FRUITS BASKET Chapter 39 (Volume 7) summary v1.o by Emily K. --- Chapter cover has Arisa in a summer dress. Tohru, Arisa, and Saki are all at the pool the summer (the school pool). Girls are playing around, splashing water, and Arisa is leaning against the pool wall, saying that it definitely feels like summer. "The summer should definitely be spent at the pool," she says. "Paradise, paradise!" Nearby Arisa, the Princess Club is shuddering with disgust, wondering why the Yankee bothered to come out of the school pool, and they say it's strange because if following the old-fashioned rules, Arisa would be shunned if she acted normal like this (i.e. coming out into public places and just hanging). In the corner of the pool, black hair lingers. Then Saki, hair dripping wet on her shoulders and all around her face, greets them with a dark look; only her eyes peering out of her face from the pool. ^_^; The two members of the Princess Club quickly swim away. "Sorry, we were wrong. The strangest person is her... no, it's beyond strangeness." Saki comes over to Arisa, and Arisa asks her if she found her hair band, but it looks like Saki dropped it somewhere. She says now the pool won't be a fun time for her, and Arisa agrees happily, "Yeah, you like the pool, too, don't you?" At this point, Tohru calls out, "Hana-chan!" She comes out, looking very cutesy with her hair up... and compared to everyone Arisa, who is wearing a two-piece, and Saki with a one-piece, Tohru is wearing the elementary school/junior high swimsuit uniform. Saki thanks her, appreciative that Tohru went to find it all because of her. [Tohru's uniform is typically worn by elementary to junior high students for physical education. I'm not sure if this goes on into high school, but according to Furuba, no one wears their school one anymore.] Suddenly, Arisa begins to bawl as she stares at Tohru... Later, the three go to to change in the locker room. Apparently, Arisa can't swim, because Saki tells her she has to learn how to swim soon because next year, they are being tested. Arisa is wiping away her tears. Saki: Tohru-kun's swimsuit... Arisa: Yeah, about that... Saki: *sparkles* Isn't it charming? Arisa: I'm not saying it's not cute or embarrassing, but -- Arisa suddenly goes into panic mode, grabbing her hair, and everyone stares at her, confused. She says that it's the same feeling she felt when she saw this old man at the convenience store when she used to work there; he was old and his back was so curled over that Arisa felt so bad and when he came to the register, she began to cry. ^_^; [Meaning she felt bad that Tohru couldn't change what conditions she had... Tohru couldn't afford a swimsuit so she had to wear her middle school swimsuit even through high school.] Saki agrees with Arisa's reaction, saying that Arisa is tender-hearted. Tohru looks down sadly, thinking to herself that swimsuits are expensive and besides, the one she has now still fits her well and it isn't ruined, so it would be a waste to throw it away, but next year, she decides to buy one because she doesn't want to see Uo-chan sad anymore. Suddenly, Arisa grins and says she has a great idea. That afternoon, Arisa and Saki show up at the Souma house (Tohru is not present). They tell Shigure, Yuki, and Kyou that they are going out to buy Tohru a swimsuit today. "We decided that it would be 'a gift from everyone,'" Arisa says stubbornly. "Be enthusiastic." Kyou: Why'd you decide something like that without giving us a good reason? (And on top of that, you're buying a swi-swi-swimsu...) Arisa: Doesn't Tohru do the household chores around here? You should show your thanks through some way. Shigure: *sparkly, snaps fingers* A swimsuit... that's a great idea... Arisa: (See?) Look how enthusiastic about this he is. Kyou: LEAVE THE PERV OUT OF THIS! Yuki says a present is a good idea, but he is curious as to why they are buying a swimsuit. Saki explains, saying that Tohru still uses her school swimsuit. Shigure chokes abruptly on his tea, spitting it out, and Kyou and Yuki yell at Shigure. ^_^; Tohru comes down, apologizing for being late, but Shigure suddenly grabs her shoulders, and sparkles surround them. Shigure: Tohru-kun! Let's buy one, a proper one, let's buy it. OK? Tohru: (H-Huh? o_o;) Saki: I see that person is weak when it comes to Tohru-kun, too... The group is at the swimming suit section of the department store, and Tohru admires all of them. Arisa says it's hard to