*Muse Tunes: "Concerto in F Minor for Violin, Op. 8, No 4, RV 297, "L'inverno (Winter): I Allegro No Moto" by Vivaldi, "The Living Sculptures of Pemberley" by Jean-Yves Thibaudet, "Chosen: The Necklace" by Robert Duncan, "Unworthy" by Vancouver Sleep Clinic

*Author's Note: Hi all! Hope everyone's been doing well. Thank you so much for your thoughts and support on the last chapter! Knowing there's folks out there still following along with this story makes all my incessant (sometimes obsessive) planning/editing/rehasing/re-rehashing/head-meet-table pounding worth it. It's been a while since my last update so I won't waste any more time. Without further ado, here's the next chapter!

CHAPTER 8 – Maestro

Sohma Main Estate – Five years earlier…

…Patience is a virtue…

Hatori had always hated the saying. It was a banal and entirely overused platitude so often repeated as to essentially lose all of its original meaning…and yet the sentiment had never felt so evident as it was standing in his office after Yuki's phone call, watching the chaos unfold.

It had taken only three seconds of listening to the flat drone of the dial tone for the stunned Zodiac to start talking (and then yelling) over each other. Hatori had remained frozen where he stood, clamping his jaw down almost painfully against the growl building up in his throat as he passively watched the others. Waiting for the storm to pass even if all he really wanted to do was to kick each and everyone of them out so he could think. It was only by sheer force of will he maintained his trademark cool composure through the entire ordeal.

Despite appearances patience was not a virtue he'd been naturally blessed with. It had been born out of necessity, first by his father's strictures. Then endlessly tested by Ayame and Shigure before finally being perfected by Akito. Needless to say, when all hell broke loose in his suddenly too-tiny office he knew better than to interfere no matter how much he might want to.

Turns out patience was a virtue, from time to time.

Only when the last of the shrill voices finally, finally faded into muffled nothingness beyond his office doors did he allow himself to collapse back into his desk chair, both physically and mentally drained from the days' revelations. He let out a long shaky breath as he rubbed his aching temples in time with the pounding in his head. He had a fleeting desire to pour himself a stiff one.

Would drinking sake this early for the second day in a row constitute him a lush?

If he was being honest with himself what he really craved was a smoke, but Mayu had made him get rid of his last pack of cigarettes over a month ago. Frustrating woman, he mused fondly, a small smile flitting across his face before he winced in pain again from the throbbing in his head.

What he actually needed was some painkillers and a couple of solid hours to lay down in complete, uninterrupted silence. It sounded like bliss after the morning he had.

Even now his ears still rang with the cacophony of voices that had filled his office for a solid hour after Yuki's metaphorical bomb. Emotions had run high today, for which he couldn't say he truly blamed any of them. As if it hadn't been enough that he'd snuffed the sunlight from their lives when he'd taken Tohru from them, they had in a sense lost Yuki and Kyo too, and all in a single night. It had been a shock. More than a shock really, and while the reactions had been wide and varied amongst the Zodiac to Hatori certain things were finally beginning to make sense.

It was no secret that Yuki and Kyo had been important to the family head (for vastly different reasons) but only a few of them really knew why. For years the boys had been the central pieces in a game they had no idea was being played. More than that, they'd been the key to Akito's self-validation…her proof once and for all that the Zodiac bonds were eternal.

It had started off well, but all of that changed when Tohru came along, bursting into their lives like a ray of pure sunlight. With every day the boys spent in Tohru's company Akito's iron grip on them began to slip. The greater it slipped the more erratic her behavior became until Hatori could only watch, wait and hope there wasn't an increase to the casualty count.

But then one day all of that changed too, leaving him truly befuddled. Akito had gone from an angry, ranting mess to smugly confident almost overnight. He hadn't understood her strange shift in attitude until months later, when he'd been informed of his part in Tohru's fate…mere hours before he was meant to carry it out. Clearly Akito had believed herself to have won, only to have it all fall apart.

