Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket

Whoa everyone I'm sorry it's taken so long to update here.

I've updated all my other stories, I just go in order and the other's had been neglected too.

I've also been trying to actually have a life; honestly its rather hard with all honors, x boyfriend troubles and theater.

I've finally figured out my ending for the story! Hurray! I just hope I can write it well enough.

Chapter 39

Tohru and Kyo ended up falling asleep inside the house after new years. Tohru slept on the couch and Kyo rested quietly with his back to that same couch. After Tohru had fallen asleep Kyo draped a blue quilt over her. As he was doing so, his eyes caught sight of his locket resting on her neck. Kyo smiled softly and tucked away a piece of her hair.

Around two in the morning the rest of the Sohmas arrived home. Kyo was watching tv as the opened the front door. They looked to Kyo and he raised a finger to his lips jerking his head towards Tohru, telling them to be quiet.

Shigure was the one to creep over to Tohru. He eased himself to his knees and rubbed her back gently whispering to her, "Flower...time to wake up...Flower..." His voice was calm and soothing and slowly Tohru's eyes opened back up. She smiled but didn't say anything and Shigure just stroked the side of her cheek, "Happy New Year Tohru."

"Happy New Year to you too dad," She told him lightly, smiling as she eased herself to a sitting position. "Happy New Year everyone," She extended her joy with another warm smile. Everyone sat around on the floor as Tohru made tea for them. Soon they were all enjoying a nice cup basking in each other's company.

"So tell me, how was the banquet?" Tohru asked eagerly..

Haru sighed "The same as always, Yukito didn't say much, but he had a nice toast, it sounded like something you told him," Haru took a sip of his tea "It was nice to see Hiro and Kisa, they send their hellos and love,"

"That's nice of them," Tohru smiled sipping at her tea beside Kyo "What about you Yuki?"

"It was a pleasant evening I suppose, the stars were exceptionally beautiful tonight," Yuki noted holding his cup in his lap.

"Did you see any shooting stars?" Tohru asked excitedly

"No, we didn't sadly, but we still made a wish on the new year," Yuki told her sipping at his tea.

Tohru found that strange, that only she and Kyo had seen the shooting star together and no one else. Tohru looked over to Kyo, but he just smiled gently, still thinking about how long he got to feel the warmth of her hand.

"Well, tell me you guys at least made a wish?" Tohru smiled and turned back to Yuki and Haru

"OH course we did! Kisa wouldn't let us forget to make a wish. She was really excited," Haru smiled. Momiji was still snoring on the couch and she smiled. "I think I'm going to go to bed now, I'll take Momiji up with me so Kyo doesn't have to do it."

"Thanks," Kyo gave him a head nod gesture. Haru threw Momiji onto his back and he stumbled up the stairs.

This just left Tohru, Kyo, and Yuki sitting together on the couches sipping at tea. Tohru smiled and curled up in a ball. "This means we have to go back to school. Homework, normal band concerts, the white day festival, there's a lot to look forward to this year."

"You know, Akito did seem different this year," Yuki started taking a sip at his tea, "He didn't seem as vengeful, more, angry and sad than someone willing to hurt."

"Well, that's good isn't it? He's slowly improving," Tohru smiled.

"I'm not sure...I still won't trust him..." Yuki looked out the window.

"No is expecting you to Yuki. I know he put you all through a lot of pain, I just think, people can change that's all," Tohru looked down at her cup "I think, I've changed."

"You? How so?" Yuki asked surprised. Kyo turned to look at her.

"Well. After my mom died, I wasn't really the same. I know no one ever is after a death, but I found I much more resistant to talk about anything that really was important to me. I was, afraid of getting close to people in case they died too. The band helped to open me back up, but I think the Sohmas have too. Everyone had their problems, and if I wanted to help them, I had to open up. It was a positive affect for everyone."

They left the evening like that. Everyone went off to bed while Tohru stayed downstairs cleaning the last of the dishes from tea. Tohru was in the middle of a yawn when the phone rang at four. She let out a surprised yelp and grabbed the phone before anyone else would wake up. "Hello?"

"Hello Tohru." Tohru felt a shiver go down her spine. Akito.

"Is something wrong Akito? It's almost five in the morning," Tohru twirled the cord around her finger.

