I was so happy when you smiled,
Your smile breaks through the clouds of grey,
Far from the sunny days that lie in sleep.
Undeniable relief and ecstasy replaced the fear. All three quickly returned to Tohru's room.
Entering, they found Tohru sitting on the edge of the bed just finishing putting on her shoes.
Noticing that several people had entered her room, Tohru looked up, and smiled brilliantly at them. The same, truly happy smile the two remembered as always being distinctly Tohru's, as if weeks had not passed since they had last seen it.
She appeared slightly pale, tired, and a bit thinner—but she was awake.
Tohru stood, and, unable to contain her joy, stood on the tips of her toes to hug both men around the neck. Tears pricked at the edges of her eyes. She felt them release pent-up breaths.
She eventually stepped away, and they finally noticed what she was wearing.
A sleeveless, light sea-green dress of shiny satin fell to floor, covering almost completely her dark cyan shoes. A pink, white and yellow apple blossom was fixed just above her heart.
"Tohru, what are you wearing?" Shigure asked. He smiled, "Not that you don't look lovely."
"I want to go with you," Tohru said. When she was not sure that they had understood her meaning, she added, "To the banquet."
"Tohru, you just woke up," Hatori protested. "You should not even be standing."
"Please. I want to see everybody."
"Ha'ri, you know they're all going to rush down here as soon as they hear she is awake. And I personally don't want to be yelled at by our relatives for causing the guests of honor to run out on the party," Shigure intervened.
The doctor sighed. He was not in the mood to put up much of an argument. "We had best get going. We're going to be late as it is." He held out his arm for Tohru.
Tohru smiled and reached to take it, but then paused as she remembered something. Turning, she retrieved the bag with the flowers she had just bought. After a bit of searching, she removed two boutonnieres. To Hatori, she handed the red peony, and to Shigure, she gave the blue amaryllis.
"Okay, I'm ready now," Tohru said, taking the bag in her hands, and forcing herself to stand straight and tall despite her obvious weariness.
After pinning the thoughtfully given flowers to their jackets, the two Sohmas decided not to ask when she had gotten them. Instead, Hatori gently took the bag from her, and both he and Shigure each took one of her arms to support her.
Tohru pulled away only to give Nori a hug before returning to Shigure and Hatori.
"She'll be back to have one of the doctors here look her over," Hatori assured the nurse before Tohru was escorted out of the white hospital room, through the large glass doors, to a waiting car.
Tohru briefly gave in to her exhaustion during the car ride. Her eyes closed, and her head dropped to rest on Shigure's shoulder for a fleeting doze.
"Is this normal?" Shigure asked the doctor. "She just woke up from a nap of several weeks," he added, his joking manner returning.
Hatori raised his eyes from Tohru's sleeping form. "It's to be expected. I'm surprised she can walk as well as she does."
Shigure raised his unoccupied shoulder in shrug. Mysteries had always shrouded the Sohma clan. Tohru was involved with them to a point that he was not surprised that things about her would be mystifying as well. He smiled. "I can't wait to see their faces."
Tohru was fully awake by the time they arrived. Hatori helped her from the car, and once Shigure was out, he handed Tohru her bag. She smiled, thanking them both.
Waiting with patience for the Spring,
When the flowers will bloom renewed again,
Knowing there's more beyond the pain of today.
Ayame was waiting for them. His golden eyes widened in shock before he rushed forward to enfold Tohru in a tight hug. Tohru gave a surprised squeak, then, upon recognizing the silver hair, she happily returned the embrace.
"You brought our flower back to us!" Ayame proclaimed to his two friends, when he had released Tohru. Shigure grinned.
Tohru dug through her bag and produced a white freesia boutonniere for the former snake of the Zodiac. "For moi! Our flower is giving me a flower?"
"Yes, I've got one for everybody," Tohru replied cheerily.
"Let's get inside," Hatori suggested, as Ayame fastened the flower on.
"Yes, they decided that they were tired of waiting for you two, so they just started the ceremony." Ayame's eyes sparkled. "I can't wait to see what happens when the others see our precious Tohru here! Come, Mademoiselle." He offered Tohru his arm, and she accepted, smiling. Hatori and Shigure followed a step behind.
"You look almost as magnificent as moi! Together, we shall outshine all of the others. I do wish I had had the time to make you a dress myself. But, alas, I barely had the time to create my own." As Ayame continued to ramble about fashion, Hatori watched Tohru, still uncertain about her state of health. As if sensing his gaze, she turned to meet his eyes, and gave him a tired but reassuring smile.
The younger Sohmas had gathered together, not listening to the master of ceremony speaking into a microphone. Hiro held Kisa's hand, and Kagura stayed near Kyo. Momiji did his best to act like his usual enthusiastic self, while Yuki remained passive. Ritsu tried to imitate Yuki's calm.
Although the scars of yesterday remain,
You can go on living as much as your heart believes.
You can't be born again although you can change.
Hatsuharu, leaning nonchalantly against the wall, straightened suddenly. Momiji noticed the change just before Yuki and Kyo registered it, so Momiji was the second of the small group to see Tohru right after she entered.
"Tohru!" he exclaimed, just as Yuki and Kyo laid disbelieving eyes her.
"Tohru!" Kagura echoed.
"Sissy!" Kisa cried.
The group rushed to meet Tohru and swarmed around her and the three older men. Tohru hugged Kisa and Kagura first, finally completely convinced that they were truly well. She embraced Momiji next, since he was clamoring for her to do so. Yuki and Kyo, heedless of who was watching, were the next two to wrap arms around Tohru. They were too relieved to care what anyone said, even Shigure and Ayame. Hatsuharu and Ritsu were last, but not least. The girls were not the only ones with tears in their eyes.
