Sorry it took so long to update. I was moving, didn't have internet...blah blah blah. To my one reviewer hugs Thanks! No, I can't say what's going to happen cause that would ruin the surprise! For me and you! I really don't have an exact idea. I'm kinda like a pie. I have the Crust and the top but I haven't decided on what filling. Oy! Anyways. On with the story. Again, constructive criticism is cool, flaming is not.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket. Takaya-sensei does...but I DO own a lot of Merchandise and look at Kyo and Gang everynight. huggles her Shigure dog

Chapter 3: Life Is A Road

Yuki stood at the window on the second floor of Kaibara High looking down at Tohru, who was talking excitedly with everyone as they started the walk home to Shigure's, and sighed. He had a lot on his mind lately and didn't think it was fair to worry Tohru with his problems, but when he noticed her today in the hallway and turned away as she started to wave to him, he could just feel the worry and sadness coming off of her in waves. He, needless to say, felt horrible. He needed to make it up to her somehow. This summer had been...interesting to say the least. He had told Tohru he loved her and made a couple of discoveries about himself and his family. Most especially Kyo. Things that angered him, but, when he examined the situation, he could understand why things had turned out the way that they had. During Kyo's meeting with Akito, while they were at the summer home, Shigure had asked Yuki what Akito had told him.

Flashback

"The truth," Yuki replied, glancing at the old man out of the corner of his eyes. "Satisfied?" he asked as he stood up and walked away. Yuki had a lot to think about concerning the revelations that Akito had made to him, and didn't want to around the manipulative dog. He knew that Shigure knew about the bet. He just had to. Shigure always seemed to know whatever it was that Akito was planning. As Yuki drew further away he heard the barely audible "No..." come from Shigure.

Yuki clenched and unclenched his fist, fighting the urge to run back and punch his older cousin. Everyone knew that Shigure was plotting something. Anyone who knew the writer knew this little fact. But no one ever knew what exactly was planned. It was just one of the many signs of the inu's cunning.

End Flashback

Turning away from the window, the grey haired Sohma turned to his Vice President, Manabe Kakeru, and groaned. The incorrigible teenager was fast asleep at the desk instead of working on the plans for the class trip. So far, Yuki had been the only one seriously working on it and things had to be decided soon. Walking by the peacful looking boy, Yuki 'accidently' kicked the stool out from under him and was at the other end of the table by the time that Kakeru had fallen to the ground with a string of curse words.

"Sohma! What the hell was that for?" he asked as he stood up.

"I'd like to go home at some point tonight and you're doing nothing to speed that process up," he replied calmly while sitting down to go over the papers that were lying scattered on the table. "...Baka," he added as an afterthought.

Grumbling, Kakeru sat on his stool and started to go through his work again. After fifteen minutes he stopped, as if confused and looked around. "Uh, Sohma? Where's Machi?"

"If you hadn't been asleep, you would have noticed that she left when the rest of the students left," he replied without looking up.

"Oh." But why was he still here if she got to go? "Hey, why are we still here then? Why'd she not have to stay?"

"Well, she's not entirely important in this stage now is she? Besides, she said she had some things to take care of, so I let her go on home." With that the two teens worked silently for the next hour before Yuki decided it was time to give up for the night. As he walked home he thought of how he was going to talk to Tohru and apologize for ignoring her in the hall earlier that day. Looking down at this watch he noticed that it was just after eight. Dinner should be just about done then. Okay, he thought. I'll apologize after dinner. Help her while she's cleaning up. Looking up from the ground, he noticed the familiar black and white hair of his younger cousin, Hatsuharu, and wondered what he was still doing around here.

"Haru, what are you doing?" Yuki asked when he got within speaking range.

"Ah, Yuki," Haru started as he made his way to cling to Yuki's sleeve. "I was looking for Kyo in the forest. Truly a maze within itself. I have just discovered the road again and was just contemplating which way to go to get back to Sensei's house."

"Just say you got lost," the nezumi sighed in exasperation.

"I got lost." This caused Yuki to sigh again. Hatsuharu was hopeless sometimes. "I never did find Kyo though." At these words, Yuki looked up almost angrily.

"What's the baka neko done this time?" he asked vehemently, starting the walk back to Shigure's.

"The same thing you've done Cousin," Haru replied. "Nothing."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Yuki asked, stopping to look at Hatsuharu.

"It means that both of you have done nothing. You're both pushing Honda-san away. You're both being idiots." He said this all calmly. Yuki looked up at him, a little startled. Haru had never said anything that might be considered an insult to Yuki. Not since...then. It must be serious then.

"We couldn't be any help back there..."

"I know that. And I know what that's like. But you two can't keep giving her the silent treatment. She doesn't understand and it'll only make her worry more. It's selfish to do so." Looking down at his cousin he noticed the two small red spots appear in his cheeks. He hadn't meant to be harsh, but something had to be said. Shigure wouldn't say anything substantial to the boys. He would just pick on them and harrass them. And Momiji, well Momiji would probably just be ignored.

"You're right Haru. You're wiser than people give you credit for. Thanks." The two teens resumed their walk back to the house, never noticing the dark orange eyes glaring down at them from above. Kyo had heard the conversation and knew that the Ushi of the Zodiac was right, no matter how annoying it was. When his two cousins were out of site, he hopped down from the tree and began his own walk home.