Chapter Twenty-Six

Akito frowned at the box. He knew exactly what it was, though why his mother had brought it here, he couldn't begin to fathom. "Father's ashes." His tone held only a hint of surprise.

"Not merely his ashes," Ren countered, and Akito noted that her eyes had grown wide, almost crazed. She picked the box back up, cradling it in her arms. "No, this precious case contains the very soul of Akira."

"The soul of Akira," Akito echoed, shaking his head. "I never took you as one to favor metaphors, Mother-"

"It is not," Ren snapped, "a metaphor." Carefully, she lifted the lid and peered inside. "For more than a decade we have waited, my love, and now...now, the time has come for us to be together again at last!"

Is she talking to Father's ashes? Frowning, Akito took a half-step forward, though he needn't have bothered being cautious, because Ren was no longer paying him any attention. "What makes you believe Father's soul is in there?" he asked, trying to draw her out of whatever trance she appeared to be in.

And it worked, albeit temporarily. Ren laughed, the sound derisive, as if she thought him simple. "Because he told me, of course."

When Akito just stared at her, she sighed, rolling her eyes as she twisted the box's lid back into place. "He speaks to me everyday. I know hearing that is probably upsetting. Perhaps it even makes you jealous. But ever since the day Akira's ashes were given to me, I have heard his voice. And that is how I know you are the one who made him ill. He told me himself!"

That time, Akito took a half-step back, though he didn't do so out of fear. It's far worse than I could have imagined. Ren claimed to be convening regularly with Akira's ghost. She hadn't used those precise words, but that was essentially what her story amounted to. And the most horrifying part about that wasn't the claim itself. No, it was that Akito could tell she actually believed it.

"It makes sense," she resumed. "The souls of the zodiac continue on, even when the bodies they inhabit die. Why would it be any different for my Akira?"

"Because he wasn't one of the zodiac," Akito answered, trying not to let any affect creep into his voice, despite being very deeply disturbed. "And even then, when a spirit is reborn, it doesn't retain personality traits from the person it possessed previously." Or did it? Akito couldn't say for sure, though he hardly thought this was the time for philosophical musings on the nature of the curse. "Even if Akira had been part of the zodiac," he clarified, "it wouldn't work the way you're thinking."

Ren listened to him with the box still clutched tightly to her chest. "You think I'm mad." She didn't phrase it like a question, and Akito didn't interpret it as one. "Well," she huffed, "you'll see very soon how wrong you are. Akira and I have been planning this for years."

"What are you talking about?" Akito asked her, exasperated. This interaction is more than enough to prove that my mother is in need of immediate psychological assistance.

The thought was interrupted by a rumbling noise that emanated deep within Ren's chest. It took Akito several moments before he realized that she was laughing. "You don't see, do you? Of course you don't. You've never had eyes for anything but your own troubles. Poor Master Akito, always sick in his chambers, heedless of what it is to live a normal, happy life!"

She made to grab him, and Akito leaped out of the way, losing his balance and collapsing to his knees in the process. Though he regained his bearings quickly, by then it was too late. Ren was at his side again, and he felt the pressure of her knife against his throat. "All those years spent locked away," she rasped, "whining and moaning, and I'll bet it never occurred to you that your miserable existence could one day serve a greater purpose."

What is she talking about? Ren faced him head-on, and Akito forced himself to lift his gaze. A slight sheen was visible in her eyes as she stared him down. Are those tears?

Akito glanced at the knife, noting how it trembled in her grip. Is she afraid? He didn't let himself believe it, though the longer the seconds dragged on, the more he began to think he wasn't mistaken. She might hate me, but its's clear she's at least hesitant to follow through. Which meant he might stand a chance at surviving this yet. "Mother?" He kept his voice a whisper out of fear that the slightest noise would cause her to lash out.

To his shock, she did falter. "No," she murmured, and Akito got the sense that she wasn't talking to him. "No, this is what we agreed upon. I promised I would do this so that we can be together!" She broke off with a grimace. "Yes," she said, sounding annoyed. "Yes, I know he's our son. But your soul needs a new host! And this works out perfectly, seeing as he's going to die soon anyway."

