Fruits Basket (フルーツバスケット)

"I'll hold another banquet. And another.

I'll hold banquet after banquet.

An eternal series of gatherings, forever unchanging.

I may be lonely now, but I won't despair.

Because everyone is waiting for me

on the other side of that promise."

Words spoken in the long-distant past,

lost in the years that followed.

The original memory, forgotten by everyone.

The original promise.

I'll see you soon.

Soon.

You said "girl."

You mean Akito is...

...a woman?

No, that can't be true, can it?

It's true.

I'm sure you've realized that the Somas have many secrets.

That's the biggest of them all.

But I don't understand.

Akito behaves like a man. Dresses like one.

And the way the others talk,

they don't ever treat him like... a girl.

I never even guessed. Not once.

It's the way Akito was brought up.

Raised as male from birth.

Someone else chose that for her.

Who do you mean?

She almost caught you that time at the main estate.

Hatori! What are you doing? Get away!

Must I tell you again? Keep your hands off them.

It's fine. I promise.

She was just saying hello to me, nothing more.

Exactly.

I was simply greeting dear Hatori, here.

Is that so terribly wrong?

It's never a simple greeting with you.

You're always leering at the zodiac men.

I don't know why you're here in the first place.

Go back to your room where you belong!

She's sequestered. Rarely leaves her quarters.

A troubled woman, both mentally and physically.

But even so, she continues to haunt Akito's mind.

Ren Soma. Akito's mother.

It was her doing.

She's the one who decided to raise her daughter as male.

I don't know much.

Neither Akito nor Ren will speak of it.

The only thing I can say for certain is...

...those two hate each other.

Bitterly.

You really should watch your mouth

around the zodiac members, Akito.

If you're not careful,

they'll lose all affection for you, family head.

Right, Hatori? Poor dear. I feel sor--

He doesn't need your pity--none of them do!

We have a bond you could never understand.

We're connected in a world you could never be a part of.

Are you still trying to convince people that nonsense is true?

You little fool.

How many times do I have to explain this to you?

That so-called bond may make you feel something,

but it is not real love.

The "forever unchanging" story you like to tell yourself

is exactly that: A fantasy.

A delusion.

So of course I pity the ones who have to put up with it.

Akito!

If that's the case,

then maybe you would like to tell me what is real.

It isn't a parent's love! We all know that's not perfect.

Plenty of people abandon their children,

including members of the Soma family!

Just like you! Ever think of that?!

You can't say what's real or fake,

what's pretense or worship.

No one can define those things. No one!

The bond that we share is sacred, you hear me?

It's sacred! We will share an eternity together!

I'll tell you what's real!

It does exist. I have it... with Akira.

Unlike your zodiac bond, our bond is real.

I'm going to kill you. I swear, I'll kill you!

By all means, go ahead.

Because when I die, my soul will go to Heaven.

Yes! I'll finally be with Akira again.

I don't need you!

Akito.

You're a special child born to be loved.

Everybody was waiting just for you.

According to Ren,

the ties that bind Akito and the zodiac are wrong.

She says they're unnatural. That they're twisted and false.

And the connection isn't real.

So, she constantly clashes with Akito, who clings to our bonds.

That day...

The morning after Ren conceived Akito... I woke up in tears.

So did Shigure, Hatori, and Ayame.

We eldest are the only zodiac members who know the truth.

That Akito is female.

Apparently, Ritsu was too young to sense

what had happened clearly.

But we four all had the same dream.

Akito appeared, the god we'd not yet met,

and gave us a message.

"I'll see you soon."

We ran straight to Ren,

who had no idea she was carrying a child.

Tears on our faces, we just kept saying...

..."We've been waiting for you."

It was so strange.

This feeling I didn't recognize

welled up from deep within my heart,

and I sensed a me that wasn't me, shouting.

It was... the zodiac spirit.

Another self. One living inside me--in my veins.

At the first sign of a new ego forming,

the zodiac blood begins to hound us, compelling our loyalty.

They swore a solemn vow.

No matter how many times they're reborn,

they will return to God's side and never leave.

When my curse broke, I could finally see the truth.

The bond that connected us wasn't a natural one.

It's just like Ren said.

But... at the same time, I could see something else.

A little girl... crying.

Akito, it's okay.

Calm down. It's okay.

This way, ma'am. Let's go.

Really, Akito.

Do you think a pathetic crybaby like you can ever win?

We should leave. Let's get you back to your room.

Why? I don't understand.

Why is she always... so mean?

She's cruel! Always.

Hatori! Hatori, give me a hug.

She's still the sobbing child I can't abandon.

Even now.

And I can't see Arisa while there's another

I've sworn to remain beside.

I'm sorry.

That's a lot. And difficult to hear.

I guess... I hoped telling you

would help you understand something.

The same Akito who wounds others so easily

is herself deeply wounded.

Maybe now... you see why I can't leave.

Even if part of me wants to.

I... I should say something.

I know I should... find the right words.

But I can't. None will come out.

I'm sorry. All I ever do is hurt other people.

But even so, this is the path I chose.

My choice. My will. No one else's.

I'm sorry.

And thank you... for everything.

I'm... frozen.

It's all... frozen.

A chain, a spiral of sorrows.

And everything's frozen.

I just didn't feel like working today for some reason.

So I decided to go out and get some fresh air.

I'm sorry. But I won't again.

Here I am to save the day. Da-da-da-da.

Uh. What do you mean?

Just what I said: Tohru is in my custody.

She'll be mine all night.

Um, Hanajima, your phrasing there is a little sketchy.

Is that doubt I hear?

You dare object to my impromptu Nightgown Festival?

Pretty sure the term you're looking for is "pajama party."

No. I have no objections at all.

Excellent. Then I bid you goodnight.

Uh.

It's not a problem, but it is a little strange.

Could something have happened to Miss Honda?

Who was that you were just talking to?

It was Hanajima.

Miss Honda is staying the night over there, apparently.