Fruits Basket

Beginnings and Endings

Chapter 22

"Gah! What was that?" Kyo yelled as his hand flailed in the air.

"It's called the wind..." Yuki said with an annoyed tone to his voice.

"Shut up, I knew that!"

"I'm sure..."

"Grrr..." Kyo clutched his fist, "Why you little-"

"Now, now you two lets just settled down," Shigure said with a rather calm grin across his face.

"How can you be so calm? We're walking to the main house," Yuki said as he stared at Shigure. He wanted to see what sort of explanation Shigure had.

"Que Sera, Sera. I swear I would think you two would learn that by now," Shigure laughed while Kyo lunged at him, grabbing him by the coat.

"What the hell is wrong with you?! You're always so damned calm."

"Ow..." Shigure whined while Kyo shook him by his coats collar, "Tohru! Kyo is hurting me."

"Don't get her involved," Kyo said with a growl.

"Um, are you worried Kyo...Yuki?" Tohru asked as she held her hands together against her coat jacket.

The three Sohma men all froze to stare at her. Tohru of course had always looked innocent, but right now she was dressed up for the celebration. Her hair was put up in an elaborate setting while a few nice hair pins were put in place in her hair. Her cloths were a lovely silk that Ayame had made for her. In fact everyone was wearing the cloths Ayame had made. To Kyo she looked like a lovely doll in the hands of three rough young men.

Yuki snapped Kyo out of his thoughts when he cleared his voice, "Of course not Miss Honda. We're only excited, right?"

Yuki glanced to Kyo, expecting a positive answer. Kyo wanted to snap back at Yuki, but he took a deep breath as he let Shigure slip from his hands, "Right...I'm just so excited since I've never been to this before."

"Haha, you know Kyo and Yuki. They're unable to keep their antics to themselves. Unlike me. Come Tohru, you need a calm man like me in your life."

Shigure trotted up to Tohru to take her arm but before he could Yuki and Kyo had him by the arm, "Shigure!" They both growled while they left Tohru standing there laughing nervously.

"Hey, what's all the noise?"

Everyone stopped as they turned their heads to see Hiro and Kisa standing in the road behind them.

"Hiro, Kisa!" Tohru said happily as she ran over to say hello.

"I guess, they're coming the same way we are," Kyo said as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"No kidding..." Yuki said as he side glanced to Kyo.

"Don't start with me!"

"My, you two sure are rather touchy today," Shigure said as he stared at the two.

"Shut up!" they both yelled while Tohru talked to Hiro and Kisa.

"So you're really coming? I thought this was just some rumor Momiji made up," Hiro said as he looked away from Tohru.

Tohru smiled as she bent over to the two youngsters, "Yup, I'm really coming. Even Kyo."

"Sissy? You'll stay with us right?"

"Of course."

Hiro glanced towards the two, "Don't be stupid. Of course she is Kisa."

"Let's get going. We don't want to be late," Shigure said as he smiled to everyone.

"Right lets go!" Tohru said as she skipped out to the front of everyone while Kisa followed after her.

Hiro walked along with Kyo, "You know..."

"I know," Kyo said quickly.

"Then why are you even coming. Why did you even bring her?"

"Because she wants to come...she just wants everyone to be happy," Kyo said with a heavy sigh.

"Humph. I don't see how she's that wonderful," Hiro said as he watched Tohru skip along with Kisa. Of course Hiro liked Tohru its just he would never admit it. Hell would freeze over before he did.

"Wow it looks much bigger at night," Tohru said as she looked up to the large gate that separated the Sohma's from the rest of the world.

"It's because of all the candles, they make that illusion," Yuki said as he pointed a few out.

"Good job, Yuki. Just suck all the magic out of it," Shigure said from behind who received a narrowed eyed look from Yuki in return for his comment.

Shigure pushed opened the doors and as they did Akito was standing before them. It wasn't a huge surprise to see him standing there dressed up. A grin spread across his face when he saw them appear.

"Ah, there you are. I'm glad you showed up, Tohru, Kyo. I was afraid you wouldn't come."

"I wouldn't refuse, Akito's offer," Tohru said as she bowed her head when he stepped forward. Kyo didn't do anything besides stare at Akito.

"Of course not. Now everyone should go to the main hall, Tohru will come with me."

Kyo felt his lips curl to protest but Shigure nudged him in the stomach to keep quiet.

"Go on Tohru. We have to prepare for the dance. Akito will get you settled," Shigure said in a comforting voice.

Tohru nodded lightly and she went along with Akito. She glanced to Kyo for reassurance. Kyo felt the need to reassure her, so he offered her a faint smile. Trying to tell her that everything will be ok.

"Is this wise?" Yuki asked as he folded his arms together.

"We just have to wait for the perfect time," Shigure said as he smiled back to him.

"And how can we trust you? You worship the ground Akito walks on."

"You just have to," Shigure said as he walked off.

"She'll be fine. It's not like he's going to kill her," Hiro said with a snort.

"We'll see Sissy during the dance," Kisa said trying to convince herself that everything would be ok.

Kyo took a deep breath as he listened to them. He wasn't sure if things were going to be ok or not. Everything just felt uncertain right now to him.

"Um...Kyo?"

Kyo turned around to see Ritsu standing before him. The others had left to go sit in the main hall leaving Kyo there, who wasn't all that pleased with that, "What?"

"Uh...Akito said you're going to dance with me, for new years that is."

"What?!"

"I'm sorry!!!" Ritsu said bowing down to Kyo, "Akito told me you have to and I didn't mean to make you upset. I'm sorry!!!"

"OK, ok. Just shut up. Fine I'll dance."

"Really?"

"Not with you. I'll dance beside you."

"Oh...right," Ritsu said with a nervous laugh.

"I'm going to get change then," Kyo said as he walked off.

"Me too," Ritsu said as he trotted along.

"Not with me!" Kyo yelled as Ritsu continued to apologize.