This is the chapter I've been dreading. I never thought I could quite do it justice, but hopefully it turned out okay. There will probably only be a few chapters after this, but I hope you guys are able to stick with me until I get there! The title today comes from the song "Your Hand in Mine" by Explosions in The Sky. I used another of their songs before for Chapter 3. They're flippin' fantastic. And sometimes, the best way to express a feeling is through an instrumental. I thought this song captured the mood of the chapter pretty well. I don't think that the way Kyo and Tohru are feeling can truly be captured in words, so a song with no lyrics was fitting, I thought. =P Thanks for reading! Please enjoy! :)

o.O.o.O.o

Momiji stands still and silent outside Akito's room. Looking at him, no one would guess the exact level of his anxiety, but he knew very well that it was high. He tries to listen through the door, but Hatori and Akito are speaking so quietly, it's difficult to pick up much. He steps back from the door, takes a deep breath and rubs his palms together.

Once he found out that Akito would let Kyo Outside, he was ecstatic, overjoyed, proud that the first phase had succeeded – until he was told the one condition. Kyo could only go on his little outing if Akito accompanied him. Hearing this, Momiji's ecstasy plummeted to his shoes. But Hatori – clever Hatori – had built-in authority over Akito's activities. As his doctor, Hatori said, he would convince Akito to stay home.

Now, the door slides open, and Momiji scurries a few steps to the right, not wanting Akito to see him standing there, waiting. Once Hatori closes the door, he gestures for Momiji to follow him down the hallway, out of hearing range. They stop after about thirty feet.

"So?" Momiji prompts, anxious.

"He's staying here."

Momiji breathes a mighty sigh of relief and hugs the doctor with full force. "Thank you!"

"Yes, well," Hatori begins after being released, "it wasn't easy. He wanted to wait until I cleared him, but we both know that would never happen. If we want this to be ongoing, however, we'll have to let him accompany us every once in a while."

"Well, I guess that's okay. Gah! Thank you so much again, Hatori!" As much as Hatori knows that the Rabbit can't possibly break his spine, he becomes more unsure with each moment that he's trapped in Momiji's grip.

O.o.O.o.O

Two Days Later

His palms are sweaty. He rolls his shoulders and pulls on the collar of the shirt they gave him. It's just a button-down, but he's not used to them anymore, and it itches. He clears his throat. His jeans are tighter than the kimono, too tight, bulky, and they don't move well. His tennis shoes are clunky, and he's unbalanced when he walks in them. They make his feet heavy. It's strange, he knows it's strange – he wore stuff like this all the time before. He checks the mirror in the bathroom just one more time – good. The bandages aren't showing. Despite Kisa's unrivaled skills, his hair's still a bit unruly. He runs his fingers through it, checks to make sure the bags under his eyes aren't too noticeable, there are no bats in the cave, and his buttons are lined up correctly. He clears his throat loudly and shakes his limbs, hoping to shake his nerves. He takes a deep breath. His cheeks inflate when he lets it go. Okay, that should be it – oh, wait! He smiles wide for the mirror. Alright, good, okay, nothing in the teeth. Another deep breath. His stomach feels weird. Maybe he should use the bathroom.

"Hey!" The door swings open, startling him. It's Haru, casual against the doorframe. "You ready to go?"

O.o.O.o.O

She took the whole day off, which is something she never does, never, but Shishou-san thought she should, and she believes him, she trusts him. She pulls on her skirt and straightens her blouse. Her left foot won't stop going up on its toes. The sides of her flats clench together when it does. She clears her throat softly, licks her lips because they're a little dry, and then can't help nibbling them instead. She tilts her head, puts her hands on her face, blocking out the world. Deep breath. Inhale. Her lips pucker when she lets it go. She wipes her face, hard, as she slides her hands away. She turns from side to side, making sure there are no wardrobe malfunctions. It's strange, she knows it's strange – she never used to worry about that before. Another deep breath. Okay. She's ready. Oh – wait! She smiles wide for the mirror. Alright, good, okay, nothing in the teeth. One more deep breath.

There's a knock on the door, and she jumps. "Tohru?" Shishou-san asks, his voice muffled. "Are you ready to go?"

