An Angel's Wings

Disclaimer: I don't own the Fruits Basket characters.
Eiko- Yeah, THAT'S creative.
Pagechan- What? My brain is like mush lately.

Eiko- Suuure it is.
Pagechan- Why you so cruel?
Kyo- 'Cuz you're a moron.
Pagechan- You better watch yourself there "Happy Ending Boy."
Kyo- Oh what are you gonna do, write at me?
Pagechan- Grrr... You will learn to respect my athorita!
Kyo- Your WHAT?
Pagechan- ...my authority.
Kyo- Sure.
Pagechan- Anyway on to the fic!
Kyo- I thought it was called "fanfiction"
Pagechan- Oh, shut up.

Chapter 9: New Years

Eiko came home late at night. (Hatori had been tending to her bruises.) Yuki had been sitting outside of the house, waiting for her. He had sat there all day. Not even Tohru could persuade him to come inside. He couldn't help but have a bad feeling that her meeting with Akito wasn't going to be pleasant.

"Miss Eiko!" Yuki stood up, and walked over to her. "Are you okay? Are you hurt at all?" He looked all over her for any signs of blood or bruises.

"Yuki? I'm fine. What are you so worried about?" Yuki sighed with relief. They both walked inside out of the cold outdoors. Kyo was sitting, obviously bored, watching TV, and Tohru sat with him, a small smile on her face as usual.

"Oh, Eiko! You're back! I'll go make you some dinner." Tohru stood up and walked into the kitchen.

"About time you came back," Kyo said with a scowl. Eiko could tell that he wasn't really angry with her. They sat down as Tohru came back with some food. Eiko happily ate it. She hadn't had anything since breakfast. She noticed that Yuki kept glancing at her. Pain suddenly shot up her right shoulder, and she dropped her chopsticks. She grabbed her shoulder and winced.

"What's wrong?" Yuki asked.

"Oh, nothing. Just a cramp," Eiko lied. If she had told him that Akito had thrown her against a wall...

"Are you okay?" Tohru asked.

"Yeah. I'm fine." Eiko stood up. "Well, I've had a long day. I'm gonna turn in."

"Okay. Goodnight." Tohru said.

"Goodnight." Eiko walked upstairs. She pulled off her shirt to change. There was a huge black and purple mark on her right shoulder. She looked at it and sighed. "At least it's winter. Long sleeves will cover it up." She got into bed. "With Akito around, I have no chance of getting rid of this curse." She quickly fell asleep.

Months(more like one or two) passed, and not much had changed. Eiko had become friends with everyone, and everyone grew to like Eiko, if they hadn't already. Everyone was working on the new year's house cleaning when Eiko came home from work.

"Wow, you got Uo and Hana to help?" She asked as she grabbed some gloves.

"Yes! They wanted to help!" Tohru happily exclaimed, as she dusted.

"We can't let Tohru live in these men's filth," Uo said, as she nodded to Kyo and Shigure.

"I'm not messy you damn Yankee!" Kyo yelled.

"What can I help with?" Eiko asked.

"We need the bathrooms done," Yuki replied.

"I will do it," Hana said blankly.

"No!" The boys yelled.

"Did something happen?" Eiko asked.

"Hana went a little... eccentric last time." Tohru explained.

"Oh... I almost forgot! I have to go to the Sohma Estate on New Years," Eiko whispered to Tohru.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Hatori told me. Are you gonna be okay on your own?" Eiko asked.

"Yes, I'll be fine!" Tohru smiled.

"And no telling anyone okay?" Tohru nodded, and they continued with their cleaning.

New years eve came way too quickly for Eiko. The Sohmas were ready to leave for the Main house.

"You mean you two are going this year?" Shigure asked.

"Miss Honda won't be alone this year," Yuki replied. The guilt inside Eiko grew ten times worse.

"Well, have fun!" Eiko said as the boys left. When they were out of sight she turned to Tohru. "I guess I should get ready." Eiko walked upstairs. She changed into a cream colored dress that started out short in the front but got longer as it flowed to the back of her. She put her hair up in a bun and let two strands of hair frame her face. She walked downstairs. "Hey, Tohru!" She called.

"Yes?" Tohru walked out of the kitchen.

