Fruits Basket

Beginnings and Endings

Chapter 45

We have come so far…yet what was it for? Was it for happiness…love…greed, or was it something we couldn't even remember? Whatever it is, we have walked far on our paths, but at what cost? In our journey, what has suffered the most? What is dying before our eyes?

"Kyo?" A child-like voice cooed as Kyo slowly opened his eyes to be met by the afternoon's sun. He quickly shut his eyes again and used his arms to prop himself up.

"What time is it?" Kyo asked with a yawn as he stretched his arms once he was able to open his eyes without the glare of the sun. Yuki, Shigure, and himself had decided to take a break while Hatori, Hiro, Kisa, Haru, Ritsu, and Momiji took over some of the work on the repairs to Shigure's house.

"Uh, it's the afternoon, I suppose. I don't have a watch," Momiji said as he sat on his hands and knee's looking at Kyo. "Tohru should be back soon."

"So?" Kyo said with a snort as he stared at Momiji.

"Aren't you worried?"

"Huh? Why would I be? I didn't even say anything about her or anything!" Kyo growled wondering what Momiji was up to. For someone so young (even though he was only a year younger then Kyo….), he was very acute at knowing what was going on around him. It bothered him sometimes that Momiji seemed to be the only one that understood Tohru so well.

Momiji had a light smile across his face that made Kyo wonder what was going on in that head of his. "Well, you worry about her."

"I'm not worrying now! I'm not her mother or anything," Kyo said as he stood up from his seat under the tree.

"I bet she would have worried," Momiji commented as he hugged his knees. "Tohru's mother…."

His comment made Kyo pause in his steps as his thoughts drifted back to that woman. "Yeah…I bet she would."

((Scene Change))

"A party later?" Rin repeated as she stared at Tohru with an unsure look. She had spent her days resting in Kagura's home, and she was beginning to look an hundred percent better. The resting seemed to be doing her some good; her skin was a much healthier pink, and her dark eyes held more life within them.

"Yes, after we fix Shigure's house. We want to celebrate," Tohru said with a light smile as Rin stared at the wall now.

"Fine…" Rin said simply as she shut her eyes. She felt like an army just defeated her by admitting she would go.

Kagura sat down next to Tohru, handing her a cup of tea. "Is everyone there already?"

Tohru shook her head as she took the cup carefully in her hand. "Well, no, not yet, but Haru is there!" Tohru said directing her comment mostly to Rin who snorted in response.

Rin stood up quickly and shouted angrily at them both, "So what!" She stormed off down the hall saying nothing more, leaving Kagura and Tohru there.

Kagura was giggling lightly. "I think you embarrassed her."

"I did? Maybe I should apologize…."

"No need, my lovely Tohru!" Ayame yelled as he suddenly appeared in the doorway, frightening the two girls who threw their tea in the air.

"A-Ayame!" Tohru said, still a tad startled by his sudden appearance.

"Yes, it is I, the man you have been searching for." Ayame pranced over toward the two girls. "I couldn't help but overhear what you were saying."

"Oh, you're invited too, Ayame. I didn't know you were here," Tohru said, regaining her composure.

"Ayame was here picking up some extra fabric my mother had," Kagura added as Ayame nodded his head in agreement.

"Ah, yes, and what fine fabric. It shall make a man proud to wear it." Ayame waved his new fabric around in his hands that looked more suited for a woman, but Ayame had a talent for making things. At least Tohru thought the things he made were wonderful. Yuki didn't quite agree with her though. She never knew why. "Tohru, my dear, will Yuki be there?"

"Hmm? Oh, of course. He's been there all day. I hope he's ok…."

"Don't you worry, Tohru! I'll go over right away and care for him for you! I shall hug him and take care of him until your return," Ayame said as he marched towards the door.

"Uh…well, I didn't mean-"

"Yuki, here I come!"

Kagura laughed lightly. "Yuki should be happy."

"Do you really think so?" Tohru asked, not really catching on to Kagura's sarcastic tone. Kagura laughed again and only nodded her head to Tohru's simple nature. Tohru laughed with her, even though she wasn't even sure why she was laughing. After a moment or so she swallowed a breath of air as she began to speak again. "Uh, Kagura."

"Hmm?"

"Do you know where Kureno is? I wanted to invited him….He is still part of the zodiac."