O.o.O.o.O

The Keicho shopping center is bustling with people, perhaps in part because of the unexpectedly warm day, just as autumn was fully settling in. There's a park with walking trails and a playground just on the edge of the shops. Children's laughter can be heard down the whole street.

Kyo follows Hatori and Momiji like a lost puppy. The noise and chaos is reaching into his brain and poking it with cold fingers. He plugs one of his ears. He's shaking a little, and he's jittery. They suddenly stop in front of him, and he runs into the doctor.

"Here," Momiji says. Kyo doesn't notice the Rabbit's shaky breath. "This is where we're meeting. The playground. Let's pick a bench." His two companions don't say anything. "Alright, uh… how about that one?" He points to an empty park bench about thirty feet behind the swings and begins walking toward it.

"Uh…" Kyo says as he spins around clumsily, taking in his surroundings. "How will we know which way they're coming from?"

"We don't," Hatori says bluntly and pulls the Cat by his collar to the bench.

Once he sits down, Kyo can't sit still. His knees bounce, his arms don't know where to go, he bites his cuticles. Hatori lights a cigarette. Kyo takes a deep breath.

O.o.O.o.O

They can see the playground from here. They're getting closer. And there it is. She would know that shade of orange anywhere. She has seen it in her dreams every night since graduation. She can't help it – her eyes sting immediately. She and Shishou-san are to their left. He's sitting with two others on the bench, and they haven't noticed Tohru or Shishou.

She can see the outline of his face. He's fiddling with his hands and his knee is bouncing up and down, and she wants to cry.

And then the questions come.

Is he alright? Is he healthy? Is he eating enough? Is he getting enough exercise? Has he changed much? Does he still have his awkward smile and his kind heart? Does he think about her often?

And worst of all…

Does he still love her?

She takes a few deep breaths and looks at Shishou-san, berating herself for not thinking of him sooner. There's a light smile at the corner of his lips and a love in his eyes that Tohru only ever sees when he looks at Kyo.

Kyo bites at his cuticle and turns his head nervously. And then he sees them. And the world stops.

Kyo stands immediately and smooths his shirt. Hatori and Momiji follow suit. Hatori is the first to start walking forward, the only one in his truly right mind. Tohru can't take her eyes off of Kyo as they walk – so tall, so handsome, so much like how she remembered him. That last day comes back in a flash, a storm cloud and a knife in the heart on a day meant for celebration as they led him away after the ceremony, the diploma in his clenched fist a crumpled mess. It was not an achievement but another curse. They took that away from him too.

She fiddles with the too-big mood ring on her thumb.

Kyo stops in front of her. He looks like he's trying not to cry as he looks at her. All she wants to do is pull him into an embrace and feel his chest against her cheek, his strong arms tight around her in a way that makes her feel loved and safe and warm.

Kyo tries to say something, but it gets stuck in his throat. Instead, very slowly, he lifts his hand and places his palm against her cheek, strokes his thumb against her skin, wiping away the tears that she hadn't realized were there. Tohru closes her eyes, her hands clasped in front of her. She can feel his beads on her chin. After a moment, she opens her eyes and smiles slightly.

"Hi," she says.

The corner of his mouth lifts a bit at her simplicity. "Hi," he responds.

She watches as a stripe of a tear slowly makes its way down his left cheek, and her heart clenches – in a different way than she had become so used to.

Immediately, he removes his hand from her face and wipes it away, unwilling to show his whole self to the others here. Tohru's cheek feels cold.

"Shishou!" Kyo greets his master, and the hug he gives him makes Tohru just a bit envious.

"Momiji, Hatori!" Tohru exclaims, a part of her feeling a bit guilty for not greeting them sooner.

"Hello, Tohru-kun," Hatori says, his cigarette bouncing.

"Tohru!" Momiji greets her, grabbing her hands and bouncing up and down. He's taller than the last time he saw her. She wants to hug him, too, but for a different reason.

"So," Shishou begins, "what are our plans for today?

Tohru looks at Kyo and can't help grinning, wondering if this isn't all just a dream. The way he looks at her makes her wonder if he's thinking the same.