She's talking to Father's ashes again, Akito realized. She means to kill me so that…

He wasn't certain, but it almost seemed like she thought she could somehow replace his soul with Akira's. I have to stop this now, before she manages to push past whatever internal struggle she's having.

"Mother," he said again, his voice soft, pleading. "I know you loved Father, and I know that it's your greatest wish to bring him back. But sometimes, there are things that happen to us that we cannot change." He thought of Kyoko Honda, of how Tohru had forced herself to look to the future despite the pain of her mother's passing. In contrast, he thought of himself, and how epically he'd failed to recover from the loss of his own father. She kept moving forward. I did not.

"Difficult though it may be," he continued, "we have to find a way to accept those things, to let them go. If we don't, we'll wind up hurting not only ourselves, but also others." He was struck by the truth of his own words. It might have been the most important lesson Tohru ever taught him, whether she intended to do so or not.

That's when another thought occurred to him. Or rather, an idea. He had no way of knowing if it would work, though he needed to at least try, especially if these were to be his last moments. If Ren is going to kill me, then I want to use what little time I have left to do at least one good thing. If I can.

His only regret was that he wouldn't get the chance to spend more time with Tohru, to show her how she had truly shifted his perspective and made him want to be better than he was. It's all right, he told himself. This final act can be a gift to her as well as the zodiac.

Breaking the curse would release Kyo from his bonds, enabling him to live his life however he saw fit. He and Tohru can be together. He tried not to allow any jealousy or bitterness into the thought, though he didn't think any amount of self-reflection would ever make him that selfless. Regardless, he thought, I will be glad to give her and Kyo a chance at the happiness they desire.

"If you mean to kill me," he told Ren, "then at least grant me the courtesy of one more moment's peace."

Not waiting for an answer, he closed his eyes, reaching deep within himself, until at last he found God's spirit. It's time. He thought the words in his head, and though there was no reply, a feeling of warmth washed over Akito, and he knew without question that the spirit had heard.

My friends, the time has come for us to part ways. Again, Akito only spoke the words in his head. He wasn't sure if the zodiac could hear him or not, but he continued anyway, just in case. I want to thank you all for accompanying me for so long on this journey. What we have shared since that first banquet is truly special. Alas, every banquet must come to an end. So please, give thanks with me for the many wonderful years that we shared together. And cry with me, for though I know that this is what must be done, I will miss you all terribly. But go now, my friends, and be free.

Be free.

On the top floor of a hospital, a couple lay huddled together in a single bed. All was silent, save for the whirr of machinery that surrounded them on both sides. Suddenly, the girl sat up, one hand shooting to her mouth as a sob caught in her throat. She wore a thin white gown, her short black hair neat and straight-edged.

"Rin?" Her companion immediately noticed her distress. "What is it? Are you-"

The feeling hit him like a punch to the gut, and he gasped, also sitting up straight as his own eyes began to burn with tears. It's over, he realized as he exchanged a glance with Rin. She didn't say anything, and she didn't need to. Haru pulled her into a hug, and she clung to him as he rested his forehead gently against hers.

Hiro's mother knew that her son wasn't one to cry at the drop of a hat. And so when she heard him sniffling, she placed the glass she'd just washed down on the counter and crossed over to the living room, where he sat holding his baby sister. "Hiro?" she said with concern. "Hiro sweetheart, what's wrong? If you need me to take her-"

Gently, Hiro handed his swaddled baby sister off to her. "I need to call Kisa." That was all he said before getting to his feet and rushing off.

His mother blinked at his retreating form in bewilderment. He was fine a few minutes ago. What on earth could have possibly happened?

Kisa knew who was calling the second her house phone rang. "Hiro!" That was all she managed to get out before she broke down.

Hiro told her it was okay, that she was allowed to cry. "I'm crying, too," he said, and Kisa knew what a difficult thing that was for him to admit. "It's done, Kisa. It's finally done." His voice shook, and she couldn't tell whether he sounded more relieved or saddened by this fact. She didn't know which of these emotions she felt most strongly, either.

We've been together for so long. For more than a thousand years, if the legends about the zodiac curse were true. Curse. She turned the word over in her head, pondering its implications. Since when did togetherness ever become a curse?

Ayame was working late again. So late, in fact, that it was half-past ten by the time he finally set his sketchpad aside and rose, stretching.

