-1AN: I don't own fruits basket or any of its characters much to my dismay. Spoilers, this story doesn't follow the anime or magna, but if you haven't met the whole zodiac yet, then there could be some character spoilers, so you have been warned. Reviews of any kind are more than welcome. Thanks to all that have reviewed so far. I'll check out your stories also. I guess that's enough rambling by little old me. On to chapter 4. I figure in this chapter I'll look into how this is effecting Tohru's family a bit.

Chapter 4: The Sohma's

"Shigure, go and get Yuki and Kyo I'm going to talk to them in a few minutes after I talk to Akito." Hatori said as he went into the library to call the head of the family. He wasn't holding out much hope for Akito to allow Tohru to use the family hospital but in this case it was worth a try.

On the roof the cat was laying down staring at the stars and thinking to himself. I should have left sooner, instead of complaining about being hungry. Why didn't I sense she was in trouble. Why would anyone do that to her. This is all my fault. I can't get that image of her out of my head. Of all people she shouldn't have been hunkered down by the dumpster in that dirty alley. God I hope she is okay. If she doesn't make it or doesn't get better. How will I survive? This last thought took him by surprise as he sit up.Wait no she isn't going to want to see me. She has to blame me too.

"Kyo-kun come down, Hatori wants to talk with all of us in a few minutes." Shigure said from the ground, there was no joking or teasing from the dog tonight. He was just as serious as anyone had ever seen him.

"Akito, something terrible has happened." Hatori began explaining the situation without going into to much detail, no point in giving Akito anymore ammunition against the poor girl.

"Why should I care what happens to her?" Was the answer he received. "The beast could die and then I would be a million times happier."

This was the answer he was expecting. "As you wish, but I am her doctor so I will be over here checking up on her till she is better."

"Is that an order from you Hatori? Remember who is in charge here. At anytime I could tell you to erase her memory and not only hers…" Akito let the threat sit in the air. He had no patience for this girl and the way she was messing up his family. Her dying would be a blessing, but Hatori had said nothing about her dying, so I wonder what is really going on with her. I may have to visit shigure house soon and see. "I expect you to keep my appointment in the morning as always, then you can waste all the time you want with that little pest, because my dragon you will always come to me when I call won't you."

Gritting his teeth, he answered, "you know I will"

"Now I'm tired, don't bother me with any foolishness any more tonight." Akito said hanging up the phone.

Poor Tohru, Hatori thought. There isn't much that I can do for you. Keep you comfortable and make sure there are no complication. Erasing her memory might be a blessing, but he would have to get permission to do that from Tohru and Akito both. Getting it from Akito would be nearly impossible and god only knows what kind of torture, he would inflict on the girl. He wondered vaguely if he would be able to sleep at all tonight or would he see her bruised , torn and battered body in his dreams, no one deserve treatment like that.

Yuki was sitting in his room trying to block out the crying he heard coming from the bathroom and the gentle comforting she was receiving from her two friends. He put his head down on his desk and tried to not cry. His Tohru was hurting and he could do nothing to help her. He was afraid that when he looked into her eyes, he would see blame. The same blame he was inflicting on himself. If only I hadn't stayed late, or if I had mentioned it to her before she left school. Of course I didn't know then I wouldn't be able to walk her home. Why would anyone want to do that to any person, much less her. I wonder if she will be able to smile again. He sighed and got up from his chair, he began pacing the room. I need to know who did this to her. Did Akito? Is this one of sick punishments he feels entitled to give people.

He closed his eyes a minute and all he could see was Kyo holding her in the back of the car, talking softly to her. A side of the cat he hadn't ever seen. Why wasn't I the one holding her? I want to be the one to help her. But I am the cause of this. I should have left he meeting early and at least walked her home.

"Yuki, don't blame yourself" Shigure said from the door "Come to the library in a few minutes Hatori wants to talk to all of us."

Shigure felt a tug at his heart as he passed the bathroom and heard her asking her friends "Why?" Over and over again.

For all his teasing and joking with her, he felt a strange need to protect and like Yuki and Kyo he was blaming himself. I'm an adult, but I couldn't even help her I couldn't get off my ass and go pick her up. Now she was hurting in the worst way any one could imagine and there was nothing anyone can do to make it better, no shot, no miracle.

He entered the library and found Hatori staring at the floor smoking a cigarette.

"Akito said no" Shigure said lighting one for himself

"You don't sound surprised" Hatori answered. "Are Yuki and Kyo coming.?"

"Yes, they are blaming themselves." the dog answered lifting his eyes to the ceiling.

"You are too" Hatori answered and watched his friend nod his head. "You know this was no ones fault."

"Still if one of us had been there. Did you notice in the Kyo was able to hold her against him, and he didn't change. Do you think?"

Hatori held up his hand, he had noticed and wondered the same thing. "If anything could come out of this something good.." He stopped short as he noticed Yuki standing in the door.

"Would you get out of the damn way you stupid rat." Kyo said pushing his way into the library. Yuki was paler than normal Hatori noticed and wondered how long the boy had been standing there, he didn't even respond to Kyo instead he sit down quietly on the couch .

"Is Tohru ok? Kyo asked sitting in the floor near the door. When given the option to sit in the floor or in a chair the cat was more comfortable sitting where he could streach out at leisure.

Hatori shook his head. How do I explain this to them. I don't even understand it myself. "Her wounds will heal, at least the ones on the outside. She will probably be in bed for a few days because of soreness. Do you to um know what happened to her?"

"Was she raped?" Yuki asked quietly, he knew what it was what it meant but had never seen anyone who had been before, he knew the answer to the question but he didn't know how to handle it. Kyo glared at the floor like he was contemplating trying to kill it. He wanted to, needed to know the answer to this.

"Yes" The doctor sighed and inhaled the cigarette before putting it out. "She was a virgin before this, so this make the attack much worse for her. Physically and physiologically. There really is no way to predict how she will act. She may not leave her room for a while. She may not want to be around men, even you all. We'll have to keep a close on her to make sure she doesn't try to hurt herself. She will probably have nightmares, if she is able to sleep. I can give her some medicine to help with those."

"She is going to need us to be kind and understanding to her. The least we can do is keep the house cleaned up and do some cooking." Shigure said "And I'll call the school give them a brief explanation and see where to go from there. I'm not going to speak with her grandfather yet. And I don't want you all to tell any other family members, she may not want anyone to know."

"Who the fuck would do this to her?" Kyo asked standing up and staring at each one in the room.

"We don't know, when she is able to talk about I'll ask her if she knew the person.

"I'm going to kill him" he said.

"For once, I agree with you. "Yuki said from the couch. "I'll help her on any school work, when she begins to feel better." He added, if she ever does.

The four men sit quietly listening to the feet shuffling up stairs and the three girls made their way back to the bedroom.

"Can I see her now" Kyo asked quietly his eyes were shiny with tears and he kept his head turned sharply from Yuki. But for once the two enemies shared the same feelings and thoughts. She has to know that I'm sorry they both thought.

Yuki got up and walked to the door. "I'll check on her in the morning I'm going for a walk."

Shigure nodded. Poor Yuki, he thought, he is holding everything in. Kyo too.

Hatori answered, "Let me check and make sure she is comfortable, but like I said she may not want to be around anyone."

I just have to know if she blames Kyo thought as he followed the doctor out of the room.