As the 2nd head of the Sohma household, you're expected to uphold a sense of independence and maturity from a young age to the extent it secludes you. Despite your desire to become closer to many of the zodiacs, you're often prohibited in hopes of...
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The moonlight caressed your face along with your uncovered hands as you walked along the veranda amidst midnight. The brisk wind wafted past you, rustling your hair that frames your face. The smell of petrichor was fresh in the air from the heavy downpour that occurred a few hours ago. The crickets chirping provided some type of tranquility amongst the quiet household where you were sure no one was awake, despite having guards at the entrance of the estate—the pestering maids were asleep— your sister was asleep.
You tiptoed your way near the garden's opening, carefully avoiding the large dirt patches to avoid staining your clothing that'd lead to arising questions amongst the maids. Grabbing onto the edge of the fence you hopped over to where you typically had seen a colony of bunnies lie around and fed them during your time away from your household duties. There you found them waiting for you as their noses twitched in response to your presence.You grabbed the container of food hidden near the edge of the fence and poured it in their bowls. They ate with a sense of desperation, and afterwards you spent your desired amount of time sitting on the smooth edge of a rock staring at the small pond spurting out water from the god-like fountain design.
Simple moments like these were the only time you had time for yourself, away from all the duties and expectations placed upon you as the 2nd head of the household. You felt selfish to an extent for despising your duties as you were consistently praised at family events, along with your sister—- who you always believed had it worst in the aspect of expectations. To those people, you were their gods— their reason for living— the center of it all. But to your father, you guys had only simply been his two childish-young daughters who he couldn't ever find the reason to apprehend. With your mother's growing hatred towards the both of you, the more you grieved the loss of your father who protected you and provided you a sense of comfort regardless of her cruel words. Cruel words that now felt like consistent daggers to your heart.
You gasped at the sudden feeling of a tap on your shoulder, nearly throwing all of the container of food onto the ground.
"Shhhh," the face you recognized to be Shigure Sohma, a close member of the household had said.
You stared anxiously into his eyes as you tried to compose yourself from your sudden flustered state. He simply shook his head at the sight of you and chuckled.
"What are you doing out here this late at night? If your maid caught you she'd probably have a guard stand outside your room, you know?" He said in a whisper.
"Mhm. I know." You quietly said as you nodded.
You had not questioned the reason as to why he was awake at this time too, as he was labeled the problem child from what you heard of the gossip amongst the maids in the household. So, you expected him to potentially harbor a sense of disobedience over being obligated to sleep at a specific time—despite not being old enough to dictate his own say.
He frowned at your overall lack of words. He hoped you'd at least give him a fraction of your attention now that you're both alone, as your encounters had all been in the presence of your parents, maids, and sister. They were meant to be strictly formal.
You felt his continuous gaze bore into the side of your face for a few minutes as you continued to stare at the pond, mentally preparing yourself to announce your departure.
"Are you gonna tell them?" You broke the awkward silence that you had set with the first response you provided him.
"No, I don't plan to— if you don't plan to say that I was here too. Wouldn't go too well for the both of us... just wanted to see what you were up to this late at night and how you managed to leave your room." He chuckled awkwardly.
You provided him a small chuckle and smile as a response, "Yeah... tiptoed my whole way here. I should go now before I elongate my initial visit, I'll see you tomorrow as you depart."
"Y-yeah! Goodnight" he said to you with a bright grin, too bright for someone awake at midnight.
You looked back and waved towards him, ultimately heading back to your room with brisk but light steps. Those that continued to go undetected in a household tightly supervised.
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@/saradika on tumblr for pastel floral divider @/cafekitsune on tumblr for the divider
Note: not wise to start another story but my brain at night makes me feel excited to write, until one day i don't find the energy to continue a story. trust, i'll push through for fun! this fuels my fruits basket 2020 era. i also made akira sohma like nice in which he doesn't impose his daughters roles, compared to the manga.
