********
The Ceremony of Innocence
a Fruits Basket fanfic by Ysabet MacFarlane (ba087@chebucto.ns.ca)

Chapter Five: The Open Grave [5/10]

********

"The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
the ceremony of innocence is drowned."
			--William Butler Yeats, "The Second Coming"
********

Kyo weakened much faster than Yuki had anticipated, from both the slow but
steady blood loss from his cuts and the overwhelming strain of the day.  His
blocking became erratic, and Yuki landed a full-strength kick on his side. 
Under his foot, he felt Kyo's ribs crack.  For all their years of fighting, it
was the first serious injury either of them had dealt the other.  The shock of
it froze them both, Kyo's breath hitching with the sudden pain.

"Kyo," he said quietly, putting everything he could into his cousin's name. 
*Please stop.  Please give in, just this once.*  A slight shake of the orange
hair was all the answer he got.  He stepped forward again, threw another set of
punches.  One of them caught Kyo solidly on the temple and the cat stumbled,
catching himself awkwardly.  From that point there was no imagining that the
situation was anything but a slaughter.  As he had endured the knife, Kyo
silently withstood the desperate rain of blows and kicks Yuki delivered.

*Beat him.*  Akito's command hung in the air between them, punctuated by the
sounds of impact and then, again, the ghastly crunch of bone giving way.  Around
them, the assembled family watched the spectacle with palpable horror.  The two
had never looked more alike, their faces as white and grim as death.  Yuki flung
himself bodily into Kyo, driving them both to the ground and locking the other
boy against him.  Kyo's blood was smeared over them both, making their skin
slippery as Yuki found a grip on his throat, over the still-oozing wound; he
held on, feeling the frantic pulse under his fingers.  He bent his head down so
that his mouth was only inches from Kyo's ear, so close his own breath stirred
Kyo's hair.

"Give in.  Please."

" . . . won't give him . . . the satisfaction."  Kyo's voice was hoarse with
pain.

"That's exactly what you _are_ doing, damn it!"  Yuki couldn't remember ever
feeling so helplessly angry with anyone but himself.

Kyo's mouth moved as if to reply, but then he went rigid.  Yuki followed his
gaze to where Kazuma stood watching.  With Tohru.  A shock reverberated through
Kyo's body as he realized she was there.  The wave of numb despair that washed
over the cat was almost tangible; he jerked against Yuki's grip, and Yuki let
go.

"I'm sorry."  The broken whisper carried in the night air.  Kyo's eyes were
fixed on Tohru's, oblivious to everything else.  "I'm so sorry."

"Not a good enough apology, I'm afraid."  Akito's mild tone did little to
conceal the danger of his words.  "Yuki."

Yuki rolled away from Kyo onto his knees, fighting to keep his twisting stomach
under control.  Kyo broke his gaze away from Tohru's and looked up at him.  "Be
quick, rat."  His words were slurring with pain.  Yuki gritted his teeth,
nodded, and punched his cousin in the jaw.  The impact drove Kyo back onto the
ground, his head jarring against it.  He lay motionless.

Akito's exclamation of annoyance barely penetrated the roaring in Yuki's ears. 
"That will do, I suppose."  There was no attempt to draw the family back into
the ritual mood that had bound them in the beginning.  "The Cat will be sealed
tonight, according to tradition.  The Jyuunishi will see to it."  Yuki was
barely aware of the movement around him as the family dispersed.

"Shigure, Ayame, help me move Kyo inside," Hatori was muttering.  "Be careful. 
He shouldn't be moved at all, but . . . "  Yuki felt hands go under his arms and
pull him to his feet.

"Come on, Yuki, you can't stay out here.  We still have to take him away.  All
of us."  Haru's voice in his ear was low with sympathetic horror.  "Come on. 
Please, Yuki."

He tried to focus through his body's rebellion.  "Honda-san--did she--"

"Saw everything, of course, but she's gone.  Shihan got her away as soon as
Akito finished talking."  Haru was pulling him toward the back of the estate,
following the others.  "Rin, help me out."

