I don't own Fruits Basket or Princess Princess.

"Talking"

Chapter 12

Akira glanced around the room. For a psychiatrist office, the room had everything a person might need. This was especially true after everyone had returned the office.

Kureno had stopped by the police station with Rin and Haru. They had made up the story that Akito had attacked Rin on her way home. Kureno, being the kind citizen had stopped by and stopped Akito from hurting her anymore. Rin then called Haru to come with her to the police station. The police were kind when talking to Rin, as she played the part of the distress damsel, while she let one of the female officers tend to her cut lip. Haru didn't even need to play the part of worried boyfriend since he was even more worried about Rin when he saw the bruises in the light and when the doctor noticed that she might have had a broken rib. Kureno made his star performance as the part of the concern citizen; although his awkwardness in social situations did come out while he gave his statement to the police at the police station. When the three had made it back to Hatori's office, Haru told Hatori about the broken rib, and Rin got in line to be healed. Ayame and Shigure started to make fun of Kureno for getting ten female officers phone numbers.

Akira glanced to his side and saw Tohru there holding his hand. Akira let a small smile grace his lips as he leaned against Tohru. He knew at the moment, all of Tohru's thoughts were on Yuujiro and Mikoto. Kagura had been the second one to reach Mikoto, and seeing that he had collapse, immediately checked his pulse. Seeing that it was still beating, she had let out a sigh of relief and told everyone that he had only passed out. Relaxing a bit, Hatori told Yuujiro to pick him up and carry him to the car. It was there that they all went back to the office. Yuujiro had yet to leave Mikoto's side after Hatori had finish dressing all of Mikoto's wounds. Akira might have been a little naïve, but he saw how Shigure and Kagura tensed when they saw the marks on Mikoto's back. He had originally thought that they were angry with Akito, but then he noticed that they weren't staring at Mikoto, they were staring at Yuujiro, as if they were both waiting for Yuujiro to figure out something and react.

Yuki on the other hand had transformed back into a human just as they returned back to the office. Hatori had spent a long time casting his injuries. Not only was his right arm broken in three places, he had five broken ribs and a broken leg. Yuki had confirmed that he had been kicked, in his rat form by Akito, and had hit a wall. But besides all that and a slight concussion, he was fine.

Akira looked out the window to see the sun starting to come up over the sky; he could hardly believe it was morning already.

"When do you think Mikoto will wake up, or at least turn back into his human form?" Tohru asked as he kept his eyes on his friends. It hurt Akira to see Tohru this distress. If he felt bad, he could just imagine how bad Tohru felt, he had seen Mikoto get kidnapped.

"Soon." Akira replied. "Remember Hatori said he had collapse from exhaustion, his body just needs to recover before he could do anything else." Akira placed his hand over Tohru's in a silent comfort.

"Thank you Akira." Tohru muttered as he rested his head on Akira's shoulder. "You always know what to say to make me feel better."

"You're welcome Tohru." Akira replied back as he tightened his grip on Tohru's hand.

Yuujiro looked at the stilled body before him. Hatori had just finished wrapping up the bandages around Mikoto's chest, and he was still sleeping. Yuujiro didn't know what to think about everything that had happened in the past couple of hours. Just being able to be near Mikoto again made his heart swell up with love; he could still feel the fear of never seeing Mikoto again crash into him.

"If you're not careful you'll break his paw." Kagura stated from the chair next to the wall. Yuujiro jerked his head towards her; he had forgotten that she was also in the room with him. He couldn't help but notice that she had been acting strangely calm ever since they had gotten Mikoto back.

"Sorry." Yuujiro replied as he loosened his grip slightly.

"Don't be." Kagura replied softly, "I'm glad to see you care that much for him…"Kagura paused not sure how to carry on.

"What is it like?"Yuujiro suddenly asked. "I mean you all remember your last lives correct? I guess that is why Mikoto was so edgy when we visited my parents…my grandmother knew his past life…he knew her."

"Yeah…Kyou told us all about it as soon as he got back. I must say, out of anyone that Kyou could have fallen in love with, the grandson of that woman was the last person any of us would have thought would have happened." Kagura shook her head. "No offense."

"None taken…I can tell that you all don't like talking about your past lives all that much." Yuujiro stated. Kagura nodded in response.

"When we were all a part of the Sohma family, our lives were depressing, I honestly believe we all would have killed ourselves if we didn't already know that our death would lead someone else into becoming the new cursed one. That was what I think held us together for as long as it did." Kagura replied. "But I know we were breaking apart, but then Tohru entered our lives. I don't think fate would have given us this second chance had Tohru not entered our lives…she was truly an amazing person…she healed us…for the most part anyways." Kagura's eyes dimmed. "I don't hate her for that…she really did a world of good for us, it was just, Kyou had to go into the caged a whole half a year early so that she could stay. The things Kyou went through…it is not something I'd wish on anyone, not even Akito himself…I can't help but blame her for being the reason for Kyou going in so early. If she hadn't been there then maybe Kyou would have survived…"Kagura looked away.

