Fruits Basket

Beginnings and Endings

((Author Note: Gah, I can't reply to all the reviews since they're just too many. Anyways if anyone has any questions or just want to say hi feel free to e-mail me. I don't bite or anything and I'll answer your question. Maybe I'll give you the inside scoop on the sequel. Anyways this chapter is another happy go lucky chapter. The idea about what's to come is being expanded some. Things will start getting dramatic soon so enjoy these chapters. I'm going to have them celebrate Christmas because I want them to so that's the next chapter. The chapter after that is the dreaded New Years chapter so we're coming down to the end soon.))

Chapter 18

For awhile things moved on as they normally did in Shigure's house. Shigure was still his happy go lucky self when he wasn't writing and when he was he was spouting off his perverted comments to everyone in the house. Tohru still did her chores around the house along with going to work. Kyo and Yuki were the same, even after their long ordeal in the mountains. Despite Kyo's new found relationship with Tohru, Yuki and Kyo still seemed to fight except for one slight detail. When the two fought before they did it out of hatred, now it just seemed like the two took the enjoyment in taunting each other. Kyo would never admit that he enjoyed the constant fighting, but deep down he did. School went by fast and soon they were out on their winter vacation. Kyo swung his bag over his shoulder as he headed out the classroom door. When he stepped outside he saw Tohru and her friends waiting by the nearby wall.

"Yo," Arisa said as she raised her hand.

Kyo only nodded to the yankee as he walked over to the girls, "What the heck are you doing?"

"What's it look like orange top? We're waiting here with Tohru for you," Arisa said with a pleased grin.

Kyo clutched his fist together, "Hey, shut up"

"Umm..." Tohru began to say quietly as she looked up to Kyo.

Kyo was ready to strangle Arisa, but when he saw Tohru's gaze he faltered and he found himself defeated as he sighed. He straightened himself up as he took a deep breath, "...What is it?"

"Well I just wanted to tell you that I'm going to go to work today and I won't be home until late. I made some food for you and the others. You just have to warm it up. I'm sorry I won't be there!" Tohru said as she bowed her head to Kyo.

Kyo blushed slightly as he glanced slightly towards Arisa and Hana who were now staring at him intensively, "Hey, no need for that. Stop it!" Kyo said as he lifted her head up so she'd stop bowing to him, "It's ok. You have to work and I understand that. Just be careful, alright?"

Tohru smiled to him as she turned to run off, "Ok! Thank you Kyo!"

Kyo stood there in the hall as he watched her leave for work. He had a light smile spread across his face until he felt Arisa lightly nudge him in the head, "Aw...that's so cute orange top. I always thought the prince would sweep Tohru off her feet. Who would have thought?"

Kyo growled as his cat like eyes shot towards her, "Listen yankee, Yuki has nothing to do with this and who said I swept her off her feet? I just told her to knock it off and go to work...and what do you mean by that last comment?" Kyo narrowed her eyes to her until Hana gripped his shoulders with a death like grip.

Kyo was going to growl at her too until he stared at her cold death like eyes, "If you hurt Tohru in anyway, I will hunt you down."

Kyo blinked lightly as the two girls began to walk off, "Don't worry, orange top! You're doing great with her so far!" Arisa yelled back as she walked off with Hana.

"Great, I got two psycho's watching me now," Kyo sighed lightly as he rubbed his head, "I rather have that then the curse..."

Kyo left school, except he didn't go to Shigure's house straight away. Instead, he headed towards Kazuma's house so he could have a nice talk with him about all that has happen. Kyo walked up his masters steps and tapped on the door lightly. Kazuma promptly answered the door with a surprised look, "Kyo? What a surprise. I didn't expect you."

"I thought I drop by since I have some time. Is it alright that I speak with you?"

Kazuma nodded with delight, "Of course. I'm always happy to talk."

Kyo kicked his shoes off as he stepped inside. He threw his bag across the room as he walked into the kitchen, "I'll make us some tea."

Kazuma nodded lightly as he sat down at the table, "Kyo...you seem different."

"Hmm?" Kyo said as he heated the pot up, "What are you talking about? Nothing's happened. Hey are you hungry master? I can make something for you since I know how lousy you are at cooking."

"I thought my cooking was getting better."

"No offense master, but you're cooking may be getting worst. Before it used to taste like something, now it tastes like charcoal."

Kazuma chuckled lightly, "Hmm...alright, but don't make anything big. I don't want to keep you to long here."

"Right!" Kyo yelled out from the kitchen.

Kazuma smiled to himself, 'He's changed a lot from the boy I adopted. He's no longer filled with anger. She has healed him so much. I only hope that he doesn't break in the end.'

"Master?" Kyo said as he sat down with the tray of food and tea.

Kazuma had been so deep in his thoughts that he didn't notice Kyo for a moment, "I'm sorry, Kyo. I was a bit sidetracked. Ah, I see you made rice balls. These one's I assume are plain?"

"Well yeah. I would have made different one's, but you don't have a lot of food around," Kyo said as he sipped his tea, "Now let me start explaining everything to you."

