Pre-Fanfic Note
Warning: this story will end up containing spoilers for pretty much
all 26 episodes of the Fruits Basket anime (although there's very little
spoiler material in this chapter). I haven't read more than a few dozen pages
of the manga, so if this story conflicts with it, I apologize. But definitely
not Ritsu-style.
First of all, I'd like to profusely thank everyone who commented on
the last story I sent to the ML (my R1/2 AU "Inherit the Earth"). I've revised
it considerably, improved it massively, and I've just got one scene to finish
before the second draft will be ready. I'm a little stuck on said scene,
however, so I've been touching on a few other ideas in the meantime -- an
Azumanga Daioh fic focusing on Maya, a comedic story about Ranma learning yet
another new technique, a couple of mystery fusions inspired by Brian Randall's
spamfic series... and this.
This is the first draft of the first chapter of my first Fruits Basket
fanfic. I'm planning it as a mainly humorous story, with a bit of K/T romance
as well, but my stories tend to do strange things if I don't watch them, so I
can't say for certain what it'll be by the end. ^_^() I've used honorifics and
the occasional Japanese word here and there, something that I don't like to do
in most of my stories, because the honorifics and Tohru's customary "Hai!"
just don't translate well. If you comment, let me know how you feel about it.
Just in case: "hai" = "yes" or "okay", "kuso nezumi" = "damn rat", and "baka
neko" = "stupid cat".
And so it begins.
------------------
The story of the Chinese Zodiac is fairly well known, as legends go.
If you desire a detailed telling of the tale, you have only to seek it, so
there is no real reason for me to recount it in its entirety. Suffice it to
say that one day the rat, for reasons known only to himself, tricked the cat
into missing his chance to become part of the zodiac. The result is easily
predicted: the rat and the cat, at one time close friends, became bitter
enemies.
There are many versions of this legend, passed down throughout the
years. However, there is a second part to the tale that is never told. The
story of how the cat finally regained his pride, found happiness and
acceptance, and reconciled with the rat is all but impossible to find. There
is a very good reason for this.
This part of the tale has not happened yet.
------------------
Cheshire Grin
A Fruits Basket Fanfic by Shay Caron
Fruits Basket and all characters therein belong to Natsuki Takaya
Chapter 1: The Light of Realization
------------------
Consciousness. It wasn't as great as people made it sound. Kyou was
occasionally knocked out after a defeat at Yuki's hands, and he pretty much
preferred being out to waking up and realizing he'd lost once again. It was
the embarrassment and frustration associated with loss that he minded, not the
pain. After being beaten so often, pain was no longer much of a concern. Kyou
was certain he was getting over-dramatic, but he couldn't make himself care.
Finally managing to open his eyes, he saw a sight that was familiar to
him after all his fights with the rat: the ceiling. It was either the ceiling
or the sky, usually, except that one time that his head had ended up buried in
the dirt. He mentally took stock of his injuries. Nothing broken. Yuki never
really tried to do any serious damage -- not that he *could*, Kyou hurried to
reassure himself. Just bruises and a few cuts from colliding with a rock. 'And
there's something tight around my leg.' Kyou pushed himself into a sitting
position.
Tohru knelt next to him, brow furrowed, wrapping a length of gauze
around a cut on his left calf. "Ah! Kyou-kun is awake!" she exclaimed. "You
were asleep for a long time. I was worried about you."
Kyou couldn't help but be pleased that she'd worried over him, despite
the sharp comments from the cynical part of his mind: 'Yeah, she'd be as
worried about anybody else. Probably more.' 'Shut up,' he told himself. Out
loud he said, "What time is it?"
"Almost 11 PM." Indeed, through the window, he could see that the sky
was black and dotted with starlight.
"Great." Kyou shifted a bit. "You done with that bandage yet?"
"Not yet. You got a bad scrape when --" She stopped and turned away.
Kyou scowled. He wasn't in a good mood anyway, or he wouldn't have
said it. "Go ahead and finish your sentence. 'When Yuki-kun kicked your butt,'
right?"
"Oh, no!" Tohru hastened to reassure him. "I thought you did very well
today --"
"Just forget it."
"Hai."
