And now you finally know the plot of the story! But the boys are stubborn, so there's plenty of space for life to happen.

I'm going to try very hard to finish writing this story. It is hard because I've been following Fruits Basket in Japanese and as you can imagine, I keep feeling that I'm going to need to put this fanfic into A.U.? So then I thought, it's time to make a decision. I will base this story off of the anime canon and take certain leads from the manga continuation, but, it will not follow exactly with manga canon. So it's an A.U. halfbreed, so to say, post-episode-26.

I am sorry for taking so long... In this update. I have been so busy, and I will be even more busy these next two weeks. But this is special to you so I refuse to falter in my updating! Now, as for Review Replies, I know I didn't give out many for the last chapter... I kept beginning writing something to everyone, but I kept revealing too much and then became very emotional and had to give up. So instead I will just say that each of you made me very happy. ;; I'm so glad that my build-up was a success, then! And now for one of the most awkward conversations I've ever had to write. It's been a really tough two weeks. I got two traffic tickets in one day, my friend hit a hobo while I was in the car with him, I got a stomach ache, I got four hours of sleep all weekend, I'm producing my media class's movie and editing our school newspaper. So being home to just write this story has been practically impossible. But, I'm trying very hard. Please put up with me. (teary eyes)... I still love you!

Rating: Pg-13. Slash - sensuality - violence - light incest.
Category: Angst/Romance
Pairing: Kyou/Yuki
Length: 12?

Ache
by Lanie Kay-Aleese

Chapter Twelve: Above and Beyond

- - - -

Up there, he could see a lot of things. Not just swaying trees, coarse roof shingles, or even stars.

When Kyou closed his eyes, sometimes, he felt like he could keep seeing.

It was the first time of the day. There were two times when he would let the world pass around him; this moment was meant to be reflected and watched. So Kyou stood back for a moment and let the morning build up around him. It was something that he couldn't stop or change - something that Yuki didn't cause - something that Akito could never end. Every day, the sun did begin. And birds would light across the sky in trails of song. The world would lose the darkness.

A part of him still clutched to the hope that one day, his entire life would lose the darkness.

But it was foolish, so he didn't tell anyone. He just thought about it as the crisp morning broke over the hilly horizon. A golden wave of sunlight stretched out to encompass the hill tops and the edges of the roof shingles. A breeze of chilling air wrapped Kyou in a loose and transient embrace.

It made his cheeks flush with heat and cold, as if he were embarassed by the provocations of life.

He coughed.

- - - -

It was the second time of the day.

Kyou wasn't out of breath, not really, since he hadn't had enough air to start with. His grip had nearly given out while he'd been climbing up the ladder. Now, he just laid back breathing heavily, shivering more strongly, his eyes desperately raking the sky for something worth wishing on.

When he'd toppled onto the cool cement, the nausea had actually burnt him for a moment, in his stomach lining and behind his heart. He closed his eyes, briefly, and willed the feeling to settle. Then, an impulse shot through his fingers, unsettling anything that was even feeling. Kyou opened his eyes and followed the impulse to forget, to remember, to forget, to remember, remember, remember!

His eyes scanned over the milky way.

The memory wasn't a stolen one, it was just a memory that he had lost. It was a story. A folk legend that someone had told him years ago. He couldn't remember the exact words any longer, but even so... he could recall the sounds of soft, gentle voice whispering in his ear. A woman's voice, gently giving him hope. Kyou saw her long hair in his mind. He had liked it, and he still did. Her hair, it was a good color. But her voice and her story, they had been far more incredible to him at the time.

Thinking about it now, Kyou knew that her hair had been far more amazing than her story had ever been. Her story was not fanciful or romantic. It was a story, a lie, and nothing more than a weak explanation for two stars that appeared to meet in the sky: the star-crossed lovers.

Kyou snorted as he recalled that first encounter with the Star-Crossed Lovers. It was a ridiculous legend, even though the woman's voice had stated with absolute faith, that even the Jade Emperor couldn't keep these two apart.

Well she was obviously very stupid to think that stars were anything but balls of gas, what kind of education had that woman had anyway? It was embarassing.

And Kyou stared up at the inky sky.

He was feign to see either the constellations or galaxies or burning balls of gas that composed the legend of romance.

Even though he wasn't searching for romance or a legendary tale, Kyou still cast his gaze to the above and beyond. If he kept his eyes focused on the sky for long enough, he knew that the stars would suddenly come into focus and he'd see what he otherwise couldn't.

Maybe he'd remember this summer's Tanabata festival for the Star-Crossed Lovers. Maybe, if he tried hard enough to stare at the skies, he'd remember something besides Tohru's exuberant smile, as she wore the yukata that Momiji had bought her, and the picnic she'd madewith the star-shaped onigiri. And the huge explosions from fireworks. And a strange feeling of happiness when he turned his head to the left and -

Kyou blinked back the tide of his subconsciousness. It receded and he hastily gathered as much of his memory as he could for safe-guarding and treasuring. Remembering these things was his dream.

