A/N: 208 hits, it says. Unless I'm mistaken, that meansthat two hundred and four people have read this without reviewing. People, PLEASE review! I'm begging you! Both Mer and I LOVE reviews! So here's what I want you to do: Imagine the cutest puppy in the whole world making puppy-dog eyes at you. That is what we are doing. Please review! It can be constructive criticism, corrections, or praise, but let it be something!

Disclaimer: Mer and I do not own Fruits Basket, unfortunately. But if it's ever up for sale and we can afford it, well, THEN we might own it. Right now it is the property of Takaya Natsuki, the lucky (and brilliant) soul.


Shigure's eyes were shining as he listened to Akito rant and rave. He loved drama like this. It was just so inspiring. The public just ate it up. All he had to do with a scene like this one was alter it a little and find some way to fit it to his current plot and bing! instant bestseller. His mind was already racing, trying to fit the unfolding situation into his current plotline. Akito was angry; that didn't matter. Eventually she'd calm down. Kyo might get into trouble. No, correction, Kyo would get into trouble. Well, after seeing him beat Yuki, Shigure wasn't especially worried about that. Kyo could take care of himself. Struggling not to hum happily to himself, Shigure scribbled down notes. He could almost see the money come flowing in…

"Mm-hmm, of course," he agreed, hardly paying any attention at all to Akito at this point. "Wait… You want to see who? Tohru? Not Kyo?" Well, this was an unforeseen complication. He would, however, obey Akito. "I'll send her right over." He hung up the phone, feeling a little anxious for the "little flower". With a small sigh, he padded into the kitchen. Tohru was already hard at work cooking, and Kyo was nowhere in sight. Shigure cleared his throat.

"Itai!" Tohru yelped, dropping a pan which, fortunately, missed her foot. "Shigure-san! You startled me!" She bent over quickly to retrieve the pan, managing to hit her head on the counter as she did so. "Ouch," she murmured quietly, rubbing her head and trying to act like it didn't hurt. Shigure shook his head in amazement. How could one klutz change the Sohma family as much as she had?

Having finally collected herself, Tohru turned back to Shigure. "I-I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting anyone to come talk to me. How can I help you? Is there something special you want to eat?"

Shigure was hungry, and he did hate to send Tohru to see Akito—especially before she got the chance to feed him. But Akito's orders were orders.

"Tohru, Akito called." If he had wanted to catch her attention, that sure did the trick.

"Akito?" she repeated with a small frown, wringing her hands together nervously. "Did he… Is he… angry with Kyo-kun?"

"Angry with Kyo?" Shigure repeated, raising an eyebrow in surprise. Was the girl really that dense? Why wasn't she more concerned for her own safety? Kyo could take care of himself, as he had just proved that morning. He shook his head. "I don't know if he's angry with Kyo-kun or not. I didn't ask and he didn't say." He paused for a brief moment to study Tohru's expression. She seemed relieved. He sighed. It really wouldn't be a bad thing if Tohru thought about herself more often. Well, there would be time for that later, he supposed. If she waited too long to go see Akito, it wouldn't come out well. "Akito wants to see you, Tohru. Right now. I'm sorry; I know you're in the middle of fixing dinner. But he was rather insistent."

Tohru nodded, glancing nervously around the kitchen. "Ano… I guess you could order take-out." She bit her lip. "I'm sorry. It really is my job to cook for you…"

Shigure held up a hand to stop her. "It's fine. Just go. Akito doesn't like to be kept waiting." Her brown head bobbed agreement as she rushed to the front door, pausing only long enough to slip on her shoes and raincoat. She threw open the door and trotted out into the rain, scurrying towards the Sohma house.

Why did Akito want to see her? Akito should have asked to see Kyo, to tell him he was free… Unless Akito was going to go back on her promise. Tohru smothered a sob and quickened her steps. The gated entrance to Sohma property loomed out of the rain in front of her. Hattori was waiting to let her in. She was a little surprised to notice that he looked almost…afraid. She had never seen him scared before. Her heart began to pound.

"Hattori-san," she said formally, bowing. "Akito-san said he wanted to see me."

"Yes," he agreed, unlocking the gate. "I've been waiting for you." He paused, then added, "Try not to antagonize Akito. He's in a bad mood." Tohru gulped and nodded, falling into step behind Hattori as he led her towards Akito's room. He slid the door open, gesturing her into the room. She obeyed, and jumped as he slid the door shut behind her. She would have felt better if Hattori had come in with her.

Glancing around the dim room, it took Tohru a few moments to locate Akito. She was leaning up against a wall, enshrouded in shadow. Some dark emotion flickered in her eyes as she stared intently at Tohru.

Tohru could feel herself sweating nervously. She wanted to break the silence, but something told her that wouldn't be a good idea. She suppressed the urge to fidget, and stood perfectly still for Akito's scrutiny, hands clasped tightly in front of her. It seemed like hours had passed before Akito finally broke the silence.

"Sit." Her voice echoed in the dim room. It sounded as though she were barely keeping her temper in check. Tohru sat, biting her lip apprehensively. With a rustle of silk, Akito stood, striding over to where Tohru sat.