Rin fell back to walk with them, taking Yuki's other arm in a grip that had none
of Haru's gentleness.  Between them she and Haru got him to the Cat's
traditional cell, where she left them as abruptly as she'd answered Haru's call.
 Yuki watched her go; his attention was drawn back as Haru whispered after her. 
"Rin.  Damn it."  The sadness in Haru's voice was almost enough to jar him out
of the haze.

"Haru, I'm going to be sick."

"I'm not surprised.  Hold on a minute while we get this over with, and I'll take
you out to the garden."  The two of them joined the others in the tiny room;
there was barely room for all of them to stand.  Kyo's still form was placed
gently on the bed.  Hatori stared down at him and grimaced.

"All right.  The Cat is sealed."  His one good eye flickered over all of them.

"The Cat is sealed," they all echoed in unison.

"That's all we have to do about the 'ceremony'," Hatori continued, taking
charge.  "Ritsu, take Hiro and Kisa home.  Momiji, Kagura, Shigure, go to my
office and get the emergency supplies.  All of them.  Ayame, Isuzu, get me clean
cloths and containers for hot water and then start boiling.  Hatsuharu, get Yuki
outside.  Kureno, make sure Akito is as calm as possible.  You know what happens
if he gets overexcited."

Yuki dimly noticed the other Jyuunishi hurrying out of the room.  He edged
toward the bed until Haru wrapped his arms around him to stop him.  "Hatori . .
. how bad . . ?"

The doctor didn't look up.  "Bad.  Outside."

Haru obediently led Yuki out, walked him around to an overgrown corner garden. 
"I'm going to be sick," Yuki repeated wretchedly.

"I know," Haru said quietly. "Do you want me to stay with you or go away a
little?"

"I'd rather be by myself."  Haru nodded and let go of him.  Yuki heard his
retreating footsteps, guessed that he stopped by the nearest building to keep a
discreet eye on him.  He didn't care.  His body was finally winning the fight it
had been waging with him; he dropped to his knees under a tree and vomited until
his stomach was achingly empty, until the spasms left him almost too weak to
move.  He dragged himself a few feet away and lay on his side, angling his head
to stare at the night sky beyond the sparse canopy of branches.  He barely heard
Haru return, too sick over the night's events to pay attention to the world
around him.  Haru gathered him up as if he were a child and they sat together,
listening to the faint sounds of other Jyuunishi coming and going from Kyo's
cell.

********

As the crowd of Sohmas started moving around her, Tohru felt Kazuma take her arm
in an iron grip.  "Move quickly.  You've seen the ceremony, so Akito's request
has been carried out.  You should be gone before he thinks of anything else for
you."

"But--Kyo-kun and Yuki-kun--"  Even as she stumbled after him, her head kept
turning back to stare at the Jyuunishi.

"There isn't anything you can do now, Tohru-san."

"Kyo-kun . . . his eyes . . . "  The horror of the night was catching up with
her rapidly now that she no longer had to keep herself under iron control.

"I know."  The grate of pain in Kazuma's voice silenced her.  They moved through
the dark toward Shigure's house at the fastest pace she could manage.  Her legs
were aching with every step, but she pressed on.  Shigure's house was home.  It
was safe.

Time blurred as they walked, so that she was startled when they arrived.  Kazuma
finally released her arm so that she could unlock the door, which took her a
moment to manage.  Her arms were shaking so that she had trouble first with the
key, and then with the light switch as they entered.  She stepped out of her
shoes with relief and turned to Kazuma.  "Please be welcome--" she began, but
his horrified exclamation cut her off.  Puzzled, she followed his gaze to her
leg.  There were five gashes in the side of her thigh, short and narrow, but
deep enough that blood was streaking her skin.  She turned and found a matching
set on her other side.  "I--"  Kazuma took her hands and lifted them to the
light.  Her fingernails were crusted with dried blood.

"Is that how you held still?" he asked quietly.

"I didn't realize--"  She bit her lip.

"You should go take care of those, Tohru-san," Kazuma said.  "If you wash and
disinfect thoroughly, they don't look like they'll cause you any serious
trouble.  I'll make some tea for us."

"Ah--I can--"

"I'll do it.  Don't worry, my tea is much better than my cooking."