choose one, and Saki wonders if a one-piece might be for Tohru. Arisa: [turns to Yuki/Kyou] Hey, which do you guys favor better: a one-piece or a bikini? Kyou/Yuki: [dark shadowed faces] Arisa: Hey, I said. Look over here and tell us which one you prefer. Kyou: Hey... don't give these kinds of decisions to guys... OK...?! Arisa: Then why did you come with us? Kyou: YOU FORCED US TO COME WITH YOU! Arisa: OK, so then what's with that attitude? If you still have a guilty conscience [for not showing some way for thanking Tohru], at least do something impressive, if not this. Besides, I'm not asking you what kind of panties you like. [Kyou/Yuki are blushing fiercely. ^_^;] Kyou: WHY DON'T YOU BE A LITTLE BIT MORE PRIVATE ABOUT THOSE TYPE OF THINGS!! O_O Then Arisa, seeing as how the two boys can't decide, asks them to pick a color for Tohru's swimsuit, at least. Yuki: Blue...? Kyou: Orange...? [exchange of glares] Kyou: Did you say *blue*...? Where are you looking at, pairing her off with such a desolate color? Yuki: I could say the same to you. Who in their right mind would pick such a stupid color like orange? Kyou: (IT'S NOT STUPID!!!) She needs a cheerful color to match her! Yuki: She's already cheerful enough; she needs something to set that off. If you don't have a esthetic sense, back off. Kyou: SAME GOES FOR YOU!! Yuki: You're beyond stupid. Kyou: ORANGE SUITS HER BEST, ORANGE!! Yuki: It's blue. Arisa: Saki: Pink. *all gothic-scary* It suits her best. Pi. Nn. Ku. Yuki and Kyou become silent. Saki asks rhetorically if there is any other color that goes that well, and answers her own question, saying no. "You two need to learn some more," she tells them. Tohru looks on, confused, and then Arisa agrees, "Yeah, pink is definitely Tohru's color." Yuki's face is shadowed in shocked silence and Kyou yells at Arisa, telling her not to ask them such questions anymore if things like this are already decided. Arisa says she just wanted to hear their opinions, anyway. "Pink is perfect for Tohru. That was Kyoko-san's line. Because she was the 'Red Butterfly,' she's red. Her father was a business man, so the image of white is perfect. Put them together, and Tohru is pink." There is a small flashback of Kyoko and Kazuya with baby Tohru. Arisa: A pink swimsuit, eh? Yep, it's perfect. Yuki: Uotani-san and Hanajima-san... you both really like Honda-san, don't you? Arisa: (Yep.) I told you before, but she saved me. The reason why I can laugh and live in such a respectful, honest world is because Tohru was always there for me. While they talk, three girls observe them quietly. These three girls are junior high school Yankees, and they quickly pinpoint Arisa as "that Uotani," and says she still stands out [note: they say because of some reason, but I'm not sure what the reason for her standing out is... I think it's something to do with Arisa's physical appearance]. One of them suggests beating Arisa to death, but another says that she has boys around her. The other girl replies that she's not afraid of boys, and as they stare at Yuki and Kyou, they brush them off as average wimps who would run away as soon as they came. Then the girls blush, grinning, saying that besides that, Yuki and Kyou are "very fine guys." ^_^; Back in the department store, Tohru goes into panic mode when she hears that the swimsuit is a gift, saying she can't accept. Everyone tells her it's in gratification for what she does everyday, and asks her to accept on their behalf. Stunned, Tohru holds the package tightly, crying, as she thanks them. Arisa and Saki hold her. ^_^; The group goes to a soba shop for lunch, and Kyou asks what they decided on. "That's the fun in where you have to wait and see," Arisa says slyly. "Besides, you guys are going to the beach, aren't you?" Yuki agrees, saying they should. Arisa suggests that next time, she, Tohru, and Saki all go out somewhere together, too. Yuki remarks that they really are good friends, and ask if they met in elementary school. Arisa says that she and Tohru have been good friends since junior high, and they befriended Saki when she transferred to their school during the second year. "There was a *small* problem at my old school," Saki offers as her explanation, and Kyou and Yuki bend their heads, covered by shadows, as they listen listlessly. ^^; At that time, Arisa was making her debut as a gang member. Since gang members have such bad reps, Kyou and Yuki stare at her, and Kyou asks if she was