"Maybe not, but if she hadn't then I would have never met Mikoto or any of you." Yuujiro responded. "Not that I'm sanctioning anything that bastard did to Mikoto, but from what I know about Auntie Tohru, she is a great person who just has too much love in her. I know that you all came out for the better because you knew her." Yuujiro looked at Kagura.

"I guess so." Kagura sighed. "but…tell me Yuujiro, has Kyou ever told you about why he wears the bracelet?" Yuujiro nodded.

"He said it kept a creature inside, helped him prevent it from coming out." Yuujiro replied. Kagura nodded.

"Has he ever told you what had happened to his parents?" Kagura continued.

"He said they died in a car crash." Yuujiro replied.

"No, that was Mikoto's parents; I'm talking about Kyou's parents." Kagura clarified.

"No…I've never thought about them…"Yuujiro replied. "But then again, I doubt he even knows that I know all about this past life thing." Kagura gave a small smile before continuing.

"I see." Kagura replied. "The cat has a second curse placed on it. This curse is that it can transform into a creature of pure hatred. Its hatred grows with every generation as it is accumulated due to the injustices placed upon the cat by its family. Within the Sohma family to have a cursed child is both a blessing and a curse, unless of course your child is that generation's cat. Kyou's father couldn't take it and left Kyou and his mother when Kyou was about five. I'll give him credit; he lasted longer than most parents…Kyou's mother on the other hand…what she did to Kyou was the worst." Kagura's eyes filled with tears. "It was Kyou's birthday…she was a very weak woman…it was our fault for not seeing the signs. She took him to the train station…Kyou told me once that she had said they were going to the zoo…Kyou loved going out, he rarely got the chance to leave the compound. The police told us that the train was just pulling up to the station…she jumped in front of the train. The police said it was deliberate, she had wanted to die. The medical examiner said that the death was instant…" Kagura paused. "Kyou was covered in her blood when he arrived back to the compound. He stayed with Hatori until the funeral…he was then adopted by Kazuma. But the effects of seeing that woman's death have always placed a toll on Kyou's mental state. It can be hard to see sometimes, but other times it is there in plain sight."

"That horrible bitch." Yuujiro growled as his eyes narrowed. "How could a parent do that to a child?"

"Don't blame her too much." Kagura replied. "Just imagine you have given birth to a child…one born from love…only to find out that you could never hug this child without it changing into an animal…and on top of this you are being outcasted because you gave birth to the outcast of the family." Kagura paused. "I don't condone what she did, but I'm not angry that she did it. While we were the Sohmas, for us, to have parents it was considered to be a luxury, one that many of us did not have."

"That doesn't make it right" Yuujiro growled out. "But this creature, or the second curse, whatever you called it, what does it look like? What makes it so bad?"

"That Yuujiro will be a question you have to ask Kyou about. It is not my place to explain, but let me tell you this, if you hurt him anymore then he already has, then so help me, I'll kill you." Kagura stated calmly as she stared straight at him. "We Sohmas have failed him twice; we will not do it a third time."

"I understand, but if you're scared that I'd leave him, don't you think I would have done that before I faced off a mad man trying to save him?" Yuujiro gave a faint smile. "Besides, I love him too much to ever do something like that to him, I hate to see him really sad," Yuujiro glanced over at Kagura, "Although that sad face he puts on, when he's acting is really cute." Kagura let out a snort before standing up.

"I'll let you be, I have to give my husband a call, and he must be worried sick about me." Kagura replied as she stood up and stretched. "If he wakes up, call me over immediately, you understand." Yuujiro nodded as Kagura left the area and went into the other room. He let out a sigh and closed his eyes for a moment. He could hear the rest of the family in the other room, they were all talking about nonsense, and Yuujiro would have thought that it would have been insensitive of them, but then realized that it was simply their way of coping with the events that had happened. He could not help but feel sorry for the family that had seen so many hardships.

"If you keep looking like that, your face will freeze." Yuujiro's eyes shoot open as he stared at the vestige of the boy he loved.

"Mikoto!" Yuujiro jumped up, he noticed that Mikoto was no longer a cat, and had transformed back into his human form. "When did you wake up?"

"While you and Kagura were talking…do you really love me?" Mikoto asked innocently.

"Oh course I do Mikoto…whatever would make you think otherwise?" Yuujiro asked. Mikoto glanced away.

"That…that doesn't matter at the moment…is Yuki and Rin alright?" Mikoto asked as he looked around the room.

"Yeah, they are both a little battered and bruised…but they are both fine…I'm just glad that you are awake…" Yuujiro leaned over and gave Mikoto a small kiss on his lips. "I'm just glad that you are alive." Yuujiro replied as he tightened his grip on Mikoto's hand.

"For once…I…I am too." Mikoto gave a small smile as he let his eyes drift close and fell asleep. Yuujiro tried to hide the look of dismay that entered his face as he saw Mikoto drift asleep…what did he mean for once?

Hatori and Shigure had pushed Yuujiro out of the makeshift room they had made for Mikoto shortly after Mikoto had fallen back asleep. Yuujiro could not hide his smile that appeared on his face as he watched Mikoto's chest rise and fall. Even when he was forced into the shower by Haru, he couldn't wipe the look of happiness off his face. Yes, he was worried. He knew that Mikoto was not the same Mikoto that he had seen at the train station…this Mikoto was broken…but Yuujiro did not mind being the one to put Mikoto back together.

