I DO NOT OWN FRUITS BASKET

A/N: Hello! Here's another chapter for you! Sorry it's a little short, but it's all leading up to the finale! Yay! I mean . . .. no. anyway, readreadread!

Chapter 16 – Normal, what is Normal?

Tohru carried a plate of breakfast for her friends and the boys. They were eating in the stairwell, next to the kitchen, which was still barely intact. Tohru went up to her friends, noticing a now togtherness that was somehow void before. Everyone knew eachother's secrets, and it was like a heavy weight had been lifted off their shoulders. She smiled, but noticed Shigure was not there.

"Where's Shigure?" She asked, and Yuki rolled his eyes.

"He's still in the dining room." Yuki replied, and Tohru walked a little ways and peeked behind some draped tarp to see Shigure sitting at the table, but it was open to the world with no roof or walls. He was just sitting there, like usual, but this time a dumbfounded look was on his face as he sipped his tea. Yuki sighed. "I guess he's taking this really hard."

"That damn dog is gonna catch cold or something." Kyo growled, and everyone looked at him oddly. Even though his remark was a bit harsh, he was still showing concern. Obviously Tohru was rubbing off on him in more ways than one. "What? What'd I do?" He exclaimed from the looks he was getting.

"At least Shigure didn't have to see how it happened." Yuki said and shook his head. "I had never heard of Akito being able to transform before he told us. I wonder if anyone knew." He pondered this. No one in the family even seemed to hint at anything of the sort. And from what Yuki knew, Akito's mother had died at childbirth.

"Still, it is very sad that all of you transform again now." Hana said, giving a forlorn look towards Yuki. Kyo raised an eyebrow, and Tohru grinned as they watched Yuki blush slightly. The only one was wasn't really in the conversation was Uo. She was staring at her plate, lost in thought. Hana seemed to notice though, and turned her attention over to her. "Arisa, what is the matter?"

"I can get him back, I know I can." She said, determined.

"Who? Akito?" Tohru asked.

"Yeah, the real him. All I have to do is see him again." She said, and there was a dead silence. "I don't want to give up on him. He's still in there, she's just strong. I'm sure I can talk some sense into her."

"The evil spirit that first put this curse on this family?" Yuki asked.

"Yes, but somehow I think she's more than just a spirit. And I think I have something to do with her, somehow." Uo said, and everyone was quiet again. This was all too heavy for them. As if to lighten the mood, they felt a cold breeze blow through, and turned and saw the front door was opening. The familiar face of Mii, Shigure's editor, walked in and looked at them oddly.

Why were they all eating on the stairs? She wondered as she hefted a large briefcase full of Shigure's other manuscripts. "Uh, hello. Where's Shigure?" She asked, and they pointed to a tarp covering a portion of the house. That was odd too. She walked over to it, and lifted it and looked through. She was surprised to find she was now looking outside again, and she noticed the familiar house was half gone in the back!

She looked down and saw Shigure sitting at the still intact table, sipping at some tea, his face clearly one of insane disclosure. She walked up to him, his eyes not even acknowledging her. She leaned down to his face, and studied his expression. He had definitely lost it, big time. Was he even in denial?

"Shigure?" She asked, and leaned in closer. The same look. She planted a kiss on his temple, his head slightly tilting to the side from her gentle contact. His face emmediately changed to a grin, his eyes closed. "Uh, honey, what happened to your house?" She asked, and his grin disappeared. His eyes were still closed though. "Was it those bad little teenagers?" He nodded, pitifully. "Are you gonna come inside now?" She asked, and he nodded again. "And work on your manuscript?" She asked, and he frowned, and opened one eye to stare at her.

"And here I thought you came just to see me." He said with a sad tone. She sat down next to him and frowned herself.

