Winter Snow

by Ash

Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket.

Prologue

Baville was an abandoned town that a man by the name Prometheus found. Prometheus sold Baville to a Mr. Phillip (lets just say he was very wealthy), he restored it to normal, and soon people started to live there again. Lord Phillip was somewhat the people's ruler since he owned the town, but he never treated his people lower than himself. However, the outcome of the Lord Phillip's death lead to his half brother, Benjamin replacing him. Since Benjamin was the only family left alive of the Lord Phillip a document was passed on to him stating that he legally owned the town. Seeing as his half brother paid for it Lord Benjamin decided to run the town anyway he desired, but first he let the people choose to stay in the town or leave. Clearly stating his or her decision could not be changed after that day, as well as the fact that he will run the town the way he wanted to, left the people unsure of his and her new ruler. Many desired to leave but because there was no place to go only a few left and the rest stayed.

The Kingdom of Baville

All was tranquil in the small kingdom of Baville, which was freshly covered by a white sheet of the winter snow. Yet the kingdom at the moment appeared vacant, dirty, and gloomy, seeing as a curfew was bestowed. Before, the kingdom was a town, but as the years progressed the land spread and the town was soon the Kingdom of Baville. As a town Baville was never so dreary or gloomy it was always cheerful, and so very full of life, but that was during the time Lord Phillip ruled. When the Lord Phillip resided in his deathbed a new Lord came to power, his half brother, Lord Benjamin.

Lord Benjamin was a tyrant, who didn't care for his people. A couple of days after his half brother died he bestowed a curfew and only his most highly trusted officers were allowed past curfew hours to keep watch. As the days passed on he ordered the townspeople to build a statue of him, soon after he ordered more townspeople to create a palace for him. Time went on and his palace was finished. He moved in with his wife and two children, a two-year-old boy and a three-month-year-old girl. The result of the townspeople's labor created a hatred for the Lord, many tried to rebel but most were caught and put to death. Now the Lord that was mostly hated was now a king both hated and feared by all. What was once a town and a Lord soon turned to kingdom and King. This transformation occurred 16 years ago a time when King Benjamin started to take over various lands resulting his kingdom to grow. It was also 16 that a girl by the name Tohru Honda was born……………….

"NOOO!" a cry broke the serene silence. It came from an azure-eyed, shoulder length auburn hair girl.

"Let me go," cried the voice, "please just let me go!"

"Looks like we just caught some hot stuff here ain't that right Gill?" a fat ugly officer asked his companion while twisting his hostage's arm. A faint "ow" was heard in response.

"Sure do, we're gonna have some fun tonight Riley," Gill, a man of blonde hair and hazel eyes, commented.

"That we are," was the reply," now what's a fine little lady doing out here in the middle of the night, especially after curfew, hmm? You very well know that no one is allowed outside, starting at half pass nine 'til dawn. Strict orders from King Benjamin."

" Don't worry," Gill assured while looking down as the hostages chest," no harm will be done to you as long as you cooperate."

"Never," was the curt reply.

In a swift movement, the girl bit Riley hard on the hand and was out of his grasp in an instant. In the next instant she was running for dear life straight ahead as fast as she could into a forest, with the two officers not far behind. Her pace was slowing down and her breath was coming down fast, mostly due to the cold weather and the snow all around. Yet she kept going, breaking branches, being scraped by rocks and shrubs. Hoping they wouldn't shoot her with a gun, she ran into pitch black. Unknown to her the officers didn't have any.

With darkness around her, and the officers trailing a few feet behind her, she was to give up when she found a perfect hiding place, a small hole underground.

I am going to have to squeeze inside, but it will be worth it. There's enough room for me to stretch inside the hole, but getting through will be the problem. Hmm and its surrounded by bushes so all I need to do is add leaves and twigs. Yes perfect.

As she closed in on the hole she spotted movement.

"Oh please don't let it be some sort of animal, please!" the young girl pleaded as she focused on the movement.

As she stepped closer she was relived to see a little girl inside and not an animal.

What now the little girl is inside the hole, I can't endanger her so I'll have to find another hiding place, mentally said the girl, as she saw the little girls eyes following her every step.

She reminds me of a tiger following her prey ready to attack, how odd.

"Ha,ha,ha," she quietly chuckled involuntary.

The sound of a twig breaking signaled her to stop and to not move at all.

" Gotcha," Riley said a few feet away," yo, Gill over here I found her"

As soon as she heard him she dove to the ground and covered the hole with leaves, rocks, twigs, anything to camouflage the hole. Making the hole look like solid ground she hid in the nearest bush.

"Hmm where did you go? Ah, what's this, that looks odd leaves and twigs all in one pile. Better check it out, " said one of the officers as he took a step forward.

No I have to do something. If I don't they'll find that little girl, no I cant let them, but what should I do? The girl thought as her eyes then narrowed.

Suddenly she jumped out of her hiding place and ran as fast as she could

The officer turned around and ran after her, slowly catching up to her.

Oh no they will definitely catch me. At least I diverted there attention right?

In less than three minutes one of the officers had her pinned down.

"NO! Let me go!" frantically cried out the girl.

"You've been a bad girl and now its time to teach you a lesson, " Gill said as he sat on top of the squirming girl.

"Hey Riley how about some help, Riley?"

No response was heard and the girl stopped squirming.

"What in the world?" the officer questioned as he stood up with the girl," I probably lost him far behind, yup that must be it with all the fat he has, he must've been slowed down." "Now," he said eyeing the girl up and down, "there's a bed in my house with our name on it."

Just as he was about to proceed forward a cloaked figure approached him.

The mysterious person said," Let the girl go or you'll be sorry just like that other fat fellow you were with."

Seconds past until the officer pondered on what the figure said. Until…

"Riley! What did you do to Riley, you bastard! " screamed out Gill and out of his anger let the girl go, and charged straight to the mysterious figure.

"Pathetic," stated the cloaked figure.

In a matter of seconds the officer was laying on the floor unconscious. The girl peered at her savior's face and noticed that the figure was a man.

"Are you alright," the man asked," you're not hurt are you?"

" No, but thank you very much for saving me," replied the girl.

" Yeah well don't get used to it, I only did it because I saw you cover my friend with leaves so the officers wouldn't see her, I thank you for that," said the man.

"Um your welcome…. may I ask your name?"

"May I ask yours?" was the curt reply.

" My name is Tohru Honda, and thank you again for saving me," the girl, Tohru Honda said.

" Kyo Sohma," said the man as he pulled down his hood revealing orange hair and fiery eyes.

AU:Man am I stumped I can believe I wrote so much, well at least to me since this is my first fanfic. Hope you like it please read and review. ash