Chapter Text

CHAPTER 1- A Prelude of What Is to Come

In all tales, whether good or bad, I will tell you something. Though it may be hard to comprehend for a mortal. A tender heart is much needed in a cruel world. I shall narrate a tale to you dear reader, that is how it beckons.

Of how love would break a silent man, and a woman finding herself in the world.

I narrate to you about the Somas, it is said that they went through hard times after their previous heir Akira squandered their fortunes to wars, which seemed unprofitable. It fell upon his head—Akito who has had a long history of disease. In a short span of twenty years, he has been visited by many physicians, some who have travelled far away to acquire a cure but have proven to be worthless which cause a rift of choices to a few heads which I will not name for the sake of understanding of this story.

Since then the conflict remained in the household, it was easy to point fingers for such a demise. That person who is the most ridiculed by the family—Kyo. Lately, a war has brewed into these shores, which heavily took the mantle on the young man.

Many people have tried to regain the power of the household, including Yuki who took a valiant step to launch a business with the countries in power, in hopes to erase all the troubles they faced. However, he knows that he cannot be looking after the house, and the two youngest family members Kisa and Hiro. Of course, Shigure, who recently mingled with a strange club of artists hungering for the purity of Raphael’s time did not ease Yuki’s anxieties that he would be struggling to find help, which is unfortunately rejected by most members of society.

However, it is such beginnings that we will speak of a young lady, Tohru. And hence the prelude has started.

For months, Tohru stays in her aunt’s house as a ward to her deceased father's relatives, which unfortunately met with cruel fate, as they squandered the last fortunes bequeathed from her mother and oppression from her family for her questionable background. The parish heard about Tohru’s poor living conditions that they recommended her to move far away as she can, with her only relay of communication via a telegram with the phrase “Tender heart” She cannot forget that haunting expression of a child of five years, pulling at the hem of a skirt from a young lady, roughly 17 years staring blankly into the sky, with blood dribbled from her mouth. That could have been her fate, but she is thankful in all circumstances as she knew there would be sunlight amidst the dark.

Tohru gazed over the sea of forests, her fingers tracing imaginary circles on the window. It is perhaps a pleasant view away from the cramped slums, or even the house that she stayed in with her relatives. At last, she could be free, away from the maddening crowd. She subconsciously grabbed her wool shawl and covered her shoulders from the chill. It felt different from the past home. 

Somehow a voice came in mind, as she recalled the cold hand of her mother and her dying wish. “My dearest Tohru, always be brave and hold on. You are the brightest light amidst the dark.” She stood strong amidst the tears when kind souls from a nearby parish helped to bury her. Finally, the dirt covering her face, a single tear streaked her face, of course, she wiped it quickly, resolving herself to her mother’s words. To be brave and to hold on.

Tohru squinted slightly as she saw the exterior of the house, moss-covered pillars, vines creeping at the windows and the glasses seem to be clouded by the dust of yesteryears. 

That must be the Soma house.

It seems gloomy and depressing.

However, the aroma of roses greeted her at the distance. Maybe there is some life in it, as she glanced at a young boy scowling at the window, with a book before she could hear the muffled conversations that he must go to the hunts.

A creak came over her as she saw an old man with kind eyes bowing to her. It must be the butler of the house, maybe they have some fortune to take on servants like him “You must be the new governess of the household, Miss Honda.” Tohru did her curtseys to him.

“Yes, I am…” 

All the surroundings are strangely beautiful as if it came out of a fairytale. She cannot help but be amazed by the surroundings. The wind somehow brought a chill in her spine. ‘We better move quickly, it seems winds can be drafty at times. I do not wish for you to catch colds before you met my master.” They briskly walked over the main hallway, which the sliver of the light was shut off by another servant, a boy of 15 years looking coldly at the new arrival.

An aroma of geraniums hit her nose, soon assaulted by cinnamon and curry spice. She looked over at the portraits, all gloomy and solemn, with some falling into the cracks. before long she passed a humongous oak door. The butler quietly knocked on the door.

“Sir...the new governess came…”

"Let her in..."

Soon a creak came at the distance which soon, Tohru is assaulted by the wondrous things that decorated the room, butterflies pinned into the wooden frame, a globe ornate with gold lining, maps of exotic countries which she barely knew littered the room. Books arranged in topics that she barely knew, seems to give an otherworldly glow. There is even a Turkish rug that lay around the floor. At the centre of the room, a young man of 17 calmly looking over the papers. For that moment he seems to pop out from the ceiling murals in that house, with his simple burgundy suit and lovely cravat amidst the room of curiosities.

