Disclaimer: Neither Fruits Basket nor the Fruits Basket characters are mine. They are the property of Natsuki Takaya.

The plot and all original characters are mine. This chapter has been written for a week or so, I just haven't had time to type it up and post it. I think you will enjoy it.Please read and review if the spirit so moves you. Thanks...

For all of the reviewers who reviewed anonymously...I do want to say thank you.newmoongirl, kashuneko, and blah...thanks.

Thanks for your continued support.

Chapter 22 Operation Shigure & Tohru

Momiji dubbed their three-pronged line of attack as 'Operation Shigure and Tohru'. He and Haru threw themselves into the search for partners for Kyo and Yuki with much enthusiasm. They were both attending Tokyo U now so it was much easier to engineer social settings in which to introduce the two to new girls. Eventually they hoped a combination would click. Kyo seemed to shake off his lethargy and take some interest in the situation but Yuki was not so cooperative. Haru hoped that Kagura might have better luck with Yuki than he and Momiji had so far.

Kagura had entered into the project with all of the enthusiasm she used to reserve for Kyo. Yuki was bombarded with invitations and often accepted if only to be polite. It usually ended up that Yuki and Kagura would drop off her friends and then walk to the house together. It was much easier to do that since they both lived within the Sohma compound. Together the two cousins began to know each other much better. They had always been friends but were now on their way to being best friends. The two would laugh together at Kyo's half-hearted struggle to escape the traps Momiji and Haru kept devising. It was obvious the cat wasn't trying too hard or the attempts would have been totally useless.

Kyo recognized what Haru and Momiji were doing. He was also fairly sure of the reasons behind it. There were times he pretended to be angry but really wasn't. He was actually having fun. He missed Tohru a lot but he took comfort in the fact that she was doing fine according to Momiji who was still in touch with her. He understood Momiji's reasons for not divulging her whereabouts although at times it really pissed him off that the little rabbit wouldn't squeal. Tohru really didn't need him or Yuki cluttering up her life right now. He also found the situation bearable because he knew Shigure was suffering too. It was about time that the damn dog realized the world was not his stage and that people were not his personal puppets. He didn't see Shigure much unless he accidentally ran into him while home at the dojo and it was a much-subdued version of the dog he was seeing. If he weren't so angry with Shigure for letting Tohru get away, he would feel sorry for him, maybe.

Shigure ambled through his house. It was so empty and quiet now with the boys gone and Tohru no longer there. Part of his and Akito's plans were beginning to bear fruit. Yuki and Kyo were moving forward with their lives. It was one slow dragging step after another, but they were moving. As for himself, his momentum seemed to be stopped and had been since Tohru's departure. He was being left behind and he couldn't find it in his heart to care. It seemed his whole life had been a journey toward Tohru and without her the future seemed empty. He ate and slept and wrote every day but his life was without color and seemed to have no purpose. Everything he had been striving for seemed to be taking place and the only thing missing was Tohru.

Kagura and Kisa kept an eye on his house so that the bento boxes didn't pile up and his laundry stayed done. Kisa said she was doing it for 'sissy' and for him. She also said it was good training for when she and Hiro got married. Akito had removed his disapproval from their relationship and even given it his blessing. With this change in the atmosphere love was progressing nicely for the two youngest juunishi. The change in Akito over the last several months was remarkable. It seemed everyone was moving forward but him. His state of mind was reflected in his writing. Mii had allowed him a one-year sabbatical and agreed to re-release some of his earlier works to keep his name fresh with the readers. He was working on his autobiography which actually bore the thin disguise of being a fictional novel. It was a depressing work but he couldn't seem to find his former optimism. He had checked in with Alfred Sanderson and knew Tohru was well and was dating other men in her new hometown. He still didn't know where she was, but what he knew was enough. He could easily find out where she was but if he knew anymore he wouldn't be able to stay away. Every word he wrote seemed to revolve around Tohru and her impact on his and his family's lives. He didn't want her involved with the Sohmas again. He still believed he and his family would only bring her misery in the long run.

Tohru settled into her new life. Her optimism had been tried but it was still there. The fact that life is meant for living was still her credo and so she kept on moving forward. Momiji's dad had given her a glowing referral and her employers were very pleased with her performance. She stayed busy throughout the day but the night left her with time to think. She missed Yuki and Kyo a lot. They were her best friends, or at least had been. She often received letters from Kisa and Kagura and phone calls from Momiji so she was able to keep up with what was happening in the Sohma lives. Even so, life was not the same. She realized that though she was not completely cut off from the Sohmas, there was still someone she missed more than anyone else. The person she missed the most was Shigure. There was an empty hole in her life that it seemed only he could fill. Her love for him had grown over time. It wasn't a girlish crush; she had considered that possibility. It wasn't the fancy of a young woman either. It was a steadfast longing that she couldn't deny and it did not diminish though they had been apart for many months. She was past the stage of crying every night and was even dating but in the moments when she was alone she missed him. She had gotten stronger since leaving the Sohmas and she discovered that even on her own she was no longer a riceball. That didn't stop the heartache when his smiling face and beautiful gray eyes imposed themselves on her consciousness. There was a grain of hope though…Shigure had promised to love her forever in Greece and he always kept his promises to her. Momiji and Kagura assured her that he did love her and would one day come find her. She held onto that thought and continued to smile and laugh and move on with life. She knew from Momiji that Yuki and Kyo were moving forward as well.

