The Rat in the Cap:

By furubafanatic3036

To let you guys know. I wrote ‘What Goes Away, Must Come Back’ it wasn’t my best work and another thing, I’m a yukiru fan so...yeah. This is one of a whole bunch of stories I have but this is the best idea yet. My original title was: ‘The Rat in the Hat’ but my sister liked ‘The Rat in the Cap better’. Oh, and another thing. Mangaluver749 is my sister.

Also, in that flashback in this chapter has ‘change of setting’ signs but Yuki doesn’t know of them. Sorry for the long author’s note.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket, because:

My writing skills suck

I don’t draw that good

This site is called ‘fan’fiction

Summary: Ten years after the day, that day. The day Yuki had found a reason for living; just one reason was enough for him. Ten years later, the boy in the hat gets to meet the lost girl, and her distressed mother...first fanfic posted. Please R&R!

This story starts on a sunny Friday morning, on May 16th.

Tohru woke up to a sunny Friday morning and made her bed and got ready for school. She then, made her way out the door to her room and into the kitchen of Shigure Sohma, thinking about what to make for breakfast.

Thinking also, about something that happened a long time ago that still remained in her heart; the day, 10 years ago, when she met him. The guy who helped her, the guy wearing the hat. She didn’t know his name, his eye color, or even his hair color. When she tried to remember, it was too blurry. Probably because she was crying.

‘I wonder if he still remembers.’ Tohru thought as she started to fry the fish. Kyo, who had just entered the room, opened the refrigerator door, grabbing his milk. Still out of it, Kyo’s movements startled Tohru, she jumped!

“Kyo-kun, I didn’t see you there!” Tohru said. “But, good morning!”

“Morning’” Kyo said, as he started to drink out of the carton, finished, he tossed it into the trash can, and started off to the television.

“Ahh, Good morning, my beloved flower! Ahh, I see you are cooking breakfast, so I shall read the news in the newspaper,” Shigure Sohma said entering and singing in his singsong voice.

“Shut up, you damn dog! Tohru’s not a your flower, you perverted bastard.” Kyo retorted from the other room.

Shigure ignored the retort, and hummed as he set off towards the dinning table.

!(Author’s note: change of setting!)

Yuki, waking up to a cool, sunny morning, at an early, 6:30am. Still early, and still tired, Yuki laid in bed for a while, deep in thought. Thinking about 10 years ago on that exact day. The day he found a meaning for his life.

It was ten years ago, but Yuki remembered it as if it was yesterday.

A/N: Book 15 spoilers.

Flashback>

In a dark room, the doctor just completed checking Yuki. Who had gotten another cold. As the doctor left, Akito slowly walked in also.

“Are you going to die? Yuki? Hey, are you dying?”Akito said standing in front of Yuki. A little cough could be heard but not from far away. Only, by Yuki’s master, his god.

“...How pathetic.” Akito stated before walking out of the room.

‘Slowly becoming weaker; is it the body or the soul? A voice that isn’t heard...a wish that is unfulfilled... just closing one’s soul...’ Yuki thought.

“They don’t come...to visit do they. His parents,” someone whispered to someone else. In a dark room like none other, with cobwebs, and spiders.

“Of course they don’t. Didn’t you know? The two of them are in the middle of a trip,” the person whispered back.

! (change of setting)

“Ehh...? But...then what about his brother?” She whispered back, surprised.

“All he said was “oh.” The women said in reply as if it wasn’t important.

“By that... doesn’t he understand that it’s about his younger brother?” she inquired.

! (change of setting)

Akito, sitting on the ground next to Yuki playing with some circular objects called ‘beanbags’. He was tossing them up and down while talking with Yuki.

“Some years ago,” Akito began stating, “Kyo’s...about Kyo, the cat’s mother, she committed suicide.”

“While on the surface, it’s said to have been an accident, it was suicide. She’s supposed to have left behind, what’ essentially a suicide note too that “it’s become hard to be by him” “At least” “If he’d be born as a mouse, maybe we could have been a little happy” Akito turned to look at me. (Remember this is from Yuki’s POV because it’s his flashback)

“Kyo blame you but then, he told his father “he’d kill Yuki himself and die himself” at the funeral.” Akito said also.

A flash of the last New Year projected in his mind; a picture of Kyo, the cat himself...

“Everything’s the mouse’s fault” “Because of you” “Because of you everything...” the picture of Kyo yelling at him flashed in his head.

But the picture didn’t last long because the head of the family began talking again,

“That’s right... the cow, Hatsuharu, he too says he hate Yuki, he says he’s a laughing stock because of the mouse,” Akito said standing up and straightening himself, holding one beanbag in a had, glancing at it and setting it in my hand while saying to myself “...You really are hated aren’t you.” Akito stated.

As he left, another picture of Kyo projected itself in my mind. Him, with a glare as cold as ice and filled with hatred, screamed a “you” in my head and left as if the projection turned itself off. But the “you” still echoed in my head.

My hand, unconsciously unclenched and the words Kyo yelled at me repeated and some of other’s and some added in of his very own.

