Author’s Notes: This is for all of you Hatsuharu and Rin fans. Characters may be OOC, just to let you know. I don't normally do OOC, but this time I'll make an exception. This storyline doesn't follow the story of the Manga and/or Anime. Plus, it's an Alternate Reality, where Rin actually likes Tohru and stuff. You rate how it goes. Please take some precious time off of your hands to leave a nice review please minna? Arigatou! Gomen if anything is off. I'm writing this fic for fun and for your entertainment! So the storyline will develope as time goes on kay? Sayanora for now! -Kaiya-Forgivness

A Note: Chapters go on as Rin's POV narration

Disclaimer:All characters and original storyline belong to Natsuki Takaya, so I, Kaiya-Forgivness, do not own Fruits Basket

Chapter Summary:A seemingly normal Rin Sohma thinks her life's just the way it should be. Aside from the ups and downs, she may think it's perfect in her eyes. Of course in her eyes, she'll always think she's the greatest and the top next to her eternal crush Shigure. Basically, her life is the life she wants...Or is it?

Fruits Basket

Because of You

By KAIYA-Forgivness

Chapter One

"A Perfect Life..."

As I tossed and turned in bed, I kept thinking of how stupid I would look carrying a slighty huge--Okay...really huge--bass drum in front of all the people standing on the sidelines of the street, wasting their time watching useless floats and stupid tractors and cop cars pass them by. Of course I wouldn't really know how these things go, since I'm IN the friggen parade since two years ago, when I started up for band.

And no...I am not a guy...My name is Rin Sohma, and I'm from a huge family of a bunch of cousins, uncles, aunts and a bunch of other retards I don't know. But really...I shouldn't be dissing my family tree, since I'd be in loads of trouble if the head of the family Akito Sohma found out...I don't really know Akito...My mother used to tell me stories about people like Akito, and Akito himself. Even though Akito's my age and all, he somehow holds alot of respect amung my family tree...

Really? I don't give a damn about Akito or anybody else for that matter. I do hold alot of pride you know? Anyways, I choose who to trust very wisely...

There's Tohru Honda, one of my dearest and best friends ever since kindergarten. We met at a carnival and so got along! We laugh together alot and as time went on, we grew closer and now we're practically inseperable...But just recently...Tohru's mother Kyoko passed away...Now she lives with her grandfather...She never lets me come over...She always comes to my house...I dont' know why...But...I feel something's up with her...But if I ask, I'm afraid I might hurt her.

I do what I can for her...And I protect her but sometimes I've just gotta grasp the fact that she's only one year younger than I am, and she's all grown up and mature. Heck! She may be even more mature than me. I have an attitude problem with teachers and stuff...I've had tons of detentions in the past! Funny isn't it? How two people of the complete opposite can be best friends for a long while? But yeah...

I've also got two other best friends from long ago...Okay from first grade, but hey! That's long to me!

There's Saki Hanajima...She's pretty cool if you stay on her good side. She loves to write dark poetry and lets me and Tohru read her journal entries to see what's up in her day and stuff. That's pretty cool right there. Yet sometimes Saki seems a little down in the dumps...That's sounds dumb when I say it huh? Well, anyways...She's been stressing alot but Tohru and I do our best to help her. Tohru loves to make up nicknames for us too. I go by Rinni. Fits me sometimes, but I don't really like my name Rin. Too boring if you ask me. So Tohru's cute streak calls me by Rinni.

Saki goes by Hana, part of her last name. Tohru loves to draw cute flowers for Saki since Hana means flower. It's funny yet cute. I'd better quit saying cute or I'll go nuts. Oh yeah! And we've got a kick ass friend named Arisa Uotani. Tohru calls her Uo and draws fishes for her sometimes when Uo loses a fight. But that's really rare since Uo kicks asses on a daily bases...Well only at football games when idiots call Uo a Yankee wannabe or something like that.

