Disclaimer: Fruits Basket and its characters are the property of their respective owners. This piece is not for profitable purposes.

Chapter 8: Memories and a Meeting

After I pick up the list and exit Akito's room, I walk slowly to the gate of the estate and pause as I look out at the surroundings. I step out into the open and make my way to the marketplace, moving naturally, as if the years of my imprisonment have not even existed, like it was just yesterday that we walked together.

"Yuki-kun, thank you so much for coming to help me."

"Of course, Honda-san, it's my pleasure."

I smile as I watch her inspect the vegetables.

"I wonder what everyone would like tonight."

"I'm sure whatever you make will be wonderful, Honda-san."

She blushes and stutters, "Of, of course not, I'm really not that good!"

I smile sadly as I walk, knowing that I will be returning to one of the places that overflows with memories of her.

When I arrive, I scan the stores, and notice that they are not all the same, time has indeed continued without me. I wander through, steering a crooked path through the throngs of people. I glance at the list when I arrive at an herbal store and step inside. My knowledge of vegetables is greater than that of herbs, so I find myself pacing aimlessly, staring at labels and signs. Eventually, I find the correct ones and make my purchase.

As I step out into the street with the bag in my right hand, I stop quickly when I see a woman with long brown hair in the distance walking into a store. I smile at my wishful and pitiful thinking; of course that isn't her. I push it out of my thoughts and continue my shopping. After I purchase all the items on the list except for groceries, I move towards a bench and sit down. I review the list and then glance at my watch. I am surprised by my rapid progress, Akito won't expect me home for a while yet. Pleased, I smile slightly and decide to go to a nearby park. As I walk, I hear the random conversations of carefree people, I find it difficult to control my envy of these people, if I were like them…

"Ma'am, may I please have two leeks?"

Leeks? The baka neko's most hated food, I remember I stuffed them in his mouth once when she made them, before she knew how much he despised them.

Curious who said that, and thinking that the voice sounded familiar, I turn my head and stare in shock; it's her, the woman with the long flowing brown hair. I step back involuntarily, is that, it can't possibly.

"Sohma-kun?" The woman says with a questioning look.

"Toh…Honda-san?"

"Sohma-kun, it's really you!"

She moves closer to me, so that we are facing each other. I find myself frozen, it really is her in front of me! Then it could be true, after all.

"Tohru-san."

She looks at me with a look of delighted surprise.

"Oh, Yuki-kun, I'm so happy, you've started calling me by my given name!"

I smile and respond, "I remember how happy I was the first time you called me by mine, you remember, don't you, how I transformed? And, I thought it was time for me to return the happiness."

I notice she looks somewhat perplexed so I force myself to re-gain my composure.

"Hello, Honda-san, it's wonderful to see you again." More than you can ever imagine.

She smiles brightly. I look at her more carefully, her childish appearance has matured somewhat, her face appears longer and thinner, her eyes are narrower, and her outfit is more formal and in earth tones; she is more beautiful than ever.

"It's great to see you again, too, Sohma-kun. It's been so long, since we were classmates."

Although I remain still and poised, I feel as if the world has shattered around me, 'since we were classmates.' I had thought so before, but now I know for sure, that time, when Akito…

"Sohma-kun, how have you been?"

How have I been? I want to scream, to shout, but I smile pleasantly instead and respond, "Well, thank you, and yourself?"

She smiles broadly and responds, "Great, since I graduated, I moved into an apartment with Hana-chan and Uo-chan, oh, you might not know who I mean, they're Hanajima Saki and Uotoni Arisa."

I struggle not to flinch at her words as I respond, "How nice, Honda-san."

She shakes her head yes and continues, "I also was fortunate enough to find a job as a secretary."

"Congratulations."

"Thank you. How about you, Sohma-kun?"

I pause, trying to decide what I should answer when she rapidly says, "Oh, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked such a question, how rude of me, after all, Sohma-kun may…"

I smile and interject, "No, of course not, Honda-san, I was merely collecting my thoughts."

She visibly sighs in relief and I find it difficult not to laugh, I am glad that she hasn't changed.
"I live in my family's estate and I…work for the family business."

Her mouth slightly agape, she looks at me in awe.

"That's amazing, Sohma-kun."

I smile slightly but remain silent.

My lack of response must have surprised her because she says, sounding nervous, "You're here to do chores, Sohma-kun?"

"Yes, Honda-san, and yourself?"

"I'm here to buy groceries. Each of the three of us has responsibilities, I cook, though I don't think I'm very good."

"I'm sure that isn't true, Honda-san."

She seems slightly unnerved by my response but smiles. As I stand, watching her again after all these years, I wonder if I should, should go against Akito's decree, what if he finds out, what could happen then, I would never forgive myself if…

"Sohma-kun?"

"Yes, Honda-san?"

"Were you planning on buying groceries?"

"Yes, I do need to buy some."

"Why don't we shop together then?"