"Um . . ?"

"Despite what Kyo's said, even I don't burn water when I pay attention."  He
spoke of Kyo deliberately, watching her face.  *She shouldn't remember him as
she saw him tonight.*  She nodded, a small smile flickering across her face. 
"Now, go deal with your cuts."  She nodded again and retreated to the bathing
room.

Kazuma went into the kitchen and shook his head.  The sight of it in a state of
order still took him aback whenever he visited, after years of seeing Shigure's
idea of housekeeping.  He located the tea and put some water on to boil.  When
it was ready to steep he brought the pot and cups to the table and waited for
Tohru.  The sound of the water in the bathing room was somehow reassuring; when
Hatori had asked him to keep an eye on her during and after the ceremony he'd
been uncertain, but now was glad he'd agreed.

He was lost in thought when she reappeared, moving painfully as she knelt
opposite him.  "Better?" he asked, for lack of anything better to say.

She nodded, pouring tea for both of them.  "They're just scratches, really."

They drank in silence.  Kazuma watched her face surreptitiously as a gamut of
emotions played across it.  When the tea was gone she rubbed a hand across her
eyes and stood up.  "I should make up a futon for you."

"Thank you."  She bustled between the closet and the living room, setting out
pillows and blankets.  Then her footsteps fell silent in the hallway.  A minute
passed, then another.  "Tohru-san?  Are you all right?"

"Yes."  The single word was shaky and brought him to his feet to investigate. 
He found her leaning against the wall, tears running down her cheeks.

"Tohru-san."  He took her by the arm and brought her to sit by the table again,
kneeling beside her.

"I'm sorry, Shishou-san, I'll be ok in a second."  Her voice was tight with the
effort to control herself.

"Crying is allowed," he said.  "No one should have to see what you saw tonight. 
It would be worse if you didn't cry."

She dissolved completely at his words, leaning on the table and burying her face
in her arms.  He watched awkwardly for a few minutes, trying to decide what to
do.  *If the world were kinder, she might have been my daughter-in-law,* he
finally decided.  She was almost family.  Moving slowly to avoid spooking her,
he put an arm around her shoulders.  She stiffened in surprise.

"Would you rather not be hugged?" he asked.

"It's not that . . . it's just . . . "  She peered up at him through teary eyes.
 "I can't remember a man ever hugging me.  For longer than a few seconds."  She
smiled faintly.  "It's so weird, especially . . . especially . . . "  A sob cut
her off.

"Especially . . ?"

Tohru tried to answer, but Kazuma caught only a few words of the explanation. 
"Kyo-kun . . . this morning . . . your grandfather . . . "  She was blushing
through the tears and he decided not to push her, but she seemed determined to
make him understand, repeating herself until some sense of what she was talking
about came through.  He made the connection mentally before his emotions caught
up.

"You thought it was possible because of my grandfather?"  For some reason that
was the part that caught his attention at first.  "But--Tohru-san, my
grandmother was a Jyuunishi."  She stared at him in bewilderment, and then
started laughing helplessly, in a painful mix of amusement and misery.

"Well, it's possible," she managed, and then the real impact of her words
finally hit him as her laughter was swamped by a renewed bout of sobbing.  He
held her through it, staring down at the top of her head.  He could almost
imagine what it must have meant to his son, emotionally crippled and physically
isolated for so long, to have someone who knew him wanting to be his lover.

"Do you regret making that choice, Tohru-san, now that he's gone?" he asked when
she quieted.

"No.  But I wish . . . I wish I could have held him.  I wish he could have held
me."  There was a long silence punctuated only by her breathing, made hoarse by
the storm of crying.  "I wish Yuki-kun would come home.  I wish Kyo-kun--"  She
cut herself off.  "Shishou-san, will you miss him terribly?"

His mind flooded with images of the unwanted child he had taken into his home
and heart when he himself was little older than Tohru, Kyo, and Yuki were now. 
"Every day of my life, Tohru-san."

"Me too."  She sniffled a little and pulled away.  "We should get some sleep. 
Do you need anything else?"

