D/C: I don't own Fruits Basket. (sigh)

Wow! 12 reviews! Thank you so much! I didn't expect my story to get that much attention! I was really thrilled, I can tell you that much!

Well, anyway, I'll stop babbling now and let you get on with the chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 2:

Shadows danced on the wall across from him, and cold wind whirled around his thin body. He wrapped his arms around his legs and pulled his knees closer to his chest.

I'm so pathetic.

Yuki knew he should leave. He knew he should escape and go look for her…for Tohru…but he couldn't. There was something about this dark room; something which stole his will and strength, something which made him feel weak and worthless.

But he shouldn't feel that way…at least, he knew he shouldn't. Tohru always used to talk about how nobody was worthless, that everybody was born for something…for someone. It wasn't shameful to be weak…it was shameful to think that you're worthless.

Tohru…

Yuki looked up as the door to the room opened. Akito walked into the room, his profile illuminated by the light coming from the open door. Akito slowly closed the door, and darkness fell on the room again. But Yuki, his eyes having adjusted to the darkness pretty well, was still able to see Akito, and the later was now approaching him.

'And how are we doing today, Yuki?' Akito asked quietly.

Yuki didn't reply, and kept his eyes focused on the ground. However, he did see Akito sitting down on the floor next to him, out of the corner of his eye.

'Cat ate your tongue?' Akito cracked.

'Shut up,' Yuki hissed.

'Excuse me, what did you tell me to do?' Akito asked.

'I told you to shut up, you damn bastard,' Yuki snapped.

'I see,' Akito said quietly. 'Being locked in your room doesn't seem to have that much effect on you, does it? What do you think we should do now, Yuki?'

'I think you should go kill yourself and I should get out of here,' Yuki muttered.

Akito laughed. 'Oh, Yuki, you can be really funny, you know?' he wheezed.

'Just leave me alone,' Yuki snapped. He got up to his feet and crossed to the other side of the room. He leaned against the wall and watched Akito, who was still standing on the floor. 'Go away. Haven't you caused enough damage already? Aren't you happy with what you did?'

'No, I'm not,' Akito whispered coldly.

'Yeah?' Yuki said. 'What are you planning to do next?'

'I don't know yet,' Akito replied. 'But when I do know, be sure that it's going to be something you definitely won't like.'

-

'Kyon, where did Prince Charming go, again?'

Kyo sighed. 'I told you before, Yankee, he left the country with his parents,' he told her.

Uotani leaned back in her seat. 'How is Tohru coping with the situation?' she asked. 'I mean, she seemed perfectly normal to me when she came to school today…but with Tohru, you can never know for sure.'

Kyo glanced across the room at Tohru, who was sitting, talking with Hanajima. 'She's doing fine,' he told Uotani. 'She and Yuki agreed that this was for the best.'

'For the best…how?' Uotani asked, confused.

'I don't know, don't ask me,' Kyo replied. 'But she doesn't like to talk about it…so when you talk to her, don't bring up Yuki's name in front of her, okay?'

'Sure,' Uotani agreed, although she still looked rather doubtful. She took a swig out of the flask she was holding. 'But nobody seems happy with the fact that he left…I think I heard some girls talking about how they were going to commit suicide…'

'Eh…?' Kyo said. Suicide? Man…

'Yeah,' Uotani said. 'Stupid women.'

'Kyo!'

Kyo looked around as Momiji came rushing into the classroom. Tohru also saw him, and she moved in closer towards them. 'Momiji-kun, is something wrong?' she asked worriedly.

'Yeah, what's up with you?' Kyo demanded.

'It's…it's Haru!' Momiji cried. 'He's snapped again!'

'Damn!' Kyo hissed. 'Momiji, lead the way…I thought this would happen sooner or later.'

Momiji nodded reverently. He led them out of the classroom and down the corridor towards their classroom. All the students were huddled together outside. Shards of glass from the window were all over the floor, and they were careful not to tread over them as they walked into the classroom. Haru was trashing the room, flipping the desks over and throwing the chairs against the walls. He growled angrily the whole time.

Where is that damn Yuki when you need him? Haru seems like he's really snapped this time…

'Haru! Stop, dammit! What do you think you're doing?' Kyo shouted.

'

What does it look like I'm doing?' Haru snapped, throwing a chair to a corner of the room.

Tohru jumped back, and Momiji rushed to her side and squeezed her hand gently, soothingly. She did look really scared by the way Haru was behaving. Kyo didn't think she had ever seen him like that before. 'Hatsuharu-san…' she whispered softly.

