Fandom: Fruits Basket
Title: Nightmare
Author/Artist: emi-chan
Pairing/Characters: Tohru Honda, the Zodiac, Akito hints of Rin / Haru & Tohru / Kyo? Squint for it.
Rating: PG
Warning(s): Spoiler for Akito's identity.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket, I just really like it.
Summary Notes: There are some things we simply can't bear alone.

All of them, locked away forever. Their souls, never let free, never able to experience joy again. Darkness, despair. Laughter. Akito was laughing. She'd never see them smile again…. She wanted some way to rescue them from that pain, from those dark rooms… from Akito's grasp. From the hands of 'God.' All she saw was black. She relived him slapping her; there was no way for her to free them, she was choking. She was lost. Mom….

She was selfish, wanting this.

Tohru woke up gasping, tears pouring down her face. She heard Yuki and Kyo, arguing outside of her room. They didn't know what to do. She'd been screaming in her sleep. Her dream… it was a nightmare. She stood up on shaking legs, walked to the door. When she opened it, they were all standing in the hallway. Rin, looking worried, standing behind Shigure, who'd been knocking on the door. Yuki and Kyo, arguing about her. Aaya, trying to calm Yuki down. Kisa rubbing her eyes, Hiro looking bored. Momitchi looked frantic and worried beside a slightly ruffled Hatsuharu, who was holding Rin's hand.

They all stopped when Tohru opened her door. Shigure's hand, poised to knock, came down softly on her shoulder. Kyo rushed forward to catch her as she collapsed.

"Are you okay?" Kyo said, looking worried. "We heard you screaming and we didn't know what to do…."

She spoke softly, silent tears still pouring down her face. "I had a horrible nightmare… I dreamt I couldn't do it… that no one could ever do it." She met Rin's worried eyes as she whispered the last words. "That you all would never be free…"

Closing Notes: This came to me as I was listening to 'Marie' by ELLEGARDEN. I don't know why… there was a line in the song, I don't even know which now, and it just poof flew into my head. It originally had more Kyo/Tohru in it, because she woke up and rolled over crying, and Kyo comforted her… you know… 'cause they were like married. Buuuuut this is how it came out once I started typing. Title sucks, I know.