Forgotten Fruits Chapter 03

Disclaimer: Fruits Basket is copyright its respective owners and NOT me. ;_;
Warning: This chapter contains a spoiler from the final episodes of the anime, so don't read if you haven't seen the entire series.

Shigure couldn't sleep that night. He tossed and turned and closed his eyes for the longest time but still didn't drift off. The gashes in his arms were stinging and his throat felt tight and was aching. After a while he gave up and ended up just lying on his back, staring up at his blank ceiling, or gazing out an uncurtained window at the night sky and the tops of the trees nearby. He could vaguely hear the sounds of Yuki, Kyou and Tohru watching TV and talking in the living room downstairs. Looking at his clock, he saw it was 11:30pm already, but he didn't get up and tell the others to go to bed. He knew that this was precious time that they would want to be spending together before Tohru's memory would be erased the next afternoon. He didn't want to ruin that for them, the ones he loved most. He actually found himself slightly wishing he could go down and join them, but he knew they wouldn't want that, and so he turned over onto his side and once again attempted to get to sleep.

But something was worrying this Sohma tonight. Never in his life had he ever been so worried... so afraid of Akito. This whole ordeal troubled him. He didn't know if Akito had suddenly lost it and just decided to have Tohru's memory erased because he felt like it or if he had been planning it all along. The way Akito was acting lately wasn't very comforting to the dog juunishi either. Shigure thought that he was perhaps the closest Sohma to Akito other than Hatori, but now he wasn't so sure. How could Akito attack him so easily like that? Granted, he had said some things that would naturally upset the younger man... but he didn't know Akito would react in a life-threatening way. Shigure swallowed, wincing at the pain, as he thought about what happened earlier that evening. If Hatori hadn't burst into the room when he heard the commotion, Shigure could quite easily have been killed by his cousin in those moments...

Shigure sighed in frustration and sat up in his bed, running a hand through his messy dark hair. Moonlight fell across his bed and gave the room an eerie blue glow. Slowly he placed his feet softly onto the carpeted floor and checked the clock. An hour had passed already! Where had the time gone? He decided that since he couldn't sleep anyway, he would get up and find some place to sit and think. He didn't want to do it here in his bed because it was too hot. He needed to find a cool place. Somewhere outside.

He threw on a thin, summery yukata and slowly slid his bedroom fusuma open. The hallway outside was dark and the house was quiet. He figured the others had finally gone to bed, although in the back of his mind he noted he hadn't actually heard them go to their rooms. He must have been so deep in thought that he became unconcious of things happening around him. He stepped out into the hallway and descended down the stairs into the hallway below.

Once outside, he stood on the veranda for a few minutes wondering where he could go and sit. His mind wandered and he found himself thinking about how he had stood down on the grass to talk to Kyou, who was sitting up on the roof, the evening before.

The roof, Shigure decided. He would go up and sit on the roof. That way he could be close to the sparkling sky and let his mind clear itself of its troubles and worries. Maybe then he would be able to go to sleep.

He ascended up the ladder at the side of the house and crawled up onto the roof only to discover that Kyou was up there too, sitting in his usual spot. Kyou's head snapped towards Shigure when he heard him climb onto the roof. Shigure stared at him.

"Sorry, Kyou-kun," He apologised, half on the ladder and half on the roof. "I didn't realise you were up here. I'll go somewhere else." He began to descend down the ladder again.

"No, it's fine, Shigure," Kyou said quietly from across the roof. "You can sit up here too if you want. I was thinking about going to bed soon anyway."

Shigure smiled and hoisted himself completely onto the roof's tiles, then slowly and carefully walked across and sat down next to his red-haired cousin. "Have Yuki-kun and Tohru-kun gone to bed?"

Kyou shrugged. "I dunno."

"Weren't they with you?" Shigure asked, surprised.

"They were watching TV in the living room last time I saw them." Kyou replied, looking into the forest. "If they weren't in there when you got up, then I guess they went to bed."

"Oh." Shigure replied, looking at his cousin. After a few moments Kyou could feel Shigure's gaze upon him and looked at the older man in annoyance.

"What the hell are you looking at?" He asked angrily.

Shigure didn't bother answering the question. Instead he simply asked, "Don't you want to spend some time with Tohru-kun before tomorrow afternoon?"

