Fruits Basket
Beginnings and Endings
((Author Note: Why does everyone think its going to end exactly on 30? Er…besides the fact I said it might end at 30, lol. The story isn't over yet! Far from it. I mean it's going to carry over to the new so called story. This story has a couple more chapters in it still. So don't worry. I'll tell you when the story will end. You'll have a chance to prepare yourself. The next story (not chapter) is going to be told from all the Sohma's points of views so I'm curious on which Sohma would you like to be the first chapter. Kyo first or someone else? Just simply say it in the review or e-mail me so I can start planning ahead. I'm going to say two or three more chapters left.))
Chapter 30
Tohru…
You are the angel that has descended heaven to rescue these suffering souls known as the Sohma's. You have entered the darkness of their hearts and soon you won't be able to see the light again. Your white wings will be cut by the one's closest to you for that is the nature of the curse.
Tohru…you will fall and I will be there to see you suffer.
Kyo opened his eyes slowly as his dreams faded away from his grasp. He had an ill taste in his mouth as he rolled over from his side to his back. For the past few nights, Kyo had a lingering fear that the curse would strike Tohru with vengeance for her trying to stop it. Of course it was just a silly dream that shouldn't be taken too seriously. For now Kyo decided he would keep these dreams to himself for now. The dreams themselves could have stemmed from the stress he's been under during the New Years banquet or perhaps it could be all the pain killers he was on.
"I wonder what time it is…" Kyo said to himself as he sat up slowly to look out the window. Snow was falling slowly from the sky in the darkness. He could see the tiny white snow flakes fall through the darkness that engulfed the sky. Kyo couldn't tell if it was late at night or early morning. This was his third day or so at the hospital and he wasn't allowed to see any more visitors since Tohru had last seen him. Kyo's injuries had caused him to come down with a fever and he had been trying to sleep it off. Kyo had a vague memory of Tohru, Hatori, Shigure, and Ayame visiting him, but he couldn't recall what they were talking about when they were there.
"Well this is just boring. I want to go home already. It's not like I'm dying."
The door suddenly creaked open and Kyo felt the hair on his body stand on end as his eyes dilated as he nearly passed out from being startled.
"You should calm yourself, Kyo. Scaring yourself isn't good for someone in your condition," Hatori said dressed in his white coat. His left hand pressed against the door handle firmly while his right hand rested in his coat pocket. His long hair swayed lightly against his face as his one eye stared down at him with an amused expression.
"It's not like I did it on purpose! Why are you here?"
"Tohru was worried so I promised her that I would come to check on you on my way home," Hatori said as he finally stepped inside the room, shutting the door behind him.
"Humph, figures she worried. She needs to take a chill pill and get over me."
Hatori took a seat, ignoring Kyo's rambling partly since he knew Kyo was just blowing off steam after being in the hospital, "I can say the same about you."
"What!"
"Unlike the rest of us your feelings are a bit more obvious," Hatori pulled out a small container of food that Tohru had made for Kyo, "From Tohru."
Kyo took it gently from Hatori and quickly stuffed his face with the food. Hatori just stared at him as if he was a lunatic, "I see you don't like the food here."
Kyo just narrowed his eyes at Hatori for stating the obvious and he continued to stuff his face until all the food was gone. Kyo laid back on his bed feeling content as he stared up at the ceiling. His crimson eyes blinked lightly as he tried to keep back a few loose emotions stirring inside of him, "I…I miss her."
Hatori let a light smile crease across his face. He could see how much Kyo longed to see Tohru again in his brilliant eyes. Hatori couldn't blame Kyo though, while Hatori didn't harbor such deep emotions for Tohru he did view her if she was his own daughter, "Then go see her."
Kyo glanced over to Hatori who was beginning to stand up, "Have you've been hanging around Shigure and Ayame to long? What kind of stupid advice was that?"
Hatori didn't turn to face Kyo as he slowly opened the door again, "You're the cat. I believe cats don't enjoy being on a leash and sooner or later they just slip away."
Kyo was a bit taken aback by what Hatori said. Hatori was actually suggesting he escape the hospital. Even though Kyo wanted to yell some sort of comment back at Hatori all he could really manage was a simple, 'Thank You.'
Hatori didn't say anything as he left Kyo to do what ever he wanted. Like Shigure he gave Kyo a tiny push to help him along in his journey, "Perhaps I have been hanging around those two too long lately…" Hatori said to himself as he went to go speak to the staff at the hospital.
