-1Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket; for it was created by Natsuki Takaya. I do own Kokoro, Kaiya, and Rose. Rose was created by my friend, Mrs.KyouSohma, and I. I'm sure you have been reading about her in my friend's new story. Though Rose comes in differently in my story. If you doubt my word, you can go ahead and ask her if you want. This is my first Fruits Basket fanfiction, so I hope it comes out alright! Let me know what you think as I update it; and please enjoy! The Akito in this story is the boy version from the anime.

Chapter Twenty

It was a miserable evening it seemed. The rain hadn't stopped for a few days. It had begun after they had left school on the day of Akito's visit. Now it was three days later. Shigure was busy on another novel. Yuki was studying. Kokoro was trying to train. Tohru was cooking lunch. And Kyo was trying to rest. As usual, the rain had left him exhausted and irritated.

Most of the day it had been quiet. Yet Tohru couldn't help but think about what Akito had told her during his visit at their school. Was Kokoro really dangerous? As she looked to her friend, who was now taking a nap as well, she couldn't believe that. Though Tohru couldn't help but watch her from time to time as the hours passed that evening.

"I wish the sun would come out," the burgundy haired teenager finally sighed tiredly as she leaned against Kyo at the table.

Kyo had fallen asleep with his folded arms as a pillow. While Kokoro had been looking at the photo album she'd been given before falling asleep beside her dear cousin.

"They're so alike," Shigure commented with a warm smile.

Tohru couldn't help but hear those words, while Akito's same sentence echoed in her head. They were alike, and so attached to each other. She couldn't help but wonder just how much alike they were. Not in a bad way though. Instead, she feared that Kokoro endured the same pain as Kyo. Had she suffered just as he had before? And could anyone help her as Kyo had been helped in the time of living here?

Yuki then noticed Tohru's worried expression, "Miss Honda, is something wrong?"

Tohru tried to shake her head, but failed.

"What is it Tohru?" Shigure asked.

"Does Kokoro hurt too?" She heard herself enquire, too late to stop herself.

Yuki and Shigure both looked at her in confusion.

"Miss Honda? What do you..." But then Yuki remembered what Akito had mentioned earlier as well.

Yuki remembered Akito's harsh words of how both Kyo and Kokoro seemed to be monsters. Yet he'd never seen Kokoro in the same type of form as Kyo's true cat form. Though could it be possible that it had been kept a secret?

Now both Tohru and Yuki were looking to Shigure for an answer. While the novelist looked to the side regretfully. Unwilling to reveal the truth behind his dear little cousin. However, he knew that they would be worried even more if he kept quiet.

At last Shigure said, "This isn't for me to answer."

"So then it is true what Akito said," Yuki thought as he looked to Kokoro as well.

While Tohru couldn't help but walk over to the young girl and touch her gently on the arm. As though trying to say that she would try her best to help her as well. Though she forgot to step back when Kokoro stirred in her sleep. Until she awoke and looked up to find Tohru still looking at her.

"Tohru? What is it?" She asked with concern.

Kyo had also woken up when he'd felt her head leave his shoulder. Finding the three of them looking at Kokoro and himself.

"What's going on?" Kyo questioned tiredly, "Did we do somethin' wrong?"

Tohru shook her head as she knelt down beside Kokoro.

Shigure looked away now, afraid of how this would turn out. He knew that Tohru meant no harm from this. She only wanted to help. Yet Kokoro had always been very defensive, and even more afraid, over what had been brought up.

"You don't have to runaway," Tohru said in an uncertain voice, "If something hurts you...I want to help you if I can."

"Tohru, what brought this on?"

"Akito..." Yuki said in a short, but blunt, answer.

"What did Akito do?"

It then snapped in Kokoro's head. What else would they be so worried about all of the sudden, and by Akito's mentioning. She knew exactly what they were talking about. The one thing that she had tried to hide.

