I do not own Fruits Basket.

(A/N: If you're curious about the outfits message me and I'll send you links on what they look like. I can't put them in the story for some reason -.-'')

Previously

"You moron. I had no idea where you were. Do you have any idea what time it is?!" Kyo smacked him on the head. "Come on we have to get going. We've got a job to do."

Present Time

Tohru tossed and turned in bed, hoping sleep would find her, but how could she knowing very well what tomorrow was? 'I have to go through with it...' Tohru thought sadly. Her grandfather had pulled her aside today to explain their desperation.

'We can't tax the people anymore than we already are. The only solution is to marry you to the Sohma royalty. Without them, our kingdom will fall.'

Grabbing the brass candleholder from her nightstand, Tohru tiptoed out of bed. She silently crept over to her mothers portrait and held the candle close. The flame flickered once, twice...Then went out completely. Leaving Tohru to find her way back to bed in the pitch black. She muttered to herself as she felt around the wall, swatting gently at the open air. Tohru felt her way back to bed, feeling along the cold stone wall. She recognized the few paintings in her room as her fingers scanned by them, the unlit candelbra, and... something warm. She jerked her hand away in surprise. 'What was that!?' Hesitantly, Tohru reached out to touch the same spot again. Her heart was pounding, and her breathing labored. When she touched the wall again, the warmth was gone. Nothing but the cold stone wall. "H-Hello? Is anyone there? Uo? Hana?" Tohru whispered quietly. No reply. "You're just imagining things Tohru." Tohru impersonated her mother's voice as best she could and laughed quietly, in hopes of calming herself down. She felt her nightstand, and knew she was right at her bed. Sighing in relief, Tohru knew the rest of the three foot walk to the bed by memory. Tohru took a step forward only to slam into a body of solid muscle.

When Kyo first arrived to the castle, he had an easy enough time scaling the outer wall. The courtyard was pretty empty besides bushes, and very few trees, so he found a hiding spot in a tall willow tree by a pond in the back. Shigure would be waiting just outside the walls with horses when the moon was directly above them in the sky. Everything was planned out. Now all he had to do was wait until dusk. He relaxed back into the tree and shut his eyes, listening to the doves and crickets. Hushed voices of people approaching made Kyo freeze. An old man and the same girl he saw from the field walked over to the pond, under the tree Kyo sat in. "I don't understand why you're forcing me to marry him grandpa... He's a complete stranger!" The girl said quietly. "I know, and I'm sorry, but we can't tax the people anymore than we already are. The only solution is to marry you to the Sohma royalty. Without them, our kingdom will fall. That and I'm getting old Tohru. I won't be around forever, and I'll need someone to look after the kingdom when I'm gone... I hate puting that pressure on you but with your mother gone, it's up to you." The man wiped the girl's, Tohru's, tears away. "I'm sorry you're unhappy... But this Prince Yuki fellow is a good man. He'll treat you right and will be able to provide for you, for us." He concluded before hobbling off back towards the castle. The girl sighed and laid back against the tree. Kyo felt a bit sorry for her, but not enough to change his mind. "Why did you have to leave mom?... I'm not ready for this..." Tohru whispered. "TOOOOHRUUUU!" A voice echoed from the castle. "Coming Uo!" Tohru jumped up from the ground, brushed the dirt from her skirt, and rushed over to the castle. "Hm." Kyo grunted and crossed his arms. "Maybe its a good thing that I'm stealing her away." A crooked grin spread acrossed Kyo's face at the thought.

When the moon was directly above, Kyo made his way to the castle. From his observations, the back kitchen door was unlocked and had no guards there; That was his entrance. Kyo tightened his leather breastplate and simple leather gauntlets when he hopped down from the tree. He wore the same outfit as before, except he traded out his loose white shirt for a tight fiting black short-sleeved shirt, and his breastplate. He kept one hand on his sword as he slowly crept through the back kitchen door. After he determined the hallway safe, Kyo stalked through the shadows up the main staircase. Using his gut he decided to go left and up another flight of stairs.

