Here's chapter four. I hope you'll enjoy reading it.

I do not own Fruits Basket but I do own the characters I created to write this fanfic.

Quick thing: This happens a while after the part in the anime when Kyo reveals his little secret and Tohru helps him.

Chapter FOUR: Is She Really Okay?

Tohru stood there at the door a little startled. Kisarai smiled at her as she waved a hand in front of her face.

"Tohru? You okay?" As if snapping back to reality Tohru shook her head before smiling back.

"Um, yes! I'm just a little surprised is all." Kisarai's smile grew bigger. She always was surprising her.

"Don't be! In fact I was going to ask if Shigure was in." As if on cue Shigure came up to the door in his usual grey yukata.

"Well, well! Kisarai herself is paying us a visit."

"Yes, I am. Glad you're here Shigure because we need to talk." Shigure nodded his head the smile still on his face.

"If that's the case, Tohru can you watch the house while I'm gone?"

"Of course!" He slipped on a pair of slippers and stepped outside following Kisarai.

"Thank you."

Tohru watched them walk away before she closed the door. Kisarai came to visit. She was really different from what she knew about Akito. Akito was frail from what she could gather from everyone else, but Kisarai was the exact opposite. She was strong and healthy, except for that one time. Tohru shivered. Kisarai wasn't strong then. It was like her barrier dropped down to show a weak young woman.

The two didn't speak until they were well away from the house. It was quiet except for the birds twittering and the leaves rustling. It was like they didn't really want to say anything or they already knew what the other was going to say.

"Shigure," Kisarai seemed to call instead of say. He looked at her through the corner of his eye.

"Hm?" A small grin marked her face.

"I'm dying." Shigure raised his head as he crossed his arms over his chest. He didn't really say anything. He kind of already guessed that. "There's no use in me denying it. My coughing fits have been happening more frequently now. If it's not that than what could it be?"

"Is this why you came over? To tell me you were dying?" Kisarai stopped walking and stared at him with, just like the other day only more willing, all her barriers and walls dropped.

"You don't know how it feels to know that you could die at any moment." He stopped to stare back.

"Then why don't you stay at the main estate and not come out so much? Wouldn't that be better for you?" Kisarai gawked at him.

"'Better for me'!? You know how I am! I can't stay cooped up in a room all my life. That isn't the way I want to live." She looked away from him. Shigure just watched.

"Weren't you the one who said that we should accept dying since it's another part of our life that everyone must face?" Kisarai still didn't look at him. He sighed. "If it makes you feel any better I'll watch over Shirezu as much as I can. That's what you're really sacred about, isn't it?" She nodded once. "If I were your family doctor, I would have you locked in your room so that you couldn't come out." Shigure scratched the back of his head absently. "But, for you, I don't think that would've been a very good idea now that I absolutely think about it." She smiled as if she were laughing to an inside joke.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to start yelling and arguing." Shigure shook his head.

"No worries. But, I do know how it feels to know I could die at any moment." They began to walk again.

Kisarai nodded. "Because no one knows when they will."

"Exactly."

Tohru looked up from making lunch to see Shigure coming in.

"Hey Shigure! I'm just making lunch, will Kisarai be joining us for lunch. He shook his head.

"No, she left already. She said she needed to get some things ready. Is that beef stew I smell there?" Tohru laughed as she mixed the soup a little bit more.

"Yes it is. It's almost done." Turning the heat down lower she covered it up so it could simmer just a little bit longer. She watched the liquid bubble beneath the fogged glass cover. Biting her bottom lip she decided to ask. Shigure was just about to leave when he heard her call him.

"Yes?" He stood near the door. She hesitated a little bit but came out with it.

"Kisarai's been spending a lot of time out of her estate. Isn't that kind of bad for her?" Tohru asked Shigure as he leaned against the kitchen counter. Shigure strained a smile as he answered her question.

"Well, sort of, but let's just let her do what she wants. She never was a person to follow other's orders." Tohru turned around only to see Shigure's back as he left the kitchen. The way he said it. He sounded a bit distressed.

-The Next Day-

Tohru had gotten a call from Kisarai asking if she could come over today. It looked like a normal visit but Tohru knew something was going on more than what everyone was letting them know. Shigure had Kyo and Yuki busy with something too right when Kisarai called. Did he do it on purpose or was it just a perfect coincidence that she was going alone.

A different person met her at the entrance. She saw no trace of Shorin coming to greet her gleefully as she always did. The new person led her to a different room than the normal one that she usually went to to see Kisarai. It was then that she noticed that they were going to her bedroom. This brought back uneasy memories of when she saw her friend being carried by Aya, Hatori, and the Masada doctor to her room. Her coughing then had ceased but she looked so pale…

The woman left Tohru at the door letting her have the choice of opening it or not. Tohru stared at the handle. She put her hand on it but left it there without doing anything. She braced herself for whatever was coming. Anything could come at her. Tohru had to be prepared. She pushed the handle down and entered.

The room was bright. The sun shone through the window at the bed providing natural sunlight. It was open too letting in a little breeze to cool the room from the hot rays. Kisarai sat upright on her bed, two pillows behind her to cushion the wall. She stared out the window deep in thought. Tohru walked in quietly watching, not wanting to disturb her. She looked like a thin sheet of glass. It was like she would shatter at any movement, any noise, any touch. On her lap, she noticed little Shirezu snoring lightly. She was about to back out when Kisarai spoke.

"It's alright. He's quite a heavy sleeper." Kisarai's usual smile appeared on her face. She was always smiling. Tohru smiled back. "You can sit down if you wish." Closing the door behind her, Tohru took a seat on the chair next to her bed. "There's something that I need to tell you Tohru. Promise you'll listen to me before you say anything."

Tohru nodded. "I promise."

Okay. I'm really sorry this is so short! I tried the best I could to see if I could make it longer but I couldn't find a way! Sorry!

Here's next chapter's summary!

Chapter FIVE: Bad Luck

The house was so tense. Everything was happening so fast. First the thing with Kyo, now this?