Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ The Greatest Gift ❯ Special ( Chapter 1 )

Author's Note: Hello all! This is my first Fruits Basket story (I usually write DBZ--Dragonball Z to all bakas-fics about Bulma and Vegeta-B/V) that I am actually pride of. Imagine that. I have actually only seen the first two episodes on the sample DVD, but I have been searching on the web for info (means information for all you bakas-baka meaning idiot or stupid in Japanese and cow in Spanish, with first "a" sounding like the "o" in lock and the second sounding like "ah" refreshing, but in Spanish the first "a" is sound like the "a" in cat, and the second sounds like the second "a" like the Japanese baka) on it, and I'm surprised that there actually isn't very much. Oh, and they only have twenty-six episodes! Piece o' crap! Oh well, I still love it anyways! It is so cute and original. Hey, does any one know where I can download any of the episodes on the Internet? Well, anyways, about this fic, I had posted it up real quick so I could see how long it was, and I was surprised to see it wasn't that bad. That was just a test, and this is the revised, true version. Sorry about that. I wanted to see how long it was to see if I could add Toru's POV, but I think I should make that a separate chapter. This is a Kyoru, in other words it is based on Kyo and Toru as a couple. They aren't a couple in the beginning, but they will be in the end . . . or will they? You never know with me. I don't want to spoil the plot, so I promise you that you might be interested. Read it to find out. I haven't read a lot of the FB (Fruits Basket) fics out there, so I don't know too much about what people have written about, but I think this is going to be unique. Enjoy!

Attention! What do you think I should make as the title: "Do What You're Heart Tells You", "The Right Choice", or "The Greatest Gift"? If you have any other ideas, tell me.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket (I don't even know who does), and I am not making any profit off of this piece of fanfiction. I am legally borrowing the characters and a bit of the plot and setting to express original ideas about this wonderful anime and manga series, so please do not sue because I will most likely not be able to pay. Also, I have nothing against Yuki or Toru and Yuki as a couple, but Kyo and Toru, in my opinion, make a great match, and I hope I do not offend anyone. There isn't really any Yuki bashing, but, well, you'll understand when you read it.

Warning: This fic is currently at a PG-13 rating, but it will contain vulgar language and lemon (For those of you who don't know, lemon is the fanfiction term for an all out sex scene. Lime is where there is no detailed sexual scene(s), but there are some sexual situations. Citrus is where there is a lime(s), lemon(s), and/or implied lime and lemon in it.) I have never written a lemon or lime before, so go easy on me, and please give me some advice. I also am a newcomer to Fruits Basket, so I may not know much about how the characters or plot went, etc., but if you have any info let me know. People may be OOC (out of character), I wouldn't know, and there might be some cheesiness for some people. Sorry. I don't like being cheesy myself. So, please don't complain too much because I have warned you, and if you choose not to read the warning, too bad. I am only fourteen, guilty as charged, so my writing style may not match up to someone like Lisalu or Tempest 12. I am in no way a pervert, but writing is my passion, and I want to become a novelist some day, so I hope you are not offended. Some of the things may not show up italicized like I want them, too, so thoughts will be `like this', talking is of course "this", and flashbacks or important, loud things are either bold, underlined, or in all caps.

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I missed you . . .

I want you . . .

The downpour was bucketing so hard onto his back that the fat, continuous droplets felt like small comets plummeting onto him, attempting to create dents in his already scarred flesh. With each drop a part from the previous night shone vibrantly before his eyes, each drop echoing with her angelic voice. He was in the metropolitan on his favorite 50-story building, sitting there so immobile and silent that onlookers would only think he was a statue. It was a good thing, too, because he was sitting on the rim of the building so that his legs dangled precariously off like he was about to commit suicide. He wasn't concerned about falling in the least. The cat in him gave him a ruthless balance that would disgrace some of the greatest gymnasts. If he did happen to fall he would simply grasp on to something or land on all fours in a way in which only felines and he knew. He would be sore in the morning, but right now he could welcome physical pain.

The city was always hectic. Even now when it was 1:00 in the morning he could hear the inexhaustible parade of vehicles and citizens down below on the streets, doing whatever that was required to do in such a large society. And that was the thing he liked about cities, particularly this one; there was always something to do, and it was never something boring. Well, being the cat in the family he could make anything seem fun, but he usually didn't since that was what he was trained to do as a fighter. There was no time for fun in that world of martial arts. There was only a mission one after another. One would never think he was country-born with his style in attire and, basically just the way he looked, which consisted of khaki cargo strap pants, a loose shirt, DC shoes, and that bracelet of his and the sporadic added accessory. His scruffy orange hair only made him look, along with the outfit, like a total punk-rocker, or as Yuki called it, a poser. Not only that, but his lean, fit body caused the way he moved to be of that type. The biggest thing to notice was his rebellious, angry attitude and very teen voice, and the way he used it. With the words he would exploit, he could be mistaken as someone who had lived in New York all their life rather than Japan.

