Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket.

IceAngel5: Hello all! I have humbly decided to try my hand at writing a Fruits Basket story. I have been
in love with FB since it first came out so I thought it might be fun to try writing a fanfic. with it. I hope that you enjoy my story! Now read on, fellow Fruits Basket lovers, the first chapter of Pained Hearts.

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Tohru Honda gazed out on the crescent moon, the last of her days' work finally done. Breakfast was already prepared and only needed to be re-heated before eaten and both Yuki and Kyo said that they could handle lunch without her. Come to think of it even though at first Shigure had whined that making lunch would be too much of a hassle for him he did let her go with little complaint. Tohru would be leaving the Sohma residence for the day tomorrow. It was only a small event - she would leave in the morning and then come back in time to make dinner - but she always had to be sure that the Sohmas' would have enough to eat, it was in her nature to do so.

Tohru's eyes glazed over with memories and a smile slowly crept on her face. She had been living with the Sohma's for almost twos year now and already she felt at home, at ease, and among close friends. Even so, tomorrow was not a day that the Sohma's could join in, tomorrow was not a day that Kyo or Yuki could be with her with. Not even Hana or Uo were joining her. This was her day.

"Oh mom, I can't believe this," Tohru whispered, "I can't let it get me down."

Her eyes drifted towards Shigure's house, "No, I won't let it get me down. They have done so much for me. I can't possibly push my problems onto them. My emotions are my alone, my heart... my heart can be controlled."

Her voice shook.

"But mom...mom... I can't believe that my heart hurts so much. It... it feels like it's being torn apart..."

Tohru shook her head. No, now was not the time to get into that. Right now was the time to get up, go to bed, and get a good night's rest. And tomorrow, well tomorrow would be the day she would figure out her emotions. She would fix her heart. She has to. If she didn't then the Sohma's would get worried. Oh mom, she thought, they already have so much on their hearts, their world is already so dark. I have to be a light.

"Yes." she said out-loud to no one but herself.

"Yes? Why are you saying 'yes' for?" A voice asked.

"Oh!" Tohru spun around, "Kyo...!"

Her thoughts were so jumbled with worry and fear that she had not heard Kyo walk out onto the area where she had been sitting. Of course! Of course from the house they could see her. She had not moved far enough away into the woods for that but with all of those creeps Shigure always warned her about she had not wanted to move further away. Tohru had only been concerned with getting out of the house and seeing the setting sun before it vanished for the night. The moon had risen before she had realized the time.

"Kyo!" Tohru said again, "What are you doing up so late?"

"I was making some noodles for a snack. Why are you even out here to begin with? Don't you even listen to Shigure when he says there are creeps around here?" Kyo replied clenching his fists Why'd she have to be so innocent? "You could get kidnapped you know!"

"Oh! No, no, no! I'd be alright, really, I've only been out here for a little while."

"You didn't answer my question! Why are you even out here?"

"I... I was thinking." Tohru began, "I was just thinking about tomorrow."

Kyo's ears perked. Tohru had only said she was going out for the day and had said nothing more. He had been wondering what it was all about but she had been oddly secretive about it, her usual talkative mannerism silenced by something. It had been driving him crazy. She would not talk about it, she had told Shigure and the boys about it a little over month ago but she did not say anything else about it at all. Yuki was being the same damn rat about it, being all polite and pretending that it didn't bother him when it actually did and even Shigure had been wondering after her. Kyo even asked about it a few times.

(Flashbacks)

"Yo, is anything up?"

"No, no I'm fine really!"

-- A few weeks later and nothing said. --

"There has to be something up, Tohru!"

"Oh, it's nothing to be talked about yet."

-- Still later. --

"Damn it all! It has to be important! Tell me already!"

"Don't yell at Miss Honda, stupid cat."

"Don't call me stupid, you damn rat!"

"Oh, please don't fight, you two. I just have some things that I need to do that day, alright?"

-- A few days ago. --

Kyo sighed heavily, his concern coming out in the form of anger, "Tohru. Tell. Me. What. Is. Going. On."

"Miss Honda does not want to talk about it, stupid cat, stop asking her."

"Oh! Like you're one to talk, you damn rat, you asked her about it last week!"

"And who has been asking almost every day since Miss Honda mentioned it?"

"You are so full of it!"

