I DO NOT OWN FRUITS BASKET

A/N: Hello all! What fun that is in store today! This is a short chapter, but what the hell, it's still really good. Okay, read and enjoy!

Chapter 15 – South

The rain had stopped, and a flock of birds gathered around Shigure's house.

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He had transformed into a dog in Mii's arms. He expected her to jump back in surprise or possibly faint or something. He waited for her to react. She made no sound, and she was frozen in place, her arms around a big black dog. He was dying from all this torment, he needed to know how she felt!

"S-so this is the curse?" She finally asked, although she was still locked in place.

"Yes." He said, and then he felt her tremble.

But the trembles were from her giggling, and he frowned as best a dog could frown, confused. She hugged him closer. "You stupid idiot, this is the dumbest curse I've ever heard about. This is why you were acting all gloomy and scared? Shigure, you're such a dummy."

"Y-you're not angry?"

"Are you kidding? I've always wanted a dog!" She hugged him even closer, and petted his dark fur. "And you're so cute! Aww. . .. ." She cooed, and Shigure sweatdropped. Was this the reaction he was hoping for? It certainly wasn't what he expected. "You're such a good boy." She said in a sickly sweet voice, and Shigure sweatdropped even more. She petted his fur some more, and scratched his back.

He involuntarily leaned in more, his foot thumping the ground. 'Wait, wait, wait! Stop that!' He told himself, and back away from her. "You're really not upset or frightened?"

"Shigure. . . . ." She scolded, and her eyes became glossy. "I love you, and all your quirks, even this one. It doesn't phase me. Although, you have some explaining to do. If this happens when you hug me, then why didn't it happen when we were . . .. uh . .. . ."

"You see, there was the eclipse, and it temporarily broke the curse."

Her eyebrow raised. "I see."

He saw where she was going. "I really, really am sorry if you feel like I took advantage! But remember, I did try and stop! You can't blame me for acting like I did. It was my only chance to hug a girl!"

"We did more than hug. And as I remember, Shigure, you're the one who hugged and kissed me first, before you tried to back away. It was already too late by then." She said, and Shigure's heart sunk. She was taking this badly. But then again, she was suddenly smiling again. "You dummy, the past is the past. I understand now why you were so hasty, but I know your feelings were there before that. You're so dense sometimes, you dumb dog." She laughed, and he sighed in relief.

There was a 'poof' and Shigure was back to normal, but naked in front of her. It wasn't like it was something she hadn't already seen, but she was still shocked. He grabbed a robe hastily, and apologized.

"You're gonna have to fill me in on all the rules, Shigure." She said in a small, glazed over voice. He nodded wearily.

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The power had come back on, and everyone gathered around to eat an early dinner. They were at the table, eating a meal cooked by Tohru and Hana, when the boys felt a strange sensation. Yuki frowned looking up, and saw Kyo was panicking. Hatori looked surprised as well.

They all turned to Akito, whose eyes were wide in fear, and he began to breath heavy, scared breaths. As if someone physically slapped him, Akito's face changed to one of deadly calm, a spark of anger in his dark, squinting eyes.

She was back.

Akito fisted his hands and pounded the table. "Why are we still here, Hatori?!" He exclaimed, and looked around at the surprised faces. Kyo had stood, and grabbed Tohru protectively by the arms. Yuki reached out an arm, and him and Hana backed away. Hatori was frozen in his place, fear in his usually calm eyes. "Why did I come here?! Why! Someone tell me!" He yelled frantically, his eye twitching. "Erase their memories, all of them! I want to go back, back where I belong. At Sohma house where I belong!" He stood on wobbly legs.

Uo stood up and tried to grab his arm, but he swiped at her, but he missed as she dodged gracefully. She hadn't been in that gang and not learned how to fight and miss punches. He tried again to strike her, but she was too quick, and grabbed his flailing arms in her strong grip. But he was encredibly strong for how weak he looked. Uo knew now that it was the spirit of the one who cursed the Sohmas. She was strong and powerful, but Uo had to try and get Akito out again, the real Akito.

"Akito, listen to me, it's Arisa! Remember I told you to fight her! Do it now!"

Akito growled, and shoved at her arms, forcing her knees to buckle and she fell. Her hands were still holding his tightly. He was leaning over her, his arms forcing her back even more. Uo stared, determined, into the eyes of Akito. She saw the ruthless spirit in him. Then a flicker of softness, and Uo knew that was him.

