Disclaimer: I am not the owner of Fruits Basket.

A/N: I had a lot more trouble than usual writing this chapter. I know what the next big thing to happen in the story is and I'm working up to the point that I can write that. I've already kind of stared the build up to it, so it should hopefully show up in the next couple of chapters. I would also like to add, because I'm sure people will wonder after reading this chapter that nothing dirty will happen between Kyo and Tohru. They're both too innocent for that.

Shadows of Intrigue Chapter 11

Hatori arrived at Shigure's house to find Kyo and Tohru both looking worse off than he had expected. He was amazed by the fact that they were still managing to hold themselves upright. They seemed to be competing to see who could look the most exhausted. He was somewhat alarmed by this. He was also wondering how their condition had escaped Shigure and Yuki. Well, Shigure he could maybe understand but Yuki was more level headed. It was especially odd considering that Tohru was one of the two concerned. But Shigure had mentioned that Yuki had changed a bit in his relationship with Tohru between joining the student council and the incidence of Kyo's transformation.

Walking up to Kyo, Hatori said, "I hear you've decided to quit sleeping. Not a very practical solution to your problem now, is it?"

Kyo grunted in response.

"Well, I've got good news and bad news for you," continued Hatori, "The good news is, I can give you something that will help you sleep. The bad news is, I can't guarantee that you will stop having your nightmares. But either way, you need to sleep, Kyo. It might help you to go back to Kazuma's house for awhile."

Kyo shot up with astounding speed for someone who looked so tired, "I can't do that!"

Hatori and Tohru both looked at Kyo in surprise. Hatori recovered first and asked, "Why don't you want to go back? I thought you might actually be content with that suggestion. I know you must miss Kazuma sometimes."

"Usually I would like a chance to go back and stay there for awhile." Kyo answered, looking rather embarrassed, "It's just that, well, with everything that's been going on and with what happens in my dream, I kinda want to stay closer to Tohru, so I can always make sure she's okay after I see…you know."

"I see," said Hatori, pausing to think, "What if Tohru were to go with you to Kazuma's? We should be able to arrange that. It's a good safe place. Kazuma has always looked out for you. I'm sure he'll look after you and Tohru until we can get things straightened out."

Kyo stared at Hatori for a moment before turning his gaze to Tohru. She, in turn, was staring back at him. His reason for not wanting to go to Kazuma's had both surprised and pleased her. Now he was asking her a silent question with his eyes. Did she want to go with him to Kazuma's? After his outburst, she knew he wouldn't go without her. She wanted him to go, it might not help him, but at this point she thought anything was worth a try. She glanced at Hatori, who raised his eyebrow in return. Turning back to Kyo, she gave a small, almost unperceivable nod. Kyo gave her a relieved grin in response. It did little to erase the exhaustion from his face. Tohru briefly wondered if she looked that tired, too.

As if reading her mind, Hatori told her, "I'm going to give you something, too, Tohru. You look like you could use it almost as much as Kyo. I'll wait until we get to Kazuma's though. I want you both to go pack a couple of weeks worth of clothes and anything else you might need. I'll drive you over to Kazuma's once you're finished."

Tohru opened her mouth to speak but Hatori anticipated her question, "I'll explain everything to Shigure later. I'll keep quiet about the reason, thought. I think if Kyo wanted Shigure to know about that, he would have told him himself. Don't worry; it shouldn't be a difficult thing to do. It is Shigure, he'll accept whatever I tell him."

Tohru gave Hatori a quick smile before dragging herself up to her room to pack. Kyo followed, even more slowly, behind her. When both had finished packing and returned downstairs, Hatori ushered them out of the house and into his car. The ride to Kazuma's took place in silence. Hatori was not speaking in the hopes that the two teens might get some sleep on the trip. Kyo and Tohru remained silent because they were focusing most of their energy on staying awake. Because of this, the ride seemed to Tohru to take much longer than it actually did.

When they did arrive, Kazuma was waiting outside for them. When he saw Tohru, he gave Hatori a questioning glance, "I see you've brought two guests for me. An unexpected but pleasant surprise. I was only expecting Kyo."

"Kyo refused to come without her," Hatori explained, "I hope you don't mind. It's not going to be a problem, is it? Because I think Kyo's better off here and you know better than anyone how stubborn he can be. Plus, he might have a point. It might be best if he stays close to Tohru."

Kazuma smiled reassuringly at his guests, "I don't mind. It's not a problem, really. I only have the one extra room that used to be Kyo's but Kyo can stay in my room. Or, if he's really adamant about staying close to Tohru, they can share his old room. It's not like anything can really happen, what with the curse and all."

Hatori nodded, "Well, I'll leave that up to the three of you to decide."

It was eventually decided that they would divide Kyo's old room with screens and he and Tohru would sleep there. That way, if Kyo felt the need to check on Tohru, he could do so without disturbing anyone else. Once the screen was in place and Kyo and Tohru were settled in, Hatori administered the sleep aid he had brought. Tohru refused to take hers until Kyo had already fallen asleep. Not only did she want to make sure that he actually got to sleep, she wanted to ask Hatori something, in private. She waited until she received her medication and he was about to leave. She stopped him with a hand on his forearm.

"What is it, Tohru?"

Tohru looked a little unsure but finally spoke up, "You asked me to tell Aiko that you were trying to make amends by helping Kyo and me, right? What are you making amends for?"

"I can't tell you that," answered Hatori, trying to block out the memory that came flooding back at the question, "It would only hurt you. And it could likely turn you against the Sohmas, much like Aiko herself. It has to do with harm inflicted upon another family, a long time ago. And since I am trying to make amends, I would rather not be judged by something that happened in the past. So, that's all I'll say for now. I may have to tell you the whole story someday and I dread that. But for now, I won't"

"Well, then, I have another question," Tohru said, with a concerned frown, "Is Kazuma helping us for the same reason? Its not really important, I just wanted to know."

Hatori's mouth turned up slightly at the corners. Not really enough to be considered a smile, but still a sign of amusement, "Kazuma? No, Kazuma was not involved in the incident. He has nothing to atone for. I imagine he's helping you because he raised Kyo and loves him like a son. It's in his nature to help people in general but I think Kazuma would go so far as to put his life on the line to help Kyo or anyone he cares about, if it ever came to that."

"I'm glad," Tohru yawned, "I'm glad that Kyo has someone who cares that much about him," then she fell asleep.

Hatori looked down on her sleeping face and thought to himself that Kyo actually had at least two people who cared that much about him. More bitterly he realized that Kyo was going to need that.