Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or the characters in it. I do own the characters Kila Hasaru and her mother, but that's it. I own only a part of the plot. The rest belongs to Natsuki Takaya.

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Stitched Memories Part 2- V

The numbers on the digital clock beside his beside shone, providing the only light in his bedroom. It was 3:45 in the morning and he was still awake. Despite the rain still coming down in sheets outside, Kyo was unable to find any peace or sleep that night. His thoughts dwelled on what Shigure told Tohru, and he reaction, and how he had hurt her again... His fists clenched under the blankets. Trying to control his rush of rage, time ticked on and soon he had calmed down. The time was now 4:11 and sleep seemed pointless now. The orange haired boy rose from his previous position and headed for the door. Milk always helped with insomnia. He shuffled down the stairs, clad in a white t-shirt and baggy gray sweat pants.

Upon entering the kitchen, Kyo was surprised to see Tohru already dressed for school and leaning against the counter. She turned to face him, nervousness evident on her face. He stared at her for a minute, feeling slightly embaressed for some reason unknown to him, then he went to fridge and removed a carton of milk. He took a swig, then lowered it from his lips and glanced back at Tohru who was gazing at him still.

"Why are you up so early?" the first thing that came from him.
She shrugged slightly, "I couldn't sleep. Why are you?"
"Same." he then took another gulp of milk, feeling awkward knowing that she knew about her. "Listen-"
"Kyo-"
Both had started speaking at the same time, so for a while both went back and forth about who should go first. Finally, Kyo relented, "Okay, I was just gonna say... that whatever you heard last night isn't important. Shigure was just being an idiot. I don't really care that she's come back, it just surprised me. So that's it, now what're you gonna say?"
She bit her lower lip out of nervousness, "I... I'm sorry..."
"Hmm?"
Tohru continued, "I'm sorry about what happened. I know you're ashamed, ashamed that I know something so personal... But, you can be sad Kyo. Like you said to me... It's okay to let yourself be sad... It's normal for people to feel like this, for them to regret knowing a person to only remember losing them. Some days, I wish that I could just forget about my mom... to save me the pain of remembering her death. But then I wouldn't have all the good memories to reflect on. So if you didn't have the bad memories of Kila, then you wouldn't have the good ones..."

It took all of Kyo's energy to not become enraged by how well she knew him or to not break down and cry. He could be sad in private, if he even chose to do that. The milk carton was loosely gripped in his hand which now hung limply by his side. Tohru took it from him, to prevent it from falling and spilling. She stole a glance at him, seeing one stray tear fall and that was it.

She smiled at him, "I think I understand now... why you've been acting different..." This caught his attention once more and he looked at her, "It's because that when I accepted your other form... you remembered her doing the same."
"Whatever... it's not like it matters anyway." Suddenly, Kyo was tired, so with the urging of Tohru he found himself back in his room the drumming of the rain lulling him to sleep. 'Milk does help with insomnia... or maybe... I just heard what I had wanted to hear.'

Yuki was the second in the household to come into Tohru's prescence that morning, at precisely 6:15. He hadn't gotten much sleep either, but enough to last through the day. He was surprised to see her in better spirits than the previous night, but there was still a nagging doubt that she would be frightened of what he did. He watched her cook, waiting for her to notice that he was there. Unknown to his knowledge however, she did know he was there. Tohru was just struggling with what to say to him. 'Just be normal...'

"Good morning, Yuki!" she greeted, as she turned around and gave a dip of her head, "Breakfast is almost ready"
He was shocked by her regular morning routine, "Oh, umm... Good morning Miss Honda." 'That's right... she doesn't know I heard them last night...'

Instead of carrying on with conversation, Yuki sat down at the table in the next room over. He could hear Tohru stumbling around in the kitchen and the smell of her cooking wafted in. Something didn't seem right though. Looking outside, he realized that neither Shigure nor Kyo had come downstairs yet. This puzzled the rat since he was well aware that the last one downstairs was almost always him. He shrugged it off when Tohru entered carrying the breakfast tray.

"Here you go!"
He smiled at her weakly, "Thank you."

She saw right through his act, but said nothing else. 'The last thing on my mind is to aggrivate Yuki or make him uncomfortable with me.' her thoughts raced, 'But I think I've already succeeded in that.' They ate in silence, Tohru occasionally stealing glances at Yuki, 'I still can't believe Yuki would do something like that... but maybe if was anyone else other than Kyo he wouldn't have. But it's still not right.'

