I think this is the final chapter… (Mitsui: How can you not know!? You're the author!) Don't bother me… (Sendoh: She's grumpy again… Trying to finish her work… /makes sad puppy eyes again/) Shut up, you guys… (Rukawa: Let her be… She won't be able to take it, anyways. Her conscience will haunt her and she'll admit that she likes us… She'll worship us, y'know….) I said… shut… up… (Mitsui: Oo, hotheaded, ain't ya?) The hell do you care! So, on with the story… (Mitsui, Sendoh, Rukawa: Do'ahou…) What did you say!!?

"Tohru-san!" Yuki reached out, but Akito slapped his hand away.

"You can't have evere girl all at the same time, Yuki…" There was a mad look about Akito when he spoke.

"Akito-san! Let go of Tohru!" Shigure said.

"So, Shigure… You side with this girl now, too, don't you? I thought you were my faithful servant… Hmmm… Pity…"

"Akito, please don't hurt Tohru!" Aki pleaded.

"This girl has taken away everything, you know… First Yuki… Then, the rest of the family… Now, you… Tell me, Honda… I know what you want from the male Soumas… But why Aki as well?"

"A – Ano… Akito-san… I – "

"Silence! You will explain to me somewhere else!"

"Akito! Don't hurt Tohru!"

"I'll get to you, Aki, when I finish my business with Honda, ne?" Then, Akito faded away again, this time, with Tohru.

"Tohru!!" Kyo and Momiji both dove to hold Tohru, but they were, again, too late. Aki fell down, sat on the floor, and started weeping.

"Aki-chan…" Yuki knelt down beside her.

"Ahem…" Haru made the sound. Yuki, then, got up. Haru sat down beside Aki and put one arm over her shoulders. "Aki… Please don't – "

"I – I'm sorry…"

"What?" Kyo replied.

"I'm sorry… It's my entire fault… I – I don't know what to – what to do anymore - "

"Aki, don't – "

"Kyo-kun… Haru-kun… I know what you think… And I totally agree with you…"

"Aki?"

"I am a coward… I am useless… I – I guess I don't really know how to care about another person's feelings…"

"Aki, that's not true…" Haru held Aki's head up. "Aki, we're not thinking that way,"

"Yeah… I certainly don't think you're a coward," Kyo knelt down in front of Aki. "You're not a coward, for you to finally come back and stand up to Akito… Look, I know that this is not even the right time and place, certainly not the way to say this but – I like you…" Haru dropped the soft smile on his face and suddenly looked at Kyo. "I like you because – I hated you before – and now – " Kyo's words started coming out hurriedly, difficult as they were to utter those words. "I think you're very brave, Aki… That's all you need to know," Kyo held Aki's hand and smiled.

"But – "

"Yeh, yeh… I know you like – Oh, I mean, I know you love Haru… That's no problem with me. I mean – "

"Kyo-kun!" Aki put her arms around Kyo's neck, as a hug.

"Hey, I can't breathe!"

"Kyo-kun, thanks for understanding…"

"Yeah, alright already. Just don't kill me with your hug. But – what about the rat?"

"Eh? Yuki-kun?" Yuki looked silently at them. But Aki spoke with confidence, smiling while she was saying this, facing Yuki. "Yuki-kun… Hmhm… /that was supposed to be a soft laugh, just can't find the right letters to express it/ I am Yuki-kun's first love, ain't I?" Haru looked even more surprised. "But, unknown to you all, Yuki has found a new love," Yuki looked surprised, too. (Aki brings a lot of surprises, ne?) "Yuki-kun, I promise to bring back Tohru for you!"

"You – you like – Tohru?" Kyo asked in confusion.

"Aki-chan, how did you know?"

"It's a womanly instinct," Aki said and smiled again. "For all we know, Tohru might already feel something going on in your mind, Yuki-kun!"

"What the!? Tohru can't like Yuki! She should like me!" Kyo said in panic.

"So, you do like Tohru-san, then, huh, you stupid cat?"

"Yeehee, Kyo likes Tohru! Kyo likes Tohru!" Momiji teased.

"Shut up, rabbit! Yuki, you'll pay for this!"

"Hey, don't do that to Kyo! Yuki likes Tohru, too! Finally, Kyo and Yuki agree on something!"

"Yeah, they both like Tohru!" Shigure and Momiji went on. Aki, however, slid silently into Haru's arms.

"Aki…"

"Haru-kun, please help me get Tohru back…"

"Of course. I'll beat Akito if he ever hurts you or Tohru,"

"No, Haru-kun… I have to get Tohru back alone,"

"What – "Aki put a finger on Haru's lips.

"What I need from you…" Aki looked deep into Haru's eyes. "…is your love and faith in me…"

"Aki…" Haru stared, amazed at the girl he loves. She was so brave. There's no way anything he or Kyo said back then was true. Aki was not a coward. She was never a coward.