"Do you know what you have cost me?" The voice was a snarl. Akito grasped Tohru's hair, pulling her face up until it was just a few inches from her own. Tohru whimpered. "Because of your insidious manipulation, I have lost a bet." Akito released her hold on Tohru's hair. Tohru collapsed in a heap at Akito's feet.

"It should have been impossible for me to lose that bet. Kyo is too proud to ask Yuki to let him win. Even if Kyo had asked, Yuki still wouldn't have let him win. They hated each other—until you came along." Akito hissed angrily, looking as if she wanted to kick Tohru. She restrained herself—barely. Pacing in circles around Tohru, Akito continued expressing her anger. "There is nothing special about you. I've checked, I've watched you—you are an ordinary girl. If anything, you're more stupid and clumsy than other people. There is no reason why I should have lost my bet because of you!" Akito was literally screaming now. Tohru lay on the floor at her feet, sobbing and shivering in fear. Akito's foot snapped out, catching Tohru in the ribs. She gasped in pain, curling around herself protectively and waiting for the next blow to fall.

Nothing happened. Tohru finally raised her head, looking at Akito through eyes wet with weeping. Akito was on the other side of the room, caressing her pet white bird. She turned to look at Tohru, all traces of her violent rage gone. A cold anger smoldered in her eyes.

"Nothing, Miss Honda, is as important to me as my family. I must have them all with me. They must all love me. They must not be able to leave me. And you have changed that. You have enabled the cat-monster to remain apart from me. You clearly desire his freedom. Fine. I will take yours instead."

Akito, bird still perched on her hand, quickly crossed the room to where Tohru lay. "I will make you a part of my family, since you seem to enjoy our company so much." Puzzled, Tohru met her eyes. Akito's lips were moving at the edge of her vision, forming words. Tohru heard them as if from a long ways off. She tried to listen, but couldn't. Something else was pulling at her consciousness. She had a vague impression of wings beating. The whole world was spread out below her on a miniature scale. She rode the air currents effortlessly, flying freely yet still feeling…trapped, somehow. She gasped, and wasn't sure if it was really her own voice that she heard or the call of a bird. Darkness wrapped around her mind like a blanket and she sank into its embrace gratefully. Perhaps things would be clearer once she woke up.

"What did you do to her?" a voice nearby asked. "She looks…very ill." Tohru fought against unconsciousness as she struggled to place the voice. Hattori, that's whose voice she heard. She tried to speak, and found she couldn't. Nor could she move. Her head was pounding, and she couldn't remember where she was.

"I did nothing," Akito's voice responded. "The baka merely collapsed."

There was a brief pause before another voice—Shigure's—answered. "Still, our little flower doesn't look as if she's feeling well. Maybe I should carry her home."

"No!" Akito snapped. "Don't touch her. When she wakes up, she can walk home. She shouldn't be such a weakling."

Tohru tried again to speak. A soft groan was all she could manage. Her eyes fluttered open, and she realized she was still in Akito's room. Her side throbbed from Akito's kick. Shigure knelt over her.

"Our little flower's awake!" he crowed joyously. Hattori rolled his eyes as he came to kneel on her other side.

"How are you feeling, Tohru?" he asked kindly.

"My head hurts," she whispered. "What happened?"

"That's what we'd all like to know," Hattori answered, looking worriedly between Tohru and Akito. "For now, let's just get you home."

She let Hattori pull her to her feet, an idea slowly crystallizing in her mind. Akito was mad because Kyo-kun won the bet. Therefore, Akito was going to keep her word. Kyo was free!

She forgot her headache, forgot her worry over Akito's strange behavior. Kyo was free, that was all that mattered. Blinking, she looked around. Hattori had clearly opted to remain at the Sohma house. Shigure was walking on her right, looking concerned.

"Tohru, you're awfully quiet. Are you sure you're all right?"

Tohru nodded, "Yes, I'm fine…" She trailed off with a happy squeal as they rounded the bend. Leaning casually against the wall were Kyo-kun and Yuki. She waved and skipped happily over to the pair.

"Kyo! Yuki!" she called, grinning from ear to ear. Her smile faded for a second. "Yuki, are you sure you should be out of bed?"

Kyo sighed, disappointed that she had asked about Yuki's health before his. He lightly tapped her head with his fist.

"He's fine. We wanted to make sure that you were alright."

"Yes," Yuki agreed, violet eyes looking at Tohru with concern. "Momiji called us. He said that Akito asked to see you, and we were afraid that Akito's temper would get the better of him." Tohru bit her lip and said nothing. Silence reigned for all of thirty seconds.

"Well!" demanded Kyo, growing impatient.

"Well what?" Tohru asked innocently.

Kyo made an explosive noise of annoyance. Taking a deep breath, he positively bellowed: "DID AKITO HURT YOU?"

"Oh," Tohru said, looking shocked, and a little frightened, at Kyo's vehemence. She bit her lip and looked at the grass. "N-no."

Kyo snorted, sounding doubtful. Yuki gently raised her chin with his finger, forcing her to look into his violet eyes. "Is that true?"

"A-ano," Tohru murmured, eyes downcast, "I'm sure he didn't mean to hurt me."