For a time, silence followed, and Kyou found himself ruminating on
Tohru's attempt to restore his confidence. 'I wonder how you feel about our
fights... Do you wince when I get hit by his spin kick? Do you cheer him on
when he slides past my fist?' Before he noticed, he was speaking aloud. "Who
do you root for?"
"What?" Tohru looked up from her careful bandaging with an adorably
perplexed expression.
"When me an' the rat are fightin'. Which one of us do you wanna win?"
Tohru stared disbelievingly at him as if he'd asked her what color
panties she was wearing. (Of course, such a question was probably more up
Shigure's alley anyway.) "Kyou-kun! How could I take sides between my two best
friends? I don't want you *or* Yuki-kun to get hurt!"
Kyou rolled his eyes. Yeah, he could've seen *that* one coming. Ah,
well --
"But..." Tohru glanced over her shoulder, then whispered, "It would be
nice, though... to see you win once."
Kyou started and stared at her. 'Did she just...'
"I'd be happy for you."
Kyou stared at her shy smile for a moment before shaking himself out
of the daze. "Thanks. That... That means a lot." He rewarded her with one of
his rare smirks. The moment lasted until he scoffed and added, "At the rate
I'm goin', it'll be a hundred years before I win. But I *will* win, someday."
He clenched a fist to emphasize his point. "I'll beat that kuso nezumi."
Tohru sighed as she tied the last bit of the bandage in place. "There.
Sometimes I wish you wouldn't get so angry at Yuki-kun. Oh!" she gasped. "I'm
sorry! It's not my business what --"
Kyou poked her in the side to stop her. "Hey, cut it out. Remember
what I told ya? If ya wanna say somethin', then say it."
"Ah, hai."
"But it's not like that's gonna happen, 'course. I mean, if I wasn't
angry at Yuki --" Kyou stopped in the middle of his sentence as he actually
considered the idea. 'Hold *on* a minute. If I wasn't angry at Yuki...'
"Kyou-kun? Are you alright?"
'If I wasn't angry at Yuki... I'd fight better. I'd be able to pay
attention to him. I wouldn't jump into the fight and get my butt kicked! I
could *win*!'
"Kyou-kun? Eep!" Kyou abruptly wrapped his arms around Tohru's
shoulders. Blood rushed to her face as she felt his warm body next to hers for
the briefest of moments...
>POOF< Clothing dropped to the floor around the now-feline Kyou.
"Tohru, you're a genius!" he enthused, with what could only be called a catty
grin on his face. "I think I know what I gotta do! See you tomorrow!" The
orange cat promptly bounded up the stairs to his bedroom.
"Ara?" Shigure leaned in from the kitchen. "Tohru-kun, whatever is the
matter?" Tohru knelt frozen in front of Kyou's shirt and pants, still blushing
hotly.
At the end of the hall, Yuki turned and calmly stepped outside,
nothing whatsoever in his demeanor betraying his anger.
------
It took the rest of the night and most of the morning to make sure he
had everything figured out. The plan was surprisingly simple. Kyou had to get
control of his temper. A difficult task, true, but he'd spent years training
in martial arts with Kazuma. This would be a cakewalk in comparison. He'd keep
working until he was certain Yuki couldn't make him mad any more, then he
would issue his challenge. "And WIN!"
On the other side of the table, Shigure and Tohru stared at Kyou. He
realized he'd said that last bit out loud. Bright red, he sat back down and
turned to stare at the wall, chewing absently on his breakfast.
Yuki stepped into the room. "Morning," he mumbled. Kyou looked at him
and felt -- nothing. Not the usual flare of fury when he so much as breathed.
No resentment over his constant smugness or jealousy at his skills. Kyou was
actually staying calm! Hah! It was going to be a breeze.
Kyou waved and said, "Mornin', Yuki." Tohru smiled at that, while
Shigure looked quizzical.
"What's wrong with you, baka neko?"
"*What* did you call me?!"
Leap. Wham.
Breeze? Scratch that. It was going to be a hurricane.
------------------
Cheshire Grin, Chapter 1
First draft completed 1/14/2003
.---Anime/Manga Fanfiction Mailing List----.
| Administrators - ffml-admins@anifics.com |
| Unsubscribing - ffml-request@anifics.com |
| Put 'unsubscribe' in the subject |
`---- http://ffml.anifics.com/faq.txt -----'