Author's note:
Fruits Basket and related characters are trademarks and copyrighted by Natsuki Takaya. The fic author has taken liberties to make this fanfic without intentions to profit. Please remind yourself that this is a fanfiction, made by a desperate fan. I know there're maybe some people that would be disappointed if I make something like this from a great story like Fruits Basket. Again, this is a fanfiction. For you're going to sue me after reading this, you only do something useless, because this is mere fanfiction; I have my own liberties. Make something you're own if you're going to say something like "you're abusing the characters!" or "they don't do those!" or similar things.

Keywords and warnings:
R-rated. Minor sexual themes. Some parts are extremely OOC. Yuki x Tohru, Kyou x Tohru, Shigure x Tohru, Hatori x Tohru, Hatsuharu x Tohru, Ayame x Tohru, Akito x Tohru, Momiji + Tohru, Hiro + Tohru. Not gangbang, you perverts, I'm not that cruel...

Start: February 16th, 2002
Finish: February 16th, 2002

exuberance

I. Prologue

It was a usual morning at the end of March. Sakura flower had been blooming for two days, usual thing happened every year. Usual sun had risen from the east, shining its brightest for the lovely day. As usual, Tohru Honda, the only 'non-cursed' in the house was preparing the breakfast for the other occupants... the cursed ones.

In the other hand, the owner of the house, Shigure Sohma was opening that day's newspaper, eyes falling to every characters printed at the papers... as usual. Yuki Sohma, the other one, was in his room, preparing the speech he was going to say to his kohais at the new students welcoming ceremony.

The last occupant was Kyou Sohma, usually doing some unexpected things every day. Then, there he was, walking to the kitchen, very aware of the random songs the only female was humming while she was cooking. But, didn't know that he was stupid like his cousin always said, or his master's trainings were completely useless... there he was... tripped over his toe, and his body hit the female's who had no idea, and landed on her body.

A short "Ack!" from Kyou and "Kya!" from Tohru, and sound of weights hitting the floor were loud enough to be heard by Shigure's ears and Yuki's upstairs. The older sighed, standing, setting his feet towards the kitchen; the prince of the school shook his head, muttering "bakaneko" on his way downstairs.

"Kyou-kun... will you be a little bit---" That was the only thing Yuki could hear in his way to the kitchen, Shigure's voice was stopped suddenly, making the mouse's eyebrows wrinkling for a while, then strolling again to his previous destination.

"Bakaneko, you better---" This time, Yuki's voice was halted at his throat. His bluish eyes widened at the sight in front of him; Kyou, *human* Kyou, one hand at Tohru's shoulder, the other at her back, reddish eyes was wide open in shock, identical with Tohru's confused ones.

Yuki gaped for a while, looking towards the eldest, had the same expression with either of them, jaws clenched tightly. He had to assure himself, if he didn't, he would have been thinking that he was only dreaming... but Shigure's startled face was enough to prove that what he saw was right...

Kyou... in Tohru's arms... didn't change to his cat form.

"A---- ah--- Kyou-kun--- will you---" Tohru's nervous voice was enough to break the silence, making Kyou blushed at the same time, and jumped from Tohru's embrace. But still, his surprised expression was still there, at his face.

Well, that was not a usual thing in Shigure Sohma's house...

"Ah, Tohru-kun. May I try?" Shigure said, just when Tohru had her feet back at the ground. A "what?" escaped her lips before the dog had his hands around Tohru's shoulders, trapping her inside his arms.

Surprising. Seconds had passed, and the same thing happened, Shigure didn't turn to his dog form. Kyou and Yuki had their eyes still widen at the little scene.

"Oh my, this is true." Shigure sighed, he rubbed Tohru's back. "Tohru's really a savior... I never thought that I would touch other woman's body beside the Junishis, in my human form... This is... just... to good to be tru---" Shigure didn't have a chance to finish his sentence as two blows sent him away from Tohru; Yuki's punch and Kyou's kick.

"Hentai author!"
"Perverted dog!"

"Ah." Tohru blushed when he saw the two rivals' eyes towards her. "I don't mean--- I believe that Shigure-san was too--- I mean--- err--- you know--- that---"

"Will you be a little bit softer towards your cousin..." Shigure brushed his head when he walked back to the kitchen. "I will cut your money for the door. By the way--- Tohru-kun, that was surprising. What could have caused it?"

"Eh?" Tohru, face was still ten shades redder than usual, arching her eyebrows in confusion. "I'm sorry, did I miss something?" This time, Shigure face trapped in a forced smirk.

"Honda-san," Yuki then tapped the female's shoulder, taking her attention, as her face went red again. "Did you notice that you'd hugged Shigure and bakaneko, and they didn't change into their Junishi form?"

Tohru crooked her neck, confusedly looking at Kyou and then at Shigure; few seconds later, an "Oh!" was said.

And that was, a new unusual morning happened to the Sohma family, that maybe changed the line, and created an alternate universe to a whole new pointless story.

