Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket.

Me: Wow, I'm actually, not being lazy and updating…

(Gasps echo through readers)

Yuki: That's a first.

Me: (Sticks tongue out)

Tohru awoke to find that she was in her room. Her old room, when she still lived with the Sohmas. She almost cried with the relief she felt, despite herself. As much as she never wanted to be involved with them again, she couldn't help the feeling of home she felt when she was there. She looked around to find Kyo sitting by her bedside, watching her.

"Hey." He said, looking at her apathetically.

Tohru looked at him and then back up at the ceiling, blinking back tears. She clutched her covers closer to her chin. "What… do you want?"

"Jeez, I was just being nice, you could at least be grateful." Kyo grunted. After a short silence he added with a sigh. "Is… there something bothering you that you want to talk about?"

Tohru turned away from Kyo to face the wall in response. There was another long silence before Kyo spoke again. "You know… this room holds a lot of mystery for us…" He said quietly. Tohru immediately tuned in to what Kyo was saying. "One morning, two years ago, we woke up to find this room empty, but looking as if someone had been living there. As far as we could remember, though, nobody had been in here for years. The only clue to the owner of the room was a single note that was left on the desk. It read: 'I hope you can finally find your happiness. I love you all more than you can ever imagine.' It was signed only with a small picture of an onigiri. Next to it was a collection of thirteen figures—one for each of the zodiac members, and the cat."

Tohru hugged her covers closer, trying not to break down in sobs. It was the note she had written them, and the papier-mâché figurines she had made and left behind. Being back in this house was nothing but heartache for her. But, she had no other option—nowhere else to turn.

Kyo continued. "We… don't know what it was about those things, or this room, but to a certain fourteen members of our family, it's something special. Something irreplaceable."

Tohru bit her lip hard before finally saying. "I too, have people who were once special to me. But, I left them behind and turned to this life that I could never escape. Everyday, I wish I hadn't done what I had done, but once you've made a sacrifice, it's final. Maybe if I hadn't released them, then I would still be with them, and be with the one I loved, and… I may not be… so miserable…" Tohru's voice faded away as she fell asleep again.

Kyo stared at her for a long time. Finally he said quietly, as not to wake her, "You heard the whole thing?"

The two people who he was referring to were standing at the doorway, nodding.

"Poor kid…" Shigure said, solemn, for once. "She's been through a lot, it seems."

Yuki leaned on the doorframe and also stared at Tohru for a long time. "I don't know what makes me say this… but something inside me tells me that that girl is stronger than she looks… her heart… is strong. Honda-san didn't always used to be like this. Although my memories of her are blurred, I can tell you that before she disappeared two years ago, she was extremely cheerful and happy. I don't know what happened to her to change her, but, somewhere in there is a warm heart, although hidden under many layers of pain."

That thought left the three in silence, before they too, eventually retired to their rooms.

The next day, Tohru didn't do much besides toil around Shigure's house, compulsively cleaning the place, not being able to stand the filth.

Eventually, around lunchtime, Shigure came out of his room yawning and sniffing the air. "Ah, I smell something lovely. My, my what have we here?" Shigure walked into the kitchen to see Tohru scowling at the stove, stirring a soup. It had been a while since she had cooked anything, and she almost enjoyed the hobby she had given up long before.

"Are you trying to cook that soup, or stare it down with that glare of yours?" Shigure scoffed, but his laughter faded as Tohru turned her glare to him. "I was just kidding. But, I'm hungry, so do I get to eat some of that delicious-smelling food for lunch?"

Tohru nodded reluctantly and she set two bowls on the table, ladling hot soup into them.

"Itadakimasu."

The two dug in and Shigure grinned. "This is the best soup I've had in years. As you can imagine, this group of bachelors don't really taste good cooking very much. Kyo is pretty good though, but most of the time he doesn't like to cook for us." Shigure gulped some more soup down before continuing his rants. "I really do yearn for a woman's touch around here. You know, Tohru-kun, if you did the housework around here, I'd let you stay as long as you want!"