"This afternoon," Kyou corrected, looking at his watch. "It's almost 1am now, you know. Can't you tell the time?"

"Don't change the subject." Shigure spoke quietly. Kyou's eyebrow twitched with annoyance.

"What does it matter to you?" Kyou spat.

"I know how close you are with Tohru-kun," Shigure replied matter-of-factly. "And I think she would enjoy spending some time with you before she... has to forget all of us."

There was a long, pregnant silence that followed and it made the air around them thick and heavy with discomfort. Kyou looked away from Shigure; Shigure looked up at the sky. And that's how they stayed, for a long time, sitting together in silence, until another person joined them up on the roof.

Tohru had heard the footsteps across the roof as Shigure had walked over to his cousin and she had climbed the ladder to see who was up there. She peered across the roof to see Shigure and Kyou sitting together but saying nothing. The world was deathly silent as she watched them. Finally she pulled herself up onto the roof and they both looked over when they heard the noise.

"What's wrong?" She asked worriedly when she reached them. She took a seat between them, looking at each of them and wondering what had happened. Shigure looked down at her and saw that her eyes and cheeks were red and tear-stained.

"Tohru-kun," Shigure said, blinking, "You've been crying..."

Tohru quickly looked down as Kyou jerked his head around to look at her. "I-I'm okay," she sniffed. "I was just.. talking with Yuki-kun... I'm okay..." She fell silent.

Kyou was sitting in silence, his eyes cast downwards so he was looking at the dark grass below. His knees were pulled up to his chest as he rested his arms across them. Shigure decided this might be a good time to go somewhere else so that Kyou and Tohru could have some time alone. He knew that was what Kyou really wanted, deep down.

"Well!" Shigure announced after a few moments, "I think I'll take a walk in the forest..."

Tohru looked up at him. "Shigure-san isn't going to sleep?"

He shook his head in reply. "I can't sleep. I need to clear my head a bit." He offered a gentle smile. "Don't you worry. I'll sleep afterwards."

Once on the ground again, Shigure's sharp ears caught the voices of Tohru and Kyou up on the roof as he was walking towards the trees. He paused for a moment to listen.

"Is Kyou-kun alright?" Tohru was asking in her sweet voice.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Anyway, it's you who should be having that question asked to them." Kyou was replying.

"I will definitely miss Kyou-kun..." Tohru spoke. "I just regret not having learnt more about him in the time I had..."

Shigure decided to finish there and continue into the darkness of the forest. Eavesdropping was a bad thing, and he only did it in the most unimportant of times, when he was joking around. This, however, was a time when it was important, so he let Tohru and Kyou be. He couldn't help but wonder what they might be talking about, though... or what Tohru and Yuki had talked about, either. Shigure knew how both boys felt about Tohru... he could see it written all over their faces whenever Tohru was in the same room as they were... but Tohru had no idea. He wondered if either of the boys would confess their feelings tonight.

These thoughts soon wandered to other things, such as Akito and Tohru's memory being erased, and the familiar cloud of worry hung over Shigure's head as he walked deeper and deeper into the forest. He didn't stop until he found the same spot where he, Tohru and Hatori had sat the previous evening: the small clearing with the tree stumps. However, he chose not to sit on a stump this time, and instead lay down on the cool green grass so he could relax and stare up at the stars overhead. He closed his eyes and his head began to clear.

-------------

"Is Kyou-kun alright?" Tohru asked her friend.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Anyway, it's you who should be having that question asked to them." The orange-haired cat juunishi sitting next to her replied.

Tohru sighed and looked at the trees before her, catching a glimpse of Shigure as he disappeared into the light-deprived forest. "I will definitely miss Kyou-kun... I just regret not having learnt more about him in the time I had..."

"It's okay. I'm not that interesting." Kyou muttered. "The only interesting thing about me is what I become when I have these taken off." He held up his left wrist, referring to his beaded bracelet. "And that's not something anyone would want to find out about."

"I think it's interesting, and it's not a bad thing because deep down you're still the same Kyou-kun that everyone knows and loves."

Kyou didn't reply. Love? Who loved him? The last person who had spoken those words to him had been his mother, and she had been a stupid idiot. He hated her, perhaps even more than the kuso nezumi.

