A Shuko + Tohru fic!

[Prototype]

I've written a new fic just recently. And yes, Tohru does marry Shuko at the end. I decided to post it all over so that others could read it so I'll post it here too. I'll also include the link to where I've posted it on Fanfiction.net so that those of you who like that better can go there.

http://www.fanfiction.net/secure/live_p ... id=3323216

Anyways, here's the first chapter. Enjoy!

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I had a lot of fun and intrigue writing this fic. The majority of this story was written to reveal the truth (My truth) behind Shuko‘s peculiar nature and how it came to be. AND how it is changed. There is love and romance involved, but be nice and look at the other stuff as well. This fanfic is a good deal more complicated than most.

I will explain why this story is rated T.

1. The content contains things of a psychological nature that can’t be understood properly by younger children.

2. This story has dark themes. There is death, descriptions of death scenes and one of which happens to be very gruesome indeed. It involves guns for your information.

There is no sexual content, no references of such and no swear words at all. No dirty jokes no improper vulgar content, nothing. So if you have the brains to comprehend this story and the stomach to digest a gruesome murder scene, then go ahead and read it.

-WARNING-

The bulk of this story is dialogue. You will have to be patient and read all of what is said to appreciate it fully if at all. It does get very romantic and lovely, and I know a lot of you want that. But this is no one-shot romance from beginning to end story, so if you want some kisses and hugs early on, forget it. This is not for you.


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Tiptoeing around puddles, Tohru Froid meandered through the rain to the Waterworks Company. He was supposed to go to school that day, but his Father, Dr. Froid, had contacted him and told him to bring Iceman to work that day. Dr. Froid needed Iceman from time to time, and today happened to be one of those times.

“How incredibly annoying.” thought Tohru. It was beginning to rain as he passed by Higure’s Chip Shop. Fortunately, he had brought along an umbrella just in case it did rain, and he opened it once he saw the drops of rain making their marks on the sidewalk.

Tohru was a very decent man in every respect. Perhaps he had learned that from his friends. He was not only dressed nicer than most men in the city, but he was very sociable with other people. A fellow well met even.

But even the nicest of persons can get cross in the rain, and he frowned as he lifted his umbrella above his head. As he walked, he heard another person coming towards him from behind. She quickly stepped past him muttering “I’m sorry.” in a low, apologetic tone.

Tohru stopped walking and looked around, wondering what on earth had happened. He looked at the women who had just walked by and asked: “Sorry for what? You didn‘t do anything.”

The woman turned around and Tohru realized who it was. It was Shuko, a friend of his. It was rare for him to see her at all, much less outside walking in the rain. She looked at him mournfully and said “I’m sorry for the rain. You know how it is, I‘m sorry that I had to be around just now.”

Shuko was- by nature, a very sad and depressed person. And it seemed to some people that bad luck seemed to follow her wherever she went. She thought the same, and naturally she apologized and asked forgiveness for things that weren’t even her fault. Even bad weather conditions. Over the past several years she had done well in becoming more cheerful and optimistic, but she still had her days when cheerfulness and optimism were as far from her mind as outer space is to an earthworm.

Tohru sighed and shook his head. “That‘s ridiculous.” he said. “The rain is just something that happens now and then. You didn‘t make it rain anymore than I make the sun shine.”

Shuko looked surprised. “You mean you don‘t think I had anything to do with it?” she said. “You think it‘s just a coincidence that I come by and rain starts to fall? It has happened before.”

“Yes I do.” said Tohru. “You‘re just having one of your bad days, Shuko-chan. Now come underneath my umbrella before you‘re drenched.”

The rain was growing stronger, and Shuko’s wet appearance weren’t making her look any more cheerful. She stepped underneath the umbrella and began walking with Tohru down the sidewalk. “Where are you going, anyway?” she asked.

“To my Dad at work.” Tohru answered. “I have to take Iceman there, my Dad needs him. Why don‘t you come with me? I‘d like the company. Everybody else are doing their classes right now.”

