A/N: Okay, so I've been reading over some of this. I've realized that I need to change this in the future: Kyo doesn't really yell that much. Most of what he says early on is loud, but not always a yell. Right?

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket.

The girl called Tohru Honda…She doesn't think like most people. She readily accepted the fact that we turn into animals. She's been through more hardships than most high school girls…and yet, she's always smiling. It's been four months since she's started living with Shigure, Kyo, and me. But there's still something I haven't grasped, Yuki admitted to himself.

"We're not going back!" Kyo shouted from across the table. "You think someone who left home four months ago would go back just because it's New Year's?!"

Yuki squeezed his eyes shut in frustration. "If I went home to attend a banquet, there'd be no point in having left."

"We're not going back!" Kyo yelled again.

"Dear, oh dear…" Shigure mumbled nervously. He rolled his eyes and scratched his head.

"What's wrong?" Tohru asked. She came around the corner with food. "You seem to have been arguing for a while," she said nervously.

Shigure was pretending to cry, for effect of his words. "Listen, Tohru-Kun! They say they won't go back to the Sohma estate for New Year's!" he whined.

"You're too old to be tattling!" Kyo yelled.

"You're not going home?" Tohru asked the boys disappointedly. "But Momiji said that New Year's festivities are a major event for the Sohma family."

Shigure smiled. "Indeed. It's the biggest event of the year for us. The whole family comes home and celebrates." His eyes darted at Yuki and Kyo. "And the most important part is the juunishi banquet," he told her. "The banquet can only be attended by those possessed by the spirits of the Chinese zodiac. The zodiac members representing the New Year dance and the old year dance together. This year will be Momiji-Kun and the tiger," he said excitedly. "Yuki's dance three years ago was beautiful!"

"Wow! I would love to have seen that!" Tohru said, smiling. Yuki's image of himself in traditional clothing with jewelry and hairpieces came to mind.

"Don't tell her about that!" he shouted. He flung a few pickled radishes at Shigure's face.

"Yes sir…"

"It must be wonderful!" Tohru said happily. She clapped her hands together. "A banquet. Just like in the legend!" she noticed.

"Hmph." Kyo picked up his bowl of rice. "It's got nothing to do with me," he said. "The cat can't go to the banquet," he told her.

"Eh? Why…?"

Shigure put down his rice after taking a small bite. "It was decided long ago that the cat couldn't come," Shigure explained. "I guess that's just like the legend too."

A sad expression came over Tohru's face, almost teary. "But…" she started to say, only to be interrupted by Kyo's angry voice.

"Look," he almost shouted. "It's no big deal so you don't have to go and make that face." Tohru's eyes widened and she dropped the expression. "I'm not saying I won't go home just for some stupid banquet."

Shigure leaned over to Tohru and snickered. "It's because if he went back," he whispered, "Kagura would be so moved she'd kill him."

Of course, Tohru knew he was only kidding, but her smile and chuckles were still nervous ones.

"Shut up!" Kyo banged his fist on the table.

"Never mind that," Yuki rushed the words out. He set his chopsticks on the table. He picked up his cup. "If we go back to the Sohmas," he started slowly, "we'll have to spend the three days of sanga-nichi there, right?" He considered it. "During that time, Honda-San would be left all alone." Tohru gasped almost silently, and looked up.

"Huh? You're not going to your grandpa's house?" Kyo asked.

"Tohru-Kun's grandfather and the rest of them are going to Hawaii," Shigure interjected. "So she asked me to let her stay here during New Year's." He smiled at Tohru, and she returned it.

Kyo looked at her worriedly. "What? You're going to be alone for New Year's?"

"That's what I just said!" Yuki told him.

"Shut up! This is the first time I heard about it!"

"That's because you don't listen."

