Chapter Text

I Never Thought We'd Be Real

PROLOGUE

"Eeny-Meenie-Minnie-Moe. Catch a tiger by its toe. If he hollers, let him go. One, Two, Three, spells out YOU! Go!"

As six of the seven youngsters of the zodiac — The Rat, The Ox, The Horse, The Boar, The Rabbit, and The Fox ran around the grounds of the Sohma estate, laughing and giggling, trying to catch or to not be caught, some of the older children sat towards the shade of a wide-spread tree. The well known trio of best-friends: Shigure, Ayame and Hatori were found with open textbooks and Coloured pens.

"Hatoriii~ If we get you three apples each… WILL YOU FINISH THE ASSIGNMENT FOR BOTH OF US?-"

"Ayame. How are you the 'School President'. Even Shigure finished half."

Hatori sighed and complained, but continued to fill out both their sheets.

That's when Yuki, Ayame's little brother ran up to him.

"Ayame!" He smiled and snuggled into Ayame's shoulder.

Ayame held him close and stood up joining the kids in their little game of tag.

"Ayame-san!" Y/n and Hatsuharu exclaimed.

Ayame sat down in the middle of the chaos and all the kids ran up to him, sitting around to hear him out.

"Do you all wanna hear a story? hmm?… What about the story of the Zodiac?"

He smiled bopping Kagura's nose and ruffling Yuki's hair.

The children moved closer snuggling into a bunch as Ayame cleared his throat dramatically — preparing his voice for an epic story telling scene.

"Centuries back — the animals of the zodiac were invited to a large banquet. hosted by the one called god. Their god. The animals were very eager to go. So one by one they all went to the banquet together — Only a few were pretty mischievous"

Looking at Yuki, he smirked.

"The Rat of the Zodiac had tricked one of the other animals. It had told the Cat the wrong date for the banquet, and in order to reach first — to stay the closest and gain the high position of gods' grace, it hopped onto the back of it's dear friend, the ox and reached first. The poor-"

Ayame was interrupted by his two closest cousins.

"I appreciate you spending time with the kids Ayame. But you have more work than either of us."

Ayame sighed getting up from his cozy piled up position. Bidding goodbye to the kids.

"well then, Adios Kiddos"

"But Ayame-san, What happened to the cat-" Y/n reached out to hold his crimson robe,

"The cat was betrayed by the rat Y/n" he said patting y/n's head with his usual lit up face.

The clouds above rumbled.

As the trio left, rain began to fall. The children ran for the shed—

All but Y/n. She froze, staring toward the broken gazebo at the far edge of the grounds.

Bright orange hair.

Who would stand in the rain like an idiot? she thought… Not realizing she was doing the same.