The Neighbors ( A Fruits Basket Fanfiction)

Introduction

My name is Mal and I'm packing up for a new adventure that awaits me. I tied closed a bag of clothes, as I put it over to the side of the room with the rest of the boxes. I took a step back as I nodded then continued to pack.  I was getting ready to move to a whole new town with my best friend Kim. Kim and I have been best friends since I could remember.  We grew up next door to each other in our home town and have been close ever since. When we were little, I used to invite Kim over to play in the sandbox in the back yard. We tried to make the biggest sandcastle we ever seen, but it never worked the way we wanted it to. That ended up as seeing who can knock it down first.  Our friendship has been interesting, seeing how we both have different personalities. Kim was more of the energetic one, always looking for fun and adventure. She's always thinking of things that we could do together, then try to get me to go out and enjoy the world. She loved going for a night on the town and seeing all the neighborhood kids in the lake near our house. She used to drag me down with her to play with them, instead of sitting in the house.

If it wasn't for Kim, I would be in my room all the time. I'm a little on the shy side, not really wanting to do much that involves leaving the house, or being with a lot of people. I'm a big homebody and tends to leave everyone alone.  But one of my favorite things to do is hang out with Kim. Together, we're inseparable and get a little crazy at times. Together we always find fun things to do, even if it's just around the house. Kim always gave me encouragement in leaving and most of the times, I did it just for her. I love to take long rides in the forest, so I always made sure I picked her up. That being said, I also focused on school and making sure all my work is done. I would sometimes not hang with friends, just to get the work done. Which for right now, I don't have to worry about school, seeing how it's summer.

Summer is almost over, which means we're almost ready to go back to school. We both transferred to a different school that was a few towns over.  I was not looking forward to leaving my family, seeing how our mentor at our new home was a complete stranger. I was starting to fold a few clean clothes to pack when a knock came on my door. "Bestie, can I come in?" Kim's voice asked through the door. I picked up another shirt as I spoke. "It's open," I said, as I folded the shirt and put it into my suitcase.  The door opened as Kim stepped into the room. She had on a short red dress, that waved at the bottom of her knees. She had her hair tied into a ponytail, with a pompom hair tie keeping it up. "Hello, bestie.  You ready for the move?" she asked as I turned to her. "Physically or mentally?" I asked as I started to fold again. Kim rocked back and forth in excitement as she spoke. "Both. Just excited to move in general" she said as I sighed. "Not ready one bit," I said, my tone a little grumpier than I wanted it to be. Kim leaned up against my bed as she spoke. "Oh come on.  We're going to a new place. On our own" she said, as I turned to her. "We're not going to really be on our own. We'll have our mentor living with us" I said, as Kim sighed. "She's just going to look out for us. She's giving us a place to stay" she explained, as I looked at her. "Kim. We don't know this woman, she doesn't know us. For all we know, she's a stranger that's" I said, as Kim stopped me. "Come on Mal, Lacy's really nice. I talked with her when we were looking at the place.  You just were touring with your mom" she explained.  I stood up as I looked at her. "As I said, we don't know this woman, so why are you so relaxed with moving in with her?" I asked as the room fell silent.

Kim sighed as she looked down at her feet. "I don't think it's going to be all that bad. We're moving in with who seems to be a good person and is willing to help. The neighbors, from what Lacy said are really nice as well. Maybe giving this a try won't be as bad as you think it's going to be" she said, as I sighed. "We're still moving in with a stranger" I reminded. Kim crossed her arms as she huffed. I looked at her as I spoke. "What?" I asked as she spoke. "Think for a moment. Would your dad allow you to move into a house with a stranger if he thought you shouldn't do it?" she asked as I sighed. I knew my dad very well. He is overprotective, so I saw where she was going with this. "Your right. My dad said it would be good for us" I said. Kim nodded as she spoke."Exactly. Your dad's ok with it, so if he's ok then we'll be fine," she said, as I huffed. "I'm just scared.  What if none of the kids in school like us?  What if I end up getting into a fight as I did here?" I asked as she smiled. "That's why you have me.  I won't let you get into trouble or anything.  Trust me on this, we're going to be fine" she said as I shut the box and sealed it up.  I went to put it down when a familiar meow entered the room.  I turned around to see my main coon, Max walk up to me. He was a grey mane coon, with black markings and a pinkish nose.  He was the size of a small dog, only he was fat and furry.  The cat walked up to me as he brushed up against me, wanting my attention. Kim sighed as she spoke. "Bring Fatboy, if you want. I don't think she'll mind" she said as I turned to her. "I don't think Lacy will want fur and puke everywhere," I said, as I shut the next box.  Kim huffed as she spoke. "No, I don't think she would either," she said, with a sigh.

