I just realized it has been a while since I made the various disclaimers. Neither Fruits Basket nor the Fruits Basket characters belong to me (sigh Shigure...) They are the property of Natsuki Takaya.

Sakura Alexander-sensei is an original character created by Yuki Seki. Yuki-chan has graciously allowed me to use this character. If you find yourselves curious about Sakura-san, her story is told in "When Spring Comes, Remember Me." As for Sonomi-san, the erstwhile maidservant, she's the figment of my imagination. It stands to reason that Akito should have a maid, the name and any personality she may have are mine.I originally created her for my story "Akito, Three Points of View"

DriftedStars- I didn't find your e-mail address so I'll answer your question this way. The numbers at the end of my chapters lately are just the number of pages in the word document I loaded. I've been inserting page numbers because I like to see how long my chapters are, and I guess I need to remember to delete them. I am very glad you are enjoying this story. I am having a lot of fun writing it.

Darkinufan - I may have mislead you. This isn't Shigure's story yet, it's still mine. But it is one he will eventually write. -) I don't know a lot about Japanese New Year's traditions I have to admit. That's probably why these last few chapters are a little sketchy on the details.

Everyone, Please read and enjoy. Thank you to those of you who have reviewed.

Chapter 15 New Year's Day

New Year's Day dawned bright and clear. There wasn't much activity around the Sohma compound until the late morning hours. There was one exception to that rule. Akito stood at his window watching the sunrise. He stood there as he had stood for many years, alone. Sonomi-san came in to attend to the morning chores. She came in silently and was preparing to leave the same way but something unusual happened.

"Sonomi-san" Akito's voice stopped her.

"Hai, Sohma-sama?"

"Come here. Is this not a beautiful sunrise?" He gestured to the garden bathed in a rose and gold hue. "I've never really noticed the sunrise like this before. Will you join me, just for a few minutes? No one should watch the first sun rise of the New Year alone. I even have my wish ready." Akito's smile was sincere, as she had never seen it before. She had served the previous two Sohma heads and could only cry in the quiet of her room for their wasted years. For Akito-sama, there was a chance. She felt this in her heart.

Sonomi bowed to Akito to acknowledge his request and joined him at the window. They watched the sunrise until the colors faded into the light of day.

"Thank you Sonomi-san."

"You are quite welcome Sohma-sama." She turned back the blankets on Akito's bed before leaving. "Will you have breakfast or will you sleep, sir?"

"I will sleep first."

"Hai."

As the sun neared its zenith, the inhabitants of the Sohma Compound began to stir. Kyo make his way into the gardens for his morning training routine. Shigure was up and about as well. Seeing Kyo in the courtyard working out, his eyes narrowed. Perhaps now was the time to confirm his hypothesis by approaching the unsuspecting cat.

"Hey, Kyo!"

"Shigure, what do you want?"

"Is that any tone to take with your dear older cousin. The one who feeds you, clothes you, puts a roof over your head…"

"Shove the BS Shigure. You know good and well the main house pays for our living expenses, mine and Yuki's at least."

"Kyo-how ungrateful can you be?" Shigure threw back his head and covered his eyes as if in great pain.

"Shigure, cut out the over reacting and tell me why you are invading my privacy."

Shigure eyes took on a hard glint and he took on a serious demeanor. "Since you put it so eloquently, Kyo, I will. Tell me how long has it been since you and Tohru-kun recovered memories you lost 10 years ago?"

"Shigure, how in the h… You knew about this?" Kyo questioned, his curiosity overcoming his anger.

"Kyo, Kyo, you know they say that curiosity killed the cat and you are truly the cat." Shigure chuckled. "I didn't know anything for certain until this very moment. But I do know for certain now so you may as well answer my question."

Kyo glared at Shigure but he was angrier with himself if the truth were told. How could he protect Tohru if he kept opening his big mouth without thinking? He shrugged his shoulders "Are you going to tell Akito?"