Looking back at the whole picture he could almost see the dominoes as they fell one by one. He couldn't say what specific moment was the catalyst for the breaking point, but he knew when it came down to it Akito had only herself to blame. He wondered if it had been this very realization or the severing of the bond itself that finally pushed her over the edge into a prison of her own making. Whatever it was it without a doubt happened during the confrontation with Yuki and Kyo. Or soon after.

Hatori frowned. If he had figured that out there was no question in his mind that his Machiavellian friend would've realized it as well. Normally this wouldn't give him pause, but Shigure hadn't been acting at all like himself lately. The look in his eyes when Yuki said their curses were broken…

It was almost…

Hatori shook his head. Shigure might be angry at the foiling of his plans, but he was neither foolish or reckless. He only hoped the man's focus would remain where it should be: on Akito and the running of the Sohma estate. Both of these things, however, were proving to be difficult.

Every day that passed with no evident change to Akito's condition multiplied their concerns. As her doctor his chief interest was in her recovery, of course, but Hatori was neither blind nor deaf to the growing tensions at the heart of the estate. Kureno might still be managing the administrative day-to-day but he wasn't Akito. Without her there was only so much they could do to keep things in line.

It had only been a few days and there was a growing list already of people requesting audiences with the Family Head. Of these, Kyo's birth Father was amongst the loudest and most persistent. Junichiro Sohma had stopped by every day since graduation, demanding to know when they were locking "it" up as promised. It was little more than annoyance now but the man was completely unstable. There was no telling what he would do if he didn't get satisfaction.

And then there was Ren. The troublesome woman was growing suspicious of Akito's lack of presence…poking and prodding where she shouldn't be (and fanning the flames between her most loyal maids and those that served her daughter). Akito's staff had thus far managed to keep her at bay, but chances were it was only a matter of time before things got out of hand. Ren could not find out about Akito's condition. Of this he was absolutely certain. All of their futures would be at stake if she did.

Faint scratching at the door thankfully disrupted the foreboding turn of his thoughts. He looked up just in time to see Momiji enter the room and quickly slide the door shut behind him.

"The others have all gone then?" Hatori asked, eyes searching the younger man's face for confirmation. When Momiji nodded he allowed himself to finally relax while his ward sat in the chair opposite to him. There was a drawn-out moment of silence between them, thick with lingering tension but not wholly uncomfortable. They had often sat together like this in the evenings, talking quietly, though it had been awhile since the last time.

Hatori scrutinized Momoji's face. The blonde's customarily open features were set in impenetrable lines, a rare occurrence for the usually expressive young man.

"You wanted to talk?" Hatori prompted after a while.

"Dah," Momiji replied softly. "There is something I wanted to ask you about. Have for a long time now. I…wasn't brave enough to hear the answer before, I think…but I am ready now."

Hatori's eyebrows briefly flicked up in mild surprise. "Okay…what would you like to know?"

Momiji squared his shoulders and looked him directly in the eye. Hatori could tell he was nervous about whatever he wished to talk about but whatever it is was obviously important.

"Ever since I was a child Papa did everything he could to keep me away from Mama. He always seemed terrified of the idea that I might cause her to remember…and yet after all this time…even with any number of run-ins and casual conversations…she never looked twice at me. Momo even pointed out I resemble her and she refused to even consider the idea. I couldn't help but think, if it really was as easy as Papa feared then she would have remembered me long ago."

"Momiji—"

"Not that I ever tried to make her remember, mind you. I do understand you know. Papa is scared because he doesn't want to lose his family. It turned him into a spectacularly cautious man, and for a long time that's all I thought there was to it. Then it struck me—Mama wanted to forget. She chose it wholeheartedly. I couldn't help but think if even some small part of her had been open to remembering again—"

"Momiji," Hatori snapped, immediately silencing the blonde. He knew where he was going with this. "It is true your mother wanted this but don't forget…Tohru chose this too."

"She did not choose this!" Momiji shouted, looking affronted at the very idea. "She may have agreed to it but it isn't what she wanted! It's not the same thing."

Hatori's expression immediately softened along with his voice. "And yet this is what has happened. I'm sorry but it's true. I can't change it even if I wanted to."

"But you can at least tell me if it's possible."

"Momiji—"

"It isn't right, Hari. After everything that she's done for us? It's not right. It's not what she deserves, or Kyo either. He's free of this now. They could have a normal life if someone gave them the chance. They deserve a chance."

