Fruits Basket 20 day challenge day 20: Spam your favorite pictures ofFruits Basket!

If you insist . . . be warned, there will be lots of Kyouru.

I did warn you . . .

Fruits Basket 20 day challenge day 13: Did you like the ending of the manga?

I loved how the manga ended! I will admit that I thought the ending wasn't going to be as joyful, and more of a bittersweet send off, but I was surprised that ever single Sohma found a way to live life, and say goodbye to the curse. I also loved how Fruits Basket began with Tohru telling the story, and it ended with Kyou telling the story. I loved the ending quotes "Pile on the years." And how Ko watches Tohru quietly pick up the bracelet, and save it along with the pictures that increase over time of their life together. Their grandchild was so cute, asking where they were by name, and her mother scolding her to call her grandparents by grandma and grandpa. I love that Kyo and Tohru are "always together," and as they move on, the entire Sohma family will miss Tohru. Kyo tells Tohru, "This is the time. We're all going to new environments so we can live our lives. And suddenly we're all thinking about you. Are you doing well? You're not crying are you? Are you still smiling? Are you truly happy on this day? We're all thinking it. All of us. And we'll keep thinking it. Everybody loves you. Thank you."

Tohru, accepting all the Sohmas and especially Kyo is now one of the most important people in the Sohmas' lives. They will never forget her, and they will miss her, but they will always be grateful that she helped them rise above the darkness, and discover all that life has to offer. 

This scene was the most powerful goodbye I have ever experienced, and the fact that Kyo is explaining the Sohmas' love for Tohru shows that everyone is connected by a better bond than the zodiac curse. They are all connected through their love of Tohru, and they have become like family to her. 

Kyou's thoughts throughout this last chapter show how much he has learned, and how powerful one person's love can be. Tohru herself has finally found a place where she belongs, by Kyou's side and with the Sohma family visiting every now and then.  Both Kyou and Tohru are ready to start a new chapter of their lives, and put the past behind them. 

Another powerful, heartwarming part of the last manga was Kyoko's actual thoughts as she was dying. Kyou thought that she was saying "I'll never forgive you," but she recognized him, and her real thoughts were, "Somehow, take my place and protect Tohru. If you don't pay your tab, I'll never forgive you." 

Once all the past was revealed, including the actual story of the zodiac, and why it was cursed in the first place, there is a satisfying conclusion to Fruits Basket. Instead of having the rug ripped from under your feet, you are waving, smiling and laughing with the Sohmas, wishing them a happy life free from the demands of the curse. It reminds me of your graduation where you know that these people will always be with you in your memories, and some will even stay in touch, but you are all going your separate ways towards your dreams. It's a powerful feeling, and the fact that Fruits Basket could convey that, is proof at how amazing the story is. You've spent so much time with these characters, and you've learned about life through their own struggles and mistakes, but now they are smiling, and you know it's time to move on, but you will never forget them, and how they impacted your life. 

Fruits Basket 20 day challenge day 11: Favorite OTP

Kyouru (Picture colored by -Sangosworld on deviantart)

This one should be obvious, especially since I love Beauty and the Beast. Kyo and Tohru's relationship is one of the most heartwarming and beautiful love stories I have ever read. Of all the OTPs I love and support, this one is the top on my list, and I doubt any OTP could replace it. Kyo and Tohru accept eachother as they are, and they don't pretend to be something they aren't. Their story goes deeper than boy meets girl, because both grow at a slow and steady pace to learn who they want to be, and they support eachother through the many ups and downs throughout the series. For Kyo, Tohru is the first girl he allows himself to be close to, and he falls in love with her. Tohru has loved the cat from the zodiac story since she was a little girl, and when she finally meets Kyo, she is determined to be someone close to him, and she doesn't look down on him the way everyone in the zodiac does. She falls in love with him without even realizing it, and only when she discovers the cat's cruel fate in the zodiac, does she understand that out of all the zodiac, Kyo is the person she loves the most.   These two are perfect in their imperfection. 