"I do not feel it is necessary at the moment. Things are going splendidly. You and Yuki are succeeding in the tasks Akito set for you and Tohru-kun is happy. I see no reason to rock the boat right now. I don't want to put her in additional danger and besides…she is making it possible for my dream to come true."

"Your dream? What the hell are you talking about?"

"Nothing much . It's just a small thing but it's my secret. Answer my question Kyo."

"Why should I?"

"Because the only thing I don't know is the when."

"I had a dream the night of graduation. I went to Master's to confirm the details because he was part of my dream. I've known since then."

"I knew Kazuma had something to do with this. And Tohru-kun, how long has she known?"

"She's know since the day she accepted Hatori's job offer. We went for a walk in her old neighborhood and somehow her memory returned. Her memory returned much more fully and much faster than mine."

"I can't believe you managed to keep it a secret this long. Well done Kyo-kyon."

"Don't call me that." Kyo did not tell Shigure about the journals. The stupid dog didn't need to know those existed.

"Thank you Kyo. It warms my heart to know my powers of deduction are still keen." Shigure waved and walked away. There's something he isn't telling me. I will let him have his secret, after all, I have mine.

"Damn dog!" Kyo returned to his morning exercise routine.

Akito moved back into his room. From his balcony he had been able to hear the full conversation. So Tohru-san and the cat have recovered their memories? I wonder what I should do about that. I should be angry, I should order Hatori to erase those memories once again, but thenshe might forget me as well. I don't know if I want to have that happen. Somehow, it really matters to me that I not be forgotten by her.

Later that day, Tohru received an invitation to visit Akito before the evening meal. It was an invitation that she gladly accepted. She spent the day with her Sohma family. They played games and enjoyed the garden. The kitchen provided a light lunch for all that were interested. Akito would occasionally look out across the garden. Each time he would see Tohru surrounded by his juunishi. Sheis truly a light in whatonce was a very dark world. He wondered if she would be on time this evening. Heneeded some of that light for himself.

About an hour before she was to go to Akito's apartments, Tohru excused herself and went to her bedroom to get dressed. This time she would wear the green kimono given to her by Sakura-sensei. She hoped Akito would not be angry when she did not wear the kimono he had given her. As she prepared to leave, she remembered the journal from her mom to Akito. She slipped it into the sleeve of her kimono. Perhaps today really would be the day to give it to him.

Right on schedule, Tohru knocked on Akito's door. "Enter," he called.

She stepped inside and knelt on the carpet. "Akito-san, pardon the intrusion. I am here as you requested."

"And so you are Miss Honda. And right on time as well."

"Mom always said itis good to be on time. If youare late, it shows a lack of consideration for others."

"It seems your mother was a very wise woman."

"Hai, Akito-san, she was."

"Please feel free to join me," Akito invited as he sat down on the cushion he had recently added to the window seat.

"If you are certain, Akito-san" Tohru said shyly.

"I am certain Tohru-san."

"Okay." Tohru joined him and sat at the opposite end of the bench there by the window. "This cushion is very soft and beautiful. It's new isn't it?"

"Yes it is. So tell me Tohru-san, how are you enjoying our New Year's celebrations?"

"They have been wonderful beyond belief Akito-san. I am so pleased that you thought to invite me."

"And I am very pleased that you accepted."

"Akito-san?"

"Yes?"

"Did you meet my mom, it would've been about 10 years ago."

"Hai Tohru-san. Why do you ask?"

"Because, Akito-san, she remembered you. She left this for you with a friend." Tohru removed the black journal from her sleeve and offered it to Akito. "Please accept this. It was intended for you. I haven't read it, I would never read stuff intended for anyone other than myself, unless of course, they said it was okay."

"For me…" Akito said slowly. He looked at the journal as if it were a viper preparing to strike, or a rare and precious gift. He wasn't sure how to consider something so surprising.

"Please accept it Akito-san, she wanted me to give it to you when the time was right. I feel that now is the right time."

"Put it on the bedside table in my room. I will wait here."