"Ready to call it a day, boss?"

Surprised, he turned toward the sound of Mine's voice. She's still here? I told her countless times that I have everything under control. She really is far too good to me.

He was about to tell her as much. But that's when his body jolted, a startling sensation overcoming him. Ayame brought a hand to his heart as stared out the shop's bay window, trying to make sense of what he'd just felt.

"Boss?" Mine's heeled footsteps padded toward him across the carpet. "Boss, what is it? You're not getting chest pains, are you? I can drive you to the hospital-"

"No, Mine," Ayame told her in a calm, steady voice. "I'm quite all right. In fact, I daresay I've never been better."

Her spectacled eyes flashed in confusion, and Ayame felt himself smiling wider than he had in years. "Mine, in all our time together, I don't think I've ever told you how much you mean to me."

Even in the near-dark, he saw her pale cheeks take on a hint of color. "Um, I'm sorry, boss," she babbled, shaking her head. "I'm afraid I don't-"

"Then let me speak plainly." Ayame took both of her hands in his. "I love you, Mine. I'm sorry it's taken me this long to say so. It's just that…" He tipped his head toward the window, another smile touching his lips. "Well, until now, I simply didn't have the courage."

He knew she would recognize this for the heartfelt confession that it was. After all, since when did Ayame Sohma, the rich, handsome, accomplished, all-confident bachelor ever have to search for the courage to do or say anything?

"I didn't believe I was a worthy enough man for you," he continued, seeing as Mine was still too stunned to answer. "But now…" He paused, thinking how best to word things without actually admitting to being cursed. "Now, the shadows from my past have finally begun to clear, and I believe I can be the partner that you deserve. So, what do you say? Do you think you'd be willing to give an old man like me a chance?"

He'd meant it as a joke, but Mine took him seriously. "You're not old," she exclaimed, aghast. "Why, you can't be any more than five years my senior! And you don't even look your age! If I didn't know any better, and someone asked me how old I thought you were, I would say-"

"Mine, I was only teasing. I don't actually think I'm old. That would be ridiculous!" He chuckled, only to sober in the next instant. "Now then, as for my question-"

Mine threw her arms around him, and Ayame gasped, panic coursing through him at the action, at what he knew was soon to follow.

Except, it didn't.

The moment unfolded exactly as it ought to have, as Ayame had always dreamt it might, no transformations, no snakes, no curses, no long-winded explanations. The two of them simply stood beneath the moonlit window, holding onto each other, and Ayame thought that it was the beginning of something very beautiful indeed.

Ritsu Sohma tore at his pink kimono. "I'm sorry!" he shrieked. "I know you find me embarrassing! I don't do it on purpose, I swear! I just really feel more comfortable dressing like this, so please accept my sincerest apologies-"

"No!" the woman across from him yelled back, her voice equally as loud and shrill. "I'm the one who should be apologizing! Yes, it's true that I find your manner of dress embarrassing, but damn it, you're my child, and I shouldn't be shaming you like this! It's wrong of me, so very, very wrong, and I'M SORRY!"

Ritsu pulled at his long strands of auburn hair. He knew he shouldn't be getting worked up like this. In fact, lately he'd been making a concerted effort to keep his outbursts to a minimum. But if there was one thing he couldn't stand, it was disappointing his mother, and he knew without a doubt that he'd embarrassed her in front of the guests at the onsen tonight. I should have just let them believe I was a girl! Why did I correct the man when he called me 'young lady?' Why, why, why? If he hadn't, then he wouldn't be in the kitchen right now, begging his mother for forgiveness.

But should I really need forgiveness? This was a question he'd been asking himself more frequently as of late. Shouldn't people just accept me as I am? Tohru does.

As soon as he'd thought that, something within him snapped, and emptiness flooded his chest, a great, massive void the likes of which he'd never experienced. What's going on? Something isn't right.

"-really, you should take into consideration how your behavior might reflect on your father and I! As owners of the Sohma onsen, we have a reputation to uphold!"

Ritsu burst into tears. His mother continued yelling, though at some point she must have realized he was seriously troubled, because she fell silent and rushed to his side. "What is it? Was it something I said?" She threw her head back, screaming wordlessly. "I am truly a terrible mother!"