Shuko shook her head and stopped walking. “No, you‘d do better without me. I‘d hate to think what might happen if I was in the Waterworks facilities and brought bad luck on you there. Who knows what might happen?”

Tohru turned around and walked back, taking Shuko’s arm. “That‘s enough!” he scolded. “I won‘t have you being so voluntarily miserable. You‘re coming with me, bad luck or no bad luck.”

Then he could see that scolding her was just making Shuko think worse of herself. “I know the Waterworks well, Shuko.” he said confidently. “There‘s nothing that could happen there. Now cheer up, um… give me a smile, okay?”

Shuko looked confused at first, but she nodded and put on a small smile. Tohru smiled back and led her across the street. “How are things going at the Chip Shop, Shuko-chan?” he asked.

“Not terribly bad.” Shuko replied, trying her best to sound normal. “I haven‘t dropped or broken anything this week, so Higure-san isn‘t angry at me. My brothers wrote to me a few days ago and said they were doing well in college, so I‘m happy for them.”

“And so am I!” Tohru said. “I‘m glad things are working out for them. You worked hard to get them there, didn‘t you? It‘s a shame they‘re away though. You don‘t see them much, do you?”

Shuko shook her head sadly. “No, I don‘t. And I miss them. I don‘t have much company nowadays, but that‘s only natural. At least my brothers were with me.”

Then she caught herself. “Oh, I‘m sorry, I didn‘t mean to sound sad or anything.”

“No, no no.” said Tohru. “It‘s only natural that you should feel that way. I‘d feel the same. Is there anything I could do?”

Shuko shook her head. “No, I don‘t think so. But thanks anyway. Is that the Waterworks facility up ahead?”

Tohru looked and nodded his head. “Yes, that‘s it. Come on, we should be there in just a few minutes!”

He sped up their pace and they both made their way to Waterworks.


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“Oh wow!” Shuko cried in excitement. “This is so amazing!”

She was right. There were large tanks of water everywhere, large glass tubes ran above their heads with water rushing through them. In front of them were all sorts of catwalks above the reservoirs and machinery, all pumping and purifying the water that supplied the city. Filling their ears was the sounds of rushing, splashing and flowing water, all so pure that that when the light shone into it, it turned a lovely shade of blue.

Shuko clapped her hands and smiled the biggest smile anyone had ever seen before. “Oh! Oh look at all this beautiful water!” she exclaimed. She ran up to one of the tanks and stared right in. She could see all the way to the bottom of the fifty foot deep reservoir. “I can see my shadow!” she pointed out. “This is all so incredible!”

Tohru was astonished. Not only because he had seen these things a million times before, but because nobody including Shuko’s brothers had ever seen her so delighted.

“It makes me want to go swimming!” said Shuko. “Oh why haven‘t you shown me this before, Tohru-kun?”

Tohru couldn’t help but smile at Shuko’s fascination. “I guess it never came to mind before!” he said, walked up to the tank and peering in. “Do you go swimming often?”

“Actually no…” Shuko admitted. “I‘ve never learned how to swim, so I don‘t go swimming. The closest I‘ve ever come to swimming was when I went to the Onsen.”

Tohru couldn’t imagine how a person with a water-based Navi could go without knowing how to swim. “You don‘t need to know how to swim to go swimming.” he pointed out. “You can float easily.”

Shuko shook her head. “I doubt it. I don‘t know the first thing about floating either. But still, this place is so fascinating!”

Iceman spoke from Tohru’s PET. “Tohru-san, you do need to deliver me to your Dad.” he reminded.

“That‘s right, thanks Iceman.” said Tohru. Turning to Shuko he said. “Come on, I want you to meet my Dad, Dr. Froid.”

Later…

“Come on in, Tohru-kun!” Dr. Froid called from his office. Tohru opened the door and he and Shuko stepped through. Dr. Froid stood up and walked over to Tohru.

