(Chapter Eight: Kyo Takes a Stand)

The wind blew around Kyo's face as he stared at Akito, who watched him in amusement and confusion. Yuki and Hatsuharu also stared at Kyo, unable to move or speak. Kyo closed his eyes slowly and his face lowered as he spoke.

"Haru, damn rat. Take Tohru and go."

"Huh?" they both looked at him in astonishment.

"You heard what I said" his voice wavered, "Take her and go. I'll take it from here."

Before Yuki knew what he was doing he had moved slowly forward and taken Tohru's hand gently helping her to her feet. While Haru still remained in his position stunned as ever. Yuki moved towards Hatsuharu with Tohru and then Haru turned toKyo angrily.

"I'm not just gonna leave you here alone" he retorted.

"Haru" Kyo said slowly his eyes still shut, "Go. I will take it from here" he repeated, "Take Tohru back to the house."

Haru wanted to protest but Yuki placed a hand on his shoulder.

"He's right Haru" Yuki replied, "Let's go Miss Honda" they began to walk away.

"Kyo" she whispered the tears resting on her face.

Kyo heard her and opened his eyes, looking directly at her.

"It's okay Tohru" he said with a slight smile, "I'll handle it."

"No" she thought as Yuki and Hatsuharu walked her away.

Kyo sighed and took a few steps forward so that he was now facing Akito. Akito smiled slightly, unaffected by Kyo's act and shook his head.

"You got what you wanted Monster. So take care of it."

Kyo glared angrily at Akito.

(Next Scene)

As Tohru and the two boys moved farther away from Kyo, Tohru stopped in her tracks. Yuki looked back as she pulled her hand from his palm.

"Miss Honda? What's wrong?"

"Yuki" she replied, "You and Hatsuharu go back to the house."

"Huh?" Haru stopped as well and looked at her confused, "What are you talking about?"

"You can't be serious Miss Honda? You're not going back?"

"No I am serious" she said, "Please just go back. Go let Momiji and the others know that I am okay."

"We can't do that Tohru" Hatsuharu replied with his fist up as Yuki shook his head.

"I'm not asking youto Hatsuharu. I'm telling you to" she said tearfully.

"Huh?" he lowered his hand.

"This is between Kyo, Akito and myself. Just please go. I wont have anyone else involved."

"Miss Honda" Yuki looked at her sadly, "Then here" he reached into his coat pocket, "Take this with you" he handed her a small box.

"What's that Yuki?" Haru asked as Tohru held onto it.

"A first aid kit" Yuki explained, "She may need it."

"Thank you Yuki" Tohru nodded holding it to her chest, "Now please go back."

"No Tohru!" Haru shouted as Yuki took his arm, "Let me go Yuki! You can't do this Tohru!" he screamed as he was pulled away and Tohru ran back into the woods, "You can't!"

(Next Scene)

"Well I'm waiting Kyo. You had the nerve to interrupt me so now tell me why?" Akito replied with his arms crossed.

"You" Kyo said slowly, "Think I'm the one with nerve? Well why don't you look in a mirror" he stared at him angrily.

"What?" Akito lowered his arms to his side.

"You, you think you can do whatever you want don't you? Well I'm tired of it. I AM SO DAMN SICKAND TIRED OF IT!!!" Kyo's voice echoed of the trees as Tohru arrived back and hid behind a nearby tree.

"Kyo" she whispered to herself.

"How dare you raise your voice to me" Akito replied angrily.

"HOW DARE I? HOW DARE I? YOU'VE GOT SOME NERVE! WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE ANYWAY! I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I SEE. I SEE I COWARD! THAT'S RIGHT! I SEE A MAN WHO PICKS ON LITTLE GIRLS JUST TO GET WHAT HE WANTS. YOU WANT YOUR ANSWER SO BADLY AKITO? I'LL GIVE YOU YOUR DAMN ANSWER!"

"I've never heard him so angry" Tohru thought as she clasped her hands together trying not to cry.

