"Remember back when I'd be the one who'd just come up here, and you'd be the one who came looking for me?"

Kyo's voice was affectionate and teasing, and Tohru couldn't help but smile as she turned to the edge of the roof. Kyo was standing on the ladder looking over at her, his smile just as sweet as his voice, and Tohru felt the same happy thrill at the sight of him that she always did. How long, she wondered, before that thrill began to fade?

If she had her say, she hoped it never would.

"I guess you just made it look too nice up here," she said, her eyes twinkling as she watched him vault from the ladder up onto the roof. Even though over eight months had passed since the Curse had broken, there were some ways that Kyo continued to remind her of a cat; his graceful movements were near the top of that list.

She'd never once seen him look unsteady on the roof, and it was no different tonight. He walked straight over with as much confidence as if he was on level ground, and settled down beside her with a smile.

"So'd you guys have a good time tonight?" he asked, and Tohru nodded, thinking happily about the afternoon and evening she'd spent out with Kisa.

"We did. We went to a movie, we got some dinner, we stopped and ate some cake together in the park-"

"-Not cake you just found in the park, I hope," Kyo teased her, and she giggled as she shoved him.

"No, cake we bought! Or cake Kisa bought, anyway," Tohru said, making a little face. Kisa had insisted on treating Tohru that night, and though Tohru had done her best to argue that wasn't necessary, Kisa had been shockingly stubborn and, in the end, Tohru had agreed. Under duress, and with the promise that Kisa would let her return the favor...sometime.

But it had been a wonderful afternoon, overall. They two of them had met up after school and while they had done what Tohru said, mostly the two of them had talked. Walked and talked, sat and talked, ate and talked...cried and talked.

Tohru's lip trembled now, thinking about it. Both she and Kisa had done their best to keep their afternoon fun and lighthearted, to enjoy their time together and think and talk about fun things. The new season of Mogeta, the upcoming cherry blossom festivals. Kisa's impending first year of high school. They'd even, somewhat bravely, tried to talk about what fun things they should do together that summer when Kisa came to visit.

But it was impossible to stay upbeat and pretend everything was normal when both of them knew that in three days, Tohru would be graduating, and that two days after that, she'd be gone.


Tohru was happy. Ecstatically, almost deliriously happy, knowing that soon, she'd be living with Kyo, just Kyo, in a house that was solely theirs. A house where they'd start to make a life for themselves, together, as a couple. As a family, even if it was just a family of two for the time being. A home where they'd be starting fresh, far away from the Curse and its baggage. Where nobody knew either of them, and nobody had any preconceived notions and expectations about how they should behave.

Where Kyo could be 'Kyo' without ever once having been 'the Cat.'

They had been planning this for months, ever since the day the previous summer when they had stood together in front of her parents' grave and Kyo had asked her to go with him. They'd been officially dating for less than two weeks at that point, but both of them had been sure; him, that he wanted to ask, and her, that she wanted to accept. It didn't matter how long they'd been 'official;' they had been meant for each other than longer than either of them had realized, and they were tired of wasting time.

Over the following months, they had done their research and made their plans. Learned about Hibe, the village in Aomori prefecture on the northern tip of Honshu where Kyo's new dojo was located. Learned about Aomori prefecture in general, and what they could expect in terms of weather, culture, and life. About the area around Hibe, and what sort of jobs Tohru would have available when they moved. Kyo had sorted out everything to do with his job, salary, schedule, and expectations. They'd found a house to rent.

Getting the congratulatory email from their new landlord had been an exciting and terrifying moment for both of them, the moment when all of a sudden, everything had felt real. Because Hibe was so very far from Tokyo and they were still in school (and pretty broke), neither one of them had actually visited Hibe yet; even Kyo's job offer had been made sight unseen, and all of their research was conducted over the internet or phone. In some ways, it almost felt like they were doing a school project.

Then, all at once, they were 'Mr. Sohma and Ms. Honda,' new tenants as of a mere two days after graduation. They had an address. They could get mail.

That had been in January. As the next two months passed by, both of them had felt increasingly like they had their feet in two different worlds. One foot was firmly planted in the high school world, dealing with homework and exams, part time jobs, and hanging out with friends. The other foot was in Hibe: drawing up a budget, figuring out what things they needed to buy for the new house, making their travel plans, discussing how long they would need to settle in before Kyo should start work and Tohru needed to start looking for a job. And with each passing day, the Hibe foot was gradually bearing more weight.

It had been hard to believe it was real sometimes, that they'd go from writing essays to discussing what kitchenware they needed versus what things would just be really nice. That they'd go from calculus to discussing the relative pros and cons of beds versus futons and figuring out just how many towels was the right number for two people, really?