"But – why do you have to go alone, Aki-san?" Shigure butted in. Aki smiled, however.

"Akito is not evil… He is just scared…" Aki looked at the floor as she spoke; eyes full of compassion for the man she considered her brother as she grew. "We all heard what he said to Tohru… He just wants us, his family, back… What he doesn't realize is that – it's all the same… He thinks that Tohru took away his family. But actually, Tohru became a member of our family… Tohru became a part of us Soumas…" So did I… It only happened that I was bound to the Soumas through magic. But Tohru was bound to the Soumas with a deeper magic… "It only happened that Tohru was bound to the Soumas through a deep magic called love… She loves us, not for who we are, but for what she sees in us. She sees through the face, the clothes, the animal forms. What she sees is the things in our hearts. And she believes that we all have goodness in us, that's why she loves all of us… (Author's note: Try to imagine the instrumental version of the opening theme song of Fruits Basket while reading this part. It'll make you cry…) Let us not let her down. Let's show her that what she believes in is true. Please, have faith in me. I will find Akito and Tohru. And I will bring the two of them back safely and unharmed. Please trust me…"

"We trust you, Aki 'ne-chan…" Momiji now held Aki's hand.

"You know what? The reason why we liked Tohru and becmae friends with her was because she was very much like you," Kyo said.

"Well then, I'll go… I'll come back… That's for sure!" Aki stood up, but bent down again and gave a soft kiss to Haru, who was still sitting on the floor. She then gave a wink and ran out the door. Everyone just followed her with their eyes, hearts praying that Tohru, Aki and Akito all come back safely.

But, somehow, Kyo was right… I may have been a coward. Before I came back, I didn't know why I wanted to. But now I do… I came back because I didn't want to be a coward any longer. I came back to fight for Tohru, who has lifted the darkness I spreaded when I left. I'm ready… to fight for what I feel. I won't let Haru-kun, who gives me all the happiness I need, be taken away. I won't let Tohru, who gives Yuki-kun and the others peace, be taken away. But most of all, I won't let Akito be blinded. He will again find the Soumas as his own family, that it has never been taken away from him. The Soumas, being the people that cause him the best of all joys.

Aki found Akito and Tohru on the rooftop of a building not far from Kaibara High.

"Akito,"

"I see you've come… I knew you would… I know you… You're my sister…"

"Aki!"

"Tohru! Has he hurt you in any way?"

"Uh, no, Aki! He has been very kind!"

"Akito…"

"Aki, I love you…" Akito let go of Tohru and ran towards Aki. Aki didn't know what to do, or where to go. Akito got to Aki's front and thrusted a dagger at her stomach.

"A – ki – to!"

"Aki… You have caused me so much pain… But I still love you, for what you have done back in our younger days! If I cannot have you, no one can! Die, my dear sister!"

"Akito-san!" Tohru rushed to Aki's side. She caught Aki just as she was about to fall.

"I may not be able to justify this, Aki… But I did this out of love for you…" Akito threw the dagger aside and knelt down beside Aki.

"Akito-san! We have to get Aki to a hospital!"

"No – need… Toh… ru…" Aki raised a hand to Tohru's cheek.

"A – Aki!"

"Akito…" Akito looked at Aki as she spoke. "You never lost the Soumas. They were all right beside you… Akito… You've always – wanted a future. You've – always looked – forward. But – sometimes – all you need – to do – is look – side – ways… to see that you're – not the only – one, who's looking for – ward… to the – future…" As blood oozed out from the deep wound Akito made on Aki, so did the energy she had. She, however, spoke calmly, as though she had prepared for this for a long time. "Aki – to… Tohru is here… She did – not take away – your family… She's – here – to – be a member – of yours…" Aki smiled, looking into Akito's eyes. Then, she noticed them glossing over. "Please – don't cry – Aki – to…" Aki felt tears drop on her forehead. Tohru's lap was cushioning her head.

"Aki…"

"Tohru… Don't cry…"

"Aki, please don't – please don't leave us!"

"Tohru… You – know what Shigure and – the others told me? – They said that – the reason why – they liked you – and made you – join in – the family – was – because we were very much alike… I won't be – leaving you… Tohru… I will live on – inside you… We will – both – continue – taking care of the Soumas…" Aki still smiled even as she spoke those words.

"Aki, I'm sorry!" Akito finally saw the error of his ways at the sight of his dying sister. He grabbed Aki by the shoulders and hugged her; a big, brotherly hug.

"Akito… There's no – need to – be sorry for – anything… This – is my – destiny… Remember?" Akito and Tohru cried silently for a short while, then, a red light flashed and Aki disappeared from Akito's arms. A phoenix hovered above them.

"A – Aki!?" Tohru looked up.

"Tohru… Thank you for making me realize all the things I needed to know… As I've said on the first day we met, I am most thankful to have met you, Tohru…" The phoenix spoke.

