Disclaimer: Neither Fruits Basket nor the Fruits Basket characters belong to me. They are the property of Natsuki Takaya.

Here I am with Chapter 1 of my story. This one is a little bit of a challenge to write. Beginning with this one I am going to try to post at least one chapter each week until it's done. Please R & R.

Thank you to those of you who took time to review my Prologue. I am glad the story sounds interesting. I don't much like Akito, but I am afraid his is going to be a central part in this one. It should be interesting and hopefully fun to write. So far I don't think I have departed from the original concept, but I am afraid that may happen as I get into unchartered waters.

Part 1

Chapter 1 On the Morning of Her Day of Graduation

Shigure was sitting at the table after breakfast reading his newspaper. A red butterfly flitted by the open window and Shigure recalled the strange postcard he had placed on Hatori's desk ten, almost 11 years ago. He had not recognized the unfamiliar signature on the card but a recently overheard conversation between Tohru-kun, her two friends, Uo and Hana, and Kyo and Yuki had brought enlightenment. The Red Butterfly had been Kyoko Honda's name when she was in the ranks. After talking to Kazuma and picking up a bit of his history with Honda-san he had put most of the pieces together.

Kazuma had a history with Tohru-kun's mother and Katsuya Honda. The three had been best friends much as he, Ayame, and Hatori were best friends. Apparently Katsuya had died when Tohru was still a baby and the demands of single parenthood had made it difficult for Kazuma and Kyoko to stay in touch and so they had grown apart. A few years later Kazuma had followed Kyo when the young cat had wandered away from the dojo. Kyo had been watching a young girl and her mother together at the park, then the young girl suddenly decided he shouldn't be alone and had befriended the cat. Thus had been the beginning of a story of three strangers who met and became a family if only for two short weeks. Kyoko had showered Kyo with love and acceptance. It was a story Shigure longed to write, but he had no idea what the end would be. The Sohmas of the juunishi seemed to be destined to pain and sorrow. .

It seemed so very odd that outside of the Sohma family, only two people knew of Kyo's original zodiac cat form and that those two people had completely accepted him despite it. Kyoko Honda had stood her ground against Akito the first time and earned his undying enmity. A short 8 years later Kyoko's daughter had gone through the same experience and Kyo was still her very dear friend. The only sad thing was that Kyo might never remember Kyoko-san's love and acceptance. If only that cat could remember Kyoko-san perhaps the memory of his mother who had loved but never fully accepted him would become a little less painful. Shigure sighed as he remembered the words overheard through an open door.

"Hatori-san, I have something to say before you erase my memories. Kyo is a boy before he is the cat of the Zodiac. He needs love as all boys do. Please be kind to him...I believe in time it (his memory) will return and he will remember he was loved."

And then there had been that mysterious card

"Hatori-san, I hope you have been kind to Kyo... The Red Butterfly"

To think that it had been Tohru-kun's mother who had made such an impact on him at the innocent age of 18. Shigure had taken those words to heart and although they had originally applied to Kyo, he somehow knew that they would have applied equally to all the children of the Zodiac if she had known them. That was a big part of why he had taken both Yuki and Kyo into his home. It was also why his house provided a temporary refuge for all of the younger Sohma juunishi. Of course it gave him that many more people to tease...Shigure smiled momentarily.

Kyoko-san's words had validated Shigure's conviction that the children of the Zodiac were people first and that they needed and were worthy of love just as was everyone else. During his less logical moments Shigure would find himself believing that even he deserved to be loved. And now here was her daughter living in his house and loving his boys, Yuki and Kyo. What a small world this had turned out to be...

Just then Tohru walked into the room.

"Shigure-san" Tohru spoke hesitantly, "you know that today is our graduation and I have a favor to ask of you."

Shigure turned toward the young girl "Ah...Tohru-kun my flower, you have but to ask and I will grant all of your wishes. If you want the moon I shall lasso it for you, if you want the stars I shall pluck them from the skies and place them in a velvet case..." (Really, Shigure has been hanging around Ayame a little bit too much).

"Uh...Shigure-san, it's nothing so grand as all that. Remember when I first came to live here and I told you about how I promised Mom I would graduate from High School? Well..." Tohru blushed a little as she tried to get to the question she was longing to ask.

Shigure noted the picture she was holding so lovingly in her hands.

"Tohru-kun, would you like me to escort your mother to your graduation. I hope that is the favor because I would be very honored to do so. "

"Shigure-san, how did you know?"

"Because Tohru-kun's mother is so very important to her. I have told you before, what is important to you is also important to me. Besides, if not for your mom Yuki, Kyo, and myself would still be living in splendid bachelor squalor. But Tohru-kun is such a good wife and has made things so much better for Yuki, Kyo and myself with her cooking and cleaning..."

Yuki walked in just in time to hear Shigure's last statement and see the bright red blush on Tohru's cheeks. "Shigure you are a pervert." And suddenly Shigure found himself on his back up against the wall.

"Ouch, Yuki, that hurt!" Shigure exclaimed. "And here I was just agreeing to escort Tohru-kun's dear mother to the graduation for her. Oh, the injustice of it all!"

Yuki glared at Shigure. Shigure simply grinned.

Tohru reacted otherwise. "Shigure-san, are you okay? Shigure-san you are such a kind person. Thank you so very much. Mom, you met Shigure-san the last time I came to visit you. He is going to take you to my graduation. Mom, I did it! I kept my promise. Today I get my diploma and graduate from high school!"

Shigure's smile faded as he watched the retreating backs of the two teenagers as they left the room. He had a feeling that something momentous was going to happen today, but instinct also told him that it might not necessarily be a good thing. He remembered Akito saying something about attending the graduation if Hatori said he was well enough.