Tohru and the Beast

By: Kinomi Shadow

Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket...

Kyo dragged Tohru helplessly behind him, through the winding trails of the forest. The wolves howled once more in the distance, but Kyo was more than a match for their viciousness.

Now that Tohru had a good look at Kyo, she could see that he was very ugly. He was almost as ugly as he smelled bad. Tohru shuddered at the feel of his fleshy claws gripped tightly around her hand. She wanted desperately to tug away from his grasp, but fear held her in place.

"It's not much farther to your stupid ratty friend," Kyo mumbled. "And speed up or you won't see him!"

Tohru quickened her pace, struggling to keep up with him. She hoped in vain that this beast was just in a short lived bad mood and that, possibly, he may actually be friendlier most of the time. But even Tohru, in all her innocence, knew that she was only kidding herself.

As they came up into a clearing, Tohru could now see the castle ahead. Kyo released his grasp on her and went to open the oak wood doors. Tohru stood back in awe of the castle. In all her life she had never seen a castle so magnificent on the outside as this one.

"Your castles beautiful!" Tohru marveled. "It's like a, um, royal palace or something Mister, um..."

"The name's Kyo," Kyo growled as he stood impatiently by the castle door. "And keep up with me or you'll be left for the wolves to chew on."

Tohru stumbled in clumsily after Kyo. The castle was as dark and cold as ever. The place where a fire had once burned only hours earlier was now filled with cooling, grey ash. Kyo stomped up to the fire place and pointed to a cage sitting on the floor by a shelf of old magazines.

"There's your ratty little friend," Kyo said coldly. "You can say good bye to him, but that is it!"

Tohru knelt next to the cage and what she saw brought tears to her eyes. Yuki, her dear, dear friend, was curled up in a tight fetal position having asthma problems and trembling all over. He was obviously getting sick.

"Yuki doesn't do well in small places!" Tohru cried out. "Oh please, Kyo-san! Let him go. I'll take his place. Please! He's my friend and he's sick!"

Kyo was shocked at her words of sacrifice. He didn't believe her, but he had to make sure.

"You'll be my slave," he hissed. "You'll be worked until you die!"

Tohru took a moment to think.

"Well I'd do anything for my friends," she whispered, tears trailing down her cheeks. "I'll take his place. Just please Kyo-san..."

Kyo reached up high on the shelf, shifting through the magazines and old papers. He found the keys and unlocked the cage, dragging Yuki out of there and onto the ground. Yuki scrambled up and stood face to face with Kyo.

"If you harm her I'll get you," Yuki gasped, then turning to Tohru he whispered: "I'll come back for you and I'll get help."

Then Yuki stumbled out the doors and took off in a running sprint, leaving Tohru alone with Kyo.

"Your, uh, room is this way," Kyo said calmly, motioning Tohru to follow him.

"Aren't you gonna put me in a cage?" Tohru asked innocently.

Kyo laughed.

"A slave does me no good locked up," he said with a cold sneer. "Now come, little Tohru. There is a spare bedroom you can have that actually doesn't smell like I've been in it."

"You don't smell that bad," Tohru said, trying to be polite.

"You don't need to lie to me," Kyo said, leading her up the stairs. "I know what I am. A stinkin' no good, ugly cat, with an attitude that's even worse. Yea, I'm the ultimate monster."

Tohru walked quickly to catch up with him.

"But you don't have to be that way!" Tohru said kindly. "Maybe if you're nice to people you wouldn't be so lonely..."

"Who said anything about me being lonely!" Kyo spat. "Anyway, being mean is what made me like this in the first place. There's no point in being a goody goody now. This way."

Tohru followed behind in silence as Kyo opened up a large bedroom. Unlike the rest of the castle it was clean and untouched, filled with beautiful silk and bedsheets topped with the softest pillows.

"Wow!" Tohru said, yet again awe struct. "It's so beautiful in here!"

Kyo ignored her as he walked past. Then, as if he just remembered something he turned around and said: "You may go anywhere in the castle you like EXCEPT for my chambers. Is that understood."

Tohru nodded, feeling the hot tears sting her eyes as the door slammed behind her. She could hear Kyo foot steps thumping down the stairs and fade into silence. Then, hoping it was all a sick dream, Tohru laid herself down on her new bed and fell into a deep slumber.