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All: For any Shigure fans—I started a Gureru. Please Review!

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The Plum on Her Back

Ch 8: Momo's Secret

Tohru followed Hatori quietly to his office after departing from sharing tea with Akito. The doctor gestured to the one chair he had available. "Have a seat," he declared stiffly. Tohru did as was suggested.

He waited until she was situated before speaking. "Firstly, I want to thank you. This family has asked so much from you, and in such a short period of time. It is remarkable that you even consented to come here."

Tohru grinned. Hatori was so official in his efforts to show gratitude.

"Secondly, your work starts now." He pointed to a stack of books piled on his desk. "Those belong on that shelf in ABC order."

Tohru stood immediately and rushed over to the books to carry out Hatori's bidding. He watched her for a moment. "Tohru," his voice had dropped in octaves considerably. She turned with her grin still in place. "This is your home. You can relax." Hatori smiled.

The onigiri felt her heart swell in the confinements of her chest until her lashes threatened to brim with tears. Whenever Hatori's lips did venture to break into that warm expression it was all the confidence she needed to be positive that everything would work out in the end.

Oh Mom, she thought. I'm so incredibly lucky to be close to a family that takes such good care of me.

"Toooohru!" A voice, suspiciously similar to that of the zodiac rabbits', called. A blond-haired boy appeared before them. "Hello Ha'ri," he waved, before focusing on Tohru. "Tohru, I heard you were living here at the main house, and I just had to run over and make sure it was the truth. Oh Tohru, I'm so excited. Now we can play together all the time!"

"Momiji," said Hatori with an austere pronunciation. "Tohru has work to do, so I will expect you not to bother her or distract her from her duties," he scolded before finishing his reproach with, "well…that is, not too much." Although his voice was often satiated with firmness, the last words were said with a gentle twinkle in his eye that was very unlike the professional doctor Tohru had grown accustomed to. She watched him leave, her expression muddled.

Momiji laughed. "Don't let Ha'ri fool you with his grumpiness." The bunny hopped up onto the desk next to the pile of encyclopedias, his legs swinging childishly. "So how are things here? I didn't see you in school today, and everything has been such a secret around here I had no idea that you had come."

Tohru nodded. "I was brought here last night." She glanced outside. It was night now. It had nearly been a full day since she had departed from Shigure's house. She wondered what the novelist, Yuki and Kyo had been up to that night. Did they have a proper dinner? "I guess I will be here for a while as Hatori's assistant."

Momiji's eyes widened at the whimsical quality of her murmur. She really doesn't want to be here, he concluded. He would just have to try and cheer her up; it was the least he could do after all. Broadcasting his colossal grin, he asked "Like Kana? That must be tough for Ha'ri. He doesn't like anyone invading his privacy. Come to think of it, when they first told him that they were sending over another Sohma as an aid, he didn't take it too well—even though she was going to medical school at the time. I suppose it just means that he likes you a lot, Tohru."

"Well good," she responded sweetly. "Because I like him a lot too."

Momiji was quiet for several moments. "Uh—Tohru, Momo asked me somethin' the other day." He swallowed as though waiting for her to inquire about the nature of his sister's question. But before she could manage to speak, he went on. "She asked me if I was her brother."

The onigiri froze. It was awhile before she looked up anxiously. "What did you tell her?"

Momiji jumped down from the desk, and peered at her solemnly. "I told her 'no,' of course…and that she was just being silly." The saddened eyes shifted past her. "I don't want Mama to ever have to go through it again—what she did years ago."

Tohru's heart trembled under his indubitable selflessness. "Oh Momiji. I'm so sorry. She uh—well—that is—Momo said something to me as well. She told me that your mother mentions you in her sleep—that she calls out for you sometimes." Tohru revealed, biting her lip.

"She what?" The rabbit was surprised. "Oh no—that means she is really serious about this. It's all my fault. Oh Tohru—what'll I do?" He wrung his hands nervously, and Tohru found the golden eyes searching her desperately.

She placed a comforting hand on the back of his head, where she curled her fingers into his hair. "Oh Momiji, it's not your fault. You didn't do anything wrong." But this did nothing to settle the panic-stricken look that overwhelmed his boyish features. "Well," she continued. "I—uh—suppose you could always talk to Hatori about it if you are really worried. Or even, your father."

Momiji shook his head emphatically. "No. No. Papa would be angry with me. And he was so kind to let me come to the carnival in the first place. Of course, I just had to go and screw it up."

