Disclaimer: All creations of Fruits Basket are rightfully owned by Natsuki Takaya. I take no ownership of them. I'm just borrowing the adorable Furuba characters for my own purposes…

Salt - By Cherry Chibi

AN: /bows/ Welcome back to Cherry's Salt fanfic. I am very glad that you're enjoying this fic so far. I'm so lost for words. Haha… Anyway, for those who would probably wonder as they read, in this chappy, there are lyrics that are featured in it. They're from a song called 'Distant Times' that is written by me. (The melody is written by one of my band members, Amethyst. She's the best pianist!!! Go Elements! /smiles/) To get an idea of what it sounds like, it has a gentle, bitter sweet melody. Um… something like a cross between 'Sakura Drops' (By Utada Hikaru /heart eyes/ she's such a cool singer!) and 'A Thousand Words' (featured song in Final Fantasy X-2, love that game!).

Alright, on with the fic ne?

- Chapter Three -

A gentle feather touch pushes the ripple away

A watery surface that can never be caught

That is what I felt when I saw you that day

Oh... it was a cold eternity of silver streaks

- - - -

"Damn you! I'm here to take Tohru back with me!" The voice roared. However, no matter how fierce it sounded, not a sign of remorse showed on Haru's face. Somehow, the fierce cry had transformed into muffled words of weakness. Words which were as weak as a butterfly flying against gusts of storm winds. Claws scratched and crushed the boulders that rested on the sides of the road. "She shouldn't be around people like you."

"Who are you to judge that dear cousin?" Haru questioned with a deathly glint in his eyes that matched the reflection that was being given off his blade. "For all I know, someone like her shouldn't be with a monster like you." At that moment, the glint in Haru's eyes vanished and an unreadable expression covered his face. Shadows darkened his features – the first sign of sorrow through the whole occurrence. Sheathing his blade, he turned around to check on Momiji, Yuki and Tohru. "How is she?"

Momiji shook his head slowly. "Not good."

- - - -

"The Sakura blossoms are so beautiful!" They were seated beneath the Sakura tree on top of the grassy hill that was found just outside the town of Tokyo. On the other side were many plains, a valley and a bit further, they could see the forest. Tohru eyes shone with amusement as Kyo held a fist before her eyes before opening it to reveal a blossom that wasn't harmed in any way. Holding on her own palm, Kyo gingerly passed it onto her palm. As she admired the small precious thing, a gentle touch of Kyo's lips on her cheek made her blush.

- - - -

Flickering images caught into the webs of her eyes. The only thing that could explain her 'remember' things that she never really went through was that the memories of the events before her head concussion were returning to her. A strange feeling it was to have something being 'remembered' when you really didn't live through it. 'Kyo… please…' Her sixth sense was warning her that he was leaving. Beaten by the harsh words of a family member and the shame of being shunned by his family for so many years.

Before she understood fully what she was doing, Tohru had pushed herself from the ground and was running in almost a spring. 'Kyo! Please…' The salty taste of blood was smothering her tongue. As she ran, she searched. Every now and then, an image of Kyo's fleeting back flashed clearly.

"Get lost!"

- - - -

Memories scatter underfoot and blur together

Their colours dye the drastic dreams by night

Here I stand, gazing upon the moon forever

Oh... Just like we did together once before

- - - -

The afternoon skies were darkened with clouds. Barely any sunshine broke through the thick barrier. Smoke was smothering the air around her. As she ran, she shielded her face with a cloth. Women and men dressed in the Honda Clan uniform fought members of the Sohma Clan. "Lady Tohru, please, follow me to safety!" A Jyunsuina Senshi beckoned her. Tears of hurt came to her eyes as she heard the hate.

"Get out of here! This is the Honda Clan's land!"

"You scum don't deserve to live in peace!"

'Stop it…' Her thoughts were repetitive but a thread of a single thought weaved them together. She made her way through the back alleys with the warrior until fires forced them to return out to the battlefield. Her eyes froze against a pair of darkened blood coloured eyes. "K…"

"Lady Tohru! Look behind you!" His shout of warning reached her a second too late…

Her feet were swept off the ground and clan members looked on with shock. Their heir was being taken high up onto the rooftops…

- - - -

"Kyo!" Her sense of direction sharpened and led her through the paths that led to boundless ends of darkness. Here, he was hiding in the shadows. The horrific stench acted like a barrier that tried to force her back. Behind her, blurred cries for her to stop were shouting but there meant nothing. There was crimson string which tied her sub-conscious heart to the other. Relentlessly it pulled her. Tightening and twirling around to draw them closer together. "Kyo! Please wait for me!" Words were coming out of her from within. "Please wait for me!"

