It took me forever to get around to adding an intro to this world. This is where I keep all my Fruits Basket fanfics. There are so many of them (and hopefully many more to come), I thought they needed their own world. 
My favorite characters from Fruits Basket are: Rin and Akito.
Fan Words contests I participated/will participate in:
"*Your* Story" by Haru93
"Your Best Friend" by Sangome
"Character Creation By the Numbers" by Markus Wolfe
Check them out!
Enjoy!
“What if I told you my curse was broken? What would you say?”
A look of horror flitted across Kyo’s face. “That’s not funny, Momiji.”
*****
Momiji smiled darkly. He thought it was ironic. Very ironic, in fact, that he had the one thing that Kyo and all the other zodiac members wanted the most. They all fought for it, cried over it, sacrificed the very essence of themselves for it.
Freedom.
And Kyo was the one who had given it to him.
And it was even more ironic that while Momiji had the freedom Kyo wanted most, Kyo had what he wanted most.
Her.
He didn’t blame Kyo, of course...not entirely. Kyo was simply clueless to what he had. And to what he had done. Through his determination and love, Kyo had become almost…human. He didn’t know that he had made it possible for Momiji to accept him as a real person, as more than just the cat. Momiji had learned that Kyo wasn’t one he could look down on. And that was the key to his freedom. He had gained the one thing he had always wanted.
And had lost other things.
He lost a bond. Probably the truest and deepest bond he would ever experience. He hadn’t realized it mattered so much. He knew he was going to miss it, in some weird way. Some dark, twisted way. The tears were still flowing freely down his face, burning the memory of their bond into his skin. The bond that had been so forcibly held in his heart for so long.
And he lost her.
Maybe Kyo hadn’t realized he had competition. Even Momiji had to laugh out loud at the absurdity of that thought, the tears still burning. He probably hadn’t realized. Kyo barely even realized why he was fighting, at this point.
She didn’t even realize she was being fought over.
But he loved her anyway. He loved her so much…that’s why he fought the curse, fought Kyo with a different kind of dislike.
So what if she didn’t know he loved her? He had accepted that already. There was so much he didn’t know. What her favorite color was. What food she hated the most. Her biggest hopes. Her smallest fears.
Why…why she loved Kyo, whether she realized it or not.
But he didn’t want to think about that anymore. He didn’t want to be bitter anymore. Kyo, albeit unknowingly, had given him what he always dreamed of. He had opened up his future. He could be whatever, whoever, he wanted.
He had his whole life in front of him now. All those possibilities. He could do anything. He could smile now, really smile, knowing he had a chance at true happiness. No more secrets, no more lies. And he owed it all to Kyo. Even if he knew now that Kyo was a reason that there was one thing he could never have.
Besides, there was someone out there for him.
There had to be.
Same Akito spoiler, and the Kureno spoiler, too...
Akito reclined into the leather seat of the car, stretching his legs out luxuriously. Hatori slid in next to him, pulling the door shut. The car pulled away from the curb of the high school and was soon filled with a stony silence. Akito looked over at Hatori, watching him carefully. The doctor stared straight ahead, making no attempt to talk to Akito.
Oh, dear, he’s mad at me.
“Now, wasn’t that a fun trip to the high school, Hatori?” Akito asked happily. “Yuki was especially surprised to see me. I don’t think he ever expected me to actually come to his school.” Akito chuckled to himself, still watching Hatori attentively. He watched as a storm brewed in Hatori’s eyes, a storm of anger, pity, and sadness. Hatori turned to Akito, his face perfectly calm even as the turmoil swirled in his eyes.
“Akito,” he said, slowly, calmly, “You shouldn’t have gone to that school. Those kids-Yuki, Haru, Momiji, even Kyo- deserve a chance to live their own lives. If you had just asked, they would have come and visited you.”