Tohru noticed him trembling and her hand slipped down to his chin, drawing it upwards slowly. "Momiji listen…this has nothing to do with anything you might have done. Momo is just a bright, little girl. That's all."

The zodiac rabbit still wasn't convinced, but he nodded. "I should let you get back to your work." He said suddenly. He turned to leave rather abruptly and before Tohru could run to him, Momiji was gone.

Tohru lamented as she was infiltrated with guilt. Maybe she shouldn't have said anything about Momo's revelation. She hadn't expected him to get so upset.

There was a noise behind her that nearly caused her to jump out of her skin. Hatori's voice drifted coolly throughout the room. "I'm sorry, Tohru. I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I was just returning to the office, and I couldn't help but overhear what…was being said."

Tohru turned white as she turned to him. "I uh—Hatori—its—um."

"I never thought it was possible," he said, but more to himself. Tohru was shocked at the wistful look that appeared in Hatori's right eye. "I never thought—so then—I guess in her subconscious, she still remembers. Maybe...she still remembers."

Tohru shifted, uncomfortably. He was referring to Kaede—wasn't he?

-

Tohru sat outside with Saki and Arisa, her bento box perfectly balanced in her lap.

"So tell me about this 'apprenticeship' that requires all of your time, Tohru." The onigiri halted at the sound of Hana's accusatory tone, sweat breaking out on her forehead.

"Well—um—I am working with Hatori. Just keeping his office clean and in order for now. I haven't been there for very long, and he only specializes in taking care of the Sohma family. So I suppose I will not get my first taste of a doctor's duties until there is need for his medical assistance in the family." She could not believe how easy it was to lie to her friend.

"Tohru, do you really want to go to medical school?" Hana asked. She had fought with her conscience the night before, so much that she did not sleep a wink. Far from it being painful that her best friend was lying to her, she could not help but feel like Tohru was in real danger. "Why is it, really, that you are staying at the Sohma's main house? It was weird to begin with that you decided, on your own, to reside with the first three. But now you are living with people that you don't know, we cannot meet, and you are employed there in a place of work that you have never expressed interest in following after high school."

Tohru hesitated. Oh no! What should she say? The panicked girl tried to stay calm. These were her best friends. Of course they would know if she was trying to pull one over on them.

Just then, she heard a bubbly voice beside her. "Tohru! How are you?" Green eyes looked up to reveal a happier Momiji than she had seen the night before.

"Momiji!" she exclaimed. "How are you feeling? I hope I did not upset you yesterday." She tried to ignore Hana's eyes boring into the side of her head. Uo had been so quiet lately. Was her involvement with the Sohma's hindering her relationship with the two people she promised to always take care of after her mother's death?

"I'm doing just fine. I took your advice and spoke with Ha'ri this morning before school," he said hesitantly, fully aware that he was under the surveillance of Tohru's friends.

Tohru smiled at them. "Momiji lives at the main house. So does Hatsuharu—and Kyo and Yuki used to as well. And there are so many others. So I'm not so alone as you think," she tried to sway Uo and Hana.

Arisa smirked with her usual mistrust. "But we don't get ta meet 'em," she alleged matter-of-factly.

Tohru sweat dropped. "Well—I suppose not. Well, at least for now. I will be busy—until I get settled, that is."

Momiji could tell that this new setting was making it terribly difficult for Tohru. There was an overwhelming weight that lay, visibly, on her shoulders. The mere sight of Tohru in this state caused a brimming of compassion to occur in the small teenager. After all, she had already given so much of her generosity to his family. Not only had she ministered to their families' distressing curse, but here she was trying to resolve her own dilemmas. He smiled at Uo and Hana. "The head of our family, Akito," he started. Tohru's head shot up with warning at him, and Hana noticed a fear in the girl's eyes that scared her. Momiji caught the glance, but proceeded with the hope that it would help remedy Tohru's situation. "Akito has been sick for most of his life. He will not live long, and it is really kind of Tohru to help out in his time of need."

The two girls' hearts melted. So that was it, Uo thought, frowning as she silently scolded herself. Sometimes they were just too hard on Tohru. Hana wanted to press Momiji further, but the sensitive subject matter helped to smother the doubts forming in her mind.

"Tohru, you're so cute!" Uo squealed. "I can't believe you're so modest that ya didn't tell us the reason you were livin' there. You really are somethin' else!"

