A/N: Boo!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket

Seahorses

Mitchan had inevitably found Shigure, and locked him in a steal-plated room with a type writer and bits of reference material here and there. Although he was in an allegedly "distraction free" environment, the inu was extremely distracted. The manuscript of Sakura's love affair was at a standstill, because his child was at the hands of fate at this very moment.

He had seriously concidered leaving the child in the care of Mitchan were Hatori to bare a girl or else flee Japan with his baby boy. Unlike may things in his life, he did not take child rearing lightly.

Shigure's hands began typing the latest of Sakura's toils listlessly as he ran through the newly generated list of names in his head.

Akira.
Kieko.
Ayano.
Haruna.
Kiyoko...

'My child... I will fight for your safety.'

"Awwwwwww! Come on guys! I want to be in on the secret, too!" Momiji whined childishly, "Why are you guys being so secretive?! ARE YOU PLANNING A SURPRISE?"

"Momiji! Go find Hatsuharu! We're having a serious conversation." Kyou yelled angirly, pushing the boy out of the abandoned classroom. "Now!" Shutting the door, he heard the receding cries of the young boy, and turned to his nezumi peer.

"What do you want, Kyou?" Yuki hissed in a lower than usual tone.

"I think I know a way around Akito's stipulations... but it will probably require your taking some of his abuse in order to get hold of the Sohma family scrolls that only he has access to..." Kyou looked searchingly into Yuki's hate-filled eyes.

The rat's arms were crossed tightly against his chest, "How could you ask me to go through that?" He spat.

Kyou moved forward, putting out his hand, just as if to touch Yuki's elbow, "I am not asking for myself, Yuki. I am asking for Hatori whose never really been able to emrace love. I'm asking for Shigure who took both of us in and has taken care of us to the best of our ability. Most importantly I'm asking for the baby, who, without this information is damned to live a life with Akito or some adoptive family."

Yuki's eyes remained downcast, hearing Kyou's words, and tumbling them around in his head. His silence was unsettling to both parties, though not uncharacteristic.

Kyou growled in impatience, "Yuki, this baby is practically our sibling!" He instantly regretted the statement, as he was reminded of the sibling Yuki already had, but quickly came back with a short quip, "Would you cast it away like Ayame did to you?"

There was fire in Yuki's violet eyes, "Kyou I know you think you're right about this, but you just don't understand what's at stake for me. I need to think about it."

"What is there to think about, Yuki?!"

"You wouldn't understand." Yuki remained still, recalling memories of previous trips to Akito. He shuddered violently. "Please allow me time to make a decision or I'm afraid I will have to automatically deny you."

Kyou backed away and let a sight of anger escape him, "Can I have your decision tomorrow morning?"

"Hai." Yuki walked out of the classroom with soft steps, letting Kyou stew in is own thought.

Kagura laid on her bed, clutching the cat plushie in her arms. "Kyou-kun, Kyou-kun... why don't you love me?" She rolled gently from side to side as she said so. "Maybe a cat's heart isn't capable of loving... that's not true... you love Yuki-kun..."

Kisa snuggled up to Hiro's chest, as the movie began. "Hiro... do you think I could be a good mommy?" She asked in her usual sad, quiet voice.

He chose his words carefully before he spoke, "If you had a big, strong daddy to help you." The 'like me' was implied.

"I think Hatori will be a good mommy..." She settled her head in the crook of his neck and was silent for the rest of the movie.

"Ayame, call me a mother one more time and I will switch your next vaccination with horse tranquilizer." Hatori warned, sitting at his desk, filling out more paperwork.

"And short Rin her sleeping pills? How could you, Tori!" Ayame laughed. He flipped his braid behind him and sat, acquiring one of those few and far between serious looks. "Are you ready to be a parent?"

Hatori furrowed his eyebrows, "Do you doubt me?"

"What I doubt, " He began cautiously, "is your confidence."