Kandis continued to cradle Akito's head in her arms sobbing. The room became still and even darker as she shook her head in disbelief.
"You can't be dead," she cried, "You just can't be. I won't believe it. Say something Akito. Please come back to me."
Akito remained still but a hand touched his, one that neither of them could see.
"Akito" the girl's voice replied.
He heard the voice is his head.
"Who is it?" he asked, "Who are you? What do you want?"
"This is not your time," the girl said as a dream world flowed around him and he saw her.
"Who are you?" he repeated stunned at the girl who stood before him who resembled him greatly.
"Someone who wants to correct a mistake that she made many years ago" Aya Sohma the spirit replied, "I have waited a long time to see for myself if the one who is inflicted with the death curse as I had cast upon myself could ever receive the one thing I desired most in the world."
"What was that?"
"The love of another. You were able to get that in ways that the former gods could not, and so my waiting is over and it is time for the punishment I inflicted upon you and all the other Sohmas to end."
"What do you mean?"
"You shall see? Go back to the one who loves you. Leave this place and do not return until it is the right time. I will wait for you Akito Sohma among all the others who suffered the way you have. Go. Can't you hear her calling you?"
"Akito" Kandis cried, "Please come back. Please don't die on me. Not now that you know. Not now that you know that. I love you," she whispered as a tear fell from her cheek and landed on his palm.
Akito squeezed his hand and then placed it on top of hers making her eyes open in surprise.
"Akito?" she looked down in shock.
"I. Love you too" he said slowly and then raised his head to look at her, "That's what I wanted to say."
"You're alive" the tears ceased.
"Yes" he smiled, "I am."
"Akito" she replied and then flung herself into his arms, "Akito!" she cried as he embraced her rising to his feet and taking her with him.
"Don't cry anymore Kandi" he said gently, "I'm fine. The sickness has left me."
"Then does that mean?" she looked at him confused as he held onto her for support since he was still a little weak.
"I think so" he nodded grinning again, "I wanted to tell you before that I loved you too Kandi. I thought about it while you were away. I was such a fool."
"No" she shook her head with a laugh leaning her head into his, "I'm just happy you're alive."
"Are you?"
"Yes."
"So am I. Because now I can express how much I love you."
"What?"
He leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips. Kandis kissed him back and then the two of them remained that way as outside the clouds began to clear from the skies.
(Next Scene)
"What's going on?" Kyo replied surprised.
"I don't know" Shigure shook his head, "This is like a mixed signal. Hari?"
"I don't know" Hatori said, "This is unusual."
"Miss Honda" Yuki replied tapping her shoulder, "What do you think?"
"Well I think there is only one way to know for sure. Momiji" she turned to the teenager.
"Yea" he looked at her.
"Go and hug Uo right now."
"Really?"
Yes" Tohru nodded, "You don't mind do you Uo?"
"No" Uo shook her head, "Come here kid. Let's see that bunny rabbit."
"Okay" Momiji nodded embracing Uo tightly.
When nothing happened he pulled away from her quite surprised.
"I didn't transform," he said.
"No you didn't" Uo replied just as shocked as everyone watched.
"Let me try that again" he replied, "Miss Ward do you mind?" he asked Rebecca.
"No" she shook her head as he embraced her.
Again nothing happened. Soon all the males were hugging as many of the females as they could and so were the females the males. As had happened with Momiji none of them transformed.
"What's going on here?" Hatori replied, "I don't understand. This isn't normal."
"No it's not" Shigure nodded, "Do you think that maybe?"
"It's a possibility that" Rin responded.
"That the curse has been lifted" Yuki finished.
"Kyo?" Tohru looked at her fiancée as he stared at his left arm and then looked at everyone.
"There's only one way to be sure" he replied, "Haru if things get out of hand," he said as he took the bracelet between his fingers.
"Gotcha" Haru agreed as most of them stood back.
Kyo flung the bracelet from off of his arm and then waited. The bracelet landed with a thud on the grass as he once more stared at his arm. Kyo's eyes became wide, somewhat with tears.
"I didn't transform? It should have happened by now. I'm no longer cursed" he smiled, "I'm no longer cursed!" he shouted happily as he embraced Tohru and everyone laughed each kissing their loves and talking about everything that was going on.
As they talked they all noticed as Ren came stomping out of the main house with her luggage. They all stopped talking and she stared at them.
"Well. All of the freaks have gathered together. Rei Sohma was right about all of you. You're nothing but monsters."
