Disclaimer: This is the last time I say it for this story, I DO NOT OWN FRUITS BASKET!

Author's note: This chapter features Song lyrics

The Cat Reaper

Chapter 4: Still No Where to Run

When someone close to you fades away, what do you do?
Do you forget about them? Do you continue? Or do you stop and fold in this large game of poker called Life?

It was nearly noon, and Yuki, Kyou, and Shigure stared at an empty table. Yuki peaked into the kitchen, but Tohru wasn't in there. Kyou checked the roof, Tohru had been going there more often, but no sign of her. Shigure checked her bedroom, and was surprised to see her sitting on the edgeof her bed. She was crying.

" Tohru-kun? Are you okay?" Shigure asked, worried. Tohru looked up with tears in her eyes. " Shigure-san... Aren't you sad, too?" She asked. Shigure blinked, then sighed. " Your still upset about Aya, arent you?..." He sat by her. Hoping to comfort her in anyway possible.

Tohru nodded. " I miss him.. Shigure, who would have done such a terrible thing?" She asked. Shigure blinked and then shook his head. " I don't know..." He hugged her, well, as best as he could without transforming into a dog that is. " There are many people in this world Tohru, but not all of them are good." He said sadly.

Tohru wiped her tears away. " Gomenasai, I don't want to be a burden." She said trying to smile. Shigure put his finger on her nose. " You just try to feel better and when you do, you can come downstairs and make food-" He was cutt off by a beaming Tohru.

" Oh no! That's right! I was so depressed that I forgot to make you all breakfast! I'll do it right away!" She ran out of her room. " Arigatou Shigure-san!" She called as she stormed downstairs. Shigure blinked for a moment, then he stood up and looked at the window. " Nai monde, but should you really be thanking someone like me?" He smirked, but quickly hit it with a smile. He walked downstairs. " I'm going to go see Akito" He called.

Tohru's head peaked out of the kitchen. " Already? But you should eat something first, you need your energy!" She protested. Shigure waved a hand. " No, I'll be fine. Ja" He called as he walked out.

Tohru sighed. " I really would rather he get something to eat first." She said quietly. She then turned back into the kitchen and continued making breakfast.

Main House

Shigure leaned against the wall in Akito's room. She sat outside with a bird on her hand, she stared at it. " So why have you come today, Shigure?" She asked. Shigure looked up at her. " I just wanted to ask you one things, Akito." He said. Akito's eyes slightly narrowed. " And what would that be?" She said calmly.

" This thought has been running through my head since the funeral, and I know I won't rest as ease until I know for sure so, Akito. Did you have anything to do with Ayame's death?" He asked. Staring at her with intensly hard eyes. Akito's eyes narrowed more, and she began to squeaze with a tight grip on the bird.

" No, if I wanted to punish him, I would have done much worse." She said, with a voice full of venom. " But I would never kill one of my precious Jyuunishi..." She finished. She had broken ever bone in the bird's body, causing an instant death. She dropped it, blood covered it's body and her hand.

Shigure stared for a second, before looking away and standing up straight. " Why do you ask, Shigure? Do you choose to go against me?" She asked. Shigure looked back slightly. " No, Akito. I would never question your intentions or leave your side.." He said before walking out. Akito looked back at the door, letting down her face. She glared, a thought kicking in. " Perhaps I know who is responcible for the death of my precious snake." She said in quietly, yet cold, whisper.

Back at Shigure's House

Tohru walked out of the bathroom. She walked past Yuki's room to see him staring down sadly. She blinked as she saw a sheet of paper, after reading she realized they were song lyrics. This gave Tohru an idea! Quickly she ran to the phone downstairs. After a few minutes she hung up with a smile.

" There, hopefully Yuki will accept and join the contest. This only happens once a year when the karaoke contest comes into town. This could finally be Yuki's chance to express himself.." She walked off to do laundry.

About an hour later Yuki was walking down as the phone rang. He stopped and blinked at it before walking over to it and picking it up. " Hello? This is the Sohma residence." He answered. The voice practically boomed. " Hello! Is this Yuki Sohma speaking!" A male voice beamed. Yuki blinked. " Yes, this is Yuki Sohma, why?" He asked, hoping to god it wasn't one of the kids at school.

" Congradulations Yuki Sohma! You have be selected to enter the 24th annual Karaoke Contest!" He continued, beaming. Yuki was dumbstruck with confusion. " I've been what? Uhm... So uh- Okay.. Where and when?" Yuki asked. " The Concert hall! Today at 5:00!" He answered. Yuki looked up at the clock, his eyes widening slightly. " That's in 2 hours!" He said.

