I don't own Fruits Basket or Princess Princess.

"Talking"

Chapter 8

With everything that had happened, the hotel had decided to give all of them free rooms for the rest of the night. With everyone sharing rooms for the rest of the night, and perhaps most of the next day, almost everyone started to fall asleep. Mikoto and Yuujiro had managed to get a room for themselves. Yuujiro thought that Mikoto might have a hand in arranging it for them, but decided not to ask why the room they got only had one bed in it. Carrying Mikoto to the bed, he helped him take off the coat and pants of this suit. He then took off Mikoto's socks. He then tucked Mikoto in.

"I'll sleep on the floor…alright." Yuujiro stated.

"I don't mind sharing a bed." Mikoto stated.

"Are you sure?" Yuujiro asked.

"Yuujiro…it's been a long day, don't make me argue with you…now get in bed." Mikoto snapped. Yuujiro gave a small grin, it had been a while since had seen Mikoto as irritable as he was now. Taking off his jacket and pants, he climbed into the other side of the bed. Resting his head on a pillow he looked at Mikoto.

"So you turn into a cat…that's not that odd." Yuujiro stated. Mikoto just raised an eyebrow.

"You are insane…how is that even normal?" Mikoto asked as he curled his body slightly.

"I mean…well you…alright it is weird," Yuujiro replied. "I just didn't want to make a big deal about it."

"That's actually really nice of you Yuujiro." Mikoto replied. "But…nevermind."

"What is it?" Yuujiro asked, "You can tell me." Mikoto just blushed.

"I don't know…isn't it kind of a turn off, I mean to be with someone who turns into an animal." Mikoto asked. Yuujiro blinked for a moment.

"Not really…I mean, just like Kagura told Kenji…you are still you…you just have a couple of secrets right…well we all have secrets. Yours just happen to be that you turn into a cat." Yuujiro replied. "It could be worse. You could have been a mass-serial killer…I mean with the way your family acted when the car nearly hit you…They came up with a story and both you and Kagura…how could you even stand with all that glass in your feet?" Mikoto just shrugged.

"They would have been suspicious if they saw the glass in our feet…after all why would the two of us be shoeless in a back alley?" Mikoto replied. "I've had worse…Kagura probably hasn't…that's why she screamed with the hydrogen peroxide…she…well…maybe not."

"Why do you keep saying that…how could you could have had worse than that?"

"When I was younger I was stabbed thirteen times." Mikoto revealed. "The scars healed up thanks to Hatori, but mentally I guess they are still there." Yuujiro's eyes widened with shock.

"Who…who did it?" Yuujiro asked darkly.

"I'd rather not say his name…"Mikoto answered as he curled a little tighter. Yuujiro couldn't stop himself from pulling Mikoto into a hug, and just held him.

"How…how did you survive?" Yuujiro asked as he tightened his hold on Mikoto. He could feel tears streaming from Mikoto's eyes.

"I…"Mikoto stopped himself; he couldn't tell Yuujiro that in reality, he didn't. "Luck." He lied.

"Who saved you?" Yuujiro asked.

"Shishou did…he's…he doesn't know about us anymore…" Mikoto lied. "Hatori erased his memory for his protection…that's why he had my bracelet; I wanted him to keep at least one thing that I owned to, well not remember me…but to not, not get the urge he has forgotten something when he see it." Mikoto gave a sad smile. "I'm cruel aren't I?"

"No…you were just lonely, and grateful that someone was willing to save you." Yuujiro replied. "It must be hard being forgotten." Yuujiro felt Mikoto tense. Fearing he had said something wrong he looked down at his boyfriend. "I…" He was cut off by a sob. Mikoto grabbed his shirt with a grip so tight that it seemed that he was going to rip the shirt in half and sobbed into it. It took Mikoto several minutes to calm down enough for Yuujiro to ask what was wrong.

"How…how do…how can you understand so…perfectly?" Mikoto asked as he looked Yuujiro. Yuujiro didn't say anything and only just tightened his grip. He made himself a promise that he would never forget Mikoto. No matter what happened.

