Kotori
opened her eyes slowly, and the first thing she saw was Yukito. She felt tears
of joy roll down her cheeks and he smiled down at her and held out hand for her
to take. She took it and she realized that her wings were not with her anymore.
Yukito smiled and held on to her hand tightly.
Kotori looked around her and saw that it was the Garden where they had met each other before. She almost didn't recognize it since it was cold and the Sakura trees and the flowers were not in full bloom. Yukito tugged her towards the Entwined Trees and she followed him.
Once they were under the trees they faced each other and Yukito kissed her on the lips, and she felt the love and warmth spread through her heart and out of her body. As she opened her eyes…
…It was spring.
-=-
Tohru looked out. She breathed in the wonderful life spring was bringing. She was old and yet here she was still living with the Sohmas. Through out the years she had really became part of the family.
The wind blew her gray hair and she slowly put it back behind her hair. She heard laughter from down the hall but she chose to ignore it. Her mother was still in her heart and she always cherished the memory of her smiling mother. She had dreamt once not long ago, her beautiful mother smiling at her with a welcoming embrace.
She had felt like she was almost home. Decades seemed like years, years felt like minutes, and minutes felt like seconds. Her life was full of ups and downs as well as smiles and tears. She had made it through all of it. Tohru had fulfilled her mother's life long dream of graduating high school and further more she continued her education to become a psychiatrist. As her job requires her to listen to her patients' stories, she had helped them by relating some of their problems to hers. Tohru remembered Uo's visit…
"Tohru…? I never told you it was me who almost killed Yuki before…" Uo trailed off knowing even if it happened long ago the cut was still fresh.
"I know…"
"Tohru, I--!"
"Uo…He would've forgiven you…I've never said this to anyone and I'm sure he hasn't either since no one has mentioned it before…We saw each other and he gave me hope to hope." Tohru replied with a smile and then shook her head as if to stop her daydreaming, "You weren't here for a session were you?" She asked Uo who only smiled at her and hugged her afterwards…
Tohru never blamed Uo and she also doesn't blame anyone for looking at her sometimes with the saddest eyes she had ever seen. Yuki was taken away from her, and yes the cut was there. Tohru got up from where she was sitting and walked towards the Entwined Trees.
She reached the not so bare tree. She could see buds beginning to bloom from its twigs and branches. She kneeled down in front of its trunk and placed her hand on the cold wood. Tohru almost instantly remembered what had happened…and she didn't blame Akito. She just truly felt sorry for him for being caged under the weight of knowing that he was going to die…
"My heart has never faltered for you…" She whispered as a tear dropped. Tohru closed her eyes and sighed and laid her head to rest on the trunk…
-=-
"Grandpa! Grandpa!" A little girl with light orange hair and big brown eyes called out. Kyo slowly stopped walking to see his great granddaughter catch up to walk with him. Kazumi was only four years old. A four year old with a lot of energy that is Kyo thought. He smiled gently and asked, "Yes Kazumi, what is it?"
"I can't find Miss Tohru!" She exclaimed, "I wanted to tell her something!"
Tohru…his memory suddenly drifted towards her as he held out his hands to his hands to Kazumi who gladly took it. He led them towards the Room and opened the door only to see the windows that lead to the Garden was opened. He felt the chilly yet warm air blow on his face.
"Grandpa?" Kazumi asked but Kyo only told her to hush.
His thoughts wandered yet again to Tohru…
"Tohru…? Will you marry me?" He asked her after the college graduation.
Tohru looked so surprised but only smiled at him, "Kyo…Gomen ne…my heart belongs to another although it seems like he's not here…He will always be inside my heart." She responded.
Kyo nodded; somehow he knew that would be the answer. Her undying love for Yuki was amazing, "I understand…" He replied yet there was a feeling of a slight sting.
Tohru immediately sensed his feelings and said, "Kyo? Why do you have to hide your true feeling towards Kagura?" She asked.
Kyo blushed, "What do you mean?!" He asked too quickly.
"You know what I mean…" Tohru replied and as if by cue…
"Kyo? Where are you?" Kagura was calling out as she walked outside the school's building…
"Grandpa…?" Kazumi asked again as they reached the Entwined Trees, "Why is Miss Tohru asleep?" She asked.
Kyo looked down at Tohru and gasped quietly so that Kazumi wouldn't be alerted. "Kazumi, get Momiji or Haru…" He said.
