Author's Notes: I've been meaning to write a post-manga fic revolving around the older Jyunishi for quite some time now. I really hope anyone who reads this enjoys it. I'll try to make the updates fast.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket. Natsuki Takaya does.

It had been a couple of weeks since the curse broke and Akito was finding it tiresome to be dealing with the sudden change. Although her newly found kindness and compassion for the Jyunishi was pretty much coming out naturally, she afterall never really hated them, it was difficult to keep her anger in check at times, what with the very maids in the house being against her sudden change of the Sohma traditions. And when all was said and done her compassion for the Jyunishi was also one-sided.

The first thing she had to deal with, though, was the rather harsh uproar that arose when the elders who were not aware of her, until recently, carefully guarded secret had finally found out.

'IT CANNOT BE ALLOWED! A WOMAN LEADING THE CLAN?' The elite, or so-called chosen families, whined and complained for hours in the Sohma main hall once she had officially confirmed that the rumors were true. Akito sat at the front; in a fruisode wearing her secret with pride and fear, listening to them talk about how she would take their clan to its doom. Shigure sat across the hall with his parents on one side and Hatori on the other, smiling beamingly at her. He was clearly enjoying this. It made her want to get up and slap him across the face but she knew he wasn't enjoying her embarrassment or her struggle but theirs. He was finding it fun to see their reaction and was probably wondering what she had in mind.

'Give the woman a chance!' someone said.

'We need to find someone more suited.' Yuki's mother interrupted. 'My son should be in her place. He could do a better job. We should list down candidates and call a vote.'

Akito had expected this. Now that they had found the leader's weakness they were swarming like vultures to sacrifice their children and fulfill their greed.

'I can't believe Akira-sama left us with this!' Akito heard someone say.

Akito felt her fist automatically clench and she had to put all her strength into stopping herself from getting up, scouting for the person who had said that and punching them till no one recognized their face.

Akito got up and stared down at them. Shigure and Hatori sat up straight. Shigure had been waiting for this. The smile on his face disappeared. Akito avoided looking at him when she said what she said next. The room went silent and focused on Akito. After all, even with this upheaval Akito still pulled all the strings. They needed to see if their words had atleast made an effect on her. She felt relief at that moment. She felt glad that she atleast still has a little effect on them.

'While I understand your anger and worry I would like it if you think about this for a while.' She started. Her voice sounded odd to Hatori. It had the humility of a young girl but the confidence of a Queen. 'So far I have fulfilled your wishes and run the Sohma family as per the traditions. Things are going to change around this place. And many of you might be against that. Hence, I think you can continue living as you wish. But do bear in mind that matters regarding my consent or requiring my attention will be dealt with by me and me alone and not by the Sohma traditions or the effect of your status in this clan. As for being an unworthy leader to this clan, my apologies but you're going to have to look for a bigger loophole. The documents making me the legal heir to the clan clearly state my gender and have the necessary signatures.'

There was a gasp of surprise within the room. Akito let them have a moment before adding with a very slight hint of bitterness that only Shigure and Hatori knew well, 'I suppose you should start reading what you sign and not just leave everything to Akira-sama. If any of you have a problem with my authority, please feel free to leave the clan and live outside as you please.'

Shigure was no longer able to help it by that point and let out a little chuckle. Akito had done her homework. 'That's my girl.' He thought. She knew they wouldn't leave the clan even if their leader was a woman. They were having a good life here with luxuries and statuses aplenty. They couldn't leave this behind. All they could do was spark rumors and tackling them would be hectic but entertaining nonetheless for both Akito and Shigure.

Shigure's father, who up until now had been unusually silent, got up and expressed his approval of Akito. Shigure wondered how much easier it'd be if his father wasn't alive or if he didn't have one at all. His mother turned to look at him, worry in her eyes. He smiled at her.

'Don't worry.' He said. 'I can handle this.'

Hatori followed suit with Shgiure's father. Shigure suddenly realized Hatori's position in the hall. Since, Hatori's father had passed away it was up to Hatori to make decisions for his family of one. Shigure had smiled up at him. Hatori had always thought of Akito as his little sister, ever since they were actually little.

'His kindness really knows no bounds.' Shigure thought to himself.

Akito had flinched a little on hearing Hatori's approval. After all the suffering she had caused him he was still willing to live within the estate and what's more approves of her? She had felt herself go a little weak in the knees. She had been afraid to look him in the eye ever since the last time they had been in the same room, which was when she had gathered the Jyunishi for the last time, but she did look in his general direction and noticed Shigure taking his leave.