“Thanks for bringing Iceman, Tohru-kun.” he said, smiling as he ruffled Tohru’s brown hair. “Who is this?”

Tohru motioned for Shuko to step forward. “This is my friend, Kiddo Shuko.” he said. “Shuko-Chan, meet my Father. He manages and operates this entire facility!”

Shuko bowed. “Pleased to meet you, Dr. Froid.” she said politely. “Tohru-kun has shown me around, and I think your facility is amazing!”

Dr. Froid bowed as well. “It‘s a pleasure to meet you too, Shuko-chan.” he said. “Any friend of Tohru’s is a friend of mine. And yes, this whole place is amazing. It takes a lot of work to run it though, so unfortunately we don‘t have the time for tours.”

“May I show her around, Father?” Tohru asked.

Dr. Froid nodded and took a special card out of his pocket. “I don‘t see why not!” he replied. “Take this Passcard. You can go anywhere you want except the sewage rooms. All the dirty water is kept in there, so I doubt you‘d want to go there anyway.”

Tohru took the card. “Thanks, Dad!” he said gratefully. “See you later, Iceman!”

Tohru immediately took Shuko’s hand and led her out of the office. He was excited to see Shuko’s reaction to all of the huge machines and waterways she had yet to see. He knew where the biggest and best were, and unintentionally ran too fast for Shuko to keep up.

“Tohru!” Shuko puffed. “Slow down!”

Tohru stopped. They were on a catwalk that led across another reservoir. Shuko leaned on the railing to catch her breath. When she opened her eyes again she jumped in astonishment. The reservoir was enormous, enough to call it a small lake. Water was pouring into it from large pipes from the different floors of the building, and little waterways would spill into it from around the catwalks. If you looked up you would see the next ten floors with pipes and tubes protruding from their walls and cascading down into the reservoir.

“Ooh…” Shuko gasped. “It‘s so… beautiful!”

Tohru grinned so widely that his teeth showed. Aquaman seemed to sense the incredible amount of water around and began to squeal with delight. Shuko quickly took him out of her waistband and turned the PET around, letting Aquaman get a full view. “Oh wow!” he cried. “How amazing! How incredible! How wonderful! Shuko-Chan, please let me into the network! Please, please, please!”

Shuko aimed the laser at one of the machines, but Tohru grabbed her hand before she could plug-in. “I hate to say this, Aquaman.” he said. “but non-waterworks Navis are forbidden to enter the network.”

Shuko grew pale. “Tohru! Don‘t say that!” she shouted.

But it was too late. Aquaman’s eyes instantly started overflowing with tears of disappointment and he began to cry. His cry was very different from most people. His eyes and head spouted water faster than a hose, and a lot of damage could be caused from his water. “Well,” said Tohru “At least he isn‘t in the internet. He won‘t hurt anyone.”

“It‘s even worse!” Shuko cried, growing paler. “His tears will fill up the PET and he could drown!”

She was right. Aquaman had quickly filled the small area of the PET over his head. He choked on the water and quickly swam to the surface. Unfortunately, he began to cry again the second he got his head above the water, and the water quickly rose to the top of the PET.

Tohru grabbed the PET from Shuko and dashed towards the nearest pump. “We can apologize later.” he thought. He aimed the laser at the machine and activated it. The beam flowed into the receptor, but bounced back again.

“ENTRY IS FORBIDDEN!” said the PET. The PET was almost full now, and Aquaman was crying harder from fright, thus speeding up his tear output.

“Tohru-san! Sob! Please save me!” Aquaman cried.

Shuko began to scream. “What can we do!? Aquaman!”

Tohru was at a loss. The nearest machine he could plug-into was outside, and too far away to save Aquaman in time. He wracked his brains for an idea. “Come on, come on… Wait, I think I know what to do!”

He took out a pouch of battlechips from his pocket and dumped them on the floor. “Shuko-Chan! Take out your chips and dump them on the floor, now!”

