New Chappie! Happy New Year everybody! Oh I'm so excited because I only have 8 days left of school and after that the chapters will be updated regularly. Let's jump with joy! And then I can also get started on all the other projects I've been wanting to do. Especially working on my outfits for AKON! I'm so ready for the Dallas convention this summer. My parents wouldn't let me go last year since I was only 17. But this year, come May I'll be 18 and I can finally go! Okay enough of my chit chat, let's get this chapter started!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruit's Basket but I do own Yukiko and Mamoru.

Innocence
Chapter 13
Tohru's Forgiveness

"Yukiko, you need to come out sometime," Haru begged at the closed door.

"Is she still here?" Yukiko's voice was heard from the other side of the door. Haru sighed and rested his head on the wall.

"Kisa won't hurt you. What do you think she'll do to you?" Haru asked.

"I saw what she did to Tohru. Tohru looked like her hand hurt a lot. I can't forgive someone who would bite Tohru like that," Yukiko answered. Haru heard footsteps come near the door and he watched as Yukiko opened it and poked her head out.

"Tohru's fine and she doesn't hold a grudge against Kisa. Come on, this is getting ridiculous," Haru said as he grabbed Yukiko and slung her over his shoulder.

"HARU! No! I don't want to go downstairs!" Yukiko complained the whole way down the steps. Haru stopped as he heard Tohru exit the bathroom. He dropped Yukiko and held a hand on her shoulder to stop her from escaping back to her room.

"Awww, you are so adorable!" Yukiko heard Tohru coo to Kisa before they walked away. Yukiko lowered her head and pushed Haru's hand off her shoulder.

"I need to get out," Yukiko murmured before running out of the house and out of sight. Haru sighed again in disappointment before he went to tell Shigure what happened.

--

Yukiko continued down the crowded street. She knew where she was going. The one place she knew that Kisa's name would not be crawling through everyone's mouths every two seconds. Knocking on the door to a house, she started fidgeting with the skirt Shigure picked out for her today. He was helping her out a lot lately. He would bring her food and drinks and keep her company for the three days that she was locked in her room because of Kisa's presence.

She looked up as the door was opened and a face appeared with a questioning look.

"Mamoru."

--

"There now. It's time for us to go back to class," Yuki said. He gave Tohru and Momiji a napkin to wipe their tears with. They were discussing Kisa and what happened to her at school and they couldn't help but cry at hearing what Kisa had to go through.

"But what about Yukiko? I haven't seen or talked to her in the last couple of days," Momiji asked.

"She hasn't been around the house either. She only comes back to sleep and then she's gone early the next morning. No one knows where she goes," Yuki explained.

"I think I might have a clue," Haru said. They turned to see him at the edge of the roof and looking towards the ground. The rest followed him and gathered at the fence to see what Haru was pointing out. They noticed Yukiko walking with a guy with red hair. She was laughing at something he said as he walked her to her class.

"Maybe that's who she's been hanging out with lately," Momiji wondered.

--

"Yukiko! Kisa's leaving, don't you want to say goodbye?" Shigure asked while walking into her room to find her. He looked inside and noticed the room was empty again. Shigure rushed outside where Tohru, Momiji, and Haru were watching Kisa leave for school.

"Haru, Yukiko's missing again. She's not in her room," Shigure panted as Haru went progressively black.

"This has gone on too long," Haru ranted as he ran quickly down the street.

--

"It's almost time for school to start. Are you ready?" Mamoru asked to the figure on the other side of the closed door. The door slid open revealing Mamoru's bathroom and a small figure wearing a school uniform.

"Do you think you can help me with my hair? Tohru usually does it," Yukiko trailed off at the thought of the girl.

"Sure," Mamoru said as he went behind her and pulled her hair into two french braids. "There all done."

"Thanks," Yukiko said. She was startled though by a rough knocking on Mamoru's front door.

"Hold on, I'll get it," Mamoru said as he left the room to see who was knocking. She heard the door open and a familiar voice.

"Where is she?" The voice yelled as he charged into the house.

"What do you think you're doing?" Mamoru asked as Haru walked towards his room. Yukiko knew that it was Haru's voice and he sounded black.

"Yukiko!" Haru yelled again as he opened the door to the room she was occupying. She trembled at the anger in his voice. He stepped in and saw Yukiko cowering towards Mamoru's bathroom. "Have you been here this whole time? Why are you never at Shigure's house anymore?" Haru dragged her out of Mamoru's house, pushing Mamoru away when he tried to help Yukiko.

"I-" Yukiko tried to explain but Haru cut her off.

"Is it because of Kisa? And because Tohru has been paying more attention to her instead of you?" Haru asked as they continued down the street.

"No, it's-" Yukiko tried again.

"You're acting so childish, all because of some petty reason. You had everyone worried sick about you. Do you like to make everyone worry?" Haru continued incessantly.