*Only my son, unhurt and free.*  He saw the effort she was making, though, and
went along with it.  "No, I'm all right.  Go to bed."

She gave him a shaky smile.  "Good night, Shishou-san."

"Good night, Tohru-san."  He sat and listened to her footsteps as she climbed
the stairs, before retiring to the bed she'd made up for him.  He lay awake for
a long time.

********

It was hours later when Shigure found them under the tree.  Haru had been
dozing; he startled when the shadow came between him and the moon.  Shigure
looked down at them, worried.  Yuki lay still, head resting on Haru's folded
legs, eyes half-lidded and murky even in the dim light.  Shigure sighed.  The
night had been long enough without patching anyone else up.

"Yuki-kun, I'm heading home now.  Are you coming?"

"No.  I can't face Honda-san."  The response was much clearer than Shigure had
hoped.

"Are you going to sleep in the garden all night?"

Haru shook his head.  "He can stay with me.  'k, Yuki?"

"All right."  Yuki sounded as if he were agreeing only because he was too
dispirited to argue, but it was something.  Shigure reached down to help Haru
get him on his feet.  Between them they managed it easily, although Yuki was
swaying badly.  Both boys looked queasy with Shigure standing close to them; he
frowned slightly and shot Haru a questioning look.

"Sorry, Shigure-sensei, it's the smell."  Haru shrugged apologetically.  Shigure
sniffed at himself.  Now that he paid attention, he realized that his skin had
soaked up the reek of blood and fear-induced sweat from helping Hatori work on
Kyo.  He wasn't sure it was much worse than the stench of stale vomit that clung
to the boys, but he supposed all of their noses had adjusted to their
surroundings.

"We could all do with a bath," he agreed.  "Or at least a wash; it's awfully
late."

"We can all use the bathing room at my place," Haru said.  "My parents won't
mind."

Privately Shigure considered that Haru's parents might have had enough of the
Jyuunishi for one night, but he said nothing.  The three of them made their way
through the inner compound in silence.  Too many lights were on in the homes
they passed, despite the hour.  When they reached Haru's house, Shigure
hesitated.  "Come on in," Haru said, shouldering the door open.  Here too, there
was light.  "Mom, Dad, I'm home," he called as they entered.

Haru's mother appeared in the hallway.  "Welcome home--oh!  Shigure-san." 
Shigure felt vaguely uncomfortable.  He had never spoken with Haru's parents for
long, and found he wasn't even sure of their names.  He bowed to her instead of
trying to remember.

"Forgive the intrusion," he said politely.

"Mom, Yuki's staying with me tonight," Haru said.  "I told Shigure-sensei that
he should--"

"Help him bring Yuki," Shigure interrupted.  The dazed look in the woman's eyes
told him that she would cope better with as little disruption as possible.  Haru
gave him a resigned glance but didn't correct him.  Shigure gently let go of
Yuki.  "Yuki-kun, come back to the house tomorrow, all right?  When you've had
some rest."

"Honda-san," the boy muttered, his eyes flicking to Shigure's.  He already
looked as if he hadn't slept in a week.

"Give Tohru-kun some credit for understanding," Shigure replied, carefully
wrapping a slight rebuke in the words.  "Ha-kun, will you make sure he gets
home?"

"Yeah."

"Then I'll be on my way."  He bowed again and let himself back out before there
could be any argument.  He started to make his way home, afraid of what he might
find.  Kazuma was probably still there with Tohru, which was comforting.  He
sniffed at his hands.  Yes, he would want to wash before bed.  And have a long
soak.  The smell was too strong a reminder of Kyo thrashing under his hands
while he tried to hold him still so Hatori could treat his injuries.  The
healing process would probably take a long time, but Kyo now had all the time in
the world to recover.  Shigure gritted his teeth.  He had accepted Akito's order
that the cat live under his roof partly because he'd always had grudging respect
for Kyo's defiant attitude, but the depth of the fondness that he had discovered
tonight had shaken him.  Watching Kyo and Yuki's gradual, painstaking
reassessment of each other over the years had inspired more hope than he'd
realized.

********

Haru turned to his mother as the door closed.  "Mom, we need to wash up and get
some sleep."

