Grad Night

It's the evening of their graduation and Kyo and Tohru spend one last visit on the roof of Shigure's house together, unknowing to what plans will soon be in store for the two of them. Now a full length story! Rated for language!

Me: Before I get started in on this chapter, I would like to say some words to the kind people who left me some wonderful reviews!

xSmile-- Thanks for the review! I've very glad you wish for me to continue this story!

lucy--Yup, thanks to you and all the other reviewers, I will continue! Thank you for your kindness!

charlie-becks-- LOL. Thanks for the review. I am making this a full-length story now and you are so nice!

Glorious Kyouru Shimuri--Wow! What a review! I don't want to say much to ruin any surprises, but yes your assumption about Kyo is going to be correct...for now! At any rate, you'll have to continue reading to find out what happens next! But you are such a sweetheart! Thanks SO much for your review! It made me so happy!

earthterra55--Well, you'll have to wait! Thank you so much for your review! I also see that you're a teen titans fan! Do you think Terra will be okay after she turned to stone? I've kinda slacked off on watching that show, (;) Anyway, thank you for your review!

Ferret Love--Your review made me laugh! Yes, I think Tohru and Kyo should run away together! That they should also stay away from Akito! But you have to feel bad for Akito for having to hide who she really is for the sake of the family.

Me: Anyway, thanks for the reviews! They mean so much to me and they made me feel so happy! Now, for today's chapter, we have Hatori reading off the disclaimer!

Hatori: Why me? You could have had your pick of any of the younger Sohma boys.

Me: I know, but you're my favorite character!

Hatori: I know you're born year of the dragon.

Me: That's not only that. When I read about what happened to you and Kana, I felt so sad for the two of you. To be able to let go of someone you love that much must be so hard.

Hatori: . . . you must be 14. How could you know what it means to love someone?

Me: I'm 17.

Hatori: . . . . . .Hinata Pensuke does not own Fruits Basket. The show/manga belongs to their respectable owners.

Me: Enjoy the chapter! Break out the Kleenex, it's gonna be a tearjerker!

A thin line of smoke floated upwards from the burning cigarette that was resting in Shigure's drowsy fingers. He was up rather early the next morning, which didn't seem like him. He was one to call evenings "good mornings". Especially when it came to an important deadline. Yes, even though Shigure only seemed to be a slacker in his editor's eyes...well...actually to pretty much everyone, he did get his work done on time. But this particular morning was different and he had a mission to accomplish. To take Kyo to the Main House. The dog sighed and turned the page of his newspaper.

"You're rather quiet this morning." Commented Hatori, who was sitting across the kotatsu from Shigure. "I just wish you were like this more often."

"Haa-san, how can you jest on a mournful day like this?" Shigure whined, tossing his newspaper aside.

The dragon watched the news print hit the debris-covered floor. The party the night before had left behind quite a large mess. "You don't expect Tohru to clean up this entire house by herself, do you?"

"Of course I don't!" The dog replied. "Actually, quite a bit of people last night wanted to stay behind and help her clean! But Tohru politely declined."

"As I figured." Said Hatori.

But Shigure wasn't finished with his long-winded tale. "But Tohru's two friends decided to come and help anyway. They should be here soon as a matter-of-fact."

Hatori sighed. "Then if I'm going to erase the girl's memory, I should do it sooner."

Shigure looked up at him; a half startled look was plastered on his face. Hatori looked back at him and shook his head slightly.

"Don't tell me you forgot Tohru would be leaving us. You knew someday this would happen...we all did."

"I'm gonna go wake Kyo up." With that said, Shigure stood up and walked out of the room.

But what he didn't know was that Yuki was sitting right outside when everything was said. The quiet rat looked down as a sense of anguish washed over him. It was the same hopelessness from he was a child.

Shigure stood before Kyo's closed door. Pressing his ear to it, he could hear nothing on the other side besides the sound of deep sleep breathing. So very slowly, the dog twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open. It was then that he was met with quite a surprising sight.

On his bed, Kyo was lying on his side with his bare back to Shigure. His blanket resting at is hip. This wouldn't seem quite as out of the ordinary if it wasn't for sight of a bed head of brown hair resting next the neko on the side he was facing. It was quite obvious what had happened during the night.

But rather than reacting with shock, Shigure gave a small smile. He thought, "This would be the perfect romance novel if the ending wasn't going to be so sad."

It was then that the dog saw Kyo stir and take in a short yawn. Well now that the cat was awake, it was now or never. Right?

"Kyo, it's time."

It didn't take long to gather his own belongings. Kyo closed his backpack and set it down by the door. The only thing he could think of was whether he spent his years of freedom the way he wanted to. The neko turned to a still sleeping Tohru and smiled slightly. Over the past few years, he most defiantly had. Quietly, Kyo walked over to his special onigiri. He pulled the blankets more snuggly at her shoulders and kissed her on the forehead.

"Don't forget about me, okay?"

Kyo then stood up and retreated back to the door. He slung his backpack over his shoulder and walked out. He took one last glimpse of the woman that he loved before he closed the door one last time.

