Disclaimer: Once again I don't own any of the Original Fruits Basket Characters, nor do I hold claim to the voices of the actors listed. I only did it to give the reader an idea of how the character may sound like. I do hold ownership over Kei Minino, Hastsu Minino, Kurama Minino and Lord Ryuzo; all who will be appearing in this chapter in some shape or form. Sorano Minino and Aki Minino might appear in this chapter as well; however they will probably be in a later chapter.

(A/N: I want to thank everyone who took the time to read the last chapter. I'm happy to have the reviews I do for this story. They are what keep me writing, so thank you. The voice of Kei Minino will be done by Kelly Sheridan, Kurama Minino- Travis Willingham, Hastsu Minino- Luci Christian, and Lord Ryuzo- David Kaye. If any of you watch Inuyasha, D.N. Angel, or Fullmetal Alchemist, then I'm sure you all know who these actors are.)

Last Time in Startling Surprises:

"So kind of you to ask, Tohru, well, it was a rather warm and beautiful day out as Shigure, Hatori and I were walking home from school, when we happened along the most breathtaking young woman we had ever seen. Shigure and Hatori where so stunned by her beauty that they both forgot how to speak. Leaving it to me to carry on a conversation with her, well, as the four us continued onward, the three of us realized what a charming young woman she really was. That's when Ha'ri managed to…"

Ayame's words were cut short by an all too familiar voice.

"That's quite enough, Ayame. Don't you think it would be better if Kei explained things to Tohru? I take it that once again you're causing trouble for Yuki and the others."

Hatori glanced over at Tohru and said a brief hello before continuing.

"Tohru, Yuki, and Kyo, the three of you are doing well, I hope. If you will just tell Shigure I stop by. Come on, Ayame; let's go home, we'll come by another time."

Ayame just smiled as he headed out the door.

"Good bye, Princess Tohru, Yuki and Kyo. I'll see you real soon, little brother, I promise."

Tohru stared after Hatori and Ayame for a minute, before glancing toward the stairs. Just what was the curse on her mother's side of the family? Why had she been spared? Had her mother been cursed too and just not told her? Kei had been born in the year of the dog, so when she bumped into Ayame, why did she turn into a snake? One other thought ran through Tohru's head as she thought. When her Aunt Kei and Ayame had embraced, why hadn't the both of them transformed?

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Chapter 5: Painful Truths

By Tainted InuShemeeko

Once making sure that Kei was once again comfortable in bed Shigure then made his way down the stairs. A sigh slid from his lips as a thought came to mind.

"It appears that Ayame once again has bad timing. Oh well, que sera, sera as they say. I wonder how Yuki is coping with Ayame being here. I suppose now would be as good as any to go and find out."

However, when Shigure reached the room he was greeted by a surprise. Ayame was no longer there.

"Ah ha ah, Yuki how did you manage to get rid of Aya so fast?"

Tohru's sweet and happy voice filled the air.

"Oh well, you see Hatori stopped by and he took Ayame home with him.

A sly smile crept onto Shigure's lips as he glanced at Yuki.

"Ah, well, now it makes sense. I was thinking that it was strange that Yuki actually got him to leave. Once again I see that Ha'ri has come to the rescue."

Yuki just glared at Shigure.

"Don't you have something better you could be doing?"

Shigure on the other hand, just smiled at him.

"Why yes I do. I do hope the three of you will be all right here with Kei. She's up stairs resting."

Tohru just smiled as she looked at Shigure.

"Oh don't you worry about us we'll be fine."

Shigure looked each one of them over as he headed toward the door.

"Well then, if you're sure you won't be needing me for anything I'm off. I should be back in a little bit."

"Oh okay, be safe, Shigure."

She then waved good bye as he left the house.

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A little bit later Kei found herself sitting on the roof of Shigure's house. Peace and quiet surrounded her. Kyo had disappeared a while ago and Tohru and Yuki were no doubt heading to the small garden she had seen in the forest not far from the house.

'The two of them are really cute together, but I can't help but wonder if in the end she will just end up getting hurt like I did. The only thing I can hope for is that Yuki's feeling for Tohru are truly real.'

