A/N: based on the manga Fruits Basket. It really is a tear jerking series! After reading the last volume, I could not give up the best manga I had ever read at that. So I decided I'd give an alternate storyline after the end of Fruits Basket. Italics signify thought.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket, Natsuki Takaya does!
Tohru and Kyou moved far away from where they had grown up. Far away from Shigure, Shishou, Hanajima, Uotani and all the friends they had come to love. Kyou was training at a dojo that Shishou( Sohma Kazuma, Kyou's adoptive father) had told him about. Kyou intended on being Shishou's successor, and would learn as much as he could.
Although Tohru had planned on working after high school, Kyou convinced her otherwise. He promised that he'd support her so she could do what she really wanted to do- therapy. Tohru had always loved people, supporting them and knowing them. It was her that had convinced Akito to lift the curse of the Sohmas, and she had touched the heart of Kyou. He had not talked to his father in a very long time, however with Tohru's support, he confronted his father. Upon speaking with him, Kyou realized that all this time he had learned to move the blame onto others from his father. That by doing this, he was merely following in the footsteps of a person he hated so much. For the first time ever, Kyou took the blame for his mother's death.
Although most of the time Kyou was busy training at the dojo, and Tohru was at school, the time they did share together they treasured more than anything. Kyou would often take Tohru hiking in the woods, or teach her a little bit of the martial arts that he enjoyed so much. He had been with her for so much, especially that night..when everything around him crumbled.
Why did she come after me? Even though I was such a vile, disgusting monster..she followed me.. she cried for me. This is when I realized how much I really did love her...
Kyou always looked forward to hearing Tohru call cheerily "Welcome home!" when she heard the door open. She always had a smile on her face, even though things were becoming difficult. Kyou and Tohru were in a pinch for money, they both had part time jobs, but it was barely enough to keep them afloat with Tohru in college, and Kyou spending almost every day training. Occasionally a check would come from the main Sohma house, usually Hatori or Akito would send it.
Little by little, Kyou had learned that people do care about him, the cat is not worthless.. but he is no longer the cat.. he is human. He is in love.
Tohru was the type of girl who would worry needlessly over the tiniest of things, so when Kyou began feeling ill he did not tell her. If he did, she'd worry all day at college and not pay attention. He simply allowed himself an extra hour of sleep and leek soup in the afternoon after Tohru had left for college. He hated leeks the most, however he knew they would be good for a cold. He then went about his day. When Tohru got home from college and her part-time job, she was so exhausted that she heated some leftovers and went to bed. She did not wake up when Kyou came in and cuddled up next to her, and she definitely didn't notice that he had developed a high fever.
The next morning Kyou could not get out of bed. He was usually not one to get sick.. it was usually Yuki or Tohru that were this weak. But lately things had been so hectic...
"Kyou.. are you alright?" Tohru asked in her concerned yet polite manner
"Just a fever..." he replied wearily.
"Ahh this is bad!! Don't get up! I'm going to get you some medicine and call Hatori!" Tohru jumped out of bed and raced into the kitchen, she was definitely a morning person, like Kyou. She came back almost instantly with a fever reducer and water. She then left, and called Hatori. Kyou strained his ears to listen to the conversation.
"Um.. yes? This is Tohru Honda, may I speak with Hatori?"
"Hatori! Kyou has a fever.. he usually doesn't get sick I'm very worried about him!"
"Yes .. I understand it's a long drive. If you have the time, it'd be wonderful if you came up.."
"Thank you so much! Good bye!"
Tohru sat down on the bed next to Kyou and took his temperature. 102.5 . Fairly high..
She hugged him tightly, as she always did when she was worried about him.
He patted her head, messing her hair up slightly.
"Hey hey, I'll be fine," He said, smiling softly at her
Tohru took a good look at him, he had seemed to age many years, although it had not been so long.
He must be exhausted.. training at a dojo all day.. then working all night to support me! I'm so selfish, letting this go on for so long...