His piercing brick-fire eyes were shrouded under the long, shaggy strands of his dramatic orange bangs that swayed lazily with the warm breeze that passed by every so often. Even with the added heat he felt icy inside, a stinging cold that stayed in its place no matter how hard he tried to get rid of it. When he had gotten home from the party at Toru and Yuki's he had turned on his electrical blanket and stayed there with the heat blasted all the way, and the cold never subsided. It was like a punishment for what he'd done the other night, and he wondered if she was feeling the same way.

A corner of his mouth jerked up a small ways and he scoffed. No. She always felt warm. She was the kind of person that never felt any dread, always brought out the good in things and ignored the bad as much as she could. Why could someone so sweet and innocent be branded in such a way? It just wasn't done. No. She was not sitting out in the rain getting cold with a sadness that was tearing him apart inside. She was cuddled up all cozy and warm next to her husband with the knowledge that she was well protected and taken care of, just like she should be. If she did something wrong she would be forgiven. Not like he would. He would be scowled upon with shame and dislike like he usually was by many, and in a way he felt a little jealous of her like he wished he could be as pure and have as pristine a heart as she did. But then again that was what he loved about her. It was what he needed in a person.

It was what he didn't have.

Instead, she belonged to his mortal enemy. At first the knowledge that his one and only true love was going to marry his eternal and destined rival had made him want to just kill both him and her for hurting him so. He remembered that so clearly. It was the night that changed the way he would view the world forever.

Flashback . . .

Kyo listened to all of the laughter around the room at Christmas time. He could feel the thick blankets of happiness that surrounded the living room of Shigoure's residence. Even he himself had never felt better. The curse had been broken, everyone had come to terms with themselves and the people around them, and there was good food, a warm fire that blazed, and beautiful decorations that Toru had put up. It was a time of peace and everything was perfect, and actually normal. It looked like Toru's heavenly patience and love had fixed them all up. It was amazing to him how that little nineteen-year-old (she was currently nineteen, but was sixteen when they met her) girl that just showed up one day had affected everyone around her. People couldn't help but feel affection for her in some way. Including Kyo.

The girl of his dreams and thoughts so happened to be sitting on her knees in the center of the room helping Uo's kids open the right presents under the dazzling Christmas tree. Kami, she looked like an angel sitting there laughing with her dark wood-colored hair in a high bun with loose curls and straight strands that framed her face. The yellow ribbons that Yuki had given her held up the bun even now at Christmas time when yellow definitely wasn't the customary color. Kyo wondered if she ever did take them off.

`Pft. Probably not.'

"Hold on, Tommy. Let's see what Hu-Li has first, okay?" The three-year-old boy pouted but agreed anyways.

Shigoure hopped from foot to foot and clapped his hands like the goof he was in his Santa hat. "Oh, oh, oh! That one's from me!"

The gift that was subject was square with Christmas Sponge Bob wrapping, and it was probably the biggest one besides the tricycle he had gotten for Tommy. That was Shigoure for you. The man adored children like dogs worshipped tennis balls. He didn't have any of his own, but everyone knew he would eventually since he was presently dating the very sexy and flourishing reporter, Ann Lexus (A/N: Cheesy, huh? ^__^). Only Kami knew a woman who wasn't as sex-driven as she was, and to Shigoure that was the perfect woman. Others loved her because she knew how to keep Shigoure in his place with a strict voice and an even stricter hand that was always ready to smack him behind the head with her expensive purse or grab a harsh hold on his ear. The little girl held an excited sparkle in her big blue eyes as she ripped the paper from the box. When she was done she gasped and beamed in delight. The sparkle in her baby blue eyes made everyone's heart melt. She looked just like her mother, except that she was probably much sweeter, and she did appear to be more of a Barbie doll than a soldier in the Japanese army like Uo-chan. Her brother, though, was already starting to take qualities form his mother. He had a bad habit of biting people and getting up in their faces (A/N: Just like my brother >_<). Standing before her was the dollhouse of every little girl's dreams, and Kyo wondered how much he paid on that foolish little thing, well, foolish to him anyways.

"Uncle Shigoure, thank you so much!" (A/N: Awwwww! Can't you just picture that? How cute!)