Hatori sighed in defeat. "What exactly are you asking of me?"

"Has anyone that—you know—ever had their memories returned?"

"I have never heard of anyone's memories being purposefully recovered…but there have been a few old tales of accidental restoration. It is rare though. I've never seen it happen myself."

"But it can happen?"

"Maybe."

"How is it done?"

"Momiji—

"How is it done?"

"In the reported cases it wasn't something done so much as prompted. A…trigger of sorts."

"A trigger?"

"Something that forces the memories to the forefront. A familiar set of events…a thing or a place…sometimes even something as simple as a scent or a particular phrase. More often than not this results in a sense of deja vu, however if the reaction or the memory itself is strong enough…"

"Voila! Hallo memories."

"Essentially."

"So, this trigger…it has to be something meaningful enough to create a powerful reaction…or potentially sensory based?"

"Theoretically, yes."

The light in Momiji's eyes grew feverishly bright.

"Sehr gut…so then what about music?"

Present Day…

Tohru found herself transported to another time and place.

She was laying beneath a willow tree, watching the sunlight stream through gently swaying branches. Leaves rustled. Birds chirped. A warm breeze played with tendrils of her hair. Everything was soft and inviting. All was at peace. The world around her was filled with vivid color once again and she refused to question it.

Strong fingers wrapped around hers and it sent an unexpected bolt of electricity running straight up her arm. A stifled gasp escaped her lips as she looked around—only to meet the warmest pair of eyes she had ever seen. They were sunset-colored and so penetrating she felt as if they were able to see straight down to the depths of her soul.

"Is this heaven?" she blurted, making him chuckle.

"No, dummy. It's the beginning," he replied teasingly.

Tohru's brow furrowed in confusion. The beginning? The beginning of what?

She sat up and took a look around. Her companion simply propped himself up on one elbow, eyes dancing with amusement as he watched her. She tried not to get too distracted by his presence (even if the way his coppery hair fell in into his face was actually really cute). Instead, she turned her attention to her surroundings, taking note of all the little details.

They were sitting on a threadbare blanket near a pond, with two pairs of shoes lined up at one end. A light picnic had been set up at the other, teasing her with all sorts of succulent morsels just within arms-reach. The willow under which they sat spread out across the water, its branches dipping so low in certain areas that it nearly brushed the glassy surface. It very nearly enclosed the space, making for a pretty little hideaway. She could imagine staying here secluded from the world for the rest of her days.

Tohru frowned at that thought. "How long have we been here?" she asked, turning back to her companion.

"Since the end," he supplied unhelpfully.

She was getting frustrated with these non-answers of his. "And if I wanted to leave?"

"Would you like to?" he asked, though it came out sounding more like, 'Why would you?"

"Maybe it's time," she challenged, causing both his eyebrows to go up.

He pointed…to what, she didn't understand at first until she noticed there was something sitting at the bottom of the pond. Something she could've sworn hadn't been there a minute ago. Standing, she brushed off her skirt and walked to the water's edge, arching her neck for a better view. Still, she couldn't tell what it was.

Without giving it much thought, she stepped into the pond. The cool water lapped around her pleasantly as she walked until the water was up to her thighs. There the ground cut off to a steep incline too deep for her to walk through, and sitting at the bottom, almost glowing in a patch of light was a small, rusted metal box.

Something about seeing it there made her insides feel funny. Almost as if she had been waiting for this moment for a long, long time. Mesmerized, she felt an aching desire to open it.

"You should know—!" her companion called as he scrambled to his feet, startling her enough to get her attention. She looked up to where he stood at the water's edge, looking at her almost apprehensively.

"Yes?" she prompted when he didn't continue.

"That way will be painful," he warned..

She smiled at him sweetly. "But it will be real."

Without further ado she plunged into the pond and quickly began to kick her way further and deeper down. For the longest time it felt like she wasn't getting anywhere at all, that she was trapped in the nothingness between the surface and her goal. No matter how hard she swam the box remained out of reach. Then suddenly there it was before her, and she knew what she had to do.

She opened the lid.