Tohru looked down into the swirling depths of her soup. "I know…" She said quietly, before deciding that she really had no other option. "I… I'll do it." She said finally.

Shigure looked up at her. "Huh?"

"If you let me live here, I'll do all your housework for you. I promise I won't get in the way, so…" Tohru turned her spoon around in her soup as she spoke. "So please let me stay. I… don't have anywhere else to turn."

Shigure's smile broadened. "Well then, with all means, Tohru-kun, WELCOME TO THE SOHMA HOUSE!"

Tohru bowed. "I am indebted to you." She said without emotion. Shigure was as kind as ever, it seemed.

We'll have our very own high school girl—I'm stoked! Shigure thought to himself. He suddenly looked up, as if remembering something. "Oh yeah! Where do you go to school, Tohru-kun?"

Tohru stated the name of her school.

"Oh my, that's much to far!" Shigure huffed. "I'll just enroll you in Yuki and Kyo's school!" He reached for the phone.

"NO!" Tohru cried suddenly, pleading to god that she wouldn't have to go back to where it had all started.

Shigure blinked. "But why?"

"I…" Tohru couldn't think of a good excuse.

"Well, it's settled then! You'll be attending the same school as Yuki and Kyo!" Shigure hummed to himself as he left to make the call.

Tohru clenched her hands into fists on her lap. Her shoulders shook as she tried not to cry. She didn't want to go back. She couldn't go back to that life. She knew that it would break the barrier she had created to separate herself from the rest of the world. It was already slowly breaking her heart.

"I'm home!" Kyo's voice grumbled through the halls of the house as he shuffled in and dropped his bag.

Yuki had student council work and Shigure was nowhere to be seen. He peeked into the kitchen to see Tohru working on something. He was surprised to see she could cook. He shrugged and headed to his favorite spot in the house. The roof.

As soon as he had settled down he felt relief surge through him and the stress that had been inputted from the day relaxing. He leaned back and looked up at the sky, breathing in the cool air. Summer is ending…he thought, closing his eyes.

A sudden memory hit him. Being on the roof with someone else.

"Right straight!"

That was impossible, though, because nobody else had ever joined him on his rooftop escape.

A soft noise on the roof made Kyo aware of another's presence. His eyes snapped open immediately, and he turned to see Tohru climbing on, her face a scowl as usual.

"H-how did you find me?" He demanded, looking at her unbelievingly.

Tohru shrugged. Because I knew you'd be here… She thought, but quickly made up an excuse. "I heard your footsteps on the roof."

Damn, I thought I'd been quiet enough…Kyo thought. "What do you want?"

There was a clatter, and Tohru put a plate down on the roof in front of them. "I thought you might be hungry."

Kyo looked at the onigiri that were set in front of him. He blinked at her before confusedly taking one and biting into it. Salmon. He smiled awkwardly. "How'd you know that was my favorite?" He asked.

Tohru shrugged again. "Wild guess?"

He shook his head. "You really are full of mystery. But thanks." He finished the onigiri and lay down, forgetting she was there, and fell asleep.

Tohru stared at him for a while. He must be tired…Oh damn, he was at my bedside most of last night, wasn't he? A pang of guilt hit her. She looked at him some more, her eyes softening. He looked peaceful as he slept, his chest rising and falling rhythmically, his mouth curved into the slightest smile. The sun pooled rays onto his orange hair, giving it and his tanned skin a golden glow.

Tohru crept closer and knelt by his side, her hand numbly stroking his hair. She finally admitted defeat and collapsed next to him and put her arms around his warm body. She squeezed him softly. It was the first time she had been able to hug him, and it felt so good. Tears slowly slipped from her eyes.

She gasped and sat up, wiping them off. She promised she would never cry again. She intended to keep that promise. And besides, it would be pretty nasty if Kyo woke up to find her clinging onto him. She picked up the plate and gave Kyo's sleeping form one last longing look before leaving.

Me: Yay, second chapter! I'm on a roll! (Punches air with fist)

Kyo: Okay, so now Tohru's a freaking rapist.

Me: Is not! (Whacks him with "Pink Butterfly" script)