Shigure chuckled. "Oh, you two…"

"Thank you for thinking of me," Tohru said. "Somehow, that…fills my heart with joy!" She smiled and laughed. "But I'd feel terrible if you missed out on such a wonderful celebration on my account," she admitted. "And it's been a while since you've seen your parents, right?" Yuki and Kyo's eyes went wide, and they stopped at the title. Parents. "I'm sure they're anxious for you to come home," Tohru added.

She continued to smile, not knowing the effect that just that one word had on the two. "Please, go enjoy the New Year with your family. You can leave the house to me, while you're away! I'll make sure to take good care of—" She gasped. "Oh no, I left the bathwater running!" Tohru sprinted from the room.

"We trust you, Tohru-Kun," Shigure said in between chuckles.

"I think…" Yuki sighed. "I'm going back," he decided.

"We don't really have a choice, do we?" Kyo said. "Not when she puts it like that." 'It's been a while since you've seen your parents, right?' Kyo sighed. She knows what it means to lose touch with parents. Because she'll never see her own...ever again, Kyo and Yuki both realized, sorry for her.

"I'll just have to put up with Akito…" Yuki sighed.

"Kagura's no big deal…" Kyo decided.

Hmm. This is surely the voice of reason, Shigure thought.

I'm sure she'll be alright. If she insists, then it must be true, Yuki and Kyo mused. After all, New Year's is just another holiday.

That night after Tohru's bath, the three of them were ready to get walking. "Please be safe. What out for crowds," Tohru told them.

"It's okay," Shigure told her. "There aren't many people out now."

"And you be careful, too, Honda-San. Make sure to lock up," Yuki reminded.

"I will!" Tohru smiled. "Have a safe trip!" She watched from the doorway as they walked. Tohru just stood there, waving and smiling. Each of them looked back at her a few times. I'm sure…she'll be fine. She'll be fine. The three of them walked in silence for a minute or two.

"This one time," Kyo said, "she left her window open."

"Don't tell me you went in?" Yuki replied.

"Like I'd do that!" Kyo yelled. "I saw it from outside. Sheesh!"

"Honda-San is pretty careless," Yuki agreed. "She fell down the stairs again yesterday. She even walks into walls," he added.

"She could choke on a grain of rice for all we know," Kyo spat.

"That's not funny."

"You guys," Shigure interrupted. "Stop fussing over her like mother hens." He smiled to himself and held back giggles.

They both looked up and at the back of his head, Shigure was leading the way. "Huh?" they asked.

"I know you're worried about Tohru-Kun," Shigure said, "but you decided to come with me so—"

"I-I'm not worried!" Kyo was about to start yelling again.

Yuki sighed, annoyed. "This worrying is stupid. Let's go."

Shigure gasped and stopped walking. "Come to think of it," he started. Yuki and Kyo walked ahead of him some. "There was a report in the morning news about a burglary in our neighborhood," he lied. The boys abruptly stopped walking. Yuki and Kyo hadn't seen the news, and they easily fell for it. "They say the robber is still at large," he added. He sighed.

Damn! Kyo mentally kicked himself, clenching his teeth. She's just naïve enough to invite a burglar inside!

Yuki was thinking similarly. She'd probably serve him tea and ask him questions about himself! If only Tohru knew what they were saying about her…

"Now, now, you two," Shigure said, holding up his hands, as he could sense their panic. "If you keep standing there in a daze—"

"Someone will crash into you," a mysterious voice finished from behind him. He whirled around and screamed. Kyo fell over.

"W—well, if it isn't Saki-Chan!" he said nervously.

Why can't she appear like a normal person?! Kyo wondered.

…What's with the cape? Yuki watched her pass by Shigure. He stepped apart from him to give her more room to go through. Hanajima was dressed in all black, and her cape flew behind her.

"My, this is a coincidence," Shigure continued, smiling down at her nervously. "We were just on our way to our family's estate."

"Tohru-Kun told me." Hana paused for effect. "Yes. She really is alone this year," she said. "She celebrated New Year's with her mother until now." She wanted to make them feel bad about leaving her. "But this year, she'll be all alone." He voice remained completely calm and mysterious.