His grey eyes flashed to that kind figure. “Is it Tohru…” She reluctantly nodded at his sight. “...Nice..to…”

“I am Yuki Sohma, head of the household...I assume you know the duties of being a governess of the house, like bringing up the children and managing their health…” Tohru could feel the warmth in her voice, it felt like candlelight amidst the dark. “Of..of course...I have little experience, but I will try my best..”

“Good. I appreciate your humility. It is rare these days to see honesty in a cruel world”

“Why not I bring you around the house, what you passed just now is the main hallway.” Tohru followed suit, by looking at the solemn faces in the house, some have a more delightful persona dressing in fancy-dress costumes. Others are solemn which Tohru could not put a finger around. However, she could tell that maybe there are things that she should not know. 

Yuki showed them around the house, the pitter-pattering of steps-glimpsing the many faces of the household from the gardeners tending the luscious fields, cooks sweating through the many courses, maids constantly polishing the tarnished silver and even the butler watched them sternly over the duo. Through the winding of the stairs, Tohru could see the wealth in this family, busts of Roman statues of emperors and gods, paintings vivid in hue (she is never bright at art history but she admired for its beauty)

Quietly Yuki gripped the door “Lady Tohru, this is your room. Apologies for the mess, and lack of features that befits a woman. Times are tough. Please make yourself comfortable.” However, she doesn't mind at all, freshly clean sheets, the sun rays cascaded through the robin egg blue walls and a small vase perched by her bedside. It is much better than the perilous conditions she faced in the past.

Tohru quietly placed her luggage onto the floor “Thank you for your kindness Yuki..." Yuki smiled quietly “If you need anything, you can call my servants Cathy and Mark…” soon she glanced at a boy and girl slightly older than her, bowing to the new mistress. 

“Thank you, Cathy and Mark, for looking after me..” 

Quietly she took out a small painted portrait of her mother and placed it alongside the bed table “Mother I hope you like this...Yuki has been kind to me. Maybe the house is not as frightening as I think.” She soon slipped off all of her travel wares and grabbed herself a new chemise. She admired the soft sunlight that bathed through the house, despite its gloomy interior. After all, Yuki seems to put all efforts to make the house comfortable for an unexpected guest.

Tohru looked at the portrait that is veiled by a brocade curtain. She slowly peeked at the unveiled part. The first thing that caught her attention is his stare, akin to a tiger in a cage. Wild and dangerous. However, she is compelled by that man. Whoever painted this portrait took great detail of him. Subconsciously she barely traced the painted folds of the jacket. Yuki gave a bemused smile. “Sometimes things should not be mentioned in this household. Do not ever cross him.” Tohru swallowed quietly.

“Why…”

Yuki shut his eyes slightly. “Never mind…” He quickly pulled the curtain down “Shall we meet the mistress which you must take the head off.”

“Recently she has been struck silent we do not know why…Shigure and I are at a loss on how to get her. I think you may be the key to get her voice out.”

Slowly they grazed to that room, there is that wonderful openness with walls painted a warm gold. The light seems to bathe at every step and there is a huge cherry tree facing the wonderfully manicured garden. Tohru glanced over an auburn-haired girl with glassy eyes staring at the paper theatre with delightful figures lying at the side. Her dress sheathed with pewter grey velvet with a peony pink satin ribbon clinging unto her waist.

“Kisa...Kisa…” Her ears perked up slightly to a firm voice. She quietly dropped down a figure which a lady dressed up as a fairy. Slowly that little girl, which is known to her as Kisa curtsey to Tohru. Yuki swallowed his words quietly “Tohru, this is the Lady Kisa, currently, her mother has faced the most unfortunate of circumstances and thus deemed me to be her guardian.”

“There is a gentleman that supposed to accompany the Lady Kisa, currently”

 “Nice to meet you…” She glanced at her gently. Tohru could feel there is a turbulent storm in her mind “I hope we can learn something together…” 

Yuki slowly squats to her level.“I know it is not the same as your mother, but bear with her.” He tried to swallow the word please as if begging for her to know that she is not alone. Somehow she nodded sadly.

“It is best I leave you two alone.” He quietly shut the door. Quietly Kisa shuffled away from her sight. Tohru smiled quietly as she saw her clutching the doll. “Well she must be pretty, does she have a name?”