"Why couldn't I stay away? Why did I have to come back here?"

"You know Kei you already know the answer to that. You also should know that you shouldn't be out in the open air like this, do you want to get sick."

Kei turned her head at the sound of a familiar and gentle voice. The gentle fall breeze blew her orange bangs out of her face, as her dark brown eyes, met with two warm milk chocolate ones.

"Oh Kurama, what are you doing here? How did you find me?"

There standing in front of the window he had just climbed out of stood the man that the milk chocolate eyes belonged too. He had long brown-mahogany hair that was pulled back into a ponytail.

"Do you really have to ask me that, I may be your doctor but I'm also your friend and cousin? Besides I know you all to well, you're not the only one who knows of Tohru's whereabouts you know."

At hearing this Kei's heart stopped in her chest.

"Lord Ryuzo, doesn't know that's she's here does he?"

A soft smile appeared on Kurama's lips as he looked at his cousin and friend.

"No, he doesn't she's safe right now. Just like Kyoko wanted it."

Kei sighed for a moment before speaking her mind. Kurama sat beside her and waited patiently for her to begin.

"I'm tired, Kurama, I'm tired of hiding and all we ever seem to do is fight with members of our own family as we try to free ourselves. Do I even want to bring her into it and what about Shigure? He spoke words of the heart earlier to me. Do I believe those words he said? Shigure turned away from me once, I don't know if I could stand it if he were to do it again."

Kurama was silence for a moment as Kei rested her head on his shoulder. His voice was soft and gentle as he spoke the words that were in his own heart.

"In all reality Tohru has to decide that on her own. Once she has made the choice, then you must be at her side, all of this you already know. As for Shigure, I truly believe that he does care for you. He has his own demons that he is dealing with, as well. Remember Kei he was still young went you first met. I'm going to venture a guess that the only person he ever had to truly care for was himself."

He then rubbed Kei's back in a soothing motion.

"Believe it if you wish, but you hold power over people, just as Tohru does. Give him some time I'm sure he will come around. If that doesn't work we could always show his family just how dark our curse is."

Kei didn't want it to come to that, but in the end she was afraid that it just might have too. The Sohma's have to be shown that there was a worst Zodiac Curse out there.

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Shigure continued on his way toward the Sohma estate, he just had to talk to Hatori. He had to find out if it was really worth the risk. Shigure's mind kept drifting off to the words Kei had spoken to him those that day before she disappeared.

'You think you have the worst problem of all, but you've never thought about what I've been through, have you? I didn't think so, so I guess you never really had feelings for me; they were all just fake in reality then.'

Shigure sighed as he continued on his way; he wanted to show Kei that his feelings were true. However he just couldn't help but be a little apprehensive, that in itself was the real reason for his little trip. Ha'ri had been in love once and had planned on living the rest of his life with Kana. That was until it came time to tell Akito of their wishes, after that Hatori's dreams of being with Kana had been shattered.

"Then again, back then I never did give it that much thought, as to what her family was like. Now that I think about it her childhood wasn't too much different from my own. She had to stay away from boys, because the simple fact that she would transform into a zodiac animal as well."

Then as a memory from his high school days resurfaced, Shigure brought his right hand up to his cheek and then to his lips.

Flashback:

"Um…Shigure can I ask you something?"

Shigure's warm chocolate eyes seemed to smile as the younger Shigure answered Kei's question.

"Yes Kei, what is it?"

"You were born in the year of the dog, right?"

The younger Shigure smiled and mumbled a, "Mmmhmm" to her. Shigure's response only caused Kei's own smile to grow wider.

"Good then that means that I was right."

Then with out giving Shigure time to react Kei placed her lips gently against his right cheek. Shigure was in such a state of shock that it took him a minute to respond. By which time Kei had become more daring and was now kissing him on the lips. Shigure had stiffened at first as he waited for that familiar poof, it never came in which case Shigure allowed himself to enjoy the kiss just a little.

A few minutes later he pulled out of the kissed and looked down at Kei. Shigure was still trying to figure out what had just happened. His voice was a little shaky as he asked a stunned question.