Little Hu-Li ran up to "Uncle Shigoure", stood up on tiptoes, and wrapped her chubby, two-year-old arms as far as they could go around his waist, and he then hugged her back while taking his free arm and scratching the back of his head with a bashful blush tainting his cheeks. Ann shook her head but smiled anyways.

"Well, your very welcome." He picked her and her brother up, and they all watched as the rest of the presents were handed out.

Kyo actually liked his presents this year-the ones he bought and the ones he received. Yuki gave him a Ninja blade, Shigoure bought him black pants, and Toru gave him the red, silk blouse that he was wearing and a box of French white chocolates that she knew were his favorite. That wasn't all he got, but those were just the main people in his life.

For Toru, he gave her his prayer beads. He didn't need them, but it still didn't mean that they weren't special to him. He'd worn them all his life, always fond of the ancient inscriptions in the black and white bamboo beads. It'd been passed on to him from generations before him. His father, and his father, and his father and so on had worn this bracelet, and his mother had told him that someday when the time was right, he would give them to his offspring. He didn't think he would ever marry, and the curse was broken, so he might as well give them to someone he truly cared about. The first and only person to come to his mind was she.

Her angelic face painted itself into his mind, and he thought then, `If there were ever someone I would marry, it would be her. By Kami it would be Toru Honda.'

He smiled at those happy memories. When he gave her the bracelet it had been in private before they left to go see the play of A Christmas Chorale in the back of the house under a Sakura tree. He'd told her that he wanted to give her something special, and that it wasn't much. It was only some wooden beads on a string, but that it had a vibrant history and it meant a lot to him if she would have it. Toru always being the sweet motherly girl that she was had been more surprised than he thought she would be, gasping and putting a hand over her heart and saying that she couldn't possibly take something so important to him. She knew possessions and luxury items weren't of much value to Kyo. The one thing that he kept close to his heart was those prayer beads, and he was giving them to her of all people. He had just smiled and insisted that she take them. He told her that if she was ever feeling down or something like that, she could just study those beads and the stars. The bracelet was a symbol of the many legends and stories of the East. He said it was something silly that he used to do, but that it did help. She did so much for others. He wanted to show her how much he appreciated her. She hugged him and kissed his cheek, all the time blinking back those happy tears.

He could have given them to Kagura, or at least that was what people would have expected him to do. The thing was, he liked the girl-when she wasn't fussing over him or threatening him, but there was nothing romantic there. She was just a friend, and unfortunately one that was a melodramatic romantic that jumped at the slightest hint of things. She just needed to learn when that was necessary, and maybe she could be happy with someone who she was compatible with. She had a pretty face. Infact, she looked very similar to Toru, but he wasn't one of those stereotype men that were all over the media. What captured him was Toru's loving heart-something he had never really known, and Kagura just wasn't the one for him. She was getting better with that. She still was a bit attached to Kyo, but she was slowly growing out of it, and taking interest in other men. At least there was a happy enough ending there.

The guests in the large living room were now talking and enjoying their eggnog. Kyo sat at the table with Yuki, Toru, Hana, Uo, Momiji, Kisa, and Kagura, reminiscing on happy memories that occurred throughout the past year, laughing and joking around.

Kyo glanced out the window after just almost suffocating from laughing so hard. The earth was blanketed in white, glittering snow, making the forest look so peaceful under the yellow half moon with the stars a-shining, and lights from houses below their altitude glowed with a friendly warmth. He sighed, and then turned to stare in wonder at the picture-perfect sight of family and friends gathered together at the jolliest time of the year in harmony. Life seemed good now, and for once, Kyo saw a golden road at his feet.

But all that would shatter before his eyes.

"Excuse me." Yuki stood up dressed in his formal attire with that smug, aristocratic look that he always seemed to have.

Next to him, Toru stood with her hands behind her back with a sheepish smile on her cute face, and for a moment Kyo couldn't help to notice the stir in his stomach at seeing those two looking so happy together. His fists clenched with the anticipation that something dire was about to happen. Call it cat's intuition, but from the way Toru stared up at Yuki with those big teal eyes of hers made his heart skip a beat.

`Don't worry, Kyo. It's probably just something silly. Hey, it's not like they're getting married or anything. Are they?'

They couldn't possibly be getting into something like that. They weren't even dating as far as he knew. It was just crazy. But from the looks of it, it seemed like something very important. He waited anxiously; reassuring himself that things were going to turn out okay, and after this life was going to go on like it usually did. After the party was over he'd turn into a cat at night and snuggle next to Toru while she stroked his fur and talked to him. The curse had been broken, but it was so strong that some of it remained. Any of the people who were in the Souma family or part of the curse could turn in to their Zodiac animal whenever they pleased, and the same went for their offspring.

