Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits-Basket or any of its characters, I don't even own some of the moments in this chapter, but those will be footnoted at the end.

A/N Sorry for he long time between updates. Yes, I am a lazy bum. Thanks to Knux Girl for betaing this chapter, and thank you to all the reviewers! On to the chapter...

Chapter 9: Surprises

Kiyoshi watched Yuki leave through half-closed eyes; he made no move to stop him and could tell from the way Yuki held his head that he intended to never return. But he would return. Yuki would not be able to stay away from Tohru for long. Kiyoshi knew he, himself, wouldn't be able to...

Oh, Yuki could, and would try, but every day the pain of the seperation would grow stronger. He'd find himself thinking of her at the strangest times. She would fill his waking moments with anguish and his dreams with longing. He would hear her voice or laugh, see her when she wasn't there...

You could run from love, but you couldn't hide.

"Yuki?" Tohru's murmur broke through his thoughts, "Promise me that we'll always be together. Promise me..." Her voice faded away before falling silent. She had fallen back asleep, or had never awoken at all.

Kiyoshi's stomach clenched uncomfortably at her innocent words. Tohru loved Yuki, even if she could not remember that she did, somewhere deep inside she knew, and Yuki returned those feelings even if he was running from them.

Kiyoshi had the sudden urge to smash something. How could Yuki run from Tohru when she needed him so much. That undeserving brat! He should not have Tohru's heart and trust. What did he have that Kiyoshi didn't?

Kiyoshi moved to the seat Yuki had previously occupied and took Tohru's hand in his own. Still sleeping Tohru smiled, unaware, and blissfully oblivious.

He could not hide the truth from her, he had to tell her. Everything. She deserved to know. She needed to know. Just...not yet.

Not yet...

He stroked her hand softly one final time before guiltily retreating back to his original seat.

Tomorrow. He would tell her everything, tomorrow. For now she could remain innocent, just a little longer. For now Kiyoshi could continue to pretend that he did not have to let her go. Kiyoshi could pretend that she called out for him in the middle of the night. Kiyoshi could pretend that it was he
that she loved.

Please, just let me pretend. Let me hide the truth from my heart.

Just a little longer.

Tohru blinked sleep from her eyes as she blearily awoke to the noise coming from outside the door. Muffled arguing caused Tohru to sit up in alarm. What was going on? Where was Yuki? And Kiyoshi?

The door opened to reveal a slim, graceful man. He sneered down at her. Tohru could practically feel the heat of his hate radiating out of his dark eyes. Something about his beautiful face was vaguely familiar but when she attempted to catch it the memory flittered away like a wisp of silk on the wind.

"Good morning, Miss Honda," the man said pronouncing every syllable in a clipped tone.

Tohru continued to watch him in confusion. Who was this pale stranger? He glided over to the edge of her bed and another taller man entered the room followed by a blank-eyed Kiyoshi.

"Go sit in that chair," the taller man ordered quietly and Kiyoshi obeyed as if he were under some sort of spell.

Tohru returned her attention to the slim man. "Do I know you?" she asked
politely with a slight quiver of fear in her voice.

"Do you know me?" the man repeated then he smirked, "Well, well. This is an interesting little development. Hatori, come here." He added the last bit in a harsh commanding voice.

The taller man rose, his eyes refusing to meet Tohru's. He stood next to the smaller man who gave him a push towards Tohru's head causing him to stumble slightly.

"See if you can jump start Miss Honda's memories."

Hatori finally met Tohru eyes, and his look was so sad and apologetic. Tohru wanted to ask him what was wrong but the next moment he had laid a cool hand against her forehead and...

...Tohru's mother lay battered and bruised on the hospital bed. The doctors had cleaned her up the best they could but the metallic scent of blood still hung in the air. Her eyes were closed and her face held no expression. Kyoko would never smile again...

Flicker.

...'Please don't fight!' Tohru shouted running forward, tripping on a piece of wood and falling into the strange orange boy. There was a poof of smoke and she found herself holding an orange cat... (1)

Flicker.

...'I'm glad you came with me,' Yuki whispered in her ear as she hid her face in embarassment, 'if you hadn't I wouldn't have gotten to see you looking so cute.'... (2)

Flicker.

