Hi, here is the final chapter, enjoy!
trc: Thanks, hope you like this chapter, too!
Alexandra-Kyoko: Thank you for your reviews! Yuki is definitely my favorite character in Furuba.
Disclaimer: Fruits Basket and its characters are the property of their respective owners. This piece is not for profitable purposes.
Chapter 3: Seeing You Again"Akito, please don't do anything to Toh-ru!" Momiji shouts.
"You insolent, disgusting ingrate, how dare you defy me AGAIN!" Akito screams as he approaches Momiji and uses all his force to push him over violently, causing him to hit his head and lose consciousness. I stand aside, but how can I do this? Momiji is the only one, the only one who has had the courage to protect Tohru-san, I have been a coward. I don't want to be one anymore, I want to be strong for her.
I am about to speak at last when Akito says, "You've all been lured in by that worthless woman. Have you forgotten who the head of this family is?! You will all do as I say, not follow around some brainless bitch."
"Tohru is not a brainless bitch."
Kyo!
"What did you say, you MONSTER?"
"You heard me."
Akito snickers and answers, "As if a loser like you deserves an opinion."
I watch as Kyo's face changes to a pained expression.
"What he says is true, Akito, Tohru-san is a truly amazing person," I say with a firm and confident tone.
He walks towards me and slaps me across the cheek, "When did YOU get a backbone?" he answers sarcastically.
"I don't care what becomes of me, and I'm sure everyone else feels the same way, but leave Tohru-san alone."
Enraged, he starts attacking me, battling Shigure and Hatori as they try to restrain him.
"You bastard, how dare you order ME around!"
"Akito, that's enough!" Shigure shouts.
"You shut up, too!"
Akito continues and I feel myself blacking out, but, before I fully lose consciousness, I hear him say, "What will be done about that bitch will be my decision, and if any of you EVER try to make contact with her again, it will not go unpunished."
"Sohma-kun? Is something wrong?"
"No, I'm sorry, Honda-san, I…was distracted."
"I see. Would you like to then?"
I look at her smiling face and recognize my own longing to spend time with her again. How would Akito find out? I know all of the other Juunishi are at the estate. No, I won't be afraid and will enjoy this gift, and do whatever it takes to protect her if he does find out.
I smile and respond, "Of course, Honda-san, that sounds like an excellent idea."
"Really? That's great!"
Like we have done so many times before, she and I begin walking together, making our selections and talking happily.
"Sohma-kun, it's amazing, you know so much about vegetables!"
Her comment momentarily stings, "I used to have a garden."
"Really? That must have been nice," she says with a starry look in her eyes.
"Yes, it was," because you were there with me.
"You have a secret base, Sohma-kun? How exciting! There was one I knew of when I was little, but I wasn't allowed to go because I was a girl."
"Wow, your secret base is a garden, how amazing!"
"Let's do our best to protect the secret base, Sohma-kun!"
"Is there a reason you don't still have one? Oh, what am I saying, what a terrible thing to ask, I apologize, Sohma-kun!" she says as she bows quickly and repeatedly.
I smile and respond, "Don't be upset, Honda-san. I don't have one anymore because…things changed."
Her expression shifts so that she looks sad, "Is that so…"
I move in front of her and grin.
"After we finish here, Honda-san, why don't we treat ourselves?"
She looks at me surprised, "Treat ourselves?"
I shake my head yes and am glad to see her expression brighten.
"Of course, the answer to the question, 'to what' is my secret," I say.
She giggles and says, "Ok!"
Relieved that she is smiling again, I return to walking beside her as we continue our shopping. She comments periodically and asks my opinion about items, and watches carefully as I make my selections. I am slightly saddened as we approach the cashier, but I don't want to upset her, so I continue to smile as we walk together and wait as the cashier scans our items. Before she can reach for it, I take hold of her grocery bag.
"Oh, Sohma-kun, I can take care of that, you already have bags that you're carrying!"
"It's all right Honda-san, I'm happy to do it for you."
Still a little uncertain, she replies, "Thank you," and then smiles.
As we leave the store, I say, "Honda-san, would you mind following me?"
