Fruits Basket: Sweet becomes sour

by RICEA42991

Tohru continues to live life with the Sohmas, as life changes. One of her trusted friends becomes her worst nightmare, and Akito is the first to take her under his wing. Will she ever be happy again & love or cursed herself. Based on the anime Akito/Tohru

10. Chapter 9

Author's Note: Hey everyone wow 2011 already, it's been a year with this fic so far. Hope your enjoying it as much as I am writing it. Prepare for a long chapter because this one will indeed not only be a long one but also filled with tons of events happening. So in other words this is a turn of events chapter. Enjoy

catstop:Thank you very much for your kind prompt review

Maddie: ... ooo you are just trying to put that picture in my head aren't ya ;) Black definitely is his color lol Want a tissue? I'm glad you laughed and enjoyed the previous chapter, and hope this one as well. Lol and yes for me as well Tohru did infact have a 5 second crush on him in the anime.

Akatsuki no Oashisu: Thanks for reviewing new reader and for liking my story :)

major ed group: Lol all of your question are excellent ones, you seem very excited. Hopefully they're all answered in this chapter :)

Aznlee: Thanks for your review new reader. Yes I'm afraid I still have mistakes now and then, it's one of my downsides of not having time for a beta. Thanks for pointing them out . I'm glad I made Tohru less annoying, I agree though I liked her character there were times when she got a little under my skin too

Midnight Theif: Glad you love the story so far, hope you enjoy this chapter too new reader

smcandy: Yes you guessed right :) I guess there really are more anime girls with that name since it took a bit. Thanks again for your review, and advice tips through mail ;)

vannessaaod: Why Thank you :) I'm glad you like them now

Kilei: I'm glad you're excited, and that you liked my story; as for Reina well I can't say much about her now, but thanks for noticing her; new reader :)

Blank: Welcome new reader, glad you're excited. As for your Shigure question I already answered it in previous chapter so I don't think you were looking for an answer

Leif the Lucky: Hey there, Aww I missed hearing from you too in my reviews section. Glad to see you're still enjoying my story :) Hope you enjoy this chapter

Smutlvingkitty: Thanks so much for enjoying new reader, and for reviewing

Bluerosewater: Glad to see you're excited new reader; thxs for reviewing

xluluxlunax: Here it is, new reader thxs for reviewing

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN FRUITS BASKET IT RIGHTFULLY BELONGS TO NATSUKI TAKAYA I'M JUST A FAN!

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Chapter 8

Tohru stood there in place seemingly frozen as she stared at the kimono the maid was holding. Apparently the staff that was witnessing the situation was getting restless at Tohru's motionless reaction. The look on some of their faces, were of impatience, restless and anxiousness.

Tohru looked went back and forth from the flower to the kimono wondering what could all of this mean. She wanted to ask, but had the feeling no one would answer her. She was at a loss of what to do next. This was however the first time any of the staff had made any sort of contact with her, asides from Reina. She finally reached out and grabbed the kimono.

"May I ask who this is for?" Tohru asked as she tried her voice to be as sweet and humble as possible.

"Master Sohma-sama has sent this for you." The maid said with no distinct tone in her voice, as she wiped her palms on her apron, twisting her lower lip in scrutiny. While whispering voice, and muffled chuckles were heard among the other staff. Reina was in the far back of the room with a disappointed frown on her face, as she left the room shortly afterwards.

Tohru suddenly felt alone in midst of the other staff members, pressing her lips together bearing the torment she fled out of the room as quickly as her body would allow her so. She decided that she had to face Akito, and quit depending on the few friends she held dear to her. Her new determination however, didn't make her any less frightened.

As she slowly made her way into her room, cautious of any sudden appearance of Akito. She realized the room the only one in her bedroom was herself; Akito was nowhere in sight. After making sure both the room's door and shoji back door that led to the veranda were locked, she started to change into the kimono given to her.

The kimono was made of the finest quality silk she had ever seen, as she felt the luxury fabric over her body's skin; she couldn't help but marvel at it's rich color and design. Of course she had seen her share of kimonos at New Year's festival, but she never really actually rented one for those occasions; either being far too busy working or tending to other things. When she lived with Yuki and Kyo it wasn't like they celebrated formally either, they had their private banquet to attend or they would just stay at home with her so generously.

Her eyes began to water at her fond memories, memories of her friends, her past life and her mother. She never actually recalled her mother even mentioning about wearing a kimono, and yet here she was pregnant, unmarried yet dressing up in a kimono and living in such luxury grounds. Of course her situation was far more complicated then that, but she couldn't help but feel terrible about it.

As she stared down at her child-bearing torso she smiled and brightened up softly. "There are more important things to think about then the past, right?" She asked herself despite she really was talking towards her unborn. She nodded, as she inhaled a deep steady breath. "That's right, you're what's more important now; even grandma Kyoko would agree."

Grabbing the Viscaria flower once more as she moved towards stepping outside, she took one long gaze back at her mother's smiling picture on her nightstand. "Mom back me up on this one k." She said more casually then her usual form of speak. She always remembered Arisa using similar wordings.

It was silent outdoors on the Honke grounds compared to the cluttered and moving pace of the rooms that were to hold the banquet the following day. Kitchen staff was preoccupied planning and even cooking some of the meals early in preparation. Meanwhile other staff members were busy organizing and decorating for the event, that being outside was the quietest place to be at the moment.

As she strolled under the now bare cherry blossom trees that had a slight hint of frost on them that signaled snowfall was soon to hit, she breathed out slowly as her breath was visible now in the chilling evening. She shouldn't exactly be outside in her condition; despite it not being freezing she wouldn't want Hatori to be worried. That was when she wondered exactly how Akito himself could be outside in this weather.

Looking at the note with the fine ink calligraphy written on it, she decided whatever was awaiting her was in the grove. The grove itself she hardly had been in since the first time she discovered it months ago when she first arrived at the Honke. Recalling the event, the way Akito revealed a bit of his past and as well his musical talent with the ancient instrument; it made her somehow at odds with how to portray it now.

Back at the time she considered that event eye-opening regarding Akito's sad upbringing and it made her see Akito in a new way, now after the recent encounter with Akito. She couldn't tell if to fear heading towards the secluded area, or be curious to how the recalled beautiful area would look like now in the new season. Either way she had to still head there, and face him.

Thoughts were whirling around in her mind as she headed towards the grove, with every step feeling like a ton of lead hitting the ground. Her heart pounded against her chest as she neared the area she was heading for. Before she reached the clearing, she stopped midway in the dense forestry path. She was exactly in the familiar place she was previously months ago:

The thick thicket forest to the side of her leading to the hidden quicksand she had almost fell into back then, behind her the deep and long bushes obscuring the path and view of the Honke building. Seeing all these landmarks quickly made her memories so vivid as if it happened only a couple of days ago. It was hard for her to think it had almost been year since then. Remembering all of this gave her courage to head on.

"Akito-sama...I-I don't really understand the meaning of this...I mean not that I need to know, but about what I told you previously...I...I just..." Tohru stumbled over her words as she stepped slowly over to the grove clearing entrance. With trembling fingers, she parted aside some tall high grasses that served as both an sort of entrance to the grove as well as hiding it from view and creating the overall secluded effect. Once she pulled the grasses aside, what she saw amazed her.

The grove had turned into a pure magical fantasy land. The rich green grasses, had a layer of snow frost over them that created a shimmering effect. Naturally growing cascading ferns and ivy cascaded around the decor. Hanging decor lights adorning the willow trees and floral bushes that had winter flowers blooming forth; a small serving table had been put out with various different delicacies under silver platters. It all looked so beautiful, and timeless that Tohru drifted off into a daze and forgot her fears.

Sitting on a concrete bench against a flowing fountain sat Akito in a position that just labeled that he was waiting impatiently. Elbow perched on his folded knee, palm against his cheek in a titled position while his other hand was spinning a item that Tohru couldn't make out. One of the things she did notice was that Akito wasn't wearing his usual white and red yukata, or his outdoor black outfit.

Instead he was wearing a kimono, just like her. However unlike the kimono she was wearing that was a bright color with entriqute designs printed on it. Akito's kimono was classier with deep dark royal blue color to it, with a black obi. She couldn't help but think the color suited him well with his ebony hair, and pale white skin tone.

Akito shifted his gaze towards her, his expression that of annoyed, and frustration. However he didn't act out violently as Tohru expected. He simply stated a bit irritated " It's about time, took you long enough. Exactly when was it that my useless servants forwarded the message to you?" He said as he twisted his frown. "Unless you were the one who was clueless."