Hana smiled, but remained silent. Her electric eyes sensed something peculiar, and a slick of black hair shot up from the top of her head. She redirected her gaze, searching until she found the awkward waves of two boys walking together, side by side. "What are those two doing together for any reason other than fighting?" she inquired.

Uo followed her gaze. "Yeah. That's right. The Prince and Orange Top are actually choosin' ta be in each other's company." She laughed at the sight. "Well ain't that bizarre."

Tohru watched them as well. She could tell something had happened between the two. While there was still a present scowl illuminating their faces at the effort of remaining in the presence of one another, it was obvious that something had definitely changed. A worry line creased her forehead. There were so many things that she would miss out on—so many things that would take place without her there in Shigure's house.

Just then, something happened to make her blood freeze. A person approached the two boys, and she felt Momiji stiffen next to her. "The Pr—President," she whispered.

"Papa?" Momiji's voice wavered.

Yuki listened to what the man had to say, and then looked right at them. He pointed, and Momiji's father followed the finger, the cat and rat hurrying quickly behind him. Tohru saw the stern gaze the president shot at his son. She knew exactly what was coming. "You are needed at Sohma House now," the words were barked even before the man reached them.

Momiji bowed his head in a silent apology. "Papa—I—"

"You nothing," his words were harsh. "I did a favor for you and this is how you thank me?" Tohru watched as the painful expression on the rabbit's face brought tears to his eyes. "Get your things. We are leaving."

Momiji nodded, and headed into the school, the president sauntering in large strides behind him.

Yuki and Kyo, who had caught the end of the exchange between father and son, stood next to the three girls in deep thought. The cat was in the dark about Momo's suspicions, but Yuki knew that this emergency could only be a result of the convictions she had conveyed to Tohru on the night of the carnival. This had come to a head sooner than he expected.

"What is this?" Kyo looked from Tohru to Yuki. "You guys know what this is about? And you didn't tell me!"

Tohru hadn't realized her expression had been so revealing. Yuki grabbed Kyo's arm, and he immediately became silent. When he noticed the open-mouthed expressions of the girls in front of him, he blushed and yanked the rat from his grasp.

Tohru was shocked. Even on a good day Kyo would cringe just from another person's proximity. Not only did he let himself be touched, but he allowed the act to be carried out by his professed enemy of all people. Equally bizarre was the fact that Yuki had used a gentle touch instead of biting words to silence him. The Prince spoke, "We should go."

The cat rolled his eyes. "Stop tryin' ta be so damn mysterious, will ya? Let's just get outta here!" He shuffled away from them, and Yuki glanced toward Tohru.

Conflict arose inside the girl. Should she go? After all, Momo had approached her. It wasn't Momiji's fault that this had happened. "I'll come," her voice whispered as she stood.

"Now wait just a damn minute!" Arisa shouted. "This is ridiculous! What the hell's going on with you, Tohru? You won't even miss a day of school when you're sick enough to die? But you rush off for some other families' problems without a second thought?" The blonde was clearly angry, and her nostrils flared in each diabolical blast of air. "It's like we don't even know you anymore. What about your promise to your mother? Are ya just gonna cut school every time the Sohma's have some friggin' emergency?"

Yuki's breath stilled, embarrassed to be caught up in Tohru's affairs. She turned to him, unable to restrain the wavering in her voice. "I will be there as soon as school is over. Please explain what you know."

The silver head nodded in a wordless promise, before he darted away into the school to catch up with the rest of the Sohmas.

Tohru turned back to her friends, with her mouth poised, ready to talk. But, without warning, the bell rang.

-

Tohru sprinted as fast as she could from the school. She could explain to Hana and Uo later, or so she hoped. She felt a few stray branches swiping her as she ran, one injecting sharply into her elbow, leaving a nick carved into her pale skin. She imagined the worst. What would happen to Momiji? Would they erase his mother's memories again—in front of him? Or worse, would they erase his this time as well?

Tohru shook the very thought from her mind. They wouldn't do that to one of the zodiac members…or so she hoped.

Her eyes watered at the thought. Tohru increased her speed. She had to get there—before something horrible happened. Up ahead, she caught sight of something. A person. His back was turned away from her, but she knew from the bright, orange hair that it was Kyo. Tohru smiled to herself. She could spot him from miles away.

But then there was that small problem of stopping. Tohru probably would have been able to manage it if she hadn't been so klutzy. Instead she ran full force into the zodiac cat, expecting the impact to turn him into his cursed animal. But as she squinted hard, the popping sound did not come.