The next day, everyone waved goodbye to Kagura and Kenji who left for their honeymoon. Yuujiro, Tohru and Akira were all surprised at how composed everyone was. Even Mikoto who Yuujiro had see break down had a smile on his face as he waved goodbye to Kagura as she left. Once the newlywed couple was gone. Mikoto kindly said that he, Yuujiro, Akira and Tohru needed to make their way back to campus.

"I'll drive you" Yuki offered. "It'll be faster than if you have to take the train." Mikoto nodded in agreement.

They were half-way home when Mikoto suddenly yelled at Yuki to stop.

"What?" Yuki asked as he glanced at Mikoto.

"Is that who I think it is?" Mikoto asked as he leaned forward. Yuujiro, Tohru and Akira, who were sitting in the back, looked forward to where Mikoto was pointing.

"It can't be…what day is it?" Yuki asked.

"May…none of us…not in may."Mikoto replied instantly. "Plus no one is here." Yuujiro, Tohru and Akira suddenly noticed there was a cemetery next to them.

"Then wh…her mother." Yuki stated.

"What…that's right Kyoko is buried here." Mikoto replied. "We should probably go, it'll be bad if she sees us." His eyes never leaving the woman they were staring at.

"I guess you're right." Yuki stated as continued to watch her. "Do you think…"

"I made the Yankee promise…I think so." Mikoto replied. "I hope so."

"Who is she?" Tohru asked. Mikoto and Yuki broke from their daze and looked back at him. Starting the car back up, Yuki simply said.

"She's no one." Yuki turned towards Mikoto. "She's no one at all." Yuujiro leaned against the window and couldn't help but feel as if he had seen that woman before.

It took another day before Mikoto was able to walk on his own again, but within days he was back to running from people who still saw him as the Eastern Princess. It had been a few weeks since the wedding. Neither Tohru or Akira mentioned the fact that Mikoto had an ability to change into a cat, and Yuujiro only talked about it with Mikoto when he knew the two of them would be alone, something that didn't happen very often. Yuujiro and Mikoto were outside studying, well Yuujiro was studying, and Mikoto was sunbathing when Mikoto suddenly said.

"I want to meet your family."

"What? Why?"

"You've taken Tohru to meet them, why can't I…plus you've met and survived mine. Yours can't possibly be worse." Mikoto replied. Yuujiro desperately wanted to argue that fact, but it was hard to since he knew he really couldn't.

"They…"

"Tohru told me how you always felt bad about being round them, but you got over that last year right? Besides Summer vacation is coming up and the only thing left to do here is study."

"What are you hiding?"

"Ayame convinced Hatori that a family outing to the zoo is a good idea."

"What's so bad about that?"

"We all change into animals…we can all hear and understand what they say. I can guarantee that Ayame will try to free all the snakes who will immediately try to eat Yuki. The lions and other large cats will fawn over Kisa but try to eat Hiro, Momiji and Kagura; Ritsu and the monkeys…now that is a scary thought. And don't even get me started on the petting zoo. I need an excuse to get out of that mayhem." Mikoto replied. "But I also really want to meet your parents."

"Why haven't I met yours then Mikoto?" Yuujiro asked trying to change the subject. "You have all these family events that you go to, but not once is your sister there…nor your parents."

"Makoto and I lived with our Uncle…my parents died eight years ago…Our uncle isn't married, so he didn't really know how to handle children. At the time, I was eight, and Makoto was eleven. She was in middle school so it wasn't that hard to adapt…Our uncle is a doctor, so his job usually kept him out of the house. Makoto had her own friends, so I had to find a family for myself, and I did…I had already had one." Mikoto shifted his gaze up to Yuujiro, "I started going to see Hatori when I was five…it didn't take me long to meet the others afterwards."

"I see." Yuujiro replied with a sigh. "I'll tell my parents that I'm coming home, and that I'm bringing someone that I want them to meet." Yuujiro then looked at Mikoto. "Why didn't you ever mention it before?"

"Mention what?"

"Your parents?" Yuujiro asked.

"Didn't seem important." Mikoto shrugged. "It was a car crash; they were killed instantly, so they weren't in pain. That's all I could have asked for if they were to die."

"Death doesn't bother you?"