Yuki and Kyo looked at her. "Arisa and I both offered to spend it with her," Saki continued, "She just smiled and told us to spend it with our families. But…what will become of poor Tohru-Kun?" She turned to face the three of them again. Hana gazed into the distance, not looking at them. "When she sees the lights and the decorations, the going year, the coming year…she can't help but remember seeing them with her mother." She raised her eyebrows only a hair and looked straight at them. "I wonder how she'll feel?"

Back then…how did she feel? When she watched us leave? Yuki wondered. He remembered her smiling and waving as they left her to be.

"Was Tohru-Kun…really okay with that?" Saki wondered, seeing the image in Yuki's head with her psychic ability. "Is she…going to be all right?"

How does she feel…all alone…in that house? Each and every one of them thought it. Kyo, who was still crouching on the ground from falling over in shock at Hanajima's arrival, tried to stand up. At the same time, Hana started to walk away, and Yuki took a step forward, and Kyo's head crashed into Yuki's jaw. Now they were both leaning forward, Yuki holding the lower half of his face, and Kyo grabbing his head, which was throbbing madly. Shigure, who wasn't paying attention, looked up at them when they groaned. "What are you two doing?"

Hana stood next to Shigure and mumbled to him what happened. Kyo looked up at Yuki and Yuki ran his hand lightly down his jaw. "What's with you?!" Kyo shouted. "I thought you were in a hurry to see your beloved Akito!"

"What about you?!" Yuki shot back. "Wouldn't want to keep your darling Kagura waiting."

"Gimme a break! Why don't I wrap her up and give her to you?!" Kyo suggested.

"And I'll give you Akito."

"I don't want 'em!"

They both started to walk the way they came. "Hey, you two, where are you going?" Shigure asked.

"We're going home!" They both shouted back, looking over their shoulders.

"Saki-Chan," Shigure said. She looked over and up and him blankly. "Did you plan that?"

Hana started to walk away. "I don't care what they do," she said, looking back. "I simply wanted to do something for Tohru-Kun, that is all." Shigure watched her walk. "May you have good waves next year," she said.

Shigure scratched his head. She's good.

It's been four months since we've started living together, but there's still something I haven't grasped. Yuki and Kyo were coming to multiple realizations as they ran. Ran, and ran. To her. I let it slip by me. I never realized…because she's always smiling so pleasantly. She smiles at even the smallest things. Yes. She's always smiling. And then she tells me…what I most want to hear. Why didn't I realize? Yuki asked himself. They were almost there, breathing heavily. How could I miss that? So at peace, all by herself…No one's like that. I want to go home. I want to go home right now. I want to see her.

Kyo pushed open the front door and they both ran in and stopped right at her. She had been sitting at the table, with a picture of her mother. She had tears all over her face. She looked at them, saw them panting, and gasped. "Y—you startled me! What on earth…" she trailed off.

Yuki leaned forward and wiped a gentle finger across her cheek. Tohru immediately brought her sleeve on her hand and violently wiped her face, shouting, "Ah! No! I'm not! That is…what should I say?! It isn't right." She glanced at her mother's picture and looked up at them. Tohru brought her hand down back to her side. "Me getting all emotional on New Year's…um, I was, uh, just listening to an old folk song, and my humble Japanese heart, uh…" She was struggling for words to disguise her tears.

Thank goodness. Yuki and Kyo were more relieved than they've ever been. If we hadn't realized…we would have left her to cry alone. The fatigue was definitely getting to them now, and they collapsed on the floor.

Tohru started to panic. "A-a-are you okay?!" she asked frantically.

"We're fine," Yuki breathed. "We just wanted to see the first sunrise," he lied. Although that wasn't a bad idea.

"But not before we eat New Year's soba," Kyo added.

Tohru just looked at them for a moment, but then tears unwillingly spilled over her cheeks.