"Kei, did uh you just kiss me?"

Kei giggled at the how cute he sounded as he asked her that question.

"Yes, Shigure, I did kiss you."

His chocolate eyes were still filled with wonder as he asked, "We kissed and I didn't transform, but why?"

Kei just shrugged her shoulder as she answered him.

"Well you were born in the year of the dog and so was I, so maybe my cruse canceled out yours."

Shigure's eyes seemed to be dancing as he heard this news, which made him want to test that theory again.

"Is that so, well then isn't that as surprise."

This time it was Shigure who kissed Kei and there was no poof, yet again. Shigure knew he could get used to this.

END

Shigure's memory flash was disturbed by an all too familiar voice.

"Is there a reason why you're standing at my door Shigure? What's happened this time?"

Shigure did his best to come up with a good reason for him being there, a look of surprise soon found its way onto Shigure's face.

"Why of course it's a good reason. I'm wounded that you would think other otherwise Ha'ri."

Turning away from Shigure, Hatori waited for Shigure to come in, as he took a seat in his office.

"Alright, then, Shigure, enlighten me; just why is it that you're here?"

Shigure however couldn't hide the slight blush that appeared on his cheeks, which only caused his to stutter a bit.

"Well, yes…you see, Ha'ri, it's about."

Seeing Shigure's strange nervousness, Hatori answered for him.

"I see, so this is about Kei then. So just what is it you think I can help you with?"

However Hatori just sighed as he continued to speak to Shigure.

"There isn't anything I can really tell you, Shigure. It's an answer you have to figure out for yourself really."

This time it was Shigure who sighed.

"I had a feeling you were going to say something like that."

Hatori smirked lightly at Shigure, as he replied to his words.

"Really, what else did you think I would say? You were aware of her feelings toward you once before and still you pushed her away."

Shigure however knew that Hatori was right.

"As always, Ha'ri, you're right."

Hatori then glanced over at Shigure.

"So what is it you plan on saying to her? You could always try apologizing to her for the way you acted with her before she left all those years ago. Tell me Shigure; is Kei just another woman for you to toy with?"

Taking a slow drag of his cigarette, Hatori then looked once more at Shigure. That's when he noticed something he hadn't before any humor that had been on Shigure's face minutes before, was no longer there. A look of honest seriousness, and pain seemed to make its way onto Shigure's face. His voice was soft and serious at the same time as he spoke.

"To tell you the truth, Ha'ri, at first I wasn't sure how I felt when Kei returned so suddenly. After spending the little bit of time with her that I have, I've realized how wrong I was all those years ago. When in truth, perhaps it was Kei who understood us better then anyone, though at the time I was too young and foolish to see it."

Hatori's hazel-brown eyes continued to watch Shigure as he put out his cigarette. There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice as he spoke.

"Really, and here I thought you still were foolish, has seeing her again really opened your eyes this time?"

Shigure fell ever so hard at hearing Hatori's words.

"Ha'ri, how can you be so cruel to me."

Hatori only had one answer to Shigure's words.

"Years of practice and watching you make a fool of yourself."

Tears streamed down Shigure's cheeks at Hatori's words; however Hatori just ignored them as he continued to speak.

"In any case, what your next step will be is completely up to you. I can't make that decision for you. Can you truly say you will be happy with her? Remember Shigure Kei's family has their own curse, can you really say you will be willing to give up everything for her?"

Hatori's question gave Shigure something to ponder over long and hard. Just what would his choice be in the end? Could Kei be the answer to finding his own happiness or was he just playing the dreamer here?

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Yuki's deep violet orbs glanced over at Tohru as they continued on their walk. She looked a little nervous, but then again after everything she had learned today who could blame her? Calling her Miss Honda hadn't work earlier so this time Yuki decided to try something different.

"Are you all right Tohru? You know you can talk to me about it if you want."

Yuki stopped in his tracks when he noticed that Tohru had stopped a while back.

"Oh, Miss Honda, are you all right?"

