Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket.

A/N: So I'm a pathetic loser who deserves none of your reviews (but I'll beg for them anyway cause I truly love them). Sorry for not updating for such a long time . Life's just been so hectic. Literally non-stop work at campus but I'll stop complaining and just get straight to it!

There are a few time shifts in here. Nothing too major (I think).

Enjoy!

Chapter 19: Discoveries

"So, how was she?"

"She was well-behaved, as always." Kyo said as he smiled in fondness at Hanabi who was currently laying stomach down on one of the long desks in the Student Council room facing away from us, her feet swinging in the air as she did her maths homework.

"Good." I replied and we stood in the classroom, both of our heads turned towards Hanabi, watching her fondly.

"Where's Aki?"

"He's working. Seiji would've looked after Hana-chan but he helps out at his family's shop after school so usually he just meets up with Aki and Hana-chan when his parents say he can go. Aki was going to pick up Hana-chan afterwards but I told him I would walk her home. It's the least I can do after all."

"So what's happening with band practise?" He asked suddenly.

"We meet on the weekends when we can and just sum up ideas. We're going a bit easy now since it's a busier time and we haven't got a lot of offers. We've only got a small gig coming up in just over a month so we're a bit more lax."

With that topic of discussion over, silence filled the space, before Kyo spoke up again.

"I know that Aki works and all but I was under the impression that Kaibara students couldn't work part-time."

"They can't, unless they have permission. When Haru was President, he fought hard so that students, who needed to work, were allowed to work. You have to get permission from the principal and if the part-time job affects your school work badly then your parents get called in."

"Right, makes enough sense."

We lapsed into another silence, Kyo looking from Hanabi to me every few seconds before finally he turned and kept his eyes on me.

"I've got to go. Nidou's going to wonder where I am. If I keep her waiting it's not going to be pretty."

"Sure." I said simply, relieved and disappointed at the same time that Kyo had forgotten about the kiss.

I walked with Kyo the little way to the door, staying at the door while Kyo walked past the threshold. He turned and looked at me, smiling gently. A smile that I couldn't help but return.

"So, I'll see you?" he asked quietly.

Unable to form a coherent response I merely settled for nodding, caught off guard when Kyo's hand slid across my cheek. My breathing became more shallow and I swallowed in anticipation of what was about to happen. Looks like the deal hadn't been forgotten afterall.

Kyo leaned forward and we made eye contact for about 2 seconds before he gently slid his lips across mine. I bit back a soft moan and kissed back with equal contentment. It felt like a first kiss all over again, well it is technically our first kiss since we've broken up. Kyo pulled away moments later and I bent my head forward slightly, hiding my blushing cheeks from his view. I could feel his gaze on me and the way his fingers continued to caress the nape of my neck ever so slightly.

"I really do have to get going now. Don't stay here too late, okay?"

I nodded again in reply as I felt Kyo's warmth slowly fade away.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"Sure." I forced a smile and, before Kyo could question it, closed the door between us.

Turning around I leaned heavily against the door, closing my eyes and sliding to the floor, unaware of the pair of concerned eyes looking toward me.

THREE WEEKS LATER

"What's bothering you?"

I pulled my gaze away from Hanabi and faced Sou, who was joining us while we waited for Aki to come back from his part-time job.

"What makes you think anything's wrong?" I asked, trying to insert a little humour in my voice.

Unfortunately Sou could see straight through me, which was evident by the raised eyebrow he was now sporting.

I sighed, "It's a long story."

"It's not like we've got anywhere to go, Aki's not gonna be here for another hour or so."

"It's not really something to discuss in front of Hanabi."

Sou snorted, "What a lame excuse considering she isn't close enough to hear us anyway. Come on, you know you can't keep stuff like this bottled up for too long. I've seen this eat at you for a while now."

I looked back towards Hanabi, confirming with my own eyes that she wasn't paying any attention to us and that she was indeed not within hearing range, before turning back toward Sou.

"I did something stupid."

"Elaborate."

"Since when did you know the word ela-" My taunt died under Sou's glare and I quickly got back to the topic at hand. "Just something stupid."

"Does it have anything to do with why you and Kyo disappeared just after he dropped Hana-chan off this afternoon?"

"Why would you think that?"

"Hmm, I dunno. There was just something weird about you needing to get out of my line of sight just to see Kyo off. I can sense that something isn't right. That something hasn't been right for a while now. Did something happen? Have you guys been arguing?"

"Worse than that."

"Worse? Yuki, if he's hurting you then-" Sou said warningly, raising a little from his seat as if he were ready to find Kyo right at that moment and teach him a lesson, Sano-style.