"GO ON ASK YOUR QUESTION! OR AM NOT GOOD ENOUGH BECAUSE YOU CAN'T KICK ME DOWN? YOU WANT YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED I'LL ANSWER. I SWEAR I WILL" he paused and lowered his voice, "It's just I can't take it anymore. I can't stand it. It's one thing to go after us, but it's another completely to go after her. And innocent bystander" his voice began to raise, "WHO'S NEVER DONE ANYTHING TO HURT YOU! The only thing she ever did was care. Care about us, care about you. For heaven knows why. But I won't stand for it anymore you got that. I will do whatever it takes to make you leave her ALONE!"

From where they were walking Hatori and Shigure heard the shouts and rushed to the commotion only to stop in their tracks and watch the scene that lay before them, the trees blocking them from the other two.

"Are you finished?" Akito asked quietly after Kyo's pause.

"Yes" Kyo said catching his breath.

"You'll answer my question?"

"Yes" Kyo said once more catching his breath.

"All right" Akito replied, "Months ago when I asked you if you were in love with her, was it a lie you told me?"

"Yes" Kyo nodded quite strongly, "It was lie. But I didn't only lie to you. I lied to myself. I didn't know how strong my feelings were for her."

"And now? What are your feelings for her now?"

Kyo took a deep breath and then faced Akito once more.

"I love her. Just like she loves me. We told each other at the beach house last summer and since then we have been together."

"I see. Well thank you for answering my question Kyo. I will decide what your punishment will be for your disparaging remarks" he turned around and was about to leave.

"WAIT!" Kyo called out.

"I beg your pardon?" Akito turned his head around.

"YOU HEARD ME!" Kyo shouted again, "I SAID WAIT!"

"Why should I wait for you?" he turned completely around.

"I answered your question now you have to answer mine."

"How dare you. How dare you perceive such a thing."

"Hear me out."

"Why should I? Your nothing but a monster who is going to be locked up."

"THAT'S MY POINT!" Kyo shouted once more, "I know that. I only have two months left" Kyo replied getting angry again and clenching his fist, "TWO MONTHS! AND YOU CAN'T EVEN GIVE ME THAT CAN YOU?"

"I don't think I understand you."

"That's all I have left. I have two months left with her and I'll be damned if you're GONNA RUIN THAT FOR ME!"

Tohru clutched her heart as she listened.

"So he was thinking about it too," she thought sadly.

"Is that so?" Akito replied amusedly.

"Yea that's so. You're not taking that away from me Akito. Not my two months. I have lost everything that was important to me in my life and I am not about to lose her too. I will have my two months damn it. And not you or anybody else is going to take that away from me. So I am gonna make you a deal. I will be locked up at the end of high school, as promised unless I can pass your test. But you have to give me a promise."

"What promise is that?"

"I will give you something in exchange for something I want."

"And that is?"

Kyo moved forward one step.

"You want to punish someone. Tohru, Haru even the damn rat for their affrontry this afternoon. I know you won't be satisfied until you exact that punishment on them, so allow me to take that punishment."

Tohru shook her head as the tears fell like buckets down her cheeks.

"I will take it all. Gladly. Punish me in their place Akito, and in exchange for my sacrifice give me my two months. My two months to be in peace with her, until I lose her forever. This is all I ask of you."

Akito considered the matter and then smiled slightly at him.

"Yes" Kyo nodded, "But be warned if you go back on your word I will do something that you won't expect."

"Are you threatening me?" Akito said taking a step back as Kyo pulled at the bracelet on his wrist.

"Yes Akito" Kyo nodded again, "That is exactly what I am doing. If you come after Tohru again, you will leave me no choice, but to kill you."

Akito gasped as Kyo took another step forward.

"And I don't mean in my form. If you try anything with her ever again. Hurt her in any way again I will kill you with my own bare hands. Have I made myself clear Akito?"

"Perfectly" Akito said, "Now step forward and receive your punishment."

Kyo nodded and moved slowly. He knelt before Akito and lowered his head. Akito raised his hand and threw it down. The next sounds Tohru heard from the spot were the smacks and Kyo's cries of anguish as he was struck over and over. His body thrown to the ground. Hatori and Shigure could only turn their heads away at the awful sight. Tohru closed her eyes tightly clutching her hands ever tighter as the sounds disappeared with one loud cry. Kyo collapsed to his knees in front of Akito gasping for air as the blood trickled from his forehead.