"I do apologize for calling at such a strange hour. I need a favor from you Tohru." His voice seemed tired. Maybe he wanted to sleep too.

"Ummm...sure what can I do to help you?"

"Can you tell me, when does school start back up for you and the boys?"

"Well, technically tomorrow. Two days after new years if you understand what I'm saying."

"Monday then?"

"Yes that's it!"

"Very well. Tohru?"

"Yes Akito sir?" She sat down in a chair at the dining room table.

"Can you...please come by the estate after school Mondy?" His voice sounded, strangely desperate.

"I have work after school until eight, that's when the ice cream parlor closes."

"Oh..."

"I can come after if you want. It's only a short walk, and I'm sure Shigure won't mind. Would that be alright Akito?"

"Yes," Tohru could hear him let out a sigh of relief, "Are you okay sir, I'm worried."

"Innocent Tohru don't worry. It's just my cough, I should be sleeping by now. I believe you should be too."

"Indeed, so Monday it is?"

"Indeed."

"Goodnight"

"...click..."

Tohru had found that whole conversation rather peculiar. Maybe he was drunk from the new years party. She finished up the dishes slowly, wondering why he would want to speak with her still. There was a faint chance that he might have finally accepted her, but Tohru knew those were only her hopes. What if Akito's illnesses were becoming too much for him to recover from?

Around five Tohru wandered up to her bedroom. As she passed by Kyo and Momiji's room she stopped to stare at the door. She smiled, so glad they were just a room away, she sighed once and finally got herself some well needed sleep.

Sunday came and went, easy day for writing letters, and cramming in homework none of the kids had done earlier in the week. I mean, seriously, who doesn't cram homework the night before it's due? Tohru was happy with the laid back mood, everyone still hung over from the excitement the night before had brought. Kyo spent his day training, Yuki with the garden, and Haru and Momiji just played video games with each other.

Tohru was up at the crack of dawn before school. She showered quickly, got dressed, and was downstairs making breakfast before even Shigure's alarm clock went off. She was perky and even happier than usual, dressed in her school outfit humming

"Who's to say we're not good enough
Who's to say that this is not our love

Mother don't tell me friends are the ones
That I lose, Cause they'd bleed before you
Sometimes family are the ones you choose
It's too late now, I hold on to this life I've found"

Tohru spun as she sang, flopping the eggs onto their dishes with the fried rice.

"It seems as if my flower is even more beautiful and perkier than usual," Shigure entered the kitchen with a smile. "Good morning"

"Good morning Shigure," She turned and smiled, there was a glow in her eyes. "I'm glad we can go back to school, so I can see Uo and Hana again. Break is fun, giving you time to be with your family, but I miss our normal and chaotic routine," She slid his breakfast in front of him.

"TorTor Good morning!" Momiji was the next to shuffle into the room. She rubbed his head with a smile, handing him a plate of food and a drink.

"Good morning to you too Momiji," She dressed the rest of the table with the remaining boy's plates in their rightful places. She grinned and looked at Shigure "You wanna call them, for old time's sake?"

Shigure stood up and cleared his throat, like a professional who was going to sing. "FFOOODD"

Tohru tried not to laugh, there was the sound of pounding footsteps. Shigure and Momiji on the other hand, were laughing till kingdom come. Tohru sat down in her chair as the thudding feet made it to the stairs.

"Oh no you don't Rat!" Kyo called and there was a very loud sound of two bodies falling and crashing into the wall at the bottom of the stairs.

"Oh dear, more of my house is being broken," Shigure moaned.

Kyo and Yuki managed to scramble across the floor right to the border line of the kitchen and living room. Each was lost in the cloud of dust, pulling on hair and biting arms. "Damn you foolish Cat release me!" Yuki screamed pounding against him. Meanwhile, as usual, Haru is strolling in.

"NO YOU DON'T!" Both Kyo and Yuki screamed, dragging him slowly into the abyss of their fight.

"AHHHHHH" Haru screamed and then the fight continued.

The others had grown bored and we're munching on their food. Momiji and Shigure complimented Tohru and she simply laughed and blushed. Yuki, Kyo, and Haru suddenly stopped, all three were exhausted on the floor, none of them had crossed the line. Tohru smiled and picked up their dishes. She placed them on the floor in front of them. She spoon fed them slowly each one groaning and mumbling about the others.