“That monstrous cat is not my concern,” Akito snapped back. “And besides, I can do whatever I want. I wanted to go visit Yuki, so I did. I wanted to meet that pathetic girl everybody is talking about, that Tohru Honda. What a letdown. There’s nothing special about her; she’s not even pretty. She’s so ugly.”
Hatori turned away from Akito again, his jaw set, a muscle jumping in his cheek. He crossed his arms and looked out the window, lost in his own world. Akito felt like laughing and crying at the same time.
All I wanted was a little attention, Akito thought desperately to herself. She turned to her own window, watching her surroundings blur past her unfocused eyes. She wondered if she really had done the right thing, going to go see Yuki, going to go find out just who exactly this Tohru person was. Why was she so special, anyway? What did everybody see in her? Just because she was pretty, and she was kind, and she was willing to do everything for everybody. They all thought that girl was the angel, and Akito was the dark, evil, tyrannical overlord. Nobody had ever given Akito a chance.
They would all think differently if I was a girl. They would all think I was beautiful, and they would all be on their knees begging me to let them help me. I wouldn’t have to wrangle and manipulate to get everything I want. I might even still have the rooster instead of just its empty shell. They would really love me, not just love me because they have to.
Akito turned back to Hatori, tears weaving their way down her face. “Hatori?” she whimpered. Hatori turned away from the window, surprise and worry etched into his face. It had been years since he had seen Akito cry.
“Akito?” he asked, undoing his seat belt and sliding over to pull her into his arms. “Akito, what’s wrong?”
“Hatori,” Akito sniffled, “Why don’t Yuki and the others love me?”
“Of course they love you, Akito,” Hatori responded automatically, robotically. “We all love you.”
“Empty words,” she snapped back, her anger and desperation beginning to seep through. “They don’t want to love me. The animals inside them love the god inside me. It’s not real. Not like the way you love me. They just put up with me because they have to.” Akito pulled away and crossed her arms, staring ahead defiantly.
“They just don’t understand you,” Hatori reassured her. “You just live in a different world than they do. They just think they owe you more respect than love, that’s all.”
“So they can find it in their hearts to love that girl?” Akito retorted condescendingly. “I’m prettier than her, I’m kinder than her, I love them more than her, and I’m a part of the zodiac. Why doesn’t she go waste her time somewhere else? This is my zodiac. Go let some other guys tell her how special and pretty she is, but not mine.”
“She’s not trying to compete with you,” Hatori whispered, still shocked by Akito’s outburst. “She’s just trying to do the best she can to love those kids. She wants to make everyone happy, including you, Akito.”
“If she wants to make me happy, she can leave. I don’t want her here, taking my family away from me. I love them more than she does. She has friends; let them take care of her. My zodiac members are all I’ve got. She has her freedom, her friends, her femininity…just GO!” Akito was screaming now, tears pouring from her eyes. “JUST GO LIVE YOUR LIFE, BE HAPPY, LEAVE US ALONE!! WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO STAY HERE, ANYWAY? IF YOU CAN LEAVE, LIVE A REAL LIFE, BE WHO YOU WANT TO BE, HAVE PEOPLE LOVE YOU FOR WHO AND WHAT YOU ARE…WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO STAY SOMEWHERE WHERE YOU HAVE TO WORK TO GET PEOPLE TO LOVE YOU? DON’T YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE LAYING AT YOUR FINGERTIPS? TAKE IT! LEAVE US AND GO!”
The car rolled to a stop in front of Akito’s prison. Her maid was waiting at the door, waving. “Welcome home, Akito-san!” The maid called cheerfully when Akito had dragged herself from the car. Is there anything I can get for you? Is there anything I can do for you, Akito-san?”
Akito brushed past the maid coldly without saying a word. She stomped up the stairs of the house and into her room, slamming the rice screen behind her. The maid’s smile faltered and she turned towards Hatori. “Is everything okay, Hatori-san? She asked, noticing the troubled look on his face. “Can I get anything for you?”