Yuujiro was glad to find Mikoto sitting outside about a week after the whole event. The entire group had moved into a country home that Shigure owned. Akira and Tohru had stayed for another two days before they returned to their families and Yuujiro knew that it was his friends attempt at allowing the couple time alone in trying help one another heal from the incident. He was starting to become worried about the boy as he had spent all his time sitting in doors. Walking up to the red-head, Yuujiro sat down next to Mikoto.

"Mikoto…you have everyone worried inside." Yuujiro stated calmly.

"I know." Mikoto replied. "I just got tired, that's all."

"What do you mean…"

"Why are you still here Yuujiro?" Mikoto asked as he kept his glaze out at the mountains in front of him.

"What do you mean?" Yuujiro asked.

"Why are you still here…no one would blame you if you left…It's almost expected that you'd leave…this is too much for a person to handle." Mikoto replied. "I'm a monster…I'm even worse than the others."

"You're that rabbit creature aren't you…the one that save me, Rin and Yuki form Akito. That is the other form you were talking about." Mikoto pulled his knees to his chest as he tried to keep his voice from breaking.

"How…how did you find out?" Mikoto asked.

"I figured it out right when you first woke up…you had asked about Rin and Yuki…how could you have known what had happened to them if you hadn't seen it…and the only other person in that room was the creature." Yuujiro replied. "I'm not that stupid…but I don't care about that…in fact I think that form is kind-of adorable."

"No it's not."

"Yes it is…"

"Don't lay Yuujiro."

"It's a part of you…and you are the most adorable person I've ever seen." Yuujiro stated. "I love you, and I love every part of you…damn it Mikoto…I know all about the Sohma family curse and how you ended up here…I don't care about that. All I care about is the person I met on the first day of high school. The very day that we both discovered we were princesses together. That is the person I love; the one who loves to give those shy laughs, because he doesn't want to insult anyone, the one that helped me come out to my parents…the one that who I know would always be beside me if I ever needed him to be. You Mikoto are loyal and caring. You are the person I care most about in the world, why can't you understand that?"

"Because…Those who I love always leave me…and if…if I love you…then you'll leave me too." Mikoto replied as tears filled his eyes.

"I won't promise never to leave you…there are just some things that I don't have control over…but I will promise that I will always…always care about you…if you can believe in anything, then believe in that. I will always care about you." Yuujiro replied as he leaned over and kissed Mikoto.

"Alright…"Mikoto muttered between kisses.

"Now Mikoto, come here." Yuujiro stated as he motioned for Mikoto to come closer to him. "I love you Mikoto."

"I love you too Yuujiro." Mikoto gave a small smile as he leaned into Yuujiro embrace. He slowly closed his eyes preventing any of the tears in his eyes from falling. As much as his heart was telling him to believe Yuujiro, Mikoto's head was telling him the opposite. For once he would follow his head, no matter how much his heart was against it.

Later that night, Mikoto made his way down into the living room. It was not the first time that he was grateful for being the cat, having stealth on his side made his life easier. Looking around the room he found the one person he was looking for.

"What is the matter Kyou?"

"I need your help." Mikoto stated.

"Are you sure?"

"Y…Yes. I need this to happen. I…I couldn't survive if he stayed."

"Kyou…"

"No!" Mikoto replied as he wrapped his arms around himself. "I need time…I know I have to recover. I can't do that if he is here. I'll always question myself."

"Have you told him?"

"No…I don't want him to be hurt…Please Hatori…make Yuujiro forget all about me."

"Alright…if that is what you really want Kyou." Hatori stated as he looked straight at Mikoto.

"It is what I really want." Mikoto replied.

"I understand Kyou…I'll do it in the morning." Hatori stated as he casted a sad gaze onto Mikoto.

"Thank you Hatori." Mikoto replied as he went back upstairs.

Walking into the room that he and Yuujiro shared, Mikoto leaned softly against the door. He was certain that Yuujiro would be better off without him in his life. Living the life with a Sohma, especially the cat, would bring nothing but heartache, and Mikoto had seen how these relationships usually ended. He had seen how Kana had hurt Hatori after she realized that she couldn't take knowing anymore. He knew that Yuujiro cared for him, but he also knew that in time Yuujiro would come to resent him. Mikoto knew he was damaged, both mentally and physically. His body was still recovering from the events that took place with Akito, and his mind was still fragile. He couldn't let Yuujiro go through the pain he knew his mother went through, the pain that everyone who he cared about went through. Taking a deep breath he pushed himself away from the door and made his way to the spare bed that was his. Even lying down, Mikoto still stared at Yuujiro's sleeping face. Closing his eyes he tried to go to sleep, yet even hours later when he heard Hatori and Shigure enter the room and drag Yuujiro away, he still pretended to be asleep, trying to understand the fact that if he was doing the right thing, then why did his heart hurt so much.

Hope you like. We are nearly done as there is only one chapter left