"Consider our deal complete Kyo" Akito replied as he walked away, "I need not punish Yuki and Hatsuharu now. You have taken all their punishments. And I am now tired. Good bye" he disappeared.

(Next Scene)

Kyo breathed heavily as he lifted himself from the ground which was difficult considering his whole body ached. He moved slowly out of the woods in the direction of the trees where Tohru was hiding. Hatori and Shigure wanted to rush over and help him but noticed at the last minute as he was passing by a tree, a small hand reaching out and taking his arm gently. Kyo turned his head slightly stunned when he saw Tohru looking back at him.

"Tohru? What are you doing here?"

"I couldn't leave you behind now could I?" she replied with a small smile.

"You shouldn't have seen any of that" he shook his head.

"I didn't see anything of it. I only heard it. I was behind this tree during the whole thing."

"The whole time? Tohru you should have gone back with the others."

"I couldn't help it. What you did Kyo today was the bravest thing I've ever heard."

"It wasn't that brave. I just did what I had to do. At least now" he winced a little, "At least now, you and I can be in peace for two months without him bothering us."

"You're so hurt" she cried, "And it's all because of me."

"This is nothing" he shook his head, "I'll be okay. Although I dare say I don't know how I am going to explain this at school."

Tohru laughed taking his arm once again making him cringe from the pain.

"Sorry. Was that too hard?"

"No it's okay" he replied, "Tohru I can't go back to the house like this."

"You're right" she nodded, "Let's go down to the lake and wash out your wounds. I also have a first aid kit with me."

"Okay" he nodded as she shouldered him, "Let's go."

(Next Scene)

As Tohru led him to the lake Hatori and Shigure watched as they departed. Hatori turned to Shigure who was smiling sadly.

"You knew? About Tohru and Kyo?"

"Yes" Shigure nodded, "That just felt like the past coming back to us."

"Yes" Hatori agreed, "I know what you mean. Well I will allow Miss Honda to look him over today. I will see him later" he began to walk back to the house, "Akito has probably returned" he replied with his hands in his pockets, "He'll want to see us."

"Wait for me Hari!" Shigure called as he ran after him, "Still you have to admit Hari Kyo was very brave for what he did."

"Yes. He did the one thing that I couldn't."

"What? What do you mean?"

"I couldn't protect Kana from Akito. He could protect her. And he's much younger than I was."

"Hari that was a completely situation."

"Not really Shigure" Hatori shook his head, "I could have done what Kyo did, but I chose not to. I chose the easy way out. The safe way. Kyo did it despite the consequences. He did it for Tohru and his happiness. I couldn't do that for Kana for me."

"Hari."

"It's all right" Hatori smiled slightly as he placed a hand on his friends shoulder, "I'm not sad for me and Kana anymore. I just wonder why I couldn't do the same. Why was I a coward? Why didn't I fight like Kyo just did?"

"Well you're completely different personality then Kyo" Shigure said, "Kyo is headstrong and you, well you're much more practical."

"Practical? Just once I wish I wasn't so practical."

"Hari you'll get your chance again. The right woman is out there for you. You just have to find her. And I know when that right woman comes, you'll have the guts to stand up for the woman that you love."

"Thank you Shigure" Hatori nodded smiling once more, "Let's get back to the house."

Shigure agreed and walked beside his friend the entire way back, doing his best to cheer him up in some way, while in his own head he was worried. Really worried about the situation of the past once more repeating itself in the present.

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Okay guys that's it for today! See you later and I hope you enjoyed it!!

Next Time on Rice-Balls in a Fruits Basket:

Chapter Nine: Heart to Heart

Kyo and Tohru come back to the house and notice that Hatsuharu has gone off into the woods, after having turned black again. There is only one person who can calm him down in that state. But does she have the courage to confront him once more? Find out what happens next time!

And

Chapter Ten: At Peace For Now

Back home once more and everyone is feeling much more relaxed then they had before. But is that true? Tohru and Kyo wonder, will their last two months really not be interrupted? Lots of questions going on in the minds of the characters. See what they are when next the story continues!!!