TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCE
A Fruits Basket Fanfic

Written by Miyu, Vampire Princess

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
This story is the sequel to I.M. As much as I love promoting my own work, it is not necessary to read I.M. to understand this story (but read it anyway, come on you know you wanna). No real warnings for this part...other than it's the end of the sequel. *sniff* I also made the graduation theme a bit more American than I'm sure it really is in Japan. I should research that sometime....

Part Five - CONSEQUENCES

Graduation Day.

The athletic field of Kaiwaia High School looks like a tiny field of ants, all dressed in black gowns and gold tassels. The sound carries well through the large number of speakers placed on the field for today's event. The crowd is hushed and only one voice carries through the air.

I can barely make out Yuki as he stands at the podium giving some lofty, high-minded speech. Actually it's probably not all that lofty...and quite high-minded. Knowing Yuki, it's probably some optimistic "we are the future" kind of speech.

Kyo's red hair stands out like a beacon from beneath his cap. He's sitting quietly in the group of graduates, occasionally fidgeting. He's learned patience, although he could use more of it. More than likely he's paying no attention to the current speaker. He's never been interested in what Yuki had to say before. Why start now?

My eyes finally settle on their intended target. One Honda Tohru. She's nestled in-between fellow classmates, but she's hard for me to miss. Her eyes are focused on Yuki, her attention completely given over to the speech.

We haven't spoken to each since that night...almost a month ago. I wrote her an email the next day, telling her of Akito's plans and what I had to do to appease the head of the Sohma household.

lilflower99,

I'm afraid this has to end. I'm afraid in general. Akito can't take your memories away because he doesn't know who you are. I want to keep it that way. But he can take away mine, which he's threatened to do. I don't want to lose my memories of you. I'd rather die first. He's also mentioned that THAT could be arranged to. Bastard.

I won't be seeing you anymore. My mother has a cousin in Europe who's willing to take me in. Perhaps even help me go to college. Akito, albeit reluctantly, has agreed.

I won't be emailing you anymore either. After I send this email, my computer will be junk. Either with a sledge hammer or by my own hands.

I am sorry it has to end this way. But I'm not sorry it happened at all. I will always treasure our moments together. ALL of them. And I will keep the truth tucked away safely. I can only ask you to do the same.

I love you...and I will miss you. Take care of Momiji for me.

madcow18

As promised, I destroyed my computer. Hatori watched me do it. He didn't look at all pleased. I'm still not sure if it's because of what I did, or because I took out an expensive piece of equipment with a shotgun.

Momiji returned to school the following week without me. He could only tell the others what he knew. I made sure it was very little. I do feel badly, however, for what Akito did to him. He's never been beaten badly by Akito, and this time had been no exception. His injuries, though few, were quite severe. He'll recover quickly -- Hatori has assured me of this -- and I know the others will help.

My heart aches as I hear students' names being called. I'm no stranger to this pain, but dammit it hurts! My eyes follow Tohru as she stands from her seat and follows her classmates to the stage.

"I thought you had a plane to catch?"

I sigh as anther presence joins me on the tree branch just outside the school grounds. Dark hair appears first, followed by the very feminine features of my cousin Rin. I only offer her a glance as she takes a seat next to me.

At one time, I would've offered her more. Funny how heartache can change a man.

I shrug indifferently. "The taxi's still waiting for me on the next block."

She looks down at the crowd, a small smile on her lips. "Akito will have a fit if he realizes you haven't left yet."

I chuckle. "Good, I hope he dies from it."

Rin's silence is all the agreement I need. She may have broken my heart but she knows, probably better than anyone, how I feel about Akito. I know she feels the same way.

But now, I just have to figure out what she's doing here. Is this her way of saying good-bye? I was simply hoping to avoid her all together. Parting with Tohru is bad enough. Even the sound of her name over the loudspeaker is sweet persecution. But Rin's presence? It's torture.

And she probably knows it.

Her voice breaks the silence. "You really loved her?"

I nod. "Hai. I love her." Whether she notes the correction of tense or not, I don't bother to check. My eyes are on Tohru as she walks across the stage to receive her diploma.

A snort. I guess she did take notice. "Do you love her like you love me?"

Ah, she's using the present tense. I wonder, is that on purpose? Or is she trying to goad a certain answer out of me? I give her the answer that comes to mind first.

"Iie."

It's true. I love Tohru but not in the same manner I loved Rin. Yes. That's past tense. While a part of me will hold on to the love I had for Rin, a bigger part of me will forever treasure the love I have for Tohru.

Is that too confusing?

GAH! I'm thinking far too hard. If I'm not careful I'll give myself a headache.

"Do you miss me?"

Rin's question brings me back to the present, thankfully. "Hai."

"Will you miss her?"

I nod again. "Hai. Very much."

Another snort. Was it because I added the 'very much' to the end? I find it hard to believe that she's jealous.

"You'll never be with her again."

I sigh. The truth hurts, that it does. But it's also double-edged.

"Just like I'll never be with you again, ne?"

Silence. I look over and see that her eyes, although staring at me, are completely blank. I seem to have caught her off guard, for she has no ready answer for me. Well, blow me. There's a first.

"Where are you going?"

I don't bother to answer as I climb down the large tree trunk. When my feet are on solid ground, I dust off my pants then look up at Rin and smile. She's angry with me for not giving her an answer. Perhaps all the answers I gave her were wrong in her eyes, but they were true to me. With a small wave, I turn to walk away.

Truth is still the one thing I hold dear.

Consequences be damned!

~FIN~