The room was quiet and all eyes were on the seamless couple standing by the big o' Christmas tree. Yuki spoke up first, his voice calm and collected, but with a hint of excitement. "First of all, I hope every one of you have had a merry Christmas. I know we have." Yuki tilted his head to flash Toru a smile. Kyo's fists grabbed a hold of the edge of the table. If he held it any tighter he would most likely put dents in that Shigoure would surely notice and complain about. "But today is the day that I think would be the right time to tell everyone our secret."

"I know we should have told you guys, but we didn't want to start anything or something like that, but I guess I'll tell you now." Toru paused and brought her hands together in front of her chest. "We've been dating for about a year and a half now, and I know it might be a little abrupt, but I hope none of you are upset about it."

Yeah, not upset about it at all.

How could she? How could she just lie behind all of their backs and just spoil it at a time like this? It just wasn't like her to be doing that. He hated to admit it, but Yuki wasn't the type to do that either. Were they really that preoccupied about their being together? Toru might have been a little repressed at first, but he knew she would at least welcome the support and guidance from others. He wasn't too disturbed about them dating. Dating was fine. It wasn't like he owned her or anything, and besides, relationships like that were easy to break off. He could have had a chance if that were the situation. But then why announce it like they were currently doing, in a way as if it were an important speech?

"Well," Yuki started, "if you are, then that's too bad `cause we've put a lot of thought into this, and we're getting married in six months, and preparations are already being led out."

While all the people in the room clapped and sent words of congratulation, inside, Kyo felt like he was being ripped in half by the sheer force of the news. He was spinning into a black whole. All time stopped and those words kept repeating over and over again in his head, mocking him, throwing him into some deadly, sorrowful abyss. He felt like he was losing his mind.

No. His beautiful, wonderful, sweet, precious Toru was being truly and completely taken away from him. And he could not stand it, and by Yuki of all people. That slimy rat had done this on purpose, just to make him feel like the shit Yuki thought him of. He suddenly had the distinct urge to throw up.

Kyo scooted away from the table with his muddy red eyes cast down. No one noticed him leave. No one cared. He didn't mind at all because right now, all he wished was to be left alone again. Hastily, he strode out the door like a bomb was about to explode at any second. Once he was out of sight of spectators his muscled body sprang into a run that Yuki may have not been able to catch up to. There were things that Kyo had the upper hand to when it came to competing against that unbelievably athletic rat, and one of those things was speed. He'd been running all his life, just like he was now, the blood rushing through his veins and heating his body, shielding his skin from the bitter cold. The adrenaline forced him to disregard the pain and to propel his arms and legs so that he would never slow down.

He didn't know how long he had been dashing through the forest and into the mountains-maybe a good twenty miles or so-but when he reached the mountaintop where there was the loveliest clearing, he finally stopped. He stumbled a few steps, trying to catch his breath. There was a ledge where he stopped with thick families of dead trees that seemed to be huddling together to stay warm in the serrated wind. When you looked out ahead, there were no trees within a twenty-foot circumference so Kyo could sit down on the frozen dirt and squishy snow. Underneath the clearing and below, it was peaceful and stunning. A full view of the deep blue sky held millions of glazing stars and a now silver moon that blanketed plains below with a milky glow.

Why here?

This was his secret base where he could think and relax, be himself without having to be criticized. Only the animals and he had been there as far as he knew. It was almost as special as his prayer beads. Wait, Toru had been there, too. She was the only one who he had willingly welcomed into his clearing, his sanctuary. Now, he'd never be able to do that. He didn't even know if he'd be able to talk to her again let a lone spend time with her alone. There was no way Yuki would be coming to this place as long as Kyo lived.

He sat there, brooding. Not wanting to think about her or possibilities that they could have been together if he would have just made a move. His heart ached. Every beat felt like it would spring through his chest, making it hard to breathe. It hurt breathing without her. He pictured the recent scene. Only this time he was in Yuki's place. He would be the one to hug and kiss her, protect her, and hold her heart, father her children.

