Fruits Basket- The Zodiac Demon

The Demon vs. The Cat

Yuki could only watch as Kyo transformed into his true form. The form of the Cat's vengeful spirit. His skin darkened and his ears stretched out. Veins bulged from his flesh. His legs became digitigrade and his hands and feet became sharp claws. His eyes became purple and his pupils became slitted like a cat's. And finally, his face morphed into a muzzle filled with sharp teeth. Demon versus demon. The two seemed to be having a stare down before both of them charged forward and locked claws. Neither budged as they both tried to push the other back. Suddenly, they both butted heads and jumped back. Ren snarled and Kyo growled, both sounded distorted. Yuki scrambled to his feet and backed away, making sure he didn't get caught in between the two of them. Ren suddenly bolted forward and spun, using the slick mud to minimize any friction, his tail acting like a whip. Kyo managed to dodge and tried to grab it, but Ren jumped away in time and land in a perfect crouch.

"He's the Demon of the Zodiac, meaning he has the strengths and abilities of all twelve but none of their weaknesses." Yuki stammered.

Ren was a perfect mixture of the twelve Zodiac animals. He had the Snake's tongue and scales, the Dog's hind legs and and ears, the Tiger's claws and teeth, the Ox's horns, the Horse's speed, the Boar's tusks, the Rooster's wings, or whatever those were folded on his back, the Rat's tail, the Rabbit's leg strength, the Ram's hard head, Yuki had been able to tell that when Ren and Kyo had butted heads, the Monkey's paws, which explained why his hands were still human-like, and the Dragon's overall form. Yuki clenched his hands into fists, he couldn't do anything but watch as the two went at it again. Then, Ren managed to pin Kyo down with his feet and raised his claws into the air, his eyes still glowing a demonic red. Yuki couldn't wait any longer, he rushed out and tackled Ren off of Kyo.

"Stop this nonsense, Ren! If you keep going like this you'll end up killing Kyo! Is that what you want?! To become nothing more than a murderer?! Miss Honda will still accept you no matter what you look like! She's seen Kyo like he is now, but that didn't stop her from caring about him! We all care about you! Dammit Ren, wake up!" Yuki shouted.

Ren didn't move. He seemed to freeze when Yuki stopped speaking. He lowered his head until his eyes were shadowed.

"I-I didn't want you to see me like this. I-I was afraid that you'd hate me, I was afraid of you being afraid of me! All this time I've been afraid, even now, I'm so scared. I'm terrified." Ren said in a weak distorted voice.

He wrapped his arms around himself and sank to his knees. A second later, Ren sat there in front of them, looking as human as before. He was shirtless as well as barefoot and Yuki could see him visibly shiver. He'd been out in the cold for too long.

"We won't hate you, and we aren't afraid of you. Ren, you're family and we don't just abandon family members, no matter who they are." Yuki said as he gave Kyo back his t-shirt and beads, "Now, how about we go back home and finish dinner. Miss Honda worked far too hard for it to go to waste. Oh, and here."

Yuki gently clipped Ren's necklace back around his neck before he stood up.

"Yeah, we can't just let Tohru sit at the house with that idiot mutt Shigure. Now come on, let's go home." Kyo said as he held out his hand.

Ren looked up at them with tears in his eyes. Moon blue and dark amethyst. His two colored eyes revealed his heritage to both the Tsukino and the Sohma families. Ren gave a small smile as he took Kyo's hand and stood up, only to fall forward against his chest.

"Ah hell, you got yourself sick. Now I gotta drag you back while I listen to that damn Yuki give me orders." Kyo said.

But Ren didn't seem hear him, he was already fast asleep.