"I don't regret meeting you." Tohru whispered, pulling Kyou from his thoughts as he turned his head to look at her.

"Thanks..." he replied stiffly. "I don't... I don't regret meeting you either."

Tohru smiled. "Maybe we could just be friends at school after this. I'm sure Akito-san wouldn't get mad about that." She suggested wishfully. "We could just talk at school from time to time, and nowhere else..."

"Mm. Maybe. I'm not sure though.. Akito said he doesn't want us to associate at all.." Kyou suddenly punched his fist into the roof angrily, causing a loud smash. Tohru jumped in fright and down below a disturbed Yuki yelled profanities out the window at Kyou.

"I'm sorry..." Tohru apologised.

"Why are you apologising?!" Kyou asked quickly. "It's not your fault. Don't worry about it. I'm going to kick Akito's ass after all of this."

"A-ahh! Don't do that! You saw what he did to Shigure-san..." Tohru's voice quietened. "...Because of me..."

"That wasn't your fault," Kyou stated matter-of-factly. "That was Akito's fault, the bastard. He deserves to die if he's going to do things like this."

Tohru looked at Kyou with wide, shocked eyes. "You don't mean that Kyou-kun... he's your family... don't say things like that... it would probably hurt him to hear those things..."

"You're sticking up for him?" Kyou asked in surprise. Tohru never ceased to amaze him. How could somebody be so kind to someone who was taking her memory and happiness from her? "Why? Why do you care about him?"

"Because he's a person too... and I think he's misunderstood... he's going through a lot and he's the way he is because of the curse..." Tohru replied.

"You are an amazing person." Kyou mumbled. Tohru simply blushed and looked down in embarassment.

"I-I'm not that great," she stammered.

"Yes you are. You're the best person... I've ever met." Kyou continued, not looking at her. Tohru listened quietly, knowing it was hard for him to say things like this. "You're caring and open-minded and understanding... so understanding. I'm sorry that we can't go on living the way we are..."

"I'm sorry too." Tohru whispered sadly.

-------------

Shigure's eyes fluttered open and he saw that the world around him was still dark. Was that a person's voice he had just heard? Where was he, anyway? He was on his side, so he rolled onto his back and looked up to see a large head infront of the starry sky. With a frightened jolt he pushed himslef away, only to hear Tohru's voice squeaking, "Ahh! Gomen, gomen Shigure-san!!"

Panting, Shigure looked around to see it really was just Tohru. "T-tohru-kun," he stammered. "You gave me a fright. I didn't recognise you... it's dark..."

"I'm sorry! I finished talking with Kyou-kun so I came to look for Shigure-san and when I found you here I thought something bad had happened... so I knelt down beside you and called your name to see if you were just sleeping... and you woke up... so I guess you were." She gave a nervous smile.

Shigure heaved a relieved sigh and smiled, placing a hand over his chest. It was then that he realised one of his bandages had become loose in the commotion.

"Ah! Shigure-san, your bandage! I'm so sorry!!" She quickly scrambled forward to help him with it, and he had no chance to protest before she had gently taken his arm and was rebandaging it with the most love and care she could give. He watched as she gently wrapped it around his wounds again, and smiled.

"Tohru-kun really is great," He breathed.

Tohru looked up at him in surprise and then turned away, finding herself blushing once again. "Iie... why is everyone saying that?" She laughed nervously, not looking at the dark-haired man beside her.

"Because it's the truth, of course." Shigure replied kindly, in a voice filled with warmth. "Tohru-kun is the best thing that's happened to our family in a long time. And for that, this old man is very grateful."

"Shigure-san, you're not old," Tohru grinned unsurely, still blushing. "Why do you keep calling yourself that?"

Shigure laughed. "I'm really not sure."

"Ano... Shigure-san?"

"Yes?"

"Will you, Yuki-kun and Kyou-kun be with me tomorrow? When Hatori-san erases my memory?" she asked shyly.

Suddenly Shigure felt as though somebody had shoved a very sharp sword right through his heart. He had a sickly feeling in the pit of his stomach and he suddenly felt very guilty for not being able to change Akito's mind the previous day.

"Y-yeah," he replied. "We'll be with you. Ha-san is coming here, after all, we're not going to him. We'll be with you until the end." He explained sadly.