Tohru quickly waved her hands back and forth frantically. "No no it wasn't the servants fault. It was mostly mine you see I spent the whole day hidden in the library, then I wasn't quite sure of your intentions when I received the note, and...oops." Tohru quickly covered her mouth in surprise. She had spoken so quickly, that she lost control of what she said.

Akito merely lowered his gaze towards the ground, making his expression unviewable to Tohru, as he replied in a flat tone. "Let me guess, you've come to take it all back; everything your mouth spewed out since you come here. It's alright, just say it. I won't get angry."

Tohru stared at him as somehow those words sounded so familiar to her in a way. She couldn't quite remember from where. Focusing however on what he had just told her, she couldn't help but get goose bumps on how Akito seemed to know already what she was planning on saying. She had to explain herself fully to him; she didn't want him to think differently of her. With a deep breath she let the words out slowly.

"I won't take back at what I said about your sad past, even if that wasn't really in my place to give such opinions. I'm just worried, that's all." She said as inside she chided herself for not sticking up for herself once more.

She watched as Akito squinted his eyes and stood up slowly walking towards her. Suddenly getting nervous once again she decided to continue. "Yes I was worried about the banquet. Even if I know I'm not allowed to attend, but what if someone sees me. Many Sohmas attend the banquet right?" She said nervously as she backed away in response to Akito walking neaer. She got cut short, by bumping into the table behind it.

Her eyes widening, at seeing Akito raise his hand slowly over her, she decided she must do something. Not moving her stance, she grabbed the first object she felt behind her. "Oh look it's..." Tohru pulled the object in front of her, which was the silver platter cover to one of the meals. "It's food. I-I mean I know you know its food...but...it looks delicious. Who put it out here? Do you normally eat here at this time of year?" Tohru babbled out quickly; stumbling over her words as she desperately tried to change the conversation, and most importantly keep Akito at a safe distance.

Akito raised his eyebrow, as he scrunched his frown into a exasperated one. "Are you saying that you think that mongrel is going to dare disobey me, and come after you; just who do you think I am!" He said as he slapped the platter cover out of her hands, clanging on the ground as it fell.

Tohru flinched at his outburst, despite at the moment she was more tense around him then thinking about Shigure, she couldn't disagree that the latter Akito was implying hadn't crossed her mind either. After all Shigure did disobey Akito's commands once and did what he did already. Worse yet if Shigure got the chance to even catch a glimpse of her condition, he was surely smart enough to connect the dots.

The more she thought about it, the more minor her fear of Akito continued in her mind. Biting her lower lip, and rubbing her hands together nervously, she couldn't help but let her mind fly to certain situations that might take place the following night. "I just thought it might be too risky. Shigure must remember that the last time he saw me was here at the Honke. So he's the only one else who knows I'm here, what if he starts looking and he sees me. He might find out, and want to take Alto away?" Tohru said as her face paled at the thought.

Akito leaned back a bit puzzled by her last phrase. "Alto?" He said slowly, in a slight questioning manner.

Tohru gasped a bit of her slip-up once again. She herself was a bit confused as to where she even uttered or got the idea of the name Alto. It just came out in the spur-of-the-moment in her frantic speech. She had always thought on the name Katsuya before-hand. However now thinking on the new name, she quite liked the sound of it; he nodded slowly. "Y-yes Alto, that's what I think I'll call him. Alto Katsuya So-" She stopped short before mentioning the last name. She still had no idea regarding what would be the newborn's last name. Of course if she were married as her mother would've planned her to be, then likely the baby's last name wouldn't of been a issue. This time however she was at odds.

Noticing her pause in sentence, Akito smirked at the situation. Of course he would require the infant to have the Sohma name. After-all being the generation of a zodiac member, as god of the zodiac it belonged to him. However he was intrigued as to her decision. Would she willingly bow down and add Sohma to her child's name? "I take it Katsuya is your father's name, however Alto?" Akito asked keener on getting her to further the awkward subject then really wanting to know the reason why she chose such a name.

"I don't know, it just came to me." Tohru said as she scratched her head in a typical naive manner, as she laughed weakly only to have her laugh turn into sobs. "I-I can't bear to have him taken away from me, not after all this time. I've been having these dreams lately, each one slightly different but all the same. It's either me with the baby, laying him down in his crib, and when I come back to check on him he's disappeared. Other times it's him that takes Alto away, and I have to run after them. The one I have the most is that I wake up somewhere in this dark room I can't get out of, I can't find the baby and suddenly Shigure appears. It all looks so real." She cried out with her hands covering her face.

Akito snorted in response. "Those have to be the stupidest dreams I have ever heard. How can you even think of them as real, there's something missing that would never happen in reality."

Tohru looked up at him in response. "What is?"

"There's no way that would happen. As long as you're on my grounds and I'm still alive; I won't allow it. No one here lays a finger on either of you as long as I'm still alive." He said as he slammed his fist on the table.

Instead of being shaken up by Akito's gesture, she focused on the final phrase of his sentence. As long as he was still alive? Tohru frowned sadly at the thought of it. "Akito-sama you can't just die, can you?"

Akito rolled his eyes at her comment and stepped away from her. "It's been decided, each Sohma cursed with the god of the zodiac will die at some point or another. It differs between cases. There have been cases when they die at childbirth, others when they're merely children; some live up to their thirties. It's never known for sure when it'll happen. It just does. No matter what pity or weak sympathy you or any other person gives me, that's all it ever will be; sympathy. Nothing can change it."

"But the curse is lifting slowly. Momiji and Hiro are no longer cursed according to what Hatori told me. It could lift for you too." Tohru said trying her best to remain hopeful.

"Foolish girl, do you really think it will lift in time for me. As bearing the core of the curse, I'm the weakest and prime member. Even if the other worthless animals get their curse lifted. I'll be the last one to be lifted. Its how the whole thing works. By the time it lifts if it ever lifts which I highly doubt, the effect the curse has on my body for the time being will leave me in a weak sick state. Either way I'll end up dieing. In the end, as always when that does happen, when I die; everyone will celebrate because they have gotten rid of me. You see I'm in their way of their precious lives; I'm the one who gives them rules and obligations. With me out of the picture, they'll have one less thing in their way." He said coldly, as he then sneered.

"However they'll always have something to remind them of me. Their Sohma name, their curse they can't erase. If it never lifts of them, then they'll be forced to bonded, forced to remember me for as long as they live."

If Akito would have told her this years ago when she used to live with Kyo and Yuki, before she found out anything about him. She would have been chilled to the bone with his dark and seemingly cold-hearted statements. Now though, she couldn't help but feel sorry for him. "Is that why you try so hard for the curse not to break?" She replied.

Akito turned around and stared at her. 'Is she mocking me, the little twit!' He thought, as he tightened his fists.

Tohru continued. "I'm sure the others don't want you to die Akito, but one thing I know for a fact is that I won't be celebrating if you do die. I'll be there at your funeral, mourning just as any regular person does when someone dies. Not because of sympathy, but because the person who died was dear to them, and they cared. I don't want you to die Akito, I don't want anything bad to happen to the Sohmas, but if you do; I know for a fact that I'll miss you, and won't forget. Not because I was afraid for you, but because of what you did Akito, you not the god of the zodiac."

Akito stood there, frozen in place; unsure on how to react to her words. A person, an outsider just told him that they wanted him to live because they cared. It can't be true, something must be behind it. Fear, pity, something. Eying the flower in her hand, he slowly stepped forward towards her, his hand outreached. as he plucked the flower out of her hand. "Do you know what type of flower it is?"

Tohru looked at the flower she had forgotten she was holding. She recalled it from one of her textbooks, but couldn't remember the meaning of it. "Is it a Viscaria?"

Akito nodded in response as he walked over to the table, uncovering the platters revealing multiple types of food. "Tomorrow the banquet will be held, and every cursed Sohma, and Sohma affiliated with them is to attend. The evening starts with multiple prepared meals being served and dined. Shortly afterwards the melody of the Chinese Zodiac legend is played, followed by the assigned dance between the animal of the current year, and the animal of the following year. They both display a ceremonial dance, which is followed by then dancing between all of the attendants. The evening closes differently depending on the situation, mostly always one of the chosen zodiac member stays behind for a private stay with their master." He explained as he stood at the end of the table.

Tohru let the whole setting fall in her mind, and gasped. "Akito-sama you mean-"

"Since you won't be able to attend the banquet tomorrow, then a private banquet will be held here. It is ordered that all affiliated Sohmas must attend. That includes that one's first ever banquet. It is after all the most important one of them all." Akito continued interrupting her.