Yuki's gentle voice seemed to remind Tohru of the reason she had stopped.

"What did you call me?"

At first Yuki was a little confused.

"I said Miss Honda."

Tohru however just shook her head no.

"No, before you said that."

Yuki then decided to give it a little thought.

"Oh you meant when I said Tohru. I wasn't to sure you even heard me, seeing how deep in thought you where in. I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable."

Tohru shook her head no rapidly.

"No, no, no, you didn't. I was just a little surprised that's all; you've never really called me by my name before. It was really nice to hear you say it."

A small gentle smile found its way on to Yuki's cheeks as he watched Tohru try and hide the blush building in her cheeks.

"In that case, I'll try to call you Miss Tohru instead."

This caused Tohru's face to turn bright red.

"You…you really don't have to if you don't want too."

"That's just it, if you wouldn't mind I'd like to call you Tohru; just maybe not when Shigure and that stupid cat are around."

Tohru then gave Yuki one of her bright smiles.

"Okay, if you really would like to then its okay with me. So, Yuki, what do you think will be ready to be picked?"

Yuki placed a finger to his cheek as he gave it some thought.

"I'm guessing the last of the tomatoes and some of the squash is ready."

Tohru gave him a bright smile as she agreed with him.

"Yes, you're right they should be about ready to pick. Since we are already out, why don't we go and see if any of them are ready."

"All right, that sounds like a good idea, Miss Tohru."

Tohru smiled brightly as she looked at Yuki.

"Right, so secret base here we come!"

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Shigure looked around the house, upon his return. It seemed like everyone had gone out. Suddenly a gentle, but boomingly intimidating voice caused Shigure to jump.

"Trying to hide from someone Shigure-chan?"

"Aaaahaha! Kurama Minino, to what do I owe the pleasure? So how long has it been?"

Kurama gave it a little but no thought before answering.

"It's been four to five years I think."

Shigure tried to find some adult composure in front of Kei's cousin; however, he failed miserably at it. For whenever Kurama's gaze fell on him he really did feel like a mere child.

"You haven't changed at all, Shigure, not since the last time I saw you."

Shigure managed a half heartily laugh as he spoke in turn to Kurama.

"I was about to say the same thing about you as well."

This caused Kurama to raise an eyebrow.

"Oh you were?"

Shigure simply smiled as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Yes of course, what else could I have probably been going to say?"

'Other then that you are still able to, scare the wits out of a now grown man as myself.'

Shigure however had a feeling that they would not be the right words to say. He did however decide to venture a question that had yet to be answered.

"So Kurama, what brings you here of all places?"

Kurama shrugged his shoulders as he took a sip of his tea.

"I had gotten word that Kei was back in town, so of course I knew she'd be here. Just so we are clear it had nothing to do with you, and everything to do with Tohru."

Shigure's voice was serious as he spoke.

"I see, and then I suppose we shall be getting a lot more visits from your family?"

This question was also answered by a shrug of the shoulders.

"It's hard to say, Shigure; it really depends on how many of the family are dying to see Kei. Five years is a long time for someone to be away."

It was then that Shigure noticed something, the simple fact that Kei wasn't there.

"Speaking of Kei, I wonder where she ran off too?"

Kurama stole a glance over at Shigure before answering.

"She didn't run off anywhere, I simply told her to go lay down. She seems to be a little jet lagged. Being as busy as she is she needs her rest."

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Though rest was the one thing that Kurama had intended for Kei, it was one thing that wasn't about to get granted. That terrifying day back at the main estate came rushing back to her. Kei had been twenty when Lord Ryuzo had summoned her and her sister Hastsu to him.

Kei's Dream/Flashback:

"Hastsu, Kei, I'm glad you decided to come." His voice was so cold and uncaring as he spoke to them. "I would have been very displeased if you had done otherwise."

Hastsu's olive colored eyes kept a steady gaze with Ryuzo's piecing gold eyes. His brown hair hung down his back in thick waves as he continued to stare at the two girls. Ryuzo then reached a hand out toward the left side of Hastsu's cheek, as he then glanced at Kei.

