Author's notes: Neither Fruits Basket nor the characters are my property. They belong to Natsuki Takaya.

Finally, I was able to get this chapter typed and ready to load. We've had a lot of computer problems and I haven't been able to take time at work on my lunch hours as I 've done in the past so there were some delays. Please read and review. Let me know what you think. Suggestions for improvement are more than welcome. I realize the story is moving slowly, but the pace should begin to pick up soon. The whole first part is basically setting the stage for the remainder of the story.

Chapter 5 Shigure's Resolve

Hatori and Shigure relaxed in the novelist's study with a cup of tea and cigarettes. They were waiting for Yuki and Kyo to come home. The overflowing ashtray indicated that they had been waiting quite awhile. It was quiet in the house because Tohru was staying the night with her friends. A shopping trip and a day at the amusement park were planned in celebration of their graduation. It was a little too quiet for Shigure so he opened the conversation.

"Ha-san, you know that night...that night when Kazuma removed Kyo's bracelet and Tohru found out about his original form?"

"Yes I remember that night quite well. I know I was concerned about Tohru-san and for some reason or other Akito had disappeared that night. I was concerned about him as well."

"You didn't know then did you?"

"Know what Shigure?"

"That night I was very worried and I followed Tohru-kun into the woods. She was running after Kyo and...well as I said, I was worried."

"And..." Hatori prompted.

I caught up with Tohru-kun there in the woods and Akito was already there. Tohru's ankle was trapped in this tree root, you see."

"Akito was there? But it was raining that night and his health..."

"Yes, Akito was there. He approached Tohru-kun and I was afraid of what he might do. The expression on his face was most unpleasant. "

"You were afraid on behalf of Tohru-san? That's not like you Shigure."

Shigure laughed a little uncomfortably.

"No. No it's not. I was afraid he was going to harm her and I didn't want that. I wanted to rush to her aid, but my feet wouldn't move. I finally found my voice and said 'Akito'. He looked up and saw me. He stepped away from her, brushed the rain and damp dirt off of his clothing then got in a car and drove away. What was he doing there Hatori? Her foot was still trapped in the tree root when he left, and I should have helped her, but I was too ashamed of myself to approach her. You know that I never regret what happens to achieve my goal, but that night...that night...." Shigure's voice trailed off as he remembered.

"Shigure, were you going somewhere with this story or just talking to hear yourself?" Hatori demanded impatiently.

"Ha-san, I can't escape the memory of that night. I truly had second thoughts about my plan, our plan. I couldn't approach Tohru-kun; all I could do was fall on my knees and apologize to her. I asked her to give up and to come home. I told her how I knew about Kyo and that I didn't want her to ruin herself. I told her all this and I wanted her to come home but still...even though I was concerned, I still wanted her to go after Kyo. I was glad when she didn't listen to me and took off through the woods to find him. I hated myself that night. Although I was correct in my analysis, I wasn't sure at the time and I couldn't be complacent about all the possible outcomes. Ha-san, that night I only wanted Tohru-kun to come home safely and to still be able to smile. When I saw Akito there in the woods I knew his intentions were not good. Because of that night and what I saw of him there, I am very worried about what he is telling Yuki and Kyo tonight."

Hatori sat in dazed silence for 15 maybe 20 seconds. Where was the Shigure he had always known, the one that had plans within plans within plans, and never doubted that the end justified the means? It had never mattered to him in the past who might be hurt in the process.

"Ha-san, Akito has a plan that even I cannot yet figure out. I will find out what it is. I learned one thing that night. Tohru-kun is an ordinary girl with extraordinary courage. I promised myself that night that I would keep her safe."

"Shigure, for once I don't know what to say..." Hatori began, but then a car pulled up in front of the house and the front door opened.

Whatever Hatori had intended to say was lost when Shigure bounded out of his chair and stepped out of his study. "Yuki, Kyo, welcome home. Come in here for a minute please."

Yuki and Kyo looked at each other. The last thing they wanted to do tonight was talk to Shigure. However, while his words said please, his tone said they really didn't have a choice in the matter. Sighing the two younger juunishi walked into the study. There eyes widened in surprise to see Hatori there as well. Yuki looked around suspiciously, "My brother isn't here is he?"

"Of course not Yuki, why would Ayame be here at this time of night? He did go straight home from the banquet you know" Shigure replied.

"Yuki, Kyo," Hatori acknowledged their presence, "Sit down."

Before they even realized what they were doing, the two boys were sitting down opposite the two older men. There was just something about the doctor, when he spoke people listened. It may have been his profession or it may have been that indefinable air of authority some people just possessed, but obedience was instantaneous.

Shigure admired his friend's air of command. He noticed the closed expressions on the faces of the two boys and decided that quality might prove very useful tonight.

Shigure opened the conversation. "Nothing for it but to get straight to the point. Yuki, Kyo, what did Akito want tonight?" he asked.

"Nothing," from Yuki.

"Not much," Kyo confirmed.

Hatori fixed his gaze on the two boys. It softened ever so slightly before he spoke. "I know you don't want to tell us what happened, but Shigure and I are very concerned for Tohru-san's welfare. We feel certain that whatever Akito has in mind concerns her and we can't really help if you don't talk to us."