"Why?"

"Because it is tradition that the next generation of Sohmas must always attend before they're born. It is there that they're determined on weather they'll be part of the zodiac or not; of course it won't be revealed to the mother until her birthing day in order to avoid abortion. In your case however it is because it's a direct child of a zodiac member." Akito replied.

Tohru let out of breath of relief. For a slight moment she thought it was Akito that went out of his way to prepare a private party for her, but she was relieved once hearing the truth. "Thank you so much Akito-sama. I'm so excited, this food looks so tasty." Tohru said as she bowed and started to dine. The meals couldn't have come at a better moment; she was literally starving due to their pregnant state of an increased appetite.

It was near the ending of the meal that Tohru's mind came to a halt when she recalled the answer. "It means will you dance with me; the Viscaria that's its meaning." Tohru said as she looked over to Akito who revealed his yamatogoto from the willow tree center.

Tohru's eyes lit up. "You mean, you're going to play a song?" It had been so long that she heard the distinct sound of the ancient instrument, she was already anxious for Akito to start playing.

Akito knelt down in front of the instrument. "I will play the melody used for the telling of the Chinese Zodiac legend. It's played every year, so it was an early requirement for me to learn to play it at a young age." He said as he starting playing the ancient long harp-like instrument; his fingers appearing to be gliding over the strings.

Tohru smiled, as she closed her eyes and listened to the folklore melody being played. In her mind she pictured the legend of the banquet taking place. With the mystic Jade Emperor commanding the rat to gather up the animals, the rat riding on the ox's back and the cat sound asleep unaware of what was taking place. Tohru frowned sadly as the images of the animals slowly shifted into her friends taking their place. Yuki, Haru and the others taking part of the festivities, and Kyo sleeping on the rooftop of a familiar house.

Tohru's eyes snapped open, as the music had stopped and Akito was now standing right in front of her. Tohru forgot instantly her sad thoughts and back away until she was against the large weeping willow. Akito nearing in front of her his hand outreached once more. She figured there was no more putting it off, she had to tell him. "Umm...Akito..I think...huh." Tohru stopped short in sentence when she saw Akito's hand held a tape recorder, and the Viscaria was put back in her hair.

Pressing the button to the recorder, made it begin to play instrumental melodies. Setting it aside, Akito shook his head in annoyance. "Let me guess, you don't know how to dance either. Typical."

Tohru widened her eyes in surprise. The Viscaria he had given her, the music. Was he really asking her all along, to dance? Tohru smiled inwardly at the thought of it. She had never exactly danced much before, but she always admired the times she would see weddings and proms where couples and friends alike would dance happily. Yet here she was, dressed in a kimono, in a serene decorated area with music playing in the background. She thought she didn't deserve such formalities but couldn't offend Akito by saying so.

She slowly and cautiously extended her arm, nervous if Akito would suddenly rebuke and tell her otherwise. However instead he acted completely different then she imagined.

Akito scowled impatiently, as he pulled and yanked her forwards. "You really are simple-minded." He said flatly, as he held both of her hands.

Tohru felt as her face began to heat up once the gesture was done. She rarely had held a boy's hand before, and now Akito of all people was holding both of her hands. A flush of emotions was running through her, his grip despite a bit rough at first, was very supportative and secure. Somehow his hold felt completely different then the forceful, dominative one from earlier which had scared her.

She broke out of her embarrassment when Akito spoke up again. "What do they teach at your schools, and to think Yuki and the others are getting their education at such a low class school. Anyone could be class president easily if this is how they teach you people."

Tohru quickly responded. "Oh...no it's not that easy it's just that I didn't really take part in extracurricular activities much. I usually had to work after I got out of school so-"

"Is that the reason your hands have the appearance of a chambermaid's?" He said as he turned her hands over palm up to reveal the wear caused by extensive wear. "My good-for-nothing mother was a maid and even she had better hands, why even Yuki has better hands then you. What kind of work did you do; blacksmithing?" Akito said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"Umm...well I've had different jobs; mainly cleaning ones." Tohru said a bit embarrassed by Akito's comments.

"Hmph well it's expected then for you to be this way, after-all you were raised in a low class area. It's by some miracle that you managed to have etiquette, and formalities of some form." Akito remarked.

Tohru let the critique slip by her, at least bristling. She had gotten similar comments throughout the most part of her life, either by her mother's family or other adults and teenagers. However it stung a bit that it was coming from someone she knew, at least partially. As she was about to bow in apology for herself, she felt Akito tug at her arm again. This time when she looked up she saw her arm raised up in a dance pose. Before she knew it she was being led in a waltz-like manner.

She had never danced the waltz, or knew how; however she couldn't help but admire Akito's graceful movements. It was indeed true that the Sohma family in general seemed so sophisticated and high class compared to others she knew. She just never realized or paid much attention before.

The Sohma family was a well-known prestigious name throughout Japan, owning various companies and buildings. Not one Sohma member was poor exactly; some richer, or higher in rank then others, but definitely not poor. The lesser ones both lived and worked right here in the estate or worked in another one of the buildings owned by another fellow Sohma to say the least. It was indeed a name that stood out amongst Japanese society. It wasn't a mystery why Yuki was so popular at school, not only for his way of being, but the upbringing of being a Sohma as well. Tohru couldn't stand at all in comparison. That was when another thought crossed Tohru's mind.

'Is this the reason why Akito treats outsiders the way he does? Not only because of the curse, but because of his family's name superiority; after all he is the head of the Sohma name. No wonder other Sohmas that aren't part of the zodiac curse respect him. He's so young, yet has so much power.' Tohru thought as she tried to move as gracefully as her body condition alllowed her to. Which wasn't exactly for too long, the fact that she lost her footing and sent both Akito and herself tumbling to the ground; luckily the headed mulch and peat moss lined ground broke her fall.

"Oh I'm so sorry, I don't know what happened; I must have lost my footing. I'm so sorry." Tohru said quickly as she lay on the floor with Akito beside her. Realizing what happened after a few brief seconds, she shot up into a sitting position. "Oh no, I hope that fall wasn't too bad, or else Hatori would be worried because of my sake." Tohru said quickly worrying about her pregnancy.

Akito looked at her display, and frowned. 'Doesn't she ever stop talking about that lousy dragon?' He thought, as he sat up and leaned forwards towards her.

Tohru noticed then Akito's silence and looked to her side, only to see Akito's closeness. 'Oh no, I have to do something!' She thought. Leaning a away from him a bit, she managed to speak out slowly. "A-Akito-sama...I-I have to tell you that..." She tensed up as she felt Akito reach over to her. "Akito-sama please wait!" She pleaded, as she reflexively struck out her hands against his. That was when she saw exactly what Akito was doing.

"It's that hairclip." She marveled as she recalled the hairclip as the same one he had given her when he took her to her mother's grave. For a moment she couldn't take her eyes off of it. It's bright colors of red, orange and yellow that had a rich leaf foliage design top of with shiny glitter. She then noticed that it matched her kimono. Blinking her eyes twice in wonder, she looked at Akito. "But?"

"You can keep it as long as you live here on the grounds. It's no use to me." Akito said carelessly, as he looked away to nowhere in particular.

Tohru eagerly clipped the accessory on her hair once again, enjoying her so-called gift. When she noticed Akito's lost and almost lonely sad look he had. 'I wonder what's he thinking about, he looks so sad.' Quickly becoming a bit down herself, she decided to try and get Akito to talk. "Umm..Akito-sama where do you get such pretty things like this? I know you must have lots of nice looking things for yourself, but where did you get such nice looking girl things? You don't really have to go through so much trouble, ordering such fancy things. I'm happy with whatever I receive."

"They're not ordered." He said harshly.

Tohru got puzzled for a moment. "Oh, they're not. Well if they're from another Sohma then by all means there's no need really. I can't possibly just go off, taking away another's clothing if they need it; especially clothing and accessories that's as pretty as this." She said quickly thinking that was the only other way.

"It was mine; the clip." He said turning his gaze back at Tohru. "I thought Hatori had told you already, since he's been getting quite talkative lately. Everyone thought that I was going to be a girl, including my father; he was the one that had it made for me. My birth-date was due in the fall hence the name Akito. My crazed mother was the only one that said I would be a boy. Hmmph ironic." He said with disgust in his tone.

Tohru thought on what he just stated. The hairclip was his father's first gift to him and now he was giving it to her to keep. The thought of Akito gifting to her something so precious made her feel a bit fluttery in the stomach. "Thank you so much Akito, I'll take good care of it."