"Here. It's a New Year's gift." Eiko handed a small box with a ribbon on it. "Happy New Year." Tohru opened the box and a pair of earrings shaped like an angel's wing were inside.

"Thank you!" Tohru smiled brightly.

"See you soon!" Eiko walked out the door, and flew off into the night. 'Now lets see if we can get there before the others.' She made sure to fly really high so that no one would look up and see her. She soon landed in front of Hatori's place.

"Akito's waiting for you," Hatori said. He led her to Akito's room.

"Thank you," She said as she walked into Akito's room. Hatori closed the door behind her. He leaned against the door and sighed.

'Please don't let him hurt her...' He thought as he walked off toward the banquet.

"I've been waiting," Akito said.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want the others to know." Eiko bowed.

"Yes. We want it to be... a surprise for them." He put out his arm, and Eiko reluctantly took it. They walked through the front oak doors of the banquet. There were a few murmurs as they passed the tables. They sat down at the head table. Luckily, Hatori was on the other side of Eiko. He said that Akito wasn't feeling too well. Eiko looked around to see who else was there. She saw Shigure and an empty chair next to him. Yuki and Kyo were no where to be seen.

"Hatori, where's Yuki?" Eiko asked.

"You'll see him in a minute," he replied. She was about to ask him of the whereabouts of Kyo, but all thoughts of him fled her mind when the large oak doors on the other side of the room opened, and Yuki and someone else came out. Eiko stared at Yuki in complete awe. He was wearing a very formal/traditional outfit, (with crab legs on his hat... don't ask. I mean, they look like crab legs...) and he looked absolutely gorgeous. He and the other person walked to the center of the room, and as they danced, Eiko kept her eyes on Yuki, almost forgetting to blink.

'He's so graceful...' She thought as she watched him dance. It had seemed as if time had stopped completely, that only herself and Yuki were there, and everything else was a vague memory shrouded in mist.

Eiko didn't notice it, but off to the side Shigure said, "I wish I had a camera. It's a Kodak moment!"

Yuki and the other person (Eiko didn't know them, so she didn't pay any attention to them.) bowed and left the room. Eiko looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Hatori nudged her in the arm and she shook out of her daze. She didn't notice Yuki or the other person enter from the side of the room, now in normal clothes, because Akito had stood up.

"I would like to invite our "special" guest to a dance," he said as he put out his hand. Eiko reluctantly took it, and walked with him to the center of the room. Yuki's eyes were wide as he stared at the two in the center of the room. He was completely speechless.

'Why is she here? What is Akito doing...' he thought to himself. Akito put one hand to Eiko's waist and clasped her right hand in his left. Knowing that she had no choice, she put her left hand on his shoulder. The music started, and they began to dance. (A/N: Ok. This is kind of a waltzy dance so hear an orchestrated song in your head. I was listening to "I am free" on the Xenosaga II soundtrack on repeat. Your welcome to do the same .) Akito was squeezing her waist with extreme force. She winced in pain, but only for a second. She didn't want him to have the satisfaction of knowing that she was in pain. Unfortunately, he noticed this, and tightened his grip. She held back a scream, and he chuckled.

"Aww... did that hurt?" Akito smirked. Eiko glared at him. The dance continued, and Eiko looked over Akito's shoulder. Yuki was sitting next to Shigure now. His fists were clenched in his lap, and he glared at them.

'Yuki? Is he mad? At me or Akito? Maybe it's because I'm not a Sohma...' She thought to herself.

The song soon ended, and Akito did something completely unexpected. He pulled Eiko into a dip. He held her there with a strong grip so that she couldn't get away. He leaned towards her, and she tried to struggle free.

"You know what? I REALLY look forward to your failure," he whispered as he leaned in closer.

'What is he doing?' She thought as she struggled against him. He finally leaned in close enough that she could feel his breath on her face. He brushed his soft lips against hers, and kissed her. He pushed hungrily down on her lips, as if he had been holding back forever. Eiko struggled even harder, trying to get him off of her. Yuki stood up the second that Akito had kissed her, but Shigure had pushed him back down. Akito pulled away, and let Eiko stand up. They both bowed and went back to the table. When they sat down, Akito began to cough. Hatori walked over, and put his hand to Akito's forehead.