"Well... since this is one of the last times we'll get to be together... I- I had some things to say to Shigure-san," Tohru said uncertainly, looking at him with her big brown eyes.

He smiled, despite his sadness at hearing these words, and nodded at her. "Tohru-kun can tell me anything she wants."

She smiled gratefully and shifted so she was sitting cross-legged in the grass before her older friend, sighing. "I just wanted Shigure-san to know... how much I appreciate him... before I don't have the chance to say it anymore." Shigure's heart was stabbed painfully again. "I've enjoyed living with you as much as I've enjoyed living with Yuki-kun and Kyou-kun... you're all very good people, and my time in your house has been one of the best times in my life... and I'm very sad that I can't stay with you any longer. But please," Tohru looked up at the dark-haired juunishi intensely, with tears brimming her eyes, "Please don't forget me, Shigure-san, even though I'm forgetting you."

Hearing this upset Shigure, but he tried as hard as he could to not make that noticable. The last thing he needed was to get upset because that would just upset Tohru even more than she was already. "T-tohru-kun," Shigure stammered, feeling as though the bottom of his stomach had fallen through. "I could never do that. Never." He stared at her soberly, trying to think of what to say. He swallowed, and his throat ached.

"Okay," Tohru sighed. "Because even though I won't be around to know, I would hate to think that Shigure-san would forget that I was ever in his life."

"Tohru-kun!" He exclaimed. "I won't ever do that!" Finally the full weight of what was happening was falling down on him, crushing him. By this evening, Tohru would no longer know him. He would be a complete stranger to her. Shigure looked down at his hands and saw they were shaking. He cursed himself inside his head; he was getting way too upset for his own good. He took a deep breath as his head spun.

"Shigure-san?!" Tohru said panickingly. "Are you okay?!"

"I'm... I'm fine," Shigure lied. He felt sick. Utterly sick.

"You've gone pale," Tohru noted as she studied his face, "And you're trembling! Shigure-san what's wrong?" She bit her lip in worry and wondered. How could what she had said upset him so much?

"Tohru-kun," Shigure said shakily, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. "

"I-it's not your fault," Tohru replied. Looking at how Shigure was reacting, she wondered if she had impacted his life more than she thought she had. "Uhh.. ahh.. lie down, and you'll feel better."

"No," He stopped her when she moved closer to help him. "I'm not going to forget you, you know. I will never do that so please don't worry about it." He was breathing faster than usual, as if he had just run here from the house. "I-I could never forget someone like you, because you mean a lot to me. You have to know that. You're closer with Yuki-kun and Kyou-kun, but that doesn't mean you don't mean as much to me as you do to them."

Tohru was crying again. "Thankyou, Shigure-san."

"I don't want to lose you..." he muttered weakly.

"Eh?" Tohru gasped and quickly looked at him, but all of a sudden there was a loud pyon and a puff of blue smoke. When it cleared she saw Shigure had transformed into his dog-form and fallen asleep. She gazed down at him for a long time, thinking about what he had said just before he transformed. I don't want to lose you...

Indeed, she wondered just how much of an impact she had had on Shigure's life that she didn't know about.

-------------

The next day went very fast. Everyone was extremely tired because of how late they had stayed up, but they still got up early so they could spend as much time with Tohru as they could before Hatori arrived. For lunch, Yuki, Kyou and Shigure all joined forces and put up with eachother as much as they could to cook Tohru something special for lunch. Although it didn't turn out as well as it would have if Tohru had cooked it, she still enjoyed it and considered it the best lunch she had ever eaten just because it was made by her three favourite people.

After lunch, Yuki and Kyou privately talked to Shigure while Tohru was outside. They approached him as soon as they had cleaned up and washed the dishes. They all decided Shigure's room would be a good place to talk, as Tohru was likely to knock before entering so they would have warning if she was to come along.

"Shigure," Yuki said seriously as they all sat around his table, "We're not staying."

Shigure froze for a few moments, startled and wondering what he meant. It was a very sudden thing for him to say. "Not... staying?" Shigure said slowly. He looked to Kyou, who wouldn't meet his eyes.

"Yeah," replied Kyou, looking away at a book on the other side of the room. "After her memory is erased..." His voice trailed off and there was silence for a few moments.