"Shigure, no matter what we've just been through, work is work, and you're really behind! I can't just let you slack off, and it's gonna be much worse now that you can distract me from –" She began to rant on, but was 'distracted' by Shigure's wonderfully adoring mouth on her own. She pulled away, though, determined not to let him do this to her. It was bad enough he had ran and hid from her before, but this was somehow much worse; this was far more tempting to allow. "You need to finish your manuscript before I get in a lot of trouble, and we have to—"

"Stop talking." He gently commanded, and kissed her again, holding her neck with one hand, the other gently placed on her shoulder to keep them from both leaning in too far. Her hands went to his chest and rested there, her mouth obeying his, and not speaking another word as he ardently kissed her, his tongue playing at her lower lip, and then finally she granted access to her mouth. It had only been a few hours, but she had already missed his contact. She really wanted to feel his arms around her, but she knew that was impossible now. The curse was back in full force. So unless she really wanted to ruine the mood, she would have to restrain herself.

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Tohru couldn't help but smile as she peeked into the 'room' Shigure was in. It seemed like everyone –including Shigure- was falling for someone. It was so cute, but Tohru blushed fiercely and walked away when Shigure pinned Mii to the floor, his arms braced above her meticulously as to not transform himself.

She sat back down with the others, and Kyo obviously saw her extremely red face. "What's the matter, Tohru?" He asked her, leaning in close to inspect. She waved her hand dismissively.

"Nothing! I'm just hot." She said and looked over at Yuki who had his head tilted to see into the 'dining room'. The tarp blew open slightly, and he saw what Tohru was blushing about. He turned back to the group, and shook his head.

"Perverted dog." He said, and Hana nodded, because she had looked as well.

"Very perverted." She agreed, and made a small noise in the back of her throat as if to clear it.

Yuki half smiled, thinking that they had done some pretty 'perverted' things themselves. They were really no better. And all Shigure was really doing was kissing someone, while holding their arms above their head. That wasn't too bad . . . . . comparitively.

"So, Uo, you want to go see Akito again?" Tohru asked, as if to break up the silence.

"Yes, I think I need to." She said, a determination in her voice.

"After all that, all you can think about is saving him?" Yuki asked her, a little bit of disregard in his voice. "That spirit –or whatever it was- was too powerful. It was a phoenix, a god. It wasn't a seahorse or a little rabbit, it was a phoenix. And for some reason, it didn't like you too much."

"I don't know why that is, but I know the real Akito is in there."

"The 'real Akito'? you didn't even know the old Akito. Even if it was the spirit who was tormenting our family through Akito's body, I still can't forgive him. you have no idea what he has done to us, what kind of a person he was. For all we really know, that could have been him all those times, and not the spirit. How do we even know what the 'real Akito' is?" Yuki asked, getting very emotional.

"Look Yuki, I know that he's been unruly and angry with all of you, but I can assure you that that was the spirit. I think I've seen the spirit before she was the phoenix. She was just a woman, a hurt and sad woman. But anyway, Akito is different! I've seen him and talked with him. He's just as confused and hurt as all of you. He's a victim too! Just like you all told me, he's taken on the bulk of the curse, and more than that. He's taken on the weilder of the curse, letting her take control of his body, without his control or choice! I know Akito can come out on occasions, he's strong enough to fight her. She has her moods, and I think we just hit a sore spot yesterday."

"You hit a sore spot, not we." Kyo added in.

"That's not the point! The point is, I know I can get Akito back." She snapped a look at Yuki. "The real Akito. If I have to do it myself, I will." But her face softened again. "I just wanted to do it with my friends. Will you guys help me? please?"

Tohru nodded quickly, and placed a hand on her shoulder. Kyo said a reluctant yes, and Yuki turned to Hana, who was already nodding. Yuki was the last to say anything. "I might be wrong about Akito. And I will always help out a friend, always. And you are my friend, Arisa Uotani."

Uo smiled and stood up. "Alright, lead me to Sohma House!"

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A/N: Again sorry about the shortness. It's almost done, guys! Isn't it sad? Anyway, I'm considering a sequel after I'm done with this, and I think I already have some plot ideas. Hmm . . . . anyway, gotta go, im writing on my other story, the yugioh one I threatened to start –and I have. . . . . sorry, but this one still takes priority! I always write on this one first! Okay, well, gotta go. I'm gonna write my update for yugioh. Okies! Byebye!