Kyo returned every year to lay a lily on her grave. It was his way of letting her know she was never forgotten. Five years turned to ten turned to fifty since that night on the hillside. Kyo's orange hair had long since turned white, and his bones ached in way that medication couldn't fix.

He never thought he be the only one left of their little family. Shigure first; he left quietly.

"Hey, would you get Shigure up? We're going to be late!"

"He doesn't usually sleep in this long, he must have been up late last night editing that book again." Yuki made his way to the man's room, tapping on the door before opening it.

Kyo balanced on one foot as he slipped on his shoe. From the other room, he heard Yuki, hesitance giving way to panic.

"K-Kyo? Kyo, I think something's wrong! Kyo, get in here!" The cat hurried to see what was wrong, and a pit formed in his stomach as he saw Yuki frantically jostling Shigure, trying to get him to wake. Kyo reached forward and tried to get a pulse.

"I-I'm going to call for help!" Kyo let him do it, even though he already knew that it was too late. When the paramedics arrived, they only confirmed it. The hospital was able to offer them solace in knowing that he'd gone peacefully, in his sleep. And so, Shigure moved into the next life at only 43 years old.

It was after that morning that Kyo realized just how much Yuki had relied on Shigure to make him feel safe. Years of abuse from Akito had left their mark, and without Shigure to keep his fear in check, Yuki began to spiral into his anxiety. Kyo wanted to help him, but he didn't know how. It took several years for their lives to resemble normalcy again.

Even this was short-lived, however.

"I'll probably work late tonight, so don't bother waiting up for me." Yuki snapped his briefcase shut, heading for the door. Kyo thought nothing of it, nodding to him as he left.

Night fell and despite Yuki telling him he'd be late, Kyo felt uneasy as he got ready for bed. He couldn't get Yuki off of his mind, everything they had been through together ran through his head as he tried to settle into sleep. Finally, just wanting to get it off his chest, he reached for his cell phone off his nightstand and called Yuki.

Knowing he wouldn't answer while he was deep in his work, Kyo took a deep breath as he prepared to leave a voicemail:

"Hey, Yuki. It's random, I know, but I just wanted to say, uh - thanks. For sticking through... all of... all of this with me. I know I'm stubborn, I know I don't like to talk about... well, about anything. But I just want you to know that I'm really, really glad that we had each other. I know things have changed, but - but I'm still here for you, just like I was then. I... I'm still here."

Somewhat content with what he had said and not knowing what more to say, Kyo hung up the phone and let himself sleep.

He woke to the sound of his phone ringing at 3 AM - Yuki. He swiped to answer the call, his eyes still hazy with sleep. "Hello?"

"Hello - This is Dr. Akiyama at Kitomo Community Hospital. Am I speaking to Kyo Sohma?"

Kyo cleared his throat, sitting up as his heart began to pound in his chest. "Y-Yes. What's going on?"

"Yuki Sohma was brought into our ER roughly two hours ago after a serious car accident. He's currently in critical condition, but I assure you we are doing all we can. We'd like you to come to the hospital." The last bit wasn't necessary, as Kyo was already putting on his shoes and grabbing his car keys.

"Is he going to be alright?!"

"It's too early to tell. I'll be able to provide you with more information when you arrive."

"O-Okay. I'll be there in twenty minutes."

Sixteen and a half minutes later, Kyo burst into the emergency room, winded more from stress than his sprint from the parking lot. "Where is Yuki Sohma?!"

The man at the check-in desk directed him to a room nearby. Before he entered, a woman in a white coat stopped him. "Kyo Sohma?"

"Yes. How is he?!"

"Yuki's injuries are severe. Imaging has shown he suffered a significant amount of head trauma during the accident, which can have any number of ramifications. As of now, he has not regained consciousness."

"But he will wake up, right?"

"We can't be sure. He could wake up any moment."

"Or?"

"Like I said, we can't be sure yet."

"Can I see him?"

"Of course." Dr. Akiyama stepped aside and allowed Kyo to pass.

Yuki lay still on the bed, a ventilator down his throat. Kyo shook as he approached him, desperately wishing to suddenly wake up and realize it was all a twisted nightmare. He examined Yuki's face - a ghostly gray he had seen only twice before; seven years ago on Shigure, and that morning as the sun rose on Tohru's last day. Despite knowing this, he clung to the sliver of hope that suggested he might wake up, and they could go back to living their almost-normal life.

Kyo remained vigilant as he sat beside Yuki, eyes never wandering from his still form. It was nearing 7 AM when the doctor returned to the room.

"Mr. Sohma?"

"Yes?" Kyo stood eagerly, desprately trying to read the woman's gaze.

"We've had time to examine the results of the EEG. It is my deepest regret to inform you that the test confirmed that there is no longer any brain activity. The ventilator is keeping his other vitals stable for the time being, but... he's gone. We are so, so sorry."

Kyo stared down at Yuki, completely at a loss for anything to say, finding it difficult to catch his breath as tears stung at his eyes.

"I know this is a difficult time, but Yuki is an excellent candidate for organ donation. In his records you are listed as having power of attorney, so this decision is completely up to you."

Gripping the armrest, Kyo lowered himself into the chair, eyes wide with shock as he attempted to process what was happening. "Can I have some time to think about it?"

"Of course. There is only a short amount of time that his organs will remain viable through life support, so I must encourage you to make a decision as soon as possible. I'll be nearby when you're ready to decide." He nodded, and she left the room.

Kyo knew what Yuki would want, he wasn't even completely sure why he had hesitated.

"Wake up. Wake up, you damn rat!" The tears came freely now, and Kyo clenched his fists until his fingernails dug into his palms. He fell to his knees beside the bed, sobbing into the sheets.

Within the hour, Kyo had composed himself and spoken with the doctor. Already, they'd come to collect the body and get the process started. Just before they took him away, Kyo squeezed Yuki's hand.

"I'll miss you. Say hello to Tohru and Shigure for me." It was all he could get himself to say without breaking down again, so he released his hand and nodded at those who were pushing the bed to leave.

A nurse handed him a bag of Yuki's belongings - among them, his cell phone. He saw the missed call from himself, and one voicemail left unread.

After that night, Kyo shut himself into the house and refused to be visited by anyone.

A hollow ache settled deep in Kyo's chest as he wandered from the gravesite. He wasn't entirely sure where he was going, but the destination didn't matter so much as the act of getting there.

Kyo.

He whipped around. "Wha-Who said that?!" There was no one behind him. He knew that voice. It had been so long since he had heard it, he'd forgotten what it had sounded like. But nevertheless, it was unmistakable. Through the tears welling in his eyes, he swore he saw her - just a glimpse, rounding the corner. He followed.

It continued like that, winding through the city streets on that gloomy morning, Kyo desperately hurrying faster and faster after the voice that called him.

Before he had realized where he was headed, he found himself stumbling to the top of the hill he hadn't dared to visit since that awful morning all those years ago. That's when he saw her, standing there, not having aged a single day. He froze, his heart nearly leaping out of his chest.

"Tohru." She smiled sympathetically at him, holding out her arms. He threw himself into her, falling to his knees. Burying his face in her shirt, he began to sob.

"It's time to come home, Kyo," she whispered softly, taking his face in her hands. Relief flooded over him as he nodded, standing to take her hand. It was then he saw Yuki and Shigure waiting behind her.

He breathed a gentle sigh as the last fifty years of heartache lifted from his shoulders.

... Home.