Escape [Fruits Basket OC]

Chapter 36

Picking a piece of wood splint from Kagura's hair, Audrina walked both of them up till they were at his level. The teen in her grasp then notice the silence that carried in Kazuma. Still holding on to Audri, she turned her head back and looked to him.

"I'd assume you'd be happy?"

Kazuma, looked up to Audrina who was close to adverting her gaze. The take of Kazuma's grandfather didn't end with him being the cat.

Being the owl held more responsibility than taking care of the God. They felt responsible for the well-being of every Zodiac member.

"I'm just a bit worried I suppose. I hope she loves Kyo for the right reasons. For the person he is and not just out of compassion."

Still clinging on to Audrina, they both listened as Kazuma continued his story. The woman knew everything, and she doesn't know if she feels bad, or wants to remind everyone that their is a certain weight that comes with being the owl. No one will understand, no matter how many ways she tried to phrase the statement in her head.

"You may not have known this, but the previous Cat had a companion. Who happened to be another zodiac member.", Audrina kept her eyes fixed, "The owl. She conceived his child."

She felt Kagura moved in her grasp and look up to her. Never would they associate Audrina with the previous owl and their decisions. But it was hard not to think about the intentions. The same intentions that she held for everyone else.

"Stayed with him till his death in fact", he looked out behind her, "When people questioned her motive, her love for him, she only spoke with no bad intentions, 'He wished for someone to bring him happiness. I wished him to be happy. Dare question my motive when both of our needs were met?'"

"And perhaps he was happier than spending his days alone. But still....", and before he could finish, Kagura released from Audrina's grip. Without a word she started mindlessly walking off to the other room. Only knowing that Tohru and Rin were in there, there was some confusion to the sudden change in demeanor. When she left the room,  turned back to Audrina for who the first time in a while, crossed her arms over herself.

"I didn't mean for it to come off like-.", Audrina cut him off, holding her hand up to further prevent his apology.

There was nothing to apologize for.

"You were just stating your concern. I understand.", she stepped up to take a seat across the table from him, "I get it. But, as much as I don't like the idea of them being together. I may as well write hypocrite across my forehead for trying to intervene now."

She scoffed but, the opposite reaction came from Kazuma who smiled. "I've heard good things about him from Rin.", he inclined his head towards the direction in which Kagura wondered off too.

Audrina rose an eyebrow as she leaned against her palm. Seeing her confusion, Kazuma carried on with a gleam in his tone, "Apparently you have a gross love-sick look in your eyes when he's around. Oh and how could I forget the 'they are always awake and talking or laughing. I'm not sure they sleep at night'."

Her only response to mask the embarrassment was a exaggerated groan. Followed by covering her face. She'd had initially thought they were quiet. But apparently not as quiet as she'd hope. And he kept going despite her being covered.

"I'm glad.", he hummed, "Before you left and stayed here for a couple of days. I don't mean to sound offensive, but I was worried."

This got her to lower her hands. Audrina had forgotten all about her few days spent at Kazuma's.

Prior and during her time with Amrin, she would visit regularly. Never wanting to exclude Kyo from her caring nature, and aware that he wasn't staying around the "main zodiacs", she come and see him, talk with Kazuma while the burden of everything still dragged behind her, like a rock attached on a string. She had her bearings checked.

However, once Amrin was gone, the last time she visited. He immediately noticed the change just by the way she walked. The rock became a boulder and instead of pulling it along, she carried it in her shoulders, barely being able to stand on her own two feet.

That's when Kyo noticed it. He had waited for her to come out, greet him, talk with him, play with him. But instead she cooped up in a guest room, for a few days barely leaving the room. Then as quick as she came, she was gone.

It doesn't take a lot to break someone's trust. And despite them not exchanging a word, that's what did it. Kyo assumed she had finally turned away from him. That he was nothing more than the cat to her just like he was viewed as with the others. And his thoughts were overpowering. Blocking out any other possibility.

Audrina still doesn't understand the depths of her absence. How much it impacted everyone. Kyo was the one who still feels like he's being stepped on. Everyone has talked to her. Mended whatever intending bond. Hell Rin and Momoji were living with her, but he refuses to speak with her. Give her a chance.

"And now", she looked to see the soft smile on his face, "Hypocrite would definitely be the word."

She couldn't help but laugh at that. Melting the tension from her shoulders at just the thought of her mental struggles. "I still feel like I should get some wiggle room to-."

And before Audrina could finish her tease, a loud thump came from the other room, quickly she got up, Kazuma on her tail to go see what the commotion was. And when they crossed the hallway to the other side and stood at the entrance of the door. It was self-explanatory.

Tohru sat turned on the floor facing the very door, a barrier of Kagura in the between them. The girl in question had a hand raised cupping one side of her cheek with a vulnerable look in her eyes.

"You should be telling him that! Not her!", the source of Tohru's sore face hand a hand raised as if prepping for another draw in.

"Kagura?", Audrina stepped up. And her voice. Something about just her voice had Kagura slowly lower her palm. Not steering her stern gaze from Tohru, she only whispered this time.

"Stop being an idiot.", and like that, leaving behind a group of confused individuals, Kagura left, squeezing in between Audrina and Kazuma.

The woman looked back to see where she was going to be, which room she would be in when the time comes for them to talk. But for primary manners, she kneeled down in front of Tohru. "Are you alright?"

Tohru gave a silent nod, avoiding eye contact. This followed by a whisper, only enough for them to hear. Tohru didn't want to pry. But sadly, Audrina's wanted secret of her and Kieran spread like wildfire. Curtesy to a few loud mouths amongst the zodiac members. Tohru was well knowing if their relationship. So she wasn't thinking about how it would make Audrina feel to ask the question, she was concerned about one boy.

"What made you decide to stay with him despite your curse."

Like a fish out of water, Audrina opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. Just like Tohru, she had her instinctive answer. Because there was no other reason. She knew why. For any other motive, they would of never ended up together. Releasing a shaky breath, Audrina looked to the side, down at the ground just thinking about everything that has led her up to her current state. So much has happened and shaped her into who she was.

"Holding this curse, strips away so much from us Tohru. We all have to grasp onto something to keep ourselves from falling apart.", Tohru lifted her gaze to see Audrina still focused on the tile. Her mauve eyes glossed over. "Let's just say, he's very good at making me forget I was ever broken"

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After Tohru left, and a adverting conversation with Kagura. Audrina had dropped Rin off at home when she got a text from Shigure. The woman rolled her eyes just at the ID.

Akito wishes to see you

She knew something about this call was different. Shigure would typically call, bother her. Tease her. But nothing of the sort could be identified through that text. Informing Rin she'd be at the grocery store, Audrina headed back to the estate and took her time, wandering the grounds.

She'd immediately regret it, because on the wooden floor boards, her steps must of been heard by others. One particular person of course. Keeping an eye on the woman since she's returned has come out of the hiding.

Audrina was startled when she felt a cold hand wrap around her ankle.

"Audri dear, oh it's been so long."