After checking several rooms, which were all empty, Kyo spotted a room with a very dim light coming from it. He listened carefully to the girls voice. After listening for a while, Kyo recognized it as the princess's and slowly opened the door, being careful to make no noise. When the door opened, a draft from the hall extinguished the candle's flame that Tohru was holding. 'Piece of cake.' Kyo thought smugly. After his eyes adjusted to the dark, Kyo approached Tohru. She was moving at a snails pace through the dark, feeling her way back using the wall. 'I think I'll have a little fun with this.' Kyo thought wickedly and standed purposfully where Tohru would feel around. When her hand met the muscles on his arm, she jerked back. "H-Hello? Is anyone there? Uo? Hana?" Her voice trembled, and Kyo could hear her breathing spike. Holding back a laugh Kyo backed up so she wouldn't feel him again. "You're just imagining things Tohru." She laughed nervously and began making her way to the bed again. 'Alright enough messing around.' Kyo decided. He stood with his arms out, ready to grab her just at her bed side. As expected, she walked right into him.

A scream was building up in Tohru's throat as she backed up. A little whimper escaped her lips as she started backing up. The person grabbed her from behind and wrapped one hand around her waist, and the other clamped over her mouth. Her captore breathed gently in her ear before he whispered. "Don't you dare scream, or you'll regret it. Understand?" Tohru nodded slowly. There was a smile to the boys voice. "Good." Tohru felt him loosen his grip and she made her move. She went to elbow him in the gut, but hit leather armor instead. The boy tsked and pushed her forward onto the bed. While holding her down with one hand, he tied her wrists together behind her back with the other. "I expect you to behave yourself your highness, or things will get ugly real quick." he snapped. Tohru flinched at the harshness in his voice. In one swift move the man threw Tohru over his shoulder and was walking out the door. "Why are you taking me? What do you want?" Tohru began shooting questions. The boy bounced her on his shoulder, knocking the wind out of her. "Quiet." He hissed.

Kyo was surprised at how coopertive Tohru was being. She hadn't spoken a word after his command, and didn't put up much of a strugle. It was apparent however, from her slight shaking and quivers that she was crying. Kyo felt slight guilt, but pushed it aside.

When they were outside, Kyo made sure to cover her head with a sac before she saw him. A little voice in the back of his mind was nagging at him that that wasn't the only reason... He couldn't bare to see her crying. To see her frightened blue eyes staring into his cold and heartless ones. Kyo untied her wrists only to retie them infront of her instead of behind her back. "Put your arms around my neck." Kyo instructed. Tohru hesitated and didn't move. "I don't have all day, put your arms out!" Kyo growled. Tohru's arms shivered as she held them there. Kyo couldn't tell if she was shivering from fear, or cold. 'Probably both' He took in her appearence. She was in a thin white short-sleeved nighgown that reached about mid-thigh level. The front had lace designs along the edges, and was held together by a few strings at the chest.
Kyo wrapped Tohru's arms around his neck and swung her around so that she was on his back . "Hold on tight, and don't make a sound." Tohru nodded, then instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist and held on tightly. Kyo was surprised at how light she was. He was able to climb the wall just as easily as before. When they reached the top, Kyo swung her around so that he was holding her again. "Shigure, you down there?" Kyo hissed. "Yep!" Shigure called back. "Why are you doing this?" Tohru whispered. All traces of fear in her voice were gone, and replaced with curiousity. "With all do respect princess, thats my buisness." Kyo grunted, and leapt from the wall. Tohru squeaked and clung tighter. Kyo landed soundlessly with a grin. "This is jus too easy... There has to be some kind of catch." Shigure murmered. Kyo shrugged. "Whatever, lets just get out of here." Kyo unlatched Tohru from his neck and let her drop to the ground. Shigure flinched. "Kyo, you should really learn to be more gentle when handling women." Kyo rolled his eyes. "She's riding with you."

