I'm sorry I haven't updated regularly, I really am !! It's just that things have been crazy ! It's sort of given me writer's block (lame excuse, I know), so instead of trying to continue "Growing Up", I'm going to upload another fic which I have completed on paper.

Sorry to all my wonderful readers of "Growing Up" !! Gomen nasai, gomen nasai !!!

This is very much story, which I wrote in fits-of-upcoming-exams-nerves, so I apologize if some parts may seem a bit disjointed.

Please, however, do realize that this story is written like an extract from the lives of the Sohmas (because I'm too lazy to include some details), so I'll try to give explanations for some things at the bottom of each chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own any original characters of "Fruits Basket", but this story is mine, and I still wish that I could have Kyo as my little pet kitty-cat.

Final warning (I think I've scared all prospective readers off by now!), Akito-haters please do not read this piece. It contains no actual appearances of him, but he is very much included in it, and plays a quite significant role. 

Here it goes !

Light on the Horizon

Chapter 1

 It's been five years since Tohru's acceptance into Shigure's home. Kyo and Yuki still fight, but now their battles seem to have become much more intense and personal than the meaningless brawls they'd had as youths. Both boys had grown up into handsome young men, charismatic and kind. They, together with Tohru, attended university, Kyo majoring in sports and health; Yuki in botanies, and Torhu pursued a degree in hospitality.

 The three had decided to stay at Shigure's , Yuki and Kyo  because they wanted to be with Tohru, and Tohru wanted to stay because she couldn't bear leaving two of her best friends.

The routine in Shigure's house had remained pretty much unchanged; Tohru still cooked and did most of the domestic work, going to university four days a week, and working part-time for all days,except the weekend. However, she had also laid aside a day for visiting the Main house. Yuki and Kyo had protested vehemently at first, but when Tohru persisted in visiting the Honke, and coming back unharmed, they eventually dropped the matter.

 So it was on a beautiful spring day, during breakfast and one of Kyo and Yuki's milder spats, that everything changed.

* * *

Kyo was hurling verbal abuse at the mouse, when the phone rang. Shigure, being the closest to it, sighed and picked it up.

"Moshi moshi ? …Ha-san !"

Yuki and Kyo stopped fighting when they heard the dog call out the Sohma doctor's name. Hatori never called for trivial reasons.

They watched as Shigure's face changed from dramatic joy, to concern, and then become white as his hands shook and he dropped the receiver. 

"Shigure-kun !" Tohru said in concern, as she saw the author's expression when she peeked out of the kitchen, holding a plate of riceballs. Yuki also gave his cousin a worried glance.

"What is it ?" He asked.

At first, it looked like as if Shigure had lost the power of speech; his mouth opened and closed a few times, but no words came out. Finally, he swallowed heavily and in a weak, hoarse tone, he said:

"A-Akito… Akito has died."

The three others froze.

* * *

And there is the first chappie of my exam-induced state.

Please R&R and give me your opinion !

Arigato gozaimasu !

~*~//chibichibi-neko\\~*~