Wrapped Steel Strings

Chapter 1: Nocturne Op. 48 No. 1

A/N: Hey all! Welcome to my newest fic! I'm putting a warning at the beginning of this story because it NEEDS a content warning for some rather explicit descriptions of abuse, both physical and emotional. I don't want anyone going into this unaware that it can be very triggering to survivors but this is an important story I would like to write and I felt like the Fruits Basket world (one that already explores many different forms of abuse) was the right one for it to take place in. 

And Momiji deserves his happy ending. I'm going to give it to him.

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Ugh. Here he comes.

Sohma Momiji. Always so nice and so pretty and has lots of money because— well obviously— he's a Sohma.

We started college in the same year and our majors are closely related so I have to spend every single day of every single year seeing this guy until our junior year, when our more specialized classes finally diverge.

I don't know how I'm going to make it. It's only the second semester of our first year and I already feel myself cracking.

Every class we share, I have to hear at least one girl whispering and giggling about him and, of course, he eats it all up.

He goes out with almost every girl who asks him— and, believe me, there has been a large sum already— but he just ends up breaking hearts. Most girls don't make it past the first date before he breaks it off. And then I have to hear all about how sad they are but "he was so kind about it" and "he's still such a great guy."

Gag. Gross. If he's so great, why is he flirting his way through most of the student body?

My mood is clearly more sour than six month old milk today. It's no wonder I'm already glaring at the back of his platinum blonde head as he seats himself a few rows in front of me.

Speaking of which, platinum? Of course he would have the money to keep his hair that perfect blonde with no roots showing ever. He must fuss over it constantly. How is someone who works that hard on their hair even remotely attractive? He's got to be a narcissist or something.

My jaw aches as I clench it when he turns back in his seat, sending me a warm smile.

"Good afternoon, Ueno-san."

"Mm," I respond curtly, not wanting to actually speak to him and also because the ache in my jaw will probably get worse if I do so.

As usual, he doesn't take offense by it and even gives me a slightly brighter smile as he faces forward again.

Oh boy... Sorry, Sohma-kun. If you've gotten it in your head that I'm gonna turn into another one of your groupies, you've got another thing coming.

"Good afternoon, Ueno-chan," a sweet voice says as another classmate takes her usual seat near me. I don't really remember her name, though she always shares the table I sit at. "How was your weekend?"

Crap. Now I really do have to open my mouth and speak or I'll risk being rude.

"It was fun."

"Ooo fun?"

Ugh, I should've just said it was good and moved on.

"My boyfriend took me out to a theme park for our anniversary," I tell her, pasting a smile on my face.

Her eyes light up. "Oh! I didn't know you had a boyfriend! How romantic! Now I know why you're not all gaga over Sohma-kun like so many of the other girls. He must be so wonderful."

"He is. He's always doing nice things for me like that."

The girl's eyebrows turn up in that "aww that's so adorable" expression, placing a hand over her heart. For some reason, her happiness at my response lightens my mood a little bit. I am fortunate.