Fruits baskets: If Walls Told Stories

Chapter 2

By: Obi Chan (Oblivious)

It had been five years, five whole years since that early morning when the cat was born. He could remember the screaming of the mother, footsteps of the midwife and the servants preparing for the unwanted arrival, and most of all the horrible howl of the newborn. How horrible was his scream that ringed in his ears for nights, not being that it was so piercing and wrenching that it would make one rip their eyes out, but because it sounded so sorrowfully human. This monster, as hideous as the servant woman exclaimed it looked, had cried out so humanely that one could never guess how disfigured and horrid it appeared.

Genji, now the bright age of eleven laid down on the grassy terrain in the Sohma courtyard, remembering the first time, after a whole month, that he set eyes on this wretched creature. And he saw him being rocked back and forth in his rocking bed, asleep, so soundly. His mother, Mitsuko, sat beside the little, rocking bed watching over her child with sad, teary eyes. She looked up when Genji and Sanami came closer slowly towards the bed and she smiled amiably at the both of them with teary eyes, and Genji wondered why she looked so sad.

“Why hello, little lamb”, She spoke sweetly to Genji who continued to stare towards the bed. She looked back at the sleeping child. Genji stepped forward and Sanami tugged at his Kimono, worriedly and screwed up her little, monkey face. “Genji, no”, she whispered so Mitsuko could not hear. He swapped her hand away and proceeded to peer over the cradle expecting to see something gross, like a toad or a giant insect. To his surprise it was a child, a human child with bright orange hair sleeping peacefully, like a little kitten, and he wasn’t hideous at all. He was a cute little baby, with a pink little button nose and rosy cheeks.

“He’s a little darling isn’t he?” Mitsuko chuckled.

“He’s so small!” Gengi replied softly, looking confused and Mitsuko laughed.
“ Why little lamb, of course he’s small. He’s just a baby.” She explained.

Sanami stood behind Genji, away from the child, which caught Mitsukos eye. “What’s wrong, Sanami? You don’t want to see the baby?”

“Nu-uh!” She shook her head furiously. “I don’t want to go near him. He’s cursed!” She shouted and sped off away from them. Mitsuko watched as the girl disappeared into one of the bushes.

“What’s his name?” Asked Genji.

“ Keiichi. Keiichi Sohma.”
“Keiichi” and after that brief meeting with the cat, he never went near him again and kept his distance, watching from afar. The only time they would actually come in contact would be the new years party before the day of the banquet. Even then they hadn’t talked, of course with both of them being seven years apart, Genji spent most of his time with Sanami, Natsuki and Tatsuha. But he watched from a distance out of the corner of his eyes, noting the young cats every movement as he stayed near his mother. He could remember wondering how the cat must have felt looking on in want at the others, not understanding why he had to be so secluded and separated from the rest of the zodiac. All he could remember was that that was how it had to be. And yet he found himself looking on at him, wondering about what it was like to be the cat.

Genji got up from the grass, dusted himself off and headed back into the main house. It was the day of the zodiac banquet and this time it was the horses’ turn to perform the traditional zodiac dance. He walked pass two servant women who greeted him respectfully, and slid open the screen door on his left.
There he saw the ever so lovely Natsuki, the lovely age of 10 looking elegant in her dance ritual dress. With big, bright amber eyes she turned to look at him, smiling warmly at his presence.

“Genji…” she spoke with a delighted smile. Genji smiled back.

“Hello Natsuki”, Gengi greeted quietly and Natsuki grinned, knowingly. “ Shy and quiet as usual. As gentle as a cool, whispery breeze on a starry, spring night describes you best, Genji.”

Genji smiled. “ You know me well. You’re always too mature for your age. But of course, that’s what you’re expected of, you being the horse.”

“The old hen scolds me for my talkative nature. She always thinks she’s right”

“ Grandma Chiho is our elder, Natsuki. She’s much more older than us and more experienced. We must honor her.” Natsuki paused and looked at Genji adoringly. “ You know Genji, you have always been so much understanding than I have”

Natsuki let out a big sigh and lifted the skirt of her dress. “ I have to get going. oth others will be expecting me and if I am late Grandma Chiho will start pecking me about how tardiness is a sin for a young lady like myself with my standards”

Genji chuckled softly as Natsuki slid open the door to let herself out.

“Hey Natsuki?” Genji called out, hesitant at first and debating over wer ter to say what he wanted to say. The cat had come back into his mind, yesterday evening when he watched the young toddler in the corner during the New Years party. He looked so alone, eyes fixed on the floor, never moving from that spot till Mitsuko had to encourage him to.

“ I was wondering, with the cat_”

“Gengi! Don’t even think about him. We have no business with him” She interrupted in a stern tone.

“ I mean I was just thinking that maybe we should talk to him or visit him. He’s all alone”

Natsuki sighed, knowing about Genjis unhealthy fixation for the cat. She wanted nothing to do with him, it just wasn’t rigo heo her. They all knew the consequences for hanging around the cat and no one wanted to deal with the punishment from the head of the Sohma house. She knew that if Genji kept on with it that he would suffer for it.

“ Genji” she spoke in a calm manner. “He’s not like you and me. A boy like him does not have a place in the zodiac and neither in our hearts. Even being next to him will bring you bad luck, that’s all he’s ever been. You understand?”

An orange light filled the room, the coming of dusk, and there was a torturing silence that engulfed the stagnant air. Genji knew of what the boy was, he wasn’t stupid. He knew he was stupid of talking to Natsuki about it, he knew the consequences and yet it was all unsatisfying. To just leave it at that, without a second to why it had to be that way? But, he knew the consequences. “ I understand.” Spoke Genji.