"Would you guys stop fighting please, I don't want my house destroyed again..."

"Shuttup! I'm not going to punch him!"

"Kyo! Yuki! Please don't fight. I just have something I need to do, okay? It'll be fine, really. I'll be alright."

"..."

"So... please don't worry about me."

(End of flashbacks)

"Oh? Tomorrow, huh? You're going out for the day, right?" he asked nonchalantly.

"Yes! Only for the day though, I'll be back in time to make dinner, you don't worry about that..." she replied, "I really should be getting back inside now though."

She started walking towards the house but Kyo grabbed her hand, "Wait a second." he muttered looking at her with concern, something's up, "are you alright? You've been quiet lately..."

"Oh! I'm fine, really. Nothing to worry about."

"That's crap! You have not been your talkative self lately. You know it. So does everyone else."

Tohru hoped that she was not blushing, "No, I'm fine. I've just had a lot on my mind... silly silly."

"It's not silly. If you need to talk, then talk!" Kyo's voice began to get louder - he was getting more and more concerned about her, she's never like this, "You even said that talking helps! You know I'll listen, right?"

"Yes, I do know you'll listen, Kyo," Tohru said, "but it's alright. Really, I'll have it all fixed by tomorrow night, I promise." She smiled brightly.

Fixed? But... that means something is broken. Kyo's thoughts whirred, Something is broken? Something... Tohru's voice brought him back into focus.

"Now, though, time to go to bed. We really do need a good night's rest. I know I will need it and I'm sure with how hard you run in the morning, you'll need it as well." Tohru grabbed onto Kyo's hand and pulled him inside. Kyo let her pull him along his thoughts still on what she had said.

What is it? What is that's...broken? Kyo thought. Why can't I help her? Why won't she let me help her?

They both walked into the house, slid the door shut, and quietly went upstairs. Kyo knew that he would not see Tohru until the next evening and right now he wanted to at least do something to help her a little. Right before Kyo left Tohru he grabbed onto her arm as a signal to stop. She did.

"Tohru?" Kyo whispered, happy that it was dark so she could not see him blushing ever so slightly.

He hoped that she had heard him. He had to whisper so as not to wake up that damn rat in the next room and Shigure was probably awake anyway since his sleep schedule was off. I don't want him to hear either though...

He felt her turn around to face him in the darkness, "Yes?" Kyo knew that there was confusion in her eyes. Why did she have to smile?

"I... I wanted to let you know..." Kyo said, "I wanted to let you know that I really am here... if you ever want to talk. If you want to... you know, mull things over... I'm here for you." Kyo was definitely blushing now but the darkness concealed it so he did not need to worry.

Tohru was blown away by his kindness and generosity, she took Kyo's hand and squeezed it tightly, "Thank-you, Kyo," she said, "Thank-you so much! It makes me so happy knowing that! Thank-you so much!"

Kyo knew that her smile was brighter then it had been outside, if that were even possible. He whispered, "So...would you want to talk about it with me?"

Tohru was silent for a moment, her smile faded a bit and her hand had gone slightly softer after he asked that question but she still held his hand. Finally she said, "Yes. I will want to talk about it with you..." Kyo breathed a sigh of relief, "but not now. Maybe not even tomorrow. But I will want to."

"Okay," Kyo whispered smiling, "now go to bed." He pulled his hand from hers and knocked her upside the head. Then, after going into his room and sliding the door shut, Kyo was gone.

Tohru breathed again. She went into her room, slid her own door shut, and flopped onto her bed. Now, more then ever, she needed to think. She needed to fix what was broken in order to keep going. In order to keep smiling. She needed to keep smiling. That was her duty. She needed to help all of the Sohma's and break the curse that was bonding them. She just had to. She needed to keep going to help all of them... but for now... for tomorrow at least... she would focus on herself... she would finally admit... maybe the one thing that could bring joy to his life... maybe at least some light to his outcome... she would admit to herself... and maybe focus on only one member of the Zodiac... maybe... for now...

But Mom... is this supposed to hurt so much?

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IceAngel5: so that's that! The first chapter of Pained Hearts is over. Please remember to review, I would
love to hear what you think of my story, and honestly if you took time out of your day/night to read a
story then why not take a few more minutes to review it, ne? Constructive criticism is welcome!
I will upload the next chapter after 10 reviews! Until the next chapter!