Disclaimer: Neither Fruits Basket or any of the characters from the series belong to me.

A/N: Hello again, from muggy Japan. I back with chapter 21, making this my second story to make it past the 20 chapter mark. I'm really excited about that. I hope after this chapter you all want to know what happens next but the next chapter will actually go back and show Kyo's POV at the same time. But we are getting close to a resolution now (I think).

Shadows of Intrigue

Chapter 21

Tohru started running once she left the main house. She had no clear notion of where she was going, she only knew she needed to run. She kept running until she suddenly felt the urge to stop. Glancing around, Tohru realized she was in a neighborhood she had never seen before. All of the houses were huge, though perhaps not on the same level as the Sohma main house. She turned to look at the house she stood in front of and stifled a gasp as she saw the name: Hikawa. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she had run straight to Aiko's house.

Well, at least Aiko knew what was going on. She might be one of the best people to talk to, given the circumstances. Tohru moved to ring the buzzer at the gate but before her finger made contact with the button, the front door opened and Aiko stepped outside. She only looked mildly surprised to see Tohru standing at the gate and asked, "How did you find this place? You've never been here before, unless you followed Kyo that time he followed me?"

"No," Tohru shook her head, "I was at the Sohma main house and when I left, I just started running. I didn't know where to go and I just kind of ended up here. When I saw the family name on the house, I knew this must be where you lived."

Aiko almost laughed, "You really think there are so few Hikawas? No, I know what you mean. It's like an instinct. After all, we were twins once. I guess it makes sense. Never mind that just now, though. I was just about to go looking for you. When neither you nor the rat showed up at school today, Kyo and I figured Akito must have you. I told Kyo that Akito wouldn't do anything to you yet but he still went ape shit. I made him go home, though. Having him go after you could have been disastrous. Until we figure out what to do, it would be best to make sure that you, him and Akito don't end up in the same place."

"I know," Tohru whispered, her voice heavy with sadness, "I know what could happen. I've seen it. Akito showed me."

"Agh! That horrible wretch of a human being. There is just no end to what that monster will do, is there? I'm really sorry you had to see that. It's got to be pretty disturbing to see your own death."

"That's not what bothered me so much. It was the emotions afterward; the anger and hatred and despair," answered Tohru, "Mom used to tell me that death was easy for the one who dies. It's those left behind who have the hard part. I saw the smile on the girl's face. If history repeats itself, I'm not afraid for myself, but I don't want you to act with the same rage and hatred and I don't want Kyo to experience the same anguish I could hear in Kei's voice. That was Kei, wasn't it? And he is more or less Kyo, right?"

All Aiko could do was nod. Never before had she heard someone so confidently put other people's wellbeing before their own. Even knowing that that was the sort of person Tohru was, it was a shock to hear her speak so plainly about it. But she was pulled out of her state of shock by the ringing of her cell phone.

Tohru watched Aiko's brief phone conversation. From the look of thing, Aiko was not at all pleased by what the caller was saying. Without even knowing what Aiko was hearing, Tohru began to feel her heart pounding. With perhaps the same instinct that had brought her to Aiko's house, Tohru could feel dread rising in her. Whatever plans Aiko had been working on to change things, had somehow been disrupted.

Her fears were confirmed a moment later when Aiko hung up and turned to look at her, "I don't want you to freak out, Tohru, but it appears something has gone wrong. That was Hatori on the phone. He just got a call from Kazuma. Apparently Akito showed up at Kazuma's house this afternoon. Now, don't panic, but, I have to tell you…Akito has Kyo."

The words reached Tohru's ears and without another thought, she turned and took off at a run for the second time that day. Aiko made an attempt to catch Tohru's arm but missed as Tohru's speed increased. With a quick prayer to whoever would listen, Aiko chased off after Tohru.

The two girls were racing through the woods, one chasing frantically after the other. The girl in the lead had tears beginning to well up in her eyes. In the past few minutes, it had begun to rain, making the two girls look even more alike that ever by darkening Tohru's hair until it nearly matched the color of Aiko's. There were still a few differences, but the facial features were startlingly similar. They had, after all, once been twins.

"Tohru," Aiko yelled to the girl in front of her, "We have to get you out of here now! You're heading straight into a trap. We can't let them find you here! I remember the fury from last time. If you keep going, Akito is going to kill you."

"But I can't just leave! I have to find Kyo! I love him!" Tohru responded.

Aiko finally grasped Tohru's arm and pulled her to a halt, "I know. If you remember, that's kind of what started this whole mess in the first place. I'll tell you what, though; if you leave I will find Kyo and help him out. Then, I will send him to you and the two of you can be together, safely away from Akito."

Tohru shook off Aiko's hand and wiped the tears from her eyes, "You'll help Kyo and me? How are you going to do that?"

"I'll take your place in Akito's little plan. I am sort of your twin, right? It should be fine."

"I can't let you do that! You don't love Yuki. And don't tell me you don't love anyone else either because I know better this time," Tohru replied and took off running yet again. Aiko took a moment before she started chasing Tohru. She lost sight of the other girl, but the trial of muddy footprints left a path for her to follow. When she did spot Tohru again, she stopped short. Tohru was not alone in the small clearing. She had been joined by Kyo and the other cursed members of his family. Kyo was being restrained by one of Akito's henchmen.

Akito walked up to Tohru, who was looking to Kyo for help. Akito, so different from the boy she love, began to speak to her, "You have disappointed me. You are an ungrateful little tramp. I offer you a chance to marry Yuki and what do you do? You reject him for that filthy monster. You have disrespected and disgraced me. Now, you are going to have to pay for what you have done."