"I know this is fun to watch, but you guys should ease up once in a while," Tohru told them still feeding them. "You're all going to end up as mounds of pulp. Besides, what are you going to tell everyone when you get to school? One day you might not be able to get up," Tohru's eyes wandered away as she continued to feed them "Just take it easy, boys are rough, but you should know when it's enough," Tohru got up slowly taking the dirty dishes with her.

Momiji helped Tohru with the dishes and Shigure's eyes were wandering about from his daily paper. Tohru was a fickle girl sometimes, she loved them, and at time the real Tohru managed to slip through. It was a given, losing her mom, she wouldn't want them to hurt too much. Shigure sighed and sipped at his coffee.

When they group arrived at school Tohru ran up to her friends and hugged them to death.

"This year is going to be great," Tohru exclaimed smiling at them.

"Yeah, hopefully you won't as hurt this year," Uo told her gently

"Indeed, it seemed as though you were beaten a lot last year," Hana added quietly

"Oh I'm just unlucky I mean come on, who in their right mind can actually fall off a bridge?" Tohru stuck out her tongue and laughed. Uo and Hana smiled too. It had been a rough year on Tohru, losing her mom, the fights with the boys, fights with Uo, still somehow she's still smiling. She skipped up the steps and turned around looking at all her friends and family "Let's go already!"

Everyone filed into class, taking the seats that seemed so old like no one could remember they existed. Tohru was happy again, smiling at her left to Uo and Hana, and turning to her right to see Kyo. Namura-sensei called attention.

"Welcome back class. I know you're all just so happy to be back," The class moaned, "Let's talk about something interesting, like the upcoming White Day festival!" The class perked up. "As you know each class is in charge of a booth to help raise money for school funds. Our own Yuki-
Shoma is in charge of monitoring the stands. Another thing that you might not know, is Tohru is going to have a live performance for us."

Everyone's heads turned toward Tohru and she started to turn pink.

"Tohru is part of a band called Clarity, they've been performing at a local bar in town, what's the name, you know where all you 'hip' and 'cool' kids like to hang out. Her bands growing more popular by the performance, especially, I heard, after the Christmas Jam. Anyway, they'll be performing throughout the day. So, back to the booths, who's got ideas?" Namura smiled, pleased he had made Tohru so embarrassed.

((This stinks...I wanna do rice balls but that's such a copy of the manga/anime..grumble..))

"Why don't we cook something?" Uo asked raising her hand.

"Yeah, everyone loves food," someone else in the classroom added.

"Tohru should cook, she's phenomenal," Momiji added. Tohru blushing again.

"Remember how she cooked on our class trip?" Another kid added

"Alright alright, so it's decided, we will cook," Namura raised his hands silencing them "Now, what shall we cook is the real question?"

"Well, I can drop food off to be sold, but I'm going to be performing," Tohru told Namura.

"That's alright, we'll have burners to keep the food warm if needed," Namura smiled.

"We need like fair food or something," Kyo mumbled enough to be heard

"Kyo has a good point," Haru added stretching his arms above his head.

"We should cook something that has variety..." Yuki added "Or something a lot of people like."

((I'm hoping I'll come up with an idea soon...lol))

"We should make pastries," Someone added.

"That's a good idea, pastries vary so we can be creative," Tohru chirped and then a thought dawned on Tohru "I think Kei should paint for us too."

Kei looked up "Huh?" He had apparently been doodling in his book.

"Kei is amazing at portraits. You know when you go to an amusement park and they make those fun distorted pictures? We should have Kei sit beside our stand. It would be a lot of fun, and it would double profits," Tohru added

"What do you think Kei, it's your decision," Namura looked at him.

Kei didn't really know what to say, his eyes wandered the room filled with eager faces. He found Tohru and she was smiling, she really wanted him to do this. "Alright I guess..." Kei said reluctantly and the whole class cheered.

"But wait, back to pastries, we need to be more specific." Namura added

"Does it have to be something cooked?" Tohru asked raising her hand "Could do ice cream? I work at an ice cream parlor, there has to be a way to make homemade ice cream. I mean, sure you'd start out with oh a vanilla flavor, but we could put our own special things into it."

