Disclaimer: Neither Fruits Basket nor the Fruits Basket characters belong to me. They are the property of Natsuki Takaya.

In case you haven't guessed, this plot is exclusively mine with a little help from my reviewers. Reviews have been very helpful in refining the plot as I went along. All original characters are mine as well. This chapter is a little more humorous than the last. I hope you enjoy it. Please read and if you like, review.

Chapter 21 Repercussions

Kagura saw the limo leave with Tohru inside and she watched Hatori as he headed for home. She slipped upstairs and cracked open the door to Shigure's study. He was oblivious of her movements; his rapt attention was focused on the screen and the images of Tohru and him enjoying their time in Greece... She clenched her fists in anger. Damn stupid fool men, all three of them! She slid the study door closed. In her heart she resolved to do all she could to right the situation and soon. Shigure and Tohru belonged together, no matter what…why couldn't Shigure recognize that? Did he hate himself that much? Or did he think Tohru was so weak she would be unable to sustain her love under difficult circumstances?

Shigure woke the next morning with sunlight streaming into his study. His head was creased by the edge of his desk where he had fallen asleep watching the CD images that were still endlessly circling the loop he had set up. It was a never-ending dance but he was no longer her partner. He didn't really need the CD. The real pictures were still in his head just as he had told Hatori. He picked up the phone and dialed a number he had seen only once.

"Alfred Sanderson Agency, may I help you?" Esme's voice came through clearly.

"Sanderson-san, Shigure Sohma here."

"Mr. Sohma, how nice to hear from you. And how is that lovely young woman you were on holiday with?"

"Actually, that's why I'm calling. She's gone you see."

"Gone, you mean she was kidnapped?"

"Not quite. It's a complicated story. Let's just say I convinced her to go. I just need to know where she's gone so I can be sure she stays well. From a distance, you understand…"

"NO, I don't, but perhaps Alfred will." Esme's voice had flattened in disapproval and Shigure couldn't blame her. He still wasn't sure if he was knight or fool.

Alfred's sympathetic voice was next on the line. "Shigure-san, I heard what you told Esme. Please meet with me and explain. I know it's not the way you made it sound."

"I don't think so Alfred-san. There's no need for a meeting. Let's just say it's a complicated family matter and I felt it would be less painful for her if she left than if she stayed. I only want her found so I can make sure she stays safe. A habit I've developed over years and can't seem to break." Shigure's voice trailed off as he spoke the last sentence. This was so hard; he really couldn't break the habit of caring for Tohru. As he thought about it, he realized that was a habit he didn't want to break.

Alfred's eyes were damp behind his glasses. He heard everything the young man was not saying and putting that together with what he had learned from Akito today and what Tohru had told him in the past, he had a pretty good idea of what had happened. "Of course Shigure-san, I do understand. I will find her and keep her under surveillance. If any adverse developments occur, I will notify you immediately."

"Thank you Alfred-san. Please keep me informed." Shigure hung up the phone. That was all he could do for her now. His gaze returned to his monitor and the golden dream that was still his but destined to be forever out of reach.

Elsewhere, Momiji paced the carpet in Hatori's sitting room, irascibility etched into his features. Mayuki and Hatori glanced at each other, both pairs of eyes registered total surprise. Neither of them had ever seen Momiji display a temper of any sort. The mild, happy-go-lucky rabbit had become a raging demon.

"Those three idiotic stupid cousins of mine; do they even realize what they've done? Does Shigure realize what a person would do for just one glance from Tohru such as she's been giving that stubborn egotistical dog for months? And Yuki and Kyo! That damn rat and that damn cat do they even realize how selfish they have been since Tohru returned from Greece. Imagine trying to convince her they love her after all this time when they had the chance long before she and Shigure went to Greece. It's ridiculous and it only made her miserable. Damn Shigure and him thinking he's so noble. Blast Yuki and Kyo for their selfish, short-sighted actions. Doesn't anyone realize what Tohru wants to be happy?" He paused for a moment. "Their thought processes are just wonderful" Momiji's voice dripped with sarcasm. " Let's see, how did those thoughts go…Oh I know… Let's spare Tohru's feelings by not telling her how we feel. Let's trample all over her newly won self-confidence. What better way than to tell her you don't need her to stay, here's some money, you can go. Thank you for the best years of your life. It's vile, it's like telling your long time mistress thank you for your services but I don't want you anymore. How could that stupid inu do that to her?"

"But Momiji Shi…"

"Ha'ri, don't even try to defend him. He thinks he's being so noble and he's just being selfish, again! And asinine!"

Hatsuharu walked in on the tableau. "Yo…how's it go… Momiji since when did you develop black in your personality…"

"Those inept, blind, chauvinistic…" Hatsuharu sat down beside Hatori to watch the show. He pulled a small voice recorder from his pocket and flicked it on. Hatori raise an eyebrow at the action. Haru defended himself.

