202A/N: Hey everyone, I just want to share a few quick things before we jump in. To start, I feel I need to make it clear that, yes, I know Akito Sohma's true gender is female. In the Fruits Basket manga she is introduced as a man, but is revealed to actually be a woman much later on in the series. In the 2001 anime adaptation of Fruits Basket, however, Akito is quite obviously a guy. And also incredibly attractive...
...I didn't say that.
Jokes aside, this story is intended to be my rendition of the would-be second season of the original Fruits Basket anime. In other words, it's my take on how things would've played out for Tohru and the rest of the Sohmas if Akito had, in fact, been a man instead of a woman. Given what we know about Tohru and her uncanny ability to touch the heart of nearly every single person she encounters, I don't think it's a stretch for me to say that she likely would've succeeded in winning Akito over, too. Not right away, of course, but eventually. That's what this story is all about.
Folks, you have no idea how much Fruits Basket means to me. To this day it continues to be one of my absolute favorite stories of all time. The characters are truly something to be treasured, each and every single one of them, and I hope that these feelings are reflected in the way that I portray them here.
That's all I've got. So without any further ado, here you go. Enjoy!
9/26/2024: I have officially finished this piece and am currently in the process of posting the fully revised version! There are a few small changes, and some things were cut in order to make it less than 200K, but the overall story is still the same. One thing I am noticing as I go is that the word processing program I am copying and pasting from doesn't appear to seamlessly translate to fanfiction's doc manager. Mainly, there seem to be some extra spaces between italicized words. While this is annoying, I don't think it really damages the story in any way, so I'm just going to let it be for now.
Chapter One
Things were eerily at peace in the Sohma household late that afternoon.
Kyo Sohma was in the living room watching TV, bored, but at a loss as to what he could be doing otherwise. His older cousin Shigure sat in the armchair behind him, scribbling away on a pad of notepaper. Meanwhile, Yuki—Kyo's other cousin—was outside caring for the plants in their garden, and Tohru Honda—the Sohma's dear friend and house-mate—was upstairs in her bedroom, no doubt working diligently on that night's school assignment.
It was calm. It was quiet.
Too quiet , Kyo thought. His eyes were still fixed dazedly on the screen in front of him. He was beginning to wonder if hell had frozen over, when suddenly…
Riiiiiiing.
The telephone rang, promptly shattering any illusions of tranquility in their home.
"Kyo," Shigure said in a tone that was so sickly sweet it was enough to make Kyo grit his teeth. "Would you be a dear and grab the phone for me? I'm rather busy at the moment."
Riiiiiiing.
Kyo stood and clenched his fists. "Why do I gotta do it?" he demanded. "Make that damn rat!"
Riiiiiiing.
"Kyo." The dog sighed, though somehow managed to retain an air of pleasantness as he said, "You know Yuki went outside. And I, as I already mentioned, am busy."
"Busy doing what?" Kyo retorted. "Writing another one of your nasty romance novels?"
Riiiiiiing.
"Oh would someone get that pleeease?" Shigure sang, ignoring Kyo's derogatory comment. "Tohru—!"
"Coming!" Tohru shouted from upstairs. "Don't worry, Shigure, I've got it!" She raced down the steps before hurrying over to where the land-line phone was kept on a small table in the entryway.
The cat seethed as he watched her do all of this with such haste. She needed to stop letting Shigure push her around! She should tell him off, show him that he wasn't the boss of her and—
Kyo let the thought end there. Because who was he kidding? Tohru would never talk back to Shigure, despite the fact that both he and Yuki regularly encouraged her to do so.
She's too nice for her own good. One of these days, some sick bastard is gonna see how eager to please she is and try to take advantage of her.
The idea of such a thing happening was enough to make Kyo see red. He was always worried about Tohru. While he often found himself writing these overprotective feelings off as concern for his friend's safety, in reality, he knew that there was a deeper reason for his unwavering desire to keep her out of harm's way. He wasn't about to admit what that reason was, though.
Forget it, he told himself for probably the hundredth time since he'd met Tohru. It's not gonna happen. Not now, not tomorrow…not ever.
He glanced down at the black and white beads that encircled his left wrist. They were a constant reminder of what he was and of what he could never be. Of what he could never have.
All the better for her, he thought, sighing sadly to himself.
Tohru was smiling broadly as she ran downstairs to answer the phone. She was happy to have just finished the last of that night's homework. The phone had rang at the perfect moment, mere seconds after she'd put away her books and supplies. Then again, even if she hadn't been finished, she still would've jumped at the chance to answer the phone for Shigure. Ignoring him would have been inconsiderate, and Tohru Honda was never inconsiderate, least of all to the Sohmas, the family who had been so kind to her and given her so much.
"Hello?" she said cheerfully as she lifted the phone to her ear. "Sohma residence. Tohru speaking."
"Ah. Tohru Honda. I was so hoping you would be the one to answer."