He had been blessed with accepting parents, unlike many of the other Jyuunishi. 
His mother had the characteristic overprotective streak, but as he entered
adolescence they'd established a good rapport.  She was a bit upset now, but her
eyes softened when she looked at Yuki.  "Of course.  I'll lay out some clean
pajamas for you both, and set out a futon."

"Actually--" he swallowed.  "I think it'd be best if he stayed in my room."

The parents of a cursed Sohma were the only people in the family who had a real
chance of understanding the intensity with which most Jyuunishi approached any
physical contact.  His mother looked at them, Haru more than half-supporting
Yuki's weight, and nodded.  He actually saw the moment when her maternal streak
widened to include Yuki, eclipsing the nervousness.  The brutality of Yuki's
'punishment' of Kyo would mark him in the eyes of most of the family; Haru
sighed as he realized another wedge had been driven between the rat and his kin.
 Most of them wouldn't have the chance to see Yuki's distress and vulnerability
over the situation.

"That's fine, Haru.  You two go get clean."  She came over to them and gently
touched first his face and then Yuki's.  Yuki blinked dazed eyes at her.

"I'm sorry to intrude," he started, remembering his manners.

"You're more than welcome here, Yuki-san," she said.  "Go on, both of you."

Haru led Yuki down the hall toward the bathing room.  "The toilet's in the room
on the left, and my room is over there," he said.  He turned the light on as
they entered and closed the door behind them.  "Will you want to soak?"

Yuki gave him a wan look.  "I'd probably fall asleep."

"I'm not gonna let you drown.  Do you want to?  I do.  It's big enough for both
of us, and I know I'll feel cleaner."  Yuki hesitated, then nodded.  "Well, you
can wash first."  Haru sat up on the edge of the tub and started running hot
water while Yuki peeled his filthy clothes off with a shudder and perched on the
short stool to scrub.  He took a long time at it, lathering on ridiculous
quantities of soap and shampoo and sluicing water over himself repeatedly.  The
tub had long since filled when he finally stood up again.  It was luxuriously
large and deep; Haru had fond childhood memories of soaking in it with his
parents, since it was big enough that his mother could avoid accidentally
triggering his transformation.  Yuki blinked at it and then climbed in, ducking
under the surface so that the heat covered him.

Haru stripped, keeping an eye on him, and then contemplated the stained heap of
fabric at his feet.  "Do you want to try to salvage these?"  Yuki turned, his
hair streaming water, and grimaced.

"No."

"Me either.  I'll throw them out after we're done."  Haru sat down and started
scrubbing.  His skin felt grimier than he'd expected, even taking into account
the blood and other fluids that had dried on it over the course of the night. 
He too found himself washing repeatedly, until his skin was red and tingling. 
He rinsed carefully and joined Yuki in the tub.  The water was still very hot,
and he sank into it with a sigh.

They made no effort at conversation while they soaked.  The heat was comforting,
permeating their bones.  It wasn't until the steam eased Yuki's breathing that
Haru realized just how strained it had been all night; the silence was almost
peaceful.  They lay back until the water eventually started to cool.  Finally
Haru sighed and sat up.  "We should get some sleep."  Yuki nodded and accepted
the towel he was given when they climbed out and drained the tub.  Haru opened
the door a bit and found the promised pajamas waiting for them.  Both pairs were
his, which meant they were slightly too big for Yuki, but the older boy put them
on without comment.  He looked painfully young in them; Haru bit his lip as he
quickly put the bathing room in order, bunching their ruined clothes up and
taking them out to throw away.  Yuki followed him as he hunted for the best
place to dispose of them.

"Haru?"  His mother's voice startled him.  He peered into the living room.

"What're you still doing up, Mom?  Is Dad awake too?"

"No, he's asleep.  I just wanted to make sure you two settled in before I went
to bed.  Do you need anything?"

"Just to get rid of these."  He wrinkled his nose at the soiled fabric in his
hand.

"Put them in a bag and leave them in the entryway," she said.  "I'll deal with
them tomorrow."

