Hatsuharu parked the van and the five of them walked up to Shigure's house. Momiji was the first one in the door. Shigure looked up from the sitting table as he heard the door open and immediately stood up. A couple of minutes later Tohru, Kyo, Haru, and Yuki came into the room.
"Tohru" he gasped as he saw them, "Kyo" he replied as he walked forward and embraced them both at the same time, "You're all right."
"We're fine" Kyo grimaced, "Let me go Shigure."
"I'm sorry" Shigure cried a little, "But I've been so worried" he said as he pulled away.
"We've been keeping you updated" Kyo retorted.
"Yes everything's okay now Shigure" Tohru said with a smile, "We're both fine now."
"Oh I am so glad."
"Yes" Hatori added from where he was sitting with Mayuko and Aoko, "We're all glad to see that you're both all right."
"Hatori?" Tohru said surprised.
"What are you all doing here?" Kyo added.
"Well when Isaw Hatsuharu drive out of the main house in such a rush I knew that something was wrong" Hatori replied standing up; "Especially since he took the van without prior permission" he stared at Hatsuharu with a slight frown.
"Sorry about that" Haru chuckled nervously with his hand behind his head, "But it was an emergency."
"Why didn't you let us in on it though?" Shigure asked crossing his arms.
"Yes" Ayame appeared from the kitchen with Mine carrying a tray of tea, "We could have helped."
"Brother?" Yuki said in shock.
"Why are all you here?" Kyo replied frustrated.
"Will you answer my question please" Shigure said, "Why didn't you let us help?"
"Well" Momiji started to say but Yuki interrupted him.
"Because Shigure" Yuki replied, "We're not kids anymore. We're adults now. We knew what we were doing. And we succeeded."
"Besides Master Kazuma was with us" Haru added, "We had an older person with us. By the time we would have gotten a hold of you guys it would have been too late. Since Kagura had told us that Rei was back in town we figured that was the reason that we couldn't get a hold of Tohru or Kyo. Oh by the way Kyo your cell phone," he said reaching in to his back pocket and handing it to him.
"Thanks" Kyo said taking it.
"Speaking of cell phones" Ayame replied, "Tohru is this yours?" he said holding it up.
"It is" Tohru replied happily taking it, "Where did you find it Ayame?"
"I can answer that one" Haru spoke up, "It was found on the side of the road by some woman. I think that maybe Uncle Rei chucked it out the window so you couldn't use it."
"Yes" she nodded sadly, "I was really foolish to believe him. I really though that he wanted to make amends with Kyo honestly."
"It's not your fault Tohru" Kyo replied taking her in his arms.
"Speaking of which" Shigure said with a frown, "I'm afraid we got some bad news."
"What is it Shigure? Momiji asked as they all looked at him.
"Kazuma called us about two hours ago. Rei escaped. While they were talking with the police and the people of the warehouse he managed to get away."
"Damn" Haru muttered angrily clenching his fist.
"They have an A.PB. out on him though" Hatori added, "They'll catch him."
"I hope so" Yuki nodded with a frown of his own.
"Well now that that is settled, all of you must be hungry" Shigure grinned, "We took the liberty of sending Kagura out to get some meals. She'll be back soon."
"For all of us?" Kyo said in surprise.
"Mhm. I dare say that Rin will help her."
"Rin's with her?" Haru asked excitedly.
"Yes. She came over about an hour ago after Kazuma dropped her off."
"So Master is okay?" Kyo replied, "I mean he did get hit on the back of the head."
"Kazuma is resilient" Shigure shrugged his shoulders as he sat down; "Now whilewe wait why don't you tell us about your adventure" he grinned imploringly.
"Why? So you can add it into another novel of yours?" Kyo said joking sarcastically making everyone laugh.
"Why Kyo" Shigure said with a smile, "How did you guess?" he replied making everyone sweat drop.