"Leave me alone!"

- - - -

"Tohru! Stop! Don't go after him!" Yuki shouted, "Damn it! Stop!" In his mind, he wondered how a girl like Tohru could be so fit as to run the way she did. Her movements were graceful in an abnormally fearful manner.

"Tohru!" Momiji and Haru joined Yuki in calling after the girl. After a moment they had to stop for a breath. The stench really was hard to take in. Their eyes stung from it and their noses and mouths felt disgusted. Their stomachs revolted against consuming such a taste.

Haru spat and wiped the band of his hand against his mouth. "We lost her! Lord Akito will be angry if we fail." He at his cousins, amongst their eye contact, a plan formed.

- - - -

Separated by the Ages of Emotion

Flying through time with outspread wings

You forgave the pains that formed from inside

But even now my mind pictures it all

Those last tears that your eyes gave life to

Were left in the palm of my hand, even if

They should've been for the earth of your home

Your heart still shed its tears for me alone

- - - -

"We can't let them reunite." A woman's voice spoke firmly. "It would ruin everything. The way things are, how things are, would not allow for such a thing. We cannot afford to lose someone so important to us." She looked up, her silver tinged blue eyes warned the warriors of their task. "It is your duty to protect Tohru at all costs. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Lady Junko."

- - - -

They were far from the town and were in the dense forests. Tohru tripped over the tree roots and landed harshly. The material of her kimono door around the sleeves and knee areas. As she tried to stand upright, she winced from a couple of stings. "Kyo…" There was no reply. "Kyo… why do you run from me?" She sat on the overgrown roots and rested for the moment. "Why do you fear me seeing you?" Closing her eyes, she concentrated, the stench was still there. So he was still around. "I don't understand."

- - - -

It happened so fast. As soon as she was taken off her feet, the members of the Sohma Clan cleared out. Except for Kyo. His eyes were narrowed furiously and his fists clenched tighter. Members of her clan felt helpless to help. They feared that the wrong movements could provoke the heir's death and none of them wanted to be held responsible for it. "Can you hear her cry?" The menacing tone asked them all.

In truth, Tohru wasn't making any noise. It was just her tears that showed how much she was afraid of what was going to happen. Her eyes never left Kyo's. They weren't filled with betrayal or hate. "I…" A sudden push behind her sent her falling from the rooftops of the Honda Clan household.

"Lady Tohru!!!!" In the blur, she could see someone running as fast as they could to break her fall. But the last thing she could remember before hitting the ground was her hand gripping and ripping apart a beaded bracelet. At that last moment, she knew what she shouldn't have done. But it was too late to say sorry. No one would hear her through her three months of darkness.

- - - -

Emotions grew within her and they kept growing. 'Why do I feel this way? I don't understand.' She was someone who came from the future into her past self. Even then, she knew nothing of what her past self had gone through. She didn't even know why she was acting in such a way. But whatever happened, she was feeling the emotions. Looking up, she spotted a serpent like violet eye. Her breath withdrew for a moment. 'Kyo…'

"I couldn't protect you… I'm sorry."

"No, wait… Kyo!" Jumping onto her feet too quickly, she slipped and fell again. 'Too late.' Once again, she failed to let him know. 'No, I mustn't give up so easily. I have to…' She got back up but some took hold of her before she could move any further.

"Leave him."

- - - -

Even now I'm waiting, I stop here alone

Wondering where you now see the moon

Only the light seeks the heart's unknown

Oh... The cries resonate within my soul

- - - -

The beads fell and bounced on the dusty ground. Kyo's eyes were wide as he was frozen in his position. His heart pounded within his ears. "Tohru…" He breathed out. Looking up to where the maniac had been before, he could sense tears burning his eyes. "You… bastard…" Hearing people scream, he looked at his hands. Claws started to appear and the rotten smell of decaying flesh swept through the area. 'N-No…'

Turning around he ran for it. Ran away as fast as he could so that he could escape the disgusted faces. As he ran, he was forced to leave behind the only person to have ever accepted him within his whole life. His only love.

'It's better this way… isn't it?' He tried to console himself with meaningless words. 'I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the secret… Lady Tohru… please… forgive me…'

- - - -

A monster rampaged through the forest, breaking everything in sight and slashing at tall trunks with his sharp claws. Outside, he appeared as nothing but a fearsome creature that brought nothing but destruction. Inside, he was suffering and slowly fading. Over and over, he kept telling himself that everything would be alright. That it was better this way. That she was better off meeting a normal guy who would be able to protect her in every way possible.