"It's Black Momiji, I've never seen this before and no will believe it without proof." Hatori smiled in spite of himself.

Damn cat, damn rat, and blasted dog punctuated his rant for the next ten minutes and then he began to slow down. Haru turned off his recorder in disappointment.

"Is it out of your system now Momiji?" Hatori inquired quietly.

"Yes, at least for now. Haru, when did you arrive?" Momiji's brown eyes went wide in their surprise.

"About fifteen minutes ago."

"Oh, so you probably know what happened, right?"

"Not really but I can guess. The 'damn rat', 'damn cat', and 'blasted dog', must have done something to Miss Honda. I can't imagine you acting like this on anyone else's behalf."

"You are right of course, although there are two other people I might do the same thing for…" Momiji's return to his normal self with no whisper of apology only underscored his actions for the last half hour. Suddenly exhausted Momiji sat down on the floor and crossed his legs. "I don't know how you do it Haru, I am totally exhausted." He gazed at the three witnesses and spoke quietly. "Now that we have my feelings out of the way, let's talk about what we can do to right the situation."

"My thoughts exactly!" was the comment from just outside the door. Kagura walked in as everyone glanced her way.

"Kagura, you have to hear this," Haru urged. He handed her the recorder and his earphones.

She listened in wide-eyed astonishment. "Momiji, I didn't know you ever used words like this, I am impressed!"

"What…" Momiji's gaze turned to Haru. "Tell me you didn't do what I think you did." He said warningly.

"Can't" Haru said easily.

"In that case, keep it someplace safe. I don't think it will happen again." Momiji said with a return to his customary good humor. "Maybe you can scare your children with their bad tempered Uncle Momiji when you have them."

"Now," Kagura began, "Shigure is miserable, heartbroken, and mule headed, but noble. Tohru is miserable and heartbroken. As for Yuki and Kyo, they are wrongheaded, selfish, petty, and shortsighted."

"Very well said Kagura," Momiji applauded.

"I for one do not see how you find any redeeming qualities in Shigure Sohma. I cannot for the life of me imagine him with a broken heart."

"That is where you are wrong Mayuki-sensei." Momiji turned earnest brown eyes her direction. "Tohru was in your class for four years. You know the type of person she is. Even the coldest of hearts would have to melt if exposed to her presence over a course of years, right?"

Mayuki shifted uncomfortably under Momiji's gaze. "Perhaps, but…"

"You may have doubts but I don't. Tohru lived in Shigure's house for six years. The last three years it has been just the two of them most of the time. They work together, laugh together, and eat together. Even Shigure is not immune to that kind of exposure Mayuki-sensei. I consider myself a good judge of human nature and I do know Shigure loves Tohru, no matter what I may have just said." Momiji spoke with confidence and Mayuki found herself reconsidering her views.

"Now, what we have to do is bring the two of them back together." Kagura spoke into the silence left by Momiji's declaration. "Do we know where she is, that's my first question."

Momiji glance at the four assembled there. "I know, but you have to swear it doesn't go beyond this room. I don't want Tohru brought back home until everything is settled."

They each agreed willingly to his condition and then it was Hatori's turn to speak. "Haru, are you with us on this? If not you can choose to leave now."

"I agreed, so what's the plan."

"The way I see it, Kyo and Yuki must realize they are not in love with Tohru. That's step one, find Kyo and Yuki girlfriends. Momiji; Hatsuharu, can you help with that?"

Haru spoke thoughtfully. "Finding girls willing to spend time with Kyo and Yuki is easy. Finding girls Yuki and Kyo want to spend time with; that is going to be more difficult. We'll work on it though, right Momiji?"

"Right Haru!"

"I may be able to help" Kagura volunteered. "I know quite a few girls and there may be a couple of them that will appeal."

"If we are successful in pairing Yuki and Kyo with their own girls, then will come step two. Yuki and Kyo have to see Tohru again and convince her they really are happy and are not in love with her. That should be easy if step one is successful. Step three is the most important. We have to somehow engineer a reunion between Tohru and Shigure. Of course, we'll have to make sure Shigure thinks it was his idea. There is also one more person we should include in our plans."

"You are right Ha'ri. Akito should know what we are planning."

