Jokess- Since I'm not about to get any sleep, or any other type of rest, for the foreseeable future, I figured I might as well update more often than I first planned. Or, I'll try to since my lack of sleep is/will be due to fostering nine dogs, eight puppies and their mama. The puppies are about 4 weeks old now, and not yet weaned so Madre, that's what we're calling her, is eating and drinking for 9. Plus they're still new to the house and the environment and being around and awake instead of around and asleep seems to help. Still, I already do miss my sleep. But it's worth it for the fostering. The puppies are labs, black and golden ones, and are adorable and sweet and squeaky and like to suck on your fingers. I'm going to miss that soon, plus various pieces of skin as the puppies get their teeth. But it's all part of the gig.

On another note entirely, I'm sorry for all those stupid mistakes in the last/first chapter. I thought I had spell checked everything both with word processor, the Firefox spell check AND the one on Fan Fiction. Apparently though, one or all of those changes didn't take and now the chapter looks kind of ridiculous. I'll have to fix it up later today, after I get what little sleep I can and finish installing the new word processor program.

Finally, as always, I do not own Fruits Basket or any related canon material. I am doing this for funsies and pride and memory, that is it. Of course, reviews wouldn't hurt, if only to say 'If you bothered to spellcheck your story thoroughly I might bother to read it.'

Seriously though, I hope you all enjoy the story and continue reading even if I may never know. OR WILL I? DUNDUNDUN

Lost and Bound

Being cold-blooded, even only 'sort of cold blooded' was enough to make Eiji Sohma miserable. Unlike the snake, he wouldn't transform if it got too cold, but he was definitely more sensitive to drops in temperature than any of the other cursed Sohmas. Not sensitive enough though, for, despite the just below freezing temperature,he had to work helping for the beginning of New Years.

While, in years past, the important holiday would have already begun, it was close to noon now, Hiroto's sleep had become more important. The boy knew this was an important time of the year, but he did not care. Or, perhaps his curse felt satisfied by being with Yuri and Kana. Certainly, it was possible, Shiro had acted much the same when in Yuri's presence all those years ago.

Barely aware that his thoughts had wandered, Eji didn't hear his name called until it was literally shouted in his ear.

Beginning to lose his balance from the sudden shock, Eiji was certain he was about to freeze even more when a pair of strong arms pulled on his own arm, enabling him to catch his balance. The moment he did, he used his momentum to push his 'savior' off balance and into the snow. "Stay down or the front half of your clothes will get soaked too."

"I'm already soaked enough thank you." Akio Sohma replied, crossing his arms against his chest even as he lay in the snow, knowing very well that Eiji wasn't bluffing. If anything, he'd be lucky if only what remained of his dry clothing got wet.

"Then don't yell in my ear next time, at least not in the snow and cold."

"Eiji, you look like the Michelin Man Mascot if it swam in an ocean of blue paint, you can't possibly be cold."

"It isn't 'possible' to turn into a dragon either, yet I do that to. You know as well as I do it doesn't matter how much I wear in the winter, it's always cold."

"I kinda figured you were always exaggerating, I would to if I were the one who had to"

"Man, you really are stupidly stubborn." Eiji interjected before Akio could finish. "I wonder if that has to do with being the ram, or if it just comes with the territory of being the black sheep of our family."

At Eiji's mention of his curse, and his almost scandalous, past, Akio seemed to sink in on himself, becoming smaller and more miserable.

"Oh, Akio I had no clue. I mean, I always knew that she was...but still, I'm so sorry. If I had known, I would have never...again, I'm sorry. Do you mind telling me when it was she passed on?

"About a month an a half ago, a few hours after we had finished celebrating Christmas in her hospital room. She just took a turn for the worse out of nowhere, she was too weak to even transform, I think the curse tried anyway, but it just killed her, It took my baby sister away, the one girl I could hug and love without fear. And it took her without even having her here!"

Shocked speechless, Eiji let his long time friend grieve in relative peace as he thought over what this meant. Hikari Sohma, Akio's younger sister by close to a decade, as well as the horse of the zodiac, was dead. Her spot would now be 'open' along with a few others that had not been filled, and probably wouldn't be any time soon.

