A Forgotten Promise

Disclaimer: Same as before.

Chapter 1

New Changes

Tohru slowly got up and shut her alarm off. wiping the sleep out of her eyes she glanced around the room. It wasn't much but it was hers. Her room, her apartment, her home. She got up and went to her window and looked outside, it look like it might turn out to be a beautiful day. However that really didn't make her as happy as it might have once would. She remembered how she looked forward to each day, wanting each day to be just perfect or her view of perfect. Now all each day brought her was an overwhelming feeling of loniness.

It was funny that even after all this time she missed the Sohma's as much as she did. But she missed Yuki and Kyo most of all. She often found herself thinking about them, more so lately then before but she brushed it off as her being under to much stress. Though however lonely she got or sad she got, no one ever knew. She had gotten quite good at hiding her true feelings from everyone. Beyond the fact she hid those feeling she had also changed other ways as well. She no longer dressed in cute dresses that made her look young and vulnerable. She dressed in tight pants and shirts and even wore skimpy dresses that showed off her now very gorgeous body. Her long brown hair now hung down past her butt and had blond highlights in it.Her eyes no longer held the softness they once had, but rather held the look of someone who had grown up and was no longer afraid of the world. She was no longer the girl she once was at the Sohma's but a young woman with more strength then even she gave herself credit for.

Closing the curtains, Tohru quickly got ready for work. Today was her first day being the manager of Cafe Honda. Her Aunt had already signed everything over to her and was on a plane to Hawaii. She planned on living out the rest of her life there. And though Tohru was a little nervous, she was also very excited. Her very own business to run the way she wanted. Not bothering to get anything to eat, Tohru grabbed her purse and ran out the door.

A Great Distance Away...

It was no mystery that Akito had grown quite sick in the last few days, so when the call came that day the three men of house already knew what it was about. Akito was dieing and was requesting the family to be there with him in his last moments. All the Sohma's were making there way to the main house. Some seemed sad, others seemed to not believe it. One of those Sohma's was Yuki. The man that had caused him so much pain throughout his entire life, was really dieing. Could it be true, would he be free?

They all gathered in the small room and stared out the head of the family. His breathing was shallow and his eyes had little life in them.

"We have come to be with you Akito-san." Shigure announced as he approached Akito and kneeled down next to the bed.

"My loyal dog, how you have always been here for me. Promise me you'll be this loyal to the next head of the family." Akito said in a low almost inaudible voice.

"I will Akito-san, I will be as loyal to the next head as I am to you." Shigure replied.

"I feel I should tell you all something before I'm gone. In the last few days I have realized just how
horrible I've been to you all. And I can't honestly give you an explanation for it. I just wanted to be loved, and not just be loved because I was the head of the family. I went about getting that kind of love the wrong way. And for that I'm sorry." He said coughing up blood. Hatori quickly wiped the blood away.

Akito took a slow and unsteady breath. "Yuki come to me please." the head beckoned.

Yuki took a few slow step forward and kneeled before the head.

"I'm sorry for everything I've put you through Yuki. I just needed you most of all to love me. I always felt in so many ways we were the same. I know I was wrong and I ask...no beg you to forgive me. Akito said slowly.

"I forgive you Akito-san. And I love you...we all do Akito-san." Yuki replied as tears ran down his once dry face.

"I know Yuki, I know that now...I love you all..." Akito replied as his eyes closed and his breathing slowed to a stop. And then Akito Sohma was gone.

Soft crying could be heard around the room, as they all realized he was gone. Hatori stepped forward and took Akito's pulse to confirm it. Then ushered everyone out of the room. Outside the room Hatori begin to speak.

"Tomorrow we shall hold a great funeral for our beloved Akito-san, I do hope you will all come as he would like that. But for now please go home and rest."

A few hours later...

Shigure sat the boys down at the table, his normal goofy manner had disappeared.

"Alright so what the hell did you want?" Kyo asked.

"There's something I need to tell you both. Tori and myself have transfered you from the university to a one in the America's. We also have purchased a nice apartment for you two to share." Shigure began.

"Why the hell did you do that?" Kyo yelled

"What I'm going to tell you may upset you, but I feel you have a right to know now since Akito-san is gone. Do you remember a few years ago when our dear flower left? Shigure asked

"Yes...?" Yuki replied slowly

"Yeah what about it?" Kyo yelled/replied.

"Well I know you thought she left cause she just didn't care for us anymore. But the truth of the matter, the reason why she left so suddenly with her Aunt, was because of Akito."

"What?" both boys said at once.

"Akito always viewed her as threat. He was always afraid that she would steal your love from him. So he made an agreement with her." Shigure paused for a moment.

"What kind of a agreement Shigure?" Yuki asked his anger becoming more apparent.

"Yeah tell us damn it!" Kyo yelled.

"Didn't you ever wonder why you didn't get locked up after school?" he asked looking at Kyo. "Or why you were never forced to move back to the main house?" he said turning to look at Yuki. And it suddenly dawned on them. "She left, to protect you both."

"But why didn't she tell us?" Kyo asked angrily.

"Part of the agreement was for her to not to tell you two. So she left, even though it broke her heart." Shigure remained quiet for a few minutes letting the two boys process everything. "With much searching Tori and I have found her. Thats why we have switched you to a different university and gotten you apartment. You will have access to the Sohma's bank to be able to get anything you want. Now all you have to do is go find our little flower."

"When do we leave?" Yuki asked.

"Three days from now." Shigure replied.

"Then we need to pack." Kyo said as the two boys got up and left the room.

Back at Cafe Honda...

"Well as you all known I'm the new manager here. I hope we can all work together to make the best Cafe in Arizona." Tohru said with a smile.

"Great we have the weird chick running the business now. Its all down hill from here." whispered one girl to another in the back.

"Excuse me? Did you have something to say?" Tohru asked the smile never leaving her face but a definite edge could be heard in her voice.

"Um, well no. I'm sorry." mumble the girl, shocked that Tohru had even heard her.

"Good, now lets get to work."

The rest of the day went by with out complications. Tohru could tell she was really going to like being the manager. Maybe things were going to start looking up for her.

Authors Notes:

First off thank you kanamelover and Ostrich Queenie for your nice reviews. And I do hope you like this chapter to. I look forward to many more reviews. The next chapter will be up soon.