"Hey, I told you not to worry!" Kyou said, pulling her closer to him.
He smelled.. wonderful. Like soap and cologne. He was no longer an awkward teenager, he had bulked up a bit from training so vigorously. Although he was strong, and could pick Tohru up with one arm effortlessly, he always was gentle when displaying his affections. She loved the way he would stroke her face and look into her eyes.
"I'll go get you some soup.." she said, standing up.
He grabbed her arm.
"Don't you have college?"
"I think I can miss one day.." She said, smiling at him.
When she came back with soup, he was already asleep. She touched his forehead, still so warm!
She watched him for a moment, sleeping restlessly. He must be having a nightmare.. Kyou often did, as his past was very troubled. She curled up to him, and almost immediately he relaxed at her presence. It always worked.. she smiled.
She hadn't realized she'd fallen asleep until she heard someone coming in through the door. She quickly got up, they lived in a rural area, not too many visistors. She was relieved when she saw Hatori.
"how did you get here so quickly?" She asked.
"I got on the nearest plane out of Tokyo" He replied in his usual monotone.
"Kyou's in bed asleep. I gave him some medicine..but it doesn't seem to be helping.." Tohru said, in defeat.
Hatori walked quickly to the bedroom, opening his bag of medical supplies. A few moments later, Yuki , Akito, Ayame and Shigure came in.
"I heard Kyou was not well.." Yuki said
This was the first time Tohru had seen Yuki worried over Kyou. After a lifetime of hating each other, the tension was easing up. In part, to the curse. But also because they had confessed their true feelings. Each was jealous of the other. Simple as that. Akito said nothing, but went to the kitchen and began serving tea for everyone. She had let her hair grow out, and was dressed femininely for the first time around Tohru. Shigure had been taking very good care of Akito, for Akito no longer had that wild look in her eyes, the look of utter fear. She now had a pleasant and warm aura about her.
Hatori came down a few minutes later shaking his head.
"He's in bad condition. Not enough sleep, or rest and far too much stress. It seems like he's been sick for a while now, but has only just shown symptoms. Tohru.. it doesn't look good." Hatori stated, with his usual cold monotone. Although it was rumoured Mayu was melting his frozen heart, it was a slow process. He still missed Kana too much.
Tohru sank to the floor. The second important man in her life was very sick. Her father had died while she was young of the same problem. He got sick , and continued to work for his wife and child. She prayed desperately that it would not become of Kyou.
A hand on her back removed her from her thoughts. Warm tears spilled down her cheeks.
"Miss Honda.. are you alright?" Yuki looked at her with his large, purple eyes. He was worried.
She smiled and said
"don't worry, I'm sure he'll be fine! How are you and Macchi doing?"
Yuki hung his head a bit.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you remember something painful! It's just we haven't talked to you in a while so.."
"It's alright... Macchi and I.. were simply not compatable. We ended up going out separate ways. I wasn't.. man enough for her. I couldn't listen to her the way she needed to be. I .. was still sorting my own problems" Yuki continued
Tohru could see the pain in his heart. She hugged him. He flinched a little, expecting to transform, but it did not happen. He had temporarily forgotten the curse had been lifted.
The next two days were a blur for Tohru. She spent every moment that she could with him. Yuki and Hatori stayed, as well. Finally, Kyou could hang on no longer.
"Tohru..."
"Yes! Do you need something?"
"I love you....so much.." Kyou said, tears welling up in his eyes. He fought to keep them back.
"I love you too!" She said cheerily, kissing him with passion.
"I'm sorry.. that I couldn't support you better......"Kyou looked off as if in a trance
"What do you mean! I'm fine! I'm happy, here with you. I'd be happier if you got well.. though.."
"Is there.. anything you want Kyoko to know?"
Tohru froze. She just realized she hadn't thought of her mother in months now. Perhaps she was too busy, or perhaps Kyou had taken her place in Tohru's heart.
"Why do you say that, Kyou?"