Predictably, Kyo exploded again. "Didn't MEAN to hurt you? So he did, in fact, hurt you? What did he do?"

Tohru looked mildly alarmed. "Kyo, please calm down. He was just mad that you won the bet and will be free. It's nothing to get so worked up over!"

"I repeat, what did he do to you!"

Tohru blushed. "Nothing much," she muttered, words barely audible. "Just… pulled my hair and kicked me once."

There was a brief period of silence while Kyo struggled to get control of his temper. Yuki's violet eyes also revealed anger and pain. Both boys were thinking the same thing: How did Akito dare to harm Tohru?

"I'll kill him," Kyo decided, clenching his hands in anger. His eyes looked almost murderous. This was the second time that Akito had hurt Tohru, and he hadn't been there to help her. He couldn't forgive himself for that. He couldn't forgive Akito for harming her. But there was one way to make certain Akito would never do so again. "A dead person never hurts anyone."

"Kyo! No, please—" Tohru desperately tried to think of a way to keep Kyo from heading off to attack, and perhaps even kill, Akito. After all, she didn't think Akito deserved to die. And… the other members of the Zodiac would protect Akito. Kyo could very well never walk away from that confrontation. Biting her lip, she tried to persuade Kyo to leave well enough alone. "Please, Kyo, Akito's going to keep his word. You won't be locked up, but if you go and attack him, then you might be! Please!" I wanted so much to free you! Don't throw that all away! she thought frantically. Not before I tell you…

It was too late. Kyo was already running off, headed towards the Sohma estate. Useless as usual, Shigure popped seemingly out of nowhere. "What, exactly, is Kyo doing? It looks like he's headed towards the Main House. How interesting! I trust that this had nothing to do with our little flower's trip there?"

Yuki and Tohru exchanged quick worried glances, then tore after Kyo. Shigure put a hand to his mouth to stifle his laughter. This day just got better and better for the lover of drama.

"Kyo-kun!" Tohru yelled, gasping for breath. "Please stop!" Kyo seemed not to hear. No, more likely he heard her—his steps faltered a little, but he didn't stop. At least he was running at the speed of a normal person, and not as fast as she had seen him do. He must still be tired from the rain and his fight with Yuki. That was a small blessing. Yuki also wasn't moving at his usual speed. Tohru cringed, hoping that this running wouldn't make his full recovery more difficult… Someone had to end this before Kyo or Yuki pushed themselves too hard and got hurt. Tohru gritted her teeth in determination and picked up the pace. She had almost caught up to Kyo-kun. If she just could run a little faster or reach a little farther… With a wild, desperate leap, she managed to lock her arms around Kyo's waist. "Stop!" she shrieked. Predictably, there was a puff of smoke as Kyo was transformed into a cat. But somehow, this time was different. Tohru felt something inside her change, becoming something that was less human. She gasped as she felt her body begin to change with it. Was everything getting bigger, or was she getting smaller? And what was she sitting under? It felt like someone had thrown a towel over her head—a towel that looked, as far as she could tell, exactly like the shirt she had been wearing.

Yuki, finally catching up to the pair, was pleased to note that Kyo-kun had transformed and no longer seemed interested in killing Akito. He was less pleased to note that Tohru had disappeared, leaving her clothes behind. He glanced around, spotting Kyo. Culprit found, he thought to himself, and glared at Kyo.

"Where is Tohru? What did you do to her?"

Kyo looked up, concerned. "I-I don't know. I didn't do anything!" he snapped. Looking around, he was startled to discover that the rat was right. Tohru was nowhere in sight, even though her clothes were on the sidewalk next to him. "Tohru!" he called, trying not too sound to panicky.

"I'm right here," Tohru answered, voice muffled. She was having a very difficult time. Judging by the way her vision had changed, her eyes had moved to the sides of her head. She couldn't see what was in front of her, only the things to her right and left. She kept turning her head, trying to figure out what was wrong with her eyes. And that wasn't all. While she could move her arms up and down, she couldn't bring them forward. Her hair, too, was conspicuously absent. Moving her arms up and down vigorously, a feather floated past her cheek. She froze. Everything seemed so different—and wrong.

Yuki turned pale and reached down, moving Tohru's discarded shirt to one side, revealing a very ruffled looking bird.

"Tohru?" Kyo and Yuki whispered together, looking frightened.

Realization was dawning on Tohru. Twisting her head more than she would have believed possible to look at herself, she felt her worst fears confirmed. Feathers, beak, claws, and all, she was no longer human. She was a bird. She fought down panic, taking deep breaths. "What…what happened to me?"

"What…exactly… did Akito do to you?" Kyo whispered, looking horrified. Tohru shook her head, not knowing how to answer. She began to sidle closer to Kyo-kun. Somehow his presence made her feel more calm and secure. She felt something inside herself snap, and, with a puff of smoke, she returned to her human self. Of course, her clothes were still on the ground at her feet. "Eep!" she shrieked. Kyo and Yuki instantly turned matching shades of bright red and turned away from her. She quickly dressed as Shigure commented, materializing out of nowhere again, "It's almost as though you've been cursed, Tohru."