In the beginning, having those practical household discussions had almost seemed like they were little kids playing pretend. And even though the details were mundane, it had been hard for the two of them to stop beaming at each other, even when they were talking about things like utilities and bus passes.

After the newness had worn off, they'd both gotten more serious. As excited as they were about their new home and new life, neither of them had any delusions about what they were signing up for. Kyo had been honest when he told Tohru they weren't going to be starting in the lap of luxury; although Kazuma had told them that the salary Kyo would be making was remarkably generous, especially considering the comparatively rural location, it was hardly extravagant, especially right away and for supporting two people. Beyond that, there were numerous costs they had to cover either right when they moved or before, and Kyo wouldn't start drawing his salary, naturally, until he actually started working.

Tohru and Kyo were fortunate in that they'd both always had a similar mindset when it came to money: save it, as much as possible. Even before Kyo came into the picture, Tohru had known that she'd be on her own before graduation. Even before her mom had died, she'd known she'd need to work hard and start pulling her own weight in the world; growing up as the child of a single mother, she knew all too well how expensive life could be. Thus, as she'd worked her way through high school, she had saved everything she could.

Kyo had done the same, though from an admittedly different perspective and with no real eye for the future. Even as the Cat, he'd received money from the main Sohma estate, meant to cover his tuition and living expenses and personal needs of all sorts. He'd always resented that money; as he saw it, it had always been blood money, money given by the Sohmas as a justification for everything they'd ever done to him...and everything they planned to someday do. He'd only used it as needed, keeping as much of it as he could untouched. He never had, and never would, let them buy him. But when the Curse broke, he started to look at the remaining money in a different light; now, it was recompense, and money that he could actually put towards his future. Later that summer, when he'd started teaching a couple classes at the dojo, Kazuma had started paying him as well.

Tohru's savings, Kyo's savings, and their continued earnings from their part time jobs had formed the base on which they'd started to sort out their initial expenses and make their moving plans. They wanted to keep as much as they could for an emergency fund, but there would still be enough to make modest purchases of the things they most needed, after their deposits were paid and train tickets were purchased and they'd covered all non-negotiable moving expenses. Things might be tight for a bit...but that was ok.

They would be fine.

That had been the plan, anyway. That had been their full intention. But neither one of them had anticipated just how determined the people in their lives would be to help them.


It had started with Kazuma.

When they'd first started discussing the stark realities of life on their own, it was only natural that the two of them would turn to a trusted adult who had real world experience, and neither of them had thought twice about that adult being Kazuma. He was able to give them some good advice on things to consider regarding their future house, necessary versus unnecessary expenses, and what to factor in when they were choosing specifically where to live.

He also tried to give them money, to 'help cover some of the initial costs.' Moving was stressful enough, after all, and the last thing he wanted was for them to have anything unnecessary to stress over.

They had refused, both of them. The gesture was kind, but they would figure it out on their own, and if things were a little tight for a while, they would be a little tight.

Kazuma seemed to understand, and the subject lay fallow for nearly a month. Then mid-January rolled around, and it was time to make the decision on a rental house. Kazuma, as their cosigner, was naturally consulted, and he gave their choice his full support and agreement.

He also gave them something else.

Both of them had been shell-shocked when Kazuma handed Kyo the bankbook and they saw how much money it contained. Kyo had immediately tried to return it, but Kazuma had firmly and repeatedly held that it was Kyo's: thirteen years' worth of financial recompense from the Sohma estate, payment to Kazuma for raising the Zodiac Cat.

Payment Kazuma had sworn he would never touch, and never had, but had carefully and quietly built up for years to one day give to Kyo.

In the end, after some determined back and forth, Kyo had agreed to take it. He didn't need any further handouts from the Sohmas, and even holding the bankbook admittedly made his skin crawl. But he couldn't argue with Kazuma's point that someday, it might come in handy, and emergencies were always a possibility.

As he and Tohru had walked home, Kyo had told her his feelings about the money, and apologized for them. He knew he was being selfish, suddenly having so much money and not wanting to touch it when it could make their lives so much easier, or more fun.

But Tohru had understood. And as far as she was concerned, the money didn't matter, not really; they would keep it as an emergency fund...an incredibly large emergency fund...and keep their plans, and budget, exactly as they were.


That was January. Then February rolled around, and Tohru, as she regularly did, went to visit her grandpa. When he could Kyo would go with her, but Tohru had been with Grandpa alone when he dropped his own bombshell on her.

