Each word that passed Tohru's lips made his heart leap like a fog from a Lilly pad in his uncovered cest. Could this be real? Would he wake up any minute and find that he would have to start the day yet again? It must be a dream… everything's hazy he thought as he blink a couple of times.

But… something, Kyo didn't know what, but something told him that this was all real. Maybe it was the look on Tohru's face when those three precious words passed her lips, or maybe it was the way that he knew he wanted to say the same back to her.

Something was stopping him though. He parted his mouth to say to her how much her cared… but no words came out.

"I've jumped out from the ledge Kyo…" Tohru's face looked in need once more. "Kyo… I need you to catch me…"

Wake up! Wake up god damn you! Kyo mentally punched himself in the face. This had to be a dream! His head span, his heart pounded, Tohru's last word rang in his ears – "Kyo… I need you…" They hit him square in the stomach. She needs… me…. SHE NEEDS…. ME! What was he waiting for? The only person he's ever loved said that they loved him in return and he was just sat here doing nothing!

In the bottom of his damned realm, a hand reached out to him through the darkness. He took hold of it… gently pulling him upwards… the ice old wind hit his face like daggers… he squinted… the light that he'd longed to see all his life appeared in a small pin prick far in front of him… it got closer… and closer… closer… his heart leapt with every thought and feeling of escaping this awful place… just… a little… farther.

Light engulfed him as his body at last escaped the hell in which he was damned for all eternity. Kyo looked down at his hand that was still in the clasp of the other. Looking up into the face of… Tohru.

She'd helped him. She had told him that… she loved him. Never had he ever imagined that someone would say those words… TO HIM!

But they did… she did. And now… all he had to do was… say… it… in return.

It sounded so easy, but this would mean leaping over every obstacle that had ever stood in his way. Every little thing in his life that had stood his achieving what he had most wanted. Someone to love.

The three crucial words crept up his throat… he wouldn't be able to hold them down. This was it, the moment of truth.

"Tohru I… I….

There was a tap at the door.