The onigiri opened her green eyes to see him studying her and was shocked to find visible amusement in his normally harsh features. "Kyo. You—you didn't change."

He smiled. "That's 'cause I made sure ta stop ya at arm's length. Jeez, Tohru, you're just as reckless as Kagura sometimes."

Tohru, laboriously struggling to catch her breath, took that as a compliment, and her skin reddened with gratitude.

"Whaddya think you're cheesin' about? That's not an admirable trait ta have, ya know!"

Tohru looked fearfully toward the main gate looming in front of them. "What's going on in there, Kyo?"

The cat shrugged. "They're with Akito. You know I can't be there for that."

Her mouth puckered in an apologetic gesture. "Kyo, I'm—I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"

He shook his head to tell her there was no need to be. The cat looked away, but his body language appeared to be struggling to say something. "Uh—it's uh—good to see you."

Tohru blushed. "You too Kyo. I did not realize how much like home Shigure's house had become. Well—I knew that it was home, but well—what I mean is—it's—you guys—are not replaceable."

He nodded, feeling a wave of tenderness spread throughout his chest, a warmth that reserved itself only for Tohru. "Yeah—well, it was—uh—only home because you were there."

Her breath caught. Kyo had not made fun of her stammering. But what was more, the compliment had come so easily. Her face flushed so much so that she had to look away. She glanced toward the gate instead.

Yuki stood there, watching them.

Tohru pulled away from the bubble that had surrounded her and Kyo. "Oh! Yuki. I didn't see you there." The rat was silent. "Uh—how is everything? I was just about to go inside. I—"

"Miss Honda." She broke off, watching the ruffled look in his eye fight for control. "No need to explain," the calm, rich voice declared. "But please—if you could—come inside with me now."

She looked back to Kyo. He nodded that it was okay. As she followed Yuki she wondered why she had looked to the cat for consent. This was, after all, what she had run all the way here for. She brandished the thought away as she followed the silver head in front of her.

-

Yuki stopped at the very door Tohru had expected him to. The one that would open to Akito's room. Where memories were so often taken away. Inside, she heard sobbing. Tohru squeezed her eyes shut and shuddered when she realized it was Momiji. Yuki turned the knob, and with eyes still closed, she knew he was opening the door. The sounds had gradually become louder.

Tohru mentally prepared herself before viewing the scene in front of her. Momiji's father held his wife. The woman, blonde hair fanning out over her body, silently shook in her husbands arms. Momo had Kisa's hand, who stirred from her seat when she saw Tohru standing there. The action caught the eyes of several in the room, and they turned to see the girl who was not a part of their family.

"What is she doing here?" Akito demanded. "She does not belong in this!"

Yuki trembled at Akito's wrath. "Momo told her," he sputtered. But the words came out somewhat strangled.

Tohru stepped forward, her knees quaking. "Momo told me on the night of the carnival—she told me…what she thought," she finished awkwardly. She worried about saying too much. Tohru was unaware of what had happened while she was in school.

"And what exactly did the child tell you?" Akito asked, a distasteful glare in place.

Tohru focused on Momiji. He stood in the center of the room as if for punishment. The sleeve of his right hand was wiping his eyes, fiercely. Her heart bleed. Poor Momiji. Standing there he looked just like a child, naked and exposed to his worst nightmare. His nose was running, his eyes were red with tears, and his body convulsed for clean air unpolluted by the harrowing cries of his mother. Tohru walked toward him, slowly.

"What are you doing!" Akito stepped forward, outraged. "You dare to disobey my orders? I demand that you to tell me at once what that child said to you!"

Tohru continued to advance. When she reached Momiji, he looked up at her with ominous eyes. She calmly gazed at him in an attempt to explain without words that it would be alright, and as he realized what she intended to do, he complied, opening his arms to her.

There was a popping sound, but Tohru heard the gasps that filled the room over the transformation of her friend. The rabbit lay in her arms, clinging to her, insecurely.

Sobs came from his biological mother, who clawed at her husband in an attempt to erase the image from her mind.

Suddenly Tohru was spun around, the rabbit falling from her hands and scampering away. Before she had time to address what was happening, she felt the impact of a hand to her cheek. The vision in front of her wavered before she realized Akito had slapped her.

