Fruits Basket- The Zodiac Demon

Meeting Hatori

Tohru walked through park, looking around. Hatori had called and asked her to invite Ren Tsukino over to Shigure's house to talk, maybe even get to know him better. As she walked, Tohru heard the sound of an ocarina floating in the breeze. Its music almost made her want to cry, it sounded so sad....and lonely. Following her ears, Tohru arrived at a rather large koi pond with a pretty red bridge going across it. And sitting on the railing with his back to her, was the boy she was looking for. Ren was gently blowing into the instrument he held and his fingers danced across its surface for one opening to the next, changing the notes at a moments notice. Then it stopped.

"It's rude to stare, Tohru Honda."

Tohru jumped a bit.

"I-I'm so sorry! I-I was just listening to your music." She stuttered.

"Is there something that you need?"

"Well, Hatori Sohma asked me to invite you over to Shigure's house for a visit. Maybe we could get to know each other better, because, I really do want to be your friend, Mister Tsukino."

Tohru heard Ren sigh.

"Alright, when do you want me to go over?"

"Oh, Hatori said he'd like to see you today if possible, he's at Shigure's house right now. He really seems to want to meet you, Mister Tsukino."

I'll bet that washed up doctor does. Ren thought.

Ren turned around and hopped off of the railing.

"Alright, I have nothing better to do today since I don't work until the day after tomorrow."

Tohru smiled.

"Thank you for accepting Hatori's invitation. We'd better hurry, he doesn't like to be kept waiting for very long."

Tohru walked off in the direction of Shigure's house, hearing Ren's footsteps behind her. She'd noticed the clothes he was wearing. It wasn't his school uniform, but a silver sleeveless hooded jacket with a black t-shirt underneath along with a pair of slightly ripped blue jeans with black sneakers. It only took them a few minutes to arrive. Ren noticed a car parked in front of the house.

So, Hatori's really here? This is going to be interesting. Ren thought.

Tohru slid the front door open.

"Everyone, I'm back! And I managed to find Mister Tsukino!" She said cheerfully.

Hatori sat in the living room with the others. Yuki was sitting patiently beside Shigure, and Kyo was laying on the walkway just outside. Tohru entered the room with a happy smile on her face, then Ren followed in behind her. Ren Tsukino. The Tsukino and Sohma families had a rather violent past together, resulting in an unspoken rule to never again have anything to do with one another. But if Ren really was who Hatori thought he was.....things were going to get chaotic. Ren sat closest the door.

"It is a pleasure to meet all of you." He said rather dully.

Hatori could barely sense the malice behind his words.

"It is also a pleasure to meet you to, Ren Tsukino. I hear that you know something about our family."

"If you're talking about the Zodiac Curse, then yes. I know all about it. Including the fact that Akito is the god of it."

Every Sohma in the room froze like ice, even Shigure had lost his usual goofy grin.

"I'm sorry to do this, but I'm afraid that you know too much."

Hatori rose to his feet. Ren didn't even budge as he walked over to him and placed a hand over his eyes.

"Wait! What's going on?!" Tohru exclaimed as she stood up.

Before she could do anything, a flash of light filled the room.

"It's done." Hatori said.

A dark silence filled the room. Tohru had her hands covering her mouth in shock.

"What's done? And I'd appreciate it if you took your hand off of my face, Seahorse of the Zodiac."

Everyone in the room gasped in shock. Hatori's abilities didn't work?!

"Nice try, but none of your parlor tricks can do a thing to my mind. Oh, and before I forget. Hatori, I have the same ability you do, except, mine can completely wipe a person's mind clean. I can even make them forget their will to live." Ren said darkly as he grabbed Hatori's face in the same manner and squeezed.

The room erupted into chaos. Everyone jumping to their feet in an attempt to stop him.

"Ren! Stop, I'm begging you!" Tohru cried.

The said boy's eye widened.

She said my name. She said my name! Only one other person's done that....

Ren's thoughts were interrupted when he felt Tohru throw her arms around his shoulders as she begged for him to stop.

"Dammit!" Ren started to say before a sudden blast of smoke erupted from around him.