"Ice cream might melt though," Namura pointed out.

((I really can't think of anything...god damn))

"Let's fry dough!" Momiji called out.

"What?" Namura turned surprised.

"I know it's out in left field, but everyone loves fried dough. I see it in street fairs all the time, it's also very simple to make too. What if we made shapes out of the dough, that might attract more customers too!" Momiji added grinning.

"I like his idea," Uo added "If we had different designs it wouldn't be as boring, it also makes it easier for all us who really aren't that great at cooking. We could even have an assembly line, some kids mixing ingredients, pouring stuff into shapes, fryers, the people who put the sugar on, and other's just to work the counter," Uo ran her hand through her rich blond hair. "I think Momiji's got a great idea."

"What shape though?" Yuki asked curiously "There would have to be something with a wide variety."

"What if we did stuff centered around White Day? Hearts, flowers, stuff like that?" Tohru added.

"I think that's a great idea, it promotes the whole idea of the celebration," Namura clapped his fist into his hand. "Alright, all in favor of the White Day Shaped Funnel Cakes say I"

"I!" The whole class was in agreement.

The rest of the day was spent drawing up basic plans for the stand, construction, supply lists, etc. When the final bell rang Tohru grabbed her bag and headed towards the door.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?" Momiji asked tugging on her sleeve.

"Oh, I've got work today Momiji. I can't keep Kira waiting. Come visit if you like!" She smiled gently as she skipped down the hallway. The Sohmas dispersed to their lockers and Tohru to hers. She was running the combo when a strong hand pressed itself up against her locker. She looked up into the eyes of Kyo.

"Shigure says I have to pick you up after work this week, makes up for me breaking his door or something, so don't go walking home without me getting you alright?"

Tohru bit her lip and looked up at him nervously, "Umm actually Kyo, I have somewhere I need to be after work, so you don't have to walk me home. It'd be a waste of a trip for you to come get me when I'm not even coming home."

"What are you up to Tohru?" Kyo asked looking at her suspiciously.

"Nothing Kyo nothing!" Tohru waved her arms in front of her with her bag. "I've just got...to pick up some supplies for the booth."

"Then I'll help you," Kyo told her.

"No no no it's alright Kyo, I can handle myself," Tohru protested. Her watch beeped and she looked down at it and her face went grim "Oh no I'm going to be late! I gotta run Kyo, but don't worry I'll be fine," She ran down the hallway with a wave.

What are you up too Tohru?

"I'm here!" Tohru sprinted through the door and threw on her uniform in a clean sweep somehow still managing to skid under the counter. Kira was holding an ice cream watching with a confused look on his face. Tohru panted and put on her uniform cap and smiled "Hey Kira."

"I swear you're crazy Tohru," he told her with a chuckle handing the customer their ice cream. "What are you so giddy about?"

"The White Day festival! My class booth is going to be amazing, I'm so excited, performing with everyone on such a great day," Tohru smiled as she started dishing out a customers order.

"You know that's like three weeks from now?" Kira told her with some what of an implying tone.

"Well of course, but my class prepares early, we always want to be the best!" Tohru grinned. "Besides, think about the band and stuff, we'll probably have to get in some practice performances!"

"That's what Yue was talking about, Sora too," Kira mentioned handing out another ice cream cone, "So tell me, how are those boys doing?"

"Those boys? You mean the Sohmas, my family, they're all great. Momiji's a little bummed that I'm always here working and not playing with him. Usually my other job wouldn't start for a few hours and I'd come home later."

"Which one's Momiji, I only remember the white haired one and the violet haired one."

"The violet haired one is Yuki-Sohma, and the white haired one is Hatsaharu-Sohma, but we all call him Haru for short. Momiji is our age, but he's on the shorter side, he has adorable eyes and the cutest blond hair. He usually wears a sailor hat that's how I recognize him. He's so loving," Tohru sighed "He's like my little brother."

Tohru went on through the rest of their shift telling Kira all about her family. Kira listened carefully; he might have been scooping out his competition, but Tohru wouldn't have noticed it. At exactly eight Tohru's shift ended and with less than ten words to Kira she was out the door again heading towards the Sohma Home.

At eight thirty she was knocking on the front gate, and Hatori opened it, rather surprised to see her.

