"Mom?" Tohru inquired in utter amazement. "Is it really you?"
"Yes, Sweetheart. It's really me." Kyoko replied and opened her arms.
Tohru ran to her mother's open arms with tears of joy running down her cheeks. "I've missed you so much, Mom."
"I've missed you too Sweetheart." Kyoko replied tears of joy falling from her face.
"Who is it, Kyou?" Shigure asked as he and Yuki came from the living room. As soon as they saw Tohru and her mother embracing, their mouths fell open. After an immeasurable moment, Tohru and her mother let go of each other and dried their eyes.
"Why don't you come on in?" Shigure invited. "You and Tohru can sit in the living room and talk and we'll leave you in private."
"I would very much like to come in, but you don't have to leave. It won't bother me at all to explain things in front of you." Kyoko replied with a smile.
The group walked into the living room and Tohru and her mom sat next to each other on the couch. Kyou sat on the other side of Tohru, Shigure sat in his chair, and Yuki took a seat on the floor. The room was silent for a moment and then Kyoko spoke up, "So you boys are the ones who have been taking care of my sweet girl?"
"Yes." Shigure replied. "And where are my manners? I'm Shigure Sohma. These boys are my cousins, Yuki and Kyou Sohma."
"And even though you probably know who I am, I'll tell you anyway. I'm Kyoko, Tohru's mom." She replied.
"Please don't think me rude, but we thought you were dead." Shigure said pointing out the pink elephant in the room.
"Yes, well as you can see I'm not." She said with a laugh and then looked at Tohru. "I never meant to put you through this, Tohru."
"Why did you pretend to be dead, Mom?" Tohru asked, child-like innocence in her voice.
"Well, you remember how I was in a gang and then got out?"
Tohru nodded and then Kyoko continued, "Some bad people were after me. They wanted to hurt me. I was afraid, not for myself, but that they would come after you. I also couldn't worry you. I went to the police and we came up with the idea of my car accident. I wanted you to have a normal life and I couldn't ask you to leave your friends, but most of all I wanted to keep you safe. So I faked my death. I did it to protect you. I couldn't stand the idea of them hurting you."
"So why are you out of hiding?" Tohru asked.
"The police have captured these guys and it's now safe. I had to come and see you. I went to your grandfather's and you weren't there and he told me where you were. How did you end up here?"
Tohru's face turned red. "Well Grandpa had to make some renovations and I couldn't impose on anyone so I lived in a tent and got a job. The tent I was living in was on Shigure's property and one night Shigure and Yuki were walking and they found me and they let me stay here. I'm the housekeeper, but I only work for a place to stay."
Kyoko looked shocked. "You're still in school?"
Tohru nodded. "I'm doing exactly as you wanted me to. I'm finishing high school."
"Why aren't you staying with your grandfather?"
Once again Tohru's face turned red. "Well, I missed Kyou, Yuki, and Shigure. Also my cousin wasn't very happy to share a room with me."
Kyoko nodded. "So you're very happy?"
"Yes." Tohru said with a big smile.
"Would you like to stay with us?" Shigure asked.
"Of course." She answered.
"Wonderful." Shigure said in his sing song voice. "I'll fix up the guest bedroom."
"I'll fix it up, but tomorrow." Tohru piped up.
"Why not tonight?" Shigure inquired.
"Because Mom and I have a lot of catching up to do and I think she should stay in my room with me tonight. Like a sleepover." She replied.
Later that night tohru and her mom went up to her room. The two got in their pjs and sat on the floor. Tohru was so happy to have her mom back. It was so wonderful to know she was alive. She was incredibly happy that what she was wishing for earlier could now happen. She just wasn't sure how to ask her mom about it.
"Mom?" Tohru asked.
"Yes?"
"Um… I need your advice."
"Whatever it is I am here for you." Kyoko replied pulling Tohru into a hug.
"Well, there's this guy I really really like, but I'm afraid to tell him how I feel. I'm afraid he won't feel the same way."
Kyoko smiled knowingly. "Does this guy happen to have orange hair and red eyes?"
Tohru's face flushed crimson.
Her mother smiled once again. "That's what I thought. You should tell him."
"But what if he doesn't like me?" She asked.
"He would be nuts not to like you." Kyoko replied.
"You're my mom. You're supposed to say that stuff." Tohru replied sounding like a normal teenager.
"I have a feeling he does like you."
"How?"
"The way he kept looking at you. He was concerned for you when I came in. He also just couldn't take his eyes off of you."
Tohru blushed once again thinking of Kyou looking at her. She was afraid to tell him.
"Do U-o and Hana know?" Kyoko asked.
Tohru shook her head. "They know that I like someone, but they don't know who. I think they suspect who though."
Kyoko smiled. She had a feeling that Hana and U-o were close to figuring it all out, especially Hana. Her electric waves were very powerful. She also knew that U-o knew Tohru quite well.
The rest of the evening was spent catching up. Tohru told her mother about everything, well almost everything. She couldn't tell her about the curse, obviously. Her mother listened with much enthusiasm. After Tohru was finished, Kyoko told Tohru about her travels. They both spoke of how glad they were to see each other again. Tohru fell asleep that night in her mother's arms.
A/N: So what did you think? I did promise you that there would be some reserecting of the dead lol. It may take me a while to update. I have a couple of ideas for the direction of the story from here. It will depend on my mood and on the reviews I get from you guys. So please review so I can figure out where to go from here. Thank you.