I shook my head quickly, "No! No, it's not like that. It's just... We've made this sort of deal."

Sou relaxed and sunk back into the comfort of the couch in the Old Music room. "What sort of deal?" He asked curiously.

I mumbled softly and Sou leaned closer, blatantly trying to catch what I was saying. "What the hell are you mumbling about?" He asked once he had given up on trying to hear anything. "What kind of deal, Yuki?" He asked again, this time more firm.

"A deal where I give him something in return for looking after Hanabi."

"Is he blackmailing you?"

"What! No! It's not like that. It's more consensual than I'd like it to be actually."

"So what is it then?"

"I just have to give him a kiss in return."

Sou looked to be absorbing the new-found information and he only spoke up a few minutes later, "Isn't that a good thing for you? I thought you said you were going to do whatever you could to get him back."

"I did. I still would. But I can't shake this guilt. He's going out with someone and I don't like the thought of him doing this with me if it means that he would do it behind my back if we ever got back together again."

"When."

"When what?"

"When you guys get back together." Sou said seriously, "I've seen the way Kyo looks at you, surely it's not as openly anymore but I just know that his feelings couldn't have just disappeared overnight. Everything's going to turn out okay. Another thing is that Kyo would never cheat on you."

"That's what everyone, who's ever been cheated on, says at the beginning of their relationship. You just never know and as much as I despise Nidou... she doesn't deserve that sort of treatment from her boyfriend."

Sou sighed and turned around, falling backward so that he could rest his head in my lap. "You're too righteous for your own bloody good, and speaking of mind-changing. I don't know which plan I'm on anymore. What are we going to do now?"

"Firstly, I'm going to tell Kyo that these deals have to stop and then I'm going to wait."

"Wait?" Sou repeated, a look of disgust on his face, "How is that a solution?"

"If Kyo's desperate enough to ask me to kiss him as a reward for looking after Hana-chan then he's got to have feelings for me still, even if they are just physical ones. I can live with that, if Kyo still desires me then I can make him fall in love with me again."

"You're so cool."

I laughed at the monotonous tone of Sou's voice, dropping a hand to his hair and threading my fingers through it. "I know, right?"

ONE MONTH LATER

"I'm sorry, I can't do this anymore." Yuki said just as I was mere centimetres away from my weekly reward.

"What does that mean?" I asked slowly.

"We've been going at this for almost 2 months now, Kyo. It's not fair to Nidou... not fair to your girlfriend."

I leaned back at Yuki's words, looking him in the eyes to see if it were just a joke or if he were actually being serious. Noting that it was the latter, anger quickly boiled up inside me and I slammed my fist next to his head on the wall he was leaning against.

"Fuck!" I whispered harshly, pulling away completely from Yuki's trembling body. Why did this have to happen now? After we were finally getting into the swing of things again, why did he have to get a fucking conscious? Who fucking cares about that bitch? Fuck her!

"Yun-niichan, Kyon-niichan, is everything alright? I heard a loud noise." Hanabi said, her head sticking out in the opening of the door.

I turned to her and plastered a smile on my face, "It was just some silly people walking pass. How far have you gotten with your homework, Hana-chan?" I crouched down in front of her and took her hands in mine, "You have to finish all of your homework while Yuki and I are still here to help you, okay? That way you won't have to ask your Onii-chan or your mommy when you get home, right?"

Hana smiled brightly and nodded, quickly making her way back inside and enthusiastically starting on her homework again.

I turned back to Yuki again, his arms folded in front of him like a shield. He looked at me curiously before asking, "What was that about?"

I sighed as I leaned in the spot Yuki had just vacated, "She's been a bit down lately, right?" I watched as Yuki nodded before I continued. "She's been worried about adding any extra burden when she gets home."

Yuki's eyes widened as he gasped, "What? She's just a child, she shouldn't be worrying about those sort of things. Maybe I should tell Aki-"

"Don't tell him anything, it's just going to make him stress even more. I told her that everything was fine at home and that she really shouldn't worry but she seemed adamant about it so I told her to do small things like lean on us while she's doing her homework so that when she goes home she can allow Riza-san and Aki to relax and to ask if they needed help in the kitchen and things like that. Hana-chan's a fast learner, she'll be running that house in no time."

I watched as Yuki's posture relaxed and decided to try one last time for that reward. He didn't shy away from my approach but he did avoid looking at me, a real shame since I loved those bright violet orbs. I grabbed his chin gently, moving his head so that is eyes strayed to mine but he kept them stubbornly to the side.

"Come on, Yuki. Just look at me, I promise I won't do anything you don't want to."