"No…I remember once, several years ago." Mikoto stated as he stared at the sky. He mentally thought that it was more than once, and it had been when he had first been eight, and then later when he had been caged. "I actually wished to die…I thought my mere presence was causing pain to those I loved…but then I met someone…she told me that my thoughts were stupid…how could a child cause pain to someone by simply existing. She told me about her daughter, and how she was the spitting image of her husband who had passed away. She told me that her daughter reminded her every day of the man she loved, and while she missed him greatly, she loved having the constant reminder. She loved having her daughter, and told me that she would be heartbroken if something had happened to her." Mikoto replied. "The woman was later killed in a car accident, and her daughter lost the majority of her friends in the course of three years…but I like to think that not once did her daughter stop smiling…that is what she told me she always did. Her daughter's smile could whip away any gloom there was in the world. So as long as that girl could smile, I think I could keep on living."

"Mikoto…that's so sad." Yuujiro replied.

"But Yuujiro…it's not a sad story, it's a happy one. It's a story of hope, it's a story of life." Mikoto replied. "And life is not always happy." Yuujiro didn't know what hurt more, the smile of Mikoto's lips, or the fact that he really believed what he had said.

Yuujiro gulped as they stood in front of his house. He and Mikoto were standing there, waiting for Yuujiro to knock.

"I can do it Yuujiro." Mikoto stated. "If you want…I thought Tohru said you were over this."

"I am…but I've never brought home a boyfriend before…or a girlfriend for that matter…I'm nervous…what if they don't like you…what if…"

"What if pigs fly…"Mikoto started. "Wait bad example."

"What do you mean?"

"Well if you angle Kagura just right and throw really hard…"

"Oh god." Yuujiro paled at the thought. Mikoto took the moment he shocked his boyfriend to knock on the door. The door immediately opened.

"Hello…"A woman smiled. She looked to be in her mid-thirties. Mikoto could tell this woman was Yuujiro's mother. Snapping into action, Yuujiro sent a small glare towards Mikoto before giving his princess smile.

"Hello mother."

"Yuu-chan…come in…I'd like to meet your friend…oh your grandmother is visiting us…I was going to call to tell you…I don't think you've seen her in a while, she came to visit last year during the spring…you were at school…" His mother started.

"Mother…this is Mikoto Yutaka…"Yuujiro stopped, he couldn't bring himself to tell her.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Shinoudani-san…wait or is it another name…I'm sorry…Yuujiro never told me what his step-father's last name was…ummm" Mikoto started to panic. He was calm and collected when he started, but he wanted to kill Yuujiro for not telling him.

"It's Shinoudani…" his mother stated. "Yuujiro took the last name as well when I got married. Don't worry…"

"Umm, these are for you." Mikoto stated as he passed her a bouquet of flowers. "I was taught never to arrive empty handed."

"Oh, thank you Yutaka-san."

"You can call me Mikoto, if you like." Mikoto replied, a blush on his cheeks.

"Thank you Mikoto." Yuujiro's mother turned to led them into the living room. "We were playing cards while we were waiting for you." The two of them nodded. "Mother…they're here. Yuujiro you remember…" Yuujiro's mother was cut off as Yuujiro's grandmother waved at them.

"Yuu-chan. It's been awhi…Carrot top?" Yuujiro's grandmother paused as she stared at Mikoto in shock.

"Umm, Grandmother…Father, This is Mikoto Yutaka." Yuujiro introduced.

"It's…"Mikoto's voice squeaked a little before he quickly coughed to hide it. "It's a pleasure to meet you." Mikoto stated in his normal voice. He tried not to look directly at Yuujiro's grandmother.

"I'll be a bat out of hell…you look just like him." Yuujiro's grandmother stated. "My name is Arisa Shikamoto…call me Arisa. You could be his twin."

"Grandmother?" Yuujiro asked.

"Mother what are you talking about?" Yuujiro's mother asked.

"A kid I went to High School with…Your Aunt Tohru lived with him and his cousins before they all were killed. His name was Kyou Sohma…Mikoto here is his spitting image."

"Really? He must have been an interesting person." Mikoto stated. "What happened to him?"

