Thanks to my reviewers! I'm aiming for a higher number though! Hope you enjoy this!

May: haha thanks! And everyone's just too tired to hear her I guess ): And it's okay, candy is amazing (:

The Awesomest- Thanks! I'm trying!

Candice: Thanks so much!

VampCraze1: I'm doing my best! Thanks!


LEEann: Thank you so much!

As much as I wish it were not true, I do not own Fruits Basket.

Eight days can seem like eight years when you're waiting for something. Kazuma used to tell me, a watched pot never boils. Maybe I was just impatient. But this was Tohru. She'd never do something like this. She'd never just leave. She wouldn't… she wouldn't break my heart.

I found there was nothing to say, nothing to do. Just to go to school, learn, come home, and sit in my room. And the eight day was the same. I woke up, got ready, and left, not bothering to see if Yuki was following. As I approached the school, I could hear a group of rowdy girls gossiping, though every student could hear them.

"Did you hear?!"

"Yeah! Emery's back in school!"

"YAY! I wonder where he went?"

"Maybe on vacation?"

"No, I saw him at the grocery store a few days ago," one girl stated as I walked by her. "I was going to ask why he hasn't been in school, but then I noticed he was with Tohru Honda…" I froze in place. Tohru? The girl continued. "You know, Kyou Sohma's girlfriend?"

"Hey, my friend said she saw them together at the park when she skipped school the other day. Maybe Tohru and Emery have a thing going!"

"But she's Kyou's girlfriend!"

"Haven't you ever heard of cheating?"

"Well, yeah, but how could you cheat on Kyou? He's so good looking!"

"Well, anyway, Emery's back. Tohru too. They've both been gone for the same amount of time…"

I was gone. I was running to the classroom, wind ripping at my watering eyes as I scaled the stairs to our classroom. She left me! She really went out and was with that bastard! But why? She was so afraid of him… I reached the classroom, finding it empty, but her bag was on her desk, which meant she really was here. I left the room, looking for her all over the school. I found my search in vain.

As I made my way back to the classroom, I dug my hands in my pockets, and my head hung. I'm so stupid I thought. What would she do if she saw me anyway? Run away, probably. Just then, I turned the corner, and I saw her. Her porcelain legs were crossed uneasily, and her arms were crossed. Her hair looked longer than normal, but it was only because her head was tilted up. Her chin was held up by Emery, who kept his face very close to hers. She seemed to be biting her lower lip, and she looked frustrated. He smiled at her deviously.

I felt anger like I had never felt before. My heart dropped into the blazing core of my stomach; a churning sea of fire. In its place was left a swirling black hole. I had been angry before, but now, I was lost in the depths of unbridled rage. I felt a rush of strength.

"Sullivan." I called out threateningly. He looked up, still smiling. Tohru hung her head, refusing to look at me.
"Hold on, Sohma," he said, smiling wickedly. He turned to her, lifting her head. "Go to class, I'll see you later." She nodded silently, and turned to leave. As she walked away, Emery reached out, giving her butt a small slap. I felt the rage shoot up into my throat. When the door closed, he looked at me.

"You got an explanation?" I hissed through clenched teeth, my hands balled into fists. Emery leaned against the wall casually.

"Yeah," he said, being nonchalant. I was ready to fly at him, to kill him. But before I could react, he held up his hand. His left hand. There was a silver band on it. A… a…wedding ring. No.

Emery smiled.
"Yep." He said. Why?
"You're lying." I let my fists loosen, my hands limp at my sides.

"Nope, not even close," Emery's smile refused to die out. I looked around, for an answer, possibly. Nothing.

"Why?" Emery crossed his arms, still leaning on the wall. The hallway was dead silent.

"Tohru never told you?"

"Told me what?"

"About her family's rule?"

"What?"

"Well, she should have told you." He sighed. "I'll just tell you, that way you'll back off."

"The Honda family has been doing this forever, along with my family, back in America. It's called Arranged Marriage, I'm sure you've heard of it. Even Kyoko's marriage, arranged. Kyoko swore that it wouldn't happen to Tohru, traditions needed to be changed. But when she died, her grandfather got in touch with my family, and here I am."

My legs felt like jelly. My stomach was no longer a swirling volcano. It was… well, it was empty. Gone. I felt like just falling to my knees. Breaking down and crying. Emery scratched his head, and as if an idea had popped into his mind, his face lit up with realization.

"You know what happened that night?" I felt a rip at my gut.

"Shut up, you bastard!" I yelled, a little too loud. My teacher came out just then, hand on her hip.

"Kyou Sohma, would you like to join the class?" I clenched my fists, and turned away, running down the hallway, leaving her behind, leaving everything behind me. I ran out, and around to the side of the school. I sat on the ground, and began to cry. I didn't know how long I had been sitting there, until the lunch bell rang. I shriveled against the side of the school wall, hugging my knees. Some students walked by me, giving me an indifferent glance. And then I saw her. She was alone, Emery was not with her. She was looking around, when she finally spotted me, shrunken into the wall. She began walking over, and I only wished that I could melt into the concrete wall. Finally, she reached when I sat. I did not look at her.

"Kyou?"