"So I suppose that you and your young man must have your moving plans almost fully fleshed out at this point, don't you, Tohru dear?" Grandpa had asked as the of them sat in his living room, drinking tea.

Tohru had smiled, and nodded her head. "That's right! We have our house, and our timeline. Most of the utilities will be handled by the landlord, but there are a few things we'll have to wait to do until we get to Hibe."

"How very exciting! Have you two figured out all what you'll need to buy for the house yet?"

"Some! We picked a small house, obviously," Tohru had said with a giggle, "but it's still bigger than we need to furnish all at once. We've been doing a lot of research lately, but since we're having everything shipped we're not going to be buying anything until closer to when we move, so we can just have it sent straight to the house."

Grandpa nodded. "That's very practical of you both, my dear. It sounds like you're both approaching this very sensibly."

Tohru beamed. "Thank you, Grandpa! We both want to make sure we're not overextending ourselves, especially not starting out. Right now the plan is for Kyo to start at the dojo a week after we arrive, and I'll start looking for a job a little while later; that gives us both some time to get used to the area, but it does mean we'll need to be frugal starting out."

Grandpa nodded again. "Well, it's a very smart thing to do. Young people just starting out on their own can be impulsive, but I suppose you never have been, have you?"

"No, not really," Tohru said with another giggle. She'd had her moments, yet, but overall? No, she was hardly when anyone would ever describe as impulsive.

But after a moment, Grandpa got up and walked over to a cabinet, reaching in and coming back over with a white envelope.

"I was going to give you this at your graduation, Tohru dear," he said, smiling as he sat down again. "But listening to your plans, I think it might come in handy sooner." He put the envelope in her hands. "I know it's not much, but I hope it helps you and your young man get a few nice things for your new home."

Inside the envelope was a card from her grandfather, congratulating her on graduating high school. And Tohru's eyes teared up as she read the message, where Grandpa told her how proud he was of her, and how proud her parents were, too. How she'd worked so hard and overcome so much, and how she deserved every happiness life had to give her.

She didn't bother to look at or count the bills inside, simply setting the whole thing down and catching her grandpa in a big, teary-eyed hug that he returned.

"I know it's all true, Tohru dear," Grandpa said, his own eyes a little misty. "Kyoko and Katsuya are both smiling on you, and they want you to be happy, too."

"Thank you, Grandpa; thank you so, so much."


Tohru didn't actually look at the money until she was back at home and telling Kyo about it. When they actually looked, they were staggered to see Grandpa had given her one hundred and fifty thousand yen, which both of them agreed had to be a mistake.

But when she called Grandpa to tell her, he was politely firm. "No, that's for you, Tohru. And I think you'll find, if you haven't already, that one hundred and fifty thousand yen doesn't go nearly as far as you'd think when setting up a house!"

In the end, they'd accepted it. Graduation presents were a thing, after all, and he was her grandfather and technically her legal guardian while she was a minor. It made sense that he'd give her something, to mark her graduation.

Just like it made sense that Kazuma gave Kyo something, to mark the occasion.

"I know you said you didn't want me to pay for anything, Kyo, but surely you can admit that parents are allowed to celebrate their children's achievements? Graduating high school is a very significant achievement, I'd say, and worthy of celebrating."

Kyo hadn't let Kazuma give him as much money as he'd tried, but since Kazuma had expected that and purposely tried to make Kyo take too much to start with, Kazuma was still satisfied with the results.

The rest...made significantly less sense. Goodwill gestures, yes. Cards, yes. But the rest?

"I know it's not much, but it would mean a great deal to me if you would accept it," Hatori had said as he pressed an envelope into her hand.

"Dear Tohru, the very idea of letting an occasion as celebratory as your graduation, the doorway between your life of youthful innocence and your new awakening as a mature woman of the world with your beloved at your side, pass by without proper celebration and acknowledgement is too laughable for words!"

Neither of them had ever been any good at arguing with Ayame.

Shigure had been grinning when he passed Tohru an envelope at the house one day in early March. "It occurs to me that we've had somewhat of an employer/employee relationship these past years, Tohru, and now that the time is coming to part ways, I believe a little bonus is in order, don't you agree?"

She did not agree, especially not with the amount, but Shigure was unbothered. "Surely you wouldn't be so cruel as to reject one of my last attempts to express my gratitude? If it wasn't for you, I would have been forced to pick up my own laundry for over two years!"

Other Sohmas gave them graduation money. The Hanajimas gave her graduation money. And in every case, the reasoning was the same: graduation was a big deal, it ought to be recognized, people were happy for them, they wanted to do this...and eventually, Tohru and Kyo just gave up fighting it. Both of them shook their heads in amazement as the balance in their account steadily ticked upwards, or periodically leapt upwards, and by the time they were ready to start actually buying things to send to their house they had enough money available to easily furnish it five times over, without factoring in the bankbook.