"He was stabbed to death thirteen times, after being torture for three years." Arisa stated. It caused all the adults to pale. "It was very bad…his death nearly caused Tohru to collapse…it didn't help that she lost nearly everyone else that she had cared about from that family."

"I never would have known that something like that had happened to Aunt Tohru…she seems so…happy all the time." Yuujiro mother stated as she served everyone some tea.

"well Kyoko, the reason for that is because The Princes last words to her was keep on smiling…if it was one thing those Sohmas loved about her it was her smile." Arisa stated as she took a swing of her tea.

"Oh…he's the one that saved her at that school shooting right?" Kyoko asked. Arisa nodded.

"They all were the self-sacrificing type…not that I blame them, they were all messed up, up here." Arisa pointed to her head. "Damn, I haven't talked about them in years…On to more pleasant things, how is school going for you Yuu-chan, and what about you Miko-chan." Yuujiro immediately turned towards Mikoto to see how he would react to the nickname. The only reaction he saw was the tightening of Mikoto's grip on the tea cup.

"It's going well. I made it to twelfth in my class…Mikoto just made it to second." Yuujiro replied as Mikoto blushed.

"It's not that important." Mikoto murmured as he looked down at his tea.

"No…that's really good…so were you a Princess like Yuu-chan?" Kyoko asked. Mikoto's blushed even harder. "I'll take that as a yes." Suddenly they heard steps coming down the stairs. "Oh, Shinnosuke must be up."

"Yuu-chan!" A small boy jumped onto Yuujiro hugging him around the neck.

"I've missed you too Shinnosuke…have you been a good boy?" Yuujiro asked with a slight blush in his cheeks.

"Yep." Shinnosuke replied with a smile, it was then that he noticed Mikoto. "Hi." He stated shyly as he partially hid behind Yuujiro's arm.

"Hello…my name is Mikoto…what is yours?" Mikoto asked with a small smile.

"Shinnosuke…are you a cat?" Shinnosuke asked as he looked closer at Mikoto. Both Yuujiro and Mikoto tensed at that statement.

"No…I'm not…are you one?" Mikoto asked evenly with his lips curled up in a smile.

"No…I'm Shinnosuke." He replied. This caused everyone to laugh. After several moments, they calmed down and Shinnosuke looked back at Mikoto. "I like you." He stated simply before turning to Yuujiro and whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear, "I don't want to marry Yuu-chan anymore."

Replying in a similar fashion, Yuujiro simply said. "I understand."

Shinnosuke then glanced back at Mikoto and then turned to Yuujiro. "I want to marry Miko-chan." This caused Arisa and Kyoko to laugh.

"We'll see about that Shinn-chan." Yuujiro replied evenly. It had taken all he had not to let his annoyance fall through, after all, Mikoto was his, not his brothers. The rest of the evening was spent with faint chatter between everyone. Around five Kyoko went to the kitchen to start dinner. Mikoto immediately offered to help. He wanted to get away from Arisa's stare and Shinnosuke's loving looks. He was afraid that he'd mess something up if he was around Arisa for longer than necessary.

Yuujiro glanced at Mikoto as he entered the kitchen. He didn't know Mikoto could cook, but for some reason he didn't believe it was a skill he willing learned.

"Yuujiro…I want you to be careful around him." Arisa stated as she looked at her grandson.

"What do you mean grandmother?" Yuujiro asked.

"He'll deny it until the end of days, but I know Kyou Sohma when I see him…I also know that Kyou is dead…I say his body…I managed to keep Tohru from seeing it, but that is Kyou Sohma…the Sohmas…while they all loved Tohru…they weren't the kind of people you hung around with…they are a dangerous group."

"But Grandmother, how could Mikoto be Kyou…"Yuujiro drifted. "What were the other names of the members of the Sohma family that great Aunt Tohru befriended?" Yuujiro asked.