"I miss her too." Eiji replied. "I can't begin to imagine how you feel, much less to understand, but I'll help in any way I can. If nothing else, I know what it's like to always fear losing a loved one. Even that is near impossible sometimes, and for you to actually suffer a loss, no one would condemn you for wanting to for"

"Don't you dare finish that word Eiji!" Akio shouted, despite the grief "If you do, it won't matter how many times you suppress my memory, I would never forgive you."

"You would never forgive yourself you mean." Eiji said deadpan. We're friends Akio, I know you, to forget would be to give up, and you don't do that, ever. Like I said before, you're stupidly stubborn."

"That's supposed to make me feel better?" Akio asked, almost managing a laugh. "Some friend you are."

"Not make you feel better no, more like urge you, for selfish reasons since there is no doubt Tadahiko knows of her death, or soon will, Hiroto would have told him, too panicked to ask for anyone else."

"That damn cock will be sorry if he so much as even THINKS a wrong word now."

"Which is where that selfish part comes in Akio. I have to dance with Ai tonight, I'd rather not be in traction or unwillingly sedated or high also."

"He'll be even more sorry if he tried."

"Which means I'll suffer also. I DO have a home to get to as well. Just because I have to spend New Years here, doesn't mean I have to spend more time here, if I don't want to."

Muttering several more unkind words about the Sohma doctor, Akio looked ready to ram something or someone for several more minutes before calming down some. By that time, Eiji skin had started to take on a distinctive red color, while his lips looked too pale, and almost blue. Even so, he couldn't go yet. A little nip of frost would be nothing compared to all the havoc Tadahiko could cause without even intending to. He was a nice enough guy, Eiji considered him a good friend despite his and Akio's differences. However, the problem was not Tadahiko so much as the rotten attitude he'd have around Hiroto. God and Sohma Family head or not, the kid didn't like shots or doctors and having a grumpy
one around was no good for any of them.

After about a minute more, Akio nodded his goodbye toward Eiji and had begun to walk away when he noticed his friend was now staring at something just out of his line of sight. His gaze was intense, but also deadly cold, it was a look Akio was sure he had won just moments ago. "Eiji...?" he began, unsure of what to say. There had only ever been one reason Eiji got so infuriated, one reason, but it couldn't be that now. Any other time, but now, it just couldn't be.

"Leave."

"I don't think that-"

"I said leave!" Eiji demanded, this time with a lot more command and not just a bit of threat.

Though Eiji could not make him do anything, or have any right to speak to him as he just had, Akio left the thirty year old to himself since, now, discretion was the better part of valour. Besides, it might actually be better to have help on hand or on the way, if anyone could hate the cat as much as Eiji, it was God, and Akio didn't think Hiroto hated the cat that much quite yet. The cat knew it too, and knowing him, he had showed himself at the most inopportune and insulting time just to aggravate Eiji most when he was at his weakest. Whatever went on, even if punches weren't thrown, wouldn't be pretty.

To be Continued

Jokess- Things start to move som more, though more slowly than I had hoped. Ah, well, until the next time the dogs keep me up and I feel like writing.

But, one more thing first The puppies, there are five female, three male. Two of the three golden ones are female, and the other three are black, though two of them have white around their noses, on their chest and paws. The other female is all black. Then there is an all black male, a black male with white around his nose on his paws and chest, a platinum blonde female, a medium dark/golden female and a brownish golden male. They all have names from us, buy they could be renamed when they're adopted. Their names are

Mouse-all black male
Sunflower-Platinum blonde female
Chica-All black female
Winnifred(Winnie)-Black female with more white spots
Maggie-Black female with less white spots
Rocky-Black male with few white spots
Honey-Golden brown female
Billy-Darker gold/gold male

Also here are the characters who have now have either been introduced for the first time or fully introduced. In order of appearance-

Eiji Sohma, 30, dragon, memory supressor
Shiro Sohma,?,?
Akio Sohma, 29, ram
Hikari Sohma, 21, horse(deceased)
Tadahiko Sohma,?, rooster(cock), doctor
?,?,cat