Reliving the Past
By: CallxMexSenseixSenpaixSama

Live your Life
Enjoy it while you're here
Let the wind carry you up
Til the sky brushes your hair
Reach for the stars; before it fades away
Grab the stardust that remains
To remind you, you were there.

Nope nope. Fruits Basket's not from me.

A story of Kureno.

Kureno opened the window and gazed out. He was back at the Sohma main house, as was Momiji. Would Arisa forgive him? Gone for a year, without explaining himself. And forgetting her number, that he couldn't contact her.

Taking a step, he pressed against his leg too hard. Wincing, he felt the scar that was left around 4 years ago. But he felt no resentment. No anger. No hatred. Because Akito was struggling, perhaps even more than the others. However, he did feel regret. After promising Arisa that he would take her with him wherever he went, he broke it.

And he was also worried. A month before he left, he knew... he knew that the curse had come back. Speechless, he thought about informing Akito about this. Or Tohru. But wouldn't it cause them pain? Did the others learn of it yet? Now that he was back again, what was he to do? Maybe the best thing to do would be to visit Akito. To tell her he was back. Or should he unpack now.

While making his decision, maybe it would be better to just unpack. He opened the front pocket of his suitcase. A gift bag dropped out. Before he could pick it up and look inside, the door slid open.

"So you're back."

"Shigure-san.."

"How was your trip?"

"Are.. you still.. angry at me?"

Shigure laughed softly. "Kureno-kun. There are things that are forgiveable. And there are things that are unforgettable."

"..."

"I'm just kidding! You're expression there was something like Tohru-chan would give." Kureno was confused but relieved. He put the bag down. "Shouldn't you visit Akito right now? You're still somewhat precious to her."

He looked down. He hadn't thought about that. Being so focused on what to do now that he was here and how to address Arisa, he didn't think about how Akito would be feeling. He rose up and took Shigure's hand. "Thank you."

He took long strides out the door and disappeared. Shigure bent down and picked up the bag. Seeing what was inside, he turned on the tv. He inserted the CD into the DVD player.

Akito watered the vegetables she was growing. The day she went to personally apologize to Yuki, he had shown her his 'base'. He told her that having a secret base and going there sometimes relieves him of stress. Maybe it will help her.

"You're growing up well, aren't you?" she whispered to it. Immediately, she blushed. Tohru once told her that talking to plants will help them grow. How embarrassing. But to grow vegetables... how do you do that? How do you know when they're fully grown? Do you just pull them up? She reached out and pulled out a potato. It was so not ready. Blushing even more, she shoved it back in the ground and covered it with dirt. She patted the soil hard so that no evidence will be left of her stupidity. Another pair of hands joined hers. She knew these hands. But whose?

She raised her head.

"Kureno..." she whispered.

"Good morning." he greeted her.

He gazed at her softly. She had grown her hair, and it was loosely tied. It was nice seeing her as a girl like this. "I came here to tell you, I'm back." he said.

Unexpectedly, yet not surprising from past experiences, a hand swiftly slapped him. He winced.

"I'm sorry," she quietly said, "I'm happy that you would come here to tell me that... but do you realize how much pain you inflicted on Arisa? She arrived here before, asking me if I knew where you went. She started crying. She's been suffering. If you love her as much as I think you do, you should go to her and apologize. I know what its like when you feel betrayed."

Tears fell onto her hand. Panicking slightly, she looked up at him. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry."

"It's okay. Thank you."

Kureno entered back into his room.

"WHY WONT YOU COME SEE ME?!" He froze. The television also froze.

"Oh? You're back?" Shigure rose from the chair. "I found this CD and wanted to watch it. It's been a long time since I watched it with Tohru and Momiji. I'll take my leave then." He left the room.

Kureno stepped forward and walked to the screen. He caressed this amusing Arisa's face. Picking up the remote, he rewinded it all the way back to the beginning.

But before he can go see Arisa again, he has some business to take care of. Hopefully, everything has a new beginning.