"But Akito-san, don't you want to read it. Aren't you curious? I know I would be."

"Never make the mistake of thinking I am like you. Miss Honda, just put it in there by my bed."

"Hai, Akito-san," she said in a small frightened voice.

"Tohru-san, understand this, I just don't think I am quite ready for it. It has caught me by surprise that anyone should have written a journal for me and especially since it was your mother. We did not meet under the most pleasant of terms, nor did we part on good ones."

"Hai, Akito-san. I do understand. I hope you will read it later."

"Perhaps I will Tohru-san."

Truthfully, Akito was very curious about the words Kyoko Honda-san might have written. He did not want to read them in front of her daughter though. What if she knew of his plans?

"Akito-san look! The sun is setting. Isn't it beautiful? There is something magical about sunset, don't you think?"

Akito looked out the window to the opposite side of the garden where the sun was beginning to go down. It was beautiful, especially since it was being shared with her. "Yes there is something magical, Tohru san" It's not the sunset though, it's you and the way you can always smile, even during the worst of times.

Akito watched Tohru as she watched the sunset out the window. The green kimono she was wearing suited her well, even better than the one he had given her. Green was a color he associated with light and Tohru was light. "Tohru-san, that kimono is perfect for you. You look very cute! Come, it is time to go down to dinner. May I escort you?" Tohru looked over at Akito and saw a smile on his face. It was a lot like Yuki's.

"Akito-san, you have a beautiful smile, you should smile more often."

"Thank you Tohru-san." Somehow it is easier to smile when she is by my side. Akito offered Tohru his arm and they proceeded down the stairs to the dining room. Tonight she would sit at his side. He had already made sure of that.

As Tohru and Akito entered the dining room, every eye turned their way.

Stupid rat, look at him. He's looking sad, but it's his fault. He never told her how he felt.

"Have I lost to Akito, I wonder. He's always taken what I care for the most, and now he seems to have won over Miss Honda. But, Tohru-san is Tohru-san and she can't help being who she is. I think she has enough love and caring for all of us."

"Akito, you look happy. I've always dreamed of you being happy, but I don't know if I like this or not. Tohru-kun is our precious flower and I don't want her trampled on."

"It seems Tohru-kun can heal any number of hurts. Be happy Akito-san."

"Tohru is so sweet. Akito wouldn't be human if he couldn't be happy with her as his friend. I've know that since the park."

Akito wondered what thoughts were going on in the minds of his juunishi as he seated Tohru to his left.

"Sissy, hello!" An excited Kisa was seated to Tohru's left and Hiro was just the other side of her.

"Kisa, how pretty you look. Hasn't this been so much fun these last two days?"

"Yes, sissy, because you make it fun." Kisa babbled on to Tohru for the duration of the meal.

"Kisa, I just love you!" Tohru gave Kisa a hug.

Akito studied Tohru as she interacted with his various juunishi. He really did not find any favoritism in her actions. She seemed to like everyone equally. How could one person have that much love? He saw Yuki looking at him with an indecipherable gleam in his eyes. What was Yuki thinking? Probably the same thing he had been thinking the previous night as he watched Tohru with Yuki and the cat. Yuki had defied him often in the last few years, it was only right if his dear Yuki was feeling some pain right now. He had certainly caused Akito enough pain.

"Akito-san, look! The dessert is on fire! Is that okay?" Tohru was watching the custard flambeau with undisguised delight.

He smiled, his dark thoughts forgotten. I can't really hate her anymore can I?

The meal was finished and everyone retired to the recreation room to play pool or cards or ping-pong. Akito had made his excuses and gone to his room immediately after the meal. He was quite tired from a very long day althoughit had been a thouroughly enjoyable day as well.Nowadays it seemed she always managed to make it that way.

Akito put on his pajamas and sat on his bed staring at the unopened journal. What could that Honda woman possibly have to say to him? She had been dead for three years.

Author's Notes: How am I doing? Are the changes in Akito believable? Am I making him a little too nice? I'd like to know.