*****
"Reconnecting"
a Fruits Basket fragment by Ysabet MacFarlane (ba087@chebucto.ns.ca)
Written for Sleepdebtfairy

Set shortly after chapter 107
*****

"She looks different," Kisa whispered, staring across the room.

"Of course she looks different," Hiro muttered back.  He'd grown up watching Rin
in her rebellious clothes; seeing most of her skin at once was a fact of life. 
It was the short hair that made her look naked.  He found he couldn't look too
closely at her.

"That's not what I meant," Kisa said.  "Her face doesn't look so scary."

"Scary?"  Hiro looked over at Rin again, trying to see it.  Intellectually, he
knew he had once found her intimidating.  He turned the memory of the feeling
around in his mind, trying to remember how it had felt, but it was lost.  Any
expression Rin had worn that might have frightened him in the past had been
distorted by the memory of her blood.  "She looks really tired."

"Mm."  Kisa nodded agreement, sipped her tea silently.

"What're you two whispering about?"  Haru came up behind Kisa and ruffled her
hair carelessly before kneeling beside her.

"None of--nothing."  Hiro drained his own teacup in one swallow, wincing as it
burned his throat.  Kisa took a quick look up at Haru and leaned forward to rest
her chin on one hand.  Golden hair slid forward to hide her eyes.

"Hey--"  Haru touched her chin and nudged her so that she had to face him. 
"What is it?"

"Isuzu-oneechan . . . "

"What about her?"

Kisa sat still, obviously trying to choose her words.  Haru kept his fingers
under her chin, and Hiro looked away, trying to suppress the automatic flash of
jealousy.  *Haru-nii's like that with everyone,* he reminded himself sternly. 
He watched Rin talking to Kazuma, the two of them backlit against the window
that overlooked the garden.  The sleek haircut and the sweater that covered her
to her wrists and throat made her look older.  Adult.

"I wanted to . . . see her, after what Hiro-chan said, but I . . . " Kisa was
saying behind him.

Kazuma laid a fatherly hand on Rin's shoulder and left the room with a nod to
the others.  As the door slid closed behind him, Rin ran her fingers through her
hair.  Hiro saw her small twitch of surprise when they hit the back of her bare
neck.

" . . . I don't know what to say to her."

"She won't mind," Haru replied, and Hiro forced a smile for Rin when she came
over to join them.  As she knelt, he caught a glimpse of leg through the slit in
her skirt.  It was obscurely comforting.  Haru let go of Kisa's face and brushed
his hand against Rin's.  Her fingers opened, letting him hold her hand, but a
faint hint of color showed on her face.

"It's not like we don't know," Hiro muttered.  Rin glared at him and tightened
her grip on Haru's hand.  Exhaustion lurked in her eyes, too deep for sleep to
ease.  *I guess Haru-nii can't make her ok again any more than that stupid woman
can.*  For a moment he was afraid he'd spoken the words aloud, but no one
commented.

"I'm glad to see you," Kisa said abruptly, her soft voice sounding almost loud
in the silence.

"I guess it's been a while," Rin replied, shaking her head as if trying to clear
her thoughts.

"How . . . how are you?"

Rin blinked slowly, and Hiro had the distinct, eerie impression that she had
forgotten the words needed to express herself.  He looked over at Haru,
wondering if he was imagining it, and Haru nodded slightly as he stroked the
back of Rin's hand.  Her eyes flickered closed and opened again.  "Getting
better," she said.

"Are you eating?" Hiro asked sharply.  "You look even thinner than the last time
I saw you."

"I--"  She glanced at Haru, and her eyes were alert again.  Whatever passed
between them made Hiro's stomach tighten with worry.  "I am now.  It was a rough
winter."

"Rin--"

"Thanks, Hiro."

The connection that had let him understand a little of her desperation lightened
at the sincerity in her voice.  It was the first warmth he had had from her
since the heat of her blood on his hands.  She looked away again immediately, at
Kisa, and Hiro missed whatever words the two girls exchanged, the knot of
anxiety in his chest loosening slightly.  He sat and watched the way Haru's
fingers moved against Rin's, the slow dance of idly entwined hands.

[fin]

*****

Fruits Basket is the creation of Takaya Natsuki, and is licensed in North
America by FUNimation (anime) and Tokyopop (manga).  Used without permission or
the intention of making a profit.  Please support the original work!

"Reconnecting" © 2005 by Ysabet MacFarlane (ba087@chebucto.ns.ca).

Comments and criticism welcomed at the above address.

This story may be reproduced and archived so long as the original text is
preserved and the author's name and contact information remain attached. 
Notifying the author of any such use is an appreciated courtesy.  NO CHANGES OF
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