Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket

Authors Note: Ok this is keeping with my current pregnancy theme. Instead of this being a one shot I decided to do key moment chapters. Starting with Kyo being released from his bet with Akito. The next chapter will be the breaking of the curse, then the proposal and so on. Please read and review! Constructive criticism is accepted and flames are deleted. Thank you!

The Last Fight

"This has to be the day." Kyo Sohma said to himself as he slipped into his graduation robe. If he didn't beat Yuki today then he would be exiled for the rest of his life.

"Kyo?" Shigure Sohma called as he walked into the room.

"Knock much?" Kyo shouted, angry at the interruption.

"You'll live." Shigure said, sticking his hands in the pockets of his suit. "I want to speak to you for a moment." He said, becoming uncharacteristically serious.

"Ok." Kyo said, "What's up?"

Shigure said, " Today is a big day for you; for many reasons."

"I know that! Did you just come in here to rub it in?" Kyo shouted, jumping to his feet.

"Sit down Kyo." Shigure said, choosing to ignore the outburst. Kyo obeyed. "I want you to know something. I have watched you grow and mature over these last few years. You learned how to be kind to people and how to coexist with others. I watched you turn into, what I consider to be, a fine man."

"Shigure, I…." Kyo began.

"Let me finish." Shigure interrupted, "Anyway, what I want you to know is that no matter what happens today… No matter the outcome… I am proud of you, Kyo. I am proud of the man you have become and am even more proud to have been able to witness the transition from selfish boy to honorable man."

Kyo clenched his fists, willing himself not to cry. This speech Shigure was giving sounded a lot like goodbye and it was killing Kyo. This couldn't be the end. Not now. Not since he finally found everything he was looking for.

"Thank you Shigure." Kyo said, "I appreciate it. Really."

Shigure stood up, pulling Kyo with him. He extended his hand and Kyo took it. Shigure pulled him into a "man hug" and said "No matter what anyone says or does, you always have me as a friend, kid. Your cousin Shigure is here for you."

"Thank you." Kyo said. It was all he could say because all he wanted to do was cry. That was the first time Shigure ever referred to himself has Kyo's cousin.

Tohru Honda and Yuki Sohma stood outside with Hitori and Kazuma Sohma, waiting for Shigure and Kyo.

"I wonder what is keeping Kyo." Tohru said, fidgeting with her robe.

"This is a very…. important day… for him." Yuki said, choosing his words wisely.

"Better believe it rat boy." Kyo said, appearing in the doorway with Shigure.

Yuki opened his mouth to respond but shut it when a car suddenly appeared. It was Akito's car.

"What the hell is he doing here?" Kazuma said, "I thought you said he was to sick to come Hitori?"

"I did." Hitori said, standing in front of Yuki and Tohru.

"Good morning." Akito said, stepping out of the town car.

"What are you doing here, Akito?" Kazuma asked.

"Why, I've come for Kyo of course." Akito stated, as if everyone else was stupid for not knowing.

Kyo's eyes widened in horror. With that Shigure took a protective stance in front of Kyo, blocking the now terrified cat.

"What?" Tohru cried, "No… It's to soon!"

"Actually it is not too soon, you stupid girl." Akito said with a laugh "Kyo said that he would beat Yuki before graduation. Well, if I am not mistaken, graduation is today. In a few minutes actually. Since Kyo hasn't beaten Yuki he has lost our bet. So, Kyo, if you would come with me." Akito said, pulling a pair of hand cuffs out of his pocket. Kyo remained frozen in place.

"Akito, that is a dirty trick." Hitori said.

"Yes well I don't always play nice. As you know Hitori." Akito said. Hitori glared at him, his mind flashing to Kana.

"I won't let you take my son!" Kazuma said, throwing a punch in Akito's direction. Akito ducked and Kazuma crashed to the ground. "You are a pitiful fool Kazuma. Adopting the disgusting cat the way you did. He is not worth your time." Akito spat.

"Don't speak of my son that way!" Kazuma said, jumping to his feet. He threw another punch. Akito ducked and kicked Kazuma, his foot making contact in the middle of his abdomen, sending him flying into a tree. Kazuma didn't get up.

"Stop!" Kyo shouted, pushing past Shigure and running to his father. After seeing that Kazuma was ok, Kyo stood up and got in Akito's face. "Leave my family alone."

"What family? These people hate you as much as I do." Akito said.

"No we don't" Hitori said "We care about Kyo."

"Yes, we all do." Shigure said. Tohru nodded in agreement, tears flowing down her cheeks.

"Then you are all fools!" Akito shouted.

Yuki stepped forward "Akito, leave him alone. Must you do this now?"

Akito cupped Yuki's face in his hands "My sweet Yuki. Do I have to remind you what will happen to you if you disobey me?" Yuki trembled in fear. The feeling of Akito touching him made him paralyzed by horrible memories.

Just when Yuki couldn't stand it anymore Kyo stepped between them, pushing Yuki back, "Leave him and her and everyone else alone and I will go with you." Kyo said.

"Kyo!" Tohru shouted "No!"

Kyo smiled "I love you." He said, kissing Tohru's forehead.

"I love you too." Tohru said.

Kyo smiled. That was all he needed to hear. Then he turned to Akito "For her… for them… I accept exile."

"Wait !" Yuki exclaimed as Akito went to cuff Kyo.

"Yuki?" Akito said, giving him a look meant to frighten him. For the second time in his life Yuki wasn't afraid of Akito. The first was when he tried to protect Tohru from him. Now it was Kyo's turn.

