A steady rain had begun to fall. He slowly opened his eyes, getting his foggy thoughts in order, and stared at the ceiling in silence. Wet, angry panging on the fire escape echoed through the dark apartment. His bed was warm, despite a cool breeze from the window left ajar. He was calm; calmer than he had ever been, in fact. It was pleasant.

Beside him, he heard her shift in her sleep. He smiled and reached to touch her hand. She was so serene, so peaceful... almost angelic. Beautiful. And the gold ring fit her delicate finger perfectly; he affectionately brushed his fingertip over it before clasping her hand. With a sleepy groan, she moved the covers farther under her chin. He chuckled to himself and gently kissed her fingers.

He looked at the bare spot on his left arm and couldn't keep himself from smiling. So this was freedom... this was hope, this was the innocence of true love...

No more bondage. His past was behind him.

With a happy sigh, he scooted closer to her and kissed her forehead. He laid back and, after a moment, she groggily opened her eyes a little and smiled; she moved her hair behind her head, shifted positions, and rested her head lovingly on his chest. He laughed softly, settled his cheek on top of her head, and took a slow, deep breath to take in her scent. With the rain cutting back to a drizzle in the background, he settled his arm around her shoulders and drifted back off to sleep.
Kyo awoke and gathered his mind before opening his eyes. He was alone. There was no rain, no apartment... he clumsily dragged his left arm into view. No, the beads were still there, too. The feeling of sadness settled back into the pit of his stomach, squashing any lingering hope, any remnant of joy from the dream.

Solitude. Horrid, hateful solitude.

But she was there... it had been so real...

Solitude.

Bondage.

Eternal shackles of fear, forever binding him to this curse.

After a moment, Kyo sighed through his nose and pushed back his covers. He would always be a slave to his fear... oh, this stupid curse. No freedom, no joy, no life outside of the Sohma family... heck, he wasn't even a PART of that family -- why did he have to be punished along with them? And anyway, there was nothing for him here. Why was he staying in this repulsive place? The house itself held almost nothing for him. Why did he stay?

...still, there was something...

On his way down the hall, he noticed Tohru's door was slightly open. Probably that stupid dog looking in on her, he thought, disgusted. Pervert. He slowly reached for the doorknob, but stopped in mid-reach when a quiet sniffle reached his ears. "Hmm?"

A small, timid voice called to him. "K-Kyo-kun?"

"Yeah. Your, um..." he was nervous. "Your door was open, and I was closing it -- I wasn't looking or anythi..." He trailed off as he met her gaze. She was hiding most of her face under her covers, wiping her tearful eyes on the back of her hand. Oh, no, he thought, squirming from one foot to the other. He sighed. "What's wrong...?"

"I..." She sniffed and came out from her covers a little. "I had a bad dream," she wimpered.

Kyo stood there uncomfortably, weighing his few options: Go in, be caught by Shigure or Yuki, and be teased about what he didn't do... or, get out now and leave her in tears...

For an instant, the image of Tohru asleep in that apartment flashed across his mind's eye. He swallowed, clenched his fist determinedly, and slipped in the door. "...um... whatever it was, it's over now," he hazarded, staring at the floor. "And... it'll be okay. All right?"

Tohru nodded, wiping her eyes for the last time. "Hai... I'm okay now. Thank you."

"Good." After he turned and headed for the door, Kyo grinned over his shoulder at her. "C'mon, get dressed or something. I'll make breakfast today."