Author: Kikumaru
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or any of its characters. 

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CHAPTER 1

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You wouldn't have recognized him had you seen him before. Sure, he looked the same, the same ashy violet strand of hair hanging in his eyes, the same clothing. But one look at his face, and you could tell. His fuchsia eyes were cold and uncaring, dark circles underneath them. His smile was practically non existent, and if it were ever present, it was a smirk, a mere shadow of the cheerfulness it once had.

The news of Akito's death shocked the entire Sohma family. It was expected to happen, but no one would've guessed it would've happened so soon, so suddenly. Almost immediately afterwards, the mouse retreated to his room and stayed there, never coming out. It was a rare occurrence that he ate, just eating enough so that he didn't starve.

Tohru cried for him to come out, begging and pleading outside the door. Everyone did, even Kyou once attempted to kick the door down, demanding an explanation. It never came, not even once. Yuki was gone. Yuki had died in those two forever lasting months.

When Yuki finally came out, he was different. He was thinner than even before, weaker, his voice softer and silkier. But he rarely spoke. Just a few, icy, well chosen words to assure Tohru that he was fine, to wave Kyou away from him. Hatori visited daily, but Yuki continued to stay silent, to merely glide from room to room like some pale, lifeless ghost.

...Akito would've been proud...

That was the thought on everyone's mind. It was Akito's wish, to frighten everyone so that when he died, he was to be remembered. Whether it was negatively or not, it didn't matter. Yuki was just...lifeless. Completely gone, completely empty of the Yuki that had once been.

"Yuki can't be happy without me."

Wasn't that what Akito had said? Was it true? It couldn't be. Everyone denied it then, everyone denied it now. But no matter how much they denied it, the Yuki that was once there had disappeared.

Tohru had become hysterical, blaming Yuki's change on herself, pleading with Yuki to come back. But she was met with the same icy reassurance that held none at all...he said he was fine, that he was the same, and that she should stop worrying about him so much.

Finally...Hatori took Tohru aside, leading her away. He sighed heavily and put his hand through his hair, looking at the ground. Finally, he looked at her in the eyes and solemnly spoke, "Tohru...you can't stay here."

She looked desperate for a minute, her eyes pleading, and slowly filling up with tears. "But...Yuki...I have to stay with Yuki.." She explained that he had to get better, that she would do anything to help...as long as Yuki returned to normal...

Hatori looked away. "You can't. I've come to take you to the main house. Yuki's not getting any better. Both Kyou and Shigure commanded me not to erase your memories, so..."

Tohru broke into sobs, and that was that. Or so that was the story Hatori had given.

And he continued to worsen, day after day, going entire days without speaking sometimes.

Kyou wanted to kill him. Wanted to hurt him, to make him suffer for doing this to everyone. For making Tohru go away. For being this...stupid. But at every attempt to fight, Yuki either dismissed him, or ignored him. He was sick of it. He hated the way his eyes look, hated the way that he looked insane. He hated him for making Tohru upset, hated him for letting Akito's death affect him so much.

And as the rat walked by, Kyou cornered him, pinning him up against the wall, demanding another explanation.

"Why are you doing this?! For god's sake, you can't see what the hell's going on around you, can you?!" Kyou exploded, looking with hatred into Yuki's expressionless eyes.

"I don't have time for this now." Yuki replied, icily, moving Kyou's hand to the side. "Why do you care, anyhow, idiot cat?"

"Good point. Why should I care?! Because she's gone, you made her leave, and you're still walking around here like a fucking zombie! You hated Akito while you're alive, so why in hell are you grieving for him?!"

"I'm not. Leave me alone now." Yuki merely pushed his hand away, leaving a fuming Kyou.

The cat shook with anger and rage, and then threw a punch at Yuki blindly. Yuki evaded just in time, and smirked at him, and walked on, simply ignoring him.