" Yes, yes I know We hope to see you then!" The man hung up, leaving Yuki in a confused, shocked, trance. Eventually he snapped out of it and ran up to Tohru. " Uhm, Miss Honda? I've been selected into a karaoke contest. Would you like to go with me?" He asked, still a bit on the confused side. Tohru looked at him. " Sure, can Kyou and Shigure go too?" She asked, hopefull. Yuki stopped for a moment but eventually gave in.

" Sure.." He said. Tohru lit up. " Okay!" She ran off to go get ready. A half an hour later everyone sat at dinner, by that time all of them knew about the contest. Tohru had finally convinced Kyou and Shigure to go too. Luckily Yuki had already chosen what he wanted to sing. He had made up his mind.

At the Concert Hall

When they had arrived Yuki went straight to the Secretary next. " Uhm, excuse me but is this where contestants sign up?" Yuki asked, looking at the girl at the desk. She looked up. " Oh, you must be Yuki Sohma then?" She said. She didn't look that old, she actually looked about the age of 18. 18 and working! Now that's something! Yuki nodded. She signalled for him to go to the back.

Yuki waited back stage. Of course he was worried that some of the other contestants were people he didn't want to see at the moment. First up were the 4 fanclub girls, including Motoko, who was the lead singer. Oh this should be good, we all could guess what, or who they were going to sing about. Infact it wasn't that bad either.

(Up-side down, upside down)

My grades are down from A's to D's
I'm way behind in history
I lost myself in fantasies
Of you and me together

I don't know why - I - I but dreaming's all I do
I won't get by-I-I on mere imagination

Upside down
Bouncing off the ceiling
Inside out
Stranger to this feeling
Got no clue what I should do
But I'll go crazy if I can't get next to you
( to you..)

My teacher says to concentrate
So what- his name was Peter the Great
The kings and queens will have to wait
Cuz I don't have forever

I wish that I - I - I could walk right up to you
Each time I try- I-I the same old hesitation

Upside down
Bouncing off the ceiling
Inside out
Stranger to this feeling
Got no clue what I should do
But I'll go crazy if I can't get next to you

(to you..)

Somehow someday
You will love me too
One day will be the day when all my dreams come true

Upside down...
(Yah yah yah yeah!)

Upside down
Bouncing off the ceiling
Inside out
Stranger to this feeling
Got no clue what I should do
But I'll go crazy if I can't get next to you

Upside down
Bouncing off the ceiling
Inside out
Stranger to this feeling
Got no clue what I should do
But I'll go crazy if I can't get next to...
But I'll go crazy if I can't get next to...
But I'll go crazy if I can't get next to you

The crowd went wild! Yuki was in complete confusion now. He had a feeling he knew who they were singing about. He wished they would stop bothering him so much. Of course he was snapped out of it as soon as he realized he was next. As soon as the fangirls left the stage, Yuki walked on. He looked up, and so his song began.

I open my eyes
I try to see but I'm blinded by the white light
I can't remember how
I can't remember why
I'm lying here tonight

And I can't stand the pain
And I can't make it go away
No I can't stand the pain

How could this happen to me
I made my mistakes
I've got no where to run
The night goes on
As I'm fading away
I'm sick of this life
I just wanna scream
How could this happen to me

Everybody's screaming
I try to make a sound but no one hears me
I'm slipping off the edge
I'm hanging by a thread
I wanna start this over again

So I try to hold onto a time when nothing mattered
And I can't explain what happened
And I can't erase the things that I've done
No I can't

How could this happen to me
I made my mistakes
I've got no where to run
The night goes on
As I'm fading away
I'm sick of this life
I just wanna scream
How could this happen to me

( Instrumental Overture)

I made my mistakes
I've got no where to run
The night goes on
As I'm fading away
I'm sick of this life
I just wanna scream
How could this happen to me...

Yuki looked down as it ended. The crowd applauded. Yuki was glad to finally express those deep feelings.

Soon came time for the judging.

In first place: Some random kid

In second place: Yuki Sohma

In third place: The fanclub girls

Everyone cheered, and then they left...

Author's note: There ya go! Hope ya enjoyed it!

Credits:

Special thanks to A-teens for the song "Upside Down"

Special thanks to Simple Plan for the song "How could this happen to me"

Until next time!