Remembering my comment at the store, she shakes her head yes and walks beside me. I remember the store was not far from where we are, I hope that it's still there. I smile inwardly as I see it up ahead, I remember we came here once before during the summer.
"Honda-san, we have some money left over from what Shigure gave us, let's go here and get something to cool off."
"But, I'm not sure if we should, after all…"
I grin and say, "Don't worry, Shigure won't mind, and I think it would be nice."
With a broad smile, she replies, "All right, Yuki-kun, let's!"
I slow down as we approach and, once we arrive, I open the door and wait for her to pass through.
"Wow! A smoothie store, I've never been here before!" she says excitedly.
At first sad that she doesn't remember that time, I brush the feelings aside and respond, "Honda-san, why don't we decide what we'd like, and then we can find a table outside?"
"Ok, Sohma-kun!"
She steps forward to the counter and looks at the menu, "So many things look good!"
I wait patiently behind her and watch her inspect the offerings carefully and happily.
"I'll have a small strawberry smoothie, please," she says to the person at the counter.
I step up and say, "And I'll have the same, please."
She is about to get her money out when I say, "Don't worry, Honda-san, this will be my treat."
"Oh no, Sohma-kun, you've been so kind to me today, I have to at least do this."
I smile calmly and respond, "Since I made the suggestion, it's only right for me to do so, but thank you for offering, Honda-san."
Still looking slightly unsure but mostly pacified by my expression and words, she answers, "All, all right, thank you so much, Sohma-kun."
"My pleasure, Honda-san."
I purchase the drinks and we bring them outside to a table adorned with a large umbrella for shade.
She watches, waiting for me to begin, and I say, "Please, Honda-san, go ahead."
"Ok!" she responds.
After a short sip, she stops drinking and says, "Delicious! I love strawberries!"
Although I've known that for many years, I politely respond, "That's nice, Honda-san, I'm fond of them as well."
"Really?"
I shake my head yes and she smiles in response. The time passes by quickly, and much before I would like, we have finished our drinks.
"Ah, that was wonderful, thank you again, Sohma-kun!"
"You're welcome, Honda-san."
We get up and dispose of our cups, and, as we walk out the door, I hear her say, "Ka-san, it's been a great day."
She looks at me and blushes, "Oh, how silly of me to talk to myself."
"No, that's fine, please don't be worried about it."
She smiles sadly and says, "My father passed away of an illness when I was young and my mother passed away in a car accident when I was in high school."
Even though I knew this sad fact previously as well, I still genuinely respond, "I'm sorry, Honda-san."
I can tell that she is still mourning the terrible loss of her mother, and I find it difficult to restrain myself from taking hold of her hands, comforting her, and telling her, 'Let's leave here, together, Honda-san, and find our own happiness.'
"I remember when she first passed away, I thought everything had ended, since the most important person in my life was gone. But, with Uo-chan's and Hana-chan's help, I soon realized that that was certainly not true. I had many wonderful memories of our years together that I could treasure forever, and I knew, through these, that she lived on in my heart."
I stand, momentarily dumbfounded, as I realize, of course, she's exactly right. Like Tohru-san and her mother, my time with Tohru-san has ended, but only in one sense. Indeed, the precious memories that we have made are mine to cherish and protect.
"I'm glad Honda-san."
She shakes her head yes with a smile.
"Honda-san, you probably need to be going soon?"
She looks at her watch and says, "Oh dear, you're right."
She walks closer to me and says, "It was so nice seeing you again, Sohma-kun."
"I completely agree."
"I hope that we'll see each other again soon!"
Even though I know it is unlikely, I respond, "I hope so, too."
I hold out her bag and she accepts it with a smile.
As she turns to go, she says, "Good bye, Sohma-kun! Until we see each other again!"
I smile slightly and answer, "Good bye, Honda-san."
She waves and I watch as she walks away, soon swallowed by the crowd and out of my sight, possibly forever. However, as I start along the way back to the Sohma estate, I am not consumed by sadness or regret, because Tohru-san has made me aware today of the great gift that I possess, this solitary freedom.
