Disclaimer: Shockingly enough, I do not own Fruit's Basket....

A/N: Here's Yuki's little reflection upon his past....should be multi-chapter...and I would love reviews...another shocker, I know... :)

Spring Cleaning

Yuki sighed contentedly as he gazed out the glass window. His radiant violent eyes sparkled with beautiful, unabashed emotion as he studied Miss Tohru Honda outside hanging the wash. Tohru had cheerfully announced that morning that she would be doing some spring cleaning—she had then proceeded to drag out every rug from their rooms, every article of clothing from their closets, and yes, every towel lying about the place. Many loads later, Tohru had decided to enjoy the wonderful spring air so out she went with her many baskets of laundry. Though Yuki had sincerely offered to help hang the dripping wash, Tohru enthusiastically replied that it was her job, not his. Yuki smiled suddenly. Tohru had now begun singing, her voice rivaling the sweetness of the twittering birds. Her bright countenance outshined even the sun. Her blue eyes sparkled like the massive, cloudless sky looming above them. Just as suddenly, however, Yuki frowned. His rare smile quickly vanished and his bright eyes dimmed once again to their usual secretive depths.

Akito was happy like Tohru one moment, Yuki mused. Then, before he knew it, Yuki was locked in that tiny room with Akito menacingly towering over him, an evil grin on his face. Yuki stared listlessly through the clear window, no longer focused on the sweet scenery outside. Over the years, Yuki had realized that Akito was never truly happy; he just put on this superficially cheerful front around others. Those who didn't know Akito's unique curse remained completely oblivious while those who did indeed know never even ascertained how truly affected Akito was by his unjustified tragedy. However, Yuki saw through Akito's façade. He really had no choice though. The morning after every torment, Yuki always had to cover up the menacing bruises marring his flawless skin. Hatori knew of the abuse as well; after all, Akito always sent Yuki to Hatori's office after a beating. Shigure suspected, or simply figured, that Akito would abuse Yuki.

Yuki blinked, looking for all the world to simply be stalking Tohru. However, his thoughts again took a sour turn. Ayame, his supposed brother. Now Ayame…he had simply refused to see, to recognize that all was not well in the little Sohma world. At least the others admitted a problem existed although they could do nothing to stop it. After all, Akito deserved their respect…or at the very least, their immediate obedience.

That was the worst part—not the abuse itself but the fact that Yuki deserved it. In actuality, all the Sohma's had only believed that Akito should abuse anyone he so desired. Until a few years ago, that is. At that point in time, Yuki realized he had done nothing wrong; Akito was simply venting at the horrid injustice done upon him.

Finally, Yuki had decided that he had had enough. He easily cajoled Shigure into agreeing to take Yuki away. Shigure, of course, knew the real reason Yuki wanted to move away; he also knew that Yuki couldn't convince Akito on his own. Therefore, Yuki decided Shigure should imagine a plausible cause for the two of them to leave this prison Akito called home. In order to accomplish this pretense, Yuki also determined that they should tell no one of their plan. Shigure agreed. The very next day, Shigure reasoned with Akito that he needed to move away "for the peace and quiet a true author not only desires, but absolutely needs." Shigure also continued to request that Yuki join Shigure because even authors do need some company, albeit somewhat quiet company. Akito showed no signs of anger or mistrust…until later that day.

The entire week following Shigure's initial plea, Akito savagely beat Yuki. Then, at the few parties he hosted that week, he would "lovingly" chastise Yuki for training too hard in the dojo. Yuki would paste on a smile before walking stiffly away, not allowing any object to even brush against the tender bruises hidden underneath his many garments. The girls especially chided him, saying he deserved to be sore from training too hard. Yuki knew he couldn't take much more of this.

At the very beginning of the next week, Shigure went immediately to Hatori's office (as he often did); but this time, Shigure had decided to reveal Yuki's hope of escape. Hatori instantly knew what he should do.