Author's Note

Disclaimer: Neither Fruits Basket not the Fruits Basket characters belong to me, they are the property of Natsuke Takaya.

Hello, I realize Kyo may be a little OOC in this chapter but don't worry. Actually, I'm not sure if that is even the case. He never seems to be quite as angry when he is around Master Kazuma and Tohru. I think it is because he cares so much for the both of them. Please keep in mind he has just remembered a major event that he had all but forgotten. I promise the flame-haired hot tempered young man we all know and love will be back very soon. Thanks for continuing to read and thank you for your many kind reviews Please R&R and let me know what you think.

PART 2 Freedom's Year

Chapter 1 Kazuma's Story

A cool breeze drifted across the rooftop awakening Kyo from the best slumber he had enjoyed in a very long time. He sat up but was slightly disoriented until he realized he had fallen asleep on the roof. The new day was just dawning and the previous day's events seemed distant memories. The only reality was the dream of Kyoko-san and Tohru. All the events after graduation; the banquet, Akito, Hatori, Shigure, all seemed to be part of a nightmare that was fading quickly with the rising sun. He was left with a sense of well-being, of happiness, beyond anything he had previously experienced. There was one event that came close, the time that Tohru had come to him after he had transformed to his original zodiac cat form. When Kazuma had removed his bracelet that night Kyo had come close to hating Kazuma. Now he was glad it had happened. He still couldn't quite believe that Tohru had found him and carried him home through the light of early dawn after that terrible night. That emotion did come close to what he was experiencing now.

Today he was going to visit master with his questions. Master would know if his dream was a true memory or not. He knew everything.

Kyo went to his room, dressed hastily and sped downstairs. It would be up to him to prepare breakfast this morning since Tohru wasn't home. The damn rat was totally useless in the kitchen and Shigure's idea of a meal was not to be tolerated.

Shigure wandered into the dining room looking for breakfast. He was in his usual early morning dishabille. To Kyo's surprise, Hatori followed closely on his heels. The doctor looked cool and collected as always.

"Hatori, you stayed the night?" Kyo asked in surprise.

"No, I just woke up early, put on the same clothes I wore yesterday, and came over from the main house this morning," Hatori replied in his dry amused voice.

"Really..." Kyo began, and then realized Hatori wasn't serious.

"Forget it" Kyo said with a smile. There's breakfast on the table. I'm off to Master's. I already ate breakfast."

Kyo grabbed his backpack and raced out the door as the two men looked at each other questioningly. As they sat down to breakfast Shigure mused aloud. "What's going on? He seemed positively cheerful this morning."

"I do not know. It is not what I expected at all after yesterday's events." Hatori replied.

"Perhaps I will visit Kazuma later. He may be able to solve this mystery for us."

Kyo ran into the dojo. "Master," he called.

Kazuma looked up from breakfast in surprise as Kyo burst into the dining room. "Kyo, what are you doing here today? I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow and certainly not so early in the day."

"I'm sorry master but I had this dream yesterday and I really have to ask you about it. Can we talk while you eat and before the students start arriving?"

"Certainly, but I am no expert on dreams."

"That won't be necessary master. I think this is an old forgotten memory and not just a dream. You were there. You'll know."

Intrigued, Kazuma nodded his head. "Please continue Kyo"

Kyo related all the events that had taken place the previous day. He began at the audience with Akito and ended with his awakening on the roof.

Kazuma listened intently; his breakfast was forgotten for the moment. As Kyo talked, an occasional word or interjection encouraged him to go on with his narration.

"Master, here's my question. Was my dream just a dream or was it a true memory?"

Kazuma watched the boy's face as hope warred with expected disappointment. The excitement chasing across the redhead's features told him it was time to tell Kyo his story.

Smiling fondly, Kazuma answered Kyo's question. "I have waited many years for you to come to me with these questions. I have a story to tell you that I think may be of interest. The dream you had is a true memory. This story is one I promised a dear friend to not tell until you began remembering on your own. I wonder how she knew the memories would return."

"What story Master? Who are you talking about," Kyo demanded curiously.

"Let me tell you what happened 10 years ago. Actually, the story begins back when I was in grade school."

Kazuma paused a moment to organize his thoughts. "When I was in fourth grade I transferred into a new school. There was this kid, Katsuya Honda, who was often the brunt of other children's jokes. I found myself taking his side in many situations and forcing the other children to leave him alone. He never seemed to mind the jokes though; he would just smile and go calmly about his business. There was a quality to him that very few people possess. He had an air of optimism and a joy in life that surpassed anything I had experienced as a Sohma. It was this joy that drew me within his sphere. We became best friends. I helped him learn to fight and he helped me with my studies. The two of us together decided to attend a co-ed junior high school. While there we met Kyoko-san and Katsuya was immediately attracted to her. She had an air of freedom, a devil-may-care- but- I- don't attitude about her that was beyond his experiences. It didn't matter to him that she was in the ranks and didn't have the best of reputations. He loved her and she came to love him. I think she was attracted by the same qualities in Katsuya that had attracted me when I met him in grade school. He taught her to trust and to believe. She taught him how to take a few risks and how to have fun. The three of us were the best of friends. When Katsuya turned 18 and Kyoko-san was 16, the two of them got married. Her family was against the marriage, but his father was very supportive. I was the best man at their wedding."

