Disclaimer- I do not own Fruits Basket. That belongs to the Goddess Takaya. Also I will use random quotes from the manga. Used some lion king and Saiyuki this time, too.

Author's Note- I AM SO VERY, VERY SORRY! Being in my junior year, with clubs and sports, I hardly have any time at all to write. I am trying my best, though, so please be patient with me! I know it's short, but it would take more time to write more, and it's already been a month! Many of you may be wondering just how much Shigure knows about them…but my honest answer is that I don't know either…how does he figure out all of that stuff?

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Ashes-Chapter Twenty Five-Begin

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I whip my fan open and hold it in front of my face. "I do believe something has happened," I whisper dramatically, batting my lids for effect. Ayame's eyes grow to saucers as he leans forward.

"Do tell, Gure-san, do tell!!!"

"Well," I lean across the table, tracing my finger around the rim of the crystal ashtray, "you're very well aware that I can only tell a story when I have a full and complete audience, yes, Ayaa?"

"Yes! That's right! Full and complete!" He answers, saluting.

"It just so happens that Haa-san isn't lis-ten-innn-nggggg!!!" I cry to Hatori, pulling on his jacket sleeve. "It's been ages since we've all been alone together, I hardly get to update you two on the gossip!"

"Spare me your disgusting stories," Hatori answers coldly, taking a dreg from his cigarette.

I inwardly flinch, hoping that he would forgive me for that that terrible little disagreement we had. I have to try harder.

"Anyway, the buzz from the bees tells me that those two are in a bit of a spot! They've been completely and utterly avoiding each other for the past three days. Something has happened, I can feel it in my bones!"

"A fight?" Ayame asks, "Perfect! A chance for me to comfort my poor, hurting little brother!"

"Ah, Ayaa, I assure you that he will be comforted by a certain someone very soon. In fact, I am sure that he will be comforted all night long!"

"Ah, the glory of certain comforts…" Ayaa reminisces, "I at least can help where my talent allows me…I guess I was wrong about Yuki's romantic fantasy being Tohru-kun in a butter-colored dress! Of course, Kyonkichi would look just dreadful in light yellow. It would clash horribly with his hair…."

Hatori looks questioning at the dress comment and rolls his eyes.

"Those two…" Hatori comes darkly, grinding his cigarette in the ashtray, "Does Honda-kun know about them?"

"Hmm…I'm not sure. Think how surprised she would be if she were to find out her two main options were totally unavailable! She does seem to be giving them a bit of space, though."

"Such a fine, understanding young woman," Ayame booms, "But as I was saying, Kyonkichi wouldn't fit a dress at all, albeit Yuki's romantic fantasy. Yes, he would look much better in rawhide and handcuffs…"

"Look, you two," Hatori says slowly, "This won't something to squeal over for much longer. What happens when Akito finds out?"

Ayame's face falls almost comically, and something like panic flashes briefly in his eyes. "He wouldn't, would he? How would he?"

"Haa-san!! Don't look at me like that! I wouldn't ruin true love! I'm no evil incarnate!" Shigure looks affronted and puckers his lips as Hatori shrugs.

"Ayame, I know now that you want to protect your brother, but…they have enough trouble. Don't go stirring things up and making it more risky than it already is." Ayame looks down at his hands, biting his lip.

"Kyo is already going to be locked up soon. Four months, was it? Until he graduates?" Hatori looks at Shigure for an affirmative, and he nods.

"Is he…really going to be locked up?" Ayame asks, his eyebrows knitting together. Hatori is at a loss of words for a moment, and then the two turn their heads to Shigure in unison. Shigure raises his eyebrows.

"I don't pretend to know Akito's intentions," He says slowly, "But I suppose…there is a chance of him not getting locked up in the end.

"How big of a chance?" Ayame asks. Shigure looks away, rapidly tapping his finger on the wooden table.

"Gure…? Please tell me. I…want to know." Ayame's voice turns to a hush. Shigure looks back at him, but doesn't move his head. A word hangs unsaid on his lips for several seconds.

"Small."

Ayame leans back at looks up, blinking.

"Ayame?"

"I just…wanted to help Yuki. But Kyo got there first. I was happy…even if it had very little to do with me. But now…if Kyo is gone, I know that Yuki wont ever be happy again. He might even come to hate me." His voice wobbles dangerously at the last sentence.

Hatori looks swiftly at Shigure, as if to say 'do something'.

"Ayaa…I don't think…there's anything I can do. But…if there is, I'll do it."

Ayame tilts his head back down, forlorn and defeated. "Thank you, Gure-san…we should go, right, Haa-san?" For once taking initiative. Hatori looks a little surprised, and stands up.