Akito look up in surprise. Did she just thank him? He couldn't even remember the last time someone had thanked him for anything. Hearing it now, it sounded so out-of-place and awkward. He couldn't help but turn his gaze towards her to see her face in order to prove it. She was as always excited for any little thing offered to her, he didn't know weather to be annoyed by that or flabbergasted.

Now that he thought of it, he must have known a form of thanks was going to come from a person like her, especially after he went through the process of setting up this whole private evening; even if he made Kureno do most of the major work. Her giving out her thank you's should have been no surprise even if the main purpose he did this evening was to keep her as far away as possible from the actual banquet the following night. He figured the slightest curiosity she had would have been eliminated by now.

Still however, those words of hers wouldn't settle easily in his mind. As he gazed upon her distracted self tidying up her locks of hair with the clip he had given to her, something caught his eye. Her neck had a purplish blotch that had the appearance of a bruise. Leaning over, he decided he had to inspect it for himself. No sooner that his hands grazed her neck however, she quickly shivered and jolted to the side.

"Akito-sama!" She said quickly surprised. "Is something the matter?" She asked even though Akito knew clearly she wasn't really looking for an answer, instead merely dodging the closeness.

"What happened to your neck, who did it?" He said firmly in more of a commanding voice then a questioning one.

His words were like a reflex action; her hand quickly flew to cover the side of her neck, her face turning into an uncomfortable expression. "O-oh what's wrong with it?" She said stumbling a bit over her words.

Akito frowned at her response, knowing she was obviously hiding something. That was when his mind came to a halt when he recalled a recent event that had happened. His frown turned into smirk as he leaned closer in a crouching position, crawling slightly to be on her exact sitting level. He had seen her get up from a sitting position before in her outdoor study sessions. From the looks of it, it wasn't exactly an easy or quick thing for her to do; so he knew there was no way she would stand and run off.

As he got closer she slowly kept backing further away. "Akito-sama...I'm fine really, there's no need for you to-"

"Did I do this to you?" Akito said, in a malicious tone as he reached out and touched her hand that was covering the evidence on her neck; grabbing a lock of her hair in the process.

Tohru pressed her lips together as the space between Akito and herself got smaller and smaller by the spilt seconds. This was going against what she had plans on doing, and it seemed no matter how fast she tried leaning away from Akito, he seemed to overpower her and stay in a close distance. While-as she started to get breathless and overall exhaustion, Akito seemed to increase in energy and speed. Before she knew it, Akito was looming over her; his eyes hidden under his hanging hair. Under the moonlight, and decor lights, he appeared as a mysterious shadow whose intentions weren't innocent at all; infact it her downright frightened that she said the first thing that came to mind.

"Akito, its Yuki!"

That did it. He quickly sat back, his eyes widened either by surprise or confusion. "Yuki? Did you just mention-"

Tohru quickly thought up something fast to continue her diversion "Yes, I mean Yuki, Hatori, or any of the others might see us. Even if you're the god of the zodiac and can do as you wish. Don't you suppose that by doing such things out in the public view could make the other members of the zodiac question their relationship with outsiders." She babbled out. As soon as she did however, she was dumbfounded on her very own words. She never expected such words would come out of her, or even the fact that form of thinking was even in her system. Where did that come from?

Akito blinked twice in response, and slowly started to laugh which took Tohru aback. She hadn't heard him laugh since the day Kyo revealed himself, and even so she still remembered that that laugh he gave her that rainy night nearly make her lose her frame of better thinking. It wasn't exactly the kind of laugh you'd want join in. However she did recall that day he went to visit her at school years ago, he laughed the same at the time too. 'Maybe that's his way of laughing, well I can't blame him; it isn't like he had much to laugh at growing up.' Tohru thought sadly, as she began to let go a bit her fear of his laugh. She was interrupted on her thoughts, when he spoke up.

"You're turning into quite the bright one, or should I say cunning. Hmm I guess all that tutoring I hired for you, really is paying off; there might just be hope for you yet." He said as he stood up slowly. "Alright I'll reconsider only due to you having a very valuable statement. Your banquet is over; you can watch the closing fireworks from your room in tomorrow's actual banquet."

Tohru let out a breath of relief, what she said had worked. She was able to stick up for herself, yet not go too far either. Akito having called her cunning however stuck in her mind. It was the first anyone had called her that. She decided to let it slip for now, as she wanted no more complications for the rest of the night.

Tohru blinked her eyes open slowly as she raised herself up from bed. Sleeping was getting more of a need for her definitely nowadays; the difference was she was finding it harder to get to sleep. She felt uncomfortable, and even the thought of getting out of bed felt agonizing. Even if she enjoyed the previous night dance she slightly regretted it on the half that she now felt completely drained.

She lay back in the pillow, and pulled the bed sheets over her head as she let out a heavy sigh. As much as she felt like returning back to sleep however, the grumble of her stomach refused to settle. She angrily tossed back the sheets, grabbing the first thing in reach and flung it. She quickly gasped once she realized what she had thrown.

"Mom!" Forgetting her drained state she got off from the bed, and kneeled by the frame's side. The frame had fallen against the flower vase sending both items crashing to the floor. Both the frame and the vase's glass had been shattered once again into bits and pieces. The water of the vase pouring onto the wooden floor. Worst yet, her favorite picture of her mother was now soaked and close to ruin.

"Why?" Tohru asked herself, she never before woken up in a sour mood to actually break anything; yet now she had. Thinking on Akito's words the previous night she quickly began to worry. 'Am I really changing?' She didn't know for sure, the only one who had known her before coming here to the Honke was Motoko and Tohru wasn't about to call her up for such a unnecessary thing when Motoko most likely would be busy.

Her mind then shifted to the day's upcoming events. It had reached the day of the banquet; soon the Honke would be filled with even more Sohmas then the norm. She then settled on the fact that Yuki and Kyo would be coming as well, being in exact same building she was in. Haru, Kagura, Kisa, Hiro and even Ritsu mostly likely would be attending as well. Although she was sure of Momiji but she was certain of the fact of yet another person that would definitely attend.

Shigure Sohma

Asides from Kureno, Hatori and Akito. Shigure was in fact the only other one who knew of her whereabouts, knew of her traumatic event firsthand. Even if she wasn't supposed to go anywhere near the banquet room and stay as far away as possible, she still dreaded the fact of even catching a glimpse of the dog of the zodiac; she had no idea how she would even react if it'd happen.

That was when she noticed the flower that was lying on the wooden floor, amongst the shredded glass pieces. It was a vine of small delicate white flowers. Recalling her latest tutoring session, she recognized the flower as a White Heather. Smiling as she picked it up, her worry started to fade as she remembered the flower's sentimental meaning.

Protection from Danger

"Thank you Akito."

Meanwhile in the midst of a traffic jam in the city, inside a car of luxury some deep coughing way heard.

"Hey you ape, why didn't you stay home this year? Whatever it is you got, is driving me insane." An annoyed ginger haired teen spat out to his car companion.

"I'm so sorry, please forgive me. You see my worthless sickly body has been ever the more weak lately, that I've been sick quite a lot recently. I knew I would be a burden in sharing the car with others; I shouldn't even be sharing the same air as the two of you are, and I am endangering you of my illness. Oh please forgive me, forgive me world for being so-"

"I'll forgive you, if you shut up. Geez it's not like I want to attend this banquet anyways. It's a waste of time, I could be training. Uotani is going to beat me for sure because of this. That girl I tell you, she pi-"

"Now now Kyo, from what I've seen the two of you seem to be getting along quite well. You're both quick on your feet, and make quite the combat. The both of you have such similar ways of being it's almost frightening." An older calmer man spoke up as he held back a chuckle at the teen's expressions.

Kyo gritted his teeth and crossed his arms. "Master, I dare you to say that we make a good team. The only thing we can agree on is that we both can't stand Rin or Shigure. That and our rotten childhood."

Kazuma continued to smile as he shook his head. "Just don't let Kagura find out. Lately you seem to be getting pretty popular with the girls. You can't blame it for being Yuki's cousin this time now."

"Hey I said cut it out, big deal half the girls that go there heard of Yuki before when he used take your lessons. It's no difference." Kyo spat out angrily as he thought of his rival.

"I don't think Miss Uotani is labeled as that group however." Kazuma continued to tease in his fatherly way.

"Quit calling her Miss, it creeps me out. Stop making such a big deal, she's an outsider remember." Kyo replied as the two of them went silent sadly. Kyo quickly shifted over to look out the car's side window, obviously not interested in speaking any further.

Kazuma decided to break the ice once more. "So Ritsu, how long before you back away from that young editor girl. You do know if Akito ever finds out, it's going to sprew up trouble."