'As usual', she thought. 'He leaves as soon as it stops being entertaining.

Shigure sat on the porch, entertaining himself by watching the flowers in the garden sway.

'The winds of change', he thought to himself.

He lit up a cigarette and took a deep drag. This was getting exciting. Even though when they were young Shigure had always talked to Ha-san about how he'd like it if he grew up got married to Akito and lived in the countryside somewhere writing his novels with Aya and Ha-san as neighbors, Shigure was finding this rather fun.

'You were quick to leave.' A much too familiar voice brought Shigure back to the pungent smell of the current situation.

'I know what's going to happen next' , he said. 'the few of those who pity her or are sick of the Sohma traditions themselves will show their support and the large number against her will reluctantly follow, with hopes to get on her good side and find some other way to dethrone her.'

'Still, you should've stayed. She might need help.' Hatori replied.

'Then she'll ask for me.'

Shigure lit another stick for Hatori and passed it to him.

'I'm quite surprised that you decided to stay, Ha-san.' Shigure changed the subject.

'I have things to stay for.'

'Is that so? Pray tell, what are they?'

'Don't be ridiculous, Shigure. You know very well why I'm still here.'

'Could it be that you're staying behind to dethrone Akito yourself?'

'Sometimes it's difficult not to slap you.' Hatori retorted. He couldn't believe how dumb Shigure acted sometimes. No no. He wasn't being dumb he simply wanted to hear him say it. 'I'm sticking around because I'm almost 30, I've gotten used to this and clearly our little dream of you, me and Aya living in the countryside isn't going to come true. Aya has his business to handle. I'm planning on getting a proper job in the hospital and you're here with Akito. We've planted our roots here. It's best not to leave. But I was wondering what're you going to do? Roll around in the house and get fat?'

Shigure burst into laughter. 'I hope not. No, I'm thinking of helping Akito handle the Sohma businesses. And with this new change in tradition, I might have to take on a lot.'

Hatori thought of the several changes that could be brought about within the family. 'I do hope however that I get to get back to writing. I enjoyed it.' Shigure added.

'Speaking of Aya', Hatori inquired. 'Wasn't he supposed to be here with his mother?'

'Ah you know how Aya is! He can't care less about these things. Plus, I think his mother is glad he's not here. I think she spoke of Yuki when she said 'my son can do a better job'.'

'Do you think Yuki can handle it?'

'The Sohma family?' Shigure found it absurd to even be thinking about the possibility. 'He can, but then I'm sure he doesn't want to.'

By this time there were several people exiting the Sohma main hall, whispering to each other while they left. Few had worried looks on their faces while most looked offended.

Shigure's mother spotted the two and walked up towards them.

Shigure watched as Hatori straightened up and greeted his mother. She returned the greeting and then turned to look at Shigure.

'Your father wants to you to have dinner with us tonight.' She said.

'Is that so?' A smile spread across his face. He knew just what this was about. 'Then it's my treat. Let's eat out.'

Shigure got up and stretched. Hatori wondered why he or his parents were suddenly bothering with each other after so long.

'Sorry, Ha-san', Shigure interrupted his thoughts. 'looks like I'm going to have to take my leave now. Say hello to Akito for me. Tell her I might come home late.'

And with that he left. The final statement sounded odd to Hatori.

'I better get used to it.' He said to himself. Afterall, Shigure was now living in the main house, right next door to Hatori himself. Akito and Shigure weren't living in the same room though. Shigure had gotten his own room right next to hers. He had said something about not wanting to spark unnecessary rumors so soon after she had dropped the big I-am-a-woman bomb on the Sohma family. The rumors would be true though. They were together. But Hatori was sure those weren't the rumors Shigure had in mind. He was glad though that they were being slow about things. He had been afraid Shigure would jump right to marriage but he was glad his cousin wasn't that desperate or that big an idiot.

'Akito has a lot on her plate', Shigure had said. 'and she's still young. She's got lots to do and I'd like it if she does what she wants.'

He had been right and Hatori couldn't agree more.

'Hatori?' He heard a frail feminine voice call from behind him. He turned around and saw Akito standing in the doorway, eyes lowered to the ground, shuffling her feet like a child.

'No sorry. Hatori-san', she corrected herself much to Hatori's surprise. 'You know you can leave. Infact, you should.'

'What's this?' Hatori thought to himself. 'She wants me to leave so she can feel like she's being punished?' It reminded him of a certain one of his best friends who was here not too long ago who panics when he doesn't scold the guy for being wrong. He sighed wondering if he was the only grown up in the Sohma clan.

