Fruits Basket Continuing Discussion

Hey guys, sorry for the delay. Long day yesterday, so I'm only a day late. Anyway, since it seems like everyone has been reading ahead and the discussions are lagging a bit, perhaps as a result, I've decided, if there are no objections, to push the discussion ahead several volumes at once, and if necessary give people a little time to get through all of them beyond the usual week. I was thinking going through volume 15 this time, and you can discuss individual volumes or the whole shebang at your own pace. I'll give a brief summary of what we'll see, with no spoilers, and then we can bring up discussion starting with 9 and 10 and add on as we go. Also, feel free to update the character listing as we go if anyone has any relevant comments for any of the characters, or wishes to add new ones as we meet them.

So, 9 and 10: Yuki is starting to move out of the protection of Tohru and the little family as he accepts his new responsibilities in the student council and starts to meet the student council members. A lot of challenge, but also great opportunities for growth. We also learn more of friendship as Hana contributes her past to the plot, and Uo dreams of the man she met at the convenience store. Meanwhile, Tohru and Kyo are visiting Shishou, who discusses some distressing news with Kyo's real father. On a trip to the summer home, emotions are high for everyone, between happy summer recreation activities, Akito's presence bringing tension to all, and Yuki being able to voice some things that have been on his mind for a very long time. A lot of mixed emotions, and some more family conflict to deal with. How is the treatment of the cat related to the feelings of the rest of the Juunishi so far, and why do you think they would tolerate such behavior?

11 and 12: We're still at the summer home with the Sohmas, and things are still a strange mixture of tension and relaxation as Akito continues to torment the Juunishi and goads Kyo into a distressing revelation. Meanwhile, we get to meet another member of the zodiac, the Horse. Akito reveals his connection to the Juunishi and the relevance of the old folk tale, while Kyo continues to muse on his newly realized feelings. Then it's back to school, and Yuki continues to struggle on with his new challenges in the student council and the mishmash of personalities. Tohru has learned of the eventual fate of Yuki and Kyo, and is determined to do something about it. Since the majority of the action revolves around the Cat, I'd love to discuss his unique situation and how he might relate to the rest of the Juunishi through the folk tale. So he missed the banquet, how does that make him the outcast, and why does he have his grotesque other form? How do Yuki's feelings for Tohru change, and how do the changes affect him in his interactions with others? And what of the looming parent-teacher conferences?

13, 14, and 15: Tension mounts as Tohru continues to investigate the inner workings of the Sohma family, as well as trying to help her friend and learn more about the mysterious Kureno. Parent-teacher conferences are upon the students too, and Yuki needs to deal with his mother and stand up for himself. Tohru gets to meet the precious Momo, Momiji's little sister, and feels the pain of the curse as the most optimistic of the Sohma clan feels it, being separated from the person he loves most. Rin, meanwhile, is trying to learn more about the curse and how to break it, and she's certain Shigure knows something about it. But her illness impedes her search, and she reluctantly meets Tohru, who of course feels nothing but sympathy for this girl who is in so much pain. Yuki continues to puzzle over the eccentricities of the student council members, and to try to deal with his own past fears. Selfishness is a good topic here...so many people acting on their own interests at the expense of others, from Momiji's father isolating his son from the rest of the family to save his wife to Yuki's mother using her son's place in the zodiac to furnish her own comfort at his expense. Many of the truly selfish in this series are the adults, and the children are the victims of those selfish whims. The class play and casting is a lovely bit of comic relief, with the kids being able to be themselves regardless of their roles, with a heavy peek into Yuki's past, and the emotional abuse he suffered due to Akito. And yet, he found a tiny spark of light, and an early connection with Tohru, that kept him from succumbing completely to the darkness. The play proceeds with some script changes, and everyone lives happily ever after, in their own way.

Hope this isn't too much at once, but proceed at your own pace and add anything you wish as you go along. Let me know if anyone is interested in the next posting...we could finish the series or break it into two more sections as people decide.