Haru gave her a grateful look and obeyed, returning to say goodnight.  She stood
up and came to perform her nightly ritual with him.  He found a smile as she
stroked his hair and then cupped his face in her hands, bringing his head down
so she could kiss his forehead.  "Good night, Haru."  She turned to Yuki and
took one of his hands between hers.  Yuki stared at her, taken aback, but
allowed it.  "Good night, Yuki-san.  I hope you sleep well."  Her eyes were more
sympathetic than Yuki could take.  He murmured a reply and fled to the room Haru
had indicated.  Haru bent and kissed his mother's forehead in turn before
following.

"Do you want to sleep by the wall or on the outside?" he asked after closing the
bedroom door behind them.

"Ah . . . by the wall, I guess."  Yuki hesitated before pulling the blankets
back and sliding under them.  Haru noticed then that an unfamiliar second pillow
had appeared on his bed, and silently thanked his mother again as he turned off
the light and climbed in.  Yuki said nothing for a few minutes, long enough that
Haru hoped he'd been able to fall asleep easily, but then spoke into the
darkness.  "Thank you for letting me stay."

"It's ok."  That was the extent of the conversation.  He heard Yuki trying to
regulate his breathing in the way that Kazuma had taught them all as part of
their training.  It was something Yuki had always been good at, but he seemed to
be failing miserably.  After a while he was simply shaking, his control
crumbling again.  Haru tentatively reached out and put an arm around him.  When
Yuki offered no resistance, he edged nearer and eased his other arm under him. 
Yuki was still for a few minutes, then curled up with his back against Haru's
chest.  Exhaustion made Haru's eyes ache, but he forced himself to stay awake
until Yuki finally stopped trembling.

"I didn't want to hurt him, Haru."  His voice was thick with weariness.

"I know."  Yuki's breath stabilized as he fell asleep, but it was a bit longer
before Haru followed suit.  The sky had started lightening outside his window
when he finally drifted off.

********

The walk home seemed to take longer than Shigure was used to.  The air itself
was oppressive after the events of the night.  Every step felt like he was
walking through ankle-deep mud, constantly bogged down.  He sighed with relief
when he finally saw his house looming ahead of him, even as the sky began to
change color with false dawn and reminded him of how late it was.

He pushed the door open as quietly as he could and listened.  There was no noise
from the living room, so he peered in cautiously.  Kazuma was asleep on a guest
futon, his brow furrowed with an unpleasant dream.  *Well, no wonder,* Shigure
thought glumly.  He hoped Tohru was also asleep, and more peacefully.  With a
sigh he headed for the bathing room to get the smell of the night's work off his
skin.  And then, he promised himself, then, finally, bed.

********

Yuki grudgingly admitted to himself that he felt a bit better when he finally
woke in the afternoon.  Haru's mother cooked a large meal for them and kept the
conversation light, making no reference to the previous night.  He couldn't
remember ever speaking with her before, and watched her interaction with her son
with more than a little jealousy.  She was overly solicitous of Haru, but seemed
to be aware of it and holding back.  Haru bore it with smiling patience while
she watched them eat.

"Yuki-san, another riceball?"  Yuki accepted the offered food and found himself
staring at it instead of eating.  He suddenly wanted so much to see Tohru that
his chest tightened.  He forced himself to eat the riceball, and to smile at
Haru's mother.

"Thank you so much for your hospitality," he said sincerely, wishing he had the
energy to conjure some of the charm he had been renowned for in school.  "I
should get back home, though; I don't want Shigure and--and Honda-san to worry."

"I understand," she replied simply.  "You're welcome here any time you like,
Yuki-san.  Haru speaks highly of you."

"I--thank you."  Yuki found that his eyes were stinging.  He couldn't remember
the last time any uncursed Sohma had spoken to him as if he was just one of
them.

"Thanks, Mom," Haru said, rising.  "And thank you for the meal.  Yuki, I can
probably find you something to wear."  He paused suddenly, and Yuki was sure
they were sharing the image of him dressed in any of Haru's black,
leather-dominated wardrobe.  "Um . . . school uniform or something."