"No Aunt Ren" Yuki shook his head probably, "We're not anymore. Not anymore."
Ren sneered and scoffed and then marched out of the gate. She took one last look back at the house and frowned.
"If I ever come back to this house it will be too soon" she replied.
The doors opened up and she got the shock of the lifetime as she saw Akito and Kandis coming out, Akito leaning on her shoulder. Everyone rushed over as she gawked at how healthy and happy he looked. She turned on her heel and did not even glance back as Kandis and Akito walked over to Tohru. Kandis took Tohru's hand gently.
"Tohru" she replied, "Thank you."
"For what? I didn't do anything it was all you."
"Oh no Tohru" Kandis shook her head, "You're the one who convinced me to come back here remember. And you knew. You knew everything."
"Yes Miss Honda" Akito nodded with a smile, "We both owe you our gratitude. In fact we all do" he pointed, "You saved us. All of us. I didn't think it possible but the Zodiac curse has been lifted."
"I did the one thing I wanted to do the most Akito" Tohru smiled back, "And that was to repay all the Sohmas even you who have been so kind to me by giving them the one thing they never thought they could have. Their freedom from the curse. You all gave me something too. You gave me a life, which I never thought I could have again. With love" she embraced Kyo, "And happiness. I am so proud to be a part of all of you. I really and truly am. Thank you. All of you."
Kandis embraced Tohru and then Ayame suggested that they all should celebrate the wonderful occasion. Everyone agreed and headed to the main hall, ordering as many foods and desserts that was possible. It was decided that the other people in the families like Haru's mom and Momiji's father would be told later. Everyone had a wonderful time especially Akito who spent the whole afternoon at Kandi's side.
(Next Scene)
Later that same day Tohru wandered outside once more to the courtyard to watch the sunset. As she stood there she noticed two figures coming towards her and gasped as the spirits of Takara and Kiyoshi Sohma smiled back at her.
"It's you. I mean you're them."
"Yes Tohru" Takara nodded, "We've come to pay our last respects to you and to thank you."
"For what?"
"For what you did," Kiyoshi replied, "And more important for what you accomplished. In all the history of the Zodiac no one has ever become so close to our family from the outside as much as you. Because of you the curse has been lifted and Takara and I can rest at peace at each other's side."
"Oh you mean you can finally be together?" Tohru cried.
"Yes" Takara nodded again, "After all these years. And we can also be with someone else" she indicated to a third spirit who approached.
"Aya Sohma?"
"Hello Tohru" she smiled back.
"Did you make this possible?"
"No. You did. It was all you. It was because of your love. Your unfailing love for my descendents. Your love ultimately is what broke the curse. Perhaps you wondered why you were the first to break the curses seal. Well now you know. The only way to undo a curse seeped in jealousy and hatred is love and you demonstrated time and time again how much you cared for them till the very end. We all are so proud of you Tohru Honda and your mother is the proudest of us all."
"My mother?"
"Yes. We will say hello to her when we get to the heavens" Aya hugged her but not going through her, "Fare well my darling and thank you."
"Wait!" Tohru called to them as they began to depart, "There is still so much I want to ask you. I haven't seen what happens lateronin my dreams. Will I ever know?"
"Someday" Kiyoshi nodded, "Someday will come when you will need those dreams again but until then keep living the way you have."
"Yes Tohru" Takara added, "And always remember we will be watching over you too. You and any of your children will have our protection."
"Thank you" Tohru replied as they held hands for a moment and then Takara let go.
"Tohru!" Kyo called as he came over.
The spirits took this opportunity to disappear into evaporation. Kyo walked over to her and embraced her from behind.
"What are you doing?" he asked her.
"Just watching the sunset," she replied.
"Oh? It looked like you were talking to someone."
"I was. But they're gone now" she turned around to hug him.
"Huh?"
"Don't worry about it. It's not important."
"Okay. Well I guess there is only one thing left to do."
"What's that?" she looked up at him quizzically since she had turned back around and he was still embracing her.
"Get married."
She smiled as they both continued to watch the beautiful sunset turn from bright yellow to orange in a matter of moments.
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Okay guys! Akito is alive and the curse has been lifted. Yea! Now like Kyo said it is time for a wedding. See you next time on the last chapter of Rice-Balls in a Fruits Basket: The Final Books!
Next Chapter: Coming Together at Last
The big day is here! Tohru and Kyo prepare to become man and wife in front of everyone they love and care about.