The voice was razor sharp and frightfully familiar. Tohru shuddered, goose-flesh forming along her arms before she managed to swallow back her fear and whisper into the receiver. "Akito? Is...is that you?"
There was a soft, cruel chuckle on the other end. Another icy feeling gripped Tohru at having her suspicion confirmed.
"That's right," he said. "Now, tell me, Miss Tohru Honda: Is that hideous cat there with you?"
She clutched the phone as tightly as she could, if only to keep it from slipping from her cold, clammy hands. "N-no," she stammered.
"What about my darling Yuki?"
"No."
"And the mongrel?"
"No. Shigure and Kyo are both in the living room."
She took a deep breath in an attempt to remain calm. If she was being honest, at that moment, she wanted nothing more than to shout at Akito, to demand why he was calling and what he wanted. But she couldn't. She wouldn't. To do such a thing would be terribly impolite, and Tohru always did her best to be as cordial as possible, especially when she was speaking to someone who was as important and revered as Akito, the head of the Sohma family.
"Good." Akito sounded more than pleased with that bit of information. "Let's get on with it, then, shall we? I'm going to give you a set of instructions, and I need you to listen very carefully, because I'm only going to say it once."
Tohru was beginning to feel light-headed. Yet again, she somehow forced herself to keep her wits about her and squeak out a reply. "Um…okay."
There was a pause, long enough that Tohru worried Akito might be angry with her for the way she'd answered. But then he continued, his voice much lower than before, almost as if he was trying to avoid being overheard. "I must speak with you, Miss Tohru Honda. At Sohma House. Alone . Do you understand what I'm asking?"
Now Tohru's heart was pounding. Because all she could think about was last week, when she'd called on Akito at Sohma House. To say that their interaction had been unpleasant would've been a massive understatement. At one point during her visit, Akito had become so furious with her that he'd reached out and grabbed her by the head. She winced at the painful memory.
"I understand," she murmured. "Though…I assume that Hatori will be with us, right? He usually—"
"Don't worry," Akito interrupted, his voice jeering. "I'll make sure he's occupied by the time you arrive so that we may speak privately."
A bout of dizziness swept over Tohru. To see Akito again was one thing. But to be left alone with him? That was something else entirely. "Oh, but," she protested, "I don't think he would like it if—"
"What's the matter, Miss Tohru Honda? Are you afraid to be alone with me?"
"No," she immediately denied. "I was only thinking—"
"Of the other day, when you were here at Sohma House?" he mused mockingly. "Hmm. Yes, I'm sure that that incident was more than enough to frighten you away. But it doesn't matter. As head of the Sohma family I am ordering you to come to the Main House tomorrow."
Tohru shook her head, her mind too muddled to form a complete sentence. "I…tomorrow?"
"Yes. Tomorrow at 4:00. And make sure you are alone. Have I made myself clear?"
Tohru hesitated. What, she wondered, would Yuki and Kyo say if they were here?
They would tell her not to go. They would tell her that Akito was too dangerous to be alone with. Kyo, being as hot-headed as he was, would likely proceed to declare that Akito had no right to be ordering her around in the first place. Tohru smiled at the thought of Kyo jumping so readily to her defense. He certainly wouldn't be wrong in making such a statement. After all, Tohru was not a member of the Sohma family, which meant that—technically—she didn't have to listen to a damn thing Akito said.
But I am slowly becoming a member of their family, she reasoned. Well, an adopted member. But that means I have to have the same respect for Akito that they do, even if sometimes he can be a little...scary.
"Tohru Honda?"
She leaped about a foot in the air. "Yes," she exclaimed. "Sorry, I'm still here! I only—"
"Silence. I hate mindless babbling. I also hate repeating myself, but by the sounds of it, I'm probably going to have to."
"No. I heard you. Main House tomorrow at 4:00!"
"Good. Now—"
"Tohru?" Shigure poked his head around the corner, causing Tohru to gasp in surprise. His eyes were gleaming with mischief as he asked her, "Who are you talking to, hmm? Such a serious expression! I wonder…" He tapped a finger to his chin, casting her a playful sidelong look. "Do you, perhaps, have a secret boyfriend that you've neglected to tell us about?"
Tohru blushed fiercely at the accusation, even though she knew that he was likely only teasing. "No! I…err…I am, uh, talking to Hana! We have a school project that we need to get a head start on!"
Shigure just stared at her after that, and with every passing second, Tohru's heart beat faster, until she was almost certain it would burst. Did Shigure suspect she was lying? Was she really so obvious?
But just like that, the dog flashed her one of his trademark smiles. "Okay!" he said giddily, turning to go back into the living room. "Just don't stay on too late. You do have school tomorrow, after all!"
He walked away humming merrily to himself.
The moment he was gone, Tohru breathed a sigh of relief. That was a close one!
"Is he gone?"
Tohru jumped again. For a moment, she'd forgotten that Akito was still on the phone with her. "Oh! Um, yes. He's gone."