I sat up in bed and raked my hand through my long dark tresses and sighed. I kept thinking why me? Why me? I don't wanna have to play that damn bass drum. I'm getting sick and tired of it year after year. But I chose to be in band...Being an accidental drummer is alright...But up against all the boy drummers, it's a little hard on me. They push me around and call me weak. Sometimes they even tell me to friggen quit drums...But that only makes me more determined to stay a drummer.

It's grown on me yes...But sometimes I wish I could just be like everyone else and not stand out...Then again...Being a rebel is great! I get to yell around without a care in the world! That beats out any boy drummer any day! I smiled at this thought and layed back down. My clock read 11:43 p.m. I really need some sleep if I want to show those boy drummers who can beat a bass drum harder than anyone! I closed my eyes and began to concentrate on breathing...

Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale...Still wasn't working though! Damn it! I can't get to sleep! I turned over and thought somemore...

"Shigure..." I whispered...Then I shook my head out of the thought. What the hell was I thinking! Shigure was this big cool preppy senior who didn't even notice me! Plus, he's a distant member of my family. Shigure Sohma...At least I have an excuse to be stupid and pretend him and I are married eh? Whatever...I'm not that stupid. At least I hope not...Oh yeah, and did I mention Shigure was a drummer too? Guess not...But he's a top drummer. Way better than me...Saying this makes me sound like a dumb hypocrite. I don't care really if anybody ever called me a hypocrite. Sure it may hurt a little. But it'll never scratch the surface of my pride barrier!

Yup! That's me...The tough Rin Sohma...Hell...What am I even saying? Tough? You call drooling over Shigure Sohma tough! In another life yeah! When Yuki walks! Oh...'Bout Yuki...Another Sohma to be exact...Yep, another distant reletive of mine. Yuki and I don't really talk at all. He's this big popular dude who all the girls in the school swoon over everyday, writing love notes and sticking them in his locker. Kinda creepy if you ask me, but Yuki seems to enjoy it no? But anyways, Yuki always gets rides with his older brother Ayame Sohma. So if something happens that seems like a miracle, Tohru and I say, "When Yuki walks!". Weird huh? But at least Tohru and I find it funny!

With that giving me a little tickle and some giggling, I sat up again and looked over at my window sill. My cat Mame was sleeping on the window sill again and snoring loud! He's cute actually, he's white and has a cute crooked tail. He opened his sapphire eyes and looked at me in a little kitty way. I smiled and pet him then looked at the dark sky. The full moon was shining so brightly...So high in the sky...Almost as if I can touch it...But like that'll ever happen. I suck a metephors.

Then I glanced over to my stereo and sighed once again. I quietly got up, making sure not to wake my mom in the next room, and tippy toed to my stereo and sat on the floor next to it and put on my headphones. Listening to music calmed me and let my stress float away. I turned up my CD and lipped the words as I bobbed my head. Sweet rock and some metal made me want to sing out loud...Too bad I wasn't home alone. I'd be jammin' out so much! Before I realized it, the sun began to rise...Guess I love music that much as to not realize the time. That rules out any chance of me being able to sleep. I shrugged and walked over to my dresser to pick out an outfit.

At about 9:10 a.m. the phone rang. I ran to the living room to answer it.

"Yeah?" I boredly said.

"Um...Rinni? Am I bothering you? Did I wake you up too early?" It was Tohru and her small sounding voice calling to wake me up. Maybe wake me up, but she usually calls so we can walk to school together or go to a football game together or have a girls night out with Hana or Uo. This time, she was calling to confirm that Hana would be picking us up in her mom's car and onto the high school to get ready for the damned parade. Who knows if I'm fooling myself about the parade being dumb or not? It's fun if I want it to be. Really! Guess I was too tired to care since I didn't sleep!

"Der! Didn't even wake me up. I was up hours ago. So, Hana's picking us up at nine twenty. Just to remind you since you're so forgetful!" I laughed into the phone and leaned my arm on the island the phone and answering machine rested on.