"Where is she? She's usually fixing tea this time of evening." Kyo asked.

"Stupid Cat, don't you ever listen, Honda-san told us yesterday that she was sleeping over at Hanajima-san's house with Uotani-san tonight." Yuki said tiredly.

"Oh, I forgot. Well time for bed" and Kyo went to get up.

"Kyo, sit down."

Kyo glanced at Hatori and resumed his seat.

"Now" Shigure said seriously, "you will tell us what Akito-san had to say tonight."

Instead of obeying, Yuki asked "Hatori, what would you do if Akito told you to erase Honda-san's memory?"

"I would have to follow his orders" Hatori said, "but...."

"Then there's no point in talking to you" Kyo snapped and he and Yuki started to rise.

"Sit down" Hatori commanded "and listen to what I have to say."

"We'll stand, thank you" Yuki stated.

"Yeah, and it had better be good or we are outta here," Kyo seconded.

"As I was saying," Hatori continued calmly, "I would have to follow Akito's orders but I would only do so because I want to keep Tohru-san safe. Imagine if you will Akito's reaction if I refused."

Immediately the boys' air of defiance deflated and they sat back down. Hatori, as usual, was right. Tohru would be in even more danger if Akito's command was not followed.

"Now that we have that settled, you better tell us everything that happened tonight," Shigure said earnestly.

"We have to attend Tokyo University next year," Yuki said quietly.

"If we don't, Akito said that he will erase her memory," Kyo said dully.

"What? Start at the beginning please..."

The boys once again looked at each other. "What do you think?" they both began...

"We may as well tell them," Yuki decided and Kyo reluctantly agreed.

"Tonight when Akito ordered us to stay behind so he could speak with us, he told us the conditions attached to our year of community college."

"He ordered us to qualify for Tokyo University admittance next year and said there would be consequences if we didn't."

"I told him to take his consequences and go to hell," Kyo added. "He got really angry and threatened Tohru if I didn't remember my place."

Shigure and Hatori glanced at each other.

"Not the smartest thing I've ever done," Kyo admitted.

"If I do not qualify for admittance, I must move back to my old quarters in Sohma house. I can't do that." Yuki declared.

"If I don't qualify then I face will be locked up for the rest of my life," Kyo stated. "That's really what I expected after I graduated so I could deal with that, but Akito's other consequences are what I can't stand." Kyo stated.

"True, I could move back to Sohma house if that were the only consequence, but Akito had more to say," Yuki continued.

"There's more?" Shigure asked quietly.

"Yes..."

"Yes..." The two boys spoke as one.

"You tell them" Kyo told Yuki.

"Akito said that if we did not gain admittance to Tokyo University next year then he would have Honda-san's memory erased and that she would remember nothing of the last three years." Yuki commented.

"Not us, not her graduation, not her mother's death, nothing," Kyo said.

"Is your technique that precise Hatori? After all this time, can you erase just the memories of her time with us or is it possible all of her memories will disappear?" Yuki asked.

Kyo looked at Yuki. He had never considered the fact that Tohru might lose all of her memories.

Hatori frowned, consternation marring his normally inexpressive face. Shigure looked at Hatori in alarm. "Ha-san?" he asked.

Hatori collected his wits enough to answer Yuki's question. "My technique is very precise, but I have never been called upon to erase such a long span of time. I believe I can do so, but there is a chance Tohru-san might lose more of her memories than just those of her time with the Sohmas."

"Ha-san, that's not true. You erased several years of memory for Momiji's mother" Shigure said hopefully.

"Think about it Shigure...I only had to make her forget Momiji and the memories associated with him. Her other memories did not need to be touched only modified to exclude his existence. She wanted to forget, that made it easier. Tohru's memories would be much more extensive and include so many more people. These would be much harder to target and modify. It's not just one person or one chain of events she would be forced to forget but it is many. Also, think of Tohru-san, isn't it possible that she would fight against losing her memories so unjustly. She would not be as receptive as others have been and my task would be much more difficult."

"Then we have no choice..." Kyo said.

"None whatsoever, we must pass the entrance exams for Tokyo University." Yuki agreed.

"Yuki, Kyo, is that everything?" Hatori asked.

"I sense there is something more to this," Shigure observed.

"Not quite all" Yuki replied.

"There is more?!?" The two older juunishi's eyes opened wide in surprise. "I wondered if that was all the consequences..."

"There was one more," the two boys admitted.

"And..."

"Akito said that if her memories were erased we were never to have contact with her again or something terrible would happen!" Kyo said angrily. "Why couldn't he leave her out of this? I would do anything, anything to keep her safe."

"As would I" said Yuki. Once again he was in agreement with Kyo.

"That's exactly why he didn't leave her out," Shigure said calmly.

The two boys glared at Shigure.

"I'm going to bed now" Kyo said and left the room. This time Hatori let him go.

Yuki looked at the two men. "Shigure, Hatori...I and Kyo will be at Tokyo University next year. We won't be able to watch over Honda-san from so far away. Will you two please keep her safe?"

"We will do our best," Hatori promised.

"Thank you. Then I will say good night."

Shigure waited until Yuki was on his way upstairs and then turned to Hatori.

"Can we keep that promise?"

"I don't know but we have to try for Tohru's sake and for theirs."