“You” “From this world” “Even for dawn, it’s rather dark”

My hand went up to my throat and I jumped out of the warm, comfy chair and ran off.

I ran towards this chest where I kept stuff (duh!) and dug through it hurried but carefully. And soon, I can across what I needed and thought about how I happened to get it; the small little, red (dunno what hat color is, someone please tell me!) hat.

A flash went through my head again for the umps time today as a picture of a small boy, with flaming orange hair stood in front of me with a stoic expression on his face. He was as tall as me and the same age as me though I had pale skin and his was a tan color.

‘I should return this...but no doubt, he won’t take it back...that kid’s sadness I don’t know it I don’t know anything,’ Yuki thought, then he set the hat atop his head and sat there thinking: ‘If I really did disappear from this world I wonder if even a little of that sadness would disappear.’

I walked over to a little holding-mirror I had and looked at it thinking at that moment: ‘...It doesn’t suit me...if I disappeared would I be able to do something useful for the first time?’ I thought, ‘If the world’s dark, and hates me, and doesn’t need me there’s no meaning to my being here right now.’ I thought and my train of thoughts as I heard someone’s voice say: “Hey” a bloodshot photo of Akito appeared in my mind as my eyes froze and my fists tightened and crushed the small mirror in my hand.

Realization came before anything else and I threw the mirror somewhere and grabbed some clothes. I just so happened to pick up a long-sleeved striped shirt, a pair of plain white socks, a pair of greenish-brownish baggy pants, a pair or sneakers and last but not least, Kyo, the cat’s hat.

I felt like something inside of me burst, somewhere, a part of me burst and went flying there was no thought I just wanted to move like mad; to make a run for it. Maybe I just wanted to hurt myself, to rouse myself into action; I just wouldn’t give up, no doubt.

On the streets, people were scarce, so close to dawn. Who know how far I ran I kept running regardless of how difficult it was. Eventually I ended up in a place I didn’t know but I kept running. And where I ended up was-

“AAAA” A scream was heard interrupting my train of thoughts.

I stopped to watch what was causing this drama so early in the morning and also to see what the women was stressing about. I was still panting through the trauma while my fist was close to my chest.

“M-ma’am, it’s early morning so please be a little more quiet...” A police said to an orange haired woman.

There were two policemen; one with blondish colored hair while the other had dark brown or black hair. There was also a woman they were trying to calm down. The woman was leaning against a wall with her shoulder-length orange colored hair.

“As if I could do that!” The woman yelled towards the wall and continued, “THAT’S MY IMPORTANT ONLY DAUGHTER WHO’S GONE MISSING! ENOUGH YOU GUYS HURRY UP AND GO LOOK FOR HER!”

“That’s why we’re asking you again for any distinguishing features,” the policemen with the black hair responded.

Too bad she was in a foul mood.

“I said: she’s a cute girl wearing cute hair bauble, wearing cute clothes, has a cute voice, and has a cute face! Got it?” she responded facing them.

“Not at all!” the black haired policeman responded again holding up his hands in front of his face sweat dropping.

I leaned against the wall still huffing and puffing.

“Waa she’s so cute she might have been taken away by someone...what’ll I do...if anything’s happened to that child I...,” she said not finishing her sentence and crying into her hands.

“I WON’T LEAVE THINGS ALONG MY THANK YOU. DEATH WILL BE AMONG YOU SO PREPARE YOURSELF...HEH HEH HEH,” the woman said with an evil glint in their eye and her fist prepared.

I couldn’t really read it, and there were mistakes. So, I must apologize.

“Please, calm down...” the black-haired policeman answered again.

I shuddered and my eyes grew from curious to scared in less then a second. I backed away a little. ‘Scary...” I thought.

“Enough. I’ll look for her myself,” the woman said and started off. But the policeman stopped her.

“Ma’am, if you could please wait at home.” He said in a strict voice. Reaching a hand towards her shoulder but she just kept walking.

‘...But there are also “mothers” who worry about their kids like that...wearing a hair bauble eh?’ I thought then a picture of what I saw out of the corner of my eye appeared and then I thought: ‘Come to think of it just now...’ I thought and started walking around, my eyes searching everywhere.

‘I’m sure...it was somewhere around here...maybe I imagined it...’ I stopped at an alley. Thinking hard and then...I saw her...right there...crying...sniffing...just kneeling there, bauble and all...

She stopped crying and looked at me...just staring...me staring back...her hands atop the other...tears still streaming down her face...

‘Hair bauble...she’s here she’s crying, no doubt...they were talking about this girl...what to do, I should...tell her mother...’ I thought smiling to myself then I turned to the way I saw her mother. But...I heard some footsteps...soft footsteps...padding against the ground...I looked through the corner of my eye...

My eyes froze...I saw her right there standing as if about to walk... ‘She’s following me-!’ I thought.

‘What should I do...is this all right...but having a girl,’ I thought and another flash went through my head saying: ‘Getting too close is bad...’ I thought but my thoughts were interrupted by a ‘thump’, alarmed, I turned around. I saw her over on the ground, her face down but she didn’t give up...how did I know?