Ritsu finally spoke up again, having been silent all throughout the short fatherly-son tease. The fond moment had relaxed him to a point as he spoke in a normal tone instead of hysterical. "Nothing really has happened between us, asides from going out to lunch and talking on the phone. Mit-chan does seem to want to go out somewhere different, something more like a date; however I haven't called her back since then. You don't suppose-"

Kyo glanced over at the monkey, his chin relaxing in his palm as he spoke up without moving an inch. "Mit-chan huh, and you say nothing as happened. You have nicknames already?"

Ritsu looked down sadly. "Oh dear, I would like to regret the day I met her when I was visiting Shigure house, but I can't seem to even say it. How did I get myself into this? I should have never brought my family's name into trouble with Akito."

Kyo continued looking out the window. He remembered the day Ritsu had met Mitseru, Shigure editor; it was the exact same day Ritsu had first met Tohru. He had tried to keep Tohru off his mind lately but all he needed was one memory of the past, and in came a whole flood of Tohru. He was glad he had decided to stay at Kazuma's training until his remaining year was up. It not only took his mind of that rat, and that no good god of his, but also of Tohru's disappearance.

He hadn't given up hope completely of any of them finding her, but he just couldn't take the anxiety of waiting, waiting with no definite answers. So he left far away from those memories he had, and tried to make the most of his remaining time. Even if Uotani was too stubborn and persistent to come to terms as well, but he knew that slowly she was trying to put the thoughts behind her as well when training. As much as he hated to admit it, she was turning into someone different then the brash smart mouthed yankee he once knew.

Back at the Honke grounds, Kureno hung up the phone in its cradle, as he gave a worried sigh. He knew what he just had heard was bound to bring up Akito's suspicions. He had to figure out how exactly he was going to tell him. Wrapped in his thoughts, a voice broke him out of his reverie.

"Let me guess, yet another one of my useless animals' curse was lifted."

Kureno spun around to see Akito leaning against the veranda post, staring out to the Honke grounds and not bothering facing him. His expression was unreadable but to Kureno's trained eye he knew Akito was disguising his anger as usual.

"Actually that wasn't the main reason, it seems that Momiji, and Hiro are both still going to attend the banquet even if they aren't cursed. They didn't explain why exactly but they're all on their way here." Kureno said wary keeping on his toes incase Akito suddenly lashed out.

"The banquet is to be attended only to those cursed, and their closest family members. It is something legendary, not something as trivial as a mere family reunion. Those not cursed are no longer part of us."Akito said as he emphasized on the word us, obviously meaning the zodiac members.

Kureno frowned, and picked up the phone. "Shall you have me call them and instruct them not to come further-more?

Akito turned towards Kureno, smiling his ill-intentioned dark smile, as he snatched the phone off his hands. "No, go off and make other preparations. I'll call them myself."

Later that evening, vehicles started to pull into the estate and in a matter of minutes the Honke was filled with various Sohmas. Amongst them were some familiar faces.

"Hey Yuki, Haru betcha didn't think I'd actually come didn't ya." A blonde haired German mixed teen spoke up in his usual happy-go-lucky voice as he trotted over to the other two.

"Momiji don't you think Akito would suspect something by you coming, you're no longer cursed." Yuki replied in a low voice making sure others didn't hear.

"Actually Akito did call me this morning." Momiji said as he frowned slightly thinking on it.

"What!" Haru, Yuki and now Hiro said in unison.

"I found it kind of weird that he called me himself and not Kureno, but yes he did call me. He didn't say much, but he did say that he was one step ahead of us, and by us I think he meant us us. I think he smells a rat." Momiji said with wide eyes.

"That's all he said, what makes me think he told you something else?" Yuki said growing suspicious. He knew Akito well enough to know that whenever Akito made an appearance, either by phone or in person; it was always to make a threat and prove his superiority.

"Well that's basically what he said." Momiji replied.

A voice broke them out of their discussion. "Yuki, Haru, Momiji and Hiro my if it isn't the old gang back together again. Oh how I miss those good old days. All there's missing is Kyo." Shigure said as he walked towards them smiling.

All the teens stood back surprised at Shigure's appearance. Of course they knew he would be there, but then again neither had seen the dog since Tohru had disappeared.

"Shigure, how's the hand. You seem better." Haru said as he noticed Shigure had no cast nor sling on the said broken arm.

"Yeah it finally has recovered. Still hurts when I try to write with it, but it's only a matter of time; seems like Kazuma's mountain really is the cure. I wonder why it hasn't done Kyo any improvements though, or maybe it has from what I've seen." Shigure said as his smile turned smug.

"What do you mean?" All the teen boys said in unison, their interest peaked.

"Well it seems Kyo has gotten quite popular with the girls. Besides the usual Kagura, many of the other students there seem to either have a crush on him, or admire him. One of them exclusively has gotten a mighty close friendship lately." Shigure said as he scratched his chin.

"Kyo and another outsider girl. Is he just asking for more trouble?" Hiro scoffed.

"I'm guessing he's probably doing this to get Tohru off his mind, that and trying to forget he only has a short time left." Momiji spoke up sadly.

"Why is it, that even with that outsider girl gone, you all keep talking about her. It's more then annoying, you guys just have to move on." A feminine voice spoke up with a hint of envy and spite.

"Now Rin, that's not very nice. You haven't even met Tohru." Another spoke up.

"Kagura, Rin nice to see some familiar pretty faces here." Shigure said happily.

"Don't now Rin me Kagura, I'm not the slightest bit interested in meeting that girl even if she was still here. You all have to stop talking about like if she's still here. Face it she's not. It's not as if she can actually do some good for us like break the curse. Lay off it already." Rin continued as she scowled.

"Come on my little filly, you really don't have to be this way." Shigure said as he touched the girl's long black locks. Only to have her rebuff, and slap it away.

"I told you to quit playing with me Shigure." Rin replied angrily as she stomped off, pushing past Kyo, Ritsu and Ayame.

"What's with her Shigure- dear. It's been ages since we've last conversed." Ayame said in his typical fooling tone.

"Yes it has Aya, how I've missed you so." Shigure answered, after a long pause they both gave each other a thumb's up causing the teens around them to gag.

"Speaking of which, let's go see ol Hari now. Ritsu care to join us, and leave these blossoming youth to themselves." Shigure said pulling Ritsu off with him.

"Ciao my darling little brother. We'll talk later about your university dealings." Ayame gave Yuki a wave as he trotted off.

"You know I'm slightly getting used to his annoying routine. Doesn't bother me as much as it used to." Yuki said a while after his older brother left. The others nodding in agreement.

Inside a few minutes later, the banquet hall was set, and everyone was in their seats conversing, waiting for the event to start. Kisa had arrived and was seated next to Hiro along with the rest of the zodiac members at their own set table reserved just for the zodiac. As Yuki went to sit down, he heard someone clear his throat. Looking over his shoulder at the end of the table, in the master chair sat Akito; eyeing him to sit in the chair usually kept for him, which was at Akito's right side.

Yuki sighed a bit, as he quickly glanced at Momiji and Haru who took his motion, and frowned as Yuki was forced to take his seat next to Akito. Even though it was considered regulatory for the rat of the zodiac to sit next to the head, due to Yuki's plan with Momiji and Haru he couldn't help but feel more nervous then usual.

No sooner had he sat down, Akito spoke up. "Hello Yuki, it's been awhile hasn't it. For the past two years you haven't been coming here, instead you stayed home with the filthy cat and that girl. Your seat has been empty since then." Akito said flatly as he glared at Yuki, narrowing his eyes. "but now that you lost that girl, you've come back to me as predicted. There's no escaping it my darling Yuki, the bond is more powerful then any outer feelings to an outsider. Tell me though; do you truly still miss her that much?"

Yuki took a deep breath of tolerance; he knew exactly what Akito was doing to him. He was testing him, pushing him to his limit. It was a habit of Akito's to hit on weaknesses, and Yuki knew that Akito was aware of his feelings for Tohru. Knowing Akito he knew that Akito would use that to his advantage.

"You wouldn't understand Akito." Yuki said coldly. This was the first time he ever said something of that fashion to Akito, but something in him told him that Akito knew something about her. No doubt Akito took it the wrong way, as Yuki noticed that his glare turned colder, and his hands balled up into fists. Instead of lashing out, and causing a scene however. He witnessed Akito's eyes glanced over to an area which result in Akito's full attention in something else. Suddenly Akito stood up from his chair, and walked off without a word.