"High fever. We need to leave." Hatori and Akito walked out of the room. The second they were gone, Eiko left the room too. Yuki noticed and followed her. When she had entered the hallway, she went the opposite direction of Akito and Hatori. She began to run, trying to hold back her tears. She didn't even notice Yuki following her. She stepped outside, and jumped onto the roof. (It's only one story, and she's an angel, so GET OVER IT!) She sighed as she finally let her warm tears roll down her now pale cheeks.

"Miss Eiko?" Eiko saw Yuki walk out from underneath her. She didn't move. She didn't want anyone to see her cry. Unfortunately, he turned around and saw her. "There you are." The lucky thing was that it was too dark for him to see her tears. Eiko wiped away her tears, and jumped down from the roof.

"Yuki? Why are you here? Shouldn't you be at the banquet?" Eiko asked when she landed. Yuki stared at her. Not many people can jump off a one-story building, and land perfectly on their feet. He shook his head as if to knock some sense into himself.

"No. The important part has already passed." They walked over to a bench and sat down. Yuki broke the silence between them. "...Why were you at the banquet?" Eiko looked down. Out of all the conversations they could've had, this was the last one she wanted to have. She looked down.

"Are you mad at me?" She asked.

"Mad at you? What are you talking about? Why would I be mad at you?" Eiko sighed.

"I'm not a Sohma..." She looked away. "You also looked pretty mad when Akito and I were dancing."

"No, not at all," he reassured her.

"Oh..." She looked up at the stars. Silence broke out between them again. "You were amazing," she finally blurted out.

"What?"

"When you were dancing, I mean. It- it was really good..." Now it was Yuki's turn to be glad that it was dark. He was blushing.

"Are you okay?" Yuki asked after a while.

"What do you mean?"

"When Akito... you know..." Eiko looked away at this. She was fighting the urge to scream out loud, out of anger and sadness.

"Oh, that... It's fine. I'm okay," she said as she turned around, and forced a smile.

"Don't do that. You don't have to be like Tohru. Ignorance is not always bliss. It makes people worry." His eyes were sincere, as if he were saying that it would worry him if she didn't tell him the truth. She sighed, and stood up.

"Okay, okay. It's not fine, and I'm not okay, but nothing can be done about it now. Anyway, it was my fault for not being strong enough to push him away."

"It is not your fault!" Yuki yelled as he stood up next to her. He looked down at her with a stern look. Eiko was taken aback. She almost stumbled onto the bench. "It was Akito's fault! he's the one that... kissed you." Eiko regained her composure.

"But I couldn't stop him."

"I couldn't either, so it's my fault too." He looked upset as he said this, even though he was trying to make a point.

"No it's not! He's the head of your family!"

"It's the same thing." He put his hand on her shoulder. With the most sincere look, he said, "I swear that I will never let anyone do that to you again. Ever."

"Yuki..." The sun started to rise over the horizon. "Oh, the sun! We have to make a wish!" She took his hand, and interlocked their fingers.

"What are you-" Yuki blushed.

"If people hold hands, it makes their wishes stronger." She smiled at him, and then closed her eyes.

I wish I could free the Sohmas.

She opened her eyes, and smiled again. Yuki smiled too as they watched the new year arrive.

Author's Notes: Yay! Another chappie! Wouldn't it be cruel if I just stopped writing? Muahaha! That would be so evil. Anyway, I'm sorry about not posting for a while. I was busy.

Kyo-No you weren't! You were playing RPGs!

Pagechan- (gasp) You know what an RPG is?

Kyo- Yeah... so?

Pagechan- I LOVE YOU!(hugs kyo) Poof! Whoopsie...

Yuki- You love Kyo?

Pagechan- Nooooo! I do not! Do not do not! He just knows what an RPG is! That's it!

Yuki- Good. I was getting worried.

Pagechan- (faints)

Yuki-Are you okay?

Pagechan- (k.o.'d with little hearts and rats rotating around her head)

Kyo- Geez, wonder who she likes...

Tohru- Who?

Kyo- (slaps forhead) Oi vey.

Shigure- See you next chapter. With hopefully more high school girls! (POW!) Owie...