Slowly, Ritsu lifted his eyes, reaching. "I can't feel them anymore. I can't-"

His hands fell away as he landed in a heap on the floor. I can't tell her, can't put it into words. I just need-

"What is it?" His mother hovered over him, and Ritsu could see the worry etched into her already heavily lined face. "Ritsu, my boy-"

She loves me. Whatever her faults, Ritsu could at least say he knew that for a fact. He had a parent who cared, and that was more than so many of the other zodiac members could say.

Except, I'm not part of the zodiac anymore.

He would unpack the multitude of what that meant later. For now, he was simply glad to have his mother with him. A shoulder to cry on. A person to share this moment with.

Sometimes the doctor felt like he never slept. He did, of course, typically only a few hours at a time, though tonight was a rare occasion where he felt an early bedtime was in order. It's not even eleven o'clock, his workaholic brain protested, and it was true that, on a normal night, he'd be working for at least another hour. But the day had been long, and filled with more activity than Hatori could recall having in some time. I need rest, he concluded. For surely, tomorrow will be equally as hectic.

He hated the thought, but knowing Akito, it was likely an accurate prediction. If I fall asleep within a half-hour, I'll get six hours of total rest, Hatori calculated as he climbed into bed, already preparing for the coming day. He had only just begun to drift off when he was jerked awake by the sound of a voice in his head. A dream…

Yes, it had to have been. He sat bolt upright in bed, breathing heavily as he assured himself over and over that what he thought he'd heard had been a trick of his mind.

Good-bye…

The doctor shut his eyes. No, there could be no mistake. That had been Akito's voice. It was as he was processing this that he was hit with the jarring realization that the invisible thread that tethered him to the rest of the zodiac had been cut. It's gone.

Hatori had always dreamed of this day, though unlike Shigure, he'd never allowed himself to truly hope for it, had never entertained the possibility that Akito would willingly give up his hold on them.

Akito.

Gripped with worry at the thought of his charge, the doctor shot to his feet. If the curse is broken, what has become of God?

"Akito!"

He shouted the man's name over and over as he scoured the house. But Akito wasn't in his chambers, nor was he in the baths. None of the housing staff seemed to know where he was, either. He snuck out again.

"Search the grounds!" he ordered. "Make sure that everyone who is able is helping. We have to find him!"

Shigure wept, but the tears were not joyful, as he'd always surmised they would be.

The curse has dissolved, completely and utterly. He'd felt it, just as he'd heard God's voice—Akito's voice—bidding him farewell. Long at last, my greatest wish has been fulfilled.

So why did he feel so empty, so detached and decidedly separate from everything and everyone? It appears the curse gave me things I previously took for granted. It had given him a sense of unity, a sense of purpose, even. What is it they always say? You don't know what you have until it's gone.

He had to figure this was what the old adage referred to, and he hated that he felt sadness in any form. Yet, there it was, and Shigure knew that the only thing left to do was let himself feel the pain. To accept it—embrace it, even— so that he could fully enjoy what was to come. Because there was light on the horizon. For all of them. Even as he wiped tears from his eyes, he knew this to be true.

He almost picked up the phone to call Hatori, but resisted the compulsion. No, this was something they had to process as individuals. Besides, he had to figure the doctor was likely occupied with Akito.

He wondered what all the previous zodiac god had had to do in order to free them. Whatever it was, he appeared to have done so willingly and with full consciousness of his actions. I suppose I'll find out soon enough whether or not it meant his own end. Shigure sighed at the callousness of the thought. Ren is right. I really am as awful as she is.

I can be whatever I want now. Do whatever I want. Love whomever I want.

Yuki knew the thought should be exhilarating, but instead, it stole the breath from his lungs.

Until now, the curse had been his entire identity. It had influenced every decision he'd ever made, every thought he'd ever had, every relationship he'd ever pursued—or, more likely, failed to pursue. But now that that barrier between him and the rest of the world was no longer in place...

Who am I? What do I want to do? Whom do I want to love?

He supposed it was time he found out.

It came true. Now, Momo and I can be friends.