"I – I think I never replied when you said that!" Tohru said, half way between tears and a soft chuckle. "Well, I'm also very happy to meet you, Miss Aki Souma, and I'm pleasantly surprised to see you in your animal form, as a phoenix!"

"Please take care of all of them from now on, Tohru…"

"I understand!" Tohru said, smiling but tears streaming down her cheeks, to the beautiful red and golden phoenix.

"Akito…" Akito looked up to the phoenix. "I'm happy to have lived as your sister… And I'm happy to have come to my real duty by your hands, Akito…"

"Aki…"

"Please tell Tohru everything when you have the time… Farewell, Tohru…"

"Aki…"

"I will still be watching you guys from somewhere afar… Don't worry… Take care of everyone, but don't forget about yourself, too…" Tohru stared at the phoenix with smiling, tear-stained eyes. She didn't know if she was imagining things or something but, somehow, she saw Aki's smiling, joyous face in the sky as the phoenix flew away, up to the heavens. Tohru remembered vividly the many earrings on more than twenty piercings, the black and white, punk-styled but elegant hair, the familiar, French-like courtesy. Tohru has finally met the last member of the Souma family who turns into an animal; Aki…

Akito Souma decided to travel to France, and wander around the places where Aki visited. Before this, he told Tohru and the rest of the Soumas about Aki Souma's real identity.

The main house was left in the care of Hatori Souma. Now, Hatori had two pictures of women in his clinic, that of Kana and that of Aki.

Hatsuharu Souma, for several days was distraught, but Tohru explained everything so, he finally set free of Aki… "I should not be saddened… The phoenix goddess is watching over me… And I will continue to love her from this earth!"

Shigure Souma wrote a novel about a cursed family and how two women, a goddess and a princess, aided their hearts from the sadness of the curse.

Yuki Souma became open about his feelings for Tohru, after dreaming of Kyo asking Tohru's hand in marriage and Tohru accepting the offer.

Kyo Souma became open about his feelings for Tohru, after dreaming of Yuki asking Tohru's hand in marriage and Tohru accepting the offer.

We can just guess why Yuki and Kyo had the same dream, having only different roles for each other in the dream. For all we know, maybe it's the doing of a goddess.

Tohru Honda found out by accident, after tripping over a pile of dusty old books and falling down on Momiji Souma, that the curse has been lifted from the Soumas. Momiji didn't turn into a rabbit when she accidentally hugged him after the fall. She then hugged every other Juunishi Souma (Souma who carries the curse of turning into an animal when hugged by the opposite sex) and no one turned into an animal. "Oh, pity… You were cute as animals, you know…"

We can also guess that this was the work of a goddess.

Ayame, Hiro and Kisa were not mentioned here, were they?

Hiro Souma got mad at Tohru (again). He blamed Tohru for not telling him that his "Aki 'ne-chan" came and left without seeing him.

Kisa Souma always prayed to the phoenix goddess after she found out that her "Aki 'ne-chan" became it. She prayed that one day, she'll see Aki again, since she wasn't able to see her when she paid her last visit.

Lastly, Ayame Souma scolded Yuki, his brother, for not telling him that Aki came. "It's such a shame! I wasn't able to make Aki wear the dresses that I knew would look goreous on her…"

And the Souma clan, together with Miss Honda, lived happily ever after…

And that ends it! Thanks for reading and hope you had a good time! Review please! Hope you guys liked it… Hope the maker of Fruits Basket likes it… Maybe he or she'll turn it into anime, too! Ahehehe! Regards to lovejoyously for being supportive! Ahehehe!

Sendoh: Hey, you've finished your fic!!!

Rukawa: Really? I didn't think she'd be capable of doing that…

Shinko (that's me): What did you say?

Mitsui: So, the hot headed thingy paid off and you finished it right on time, haven't ya!

Shinko: Yah, yah… Though you were of no help, thanks for being supportive anyway…

Sendoh runs over the story but reads the ending part detailedly.

Sendoh: This is magnificent! This should see publishing!

Shinko: I can't publish that. It's against the law.

Sendoh: It's beautiful! (Sendoh bends down and gives me a kiss on the cheek.)

Shinko: What the!!? (I start to blush) What was that for!?

Rukawa: Hey, you're blushing…

Shinko: No, I'm not!

Mitsui: Yes, you are! (Mitsui and Rukawa both bend down and give me a kiss on either cheeks.)

Shinko: Hey!!

Mitsui: She's blushing! She's blushing!

Rukawa: Told you she likes us. (Rukawa nudges an elbow at Sendoh's ribs as he says this.)

Sendoh: Yeah!

And the three of them laugh at me as I turn redder…

Oh, just wish this could happen in real life, just as all fanfics are dreams wished to happen… I'm getting sentimental, ain't I? Til my next fic, guys! (Sendoh, Rukawa, Mitsui: She's blushing! She's blushing!) by the way, shinko's not my real name... and i don't own fruits basket!