"We're leaving." Yuki stated. "This is... it's hard... so I'll stay with Tohru when her memory is being erased, but after that... when she's unconcious, I'm going to leave. I've already organised it with Hatori, he's going to take me to the train station. He's also taking him." He motioned to Kyou.

"What?..." Shigure asked in disbelief. "You're leaving? You're running away?"

"I need some time to think, and to get away from this place. It's too painful right now." Yuki looked down sadly. "I'm sorry, Shigure. I'm going to stay with my parents for a while."

"I'm going back to Kazuma." Kyou said quietly, still not meeting Shigure's gaze. "...Sorry."

"How can you do this?" Shigure asked, feeling anger rising inside himself. "I thought you two were better than this."

"Just handle it, okay?" Kyou said rudely, finally looking into Shigure's eyes. "You're a grown man. You can look after yourself." He muttered.

Shigure glared at Kyou in angered shock. "That's not the reason I'm angry at you two for this. You're running away like children. You're being childish!"

"Someone like you shouldn't be accusing others of being childish." Kyou spat.

"I know this is painful, but it's at times like these that families should come together to help eachother out," Shigure stated calmly. "Losing Tohru-kun is bad enough, but now we're losing eachother."

"Who said we're losing eachother?" Kyou asked in a malicious tone.

"Are you planning on coming back here?"

There was silence. Kyou didn't answer. He mumbled something and looked away from his older cousin.

"I might come back, Shigure," Yuki replied solemnly. "But I don't know yet."

Shigure let out a great sigh and hung his head. "You're leaving me. You're both leaving me when I need you the most."

At this, the boys had nothing to say. It surprised them to be hearing this from their cousin, but they had made up their minds already. This was something they had to do.

"We have to get away from here, Shigure." Yuki said, and looked out the window. "This is so hard... I can't stand to be here anymore, in this house, knowing that she's not going to be with us."

"That's not my fault, yet I'm being punished." Shigure replied sadly. He then paused and thought carefully about what he had just said. "But, I guess, it would be a punishment for you two if you both stayed under these circumstances." He sighed. "I... I'm trying to understand your decision. I think I do. I understand it, though I don't want it to be true. Though I may not show it most of the time, you both mean a lot to me. You're my family, and you're always welcome here if you want to come back. Remember that."

Shigure looked up to see Kyou and Yuki nod in unison. Yuki was about to speak but was interrupted by the sound of a car pulling up outside the house. He quickly looked at Shigure with wide eyes.

"Ha-san has arrived..." the dark-haired juunishi stated.

-------------

Shigure, Kyou and Yuki almost couldn't believe what they were seeing. Kyou and Yuki were sitting beside Tohru and Hatori on the grass outside the house; the location had been chosen by Tohru. She liked it outside in the warm summer sun. Shigure was sitting up on the veranda, watching in mournful disbelief. The sick feeling had returned to his stomach.

Hatori looked into Tohru's eyes soberly and asked, "Have you said everything you wanted to say to Yuki, Kyou and Shigure?"

Tohru paused, feeling extremely scared. Her heart was beating madly inside her chest as if it was trying to break free from her body. She was trembling. "H-hai," she stuttered. She looked at each of them and said goodbye.

As Tohru's sad eyes met Shigure's and she gave a gentle smile, he felt like he would faint. Despite her sadness, she was smiling, he thought. She was always smiling, trying to make others feel better in spite of what was happening. This was wrong, Shigure thought. So very wrong. He felt dizzy.

"I'm sorry for this, Tohru-kun," Hatori said sympathetically. "I didn't want this."

"Iie, i-it's okay, Hatori-san. I-it wasn't your d-decision." Tohru's chest was filled with so much fear that she was stumbling over her words. Closing her eyes and taking a few deep, shaky breaths, she nodded to Hatori and whispered, "I-I'm ready." But her voice sounded so small and vulnerable. She held onto Kyou's and Yuki's hands tightly, afraid to let go.

"Goodbye... I'll miss you." Kyou whispered.

"I really enjoyed knowing you, Honda-san." Yuki said sadly. "I'm sorry for all of this."

Tears were flowing down Tohru's cheeks as Hatori placed his hand gentle on her forehead. "Don't forget me." She sobbed.

Devestated, Shigure hung his head, bringing his hands up to cover his face. He couldn't watch. He couldn't.