Seven months after Shigure sent Tohru away, Yuki came to a surprising revelation. He looked forward to the time he was spending with Kagura and her friends. The best part was walking home with her after dropping them off at their homes. He discovered he looked forward to the talk with Kagura as much as he ever had with Tohru and wondered why. The next time he was with Kagura, he figured it out.

"Gura-chan…"

"Yes Yuki-kun?"

"This may seem a little strange and a little sudden, but there is one thing I learned from my experience with Honda-san and Shigure."

"And what is that Yuki-kun?" Her heart was beating a little faster and she couldn't help but hope that maybe…

"It was that feelings should never be left unspoken. What I am trying to say is...I think that I may be falling in love with you…funny isn't it?"

"Really, Yuki-kun…in love with me?"

"I believe so Gura-chan."

Kagura squealed. "Yun-chan you just made me the happiest girl in the world!" Kagura leapt into his arms and hugged him tightly.

Yuki coughed a little exaggeratedly and Kagura loosened her grip just a little bit. "You mean…"

"I mean I love you too Yuki-kun!"

"Kyo is never going to believe this one." Yuki shook his head in amazement as he looked down into Kagura's sparkling eyes.

"We have to tell Shigure, he will be very pleased. And Yuki-kun?"

"Yes?"

"I have an address for Tohru if you are ready to contact her."

"Let's wait. I want to talk to Kyo first."

"Okay, shall I come?"

Yuki smiled. "Why not Gura-chan?"

"YOU WHAT!" Kyo exploded into laughter. "I can't believe what my ears are hearing. You two? This is hilarious." Kyo stopped laughing when he saw the dangerous glint in Kagura's eyes. He gave her a hug. "I'm really happy for you Kagura…and for me too. I might live to be Kazuma's age now." Kyo smiled. "Good luck you damn rat! I hope she doesn't strangle you in your bed."

"Me too." Yuki admitted when Kagura left the room. He smiled fondly at the little boar when she returned.

"By the way, I have news of my own."

"Really Kyo? What is it?" Kagura asked with great interest.

"Well you know, Momiji and Haru have been trying really hard to interest me in girls that aren't Tohru."

Kagura put her head in her hands. "They were that obvious! I swear those two have all the subtlety of…"

Kyo thumped her on the head. "Kagura, this is me. Subtlety does not work, remember?"

"He's right Gura-chan." Yuki agreed.

"Hey you girly boy!" Kyo growled.

"You are the one that said it baka neko."

"Oh yeah, I did. What I was going to say is that they've introduced me to a couple of girls that I plan on asking out. I think I'm ready to let Tohru go so she can be happy. Even if it is with that damn manipulating dog."

Kagura looked at both boys with shining eyes. "Now are you ready for Tohru's address?"

"I believe we are Gura-chan."

"Yes I am."

"I'm going to call Momiji and Hatori." Kagura took out her cell phone and began dialing. She walked out the door and left the two boys to watch her go.

"What was that about?"

"No idea." Kyo looked at Yuki and started laughing again. "I still can't believe it, you and Kagura!"

"What of it?" Yuki casually aimed a kick at Kyo and the cat went flying. He sat up in the corner with a grin…"Okay I guess I deserved that you damn rat. Kagura is wonderful and I think you two will be very happy."

Kagura called Momiji; when she explained the strange outcome of Phase One, she heard him laugh and talk to Haru. She would get angry, but she was too happy for that. In the end it really was funny that she had fallen in love with the rat.

After getting off the phone Momiji grinned at Haru. "…And Phase Two is already in motion. She gave Yuki and Kyo Tohru's address."

Haru gave Momiji a high five and they awaited further developments. It seemed 'Operation Shigure and Tohru' was succeeding.

Tohru came home from work a few days later and collected her mail. She found a letter with handwriting she recognized but had not seen in several months. She opened up the letter and a gold charm fell out. It was the dog of the Zodiac and it matched the bracelet she had cherished for many months perfectly. Now her gift from Yuki was complete with all of the Juunishi and the cat. Yuki had written most of the letter but Kyo had included a PS asking her to call them. She also received a letter from Kagura and Kisa in the same post. Tohru squealed with joy as she read the part where Kagura had finally won an admission from Yuki about his feelings for her. Kisa's letter was not so happy as she talked about 'Uncle Shigure' and how lonely she thought he was.

