[Y/n] walked home from the store. "There she is!"

"There, There!"

There were flashing cameras in her face. "Wha-?! Hey! What the hell!" [Y/n] complained. She suddenly felt someone grab her wrist and drag her away. It was a woman dressed in all black with a white scarf wrapped around her head and sunglasses on. "What the hell are you-"

"Just follow me. We'll lose them." She said and ran through various alleys. Once they lost the paparazzi, [Y/n] snatched her wrist away from the woman. "Thanks, I guess." She muttered. The woman stood in awe.

"This...is so weird." The woman muttered while rubbing the back of her neck. "I haven't seen you seen you since you were a baby."

[Y/n] gave the woman a weird look. "Sorry. I don't know you." She said.

The woman took her sunglasses and scarf off, revealing her whole face. [Y/n]'s eyes went wide with shock, and she suddenly felt sick to her stomach.

╚═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═══╝

Tohru sat in the living room with Kyo, Shigure, and Yuki. "Grandpa called. He said the renovations are wrapping up." Tohru said. "They worked surprisingly fast." Shigure said.

"The exterior walls aren't done, but most of the work's complete, so it's ready to live it. Grandpa said [Y/n] and I could come back, so...Uh! Oh, no! I forgot. I haven't started cooking!" Tohru said as she stood up.

"We can scrounge something up. Or better yet, why don't we just go out to eat? I'm sure [Y/n] will be here any minute." Shigure said.

"I'll be fine." Tohru said, "I already have all the ingredients I need." Soon, dinner was ready, but [Y/n] was nowhere to be seen. Tohru was getting a bit worried.

"She usually doesn't stay out this late." Shigure muttered.

"I'm going to look for her." Yuki said as he stood up. He was worried too; more than he should be. Before he got a chance to leave, they heard the door open and slam close. Rapid footsteps made their way to the living room. "Welcome ho-." Tohru greeted but was nearly tackled into the ground in a strong embrace.

"[Y/n]?" Tohru said, noticing [Y/n] trembling.

"I met her, Tohru..." [Y/n] muttered while hiding her face in Tohru's hair.

"Met who?"

"I met my mother. My birth mother." [Y/n] said, even the word made her sick.

Tohru smiled. "Isn't that a good thing?" She said, and [Y/n] stood up. She began pacing back and forth with a panicked look on her face. "You don't understand, sh-she abandoned me. Now, she wants to show up 16 years later, so we can be a happy family. It's ridiculous!" She kicked the wall.

"How did she find you?" Yuki asked, and [Y/n] sighed, calming down a little. "I won an online singing competition. It had a cash prize. She saw it and her manager pointed out our resemblance." [Y/n] muttered, feeling embarrassed to have to say it out loud, "My mother's the idol, Naname Hitoshi." Everyone sat in shock.

"Hold up. You sing?!" Kyo cracked up.

"That not the point, jackass!" [Y/n] yelled and let out another shaky sigh, "I won the money, and Naname's manager spilled the beans about me being Naname's child to the press to boost her popularity. She wants me to move in with her."

Tohru's eyes widened and stood up. "B-But, Grandpa's renovations are done." Tohru said.

"Grandpa can't even remember my name, Tohru. No one in the Honda family likes or accepts me other than you. To them, I'll always be the child Kyoko picked up off of the street." [Y/n] said and sighed once again, "I need to think about this. Just leave me alone for a little while." [Y/n] went to her room.

╚═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═══╝

The sudden announcement of [Y/n] being the daughter of a pop star was broadcasted all over the news, and it was all over social media. [Y/n] sighed as she packed what little she had. Deep down she didn't want to leave, but she had to. She was drawing too much attention to herself, Tohru, and the Sohmas. And, if the media found out about the Sohma Family secret, [Y/n]'d never forgive herself.

[Y/n]'s grip on the strap of her bag tightened as she glared. She placed a piece of paper in Tohru's bag. Then she made her way downstairs. "Here." [Y/n] muttered while handing Shigure a slip of paper.

"This is Naname's address and home number. The new school I'll be attending is on the back, just in case you feel the need the attend any festivals or something." [Y/n] said in a monotone voice, not even looking at him.

"Today's the day." Shigure said, and [Y/n] made her way to the front door.

"[Y/n]." Tohru called out to her, which made [Y/n]'s chest tighten. Tohru smiled at her. "Have lots of fun for me. Okay?" She said. [Y/n] knew Tohru was in pain, despite the smile. That's just how she was.

"Promise. You won't forget about me, okay." [Y/n] said while patting Tohru's head. She smiled and nodded. [Y/n] opened the door to see her mother and her mother's manager, Gin.

Naname smiled. "We're going to have so much fun!" She cheered. [Y/n] could tell the cheerfulness was a façade. She was only a cash grab for them.

