Disclaimer: Ah this is the last chapter FOR REAL. Yep this is the last chapter. Though this is the second fic I wrote, this the FIRST fic I am able to finish. The first fic I wrote, Love is a Variable of Life (originally titled, Consequences of Love), is still current and I want it to go as far as 22 chapters. But this one will have to make ends meet. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR REVIEWS I LOVE YOU GUYS ALL! Sorry this chapter took too long, I was updating chapter 9 and 10 of my other story.

Kouseki Yume – Yes Akito deserves love right now. Here is the update you've been waiting for and the last one you'll ever get. Unless you read my other fic, Love is a Variable of Life.

Haruko Sohma – No problem, this story doesn't even have a plot anyways. Oh and please update your fic soon!

T-c3 – I really don't know what to say after what had happened in the e-mail.

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Chapter 5: The Joy of Living (finale)

Akito had gotten back from the hospital. She was sicker than ever. Her case of malnutrition went up and her relationship with Ren got worse. Not even Kureno could help her. Hatori was worried that she can die SOON. To make matters worse, Akito refuses to eat, again.

Kureno sat next to Akito where she was lying down on her bed (nope not a futon). He looked at her sadly, "Akito-san, why won't you talk? You won't do anything anymore. It scares me."

Akito was silent, and passive.

"Do you really blame me for saving your life Akito-san?" Kureno asked desperately.

When Akito didn't respond again, Kureno sighed and thought of something. But nothing came to his head.

Suddenly, a strange flash back comes to him. "Do you remember Akito-san? When you were a little kid, we'd used to play hide and seek in your garden. Everyday we did just that. Seldom, we would sit in your garden and talk about birds, life, and many things…"

The figure beside him is still reluctant to answer.

Kureno's eyes were filled with joy as he retold the story of their childhood. "You were just a little girl then. Every night you would ask me with those cute little eyes to tell you a story before you go to bed. And during times when you'd get beaten up, you'd always hug me tightly and ask me not to leave…"

That seemed to have caught her attention. That's because Akito sat up glaring at Kureno. She really didn't want him to continue.

The former rooster's expression became dismal and yet he was smiling. "You can try to be happy you know."

Finally, Akito had had it. She slightly raised her voice and said harshly, "What do you know! You're not cursed anymore! You know nothing of what I go through everyday! And what use is being happy when you know that all of it will be gone and forgotten. IT'S A MEANINGLESS EFFORT!"

Kureno knew that he isn't supposed to defy Akito, but since Kureno is careless many times, he countered a very wise speech. With a calm voice he replied, "To you it may be pointless Akito-san, but think about it. If you live your life the way you want it to, the way that makes you happy, a priceless feeling will come over you. It doesn't matter if you're going to die early. You were given a chance to live and…"

"AND WHAT?" Akito cut off.

"And live it… Stop running away. All these years…I've been helping you run away, but that's gotta stop. I know many people told you that already, but what's something if you don't give it a try? Sure there maybe a few bumps on the road and torn pages on a book, but I'll be here to help you. I'm always here to help you."

Akito relaxed a little. She cocked her head down, hiding her fearful eyes. "Only you?"

Kureno knew what she meant. She wanted the Junishi to be there for her too. "I don't know about the others, but I'm sure Hatori-san will be here for you. And if you want Shigure-san too."

Akito mumbled, "I want all."

"Well…not everyone has to like you Akito-san. I know it hurts, but everyone wants to be accepted by someone. However, that's just impossible."

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN IMPOSSIBLE! It's impossible to like me!"

"Eh, no that's not what I meant."

"THEN WHAT DID YOU FUCKING MEAN?"

Kureno smiled nervously, "I mean no matter who you are, there will be someone there to hate you. Even the most beautiful person on earth has enemies."

Akito pouted, drawing her knees to her chest as she wrapped her arms around her legs.

"I bet if you weren't born under a curse, you'd be as happy as a clown," he sighed as he gazed away.

"Don't you ever compare me to a clown," Akito grunted with a dark aura surrounding her.

Kureno ignored that remark and kept on going, "Try to understand why we are alive in this world, it's a way to know the joy of being here." He was surprised at himself. He thought up of all of that in his head.

Akito lay down back on her bed, not wanting to hear anymore of his ramblings. She soon fell asleep, dreaming of the past.

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(FLASH BACK TO WHEN AKITO WAS 6 YEARS OLD MY VERSION…Kureno is 12 years old in this one)

Kureno found Akito crying in the corner of her room. It was a time after she had gotten another one of those beatings from Ren just for asking to do something feminine. After receiving the "black here and blue there with a little bit of Red over there" treatment (if you don't know what I mean, I mean Akito was beat up again), Akito had ran somewhere.

"Akito? What are you doing there? C'mon let's get you fixed up by Hatori-san's dad," Kureno said concerned.

