(Chapter Seven: The Defense)

Kyo sighed heavily as he stared into the mirror. He was trying to flatten his hair as much as he could. Tohru at the moment was spending the day with Hiro and Kisa so she was out of the house for the day. As he managed to flatten it enough he sighed again and looked at the envelope that was lying on his desk. He walked over and picked it up staring at his mother's name.

"Mother" he thought, "Please be with me today" he closed his eyes.

Suddenly someone knocked on his door. Curious Kyo went to answer it, but frowned slightly when he saw that it was only Shigure.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I was um. I came to see if you need any help Kyo" Shigure answered sincerely.

"Huh?"

"Obviously you're doing something very important today."

"Uh yea" Kyo said a bit surprised, "But it's kind of none of your business. So I would appreciate it if this once you would just leave me alone."

"All right Kyo. If that's what you want" Shigure smiled gently, "But I want you to know something before you go."

"What's that?"

"Whatever the reason is, as long as you are following your heart, you can't go wrong. Never forget that Kyo."

"I won't."

"Good. Will you be home in time for dinner?"

"I should be. I told Tohru that I would be at the dojo."

"Yes" Shigure nodded.

"So if she comes looking for me, just direct her that way. I'll be there."

"All right" Shigure nodded once more but with a frown this time, "Good luck Kyo."

"Huh?" Kyo looked at him as he merely winked and left the boy to be alone with his thoughts.

Kyo sighed one last time and picked up the envelope. Then he walked out of his bedroom door and headed downstairs. From the corner of his door Yuki watched him, a frown settling on his face as he leaned into the wall, in deep thought himself.

(Next Scene)

Kyo walked to the main house pondering his earlier conversation with Haru the day before.

"Rin wants to see me? Really?" Haru had said.

"Yea" Kyo nodded, "On Sunday. She's also going to be there during that whole defense thing."

"Oh I see. So have you told Tohru about this yet?"

"No" Kyo shook his head, "And I'm not going to. I can't. I don't want to get her hopes up. Actually I need to ask you a favor."

"What is it?"

"I told Tohru that I would be at the dojo with you tomorrow. I need you to cover for me."

"Kyo I don't know about that" Haru frowned, "You don't really want to lie to her do you?"

"No of course I don't. But I can't let her know about this. Please Haru. I'm asking a favor here."

"Okay Kyo" Haru sighed, "I'll do it. But I don't feel right about it."

"Thanks."

Kyo looked up at the main gate as he approached it. He stared at the nameplate that bore his family name. He took a deep breath before entering the large doors. Besides New Years, Kyo couldn't think of any other time that he had come to Sohma house so voluntarily. He walked past a few of the other houses, including Haru's and he wentpast the main house. He didn't see it, but from a small window Akito watched as he crossed the courtyard. On his face he wore a distinct scowl and he huffed as he departed the window quite angrily. Kyo walked on until he came to a large rectangular building just behind the main house. Standing in front of it was Rin, all dressed up herself.

"Rin?" he said surprised, "What are you doing out here?"

"I came out to lead you in. Grandfather said to do so" she answered uncrossing her arms, "Besides I am your witness today."

"Okay" he nodded, "Let's do this."

"Are you ready?"

"Yea" he said fervently with a determined nod of his head, "I sure am."

"Then let's go" she replied opening the doors and leading the way.

(Next Scene)

Rin led Kyo through the darkened hallways till they came to a set of double doors. She knocked on them once and two young gentlemen wearing navy blue kimonos opened them. They walked into a large circular room, which was also quite dark, where a set of two chairs was sitting on one side, while on the other was one chair. In front of the chairs was a long table, where six distinguished older gentlemen also wearing kimonos, however black this time, sat. In the middle, there was the oldest of them all. He was dressed in black and gold and had a long flowing white beard. He nodded at Rin as they came in and she and Kyo walked over to the two chairs and stood in front of them.

"Please be seated" the older one said and Kyo and Rin obeyed, "I'm sorry we're still waiting for someone else to arrive. So make yourselves comfortable."

"Right" Kyo nodded but thought, "How can I do that? I feel like I am on trial or something. I can barely see their faces with all this darkness."

As the older gentlemen talked amongst themselves, Kyo fidgeted a little with the envelope clenched quite tightly in his hand. Rin noticed how nervous he looked and patted his hand gently, which actually calmed him down a bit. That is until the two doors swung open and he saw who had finally arrived.

"Oh no" Kyo said in a whisper, "You didn't tell me that He was gonna be here."

"He's got to be" Rin explained as he strode in, "After all, he is who you are fighting against."

"Please be seated" the older gentlemen told the last person who had arrived, "We will get started as soon as you do."

"That's fine with me" Rei Sohma said gruffly as he sat down, "Get this nonsense over with" he looked over in Kyo's direction but Kyo had his eyes straightforward, ignoring his father completely.

"Okay" the older gentlemen, said, "Keitaro" he spoke to the man on the farthest left side, "Could you please start this since you brought us this case."

"Of course" Rin's grandfather said back, "Kyo Sohma you are here today to defend yourself against your father Rei Sohma in regards to the injustice you feel that will be happening in a matter of weeks. Is that correct?"

"Yes sir" Kyo replied politely.

"And on what grounds do you feel this injustice?"

"On the grounds sir that my father's alibi for the injustice is a false one."

"How dare you?" Rei seethed his eyes burning.

"You will get your chance to speak in a moment Rei Sohma" one of the other members said, "Please, continue."