"Akito! Fight her! Please!" She screamed, and saw Akito waver, and in that second she released his hands, and he came falling down on her. There was a hiss of yellow smoke. It wasn't a 'poof' but rather a low hum.

"""How dare you! How dare you even touch him!""" A horrid voice, distorted, screamed out. Uo closed her eyes, and grabbed around his neck. The voice screamed, and it sounded like a million people crying out in pain at the same time. Her ears rang.

Uo was hot, she was smoldering! Something was burning her very core, and she had to open her eyes. When she did, all she saw was flames. In a panic, she let go, and fell to the ground, and looked up, and she was shocked into total silence.

There was a giant phoenix floating up to the sky. It was red and yellow with flames all around it. It screamed again, and flapped its wings. Uo noticed birds, hundred of them, flying in perfect rings around the phoenix. """You can't have him! You can't have him or this family! None of them! I won't allow it!"""

"Akito." Uo whispered out, her eyes wide in fear. There was a phoenix right in front of her. It felt so hot, fire spewing from its long feathery-flamed wings. She felt tears fall down her face. "Why won't you fight her, Akito?" She whispered again, and then there was another hiss, and yellow smoke, and Akito's body reformed and he fell slowly back to the ground. He collapsed on the ground, unconscious, his clothes smoking and scorched.

Hatori ran up and picked him up in his arms. He hastily left, without saying anything to the others, his mind just as confused as theirs. Yuki was about to protest to Hatori leaving with Akito, but Hana stopped him. Kyo did his best to calm Tohru, but found her gaze still locked to the sky where the phoenix had been. She was in shock. Only when she heard Uo wail and cry did she snap out of it. She looked down and over at her best friend. She pushed past Kyo and fell down in the mud next to her, and hugged her. Hana was already there too, hugging both of them as well.

Yuki walked up to Kyo and actually put a hand on his shoulder in reassurance. Kyo didn't pull away or say anything, simply put a hand on Yuki's and gave it a pat. Yuki pulled his hand away and turned around and looked at the house. Part of the house was gone. Great.

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Shigure and Mii pulled up to the house, and it all looked like normal, except for some downed tree limbs and a lot of water and puddles. Mii pulled to a stop and looked over at the house too. "I don't think they wrecked it. It looks fine to me." She replied, and he smirked at how similar they really were. He turned to her and gave a weak smile.

"Will you come by tomorrow?" He asked, and she nodded.

"Of course. Besides, you need to get that manuscript ready anyway. It's due next month, you realize." She said, and he looked confused, like he had no idea what she was talking about. "Don't tell me you haven't even wrote anything yet! Shigure, I'm gonna—" She was cut off as he leaned across and planted a firm and passionate kiss on her lips. She melted, and almost completely forgot why she was yelling at him. When he finally pulled back from her, she was breathless. "Y-yeah, and what I said." She said, barely coherent.

"Good. I'll see you tomorrow." He replied, and got out of the car and grabbed his suitcases and headed towards home again, waving goodbye as she weaved out onto the main road. He turned back around and continued into his house.

He opened the door and walked in, and took off his shoes. There was some hammering, and he frowned, and put his cases aside, and began to walk into the house further. More hammering, and arguing. It sounded like Yuki and Kyo. The arguing was typical, but the hammering. . . . .

He opened the door to the dining room where he heard the commotion. "Yuki, Kyo? I hope you didn't do anything stupid and wrecked the house while I was—" He stopped talking and nearly fainted on the floor. The back half of the house was gone!

"Oh shit, you're home early." Kyo exclaimed, up a ladder, trying to hammer two boards together. Yuki was helping him too. That made Shigure really lose it, and he fell to his knees in shock. He barely noticed the three girls trying to rebuild the doors.

He fell back slowly and with a loud thud he was on the ground, twitching.

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A/N: what fun! Did you guys like? I told you it's getting weird. How did you like the phoenix thing and Akito? I think it goes perfectly! It makes total sense. If you still don't know what's going on with Akito/Uo, don't worry, you're not supposed to know everything yet. Just be patient and trust me. anyway, sorry it's been a while, but my internet has been down. God, it's been a long week. Oh yeah, sorry I changed the rating, but it was getting a little 'steamy' at times, and I just want to be extra careful. But now that it IS rated R, I can do all sorts of fun stuff. Ok, I was just kidding! No limes or lemons, sorry! I don't do that (I just read other ones-lol xx; !!!) jk, okay, I'll go. Review like little birds! Little birds swarming around a Akito . . .... .