Faded Pictures

Kagura was fifteen when her grandmother passed. She'd inherited many things mostly keepsakes and pictures. She smiled fondly recalling their memories; the strongest one was from when she was three.

She'd been walking in the woods and found someone crying in her favorite place to play. They held hands and walked to her grandmother's house. She and her new friend had fun that day making mud pies, playing tag, and hide and go seek. At lunch they even shared the same plate.

When they lay down for a nap her friend admitted to running away. They woke up to the smell of freshly baked cake and had a tea party with dolls to celebrate. Her grandmother took two Polaroids and instructed them to always remember the happiness of that day. She kept one for herself and gave the other to her friend telling her to be careful and hide it in a safe place. They'd already eaten dinner when her friend was taken away.

Kagura returned the photo album to the box thinking to herself as she turned the lock, "I wonder what happened to that girl and how did she get on the Sohma estate? Why was grandmother so certain we'd meet again and remember the happiness of this day? Why is this still in my mind. My other memories from that age are mostly of Kyo and me."

Time passed by and Kagura aged. She fell in love and was rejected, an outsider learned the family secret, she graduated high school and went to college, Rin moved in and disappeared before going to Shishou's house to stay. A lot of things happened over the years causing her joy and bringing her tears. There were some things she'd never forget her only hug from Kyo, giving Ritsu his first dress, the concerned look on her mother's face when she left for the mid-year banquet.

Kagura was the last to arrive until the cat took a place by her side. Kureno, Hiro, and Momiji announced they were free. Kyo thanked Akito for destroying the isolation building and accepting his and Tohru's relationship. Akito hugged all thirteen of them and apologized. She admitted she'd made several mistakes hoped they could be a real family someday but there had to be no more secrets and lies. She took off her robe and revealed a dress.

Kagura was stunned by Akito's true sex and angry that they'd all been deceived. She flew into a rage then remembered the picture hidden in her grandmother's photo album front page. "That girl - it was you in the forest. You ran away. Oba-chan took our picture and said we'd meet again one day. Did you know it was me in the woods that day?"

Akito nodded yes and then turned away. She couldn't bring herself to look at Kagura's face.

Kagura snatched her around and began yelling, "I never forgot you and often thought of my friend, but I didn't think it was you since you were a man. Why didn't you say anything? I thought we were friends. I would have protected your secret and we could have played at my grandmother's again"

Akito broke down and openly cried. All those years she'd been lonely and forcing people to remain by her side, she'd had a true friend that actually wanted to share her life.