Disclaimer: All characters are the property of Natsuki Takaya, FUNimation, and Tokyopop, and are used without permission. All song lyrics are the property of Sarah McLachlan and Arista Records. There is no intent to profit from this work.
AN: Based on the moment between Tohru and Yuki at the end of Chapter 27, and inspired by the song quoted below.
I believe
This is heaven to no one else but me
And I'll defend it as long as
I can be
Left here to linger in silence
If I choose to
Would you try to understand me?
from "Elsewhere" by Sarah McLachlan
When he heard her speak to Kisa and her mother, Yuki knew Tohru understood on some fundamental level the feelings of self-hatred and worthlessness, of alienation from those around you. Yet somehow she was still warmly giving, openly caring, seemingly unafraid of getting hurt. As she comforted the two other women, Yuki knew he needed that comfort too. He needed her on some fundamental level that he couldn't quite explain to himself.
Leaning there against Tohru's shoulder, watching Kisa sleep contentedly in her lap, he was at peace with himself—if only briefly. Though it was only a moment, for Yuki it was the beginning of his conscious efforts to become a better, stronger person. All his self-doubt and self-hatred for the moment washed away as he rested against her. The acceptance, the caring, and the sheer normalcy of leaning against someone almost overwhelmed him.
For all the Juunishi, these things were so rare that they all craved them soul-deep. Needed those things as a plant does light. Yuki knew that's why all the Juunishi were drawn to her. She gave them that acceptance and caring. The things they all longed for the most, she gave unstintingly, heedlessly. She had become that light for all of them, but most especially for him.
After all, none of them were 'normal,' he mused. It was just a fact of being one of the Zodiac. Heaven knows most of them never saw true caring or acceptance—except perhaps from on of the other Juunishi. Even most of our own parents can't accept us, or bring themselves to care anything about us, he thought bitterly.
So Yuki felt those things all the more keenly as he sat nestled against the miracle that was Tohru. He knew he could hold this moment in his heart, and use it like a candle's flame to eventually banish all the dark places in his soul. Comforted by the warmth of his sun, he began to stretch towards the light, to grow...
And to love.
