubira/Kuvera
Anyways…thanks to all of those that have reviewed this story and waited patiently for an update (tosses you all cookies)
I must bow and say that there won't be a sequel, I have other projects that I have to do plus my health is rapidly declining, but if I ever did write another Fruits Basket fic it wouldn't be posted under this name(sighs). I don't think I'll be doing anymore Fruits Basket though…now I must vanish (turns off light and a car is heard trying to be started…light turns on and author shrugs) Eh…Bye now (runs away into the night)