"Forgive me,Kei for bothering you, but you may go now."

Kei's voice caught in her throat as she tried to speak up.

"Yes, Lord Ryuzo, but what about...?"

Ryuzo's gaze soon went from being partly warm, to being extremely cold. His gold orbs stopped showing any emotion.

"You will do as I tell you to do, Kei. Never question me again is that understood."

Kei found her self wincing at the harshness of his voice.

"Your sister will be along shortly now go!"

Without saying another word, Kei hurried out of the room. She could feel Hastsu's sad olive orbs on her as she ran out. However, once she was out of the room Kei couldn't bring herself to leave, she just couldn't.

"You are a very bright woman, Hastsu."

Hastsu's voice remained soft and gentle as she answered him.

"Thank you, Lord Ryuzo, for such a kind compliment."

Ryuzo raised a hand up to brush a few stray orange hairs out of her stunning face.

"Please, Hastsu, what have I told you? When we are alone you are to never call me Lord. I have always been stunned by the beauty, you and your troublesome sister possess."

"Please, Lor…Ryuzo, don't."

Hastsu then shied away from his touch, a fire seemed to erupt within Ryuzo's gold orbs; turning them into liquid pools of gold. After a few moments the fire seemed to cool and then disappear.

"Why are you so afraid of my touch, I love you, Hastsu. There is nothing wrong with having feelings like that for me."

A breeze blew through the room, causing their hair to flutter.

"I'm just not sure if I can keep doing this. Kei is not stupid, I'm sure she already knows.

Lord Ryuzo combed his fingers through Hastsu's short red-orange and golden locks.

"That is a simple matter. I will hire someone to date and marry you. When it comes time for the child to be born, I shall make it look like you are in an accident and no one will know difference. It shall be our little secret. As for your sister I will simply make her forget everything she has heard."

Kei jumped as the door was suddenly opened, causing her to fall back on her butt. Fear shimmered in her eyes as she looked up at Lord Ryuzo, and he down at her.

"That's the one thing about twins I hate, you're always close to one another."

There was a golden flash of light as Kei's world fell into darkness.

End of Dream/Flashback

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Kei jerked awake, her breathing was coming out in labored pants as sweat beaded across her forehead and down the sides of her face. What was it that she had just saw, was it simply a dream or was it more. Kei couldn't remember anything like that happening before; then again Lord Ryuzo had erased her memory in the dream. If any of this had really happened then it meant that Hastsu was still alive somewhere.

A few seconds later both Kurama and Shigure came falling into the room.

"Kei, what is it, what's wrong?" Shigure's voice sounded worried as he spoke.

Kurama's voice seemed to be a little calmer as he spoke.

"Are you all right, Kei?"

Kei blinked for a few seconds as she realized that Kurama and Shigure were in the room with her. Both men wore different looks of concern on their faces.

"I'm fine really I am. It was just a dream; it startled me a little, that's all. There's really nothing for the two of you to worry about."

Shigure breathed a sigh of relief as he walked closer to his bed.

"Oh well, that's a relief, you had the two of us worried."

Kurama however remained silent; there was something that his cousin wasn't telling him. It really didn't matter to him, he would wait till he could get Kei somewhere alone and then he would get her to tell him the truth of what was really going on. Kurama then decided that now was the best time to break his silence.

"A dream huh, it sounded more like a nightmare too me."

Kei narrowed her dark brow orbs at the all knowing horse in front of her. Her eye seemed to be saying one thing.

'Shut up Kurama, now's not the time and you know it.'

Understanding Kei's silent words, Kurama let his teasing voice die away as he sat down on the side of the bed. He then pulled a white handkerchief out of his pocket, and dapped at the beads of sweat that were gathered on her forehead. Looking down at Kei, Kurama then asked;

"Well since you're up, how about I fix you a cup of hot tea?"

Kurama then looked over at Shigure.

"Of course, that is if you don't mind if I use your kitchen."

Shigure just smiled as he waved his hand at him.

"No, no, go right on ahead help yourself."

Kurama just nodded to Shigure as he exited the room; leaving only the two zodiac dogs alone in the room together. Shigure's voice was gentle as he spoke to her.