With him, she would only be shunned and despised. Maybe he had made another mistake of showing himself to them. Because now she remembered. However, another side of him was fighting hard. Screaming and shouting that he needed to do more.

- - - -

"Where is she?! The forest is so dense!" Yuki said as he ran and dodged the obstacles. They were going to have to find the girl soon and take her back. Or else she might end up meeting something that she would regret and in turn, they would be in deep trouble.

"It smells like he took off. Does that mean that he left her alone?" Momiji asked as he followed his cousin. "I hope that Tohru is alright. She's a nice person." He was trying to lighten up the mood as usual with his positive attitude.

Haru was ahead of the both of them and soon enough, he skid to a halt. "It's that guy again." He pointed a finger towards the direction where there were two people. One of them was clearly Tohru. "What should we do?"

- - - -

"I'm Kazuma." The man said as he took a seat beside Tohru. "If I'm not mistaken, you're Lady Tohru." He was observed the girl from head to toe. There was something very different about her now compared to before.

"Yes, yes I am." Tohru replied. She wasn't sure of what else to say. First, someone named 'Kyo' reveals in her memories and she starts doing some unexplainable thing of running after him and now she meets another stranger. A lot had happened in one day and she was getting tired. However, somewhere in her mind, she thought about how different yet similar things were in the Meiji Era compared to the 21st century. It was all so crazy. She didn't know what to think.

"I'm sure that you would like to meet Kyo, my surrogate son again but during this time you must not push yourself too hard." Kazuma said, "There's very little time and a lot that you'll need to do Lady Tohru." He placed a hand on her head and smiled. He had heard a lot about the girl from Kyo but he never had the chance to talk to her. 'This girl is the heir to the Honda Clan's top position but I sense that there is more…. There is still some other reason for her to be so protected. What are you up to now Lady Junko?'

"I do want to meet him again… I want to know and understand why he is running from me." Tohru said and then she smiled, "I also want to help him remember what we had lost." As she spoke, she became aware that someone else was nearby. She glanced over her shoulder and spotted the others.

Kazuma also followed her gaze to meet eyes with the Sohma boys. He smirked and then said, "You'll need a lot of patience. Right now, it seems that your friends are here. I must leave. It was nice to meet you for a short moment Lady Tohru." Then in a flash, he vanished. Tohru looked completely puzzled by how fast he appeared and vanished.

"Tohru! Are you ok?! You're not hurt are you?" Momiji was the first to come running up to her.

"I'm alright." Tohru said with a big smile, "But I think that I'm been a little crazy tonight…" She let out a laugh to take place of her sobs and sniffles. Finally able to stand she said, "I'm sorry for troubling you three…" She was supposed to be their captive but she was acting as if she was someone who was just hanging out with them. It caused a slight confusion of their roles.

"That's good but we'll have to take you back and when we get back, we'll have to have your wounds tend to." Yuki said.

"Come on… I'm tired. Let's hurry Yuki, Momiji." Haru said.

"Alright, lead the way!" Tohru said with a happy face. As Haru and Yuki walked ahead, Tohru tossed another hopeful glance over her shoulder into the darkness. 'Please wait for me…' There was much more she needed to say to Kyo. She wanted to understand her feelings more and she wanted to understand who Kyo was completely. More importantly, who she was to him now. As she thought, a part of her became conscious that this was similar to a situation she had before… no… it was really familiar… but how come her mind felt so cloudy? She couldn't remember clearly enough.

- - - -

Separated by the Ages of Emotion

Flying through time with outspread wings

You forgave the pains that formed from inside

But even now my mind pictures it all

Those last tears that your eyes gave life to

Were left in the palm of my hand, even if

They should've been for the earth of your home

Your heart still shed its tears for me alone

- - - -

"Are you alright Tohru?" Momiji asked looking worried,

"Yep." Tohru replied quickly. After, Momiji smiled happily again and took her hand.

"Ok! Let's walk back together! I don't want you running away like that again!" Momiji said as walked alongside her.

- - - -

AN: Chappy finished!!! /smiles/ How's that? Now you all know what the coupling is. Hehehehe… anyway, I'm usually a Kyo/Tohru coupling supporter! (Hope I didn't disappoint anyone…) Apologies for any mistakes or if you hated my lyrics… eheheh…. /sweat drop/

Thank you for reading this far! Until next time,

Cherry Chibi.