'I know I can. But I wish to stay. I have much to stay for.' He replied.

She walked out onto the porch keeping a distance from him, still not looking right at him.

'Can I know why you wish to stay?

'Akito-san, look at me.' He said. He needed to clear this tension. Even though she had been the source of much pain to him he couldn't stand watching her struggle like this. And he had to keep them together. The older Jyunishi were people even the old conscienceless Akito trusted. And right now she needed people to trust. Moreover, she was Shigure's girlfriend and he didn't want tension between him and his best friend's lover. That's not what any of the three best friends wanted.

Akito looked up although confused by his request and feeling, for the first time in ages, small in his presence.

'You have made several mistakes in the past but I really do not wish to punish you for things long gone. It's alright that it turned out this way. You know your mistakes and you know how to make amends. Turning my back on you now won't do you or me any good.'

'It would do me good. I'd get what I deserve.'

'What you deserve is different from what you need. To be quite frank with you, I do not wish to be the executioner. And I do not wish to punish you like a child. You're 21 years old now Akito fix things for yourself. And like I said I have much to stay for.'

Akito felt a pang in her chest. He was being too kind to her, thinking about what she needed as opposed to what he needed. Momiji's words ran through her mind again. 'Cherish them.' He had said. She had every intention of doing so but for now in this very moment she was finding herself weak in his presence. She wondered for a second about how close he and Shigure were. She forcibly steered her thoughts from that direction. She didn't want to think about it but it had already managed to bring tears to her eyes, fast tears running down her face.

He placed his hand on her back.

'If you'd like to, you can think of me staying here as a punishment. Isn't that something like what Shigure would do?' He smiled at her.

She thought about the last statement and looked up at him surprised.

'Yes' she said, a weak smile working its way onto her face. 'Yes Shigure is cruel enough to do something like that.'

Hatori laughed a little. 'Not cruel Akito-san. He's childish enough.'

She had never seen him laugh before. She marveled at it. Suddenly, she wanted to see more of it. She wanted to make him laugh.

'Speaking of Shigure, where is he?' she asked wiping away her tears not wanting them to dampen his good mood.

'He took his parents out for dinner. Told me to say hello to you and tell you that he'll be home late.'

He walked back to the edge of the porch looking at the garden.

'Y'know, Akito-san, when you were just born, I thought of you as my little sister.'

Akito's eyes widened. She hadn't known what it was like to have an actual family besides a father, although, she was constantly surrounded by hers.

'It became harder to think of you that way, what with the curse and you being God and everything.'

Akito slightly panicked. She didn't want him to start thinking about that. She wanted to somehow lessen the gap between them.

'Then I can call you Hatori-ni?' she asked.

Hatori felt his features soften. She was really just a child.

'Call me whatever you like', he replied. 'Hari-ni would be nicer though.'

Akito wanted to say it out loud but she only managed to repeat it in her head.

'Hari-ni' she said to herself. 'That's nice.'

Meanwhile, Shigure sat across from his parents at a dimly lit posh restaurant. He twirled a glass in his fingers lazily wondering if he was underdressed for the place.

'I've heard rumors, Shigure', his dad said putting down his cutlery. 'I've heard of your relationship with Akito-san.'

Shigure continued watching as his fingers moved around the thin stem of the glass. A smile spread across his face. He knew word would travel fast. Afterall, he knew the Sohma maids won't be able to contain themselves once they saw the head of the household sharing a kiss with a formerly banished member of the elite out on the porch, although he hadn't planned for that effect. He genuinely liked that spot. And that spot would undoubtedly have been the first place Akito had gone to look for him, since he hadn't shown up at her little farewell banquet with the Jyunishi.

'I had thought that you were done for when Akito-san had you thrown out of the main house.' His father continued. 'But I'm glad you've regained his - I mean – her confidence. And she asked you to move back to the main house as well-'

'She didn't ask me to move there', Shigure cut in. 'We decided together.'

'Either way', his father went on, ignoring his statement. 'This is a great opportunity. I was almost glad to hear that Akito-san was a woman. This makes things a lot clearer and easier.'

Shigure looked up at his father and smiled knowingly. His mother looked tensed and worried as always, trying not to hear the conversation, wishing she had nothing to do with this.

'I'm sure, son, that you know what would happen if you marry her.' His father said, now resting his elbows on the table, leaning in and lowering his voice to almost a whisper.

'Yes', Shigure replied, eyes sparkling and smile widening. 'The Sohma clan would be mine.'

Author's Notes: How's that for a cliff hanger? Please do review. I'd be very grateful. [I promise :)]