He approached her slowly observing her. Akito didn't have that much cuts as last time, bruises were all over her arms, ankles, and as what Kureno could see of her head. There was something bleeding on Akito's small black head and it looks like a very small scratch mark. I can only imagine what this kid goes through, he thought.

Kureno could hear sniffling and crying from her hidden face. He felt bad for the little girl and placed his hand on her shaking shoulder. "It's alright Akito. I'm here. I'm always here." He carefully hugged Akito, making sure not to put too much pressure on her wounds.

Akito opened up her arms and wrapped them around his neck. She cried hopelessly and disdainfully, "Don't leave me Kureno-kun! Don't leave me to her! I don't want to see her anymore! I wanna go away! I wanna run away! Please don't leave me!"

"Wait hold on Akito, I will never leave you. I'll never forgive myself if I leave you. Just don't run away alright?" Kureno loosened his hug, and used placed his hands on her shoulders. He looked at her with those worried eyes. "If you run away, you'll be leaving me behind. I don't want you to leave me too Akito."

Akito's tears stopped and her expression became peaceful and yet her eyes were still horror struck. She nodded her little head as she put her thumb in her mouth to suck on. (AWWW)

Kureno thought that was just cute.

Akito hugged him tightly again and wouldn't let go of him. Every second, she would murmur from her little lips, "Thank you." Though she actually wanted to say I love you.

After awhile, Akito still had a grab of him and was hesitant to release. So Kureno came up with a conclusion to just carry her, and so he did. He was lucky that Akito was unhealthy and very light so it would be easy to carry her.

Kureno lead himself to the family doctor's office. Meanwhile, Akito whispered in his ear very silently, "I love you Kureno-kun…"

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(PRESENT)

Akito woke up to find Kureno sleeping by her side. His arms were wrapped around her waist and the sound of his breath was felt on the crook of her neck. His body was pressed against her back, completely holding on to her in his sleep.

She carefully shrugged him off and stood from the bed. Akito walked towards the Shoji leading to her garden and slowly opened it. It was nighttime already and sounds of crickets and the breeze rustling the leaves filled the air.

Akito spotted a Nightingale fly around her garden. She held out her hand, letting her index finger stick out for the bird to perch on. The bird saw Akito and perched itself on her finger, chirping a sweet tune. She studied it as it kept singing loudly at her.

Eventually, Kureno heard it and woke. He sat up, yawned, and stretched his arms out as he spotted Akito out in her garden. He wearily walked towards her. Once Kureno was just centimeters away from her back, he hugged her and placed his head on her shoulder smiling. "Let's go back to sleep, it's still night time."

"I can see that," Akito stated emotionless.

The Nightingale flew away at Kureno's presence.

"You scared it away."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Kureno apologized.

She didn't say anything to that.

Kureno gave up and decided to walk back to the bed. Halfway through, he paused when Akito uttered, "Do you remember the time when I told you I loved you? I was only 6 years old."

Kureno turned around surprised. He was only 12 years old back then. How can he remember? She told him "I love you" many times before.

"You probably don't remember, but that was the first time I told you that."

Then, Kureno sighed and confessed, "Well I'm sorry Akito-san. You're right, I don't remember."

"It's alright," she muttered.

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Kureno awoke the next day at 1:00 pm. It's pretty late for the former rooster to get up from bed. And as he predicted, Akito wasn't beside him. She's probably in her garden again.

He went to the showers to take a bath, got dressed, and did some stuff he usually does, for example, occupying Akito-san.

Kureno went to her garden and found Akito actually doing some planting. That's a weird sight he thought. She was wearing her usual clan robes but despite the soil she is digging and seeds planting, she didn't mind them getting dirty. "Akito?" Kureno called out confused.

Akito turned around to Kureno with a cheerful smile on her face.

Apparently, this was just creeping Kureno out. "Akito?"

Akito giggled lightly and gladly said using her feminine voice publicly, "You already said that. So what's up?"

Okay… "I…uh…umm…" Kureno was struck speechless. "You're…happy…and gardening?"

Akito stood up, took off the gardening gloves and walked towards him. "Yep, I'm planting more Tsubakis."

Kureno's in for a lot of surprises. "Tsubakis? B-but, why won't you just let the servants do that for you?" he stammered.

Akito turned her face away from Kureno slightly as she shyly answered, "Well, I haven't planted anything in 15 years. So I decided to give it a try before I die."

Wait…is this really Akito? Kureno just stared at her.

"Kureno-kun?"

SINCE WHEN DOES SHE CALL ME KURENO-KUN! Kureno couldn't exactly voice his thoughts.

"Kureno-kun, you're scaring me."

You're scaring ME.

Akito chuckled at his facial expression. "You're probably wondering why I am acting like this. It's because of what you said yesterday."

What DID I say?

"You're right, living my life in a way that makes me happy…is worth it…"

OHH that one. Kureno's eyes widened.