Yuki nodded.  "I'd appreciate a uniform."  They retreated to Haru's room, where
Yuki discovered that not only did Haru not wear the expected tie with his
uniform, but he didn't even own one.  It felt strange pulling the clothes on, as
if it had been much longer than a week since he'd been in school.  He
automatically tried to tug the neck closed, but Haru swatted at his hands.

"Don't bother with that, Yuki.  Relax a little."  They both looked at his
reflection in the mirror, the shirt open in much the same way Kyo had always
blithely worn his.  He had never thought that he and Kyo had much family
resemblance, but for an instant the cat's seething eyes flashed back at him.  He
looked away.

"What am I going to say to Honda-san, Haru?" he asked quietly.

Haru had dressed in a familiar tight black getup and was hanging necklaces
around his throat.  He paused, picked up a ring, and twisted it between his
fingers before sliding it on.  "Um.  I don't know, Yuki."  He rubbed the tattoo
on his arm thoughtfully before adding another ring.  "She might understand. 
That's what she _does_, right?  It's what we all like about her.  She didn't
charm the whole family by being a brilliant conversationalist."

Yuki smiled faintly.  "Here I thought you all keep stopping by because of her
cooking."

"That doesn't hurt," Haru conceded.  "But I think you're just gonna have to go
home and give her a chance."

"She loves him so much, though," Yuki said.  "And Akito made her see what I did.
 I wonder if he would have made me do that if Honda-san hadn't been there?"

"Probably.  He just wouldn't have enjoyed it quite so much."  There was a
vicious edge in Haru's reply that vanished as he continued, "Anyway, hasn't the
problem always been that Honda-san loves both of you the same?"

Yuki gave him a wry look.  "The weird thing is it usually wasn't much of a
problem.  She was always too sweet about it.  But yes."

"She knows you, Yuki.  She isn't gonna blame you.  Let's get going, ok?"

********

Yuki and Haru had been walking for twenty minutes or so when the car pulled up
behind them and stopped.  They turned in surprise to see Hatori leaning out the
window.  The doctor looked as if he'd had no sleep at all.  "Are you two on your
way to Shigure's?" he called to them.  "Do you want a lift?"

Yuki considered it, but shook his head.  "No thanks.  We'll see you there soon."

Hatori waved acknowledgement and started the engine again, pulling around them
and continuing on his way.

"Still dreading getting there, huh?" Haru asked.

"Yes."  Every step felt like it was taking him closer to doom.  The weather
wasn't helping, either; it wasn't raining, but the sky was dark gray with
threatening clouds that reinforced his mood.  He tried not to think about the
way gloomy days got into Kyo's bones and made him miserable even when he was
healthy.

When they finally reached the path to the house he stopped until Haru
matter-of-factly grabbed his arm and pulled him along, not letting go until
they'd reached the door.  When Yuki still hesitated, Haru opened the door and
went in, kicking his shoes off as he called "We're back!"  It was either follow
him or flee into the surrounding woods.  Yuki braced himself and walked in. 
Shigure, Kazuma, and Tohru were all seated around the table, apparently in the
middle of serious conversation.  Hatori was beside Tohru, examining something on
her leg.

"We were waiting for you, since Ha-san said he'd seen you on the road," Shigure
said, but Yuki barely heard him.  Tohru was simply looking up at him, and under
her gaze he felt as if he was still covered in Kyo's blood.

"Honda-san."  He could barely manage her name.  "Honda-san, I . . . I don't know
what to . . . "  She was reaching a hand to him; when he hesitated Haru shoved
him over.  He took her hand tentatively, and she tugged until he sat by her. 
His attention was caught by the cuts on her leg that Hatori was bandaging. 
"What happened?"

"It's fine," she said quietly as Hatori finished.  "Don't worry about it."

The doctor moved over to let Yuki sit at the table, and Haru found a place near
Shigure.  The air in the room was heavy with exhaustion.

"All right, then."  Hatori took a deep breath.  "Yuki, Hatsuharu, I was asked
about Kyo's condition.  I decided to wait until you arrived, and I see no point
in being anything but blunt about it.  I treated him last night, and I left
Ayame to sit with him overnight and keep him awake."

"You left my brother?" Yuki muttered.