Even Akito, the Jade Emperor himself, couldn't keep him from trying to catch those dreams.

A surge of confidence fluttered inside of Kyou's chest. He felt that he'd accomplished something, even if he'd been lying in bed all day, and on the roof all night, getting sicker and sicker.

Up until he remembered how he'd gotten sick after all.

Kyou didn't look at the sky after that. He was busy staring at his hands when he heard the rustle of the ladder moved from below.

- - - -

"You missed dinner again."

Kyou lifted his head minutely, and he caught sight of Yuki's mop-hair peeking from the edge of the roof. He stiffened."Yeah."

"If you don't eat, your body can't heal," stated the other boy, with a soft voice, and lifted himself up the top rung of the ladder.

Kyou watched him sharply. "What's the point? I'll throw it up, anyway," he said.

"You could at least try to sit down with us."

"Look, you're not fooling me. It doesn't make a difference whether I'm there or not."

"That's not true," Yuki insisted.

"Maybe you're right. When I'm not there, it's better."

Yuki frowned and, now being on the roof several feet from Kyou, folded his legs underneath him. The cat turned his head abruptly. He watched Yuki position himself into a comfortable position, then lean so he could bend his head back and look at the stars.

"What the heck are you getting comfortable for?" Kyou grunted, not really willing to move and do something about it. But he had to complain; the strange magma had flooded his veins again. Even so, Yuki did not respond. He was silent; staring into space. Kyou shook with frustration.

"Hey, are you-"

"I've never been on the roof before," said Yuki, suddenly. And then he smiled with his eyes.

Kyou steamed. "Yeah, it's 'cuz this is my place! If you won't tell me why the hell you're here, would you just leave, damnit!"

Yuki sighed with a strained patience.

"God, I'll tell you. It's not important. It's just, just something," Yuki paused to search for words, "This morning, before school, I found out... why Hatori hasn't come to visit you; to treat your illness."

Kyou snapped to attention and fixed his eyes on his cousin.

"It's not like he needs to care about it, anyway," said Kyou. "His job is to treat the members of the zodiac, and I'm not a member, so it figures he wouldn't care."

"Don't be stupid, Kyou. Hatori isn't here, because, he's come down with something, too."

Kyou folded his arms. "So you should probably leave or you'll catch it from me."

"I'm not too worried about it." Yuki shrugged, and then he paused, apparently remembering something.

"Spill it, rat."

"There were some girls at school... They called you on the phone this afternoon."

"What?"

"They hung up after asking for you, though..." Yuki trailed off. For a moment, the rat fished through his pocket and came out with a carefully folded note. A note? Kyou's eyes flashed. Crimson.

"And why are you so happy? It's pissing me off. It's-"

"It's Momiji. And Hiro. And Haru. They're - they're free." Yuki broke his mouth wide apart again, "They broke the curse."

Kyou stared.

"The bonds have been weakening for a while. This is the first time for all of the twelve zodiac to be alive at once. And you know Hatori's form, it was really supposed to be a dragon - not a sea-dragon. Something in the curse has changed. It's been corrupted. It's still changing."

"But..."

"Kureno thinks that the curse could be ending. Rin's trying to break the curse, and Honda-chan... Shigure let her stay here because, mostly, he thought it would cause disturbances in the family... which could speed along the breaking of the curse."

"Stop it. Just - stop" Kyou cut in. "It's - It's impossible. We're not going to be freed. You already told me that -- it wouldn't happen --"

"I don't remember saying that," said Yuki.

Kyou rubbed his temples and stared, stormily into the distance.

"I don't... either."

- - - -

Moshi moshi! This is a message for Sohma Kyou from Minami Kinoshita, Mai Gotou and Mio Yamaguchi, but mostly from me! Can you guess who it is...? Yes, it's Mio! (laughter) So where were you yesterday? During clubs, I mean, you didn't show up at the classroom. You wouldn't dare skipping out on us? Besides, we had a special proposition for you- that's exciting, isn't it? Don't worry, though. We're not plotting something terrible, and Minami wasn't even planning on binding you up to a chair this time... Eto, what I mean to be saying is, I was calling because you weren't in clubs or in class for the past two days. There's a rumour that you're sick. If that's true, then please get better soon! It would be terrible for you to miss more classes or meetings. You can't let your grades drop, especially this soon before college entrance exams! There are only three months left! It's scary, isn't it? But that's my attitude for if you are truly ill... If you are not actually sick and you're just avoiding us, be prepared, Sohma Kyou. You can fight your past, your fate, and your enemies, but you can never beat them down forever. I don't remember where I read that, but isn't it spooky to think about? Maybe you should not fight your illness and instead let it run its' course. And whatever your feelings are towards us, do not fight them either. Just... let it be until we see each other again. It's inevitable, after all.

- - - -

Review, because the Jade Emperor can't keep them apart... but I still can. ;;