Tohru offered assurances that she was well enough to be there, and that there was no rush to return to hospital. No one argued overmuch. They were all too content to see her up and have her with them.
At length, Tohru handed out the rest of her boutonnieres and corsages. Kagura received a pink-orange daylily; Kisa, a purple-pink sweet pea; Hiro, a gold daffodil; Momiji, a bronze chrysanthemum; Hatsuharu, a white and black gladiolus; Ritsu, a pink tulip; Yuki, a white magnolia; and Kyo, an orange alstroemeria. More hugs and offers of gratitude followed.
The clearing of a throat sounded loudly. "If we may continue…?" the speaker asked. Until that moment, the former Zodiac members had forgotten entirely about the banquet, all of their attention for Tohru.
"Yes, continue," Shigure said regally, making Ayame grin.
The speaker's lips twitched, but he resumed his speech. The group remained crowded around Tohru, most of them with a laid gently on her; as if to ensure that she would not disappear. They were still ignoring the speaker's words, but the atmosphere of the group had lightened considerably.
When the speech had concluded, food was served, and music began to play for dancers.
Yuki was the first to ask, presenting a hand, "Miss Honda, would you dance with me?"
Smiling she nodded. As they walked out to the dance floor, Tohru spoke. "Yuki?" He looked at her. "Call me Tohru."
He blushed faintly, then smiled and nodded. "Okay, Tohru."
Tohru danced with them all, with the exception of the three adults, who were content to watch. All of the dances were quick-paced, with the exception of two. Of those, she danced one with Kyo and the other with Yuki, her head lying wearily on their shoulder. She was glad to be with the Sohmas again, and they to have her back with them.
As Tohru withdrew from the dance floor, holding a lightly blushing Kyo's hand, Kisa walked forward to meet her. Kisa grabbed Tohru's free hand to lead the older girl to a seat, then rested her head on Tohru's leg. Tohru set a loving hand atop Kisa's head. Momiji came up behind Tohru, wrapped his arms loosely around her shoulders and placed his chin on her collarbone, leaning his head against hers. Kagura came from behind on Tohru's free side, and rested her cheek against Tohru's temple. Kyo took the seat next to Tohru, still holding her hand. Yuki moved to take the seat on her other side, and Tohru removed her hand from Kisa's head to place it in Yuki's, and she gave a gentle squeeze. The three eldest, as well as Ritsu and Hatsuharu, watched with the corners of their lips lifted in smiles.
Now, they were together. Together, with Tohru. Together they would live. Together.
Let's stay together always.
'We're moving forward, Mom. I'm back with the Sohmas, and I'm happy. I hope we stay together, always.'
Fin
A/N: An extra long final chapter for you all. If anyone wants to know about the flowers, the meanings I used are from the following site: aboutflowers dot com / floralb5.html. Thank you for reading!
Animefreakkagome: I am sorry you did not like the ending of the previous chapter. I hope the ending of the fiction itself was more pleasing to you. Thank you for reviewing!
Dark Inu Fan: I generally agree with your assessment of cell phones. I am glad you liked the last chapter, and I hope you like the way the story came out. Thank you so much for all of your reviews!
Helbaworshipper: Thank you very much for reviewing! I am happy that the last chapter pleased you. I hope you enjoyed my story until the end.
Sami the archangel: Yes, I am going to miss writing this story about as much as you seem to enjoy reading it. Thank you very much for all of your reviews!
elena: I hope I updated at a reasonable speed for you, and I hope you like the end of the story. Thanks so much for reviewing!
bunni: Thank you! I am happy you have been enjoying my story. I hope you enjoy the ending.
PlacidSnowflake: It's nothing to stress about. I understand that life can get suddenly particularly busy. I am glad you were happy with the story once you were able to catch up. Thank you for your reviews, and I hope you enjoy the ending as much as the rest of the fiction!
i love athrun: Now you can't say that anymore. Thanks for all of your reviews!
Defafaeth Mechqua: Thank you for reviewing!
Beloved Rose: I hope you enjoyed the chocolate and my story. Thank you so much for reviewing!
goldfishlover73: The flowers could be seen to represent more than what is given, if you wanted to think on it a bit. Anyway, I am glad you have been enjoying my story. I hope you like the ending as well. Thank you for reviewing!
miko: Thank you for the review! I hope you liked the end.
Miss Lady Marauder: I hope my update was at a decent pace for you. I am happy that you like my story. Thank you very much for all of your reviews!
Yukako: Thank you! Thank you for reviewing as well. I hope you liked the ending of the story as much as the ending of the previous chapter.
Uber-pissed: That was just Kyo not knowing how to express his true feelings. Was it OOC? I am glad you love the story. Thanks for reviewing!
Rin the Horse: Thanks! I'm happy that you like it. I hope you like the end, too.
Darkstar92: There are no official pairings. I am sorry, but I am not a romance writer. I hope you do not mind too much. I am glad you like my story and I hope you feel the same about the ending. Thanks so much for the review!
dreamcaster555: I am pleased you like my story that much. Thank you for the kind review, but bowing is unnecessary. Thanks again for reviewing!
kiona: I am glad you are still interested in my aid. Until I hear from you, good luck with your writing.
silvercats: Thank you very much! I'm happy you think so.
Chizz-muffinChik: I apologize for not including you in the reviewer response section of the previous chapter. I do very much appreciate your review. I am glad you are pleased with my story, and I hope this last chapter was to your liking as well. Thanks again for the review!