Disclaimer: Fruits Basket and the characters from the series belong to Natsuki Takaya, not to me.

A/N: Yay! I got another chapter posted, without it taking too long. The next chapter will go back to Tohru and Yuki before we return to the continuation of this chapter. It will be important to see what is going on there as well. Pleas enjoy.

Shadows of Intigue

Chapter 18

Kyo stared at Aiko in shock, "I am?"

"That's right," confirmed Aiko, "And if, working together, we can get you back to your rightful place, maybe we can make everything end well this time."

"This time? What do you mean by that?" questioned Kyo.

"History is starting to repeat itself. Neither Tohru not the rat was at school today, correct? And you said the rat had been called to the Sohma main house? I imagine that's where Tohru is as well."

"She what!" Kyo shouted in alarm.

Aiko covered her ears with her hands and glared at Kyo, "Don't worry. The won't hurt her. Not yet. Not until she refuses to marry the heir and runs off with, well, with you."

This did not bring relief to Kyo's face. In fact, a few seconds later, his eyes widened and he asked, with some suspicion, "And who exactly is the heir in this generation? Akito doesn't have any children."

"I think you already know the answer to that."

"Yuki," Kyo stated with a sigh of frustration, "It makes sense. That's why we've always been rivals, isn't it? Even why Kei's curse took the form of the cat? To make sure he would always be rivals with the rat."

Aiko smiled appreciatively, "You catch on quickly."

"But if history is repeating itself, how am I supposed to become the head of the family? You know even better than I do what is supposed to happen. You remember it all from the last time. How do you suggest we go about changing things? Let Tohru marry Yuki? Over my dead body."

"Nice choice of words."

Kyo winced, realizing that it was not, in fact, him who was destined to die over this. But Aiko brushed this off and went on to explain, "Akito is trying to make history repeat itself but there are some differences already. In general, you are more accepted by the Sohmas than Kei was. That could help us a lot. And Hatori will help us. He remembers what happened as well and he feels guilt over it. He will try to convince the others to take our side. Maybe it will work, they all seem attached to Tohru and Hatori has a way of making people listen to him even when they won't listen to anyone else. Also, he has something to lose as well, if history does repeat itself."

"He was the one, wasn't he?" Kyo asked in dawning realization, "The one you were in love with?"

Aiko nodded, "Yes. The me of that time was very much in love with the him of that time."

"And he remembers everything? Then how does Kana fit in?" Kyo wondered aloud.

"Kana? Who's Kana?"

Mentally cursing himself, Kyo explained, "Kana was Hatori's girlfriend at one point. You know his left eye is bad, right? That happened when Akito got mad after Hatori announced that he wanted to marry Kana. At least that's what I've heard. Not long after that, Hatori erased Kana's memory."

"I guess I did hear him mention something about Kana when Tohru took me to visit him. So Tohru knows about Kana? Did the two of them know each other well?" asked Aiko.

"No," replied Kyo, "Hatori told Tohru about Kana. The whole business between Hatori and Kana took place before Tohru came to live with us. I was in junior high, so I guess it was before Tohru knew any of the Sohmas."

Aiko let out a sigh that seemed to be partly relief and partly comprehension. Kyo glanced at her sharply but she paid no attention. Instead she muttered under her breath, "So that's it. I think I understand. Yes, that would make sense."

"What would make sense?"

"Oh, nothing important," she answered, "I'll tell you about it when I know for sure myself."

Kyo huffed, "Fine. Is that everything? If it is, can we go now? I want to go find Tohru. There's no way in hell I'm going to sit by and watch as she marries that damn rat."

"Don't worry about that. They won't get married. Either we will succeed in our plan and she will be free to choose whatever path she wishes, or we will fail and she will die. Either way, you can't go charging to the Sohma house now. If you do, that will likely only speed things up and we won't have time to change anything. She will die and you will have to watch. For now, you have to stay away form Akito as long as possible. I know it will be hard for you, but please, do what I say. I have a feeling Tohru will come to my place after she is allowed to leave the Sohma main house. I think I have figured out what to do after that. Leave it to me, for her sake," Aiko was passionate but still calm in her speech to Kyo.

"But," Kyo started, but stopped as Aiko glared at him, "Fine. But if anything happens to her, I will never forgive you."

"I won't either," Aiko responded softly.

Finally deciding he just might be able to trust her, Kyo gave Aiko an awkward half-grin and wished her good luck. She offered a small smile in return before turning to leave. Kyo stayed where he was for a bit longer, thinking over everything he had learned. He would listen to Aiko because she seemed to know more about the situation than he did and he would be damned if he was going to let history repeat itself. If he could help change things, he would not accept failure as an option, not when there was so much to lose from failing. And so much to gain from succeeding.

If they could change the outcome of what was starting to transpire, and if Aiko was right, then the benefits for him would be threefold. He would be rid of his curse as the cat, he would have the chance to be with Tohru, and he would possibly become the head of the family. Only one of these things truly mattered to him, but if the others came with it, he certainly wasn't going to complain. He could have everything he had ever hoped for and then some.

He finally left, heading back to Kazuma's. With the determination to succeed so strong in him, he felt better than he had since the first nightmare. All that changed, though, as he reached Kazuma's house. Kazuma met him at the door and pleaded, "Kyo, you have to go. You have to get out of here now. Akito is on his way here. He's after you."