Her hearing was the first of her senses to return. Muffled at first but growing steadily stronger until she could make out what sounded like voices coming from nearby, speaking in hushed tones.

Tohru's brow furrowed as she tried to make out the words. It felt like a long time before she could focus enough to understand what was being said. If only she could open her eyes, but they didn't want to cooperate.

"…a little fainting spell. She should wake soon enough," a woman's voice was saying in a soothing voice. "Just take it slow once she does. She'll probably feel pretty disoriented."

"You're welcome to use this room as long as you need to in the meantime, sir," another voice chimed in, this one male. "And if she needs anything once she's awake, just talk to the bartender. He'll set you up with anything you need free of charge."

"Uh…thanks," another voice replied, rich and deep, and a sudden thrill zipped through Tohru's body at the sound. She knew that voice. Her muddled brain was still trying to catch up with her ears so she couldn't at the moment say how, but the sense of familiarity was too strong to ignore.

A few more words were exchanged in farewell and then the sound of a door opening and closing. Her brow scrunched even further. Had everyone gone? Was she left here alone? Where was she anyway? Wherever she was it wasn't completely devoid of noises. She could hear…music? Distant, like a low pulse beneath the shroud of silence that had fallen over her surroundings. The symphony, that's right! She must still be at the concert hall then…but where—

Tohru's heart leapt when she heard a nearby shuffling. So, she hadn't been left alone after all. She strained to hear where the sound was coming from and was far from disappointed when that same distinctive voice—deep and slightly husky and so sweetly, achingly familiar—started to speak again. It took her a moment to realize he was on the phone.

"Hey, it's me. Call me back when you get this. Something—something's happened…and I—" he broke off on a string of colorful curses that made her want to somehow blush and giggle at the same time. She could hear him end the call, which was quickly followed by a clatter she could only guess was his phone being dropped (or violently thrown). There was a long sigh, more shuffling and a creak…and then nothing. The room fell silent save for the swell of haunting music in the background.

In that moment of silence more of her senses began to come alive. She could feel a dull ache in her head and neck, the dryness of her mouth and the twitching of her fingers as they came awake. A nearby air vent kicked on and she shivered at the feeling of cool air brushing across her skin. The scent of leather and dust assaulted her senses and her nose twitched uncomfortably. More than all of this she felt a sudden desperate urge to open her eyes. The rush of images now playing behind them were far too confusing and intense. Even if a part of her was scared, even if every one of her nerve endings were on fire…she needed to see the truth for herself.

Slowly Tohru's eyes fluttered open, and she found herself staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling. She blinked up at it a couple of times and her heart sank when it became obvious the return of her color-vision had only been a trick of the eye earlier. Gingerly she turned her head to the left to come eye-to-eye with a wall of supple leather. Feeling the open air on her other side it took a few seconds for her to register that she was laying on a couch. But where? Was still the question. She turned her head again lazily to the right and froze.

She could see she was laying in some sort of office, with a desk and bookshelves lining the walls. A muted TV hung on the wall to her right displaying the orchestra playing on stage. A large picture window was directly across from her streaming in natural light and right in front of it, slouched in a chair with his back turned to her, shoulders stooped and head in his hands, was the figure of a man with the brightest mane of orange-red hair she had ever seen.

It had been no trick at all. He was here and she could see—in red at least—and if that's all she got for the rest of her life she would die a happy woman. It was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen.

Soaking in the sight of him her lips began to tremble. Tears pricked the back of her eyes, and she couldn't fight the need to call out to him. She opened her mouth but all that came out was a strangled gasp. His head shot up at the sound. She braced herself for impact but then he turned to look at her and she was instantly lost.

"Kyo," she managed between two rapid intakes of breath. It was all she could do not to hyperventilate.

Kyo seemed frozen to the spot at the sound of his name, but then something shifted in his expression and he was across the room kneeling in front of her. Tohru pushed herself up, never taking her eyes off of his as he studied her intently. She could feel the pressure of his hands increase on her arms as a mix of emotions flashed across his face.

"How much do you remember?" he asked, voice trembling.

