From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Isuzu "Rin" Sohma (草摩 依鈴 Sōma Isuzu) is an only child and a member of the Sohma clan in the manga Fruits Basket (she never appears in the anime), transforming into the horse of the Chinese Zodiac whenever she is hugged by the opposite gender or her body comes under a great deal of stress. She appears only in the manga.
The two kanji characters in the name "Isuzu" mean "depending on" and "bell" respectively. Some fans consider the idea of Rin being "depended
on" like a "bell" to represent her personality and role in the story. Several members of the family refer to her as "Rin"
because it translates to "small bell" in Japanese and "rin" is similar to the sound a bell makes. "Rin" is also an alternate reading of the second kanji in Rin's name, 鈴.
Role in the story
Background
When Rin was young, her parents were always affectionate and devoted to her. Rin thought this peculiar since parents of cursed Sohmas usually resented their children. Because of this, Rin decided to ask why they loved her so much; her seemingly harmless question somehow shattered their
caring attitude; it had only been a façade so that she would think she lived in a happy family. After that, they never treated
Rin decently again and eventually abused her to the point where she had to be hospitalized. In that time, her parents told
her that they didn't want her home again. This has been one of the reasons as to why Rin dislikes being in the hospital and
often tries to sneak out before she has fully recovered.
Rin is a willful, proud woman. She despises the way the other members of the Sohma clan submit to Akito Sohma, and avoids him whenever possible. Although she isolates herself from others, Rin can occasionally be seen with Hiro Sohma, the only one besides Hatsuharu Sohma (Haru), Kagura Sohma, and Kagura's mother to visit Rin during her stays in the hospital as a child, as her parents did not wish to see her.
She goes to an all girls' private school, and resides at Kagura Sohma's house. She has recently graduated from high school, though she was not at the graduation ceremony (because she had been
locked away by Akito). Rin suffers from stomach ulcers, and her eating habits are sparse, probably due to stress and trauma. In addition, she feels uncomfortable eating around others, with the exception of Haru and, later, Tohru Honda.
Relationship with Haru
As younger children, Haru would visit Yuki in his isolated room, which was forbidden. Rin felt that she needed to protect
him, and so she would go with him, making excuses to leave right before some adult discovered Haru in the room.
Later, when Haru continually visited Rin in the hospital and spent time with her, Rin began to enjoy his company, though
she was reluctant to. They eventually fell in love with each other and began to date clandestinely. After an incident that left her badly injured, she broke up with Haru, explaining
that she didn't love him anymore and that she was tired of him. However, that was not the true reason; Akito had discovered
their relationship, and in her fury (or maybe her similarity of Akito's mother's long black hair), pushed Rin through a window. Hiro, who'd been walking by the door as it happened, was the only witness. Rin, terrified that Haru might be injured likewise,
isolated herself from him and forced Hiro not to tell anyone the true circumstances behind her injuries.
Rin also attempted to find a way of breaking the Sohma curse for Haru's happiness and freedom from Akito's control, but her efforts were in vain. She became ill and hospitalized once more. Haru tried to visit her, but
she drove him away, even swinging IV's at him to accomplish her goal. Though Haru did not hear much from Rin after that, he still takes every chance to see her,
often without her realizing it.
At one point, Akito's mother, Ren Sohma , tricks Rin into trying to steal a particular box from Akito's room. She is caught and forced into the cursed cat's room
by Akito, who later chops her hair off. She is freed from her imprisonment by Kureno Sohma while Haru learns from Hiro that it was Akito who pushed Rin out a window and Rin's reasons for breaking up with him. Rin
escapes from the hospital in a daze and is later found semi-conscious on the street by Haru. The two reconcile and he takes
her to Kazuma Sohma's house, where she has since been staying while she recovers.
