Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket.
A/N: Well, I don't really want to have a mirror broken over my head, so hopefully this update came soon enough. I'm disappointed. I was going to enter my previous fic, Roses of Glass, in the fanfiction contest at the upcoming con in the area, but they changed the rules from last year and my story is twice the limit of the maximum length they'll accept. But what do you do? Also, it seems that swearing is making is becoming more common in this story. If it bothers anyone, sorry, but I feel it's needed for the storyline.
Shadows of Intrigue Chapter 9Tohru stared, disbelievingly at Aiko, "What do you mean? Why are you immune to Hatori's memory erasing? Why do you think he knows? Why do you think he's tried it on himself? Hatori, is what she said true?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," interrupted Aiko, "Maybe you should stick to one question at a time. I'll start at the beginning. I cannot have my memory erased using Hatori's little magic trick. I can't tell you why. Maybe Hatori can. He knows that he can't erase my memory the same way I know that he can't erase his own memory, but I can't really explain it. You're the same, you know? He can't erase your memory either. But it doesn't matter so much in your case, because you don't remember what they want to erase now anyway."
Tohru turned an inquisitive glance to Hatori, who answered, "It's true. I knew her memory couldn't be erased. And I know my own can't be erased, as well. I've tried it twice before. Once just after the first time I was required to erase someone else's memory and then again after Kana. And she's right about you, too. I can't erase your memory either. Why do you think you were allowed to keep your memories after you first…met the Sohmas?"
"No need to cover it up," Aiko interjected, "I know about the curse. You know that. Isn't that why I'm here? And because you can't erase your own memory, you even know why I know about the curse, don't you? You know how and why the curse was placed on the Sohmas."
Tohru let out a gasp, "Does it have anything to do with Kyo's dream?"
Hatori snapped around to fact her, "What dream?"
"Kyo has been having this dream. He's had it at least two nights in a row. I guess it's more of a nightmare, really. He's told me a little bit about it. There are two girls running in the woods. They get separated and one enters this clearing and there is a whole bunch of other people in the clearing. Anyway, one of the girls was killed at the end of the dream. Last night, Kyo came running into my room to make sure I was okay because he could see the girl's face clearly. He said that she looked like me."
Hatori closed his eyes as if he had a fear that had been confirmed, "Do you know if he remembers the names of faces of anyone else in the dream?"
"He said one of the guys in the clearing was named Kei," Tohru responded, starting to be a little frightened by Hatori's reaction. She turned to Aiko, "Isn't that the name you keep bringing up to him?"
Aiko nodded eagerly, " Yes. It's part of what he wants to know about. I know he still doesn't really remember, but this is more than I hoped for at this point. I wouldn't have begun to guess that he would be able to have dreams guide him. That's amazing. I think that will reduce the time it will take for him to remember and, therefore, to have his questions answered."
"So, are you saying," Tohru verified, "that Kyo's dreams are some kind of memories? That doesn't make sense. Kyo hasn't watched me die. Or you, since you look like me. So, how can he have a memory of something that hasn't happened? I mean, it doesn't sound like he's seen anything from the dream in real life."
Hatori and Aiko exchanged glances. Hatori raised his visible eyebrow and Aiko shrugged and cleared her throat, "It's true, Kyo hasn't actually seen those things happen in real life. But the dream is kind of like a hidden memory. Something he knows, but doesn't know. It holds the key to everything he's wanted to know about himself and the curse. He just needs to remember what he needs to remember."
Tohru was even more mystified by Aiko's cryptic answer but Hatori seemed to understand, "There are people in this family who would prefer it if he never figured this out. They will not be pleased to hear about his dream. They don't want him to remember."
"Well of course they don't!" snapped Aiko, "He can undo what they, or should I say he, has done. And do you really think I give a rat's ass what this particular person thinks? That man is responsible for every negative thing that has happened to your family and to mine. I bet none of the others know either, do they? You've erased all their memories. No wonder the rat seemed surprised that I had no particular friendly feelings towards him. He has no idea who I am."
When she finished, Aiko turned and stormed out of the house. Tohru watched her go and then turned a questioning gaze to Hatori. The doctor shook his head. There would be no more explanations right now. The only certain thing Tohru had taken from this afternoon's visit was that, whatever was going on, she was somehow mixed up right in the middle of it. She hoped in made more sense to someone else. Hatori seemed to be satisfied that he had enough information for now. She couldn't imagine how. But there was obviously something going on that Aiko and Hatori know about that it seemed the other Sohmas did not. It seemed to be something of some importance. And it seemed they did not agree on what to do about it. Tohru was struck with the sudden urge to tell Kyo what she had heard this afternoon so she made her farewells to Hatori and left.
When she got home, Tohru found Kyo up on the roof. She sat down next to him and he turned to her expectantly, waiting to hear what she had found out during her trip to Hatori's. She rehashed the events and conversations that had taken place, trying to explain what little she could. In the end, she had to admit to him that she was probably more confused that she had been before the meeting, "It doesn't make sense to me. And neither Hatori nor Aiko was much help. Every time I asked them anything they would give me such unclear answers that I would have more questions. What does it mean to have a memory of something you haven't seen? How is that possible? And what is it you're supposed to remember? And why might the Sohmas not want you to remember? And why does she seem to know so much about you?"
Kyo shook his head, "I don't know. It all sounds kind of surreal or something. Like it's some big mysterious, mystical thing. The kind of thing that happens in the movies, maybe, but shouldn't happen in real life."
"Oh, you mean kind of like a curse that makes people turn into animals when they hug someone of the opposite sex?" Tohru asked, regaining her sense of humor.
Kyo gave a little snort, "Okay, I see your point. Why should I be surprised? The Sohmas aren't exactly the most normal family. Why shouldn't there be more strangeness that I don't know about? Expect the unexpected. That's getting to be a good phrase to live by in this family."
"I just wish I could tell you more. I don't feel like I'm being much help."
"That's stupid," Kyo retorted, "It may not make sense yet, but you found out more than I did. Now we'll just have to think about it until we can figure out what it means. You're gonna help, right? Cause I can't exactly go to Shigure or that damn rat about this. So, you're helping a lot. I'm just sorry about dragging you into this."
"That's okay. I get the feeling that I was already part of this anyway. I just don't know how," Tohru replied.
"Well then, that's another thing we'll have to figure out."