"We still haven't graduated." Yuki said, pulling his robe up over his head and throwing it on the ground. He removed the jacket of his suit and rolled up his sleeves. He took an attack position and said "There is still time." And with that he charged at Kyo, wrapping his arms around his neck and sending them both flying into the bushes and temporarily out of sight.

"What the fuck are you doing rat?" Kyo whispered

"This is your last chance to beat me. So show them what you have trained for. Akito has to think I am trying but I won't be."

"I want to beat you fair! Don't pussy out on me."

"Don't be proud! You have someone out there who will be destroyed if you are exiled. Do it for her." Yuki said, jumping out of the bushes, ready to put on a show. "C'mon you stupid cat! Are you giving up already?"

"You wish!" Kyo shouted. He stood up and removed his robe and jacket. He ran at Yuki and landed a good punch to his face. Yuki flew back and crashed through the door, landing on the dining table. He got up and charged Kyo who ducked out of the way. Yuki crashed into Akito, who threw him back into the fight. Kyo kicked his leg and Yuki grabbed his foot, spinning him into the air. Kyo flew into the air and jerked his body to land into a tree. Yuki looked up and blinked, he was trying to tell him something.

"C'mon cat! Come get me!" Yuki shouted. Kyo smirked and jumped down. They each threw punches and Yuki kicked Kyo in the head. Then Kyo grabbed Yuki's wrist and pinned him against a tree.

"Finish this." Yuki whispered, only loud enough for Kyo's cat ears to hear. "Don't hold back. I can handle anything."

"Go to hell rat boy!" Kyo shouted, for show, and pulled Yuki from the tree. He held tight on Yuki's wrist and pushed him to the ground, dislocating Yuki's shoulder on the way down. Yuki cried out in pain and Kyo winced a little. Kyo held him on the ground and counted to three.

"Do you give up yet?" Kyo asked.

"Yes!" Yuki panted, "I surrender."

"No! Yuki! Get up!" Akito shouted, fury in his eyes "Get up! Obey me!"

Yuki didn't answer he just lay there as Kyo got off of him. Kazuma ran to his son and embraced him "You did it." He said

"Yuki sacrificed himself…. He let me win." Kyo whispered.

"I know." Kazuma said.

The two looked down as Hitori went to Yuki's aid. "This will hurt." Hitori warned, grabbing Yuki's wrist. "Do it." Yuki said. Kyo couldn't watch as Hitori popped Yuki's shoulder back into place.

"Kyo," Yuki said, sitting up "You fought well."

Kyo extended his hand and helped Yuki to his feet "Like my life depended on it."

The two shook hands and turned to Akito. "It's over" They said in unison.

Akito's eyes danced with fury "Yuki… How could you betray me in this way."

"Why don't you ask your whips?" Yuki said.

Akito growled under his breath and grabbed Yuki by his throat. He lifted Yuki off the ground "You dare to think you can separate yourself from me? You fool!"

"Akito!" Shigure and Hitori cried, attempting to pull Yuki back down.

"You're killing him!" Tohru cried beating on Akito's back. Akito used his free hand to thrust Tohru against the hood of the car, knocking her unconscious. Seeing this, Kyo became enraged. He stepped forward and grabbed the arm that Akito was using to hold Yuki.

"You lost Akito… Deal with it." Kyo said, then he smashed his fist into Akito's arm, shattering the bones. Akito screamed in pain as he dropped Yuki. Shigure and Hitori dragged Yuki out of the way and Kyo went to Tohru.

"Tohru?" Kyo said, "Are you ok?"

Tohru's eyes fluttered open "Kyo?"

"Hi." Kyo said, pulling Tohru to her feet and away from the car. Everyone then watched as Akito climbed into the back seat and the car pulled away. Then he was gone. Gone and not missed.

"Is it really over?" Tohru asked, gripping Kyo's hand. "You don't have to be locked up?"

Kyo looked at Yuki and the others, who just smiled, "I don't have to be locked up."

"Hey," Kazuma said, handing Kyo his robe "What do you say we get you guys graduated?"

"Ok!" Tohru said, making her way down the path with Kazuma, Hitori and Shigure.

Kyo hung back and grabbed Yuki's arm as he passed "Yuki…" Kyo said, "I…. I umm… Why did you do that for me?"

Yuki sighed, "I hated you because you are the cat. You fought, desperately, to be accepted into the family that I was so desperate to get away from. I hated you because I thought you were foolish. Then… You… You got between him and I with no concern for yourself. Why did you do that?"

"Because I know how… afraid of Akito you are. He shouldn't be able to manipulate you like that."

"Well… When I saw you ready to sacrifice yourself to protect us from Akito I realized that maybe you weren't as foolish as I thought." Yuki said.

"Kyo? Yuki? You coming?" Tohru called.

"Plus," Yuki said, "I couldn't stand the thought of the pain that Miss Honda would feel if she lost the man she loved."

Kyo stuck his hand out "I never thought I would say this… Truce?"

Yuki stared at Kyo's hand as if it were horribly deformed, "I never thought I would say this… Truce."

Tohru smiled as she watched Yuki and Kyo shake hands. Finally, the cat and the mouse had called a truce. Things were finally at peace.

Authors Note: Hello All! This is my version of Yuki and Kyo's final battle. I am not too good at battle scenes so forgive me but I think you get the point. Please review! I want at least 5 reviews before I post the next chapter. Pretty please, feed my muse!

XOXO

Seraphina