Tears streamed down her face unchecked as she happily drowned in the familiar pools of warm amber. Her throat worked madly trying to push the words she desperately wanted to say past the intense emotions of the moment. In the end she only managed one, but it was enough.

"Everything."

It was barely out of her mouth when she found herself being pulled down into Kyo's arms.

Suddenly she was sprawled across his lap, her head pressed tightly against his chest as she was engulfed by his intoxicating warmth. In this position she didn't need to see his face to understand the intensity of his feelings. She could feel his body shudder against hers with every gasping breath and hear his heart thundering loudly against her ear.

That's when it struck her—the significance of her position.

She was in his arms. Kyo's arms. He was embracing her fully, without hesitation or restraint. The seconds ticked by and…nothing. No transformation. No poof of orange cloud. No ginger kitty angrily flicking its tail up at her. No beads pressing into her skin as his arms wrapped spasmodically around her. He was free.

Tohru's face twisted with raw emotion. She clenched the back of his shirt almost painfully as she tightened her arms around him and let out one relieved sob after another. He was free. He was free. Just as she had always hoped but never dreamed could truly happen.

Kyo was free.

It took them awhile to collect themselves but eventually Tohru moved off of Kyo's lap and he handed her a tissue box he found on a nearby table. He sat back down on the floor across from her as she thanked him wetly and began to wipe the tears from her face.

"H-how?" she squeaked out between sniffles. "How did it happen? When did it happen? Are you the only one, or are the others—"

"Whoa, whoa. Slow down Tohru! One question at a time," Kyo replied, his eyes dancing with amusement as he lifted his hands in surrender.

Tohru shot him a sheepish look. "Sorry, it's just…"

"Yeah, trust me. I get it," he replied. For a long moment they simply stared at each other until Kyo nervously looked away and rubbed the back of his neck. A slow smile spread across Tohru's face at the motion. "What?" he asked when he noticed the look on her face.

"Oh, nothing. Just…glad to see some things haven't changed," she replied with a teasing glint in her eye.

Kyo rolled his eyes but immediately dropped his hand to his side.

"So?" Tohru prompted when he didn't say anything.

Kyo sighed. "It's a long story—one I'm more than happy to tell you but maybe not here."

"O-oh. Right," Tohru replied and then blushed. Of course he didn't want to talk about that here, where any number of people could walk in or overhear. She looked up to notice he was staring intensely at her again. "What?"

"When did you, uh—your memories…? The last time we saw each other you didn't…"

Tohru watched as red crept up his neck and spread across his cheeks. And oh, wasn't that fascinating (and utterly adorable).

"I didn't then," she confirmed, her brow scrunching in thought. "I still didn't this morning, or even when I got here. Although…I did start feeling funny when—" Tohru gasped, and her hands flew up to her mouth when a familiar face flashed across her eyes. "Momiji!"

"Momiji?" Kyo repeated, looking confused.

"Momiji's playing! I don't know how or what he did but when he started to play…it woke something up inside of me. That probably sounds silly but that's how it felt, and then…You know, I don't even really remember except…and when I woke up I was me again. The old me. The new old me…crap! I'm not making sense, am I?"

"It's alright, I get it! I think," Kyo interjected with a soft chuckle.

"And you—you're the one who caught me didn't you? I didn't even know you were here, how did you find me?"

"I saw you walking up the aisle, looking completely out of it. Probably shocked the hell out of my friends when I jumped over them trying to get to you."

"Oh," Tohru breathed, feeling strangely disheartened by the fact that he was there with other people. Shaking off the feeling she automatically perked up and shot Kyo a bright smile. "You probably need to get back to your friends then. That's okay! I totally understand. "

"Tohru."

"I wouldn't want to get in the way and you totally have my number now so we can totally catch up later today, or whenever you want it's totally fine—"

"Tohru!"

"Uh-Um, yes?"

"Do you wanna get out of here?"

Tohru froze and looked up at him in surprise. He wore a teasing little half smile on his face but his eyes were completely serious, pleading with her to say yes.

"Yes," she breathed without a second thought.

"I need to go let my friends know I'm taking off and then we can go. Do you need to…?"

"Um, no. I came alone."