-
Tohru had just gotten off of work and she had also managed to pick a few things up from the store for dinner. When Kyo returned home she wanted to make a big dinner for him and everyone else. She hoped Kyo was doing ok at the hospital she knew how stubborn Kyo could be about certain things, but Hatori and the others had assured her that he was in good care.
"Hmm…what should I make? I know Yuki wakes up late and Shigure…"
Tohru suddenly felt someone touch her on the shoulder and she quickly spun around to see who it was. Standing before her was a young man with dark brown hair. His eyes seemed to glide over her for a brief second as he smiled sweetly to her, "Pardon me. I happen to be lost. Can you point me to the city?"
Tohru felt incredibly nervous in front of this stranger. She had a strange feeling about him, but despite that she didn't want to seem rude, "Uh sure. If you take that path over there," Tohru pointed the way as she set her bags down, "It should take you all the way there."
"Ah, I see. Why thank you. You know you are a very pretty girl."
Tohru smiled lightly as she bent back down to pick up her bags again, "Thank you…but I don't think-"
The strange man suddenly grabbed her by the wrist, "I don't believe you understand me. I like pretty girls and I hardly ever let one get away."
Tohru panicked didn't know what the man was trying to do and she tried to call out for help from someone, but before she could the strange man roughly pushed her up against one of the trees. Tohru felt her loose her breath as her body impacted against the tree. The stranger placed his rather large hand over her mouth as he grinned wickedly down to her, "No one's going to hear you out here."
"Hey…" another voice said from the shadows.
Tohru's eyes slowly lifted to the sound of someone else's voice. He long brown hair flowed over his shoulders twisting in a few knots from the man's sweaty hands. The strange man glanced slightly over his shoulder to see who was interrupting his fun, "Get lost."
Before the man even knew which way was up his face was suddenly was thrusted against the tree Tohru was pinned against. His face just missed Tohru's face as she stood there in shock. As the man loosened his grip he had on Tohru she was finally able to see who the second person was. Standing before her in the snow was the very pissed off Kyo. His eyes were narrowed in a furious expression as he marched over to pick up this strange man that was touching Tohru. Kyo's hands reached out to grab the man by his hair, lifting his head up from the snow.
"You little brat…" the man mumbled, but he didn't say much since Kyo stomped his foot back down on the man's head so his face would be pressed against the cold snow and dirt.
"Shut up. You're lucky I didn't kill you," Kyo said as he left the man in the snow since he was unconscious anyways.
Tohru was scurrying back over to her bags picking up the few things she had dropped during the struggle. Kyo swore he was never going to understand Tohru. She just had a traumatic experience and she was worried about groceries.
"What the hell are you doing?" Kyo growled as he stood there in the freezing cold, wondering if he would at least get a hug or something, he wouldn't have mind transforming.
Tohru turned around with a confuse look across her face, "Huh? I didn't want to loose anything. Lucky for us dinner won't be ruin! I'll make your favorite dish Kyo!"
'She acts like nothing happened…' Kyo said with a frustrated look, "Aren't you even surprise that I'm here?"
"But Hatori told me that you would be coming home so I went out to buy your favorite food, am I suppose to be surprised?"
Kyo turned around grumbling to himself, 'That sneaky bastard!'
"Uh…are you ok Kyo?" Tohru asked as she just stood there while Kyo tried to organize his thoughts. All Tohru could really hear was a lot of mumbling and growling.
He finally turned around with a slight nod. Kyo was struggling to keep back his anger about Tohru walking home alone and on top of that he was tricked by Hatori, but he kept his temper in check this time as he replied back to Tohru, "Yeah, I'm fine. We better hurry and go. We don't want everyone else worrying about you."
Tohru nodded as she jogged a few steps to walk side by side with Kyo telling him about what she and the other house members had been doing since his absence. As they walked together through the snow, Kyo couldn't help but feel like they had a closer bond with each other since the banquet. Just by walking at her side made Kyo feel so alive. He could feel his heart race when she was near. Who cared about the Sohma's? He had Tohru, something that all the zodiac members probably secretly desired, but he was the one for her and no one else.
"Kyo, you're smiling," Tohru said as she looked up to him through the light snow fall.
"Heh, I was just...thinking," Kyo said as he cocked his head to the side, "Let's hurry now."
