Chapter 17:

Tohru opened her eyes slowly. She felt a lurch in her heart, and felt like something was going through her veins. What was it? Something heavy was on top of her legs. She looked down and saw Kyo sleeping.

"Kyo-kun," she said moving her foot.

"Eh?" he mumbled.

"Wake-up." She said smiling.

"Tohru-kun?" he asked blearily. His eyes widened as he saw her sitting up in bed.

He dashed over to her and gave her a light kiss (forewarned by the nurse that she wouldn't be all that up to kissing) and held her just as lightly.

"Kyo-kun!" she exclaimed, and cried, "What happened?"

"We don't know…" Kyo answered.

"Liar." Yuki said.

"Yuki-kun!" she exclaimed.

"We've all been keeping this from you." Yuki sighed and took a seat, "When you fainted a few weeks ago, Hatori said that it was due to a heart condition… we didn't want to hurt you-"

"So we kept it from you." Kyo finished.

"Why?"

"Because, the chances of you surviving were very slim," Yuki said, "Even Hatori predicted that you'd die. So, it actually turned out to be a blood clot related to the heart."

"Also," a voice said from a corner, "because we love you." Hatsuharu stepped out of the shadows. "Isn't that right, Rin?"

"I have to admit," she said next to him, "without you Tohru… I would probably still be cutting class and hanging out with the wrong crowd."

"What're you talking about? You still are." Kyo said.

"Shut-up, stupid cat!" she cursed at him.

"Kyo-kun is not stupid!" a familiar voice shouted back. Tohru stared as Kagura started cursing Rin out and then Tohru laughed. They all turned to stare at her.

"What's wrong?" she asked giggling.

"You're laughing…" Yuki said.

"And? You guys are just such a great family to watch," she said, "I am so thankful for Shigure taking me in; and Akito-san for letting me stay. I love all of you!"

"What about us!" Uo said from the doorway.

"Yes, Tohru-kun. What about us? Are we chopped liver?" Hana asked smiling.

"Uo! Hana-chan!" she exclaimed and they came over and hugged her.

"God! Don't ever do that to us again, do you hear? Ever!" Uo said crying. Kureno stood awkwardly in the corner as they hugged and cried.

"Only five visitors at a time." A nurse said coming in.

"Does this mean that I can't come in?" Momiji asked holding a bouquet of flowers.

"Momiji-kun!" she exclaimed.

"Hi, Tohru-chan!" he said dashing over.

"Oh my God!" Tohru said realizing something, "Kyo!"

"Yeah? What's wrong?" he asked panicked.

"You didn't change!"

"I know, you just fainted at the prom, and I didn't leave so I haven't been able to change clothes and-"

"No! When you hugged me, you didn't transform!" she smiled and he smiled back.

"That's right!" Hatsuharu agreed. "Try me!"

They hugged and he stayed human, as did Hatori, and Momiji, and Yuki (much glaring from Kyo), then Kureno, and when Shigure arrived, him too.

"Where's Ritsue?" Kagura asked.

"Out." Shigure grumbled.

"That's wonderful!" Tohru said.

"Not yet," Rin said, "what about us?"

"Go find a guy and hug them."

"Okay!" they both said and skipped out of the room looking for a guy.

"Wait," Tohru said to them, "Where's Kisa?"

"Right here." A tiny voice said, and the red head stepped forward. "How're you feeling, onee-chan?"

"I feel great!" she exclaimed and hugged her, holding Kisa's hand was Hiro, who was looking quite sheepish.

"Looks like a family reunion." A singsong voice floated in, Ayame stood in the doorway smiling.

"Ah, you made it." Shigure said, "Guess what?"

"What?"

"The curse has been broken." Shigure said smiling.

"I am quite the dramatic, and I indeed do stretch the truth from time to time," Ayame told them, "But I have never heard a lie this preposterous."

"Hug me." Tohru told him.

"There is a nurse in the room."

"It's not like she'll see anything over all of us." Someone commented.

"Fine." He said pushing his way through to her bedside and hugged her.

"See, I changed." He said.

"Are you sure?" Yuki asked.

"Positive. Why?"

"Look big-brother."

Ayame looked at his reflection and nearly fainted, soon after Kagura and Rin came back in smiling broadly.

"It worked! We're free!" Kagura smiled.

"Either that or the guy we hugged was a-"

"Rin." Hatsuharu warned.

"Sorry…" she said blushing.

"I just realized something!" Shigure exclaimed happily, "I can now have-"

"Sick pervert," Yuki said covering his mouth, "Out. Now."

"Fine." He whined and started to leave.

"Wait!" Tohru cried, "We all have to be here for this!"

"For what?" Hana asked.

"I want Akito to step forward," Tohru said, and the group parted, revealing Akito standing in a corner alone.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Can you come here?" Tohru asked.

He stepped towards her, and was finally by her side.

"Hand." She said.

He extended it, and wearily she took it and got out of bed, stabling herself on him. He helped her to stand and smiled.

"Thank you." Tohru whispered to him as she hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.

"You are welcome to be a member of this family." He whispered back.

"I think I already am." She said and they faced the group gathered around her and every one gave her one big hug.