Disclaimer: Nothing has changed since last time. Fruits Basket still does not belong to me.
A/N: Wow! Over one hundred reviews! I'm so excited! Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this story. And, if you haven't reviewed, thanks for taking the time to read it. I really appreciate it. Also, some of you know this, but if you have stories you would like me to read, just let me know, and I'll read them the first chance I get. So once again a big thank you to everyone, and here is the next chapter (it has a high dialogue content).
Roses of Glass Chapter 19When Yuki reached the main hall, he scanned the room for Tohru. Not finding her, he made his way to where Momiji sat with Hiro and Kisa. He placed a hand on Momiji's shoulder and asked, "Do you know where Miss Honda got to?"
"What? Um, no, not really," Momiji replied, "She said she was going to go say hi to everyone and then come over here and help us."
Hiro cleared his throat, "I know where she is. I saw her leave a little while ago with Akito."
Yuki and Momiji exchanged glances, and then Yuki took off running. Momiji would have liked to go too, but Yuki's look had, among other things, told him to stay to keep Kisa from getting worried.
Meanwhile, Akito had taken Tohru to the room she had last visited right after Kyo's monster form had been revealed to her. She was slightly nervous, recalling the events that had taken place last time she had been here. Her scalp started to hurt just thinking about it. But Akito entered the room calmly and took a seat on the floor, gesturing for her to do the same.
"You know," he said, "New Year's is a very important holiday to the Sohmas. It's very rare that an outsider is invited to celebrate with us. You should considerate it a great honor."
"I do. I'm very grateful for the invitation."
He continued, "Well, you seem to be very popular among the members of this family. They seem to think you belong among us, enough so that they don't seem to care about my opinion on the matter."
Tohru gulped.
"However," Akito went on, "I think that you have become very important to the members of Shigure's household, and I care very much about them. Therefore, I see no reason why you shouldn't be invited, so long as you know your boundaries."
"I think I do understand them," she answered.
"Well, that remains to be seen. But right now, I want to know how your Christmas was. I understand you went to Hokkaido with Shigure, Yuki, and Kyo."
Tohru nodded, "I had never been to Hokkaido before, so it was really exciting. I had been hoping to try skiing, though and never got a good chance to because of Kyo's accident. He sprained his ankle and is on crutches now. He couldn't go skiing after that, so I stayed around the hotel with him."
"Ah, yes. The two of you have grown rather close over the past several months, haven't you?" Akito asked.
"Yeah, I guess so," Tohru replied, nervously. Something in his tone of voice when he asked the question told her she ought to be cautious in her reply. She knew that Akito didn't have any great fondness for Kyo, or herself for that matter.
"By the way," Akito suddenly changed the subject, "did you receiver the present that I sent for you?"
"Oh, yes. It was beautiful. Thank you so much."
"Do you know the symbolism of a glass rose?" he asked her. When she shook her head, he added, "Well, it's nothing really important. You'll learn it someday, I'm sure."
Tohru had unconsciously started playing with the ring on her finger. She was completely unaware of what she was doing until she heard Akito saying, "That looks like a nice ring. Can I have a closer look at it?" When Tohru held out her shaking hand, Akito placed one finger on either side of her ring finger, grasping the ring between them, "Well, that really is lovely. It was a gift from Kyo, was it not? Something of a promise ring? And I imagine he probably asked you to stay with him forever."
Akito's voice had taken on a sickening tone, but Tohru held his gaze as she asked, "How did you know that?"
"My dear Miss Honda," replied Akito, in the same tone, "I know everything about this family. I have eyes and ears everywhere."
By this time, Yuki had snuck into Akito's building and was standing at the doorway of the room Akito and Tohru were occupying. Neither had noticed he was there. The fear of facing Akito was keeping him frozen where he stood. He watched as Akito grabbed Tohru's hair, into a ponytail in one hand and jerked her head around. He wanted to move then, but his fear of Akito, coupled with his memory of Tohru's reaction the last time this happened, kept him where he was.
"You realize it could never be," he heard Akito say, "No matter what either of you promised, you won't be together forever. The cat will eventually be locked up, like every other cat before him."
"I won't let that happen!" Tohru shouted.
Akito gave a sinister laugh, "How do you plan to prevent it? My word is law in this family. There is nothing you can do to save that monster."
"Well, then, you'll have to lock me up with him, because I won't break my promise. I will stay by his side forever. Even if I have to give up everything I've ever known."
Akito's temper flared and he gave another maniacal laugh, "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Why would anybody give up their life for the cat? The cat is a monstrosity."
"You want to know why?" Tohru now spoke with extreme calmness, "I can tell you why. It's really very simple. I would give up my life for Kyo because I love him."
When Yuki heard Tohru's response, his gaze went immediately to Akito's face. It was twisted with rage. That remark had been the last straw. Yuki almost failed to notice when Akito reached into his robe and pulled out a shiny object. When he realized what it was, Yuki tried to call out to warn Tohru, but he was too late. Akito ran the knife up Tohru's back and finished with a quick jerk that cut off Tohru's hair, just above where he had been holding it. Then he placed a hand on her head and said, "Actually, I want you to stay with him. Give him hope. It will make it more fun to watch him break later." Then he turned to walk out of the room, pausing to flash and evil grin at Yuki.