"Ugh! I'm not forgetful!" Tohru playfully snapped back. She does that alot. It's just somewhat cute to hear her little voice on the phone yelling at me.

"Sure you are. But anyways...Just walk over now kay? Bring your mp3 player I bought you! We can jam! I broke my mp3 player last night..." I gave a small laugh into the phone and waited for her answer.

"Sure thing Rinni. Guess we'll see Uo on the sidelines since she's not in band huh? Um...Do you remember if I left my flute in the band room at last practice, or did I bring it home?" Tohru struggled to remember.

"You left it in the band room. Now quit worrying and walk over already! Hana'll be here soon!" I laughed.

"Okay, okay...Thanks Rinni..." Tohru gave a sort of...Well I don't know how to explain it but...Her tone sounded somewhat...Sad...

"For what?" I asked back.

"Never mind! Just thanks for reminding me where my flute was..." Tohru's tone gave a saprano pitch and she laughed then hung up before I could ask what was up. She's been acting a little...Strange lately though...I have no business in asking. Plus when I do, she denys anything is wrong. So I keep quiet.

Onto the day...Hana's mom pulled up into my alley way of my house and Tohru and I ran and jumped in. As usual, Hana's mom teased me about my long slender legs not being able to fit into her pick up and then teasing Tohru about how quiet and small she sounds. Like one big family really.

Finally arriving at the high school, the three of us jumped out and greeted our over active band teacher Sensei Ming. He's a little big around the tummy, and wears clothes so wrong for the season. It was a wopping 95degrees, and he was wearing a long sleeved concert shirt with grey dress pants. What's he thinking! He has to march along side us! Well, his body. That sounds wrong, but you know what I mean!

Hana, Tohru and I walked into the band room after greeting Sensei Ming, then I walked over to my bass drum and took the mallets off of it and took the bass drum in hand and carried it up to Hana and Tohru. Hana was putting her clarinet together as Tohru cleaned her flute.

"Um? Have you seen my music anywhere?" Tohru cluelessly searched everybody's stands and began another journey of forgetfulness.

"You're getting more and more forgetful day by day Tohru." Hana and I laughed. But Tohru was too busy still looking. When she finally spotted it, somebody grabbed the folder. The three of us looked up in the empty band room and noticed that it was Yuki. Prince Yuki to be exact. Forgot the mention that that's his nickname for life.

Tohru looked up at him.

"Um...Can I have that back?" She smiled, pointing her finger at the folder Yuki was holding.

"Oh this? I'm sorry...Thought is was mine." He carelessly shrugged and threw it at Tohru. Hana glared as Tohru barely caught it. Yuki walked off to his baritone and began to clean his mouth piece.

"What an idiot..." I glared. Tohru walked over to me and Hana and smiled.

"Got it!" She held her smile and continued to clean her flute.

"That was uncalled for!" I glared at Yuki. Yet he didn't seem to hear me since I wasn't really saying anything serious to him. I was just joking around. Yuki got up and walked out of the band room.

"Shall we get to the park then?" Tohru asked. Every stinken year, I've had to haul my bass drum all the way to the city park to wait to line up on the street and march. I sighed.

"Sure...As long as you guys take turns carrying my drum--HUH?" I looked around and I was talking to thin air! Those traitors! I held out and fist and miserably hauled my bass drum down the stairs and outside to find Tohru and Hana laughing.

"Sorry Rin! I couldn't help it! I was hiding behind the drum cabinet, and then I just HAD to grab Hana and Tohru to make them ditch you! Won't happen again!" It was Uo! She actually came to the high school when she didn't have to! A miracle! Now maybe Yuki'll walk huh?

"Ugh! Uo! You're so dumb!" I bonked her on the head and began to walk away.

"Eh? Come on! Take a joke Rin! Here, let me help ya." Uo took my bass drum and began to walk down the hill onto the city park. Not much really happened, aside from the fact that Uo got tired half way down the hill and handed me my bass drum! How could she? I don't wanna have to carry it ALL the way. Of course knowing Hana, she only carried it for five seconds max and Tohru carried it one second max, then would have dropped it if I didn't catch it.