"Finally. I thought he was never going to leave," Akito muttered. "Now then, that's all I need from you, Miss Tohru Honda. Run along and go to bed. Oh, and don't tell anyone about our conversation."
Tohru managed a firm nod. "Right."
If she was going to do this, she couldn't allow herself to be afraid of Akito. He was just a man, after all, albeit a seriously troubled one. But, who knew? Maybe with time she would discover that he wasn't such a bad person. Everyone has some good in them! she reminded herself.
"Okay." Tohru could practically hear Akito smirking through the phone as he told her, "Sleep tight, Tohru Honda."
Then the line went dead.
Akito was still chuckling long after he'd ended the call. She's clearly terrified of me.
Sleep tight? Akito snorted. He knew very well that she wouldn't be able to sleep. In fact, he wouldn't be surprised if she was up all night, wondering what he had in store for her. And that was precisely what Akito wanted, to plague Tohru Honda's thoughts with every waking moment so that tomorrow, when she stood before him, she would whimper and cower like a helpless little girl. He wanted her to fear him, to tremble in his shadow, just like his zodiac did.
I will show her once and for all that I am in control of this family. She may have won the hearts of those filthy animals, but compared to me, she has no power over them.
He frowned as he ran one of his nails along a crack in the hardwood floor. Because even in his mind, the words rang untrue. Tohru Honda did have power over his zodiac. Quite a lot, in fact. Akito's scowl deepened. What is it , he wondered, that they all love so much about that stupid woman?
He took a moment to consider her general appearance. Was it the innocent, doe-eyed look she always wore? Her nauseatingly cheerful smile? He simply didn't understand—
"Akito?"
There was a soft knock at the door. The intruder began to ease it open without as much as waiting for a response. Akito rolled his eyes as a tall, thin man in a white coat filled the entryway. "What is it now, Hatori?"
Unabashed, the doctor stepped fully into the room. "You haven't taken your medicine yet," he began, only to trail off when he noted where, precisely, Akito was seated. The doctor cast a short, questioning glance at the four-poster bed in the far right corner of the room before asking, "Akito, why are you sitting on the floor?"
Akito let his head roll back. There the dragon was, going on about medicine again. As if it would help. No, the entire Sohma family was very much aware of the zodiac god's impending death. No amount of medical care could alter his fate, so why not just leave him to it? It wasn't as if anyone was truly interested in the prospect of prolonging his life, anyway.
Oh, his family said they cared for him. They claimed that they were grieved by the knowledge that he was destined to live a short, miserable life. But Akito knew that their words were nothing more than lies. They only ever came to see him because they were bound to him by the curse. Even Hatori only looked after him because he was the official Sohma family doctor. Because it was his job .
None of them are going to miss me when I'm gone, Akito thought grimly to himself. They're all just waiting for it to happen. Then they can dance on my grave and get on with their pathetic lives without me standing in the way.
Akito flexed his fingers, suppressing the urge to wince at the ache in his joints. There wasn't any doubt that the hour of his death was drawing near. He grew weaker with each passing day, and still his family members couldn't seem to find as much as a single shred of genuine care for him in their hearts. Which was why it vexed Akito all the more to watch as they practically tripped over themselves to worship Tohru Honda. Even the cursed cat had developed a soft spot for her. The thought was almost enough to make Akito retch.
As far as he could see, there was nothing about the girl that set her apart from any other average person. All she ever seemed to do was smile and stutter like a damn fool. There was no denying that she looked cute while doing it—a fact that Akito would sooner bash his own head in before ever admitting to aloud—but what, aside from her moderately attractive physical features, did the rest of the Sohmas find to be so appealing about her?
Could it be that they were touched by the idiotic sentimental crap she was always spewing? Like the other day. What was it she'd said to him?
" When you pass away, Akito, we will be very sad. We will be very sad to lose you ."
Akito's limbs quivered with fury. Those words...they were nothing but another lie. She'd been lying to him, just like his zodiac always did.
She'll pay for that, Akito promised himself. I may have agreed to let her exist within our inner circle, but no one lies to my face and goes unpunished.
"Akito?"
The zodiac god returned his attention to Hatori. "Very well." He waved for the doctor to leave. "Go and fetch my medicine, if you insist."
Hatori watched him for a moment, his face betraying no emotion. "All right," he said finally. "I'll return in a few minutes. Wait right here."
"Like I have anywhere else to go, Hatori," Akito snapped.
Honestly. Stupid dragon.
Stupid zodiac. Stupid animals . They ought to have been grateful for all that he did for them! For bearing the full weight of the curse, for being the one to suffer the most under it. And yet there they were, loving a girl more than they did him. An outsider. An inferior. A nobody .
Tomorrow, I'll find out once and for all what is so special about Tohru Honda, if anything.
And if she dared disobey any of the orders he had given her, he would find a way to ensure that she suffered just as much as his zodiac did. Possibly even more.