"It was him or Kagura, and with Kyo delirious I didn't think she would be a good
choice," Hatori said flatly.  "I checked on him this afternoon before coming
here, and he's doing as well as can be expected."

"How badly injured is he?" Kazuma asked quietly.

Hatori grimaced.  "Over half of his body is badly bruised, especially his sides
and throat.  His left ankle is sprained.  He has a severe concussion, which is
why someone had to keep him awake.  He--"  The list seemed to go on forever;
dazed, Yuki felt Tohru's hand tightening on his to the point of pain.  He
wondered if she was offering or taking comfort.

"But will he be all right?" Yuki finally demanded when Hatori paused.

"Eventually, yes.  All of the breaks seem to be clean ones, and he avoided
having a lung punctured.  If that had happened, we wouldn't be having this
conversation.  There's also no sign of brain damage, although his head will be
hurting badly for a while yet."

Beside him, Tohru was trembling.  He turned to look at her.  The tears in her
eyes hit him harder than anger.  "Honda-san . . . I'm sorry.  I'm so sorry."  He
wondered if she heard the echo of Kyo's voice in the words he was repeating. 
She nodded jerkily, still staring up at him.

Hatori was watching them.  "This brings me to the other matter I wanted to talk
to you about."

"What's that?" Shigure asked.

"To Honda-kun."  The girl's eyes moved from Yuki to Hatori.  "Years ago I
advised you to walk away from the Sohmas before you were hurt.  You refused, for
reasons I found admirable.  Since that time, most of the Jyuunishi have become
quite taken with you and, to be honest, I believe you have done more for our
family than anyone could have imagined.  No, let me continue--" as she opened
her mouth to protest.  "All of the Jyuunishi are aware of your emotional
involvement with both Kyo and Yuki.  Unfortunately, that awareness is probably
what inspired Akito to have you attend the ceremony last night.  Once you
accepted the cat's true form, that was the worst aspect of the curse remaining
to be thrown at you."

"The point, Ha-san," Shigure said softly.  Tears were running down Tohru's face,
but she was silent.

"The point.  Honda-kun, I'm offering you the chance to forget.  You've heard
enough about it, and been threatened with it enough, that I think you know what
that means."

"Hatori!"  Yuki found himself on the verge of shaking him.

"If she wants to forget, Yuki, I suspect you won't stop her for exactly the same
reasons I erased Kana's memories."

"Because Akito wants it done?"

"Hardly.  At this point, I suspect Akito would forbid it.  He would rather have
Honda-kun punished for her 'interference', and forgetting is far from the worst
thing there is.  He doesn't know I'm making this offer."

"What would happen to you if I accepted?"  Tohru's voice was barely audible.

Hatori shrugged.  "I would be punished.  But as far as I know, the process is
not reversible."

"I see.  Hatori-san, I appreciate your concern, but I have no interest in
forgetting."  She wiped tears from her cheeks with her free hand.  "If Yuki-kun
and Kyo-kun have to remember, why shouldn't I?"

"Because you're not cursed," Yuki whispered.  "Except by your involvement with
us."  A horrible sense of futility descended on him.  "Akito will do his best to
ruin you, Honda-san."

She looked at him again.  "Unless he orders my memory erased, there is nothing
he can do to me but take you away from me along with Kyo-kun.  I know he could
do that.  But I would still remember you."

"He might manage to injure you--"

"If Kyo-kun can endure it, I could too."  The fierce determination in her voice
was only highlighted by the streaks on her face.

"All right," Hatori said quietly.  "I didn't come expecting you to accept the
offer, or to try to convince you.  I just wanted you to have the choice."

Her eyes softened.  "Thank you, Hatori-san.  For everything."

********

Fruits Basket is the creation of Takaya Natsuki, and is licensed in North
America by FUNimation (anime) and Tokyopop (manga).  Used without permission or
the intention of making a profit.  Please support the original work!

"The Ceremony of Innocence" © 2004 by Ysabet MacFarlane (ba087@chebucto.ns.ca).
Edited by Alishya Lane.

Comments and criticism welcomed at the above address.

Full author's notes available at (http://bounce.to/ysabet)

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