...'You'll never be able to help them,' Akito sneered, 'the zodiac members belong to me. They are cursed. They do not deserve to be loved, and they do not know how to love in return."...

Flicker.

...'Come on, Miss Honda,' Yuki smiled shyly, 'Let's go on a date.'... (3)

Flicker.

...'I know you have him, Akito,' Tohru tried to sound brave but her voice quivered, 'Now let Yuki go.' 'First there's something I want you to see,' he replied...

Flicker.

...'Hey Yuki,' Tohru giggled as she watched Yuki's refusal to look outside the airplane window, 'You're not afraid of heights are you?' Yuki reddened in embarrassment. 'You would be, too if you spent a third of your life as a two inch tall rat.'...

Flicker.

...'We'll always be together, I promise.'...

Flicker.

...'Don't forget about us.'...

Flicker. Flicker.
Flicker.Flicerflickerflickerflickerflickerflickerflickerflickerflickerflickerflickerflicker...

The last of her memories faded to darkness and the hospital room returned. Her head was pounding and her thoughts were scattered, but one thought kept repeating over and over again in her confused mind;

How could I have forgotten?

"Thank you Hatori," Tohru managed to croak after a short while, "for returning my memories. My thanks to you as well, Akito."

"You're a simple minded fool, Miss Honda," Akito chuckled cruelly, "The only reason I restored your memories was so that I could be the one to take them away. Hatori," He gestured to the Sohma family doctor, who took a step forward; the apologetic look in his eye was more pronounced than ever, magnified by the glistening of unshed tears.

For the seventh time Yuki made his way to the exit of the airport. He couldn't go through with it, he couldn't leave Tohru...but he had to. Would this pain ever go away? Would he ever truly be able to forget Tohru Honda, his first love? Did he even want to?

He turned back towards the waiting room, head and eyes lowered, his suitcase dragging behind him.

"Yuki?" a familiar voice broke through the depressing fog inside Yuki's mind.

"Yuki, it is you!"

Yuki found himself caught up in a fierce hug from none other than Hatsuharu Sohma. "I'm so glad you're okay. Is Tohru with you? Is she okay?" Haru asked in a rush, it was the most emotional Yuki had ever seen the younger man.

Yuki just stared at Haru for a while. He could not believe he was there. Yuki was about to tell him that everything was fine, that Tohru was in the hospital when...

"I left her," Yuki's voice cracked.

"You left her!" Haru exclaimed, "But Akito's on his way, in fact he's probably already here. Who knows what he'll do to her."

"Akito's here?" Yuki repeated, stunned. Haru's confirming nod was all he needed. Yuki dropped his bag and sprinted towards the doors.

I'm an idiot! How could I leave her alone? If anything happens to her it'll be because of me. Hang on Tohru, I'm coming!

Please, let her be okay.

"What did you do to Kiyoshi," Tohru demanded trying to stall for time.

"Don't worry, your little guard is fine. He didn't want to let us in so I had Hatori persuade him," Akito laughed as if this was the funniest thing in the world. Hatori seemed to hunch over in shame.

"Why are you doing this Akito?"

"Because," Akito growled, a mad gleam in his eye, "Because I can."

"It doesn't have to be this way, Hatori," Tohru whispered turning her attention to the depressed man, "You don't have to do what he says."

A tear rolled down Hatori's face and fell onto Tohru's cotton blanket. "I don't have a choice."

"Of course you have a choice!"

"You don't understand."

"What is there to understand? You're scared. Scared of a sick man who is using you for evil purposes. Akito does not care for you, any of you. He sees you as an object, a toy that he can pick up and play with on a whim and discard just as quickly."

"It is not that simple," Hatori objected though he sounded unsure.

"What is taking you so long!" Akito interrupted, "Erase her memories. Now!"

Hatori's gaze remained locked with Tohru's. She continued to wordlessly plead with him. His hand drifted towards her forehead, then hesitated, trembling it stayed there, hovering an inch above her skin. Tohru closed her eyes in defeat. Time seemed to stand still.

"No." that one glorious word caused Tohru's eyes to pop open.

Hatori was facing Akito, his back straight and his fists clenched at his sides. Akito's eyes widened in surprise.

"What did you say to me?" He hissed.

"No," Hatori repeated, "I'm not going to erase Tohru's memories for you. I refuse to."

