Disclaimer: This is the FINAL CHAPTER. Are you reading this? THE FINAL CHAPTER.

Japanese to Know:

Arigatou gozaimasu - Thank you very much
Shitsurei shimasu - I'm going to intrude.
Iie - No
Nani - What

Chapter 20

Worth Dying For

After a bit, Hatori sighed and opened the door. "We'll leave you," he said, "so Tohru-kun can come up and talk to you."

Hokage looked at him. "Why do you need to leave?"

"Because she requested the meeting alone."

Shigure nodded. "That's right. I almost forgot. Come, we mustn't keep her waiting any longer." He ushered Hatori and Ayame out of the room and down the stairs.

Breaking away, Ayame hurried to Tohru's side. "Kage-kun will see you now!"

The girl looked a bit startled. "Ah, arigatou gozaimasu." She bowed and stood, hurrying upstairs. With timid hands, she knocked on the doorframe and peered in. "Shitsurei shimasu."

Hearing the small voice, Hokage turned so he could see the door better. He smiled gently. "Please, come in."

Tohru bowed and entered, shutting the door. She sat before the Wolf, fidgeting and avoiding eye contact.

Hokage sensed how nervous she was. To break the tension, he scratched his nose and said, "I lost your gift."

She looked up at him with confusion.

"The coat you gave me before New Year's."

"Oh, that gift. Ah, well, it probably couldn't be helped." She smiled softly.

"It did keep me warm while I had it." He touched his nose again. "And it smelled just like you."

This time Tohru blushed. "I'm sorry."

"Ah, don't be sorry. I liked it. It reminded me of the person waiting for me to come home. I'm sorry I worried you."

"Ah, iie. It's not your fault. It couldn't be helped." Her hand twitched towards his bandaged face. "You must really hate Akito-san now, don't you?"

Hokage took her hands and pressed them to the white wraps. "Don't ever be afraid to touch me." He closed his eye as she tenderly petted the gauze over and over. "And, no, I don't really hate her. It's becoming quite the opposite, actually. For me, though, that means death."

Tohru kept stroking his face, tears slipping from her eyes. "That's too sad to be true."

"Love is worth dying for, Tohru-kun. Even as we speak, my body is failing. Simply by thinking about loving her, my body begins to die."

"Does it hurt?"

"Not yet. But when it does, it'll be over soon." He opened his eye and wiped away her tears. "I don't want your tears to be the last thing I see. Smile for me. Keep smiling until you can't smile any more."

She nodded and pulled her hands to her face to wipe the rest of the tears away. When she put her hands down, a sad smile was playing on her quivering lips.

Hokage pulled out the chain from beneath his shirt. "Will you wear this when I'm gone? Even though it bears death?"

"I would be honored."

He took it off and placed it over her head, gently lowering it to her shoulders. When she tried to give it back, he held her hands.

"But you'll die!" she objected.

"I want to go faster," he smiled. Then tears started sliding down his face. "I don't want to wait any longer for death. That necklace only slows it down. I'm tired, Tohru-kun. I want to rest." Sighing, he laid back down.

She scooted around to his side and leaned over him. "I'll wait with you." A real smile spread on her lips. Not a tear was seen on her face.

"You shouldn't have to watch me die."

"I won't leave you alone. I won't let you enter the darkness without seeing the last ray of light."

He touched her face gently. "Why were the Sohma's graced with such an angel to guide us through our cursed life? In a world of demons, how did such a pure creature as you manage to survive?"

"I met good people like you."

Yuki came into the dining room with Haru as the three adults came in as well. He stared at each of them in turn before sitting.

"How's Hokage?" he asked.

Hatori sat as well. "Making his last preparations."

"How well do you think Tohru-kun will take it?" Shigure mused, kneeling at the head of the table.

"Better than I would," Ayame sniffed, wiping tears away.

The Rat cocked an eyebrow. "Take what?"

"Seeing Hokage die," the Dragon answered.

"Nani?" He stood quickly.

"Sit down and relax. There's nothing you can do about it. She was warned what might happen and she wanted to do it alone. Don't interfere."

"I just didn't know…that he'd do it tonight," Yuki whispered, slowing going back down to his knees.

Shigure looked outside with distant eyes. "He wanted it to be quick. He wanted to end it before anything else started. It's the New Year; time for a new beginning."

Hokage winced, hand shaking against Tohru's soft skin. She held his hand to her cheek softly.

"I'm still here," she whispered.

He smiled. "I know. I can see your smile. I can see…." His eye rolled back into his skull as his eyelid closed. A long sigh left his lips. His heart stopped its strained beating. His hand slid from her grasp.

In case you didn't read the disclaimer, this is the FINAL CHAPTER. Yes, the series has ended. I hope you enjoyed it, sad as it was.