Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry guys! I know it's been a while… I've been really lacking in motivation and pretty down in the dumps lately, but I'm ashamed of myself for making you wait so long! However, I did all my exams, revision actually helps! (I know right, I had to learn the hard way) and I got my science results back, for all you nosy parkers, or people actually interested in my life, I got a C in Biology and Chemistry and a B in Physics, super proud seeing as I don't give a damn about my sciences :)

The Kookie Monster - Aww thank you :)

Animefangirl95 – Well, over here in England we have these tests that basically give us qualifications that help us get into good collages and universities and help us get jobs later in life. Aww thanks! Writing stuff like that isn't easy for me, so it's good I got positive feedback on it!

Esther –chan – Thank you! Ahh, you're question will be answered in this chapter! I'm sorry I kept you waiting for so long!

Enjoy, and don't forget to review!

Chapter 10

The ride home wasn't long, but it gave Yuki enough time to think over the curse. The last two lines were bothering him. Without a doubt something was meant to happen with Tohru and Kyo.

It can't happen; Kyo isn't right for her. He's loud and rude whilst I'm charming and polite. How could Tohru resist me? Oh, what to do?

He continued on his journey home planning a way to make Tohru his.

~O~

'Kyo! Scrub harder! They'll be home at any minute!' Tohru yelled scratching at the burnt pieces of egg stuck to the bottom of the pan and failing to remove any. Kyo grabbed her arm and dragged her away from the kitchen.

'Tohru, we have people who are paid to make this house look nice and clean pots and pans; you don't have to. And you're right, Yuki and Shigure could be home at any moment… and you're still in your night clothes.' Tohru glanced at herself, wide eyed, before running upstairs and getting changed.

As she walked down the stairs, now dressed, Shigure stormed through the door, Yuki following swiftly behind him, muttering incoherently.

'Tohru?' he called out, 'I must speak with you urgently!' both Tohru and Kyo greeted Shigure with nods telling him to continue, 'I'm so sorry, but, Akito wants Tohru to leave the house, her position as Governess terminating immediately.'

Tohru's eyebrows furrowed, 'what do you mean! What have I done? I can't leave! I need you all; don't make me go back to my aunt and uncle, or Thornewood! I can't take it!' she yelled, tears streaming.

Kyo leaned against the banister, one leg propped, his hand running through his hair. He couldn't let her go. It would hurt too much. 'How long does she have?'

'A month, then she has to leave. Nothing, with Hiro… gone and Kisa back in her mute state, Akito feels your service is no longer required.' Shigure replied, before quickly moving into his study and closing the door behind him. Yuki, smirked smugly to himself, as long as the cat doesn't get her I'm happy. He thought.

'Hiro's funeral is in a few days; at least you'll still be here for that. We still have each other then.' Yuki replied politely. She nodded and walked away from him and into the school room. She frowned at how brightly it shone despite the now sad memories that lingered within its walls.

She walked over to Hiro's desk, her vision blurry with tears. She could almost hear his voice helping Kisa as she struggled with her Japanese symbols. Tohru stroked the desk, her fingers tracing his name on the smooth wood.

His desk was right by the door; she walked out onto the stone steps towards the oak tree. The sky was a clear blue and the breeze was delightfully warm. She sat under the oak tree and brought her knees up under her chin and cried.

The loss of both her parents had already left a crack in her heart, now the though of having to leave her new family and having lost Hiro only made that crack bigger.

Her chest ached, she tried to hug her knees closer in desperate hope that the pain would go and that somehow the crack would fix itself.

Kyo watched her walk to the oak tree from the roof. He sighed, he knew she was upset and though he wanted to help her he knew he had to give her some time on her own. He leaned back on the roof, stretched and fell asleep in the sun.

~O~

'…Hiro, was a beloved member of the Sohma family, he shall be greatly missed.' Akito finished her speech and bowed her head in respect.

All of the Sohma family, Mine-chan and Tohru had gathered to the Sohma's graveyard. They were all standing around the freshly dug hole. The smell of dirt drifted to Tohru, reminding her of both her parent's funerals. No tears came though, she had cried enough in the past week, at the moment she felt slightly content. She knew this was Hiro's last step to heaven.