Fruits Basket 20 day challenge day 10: Favorite scene in the anime

 

This scene is still my favorite from the anime. It says many different things. After Tohru sees Kyo's true form, she runs after him and explains that she is truly scared, but she still wants them to be together. She knows that if she doesn't reach out to him, he will never come back. Kyo, shocked and touched by Tohru's response does something he can't really do, but he tries to anyway. He tries to hug her, and when he does he turns back into a cat and asks, "How could you say the words I really wanted to hear?" For Kyo. Tohru is the first person in his life to accept all he is. His mother never wanted to look at him, and always made sure that the beads around his wrist bound him to human form. His father rejected him, and was convinced that Kyo's mother's misery is all Kyo's fault. This entire episode arc was extremely powerful because Kyo's guardian Shishou, the only person Kyo allows himself to trust, takes a risk and reveals Kyo's true form to Tohru, believing that she will be the one to heal him. Hurt, Kyo runs, believing that his life with Tohru is over, and he is haunted by his memories of rejection from his family. This picture shows how much Kyo has changed. He is allowing himself to believe that he can live a worthy life, and that someone actually loves him for who he is. Tohru's expression shows how much she cares for Kyo, and that she fully accepts all he is. Kyo is not a monster to Tohru, and she understands his loneliness and awkwardness. This is my favorite picture because the story it tells is, to me, love's purest form. 

Fruits Basket 20 day challenge day 5: Favorite scene

After Tohru watches Kyo get angry and refuse a girl's confession to having a crush on him, she discovers that she is afraid he will push her away like that one day. As she thinks this, Kyo is walking in front of her, and she reaches out, not knowing what his reaction will be. His response is a heart warming smile as he grabs her outreached hand. 

This scene really showed how Kyo has grown, and how much he cares for Tohru. It also shows Tohru's true fear, of being left behind, and she allows herself to just be, especially around Kyo. 

What Tohru doesn't realize in this scene, but everyone else notices, is that she is the exception, not the rule.

Kyou and Tohru's Story

Adagio tea blend: Kyouru (made by me)

So I noticed someone on tumblr was showing tea based off of the characters from The Hunger Games, and Once Upon A Time. I decided to look into that and found this cool website where you can blend your own tea.
I made a blend based off my favorite couple from Fruits Basket ^_^
Warning: There will be more tea blends in the future.
You can also make your own label and log in from facebook! 

My tea blend on Adagio: http://www.adagio.com/signature_blend/blend.html?blend=21548
You can make your own blend here: http://www.adagio.com/signature_blend/create.html

Perfectly Flawed: A Kyouru playlist

This has been a work in progress for awhile, but I think it's finally done. Due to my reread and massive posts of playlists on tumblr, I decided to share my own playlist. Each song represents a specific meaning or moment in Kyou and Tohru's story, and it reflects my own personality in the music I chose as well. I'll point out the important lyrics.
(I don't own any of these pictures. I added them as an accent to the playlist)

The Stars:

"Happy Go Lucky"- Steps

This smile's a frown turned upside down
 I do my happy go lucky so well
 I'm even fooling myself."

Tohru begins her story after a tough moment in her life. Smiling is her coping mechanism.

"Monster"- Skillet

The secret side of me, I never let you see
I keep it caged but I can't control it
So stay away from me, the beast is ugly

Kyou begins his story in a dark despair. He is always the outcast, and his past haunts him in more ways than one.

Moments:

"Cry" - Mandy Moore

 In places no one will find
All your feelings so deep inside (deep inside)
It was there that I realized
That forever was in your eyes
The moment I saw you cry

This song defines the moment Tohru sees Kyou's true form.

"Love's Divine"- Seal
 Then the rainstorm came, over me
And I felt my spirit break
I had lost all of my, belief you see
And realized my mistake
But time threw a prayer, to me
And all around me became still

This song defines Kyou's point of view when he is forced to reveal his true form.

"Only Hope"- Mandy Moore

 There's a song that's inside of my soul
It's the one that I've tried to write over and over again
I'm awake in the infinite cold
But You sing to me over and over and over again


Tohru's point of view when she realizes she likes Kyou.

"Learning to Breathe"- Switchfoot 

 I'm learning to breathe
I'm learning to crawl
I'm finding that You and
You alone can break my fall
I'm living again, awake and alive
I'm dying to breathe in these abundant skies 

Kyou is slowly learning that it is alright to be close to other people, and not everyone will reject him. Especially Tohru.

"Serenade"- katethegreat19

Something delicate
Special like the love we know
My fragile heart beats at times secure and times alone
My first treasure took me years to find
It's what I cling to when confusion clouds my mind

Tohru sees Kyou as a person, not a monster. She can be herself around him.