Momiji sniffed, unable to hold back the tears. He knew he should be worried about the others, but the former rabbit could only bring himself to focus on his sister, on what this would mean for his immediate family. I never thought the day would come where I could say my curse was broken. It truly is a miracle.

He didn't know how it had happened, but he would bet anything that Tohru was responsible. She promised she would free us, and she did. Momiji knew that he would never be able to properly thank her for all she'd done for him and the Sohmas. He would try, though, little by little, until maybe one day she would come to understand the depths of his gratitude.

But first, he needed to plan, had to decide how and when he was going to introduce himself to Momo. And then, maybe not long after that, his mother. The thought filled Momiji with fear, but he pushed the feeling down. One thing at a time.

She was the girl who had once been a boar.

Once. Now, no longer.

The absence of Kagura's animal spirit was impossible to ignore, as was the abrupt end to her mystical bond with the other zodiac members. I was never alone before. Not really. But now she was, and somehow, still her first thought was of Kyo.

He can be with Tohru now. Like the others, Kagura cried, though her tears were nothing but pure, heartfelt relief. He's going to be okay.

She knew it was selfish, but she found herself hoping that he might still choose her. Not now, perhaps, but one day, after he'd had years to reflect on everything. Maybe he'll realize that I'm the one who's cared for him the longest, and the most fiercely.

Kagura dropped the thought. Because of course, such a thing would never happen.

Instead of becoming bitter, she closed her eyes, tears still falling as she allowed herself to be completely happy for him. This was what was most important, after all. None of the rest mattered. Be free, Kyo. Be free.

Kyo stared into the inky black, too distraught to appreciate the beauty of the many millions of stars that twinkled far above his rooftop perch.

He'd never hated himself so much in his life. I said such awful things to her. At the same time, he also couldn't help feeling like he'd done the right thing. No, the necessary thing. One day, she'll see that I was right to push her away. She might be sad now, but in a few years, she'll meet a normal guy and fall in love. The two of them would make a life together, and she would be happy. Maybe every now and again she would wonder how she ever thought she could care for someone like Kyo. Someone cursed. Someone monstrous.

Part of him wanted to scoff at the imagined scenario. Because it was ridiculous. Tohru would never think such horrible things about anyone. She was too kind, too genuine. Besides, Kyo knew that she really did care for him. But love? No. She was just a silly girl caught up in a jumble of emotions that she'd mistakenly pinned for love. That was the truth of it. Or at least, Kyo had to believe it was. Because the alternative was impossible to consider. In fact, he refused to do so.

But what if…?

What if she wasn't confused? Was he undermining Tohru by acting like he knew her feelings better than she did?

Yeah, you are, his inner self sniped. That damn rat is right. Quit treating her like she's stupid and just trust what she says for once.

He wanted to. Desperately. If he were being honest, there was a part of him that already did. And that was why he was so scared. The thought of being with her—actually being with her, not as a friend, but as something more—was almost enough to make his heart burst from his chest. It was dangerous, and he couldn't let himself get carried away. Otherwise-

A sudden, powerful sensation coursed through his body, and he was grateful that he was lying down, else he might have toppled over the side of the roof. Something's wrong, he thought, heart pounding. Something doesn't feel right, doesn't-

Be free.

Kyo blinked in shock. That was Akito's voice. He was sure of it. And that feeling he'd just had-

Holy hell. The curse. It's broken. How, he didn't know, but at the moment, he didn't care. What mattered was that the cat spirit was gone, the part of himself that his mother had always kept hidden from the world. The part she'd feared, that she'd taught him to fear in kind. The monster. Somehow, Kyo knew that if he were to remove the black and white bracelet around his wrist—the beads that kept the creature at bay—it would not emerge. Its presence had vacated his body. Again, Kyo didn't know why or how this had come to be, and part of him feared it wouldn't last, that it was a trick, even.

But no, he couldn't let himself go down that path. What he needed was to find Tohru, to apologize for being such a damn coward. And yet, he hesitated.

He swallowed, his stomach flip-flopping at the thought of leaving the rooftop. I'm still afraid, he admitted, to tell her how I really feel. But then he remembered how brave she'd been earlier, and he steeled himself. I'll show her that my curse is broken, and then…

And then, what? Would they finally be together? Could it really be that easy? It felt too good to be true. Did I fall asleep on the roof? Am I dreaming?