Kyo looked at Kazuma in surprise. "You knew Tohru's parents? How come you never showed any sign of knowing her?"

"I didn't realize who she was at the time. Honda is a very common surname and I never knew the daughter's first name. Katsuya died at the very young age of 22. Tohru was only three at the time. Kyoko-san and I lost touch after that. She was busy raising her daughter and working. I was busy with you and running this dojo. Our paths never crossed until five years later. That, Kyo, was when you met Kyoko and Tohru Honda-san."

Kazuma went on to relay what he knew of Kyo's time with Kyoko and Tohru.

"That pretty much confirms my dream but why am I just now...Hatori! That son of a ...."

"Kyo!" Kazuma cut him off sharply. "Hatori was only 18 at the time and Akito was head of the family even then. What was he supposed to do? You are that age now, what would you have done?"

"You're right master. It's what he has always had to do as long as I have known him." Kyo remembered the earlier conversation with Shigure and Hatori and Akito's reaction when Kyo had defied him on Tohru's behalf. It was not a good idea to disobey Akito.

"Now that you know the full story, I have something to give you. I have had it for several years as the time has never been right to present it to you. After Akito's attempt to have Hatori erase her memory, Kyoko-san left this with me." Kazuma walked over to a small chest that had always been locked for as far back as Kyo could remember. In the chest were three small black journals. Kazuma removed the one from the middle and handed it to Kyo.

"Master, what is this? What are the other two journals?" Kyo asked.

"This is your legacy from Kyoko-san. I do not know what the pages contain although I can guess. As for the two other journals, those are still my secret to keep."

Curious, Kyo opened the small black journal and began to read aloud.

In a woman's bold and flamboyant handwriting the opening words jumped out at him.

"My dearest Kyo-kun,

If you are reading this journal then you must finally have remembered what was taken from you so long ago."

Kyo sat down, his gaze intent on the pages as he continued to read, but silently now.

Kazuma smiled at the awestruck expression on Kyo's face. "It's time for my students to arrive. We will talk again later if you desire."

The journal continued:

"Because I don't know how much you may have remembered I am writing down a record of the two weeks in which you were my son in heart, if not in blood. I wish our days together could have continued. But it was decided otherwise." (This sentence was in dark angry strokes)

Kyo read the full account of his days spent with Kyoko and Tohru Honda. Kyoko-san had written all of her thoughts and all of her feelings. In these pages was an expression of all the love she had yearned to give the young boy. As he read the memories came flooding in; it was as if a dam had suddenly collapsed freeing all that had lain hidden behind it. Kyo felt as if he had been allowed a small piece of heaven.

The journal began to draw to a close as Kyoko-san ended her account.

"My dear Kyo-kun, I have three requests as I close. The first one is that you keep these memories close and allow them to bring you happiness. My second request is that if your path should cross with Tohru's once again, you will do your best to protect her and to keep her safe. I do not believe we will meet again, but I do believe that eventually your path and Tohru's will cross once more. My third and final request is that if you have found Tohru again, you do not tell her of these events until she has begun to remember of her own accord. I have loved you and would have enjoyed continuing as if you were my son."

Kindest regards,

Kyoko Honda (The Red Butterfly)

Kyo sat and waited for Kazuma to finish teaching the lessons for the day. He continued to read and reread Kyoko-san's words. It was hard to believe a mother could care for a child so much, even harder to believe that someone had cared so much for him. He knew it was true because he had seen how much love Tohru had for her mother and through Tohru's memories, how much her mother had loved her. He was thankful that he had retrieved his memories from this time in his life but he resented the fact that his memories had been taken from him to begin with. However; remembering his reaction when Akito had threatened Tohru, he really could understand why Hatori acted as ordered. It wasn't fair, but there were many things in his life that had not been fair.The person who was truly to be blamed for this was Akito.

Finally Kazuma concluded his teachings for the day and rejoined Kyo.

"Master?"

"Yes Kyo?"

"Did you realize Honda-san regarded me as her son?"

"Yes I did. Have you decided if you are going to share this discovery with Tohru-san?

"Honda-san requested I allow Tohru to remember on her own. This will be our secret for now."

Inwardly Kazuma gave a sigh of relief. Tohru-san was visiting Akito-san on a regular basis and it would be much better if the fact that Kyoko-san's memory had not been erased did not become common knowledge.

"See you tomorrow Master. I have to leave for home now. I want to find out how her day went."

"Okay Kyo. See you tomorrow."

Kyo placed the journal in his backpack and hurried back to Shigure's. As he entered the house he could smell the evening meal cooking and hear Tohru humming as she went about her work. Everything was back to normal. Akito's ultimatum was still there, but now he had an additional motivation for protecting Tohru from him. It had been one of Kyoko-san's last requests to the boy she had befriended.