"No, I don't. It's just… she's a cat," Yukiko answered.

"Yeah, it's not that big of a deal. I'm a cow, Yuki's a rat, and you're a dragon," Haru said.

"I just don't get along with cats that much. Can we go to school now?" Yukiko asked kicking her foot back and forth.

"Something must have happened for you to be so scared of cats. What happened?" Haru wondered. Yukiko sighed and lifted up her shirt revealing a white scar about a quarter of an inchthick trailing from the top of her ribs down past the top of her skirt. It looked like her side had been ripped open. Yukiko turned her head not wanting to see Haru's reaction. His eyes widened drastically as he reached out a hand to touch her scar. When Yukiko felt a cool hand on her side she jumped and quickly pushed her uniform shirt back down.

"So you see, my reasoning for not liking cats is logical. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get to school early to help clean the classroom," Yukiko said as she started walking towards the school leaving Haru speechless in the middle of the street with his hand upraised.

--

"Ah… Saki, do you think I could come with you to your house after school?" Yukiko asked as she was walking down the hall with Hana.

"Of course. Why do you ask?" Hana replied. The Prince Yuki Fan Club has already asked to come to her house to interview her but she couldn't think of why Yukiko would want to.

"Because of T-Tohru," Yukiko stammered as she entered her classroom.

--

"Here… It's this way," Hana said as she pointed to her right. The fan club girls were walking a ways behind them and were chatting about Hana's house.

"They're quite ridiculous, huh?" Yukiko said as she laughed at the fan club girls were trying to talk quietly but failing.

"Yes, I agree," Hana said. They stopped in front of a normal looking house. Yukiko liked it though, because it was different than what she had been living in lately. "We're here. Oh, and by the way… For your own safety, it's best you don't call each other by name in the house."

"Why is that Saki?" Yukiko asked following Hana into her house. They walked up the stairs while the fan club girls lingered behind to check out their surroundings.

"You'll see," Hana replied. Yukiko walked into Hana's room and sat down on the mat near the table while Hana went to get the other girls. She appeared a few seconds later with the girls trailing warily after her. "Would you like to help me get the snacks, Yukiko?"

"Yep!" Yukiko answered, quickly jumping up and running after Hana towards the kitchen.

"So what is it you wanted to talk about Tohru?" Hana asked while pulling out some treats. Yukiko leaned up against the wall and stared at the floor.

"Ah… Well, what keeps her going? Why does she always have a smile on her face? How does she go through each day with a positive attitude even though something terrible happens?" Yukiko wondered.

"Tohru can smile every day because she has friends with her. That's what makes her so happy. To just know there are people that care about her and people she can care about. The memories of her mom keep her going. Our friendship keeps her going. And even the Sohmas keep her strong. She doesn't want to let others down. She tries her best to stay happy so she won't disappoint people around her. That is why she is the way she is," Hana finished as she put the snacks on the counter. She turned towards Yukiko when she heard a whimper. Yukiko had silent tears running down her cheek rapidly. Hana pulled Yukiko towards her and hugged her with her hand on Yukiko's head.

"And did you know? Caring for you like a younger sister also keeps her going so she won't let you down and lose your faith. She wants you to believe in her," Hana added as Yukiko smiled up at her through her tears. "Now, let's go give those fan club girls a scare."

"Yeah!" Yukiko replied laughing as they walked up the stairs. They went into her room just in time to see Motoko close Hana's closet door.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Hana said.

"Hanajima! There's someone hiding in your closet!" Motoko screamed backing away from the door quickly.

"Ah… Megumi," Hana answered watching Yukiko inch her way towards the closet door Motoko was pointing accusingly to.

"Who'd you say?" Motoko asked.

"My younger brother…" Hana said. Yukiko had no idea Hana had a little brother. "That's not a closet. That's his room. Megumi come out and say hello to our guests." Yukiko's hand was creeping towards the door to open it when it opened itself and appeared a boy not much younger than her. He looked exactly like Hana only a boy and younger. His big purple eyes appeared right in front of her own silver ones and she quickly rushed back over to Hana.

"Hello," Megumi said. "You're not Tohru, or Arisa… Are these girls new friends of yours?"

"Not really… They're just some girls from my school… Yukiko is my new friend though. She currently lives with Tohru," Hana replied to her younger brother.

"So, uh… Does, Megumi have… the same sort of 'electric wave' powers as you?" Motoko asked. Yukiko grabbed one of the snacks and devoured the delicious treat.

"No… I don't," Megumi answered. "But I can do something else… I can put curses on people." Yukiko straightened when she heard this and started trembling like the fan club girls. "I've worked hard for a long time perfecting my technique… And now, I'm quite good at it."

"Uh… How do you do it?" Minami asked shivering.