Since the day they'd first sat on the roof together he had slowly been falling in love with her. He hated to admit sometimes, but she was the first person to actually tame him, make him feel that conniving feeling that the universe was based on: love. At first, it had been a teenage crush complete with small hinting gestures and overactive blushes and shy smiles. After the incident two years ago with his true form being unleashed, things became clearer to him, more serious as it gradually busted to the surface of it all. And then, it dawned on him that he was in love, and not the kind of sweet, innocent love. It was passionate, powerful love that consumed him every millisecond of the day with thoughts of Toru. He was finally claimed a man, with adult feelings, lust and contemplation included. Kami, how he hated it all. The way the world worked was just not fair, and it was all against him.

The night wore on, lazily as ever so those hours were really minutes. The cold didn't help in the least. One would have thought he was crazy.

Maybe I am.

He sighed when a shiver wracked his body. All he had on were his dress shoes, the black pants from Shigoure, winter underclothes, the red shirt from Toru, and a heavy leather jacket.

I don't think I've ever been this cold before.

For some strange reason, he had the greatest urge to have Toru there by his side, comforting him gentle words and calming strokes on his arm or a pat on his back. Like she had felt his need to have her with him, there was a rustling behind him that startled him a bit, but when he turned his head to check the intruder, he relaxed and looked away.

"Kyo," she began timidly.

His temper rose, and for a moment the desire to squeeze her neck in a deadly grip swept through his tense body. Then a picture of Toru lying motionless in red snow flashed across he surface of his mind, and a wave of disgust settled heavily over him.

"What?" he replied heartlessly. There was a foul edge to his voice.

"Um, uh. Why did you leave all of sudden like that? I mean, it's pretty cold out here." To emphasize her meaning she hugged her heavy coat to her body.

"Why do you care?" He couldn't see it, but he was sure that her face took on an astonished look.

"Of course I care!" Toru scurried next to him and bent to sit on her knees with a semi-hurt visage. "What would make you think that?" She waited until she decided he wasn't going to respond. "Well, I don't know what made you think that, but-oh. Is it because of Yuki and me?"

A glance in her direction told her all she needed to know. "Oh, Kyo-kun." The twenty-one-year-old bride-to-be scooted close to his body and rested her head on his shoulder while taking a small, gloved hand to hold onto his large one that she rubbed to keep from over freezing. He flinched but decided he'd let her. Her presence soothed him anyways, even when the thing he was upset about happened to be revolved around her. "I-I'm so sorry. I wanted to tell you, but I thought you'd be angry with me, and I didn't want you to feel bad around Christmas time. I just want us all to be happy."

She wanted them to be happy? She must have the thought the world was a simple place. But as her words reached his ears, his anger diminished, and was replaced with gutter guilt. She was just trying to be happy. He himself once told her it was okay to be a little bit selfish sometimes. If he really did love her, wouldn't he let her live her life the way she wanted? She would have understanding if roles were reversed. And anyways, he needed to start acting like an adult. He was still awfully young-twenty-two-but he could at least start growing up and facing life in the face. He was getting pretty sick of running away.

"I know. I'm-I'm sorry, I guess. I-I guess I was just angry. I just can't stand having to see you and Yuki together. I mean, it's not that I mind you having a relationship, but-" he tried to come up with the right words to say he cared for her, but his pride and lack of skill with words and expressing emotions wasn't helping much. "What I mean is. Ugh. You know how Yuki and I don't get a long very well. You, you're someone important to me, so I felt a little jealous."

Toru smiled that smile that could turn the devil into an angel. "It's okay. I understand. I hope you don't feel bad about this. I mean, I really want you to be at the wedding." She reached inside her pocket to bring out a fancy white invitation with gold lettering. "It's going to be here in the garden. It's not going to be a very big wedding. It's just family and friends, and that shouldn't be too many people for a wedding."

The two sat there in silence for a long moment, not knowing what to say, but not really feeling awkward. It finally seemed like peace was settling in. "Kyo-kun, I don't think I can go through all this if I don't have your consent in the matter."

Again, there was a long period of silence. His consent? Did he really want to say, oh sure, I'm totally fine with all of this. I hope you have the time of your life while I live the rest of my life in pain? In reality he didn't want to give her his consent, but this was Toru, someone so sweet he just couldn't say no to her. Oh, he hated her power over him sometimes. He wondered if she knew about that.

"Alright. You have my consent."

An ear-to war smile that she wore made feel tingly all over like a schoolboy who just kissed his crush. The sensation grew when she threw her slender arms around his neck. "Oh, Kyo-kun, thank you!"

"Okay. You don't have to strangle me."

She flung her arms back to her sides and he grinned. Toru could make any situation good and better. How she did it he would never know.

"Oh, and uh, there is one more thing."

Oh no. Something else.

"Yuki wants you to be his best man."

