Memories
By: HeavenlydemonxXxo

FRUITS BASKET ISN'T MINE GODDAMN-IT-ALL! Just thought the disclaimer needs some drama. Hehe.

This is the end of my story.

They walked down the street to the main house. Afraid of what was going to happen, none of them dared to touch the door. Trying to break the silence, Kumiko asked, "Are you sure it was absolutely necessary to buy this dress for me?"

"...That was Shigure's decision..." said Kyou.

"It looks nice on you, though." Yuki complimented.

'Damn it all, why didn't I say that?' thought Kyou.

"Here we are... Why didn't Shigure join us?" she asked.

"He said he would go ahead before us."

They all stared at the door.

"Well, here goes..." Kumiko reached to open the door. It creaked open. Suddenly she remembered something. "Oh yeah! Kyou! Your birthday's coming up right? I made this for you." She passed a smartly wrapped package to him.

"Huh? Oh... Ok..." He held the present carefully. This was the first time someone ever gave him a present, other than shishou and scary Kagura who's obsessed. "Thanks..." he added.

"No problem." she winked at him. "Ok, then. Let's go."

Servants met them and led them to Akito's room. Akito stood at the other side, with a bird perched on his finger. Other than him, was Shigure and Hattori. "Sit." Akito commanded. They followed his orders. "I suppose you know why you're here."

"Actually, no, not really." answered Kumiko. Shigure smiled at this reply, while the others were completely shocked that she would answer with such ease and carefreeness.

"I've heard about how you're careless and outgoing. But I wonder... is it just mere stupidity? Ignorance?"

"Hmm.. I wonder that about you too. Are you ignorant? Stupid? Or do you believe that everyone else is too stupid? After our last meeting, I'll admit, I was scared of you. Scared to meet you again. But then I think, are you the one that's scared? Because I believe you are. I believe that you're scared that they'll leave you. I KNOW that you're scar--!"

"SHUT UP BITCH! YOU DARE TO TALK BACK TO ME LIKE THAT? YOU DARE TO THINK YOU'RE BETTER THAN ME?" Akito tugged at her hair and forced her up so that her face met his.

"No! I don't think I'm better than you are! But I think that I know the difference between happiness and self-pity! I think you pity yourself but you don't like that! I think that you want to be better than that! And you don't want to lose the ones that you think will love you. I don't know anything about the Sohmas, but I can tell that they're going through difficult times because of you. You make them feel unloved! Not needed in this world. That once their secret is out, they'll be hated! Those are lies! You're making them live a life that they hate!! AND WHAT GOOD WILL THIS LEAD TO?! YOU WANT TO BE LOVED YOURSELF, BUT YOU'RE NOT LETTING IT HAPPEN!"

Akito slapped her. She fell to the ground and cried. "YOU'RE A STUPID BITCH. YOU SHOULD BE THANKFUL THAT I EVEN LET YOU STAY WITH THE SOHMA FAMILY! YOU SHOULD BE THANKFUL THAT I EVEN CALLED YOU HERE. BUT THIS IS HOW YOU THANK ME?"

"BUT I AM THANKFUL! THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME STAY WITH THEM. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME KNOW THEM. THANK YOU FOR MEETING ME. BUT SHOULDN'T YOU BE THANKFUL AS WELL? THANKFUL THAT YOUR FAMILY TOLERATED YOU? LISTENED TO YOUR WHIMS?"

"Hmph. Tolerate.. me? I'm the one tolerating them! I let Yuki move out of the house! I'm letting them go to public schools! I'm giving them freedom!"

"WHAT ABOUT FREEDOM OF MIND? DID YOU GIVE THEM FREEDOM OF MIND?! YUKI HERE HATES HIMSELF! TELL ME! WHY WOULD HE BE HATING HIMSELF IF HE'S BEING GIVEN THE FREEDOM THAT HE WOULD WANT? I'VE BEEN WATCHING HIM AND KYOU, NOTICING THINGS THAT OTHERS MUST NOT BE SEEING! I'VE KEPT QUIET, BECAUSE I WAS HOPING THAT IT WAS JUST A PHASE. THAT IT WOULD PASS OVER SOON."

Yuki stared at her outburst in shock. How did she know?

"THAT'S ENOUGH! HATTORI! ERASE HER MEMORIES! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANYMORE OF THIS!" Akito screeched. Hattori sat still. Appearing amazed. Amazed that this girl could see the troubles of their curse. "HATTORI! ARE YOU MESMERIZED BY THIS THIS SIREN? ERASE HER MEMORIES!" Slowly, he nodded and prepared to do it. Kyou rose in anger.

"WHAT?! NO! DON'T ERASE IT! DON'T ERASE IT!" He argued. Yuki held him back. Shigure, in turn, held Kumiko back. She sobbed heavily.

Right before Hattori pressed his fingers against her forehead, she whispered, "Every day is beautiful. Don't ever forget that."

6 years later

Kyou stepped off the plane. He had returned to his hometown. Back to where the curse began. He was now 23 years old. 5 years since he last saw Kumiko. His last moments with her were still so clear in his mind.

"So is that the story?" Kumiko asked.

"Yes..." he replied.

"I'm disappointed, Kyou... You haven't been living your life up to now since then the way you want to."

He looked up in surprise. This wasn't the reaction he was expecting. She called for Shigure. "Take me to Hattori. I think he'll be wanting to erase my memories again."

Shigure appeared shocked. "Mm. Yes.. well."

She turned to say her last words to Kyou. "Don't worry. I'll remember again soon enough. But I want you to fight for your freedom and come back to find me. And tell Yuki, your biggest enemy is yourself. Once you overcome yourself, you'll be able to gain the happiness that you've coveted for."

He took those words into heart and had found himself. Not exactly gaining freedom, but he certainly did gain happiness. He saw Yuki waiting for him in the airport.

"Hey."

"There's something I want to tell you." He gave him a slip of paper. Kyou stared at it. "It's her phone number. I haven't seen her again after that day, but I think she'll remember."

"Th-thanks..."

"Call her now. Here." Yuki handed him his cellphone.

Trembling, he dialed the number. "H-H... Hello?"

"Kyou?"

"Kyou came back." Shigure informed Akito.

"..."

"Are you going to lock him up in his destined room?"

"...I... had that room destroyed..."

"Really?"

"That girl was the start of chain reactions... Yuki gained control of his life... argued against his mother and was freed of burden... Kyou left me... said he didn't think he was destined to be locked up for life... Haru and Rin married each other... Kureno left me as well... left with Kyou and Momiji to travel the world... Hiro and Kisa are having a relationship together... Ayame took the courage to admit his love for Mine... and she accepted our curse... Hattori left to start his own business... Where did I go wrong? Shigure? Why am I the only one who's still unhappy?!"

Shigure moved closer. "I think it's because you're still the only one who hasn't felt loved... Change back to your girl self... Can't you see? It's all over! No one has been freed from their curse... but the curse changed into more of a slight obstacle.." He kissed Akito. "It's all over, and we can finally be together! I never stopped loving you..."

At the same time, Kyou met with Kumiko once again. Yuki left them alone and went back to his own house, having moved out of Shigure's. Machi greeted him at the door.

"Yuki-kun! Did you meet your long-hated rival?" she laughed.

"Yes... yes I did..."

"How did it turn out?"

"Perfectly." he smiled. "It's beautiful when you laugh... Someone once said... Everyday is beautiful."