UNTIL THE MOON FADES

Chapter 1: Forgotten

I don't own Fruits Basket, I own you just kidding

NOTE: This is set after Kyo's Transformation but that doesn't weigh too heavily on the plot…

Only four more days…Tohru Honda glanced at the clock above her teacher's desk; its endless metronome slowly counting down the seconds until her 17th birthday, but at the moment it seemed to be moving in reverse. This active time lapse was due, in large part, to the incessant monotone of her teacher's voice (& subject for that matter) Math. Ughh…

A small movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention. Though merely a common fly, Tohru still preferred its droning over her teacher's. Following its erratic path across the classroom, her eyes fell on the boy sitting two rows across from her. It was certainly no wonder; the prince had always possessed the uncanny ability to draw attention to himself. At the moment, he seemed immersed in the lecture, but looks can be deceiving. Upon closer inspection, Tohru noticed that his eyes were glazed over in thought. She wondered, idly, what the prince's was thinking about so intensely.

…

Yuki took a deep breath and exhaled forcefully, as if trying to expel some of his inner turmoil. It was Tohru's birthday soon and he still had no idea what to get her. Ahhh, his beautiful Tohru…this was his one chance to express how he felt, to show his true feeling for her. …But what to get her? Aside from her interest in others, Yuki had no idea what Tohru's hobbies were. Racking his brain for anything he might find useful – he finally remembered something …

…strawberries, perfect.

That Afternoon (still 4 more days until Tohru's Birthday)

….

Kyo was irritated. He stalked back and forth along the narrow ridge of Shigure's roof with his trademark scowl tattooed across his face. Only four days left until Tohru's birthday and he hadn't the faintest idea what to get her. It didn't help matters when he looked down at the long driveway to see Yuki and Tohru walking home from school together; in fact, matters rapidly deteriorated from there. "STUPID RAT!" he yelled while they were still too far away to hear him. Kyo was livid but tried desperately to control his emotions. He dared not pick a fight with Yuki while Tohru was near them; he remembered the last time he did that… No, I can't risk hurting her again, especially not now…I'll let that damn rat get off this time." Kyo caught himself mid-thought, "Jesus, she really has changed me." A year ago he couldn't even have a conversation about Yuki without needing to punch something. After all, defeating Yuki had been the focus of his life for as long as he could remember. Now, he was not only sleeping under the same roof as his long-hated nemesis, but sharing his meals, his school, even his beloved Tohru with that smug pretty-boy. Yes, he was fully aware that winning Tohru's love would be yet another competition, her birthday yet another battle, between him and that rat. Smirking, Kyo leapt from his rooftop sanctuary with perfect feline grace. This was one competition he was sure to win.

….

Tohru waited in the front yard for the Kyo while Yuki carried her books into the house for her. Kyo's incredible jump from the roof never ceased to amaze Tohru. Every time she saw him do it, she would always filch, involuntarily, at the prospect of him hurting himself. It was the same when Kyo and Yuki fought; she cared so much for both of them, the thought of either being injured was too much to handle. Of course, she didn't need to worry she's Tohru that's just what she does… Kyo always landed on his feet. Happily, she ran over to him as he landed on the yellow, autumn grass of the garden. Walking over to greet her, Kyo waved excitedly at Tohru, a broad grin plastered on his face. Tohru hid a smile at Kyo's obvious relief that Yuki had already gone inside leaving them the two of them alone together.

"Kyo - where were you today after school?" she asked, not hiding her disappointment.

"Uhh, I had to find—um, buy a few things…. for a-a school project…" he mumbled, awkwardly, under his breath.

"Oh, did you find everything you were looking for?"

Before Kyo could answer, Shigure leaned out the kitchen window with the phone grasped in one hand, yelling to Tohru in his ridiculous singsong voice "Ohhhh Tohruuuu Telephone Call for the lovely Miss. Honda Tohru…..!"

"Coming Shigure…!"

Tohru spun around and ran up the walkway to the front porch stairs before Kyo could even open his mouth. Watching her retreating into the house, Kyo leaned up a nearby tree and kicked the dirt dejectedly.

"did you find everything you were looking for?"

"Not hardly" Kyo testified to no one in particular.

Nighttime: 4 days till

After dinner, Tohru and Yuki were clearing the table when Tohru casually glanced at the clock. Gasping, she suddenly realized she was supposed to have called Mojimi back over half an hour ago.

"Oh No! I completely forgot Mojimi!"

"Are you alright?" asking Yuki, gazing at her with concerned violet eyes. "What's wrong Mrs. Honda?"

"Oh I'm sorry Yuki, I'm fine its just that I had told Mojimi I would call him back since he insisted upon getting me something for my birthday and now I have caused him twice as much trouble by making him have to wait for the call…"(she continued on this uncomfortable ramble for some time, squirming with guilt).

The Prince had to suppress a smile at her concern over such a trivial thing, and he felt a great upsurge of love for Tohru wash over him as he watched her pace the sink, worriedly. In one fluid motion, Yuki appeared in front of her and, gently taking the dirty dishes from her hands, whispered in her ear "Don't worry about it Tohru, you go call him and I'll finish up here."

Shocked into silence, Tohru just nodded as she desperately tried to regain her motor functions.

…Meanwhile…

The aged wooden chest shattered from the force of Kyo's poorly vented frustration. "GRRRR, WHERE IS IT!" Kyo yelled continuing to toss sheet-swathed furniture. Shigure's deplorable housekeeping already qualified his attic as a federal disaster zone, but Kyo was hardly helping the situation. Phantoms of dust rose in fury around the volatile boy coating his fiery hair with a layer of filth. Rubbing his gritty vision and cursing Shigure, Kyo made a mental note to buy that lazy mutt a vacuum, a LARGE vacuum for Christmas. Vainly trying to blink the dirt out of his watery, red eyes, Kyo's hazy gaze fell on something deeply out o place in this forgotten annex. A beautiful leather-bound volume rested amongst the broken fragments of the chest. Maneuvering his way through the cluttered attic, Kyo reached for this book of archaic beauty. Its weight surprised him and, as he hauled it from the wreckage, something even more wonderful caught his eye. Beneath the old manuscript was a breathtaking led box, inlaid with silver and mother of pearl. Opening the box Kyo's spine shivered as he lifted a delicate silver chain and locket from a satin pillow, engraved on the locket were the twelve phases of the moon framing an elegant etching of a rose. Kyo gazed at it in wonder until his coughing reminded him of his surroundings. Carefully placing the locket back into its box, he secured it in his pocket and tucked the book under his arm. He wondered whom these ancient heirlooms belonged to as he looked around the attic for an escape route. Spotting a small, circular window at the front of the room Kyo followed the avenue of light that exuded from its grimy panes. Climbing onto the cracked windowsill, Kyo glanced back into the attic's dim expanse; he hadn't found his mother's old promise ring but he sensed that what he had found was something much more meaningful. Crouching on the threshold between the house and the sky, Kyo's muscles tensed and he flung himself out into the autumn horizon. Red shafts of light from the dying sun peaked through the vacated window and briefly illuminated a hideous black rat as it escaped into the darkness.

note: the rat is not Yuki

me like reviews! me want reviews now! ...um...please? first fic first chapter modified version so be nice