Kyo sat there explaining everything that had to Kazuma. Kazuma didn't seem all that surprised through the entire ordeal. He only nodded and smiled to Kyo. Once Kyo was finished he let out a deep sigh, "What should I do, master? I don't know how to break the curse and this thing with Tohru is driving me nuts."

Kazuma took a bite of a rice ball as he rubbed his chin, "I can't tell you how to break the curse. Even I don't know that. You seem to be making progress though. I would wait until New Years to see if anything happens during that time. Just be cautious. As for Tohru, I can't say much their. I havn't had much dealings with women."

Kyo slammed his cup down against the table, "I just wish I could tell her 'I love you.' I just get chocked up. I can kiss her, but I can't say those words? How pathetic is that? It's this stupid curse."

Kazuma chuckled, "That's not the curses' problem. That's your own. Just wait until the time is right."

"I don't want to wait..." Kyo said as he lowered his head down.

"Don't worry, Kyo the time will come."

"Right, well I better get home. I need to take a shower before I pick up Tohru."

"Are you two really together?" Kazuma asked as he sipped his tea again.

Kyo shrugged lightly, "I don't know. I guess...we never really said anything to confirm it."

"Hmm...well take care Kyo."

"You too, master," Kyo said as he waved goodbye. He grabbed his things and headed home. He still had a few hours before he had to pick up Tohru so he had time to clean himself up. Kyo got to Shigure's home and opened the door slowly when he saw Shigure scurrying down the hallway.

"I was working! I swear, Mi," Shigure shouted back to his editor as he ran through the house.

"You were not! You have to write 50 pages by today and I found you eating again in the kitchen."

"Well I have to eat to get my strength..." Shigure said with a nervous laugh as Mi kept on chasing him.

"You've been eating all day!!!"

Kyo watched the two run by as he went up to his room, "I swear the scary thing is about all this is that I'm starting to think all this is normal."

Kyo went inside his room to lie down, "I think I'll rest for a few minutes...I have time."

As Kyo slept if only felt like he had just shut his eyes when he heard someone's voice.

'Kyo...you have changed.'

"What do you mean?"

'It's alright to change you know. It makes you stronger. Maybe you can see what the other cursed ones can't. Just remember the past that I showed you. That's where it all began and it can end the same way if you do nothing. If the past repeats itself then the girl may suffer a great lost.'

"Is, Tohru endanger because of me?" Kyo cried out in his dream.

'No,' the voice whispered, 'It's not because of you. She would protect you and take your fate instead. If she is truly the one you want to be with then you must be willing to throw down your life at whatever cost. Are you that dedicated?'

There was along pause from Kyo as he thought through the entire situation, "Yes...I would. I would even bare this curse the rest of my life if it meant we were together. I don't want to be apart of this family anymore...I want to be with her and start a new family. I want to be with someone who doesn't see me as the cat of the zodiac...I just want to be with her."

'A wise answer, Kyo. I give you this advice. The one the cursed ones see as a god will make the first move when the moon is full. That is when you can change the course of your destiny.'

Kyo opened his eyes as he laid there on his bed. He slowly lifted his head as he felt a few tears rolling down his face, "...Tears?"

"Were you crying?" Shigure said in his doorway.

Kyo's hair stood on end as his head snapped towards the door to see the grinning Shigure there, "Do you ever knock!?"

"Not really. You seemed like you had an interesting dream. Care to share?"

Kyo stood up and pulled on a different jacket, "Not with you."

"Was it about Tohru?"

Kyo growled lightly at Shigure as he pushed past him. Shigure watched him walk down the hallway and he yelled out to him, "I bet it was a naughty dream about, Tohru!"

"You're a sick, bastard!" Kyo yelled as he slammed the door.

"I swear that boy destroys more of my house then all of us combined," Shigure sighed lightly, "He needs to tell me his dream...hmm how do I get him to talk?" Shigure walked off rubbing his chin as Mi came in to drag him back to his office.

"Hehe, I was only getting fresh air."

"Get back to work!" Mi yelled as she threw him back into the room.

Kyo ran down the sidewalk as he neared the building Tohru worked at, "Man, I must have slept longer then I meant. I hope she didn't leave yet."

Lucky for Kyo, Tohru just stepped outside when he arrived, "Kyo?"

Kyo stopped as he neared her and he bent over to catch his breath, "...Good...I made it."

"I didn't expect you to come here...I'm so happy," Tohru said with a smile.

Kyo nodded as he stood back upright, "You shouldn't walk alone at night. Too many perverts, even though one lives with us."

Tohru laughed lightly, "Shigure is nice."

"Nice and dumb," Kyo said with a smirk.

Tohru giggled again as she walked with Kyo home. Her eyes stared up to the orange haired young man as his crimson eyes stared back at her. She couldn't help but realize how she felt so calm and relax with him. Deep down Tohru never wanted to leave his side, but she didn't know how Kyo really felt and she was hesitant to express herself any more then she already was. For now she would wait for Kyo, but she would wait until the end of time for him to say those three important words.