Summary: LOTS OF SPOILERS! You have been warned. If you have only seen the anime and not read the manga, this may be a little confusing. Like, why is Akito a girl? This takes place in between the manga series end and epilogue. This story is about the continuation of the lives of the entire cast of characters and a new challenge for the whole gang to face.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or any of the characters but this fan fiction is completely mine.

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Updated as of 10/13/2009

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The Last Banquet: A Fruits Basket Fan Fiction

By Anna Victoria

Chapter Three

Beep. Beep. Beep.

That noise. She hated that noise.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

What she wouldn't give to leave this place, to be able to rip the tubes from her body and walk out of the building with nothing but the hospital gown she wore. She wanted to find Shigure, take his hand, and live her life with her family. She wanted to feel him next to her, his steady warmth and support surrounding her.

The sounds of monitors and IV drips had always been a constant in her life. Ever since she was born her body was never as vigorous or as strong as that of the rest of her cursed family. But, even still, never in her life did she ever comprehend the situation that she was in now.

Where was the nurse? She had asked for her to turn the lights off fifteen minutes ago, for they were blinding her with their intensity. The sterile smell of the hospital had disturbed her appetite and she could not look at the tray of food sitting next to her bed without feeling nausea. She wished that Shigure would hurry back. Where did he say he was going? She shook her head. Confusion clouded her thoughts. Disorientation and sickness is all that she had been feeling.

If not her environment, the pregnancy itself was causing her great distress. I should not be feeling this way. I can see in every time Hatori looks at my chart. I can feel it every time Shigure looks at me. Her mind escaped her as she thought about the day she and Shigure found out what was going on inside her body.

Hatori had expressed great concern the first time they had performed an ultra sound.

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"Strange." Hatori whispered as he paused, the sensor on her belly stopped moving.

"Hasan, that is not something an expectant father should be hearing from his doctor." Shigure joked.

Akito looked at Hatori, fear swimming in her eyes. "What is it?" her voice shuddered.

Hatori shook his head, "Nothing, Akito. Everything appears to be fine." He tried to look as reassuring as possible.

"But?" pushed Shigure.

Hatori cleared his throat, something he only did when he was nervous or unsure. He wanted to tell them the good news. Hatori wanted to tell them the discovery that he had just made. He didn't want to tell them that he felt something odd when he placed his hand on Akito's belly. He didn't want to tell them he felt a familiar pull; it had brushed against his mind before disappearing.

"Well, like I said everything is fine. However, I am ordering Akito to go on bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy." Hatori said, inwardly, calling himself a coward for not admitting his feelings, yet, he did not want any stress to fall on to Akito during this time.

"Isn't it a little early for that? I'm only 4 months along." Akito gripped at Shigure's hand.

Hatori breathed in deep, finding the words. "Normally, I would not take this precaution so soon but because this is your first pregnancy and I want to be very careful. Also, you're having twins."

And with that, Shigure fainted.

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A thud brought her back out of the daydream. She had felt it ever so softly inside of her ever growing stomach. Ah, there it was again. Her babies were awake and happy. She could see it in her mind's eye, floating in the fluids that keep them safe and alive. Why, of all the people to have the ability of having a child, why did fate pick her, and why two at the same time?

I don't deserve this, not after what I was to all the people in my life. I'm a monster! I haven't forgiven myself, yet!

Her breathing was becoming labored. The dark creature of anxiety was creeping up behind her. The beeping of the EKG was becoming faster than before. Akito grabbed at her heart, the babes within her eerily still, as if they knew the struggle their mother was going through. The room around her was becoming hazy; the feeling in her limbs dissipating. Why is this happening to me? Panting, she reached for the call button, any button that would summon help for her. Did she press it? I can't tell. What is this feeling?

"Shigure!" she gasped before darkness enveloped her.

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Earlier that evening

Tohru squealed. A high pitched sound Kyo hadn't heard since they were both in high school. He was glad his senses had lessened since the curse had broken, otherwise he would have buried his head in the ground. "Oh my god! Kisa! Kisa! Look at you! So cute!"

"OOOrruu! OOOOrrruu ooonnnaannnnn!" muffled an excited Kisa from somewhere in the arms of Tohru.

Kyo watched the two, feeling reminiscent of the time Kisa had spent with them at the old house. "Darling, let her go. I don't think she can breathe."

Laughing, Tohru relinquished her grip and held Kisa an arms length away. They were both the same height now, both had long brown hair, Kisa's a slightly lighter shade with natural golden highlights, but both at the same length. They looked like sisters but acted like best friends. Tohru felt so happy­ looking at Kisa, who was a senior now, dressed in their old high school uniform. She felt the urge to wrap her arms around the former tiger again.

But another set of eyes was watching the scene before him and interrupted. "What the heck, when did you two get here?" the voice was almost unfamiliar as it had gotten a little deeper but the same sharp sarcasm lay underneath.

All three turned and saw Hiro, leaning on the doorway with a look of scorn on his face. It was all for show, they knew on the inside. His temper and his vocabulary of harsh words had fallen by the way side in the past few years. A freshman in college, he had the look of one that hadn't showered in a few days, clothes hanging loosely off his person but still managed to look like a model for a perfume add. Almond color hair cut short, he ran his hand through it as he pushed off the doorway to make his way to join the trio. He smiled at Kisa who returned the look as his arm over draped her shoulder.

Kyo smirked as the sight of the two. "Is there something in the water? Why are all these kids growing so tall?" he said, looking at Hiro, who came close to his shoulder now.

Kisa laughed and leaned into Hiro's side, her hand in his. "It's because Tohru keeps sending over recipes of her food to the main house chef. He says he doesn't use them but he keeps them in his pocket book when he cooks."

