Destiny

Chapter 12

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket.

Previously:

Smiling warmly—tears threatening to roll down her cheeks, she began to cares his smooth fiery locks.

"I know, Tohru. I know..." he felt her tentative touch on his hair, and relaxed. Everything was going to be just fine.

From somewhere down stairs—the loud ringing of the phone shrieked throughout the entire household...

"Kyo—it's for you!..."

Now:

The sun was setting, casting light shadows into the room through the open window. Kyo opened his eyes and looked at the sun, positioned right across the window. His eyes glowed amber from the dimming sun's rays. Despite what had happened, he was calm—a feeling so unusual for him it was strange.

Sighing, he stood, knowing he'd kept Tohru too long to himself already. She looked so peaceful, staring out into the tranquil scene. The light's soft rays illuminating her skin and her bright eyes. Innocence at it's purest.

Looking at her like this—reminded him of what he lost. Yet, he couldn't find bitterness dwelling within him. On the contrary, he was content. The one person that had tied all of them in one way or another—who had stood by them—had finally found happiness. Even though admitting it caused a thick lump in his throat—the cow would make her happy. Haru was easy going and funny in his own way, he wouldn't stop unless he was 100 sure Tohru was happy. It was his nature.

Tohru looked up towards Kyo's extended hand, and took it. She'd always be with him—and the others, but her place was next to Hatsuharu. In this life and the next.

"Come on, let's go downstairs, I'm sure Shigure will want to know everything," Kyo said softly. His eyes softened when she graced him with one of her bright smiles, nodding. Tohru continued to amaze him—It was so like her, to always want and comfort—even when it is she who needs the comfort or reassurances.

Shigure was sitting on his sofa, hands folded on his lap. Yuki's head snapped in their direction from the screen door, while Haru locked eyes with Tohru from next to Shigure. They seemed too quiet to be good. Something had happened...

Kyo had the suspicion it had something to do with him when Shigure looked at him innocently and then averted his eyes to the floor. He could almost swear he had a smile on—but his bangs covered his face. Before he could speak though, Haru did.

"I hope you cleared things up, Kyo," Haru said lazily, still holding Tohru's gaze. Tohru looked down at her feet, a faint pink dusting her cheeks, and then brought her chin up. She couldn't—wouldn't be embarrassed though, this was the person she wanted to be with. The only one she was destined to be with. There would be no room for her shyness, she saw that now—just as clearly as she saw the raw possessiveness in Haru's steel eyes.

Haru saw Tohru's chin stick out in defiance—a first for her. She finally caught on. Perhaps he wouldn't have to wait too long for her to get used to them, after all he was patient, but he was no saint. At least now, he was sure she was beginning to loosen up towards him—modesty wasn't his forte after all.

"Yeah yeah, every thing's cool," Kyo waved him off, then turned fierce amber eyes towards Haru, "But if you ever do anything to Tohru—you'll have to deal with me, you got that!"

Haru's eyes lit up with the challenge, though he knew he'd never do anything to hurt Tohru, he still wanted to challenge back. But in doing so he'd be admitting he would one day hurt Tohru—and he'd never do that. Not even to sate his dark side. So, he'd let the cat slip...this time.

The glint in Haru's eyes had Tohru moving towards him. Sitting next to him, she felt the most complete comfort—just being able to absorb his warmth and feel the strength radiating off him. That's what she'd always admired about him, his quiet strength. Like the tide, gentle and soothing—yet strong and willful when provoked. He was always quiet and reserve, but when he did speak, his advice always proved right. He always reserved his judgments and opinions—unless they were needed or asked for. But most of all, he knew exactly what to say or do when she needed cheering up. He was always there for her to listen to her and advice her, to support her and offer her unlimited friendship. That's why she'd grown to like him. Even love him.

Hatsuharu relaxed visibly as soon as he felt Tohru's warmth pressed against his side. Something deep within his coiled back in place and indulged in her presence; peaceful at last. The sudden pulsing in his temples caused by the moment he'd seen Kyo holding Tohru's hand, leading her down the stairs—vanished. Suddenly he realized what had been about to happen. Black Haru had been about to come forth—and Tohru's presence had pushed him to the very back of his mind. Somewhere where he wouldn't be able to come out from. That tiny slip of a woman—had done what no other had been able to do. She'd controlled his transformation. Perhaps not his transformation from him to his zodiac beast—but she'd eased the transformation from him to black Haru.

"Hey Shigure, why are you so quiet all of a sudden? Too scare to speak?" Kyo said to Shigure, who was still avoiding his gaze.

Shigure shifted in his seat next to Haru, and then looked up at Kyo from underneath dark eyelashes.

"Oh no, I was just listening to you kids. I think this whole thing has inspired me to write a new novel! With you, Yuki, Hatsuharu, and of course our dear Tohru! Two brothers fighting over the same beautiful princess, while she secretly loves the gardener! The two brothers slay each other, while the princess marries her gardener! Oh the drama—the tragedy! Oh the—" he was cut off by Kyo's flaring aura so close to him.

"That has to be the most idiotic idea you've ever had! Now get serious!" Kyo growled.

The sudden high chirping ring of the doorbell had all of their attention shifting to the door.

Everyone fell silent.