"Because.. I'll be seeing her soon" He smiled at Tohru. There was so much he wanted to tell her, to thank her for. She had saved him from spending his life in the cat's room, unable to be with anyone else. She had saved him from his vengeful hate of Yuki, and had made his life worth living.
Tohru now realized what it was that Kyou meant.
"Kyou! You can't give up! Don't leave me. Dad.. mom.. and now you! I dont want to be left alone again." Tohru cried heavily. She had fallen so deeply in love with Kyou. He was her everything, and yet soon she would be left with nothing.
"..All great things .. .must come... to an end........" Kyou said, repeating the words that cat told god at the banquet. For indeed, death is merely a part of life.
"Kyou! Don't talk! Talking makes you die!!" She clenched onto his shoulders, warm tears falling like rain onto his shirt.
"Tohru.. thank you.. for giving me a chance...I will watch over you..from above.."
"KYOU!!!!!" She buried her face into his chest, not wanting to believe it. She refused to believe it.
Footsteps entered the room.
"Tohru..?" Yuki asked gently.
"Yuki.. come here please..." Kyou said raspily.
Yuki came quietly to the bedside.
"Take care.. of Tohru. I .. could not. Kyoko will be angry with me.." Kyou laughed a little, which led to a coughing fit.
"Kyou! Relax! Go to sleep, ok? Everything's going to be fine I promise!!" Tohru said, trying to reassure him. Although it was only herself she was reassuring.
"Kyou..you can rest in peace. I will take care of Tohru in your place.." Yuki said quietly.
"Goodbye you damn rat.." Kyou said in a humorous manner.
"Stupid cat.." Yuki said although there was no malace in his words.
A short time later, Kyou had passed on. Tohru had clung to him, screaming. Yuki watched from across the room, at a complete loss for words. Yuki knew he could not ease her pain.
The funeral took place near the house where he and Tohru had first met, Shigure's old home. In the woods nearby, he was buried. Tohru cried silently the entire time, placing an offering of incense and fish to her beloved. He loved fish, but that was probably due to the animal he had been possessed with. Yuki was there also. He said only good bye. He knew if he said more he too, would also cry. He had to be strong for Tohru. She had lost so much... mother...father.. and now Kyou.
Yuki placed his hand on her shoulder.
"You don't have to cry alone.." he said.
She instinctively buried her face against him, as so often she had with Kyou. Yuki felt strangely happy, that he was there for her. That she would not cry alone. He made a silent promise to Kyou, and to Kyoko that he, Yuki Sohma would not let Tohru be alone. Slowly, the group that had attended Kyou's funeral faded out, but Tohru didn't want to leave.
She sat there in front of the grave, crying. She didn't want Yuki to hold her any more. She mumbled things to Kyou, about how the time together was just too short. How she had wanted to marry him, and why couldn't he have told her that he was sick? Images flashed through her mind, of all the times he had awkwardly tried to comfort her, and when he had first told her that he loved her. She didn't not want to let him go.
"Tohru...it's getting cold out. Kyou would be upset if you got sick like this..." Yuki said, gently.
Tohru stood up slowly. It felt as if she wasn't even in her body. She hadn't felt like this since her mother had died. But this was worse. When her mother died she had dreams of the future to distract her. But now, there was nothing. She no longer had anything to hold onto. She didn't really remember how she got home, but she guessed Yuki had driven her. Silent tears spilled from her eyes the whole way.
"Tohru.. isn't it going to be difficult living all by yourself..?" Yuki asked.
Tohru said nothing, she knew he was right, but also knew there was nothing that she could do.
"If you want, you can stay with me until you finish college.. I wouldn't mind at all really," Yuki said.
"No.. that'd be asking far too much of you," Tohru said monotonically. Yuki shuddered, she sounded just like Hatori now.
"umm.. actually I could really use someone to cook for me.." Yuki said with an embarrassed smile..
"Ahh I see how it is! Yuki still burns his food ehh?" Tohru said, some of her liveliness back.
"Oh hush you," Yuki said with a smile, punching her arm softly.