"You guys are so lazy! You TRY carrying this thing throughout the whole parade!" I glared as I put the drum on my shoulders. Yet my three buddies only sighed and continued talking about random junk. Like it is everyday, but hey! Who cares? It's so fun with them around. You could say my life's almost perfect. Nah, that'll be the day. But my life is great on the other hand. With that, a silver Cavaleir pulled up in the driveway and out came Shigure...

"Oooh look Rin...It's you know who!" Uo elbowed me.

"Shut up!" I pushed her and blushed as Shigure popped out of his car, sunglasses and all. He didn't see us, or me for that dumb matter. He cooly walked up the hill to grab his snare drum and then drive all the way down to the park. Possibly beating us there. Too bad I'm so shy around him, otherwise, I'd be able to ask him for a ride!

"Ugh! Let's hurry before Pretty Boy Sohma beats us!" Tohru joked as she ran ahead.

"Hey! That's not funny! Calling my man a pretty boy! More like Yuki! He's the 'prince' of the school!" I laughed. Somehow, those words seemed to faze Tohru...She stopped and looked at the sky.

"Did I say something wrong?" I asked.

"No...You didn't...Come on! Shi's coming soon! He'll try and race us!" Tohru smiled and ran ahead.

Was there some kind of connection between Tohru and...Prince Yuki? I mean, he's just some dumb prep who has the ladies all over him. I mean, what can Tohru see in him if his name fazed her so much? Oh well...Maybe it's just nothing. Yeah that's it! I'm just worrying about nothing really. I sighed and laughed along as I attempted to run and supposidly beat Shigure in his car. The four of us ran and ran as we finally reached the park, soon to line up and march.

Everyone began to chat and stuff, really nothing much to it...Just fun and games and stuff. But the dumb little freshmen kept complaining at how hot it was and stuff. Well they freaking shouldn't have signed up for band if they knew how hot it would be! You've got to except life the way it is! How dumb. Then again, not that I should point any of their flaws out! There goes my hypocrisy sneaking up on me again!

"Okay line up!" Sensei Ming yelled out to us. Everyone began to line up in their sections as did I. Being the only female drummer is a little lonely at times since all the boys talk amungst one another and ignoring me. The say stuff to me, but that's only to ask if I have a drumkey or not. Usually, I don't...So they quit asking. But it's all good...I've gotten used to it these past two years as a female drummer. I smiled to myself as I spotted Shigure walk up to his friends and talk.

Yuki's brother Ayame was a bass drummer too...But he didn't say anything much. He did talk to Shigure for a while, until Shigure ditched him to talk to other drummers. Blah, blah, blah...This is how it is parade after parade. I perfer playing pepband songs at football games and screaming the loudest to marching band really...Since I don't have to carry this big drum around at football games. Speaking of football games, we've got the Homecoming game coming up soon...And the first day of school is coming too...Joy! Well...The more the school, the more I get to see my precious Shigure!

Ten minutes passed as we were STILL lined up and ready to march. Everyone grew restless and left their line to talk to their friends from other sections. I followed too and walked all the way to the front to chat with Tohru and Hana. Uo was flirting with some hot dudes by the auditorium and hitting them playfully on the shoulder.

"Hey guys!" I teasingly slapped Tohru on the back and smiled.

"Somehow!" She smiled back.

Hana took out her sunglasses and cleaned them. Me being desperate to look cool in front of Shigure, I asked Hana to use her cool shades.

"Sure." She shrugged and handed them to me as she went up and down on her B-Flat Major Scale on her clarinet. Her shades had a small crystal butterfly at the corner, and they were blue shaded. I smiled and put them on. We chatted until Sensei Ming spazzed out and told everyone to go back to their lines. Pretty boring really but yeah...I wouldn't like my days as an accidental drummer any other way...I guess I do have a perfect life...Really? In my eyes...