I scratched my cat on the head as I moved the box to the left corner. "There, that's all for my bedroom," I said, as I sat on the bed and looked around. Kim sat next to me as the air fell silent. I just calmly looked around the room as I huffed, knowing that it was going to be a while until I was back. "Kim, do you think we can do this?" I asked as Kim looked at me. "Of course we can. The two of us can do anything" she said, as she cracked a smile.  I smiled back at her as I spoke. "I'm so glad that you're going through it with me," I said, as Kim smiled. She opened her arms as she spoke. "Hug?" she asked as I sighed. I opened my arms as I gave her a hug back. A knock came on the door as my mom came into the room. "Girls, your mentor's here to pick you up. You ready Mal?" my mom asked as I nodded. "Yeah," I said with a sigh as I looked at Kim. "Can you help me move the boxes to the truck?" I asked as Kim nodded.  "Anything for my bestie," she said, as she picked up one of the boxes.  I sighed as I picked one up and we started to walk downstairs.

Standing in the living room talking with my dad was our new mentor, Lacy. She was a little bit taller than me, dressed in a fancy maroon top and a nice white skirt. She had long, golden blond hair that was braided down the side of her, with a bit of hot pink that faded through the whole braid. She had bright blue eyes, that seemed bright behind a red pair of glasses. "Good morning girls. You all ready for the trip?" Lacy asked in a chipper tone. I sighed as I nodded. "Yeah, just got to put my things in the car," I said, as I shifted the bag in my hand.  Kim and I, with the help of my dad, started to load the car up, putting all the luggage into the back, ready for the move.  My mom was keeping Lacy occupied as she waited for us.  I put the last of my bags in as we shut the door to the car.  Lacy turned to us as we walked up. "Are you ready to go?" she asked as I nodded. "Yep, everything is packed and ready to go. Unless Kim needs anything else" I said, as I turned to her. She shook her head as she spoke. "No. I got everything with me."  I sighed as I walked up to my mom and gave her a hug. Then I hugged my dad.  "Take care and have fun. Same to you Kim" my mom said, as Kim nodded. "I will," she said, as my dad spoke. "Also, keep Mal out of trouble.  We all know her" my dad joked with. I sighed as I ignored the comment.

Lacy chuckled as she spoke. "I'll keep your daughter out of trouble.  I live in a good neighborhood with good neighbors" she said, with a smile.  My dad smiled back as he spoke. "Well, I know you'll take good care of her.  Thank you so much for letting her move in with you" he said, as Lacy smiled. "It's my pleasure.  It's gonna be nice, having your daughter and her friend with me" she said, as she turned to Kim and I. "Well, shall we head out?" she asked as Kim nodded.  I gave my parents one last hug as I spoke. "I'll come back to visit.  Tell the boys I said bye" I said, as my mom nodded. "You girls have fun. And Mal, don't pick fights in school" she said, as I nodded. "I won't mom," I said, as I waved bye, following Kim and Lacy to the car. I got in back with Kim as I buckled up. Lacy got into the driver seat as she spoke. "You girls ready?" she asked as Kim and I exchanged looks. "Yeah, we are," Kim said, as we pulled from the parking lot and drove off.

I sighed as I lied my head down on the back seat, looking out the window as to watch the town go past us. Lacy put on some soft classical music as she hummed to it in silence. I felt Kim staring at me, as I turned my head. She looked at me with a sad expression on her face.  I sighed as I lied my head back on the door of the car, watching the rest of the town pass. The song had a violin as the main instrument, followed by the sounds of a waterfall and birds in the mix.  I focused on the music, the way the instruments blended with the waterfall. It felt so relaxing, as I leaned my head up against the side of the window.   I yawned, feeling myself fighting against the tiredness that just randomly hit me.  I felt the wind as it started to blow through the cracked window of the driver seat.  Lacy sighed as she spoke. "It's a bit of a long drive. Feel free to sleep on the way" she said, as Kim turned to me.  She watched me for a few moments, then turned back to Lacy. "Thank you so much. I think Mal will take advantage of that" she said, as I felt myself close my eyes and fall into a deep sleep.