The boy's gravestone had made her smile a bit, it was the normal shape, but at the foot it had a sleeping ram and read:

Hiro Sohma
Beloved Son, Brother, Friend and Sheep
Rest In Peace
1857-1872

She looked up at the sky, the grey clouds reflecting the atmosphere surrounding her, Mother, Father, please look after Hiro up there; he's lovely and very important to me and Kisa, I need some peace of mind, please promise me.

A drop of rain hit her nose and she smiled. Her mother often said raindrops were really the tears of ancestors; Tohru knew her mother had heard her. She felt something grab her hand; she jumped a bit before turning and seeing Kisa who, like herself, was not crying, she gave Tohru a small smile, they both had what they wanted.

Closure.

Kisa glanced in the direction of a woman whose body was rippling with silent sobs, one hand on her mouth, the other on her pregnant stomach. After inspecting the brown eyes, the blonde hair, the facial structure, Tohru had no doubt that that was Hiro's mother.

The woman locked eyes with Tohru and, despite the tears that were zigzagging down her cheeks; she gave a small smile and nodded at her. Tohru bobbed back and Kisa smiled at both of them.

She gave Kisa's hand a reassuring squeeze, and pulled her in front of her so that she could watch the coffin being lowered into the ground and throw a handful of dirt on top. That's when Kisa broke down. She dropped the dirt and watched as everyone else did the same.

A thin wall of wood and dirt separated her from Hiro; she felt her heart shatter at the thought that the last time she saw him was when he started to die. That was her last memory of him, despite all of the ones they had made, that was the one that would be the clearest.

As the grave diggers poured the rest of the dirt on top of the coffin Kisa dropped to her knees and buried her hands into the dirt that was slowly turning into mud from the rain, watching the hole slowly fill, widening the gap between her and Hiro, every shovelful thrown on stabbing her like a knife through her chest.

No one went to console her; they all looked on her with pity. Tohru came to her rescue; ordering everyone inside from the rain. Everyone followed her orders, even Akito, only Hiro's mother looked at her, their eyes locked in a mutual understanding for the other's feelings.

They had both lost a boy they loved.

Granted it was for different reasons, but either way it still hurt them both. The woman looked up at the sky, closing her eyes and letting the rain hit her face. 'Don't stay too long, Kisa, Hiro wouldn't want you to catch a cold, would he? He'll be missing you, but,' She moved over to Kisa, her eyes glassy, as Kisa's began to overflow, and placed a tender hand on her shoulder, 'he wouldn't want you to join him just yet."

With that, she glided inside, turning to give a sad smile towards the tiger and closing the door to the inside behind her.

As soon as the door closed she let herself break down. She sobbed loudly and let out a loud high-pitched wail. She ripped out her hands from the earth and brought them to her face. She knew mud was going to be in her hair but she didn't care.

Who did she have to impress now anyway?

The rain came down heavier; the wind picked up and blew her hair so it stuck to her wet face. A loud clap of thunder followed a flash. Had she not been so upset, it might have pleased Kisa that the elements seemed to be reflecting her mood.

Suddenly, she felt herself poof, had her grief really been so strong that she had changed? She looked down at where her body should have been to see a small, feline body. Her shock distracted her from her crying and after a few minutes she changed back.

She slowly pulled her clothes back on and stood up, her hands balled up in fists as she looked at the small carved sleeping ram, 'No.' she said to herself, firmly, 'Hiro wouldn't want me to be like this.'

She looked up at the sky the rain masking the tears that refused to stop flowing from her eyes before looking at the soil rectangle in front of her, visualising Hiro, despite the tightness of her throat and the new tears forming, she spoke to where she imagined his head to be, 'I'll come back every day, I'll tell you everything, I swear to you that I will. If not… you can haunt me.' she smiled before turning her face serious again, and speaking the words she had never had the chance to say, 'I… I love you Hiro, so much.'

She let out a defeated sigh before turning to the door, refusing to look back, she walked towards the wake. Her hair was wet, muddy and in her face, her hands and cheeks caked in mud and her formal black dress was sodden and clinging uncomfortably to her skin.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened the door.

WHO ELSE CRIED? I know I did writing this. Man, emotional stuff right there. So, this is only part 1 of the funeral, we still have the Wake and stuff so watch this space! Next chapter won't be as long a wait. I've got the holidays coming up, so the next chapter should be up in the next few weeks!
Much love! Olivia x