Fruits Basket

Beginnings and Endings

((Author Note: First I'm going to say sorry about the ending. Why? You'll find out. Second I promise I won't do it again. ))

Reviews Response:

Solo FLora: I'm glad you like it. Knowing that people are enjoying the story is what keeps me going

Akiko Hitori: I know he is. That's why I like him so much. hehe

Chapter 4

'Happy times fade away so fast that you hardly ever remember there was such a time that the feeling of joy warmed your heart and lifted your soul to new heights. Maybe that's why sad and painful memories stand out more. We tend to forgot happy times and only remember the painful ones. Or perhaps it's just me...that's why I'm unfit to be with anyone. That's why I have to stay away from her from now on. I don't want tears to be shed on my behalf...'

"Ah, Hari you got my message."

Hatori nodded his head lightly as he stepped inside Shigure's house, "I did. I came as soon as I could, but Akito requested my presents so I was a bit delayed."

"Running another one of his fevers?" Shigure said with a tilted head like any curious dog would do.

"No...he wanted to know where everyone had gone off to."

Shigure's face suddenly stiffened to this news. He lifted his head up from his casual position as he stared at Hatori with a more serious expression, "And?"

"I hope you didn't tell him where they all went," Ayame said as he walked in from the hallway, "It would be dreadful if he found out. Not to mention, what he would do to Tohru..."

Hatori looked to them both as he sat down slowly, "I must say it was difficult to answer him, but I told him the truth. They all went to the zoo, but I did not mention it was Tohru's idea. He seemed reasonable today and he just wanted them all to come back before sunset."

"Hmm...strange behavior for Akito I must say," Shigure said as he rubbed his chin, "Maybe he was running a fever."

"Well I'm just glad he didn't get upset. There's no telling what he will do sometimes," Ayame commented as he plopped down in his seat.

"He was perfectly fine. If he is planning something, I'm sure even you Shigure will figure it out at some point," Hatori took a sip of his tea as Shigure began to wave his arms.

"Hari, are you accusing me of interfering with Akito? Gah, I don't know what to say!" Shigure placed a hand on his forehead as if he was going to faint.

Hatori lowered his tea cup from his lips, "I'm not accusing, Shigure. I know you interfere with him."

Shigure dropped his hand from his forehead, as he smiled to Hatori, "Not intentionally, I do what I want to achieve my goal...Aya would do the same for Yuki."

"There's no denying that," Ayame said as he placed his hand against his heart, "A brother's bond is too thick!"

'Too thick?' It's more like transparent between him and Yuki,' Shigure said to himself as Hatori was probably thinking the same thing as he continued drinking his tea.

"Hari, you would do anything to keep those three smiling, right?" Shigure said as he leaned against the table towards Hatori.

Hatori stared at him for a moment before pressing his hand against his face to push him back in his seat, "Stop babbling nonsense."

'But-'

"We're home!" Tohru said as she walked in with Yuki at her side. Kyo was following from behind with his hands jammed in his pocket.

"Ah, welcome home," Shigure said as he waved to them the best he could until Hatori dropped his hand from his face.

'I would do what I could to keep them smiling. I don't want them to experience the deep feeling of despair...something that I know very well,' Hatori thought to himself quietly as he took another sip of his tea.

"Oh, Hatori I didn't know you were here. Are you hungry? I can make something for you real quick," Tohru asked as she began to go through all the things she could make. Hatori just shook his head as he slowly go up, "Perhaps some other time. I only stopped by for a few minutes and I must get going now. I have to take Ayame home."

"Oh, ok. Have a safe drive," Tohru said as she smiled up to him.

Hatori smiled back to her as Ayame said his good-byes. Shigure had his elbow on the table as he rested his head in his hand, "Ah, such an enchanting moment. Almost makes me want to capture it in one of my books."

"Shigure don't you dare," Hatori threaten with a stern look. Shigure only chuckled lightly as he waved good-bye. Hatori gave Shigure one last look before stepping out the door with the prancing Ayame following at his heels.

"Um...Shigure?" Tohru began, but she stopped halfway.

"Hmm...?"

"I hope you're not mad that you didn't get to come with us to the zoo."

"Oh, no no. It was quiet all right. I had some things to do. I'll join you all on your next outing. How's that?"

"That would be great!" Tohru said was excitement as Shigure patted her head lightly.

"Something important? I wonder what that would be since you hardly ever do anything," Yuki said as he walked out from the kitchen.

"Yuki! I'm hurt. I work hard to keep my house beautiful. You youngsters just don't appreciate hard working men such as myself."

"Shigure, you sit in your room goofing around half the time and then the other half you're eating or making perverted comments. In whatever time you have left you write, which is about five minutes."

Shigure had tears coming down his face, "But I work hard! I swear."

"Stop crying."

Tohru laughed nervously as she looked around slowly noticing something was missing, "Hmm...I wonder where Kyo went?"