Akito continued her explanation with a little bit of reluctance, "Last night I had a dream of when we were just kids…You told me you didn't want to leave me with all your heart…But now… I could sense in your eyes that… you want to be somewhere else rather… than be with me."

Kureno started to feel somewhat sad hearing this. "Akito…"

"I don't want you to leave me," She looked down at the ground hiding her tears, "And I'm sorry for hurting you, but all the while you stayed by my side trying to help me….And I also noticed something…"

His heart started to beat in a faster pace. Something like this could happen overnight?

"You don't smile like you used to anymore….Ever since the curse was broken, you've been sad," she looked up at him revealing her emotions, "You don't seem so happy and I was selfish enough to keep you to myself. But all along, I… " More and more tears were shed. "I LOVE YOU! Which…is why…I'm letting you…go…for you to be happy."

All of this happened too quickly it was rather suspicious. But everything that Akito had said was just, intriguing. Has she finally accepted her fate? And she also freed him.

Compassion filled Kureno's heart as he smiled sweetly at her, the way he smiled when she was a little kid…like he used to. He held Akito to his body, forming a hug as he cried tears of his own. "It doesn't matter Akito. I'm happy here…with you." Joy overwhelmed him so much. Akito was back to her old self and she's trying to live her happy life.

"It's a joy of living in this world, to know someone you knew your whole life cares for you this much," he whispered to her ear.

Akito lovingly returned his hug and continued weeping.

"I'll be here by your side forever Akito." With those last words, he kissed her.

And there is the story of the relationship between a Goddess and her beloved bird.

The End……WAIT THERE'S MORE!

Extra ending:

After the "change" of Akito, she revealed to the Junishi she is actually a woman and apologized. The cat of the Junishi, Kyo, was able to live his life after graduation without being imprisoned. Four years later, Akito gave birth to a little girl named Akina. (Guess who the father is…if you're clueless, it's Kureno)

SCENE OF KURENO'S VISIT TO AKITO

Kureno arrived at Akito's grave in a mid-summer day with his usual gift, a bouquet of Tsubakis. He sat down on the grass to talk to his dead goddess. It turned out that Akito died 5 years after her revelation due to the curse. The weak breeze swept through the area with petals of cherry blossoms from the trees fly in the air.

"Hello Akito, it's nice to see you again," Kureno alluded to the empty place. Leaning against her grave stone was a picture frame of Akito with longer hair dressed up in a woman's kimono, holding a 5 month old baby. "Everything's going great. Today was our kid's 1st birthday. She's grown a lot taller and can talk better since you last saw her. You know she really misses you. Every night she would cry for you. It's…really sad…to think that you're gone."

No response or whatsoever.

"Oh and Yuki-kun might come and visit you sometime. He'd like to pay some of his respects. It seems he finally got over his past with you." Kureno's eyes saddened. "The curse was broken yesterday…everyone was so happy…I wish you were there." He shook his head slowly trying to change the subject. "I'm thinking of showing Akina how to plant Tsubakis by the time she's 2 years old. I thought maybe you'd like it if she continues your legacy on planting Tsubakis in every corner of your garden."

Kureno gazed at the picture frame. Akito was smiling sweetly at him. "I'm sorry but I have to go now." He stood up ready to leave. "I miss you Akito. I miss you very much." A tear streamed down his face. "I'll always love you…goodbye."

In the end…Akito was never lost. She was beautiful until the day she died.

The End

A Lost Beaty

By

The Eternally Forgotten

Now known as:

Freaky Krazer

This story was dedicated to Akito, Kureno, Natsuki Takaya, the girl with the screen name I love Atrun, all the faithful reviewers and readers, and none other than Fruits Basket. Thank you for your reviews!

For Fruits Basket

I was so happy when you smiled
Your smile breaks through the clouds of grey
Far from the sunny days that lie
In sleep

Waiting with patience for the Spring
When the flowers will bloom renewed again
Knowing there's more beyond the pain of today

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
Let's stay together
Always

-Fruits Basket theme song

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Disclaimer, READ OR DIE: How did you guys like the ending? I was so emotional when I wrote this. I hated the fact that I made Akito die, but we have to stick to the curse. And if you're wondering what was Akito's revelation, it was the dream she had when she was 6 years old. I liked how Kureno and Akito ended up being together in this story. I'm sorry this update took awhile. I stated my reason in my other disclaimer at the top. Well this will be the last disclaimer you'll read in this story and I hoped you read this. OMG I was listening to the song For Fruits Basket, that's why I wrote that in the end. I'll never forget this story. It was the best one I've written and I am planning on hosting it in and in my xanga, Well I'll have to say this again, thank you everyone! I was so touched when a lot of people put this story in their favorites. And it made me feel like an accomplished writer. I HOPE ON SEEING AND WRITING TO ALL OF YOU SOON! Oh and I might write a sequel to this. BYE! ARIGATOU GOSAIMAZU AND SAYONARA TO ALL!