Hatori glanced at the maid absent-mindedly, distracted from his thoughts. “No, no, I’m fine,” he answered quickly. “I’m just thinking, that’s all. I don’t suggest disturbing Akito for a little while.” He strode away towards his private quarters, never looking back.
Akito watched him go from the window of her room, the tears still falling.
Tohru sighed heavily and scrutinized her reflection in the mirror. She tugged at the pearls around her neck, adjusting them. The pearls gleamed a warm pink in the light, matching the soft rose tones of her dress. Mom would have been so happy for me, she thought dully. She would tell me I looked beautiful and helped me put on the pearls….
The pearls. Mom’s pearls.
With one final glance at the mirror, Tohru left her room and shuffled down the stairs, down to the room where she knew Yuki was waiting. After what seemed like an eternity, the hallway opened into the main room. Yuki stood near the doorway, watching the hallway expectantly. He wore a dark suit with a crisp white shirt, looking every bit the gentleman he was. His face lit up as she walked into the room, and his excitement showed as he strode over to where she was standing.
“You look beautiful, Honda-san,” Yuki leaned over and whispered in her ear. “I’m so happy we are going to the prom together.” Leaning down, he took her hand in his and pressed his lips gently to it.
“Yes,” Tohru murmured distractedly, not looking at him. How could she focus on Yuki when he was in the room? He was dressed in a black suit as well, but he wore a gray shirt underneath with the collar undone, and he wasn’t wearing a tie. She stared at the top of his head, watching as he leaned over something she couldn’t see. His hair fell in his face, but he didn’t seem to notice. She longed to push it out of the way so she could see his deep brown eyes, eyes that held a gentleness that only she could see.
“Honda-san?” Yuki’s voice broke into her thoughts. “Are you ready to go? It’s almost time for the prom to start.”
“Oh…yes, I am. I’m coming.” Tohru forced a smile. Yuki smiled back and headed to the door. Within seconds, he was gone.
Tohru sighed heavily and made to follow him, even though she knew in her heart they shouldn't be going to the prom together. She knew they weren’t meant to be together, but she didn’t have the heart to tell him.
“Tohru?” A voice called out from behind her, and her heart leapt at the sound. “Before you go…”
“Yes!?” she squeaked, rushing over to his side. “What is it, Kyo-kun?” She gazed eagerly into his face.
“I…I, um,” he stammered, shuffling his feet. “Before we go to the prom, I…I wanted to…to give you something. “ He turned away again, and when he turned back around, she saw that his fist was clenched around a small object. He smiled at her, and she watched his nervousness melt away. “Close your eyes.”
She obliged, wondering what he could possibly want to give her. She heard him moving behind her, and she felt the soft stroke of his sleeve as he reached past her head. Then something cold slid around her neck, and she opened her eyes. A gold chain hung around her neck, and a small orange cat hung from it. The cat sat with its tail wrapped neatly around its paws, and to Tohru it looked happy and excited, waiting for a feast it would never attend.
“Shishou gave it to me,” Kyo said from behind her. “He said it belonged to his grandfather, as a symbol that not everything in the cat’s life has to be miserable, that the cat can find happiness, too. He thought I might want it. It made me think of you. Besides Shishou, you’re the only person who ever really believed in me. I wanted you to know that I’m not gonna give up fighting, I’m gonna prove myself to everyone, even Akito-san. I wanted to let you know how grateful I am that you believe in me, I wanted to say thank you for everything you’ve done for me, and I wanted to say…I wanted to say, I love you, Tohru.”
Slowly, Tohru turned around. I can’t believe he just said that to me. I’ve been waiting for so long, hoping, and he said he loves me. ME. I can’t believe it. Kyo stood looking at the ground, bright red, his face hopeful under his embarrassment. “Kyo-kun?” Tohru whispered. Kyo looked up, his eyes bright and gleaming as they met hers. “I…I’m so happy. You’ve made me so happy, Kyo-kun! I love you, too!” The confession burst forth from her, as naturally as breathing. The second she said it, she knew it was true. She knew that Kyo was meant to be her forever.
