Alrighty, how is everybody? Good, ok. Thanks for all the reviews some where actually hilarious and some were creepy. I will name them later because I am lazy to go and check. Hahahahaha laziness. And holy crap I thought this chapter was long! It took up 6 pages! Oh well sorry everybody I suppose it wasn't as long as I hoped it would be. I hope you still enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruit Baskets.

Kyo wiped away the perspiration from his forehead with a damp towel as he stepped out of the large dojo. The cold morning air grazed his burning skin as he breathed heavily from all the strenuous training he had been doing. He threw the towel lazily to the side as he began to climb a nearby tree. The only other thing that brought him comfort besides training was heights. There was another thing or more precisely, person, that could comfort him but Kyo strived to keep the image of them out of his mind. Propping a leg securely on the limb of the old redwood tree, Kyo yawned weakly as he gazed at the sky that cried frozen tears. Kyo began to crack his knuckles out of habit. He chuckled as he recalled Tohru mentioning how he would get arthritis when he got older and she got worked up as he continued to crack his knuckles in order to tease her. He growled at his failed attempt to not think of her. He had come to the dojo to stop his perpetual thoughts of her. Sensei was no help either. He had lectured Kyo about how he should go face his fears and problems. Kyo knew he was right and he really didn't want to forget Tohru. He couldn't even if he tried anyway. But, Kyo really didn't have anywhere else to go to vent his anger. The dojo was his only sanctuary now that Tohru was gone. He clenched his teeth as Shigure's words taunted him.

"Perhaps, Kyo, you should go visit her at the main house and solve that burning question that's been plaguing our minds, hmm?"

"Bastard," Kyo mumbled quietly. He frowned as he remembered that Yuki was also there to witness his humiliation, as if he would ever miss the chance to deride Kyo. He sat up quickly, no he knew Yuki was just as upset, perhaps even more than he was, meaning…

"Damn it! That rat probably went to go see her by now! Shit!" Kyo exclaimed angrily while jumping swiftly from the tree and running off into the woods.

-----

Tohru walked briskly as the plastic bags cut the circulation from her fingers, causing them to throb slightly. She set the grocery bags down gently, minding the delicate items they held. She had practically begged Akito to let her go to the market and she doubted he would let her go again anytime soon. Also, she didn't have that much money left and she highly doubted that Akito would let her apply for a job. If it took two days to convince him to let her go to the market, imagine how long it would take for him to allow her to work. She'd probably have to sacrifice a leg or an arm. She sighed; she really hoped that she wouldn't have to take money out of her college savings. Would Akito even let her go to college? Would he make her stay here forever? Tohru shook her head violently to rid herself of the terrifying thought.

"I might not even be able to ask Akito-san if I don't find my way soon," Tohru said while looking around the snow covered Main House. She had somehow gone through a different entrance and had gotten lost.

"Well how big could it be, really?" Tohru smiled while picking up her bags again with a huff. She had done this repeatedly until neither her fingers nor her legs could take anymore. Tohru breathed on her cracked fingers, her moist breath seeming to heal them, somewhat. She felt as if she had been walking for hours. The place was like a labyrinth, everything looked the same, who knows how many fountains she had passed. Tohru jumped up and down a bit to wake her frozen legs while wondering to herself on why she had worn a skirt.

"Poor child, lost in the cold, all alone," a voice whispered, causing Tohru to squeak in surprise. Her eyes widened as she gazed at whom the mysterious voice belonged to. A tall slender woman with hair as black as midnight that fell to her knees leaned against the wooden frame of the porch. Her skin was flawless and was the color of newly fallen snow. How beautiful she was but how terribly frightening as well. Her eyes were a piercing black which made Tohru's knees buckle. Tohru recognized those dark eyes and how they seemed to tear away one's entire being in a single blink. The name was on the tip of her tongue before the woman walked towards her tentatively, not bothered that she was barefoot against the icy cement.

"Come my child, you're freezing," her voice was soft and gentle as she wrapped Tohru in her robe. Tohru noted that her robe was black, was she in mourning?" Tohru quickly picked up her bags as the woman led her into the warm house.

Warmth enveloped Tohru's frozen body as she took off her shoes and put her bags down respectably. The smell of honey and lemon wafted through the air, leading Tohru to a small table with two steaming cups of tea. The woman sat across from her while taking her teacup, not bothering to make small talk. Tohru bit her lip nervously before finally summoning enough courage to speak.

"Thank you very much…um," she trailed, feeling embarrassed that she hadn't asked the woman's name.

"Call me Ren," the woman replied quickly.

"Pleasure to meet you, I'm-"

"Tohru Honda, yes, you're quite well known around the Main House." This caused Tohru to blush slightly as she took a sip of her tea. There was silence again as the two drank their tea.

Tohru couldn't stand the heavy stillness. "So, is Ren-san an outside member of the Sohmas?" She didn't mean to sound nosy but the woman was too beautiful to not be part of the zodiac family. All of the members were extremely good looking; she seemed to match the profile perfectly.

Tohru frowned in thought before looking her at again. "Wait…but there are twelve zodiac members, not including the cat. Could there be another animal?"

Ren set her tea down calmly before looking up at Tohru disdainfully. "No, I am very much inside the zodiac family." She then smiled at Tohru before standing up and began to walk towards her.