"Greetings Miss Honda, what are you doing here so late on a school night?" He asked her blandly.

"Akito called last night and said he needed me to see him. It sounded really bad," Tohru told him quietly.

"Indeed, the young master has been on the lower end of his days, the illness seems to be getting worse. Come in Tohru," Hatori stepped aside and Tohru walked in with her school books. "I'd gladly let you talk with Hiro and Kisa but they have homework to attend to."

"That's alright, if I did talk with them I wouldn't be home until tomorrow!" Tohru laughed modestly. A smile crept across Hatori's face.

"The master is in his library, just knock before you go in," he told Tohru gently.

"Thanks Hatori!" She took off in a slight job and waved. Hatori smiled, but his eyes looked burdened, forlorn.

Tohru found the library door as usual and knocked on it. "Enter," his usual voice called out. Tohru slid in and stood at the door. "Akito sir...you wanted to see me?"

Akito rose up from his chair and Tohru was startled at how pale he was. There was barely any flesh left to his bones, and his eyes looked so tired. He tried to small, but it seemed as though even that required too much energy. "Welcome Miss Honda."

"Akito sir, you really should sit down, you don't look that great," Tohru urged him. Akito sighed and sat back down in his chair, Tohru walking over to properly see him. "Are you alright sir?"

"Considering how this illness goes I'd say it's one of the worse days. It hurts simply to breathe," He told her quietly, his eyes closing as they rested in his hand.

"Should I come back another day?" Tohru asked him gently.

"No, it's alright. I just need to feel your presence Honda-san. You admit so much energy and life," He sighed again holding back a cough. It was unfair, someone who was only two years older than her was nearing his own death while she was so full of life.

Tohru took one of his hands and fell to her knees. "Is there anything I can do for you Akito sir?"

"Just stay with me here Tohru...just for a little while..." he leaned forward, resting his head against the top of hers. "Just stay with me..."

"Kyo?" Shigure called through the house. Kyo stumbled down the stairs, that dog's voice so piercing it drove needles through his head.

"What do you want dog?" Kyo grumbled.

"Weren't you instructed to go get Tohru?" He asked in a most disciplinary tone.

"Yeah I know, but she said she had somewhere to be. She said something about purchasing supplies for our school booth," He scratched the back of his head "It was weird though, because I mentioned going with her and she sort of freaked, I don't think she's buying stuff. She's up to something."

"Indeed, it appears little Tohru might not be telling us something," Shigure rubbed at his chin. "Here, you go and still pick her up, if she left you should run into her on the way back okay?"

Kyo nodded "Alright."

"Akito..." Tohru's hand reached up and stroked the side of his face. "You have to get better."

"I'm the core, I am all the darkness bottled up into a person, I've done many wrongs, I deserve this," he told her gently, his hand resting on her shoulder.

Kyo wandered into the ice cream store finding Kira polishing a bowl with a cloth. "Hey, did Tohru leave already?" Kyo asked quietly.

"Who's asking?" Kira turned around and looked at him.

"I'm Kyo...Kyo Sohma. Tohru lives with me and the others. You're Kira right? We sort of met when Tohru first applied here."

"Oh, you're a Sohma. That's right I remember you," Kira smiled "Tohru left about an hour ago, sorry."

"Do you know which way she went, she hasn't come home yet," Kyo tried not to sound worried.

"She went off that way," He pointed to the left, the opposite from where Kyo had come from. "Said something about seeing a family member."

"Oh, thanks Kira," Kyo waved and walked out. Tohru was headed towards the Sohma Home, he was sure of it now. But why?

Akito started coughing violently, pulling away from Tohru as she watched him with panic. She stood up and he waved his hand trying to shoo her away. His breathing was raspy and sounded like it was being held back. Instead of leaving Tohru held his hand and watched him still.

"Akito..." her voice was soft, forlorn, with the idea of such a torturing disease. "I'm going to go put the tea kettle on," she rose from her spot and made a dash down the hall for the kitchen.

Kyo arrived at Sohma Home and knocked on the door. Hatori opened it and again his eyes opened with surprise. "Well, it seems tonight is full of unexpected visitors."

"Yo, is Tohru around here?" Kyo poked his head in "She never came home after work, Shigure's worried."