In an instant, Kyo was standing in front of her, just inches away. He put his hand on the back of her neck, warm against her skin. His head was angled down towards her, his chocolate eyes on hers, his bangs in his face. He was smiling at her, a happy smile she had never seen him give to anyone, not even his Shishou. “Tohru?” he said again. “Would you come to the prom with me?” And just like that, her fantasy crashed down around her.
Yuki-kun.
She wanted nothing more than to say yes to Kyo. But how could she do that, with Yuki waiting outside for her? He was the Prince, and he could have any girl he wanted. But, he had chosen her. Tohru didn’t understand why he would ever choose her, but she knew in her heart that he loved her. She just didn’t know how to tell him that she didn’t love him in the same way.
“But…but what about Yuki-kun?” she cried, horrified.
“Damn rat,” he muttered. Kyo’s face hardened, and he looked away, anger and hurt swelling in his eyes. Even as he became angrier, Kyo’s grip on her neck never tightened, and he held Tohru as gently as ever. She mumbled, “I promised him I’d go with him! He’s been nothing but nice to me, and I’m going to break his heart. Oh, I’m such a terrible person!” Tohru put her face in her hands.
Kyo took her hands and pulled them away from her face, cradling them in one of his. With his other hand, he pulled her chin up, forcing her to meet his eyes. “Shhh, shhh,” he crooned. “You’re not a terrible person. You can’t control who he loves. It’s not your fault. Besides,” he whispered, “He has his whole life ahead of him, the whole world at his feet. I’m not going to let him take you away from me.”
“I…I know,” Tohru said. “But I don’t think I can do it. I don’t think I can break his heart. Of course Yuki is important to me,” a shadow passed over Kyo’s face, “but, I don’t love him, not the way I love you. Just give him one more night. He’s just so happy. I’ll tell him tomorrow. I…I promise.”
Kyo closed his eyes and leaned down, pressing his forehead to hers. “Okay,” he whispered. “I understand. I guess I don’t have a choice. I can tell see you aren’t ready to tell him.”
Tohru fought the urge to hug him, to let him hold her and keep her safe away from the world, if even just for a minute before he turned into a cat. Just for one minute, before she left him for the night and her world turned upside down…”I love you, Kyo-kun,” she whispered, unwilling to move.
He smiled, and his glee was evident. “I love you too, Tohru,” he whispered back.
A creak in the floorboard shocked Tohru and Kyo from their whispered confessions. Kyo’s head shot up, and she saw the faint glimmer of anger and disgust in his eyes that signified Yuki’s arrival. Slowly, she turned around, unwilling to face him just yet.
When she saw Yuki’s face, Tohru almost lost her composure. She let out a strangled sob, and she wished that he didn’t love her the way he did. Yuki looked lost, his eyes wide and empty except for the shock of what was in front of him. He opened and closed his mouth, gaping as he tried to put his feelings into words. After a minute he gave up and his face fell, defeated. His eyes closed and he hung his head. Tohru watched, and she wished for the umpteenth time that he didn’t love her, so he wouldn’t mind as much that she loved Kyo, loved him more than anything, loved him in a way she had never thought possible. Yuki didn’t deserve this kind of hurt. But she needed Kyo, and she had made her choice; there was no turning back now.
After an excruciating minute of an unbelievably loud and painful silence, Yuki looked up. He gazed into her troubled eyes, taking in the worry and the sadness she felt on his behalf. He forced a smile, but it did not reach his eyes, did not replace the love and hurt in his gaze. A single tear rolled down his cheek, falling to the floor. A puff of smoke concealed his figure, and Yuki was gone.
All that was left was a pile of clothes on the floor, and a small white rat, sobbing as he burrowed himself deeper into the empty clothes.
End