"We don't see much of him…but I think he sometimes sits in the gardens. Just be careful. Akito doesn't like a lot of people talking to him."

Tohru nodded as she stood up from her seat. "Don't worry, it won't take long."

"See you at Shigure's house, Tohru! I'll bring lots of snacks! And I'll bring fish for Kyo!" Kagura yelled out as Tohru waved a goodbye to her.

Tohru didn't know the Sohma house well enough to find the gardens. She knew where the main house was, but she never saw the gardens. She walked slowly down one of the many paths that seemed to weave in all different directions around the Sohma estate. As to where the one she was on went, she wasn't sure. "Oh, no. What if I get lost? Maybe I'll never find my way out! Then everyone will worry…."

"Tohru?" A soft voice said from behind her.

She quickly turned around to see who it was, and standing on the path was Kureno. His light brown hair waved gently with the soft breeze in the air as his fingers gripped a pair of clippers he was using to trim the plants with. He seemed a tad surprised to see her there, but his expression slowly faded behind his pale face. Tohru felt a wave of relief rush over her as she stepped towards him, happy she was able to find him without running into Akito.

"Kureno, I wanted to invite you to Shigure's house today. We're going to have a party tonight. I know you are probably busy, but you're a part of the zodiac too."

"A part of the zodiac…" Kureno said slowly as he had never had anyone say that to him before. He smiled lightly to her as he nodded his head. "Thank you, though I cannot promise I will come."

Tohru nodded her head quickly. "Oh, no, I didn't mean you had to come-"

"But I will try if I am able," Kureno said as he offered his hand to her. "Come now, you shouldn't be here."

She stared at his hand for a moment before she took it. His hands were surprisingly soft, and his grip was very gentle. Kureno seemed so fragile to her, yet somehow he remained strong. She wondered if she could be anything like him. She wanted to be strong for the zodiac members, and for Kyo.

"Look," Kureno said as he pointed to the front gates when they arrived. Kyo was there, jumping down from the main gates. He still wasn't allowed to be there, but he wanted to make sure Tohru was ok. His crimson eyes easily spotted her since she was standing directly in front of the gate with Kureno.

"Tohru?" Kyo said before his eyes narrowed at Kureno who was holding her hand. "What the hell is he doing?"

"Holding her hand," Kureno said simply as he opened his hand to let her go.

"I can see that! Don't touch her."

"I was leading her out."

"You don't need to hold hands to do that!" Kyo yelled as Tohru tried to calm him down some. Kureno didn't seem to be bothered by it. In that sense, he was much like Tohru who didn't take much to Kyo's yelling since most of it was a result of overreacting. He was never malicious about it.

"Keep her safe. The zodiac animals can't protect her for long," Kureno said as he turned back to the main house.

"I know that!" Kyo said with a snort as he looked back at Tohru. "And you shouldn't be here. It's too dangerous. Haven't you noticed all the trouble we seem to get into when we're here?"

"But I had to invite the others."

"It's called a telephone. Come on, let's go back now," Kyo said as he began to head towards the door. "I swear, I'm going to die of a heart attack one day."

"Everyone's coming now," Tohru said as she jogged a bit to catch up with Kyo's quick pace. She didn't expect Kyo to come all this way to get her. "Thank you…."

Kyo heard her and knew what the thank-you was for, but he didn't want to make a big deal out of it. He offered her a simple smile of acknowledgement before he continued on speaking. "I saw that weirdo Ayame while I was coming here. Ha, I'm missing all the fun with Yuki now."

((Meanwhile…))

"Yuki! I'm here to love you. Come and give your big brother a hug," Ayame said as he threw open the newly built doors, smashing them in the process. Yuki had been sitting on the floor finishing the final touches on them until Ayame just broke them.

"Get out…," Yuki said in a low voice.

Hatori was sitting on the steps with Shigure as Yuki and Ayame began to argue inside the house. The noise level around them suddenly spiked because of them. Hatori was rubbing his forehead lightly as he wished he had brought some cigarettes since he sure needed one now. He could hear Ayame yelling, of course, and he wondered when he would ever learn to get along with Yuki. "Idiot…" Hatori mumbled as Shigure giggled at a book he was reading next to him. Hatori stared at Shigure for a moment before mumbling again, "Idiot….Pervert."