"Well.. I guess it would be easier.. but I still have to go back to the house and get my things..." Tohru said absentmindedly.
"I'll drop you off at my house, and then go get your things ok? It'll be easier for you that way.." Yuki said. He was trying his hardest to make things easier for her.
When Yuki pulled into the house he had been living at, Tohru stared in shock.
"Th....th...this is really your house?" She asked.
"Yeah, it's not much, I know.. but make yourself at home,"
"It's HUGE!!" Tohru's eyes got large. How on earth could Yuki afford such a place?
"Ayame bought it for me when I was in college..." Yuki said.
"Ahh... I assume things are better between you two now?"
"Much better, actually. We understand each other a bit better, I try not to get worked up over his antics, and he tries to act more serene around me. It's really amazing how far we've come. Although not nearly as far as me and Kyou had. But I think you had a lot to do with that," Yuki said as he helped Tohru out of the car like a gentleman.
Yuki showed Tohru around the house quickly. Tohru was amazed how clean things were compared to when she had gone to Shigure's house for the first time. Although the kitchen could have been in much better shape. She quickly distracted herself with cleaning all the dishes and the stove top. She didn't even hear Yuki leaving. Once it was completely spotless, she began making some tea for Yuki when he returned. She then decided to explore the guest room.
It was a spacious room, although it had little in it. It had a mattress, although it wasn't one you would normally sleep on permanently. There was a closet and a dresser, as well. How boring.. she thought. She longed for the picture of her mother... and one of her and Kyou together to be on the dresser. Along with her 12 Zodiac figurines.. and Kyou's beads.
She wondered if Yuki had any laundry he needed to be done. She went to the laundry room, but found absolutely no clothes.
Hmm.. I wonder where he keeps his dirty clothes? Unless he just did the laundry before he left.. but that's unlikely..
Tohru went into Yuki's room. It felt strangely cold and boring in there. She found his dirty clothes in a pile on the floor. She giggled to herself. That's what Kyou used to do as well. Back when they all had been living in Shigure's house, Yuki had always brought his clothes to the laundry room for her. But I guess it was a little different now. She brought in a laundry basket, and put his clothes in. She then took them to the laundry room and washed them, although she couldn't wash them all at once she washed what she thought he would need first.
I'm so fortunate that Yuki would do this for me..if I had been at my house..what would I be doing right now? This is usually about the time Kyou and I would play cards, or flirt endlessly.
Tohru took the water off the stove top and put tea in to steep. She then began making dinner. Steamed leeks, rice and sushi. She removed Yuki's clothes from the washing machine and put them in the dryer, and started a new load. Just as she closed the lid she heard a car pull up.
"Oh! He's back!" Tohru raced to the door, ready to greet him.
"Ah, Tohru here's some of your things.. theres more in the car," Yuki said with a smile.
She hugged him tightly, then took them to the guest room. She wondered what Yuki had thought she would need. The first thing she pulled out was the picture of her and Kyou together. Tears welled in her eyes. She would miss Kyou a lot. She placed the picture on her dresser, where she could see it from her bed. The next thing in the bag was a picture of her mother, something she had carried around with her since her mothers death. That went right next to Kyou.
"Tohru! I think the foods done!" Yuki called to her.
"Yes! Coming!" she said. She took one more glance at Kyou's picture, and went into the kitchen.
Yuki was pouring tea into cups for them.
"No no no! I should do it!" she said.
Yuki smiled at her.
"But you're the guest tonight, aren't you?" he said.
Tohru blushed. No one ever had served her before, she always, always had served them. Even back at Shigure's house.
The dinner was alright, she had often made better. Or maybe she just wasn't enjoying it, because her thoughts were on Kyou.
"Tohru? Are you ok?" Yuki asked.
"Yeah.. I guess I just miss Kyou,"
Yuki put his arm on her shoulder comfortingly. Tohru was thankful that Yuki was there for her. She couldn't imagine how lonely she'd be at the house, without Kyou.