failing, to which Arisa agrees. Tohru: She always wore her mask. Arisa: And I'd wear lots of make-up and a long skirt... Saki: Oh, you still do that, Arisa. Arisa: (Ha ha ha... you're right.) Kyou/Yuki: Arisa becomes serious. "But seriously, back then, I was much more of a sharp, cross person than now. Why? Was I acting like a lion without food? I was a problem child that no teacher or parent could tame." There's a flashback of young Arisa, with her hair in a boy-cut and she is wearing a white long coat over her school uniform. A mask is over her mouth. "I wonder why becoming bad is so easy," she says. She said she joined the gang Ladies and did many "bad things constantly." She would start fights or be involved in fights. She manipulated people to drive away the police. "If I told you everything I did, it would ruin your ears. But anyway, all in all, I was just an idiot back then. But even if I was an idiot, there was someone who I admired greatly. That person was Kyoko-san." Kyoko was a legendary independent former "gang girl" who went under the alias of "Akai Chou," aka "Red Butterfly." She could beat up men easily and scare away girls. She got her name because when Kyoko rolled away on her motorcycle, the red tail lamp looked like a dancing red butterfly. "You know how in stories, the hero always has someone he admires, who he looks up to; his role model? That was Kyoko-san for me." Arisa's fellow gang members (whom she affectionately calls as her sempai-tachi) always told stories of Akai Chou, and that was how Arisa got introduced to the idea of Kyoko. [There's a girl with dark short hair and that's Arisa's particular "favorite" other role model within her gang, and she calls her Sempai; I'll refer to her as that.] Sempai says that since Arisa likes Akai Chou so much, she may have a chance to meet her. Akai Chou got married to a guy named "Honda" and is now settled down, but she has a daughter who is Arisa's age and may go to the same junior high. The next day at school, Arisa is wondering who the child might be. Since Kyoko was a legendary Yankee girl, she's pretty sure her own child must be to, and feels a bit of trepidation approaching this mysterious person, but it is anything to meet her hero Kyoko. Suddenly, behind her, a young girl (Tohru) smacks into her. She's carrying a huge pile of papers. Arisa scowls at her, telling her to be more careful, and as Tohru bows apologetically and says "sorry," the pile of papers slide down and she goes into super panic mode. A guy comes by and steps on the papers even though Tohru asks him not to, and Arisa yanks back her mask and yells, "She told you not to step on them, you bastard!" The boy freaks and leaves. ^_^; Arisa yells at Tohru for making her help pick up the papers [and we can already see that a typical Yankee wouldn't have helped Tohru, so Arisa really is soft-hearted] and asks her what her name is so she can have it for future reference on who to beat up. Tohru begins, "Honda To..." Arisa gets angry and goes, "HONDA? Are you the daughter of Akai Chou?" Tohru brightens visibly, saying that it's true; it was the nickname of her mom when she was in a gang. Arisa is very confused and disgusted by how Tohru is unlike anything she imagined. Tohru brings Arisa home to meet Kyoko, and Arisa is silently thinking that while Tohru doesn't even look like Kyoko, she acts like no way a former Yankee girl's daughter, and is too plain. Tohru: Um... is it OK if I call you Uotani-san? [Arisa nods consent stiffly] Tohru: (smiles) Nice to meet you, Uotani-san. Arisa: [someone from behind glomps Tohru - literally!] Person: Welcomehomewelcomehomewelcomehome Tohruuuu! Tohru: I'm home~ aah, you're heavy... o_o Person: To meet you on the way coming home... it must be fate!! Arisa: [Kyoko looks up all pretty and mysterious-like at Arisa, then stares at her point-blank as she flaps Tohru's hand to point at Arisa.] Kyoko: Oh, my bad, who's this? Tohru: It's Uotani-san... ^_^ Arisa: *stares in shock* Arisa narrates that at that time, her admiration for Kyoko for her beauty and skill as Akai Chou collapsed very quickly upon this first meeting. As the gang eats their lunch, Arisa says that instead of admiration, it soon became respect for the affection Kyoko had. "Want to hear all the details?" Arisa suggests. Meanwhile, outside the store, the three junior high Yankee girls crouch, waiting to get a chance to jump down Arisa's throat. ^_^; ---------- tsuzuku (to be con'td) ----------