She sat right up, tears and all, she looked at me...my eyes widened and I knew what I had to do.

I turned around towards the direction I was heading to see her mother... and I thought: ‘Right now that girl’s world is entrusted to me. In order not to get separated or lost chasing me with all she has she’s depending on me...on me

So I walked, letting her chase me as I lead her the way I saw her mother... ‘She needs me,’ I thought walking while glancing back at her just to know if she was still there. Her soft breathing could be heard, all the ‘huffs’ and all the ‘puffs’.

And I stopped, knowing we were there...I stopped and smiled a real smile...then I thought, ‘See you’re here.’

I started to walk towards her...her head was down, just looking at the ground with those tired eyes...then I set the hat atop her hat ...towards a near by alley. That was all I had to do with all the strength I had. But I watched her.

The girl, looked up and saw her mother crouched up crying in her arms...so she yelled...
“Mom” She noticed her mother hadn’t heard her so she tried a few more times, “Mom” The mother sat upright trying to find where the voice had come from and the girl yelled one more time, “Mom” and she started to cry, saying ‘mom’ every so often.

Her mother heard her and stood up and ran towards the railing since she was crying outside her apartment on the second floor. Her mother ran down and raised her arms so she could hug her daughter.

Her daughter ran forward and raised her arms also ready for a nice warm hug from her mother-make that her smiling mother... they hugged right then and there no poofs, all while the little girl’s hat fell off her small head...that hat that I set atop her head.

But around the corner you could see me...but not the same me...me in my rat form...thinking... ‘...Thank goodness, thank goodness. Was I even a little useful?’ I thought while watching the girl cry happily in her mother’s arms, while her mother cried in her small arms... ‘If so, I’m really happy. I’m really happy. I’m so very happy.’ I said and I sat down on the cold ground clothes all around me except for the little red hat...’

‘That’s right I know of a time when someone needed me that instant definitely happened.’ I thought as a few more pictures came to my head. ‘Even though nobody remembers anymore even if you end up forgetting, it definitely happened.’

After a poof, some walking and some thinking...

Soon, I was on the trail back home- if that’s what you call it and through the familiar corridors in the main house of the Sohma family.

When I got back into my room-I think...I came face to face with my aunt/grandma (dunno some women who appears a lot).

“My, my master Yuki...just where were you...never mind that, the doctor, the doctor hurry,” my grandma/aunt, (again with the women).

“Y-yes,” the doctor responded weakly and started off towards me.

‘This world is...not a world wrapped in light but that’s not all; it’s not all darkness. That’s not all it is.’ I thought.

Flashback end>

Yuki slowly got up and walked to the far wall at the end of his room and stepped closer to his desk and took a key stashed in his right pocket, which sort of appeared out of nowhere.

Then he unlocked the drawer on his desk on the bottom. But, before opening the drawer itself, he looked behind his back incase someone; perhaps Shigure, was spying on him for Nii-san. Yuki shuddered at the thought but went on and quietly pyre opens his drawer where he kept his most prized possessions.

The door that leads toward his room is closed at night till he gets out.

Smiling to himself, Yuki reached a hand into the drawer and pulled out a stripped, long-sleeved shirt, and a pair of baggy shorts. He also pulled out a pair of white socks and a pair of tennis shoes. Yuki then, set them on the ground next to him, and sat down cross-legged on the carpeted-floor.

! (change of setting)

Tohru smiled at her ‘family’ who accepted her into their home and let her stay there for the past two years.

“Tohru-kun, could you wake up Yuki-kun? He’s going to be late for school,” Shigure yelled/pleaded from the other room.

“Sure!” Tohru yelled back, as she put the dishes away on the rack, and ran up the stairs.

Tohru smiled to herself as she walked quietly towards Yuki-kun’s room. She doubted he was awake but as her mother always said, ‘never says never.’

-------------------------Tohru running up the stairs with her apron--------------------------------

Tohru, being the polite person she is, went up to Yuki’s room, and quietly knocked on the door and said, “Yuki-kun, please come down for breakfast. It’s almost time for school” Tohru said and waited to hear something. But all she heard was a rustle and a murmur of okay.

Yuki stared down at his hand, which held the possession that had helped him believe he had a chance to live and a lifetime worth living. But a sudden knock on the door startled him...

“Yuki-kun, please come down for breakfast. It’s almost time for school,” He heard Tohru say.

“O-okay,” Yuki barely muttered glancing at the clock before stuffing the clothes held in his hands, into the drawer near it, and quickly locked the lock.

‘What someone doesn’t know what, won’t hurt them’ –an important quote in this chapter, why? But it doesn’t help in this case...

When latching the lock shut, Yuki wasn’t paying attention, so the ending result...

The lock was a gap...

Author’s ending note: I know this was a long chapter but the flashback was long...please press the blue button using the small mouse you have and review. I like to know people’s...comments toward this chapter...should I continue? Things like that...do you like the cliffie? Yeah, took me awhile to think it up...but this is good for a sixth grader right?