As a test, he slapped himself in the same place that Yuki had punched him earlier. He cursed, having hit harder than intended, but the cat spirit remained absent, and the pain in his jaw was very acute. Well, I guess that answers that.

Time to quit acting like an idiot and go find her.

It was the one thing Akito had always wanted, to be free of the zodiac curse and the many, many burdens that accompanied it. It's over. I did it. Me. Never in a million years would he have thought he possessed such power, that the ability to end his suffering had resided within him this entire time.

"What is it?" a voice snapped, and his eyes shot open at the sudden noise. Ren. He'd all but forgotten about her. "Are you crying, child?"

Startled, Akito brought a hand to his face. She's right. I am crying. Or he had been, at some point. Perhaps as he'd released the zodiac spirits? The last few minutes had been a blur, and all he knew for certain was that he'd succeeded in what he'd set out to do.

He was no longer God of the Chinese zodiac. Part of him was grieved by this, by his loss of connection to the others. At the same time, he was also curious to know if his health and longevity had been restored. That was what Tohru had believed would happen. But what if she's wrong? What if breaking the curse had done nothing to alter his fate? Even if that happens to be the case, he realized, I still don't regret doing it.

"What's happened?" came his mother's voice again. "Answer me, child!"

Finally, Akito turned his eyes up on Ren, and he found himself instantly taken aback. He remembered her being so beautiful when he was younger. Now her eyes were sallow, rimmed in dark shadows, and there was a desperation in them that he recognized all too clearly. "It's over, Mother. I've gone and ruined your plans. So you can forget them, whatever they were."

"What?" A single word, but there so much fear in it that Akito couldn't help pitying her.

"The zodiac curse is no more," he told her. "They are free. I no longer have any hold on them, as you no longer have any hold on me."

She inhaled sharply, and Akito stared at her, his voice impassive as he said, "Mother, it's time to let go."

"No!" Ren screamed and shook her head repeatedly. "You can't take this from me. You can't take him from me! We will be together forever, do you hear me?"

Together forever. That had been the vow between God and his animals. But somewhere along the line, that beautiful promise had become a twisted perversion, an unholy binding of thirteen souls crying out for autonomy.

"No one can truly be together forever," he said. "We may take vows of unity and love, but at the end of the day, we are still our own persons who walk our own paths. And sometimes, the paths we walk with others diverge. Whether it's a result of death or circumstance doesn't matter. We must let them go all the same."

"How dare you lecture me?" Ren shouted furiously. "You speak of things that you could never even begin to understand!"

On the contrary, Akito thought, I think I understand better than you ever could.

"I can't allow this," Ren declared. "I won't allow you to ruin things for me and Akira!" She glanced at the box she'd placed on the ground several minutes ago. "I'm sorry, my love. Child or not, he must pay for all he's done."

In the time that it took Akito to process those words, it was already too late. Ren put pressure on his windpipe by trapping him in a headlock, and he clawed her arm as she readied the knife. But before she could act, soft footsteps padded across the pavement behind them, and Ren spun, pulling Akito along with her. He let out a strangled shout when he saw who was coming around the corner.

No. She can't be here. Ren will kill her. Or, more than likely, she would kill him first, and then Tohru. Akito struggled to think of something, anything, that he might be able to do to help his friend from his compromised position. I have to buy her time so that she can run.

He twisted under Ren's hold, but the older woman held fast, squeezing his neck hard in the crook of her elbow. Akito's vision blurred. Distantly, he could hear Tohru's desperate pleas for mercy.

"Leave him alone! Please…please stop!"

What are you doing? he wanted to scream. Get out of here! But he knew it was hopeless. Tohru wouldn't leave, not when she could see that he was in danger. She'll die trying to save me, if that's what it comes to. At the very least, she wouldn't run without first trying to help. She was too selfless. At the moment, Akito hated that about her.

"What's this?" Ren exclaimed, all astonishment. "Could it be that this poor, wretched girl actually does care for you?"

As if in answer, Tohru took another step forward, lifting her chin. Akito knew at once that they were in for another one of her little speeches. Even though part of him still wished she would run, he had to admit, another part also very much wanted to hear what she had to say.