"She's with the master last I saw of her. He's rather ill lately, she's most likely tending to him. That's your best bet," Hatori told him emotionlessly.

"Thanks," Kyo started walking in but Hatori had an added comment.

"You know that he isn't fond of you, especially after you ran away from the home, I'd be careful if I were you.'

"I'm kind of used to the 'not being adored' factor," Kyo told him blandly. He started back up his stride towards the library. As long as she cares...I'm fine being hated.

Tohru was still in the kitchen, setting up a nice tray of tea for the Akito and herself. She waited by the stove, watching the kettle as the bubbles began to float to the surface.

Kyo opened the door to the library and closed it again as he went inside. He simply stared at the back of Akito's chair. "Where is she?" He asked sternly.

"You're back again..." Akito stated.

"Cut the crap, where is she?" He asked again.

"You're still such a fool..." Akito told him.

"Shut up! What would you know about anything! When was the last time you ever left the walls of this home?" Kyo hissed.

"Only a fool would fall in love with a girl he knew he could not have, still you are that fool, the rat as well. You do not understand the multitude of your curse," Akito told him sternly.

"I said shut up! What would you know about love? The only people you've ever known was the Sohmas, the one's you've tortured through and through. She's holding a hand out to you and you refuse to grasp onto it!" Kyo was furious, why the hell did he come here again? To find Tohru, not to talk to this bastard. "I'm going to ask you again, where is she?"

Akito got up from his chair, and slowly turned to face Kyo. "She'll hold out a hand to every person in the world if she had more than two, you think you're special? You think that she really cares about you? She cares about the trees and the wind, this whole world she cares about, even the murderers and rapists. Did you honestly think you were special?"

Kyo looked down at Akito's feet, clenching his fists, "I am special, even if I'm not worthy in your eyes, I'm worthy in hers. To her, everyone is special, the level and multitude doesn't matter. You can be a monster, like you bastard, and she'd still love you."

"A monster?" Akito's eyes seemed to lite up at those words. "Yes. You'd know all about being a monster wouldn't you Kyo," he looked at Kyo's bracelet. "You'd know all about it."

"Fuck off! You're a bastard, lying to her, lying to everyone! You think you can be redeemed for your sins because she cares about you, but you only be redeemed if you yourself face the past and hell you've given us!" Kyo screamed, a low growl in his throat.

"Am I really the one who's not facing his past?" Akito walked up to him limply, a glint of anger in his eyes "Or is it Kyo who won't face his past?" Akito's hand rested on Kyo's bracelet. Kyo cursed himself for not keeping his guard up.

Tohru opened the door with her side the moment that Akito pulled off his bracelet. He could feel the pulsations run through him and he grabbed his chest in a wail. Kyo fell to his knees screaming, the pain of his transformation, his eyes dilating and widening. Tohru dropped the tray with the tea. "Kyo? Kyo what's wrong?" She ran up to him, kneeling down at his side. She couldn't stand hearing him scream. "Kyo talk to me, tell me what's wrong?"

No...she can't...she can't see me this way...

Kyo let out another loud scream as his back arched. Tohru held onto his arm and screamed. "KYO? What's wrong! You've gotta tell me!" There was desperation in her voice, but his eyes shifted again and he pulled his arm away from her.

A bluish black smog was pouring out through Kyo's skin and it shifted to a deeper brown color. From his ears and head his ears began to grow, his shirt being completely torn from him. Tohru scurried to her feet watching him, tears spilling from her eyes, almost as if she could feel his pain. His eyes grew larger, becoming a violet color and finally his ears fully grown, the rest of his body taking on its final shape. He looked at her, teeth gritted and snarling. "Kyo..."

Toh...ru...

His voice was barely human, but she heard her name. She tried to smile, and reached out to touch him, but he turned and smashed straight through the wall and ran off. "KYO!" She screamed after him, watching as rain began to fall from the sky. She turned back to Akito "What did you do to him?"

Akito grinned and leaned over to whisper in her ear. "Fool"

He rose from her and snickered again, stepping over her and the shards of broken wood, silently leaving the room. Tohru stood up, almost to topple over again, it felt like her knees would buckle below her. She looked out at the storm and Kyo's large footprints. She held her locket, and quietly started out into the rain.