He reluctantly turned his eyes to me, staring at me before looking away shortly after, "That's the problem. I want you to do it and if I stare at you for too long then I'm just going to give in again, and I won't do that, I can't do that."

"What do you mean, 'give in again'? You've never stopped me before."

"You don't think I've tried to push you away before? I have tried to stop myself at least 100 times since this all started but I'm selfish... I want you to myself even though I can't have you."

'You already have all of me.' I wanted to say those words so badly to him, to let him know that I was all his and to reassure him that I wasn't going to leave. But I had left, with no explanation or gradualism. I pulled away and left him all alone. He shouldn't even want to see me ever again. And here I am, practically forcing him to put himself in that position only for me to leave him all over again every week. I pulled back slightly, disappointed that I was the cause of Yuki's predicament.

"I'm sorry, we'll stop. I didn't mean for this to affect you so deeply... and I should've known because it's been affecting me too. I should have known that it wasn't only going to be eating at me but at you too."

Yuki grabbed one of my hands in both of his, "I want you to know something though. You didn't force this. I've been the most willing participant ever. It's just that if I were Nidou it would hurt so much more and I don't want anyone to feel like that..."

"I got it."

I was about to walk away before I felt Yuki's hand latch onto my elbow. "Kyo, what's this been about? I mean... you dumped me for Nidou and then we end up here..." Yuki looked down and muttered, "Where ever here is."

"I can't explain the pull you have on me. I just wanted to feel that for a while longer." I knew the words would sting but I also knew at this point that I was getting in too deep. I was too deep already. Nidou threatens me once every 2 days to stay away from Yuki but I just can't and the only thing that's stopping her from leaking those photos is the fact that I'm willing to act as her boyfriend and have her drape herself around me.

I could clearly see the hurt in Yuki's eyes and my heart clenched at the sight. "I have to go. I'll see you."

"Great." He said simply, walking into the room and slamming the door behind him.

I groaned and shook my head, willing the urge to go in there and comfort him away. I walked about 10 steps and just when I thought I was about to make it away from Yuki without giving in, I turned toward the room again, planning to make amends but before I could I was caught in a headlock, a hand covering my eyes and another covering my mouth, and practically dragged away.

I thrashed and attempted to scream but it was pointless, almost no one was around and the person who was kidnapping me seemed to know their way around the school, knowing where to go to avoid bumping into anyone.

The hands disappeared and next thing I knew I was shoved roughly into a dark room.

"What the fuck!" I yelled, as a dim light switched on and Haru and Sou's faces came into view.

"Why hello there, Kyon." Haru said deg radingly, a sneer on his face.

I cursed in my head but attempted to remain calm on the outside. "What do you want?"

"Oh nothing much. I just want to understand... what the fuck is going on in that pretty little head of yours." Haru shoved me again and I fell clumsily into a chair. I looked at the hand holding the chair steady before moving my gaze to his face.

"Who the fuck are you?"

"Sano Shinobu. I would say I'm pleased to meet you but frankly, I'm not."

"Oh great, the eldest." I groaned. "So what is this supposed to be?" I drawled, pissed that I was currently under what seemed like an interrogation. Or maybe they were just going to beat me up a bit. "Some kind of Sano family reunion-turned-intervention? By the way, thanks for this Sou."

Sou sighed, "We're just tired of seeing Yuki moping around, Kyo. We want answers. This would've happened much sooner if Yuki just allowed us to get involved but he's been adamant about this being on his shoulders. Unfortunately we don't listen very well and as much as we adore Yuki we couldn't let this continue. Just appease us, you don't want to see Haru-nii's wrath."

At that Haru smirked and cracked his knuckles.

I stared at him blankly, "Oh how intimidating." I stood up from the chair and made to walk pass him and out of the room but I was merely shoved into the chair again.

Haru held me down by pinning my shoulders and leaned in close, "Do you have any idea how much he's hurting? He puts on a brave face at school and for his friends and family but he can't hide it from us. We can all see it."

I looked Haru in the eye, "People break up. So what? I don't hold feelings for him anymore, what are you going to do about it?"

"Right, that's why you're kissing him every week when you bring Hana-chan back." My eyes widened in response and Haru's smirk returned, "We know, Kyo. No guy in their right mind would continue kissing someone they don't have feelings for, especially when the person is a guy and you're supposedly straight."

"Just piss off. This is no one's business but mine and Yuki's so stay out of it." I growled.

"It is our business! You know nothing about what he's been through! Yet you force your way into his heart and then leave him high and dry in the end when you've finished FUCKING around! If it weren't for Yuki, I'd-" Haru was cut off by Shinobu who merely placed a hand on Haru's chest and shook his head.