"I do," she said after a beat. "I care for Akito. You may not, and I think that's sad. But I understand you must have your reasons."

She focused her gaze on him, and Akito could see how terrified she was. "When I look at him, though," she continued in a softer voice, "I see someone who's brave and determined. Someone who perseveres through times of loss, illness, and neglect. Someone who continuously finds the strength to keep living, even when it seems he has none to spare. And yes, he's done bad things in his struggle to find and keep that strength." Her voice dropped even lower. "Some of those bad things were done to me, too."

Hearing this was like a stab to the heart, and for a moment, Akito thought that Ren had driven him through with her knife. It truly is remarkable, he thought, the effect that Tohru's words can have on me.

"But I've gotten to know him better since then," she was saying, "and I know now that everything he ever did was to try and survive. And I can't fault him for that, especially when I know that, beneath it all, there's a person who is good and who wants to do the right thing."

That's not altogether true, Akito thought. I was selfish. Ren was right. For years he'd been able to see nothing but his own suffering, loneliness, and despair. It's why I held onto the zodiac for so long. I was like her.

"Is that what you believe?" Ren's voice was tinged with amusement. "You think my son is a poor, lost soul who has always been good, deep down? That he merely needed a guiding hand to steer him down the correct path?" Akito felt Ren shift behind him as she shook her head. "You're even more foolish than I thought," she told Tohru. "The zodiac god is cruel, possessive, and above all, unyielding. It is the nature of the spirit. This has been known for generations, and to think for even a second that my son is capable of being anything other than what he was destined to be is idiocy."

"Well then it's a good thing I'm not god of the zodiac anymore isn't, Mother?" Akito shot back. This earned him a gasp from Tohru, and he was confused by her reaction, at first. But that's when he remembered: It probably took her almost an hour to walk here. Which meant she hadn't had contact with any of the zodiac members since he'd freed them. She doesn't know.

"It's true," he said, wishing more than anything that Ren didn't have a vise-grip on him so that he could reach out and touch her, even if it was just to take her hand. "The curse is finally broken. After all these centuries-"

Tears spilled from Tohru's eyes as she stepped toward him, one hand outstretched. Akito extended his own arm, trying to meet her halfway, but Ren quickly yanked him back. "You really think I'm going to allow things to end like this?" she said, a challenge in her voice. "You have brought nothing but pain to me and to this family. Why should you get a happy ending when you don't deserve it?"

"What are you doing?" Akito was gripped by fear as Tohru suddenly gasped, eyes widening, face blanching as she screamed, "NO! Don't-!"

A sharp, searing pain burst in Akito's side, and he collapsed to the ground, vision swimming, senses clouding. He could still hear Tohru's screams, but even that shrill, urgent noise quickly became muffled by the sound of his own rapidly beating heart. At least, he thought, I will have someone to mourn me when I die. He remembered all the times he'd been seized with dread by the thought of the zodiac celebrating his death. I never thought anyone would be truly sad to see me leave this world. He'd been born to die, after all. Or at least, that's what everyone always said.

Vaguely, he was aware of movement, of soft arms encircling him from behind. Water droplets landed first on his forehead, then his cheek, and Akito blinked, trying to catch a glimpse through the fog. Tohru. Her large blue eyes were watching him. Those drops of water…

They were tears. She was crying for him. Because she cared. Even if she could never love me the way I loved her, at least I can say I had this.

He wanted to tell her that it was okay, that he wasn't in pain. But he couldn't speak, so instead, he lifted a hand toward her face. It took nearly all of his strength, but he managed to graze her cheek with his fingertips. Was he imagining it, or did she lean into his touch? He supposed it didn't matter. He let his hand drop, and though Tohru's lips moved rapidly with words he couldn't decipher, in the end, it was easier to surrender to the enclosing darkness, to be carried off into oblivion with the final, blissful realization that he had meant something to someone in a way that was real.

A/N: I worked really hard on this chapter, so please don't hate me!

Just to appease any lingering worries, I will tell you that I'm a huge fan of happy endings. Life is hard enough as it is, do you not agree?

Stay tuned! Oh, and thank you again to everyone who still reads and enjoys this story. It means more to me than you'll ever know!