As far as Yuki knew the head of the Sohmas, he was absolutely positive Akito normally wouldn't have let his response to him slide easily. He knew something was up. After minutes passed, he leaned over towards Haru and whispered. "Now."

Somewhere in another hallway of the Honke which was dim lighted due to the main commotion being at the banquet, Shigure crept around trying to locate the hostage victim he was looking for. He knew Akito must have her locked inside of a room, tortured, traumatized, or maybe even worse. Shigure shook his head, as he refused to even think about such a thing. Of course Akito wasn't the average young guy, who fell for girls and started thinking about romance. Akito would be more inclined to make Tohru's life a living doom instead.

This of course brought Shigure's mind to other thoughts. What if Akito was playing a game; Tohru is gullible, naive, and innocent enough to fall for anything. With Akito's scheming mind Shigure knew that Akito could easily brainwash Tohru into going on his side.

Shigure's thoughts were put to a halt as a arm slinked out of nowhere and pulled him aside into a dark room.

"It's been awhile Shigure; just look at how you've matured from a attractive teenager to a irresistible man. I've missed you so, haven't you?" A sultry female voice said in the darkness.

Shigure froze still, as some long manicured hands caressed his cheeks and tousled his hair. Suddenly the hand grabbed a lock of his hair, her long nails digging into the side of his neck. "Of course maybe not, according to what I've heard around here, your looks weren't the only thing that changed, your taste did as well. Word has it, you prefer younger women; teenage girls to put it more simply. I can't even comprehend why you would be so passionate to do the act you committed with a spineless washboard when you've already had a fully developed woman."

Shigure quickly backed off from the women's grasp. "How-"

"How long have I been here? How do I know what happened between you and that plain childish girl? Come now Shigure, you know me I have my ways of knowing and doing things without even that worthless Akito having knowledge. That however is not important, surely I know you didn't sneak away from the banquet looking for me; you were looking for that pot-bellied-"

Shigure angrily slapped her hand away. "Tohru's no pot-bellied anything, you stay away from her."

The woman raised her eyebrows in surprise. "What's this Shigure, back talk? Well, well I had a feeling that girl did something more to you then that horse girl did. At least Akito taught the horse a lesson though, unlike this new girl. I frankly have not an idea what he is planning for her, unless she's starting to have him wrapped around her finger like she has the rest of you cursed."

Shigure's interest piqued at her response. "What are you talking about, Tohru doesn't have...wait a minute, what do you mean about Akito?"

"Silly, silly Shigure, let's just say Tohru is the new young Ren in the Honke, and I don't like it. Fooling around with you might make me jealous but whatever it is she's doing to him, or what he actually has in store for her, I'm not about to sit back and watch. If there's something I want more then you, is Akito being broken down by his weakness, his heart or his pride. We both want her out of her don't we not, and you want to see her again; even if you're not permitted to set foot near her." She said as she curled a lock of his hair around her finger.

Shigure backed off away from her instantly. "Forget it, not another one of your twisted plans. There always has to be something good in it for you, and I know torturing Akito isn't the whole reason."

She smiled sheepishly, and her eyes fluttered under her long lashes." Well if there mustbe something else, like I said I have missed you terribly Shigure. You really have gotten so...irresistible." She pressed her lips together as she stroked his chin.

Minutes passed and somewhere down one of the Honke's many hallways, a frustrated young man briskly walked through them, his eyes searching at every bend. 'That's it, where is that mongrel!' After opening yet another door, that held a number of young staff kitchen maids whispering and gushing about the good-looking young Sohma men attending the banquet. They jumped in fright at his sudden door opening.

"Oh Akito Sohma-sama a-are you in need of anything?" One of the maids that looked like a teenager herself, with her wavy short hair quickly asked him nervously assuming that he overheard their conversation, worst yet saw that they were slacking off. To their surprise, he didn't notice.

"Where is she?" He asked in a demanding voice.

The maids looked at each other dumbfounded. "Where's who Sohma-sama?" They tried using their extra respect curtsey in order to avoid losing their positions.

"Don't act foolish now, where's the girl?" He spat at them, as he tightened his grip on the door.

The other young maid that was with her quickly came to her defense. "If you mean the pregnant concubine, then she's in her room answering a phone call." Her short flipped hair tied back in a bandanna.

Akito's eyes flared. 'Concubine, who do these lousy rats think they are, they're not even dressed in appropriate Honke maid attire.' He thought as he saw one was wearing a French maid outfit, and the other some dirty overalls that were so loose they appeared to be too sizes too big.

"Who gave you permission to dress that way, and most importantly who told you to call her a concubine!" He screamed, as the two girls flinched.

"I'm so sorry Sohma-sama, my friend Tsukushi and I are new, and were told by the head housekeeper that we were supposed to address her as such, and dress this way." The other maid with waves quickly bowed and apologized.

"Then you're both fired for believing such an idiotic thing so quickly without addressing Kureno first. Get out!" Akito slammed the door in their faces as he stomped down the hall hoping to run into the mutt on the way and teach him a lesson.

"I just can't do this Motoko, it's so expensive." Tohru said as she lay on her bed, on the phone; paging through the nursery catalog; almost fainting at the prices.

"Oh come on Tohru, the guy gives you the catalog to order your things. Saying no would probably offend him, don't you think. Quit worrying and indulge for once; just order what you need." Motoko voice on the other end sighed at Tohru's resistance.

"There are so many pretty ones, I just can't choose." Tohru said as he marveled at the pages.

"Even if I'd go visit you, it's still your choice that matters. I can't pick it for you. Just pick one that goes best with the both of you." Motoko said on the other line.

"The both of us?" Tohru quickly asked.

"Yeah you and your baby boy. Who else did you think I was referring to?" Motoko answered with her ending question coming of as a tease.

Tohru quickly blushed. "Oh no one really, you just caught me by surprise." She heard Motoko slightly laugh on the other end.

"You thought I meant your biter huh." Motoko replied knowingly. "Which reminds me, how's it going between the two of you; worked anything out?"

"Oh well he seems to have changed a bit after I talked to him. I think he was maybe just confused after-all. If only you could have seen how beautiful it was last night. Since he's off busy attending his family's prestigious event today, last night he had the whole garden decorated into something I couldn't have even dreamed of." Tohru related as her tone of voice changed into that of big interest. Her eyes started to move with excitement.

There were lights, tons of flowers, food I didn't even know existed, and music; music that sounds like you're in another world." She said out of breath.

"Hmm" Motoko stayed silent for a while on the other end on the phone, and then giggled at her friend's actions. "Looks like someone had quite the night. You sure you're not leaving anything out, maybe oh-I-don't-know; maybe it was you who tried to kiss him instead."

Tohru broke out of her daydream and widened her eyes in shock at her friend's accusation. "Mokoto, what makes you say that. You know I wouldn't do that, especially the way...the way our relationshipis." Tohru said, pausing a bit before saying the word relationship. She couldn't remember ever using those words before, especially regarding a boy.

"Maybe because last night sounds more like a date to me." Motoko replied as she made the ooo expression.

Tohru gasped. "A date! Motoko that's impossible, even if I wanted it to happen...it just can't...he's not like you and me. He's extremely high class, he from another society, he has a whole estate and good name to run. He or none of his other family members can just marry any average person off the street. I'm no higher then any of the people that work here, even lower I think." Tohru said quickly, as her mind then shifted to the curse. Of course that was one of the main reasons, but there were plenty of other ones as well that she could safely tell her friend.

"Alright fine, I admit he is a whole lot richer then the both of us combined, even if I still were living with my family which by the way wasn't that low class as you say." Motoko said, in her usual tone that Tohru had gotten used to. "However just like I still innocently dreamed, and still do say Yuki would make a fine boyfriend, you can say so too. I mean come-on Tohru it's just between us, spill!" Motoko gushed as she urged Tohru to speak things she normally wouldn't dare of.

Tohru turned beet red. "Motoko, it's not in my place. I live here with him due to his generosity, I can't say such things." Tohru felt a sudden kick, as she looked down and smiled. After a few seconds of silence, she spoke up. "He's generous."

"Ahuh what else, tell me." Motoko urged on.

Tohru bit her lower lip, as she thought of how exactly to describe Akito, his character certainly not being the easiest to describe. "Sophisticated, and aristocratic."

"Alright getting better." Motoko continued.

Tohru trailed off in thought, as images of Akito passed her mind. Talking about Akito to another girl was definitely something she'd never thought would happen. Then again Akito wasn't exactly the normal guy to talk about.

"Whoa and why aren't you going out again?" Motoko replied suddenly, breaking Tohru out of her daze.