But even with the extra money, they kept things simple. There were a couple splurges, but overall, they had stuck to their original plan; there would be time enough, later on, to buy more things.

In the beginning, just having each other would be more than enough for the two of them. And Tohru was truly excited to start living that life, together with Kyo. But much as she was looking forward to the future, it was still incredibly hard, saying goodbye to the present.


There had been a lot of tears from Tohru already, and there were bound to be more before they finally boarded their train. She knew it was hard on Kyo to see her like this, knew that he was likely questioning himself constantly about whether he was doing the right thing. He'd certainly asked her enough times; if Tohru had ever even remotely considered staying in Tokyo, he would have given her an out. Plans could be changed. Nothing had to be permanent.

But every time, Tohru had sniffled, and wiped her eyes, and shaken her head. Saying goodbye to their friends would be hard. Saying goodbye to the places she loved would be hard, too.

But it would all be worth it, to be able to go with him and stay by his side.


"Well, I'm glad you had a good time," Kyo said, smiling as he gently pulled Tohru over into his lap, and she gratefully cuddled against him.

"Did you and the guys all have fun?" she asked, looking at him, and Kyo grinned in response.

"Yeah, it was fun. It's been nice, this last month, now everyone actually knows what they're gonna do after graduation. With entrance exams over, Hiroshi, Ryosuke, Katsuo, and Hayate can actually all breathe, and they've been actually able to do stuff again."

Tohru smiled, resting her head against his chest. "Are they all excited about university?"

Kyo chuckled. "A couple of 'em. Pretty sure Hayate's just going 'cause his parents are making him, and I'm still kinda amazed Hiroshi decided to go through with it."

"Did Ryosuke end up deciding to go to Sendai after all?"

"Nope. Weird as it feels, all of 'em are actually gonna be staying down here in the city, the guys working as well as university. I guess Yusuke, Kuro, and Daisuke are gonna be looking for a place to all rent together, since they're all looking at jobs in the same area."

"Well, that should be handy for all of them!" Tohru said, beaming. "When we were younger, Hana-chan, Uo-chan and I had talked about the three of us maybe getting an apartment someday, after graduation," she said, smiling fondly at the memory. "They both had it all figured out!"

"Yeah, I just bet they did," Kyo said, rolling his eyes, and Tohru giggled.

"It was sweet! They thought it would make the most sense with three of us if one of us just took care of the housekeeping and shopping and cooking-"

"Lemme guess, you?"

"Well, I like doing things like that," Tohru immediately protested. "Though you know I can work and take care of a house at the same time, I basically did it the whole time I lived here with school!"

"Yeah, I know," he said, hugging her. "But I meant what I said, Tohru, about when we move. You're not gonna be doing all the household stuff by yourself, not anymore."

Over the course of the past eight months, Kyo had slowly but steadily tried to make inroads on Tohru's previously solo household duties. And just as steadily, Tohru had pushed back; while she was happy to let Kyo cook with her or even instead of her sometimes and always appreciated help with the shopping, the rest of the household chores were her responsibility. That had been her arrangement with Shigure, she'd told him; room and board, in exchange for taking care of the house.

In vain, Kyo had pointed out that Shigure wouldn't care who actually emptied the trash cans as long as they got emptied. But Tohru had been adamant, and while she kissed Kyo and told him how deeply she appreciated him wanting to help out more, for the time being, chores were her job, and she intended to keep them that way.

If she also hoped to keep things that way after they moved, she didn't mention that too much. Kyo was sweet, and she was sure he actually meant to help out, but he was already going to be working hard to support them both; the least she could do was let him rest in a comfortable clean house when he came home!

But that was a conversation they didn't need to rehash again just now, so she simply smiled and continued with her story.

"So I was going to be in charge of the apartment, and they would both work, and we'd all go on regular trips together to all kinds of places-"

"And basically just eat everything in sight?" Kyo asked, grinning, and once more Tohru giggled.

"There'd probably be a food component," she admitted, and he smiled as he rested his cheek on her head.

"That'll be us too, someday," he said, his voice soft. "It might take a little while, but I'm gonna take you on some trips too, just you wait."

"I know," she said, snuggling against him. "And it's ok, Kyo; we don't need to be taking any big vacations anytime soon, anyway. It's already going to be the biggest adventure and the most exciting trip imaginable, just moving up to our new home."

"Yeah," he agreed, threading his fingers through hers, "it really, really is."