"One Day"- Trading Yesterday

 If I could change the currents of our lives
To make the river flow where its run dry
To be a protocol of father time
Then I would see you tonight

Kyou's guilt from the past causes him to push Tohru away, even though he actually loves her.

"Two is Better than One"- Boys Like Girls and Taylor Swift

I remember what you wore on the first day
You came into my life and I thought
"Hey, you know, this could be something"
'Cause everything you do and words you say
You know that it all takes my breath away

This song seems perfect for the day Tohru gets out of the hospital and Kyou confesses.

References:

"The Year of the Cat"- Al Stewart 

 She comes out of the sun in a silk dress running 
Like a watercolor in the rain 
Don't bother asking for explanations 
She'll just tell you that she came
In the year of the cat

Tohru has always wanted to be in the year of the cat.

 "Beauty and the Beast"- Celine Dion


Just a little change
Small to say the least
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared
Beauty and the Beast


This one is obvious ^_^

"The Beauty and the Tragedy"- Trading Yesterday


For I am finding out that love will kill and save me
Taking the dreams that made me up
And tearing them away
But the same love will take this heart that's barely beating
And fill it with hope beyond the stars
Only love

 Kyou's point of view

"Fall to Pieces"- Avril Lavigne


And I don't wanna fall to pieces
I just want to sit and stare at you
I don't want to talk about it
And I don't want a conversation
I just want to cry in front of you
I don't want to talk about it
Cuz I'm in Love With you

                                                          Tohru's point of view

"At the Beginning"- Marx Donna Lewis 

We were strangers
On a crazy adventure
Never dreaming that dreams would come true
Now here we stand unafraid of the future
At the beginning with you

Their Happy Ending

Something that speaks to me . . .

 Blog Challenge week post 1:
Prompt: Something that speaks to you . . .

          When I was in High School, I read Fruits Basket by Natsuki Tayaka for the first time. I felt attached to the characters right away, because they all had problems. Some problems were more serious than others, but the main thing that kept me reading was the hope and love all the characters find because they never give up on rising above their misfortunes. It's a story about acceptance: acceptance of the self and acceptance of others. It's also a story about growing up, facing fear and overcoming everything to find love and happiness. The anime is just as important, but not as long, complex and detailed as the manga. With each secret revealed and burden lifted, the Sohmas find a way to survive with a curse, and Tohru Honda discovers a real family.
        There is no way I can sum this anime or manga up in a paragraph or even an essay. It really speaks for itself and dives into the human heart in a way I have never seen a story do before. The closest story I can compare Fruits Basket to is Dengeki Daisy by Kyousuke Motomi.This story speaks to me, because it taught me so many important lessons and gave me hope that I would overcome my weakness and become stronger through each difficulty I faced. To me, Fruits Basket is about life and how people learn from it.

Now, I'll let Fruits Basket speak for itself ^_^

Kyouru Polyvore set

I just made this Polyvore set in honor of Kyouru :) Inspired by the picture above.

More details here: http://www.polyvore.com/kyouru_set/set?id=45869702

Kyou and Tohru - One Day

Too Beautiful to not be blogged. Another amazing find on tumblr with the original on youtube.
Enjoy ^_^

Song- One Day by Trading Yesterday

Lyrics:

If I could change the currents of our lives
To make the river flow where its run dry
To be a protocol of father time
Then I would see you tonight

If I could find the years that went away
Destroying all the cruelty of fate
I must believe that love will find away tonight

Lonely. Find me, one day you will come
Always for love sake
One day to be loved

If I see beyond the here and now
If you could here me calling you somehow
If I could know that love is reaching out
To find you with me tonight
But who can make these promises come true?
Beyond what I can say what love can do?
With every moment leading me to you, tonight

Lonely. Find me one day you will come
Always for love sake,
One day to be loved

I will stay forever here until that one day comes
Praying time will bring you near, always for your love

If I could change the currents of our lives
To make the river flow where its run dry
To be a protocol of father time then I
Would see you tonight

Lonely. Find me
One day you will come
Always for love sake, one day to be loved
Lonely find me one day you will come
Always for love sake, one day to be loved
One day to be loved
One day to be loved
I will stay forever here, always for your love

My Kyo and Tohru Tumblr

                                                Because Love is Beautiful

http://yearofthecatkyouru.tumblr.com/

Picture by yamigirl21 and featured here: http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=Kyo+Tohru#/d2um8ql