"I'm home!" Shigure walked through the doors of the main house and into the lobby. A teenage guy stood in there also. He had white hair, and four ear piercings. A few passing servants welcomed him. Shigure walked up to the boy.

"Your late," he told Shigure. "You're the last one here."

"Hey, Haa-Kun, thanks for coming to greet me," Shigure replied. "Long time no see."

The other guy looked around Shigure and asked, "Where are Kyo and Yuki?"

Shigure smiled and stood by him. "Umm, how shall I put this? Well, to be blunt—"

"They ditched," he guessed, interrupting Shigure. "Oh," he continued, gazing off into the far distance. "I can just imagine Kagura, raging like fire…and Akito, quietly steaming…What are you going to do, Sensei?"

"I'll take care of Akito-San."

They started walking down the hall. "Man…and here I was, planning to challenge him to one last fight for the year. I guess I'll have to take it to him in the New Year."

"Haa-Kun, don't destroy my house," Shigure begged.

"But I do understand why they'd want to skip out," he continued. "Even I have things I can't stand. And sometimes I even want to run away…"

Shigure turned his head and leaned it back. "No, no, this year…I don't think it's because they're trying to run away."

The boy looked over at him questioningly. "What do you mean?"

"Shii-Chan! Haru!" Both of them turned to find Momiji dressed in traditional clothing for his dance this year. Hat, ribbons, bows, the whole deal. "You finally made it! The banquet is starting!" he said excitedly.

Shigure chuckled. "Hey, Momiji!" he greeted, smiling. "I'm looking forward to your dance."

"But before that," Haru, as Momiji called him, said, "—Akito. I wonder how he'll take the news."

Shigure stopped smiling kindly. He walked into Akito's room. "Good evening." Akito looked over his shoulder slowly. That's right. For now…you're pathetic, Akito.

Tohru, Yuki, and Kyo were all on the roof. They told her about the incident with Saki. "Eh? Hana-Chan?"

"Yeah, we met her on the way there," Yuki said.

Kyo looked away from them, bored. Tohru smiled to herself. Hana-Chan, you're the first person I'm going to call this year!

Hanajima is so close to Tohru that can basically sense Tohru's thoughts from anywhere, so Hana smiled to herself, while walking home, and said, "I'll be waiting."

Tohru looked over to the two. "Um…but is it really okay with the Sohma family? I'm not causing trouble…from being the only happy one, am I?" she asked.

"It's fine," Yuki said. "We'll go wish them Happy New Year during sanga-nichi." He smiled. Maybe.

"O—okay."

Yuki looked out at the forest. Right now they're probably in the middle of the banquet. I wondered if Akito's mad. But I feel strangely relieved. I don't feel an ounce of guilt, Yuki noticed. This time…I've considered everything. I've thought things over…about how I really feel…Then him and Kyo thought the same thing. …and what I really wanted...and I think it just might be…to greet the New Year with her.

Tohru, who had had her back facing him and Kyo, turned around with a big smile plastered to her face. "Look! The sun's coming up!" she said excitedly. They all watched the glowing horizon. "Have you decided what to wish for? I know my wish!" she told them, almost as if she knew what they were thinking.

Kyo jumped to his feet as the sun became easily visible. "This year I'm going to beat that damn rat!" he screamed to the world.

"Yeah, yeah, keep wishing."

A/N: Sanga-nichi (New Year's!) in Japan is January 1st-3rd, and matsu no uchi is 1st-7th. The end of the year is usually spent decorating and cleaning and such, and it's traditional on New Year's day to eat traditional Japanese cuisines, write nengajoo (New Year's cards), and pray. New Year's is spent with the family, almost always, and people will return to their hometowns to be with their family during sanga-nichi.

As always, I'll ask for reviews...And I will probably just do replies here at the end of chapters. Except for some of the long ones, which are sent to the person in private messaging.

An Antique Heart- Thank you! And I will try my best to describe characters as they are! I think I'm probably going to start thinking about word choice more, too, so... :)

Bai bai for now~