"Thank you" Kyo nodded, "I have in possession proof of what I say. My father's grounds for locking me up after High School are a lie. It's true that itis a Sohma tradition, I'm not fighting against that."

"But you also know" Keitaro replied, "That the family counsel is also not in charge in this sort of thing?"

"I am aware of that. I know that Zodiac matters are usually referred to Akito, but I am here today to ask for you all to help me in persuading my case to him. I know that he also listens to your orders as well."

"Well that is true yes" Keitaro nodded, "In some cases we do override his decision."

"This is preposterous" Rei said out loud standing up, "Absolute nonsense."

"Wait your turn Uncle Rei" Rin replied to him angrily, making him close his mouth and sit back down grumbling under his breath.

"Therefore Kyo Sohma" Keitaro said, "The evidence you have in your possession could very well help your case. Would you please present it to us."

"Of course" Kyo nodded standing up, "I have in my possession a letter" he held up an envelope, "It is a letter written by my mother to a friend of hers just before she committed suicide. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but my father's allegation against me. His main reason for me being locked up is that he places the blame of my mother's suicide on me. Claims that because of this that I will be dangerous and not easy to handle. Am Icorrect in assuming that?"

"Yes."

"Well, in this letter my mother Sakura Sohma states her true reason for committing suicide."

"What?" Rei exclaimed while the members whispered amongst themselves."

"Her true reason?" Keitaro said with raised eyebrows.

"Yes sir."

"It could be false!" Rei exclaimed again, "He could have wrote it himself!"

"I assure you I didn't. And that the contents of this letter were even shocking to me, especially the part, that my own father knew why she did it in the first place, and yet still blamed me for it. The proof I have is this letter. I assure you, you will be just as shocked as I was once you have read it."

"Please bring it up here" one of the men said on the right of the oldest one.

Kyo stared angrily at his father as he walked up and handed them the letter. Then he sat back down with not even a glance at his father. The older gentlemen all looked at the letter and nodded their heads in unison. Then the oldest of them all stood up.

"Kyo Sohma" he addressed the boy, "We do agree without a doubt that the letter is indeed the real McCoy."

Kyo smiled slightly.

"However we still don't know what it is you want us to do?"

"It's simple" Kyo replied, "Give me the benefit of the doubt, I have proven my innocence with the letter. All I want, no all I ask is for you to allow me to be free because of it. To not be locked up like all the previous cats before me. That is my only request from you today. Please I want to live my life a free man like everyone else. Even if I am the cat of the Zodiac I think I at least deserve this chance."

The older gentlemen talked amongst themselves and then Keitaro turned to him once more.

"Kyo this is indeed a big request you ask of us. Tell me is there a challenge that you are to meet in order to be free that Akito has extended you?"

"Yes sir. I have a challenge I have to beat on the week that I graduate from High School."

"Then this is the only thing that the council can promise you Kyo, if you want to be free we can extend the time for you to be free after High School, but you would still be locked up."

Kyo's face slowly shrank.

"However if you can defeat Akito's challenge on the day he set it, the council grants you despite if he goes back on his word your freedom, but then and only then. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir" Kyo nodded his face rising again, "I understand."

"This ruling we pass today will be final and as for you Rei Sohma" he stared into the eyes of the man who was glaring at his son angrily, "This council does find your reasoning for your actions utterly disgraceful and even more so your feelings towards your own son, totally unacceptable. After all he is still a person and he is still a Sohma."

Kyo's eyes rose a little at these words quite surprised.

"From now on it is not up to you to decide his future. From this point Kyo Sohma is in charge of his own future. And Mr. Sohma we do stress this, if we find or if your son comes to us with another complaint about you we will deal with it quite severely" he frowned at Rei who merely stormed out of the room.

The council shook their heads and then once more looked at Kyo.

"Mr. Sohma I say this for all the council. Good luck to you. We wish all you the best and pray that you do someday become free."

"Thank you" Kyo nodded with an appreciate smile as he and Rin bowed their heads and both departed the room.

(Next Scene)

"I'm sorry Kyo" Rin replied as they walked, "That it didn't happen for you."

"What are you talking about? I'm not disappointed."

"Why? You're still not free."

"Rin. It's true that I didn't get what I came here for. I got something better."

"What's that?"

"The satisfaction that I was able to prove my father wrong. That I for once was able to stand up to him and be right. That's enough for me. It's true I still have to go through with Akito's challenge, but now I have more confidence that I had before to beat that damn rat. I know I can do it now."

"Kyo" Rin looked at him with sympathetic eyes.

"I'm okay. And I really am glad that you were there for me today. For handling all of this."

"Well like I said. I did this all for Tohru" she said a little embarrassed.

"Well I am sure she would have appreciated it too. From the both of us thank you."

"Your welcome" she nodded slowly.

"And hey" he said as he left her sight, "I sincerely do hope that you and Haru are just as happy as we are. I really do."

She nodded again and he exited with his head held high and his heart full of newfound confidence. She merely shook her head as he left and smiled slightly.

"Maybe I really did underestimate him" she thought, "There's more than him then meets the eye."

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: I know! I'm a day late with this, but guess what? You guys are going to get the last three chapters of this book as well today. Don't forget this is the end of Rice-Balls in a Fruits Basket Series two. But Rice-balls in a Fruits Basket: The Final Books will be starting on January 5. So I hope to see you all there! Okay on to the next chapter!!!

Next Chapter: Admitting the Secret

Tohru comes to terms with Shigure about her worries about Kyo. Along the way though she comes to a decision on her own. One that could cost her, her memories of the Sohmas.