Kazumi looked at Tohru who was sleeping, "K!" She said and before she left said, "Miss Tohru looks happy…"
Kyo heard Kazumi small steps fasten and knew she ran into the Sohma house to get Momiji or Haru. He bent down and touched Tohru's face. Tohru…you've given all of us so much already. You gave us love, understanding, time, and most of all your forgiveness that broke our curse. You've changed our fate…
"Kyo? What…?" Momiji asked as he reached the trees and saw. Haru looked at the scene in front of him and said, "I'll have Kisa and Hiro know…they won't be too happy though." He said and walked back with Kazumi beside him.
"Haru? What happened? Is Miss Tohru okay? Why will Kisa and Hiro be sad?" She asked and the answer Haru replied with was, "Because Miss Tohru is asleep…"
You've opened our eyes…my eyes especially. If I didn't listen to you…I would've missed the love Kagura has given me. Kyo thought and took a step back afraid that he might spill some tears that in his life will never shed in front of his family. He had only cried in front of Tohru the night she came for him.
"Tohru…" Momiji whispered and sobbed.
"It's okay Momiji…maybe when she wakes up she'll see him." Kyo said.
-=-
Sohma house was old…ancient even. Kazumi now grown looked up at the Entwined Trees she had always heard of. She had heard of the curse…and the tragedy. Kazumi knew of Tohru Honda. The one who had freed them of the curse. Was it pity that she felt towards Tohru? Tohru never needed the pity. Kazumi smiled a little was about turn around when…
Because Miss Tohru is asleep…
Kazumi knew what it meant that Tohru was gone when she saw her back then. Was it a figment of her imagination? No…it was them. The ones in the story as a growing girl cried for. Tragedy? She doubted it…it was more like a happy ending…
Tohru looked young and wore a white dress and smiled at her. Tohru was holding someone's hands…and she saw it was the man her Grandpa, Kyo, had described. The one Tohru loved very much. He looked happy as well.
Then Tohru said something and kissed the man on the cheek. She pulled him a long and they disappeared.
"Miss Tohru? I understand now…Good night and pleasant dreams…I know you will…" Kazumi said walking away with spring not far away from her disappearing steps.
--End of Change of Fate--
Author's Notes: Was it okay? I hope it was! Please tell me what you think! Thank you for those who have reviewed from the beginning and thanks for those who read this! I appreciate it a lot! I hope you have all enjoyed this story! I know I have! Also, I know most of you were expecting Yuki to be raised from the dead…yeah…it didn't happen. If I did that, this would've never been the last Chapter. It would've taken at least two more. So please don't kill me! When Tohru passes away in the fan fiction she's about hmm…80s- 90s…well supposedly…*cough*
CB: Thanks for reviewing! I always look forward to reading your reviews!
YumeTakato: I sure hoped this was the Epilogue of the century you've been expecting! Thanks for reviewing all the way!
Animelubber22: Thanks for reviewing! I also love reading your hilarious reviews and sometimes you give me some ideas without you knowing it! Thanks!
Machoupitchounette: Oh Thanks! Thanks for reviewing! I hope this was a good way of ending it!
Flaming-river: I'm glad you love it! Thanks for reviewing!
YingFa19: I like how enthusiastic you are when it comes to Yukirus! Thanks for reviewing! I hope you enjoyed!
Animekid9: Thank you, yes it is sad. But, I wanted to point out that for you to get what you've always dreamed or hope for, you have to go through the toughest times. Thanks for reviewing…and I hope the ending is okay!
Tyouhkriu: No problem! I'm glad you've reviewed! Thanks for reviewing no matter how late you were!
Cyjj: Thanks for not murdering me! I hope you liked the ending…I did try for a happier ending…if that's not a happy ending…
Kura52: It made you cry? I am so sorry! Although that was my aim…to affect readers enough for them to cry. Thank you so much for reviewing!
Tohruhonda: Akito change? Hmm…maybe he did…in a way I guess…Anyway thank you for reviewing!
To everyone else: Thank you for reading this far and I'm looking forward on reading your reviews about the ending. This really had been one of the best stories I have ever written. I've enjoyed it and I've enjoyed that you've enjoyed…blah that's bit weird. Anyway 'till next time!
Thank you for the support,
Lys3