Kyo had wandered up the stairs way before Hatori even left. He ran his hand over his face lightly as he looked out the window, gazing at the dark rain clouds forming overhead, "The weather is changing fast...no wonder I don't feel to good."

He sighed lightly as he slowly got changed to a clean pair of cloths. Once he was through he threw himself against his cushions with his head buried into the pillow. His eyes slowly began to shut, but they grew wide again to the sound of a light knock against his door.

"It's open..." he mumbled. Tohru came walking in with a small plate, "I brought you a small snack. I thought maybe it would make you feel better."

"Huh?" Kyo slowly sat up some as he looked up to her. She stood there with her hands gripping her apron. She had placed the small plate of food down on the table so he could eat it later. He looked to the food on the table. From what he could tell it was just some rice balls. He was happy it wasn't leeks. Kyo also noticed that her face expressed her worries for him. He knew she got overly concern when people in the house were sick. He enjoyed knowing that her attention was drawn only on him since he wasn't feeling to well, but he also knew that such a thought was selfish.

"I'm fine...don't worry. I think I'm going to take a nap though."

"Hmm...ok, have a good sleep, Kyo-kun," Tohru said as she managed one of her smiles.

Kyo watched her leave as the door shut slowly behind her. He laid back down, resting his head against his arm, "I can't be with anyone. The cat isn't meant to be..."

Kyo had fallen asleep for some time now. The rain outside had only just begun to pour down upon the lands. Tohru and everyone else in the house had finished eating dinner and now were ready to prepare to go to bed. Tohru had been unusually quiet at dinner since she kept thinking about Kyo sitting in his room alone. She wanted to keep him company, but she also knew he wanted to take a nap. She was walking down the hall mindlessly as she ran right into Yuki when she turned the corner. In a loud poof Yuki fell to the ground as a rat.

"I'm so sorry, Yuki! I was thinking about something and I guess I wasn't paying attention."

Yuki shook his little rat like head. It was an awful long fall to the ground, but he managed to shake the initial shock off, "It's quiet alright. I noticed you seem pretty quiet at dinner. Is something bothering you?"

Tohru shook her head lightly, "No...maybe I'm just tired."

Yuki was about to say something, but he suddenly changed back. Tohru yelled in surprise, as she quickly turned around covering her eyes, while her cheeks blazed red. Yuki sighed lightly as he got dressed again since he just put his cloths on only 2 minutes ago, "If you are tired, Miss Honda then you should go to bed early."

"I guess you're right. I think I'll go and sleep right away."

Yuki nodded as he sidestepped some for her to get by, "Sleep well Miss Honda."

Night had fallen and the rain still fell from the skies as lighting and thunder rumbled in the darkness. Kyo's eyes began to twitch to the tapping sound of rain against his window. The tapping sound was rhythmic and it tapped every three seconds. His eyes finally flew open in annoyance as he sat up, "Stupid window!"

Kyo froze, "Wait a minute, how come I'm not tired and drained of energy like I'm usually am?"

'Because this is still a dream.'

"Eh? Who said that?"

'I did,' Thunder flashed across the sky and illuminated the room for a moment. Kyo looked towards his bookcase seeing some sort of moment near it. At the very top of his bookcase he saw an orange cat lying there with his paws hanging over the edge.

"Ok...this is a dream. Well then, who are you and why are you in my dream?"

'I am the cat of the zodiac. The original if you may.'

"You mean the cat for the stories. You're sure not apart of the zodiac..."

'If you want to say it like that then that's your choice. My time is limited so listen well to what I have to offer.'

"Yeah, sure. Amuse me."

'I offer you a chance to look back to the start. I'll give you a chance to save yourself from certain pain and a chance to lift this curse.'

"How does looking in the past help me? This is stupid..."

'An end always has a beginning. Before your end comes you must look to the beginning. Everything in life revolves around a circle. What happened then, will soon come around and happen again...learn-' the orange cat was cut off as Kyo's dream slowly faded away into his memory. He opened his eyes slowly, feeling his exhaustion run over him like a wave. It was still in the middle of night and the rain outside was still pouring.

Kyo stood up slowly and walked over to his bookshelf. He grabbed the book and scroll and held them in his hands for a moment, but he suddenly threw them across the room against the wall, "Nothing can help me! You got that! I don't need help."

He leaned against the wall as he slowly slid down to the ground. His eyes were focused on the hard wood floor as a few tears ran down his cheek, "I'm scared aren't I?"

Kyo just sat there in the middle of the night as he wondered why was he so afraid to know. He wasn't sure what his body warned him about the book and scroll, but every fiber of his being told him that the truth was bittersweet. Kyo rubbed his hands together as he tried to decide if he really should learn the truth. He slowly stood up with his decision at hand, "I choose-"a bolt of lightening flashed above drowning out the last word to Kyo's sentence. (Which means you all have to wait until the next chapter. Ja bye bye.)