Shuko did as she was told, taking them out of her purse and shaking it till they clattered to the floor next to Tohru’s. Tohru madly sorted out the fire based chips into a small pile. Then he took one of his own chips and inserted it into Shuko’s PET. “Battle Chip! Freezing Body! Slot-in!”

Aquaman’s body surrounded itself in a blue aura, making the water around him turn to ice in a few seconds. Then Tohru inserted fire chip after fire chip. “Flame Tower, Slot-in! Heat Shot, Slot in! Heat Side, Slot in! Flame Sword, Slot in! Fire Blade, Slot in!”

The insane spike of heat made the ice evaporate in mere seconds. By the time Aquaman was free to use the Fire Blade the ice had either evaporated or melted. He walked around and got rid of the water and then the Fire Blade disappeared from his hand. He turned to the PET and smiled up at Tohru. “T-t-thank you… You saved me.” he whimpered.

Tohru sighed in relief and sat back against the pump. His quick actions had tired him. “You‘re welcome, Aquaman. Thank goodness…”

Shuko looked stunned. She knelt down before Tohru and clasped his hands together in her own. “Thank you!” she whispered. Then her face broke into a smile and she shook his hands up and down. “Thank you, thank you, thank you! You saved my Aquaman!”

Tohru smiled and bowed his head. “Y-You‘re welcome, Shuko-Chan!”

Shuko pulled Tohru to his feet and continued to shake his hands. “You‘re so brave and smart! I never could have thought of that so quickly!” she said, smiling at him as though he had just saved her life. “Come on, you must let me do something as thanks. I think the Pastry Cafe on Cadenza street is open today. I‘ll get you a crepe or something, okay?”

“Shuko-Chan! Please! It was nothing…” Tohru said; Smiling, but his smiled masked uneasiness. There was something about her smile and attention that bothered him. But he soon forgot it and politely removed his hands from Shuko’s grasp. “At least let me get my other battlechips first!”

[AGF-Antoine]

*ahem* SHUKO IS MINE!!!

I will murder Tohru for this, he isn't worthy of having Shuko

AGF-Antoine

[Prototype]

[Prototype]

[KingForte]

[Prototype]

[Weapon of Light]

[Prototype]

[Gemini]

I understand what you mean. It is discouraging when you don't get comments on a story that you've worked hard on, and possibly, consider to be your best work... but it shouldn't stop you. I'm a writer myself and know exactly how it feels, but I don't quit on something because of that. If people quit on things because they didn't get the publicity we wanted most the things we have wouldn't have come to be. Such as Airplanes. Everyone though the Wrights were crazy. Look where they got us today.

I'll be hoping for another update. *grabs icecream cone* Correction, Mr. Icey and I will be hoping for another update

[Prototype]

Do you mean an update on FF.NET or here? I will say I look forward to updating it, but alas there is a modification to add and it has lost itself in my mental faculties. I shant update till it comes back to me.

Oh, by the way, considering men to be thought crazy, think about Winston Churchill. He was awesome.

[Gemini]

[Prototype]

Here is the latest update to my story. Enjoy!

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“Your own brother did this to you?! I can’t remember what your brothers look like. Remind me what they look like!” Tohru demanded.

“They both have tanned skin and sandy hair!” answered Shuko. “They have black eyes and they’re a little taller than I am! They both look nearly alike! One of them came to talk to me and then he pushed me over the railing!”

“I don‘t believe it! He was right under our noses all the time! Netto was right!”

“Please put me down! I‘ll tell you anything else you want!” Shuko pleaded.

“Oh, I‘m so sorry!” said Tohru. In his sudden rush of anger he had treated Shuko roughly. “I didn‘t mean to frighten you. Just… I had to know who it was. What was it they were talking to you about that made them push you over?”

Shuko looked uncertain as to whether she would respond. “Um… Umm… Tohru-kun, you would be ashamed of me if I told you.”

“What does that mean?” Tohru said. “Is that a comment from the Shuko who bears the shame of the world again? Shuko-chan I don‘t mean to be aggressive, but I think I deserve to know this. Now what was it?”

