Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.
All right. Due mostly to Cows-roc-my-world's request, I'm going to do an alternate ending for all you Haru/Chloe fans out there. This is the last chapter for Kyo - after this, I'll be rewriting them starting from 8, I believe. Some things, like Kyo's encounter with Akito, will just have to be put up with. I have many, MANY things on my plate, so be happy! (grins) I will label the chapters accordingly, so you can decide which ending to read. Read my profile if you're wondering why I haven't updated in so long, and why I can now.
There are slight spoilers for the later chapters in the manga (mostly why Kyo wants to beat Yuki so badly) but I don't have anything specific, so you should be able to read without fear.
Please review if you read. Comments, ideas, suggestions, and helpful criticism is welcome.
"I love you," Kyo murmured into her ear when they had exhausted themselves. Chloe curled against him sleepily, and his arm moved around her protectively.
"I love you, Kyo," she replied. "I feel whole again…I'm finally in a safe place, in your arms…" She trailed off as sleep overtook her, and Kyo relished in the new emotions building within him as he shifted, giving into sleep as well.
"H-he's dead?" Ritsu repeated in shock. Yuki's eyes widened, and Haru's face remained unchanged. Hiro, Kisa, and Momiji appeared anxious, and Tohru glance from Hatori to Yuki nervously, unsure what to do.
"Just now," Hatori nodded. "I believe the curse has somehow been broken."
"Kyo and Chloe…" Haru realized, and nodded in satisfaction. "I knew it."
"You're sure?" Yuki asked faintly, and the doctor nodded again.
"I'm positive. He just faded out. His strength was suddenly taken away – as was his power over us," he added softly.
Momiji suddenly jumped up and leapt at Tohru, who fell over in surprise.
"Momiji!" Yuki yelled, but the Zodiac members watched fearfully to see what would happen to the brave Rabbit. Tohru sat up slowly, with a still-human Momiji clinging to her neck, grinning happily.
"We're free!" he crowed, and Yuki sat down as if in a daze. Kisa and Hiro exchanged glances, unsure of how to take the news, and Ritsu merely blinked.
"It seems it'll take us quite a while to become used to the idea that we're free," Shigure commented, suddenly appearing in the doorway. "We still need a head for Sohma house, however. I recommend Kazuma for the job."
Hatori peered suspiciously at his cousin, and then nodded.
"We'll see, Shigure. Let's leave everyone to recover from the shock," he said firmly, and dragged the Dog out into the hallway.
"Hari, you didn't have to be so rough," Shigure said, smiling gently.
"You knew something was going to happen, didn't you?" Hatori demanded quietly. "You planned it ever since Tohru arrived – only it didn't work out exactly the same, did it?"
"You're too smart for me to argue with, Hatori," Shigure shrugged carelessly, and glanced down the hall towards the room where Akito's body now lay. "Don't tell me you actually mourn him. I don't think even Kureno much cares. We're free, Hatori – free to love without fear, and to live without pain."
"It seems that we have quite a lot to thank you for, Chloe," Shigure said in quiet amusement, having gone home to check on the certain lovebirds and tell them the news about Akito. She flushed red and looked at the ground.
"It wasn't…I didn't do it to do anything," she said, trying to explain. Shigure nodded understandingly, and glanced to Kyo.
"You too, Kyo," he added, with a teasing grin. "It seems that the curse is completely eradicated, from what Hatori and Kazuma were saying. No more babies turning into animals on their parents."
"Good," Kyo grunted, his arm around Chloe's shoulders as if they had always been there. "So…what now?"
"What do you mean, 'what now'?" Shigure repeated blankly, and then blinked in comprehension. "Oh! Well, I believe Kazuma is going to take his much-earned head of the family position, since Hatori refused it. Other than that, life will go back to the way it used to be, I suppose."
"No, it can't," Kyo argued. "There's no curse – no Akito. We're free to do what we want!"
"Don't get too big for your britches," Shigure said warningly. "You're still young, Kyo. Don't think this means you can all go run wild in the streets and we'll turn the other way. But yes, it means you have much more freedom than used to. No having to beat Yuki, for instance."
Kyo froze at Shigure's conspiratorial wink, and then glared.
"You knew the whole time?" he demanded loudly, and the Dog, with a nervous smile on his face, scooted father away as Kyo released his hold on Chloe. "You knew?"
"Knew what?" Chloe asked, and Kyo sat down with a thud.
"Nothing. I'll tell you later," he said grumpily, and Shigure grinned once more.
"Aw, don't be a grumpy-puss!" he teased, which set Kyo off all over again. Chloe began to laugh, and the other two soon joined in.
The months passed, and time went on. Tomiko decided to remain in the States permanently once more, and Chloe found out her true parentage before she left for good. Chloe, for her part, decided to remain with Shigure and the rest of the Sohma clan, who were more than willing to house her.
It was the least they could do, after all, since she broke the curse for them.
Teenagers grew up as teenagers would, and matured and changed along the way. College life approached rapidly for them, and relationships came and went. Kyo and Chloe soon found themselves engaged by their third year of college, much to the other Sohmas' delight – even Kagura's, who had her eye on a certain senior she could hug, free from the curse.
Whatever happened to them after college, however, has no place in this part of their story. Instead, I'll let you decide for yourselves what the Sohma clan made of their newfound freedom.
Maybe it is a crappy ending, but you'll all live. I AM NOT doing a sequel! If and when I do, it will not be for a long time, due to so many other stories I am currently writing. I'll keep it in mind, but don't hold your breath. Be satisfied with my other Fruits Basket fics! (grins)
And so ends the tale of Kyo and Chloe. Next chapter I will rewrite, forming a Haru/Chloe relationship. If you like it or don't care, please read and review! If you prefer Kyo/Chloe, just stop here.