'Haru, stop! You're going to hurt somebody!' Kyo said angrily.

'So what?' Haru spat at him. 'I don't care if anyone gets hurt as long as I'm happy!'

'You just can't go doing crap like that!' Kyo snapped. 'What's wrong with you?'

'I know that you know perfectly well what's wrong with me, but if you don't, then why not ask her?' he hissed, jabbing a finger in Tohru's direction.

Kyo understood what was going on here. 'Haru, you can't blame Tohru for what happened! It's not her fault!' he said, furiously.

'I don't give a damn about that!' Haru snapped. 'Why should Yuki be the only one to suffer? Why shouldn't she suffer to? It's not fair!'

'Haru…' Kyo started.

'She should suffer too! Yuki doesn't have to be miserable while she goes around and have fun!' Haru roared.

Kyo saw him start towards Tohru, and he rushed forward to block his way. 'You will not touch her, Haru,' he said quietly.

'Oh, yeah? And who's gonna stop me?' he drawled. 'Is it you, stupid cat?'

'Do not call me stupid cat,' Kyo hissed.

'Yeah? Why don't you make me, stupid cat?' he shouted.

It was a fight. Without any warning, the two Sohmas launched at one another, fists raised…

'I'm sorry!'

They both froze in their tracks, and then they slowly looked around. Tohru was standing there, with her face buried in her hands. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed. They both stared at her, lost for words.

'Tohru, what…?' Kyo started.

'I…I don't understand what's going on here, and I don't know who Yuki-san is, and I don't understand why Hatsuharu-san is angry,' she choked. 'But…it seems as if this whole argument is my fault, so I'm sorry! So, please…please stop fighting.'

'Tohru…' Kyo said softly.

'Please…' she choked. '…don't fight. I'm sorry…I'm so sorry.'

'Tohru, don't cry,' Momiji whispered, tugging at her sleeve.

'Honda-san,' Haru said, and she slowly lowered her hands and looked at him from a tear-stained face. He smiled gently at her. 'I'm the one who's sorry…I'm sorry to have made you cry, and I'm sorry for having led you into believing that this is your fault, because it isn't…I was just really angry and was looking for someone to spill my anger out on, and you happened to come along…it has nothing to do with you.'

'Really?' she choked.

'Yes, I'm sorry,' he replied.

'It's okay,' she replied, managing a smile. 'I'm just glad you stopped fighting.'

Haru nodded. 'Well, I guess I have to go see the principal now,' he said wearily, and started to head towards the door.

'Hatsuharu-san,' Tohru said. 'I hope whatever is bothering you clears away.'

Hatsuharu didn't say anything and just left the room. Kyo watched the spot where the former had been standing. That's one wish that's never going to be granted…

-

'Tori-san, good evening.'

Hatori looked up from the newspaper he had been going through. 'Um…Ayame!' he said, feeling quite surprisingly alarmed by his visitor. 'What are you doing here?'

'The door was open, so I let my self in…I hope you don't mind,' Ayame said. He seemed really quiet and withdrawn, something Ayame wouldn't have been able to look in normal situations…but Hatori knew that the situation at hand wasn't normal.

'No, I don't,' Hatori replied, quickly regaining his composure. 'Come in.'

Ayame walked in and took the chair opposite from Hatori. He didn't say anything for a while, but then he looked up and fixed his friend with a questioning gaze. 'Is it true, then, what Shigure told me?' he asked quietly. 'About what happened with Yuki and Tohru?'

'Yes, I'm sorry, Ayame, but it's true,' Hatori replied, looking away from him.

'And you did it, Tori-san? You actually went and erased Tohru's memory?' Ayame asked, sounding disapproving.

Never before in his life had Hatori seen Ayame as serious as he was now, and it slightly creeped him out. 'Yes, I did,' he admitted.

'But why, Tori-san? Why did you do it? Why didn't you stand up to Akito?' Ayame asked. 'I normally would've supported you in everything you do, but not this time…not when you did something to harm my brother…'

'Well, what did you want me to do?' Hatori said angrily.

'You should've stood up to Akito, that's what!' Ayame cried.

'You know pretty damn well that I can't! Akito's word is law! And I can't go against his word!' Hatori protested.

'Yeah?' Ayame said. 'Well, I guess I should do something about this law of yours…'

'Huh?' Hatori said confused.

'You'll see…' Ayame said, smiling.

-

A/N: Okay, so what did you think? I thought it was okay if not good, but there are some parts that I'm not really pleased with. Ah, well, if you did like it, then please review. And wait for my next chapter!

- S. N. B.