***

"Ehh!!!??? Why don't you tell me, Harii!" Sun-kissed blonde hair brushed against her pale skin as he jumped towards the older cousin of his. "Why Akito gathered all the male Junishis suddenly at time like this! It's not like Akito! Nee, nee, Harii!? Why can't Kisa or Kagura join us?"

"That, I don't know." The doctor answered simply. He wasn't too good in saying too much, and that will he do, saying something simple, as he walked with the rabbit jumping over him, towards the Honke.

He neither heard other random things that Momiji threw at the stroll. The older preferred to be quiet, not to think all the strange ideas he had in mind of Akito suddenly called all the males. Maybe, Momiji also tried to hide all his nervousness between his own riots. But as the distance to the Honke shortened, unconsciously, the rabbit had his mouth shut. The atmosphere at the Honke itself was enough to make him to be silent... plus the fact that Akito was in there, maybe with the other Junishis as well.

It seemed like Hatori and Momiji were the last to be arrived. Momiji threw anxious glances around the current room in the Honke, where Akito would arrive in a matter of minutes, maybe seconds.

Ayame was sitting furthest from him, strange that he didn't wear something outrageous that day. Then there was Yuki, and Hatsuharu. None of them dare to open their mouth, not even for breathing a whole set of air. There were also Hiro, Ritsu, and... Momiji wrinkled his eyebrow... Kyou? Akito actually permitted Kyou to enter the Honke in this rare condition? Now, he was very afraid. Akito would come any minute, with one person missing from current room, that was Shigure.

Forget about any minute, sounds of feet hitting the wooden floor almost make him jump his perfect sitting position. He ducked his head when he felt him passing the diagonal of the room to reach the place where he could get the center of attention. Momiji was also sure that nobody had courage enough to look Akito straight in the eyes... well, except Tohru... Wait a minute, Momiji suddenly raised his head, this is not about Tohru... isn't it?

Maybe, the others were thinking the same thing as him; as they were also looking towards the Kacho with questioning eyes. Shigure was sitting not far from Akito.

The kacho suddenly smirked, smile that some people knew to well. Shoulders were stiffened at that sight.

"Yuki, Kyou... I heard from Shigure..." Slow baritone voice, enough to make the rat and the mouse felt cold air overwhelming them. Trying not to look confused, the others looked at the three names mentioned... but they didn't have to wait too long, as the next sentence was said. "... about Tohru Honda..."

Same moment, same second, all eyes glanced towards Akito, surprised, shocked, not expecting it, yet had guessed it from the first.

"Shigure said..." He smiled again. "... that the curse somehow is nullified... by her presence only..."

Twelve pair of eyes that didn't know the whole problem completely, narrowed, and at the same time, were eager to her the next words. Nullify was not the word they could hear everyday. But, this 'nullify' word had something to do with the innocent girl they knew to well.

Then was silent. Shigure harrumphed, taking everyone's attention from the leader. He knew that it was the time for him to explain the whole thing. "Today, actually is the first day for students to start new semester. But I'm sorry to postpone that day from some of you," His eyes moving from Yuki, Kyou, Momiji, Hatsuharu to Hiro, "at the very same day---"

"Stop babbling around..." Akito said softly, but they heard it cruel enough. "... you didn't even pick beautiful words."

"Yes," Shigure laughed a little. "What I'm trying to say that was Tohru had hugged Kyou this morning, and he didn't change into his Junishi form, which is the cat."

Instantly, heads turned quickly towards the person mentioned, who was ducking his. Soon, another sentence surprised them. "Neither do I, and Yuki."

"Wait a minute, Gure-san." Ayame half kneeled, maybe he was not sure he heard well about the information, or maybe it was his anxiety. "Did you say that you, Kyou, Yuki, neither had turned into neither dog, cat or rat, when Tohru... the Tohru Honda, that Tohru, hugged you?"

"Precisely." Shigure half smiled. "Glad you understand, Aya---"

"That's absurd." Bass voice from the back soon commented. "It's impossible for us, to be hugged by females other than Junishis, without transforming to our cursed forms. It's illogical for an exception to be happened."

"Ah, Ha-san. Please don't think that cynical, what happened, did happen, do you expect us to lie?"

"I'm not accusing you, Gure-san." Ayame added soon, adding 'neither Yuki or Kyou' under his breath. "But Tori-san's right. Not even our mother could hold us in our human forms, now... what's with the non-Sohma could hug us just like that. Not that I don't like Tohru. But this is strange!"

A silence. But chuckle from the leader's side took their attention and another infamous smirk from his pale lips. "Strange is true... Ayame..." Breath pulled in, and pushed out. "But, don't you think that this rarity should be used as well?"

"Eh?" Shock and rage were held at the same time.

"It's not everyday you can found a person like Tohru Honda." Laughter, vicious one. "Don't you think so too...?"

His heart sank... Momiji felt his world was going to shatter... again...

Next:
II. Flower Storm
Under the Cherry Blossom...
(Ayame X Tohru)

While making this part, the author's listening to: Jazzanova's "Caravelle", "Coffee Talk"; Masami Okui's "I'd love you to touch me"; Incognito's "Nights over Egypt", "African Song"