"We have press conferences to attend to." Gin said and led the way, "Then we have songs to make, meeting to attend..." The list went on.

'I'm such a fool...to think I could stay in such a wonderful place.' [Y/n] thought as she walked away, 'No one, other than Tohru and Mom, would ever accept me for me.'

"All right, everyone! Here's what we're playing today. The fruits basket game." The teacher announced, "Let's all remember the rules and have some fun."

"You're an apple. You're a banana." The boy said while pointing at random students, "Honda, you're a rice ball!"

Little [Y/n] glared with her long hair in a pigtail. "That's not a fruit!" She yelled.

"You're a dumpling, Other Honda!" The boy said.

"It's okay, [Y/n]. Rice balls and dumplings are yummy." Tohru said with a smile.

"Okay, here we go!"

'It should have been obvious. A dumb dumpling...doesn't belong in a fruit basket.'

╚═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═══╝

[Y/n] sat curled up in her king-sized bed while looking out into the city from Naname's penthouse. [Y/n] tried to stop her trembling, but it was no use. She was having trouble breathing. [Y/n]'s been having anxiety attacks all day and even night terrors.

[Y/n] missed Torhu so much. 'I hope the guys ate something tonight.' [Y/n] thought, 'Tohru should still be there. Those useless men can't do anything by themselves.' She smiled a bit, 'I bet they'll live on take-out again. Gosh, they're going to get fat. I hope Tohru's not stressed out about what to cook. That dumb cat is probably complaining but will eat it anyway. And Sohma...'

[Y/n] remembered the certain rat boy. "He...planted strawberries for us." [Y/n] muttered while blushing a little, remembering him, "And I didn't even get to watch them grow and eat them. I wonder what is his favorite fruit. Then again, I don't know hardly anything about any of the guys."

'Why...do I feel...so empty?' [Y/n] thought and looked at her nightstand, 'I even forgot to give Shigure his glasses back.' She put them on and sighed. [Y/n] pulled out her journal from under her bed and wrote down how she was feeling. She found it very therapeutic.

The next morning, [Y/n] stood in front of her mother and manager. "Gin, it's only been a day. She's not a professional." Naname said to her manager. "The deal was she wrote a song for a mother-daughter debut. Do you want to be forgotten forever, Naname?" Gin growled, "Sing, kid."

'I...hate it here.' [Y/n] thought.

https://youtu.be/rh-xfHTJp6M

[Y/n] trembling hand crushed the paper that had her lyrics. "That was beautiful, dear." Naname said, and Gin grunted.

"It could be better." Gin said and snatched the paper out of [Y/n]'s hand, "Consider yourself lucky that you don't have to work to reach stardom."

[Y/n] clutched her fist. "You're right..." She muttered, "I have my real mother with me, I have all of the money I could ever want, a roof over m-my head. And yet...."

"[Y/n], sweetie...."

"Don't 'sweetie' me! WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME?!" Hot tears slowly filled [Y/n]'s eyes, "Why did you drop me off only to pick me back up after 16 years when you find out that I have a talent?! Did you even bother to look?!"

"I...was young and foolish. I was only 20 at the peak of my career. I'm sorry." Naname said.

"Well, you're old and still foolish. I'm not a disposal prop for you the showoff. You're not my mother, so quit acting like you care! I'm screwed in the head because of you!" [Y/n] yelled and glared at her mother. Her mother's "saddened" look turned into on of anger.

"Watch your mouth, kid! You have anything a teenager could ever want." Gin growled and looked at her in disgust, "What gives you the right to criticize her when you live in a house filled with men, playing a live-in girlfriend."

[Y/n] balled her fist and a dark shadow cast over her eyes. "And yet..." She lightly chuckled, "I miss those idiots. I shouldn't ask for more than I already have that's what Mom thought me, but...I want more. I should be grateful for what I already have..." More tears began to fall down her cheeks, "But, I can't help but miss them! I miss stupid Shigure butting into everyone's business, that dumb cat Kyo being annoying, Sohma always challenging me...And I miss my sister, Tohru. I wanted to eat with them some more, talk to them some more. I wanted to get to know them better. That song was for them, and I couldn't even share my talent with them." [Y/n] continued to sob while trying to wipe her stream of tears on her sleeves, "I just want...to go home!"

'Is it selfish of me to ask for more than I deserve? I was abandoned...I should be grateful to whoever takes me in... I should be happy to have a home to return to...but...if it's not the Sohmas...Then there's nowhere I belong. I was such an idiot to think we could be a family.' [Y/n] thought.

"Then..." [Y/n] heard and felt a warm hand grab hers. [Y/n] look up to see Yuki with a small smile on his face. "Let's go home." He said in the gentle tone that [Y/n]'s learned to love, and [Y/n]'s eyes widened in shock.

"H-How did they get in...?" Gin muttered.