Tohru's stomach leaped to her throat when she felt herself falling. Then it was over. She hadn't even realised they were on the ground until she heard the other man, Shigure, talking. "This is just too easy... There has to be some kind of catch." The next thing Tohru knew, she was dropped on the ground. "Whatever lets just get out of here." Tohru held back an 'Ouch', and stayed there on the ground. "Kyo, you should really learn to be more gentle when handling women." Shigure muttered. Her other captor, Kyo, laughed slightly. "She's riding with you." Tohru heard Shigure dismount his horse and approach her. Tohru scooted away with each step he took. "Calm down. I'm not gonna hurt you." Tohru was surprised by the kindness in Shigure's voice. His hands were gentle when he took the sac off her head. Tohru could barley make out Shigure's features; He had short black hair, dark brown eyes and looked to be about 26-28 years of age. He was wearing a white undershirt with a brown leather tunic and belt, black pants and boots. Very gently Shigure lifted Tohru off the ground and placed her on his horse. Tohru got an idea, and waited paiently to put it into action. She glanced over and gasped. 'It's the same boy from the field...' Kyo looked over and smirked. "Nice to see you again princess." Tohru stared wide eyed. The thing that struck her most, besides his abnormal orange hair, was that his eyes were red. Shigure was on the horse now, and had Tohru's hands tied to the saddle. "We're ready to go Kyo." Kyo nodded and kicked his horse gently. "Where are we going? Where are you taking me?" Tohru's voice was a bit frantic, and she fought to keep it calm. "We're going East." Shigure shrugged. "Why?" Tohru pushed. Shigure said nothing.
They had crossed the bridge over the river now, into the fields. The entire ride so far, Tohru had been rubbing her hands together, making hem slick with sweat. When the horses where starting to gain speed, Tohru started getting more frantic when pulling against her bindings. Shigure looked back, and did a double take. "Hey! Stop that!" The horse stumbled right when Tohru got loose, knocking her off. Shigure yanked back on the reigns, slowly the horse down. 'Now's my chance!' Tohru brushed off the pain, and started sprinting back towards the village. She could hear the horses gaining on her. Tohru looked at her options... Which weren't too good.

Kyo sighed in frustration and gave the horse a swift kick. He saw her running for the bridge. 'I'll intercept her there.' He sped the horse up just slightly, and passed her, blocking the bridge. "Now princess. I'm tired, agitated, and hungry." Kyo hopped off his horse cracking his knuckles. "I'm in no mood to deal with you right now."

Tohru looked for means of escape. She knew she couldn't outrun him, so that leaves the field out. She glanced past Kyo at the river. 'I have to be strong!' Tohru thought determined. She took a deep breath and took a flying leap over the side of the bridge into the dark black waters.

Kyo didn't have any time to react. He wasn't expecting her to jump. Shigure jumped off his horse next to Kyo. "Well what are you waiting for? Jump in after her." Kyo glared. "Why should I? You're the one that lost her in the first place." The two stood there in silence waiting for her to come up... Still waiting... And waiting. "Has she come up yet!?" Shigure asked nervously. Kyo muttered vanities under his breath while taking off his boots and leather. All Shigure made out of his muttering was:"Oh no no of course she can't swim.." then a few cuss words and other muttering.

The current had rolled Tohru in so many circles, Tohru couldn't tell which way was up, and she was running out of air. Tohru's chest was on fire. She couldn't hold her breath anymore as she struggled to swim. While thrashing violently, Tohru smacked her head on a rock, and lost consciousness.

Kyo dove under a few times, but couldn't see in the dark. "Find her yet!?" Shigure called. "No!" Something caught Kyo's eye. Tohru's body was floating down the river. "SHIGURE THERE!" Kyo pointed down river. "On it!" Shigure raced the horse after her while Kyo got out of the water.

Shigure carried Tohru from the shallows onto the beach. "Is she breathing?" Kyo took Tohru from Shigure's arms. "She's fine, just hit her head on some rocks I think." Kyo tilted her head slightly to look at the bump. "She's bleeding." Kyo sighed. Shigure gave him a hankerchiff without saying anything. Kyo gently dabbed away the blood until it stopped bleeding. All the while Shigure leaned against his horse watching. He sighed and shook his head. "Why do I get the feeling things are going to get real complicated?" He watched Kyo tend to her wounds gingerly, and carefully. Shigure laughed once getting Kyo's attention. "What?" he snapped. "Hm? Oh nothing. Come on, is she riding with me again?" Kyo looked at Shigure then back at Tohru. "Nah. She'll ride with me this time... I mean, because you lost her the first time and all." Kyo added quickly. Shigure rolled his eyes. "Figures."

(A/N: There's a spark for ya. Thanks for reading guys! I wont be able to post as frequently as I am now after the weekend, but I'll do my best! Comment plz :) thnx guys!)