Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket/Furuba, etc. Bleh, bleh, bleh... Bleh bleh...
Um... yeah. I got enough requests for something more... final... as a finally. So... yeah. It's actually longer. Something. Huzzah.
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Tears sprang into my eyes as I embraced Kyo's body. He flopped, limp, as I hugged him to tightly. Grief overwhelmed my senses, drowning everything but the sounds of Kyo's slowing heartbeat out. He was dying fast, it was a miracle he wasn't already dead. He had been shot in the chest, right?
"Kyo, don't go," I sobbed, nuzzling my nose into his chest. I didn't care if blood coated my face. It should have been my blood that was spilled, not his. I should have been the one covered in blood. And so be it, I would.
"What have I done?" Akito asked in horror, and I spared a glace towards her only long enough to watch a revolver drop from her hand. She had been the one to shoot Kyo. And yet, I didn't hate her. It was only I that I blamed; that I hated. If he hadn't protected me…
"Someone," I screamed through my rapidly increasing tears, "help! Please, someone, anyone… Save my Kyo!"
Arms reached from behind and encircled my waist, attempting to drag me away from Kyo's body. Screaming, I thrashed, trying to escape. I couldn't. So, I stooped to screaming.
"Let me go!" I hollered, tears streaming down my cheeks. "Don't take me away from my Kyo! Let go!" I looked over to Kyo, but he wasn't there. Another squeal escaped my lips and I fell limp, too overcome with tears to do anything but cry.
"Honda-san," a voice whispered in my ear, soothing and cool. It was Yuki. "Hatori took him. Kyo's getting help. So please, don't struggle."
I complied, relaxing in the tight grip on my waist. The world went gray, bleak, empty. It was like an old movie rolling in slow motion, the scene playing out before me. Uotani and Hanajima burst in, Kureno and Kazuma along with them. Momiji bounced to my side, whispering soothing things I didn't hear. Nyoko and Cho timidly snuck in, tears in their now-human eyes.
Memory went blank, and then everything went black. And even then, I knew I was crying.
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"He's coming to," a low voice said, to slow and deep for it to really be like that. Light slowly seeped through my closed eyelids, burning the retinas. Blinking, I snapped my eyes open, squinted, winced. The light overhead was too bright, my chest was burning in pain, a feeling of deadweight settled over my limbs. And yet, somehow, I was able to sit up, look around at the familiar faces.
"Oi, Orangey, don't scare us like that," was the first thing I heard, via Uotani. It was accompanied by a hard slap on the back, which sent the pain in my chest reeling.
Coughing, I nodded and braced myself so I didn't fall back.
"You're alive!" the unmistakable voice of Kagura squealed, and it was her arms that cinched painfully around my waist. I nodded, trying to pry my cousin off. It didn't work until I had a reluctant Yuki, Haru, and Hatori help. When I was free, I noticed Tohru wasn't among the group surrounding my bed.
"Where's Tohru?" I asked, panicked. I had saved her when I took the bullet, right? Had Akito killed her after I blacked out? The worried glances only fueled my suspicion, and suddenly panic overtook my body. "Where is she!?"
"She wasn't hurt," Akito said as he stepped forward, for some reason dressed in a girl's kimono. "She thought you died and, well, went into catalytic shock…"
"She's been out for only an hour less that you," Hatori finished, sighing and checking the clipboard in his hands, "six days now. Her vitals are steady, but…"
"Let me see her," I demanded, ripping the covers off myself and hobbling out of bed, slightly unsteady, and pulling my IV along with me. Hanajima shifted to stand in front of the door, her face emotionless.
"You shouldn't go," she muttered. But I did not heed her advice, instead just, gently of course, shoving her out of the way. Hatori followed, scribbling something down. Although reluctant, he directed me to Tohru's side, muttering about how well I was doing, being able to muster such energy.
"Tohru," I whispered as I approached her bedside, still gripping the portable IV pole. She laid on the uncomfortable hospital bed motionless, her face, probably for the first time, devoid of any emotion. The only sound in the room was the beeping of the heart monitor, slow and steady. Even her breathing was effortless, soundless. It was good to see her in such ease, no worry lines marring her beautiful face. But even so, the life that she seemed to be missing was haunting.
"It's just shock," Hatori muttered, gazing upon Tohru passively. Even so, regret and sadness reflected in his gray eyes. I knew he, too, cared for my Tohru. Everyone did. She was just naturally that way. "She'll wake up; eventually."
"Eventually," I snorted, amusement that would have normally followed was lacking. "What does that mean? A day? A week? A year?" When Hatori didn't answer, I groaned. "I'll wait as long as Tohru needs, anyway. I owe it to her. I can't imagine my life without her influence. Those ten years without her were Hell, but I'll sacrifice that all over for her."
"You won't have to wait long," Hatori assured me, a small smile growing on his lips. "Love has a way of working things out, and it's obvious you two love each other all too much. It's gotten to a point of unhealthiness."
"I hope you're right, Hatori," I sighed, plopping down by my angel's bedside where I would wait forever.
