Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket. Boo-urns.

Summary: Kyo's in his cage and thinks about his past. 'Nuff said.

I'm in the process of both finishing this story and editing the already published chapters. By editing, I mean "fixing glaring mistakes while adding a few bits here and there that my 17-year-old self wouldn't think to add." This chapter, for the most part, has been edited. Enjoy!

Forever

"Happy Birthday."

He rubbed out the flames he drew in the dirt with his hand. Seven years had passed and he still remembered his birthday. Seven years had passed since that day. Seven years had passed since he was free. He chuckled to himself. He was surprised he could remember that far back, let alone what day it even was.

Why Kyo Souma chose to remember, he did not know.

His crimson eyes looked up at what sky he could see. They had lost their red-hot fire many years ago. In their place resided two empty spheres with nothing left to look forward to. His dirty orange hair became both tangled and quite long. A while ago he was able to make a ribbon to hold his hair back with a shirt that was too small for him. His tanned face held too many wrinkles in it for someone in his twenties. He had given up on himself many years ago, knowing this prison would become his tomb.

Yet he still didn't see why would waste what little energy he had left to remember his own birthday.

Maybe because that was the last time he had seen any sort of human interaction. It had been two years ago (or had it been three? Kyo couldn't remember) since they came to visit him in his cell. Yuki and Tohru were so happy together, their little girl trailing behind them. There were others, as well-Shigure, Hatori, Momiji, Haru, Ayame, and Kisa- but Kyo didn't really care. He smiled sadly at the thought of Tohru. The one person outside the Souma family that he deeply cared for was gone. She was now and forevermore Mrs. Yuki Souma. Again, that damned rat had won. In every way, he always came out ahead of Kyo. Yuki was always stronger, faster, smarter, funnier, more popular, more accepted in the Zodiac, more everything.

Kyo got up off of the ground and stretched. He tried to think of something to do, but quickly gave up. Boredom didn't trouble him anymore. He sat down on the worn-out mattress, chin in his hands, staring into space. He soon realized his eyes landed on his broken picture frames and the pictures they once held.

He thought back to when Kagura came to give them to him. He knew he purposely left those pictures "out there" so he wouldn't be able to see them. He only thought of the pain they would bring to him. Yet by that time, he didn't care anymore. To him, he was living in a nightmare that would never end. Without much thought, he had taken the pictures from her and brought them into his prison. He never understood why she cared as much as she did about him. Even after those few hours they shared talking, Kyo still didn't know. He never loved her the same way she loved him. He never could even if he tried with all of his heart. She had to have known that, but she never showed any signs of it. She would just say how much he cared for her when they were children. She would smile whenever she saw him, even after she would almost kill him by showing her love.

Without even realizing it, he began to sort through all of the pictures. There were some pictures of the various Zodiac members, both group shots and singles. Others were of Kyo as a child, smiling. He never knew why he would smile back then. Perhaps it was because I didn't know what horrid fate was awaiting him,he thought bitterly. He glanced at the next picture-one he never remembered taking. He was again smiling, yet this time he was holding Tohru's hand at school. Kyo was surprised Kagura would even bother to give him this, let alone she even had it to begin with. The next few pictures he held were those of himself and his guardian and adopted father, Kazuma. He thought of all that time he spent with his dear mentor. Whether it was training up in the mountains, practicing in the dojo he called home, or just passing the time with Kazuma, Kyo was at peace. He was the first one he ever knew that truly accepted him, no matter which form he was in. He was also the one that told Kyo with full detail of what was to happen to him upon graduation from high school. Even with that, Kyo still loved him as a father. A father...

He felt something cold sliding down his cheek. Reaching up to his face, he felt something he hadn't felt in the longest time-a tear. Gathering a few photos that were shredded on the ground, he walked over to the opposite wall. He began to trace the deep gouges he had made, some areas still darkened with dried blood. It wasn't his fault what happened- at least not entirely. It was a few years ago, but he still clearly remembers when his real father had paid him a visit. Kyo didn't know why he even came. Quite frankly, he didn't want to know why. That was one of the-if not the-worst days he had ever spent in his cage. When Kyo saw him, he realized that he was hopeless-his life was completely over, no matter how much he tried to believe otherwise. His father had sealed his own son's grave. His father had taken away almost all of what was left of Kyo's humanity and finished the transformation into an empty shell.

Quietly, Kyo fell back to the ground, slumped next to the birthday cake he drew for himself. He felt older than he ever had in his entire life. As the moments passed, he could hardly believe he made it to his 25th birthday. He never thought he could make it for seven years without the ability to sleep on the roof, run through the forest, live his own life, be human. It was not until that last moment when he first thought of his last day of freedom. Kyo pictured the sunny June day clearly as if it were yesterday. He saw Akito, that stupid evil grin on his pale face, sitting next to Kyo on their way to the main house. He felt the cold steer handle on the door to his doom. He watched his last bit of freedom take away as the door shut and locked in front of him.

He sighed as these sudden waves of emotions came onto him like a tidal wave. He felt it had been a dream when he was in the outside world. He now knew he was wrong-it was all real. For once in his captivity, he was content. Kyo walked over to his bed and lie down. Putting his hands behind his head, he stared into the ceiling until he fell asleep. He had never dreamed so well in his life-days remembered yet lost. Days of him and his chestnut-haired angel walking down a hidden path. Moments of two in love, holding hands and watching the sunset. As a star falls through the crystalline sky, he steals a kiss. Without words, the two embrace in heated passion, as if this night would be their last.

Kyo stilled, dreaming a dream that seemed to go on forever.

TBC

A/N: So, what does everyone think? I know there isn't a whole lot of action going on here right now, but there will be some in the next chapters. Feel free to R&R...it's very much appreciated! ^_^; Comments and complaints are also welcome..

~LC