Kisa blinked slightly as she huddled the doll to her chest. Tohru scratches her head slightly. She seems to be lost in her world looked at that face of the doll, her features possessed a certain gentleness and her hair curled so perfectly. “I know what …” She quickly grabbed herself a pen and paper from her small desk. She scribbled it and Kisa glanced at her curiously “I was thinking of a pretty flower- how about Edelweiss!” Kisa stared at her calmly. Soon she cracked a small smile. The sun soon shone behind her back. For that moment Kisa seems to be like an angel from heaven looking after her. “Alright, we can take Lady Edelweiss to our lessons…” Quietly she took up an unfinished embroidery hoop. “She would be a good companion to all” Tohru gently took that doll and placed at the edge of the room, and soon she started the stitch. However, her mind has been clouded by that thought of that strange figure. The one she is forbidden to talk too. Why is there fear in the household for him?

That she will never know.

Nevertheless, she heard muffled conversations of that strange figure coming back to the house. The winds grow blustery at his arrival, and she glanced to him at the crack of the door. He holds that intense gaze as the portrait hidden by brocade curtain, and his physique echoing the statues around the house, a god descended on mortal land. Fragile yet beautiful

Until Kisa tugged the hem of her dress. Her reality started to break in, like the blistering sun on a cloudy day.

“Oh ...I am sorry Lady Kisa…” Tohru bit her lip slightly “May I see if yours is stitched correctly..” She cannot help but be enamoured by him. Kisa brought up the hoop, and it is stitched into a swirling floral pattern. It seems rough on the edges but that is a start. “I think Lady Edelweiss will like this…” as she gently took the hoop from her small hands and show it to the doll. 

“Do you like it…”

Kisa cannot help but break a small smile.

That is the start of something.

After tucking Kisa to bed. Tohru can finally take a breath of relief. Though slow, Tohru knew that she will be better by any day. All she needed is to be patient and kind. Tohru slowly undresses for the evening bath, whispers clouded the corridors. It could be that figure which Yuki warned about. She quietly gripped a small linen cloth covering her nether regions and chest with one hand and another holding a small candle which illuminates the otherwise dark room. The chill from the wind gave her slight goosebumps. Kyo passed through the hallways of the Soma house, looking at the portraits of the family members. And a haunting painting of a man walking by poppies. He seems devoted to those paintings, reading he felt like a stranger in the woods without the home. Soon his gaze glanced over a young lady.

Who is she?

Her hair seems so free, her lips pink and her eyes widened with curiosity and yet fear. Like a nymph reaching for the springs, she is in her dominion. Before he could glance at her again, her eyes locked to his. 

Something primal is awakened within him.

Before he could take a second glance, Yuki glanced at him at the corridor with candlelight bathing the walls and edges of the doors, the door seems to be ajar, which caused him to blush.

“Kyo! Gods what the hell are you doing. It is inappropriate to look at a lady with her hair unbound!”

Sensibility wrangled his lungs and quickly he dashes out from the room. Before long, Tohru shut the door immediately and take off the linen cloth. Her body shook back and forth from the shock of Yuki nearly glancing her nakedness, and how Kyo look so beautiful in the darkness. 

No no no. 

I must hold the standards appropriate for a lady my age.

The steam of the water started to rise, as Tohru thought of these fantasies of the man behind the veiled portrait and before long, it filled the bathtub and she took a quick dip. As she sank herself in the water, barely reaching her shoulders with hair entangled by its wetness. She wonders how she will speak to Yuki about this matter.

 Maybe it would be a lecture. Maybe it would lead her to be banished from the house. Maybe she has to live a horrid life of desolate women.

Tohru glanced again unto the fogged mirror. She thought of the man behind the veiled portrait, he seems human and yet desolated.

That thought would be for another day.

Another day.

A/N: Ok I finally relented to start my Fruits Basket Victorian AU, since there is a strong response for my drabble here. The process of it took me longer than I imagined which I work with starrymatcha on discord on brainstorming ideas for this AU (I cannot help but to thank her), following by a long process of not doing it as I am too busy for my book and other projects. It is through the Fruits Basket discord chat that I actually want to get this started.

More will be coming by soon!

So think of it like Jane Eyre, meets Persuasion by Jane Austen!

Please enjoy my fic and if you want. Feel free to comment on my work, I would greatly appreciate what you think of it.