Shigure's face split into a wide grin—then a smile—until he was holding his midsection laughing loudly. Apparently he was the only one who found the situation funny. The rest of them stared at him as if he was crazy. Why would this cause him laughter.

"Perhaps you should get that Kyo-Kyo!" Shigure got out through a fit of uncontrollable laughter.

Kyo stared at him, one eyebrow raised and shrugged. Then the oddest feeling struck him. Shigure's all too innocent look when he'd come down stairs and his unexplained attitude replayed in his mind as he walked towards the door. Before opening it, he looked back at Shigure, who'd stopped laughing out loud, and now hand both hands covering his mouth, preventing the laughter from spilling forth. Seeing Shigure's cheeks blown with unspilled laughter, and his face red from holding it in, he opened the door.

A small petite girl stood just outside the door. Her short black hair was spiked up; pointing everywhere. She smiled up at him, bringing out her dimples. The wide set of honey eyes framed by thick dark eyelashes, brought out the piercing in her delicate nose. And her high cheek bones, showed off her small puckered up lips.

"Hello, I'm Savannah, I'm here for Kyo. Were going on a date," her sweet soft voice carried out into the room, and Shigure exploded into another fit of uncontrollable laughter. This time he did fall to the floor. Yuki dropped his head to his hands and shook his head, feeling sad for what was about to happen to the dog. Haru and Tohru exchanged a look, then Haru's face broke into a mischievous grin.

"Umm, Haru, isn't that one of the girls we saw at the mall?" Tohru said innocently. She was surprised to see the girl there, in front of the door.

Said girl peered inside, ignoring Kyo's confused face. Immediately spotting Haru, she waved her hand and smiled brightly—recognition lighting her eyes. Haru waved back before speaking, "Hello, but I'm afraid that Kyo is right there," he pointed at a dazed Kyo.

Haru's words snapped Kyo out of his stupor and he swirled on his heel. His eyes narrowed dangerously towards Haru, who stood with a wide grin. Tohru flipped her head from an angry Kyo to a grinning Haru. She could feel Haru's happiness, and...anticipation? thickly in the air. Had he planned this?

Shigure stopped laughing momentarily—then caught sight of Kyo's dumbstruck expression—and burst into another round of laughter. He slapped his knee and stared at Kyo again. Kyo was shooting daggers at both of them. Some how he knew they were the cause of this.

"Alright you two! What is going on?" he yelled at them. He was beginning to get annoyed with the dog's irritating laughter, Yuki's pitting stare, Haru's dumb grin, and the visitor's large innocent eyes boring into his face as if he was the last freaking man alive! All that anticipation in the air had him gasping for air all of a sudden, and he swore if that girl didn't stop ogling him he'd shut the door in her face!

Savannah couldn't stop staring at Kyo. He was not what she'd expected, at all. He was not the same guy she'd met at the mall, the other guy had been smooth and seductively charming. This young man's eyes were too rash—and the curve of his lips showed arrogance. She couldn't fathom what was going on, were they playing a joke on her?

Shigure stopped laughing and wiped a few stray tears from his eyes. "Well, my dear Kyo, while you were talking with our dear Tohru, I took the liberty of answering one of your calls. Since you didn't come down when I called for you, I took the wonderful liberty of accepting this charming young girl's invitation to the movies for you!"

The young girl on the doorway, looked at him, and said, "Wait, that was you? You told me you were Kyo and that you would go to the movies with me. You were flirting with me so shamelessly I thought you really were Kyo."

Kyo turned his head towards Shigure, who was now trying to smoothly inch his way towards the back door. "Well, I do have much the same taste as our wonderful—kind—loving—dear Kyo! Who would never—ever hurt a dear, wonderful family member!" Shigure ended, while waving his hands in front of him.

Yuki stood examining the girl on the doorway through cool, calm eyes. He had to do something—or this would get out of hand. The girl seemed confused, and well she should be. If she only knew what kind of family they all were, she'd be running for the hills. Never to look back at them. She wasn't bad looking, not at all. Even through the black eyeliner, the nose piercing, the black hair, he could see that same innocence in her eyes that he'd seen in Tohru's. But he knew why some one like her shouldn't be tangled up with any of them. Or more likely, why any of them could never be tangled up with some one like her.

Kyo marched towards him, when he found Yuki standing in front of him. Sighing, Yuki explained himself.

"Don't start another fight, I don't think the main house will cover all these damages as it is, let's not increase our debt to Akito. I will go on this date if you refuse," he said in an even tone.

Kyo's eyes widened, why would the rat be doing this for him? His amber eyes narrowed and his lips thinned with suspicion. He didn't know what the damn rat would be planning, but he didn't trust him. Narrowing his eyes even more—turning them into barely opened slits, "Alright rat boy, you can take my place on this date," he peered into Yuki's face intently, trying to see any flicker or deceit, and found none.

"But what's the catch?" Kyo finally said. Then, at Haru's mischievous grin, he regretted he'd even accepted Yuki taking his place.

A/N: So, what do 'ya guys think? Thanks everyone for the wonderful—inspiring—delicious reviews! Can't wait to hear your responses! I know, just a couple more chapters and this story will be finally completed! T.T

Just to let some of y'all know, I will be writing a sequel to one of my other stories, but I want to finish this one first. So thanks again for reviewing!