Kokoro jumped up now, stepping away from Tohru; and remembering that Kyo was on the other side of her. He now stood up to, as though trying to keep her from running off. Knowing how Kokoro was when she was being questioned about this. Just as he was when his beads were being discussed. It was uncomfortable and frightening.

"Forget what he said!" Kokoro said quickly as she stepped further away.

"Kokoro, its okay. Please don't be upset. I just wanted to help! I want to stay friends with you and help you too!" Tohru told her.

"I don't need help!" Kokoro snapped, "This doesn't concern anyone!"

"Koko...don't be upset with Tohru, she's just worried," Shigure tried to say in Tohru's defense.

"No one needs to be worried! Now just leave me alone!" She yelled, her eyes sparking with blue flames as she backed away even more.

Yuki took notice in his cousin's balled-up fists and gritted teeth. She seemed to be the female vision of Kyo himself.

"Kokoro, I'm sor-"

Yet before Tohru could finish, Kokoro stormed out. Deciding to take off before she said or did something she truly didn't wish to do. Poor Tohru wanted to go after her friend, but was stopped by Kyo as he held her back by her shoulder. She looked to him in confusion and worry.

"Just let her cool off, she'll be back in a few minutes; and it'll hardly seem like something was wrong," Kyo assured her.

Yet all three of the Sohmas in Shigure's house felt otherwise. Something was getting to all of them. Even Kyo himself couldn't help but feel that he should follow his cousin.

While outside, in the pouring rain and roaring thunder, Kokoro ran through the forest in her fit of anger. Her eyes swelled with tears of confusion. She'd fought so hard to hide her secrets from Kaiya, who she had lived with for years. Now someone that she'd only lived with for a little while had found out. Putting a whole new friendship at risk. Only a few in the entire family knew about this, and she didn't want anyone else to learn about it. However, how much longer could she run away from it?

She had finally slowed down to a walk before realizing that she had wandered quite far away from the house. Though she didn't feel like going back just yet. She needed to cool down a little bit more first.

"Perhaps I chose a bad time to come by?" A snickering voice said suddenly from in front of her.

Kokoro turned her gaze from the trail behind her to find an unwelcomed guest standing before her. His cruel smile making her blood boil in her veins. She wanted him to just go away. Yet she knew that her mishaps would cause her brother even more stress and pain. So she forced herself to remain calm as Akito continued to laugh at her.

"What's wrong Kokoro? Have you been chased out?"

"No, I just wanted to go for a walk," Kokoro spat.

"But you hate the rain...jus like Kyo does," Akito reminded her.

She shrugged casually.

"I wonder," he then hissed coldly, "just how much more you two are alike? Its true that I can't stand either of you; but what reasons would cause that? Could it be that you're both outsiders, or that you both rebel against me with every chance that you get, or possibly for that fact that you were simply born?"

Kokoro couldn't help but growl in a rising simmer of anger. While she struggled to hold her tongue and keep control of her actions. Yet he mercilessly continued his verbal onslaught.

"But do you know why I hate you both so much?" He finally asked as he rested a hand against her collar bone.

How had he managed to get that close to her? Her mind had been focusing on not reacting to his words that she'd let him become close enough to touch her. She tried to pull away, but his hand suddenly grabbed for the necklace around her slender neck. His grip tightening around the cold, wet silver of the dragon pendant.

"Let go!" She pleaded as her fear was revealed in her voice.

"I think I should show you why I hate you both so much," Akito laughed bitterly.

Kokoro shook her head desperately, "No...please no!"

"YOU'RE BOTH MONSTERS!" Akito snapped with a harsh fit of laughter.

With that he pulled at the necklace. The chain breaking instantly as he pulled on it through his laughter. While in response she stepped back in pure horror.

"HATORI!"

Preview: Its the Sohmas to the rescue when Hatori hears a terrified scream from his dear sister. Can they save Kokoro from Akito?

Again, thank you for you patience. .