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It was dark when I opened my eyes. At first, I thought it had all been a fantastic dream; that I was waking up to knowledge that that great adventure was only a dream; that Kyo did not exist. A strange world where I had not gotten my memories back, that I was no longer strong was where I laid; just for a moment.
But the sight of an orange shock of hair, shining like my own personal sun, brought me back to the world I belonged in; the world where everything was right. I had gotten my memories back; Kyo did exist. My world could go on.
The orange-smeared head moved, lifting so Kyo's brilliant red eyes met my own. Even sleepy and drooping, I could see the depth of past misfortune, present happiness, which had always reflected in his eyes. At least, it was there when I stared into the ruby orbs. My stomach flied, accompanied by the pulse of my heart, which led to the faster beeping of a background sound.
"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," Kyo murmured, smirking. His voice was still coated with laziness from his nap, but I blushed anyway. "You've been asleep for a good week and a half now."
"You're alive," I stated, not at all a question. Kyo nodded, shrugging.
"It wouldn't mean anything if you weren't," he replied, leaning in closer. "Hey, I know I've told you before, but I love you." Giggling, I blushed and leaned in, finishing his quest and pressing my lips against his.
Kyo's lips, warm and soft, moved perfectly against mine, his tongue slipping into my mouth. For the longest time I battled him in a war of tongues, until finally breath ran out and I pulled away for much needed air. The heart monitor was going crazy.
"Aishiteru, Kyo-kun," I whispered in his ear before pulling completely back and sighing happily. An insanely big grin grew on Kyo's face, and for that moment, I thought he was glowing.
"God, Tohru, you're too perfect," Kyo muttered, falling back into his own chair. "How could I not love you?" I giggled, rolling my eyes.
"I could say the same for you," I said. "So, I guess this is 'Happily ever after,' huh?"
"Definitely."
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"I love you, Tohru," Kyo chanted in my ear as he traced a trail down my cheek, neck, arm, and back up again with his lips, his soft butterfly kisses making my heart soar.
"And I you, my Kyo," I whispered back, pulling his face back up to mine. Kyo pressed against my chest with his own, slowly guiding me down, via the hand on the small of my back, to lay flat on the bed. Giggling, I kissed the indentation below his neck, licking it afterward.
"Kaa-san, Toto-san!" a little voice yelled, causing both Kyo and I to jump apart. While we sat, still panting, on direct opposite sides of the bed, the door swung open, revealing our four-year old girl, Kumi. She had blazing orange hair, just like her father, but it was solely my face that was her own.
"Geez, you two were at it again," Uo-chan's voice muttered from the hall, and I knew she would come up with a playful scolding. M best friend stomped into the room, slightly moody with her accustomed mood swings.
Uotani was four month pregnant and only beginning to show. Kureno, her husband, of course, was the father. It would be their third child now, since the first birth was to a pair of twins, both resembling their father all too much. Her wedding had been an amusing one, between Kureno, as he was forced to change his last name instead of the stubborn Uotani, and me, when I was already with child.
"We only have one beautiful girl, though," I pointed out with a smile. "You have two already, and another on the way. It's easier to space them apart, I heard." Kureno bustled to the doorway, carrying his two identical sons, only two years old.
"We're sorry for intruding, Tohru-san," Kureno muttered, plopping the two boys on the ground. Yori and Nori rushed over to me, jumping to my waiting arms.
"Tohru-chan!" they cried together, enveloping me with their hugs. I smiled and hugged back, ruffling their brown hair lovingly. "We missed you, Tohru-chan!"
"Aww, I missed you guys, too!" I exclaimed, kissing their cheeks and huffing them up. "Next year you'll be in my class, right? I'll be mad at Kaa-san and Toto-san if you aren't!"
"'Course we'll be, Tohru-chan!" Yori said, scoffing. He brushed a hair from his eyes and rubbed his nose while Nori sneezed. I laughed at the expression they shared before I set them down again to run off and play with Kumi.
"They're adorable," I told Uotani and Kureno, a smile growing on my face. Nyoko strolled in, Cho on her tail. They were both nine now, and thought they were so grown up.
"Mama and Papa are gonna be late," Nyoko informed me, frowning apologetically. "Mama is having a checkup. So I came here with Uncle Yuki and Aunt Machi. They're outside, along with Hana-nee and Shishou."
"Tell them we'll be right out, Kyoko-chibi," I said, using the pet name that Nyoko thought was getting a bit babyish for her. Scowling, she ran out with the ever-silent Cho on her tail.
"It's great that we finally broke the curse, right, koishii?" I asked, kissing Kyo softly. He only nodded, burying his head in the curve between my neck and shoulder. "We'll save it for later, ok?"
"As soon as they're gone," Kyo replied, chuckling. I smiled along with him before grabbing his hand and guiding him out to greet out guests. "Aishiteru, Tohru."
"Aishiteru, Kyo."
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I apologize for it not being separated. Um... Yeah. Review? I hope you liked the ending. Btw, koishii means darling/dear/beloved, etc. And Aishiteru, of course, means "I Love you." Um... That's it. Thanks for reading! Check out my other stories, okay? Thank you again. Ja' ne!