DISCLAIMER: I do not own FRUITS BASKET or it's characters.

Author's Note: The setting of this fanfic follows the anime. I'm only on Volume 8 of the manga and would appreciate NO SPOILERS. I know this request may sound odd, but it is in my experience that people drop random spoilers about Fruits Basket on the Internet.

This fanfic takes place in Episode 26 (PLEASE DON'T READ ON IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED IT BECAUSE THIS WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS FROM THE SHOW) after Tohru "accepts" Kyo's other form. This is my alternate ending to the anime.

Chapter 1: SUNRISE FOR THE SOHMAS

Shigure was mad with joy. He was crying from the overwhelming feeling of hope that grew within his heart with each step that lovely young girl took towards his house. She alone carried his entire family's hope in her arms and not only did she hold it safe, she held it close. She cradled the hope of the entire cursed Sohma family in her soft, warm, loving, and most important of all, accepting arms…He laughed insanely. She accepted a monster and was actually protecting it from the rain. Tohru was the sunrise on the darkness that enveloped his entire family. His faith in her was unbreakable. Surely it would be her to lift the curse.

Shigure had never seen the cat as peaceful as he was now in Tohru's arms. Yuki walked a little ways behind them, tired, scarred, wet and happy. Yes, Shigure was positive that the rat was happy. He could see it in the boy's face. Tohru had restored his hope as well. Tohru would save them all.

Shigure felt a presence looking down at their new found joy and looked up. Through a slight clearing in the wood he saw a slender figure. It turned away as if almost defeated…disgusted…disappointed. Shigure only smiled though his eyes were an uncharacteristic cold.

He saw it.

Shigure was delighted. Akito had seen Tohru coming home. Home. Yes, this was her home. With them; the Sohmas.

It had been two days since Tohru had seen Kyo's true form. Kagura had gone home the morning it had happened once the rain finally stopped, as did Kyo's father. Kyo vowed to him that one day he would be proud to have Kyo as his son. Of course he already was, but Kyo needed to prove it more to himself than anyone and his Sensei understood.

Shigure, Yuki, Tohru and Kyo were all seated for breakfast. Tohru smiled warmly at her companions. They all returned her smile; they were all so glad that she had finally regained her cheerfulness. Shigure knew the reason behind this was the night before:

They all sat down for dinner. Shigure had ordered take out because Tohru had been feeling too weak to cook. She never said it, but the three Sohmas already knew it. Though Tohru had kept insisting she wasn't earning her keep, no one let her get out of bed. She had been through a lot and needed her rest. She managed to convince them that she was at least strong enough to have dinner with them downstairs. They wouldn't deny her their company. They couldn't. And so they ate together. The way a family should.

"Could you pass me the rice, please?" Yuki asked aloud. Tohru instinctively looked up from her plate and looked for the rice. It wasn't anywhere near her.

"Here," Kyo answered him. He handed Yuki the rice. Peacefully.

"Thank you," Yuki replied nicely. Shigure's eyes flashed between the two boys and though his face did not betray him, his eyes were full of surprise and light. Tohru was not so subtle in her response. She sat frozen, chopsticks in mid air, her mouth open in shock. Her eyes were filled with an overwhelming emotion. Yuki and Kyo looked up from their plates to see Tohru crying. Shigure kept his eyes on his food. He knew why she was crying. Tohru was touched by that simple exchange between Yuki and Kyo. Shigure's own eyes started to moisten. But he kept on eating.

"What's wrong?" demanded Kyo. Tohru smiled through her strong flow of tears.

"Miss Honda?" Yuki said softly. The two boys were too young to understand why she was crying. Tohru wanted desperately to ease their worries but she didn't know how to stop crying or how to explain that she was crying because they were nice to each other and that touched her deeply. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

"It's nothing. I'm just very happy that I met you," Tohru said. The two boys were taken aback by this. And very touched.

"Thank you, Miss Honda--" Yuki started.

"--We feel the same way." Kyo finished.

And so dinner continued with smiles and laughter all around the table. It felt as though things were like they were before the raining started a few days a go, only better. Because now it wasn't just a house they stayed at; now it was home.

"This must be the most beautiful breakfast in the whole world, Miss Honda," Yuki looked around the table. She truly had outdone herself this morning.

"Thank you, Yuki." Tohru blushed at the praise she was given. Yuki smiled back. It was a rare thing to see Yuki smile so genuinely, but nowadays it was becoming less and less rare. Especially if Tohru was around.

"Yeah it looks really tasty," Kyo eyed the salmon hungrily.