While Momiji and Hatori were embroiled in their scheme to reunite Shigure and Tohru, Akito was wearing a track onto the tatami in his apartments. He restlessly paced back and forth. His plan had achieved everything he originally wanted and then some. Yuki and Kyo had called Shigure's to talk to Tohru because of the way they'd left things that weekend and found out she was gone. The two boys were so angry with Shigure that the dog would soon be alone in his house. They had called Hatori as soon as they learned Tohru was gone to make him aware of their decisions. Yuki was moving to the compound and Kyo to Kazuma's dojo. Shigure and Tohru were both miserable and Tohru had left the Sohmas behind. It was exactly what he had wanted…Yes? Yuki hated Akito but he hated Shigure even more because he had stolen the girl Yuki believed he wanted for himself. Kyo hated him and Shigure equally, that's why he was back at the dojo. Neither the cat nor the rat had courage enough to confess they loved her and neither ever took the chances offered to declare themselves; not until after Shigure had won her. It was drama of the highest order and his life could not be called boring now. That was what he wanted…No damn it, it wasn't what he wanted at all. All he cold see when he closed his eyes at night was Tohru's tear stricken gaze. All he could feel were her tears on his shoulder as she cried until she could cry no more. He remembered her white face and reddened eyes as the limo drove from the Sohma compound to Shigure's in order to collect her belongings before taking her away. Damn it all to hell including himself. He had gotten exactly what he had wished for so many years ago. Everyone was miserable; everyone including him. Be careful what you wish for…Kazuma had told him that once when he was a young child training at the dojo.

That was then…what he wished for now was so very different. A distant, silent chord sounded in the back of his mind as he realized what he really wanted. He wanted his juunishi happy before he died. Already, at the age of 25 he had outlived the lifespan of many of his predecessors. He wanted Hatori and Mayu, Haru and Rin, Kisa and Hiro, all to be together. He wanted to dance at their weddings. He wanted Yuki, Kyo, and Momiji to find someone special to complete their lives. But most of all, he wanted Shigure and Tohru to be happy. Mine and Ayame, Uo and Kureno, both of those couples were together now and they were happy. Kureno had gone to America to find Uo during the time Shigure and Tohru were finding each other in Greece. It wasn't something he expected, but he found it was okay because with their happiness came new respect and love for the head of the family, namely him, who had made it possible. It seemed that setting free the ones you loved really did bring them back to the one who set them free. He wanted to believe that. He wanted to believe that because it meant that Tohru would return to Shigure because he had loved her enough to set her free. All things considered, he found reason to hope.

Akito finally managed to sit down and relax. As he was drinking a cup of tea, there came a knock at his door. I wonder who this might be. "Come in," he invited.

"Ah, Hatori; and to what do I owe this visit. I just had my checkup yesterday."

"Akito, we've been talking; Momiji, Haru, Mayu, Kagura and myself. It was decided we should let you know the results. It's about Tohru and Shigure, of course."

"Of course, and what course of action did you decide upon."

Hatori explained the plan that had been concocted and Akito nodded his head in agreement. "I think that will work, and of course, when you get to Part three, you have my permission to proceed. There is one thing certain in my mind, which is that Shigure and Tohru belong together. Let me know if you need me to do anything Hatori…I wrote the original script, I wouldn't mind being in on the revision."

"You've grown up Akito-san," Hatori spoke softly.

"It's about time I did, isn't it Hatori?"

Hatori nodded his head in agreement.

"Are you disappointed, should I have continued in the same path as my predecessors Hatori? You know what they were like; your father was one of them."

"No Akito, I am very happy to be a part of this generation of juunishi. For the first time I feel that Shigure's faith in the curse being broken is more than just a dream. I will take my leave now. Good night, Akito."

Akito motioned the doctor out the door and then returned to his own thoughts. It was so important for Shigure to keep moving, only then did the curse have a real chance of being broken forever. Each and every one of his juunishi needed to keep moving forward before that plan would succeed. Miki, I wish I could have brought you back to Japan with me, I could use your support now. Akito called for pen and writing paper. He removed Miki's latest correspondence from his desk and began his reply. As he closed the drawer, he looked at the other letters that reposed there. He had one for each week since he had left Greece. He and Miki promised to stay in touch and they were keeping that promise… He began to write:

Dearest Miki-chan:

Things are very interesting in my life now, but suddenly I wish it were otherwise. Tohru left Shigure's house last night for destination unknown. Hatori, Momiji, and some of my other family are plotting to reunite the two of them but it is such a complicated matter. It may be several months before the plan succeeds. As I told you would happen before I left, Yuki and Kyo did not react well to the sudden affection (in their perceptions it is sudden) between Tohru and Shigure. I was right on that prediction. I would like to have been wrong. Shigure, in his misguided need to protect Miss Honda, sent her away. She is so much stronger than he realizes. The only thing he needed to say he never said and so she is gone. She stopped in to see Hatori and me before she left. She was crying and I could do nothing but let her borrow my shoulder for a while. Life hurts Miki-chan, but I made the decision to live and so I go on.

He continued writing into the night, there was just so much to tell her. He hoped she was well and happy…

A/N How was it...I know Akito doesn't quite seem like Akito but he is...at least he is my idea of how Akito might develop under the right influence. I couldn't resist Black Momiji...it was just too cute to think of him that way...hope you liked it. See ya'll next chapter.