"Akito!" Shigure appeared from behind the open shoji. He had been standing there the whole time, and stepped forward now, a protective air in his step. Tohru was shocked to see Hatsuharu behind him. It became quite clear to her in the way that his right hand held his left fist, a sneer curling his lips, that he wasn't just Haru anymore…but Black Haru.

"Ahhrrr!" The insane, raven-black eyes pierced her, as his hands reached up for her throat. She screamed, and he sunk his claw-like nails into her shoulders, shaking her dangerously. "You stupid girl! I'm so sick of you meddling into our lives where you are not wanted!" She felt his nails rake across her collarbone violently, and in a blinding attempt to open her eyes, she saw his hand fly up once again, ready to strike. But it was stopped. Tohru managed to focus, and gulped when she saw the figure standing above them. Yuki.

"Stop it Akito. She is not the one you want to blame." Amazingly his voice did not shake.

"It would be smart of you not to interfere—Yuki." Akito threatened with vehemence. But, the rat's mask of control remained in place, and when the head of the family saw he would not be shaken, he continued, his tone drawing out hazardously. "Well then—perhaps, I should refresh your memory and show you what it is that happens when I am disobeyed."

"Even so." Spoke Yuki. "If you must harm me—just know that you will not lay another finger on Miss Honda." She sensed Akito's grip on her tighten with astonishment. "I will not let you."

Tohru was bombarded by tears then as she allowed her fears to release in a shallow sob. Yuki's gaze fell on her sadly. He gave her a moment, before saying, "Tell them what you know, Miss Honda. Tell them the things Momo expressed to you." At her feet, she felt tiny claws gently tickling her leg. She looked down to see Momiji in his zodiac form.

And without warning, she was thrown to the ground. "I hate you!" Akito's voice filled her ears. Tohru reached for her chin, which had connected with the floor hardest, as she stared up at him. Blood, she noticed; it blemished her fingertips.

She was suddenly aware of Yuki helping her. Tohru stretched upward with the aid of his hand, only to fall brutally back down on the harsh wood when Akito attempted to shove the rat brusquely on top of her. Avoiding the embracing elements of her body, Yuki landed with an awful thud next to her.

"Akito," she sniffed, her bloodied chin still held in her hand. "Please, I apologize for the intrusion. And—and for offending you. I do—really—I do. I just—I wanted to—"

He leaned forward, vengeance in his eye. "I don't care! Whatever it is your simple brain is trying to convince me of. Just get on with what you have to say because you will not remember it for long."

Tohru felt her throat tighten. No. No. He wouldn't do that. Not after everything that had happened. He wouldn't. She looked toward Hatori, but his face revealed nothing. Shigure's features were hidden with his hand. When he looked up, she caught a fleeting sense of hope. Yuki held her firmly, and the scratching at her leg reminded her of what she had to do.

She bent down, lifting the soft creature into her arms. Her actions were the most soothing gesture as she kissed its head and pet its ears. With as much strength as she could muster, Tohru turned toward Akito. "Momo—she—she approached me on the carousel…with a question." The rabbit quivered in her arms. "She asked me if Momiji was her brother. I—I explained to her that she was mistaken." Tohru looked toward the small child, who held onto Kisa for dear life. "She, then—she, then, told me that," and Tohru began to weep. "She said that her mother sometimes cried for her son in her sleep—her son, whom she called Momiji."

The room shifted with her words. Tohru heard whispering, and several shallow gasps. "That's a lie!" Akito shook with his outburst.

"No." A tiny voice.

Eyes turned in search for the gentle sound.

"Tohru is right. Momo did say that." The little girl who referred to herself in third person looked to her mother. "Mama does call for Momiji. I hear her." Her body shook with controlled sobs as she spoke. "Please don't hurt Momo's brudder."

Kaede cried out at the deliverance of the small plea. The room was silent as she did. And for the first time, she looked up—first to her daughter, and then her eyes fell on her son—the terrified rabbit that lay in Tohru's arms.

"I—I remember," her voice was hoarse. "I remember the first moment you transformed—in my arms—after giving birth to you. I was so scared. I—I thought it was my fault. I had no idea of the curse belonging to this family." Her voice lowered with distaste, and Tohru swallowed uncomfortably. "I remember—I wanted—I wanted nothing to do with you." She stifled a sob so that she could continue. "But then," her smile was bitter, "I saw you on the evening before I had my memories erased. You—with your papa, smiling, happy. And I hated myself. I hated myself because I knew that because of me—you would never smile like that again." Her body convulsed with an accruement of pain that had preoccupied her over time.