"Are you sure you'll all right, Kei? I would have to agree with Kurama on the note that, that was no mere dream. We both could hear you screaming all the way down stairs."

A weak smile found its way onto her lips as she spoke to Shigure.

"I can't lie to you it was a nightmare, a nightmare about the past that is still a mystery too me. Then again I guess some things were never meant to be understood.

What Shigure said next only served to confuse Kei.

"Yes its true some nightmares are never understood, they remain as dark empty voids, like a piece of paper that has yet to be written on."

Kei was unable to say anything, what could she say to him when only half of what he had said made sense? So instead she decided to change the subject.

"Shigure, was there something else that you wanted to talk about?"

Shigure however looked a little caught off guard at Kei's words.

"Who me having something else to speak to you about; hmm, let's see nope I don't think so?"

Kei was blown away as Shigure started to fluff her pillows (his pillows really).

"You just make yourself comfort and don't over work yourself. You can stay here for as long as you need too. Well I'm off busy, busy you know got to finish up that last manuscript of mine."

Kei frowned in Shigure's direction as he sped out of the room.

'There's no doubting it, Shigure is keeping something from me.'

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Kurama couldn't help but smirk from his hiding place in the hallway. His eyes glanced down at the tea that was setting on the tray he was carrying, before he looked up again only to see Shigure hurrying from the room.

"Try as you might, Shigure, but you can't hide your truth feelings for Kei from me; just like you can't keep running from them, because in the end they will just catch up to you."

Walking over to the door to where Kei was staying. Kurama putt on his biggest smile as he opened the door and sang.

"Someone has a nervous boyfriend."

A pillow then came, soaring through the air, narrowly missing Kurama's face.

"Now, now, Kei what would Shigure say if you would have broken his precious tea set?"

Kei on the other hand just narrowed her eyes at him and frowned. Kurama then cleared his throat as he looked at Kei.

"All right, all kidding aside, Kei, but Shigure really does care for you Kei. I know this because I can see it in his eyes when he looks at you. I'm not just saying this to build your ego."

Kei gave Kurama a small smile as she took the tea cup from him.

"I'm a woman, Kurama; I don't have an ego to build. Only men do that that."

Kurama was smiling on the inside at Kei words, as he faked a heart injury.

"Why, Kei, such hurtful words, how could you?"

He then gave a small laugh as Kei threw another pillow at him. Yes indeed it was good to have her home again and hopefully it would be for good this time.

'Now if Shigure could just get his act together a little better. He and Tohru are the only two people who are really keeping her here now.'

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Tohru continued to mill thing over in her mind, but the more she thought about it the more confused she became.

'Oh mom, I wish I would have know about all of this sooner. Why was it that I never knew about any thing about it, in my own family?'

Yuki noticed that Tohru had once again seemed to be in deep thought. He had a hunch of what seemed to be bothering her again.

"Tohru, you really shouldn't worry so much about your family curse. I'm sure your Aunt and cousin had a good reason for not telling you about it sooner."

Her blue eyes seemed to be smiling along with her lips, as she looked up at Yuki. His gentle voice was just what Tohru had needed to hear. Picking up the basket they had filled with the last of the vegetables for the year, Tohru then grasped Yuki's hand inside her own.

"You're right, I guess I really shouldn't worry about it that much. Though I can't help but wonder about why Ayame didn't transform too?"

What happened next was something that neither teen had expected; when a shrewd and cocky voice of a boy spoke from behind them.

"The answer to that is simple their zodiac signs aren't compatible, which would be the reason to why Kei transformed into a snake. You really aren't the sharpest tool in the shed are you, Tohru?"

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(A/N: Wow I'm so proud of myself I finished another chapter. Sorry about the cliffhanger, in the next chapter we get to meet another one of Tohru's cursed relatives and he's a guy, gee I wonder what animal he is?

Next Time: Chapter 6: Kyo's Savior, Hidden Secret Revealed

Until Next Time.

Ja ne and Happy Holidays!

TaintedDarkInuShemeeko)

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