Title: The Prodigal
Prologue
Author/pseudonym: NemKess
Fandom: Fruits Basket/Yu Yu Hakusho Xover
Pairing: FB pairings- mild Kyo/? (probably Haru or Yuki), Hatori/Tohru, others traditional ... traditional YYH pairings.
Rating: PG13
Status: one-shot
E-mail address for feedback:: nemsmusesmsn.com

Disclaimers: Any of these guys belong to me? I could only wish. Nope, not mine. No copyright infringement is intended and no money is made. This is purely to silence the voices in my head.

Notes: This plot bunny has been breeding and mutating for months.

Summary: Kyo has been gone for years, having escaped the fate of the Cat and creating his own destiny and life away from the Sohma's. But tragic events drive him back, older, sadder, and wiser than he was before.

Warnings: Shonen ai. Het. possible OOCness

"Why am I being punished?"

"It's not a punishment, child. You need to time and distance to heal. Your heart and your body. At the rate you're going, you'll get yourself killed."

"I made a mistake, it won't happen again."

"So you've sworn. Repeatedly. My decision is final. I will not lose what is left of my family."

"'Otousan-"

A smack resounds through the chamber. "You're whining like an infant. Stop it. It's unbecoming of someone who claims to be my apprentice." Strained silence follows for a long minute. " You dishonor their memories with your recklessness."

"Please, child. I know that you're not actively seeking death, but you court it at every opportunity and it's been my experience that it's always the ones who do it subconsciously that actually succeed. This last time it was far too close. Without the regenerative technology at our disposal, you would have died. How will I face my son in the afterlife if I don't do what I can to help heal you?"

"Oh, so you're going to send the suicidal psycho back home where everyone hates and fears him and wants to lock him up? Great logic." The sarcasm could be cut with a knife. It's dropped in favor of resignation. "I don't belong there. I never did."

"It's not forever, brat. Just until we don't have to worry about you going out and picking fights with gangs of demons two and three times your size."

A hint of smile. "I guess Touda's bunch was a little more than I could handle."

The snort of response left no doubt of the opinion on that. "I'll check in on you. Make sure those bastards don't try anything underhanded."

"Well, they are humans."

"Exactly. So deal with this so that we can get you back here and away from their influence."

"Right..." Faint sigh. "When are we going to the portal?"

"As soon as you get packed."

"Joy." No one in the room doubted that this was considered a death sentence all it's own.

The tall figure frowned at the compass in his hands. It had been a gift from one of his cousins the Christmas just past and he knew it was supposed to help him find his way around.

Too bad Momiji hadn't shown him out to use the damn thing.

"25 years old and you still get lost in the Sohma Woods?"

Hatsuharu Sohma whirled around and gaped at the man perched a few yards above and to the right of him on a log that had fallen against another tree.

The orange hair was longer, the features more mature, the eyes were harder and more cynical. What looked to be claw scars raked down one side of his face and a deadly looking katana hung at his side. But there was no doubt as to the identity of the man.

"Kyo..."

The lost cat of the zodiac had returned at last.

TBC