That was something he was not expecting. Yuki hated him! Didn't he? All of his life Kyo had hated him more than he had ever hated anything before. He was a poison that ate away at his sanitary in everything he did. When he slept and ate he could not help but hate that baka. It took over his life it was so strong, and he was pretty sure Yuki felt the same way. Everything was a competition between the two, and to settle with something like this was just absurd. First he steals the girl he loves then the rat wants him to be his best man. Right now, just about everything was confusing him. It just made him so angry at the world to know that Yuki was breathing. He wanted to kill him! Perhaps, that was why Yuki was always winning. Maybe the key to success was to be relaxed and controlled over one's temper, and then one could concentrate instead of just seeing red instead of seeing where the next hit was being directed at.

"You're kidding, right?"

"No I'm not! I know, it's weird, but that was what he told me, and Yuki would never kid about that. I thought he would have chosen someone like Ayame or Shigoure. Maybe Haro. What I think is that there has always been something that was there between you two. In a way I think it's just friendly fighting, you know. Now that the curse is broken, I guess you can be friends now."

"We will not be friends. Acquaintances are as far as a partnership will go with us. Things have settled down, but we still can't change the past. I'm still not ready to come to terms with Yuki. But, as for the wedding, yeah. Yeah, sure. Why not?" He said this gloomily, but Toru didn't seem to notice.

"Thank you. It means a lot to me."

He nodded, and they sat there again, just looking across the icy fields, illuminated deserts to their eyes. It was peaceful. For a moment he forgot about everything that had happened. Yuki was not in love with Toru, and they were not all freshmen in college. Instead, they were sixteen and seventeen again, not needing to worry too much about what was ahead of them, or the events in the pasts. It was just there, stuck in time . . . just the two of them, great friends forever. He'd hate the time when he'd have to face the real world again. Kami, how he missed those times. He was wild rouge back then, hissing and spitting at anything and anyone. He'd changed a bit, though he knew he would never loose that side of him. It was a major characteristic that made him Kyo.

"Kyo-kun."

"Hmm?"

"I'm tired now. Let's go home."

When they got home the place was tranquil and a bit messy. It was nothing Toru couldn't handle of course in the morning. Yuki had already gone to sleep, knowing where his fiancé was and that he could trust her, and even Kyo, so the two lethargically trudged up the stairs to Toru's room that was next to Kyo's and across from Yuki's. Inside it was neat and plain with the pretty furniture from Shigoure scattered with homework, and next to the bed under the lamp was the picture or Kyoko (A/N: Is that her name, you know, Toru's mom?). As he did almost every night, Kyo concentrated on his muscles and bones morphing, and into an orange tabby that leaped onto the bed out from under his clothes as soon as he finished. It had taken much practice to control the transformation, but after a month of training with it, he could do it as easily as blinking.

"Let me change first, `kay?"

The sleek, dark orange cat nodded and stretched its agile body before curling up in a sleeping position while he waited. Toru came back in from the bathroom with pink, baggy pajamas. She was never one to be very immodest, even when she was alone. That was fine with Kyo. Besides, if she did dress a sexy for bed he didn't think he would just be snoozing in there with her.

Toru snuggled under the covers with Kyo on his side facing her. He was so cute she couldn't resist running her hand along his body, and Kyo personally didn't mind a bit. He shivered with the enhanced pleasure he felt in that form, and insistently without any control a string of soft purrs erupted from deep in his chest, vibrating throughout the bones in his body.

She giggled, and he said in a voice not meant to be mean, "Aw, shut up."

Toru just grinned and ignored his comment. She was used to him enough that if he said to "go fuck yourself" she would just brush it off. It wasn't like he meant it anyways.

The lights in the house were off besides that of Toru's nightstand lamp, which was but a tiny yellow glow under a too-big cover. It was quiet in the night. It was about ten, so everyone would be asleep at that time of night. It was just Kyo and Toru, two friends resting on a winter night in a plush bed. Right now, all they really wanted to do was to go to sleep. There had been too much drama for one night, although, they should have been used to it with the Souma family and all. Without the curse the days were still filled with small-town adventures in their lives. It would never end, and frankly, Kyo didn't believe any of them wanted it to.

The bed was low to the ground. It wasn't the traditional mattress on the floor. It was much more comfortable that that for someone so delicate as Toru. Kyo noticed the faint smell of flowery lotion on her skin that he decided he liked. It was no wonder she felt like satin against him. It only added to her beauty. She had pale, rosy skin that was flawless in every way possible. Not like his where numerous scars and a good beach tan could be easily seen. His furry head pushed up against the pillow according to his comfort.