"Are you sure you don't want me to drive the two of you up to the Main House?" Hatori asked Shigure at the door.

"It should be good for Kyo to walk there." Shigure explained lazily. "Besides, someone should be here when Tohru's friends show up."

Hatori gave a slight nod as he lit up a cigarette. "I'll take care of things until you return. Oh, here he comes."

Kyo stormed down the stairs as fast as he could. He was out the door in a heartbeat without saying a word. A sweat drop appeared on both Shigure and Hatori's heads.

"Well, I suppose that's my cue to leave." Said Shigure, rubbing the back of his head. With that he sauntered after Kyo, but he paused at the door. "I guess when you erase Tohru's memories; she'll leave this place...right?"

"Most likely." Hatori replied.

The dog looked at the dragon with a rare look of sadness on his face. "I'll miss her."

"We all will. But that seems to be another way of the curse; misery."

Tohru yawned slightly, her eyes not yet open. Peacefulness had washed over her as she snuggled deeper into Kyo's blankets. The onigiri then opened her eyes, expecting to see Kyo next to her. But...

But he wasn't.

"Kyo?" Tohru sat up, covering herself. She looked around the room, not only did she not see the neko but his belongings seemed to be missing as well. The light dawned on her and her eyes widened in both shock and sadness.

"He...he's gone."

Yuki was walking up the stairs with a few books under one arm. He was about to go into his room when he heard a door down the hallway open. It sounded like Kyo's door. But didn't the stupid cat leave already? Looking to see who it was, the rat saw Tohru leaving that room. She was also wearing the same clothes she had on the previous night.

But it didn't take him very long to figure out why Tohru was in Kyo's old room. He recovered quickly. "Good Morning, Miss Honda."

Tohru looked up at Yuki with red, puffy eyes. She couldn't hide the fact that she had been crying, but she forced a smile all the same. "Good Morning to you too, Yuki."

Yuki gave her a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry about Kyo--"

"Is there anything you would like for breakfast?" Tohru asked quickly. When Yuki said nothing, she walked over to the stairs and started to descend. "It's okay, I can figure something out."

Yuki watched Tohru go and sighed. Hatred for Kyo burned inside of him more than ever before. How dare he break her heart like that! His eyes burned like purple flames and without warning, the books dropped to the floor as his fist shoved it's way through his bedroom door.

Hatori found Tohru in the kitchen, gathering refuse into an oversized garbage bag. He didn't need a psychic to know that the girl was devastated.

Tohru turned around and saw Hatori standing there. She tried to smile, but she failed in her attempt. "Good morning, Hatori. I hope you slept well."

The dragon looked at the onigiri more carefully and his eyes widened slightly. To see this young woman in such a state of devastation, it was like watching Kana's downfall all over again.

"Is something wrong?" Tohru asked, her voice still filled with that motherly concern.

Hatori drew in a sigh. "You really love him, don't you?"

Tohru looked down, trying to keep her tears back. But it was all in vain as she sank to her knees. Small sobs escaped her throat as the tears were overflowing. "'I'll see you in the morning.' That's the last thing he said to me. I-I...I never got the chance to tell him goodbye!"

"I know." Hatori said, walking over to Tohru and kneeling down in front of her. He wanted to comfort her, but there was not a lot he could do. "The last thing I wanted was for you to get hurt in all of this."

"I guess this is when you tell me 'I told you so.'" Sobbed Tohru. "I was such a fool."

"No you weren't." Said the dragon at once. He lifted Tohru's head up slowly. "You came here and you gave each member of the Juunishi hope...expectance...and love."

Tohru looked right into Hatori's eyes. "But you have to suppress my memories, don't you?"

"I'm so sorry." He replied, his right hand slowly resting over Tohru's eyes. He took her by the hand that in return squeezed back with sadness and in fear. Sadness of never being able to remember anyone from the Sohma family and fear of the future.

"I couldn't protect you." Tohru whispered.

Hatori's eyes shook slightly as his breath was caught in his throat. "What...what did you say?"

"I'm sorry." Choked Tohru through sobs. "I'm so sorry...I couldn't...protect you from your fate...Kyo."

The dragon couldn't take anymore of this. It was all too emotionally surreal. A brilliant flash then consumed the kitchen. When it was gone, Tohru was sprawled across the kitchen floor, unconscious.

"Thank you...Tohru." Hatori whispered as tears of his own fell. "It's all right now."

In the end, Kyo couldn't protect her either. But despite that, Tohru thought only of Kyo until the very end. If that was the depth of her love...to later become so ill like Kana had...then it wasn't right for her to suffer.

Kyo walked into the room like so many of those cursed by the spirit of the cat before him. The door behind him shut with an ominous pound and once that happened...

Once that happened, Kyo saw nothing but darkness. Darkness he wouldn't be able to escape for many years. Tears trickled down the neko's face as he too sank to his knees, hopelessness taking over his soul. But was it right for Kyo to suffer with the memories of the girl who changed him so? It would seem like that would be a harsher sentence than a lifetime in the Cat's Room ever would be.