"Right!" Tohru yelled happily as she followed after Kyo down the winter snowy path.
"Kyo!" Shigure yelled as he draped his arms over Kyo's shoulders, leaning his entire weight against, "It's been so quiet since you've been gone and Yuki has been so grumpy."
"Oww! You stupid dog, I still have stitches in my shoulder. Get off me!" Kyo said as he used his good arm and pushed Shigure's face back until he fell off.
"I see the stupid cat is back," Yuki said with a half smirk as he brushed aside his bangs, "You're as loud as ever."
"Damn right!" Kyo said as he kept pushing Shigure away from him, "Do you think a few stitches would shut me up?"
"I think its quiet impossible for you to keep your mouth shut longer then 5 seconds."
"Oh yeah?" Kyo said with a growl, "You're on rat boy!"
Shigure chuckled happily as he glanced towards Tohru who was watching the two boys arguing as always, "Seems like old times."
Tohru smiled lightly, "Yeah…um Shigure I need to ask you something."
"Oh?" Shigure said with a raised eyebrow as he tucked his arms on the inside of his robe, curious on what the question was, "Please, ask away."
"Well…"
"You cheated!" Kyo said as he pointed his index finger at Yuki's face.
"I didn't do anything…"
"Liar! You keep giving me weird looks and messing me up."
"It's not my fault you don't have any self control…"
"Oh yeah? Let's fight then. I'll show you whose boss…"
Yuki simply poked Kyo in his injured shoulder. Despite Kyo's attitude his shoulder was still incredible sore and sensitive. As soon as Yuki touched him he almost passed at out on the floor.
"Uh…maybe I should ask you after dinner," Tohru said with a nervous laugh as Kyo laid on the floor a bit dizzy.
After everyone settled down for a little bit Tohru called everyone for dinner. Everything felt so comfortable to Kyo. Yuki still bothered him, but their bickering wasn't vicious. It amused Kyo to see Yuki's reaction to the things he said and he was pretty sure Yuki felt the same way. Shigure still acted dumb, but despite his somewhat perverted jokes Kyo had to admit he missed Shigure as well when he was away. Sitting there eating together was blissful and yet something about it bothered Kyo.
"Miss Honda would you like me to help you with the dishes?" Yuki asked as he stood up.
"Oh, no it's ok. I'll take care of it."
Kyo wasn't about to let Yuki act like the only gentlemen in the house and he opened his mouth to offer his own help to Tohru, but Shigure suddenly stopped him.
"I think Kyo should go to sleep. After all he had a busy day."
Kyo eyed Shigure for a moment, 'How'd he know what happened? Did Tohru tell him…I better not make a big deal of this, I don't need to hear Yuki's two cents on how to keep perverts away from Tohru when she walks home.' Kyo couldn't help but narrow his eyes some at Shigure. He knew Shigure meant well in his intentions, but Shigure ran on his own agenda and he would do what ever he could to achieve his goals.
"Right, well since everyone seems fine tonight then I'm heading to bed," Kyo stood up from the table following Yuki up the stairs.
"Goodnight," Tohru said to them both.
The two Sohma boys replied back saying 'goodnight' as they headed to their rooms leaving Shigure and Tohru to talk. Tohru wanted to tell someone about Kureno and Shigure tended to know a great deal more then Yuki and Kyo sometimes.
As the two talked downstairs Kyo sat on the floor in his room trying to listen. He couldn't really tell what they were talking about, but he'd figured he'd find out later. Kyo had to admit he was a bit tired after the day's events. He rolled over on the floor, being careful not to twist his injured shoulder too much. He rested his arm over his eyes as he laid there, thinking about tonight's dinner. The feeling he had being with everyone was so comforting that he didn't want it to end, just like Akito didn't want the curse to end. The thought of him have similar feelings as Akito made Kyo sick as he drifted asleep.
"I may not want it too end but it might and I can accept that…but deep down I know this isn't the end. It's just the beginning."
After having a good meal in him, Kyo had fallen asleep on the floor. Shigure's house slowly drifted into darkness as everyone slipped inside their bed. Shigure peeked inside Kyo's room for a brief moment. His dark eyes peered out from the darkness of the hall as he watched him sleep, "I'm sorry…" Shigure said as he slowly slid the door shut and disappeared into the darkness of his own house.
((Author Note: Wow I could have ended it here, but wouldn't make much sense since there are still some loose ends. Hehe, so there's still more!))