"Mmhmm, Tohru you do like to spoil us unworthy mortals with your goddess like presence," Shigure sniffed the breakfast in front of him. "Oh a meal fit for the Gods…"

Just as they were all about to take their first bites of their breakfast together the phone rang. Shigure put his chopsticks down and went to answer it. Yuki and Kyo hesitated at the ringing but continued to eat. Tohru sat patiently waiting until Shigure could join them.

"Hello? Sohma and Honda household," Shigure answered to the phone.

"You sound like a receptionist," a steady and authoritative voice replied.

"Oh, Hatori, you don't know how good it is to hear your voice!"

"You might not think so after I tell you why I called." There was cold pause.

"Well go on," Shigure said in a serious tone. His body remained relaxed but his face contorted into a serious one.

"Akito would like to hold a…" Hatori struggled to find the words. "Family meeting." Shigure was at a loss for words. He took a moment to take it in.

"Of course."

"Today," Hatori continued.

"What time?"

"As soon as possible. We'll start when everyone is here."

"Should I bring Kyo, too or is it only the Zodiac—"

"Bring Yuki, Kyo…and Tohru." Shigure let out a whimper of surprise. He felt worried that he should bring Tohru.

"I don't know why Akito wants her here, but rest assured he has not ordered me to erase her memories," Hatori said voicing out his cousin's fear.

"Yet," whispered Shigure to himself. Hatori heard him though he wasn't sure if Shigure had said it or if it was his own thoughts.

Shigure scuttled back to the breakfast table slowly. He looked as if the wind had been knocked out of him. The two boys eyed him carefully as he sat back down. Phone calls never brought good news to the Sohma family. Tohru eyed him carefully also, though not in a suspicious manner at all. She was genuinely concerned about him—he had looked so cheerful just a few moments ago.

"Is e-everything okay—?"

"I'm so sorry to keep you from your breakfast, Tohru," Shigure cut in. "It does look and smell delicious." Shigure tried to keep his voice playful as always but his eyes did not cooperate. Tears were threatening to fall from them as the seconds ticked away.

"What was that phone call about?!" Kyo asked defensively. His whole body shifted as though expecting an attack at any moment.

"A-Akito wishes to hold a f-family meting," Shigure answered. As the last two words rolled off his tongue he felt sick to his stomach. Family? Is this some long-standing joke?

"What the hell are ya' talking about?" Kyo demanded.

"This is ridiculous," Yuki whispered out loud in an angry tone.

"Now, now boys I know how you feel—"

"Like hell you do!"

"But we must do as he asks." Shigure hesitated at the last word. Is that really what Akito does?

"Asks? Oh is that what he does?" Yuki said Shigure's thoughts aloud. Kyo was already up on his feet, fists raised.

"And Tohru," Shigure hated himself for having been the one to have to say this, "He ask you come along with us—to the meeting."

There was a thick silence that overwhelmed the room. Both Kyo and Yuki appeared as though their eyes were in danger of falling from their sockets.

"Okay," Tohru said in a heavy tone after a torturous silent moment. The three Sohmas looked at her, not knowing if they should be scared for their precious Tohru or inspired at her courage to face the thing they all feared most. They knew she did so much for them already, yet she was still willing to do so much more. Though the room felt heavy, their hearts never felt lighter. Kyo sat back down.

"So when is this stupid meeting, anyways?" Kyo tried to sound as though his question had no importance.

"As soon as possible," Shigure said sadly. Yuki and Kyo flinched but continued to finish their meal instead of further inquiries.

Within the next hour breakfast was cleaned up and everyone was ready to go to the main house. Before anyone could remember to ask Shigure how it was they were going to get there, Hatori pulled up. Hatori guessed that they would need about an hour before they were ready. He was good at reading people like that. He knew they would finish their breakfast no matter what and that it would take them a bit longer to dress nicely. No one dared see Akito under tense circumstances without being properly dressed. It was one of his "rules" that everyone named Sohma had to follow.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Tohru?" Shigure asked her before they left their house. Tohru simply nodded. Something was stuck in her throat preventing her from speaking properly at the moment. Perhaps it was her courage she was struggling to choke up. Or maybe her fear she was trying to swallow.

They all got into the sleek black car silently. The adults in the front and the children in the back. As they pulled away Shigure took a peripheral glance in the backseat. He smiled warmly as he saw something that eased his angst if even for just a moment:

Tohru sitting in the middle with Kyo and Yuki holding her hands.

Author's Note: Okay so what do your think so far? Please let me know! There will be more chapters soon! The chapters won't be very lengthy just to let you know, but it'll be good! Or I think so as I watch it play in my head.