Darkness pulled Kami down. It felt like she was being forcefully pulled down quicksand towards even more darkness. A weight and pain pounded in place of her heart as she reached out desperately. Her thoughts were the only thing left. Hatori. I'll never see him again… I'll never be able to tell you I'm sorry! Hatori, I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! I don't want to go! I want to see him again! Hatori I love you!

The darkness seemed to be drawing her even further down into darkness and muk. NO! Hatori! I need to! I need to see you! Please I need to see him! Hatori I love you! I love you! Kami reached out her hand trying to climb out of darkness. HATORI! Kami reached her hand out as far as she could and right as she felt it begin to descend a strong grip grabbed her hand. A warmth held onto her hand and held it tightly.

Kami's eyes fluttered open slowly. The first thing she noticed was that she was in a hospital. The second was the warm hand holding onto hers was Hatori's. "Hatori?"

"How are you feeling?"

"Why are you here?" Kami whispered weakly. "You… I…"

"It's okay." He squeezed her hand slightly. "I'm not leaving… I forgive you."

"You…" Tears rolled down her face as Kami looked at him. "Hatori…"

"It's okay." He held her hand tightly. "I talked to Shouta… He explained a little to me, I understand what happened." He squeezed her hand again. "I understand and I don't blame you… I love you." He leaned in and kissed her forehead gently. "I don't care about anything else."

Kami looked at him and sniffed as the tears came back. "Thank you… I… I love you Hatori… I love you."

"I understand." He sat down on the bed next to her, still holding her hand tightly. The chair he had been sitting in moments before had a cushion that took a few moments to reflate, almost as if he had been sitting there for so long it had almost left a permanent compression. "You had me worried, why did you run into that fire?"

"I had to." Kami sighed weakly. "I had to save Yukio… It's… It's part of the curse." She whispered. "I had to go and save him… I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself if I let anything happen to him."

"I understand." Hatori leaned in and kissed her on the lips. "I understand and I know what you mean… Akito is the same for me."

Kami chuckled weakly. "We really are similar aren't we?"

"Well that is what happens when we are both cursed."

"I know right." Kami laughed which then turned into coughing. Hatori gripped her hand tightly until she stopped. "You know… I've spent my whole life trying to pretend I wasn't cursed. I've spent my whole life trying to run from the emotion of nervousness… I tried to hide my fear.. My nerves… I did everything I could to run from it… But now…" Kami laughed. "Now I don't mind as much. I'm ready to live with it for the rest of my life… I mean because of it I can hold you sometimes… I have my family… I admit it.. I'm cursed… And I don't mind." As soon as the words left her mouth Kami felt a strange feeling. It was something she couldn't explain. It was like… It was like she was the rock in a sling shot and the hand holding her had let the sling go. It was similar to the feeling of being on a roller coaster.

"Kami?" Hatori looked at her and frowned. "What's wrong?"

"I…" Kami shivered. "I… I don't think I'm cursed anymore…"

"What?" Hatori frowned. "How?"

"I don't know… It's like… It's like my whole life has been leading to this point." Kami could feel the tears rolling down her cheeks. "It's a little sad… but at the same time.. I'm so happy. It like… It's like graduating from childhood to adulthood… I'm moving on with my life… I don't need my curse anymore."

"Then why are you crying?" Hatori asked.

"It's not sadness… At least not for myself." Kami smiled weakly. "I'm sorry that the others can't feel this joy… I… I'm so happy." Kami laughed. "I don't need the curse anymore… and I wish I could share this feeling with the others." Kami laughed. "I have to tell them… This is… This is wonderful…" She laughed weakly. "I'm not…" She froze. "I'm not cursed anymore…" She looked at Hatori. "We can't hug anymore… Because…"

"It's okay." Hatori kissed her. "It doesn't matter. I still love you."

Kami smiled. "Thank you Hatori… I just wish I could still hold you."

"It's okay." Hatori touched her face gently. "As long as we are together it is fine."

"Together…" Kami whispered. "I… Hatori I can't…. I…. Yukio…He…" Before another word could come out of her mouth the door burst open. Yukio stood there clutching at his chest with wide eyes.

"YOU!" Yukio growled. "What did you do?!"

"Yukio…" Kami whispered. "I-."

"You broke it… You broke the curse… You left me."

"I grew up." Kami smiled weakly. "I'm sorry Yukio… But it was time… Yukio I've grown up. I'm not the child you have held onto anymore. I don't need the it anymore. I don't need to be held on to anymore."

"How could you… YOU!" Yukio roared at her. "You… You were the perfect one… Now you are ..."

"I'm not a member of the curse." Kami covered her mouth which was spreading into a grin. "I can't fulfil your requirements!"

Hatori looked at her. "Requirements?"

"To keep the next head of the family from being born randomly into the family the current head must marry a member of the cursed family and have her give birth to the next head… Yukio choose me… That is why I…"

"You dumped me." Hatori nodded. "You were going to marry him."

"Yes.. But now he doesn't need me… I'm free to be with whoever I want to be with. I'm free to be with you Hatori!"

"Kami…" He smiled.

"You are one of the Sohmas." Yukio growled. "One of the cursed members." He glared at Hatori. "You are a Sohma cursed member."

"Yes… Yes I am." Hatori said calmly. "I am also Kami's boyfriend I don't see why it concerns you anymore."

"Kami…" Yukio frowned. "You are not allowed to talk to any of your cousins anymore."

"What?" Kami frowned. "Hang on why-."

"This is what happens the moment any of you leave… You try to ruin it and take the rest. I will not let it happen just like my grandfather didn't let it happen before. If you… If you talk to any of them I will tell Akito all about your relationship… You know what that will mean." Yukio smirked at Hatori. "Your decision…." Yukio glared at Kami. "Goodbye Kami." He turned and stormed out.

"Hatori?" Kami whispered. "What's wrong?"

"It's Akito… If he…. He'll hurt you." Hatori looked at the ground. "He will split us up… If Yukio tells Akito…"

"I see." Kami looked down. "Then I… I won't tell them… Instead…" She smiled at him. "I will pray that they reach that point on their own… And I'm sure… I'm sure that soon they will learn their own way."

"Kami…" Hatori took her hand. "You-."

"Now I just have to figure out where to live." Kami sighed. "I have to stay somewhere new now."

Hatori smiled. "I think we can figure something out."

Kami looked at him. "I love you Hatori."

"I love you."

Kami looked at him. I'm sorry everyone… But I will figure this out… You're going to have to wait… But I hope that you can figure it out on your own too… It's time we end this curse.