"Let me see…Yuki, Shigure, Haru and Momiji were the ones I always saw…there was also Hatori, Kisa, Kureno, Hiro who was the youngest…um Ayame, Ritsu, Kagura…who was freakishly strong, and Rin. Along with Kyou, Kazuma and then the head of the family at that time was Akito…he's the one that killed Kyou." Arisa stated before shaking her head. "He's dead too, but Yuujiro, while they did wonderful things for Tohru, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't regret the day that she befriended Yuki." Yuujiro felt as if he had been punched in the gut. He knew, he knew that Mikoto and his family were all hiding something from him, from everyone that wasn't originally apart of the family. But to go as far as to believe that they had died. The facts were staring him in the face, and he didn't want to believe it, any of it. Taking a deep breath he asked.

"How…how could Mikoto be Kyou, if Kyou died several years ago…Mikoto has an older sister, he was born seventeen years ago. Mikoto's sister and his uncle are his only blood relatives."

"The Sohma's that we met, with the exception of Yuki and Ayame who were brothers, were all cousins to one another…I wouldn't doubt if there was some magic a play or something…but my gut is telling be to be ready for when that little red-head calls me Yankee so that I can respond with Carrot top." Arisa stated, she glanced over at her grandson and noted the pale face. "Or it could just be wishful thinking on my part…they were good people who had shitty thing happen to them, and while I wish Tohru had never met them, there are times when I wish I had their company."

"I guess Grandmother." Yuujiro replied as their conversation was interrupted by Yuujiro's step-father arriving home, and Kyoko announcing that Dinner was ready.

All during Dinner, Mikoto focused his attention to any member of the family besides Arisa. While he hated the fact that it was Arisa who sat across from him, he wouldn't deny that he preferred her to either Tohru or Hanajima…although if Yuujiro was related to Hanajima he would have to rethink their relationship. He spent the majority of the meal talking with Kyoko or Yuujiro's step-father, Takeru.

Yuujiro watched with a faint smile as Mikoto engaged both his parents into a conversation. He had a nagging feeling that while Mikoto looked incredibly at ease during dinner, that in reality he was very nervous. Just putting that thought aside he continue to watch as Mikoto charmed his parents. A soft smile appeared as he watched him.

"If you smile anymore you'll be drooling." Arisa whispered to her grandson, a smile on her face when she saw that she had unnerved him.

"What are you talking about?" Yuujiro asked.

"You know what." Arisa replied. "Just listen to what I said…don't get to close to the Sohmas."

"Mikoto is a Yutaka." Yuujiro replied. "Not a Sohma."

"Perhaps in name…"Arisa left off. "Its times like these that I wish I had brought Saki with me…she could tell me for sure." She gave a sigh.

"Mother…Yuu-chan, what are you talking about." Kyoko asked. Both Yuujiro and Arisa looked up to see everyone staring at them.

"Just telling Yuu-chan about the time I whipped Carrot Top at Cards." Arisa replied. Her eyes narrowed as she saw Mikoto open his mouth as if to retort, but saw that he quickly closed it. So she was right.

"Mother why don't you tell us more about 'Carrot Top' and 'The Prince'…you seem to reminiscing them a lot today. You said that Aunt Tohru knew them…what about Grandpa Kazuma?" Kyoko asked. Mikoto's head snapped at Kyoko before turning towards Arisa. It was then she saw it. The pain mixed with joy and relief. Mikoto was torn. He wasn't sure if he wanted to hear the stories anymore that Arisa was sure she wanted to tell them. She suddenly grew angry at both herself and at him for making her trick him into this game.

"Kazuma knew them…actually Kyou was his son…foster son, but son none the less." Arisa replied as she stared at Mikoto. "Kyou's death nearly destroyed Kazuma…it was probably best that Tohru was there for him…she was probably the only other person who ever got through Kyou's anger…after hearing his whole story, it was no surprise that he was angry all the time…Yuki on the other hand…Kazuma knew him, he taught him Martial Arts, but that was the extent of their relationship." She could see Mikoto nodding along with some of the things she was saying. "But Yuu-chan…you said there were three princesses at your school; if you and Mikoto were two of them, who was the third?"

"Tohru Kouno…he was a transfer student." Mikoto replied. "He is actually Yuujiro's current roommate."

"I see." Arisa stated as she heard the silent message in Mikoto's voice. Stop focusing on me. "Tell me what he is like."

Hope you like. Sorry to the delay, We are at the half away mark of the story. I should be updating much more frequently.