Eventually Shigure joined them, joking around as if the night before had never happened. This made the silver-haired boy uneasy and the brunette uncertain of how to behave. Soon it was time for school and Kyo was still not awake.

"I don't believe he'll be joining you today." Shigure commented when Tohru asked.
She nodded, "Yeah, it's not good for the body to push itself when not much sleep is gained." She felt guilty in saying that since she got no sleep at all that night.
"I agree with you on that, my precious flower." Yuki glared at Shigure suspiciously, "Have a good day at school!"

With a farewell, the two teens set off for another round of silence.

"Hey, so what's with orange top?" Uo asked as the four second years huddled together, "He ditches class in the middle of the day, then doesn't show up today."
Tohru came up with a quick excuse, "Oh, he wasn't feeling well. I think he's come down with a cold."
"Maybe it's just so he won't have to suffer another defeat from me." the tall blonde snickered.
"Maybe..." Hana mused, "But I sense unstable waves between the three of you." She directed this towards Tohru and Yuki, including Kyo who just wasn't there.

This puzzled Hana more when she saw both become nervous and then relieved when the bell rang and the teacher entered. All the kids scattered to their seats, assuming position to take notes and listen to the lecture. Unfortunately for Tohru, who had a hard enough time taking notes as it was, she had a feeling that this next exam wouldn't go too well.

'What now?' she thought to herself as she sat on a bench in the park with a vanilla crepe. Her long red hair was let loose for now, no headband or ribbons. She had woken up only half an hour ago and just decided not to go to school today, her "father" could deal with her when she returned home. If she returned home.

Kila leaned back against the rough back of the wooden bench, attempting to push such thoughts from her mind. The man who called himself her father was already concerned about her enough. Living in a shabby apartment, having both parents dead, and not to mention an outcast at school where her only friend was a mishapen piece of cloth sewn together to look like a cat. This very cat was next to her, never leaving her sight.

Finishing up her crepe, she took in her surroundings, debating on what she should do next. Judging by her watch it was 10:30, still another six hours before her work shift began. 'I suppose I could take a walk around town... see what there is to see...' With this "goal" set in mind, Kila rose from the bench and took up her companion and set off down the street with no specific destination. 'I'll just go where fate takes me.'

"Why am I doing this?" Kyo groaned outloud, approaching the grocery.

What he had awoken to that morning was Shigure telling him to get up and go get the groceries for Tohru. Apparently they were low and she had work again right after school, so there would be no time to pick them up. At first Kyo declined, then Shigure told him that if he didn't do that he would go back to school and not be allowed to sleep more. How could he pass up a chance to stay home from school?

Now, here he was, at the grocery store to buy food. He felt like an idiot, walking around with a list and a basket. Within an hour or so, Kyo finally got the hang of it, paid, and left. He was moving so fast out the door with all those bags, Kyo nearly had another collision. This time it was with someone he hadn't wanted to see.

"Hey, watch where you're going!" he shouted angrily, trying to pick up the bags that fell.
"I'm sorry, I didn't see you coming..."
Kyo froze and looked up to see a familiar face, peering down at him with large, innocent sea green eyes. "No..." he whispered, getting up slowly.
"Do you need any help?" she asked timidly.
"N-no." he attempted to state firmly, "I've got it."
She nodded, clutching something in her arms that struck a chord in Kyo's memory, "Oh... alright then. Bye."
"Yea see ya," he replied, looking away as she walked past him, "Kila..."

He whispered the last part, so the girl called Kila didn't hear him. She hadn't heard him for nearly eight years. She didn't know that he needed her, because she left and didn't come back. She left him alone after she promised not to, just like his mom and dad. Just like everyone who found out about him, his true form. Besides Kagura, but to him she didn't count right now. What struck him was that everyone left after finding out, so why should Tohru be any different? 'I hate you Kila...' You don't mean that. 'Yes I do. I hate you!' You can hate me... but I love you Kyokyo... 'Don't call me that!' I love you and I'll never leave you, we'll stay together. Together. 'But you didn't... you lied... you lied to me... Both of you did.'

Letting the bags fall to the ground, Kyo didn't care that the money was wasted or that he was running away again or that there was a gun shop down the corner. Well, maybe he cared about that last thing...


A/N: OMG! This chapter made me tear up, well... most chapters I write make me tear up... but still. Please R&R and tell me if you think Kyo should die or live? (I can't believe I just asked if my fave character should die or live...) Or if Tohru should forgive Yuki? And Tohru's plan will become evident in later chapters! Lots to think about and look forward to! -timer dings- Ah, more cookies for my faithful reviwers! Ciao for now.