"Okay, good," Kyo murmured, looking almost relieved. "You'll stay here then until I return?"

"Y-yes. I'll be here."

For a split second a grin flashed across Kyo's face so wide that it momentarily stunned Tohru where she sat. Rooted to the spot, she could do nothing but stare as he jumped up and swiftly left the room.

As soon as the door closed behind him she let out a long, shaky breath and then laughed out loud at how giddy she felt. Finally, after all these years! Kyo was free, she had her memories back, and they were both here together in the same place. Was all of this really happening? Could they really be with each other now, just as she always dreamed? She yearned for it and yet she couldn't help but feel like maybe it was too good to be true. She wanted it to be, but years of disappointed hopes had taught her to be more realistic about such things. Until she knew more she would withhold her judgment.

Easier said than done, Tohru, she thought wryly to herself.

As it was, she couldn't help but wonder at the luck of it all, running into him the way she had ever since her return. Especially if one considered the fact that she hadn't seen him even once in the past five years…

And why exactly is that? A voice asked in the back of her head.

Of course, much of that time she'd lived outside of Tokyo…but…hadn't she asked him to find her? Begged him in that awful letter not to leave her in a half-life of blissful ignorance? For the past five years she'd felt so lost and alone without ever know why. She always figured it had something to do with her missing time, but she never really understood it until now.

That's when it fully hit her. Every single one of their meetings over the past week had been pure coincidence. Not just the first one but all of them…and each and every one of those times he looked shocked to see her.

He hadn't just been delayed on his way to finding her. He hadn't come after her in the first place.

But if that was true…where did that leave them now?

As soon as the door swung closed behind him all of Kyo's bravado left him and he sagged against the door in utter astonishment. Tohru was back. Not just the aged-up shell of a girl he once knew. His Tohru. The one who knew him inside and out. Who held onto him even in his lowest moments. Who loved him unconditionally despite all the shitty things that he did.

He didn't think it would ever be possible any yet here they were. He wanted to laugh and scream and then maybe run a few victory laps for good measure, but all of that would have to wait. As he stood back up straight, he took a couple of deep breaths and then shook out his hands until they stopped trembling. Once he felt a little bit back to normal, he quickly made his way from the director's office back down to the main hall where he slipped inside just as orchestra struck up a new piece. He barely gave them a second glance as he stalked down the aisle to where the Bushida's sat.

"Where have you been?" Mei hissed at him harshly as soon as he dropped into his seat.

"I'm sorry, there was sort of an emergency and I—"

"What? Is everything okay?" Ryu asked as he leaned over his wife to better hear him.

Kyo flinched when someone in the row behind them loudly shooshed at them, but he didn't have time to worry about that right now.

"Yeah, everything's fine but I'm going to need to leave."

"Kyo—"

"I promise I wouldn't be bailing if it wasn't important," he whispered urgently, making both Bushida's look at him with open curiosity.

"Okay, but you owe me one, Big Red. Don't forget!" Mei replied oversweetly, and then laughed when he scowled at the nickname.

"Whatever. Later," Kyo grumbled with a half-hearted eyeroll and a nod of farewell and was back out of his seat and up the aisle before either of his friends could protest.

At the door Kyo turned and looked back down at stage. Momiji was still there playing front and center, his golden hair practically glowing beneath the spotlights. The screens above the orchestra switched to a closeup of his face and Kyo could've sworn he looked directly at him. Unlikely as it was, he still gave his old friend and one-time rival a nod of acknowledgment for what he did, and not just for Tohru. He owed Momiji a debt of gratitude he would never be able to repay. To his surprise the blonde gave a subtle nod back…and then an all-too familiar smirk spread across his face and Kyo instantly bristled.

"Damn rabbit," he grumbled on his way out the door and he almost swore he could hear an answering bubbly chuckle.

*Author's Note: Ugh, I don't even know why this one was so tough to write…I've got this whole story pretty well planned out. I knew what major events I wanted to happen here, but sometimes it's hard to find the words, you know? Thank you guys for your patience, I know its been a sort of slow slog lately with this story. This chapter officially steers us in a new direction and I'm totally stoked about what's to come.

Stay safe and be excellent to each other

~Prose