"Sohma..." [Y/n] muttered and felt a hand on her head. It was Kyo. "...Kyo..." [Y/n] felt someone embrace her. More tears came flowing from [Y/n]'s eyes. "Tohru..." She muttered and hugged her sister tight.

"I missed you..." Tohru sobbed.

"It's only been a day, dummy." [Y/n] said while crying as well.

"You can't take her! She's the goat that will put us back on the charts!" Gin said, and Yuki flicked the man in the forehead, hard, making the man fly backward. "Be careful of how to speak of Miss [Y/n] in the future. Scum." Yuki growled. He looked mad. Then he smiled at [Y/n]. All the anger seemed to have disappeared. "I'll collect your things." He said.

"O-Okay." [Y/n] said as Yuki walked past her to her room.

"Jeez, if you didn't want to leave, then you should have said something." Kyo growl, "Looking around with that damn rat pisses me off. I swear you, sisters, act more alike than you know." [Y/n] glared slightly then looked away, "Being selfish sometimes...it's no big deal. I wouldn't like it if somebody was selfish every day...but that isn't the way you two are. You can be selfish every once in a while. I figure you deserve that much at least. Abandoned or not. So next time, just ask." Kyo explained, and [Y/n]'s eyes widened a bit.

'It's okay to be selfish. That's something we all deserve.' [Y/n] could hear Kyoko's voice, her mother. [Y/n] began to sob once again. "Uh! What is it?! Why are you crying?!" Kyo panicked. [Y/n] squeezed Tohru's hand tight. "Home..." [Y/n] muttered, "We...want to go home. Even if it is selfish, that's what we want."

"To be with all of you." Tohru muttered.

Kyo grabbed Tohru's hand. "Then, let's go home." He pulled them along.

"But..." [Y/n] said and felt someone grab her other hand. Yuki smiled with [Y/n]'s hand in his. "Let's go." He said as they walked out of the house together.

"Okay, next is the rice ball! With the dumpling!" Little Tohru and little [Y/n] grinned at each other.

'I'm...the luckiest person in the world. I don't feel alone anymore, Mom.' [Y/n] thought and smiled.

"I suppose...I'm 16 years too late to try to be her mother." Naname muttered as the teens left, pulling a box of cigarettes out of her pocket, "Not that I wanted to be one in the first place."

"I still have her song. We can still make it to the top of the song charts." Gin said. Naname took the paper and burned it with her lighter. "That's enough. I'll just write another one." Naname said then lit her cigarette, "Just tell the press that we lied. I'm sure they'll forget about it when another teen star dating sandal comes out." She said and took a long drag of her cigarette, "And burn everything that girl has touched." She finished as she walked away.

~~

When they got home, Shigure was standing near the front door while clapping. "You captured the fair maidens. Congratulations, boys!" He said.

"You make us sound really creepy when you put it that way." Kyo said.

"Let's go with 'rescued the fair maidens'." Yuki said.

"I guess, we're moving back in here, then." Tohru said while [Y/n] looked away. Shigure nodded. "So it would appear. And if there's any fallout you just leave it to me." He said.

"Oh, no, we couldn't ask you to do that. We've put you through so much trouble already!" Tohru said.

"Now don't be silly! It's good the both of you are back. These two tried awfully hard, after all. Couldn't have been that easy: Swallowing their pride, stealing your notes, dashing off on a desperate search for you. Heh. It was impressive. I have to say, I've never seen out Yuki go into pieces quite like that." Shigure said, and Yuki blushed.

"I did not go into pieces...that much." Yuki muttered. He's flustered face was...actually really cute in [Y/n]'s opinion.

"You liar!" Kyo said, "Your face was basically screaming 'regret' after [Y/n]-" Yuki kicked Kyo in the face, sending him flying. Tohru stood in shock with [Y/n] watch in awe.

"I believe that was your face." Yuki said.

"It's not a perfect home, but it's yours. If you want it." Shigure said.

"Yes!"

[Y/n]'s widened in realization, "You guys...missed me?" She asked. The men and Tohru looked at her. "Well, of course, we did." Yuki said.

"Speak for yourself!" Kyo yelled, "It just weird here without her."

'I just want a home to return to...' [Y/n]'s dream came true. She covered her face with her hand. "[Y/n]?" Tohru grew concerned. They thought she was crying until heard her laugh. Tohru smiled more. She'd missed [Y/n] laugh. [Y/n] whipped and small tear.

"You guys...are idiots..." [Y/n] said with a smirk, "You're never getting rid of us now, so deal with it. I think...this is where we belong, Tohru. Our home." [Y/n] smiled, softly. Yuki's eyes widened at [Y/n]'s expression as he blushed. Yuki wanted her...no, needed her to show that more often.

"I couldn't agree more." Shigure agreed with Tohru nodded.

'Maybe. We can be a family...' [Y/n] thought, 'I hope Mom is happy to see us where we belong.'