"Thankyou for everything, Tohru-kun," Hatori said softly. He closed his eyes, focusing his power, and before Tohru had the chance to speak in reply, there was a blinding flash of white light that only lasted a single moment. When it all faded away, Tohru slumped down onto her back, lying face up on the grass, deep asleep. Kyou got to his feet and took off to his room to get the bags he had packed, and Yuki only lingered a few moments longer by Tohru's side before doing the same.

Shigure didn't look up when he heard either of the boys running past him on the veranda. He didn't look up when he felt Hatori's presence beside him either. His friend was standing next to him, leaning against one of the veranda's posts.

"Are you okay, Shigure?" Hatori asked with concern.

"I just need a bit of time." Shigure replied croakily. "How long will she be asleep?"

"Only about three or so hours. When she wakes up, what will you tell her?"

Shigure swallowed and lowered his hands, staring at Tohru's sleeping form on the lawn. "I... I'm going to say that I found her, unconcious, in the forest. Then I'll let her contact whoever else she can go and live with, and let her go."

"Sounds good. Are you sure you'll be alright? Have the boys told you what they're doing?" Hatori asked.

Shigure nodded. "I'll be fine, and yes. They said you're taking them to the train station."

Hatori nodded, and Shigure got to his feet. "Well, I'll move Tohru-kun. Kyou-kun and Yuki-kun should be out soon." He walked away towards Tohru and in his strong arms picked her up gently. He said goodbye to Hatori as he disappeared inside the house.

-------------

Shigure had put Tohru on a futon in the living room, and grabbed a few of her things, including her mother's framed photograph, so that it would look like he had found her and grabbed a few of her things out of her old tent. He would tell her that there had been a landslide and he was only able to save a few things. He sincerely hoped that she had another place to go and stay after she woke up.

Yuki, Kyou and Hatori had all left. Hatori told Shigure that he would call him later on to see how he and Tohru were doing. In all honestly, Shigure hoped he wouldn't. He really didn't want to be talking to anybody right now. Especially not the man who had taken Tohru's memory, best friend or not.

Feeling extremely anxious, Shigure grabbed a book, settled down on a beanbag near Tohru in the living room and began to read, hoping it would take his mind off the recent events.

-------------

Shigure woke to the sound of a young voice speaking, and somebody shaking him gently. "E-excuse me," the small voice was saying politely. "Please, sir, wake up..." the voice was distraught now.

Shigure's eyes snapped open and he found himself staring into the scared eyes of Tohru.

"Ah, y-you're awake," Shigure said, giving the best smile he could muster despite his mood. "I guess you're wondering how you got here?"

Tohru nodded.

"I found you unconcious in the forest," Shigure lied. "There's been a landslide... you had a tent setup, yes?"

Tohru stared at him blankly. "A tent?" She blinked.

Shigure froze. "...Yes..." he said slowly. Tohru continued to stare at him expressionlessly.

"I don't remember." She replied truthfully.

"What?" Shigure exclaimed. After a few moments he gave a nervous laugh. "I don't know what happened to you but I guess you were knocked out good."

"Do you know who I am?" She asked. Shigure shook his head.

"You haven't told me your name yet."

Tohru thought hard, bringing a hand up to her chin. "A-ano..." she stammered. "I don't know my name..." She frowned. "I can't remember it."

"Whaaaat?!" Shigure almost screamed. He then grabbed the framed photograph of Tohru's mother and thrust it towards her. "Look! This! Do you remember this?"

"What a beautiful woman," Tohru sighed. "I don't know who she is though."

Shigure couldn't pretend he didn't know her any longer. He was scared at the way Tohru was acting. Had Hatori accidentally erased her entire memory?

"This is your mother, Tohru-kun." He said solemnly.

Tohru stared at him with wide, confused brown eyes, and suddenly tears began to form in them. "Who is Tohru-kun?" She cried. "Where am I? Who am I? Wh-what's wrong with me?"

Shigure stared blankly at the far wall. His whole body felt numb.

"Oh god, Ha-san. What have you done?"

-------------

A/N: OoooOOOOOOOOoooooooOOOOOOooo. It's a TWIST OMG. Oh, and to clarify something: Tohru's family thinks she is living with a friend from school.