"You refuse to!" Akito exclaimed, "You can not refuse. I am your
God!"

"Then consider me an atheist."

Yuki ran. He ran faster than he had ever run before. Smoothly he avoided patients, doctors and potted plants. Hatsuharu followed a few steps behind. Their mad race through the hospital caused papers to blow of tables and people to look for the open window that was letting the wind in. They opted to take the stairs instead of the elevator. It would be faster.

Breathless, they finally found themselves at Tohru's room door, and without another moment of hestitation, Yuki entered and then froze. Hatori was perched on the edge of Tohru's bed while they quietly conversed and Kiyoshi seemed to be passed out on a chair. At the sound of the door opening Hatori turned to face them his eyes unreadable. Tohru saw them a second later and she smiled. The whole room seemed brighter.

"Yuki, Hatsuharu," she cried, "I'm so happy you're here."

Yuki could only stare at her, his mouth hanging open. She was safe, and she was talking to Hatori. She remembered Hatsuharu! What was going on! Hatsuharu casually strolled up to the bed and lifted her hand to his lips to give it a short kiss in greeting. She blushed and smiled.

"How's everyone doing?" she asked.

"They're doing pretty well, they miss you. Arisa and Saki keep asking me if I've heard from you."

"Oh! I forgot to send the letters, everythings been so hectic...but that's no excuse. I'll get started on them immediately."

Yuki could not believe everyone was acting so calmly. It was as if nothing had ever happened. Somehow Tohru seemed to have regained her memories since she remembered Hatsuharu, Kiyoshi was passed out, and where in the world was Akito!

Yuki collapsed to the floor with a tired sigh. "Could someone please tell me what's going on?"

10 minutes later

"I'm glad you have your memories back, Tohru," Yuki smiled after being filled in on the days events. He still couldn't believe that Akito had left so quickly though he didn't believe for a second that it was the last they had heard of him.

"Yes," Tohru smiled back, "Me too."

Groaning came from Kiyoshi's chair and his eyes shot open. He bounded to his feet, all of his muscles tense, his eyes first landing on a perfectly safe Tohru and then on a now stiffly standing Hatori.

"You," he growled accusingly, "What did you do to me?"

Hatori bowed deeply. "I am sorry for the trouble I have caused you, but, I promise you, you are fine. As is Tohru."

Kiyoshi still looked suspicious and his eyes flickered over to Torhu who gave a quick affirming nod of her head. He seemed to relax, slightly.

"I feel much better now too, Kiyoshi, I think it's time that I return to the palace," Tohru added smiling at the shocked expression on Kiyoshi's face as he realized Tohru had her memories again.

Kiyoshi then saw Yuki sitting calmly on the floor and Hatsuharu next to him. "Yuki's back? And who are you? Could someone please tell me what is going on?"

Hatsuharu laughed at the other man's confusion, causing Kiyoshi to frown. "I don't think you would believe us if we told you," he managed through his chuckles.

"Try me," Kiyoshi said through narrow eyes.

The three zodiac members passed each other knowing glances. Yuki opened his mouth to explain but was interrupted when the door was opened by a uniformed man.

"Princess Tohru," he bowed deeply his eyes on the floor, "General Kiyoshi, Lord Sohma, I was sent with an urgent message." He raised himself and his eyes landed on Tohru, he seemed speechless for a moment until Kyoshi cleared his throat gruffly caushing the young guard to blush and stumble out his
message.

"The King is dead," he declared formerly, "Long live Princess Tohru, now Queen of Mayuko."

(1) Footnote #1- This memory is from the scene when Tohru first finds out about the Sohma curse. It's in the 1st manga, and I believe the 1st episode
(2) Footnote #2- This is from when Tohru went with Yuki to Aaya's shop. It's one of the later anime episodes, and I can't remember where it takes place in the manga, but it IS in there...somewhere.

(3) Footnote #3- This is also from the anime, and perhaps the manga as well...can't really remember, and am too lazy to check. Anywho, it's when Kyo and Kagura go out on a 'date' a.k.a. go grocery shopping, and Shigure tells Yuki he should take Tohru out. --happy sigh-- one of my favourite parts,--squee!-- Yuki is so hot!

A/N Thanks so much for reading everyone, even if it was another late update. Don't forget to review!

Arigatou!

MegTao