Shigure watches them leave as they pull out of the driveway. He sighs, running a hand through unruly hair.

"What can I do…?"

I can't even think. All I can see is the horrible expression on his face, this disbelieving torment. So…the cat…finally beat the rat. He overpowered him.

My eyes close and my throat stings painfully, my teeth grinding. I can't forgive myself. I will never forgive myself. What was the point of even trying? I had no right. And Yuki hates me now, he must. I haven't even seen him. Not that I've tried. Every night I hover near my door trying to push myself to see him. But I cant. And I hate myself for it, more than I ever have.

Even more than I hate myself for being responsible for so many deaths, and for all the sacrifices, I hate myself the most for hurting Yuki. The only one I had ever really loved, and I forced my selfishness and my pain onto him.

People aren't born social.

Sure it comes easier to some people, but most people need to work at it. Some more than others. Mingling with people…hurting them… getting hurt by them, that's how you learn about others, and about yourself. If you don't, you'll never be able to care about anyone but yourself.

Shigure's words come back to me in a flash, but I scorn them. As if Shigure even had a slight fraction of knowledge of what we share…or shared. It's…over…isn't it? My chest heaves and I feel nauseas.

I want to take it…and I want to punish myself. I shouldn't…be here. I should be shut away so I can't hurt anyone else. All I do every day is shamelessly force my existence onto other people. I…should be…put away. Where I would never be able to burden anyone ever again. Someone like me…should be locked up.

I don't even bother packing. It didn't matter. Any clothes I needed would be brought to me. I close my door behind me as softly as I can; hopefully no one will know that I'm gone until the evening. I force my trembling knees past Yuki's door, and down the steps. Through the sliding doors, and past the threshold of my- the house, I'm almost to the steps when I hear a voice.

"Wherever are you going, Kyo-kun?"

I freeze, and look around wildly. Shigure is sitting in the shaded corner, so I could barely see him. Several long seconds pass by, and my mouth goes dry as I cannot think of a valid answer.

"Well?" He prompts.

"Nowhere," I say hoarsely. I hadn't spoken to anyone in the last three days, not even to Tohru, after I broke down to her.

"Lies, lies, Kyo-kun. Are you running away?" He props his feet up on the wooden chair and pushed back onto the chairs two legs, lifting his hands behind his head. His question is met with my silence.

"Are you afraid of something?"

"I'm not going for me," I say in a quiet, indignant voice. Not for me, never for me. For others, for their safety, but mostly for Yuki. So I can't ever hurt him again. If I could sell my soul to the devil in exchange for Yuki's happiness, I would do it. Which is what I'm about to do anyway.

"Wrong," Shigure said, smirking, tapping the corner of his eye with his forefinger, "You can try to convince yourself that it's for someone else all you want, but self-interest is still the only force that drives people forward. Its why they live…and why they die.""

I stare at him. That's not true. I am not doing this for me. I would not give myself to Akito for my own health.

"Why are you going? Are you punishing yourself?"

I freeze, staring, grinding my teeth.

"What has changed, Kyo-kun?"

"…What do you mean?"

"Well, a little while ago, you would have taken out your frustration on…me, Tohru-kun, but mostly my house." He ticks off his fingers. My annoyance rears it ugly head.

"Well, now that I've stopped taking it out on those important things, can you leave me alone?!"

"No," He contradicts me, "Now you just take it out on Yuki."

For a moment, my breath is frozen in my throat. But then my shock and dread turns slowly to disdain, my heart beating rapidly.

"Good heavens, Kyo-kun. You don't think I wouldn't have realized by now?" A small smile plays on his lips.

" I don't give a shit what you know," I snarl. And I didn't, really. But I still didn't want Shigure mocking me with his bitterness. Places I didn't want him seeing, or touching. Places I still dared to call my own. Hesitant dreams. Brittle hopes.

"Be as that may, I cannot simply let you run away."

"Why?" I snap at him, "What the hell does it matter if I'm gone? All I ever do is hurt people. Or will I ruin some scheme of yours?"

"Oh," Shigure looks surprised, "that's exactly it, Kyo-kun. How did you know?"

"I don't care about you or your fucking plans," I spit, "I'm leaving, and I'll be damned if you stop me." I stride deftly down the steps, and into the forest.

I'll be damned if anyone stops me.

"Oh dear," Shigure says quietly to himself, as if amused, "This wont work out all. I suppose I must do something." He smiles quietly again, and stands from his chair and heads leisurely into the house.

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Ashes-Chapter Twenty Five-End

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