Tohru and the Beast
By: Kinomi Shadow
Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket...
Tohru arrived just in time to save Yuki. When she found him he was pale and gasping for breath. She took off her coat and put it around Yuki, then she did her best to drag him gently home.
Akito was waiting at the front door with a victorious smirk on his face, his servant, Kureno, standing beside him looking at Yuki and Tohru with contempt.
"I see that crazy rat, Yuki, found you little Tohru," Akito said seductively. "I've been waiting here for quite sometime. Don't you know that everyone in this town belongs to me?"
Tohru sighed and laid Yuki down.
"Yuki-kun's not crazy," she said. "And I don't belong to anyone."
"Getting a little rude, are we?" Akito sneered. "I'll have you know that that stupid rat went around saying some vicious, stinky cat-beast kidnapped you. Crazy, isn't he?"
Kureno nodded in agreement with his master.
"But he's not crazy!" Tohru said, holding up the small mirror that Kyo had gave her. "Show me Kyo-san!"
The mirror flashed brilliantly, displaying on its glassy surface a roaring, sobbing Kyo. To an outsider who knew not of Kyo's kindness, he looked pretty ferocious.
"What an abomination!" Akito spat, snatching the mirror from Tohru. "Look at this monster, Kureno. Isn't he disgusting?"
"Makes me want to puke, Akito," Kureno said softly. "Very ugly."
Tohru shook her head, realizing the mistake she just made.
"No, no!" she said desperately. "Kyo is kind! He may be awful looking on the inside, but he was very kind to me!"
Akito took out his whip, smiling evilly.
"How can a beast show kindness?" Akito said as he took his horse, Rin, that had been saddled up to a nearby fence post. "I bet that monster doesn't have feelings. Stupid animal. If I didn't know better, I'd say that you're in love with this hideous creature!"
With that, Akito and Kureno saddled up and took off to kill Kyo, who was all alone in the castle.
Tohru laid Yuki in his bed. Yuki was unconscious and couldn't be left alone. Knowing that she had to do something, Tohru ran to her neighbor, Hatori's, house.
"Hatori-san!" Tohru said, flinging the door open.
"What's wrong Tohru?" Hatori said, taking note of the worry on Tohru's face.
"Yuki's terribly ill," Tohru said. "And I need to leave for a while. Will you watch him?"
"Anything for a friend, Tohru," Hatori said, smiling. "I'll watch him."
"Thank you!" Tohru said as she ran out the door and once again into the nearby woods.
Akito made it to the castle. He and Kureno pounded their fists upon the oak wood doors until the door finally creaked open. They were greeted with an overwhelming stench.
"Disgusting," Akito growled. "If I didn't know better, I'd say that thing died already!"
Kureno nodded in agreement, holding his hand over his nose.
Akito growled, twisting his head towards the fire place, noticing a rather large form on the chair.
"Come out you filthy cat!" Akito screamed. "Are you afraid of me? Are you jeluos that Tohru loves me more than you?"
There was the pitter-patter of footsteps and Akito gripped the whip firmly.
Shiguri emurged from the shadows, growling viciously. He leapt upward and dove for Akito's legs, biting down hard. Akito howled with pain.
"Stupid mutt!" Akito snarled, lashing the whip at Shiguri. "Are you a servant of that wretched animal? I'll kill you!"
Shiguri scurried off under the chair, tail between the legs, stilled uttering displeased growls.
"Sending out a weak dog in your place, beast?" Akito said. "You really are worthless. Who could ever love a beast?"
Kyo rose up slowly from where he had been sitting. Tears fell from his face.
"Where's Tohru?" Kyo asked softly. "Please tell me. Is she safe?"
"Safe from you," Akito said, laughing. "You were ugly in that mirror, but you're horrendous in person! It's a wonder the thing didn't crack, showing a beast like you!"
Kyo hung his head down.
"So Tohru showed you the mirror?" Kyo asked.
Akito laughed.
"Yes," Akito said. "You scare her. She asked me to kill you."
"But Tohru," Kyo muttered. "She was nice to me."
Akito lashed out at Kyo with his whip.
"Fool," Akito spat. "She was only nice to you because she was scared of you. She actually hates you!"
Akito stuck Kyo with the whip again, tearing his flesh off. Kyo screamed in pain.
"But Tohru cares about me," Kyo cried out. "And I love her..."
Akito stopped for a moment laughing. Kureno laughed nervously along. Drawing back his whip, Akito struck Kyo to his knees.
"Stupid cat," Akito growled. "Who could ever love a beast?"
"I could," Tohru said, standing in the doorway. "Please don't harm Kyo-san. He's not fighting you."
Akito glared, then stalked towards her.
"Boss what are you doing?" Kureno yelled as Akito grabbed Tohru around her throat.
"Claiming what is mine!" Akito said before Kyo lunged at him. Akito quickly released Tohru and withdrew a dagger. He plunged the dagger into Kyo's stomach at the same time as Kyo's claws took off both of Akito's legs.
Kyo fell to his knees in pain. Tohru, who was dazed, quickly regained her bearing and rushed to Kyo's side.
Akito had already died from bleeding to death.
"Kyo-san," Tohru whimpered. "It's my fault you're hurt. Please don't die..."
Kyo smiled weakly, resting his head in Tohru's lap.
"S-sorry I never told you how much I love you," Kyo whispered. "Guess it's t-too late, huh little Tohru?"
Tohru clung to Kyo harder.
"No!" she yelled. "Don't talk like that! You'll be fine! I love you!"
But it was too late. Kyo's eyes had closed and his breathing stopped.
"K-Kyo no!" Tohru cried, leaning on him as if her embrace could bring him back. "I love you! I need you! Don't leave me alone!"
Tohru's tears landed on Kyo's open wound, though Tohru didn't notice. The wound began to glow a soft blueish color and he wound disappeared.
Tohru continued to cry until she felt his body become warm again. She raised her head up, seeing his body glowing. Kyo's body began to twist a turn and his animal-like body began to take human form. Where there was once just brown, flaking skin on his head, orange hair replaced it. His claws became hands and his paws became feet.
Finally his eyes flickered open.
"The curse is broken!" Kyo said happily as he hugged Tohru around the neck.
"Oh Kyo!" Tohru said happily, tears still going down her face.
Shiguri crawled out from under the chair, he, too, transforming into a human.
"Oh yeah baby!" Shiguri said, happily parading around the room with a table cloth around his necked body. "I'm back and sexier than ever!"
"What broke your curse?" Tohru asked Shiguri, confused that her friends pet was actually human.
"Helping you two fall in love," Shiguri said. "That curse was put on me for cheating on some witch chick, but who cares!"
Kyo laughed with Tohru and they kissed.
Oh yeah! And they lived happily ever after.
The End
