I DO NOT OWN FRUITS BASKET

AN: Thanks so much for the reviews. I've been writing these in my spare time at school between classes, so bear with me. And yet again, devoted manga readers!!! : this story is based more on our known knowledge of the anime series. I know about a lot of the things and side plots in the manga, but I thought my story would fit better into what we know so far in the ANIME. Please, if you are a devoted fruits basket manga fan, please stop reading if you are a stickler for things matching perfectly with EVERYTHING. This is not meant to match everything! My story won't quite work if you add in all the plot twists and relationships in the manga.... People..... please don't make me say this again. If you don't like it, then stop reading please before I really upset you with my own plot twists! And believe me, there are a lot, and they are pretty big! (especially with Uo and Akito.) so.... People.... Relax..... and enjoy. Oh god, it's getting late... nightnight time....

Chapter 7 – Akito And . . .

Akito sat at the dining table and looked across at Miss Uotani. He couldn't help but feel a connection. But why with such a seemingly ordinary girl? It was her blue eyes, perhaps. They were haunting, almost . . .

Uo chanced a glance over at that Akito guy. He was staring at her! She couldn't help but keep the stare. She frowned, very confused. Why did he look so familiar? That face of his, so perfectly chistled. His dark hair, the way it rested around his face, and those dark eyes . . . that was what bothered her the most. There was something in them . . .

Hatori saw Akito from across the table staring at the blond friend of Tohru's. This was already beginning to be complicated. Something was wrong with Akito, and he didn't know quite what it was yet.

Kyo ate hungrily, ignoring the people down the table. He wondered why Tohru had sat next to him. Usually she sat next to Yuki or something, but this time, she was sitting next to him. They were almost touching! He reached for the soy sauce, and felt a hand also reaching for it. It was Tohru's. He felt a blush across his face, but he played it off by pushing the sauce over to her plate roughly. She thanked him kindly, and continued to eat.

Yuki felt somewhat relieved to have let all that off his chest. He really did want her to be happy. And he could see from across the table how much she really loved him. Kyo was being stupid and ignorant about it, as normal. He would really have to work hard to get Kyo to realized it too. This was going to be challenging. But he never backed down from a challenge. And he never backed down from a challenge like Kyo, either. He suddenly felt someone lean in next to him. He couldn't help but feel on edge, and leaned away. He looked to the side and saw Hana leaning in to talk to him secretly.

"There is something rather odd between a lot of the people here, including both my friends." She said quietly, and Yuki gulped. Was it that obvious? He looked at Akito and Uo and then at Kyo and Tohru, and sighed. He supposed she was right.

"I noticed it too." He replied, and Hana made a noise of agreement.

"I want to talk to you about it after dinner, if that is alright." She said, and Yuki frowned. Hana talk to him about the others . . . that was a little strange.

"Uh, sure." He said, and continued to eat.

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Shigure finished packing and practically ran to the elevator, and started his descent. When he got to the lobby, he saw panic and confusion. There were several people running around, and looking very preoccupied. Then he looked outside. He guessed he was too busy worrying about Mii, that he hadn't noticed it was flooding outside. He looked up quickly to a television screen. All the roads were being blocked, and everyone was advised to stay indoors. The area around the hotel was blocked by landslides and downed tree limbs. Was it really that bad? A tree fell down in front of the main doors.

Shigure was in the elevator, heading back up to his room in a matter of seconds. He was stuck. When he got to his floor, the doors opened with a chime, and he was face to face with the very person he had wanted to avoid.

"Shigure!" Mii exclaimed, and pulled him from the elevator, along with his suitcases. She was only in a bathrobe. He couldn't help but stare down at her exposed collar and little legs and hands. Her hair was still wet, and she looked really frazzled. "Shigure! You tried to leave! Don't you know it's flooding outside! Weren't you watching the news?! I know you're reckless, but dammit, why'd you leave?"

"I didn't leave. I'm here, aren't I?" He asked plainly. She got angry, and grabbed his suitcases and went to his room, and opened it and threw in his bags, and waited for him to follow them in. He walked in reluctantly, and she followed, slamming the door. "Why did you follow me in?"

"I know you, Shigure . . . you'll try it again as soon as the rains stop. I'm not gonna let you, even if I have to watch you all night." She said sternly, and sat down in a big chair and crossed her arms. "Go ahead, I dare you to try and leave."

Shigure sighed, feeling very defeated. This was really bad, though. How could he sleep with her right across from him, only in a bath robe? He stood there for a while in silence, contemplating his situation. He sighed finally and threw off his kimono. "Fine. Goodnight, Mii." He was only in his boxers and a small white no-sleeved grey shirt. He climbed into bed, and sat up against the headboard and stared at her. Was she blushing?

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Dinner was silent and quiet, and Tohru was in the kitchen with Kyo doing the dishes. Hatori went to the living room to read, and Hana and Yuki had left to another part of the house, alone. Uo was stuck with Akito, alone in the dining room.

Uo tilted her head. "Hey . . . do I know you from somewhere?" She asked.

Akito frowned. "I don't think so." He replied coldly. It was a lie. He had felt it too. He knew her, and she knew him, but they couldn't quite place where they had met.

"Are you sure?" She insisted.

"No, little girl, I told you I don't think so." He replied bitterly.

She could sense an underlying anger. She stood and walked over to where he sat, and eased her way next to him. He turned and looked at her with a bit of disregard, and his eye twitched. "Look, buddy, I know you're lying . . . how did I know part of your name then?"

"Tohru must have told you."

"But she didn't. Why are you denying this?"

"Shut up, you don't know what you're talking—" He was about to scream further, except she placed a hand over his mouth to silence him. His eyes were wide in shock and horror. She was touching him. She was touching him! How dare she!

"Why are you getting so upset? Calm the hell down."

He tried to stand, but a strong arm pushed back on his shoulder, forcing him to stay seated. She was extremely strong. Akito was about to try and slap her, but he found his hand wouldn't work. It was raised, but it was quivering. It was frozen in place, twitching, right next to her head. Something was stopping him, holding his arm back. He was confused. What was making his stop? He didn't want this stupid girl to be touching him!

Then something in Uo switched on. She reached up to his shaking hand, and held it in hers. She laced her fingers though his, and immediately saw the panic in Akito's eyes. But he was not stopping her. "Oh, Aki . . . don't let her win." Uo said softly, her eyes slightly glossed over. It didn't even sound like her voice. "Aki . . ."

Akito shivered. That voice! He felt the darkness try to take over him again. He tried to scream out, but his scream was captured by a kiss. Uo's lips were firm and yet soft against his. His eyes darted, his body went stiff . . . and his hand held hers tightly.

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in the words of neo: 'whoa'

What's gonna happen?

Yuki and Hana . . . . hmm . . . . huh . . .

WHEN is the KYO/TOHRU romance gonna show up, already?

This AKito and Uo thing is really weird . . .

Is poor Shigure EVER gonna get some?

WHERE IS THE DAMN ECLIPSE???

ALL COMING UP IN THE NEXT CHAPTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Till then . . .