With considerable force, Kaede pulled from the hold of her husband. She visibly shook while she crossed the room, her face an unstable mass of entangled hair and mascara encrusted eyes. To the surprise of her spectators, she stopped only when she stood before Tohru and the animal that was her son. "I'm sorry Momiji," she cried. "I'm so sorry for my weaknesses."

Tohru pulled one of her hands free, and gently placed it on the woman's shoulder. Kaede focused on the green eyes. This girl—that wasn't even their blood—she loved her son. She loved Momiji—and this family. How was it possible that she was able to do that when she could not? "I—" she tried to speak again. "I'm a horrible mother!" She brought her hands to her face, crumbling over into herself. "I just—I just can't"

Tohru knew the chance was gone. The window that had been open only moments before had been slammed shut with those last words. The broken woman lying at her feet would reject him a second time. She could tell by the rabbit's movement that he knew it as well.

But then…

"Will you ever forgive me...my son?"

The room seemed to freeze. Momiji's heart quickened. The words—the words he had dreamed of hearing for nearly his whole life. She had spoken them.

Tohru yelped when the rabbit unexpectedly jumped from her arms, landing inches away from his mother. He sniffed her, unsure if he should proceed.

Kaede lifted her head, to peer at him. She did not cringe, but the tears continued to emerge. "My son," she said. "No matter what—curse has been brought to the form of your physical body—Momiji, I want to—No! I will…I mean I do—do love you. And—this time I choose to remember that."

Kaede picked up her son cautiously, and held him to her nose. Those in the room waited anxiously. Slowly, she broke into a tiny smile, and then a laugh was heard. "You have my eyes," she whispered.

Tohru grinned, the tension that had constrained her body was alleviated in a sudden rush of air. She felt a hand on her shoulder. "Again—Miss Honda," Yuki's voice. He spoke so only she could hear, the whisper tickling the contours of her ear. "You did it again." It was the last thing she heard before Akito stormed from the room, the ruckus causing the Chinese-printed shoji to fall clearly off of its hinge.

A/N: This chapter is very meaningful to me. I think Momiji is one of the strongest characters being that he so young and selfless for the sake of his families' happiness. I probably should have made this into a one-shot but I guess I tried to do too much in one fic. I know it is waffy, but I couldn't really find any way around it.

On another note: I am becoming very insecure about this fic and am starting to realize that maybe I should let it go. There are parts that I am very proud of, especially the unique way I have decided to handle the curse in the end…but there are so many things I tried to do in the process that I may just abandon it. I don't know what to do. What do you guys think…should I split it up into one shots and start over?

Please review guys. I don't know if I am going to finish at this point. I might just take it off.

Her Spell: Momo IS a cutie. I gave you a little more Akito violence in this chapter. Hope it suits your tastes. Hehe. Thanks for appreciating the little things I try to do. (sheepish grin)

kawwai-kitsune: Hatsuharu was not a character that I tried to develop in this story. I think it is because I want to write a fic about him and Hana after I am finished. I do mention him from time to time, but he seems to be a background supporter in this fic. I'm so frustrated with this story and if it wasn't for all the hard work I put into my explanation of how the family got the curse I would have abandoned it by now. (frown)

Ruby Moon: Actually—I don't get to the curse until much later. Initially, I wanted to tie lose ends before the finale. It is, I'm afraid, this stories' biggest flaw. It seems that instead of threading the most essential part of the plot throughout the entire fic, I concentrated the earlier chapters on each of the characters I wanted to take care of. Hana is a big part of the story later, and yes—I promise her denpa is powerful enough to figure out the Sohma curse…but for now… (bows emphatically) …I'm so sorry…

sayuri: Yeah—honestly, I don't understand how Yuki ALWAYS beats Kyo. I know it is apart of the curse—that he is just talented by nature. But Kyo practices all the time, and Yuki doesn't lift a finger to further his martial arts. It's just not possible! This was my realistic side at work. I feel like I still solved it for them too easily. Oh well…this is a fic with major flaws…all I can do is let it be or go back later, which is highly unlikely. Sowwy.

Dokusha-chan: Thanks for all of your comments, but you are being waaaaay too kind. Haha. Akito is fun to write about because I think a lot of people want to portray the good side of him. I try some of that later. I really appreciate you reading this fic and my new 'Fruits Basket.' Thanks!