"Such an innocent face," she remarked as she lifted Tohru's chin to get a better look at her. "So far you remain untouched by this place."

Tohru swallowed hard while desperately trying to keep her teacup from trembling. "Excuse me, but…who are you?" Tohru blushed some more as Ren ran a pale hand threw Tohru's chocolate hair.

"I am the childless mother who gave birth to snow."

-----

Akito lay on his grand bed as Hatori checked his temperature. Akito watched him silently while Hatori mumbled about his temperature being a bit above average but fine. He hated how the man would never say a word to him, just ask what his symptoms were and then leave quickly. Hatori began to pack his things until he felt something tug at his sleeve roughly. He turned around and waited for the glaring Akito to lash out his routine complaints.

"Why don't you ever say anything? Am I so worthless that you can't even speak to me?" Hatori inwardly sighed, to the very few members of the Sohma family Akito acted like a whiny child who strived for attention, which he was.

"I'm very busy, there are many sick patients I have to attend to," Hatori stated like a record player, this not being the first time he had to explain to Akito why he had to leave.

"You always say that and you're my doctor and mine alone. They don't deserve you, none of them do. Let them be sick," Akito growled while tightening his hold on Hatori. Akito tugged at him harder, wanting Hatori to sit down. He obliged and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Why are you so cruel to me Hatori?" Akito whispered as he crawled onto his lap.

"I'm not cruel to you Akito-san, I'm just busy that's all," Hatori said while Akito entwined his frail fingers with Hatori's large ones.

"Stop lying, I hate it when people lie. Shigure keeps lying to me as well, why? He is also mean to me, why? I thought you both loved me? Were you lying then too? Were you both lying when I had asked you if you loved me?" Akito clenched Hatori's jacket tightly as he felt Hatori's long arms wrap around him.

"I don't understand what you are talking about Akito-san but Shigure and I both-" Hatori began until he felt nails in his skin.

"Stop lying!" Akito yelled as he dug his nails in Hatori's arm. "All you do is lie! You think your lies can comfort me!" Hatori frowned at Akito who continued to scratch him. He quickly grabbed Akito who was now ready to tear his arms off into an awkward embrace.

"Let go of me!" Akito roared as he pounded his tiny fists on Hatori's lean chest.

Hatori just ignored his cries as he sat up with him bridal style. "That night when you had asked if we loved you…" Akito ceased his fit and held his arms close to his chest, his eyes shrouded by his dark bangs.

"We weren't lying," Hatori whispered into Akito's ear before tucking him into the silk sheets. Akito merely grunted at Hatori while facing away from him.

He waited until he heard the door close before mumbling, "Lies don't comfort lies."

-----

Tohru washed her hands under the warm water of the sink after putting the food away. Ren had given her directions on how to get back to the central part of the Main House. Her mind kept drifting towards Ren and her eyes. She couldn't quite place it but she knew she had seen them before. Tohru walked into her room, closing her door quietly. Even though Ren was slightly frightening, it was fortunate that Tohru had met her or else she would still be out in the snow. Tohru jumped slightly as she heard something knock on her window.

Tohru turned and her eyes almost popped out of her head. ""Kyo-kun!" Tohru ran to the window and clumsily tried to open the latch. She finally got it open and Kyo almost yelled at her.

"I'm freezing! How can you stand this weather?" he said while jumping from the window and into Tohru's room.

"Oh I'm sorry Kyo-kun! How long were you waiting out there?" Tohru asked franticly while grabbing a blanket for him.

"I don't know, at first I couldn't find your room so I had t go find Hari and ask, not before he gave me all this crap about how I was coming to rescue you and…" Kyo trailed as a blush began to cross his cheeks.

Tohru blinked oblivious to what Kyo was getting embarrassed at. "And what?"

"Nothing! Okay!" Kyo yelled while turning his head away from her.

"Okay!" Tohru exclaimed while her eyes swirled comically.

After Kyo had stopped blushing he turned to face her again. "So…how are you?" Tohru smiled at him which caused butterflies to flap wildly in his stomach.

"I'm fine, how are you Kyo-kun?"

Kyo swallowed while tearing away from her caring gaze. "I'm fine." He heard a laugh that tickled his sensitive ears. He turned to find Tohru laughing; his butterflies were now fluttering up his throat and ready to expel in a wild frenzy from his mouth.

"I'm glad you came to visit me Kyo-kun," Tohru paused. "But I'm sorry you had to go to all the trouble. I know if someone found out you were here it would be bad."

He shrugged. "Not really, they can't do anything anymore." Tohru cocked her head to the side, giving him a curious look. Kyo glanced at her, something flashed in his eyes but it was too quick for Tohru to describe it.

"Ouch!" she said while rubbing her head after Kyo gave her a tiny noogie.

"Don't worry about it, okay? Or I'll give you another noogie," he smirked as she nodded her head furiously. He wouldn't tell her that he was going to be locked up soon. He didn't want her to worry. He would cherish these small moments that he spent with her, moments that would be his tiny light in his dark cage. He smiled sadly to himself, causing Tohru to fret and offer him more blankets. He only laughed and grabbed her head, giving her another noogie. He would love her in his cage forever until it could no longer hold him.

Hope you guys enjoyed it, I'm sorry it wasn't as long as I thought it would be. I'll try harder next chapter! Enjoy your readings! Thanks for all the reviews!