Hiro scoffed, "He should use those recipes! Tohru's food was always better than his."

"Oh, Hiro! I think that's the first compliment you have ever given me! I'm so happy!" Tohru squealed again.

Hiro turned away, a blush on his face. "Come on, everyone is waiting for us."

They turned into the entry way of the main house, all looking forward for food and the family that awaited them. But all feeling of happiness was suspended when a black and white blur of leather and metal studs sped past.

"Hatsuharu!?" exclaimed Tohru.

Running toward the dining hall, Haru shouted over his shoulder, his eyes betraying his feelings. "Stay there! I'm getting everyone else. We have to go to the hospital right now!"

"What? Why?" Kyo shouted back.

"Akito is going into labor!" and with that Haru disappeared around the corner.

All four looked at each other, worry replacing happiness.

In the distance, Momiji pulled up in his car and got out, motioning for them to hurry.

"Ah man! I wanted food!" sighed Hiro sarcastically. Exasperated, Kyo grabbed Hiro by the neck and dragged him towards the car.

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Akito could feel that she was no longer alone in her hospital room. Did the nurse finally come back? No, something about this presence did not feel right. She was aware of herself and the child within her but she could not open her eyes. She could feel the bed sheets wrapped around her and the sterile smell of the hospital filled her noise. She could hear the beeping of the monitors, it was all there but she could not see it. With all her might Akito tried to open her eyes but to no avail. What's going on? Her heart was racing a million miles inside her chest. The presence, it seemed, was content to just stand at the foot of her bed, watching, waiting. Who are you? What do you want? Akito felt as if she was screaming but the words did not take shape in sound.

After what seemed like an eternity the presence finally moved. Again Akito tried to ask Who are you? What do you want? But again no sound took to the air. It was moving slowly, biding its time. She could almost hear the noise it would have made if it were a living creature.

Suddenly, the movement of the presence became erratic, as if irritated with some growing force around it. Scuttle then stop. Scuttle then stop. A few small steps then it would stop again. A clicking noise reached her ears, it sounded like a set of nails or claws along smooth tile. Akito's imagination was getting the better of her. It's just the medication. This isn't really happening. I'm just imagining things. It can't be what I think it is. She heard the monitor beside her skip a few beats. No, that was her heart. It took a few more steps then stopped again. This process continued for a few minutes, slowly making its way closer to her. Akito was becoming more and more frightened. It's like it is sniffing the air, like it's a …

But before she could even finish the thought the presence was chased away by something much larger. This new presence did not seem as menacing as the other. Somehow in the darkness that surrounded her she could feel that it was looking at her and it did not mean her harm. It came closer to Akito quietly and for the briefest of moments it curled up, brushed against her leg and then disappeared leaving her feeling warm and at peace.

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"Well? What the hell happened?" asked a frustrated Shigure. The entire family was there, standing behind Shigure in the hospital waiting room, all looking at Hatori with the same shared agitation in their faces. Visiting hours over a long time ago but that did not stop the stampede of Sohmas from entering the hospital.

Hatori took his time, knowing that the answer he was about to give would not satisfy any of them, especially Shigure.

"I cannot give you an answer because I do not know what happened." Hatori braced himself.

Shigure's usually juvenile demeanor gave way to that of a furious husband "What the hell do you mean by you don't know what the fuck happened!?" Veins had started to pop out of his neck as his fists curled into sledge hammers. "I leave to go take a shit and the next minute my wife is having seizures and you are telling me you don't know what happened?!"

Hatori looked over at Ayame who was standing next to Yuki, a look of help stretched across his face. Without a word Ayame's silver eyes locked on to the shuddering form of his friend and slide silently behind him. Shigure felt Ayame's presence from behind and instantly slumped against him for support; all anger that was left in his body was replaced by distress and fear.

Hatori began to explain, his eyes were focused elsewhere as he remembered the last hour, "Akito was stable most of the day, and she was even able to keep some food down. I was notified approximately an hour ago that something was wrong. She was having a seizure. By the time I made it over to her, my staff had her prepped to go into emergency surgery to get the babies out. There was so much blood."

Somewhere in the background Tohru swooned and was caught by Kyo. "We prepared her for an emergency c-section but as we were about to administer the pain medications her vitals suddenly came back up to normal and the bleeding stopped."

Shigure's body was visibly shaking as he asked "What happens now?"

"We have her situated in the ICU and we are monitoring her health every minute. For right now, she seems to be stable again." Hatori cleared his throat.

"My children?" the voice of his best friend could barely be heard.

Hatori answered as calm as possible, "The babies are stable. We are monitoring their heart rates constantly. We are prepping for a c-section as soon as we have determined Akito's body will not respond negatively to the procedure."

"Why are you describing her like that, Hatori?" Shigure was angry at his friend for being so damn calm.

"The seizure lasted longer than normal. Currently, she is in a coma as a result." Hatori, even though he was trained as a medical professional, could not believe the words that were coming out of his mouth.

Tohru had made her way forward and was now standing next to Ayame who was still clutching on to Shigure. Frantically she asked "But you do know when she'll wake up, right, Ha-san?"

Around them the family whispered Babies? More than one? Akito was having twins!

Hatori looked at Tohru, eyes indescribable. "Tohru … I … " Hatori's voice faded away, the rest of his sentence stayed unspoken but echoed thunderously through the hearts of the former Junishi and their favorite rice ball.

I …do not know if she will.

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A/N: yay! All done! Again, I combined some more chapters to extend them. Also I snuck in a little surprise for those of you who have read the old version. Yep, that's right, not one baby but TWO! I'm excited for the change which will help me as events start to unfold. WOOO!