“Tohru-kun I would tell you anything else!” Shuko pleaded. “If you insist I‘ll tell you, but I‘d much rather you heard it from them instead… I’m… I’m sure you and Netto and Enzan can find them easily.”

Tohru thought about it. “Okay.” he said slowly. “This should be easier than what they usually do. Alright then, I‘ll ask them once we find them. In the meantime, thank you for talking to me. I‘ll let you get some rest.”

“Thank you, Tohru-kun…” Shuko whispered. “Right now… I’m just glad you know this had nothing to do with you. I mean… I thought you might have hated me… I hadn’t expected you to cry…”

Shuko, nodding her head, fell asleep before she could say more. Tohru arranged her pillows and laid her back down.

In his mind, Tohru said “I’m not such a monster, Shuko-Chan. I couldn’t bear thinking I might be the cause of this.”

Tohru then quietly left the room and shut the door behind him. Netto stood up from the bench.

“Tohru! What on earth was going on in there? You look like… I don‘t know what! What did Shuko-chan say that was so…?”

Tohru just looked at Netto. His bedraggled appearance and his quiet way of speaking unnerved Netto. “Get a security force around this room. Then you and I need to do a little detective work. I‘ll bet Enzan can help us.”

He walked past Netto. Netto stepped in front of him. “But why? Surely Shuko-chan is safe while she‘s in there!”

“No. And you were right Netto-kun,” said Tohru. “That man we‘ve been trying to find is the very one responsible for this whole mess.”

He ran past Netto this time, and he went down to the office in the hallway responsible for holding personal items safe. Netto ran behind him. “What do you mean?”

Tohru turned around, and this time he smiled. “I mean she didn‘t try to commit suicide!”

He quickly got his PET and his other things from the purser and then explained to Netto what Shuko had told him. “This man is dangerous, whomever he is.” said Tohru. “And his brother may be in it together. Shuko-chan told me that they look almost alike, so we‘ve probably been seeing two different men this past week.”

Netto snapped his fingers happily. “Aha! That explains a lot. I‘ll call Enzan now. He‘s a better detective than I am. We‘re gonna get this guys, Tohru-kun!”

“Excuse me!” the purser said. “Some people are waiting in the lobby to see you. They say it‘s your parents and friends.”

Tohru slapped himself in the forehead. “Our families! I completely forgot about them!”

Netto grabbed his arm. “Come on, they‘re probably worried sick!”

The raced down to the elevator and went down to the bottom floor. As soon as the doors opened they raced into the lobby. Netto’s parents and Tohru’s Dad was there as well as Dekao, Yaito and Meiru.

“Netto-kun!” Yuuichiro shouted as he jumped up and shook his sons hand. “I‘m glad to see you‘re alright! I was afraid something worse had happened!”

Haruka ran right up to Netto and threw her arms around his neck. “Oh my son!” she cried. Netto’s mother was very emotional whenever something dangerous happened to him, and Netto had to comfort his mother before he could speak to the others.

“I‘m sorry I couldn‘t get here sooner, Tohru-kun.” said Dr. Froid. “I had to settle so many things at Waterworks first. I had heard that you were safe, so I stayed. I hope you understand, water is so important to so many thousands of people.”

Tohru smiled and shook his Dad’s hand. “That‘s perfectly alright Dad. No need to explain anything.”

Dekao head-locked Netto and scratched his head. “Nice going as usual, you little twerp!”

“I‘m very proud of you both!” said Yaito, who couldn’t keep from hugging both Tohru and Netto around the waist.

Meiru-chan did nothing at first. She let everyone else give their congratulations first.

Netto was the first to notice. It was the first time he had seen her in days. “Meiru-chan! Where have you been?”

Any normal intelligent person who might be reading this story instead of being an actual character in it would know in an instant why Meiru had been avoiding everyone. But Netto did not, and as soon as he asked that question Meiru immediately put on a smile and told him to not worry about it.

