And If By Chance ... (Kyoru 1/?)

[Neo_Evolution_Kaname]

And If By Chance ...
By: Samu-chan
Rating: PG-13 (for now)
Warnings: Slavery (Not beating and field working until you die slavery mind you. ^^; )
A/N: Boredom ... lots of anime ... it's my great fuel for writing. This is my first attempt at a Fruits Basket fic, and of course, it's Kyoru ... although it may not hint it at first. This story doesn't run off the series though. It's more based into the past. It's also in Tohru's point of view. The curse still exists and such, it's mostly set in a different time. Anyway ... I begin! ^^;

And If By Chance ... I Would Come To Live Here.

My family had always been based on service. It was kind of odd. The family who 'controlled' us, had a huge business. We liked our life. Never had we ever been treated wrongly. They fed us well, kept us clean and dry. Even beds. Not many familles got to work and stay together either. We didn't mind working for the Xing family. But sometimes, all good things come to an end. Corruption erupted in their family, and they lost everything. The only thing they could do to keep money, was to sell us.

My father was the first to go. He went to another rich company who worked in the fields. From what I had heard, he would be well taken care of. Most slaves, nowadays, were. I guess the term 'slave', never really meant anything, until the fact that your being sold. I was next. Since I was only sixteen, the Xing family wanted to make sure I would go somewhere they knew they could trust. Though I heard many arguments in the room before me, the head of the Xing family finally emerged from the room.

He didn't say anything. I figured it was hard to sell another person. So far, slavery had only been questioned. It could still take years before it would become either destroyed, or continued without any questions for the future. He simply led me to a boy. Most likely no older than I was. His hair was an unusual color. Almost a metallic color. And his eyes were a shocking violet. I don't know when I lost my train of thought, but when I had finally broken out of my daze, I was walking beside the boy.

I didn't even remember leaving the house that had been my life. I never got to say good-bye to my mother. I hoped she would be all right. She was strong. I guess I was feeling a bit weak at that moment though, and tears easily fit themselves into my eyes, but yet ... they refused to shed. To a point, my own mind was unwilling to let them shed. I was going to a new home. I would live. I wanted to see the day when I could see my mother again. I had become so wrapped up into my thoughts, I didn't notice that the boy was watching me intently.

"Excuse me ... but what's your name?" I blinked the daze from my eyes, before forcing my shy blue eyes to meet his violet. He smiled when our eyes finally met, and I could do nothing but blush. He was rather handsome when he smiled.

"I'm Tohru Honda. It's nice to meet you." I finally got my own voice to work. He seemed to smile even more at me when I finally answered him. Curiosity must have shone in my eyes with questions, and he seemed to read every single one of them.

"I am Yuki Sohma. My older cousin Shigure decided to pay back his favor to the Xing family. He agreed to take you in, even though we don't really want a maid. But it might be nice to have someone around to help keep the house clean." I found his choice of words odd. Instead of need ... he used the word want. But since Sohma-kun had obviously started a conversation, I pushed the thoughts from my mind, and returned engaging in the conversation.

I had been so wrapped up in the conversation, I never noticed the lone house we had begun to approach. When Sohma-kun stopped abruptly, I was startled and walked right into his chest. I guessed at the time, it was a mistake, but before I could even utter an apology, I found myself staring down at Sohma-kun's clothing, and the rat that sat on them. I couldn't even stutter now, and I think he noticed, for I heard the rat sigh.

"This was something I was planning to talk to you about ... Can you sit down?" I dumbly stared at him as a lowered myself to the ground. He seemed a bit nervous, but I guess I was too. He finally crawled up onto my leg. Somewhere along the line he mutter a sorry, and continued with story. His family was cursed. They could never hold someone they loved ... for both the curse, and the head of their house, Akito. He told me to stay away from the main house, where Akito resided. He wouldn't have taken nicely to me.

From his position on my leg, I guessed he was upset. Most people probably would have run off screaming, and if I had wanted, I could have even been free. But have always thought of everyone else first. My first initial reply once I understood, was to grab him and let a squeal, and even a little kawaii.

"Would you mind placing me back down. Once I change back, I'm going to have to get dressed awfully quick." I blushed deeply, placing him back down beside his clothing before turning my back. Not even a minute later, I heard a familiar hiss, the smell of smoke, and then a hand on my shoulder. My mind went back into it's haze as we entered his house. I remember small bits and pieces of meeting Shigure-kun, who happened to be the dog of the zodiac.

What I probably remember most though ... was the bits and small glances I saw of him. My first week at the Sohma house, was basically learning. Where things were or went. I seemed to please both Sohma-kun and Shigure-kun. They continued to comment on my good cooking, and how much cleaner the house was. I was already beginning to feel happy again. But he always stood out. I never saw him for more than a few moments, but it was impossible not to notice him.

He was another of Shigure-kun's cousins. Unlike Sohma and Shigure-kun, who's hair and eyes were more neutral colors ... his seemed to blaze about the house. He had orange hair that seemed to stand out even more against his black shirt he always wore. From what little I could draw from Sohma-kun, he was the cat. The truly cursed one of the family. I could tell that he and the cat didn't get along from the way he spoke about him, as though he was vile.

I even noticed that Shigure-kun never spoke to him. Sohma-kun refused to let me know his name, and told me it would be best to stay away from him. 'He has a horrible temper. He doesn't know how to care, and doesn't like to be bothered. Most of all ... he hates girls.' I repeated the sentence Sohma-kun had stated days before to keep myself away from him. He often ate after or even before us, but I couldn't help but notice, that one night, after an obvious fight with Sohma-kun that morning, that he had not removed himself from the his room.

Even if he hated me for no reason, my worry for others easily won over Sohma-kun's request. After Sohma-kun had made his way to bed, I made a small tray of food. I thanked the gods for giving me grace when it came to food. I all to often was a klutz. After only being here for a week, I already made both Sohma and Shigure-kun change into their animals multiple times. Pushing down my guilt, I knocked on his door. No answer. I guess I had begun to worry, because I opened his door swiftly to find an empty room.

Confusion clouded my head again as a placed the tray down on a desk near the door. The room was a bit messy, but other than that, was rather plain ... except for all the books. I stared in amazement at the books. I don't remember how, or how fast ... but I was over to them in a flash, looking through them quickly, a bright smile plastered on my face. I had no idea of what stood behind me, until I finally put the book back and turned to leave.

I had decided to leave the tray in his room, to let him eat it if he desired. I had no idea that because he was the cat, he could move a silently as one too. I found my face nearly smashed into black. My eyes very slowly moved up the chest to meet burning red eyes. I froze when he growled at him, only my mouth opening just enough to let out a small 'eep'.

"What are you doing in here!?"
********************

Rather bland at the moment, but the next chapter is going to be in Kyou's point of view. I'll probably go back and forth evenly between them, just so this isn't going to be one sided. ^^

Disclamier: I don't own Fruits Basket ... but believe me ... I wouldn't mind owning Kyou! @.@

[AngelOfDeath]

Woohoo! New kyoru fic! Happiness....

Soon enough they'll be pining for one another as they should be, but first we have to have some display of temper. Hehe.

What sort of books were they...?

[Dark Deity]

heh, ^_^ KyoKitty!