𝐀 𝐓𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐄 | FRUITS BASKET

1 | The Magician

Magic is a strange thing.

It's meant to delight, to set hearts aflame with wonder. To inspire and to give joy, to make ordinary objects dance in the palm of your hand and do things no one could dream of.

But with the power to inspire hope, comes the ability to eradicate despair.

On that day, as (Y/N) stood with Akito, holding the jar that kept his mother's ashes, she looked around and couldn't help but notice that they were the only ones who really cared. It hurt.

Everyone else looked apathetic, but there were some who couldn't contain their relief. It was evident in their expressions.

Their feelings were understandable of course, as Ren Sohma was a despicable, cruel woman who found joy in making others miserable.

Her death was the lifting of a dark curse placed on the Sohma clan.

Would you say it was magic then?

A frown, a practiced smile in the mirror. A bath. Breakfast. That was how (Y/N) Sohma's day usually started.

After that, some lessons. Then, if Akito wished it, she'd head to his part of the estate to visit him.

It was a simple routine, the same schedule every day. This day was no different, with the same uneventful morning like all the other mornings of her life as the Fox of the Zodiac.

Today's visit was a little quieter than usual.

He was in a terrible mood, only speaking to her twice, when he asked her to sit down and when he asked her to call someone for tea, so (Y/N) spent her visit sitting near Akito silently, watching the birds enjoying themselves in the warm sunshine outside Akito's window.

Akito himself seemed to be lost in thought, (Y/N) observed. He sat there, pale and sickly-looking, sipping his tea, muttering angrily to himself every now and then.

It was strange.

Finally, after the tea had gone cold, Akito turned to face her with his usual wide smile.

"Thank you for keeping me company today, (Y/N)."

"It makes me happy to find you well, Akito-san," she replied automatically, even though he looked the opposite.

What could be bothering a person like you, Akito? she wanted to know. But she chose not to voice her thoughts.

Instead, she reached into her pocket to pull out a piece of paper she kept there and placed it on the table near Akito.

"A poem." (Y/N) offered as she settled back into her place.

Akito's dark eyes seemed to have brightened a little. "For me... Thank you, (Y/N)."

He looked like he wanted to say more, but instead he smiled at her and said, "I want to be alone. You may leave now, (Y/N). Send my regards to Shigure."

"Thank you, Akito-san."

She left the room, and the last thing she saw before closing the door was Akito holding the poem with an unreadable expression on his face.

The Fox had always been slightly more devoted to God than the other Zodiacs, mused (Y/N) as she hurried home for lunch. Every reincarnation seemed to crave his attention more the others.

But it was different for her. Her supposed feelings of "adoration" felt slightly... diluted. Weaker than what the other Foxes seemed to have felt. The only thing she inherited from them was the Fox's luck.

That's what they called it. The special trait of the Fox that ensured the odds were usually in their favor, and how they always excelled in all their endeavors. Such was the luck of the Fox.

With (Y/N) coming from the branch of the family who had gambled away their fortunes every two generations, the supposed "unlucky" ones, being born as the Fox only heightened the other Sohmas' obsession with the mysterious trait.

The luck of the reincarnated Foxes wasn't even that extraordinary. Sure, they always ended up choosing the "right path", but it wasn't special enough to be known as the Fox's defining trait. The Sohmas just chose to glorify it and attribute every positive outcome that occured in a Fox's presence as an effect of their luck.

When (Y/N) arrived home, lunch was ready. Her thoughts were making her a little unsettled, so she tried to distract herself by focusing on her meal. Finishing quickly, she went to retrieve her things before heading to Kagura Sohma's home.

ᴢᴏᴅɪᴀᴄ ᴄʟᴜᴇꜱ

• (Y/N) and Akito have a strange relationship. Being the Fox, (Y/N) has been told her whole life that everything she does should be for Akito. She thinks her "devotion" to him is weaker than the previous Foxes, but a small part of her still unconsciously yearns for Akito's approval.

Akito on the other hand, dislikes all of the female Zodiacs, but tolerates (Y/N) only because the Fox is supposed to love God the most.

• Kagura and (Y/N) have been close since childhood.