Toru stared at him, a constant illumination in those teal depths that he was so fascinated with. Kyo, wondering why she was only doing that in some strange way, shot a look at her that plainly said what are you looking at? Her long, powdery lashes fluttered against he round cheeks in an innocent kind of way that couldn't detect if he was feeling bad things towards her or not. She was a smart girl. She just needed to be educated in the way life really was. It wasn't all candy-land perfect like he believed she pictured it to be, unfortunately.

However crude he may have been, it washed away when she smiled at him and scratched him behind his ears, sending another series of pleasure coursing through his body. Ah, this was the way things should have been.

All of sudden, in way that made Kyo worry that she had recalled some terrible thing, she became serious and stopped her petting him much to his displeasure. He really was a spoiled kitty.

"What's the matter?" he asked casually, though inside worry was brewing.

"Nothing really, but . . ."

Swiftly, she heaved her body to reach down onto the other side of the bed on the wooden floor. Being the curious cat that he was, he softly padded onto her shoulders to see what she was up to. It was interesting, actually. Her hand pressed the end of a board halfway hidden beneath the bed and opened to reveal a somewhat boxed area. The contents were but one miniature harp model that was surprisingly clean. All of the large cat's focus was on that pretty little thing. He had never seen it before that was for sure. So why was she bringing it out now. Sheesh! How many "little secrets" did she have? Everyday Kyo learned a tidbit about Toru. On his mental notes, he checked in, Toru did not always meet the eye.

She held it in her hand, now on with her back resting adjacent to the headboard. Her fingers touched it gingerly, over the gold strings and stately covering like it was the world's greatest treasure that she had found. He had never seen her that way. She looked almost lost. Her eyes were a misty miasma, and for an instant he thought she had forgotten that he was even there, sitting in her lap with his tiny chin up to watch with wide, horizontal diamond-shaped eyes questioningly at her.

She left her stupor to smile forlornly at him. Now she really had him apprehensive. His claws squirmed with the urge to knock that object that appeared to have some type of hurtful spell over her out of her hands. She'd only become upset with him if he did, so he instead brought his attention to her meek voice.

"This . . . this is something real special to me. It was my mother's. Dad gave it to her on their wedding night. He said that if she ever felt stressed or lonely she could remember him, that he would always be there with her."

Fresh tears threatened to leak from her eyes, so she bit her lip and blinked them back, shocking back a sob. He hated it when she cried, even if they were happy tears. She always looked so pitiful and weak when she did. It made his heart get all mushy like it did to almost every male when a pretty little girl was in turmoil.

Kyo had not realized it at first, but as he inspected the harp more closely, he noticed that the fairy that was attached to the thick handle of it looked like it could be pulled back.

"Did you figure it out? " Slowly, he softly lingered his paw over the fairy.

"What does it do?"

She smiled at him. Then gently pulled the fairy so that two hinges appeared, and when she let go, they came back into place so that you would never guess they were there.

"It's hard to see at first how it works, but when you do that-" A lovely melody began to emit from the harp somehow. It didn't sound as kinkly as the average music box. It was more serene and sounded like a high-pitched harp. "a song comes on. My dad had it specially made for her and for the little girl they always wanted. Their plan was to have a boy and a girl, but, my daddy died before that could ever happen. Mom never married anyone again." She stopped to wipe her eyes with the back of her sleeve. The memories of something like that would have had most people bawling by then, but despite her frail exterior, she had a strong heart. "The song was my mom's favorite song. It wasn't a real popular song, but Mom listened to it every night to get to sleep on her mom's CD. Her mom died, too." (A/N: If you have ever heard the song from Evanescence, My Immortal, then you know how the harp sounded like. If you haven't heard it, go out and buy the CD, fool!)

It was amazing. So many tragic events had happened in her life and she still managed to always keep a sunny face on, and he was sure that it was to keep the people around her happy. There had been many times where he felt he wanted to kill himself in life. He was thankful he hadn't, or would never have met Toru. Perhaps . . . perhaps he could be like her someday, and be strong. Her inner strength could best that of anyone in the Souma family. She made him good.

"Wow," was all he could say, and he mentally slapped himself for not saying something better. He wanted to make her feel better, but the only way he could was with his body, and he certainly could not do that in the way he wanted to with her being engaged, but he could let her pet him and hug him in this form. He wasn't much of an artist with words. Except of course when it came to vulgar phrases. He had one too many an experience where he had gotten into arguments and fights with people on the streets, and also others that were normally around him.

