Tohru… all this while when I had the curse, I had been wanting to… Yuki shook his head. No, that ain't right. He tried again. He had been doing that ever since they came to the bungalow and somehow, he hadn't managed to muster enough courage to tell her.
Come to think of it, Kyou had been acting so strangely. It was not like him to be so nice to Tohru even when Yuki knew he was angry. When he went out, he noticed everybody was in whispers. "Tohru…?" Yuki asked and looked at Momiji who was smiling so widely. "Tohru went to the backyard with Kyou!"
"…with Kyou?" Yuki felt something pierced his heart, but he tried to dismiss it. He nodded and rushed out inconspicuously.
Kyou was blushing while he pulled Tohru with him by her hand. He stopped abruptly. Tohru bumped into him and knocked her head. Kyou widened his eyes, "Are you all right?" He rubbed her head lightly. Tohru looked down and blushed as she nodded slightly.
"What do you want to see me about, Kyou-kun?" Tohru looked up at him. For the first time ever since they reached the bungalow that they had maintained, actually maintained eye contact. They stared into each other's eyes for a minute or two, for one moment, Tohru thought they were about to kiss. "Can I…" He started, looking into her eyes, her heart seemed to pump so fast, she thought it was going to burst.
She inhaled deeply, trying to ease away the quick beatings of her heart, but it didn't and she was afraid that he might hear it. He traced her face with his fingers, from her eyebrows, down her cheeks and finally he cupped her chin. Leaning in, he felt her tiptoe a bit, for he was a bit too tall. It was like a hands-and-glove effect, they fit together so perfectly. He bends down while she tip toed naturally, feeling like it was not the first time they ever kissed. He pressed his lips against hers, and she accepted it. They pulled away for a second, just centimeters away from each other while they took the time to look into each other's eyes, and he pressed his lips against hers again.
Her lips were soft and sweet, he thought and as he pulled away a bit, he pecked her on her nose, then on her forehead. Feeling like he was going to burst, this was just like ecstasy.
To be embracing Tohru for the first time…
To be kissing her for the first time…
He had always dreamed about doing these to her; Being with her when she's sad, help her in the kitchen, cuddle with her in front of the TV. She was the first person he would love, and would ever love.
She looked at him. He regarded her softly. And as if speaking a language of their own, they both smiled at the same time. He pulled her in again and they both dissolve in the embrace. "Can I love you, Tohru?" Kyou asked dumbly. Tohru laughed softly and punched him softly at his chest. He catches her fists and grinned. She looked up and catches his grin, and meekly nodded.
Yuki stopped short in his tracks as he gaped at the couple. His heart dropping, no… sank and literally disappeared. He clenched his fists, feeling his chest burning, as if on fire each time he inhaled. He clutched hard on his chest and tried to breathe. Oh god… oh god oh god oh god… how can this… happen… this is not happening… she… she chose him. oh no, god, no… He shook his head repeatedly as he looked down. And it frustrates him even more, that whenever he looked up, there they were, in a warm embrace, happily irritatingly together.
All my life, I was far better than Kyou. I was much better than him in his studies, as little effort as I put in my work and as hard as he might work, he would never succeed me. He would never win. Kyou started on martial arts much earlier than me, yet I had never failed to beat and embarrass him each time Kyou engages a fight with me.
Perhaps I was too confident.
…
…
Perhaps I should have lost. Maybe that way, Tohru might pay more attention to me, might sympathize me more… and from there, feelings might grow. Maybe I should have been more confident to tell her she could call me by my name, perhaps she might feel closer to me.
But I lost.
I lost Tohru to Kyou. The only one I don't want to lose to Kyou. Yet I have lost.
Lost to Kyou for the very first time.
The first and the most hardest to accept.
Yuki buried his face in his hands, like his head would fall off any minute and stayed there for a good whole minute. "Tohru was never meant to love you, Yuki," Yuki heard Akito speak behind him. He turned to face Akito. "The curse was broken because she loves Kyou and accepts his other form," Akito spoke, folding his arms. Akito held out a hand for him to take, Yuki took it and let Akito pull him up. "You know that," Akito said.
Yuki nodded slightly and looked back, "Perhaps I was too confident…I keep thinking maybe Tohru wasn't meant to break the curse at all… yet…"
Akito chuckled, "You're just in denial," Yuki looked away from the couple and back at Akito. Yuki gritted his teeth, his heart in pain.
As they walked away, Yuki turned to see the couple one last time, look at the person he lost to for the very first time and gritted his teeth.
Akito looked over at Yuki and smiled.
"I knew you would come back to me…Souma Yuki…"
THE END
[After Word]
The sequel for The Day After She Returned will be named in another title... that is, not The Day After She Returned II… as the other story can also be a stand-alone fanfic. This is the end of The Day After She Returned and I had a LOT of fun writing it!
Thanks to those who have read my fanfic!!