Tohru wanted to disregard Momiji's advice. He had advised her that she should not contact any of the Sohmas until they contacted her first. She longed to see Shigure again, but it seemed his advice was wise and she would wait because now…she could see Yuki and Kyo again. That was much happiness added back into her life. She sat down to write to them and invite them to visit her. A phone call didn't seem to be enough at the moment. She would call them, but she wanted to send them a personal invitation in writing because it seemed the right way to do things.

A couple of weeks later Tohru met Yuki and Kyo at the coffee shop down the block from her apartment. Kagura came with Yuki and Kyo brought along a girl named Yuriko. Tohru could see that Yuriko was simply Kyo's date but she was delighted with the way Yuki and Kagura had discovered feelings for each other. The old friends sat and talked and laughed the day away. There was a lot of catching up to do so they all went to Tohru's apartment to have some privacy. As it came time for Yuki and Kyo to leave, they asked Kagura and Yuriko to wait downstairs for the taxi and assured them they would be there in a few minutes.

"Tohru-san, I sent you the dog from the charm bracelet to let you know how sorry I am that my feelings for you made it so difficult for you and Shigure to be happy."

"I know Yuki-kun. Thank you."

"I don't live with Shigure anymore. I moved back inside the gates. At first it was because I hated Shigure for sending you away and for making you fall in love with him. Now I will still stay away but only until you move back.I will come to visit then because it will be your house and Shigure's once he comes to his senses. I know he will eventually come here to take you home because I realized he really did love you in those first few weeks of your return from Greece. Even in my anger and bitterness I had to admit that."

"He was a fool Tohru! Yuki's feelings and mine had nothing to do with it, I don't think. He used us as convenient excuses to send you away because he was afraid he might not be able to make you happy. The stupid manipulating dog placed himself in a corner. I'd say let him rot there except…you are happy when you are with him. I hate that fact, but I can tell you loved him then and still do. Be happy Tohru…"

"Don't give up hope Tohru-san. Shigure is a lot of things but I don't believe he is a fool. He'll come find you when he realizes how wrong headed and idiotic he's been."

"Yuki-kun, Kyo-kun…thank you. This means so much to me. I'll keep my hopes alive because Tohru Honda never gives up."

The boys smiled. "I remember you used that line the first time you had to clean Shigure's house Tohru-san.

Tohru smiled in response, "And I never do give up."

"I know you never gave up on me or any of us Tohru. I think that's why I love you, why we all do." Kyo gave Tohru a quick hug and Yuki followed suit. Tohru giggled as she held a rat in her hands and an orange cat on her lap, but only for a minute. She excused herself to retrieve the gifts of chocolate she had made for each of her guests and to allow Yuki and Kyo a chance to change back.

Tohru waved good-bye as they took the taxi to the train station. Yuki and Kyo had done much to restore her hope and belief that she and Shigure might still have a chance.

Word filtered down to Shigure that Yuki and Kyo had gone to visit Tohru. Kisa told him first when she heard it from Kagura. Hatori dropped by as well. His excuse was that he was just checking up on Shigure, but Shigure knew better. The dragon had stopped by just to give him that specific piece of information.

Shigure said good-bye to Hatori and returned to his study. The house was so quiet; it was too quiet. He missed the constant arguments between Kyo and Yuki. He missed having to daily repair walls and doors, but most of all he missed her. He wandered down the hall to Tohru's room. It was still hers. He could no more remove traces of her from his house than he could from his heart. This was her room and her essence was still here. He sat down on the bed that longed for her return…who was he fooling? It wasn't the bed, it was him that wanted her back.

He tried to remember his reasons for sending her away and it all came down to one thing…he had been afraid. He had been afraid that he wouldn't be enough to keep her happy; afraid that she would keep on getting used and hurt by his family, more specifically by him; afraid of a happiness he didn't feel he deserved. He had believed it was best and he still wasn't sure he was wrong…but wasn't Hatori right…Shigure knew he had not truly given Tohru a chance to choose her happiness. He had forced the choice on her because he really thought he knew what was best…but who was he to make that choice for her?

Shigure returned to his study and dialed Alfred Sanderson's number. It was midnight, but he didn't care.

Alfred's sleepy voice answered the phone. "Sanderson Agency, is there an emergency?"

"Alfred-san you might say that. I need to see her again before I go insane."

Alfred immediately recognized Shigure's voice and was immediately awake and alert. "Are you sure Shigure-san?"

"Hai Alfred, I am certain."

Shigure drifted back to Tohru's room with her address in his kimono pocket. Kagura found him asleep on her bed when she arrived the next morning to do his laundry.

She smiled joyfully. Things were going to work out for everyone after all.