"The thing is, is that I've never showed this anyone before. Only my mom and dad and me knew."

That surprised him. "Not even to Yuki?"

Toru nodded solemnly.

"Then why are you showing it to me? Are you gonna to tell Yuki?"

With a smile still plastered on her face, she settled herself down under the heavy comforters while slowly stroking his fur in that oh-so-pleasant way. Her voice became quieter and softer with each word that poured out from her luscious pink lips that Kyo adored so much. Her eyes became heavier, and as she told him the most reassuring things that night as she fell asleep, while he listened intently.

"Kyo-kun, you know I love you. It's just not the way I love Yuki. But I want to let you know that you'll have a special place in my heart . . . above, anyone else. I, I want you to . . . to know, I need you with me. I meant what I said that night-when you were in your true form. I want us to be together . . . always. I . . . I miss those days. It was just the four of us, and the rest of the Souma family, with the curse, and all. I don't want to grow up. But, whatever happens, I don't want to lose you. We understand each other-like no one else does. You're different, Kyo-kun, and, and I like that. I can't . . . lose . . . someone else . . . that . . . I love . . . again . . ."

Her eyes shut. She must have been so tired. She really did love him, although it was just as a friend, but his heart had soared at those words. He knew she cared, but he never would have thought it ran that deep, if he was not mistaken. At that point, he would tolerate anything she did because she had never meant to hurt him or Yuki. He should be happy for her for Kami's sake. No girl wanted to have a dramatic wedding toll. Well, that was good enough for him, and he'd listen to her. He didn't want to hurt her. What she said last had struck him. Again? Oh, her mother. He'd never leave her unless he had to, to save her. So if he'd ever doubt her, he'd remember-remember this night.

"I love you, too," he said in a faint whisper. It was too bad she had never heard.

Flash back ends . . .

That was the last night he fell asleep in her arms. Since then he'd always had trouble getting to sleep at night. The morning after that she had given him the harp like he had given her the beads. The fist-sized harp was on his nightstand in his apartment at the moment, still shiny and in perfect working order. He missed her so much-her smile, her big teal eyes, long, silky sienna hair, her petite form and her brilliant personality-everything! He hadn't seen her in three years until last night.

`Last night . . . last night was amazing.'

Oh, it had been such a naughty thing to do. It ate at him until he just felt he could pop. Shame and guilt were the worst feelings that he felt. He hadn't even imagined that Toru would do such a thing; she just wasn't the type to do something so disloyal. But if she did do it, didn't that mean that she no longer had feelings for Yuki? Well, maybe if wasn't that. Why would she? Yuki was smart, athletic, good-looking, and making a huge income as a computer manufacturer. She had the perfect life! Why would she give it all up for someone like him? If Yuki ever found out, then it would be the end of them. And the things it would do to Toru were unthinkable. She'd be so heartbroken. It would be his entire fault if that happened. He had been the one to make the first move. He had been the one that insisted they do what they did; he practically seduced the poor girl at a vulnerable time. It just made him believe to be another one of those low-class, lecherous young men looking for a pretty girl to use for their needs.

He looked up at the sky, blinking to keep the rain out. He deserved whatever karma would give him. He knew that, but hoped that Toru wouldn't be punished too, that she would remain happy. At that moment, he realized all he wanted was to have her pleased, not to take her as his own, not hate her for it or the man she loved. Kyo needed to know, on his dying day, that she was healthy and safe. That she was content.

His eyes roamed the night sky again, a new determination settling upon him. What the hell was he doing up there anyways? Didn't he make a New Year's resolution that he would stop acting like a baby without its mommy? The view up there was nice, but really, it was all a bit ridiculous. He had to go see her, to make amends with Yuki. No more lies. He could not just run away for the umpteenth time. Oh, life was hell sometimes.

`Well, might as well go make it heaven,' he thought while lifting himself up.

And like many classic tales, it was all about a girl.

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A/N: So how did you like it? Tell me, all right. Remember, reviews + happy monkey = more chapters. I don't know how many more I'll put in, so ya'll can tell me how much longer I should go on. Any ideas? Send them in! You can always e-mail me at mack_muffy@hotmail.com or just write a review. Visit my bio to get more info and stuff. The majority of things will be in there so I don't have to repeat anything too much. I worked hard on this, so if you want to flame me, by all means please do, but do it in a constructive way so that I know what I did wrong and then maybe I can fix it. I need at least five reviews if you want me to continue, and I mean by different people, so don't go around using a different name every time (wags finger). So. I guess I will see you all later.

Hugs and kisses,

Punky Monkey (Jasmine)