Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket. And all that jazz.

It had been the last day of school.

Walking home, Tohru felt the weight of the day press a little harder on her shoulders. She knew that Kyo wouldn't be there since… but nevertheless she did not want to go to Shigure's just yet…

Yuki had chattered idly to her as they had walked to school earlier that morning, his tone light but probing… but Tohru said little in return. Her thoughts were jumbled into a thousand unbreakable knots and her heart felt like it was in her stomach, being eaten away by acidic thoughts. Since she came with Yuki to school, the teachers had forgiven Tohru for being late for the last of her exams (and seeing as how she was normally impeccably on time, they had no reason but to excuse her, President or no President). Yuki's rabid fangirls, however, did not appreciate their last few moments to goggle at Yuki being hindered by Tohru.

Tohru didn't even notice the glares.

The last day at school had blown by and yet had been the slowest day of her life. Tohru couldn't even remember what she had done, let alone what she had made on her exams.

Most of the students had assumed that Tohru had been blotchy and red-faced because of the sadness about graduation (the rabid fangirls assumed that it was because Yuki had finally turned down the witch); she didn't correct them.

Hana and Arisa knew better. As soon as Tohru entered the classroom, they knew something was wrong.

"Tohru," Hana had said, cornering in the classroom when there was a brief break. "Your waves are off. You are in turmoil. What has happened?"

Arisa made a fist. "If one of those little Sohma boys hurt you, I'll…" She slammed it into her other hand.

Tohru only looked down and smiled sadly. "Th-thank you for your concern. I am… sad like the rest of the class due to graduation. Really."

Arisa and Hana had just looked worriedly at Tohru, but both knew that if Tohru wasn't going to tell them, then she wouldn't tell them right then; she would tell them when she was ready. And they would have to be patient.

Staring blankly at the sidewalk as she made her way slowly home, Tohru was grateful for such caring friends. She knew she couldn't tell them what was wrong, though. They would never forgive Kyo for what he did.

But… should I?

I've always been forgiving. I've always…

The sidewalk forked. Straight would carry her toward the Sohma house. Right would take her to Shigure's. She stared at her choices, already conscious of the one she was going to make.

Tohru turned left, and followed a small alley to a place she had once dubbed as "homey".

I've always… believed in people. Like Mom said I should.

Tohru remembered standing at her father's grave with her mother, incense and candles brightening the cold grave, flowers giving the white stone a dash of color.

"Tohru… believe in people. Doubting is easy—anyone can do it. Tohru, be someone who can believe. I'm sure that will be your strength."

Tohru walked up the steps, her feet heavy with the weight of her thoughts and her head hung in misery.

My strength? I have none. I'm just… me.

As her mother's headstone came into view, Tohru's eyes began to swell with the tears she had been holding back at her last day of school.

Mom…

I did it…

I did as you asked and I finished school…

"Shishou asked Kyoko to walk me and make sure that I went. She told me that I needed to go to school; that because she had only finished middle school she wanted me to go farther than her…"

A choking sob made its way up through Tohru's chest and erupted. Tohru collapsed upon the headstone, her tears washing the dirt and dust that had collected since its last cleaning by Kyo. Her hair fell over her face, obscuring it.

"Mom!" Tohru cried out, her knuckles turning white from gripping the stone. "Mom… Mom… he took you away!

"Now what! Now what am I supposed to do? I finished! Now what… he took you away…"

Pent-up sobs wracked her body, and she weakly slid down the headstone to her knees as each sob made her lose control a little more.

"What… should I do now?" Tohru whispered through her tears, her hands weakly clutching the stone bearing her mother's name. Am I supposed to forgive Kyo? Am I supposed to keep believing in him, as you told me I should?

"Do what your heart tells you."

Tohru jumped slightly inwardly; she hadn't expected a reply.

"Tohru…" Arisa said gently, kneeling down next to her. Tohru still didn't move, her face obscured by the waterfall of brown hair. "I don't know what happened to you. All I know is that I want to help. Throughout the time I've known you, I've never seen you this upset, even when Kyoko died."

Tohru began to sob silently, each one let out shook her body. Mom…did I really seem that unfeeling?

"I… gah… Tohru… I love you more than any sister I could have ever had. You and Hana both."

Tohru could hear the tears choking Arisa's voice.

"I can't bear to think that you're in pain and I'm not helping…"

"Tohru," Hana interrupted. "Just follow what your heart says. Your turmoil… it's taken root in your heart… so go where it tells you to go."

"But…" Tohru said softly after a moment, tears falling steadily, "I'm not even sure what it's saying. What if it's a mistake? What if I'm wrong?"

Arisa laughed tearfully. "I fall in love with fools! You… Kureno… Strangely, I don't think that it's a mistake, no matter how much hurt it causes me."

"Do you believe that he did it on purpose? The person who took Kyoko away?" Hana asked, still keeping a steady distance away from the grieving Tohru.

Tohru's head lifted a little, her blank eyes peering out onto another grave marker. After a moment, her grief became too much and her head fell deeper than it had before.

"I.. I don't know! I believe him when he says he's sorry…."

"I… I'm so sorry."

"But…"

"Tohru… believe in people… I'm sure that will be your strength."

"Do I… really believe him?"

He says it was an accident. He was going to give his life to save Mom's… but instead the driver chose her…

"She… she was like a mother to me…"

He threw her away from the car.

The car chose her.

Kyo-kun…

Kyo-kun…I…

"I do. I believe him. I believe in him."

It felt as though a spring had leaked into her heart; emotions that she had locked up about Kyo were slowly trickling out of the wound he had created, allowing her to feel what she would not have allowed herself to before his confession. She couldn't help but feel the place for her mother open up a little… that there was room for another person… and perhaps a few more.

Arisa grasped Tohru's forearm and lifted her gently. Tohru glanced over at Arisa, her blank vision slowly giving way to sight.

"We forgive him too, then," Arisa said, smiling tearfully.

Tohru slowly gazed up at Hana, and saw that Hana was crying as well.

Tohru scrunched her face up and let the tears flow. Arisa buried Tohru's face into her shoulder, crying along with her. Hana knelt to join her two best friends, hugging them close to her as well.

Mom…

I forgive him.