“ This is the way it’s got to be, Genji. Get used to it.” and with that Natsuki closed the door behind her, leaving Genji in the orange room staring at the exit.

“Okay…” said Genji.

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Rain poured from the dull, grey sky and splattered all over the pavement. It flowed down hill and into the street gutters, into the sewers, through tunnels of plumbing and finally, as if there was no end to floating through rusted pipes, it found a way out, and spilled into the ocean, free of the metal pipes.

Water slid down the car window like downstream rivers, leaving behind a messy trail of droplets that stuck to it. Genji stared out, looking at the gutter, his forehead pressed against the cold glass.

That’s what he was; the rain, living in the sewer pipes he was spilled out into the vast ocean, away from the shadows, free. And as good as it sounded, unfortunately he knew that eventually the rain would evaporate into the air and pour down onto the cracked pavements, back into his sewers. He knew that no matter how many times he made it into the ocean he would only come right back to the filth of the sewers.
He was the rain and now after almost a whole year being away from the manor he was sent right back, back to his fears, back to the curse that marked his soul and to the man that ruled their entire lives. He was the rain and he was poured back into the sewers, just like he always had and he knew there would never be an end to this endless cycle.

“ Sanami and Tatsuha are going to be there”, Genjis father assured him, smiling at him. “ I know how close you three are. And Natsuki will be there as well.”

Genji kept quiet and continued to stare out of the window.

‘ They will always be there. Not like they have anywhere else to go.’ Thought Genji.

As they traveled further from the city, the rain had finally cleared up, though the sky still remained grey. The car arrived at the gates of the Sohma house and Genji got out of the car. It was still the same, like always when he’d come back during the beginning of spring.

“ Aah! Can you just smell that spring air? So refreshing! Don’t you think?” exclaimed Genjis father, stretching his arms back and looking optimistically at Genji.

Genji just continued staring at the manor.

The father looked at his son, putting his arms down. He walked over to Genji and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.

“Why must you be so quiet? It’s as if I haven’t taught you Japanese. You should really talk more, Genji. How else do you expect to start a relationship when you’re older?”

His father sighed. “ Must you be so gloomy? I have to hear it all the time from the elders, telling me that I need to raise you more properly and your pessimism is what I get for not remarrying. You’re so timid!”

His father exhaled. “ Listen, I’ll pick you up in a week, so try to at least enjoy yourself. I worry about, you know?” and Genjis father got into the car and drove off, leaving Genji to stay with Grandma Youhko.

At least t was was a bright side to staying here, his cousins were here and he would always stay with Grandma Youhko and her parents who adored him. Youhko was one person he could truly count on and be himself around. She was an amazing woman, had such confidence about her and made everything so interesting. He didn’t get to stay with her last year. She was on a business trip to New York promote her art in a gallery with her husband, Ken, but promised him she would be back next year. So, He stayed with her parents and spent most of his time in the rock garden.

The Front gates opened and stepping out appeared a small, mousy child, with messy, black hair around the age of six.

“Genji!” The child beamed brightly and walked over to Genji, raising his arms for Genji to pick him up.

“Hey!” said Genji as he took the little one into his arms and lifted him up.

“ Well, look who’s home!” stated a familiar voice. Genji looked away from Yuichi to see Youhko appearing from the gate. “ Why Genji, you’ve grown up so much since I’ve last seen you. How old are you now? You should be around thirteen.”

Her face was the same as always, hear-shaped and glowed brightly like the full moon on a clear night. Her silver hair that curled to hug the sides of her face had gotten longer. Genji smiled, putting down the mousy haired boy and walked over to Youhko.

“Well, twirl around! Let me have a look at you!” Genji did as he was told and Grandma Youhko gasped in delight. “ My, My, Genji you have grown to be such a stunning young man. Do you have a girlfriend? Come on! You can tell me! Don’t be like Satoshi and keep anything from me!”

“Well, no…” Genji shrugged slightly, shuffling his feet.

“ NO! How can that be? Well, we’re gonna have to find you one then!” Youhko exclaimed, putting her hand on Genjis shoulder and guiding him into the main house grounds, little Yuichi tredding behind them.

“ Ah! Grandma Youhko, I don’t want a girlfriend right now”

“ Nonsense! Every stud has to have a girl friend, and because I’m such a suitable match maker, you can leave everything to me!” She laughed, boastfully. “ And don’t call me Grandma, I’m only 25”

Now, the sky burns bright red, turning gold-orange in the horizon and prepares for the coming of night. Blow, softly does the wind in the cool spring air and brushes against the soft petals of the cherry blossoms that decorate the courtyard. The cheerful croak of a pond frog marks it’s presence in the distance and the sun sinks slowly behind the pine forest in the scenery, sleep sun, sleep. Lay your weary self down to rest and let the moon take over the night. You have done your deed.

And with the coming of the night, the three cursed beings head inside, into the main house as the sky watches them and wishes them a good night. From up above, on the rooftops of the manor, a figure watches them, quietly, and even when the front doors close shut, he stays, glued to his spot staring at closed doors. Finally, after what seemed like a few minutes, but to him, an eternity, the figure hops down from his watching post and disappears into the shadows, unknown.

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Yay! Second chapter is completed! I want to thank you, the people who took their time to check out my fic. I know that most people are not very fond of stories with original characters. And I want to thank the person who reviewed my work and telling me what they thought about it. I will try and write the third chapter as soon as possible and I hope I didn’t take too long in writing this one.

I hope this story isn’t confusing and you’ve figured out who some of the zodiac members are. I leave hints out in the story about them, like in their actions. That’s it till then and keeps on keeping on!