"What?" Tohru responded dumbfounded by Motoko's response.

"Come on, the way you just gushed that long list it'll make anyone think you have a crush on him the very least." Motoko said as she giggled.

Tohru blinked twice. "What are you talking about Motoko, long list?"

Motoko burst out laughing. "Oh please Tohru, you mean you didn't even notice. You were practically rambling about him. Saying things like: Oh he's so generous, so mysterious, so misunderstood and lonely, abandoned, handsome, artistic, heroic-"

"What! I said all that, there's no way I did." Tohru said as she lowered her head. She may have been thinking it, but she couldn't believe she had said such things aloud.

"Oh but that's not even the half of what you rambled on about. Care to take back what you said, and may I ask does he have any cousins...brother maybe?" Motoko said jokingly.

Tohru was about to find a way to explain herself when a certain voice, froze her in place with the phone receiver still in hand.

"Tohru, you really are ok...thank goodness I thought for sure Akito would have you locked up somewhere." A familiar voice said, as she couldn't dare to turn around and look behind her.

"He hasn't done anything to hurt you has he? I bet he did." He continued, as Tohru heard him step closer to her, causing her to wake her body up from shock and turn around; letting the receiver fall on the floor. As it fell with a thud, she could still hear faintly Motoko talk on the line. "Tohru who is it, what's going on?"

"I'm surprised he's even leaving you talk on the phone. What has he done to you, what mind tricks has he been doing? There's no way in your right mind you'd actually mean all that you were saying on the phone right?" He said as he bent and picked up the receiver.

"Shigure don't!" Tohru managed to plead, as she helplessly backed against a wall. Still hearing Motoko on the line faintly saying. "Shigure, isn't that the guy who...Tohru you still there say something, don't let him-"

"Sorry Tohru can't come to the phone right now, she's too busy getting rescued." Shigure responded as he hung up the phone tossing it on the bed.

Tohru grabbed the first thing she laid her hands on. "Stay away, don't come any closer Shigure. You should leave now." She managed to say, as she then focused on what she had grabbed. It was a toy with the appearance of a paddle with two stringed spheres on each side. She noticed Shigure, stare at it for a brief moment.

"Soo he gave you that huh...well I never would have guessed. He would hardly leave me touch it after I gave it to him years ago." Shigure answered.

"You gave it to him?" Tohru replied in wonder, as her mind quickly went of to what she had been told of Akito having been close to Shigure back when he still lived in the Honke. She wondered how it got in her room without her noticing. 'Was this what Akito was holding yesterday?' She thought, until she quickly was brought back to reality at Shigure's sudden movement.

"Why are you here, if Akito-"

"Akito what? What has done to you, has he threatened you; played his mind games. Don't come and say he hasn't; I know Akito good enough to know he has tried something." Shigure said, his tone having a hint of bitterness.

Tohru at first thought why Shigure seemed so sure Akito had manipulated her mind; it was then that her defense and reality set in. She began to tremble slightly as she slowly managed to say the words she knew she had to say.

"G-get out Shigure." She pressed her lips together as she looked at the tatami matted floor below her.

Shigure frowned and shook his head. "Whatever he's told you, to make you turn against us and be on his side. It's all a ploy Tohru, you were right about one thing. He's smart, but to put it more accurately he's sly. He'll know and find a way to twist and make soft hearted people like you to do anything he wants."

Tohru balled both her hands, and shut her eyes. "Make me do something worse then what you did." She said hardly audible in a non questioning tone.

Shigure winced his eyes, as he sighed placing his hand on the back of his neck. "Listen Tohru, I don't wish for you to speak to me like it used to be, or treat me like old times. I just came here to warn you because I'm the only one who knows you're here, and the only one who'll be blunt with you about Akito."

Tohru's eyes shot open at his remark, a flashback returning to her mind.

I can't let Akito taint you

Tohru quickly gasped as she rushed to the door panicking, only to have the door held closed by Shigure's hand above her; causing her to freeze in shock.

"You need to hear this. Apologies I know will never erase what I did to you, but I want you to know. That night I don't know what came over me, but I would never do what I did to you normally; no matter how I felt about you. I must have drank too much sake that night-"

"I didn't serve sake that night." Tohru interrupted him in a muffled response, huddled close to the door refusing to turn around.

"Think about it Tohru, I don't even have a car normally. Didn't it once cross your mind as odd that I was driving that night?" He replied slowly, as his hold on the door softened.

Tohru slowly opened her eyes. As much as she wanted to ignore him and run, she couldn't help but find some truth in his statement. "Akito-sama was his mother really as horrible as they say she is. Tell me that."

"Who told you about her?" Shigure backed off slightly.

"Hatori-san, Kureno...and Akito especially. He told me all about how cruel his mother was to him, how heartless. Tell me the truth, is it all true?" Tohru said as she turned around finally facing him with determined eyes.

"Akito told you about her...even if it is the truth...it isn't like him to go off and talk about his past, even less with an outsider." Shigure said as his face went into a pondering expression. "He's planning something I just know it."

Tohru couldn't help but feel confused but at the same time pity as to how Shigure quickly assumed Akito had done something horrible to her. Even if the recent event between themselves was a bit out of hand, for the past seven months; Akito had hardly even touched her. Something in her stirred up, and she suddenly felt the urge to come up to defense.

"Akito-sama hasn't treated me harshly at all. He's been very generous, and caring, even to Alto..." Tohru quickly hushed herself at the end of her sentence; it was too late however for Shigure not to realize.

"Alto...it's...it's a boy." Shigure said slowly as he took in the fact that indeed Tohru was pregnant, a fact hidden from him until now. Knowing this he couldn't help but feel more guilt creep up to him, not only for what he'd done but for what he abandoned as well. Tohru's comment on Akito however didn't settle well with him.

"What do you mean with caring to the baby? He should have no business with it. I'm warning you Tohru, you have no idea what Akito's capable of. He could take a kind hearted girl like you, and shut them out of the outside world. You and any type of family you want to raise will cease to exist to anyone asides from the Honke. Akito attempted to do it with me. Then later on when I couldn't take it anymore and left; he considered me a traitor, and took it out on poor Yuki.

I felt so guilty, that I secretly arranged Yuki to come live with me, for he can be freer. Akito hated it at first, but somehow he let it pass. Why he did so, continues to puzzle me; but I think it's because he thinks Yuki only left due to his wealthy family's desire for him to get known publicly through a school. In his mind Yuki would return to him eventually. Now with you here however he's going to try all he could for you to be his next Kureno." Shigure said as he frowned looking at her.

Tohru instinctively covered her child-bearing torso. She didn't feel comfortable at all Shigure looking at her in this state, even if he was the father. "What do you mean with next Kureno?"

"Believe it or not, Kureno is a lot like you; naive, gullible, soft-hearted to the point of being too nice and forgiving. So you can bet when it came the time that I left, Akito took advantage of Kureno's ways and shut him away from the outer world, making him a personal robotic slave. You can bet he's trying to do the same thing to you. If you stay here any longer, he'll control both you and..." Shigure trailed off as his words obviously pointed to the unborn.

"Y-you're wrong...Akito-sama hasn't tried to control me the slightest. He's been very thoughtful, he's arranged me to see mom the day she died, Lamaze classes, and even a private banq...I shouldn't have to be telling you any of this. Most importantly Akito-sama saved me, and opened up the Honke when I didn't have a place to go afterwards. I agreed to staying here in secret and helping out. Akito-sama hasn't forced me to do any of it." Tohru spoke up to Akito's defense, and turned to open the door only to have Shigure's words stop her in her tracks.

"Akito-sama huh, hmph then you're only making it easier for him to do what he did to us to Alto. I wouldn't think a caring mother like you would subject her first and only child to such torment."

Standing in the open doorway, Tohru slowly turned to face him once more. "What?"

"Sure now, Akito would act like Prince Charming to keep you here, and on his side. However now that you're pregnant, I'm sure he's just waiting for him to be born, to take complete control of his life; just like he did to Kureno, Hari, and nearly Yuki. He'll use his role as head of the zodiac and Sohmas to his advantage, and make you believe that you are forced to leave him to Akito. The fact of the matter is, Alto has no ties to him other then being Sohma blood. You're both free to leave at any time, yet I'm sure Akito has tried to put in your mind that you can't; right?"

His words left Tohru speechless, she was positive Shigure was wrong in many things he had said before about Akito. That he just misunderstood him, just like all the other zodiac members did. This however stuck out to her, because Akito did mention to her plently of times that Alto was his responsibility as head of the Sohmas. Lost in turmoil and confusion, she didn't know which side to turn.

