Disclaimer: Same as before!

Authoress Note: Last chapter, but I'm planning a little sequel thingy that won't be so happy ::shudder shudder::

And so Tohru fixed a delicious dinner. They sat in complete silence, even Kyo and Yuki weren't complaining. Shue had taken off her outfit and slipped into a gown. Everyone went to bed early, seeing as they were going to wake with the sun.

But there was one who didn't sleep. Shue watched from the doorway as Tohru worked tirelessly on some hidden project. The next day, everyone avoided the reserve room except Hatori who went in on occasion. But then again, there was much to be done. There were decorations to hag, food to make, and cleaning to be done.

As Shue walked into the kitchen, Tohru hurried out carrying something in her arms. Shrugging it off, Shue went on her way, helping everyone prepare. Kyo was sitting outside on the porch again. She stepped out and sat beside him.

"You all right?" she asked. He sighed and just before he could answer, she cut him off. "I talked to Shigure and Hatori and they said that . . . Well, traditions are meant to be broken."

"What do you mean?" Kyo looked at her with a confused look.

"It means," she pulled him up and pushed him inside, "you are in the celebration this year so enjoy it." Shoving him forward, he stumbled and looked back at her, a huge smile on his face.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" He ran off to get an outfit made like a child at their first carnival. She sighed, then wiped the smile from her face and went up the stairs.

As the sun was just beginning to sink below the tree line, and everyone was settling down for before the party, Yuki saw Tohru walking down the hall. She was carrying a box and on top of that, a serving platter covered with a white cloth. He stood up and followed her, as did everyone else in the room.

She stood at the door to the reserve room, gulping before knocking on the closed door. The others saw her wait for a moment then slide open the door and enter. Yuki immediately ran up the rest of the stairs and stood at the doorway. If you hurt her I swear I'll kill you myself, he thought with a growl.

Inside, Tohru saw Akito sitting up at the head of the bed. He was looking out the window but turned his attention to her. Silently, she pulled up a chair and sat down.

"What do you want?" he growled watching her every move. Sitting down the box, she took the platter into her grip. She walked over to the nightstand and sat it down. As she pulled off the cloth, a beautifully decorated vanilla cake was revealed. In blue lettering it had the words Happy Birthday written in cursive. There were two candles resting in the center. Striking a match, she lit the candles.

"I thought it would be nice to have a cake, seeing as it is your birthday," she stated gleefully, pushing the cake forward. "Now blow out the candles." His gazed went from her to the cake. With a gentle breath, he extinguished the flame. Pulling back, a pure and innocent smile stretched across his face.

"There," she paused to cut a small piece and set it on a small plate. "I have something else for you." Picking up the box, she sat it in Akito's lap.

"Open it," she urged. It was wrapped carefully in blue paper and decorated with a silver bow. Peeling of the paper, he opened the now uncovered box and pulled out a new robe. It was light blue with navy blue and black swirls. Folding it up, he put it back in the box and smiled at her.

"Thank you," he said, his voice husky and distant. She bowed, got up and left the room, not even noticing the others on her way down the stairs. When they turned to look back in the room, the door had been shut. Ayame caught a glimpse of Shue fading off into the shadows at the end of the hall.

The night wore on and the celebration started. Yuki danced for the ceremony as he did every year. Everyone was dressed up and smiling, but Shue was nowhere to be found. Ayame had grown curious as to where she could have gone and went to her room. He knocked and slid open the door. She wasn't there. Where could she be? Shrugging off the question, he returned to the festivities.

As midnight came and went everyone settled down for the feast. Kyo and Haru had an eating contest and, for once, Kyo won something. He was going to brag about that for weeks to come.

Outside, the mists of the newly installed hot springs flowed over the deck surrounding it. Shigure had become tired of dealing with the freakish hot springs owners at their normal resort. Shue sat there, breathing in the steam. Robe and all she slipped into the water and sighed. The door slid quietly open and closed. She turned to see Akito, dawned with his new robe. He looked strangely happy, not like she'd ever seen him. He sat on the edge of the deck, his feet in the water, leaning on a support post. He was out of breath and closed his eyes for a moment before holding out a glass of sake. She took it quickly before it had the chance to fall from his shaking fingers.

"Cheers," she said holding the glass to the sky. "May the tiger find acceptance. May the rabbit find comfort. May the cow find himself. May the cat find meaning. May the rat find relief. May the boar find love. May the snake find kinship. May the dog find inspiration. May the dragon find truth. May the girl find what she is truly blessed with. And-"

Akito cut her short by raising his glass. "And may the shadow see what she has not been able to see." They tapped the brims of their glasses together and raised them to the heavens again.

"Cheers," they both chorused.

"Yes," Akito smiled as he took a sip and once again drove his cup skyward. "Cheers . . . to a New Years dream."

The End