"Names," Megumi replied ominously. "All I have to do is learn a person's name, and once I know that I can easily put a curse on them… Which reminds me… I haven't even asked your names yet… Have I?" Megumi wondered. Yukiko was quivering now because Hana had mentioned her name to Megumi. She didn't want a curse put on her, she already had one! She just hoped that since she was Hana's friend, Megumi wouldn't curse her. Unless… Hana didn't really like her and asked Megumi to put a curse on her just like the fan club girls! No, Hana was too nice for that, but she could have been pretending. Shaking the crazy thought from her head, Yukiko felt shameful at even thinking that Hana would be pretending this whole time.

"Because to truly love someone, is to always put their feelings before your own… no matter what. Keep putting yourself first… And you will only succeed in pushing him away," Megumi finished as Yukiko discontinued her thoughts. She watched as Megumi frightened them with knowing their names and the fan club girls raced out of the house.

"I'm sorry… Did I overdo it?" Megumi asked while they went to the hallway downstairs.

"No," Hana replied as casual as ever.

"That was great! What a way to teach those girls to never mess with you," Yukiko exclaimed pouncing on Megumi and fawning over his threatening powers.

"You know, I was also beginning to feel jealous," Hana started. Yukiko stopped squeezing Megumi to listen to Hana. "It almost seems like Tohru spends every moment of her time with the Sohmas now… And I guess… I was getting lonely. But… That's right… I can't let myself be selfish about Tohru. I don't want to be like those fan club girls. I'm glad Tohru and Yuki are friends. It was wrong of me to suggest otherwise."

"You'll always have me!" Yukiko said as she hugged Hana trying to lighten the mood.

"So you've learned something today," Megumi realized. Just then the doorbell rang and with Yukiko still hanging onto her side, Hana opened the door to find Tohru and Uo on her front step.

"Oh. Hana!" Tohru exclaimed. Uo and Tohru entered the house slowly.

"I found her at the station," Uo said looking at Tohru.

"So, um… where are Minami and the others?" Tohru wondered.

"Oh, Tohru…" Hana trailed off.

"It's been a long time, Tohru, Arisa," Megumi said barely able to get the words out before Yukiko pounced on him again.

"Hey, kid," Uo said in response to his hello.

"Yeah, hello! Nice to see you again, Megumi!" Tohru said before noticing Yukiko at Megumi's side. "Oh Yukiko! You're here too?"

"Uh-huh! I came over to help protect Saki from the evil fan club girls!" Yukiko said proudly holding out a peace sign like she noticed Shigure use from time to time. Tohru and Uo laughed at her attempt to look big enough to protect someone.

"So they left, huh? Well doesn't that just suck," Uo said after whispering something to Hana.

"They didn't just leave, they ran out of the house! Megumi and Saki totally scared the wits out of them. They ran like dogs with their tails between their legs!" Yukiko exclaimed loudly while replaying what happened with the girls to Tohru and Uo.

"Hey! Megumi! Whadda' ya' say to another dumpling eating contest!" Uo suddenly asked.

"I'd say you're on," Megumi answered. Yukiko started jumping up and down excitedly.

"OH! Count me in, I can totally take you both on," Yukiko dared. She wasn't a real fan of dumplings but she was willing to help brighten the mood of the day.

"I'll go make some tea… Tohru, would you like a cup… or snacks?" Hana asked laughing.

"Sure!" Tohru replied happily following after the group to the kitchen.

--

Yukiko and Tohru were walking home after snacks at Hana's house. Suffice to say, Yukiko did not win the dumpling contest and ended up with a horrible stomach ache. She helped Megumi win though by stuffing dumplings down his throat quickly to beat Uo's rapid pace. After hearing Tohru's laugh, Yukiko decided it was wrong of her to be jealous of not having attention from Tohru the past week. She felt what Hana was going through and if Hana could overcome her jealously, then so could she.

"Tohru, I'm sorry," Yukiko stated suddenly as they were nearing the Sohma house.

"Sorry? You didn't do anything," Tohru said quickly. She didn't want someone to apologize to her.

"Yes, I did. I was jealous over you giving all your attention to Kisa. I realize the way I've been acting is wrong. I shouldn't have ignored everybody just because I wasn't getting all the attention. I've become selfish, so I just wanted to say I'm sorry," Yukiko said with her head bowed in shame. She was grabbed quickly to Tohru as the older girl hugged her.

"You are so cute! You don't have to be sorry for something like that. It's alright. Everyone wants attention and you just wanted to feel loved. I don't blame you so you don't have to apologize. You can always have my attention when you need it. I'm here for you," Tohru replied while tears were gathering in her eyes.

"Thanks Tohru," Yukiko said as theycontinued walkinghome talking about each other's day.

--

Wow, this chapter was pretty sappy but that's okay. I hope you guys liked it, please review and let me know! Thanks to the reviewers from the last chapter! You guys make writing worth it!

Love, Archer