“Well? Aren‘t you going to congratulate us?” asked Tohru.

Meiru sighed and hugged them both at the same time. “You two were amazing! Dr. Light told us all what you did. I‘m so proud of you two, especially you, Tohru-kun. You were so courageous. What made you do it anyway?”

“Please don‘t ask me that question, Meiru-chan.” said Tohru, annoyed. “Right now I need to make a call to security.”

“And speaking of questions…” said Netto, taking a hold of Meiru’s arm. “You need to answer some for me. Sorry to run already, Mom and Dad. Come on, Meiru-chan, Let‘s go to the park outside.”

“I‘ll call you when Enzan arrives!” Tohru called after them.

Netto and Meiru took a seat on a bench in the park, one that was further away from the building for the sake of privacy. “First of all,” Netto began. “I‘d like to know why I haven‘t seen you in college or anyplace else.”

Meiru shifted nervously. “I… I was at home.” she answered.

“Doing what?” Netto asked.

Meiru began to blush. And blush she did. She started sweating again, just like she had at her last encounter with Netto. Netto noticed this and took a hold of her hand. “Are you sick or something, Meiru-chan?” he asked. “Don‘t tell me you have an illness you‘ve been hiding from me.”

Meiru nodded hastily. “No, no. Nothing like that. I‘m fine.”

“Something is obviously wrong, Meiru-chan. Please tell me, as a friend.” Netto said firmly. “I don‘t like it when you hide problems from me that have something to do with me.”

“I didn‘t say it has anything to do with you.” said Meiru.

Netto frowned. “I think it does. Am I wrong?”

Meiru gave a pained expression. “You‘re right. You‘re such a good psychologist, aren‘t you? Dr. Light was telling me about you discovering Shuko-chan‘s attempt to kill herself. I‘ll bet you think your smarter, don’t you?”

“Well, I did… but I don‘t anymore.” said Netto uncomfortably. “Shuko-chan didn‘t try to commit suicide after all.”

Meiru’s face lightened a bit. “That‘s great news…But then how did she- never mind. My point is this. You’ve impressed just about everybody with these skills you have, and you’re only just an amateur. But you’re not perfect… You missed something.”

Netto shook his head. “I‘m sure I don‘t know what you mean.”

“Why don‘t you!?” Meiru was growing increasingly frustrated. “It‘s so easy for you to see Tohru-kun and Shuko-Chan’s growing relationship but you can‘t see anything right in front of you!”

“I haven‘t hurt you!” Netto exclaimed. “You‘re the closest friend I have in this world! You‘re like a sister to me. How can you say such a thing!”

Meiru finally sobbed with frustration and (almost screamed out): “I love you!”

Netto had no time to be surprised. Meiru turned to him and clasped both his hands together in her own. “I don‘t think of you as my brother. I love you, as the one I want to marry and spend my life with!”

She continued. “We spoke once of someone whom you‘d like to marry. But It doesn‘t seem to have occurred to you that someone already loves you and wishes to marry you, and have children, and do all the things married people do! You want to be married, don’t you? You want to be loved, don’t you? I‘m here and you always walk past me. I’m right here in front of you! You don‘t need the sky to open and the sun to show you a golden pathway, I‘m here!”

Shaken practically out of his skin, Netto spoke as carefully as he could. “If only I‘d known before.” he choked out. “I‘m such a fool… Meiru-chan, I‘m so sorry for not seeing it before.”

Meiru wrapped her fingers tighter around Netto’s hands. “That‘s why I left and stayed at home.” she explained. “I thought you were about to tell me one day and then you… Sob You crushed my hopes once more. I couldn‘t stand it. I always went to you if I had a large problem and you always solved it for me. I felt hopeless sitting in there thinking I was your… sister!”

She hissed out ‘sister’ in disgust. “I was sure that idea would keep you from thinking of me as… a possible wife. But I can‘t hold it back from you anymore. Will you… do you love me, Netto-kun? Enough to… marry me?”