(Next Scene)
Later up on the roof Kyo stared at the night sky. Tohru was coming up any minute since it seemed to be the only place for them to get some private time, since downstairs a small party was going on. No one had left yet, so Kyo sighed as he lay down on his back. He heard Tohru come up the ladder quietly and closed his eyes with a smile. She came over and he opened his eyes.
"I'm glad that you met me up here" he said as he sat up.
"Yea" she nodded as he noticed the small book in her arms.
"Isn't that the cats journal?" he asked pointing.
"Yes" she nodded.
"What did you bring that up for?"
"It's been bothering me since we got home. I want to find out. I need to know what the last pages say. But I want you and me to do it together since it is the cats journal and it's who you are and also because I kept you in the dark about this for a long time. I didn't include you. I still feel kind of guilty for that."
"Tohru" he looked at her gently, "Are you sure you want to do this?"
'Mhm. With you though and no other way."
"Okay. Do you want me to read it?"
"Would you?" she asked happily.
"Sure" he nodded with a smile as she handed him the book, "Where is it?"
"The first to last page."
"Okay" he replied turning to it, "Here we go" he cleared his throat as she moved closer next to him.
My Love,
My health is deteriorating. I have been told that I only have very few days left to live so I must write this quickly. The notion that we thought that the Ushida clan was responsible for the curse is a lie. For I have discovered who really was behind it all and it hurts to even reveal the person because of their closeness with you. But I must do this so our child, my son will know how to save our family. I received the letter you sent Hiro about him. I wish you had told me but I understand why you didn't just like you understand why I could never be with you or him. How can I when what I did was so terrible I don't even like to think about it. I did something so out of character for me. I am ashamed of what I am. But as I have said in my last letter in this journal I have not stopped loving you and I left so I would never cause you more additional pain. With that said I will tell you. Do not be angry and do not hold vengenefullness towards her, for it was merely jealously that drove her to affect us. Your sister the Princess Aya was in love with me and despised you and your brother a long time because you were healthy and happy and she was not. This is what hate can do. Instead when she discovered even after all that she had done and you didn't know, that you cared somuch for her that sherealizedthat she made a mistake. I heard then she cast a curse on herself, one linked to the Zodiac curse. I believe she is inworse health now then she ever was. Because she placed the entire curse on her shoulders, making her weaker and making her die very slowly, alone and in pain for the rest of her life. This is why I hold no anger towards her for this. I know far to well what it means to hate someone so I can sympathize.
Kyo stopped reading his eyes quite wide.
"What's wrong Kyo?" Tohru asked.
"It ends there" he replied, "It must continue on the last page," he said turning to the next page and continuing to read.
Takara,
This is my last letter to you. I am sorry the last one was cut short but like I said I have been very ill. It has been hard to write without feeling pain. Even now I suffer as I write this but I must tell you the cure. It is a simple four-letter word. One that many people have been lucky to experience. I cannot write much more. You are smart. I know you will figure it out. I can only say this; it is the most powerful thing in this world. Tell our son how much I wish I could have seen him just once. As well as you Takara. I shall think of you even in heaven. Farwell my love.
Kiyoshi Sohma
Kyo closed the book as tears fell from Tohru's eyes.
"I don't get it" Kyo replied slowly, "I thought he said that the cure of the curse is in here."
"It is Kyo" Tohru said slowly, "You have to read between the lines. And I think I know what it is because I've read that journal from cover to cover. And I have had the dreams. I know, I mean I am quite certain I know what the cure is."
"You know? What is it? Can you tell me?"
"Not yet" Tohru shook her head, "Not till I find her."
"Find who?"
"I have to do what I promised Kureno" she looked at her fiancée determinedly, "And find Kandis."
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Okay that's it for Book Seventeen! I hope you enjoyed it. I'll see you next week for the final book! Have a good weekend you guys!
Next Time on Rice-Balls in a Fruits Basket:
Book Eighteen: Love Conquers All
Tohru sets out to find Kandis in order to save Akito as well as save the rest of the Sohma family. Find out what happens in this the final book of the Rice-Ball series. See you next time!
