Burning Memories [Fruits Basket Fanfiction]

Burning Memories~Chapter 2

"We're not those terrible men." Yuki said with a smile. "We'll protect you."

I smiled back, nodding as I slumped against the bed. Hesitantly, Hatori and Yuki released my wrists.

"You have nothing to worry about." Hatori began. "The Sohmas are a very powerful household."

"In more ways than one," Yuki mumbled with a smirk. That stirred the suspicion that was already bottled up inside me. I stared at Yuki with frightened eyes, the color of a bright summer sky. "I'm sorry." Yuki chuckled. "It's nothing, really."

"Nothing?" I repeated. I shifted my position, kneeling on my knees. "I..." I put one foot on the ground as I lifted myself up, slowly walking to the door. Yuki and Hatori were only a few steps behind me. "I don't..." I rested my fingers on the rice paper door. "I don't believe you!"

With a jolt, my feet left the ground as I tried to run out the door. Hatori grabbed my arm again, but I twisted out of his grip and ran as fast as I could.

There! The forest was right ahead of me. I had to make it in there, away from this "Sohma" household! I reached the trees and let them pull me into the darkness. I expected to be clear, but I heard the furious pounding of footsteps behind me. I glanced to see who it was.

Yuki was running behind me. His silver hair blew back in the wind, and his purple eyes stared in fixation at me. He had his mind set on getting me, but I wouldn't let that happen.

I kept running, as fast as I could, managing to dodge every branch and tree trunk that tugged at my clothes. We were going very fast, tearing through the forest at an astonishing pace. None of us showed signs of slowing, even though we were already enveloped in the darkness of the forest.

All of a sudden, I felt a sharp pain on my forehead.

"Ow!" I shouted, keeling backwards as I held my head. Yuki stopped right behind me, blinking in a sort of horrified surprise. I looked to see what had hit me. It was nothing other than a strong, silver gun, polished and pointing at me.

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~Yuki's POV~

A gun? There was a gun, pointing straight at this frightened little girl who Kureno brought back. She had black hair that trailed down her back, going all the way to her elbows. Her eyes were a sort of innocent baby blue, except brighter. The article said she was fourteen, only one year younger than me. She was short, though, and looked more like an eleven year old. The same sort of fear that a young girl would have now projected in Kazuko's eyes.

Immediately, though, she picked herself up. She looked at me with a look that was so frightened, so scared, that I gripped her hand tightly.

"It's okay." I said, but my voice was a ragged gasp. I was having a little trouble breathing after so much running.

"Damn you." The man holding the gun snarled. He wore a black turtleneck and black jeans, with black boots and a black hat. Your classic criminal, the kind you'd find in comic books. But so much scarier in real life. "You can't convince Usagi of her protection. In fact, I think I'll kill you, too." Usagi... This man knew Kazuko's name. So. He must be one of the four criminals.

"Don't you take all the fun!" Another man, dressed in the same attire as the other, came out from behind another tree. Followed by two others. One, two, three, four. All of the murderers were hear.

"Don't you worry, little girl." One of the other men smiled at Kazuko. He put his hand in her raven hair, then a finger on her chin. He tipped her head upwards, so her eyes could see those of the taller man. "This isn't going to hurt one bit." The man pulled out his own pistol, the same as the other one.