Haru glared at me as he shoved Shinobu's hand off. He turned around and kicked at something lying around on the floor, shouting loudly in, what seemed to be, pure anger.

"What are you hiding, Kyo?" Shinobu asked quietly.

I snorted, "Nothing."

Shinobu sighed and brought his hands to his head, forefingers massaging his temples. Sou pulled another chair out, sitting quietly. We all remained silent for a few minutes before Sou spoke up, his expression pained, "You know, before you came we finally thought that we were getting through to him again. We managed to get that Yuki who was carefree and loving back again for a couple of years." Sou crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair a little. "A few weeks ago he told me about your agreement, that he would do anything to get you back but he couldn't shake the guilt that was crushing him because you were involved with Nidou and were kissing him. I wanted to keep him strong, keep him positive but... I don't know if I can anymore. I'm starting to lose faith in you, Kyo. I can't keep looking Yuki in the eye and lying about how I believe that you'll come back to him when I'm doubting it myself."

I felt a dull ache run through my body and I lowered my head, unwilling to hold his gaze any longer. My strength was weakening, my secret willing to come out of the cage I was keeping it locked in.

"How could you just leave him like that? After stating that he was different, that he was special and that he was your one exception."

"IT'S BECAUSE HE'S A HEARTLESS BASTARD!" Haru shouted as he made his way over to me again and pulling me up from the chair by my shirt, "DID HE MEAN ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO YOU?"

I felt it but I couldn't control it. My patience snapped and the cage broke open.

"He means EVERYTHING to me! WHY THE HELL WOULD I GO OUT WITH A BINT LIKE NIDOU IF I HAD YUKI?" I was breathing harshly and my eyes widened when I looked at the shocked expressions on the Sano brothers' faces.

Haru let go of me and I sank back into the chair. He moved back slowly, his eyes remaining on me, much like Shinobu's and Sou's were before letting out a whispered, "What?"

I shook my head, "It's nothing, just forget I said anything."

Sou shook his head in return, "No. That wasn't nothing."

Haru nodded, "Tell us or I swear I'll beat you up so hard your grandchildren will have bruises."

"Fuck... this is so messed up." Trust Haru to state the obvious.

"You can't tell him anything." I pleaded, looking specifically at Sou who was walking up and down the small room and biting his thumbnail.

"How could we not? You don't understand how this will make him feel." Sou stated, sitting down from the chair after his pacing had ended.

"He wouldn't want to come out this way. He's told me before... that he's not ready for everyone to find out. I don't want to be the reason that he's forced to come out."

"He's been putting on a brave face, Kyo, but we can all see that he's feeling lost and when he was with you we saw him finally start to become more and more of himself. You were good for him... he's finally found someone who he—" Sou stopped himself and seemed to be holding something back.

Haru walked up to Sou, patting him on the shoulder, and turned to me, "You're good for him and I think that he's good for you too. There has to be some way to solve all of this. Does anyone else know besides us?"

"Only Kazuki, he accidentally stumbled across the video Yuki made for my birthday and discovered it. We got to talking and he put together the whole blackmail thing too."

"What about what's her face?" Haru asked suddenly.

"Nidou?"

"Ya, what does she know?"

"Only that Yuki and I dated. She doesn't know that the only reason I'm doing this is because he's the one that doesn't want to come out. I've told her that I have to meet with my uncle every Tuesday so she's settled for waiting for me in my room where Kazuki makes sure she doesn't go anywhere really."

"He surely does a lot for you." Haru stated, looking at me confusedly.

I shrugged, "I've tried to talk him out of it but he feels guilty."

"Guilty?"

"He's the one who introduced us. Though who would've known that she'd be desperate enough to tie someone down by resorting to blackmail. He says that it's his fault and he's trying to give me as much time alone with Yuki as possible."

"So he's not against your relationship with Yuki?"

"Not at all. He's actually quite supportive."

"That's perfect."

We all looked to Haru as if staring at him long enough would allow us to understand his train of thought.

"Perfect? How so?" Shinobu finally asked after a few minutes of silence.

"I think I know of a way to get this out of this mess."

I raised my eyebrow, "What do you propose?"

To be continued. Please review :)

Sorry about the shortness of this chapter. I didn't want you guys to wait any longer. (For anyone who cares) The work load at campus has been heavy as exams are starting at the end of this month. I've got myriads of essays and research projects due but I'll try and get writing done whenever I have a few frees.

Hope you guys are still interested. Hello to anyone still reading here. Thanks for sticking with me.