Shigure walked closer to her, grabbing her hand. "I can help you get out of here when you still have the chance. If you don't leave now, you might not get the same chance again."

At the slightest touch of contact, Tohru quickly flinched back, shrieking. "No don't!"

In a matter of seconds it all happened. Tohru pulled against Shigure's hold, and the partially opened door slammed against her, knocking her back against the wall; her head banging against it knocking her mid unconscious. That was when she noticed Akito's presence in the room, and she faintly heard the argument insuring.

"Help her get out of here huh. You daring good-for-nothing canine, dare you even try to lay a hand on her after what you did." Akito said in his low sinister voice, his eyes turning black in appearance.

"I'm not going to let you get away with this Akito. She's not another one of your cursed zodiac you can control; she's not one of us." Shigure yelled back at him.

"Funny, that last statement I was just about to say about you; yet that didn't stop you from doing the atrocious act you did. Trying to sneak your way around it; typical Shigure."Akito replied flatly. "I broke your arm once; looks like you need to be taught a lesson once more. Pick a part you want me to break." He taunted, as he tightened his fists. A faint voice however brought both dueling men out of the fight that was about to take place.

"Akito-sama...it...it hurts. I...can't feel him moving." Tohru managed to say as she lay shivering slightly on the floor, blood starting to spill beneath her. Soon later everything went black.

Tohru blinked twice as she slowly opened her eyes to a bright room with sunlight pouring in through the window beside her. Slowly sitting up, she wondered where exactly she was. As she looked around in the foreign room, looking over a closet filled with female attire, a small dresser in another corner, but what most caught her attention was a bulletin board plastered with clippings, pictures and awards; many of them being high school ones. Below it was a small end table with some trophies, and a small picture of Yuki and Hatsuharu in their high school uniforms.

Confused to where she was, the sound of the door opening brought her to a halt. She sighed in relief when it was only Motoko.

"So you're up. Well I can't be surprised you did after all sleep almost a whole week." She said as she handed Tohru a glass of some sort of liquid. "Speaking in place of your hottie dark knight this should cure anything she got."

Tohru's eyes widened at the mention of what she already knew was Akito. "Akito...where am I what happ..." Tohru's sentence ended in a shriek of terror when she realized her pregnant belly was long gone.

"Although he didn't tell me everything, apparently you went into premature birthing. You were taken to a hospital, and then he showed up with you here; leaving you here hidden away from a family issue he had to deal with in the meantime. Said he'd come by to pick you up after you awoke, and all was well back at his place." Motoko said as she sat next to Tohru on the bed.

Tohru was almost left speechless by the news, but the shock of the non-present infant overtook her back to her voice. "Is Alto alright, where is he? Where am I?"

"You're at my apartment, thought you'd figure that out by seeing this picture." Motoko answered as she picked up from her nightstand a picture of Hatsuna covered in a damp towel with a pouting expression.

"And to answer your next question, if Alto is your boy's name I'm just as clueless as you. Your knight didn't mention a thing about what went on, but I assume he's just in a hospital incubator; that's normal for premature babies. They're kept there until they're strong enough to go home. You shouldn't worry so much, I was a preemie myself when my mother had me, and look at me now. Healthy as the next person." Motoko assured her, not wanting Tohru to get overly worried.

"More importantly though, don't you remember anything that happened when I called you on New Year's?"

Tohru frowned slightly as she tried to remember. She did recall things, but they were faint as if they were a dream. The first thing that popped into her mid was Shigure, she wasn't sure if he was actually there at the Honke that day, or if it was all her imagination. Luckily Motoko answered her question.

"That guy who picked up the phone, he wasn't the guy who...who did that to you was he?" Motoko spoke up, recalling Tohru's scared pleas she heard over the phone before the nameless male hung up the phone.

Tohru closed her eyes slowly, and nodded slightly in response. "I couldn't understand well what exactly was he telling me, or planning on doing. He said he was warning me of Akito, but-"

Motoko angrily interrupted Tohru's quiet response. "What a pig? If anything he shouldn't even go in the same room with you after what he did, even less warn you about the guy who rescued you from he himself. If he really wanted to warn you, then his best warning was to stay away from you; the little scum!"

Tohru recalled the encounter between Shigure and Akito. She clearly remembered Akito's face expression. It was dark and if he were a snake instead of the god, he would appear as if he were about to attack some venom Shigure's way.

Somehow her mind recalled faintly, lights shooting past her, as a feeling of being pushed quickly somewhere unknown. She remembered feeling weak, and drained out of energy as colors of white and light blue passed by her. The sounds of machines beeping, doors slamming and voices uttering unknown things around her.

She remembered feeling helpless and calling out for help, which lead to voices saying to stay calm that the father was in the waiting room and they would send for him.

She didn't remember who exactly she was calling for, but she knew in her mind she was screaming her mother's name. A distant memory of being moved to a bed, and Akito appearing beside her came into her mind, followed by screams, pain and constant struggle which ended all in a infant's cries.

After recalling all of this, she reflexively hugged Motoko, and related the memories to her with tears of sadness mixed with hope occasionally coming forth.

"There, there Tohru. You shouldn't have anything to worry about. Your baby could be just fine, you're the one who has to watch over yourself for his sake; try to remember that." Motoko said in a maternal mature way, which in a matter of minutes reverted back to her old self, and slapped Tohru on the shoulder. "Oh dare they send you to the hospital and not tell me anything! They had me dieing over here."

Tohru quickly giggled slightly at her friend's quirkiness, and drank a sip of the drink she had brought her, only to spit it back out. "What is this?" Tohru said cringing at its bad taste.

Motoko shrugged her shoulders. "No idea, he just gave it to me." The doorbell interrupting their silly moment. "You can change into one of my clothes; and no buts about it." Motoko added already having gotten used to Tohru's humble ways, as she left Tohru alone to answer the door.

After Tohru slipped into one of her friend's clothing, she stayed admiring her friend's school photos. They were plenty of her with the old Yuki fanclub still posted, and some of Yuki and Hatsuharu. She even noticed one that had herself in it with Kyo, Yuki, Momiji and Haru. She thumbed the picture sadly, missing her dear friends. When she overheard a door opening. Turning around she saw Hatsuna come in with a smile.

"Hiya Toya, mommy say you better now?" She said still apparently using Tohru's false name.

Tohru quickly bent slowly and smiled. "Yes, a little; still a bit tired."

"Me too, time for me go nap." Hatsuna said as she rubbed her eyes, and left the room with a short wave.

With the door partially opened Tohru overheard a commotion happening in another room.

"I told you already, I don't need you caring or worrying about me. All we agreed on is that you'd be in Hatsuna's life!" A voice that sounded like Motoko's yelled.

"Listen not only will you not accept me to pay child support, but you won't let me help you get a better place. There are better places to raise a kid then this. What will happen when she starts to grow; this place is flooded with punks and yakuza's that will take advantage? Not only that you-" A brasher male voice responded.

"What about me, your concern should be only about Hatsuna; forget about what happens to me. I'm capable of handling myself with guys." Motoko yelled back.

"Capable is one thing, you cut yourself too short. You're not ugly, and I say this as a guy; any punk out there that sees you will forget about the kid, and try to pimp you. Not to mention there's a host club down the road." The male replied.

"I've handled myself this far, I can keep on doing it. If anything happens to me, you said you'll take care of it, that's all I need. I don't need you to keep on acting like our relationship wasn't just a knock-"

He interrupted her again. "You think I'm acting all of this, what kind of guy you take me for. You know why Hatsuna happened, and it wasn't a mistake. I didn't just pick you, even if I do have another love and a girlfriend. Hatsuna and you are the only family I really got."

"If you're just trying to butter me up it won't work; get ou-" Motoko's yell went silent. Leaving Tohru's heart to skip a beat. Quickly letting the worries get the best of her, she quickly went into the living room to help her friend. Once getting there the passionately kissing couple caught her by surprise, and overall shock. She could only manage to say his name.

Hatsuharu

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Author's Note: And I'm done with this chapter. Whew I think this will be the last chapter in a while that I do this LONG and have this many events all happen in one chapter. Personally I think having too many events happen at once make the story seem too rushed, therefore making the character's build-up seem OOC and not that greatly handled. However I couldn't postpone all of these events any longer for you all. I hope you all are excited to see just what happens after THAT many turn of events.

If Akito seems a bit OOC in this chapter, don't worry he's suppose to give off that vibe and mystery in this chapter as to his true intentions. Hopefully there will be plenty of more Akito/Tohru interaction in the next chapter as well

As always

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