WORSHIP

Tohru helped Akito back to her room so he could rest. She sat and read to him until he fell asleep.

When she was finally sure that he was in a deep enough sleep that she could speak her mind she talked to him. "You must think I'm so foolish." Akito cracked an eye open, and then quickly closed it. "I worry about everything all the time. I'm always messing up, and yet… even now… I still think that, somehow, I can make a difference." Tears were building up on her lower eyelids.

Akito thought to himself. 'Yes… I think you're foolish. You cannot change my fate, or our fate, but your innocence has helped me better understand the reasons why…'

"Don't think that I'm just saying these things because they are what you think, I think you want to hear them. I just don't know if I can keep trying if you're gone." The tears spilled over and began running down her cheeks.

Akito opened his eyes. "Now that's just selfish." He chuckled a bit, "and then again, I don't think I could rest knowing you would stop trying."

Tohru blushed. He had listened to her the whole time. She couldn't speak.

He reached out and grabbed her hand. Akito's hands were so cold, but hers were warm. "Akito…" Tohru stood up and moved closer to the bed. "I… I want you to stay with me."

"I want to stay with you, Tohru."

Tohru's eyes went wide. Akito's body started glowing; a faint blue light blinded her for a moment. Suddenly multiple smaller lights went shooting out of him. "Akito! What's happening?"

"It was always known, that when I die, the curse will be lifted…" His voice was so far away.

"AKITO!" Tohru cried out, grabbing onto his glowing figure, and pulling him close.

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First it was Shigure, and then it was Yuki, soon followed by Kyou. They all froze, and were hit by a bright light. They could feel its heat radiating inside them, and then… nothing.

"Something's missing." Yuki said when they all could catch their breath.

"Akito!" Shigure said in horror.

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"Tohru…" It was almost like a dream. The voice was so far away, and so cloudy.

Tohru opened her eyes. It wasn't LIKE a dream, it WAS a dream. "Huh?"

"Tohru…" She could hear her mom's voice. It was so close now.

"Mom? Where are you? I can't see you!" Tohru rose to her feet, looking around frantically.

"Tohru, listen to me! Akito, is…" Her voice faded away.

"What? Mom, what do you know about Akito?" Fear was seeping into her blood, making it cold.

"You like this boy, don't you?" Her mother spoke.

"Yes! I don't want him to die! You have to help me, mom, please!" Tohru fell to her knees. "He doesn't deserve to die, not yet!"

"Tohru, listen. Do you love this boy or not?"

Tohru's eyes widened. "Love?" She didn't know what to say. She had kissed him, comforted him, and she did care about him, but LOVE! "I… I don't know."

"There's nothing I can do, unless you tell me." Suddenly her mom appeared, and the darkness disappeared. They were now sitting in a field of flowers. "Just tell me, it's alright."

Tohru's eyes filled with tears. "Everyone I love dies! Dad, You, and now… Akito…"

"Say it Tohru!" Her mom's voice got firm. "Say it out loud."

"I… I… I LOVE HIM! I LOVE AKITO!"

And her mom only smiled. Tohru's eyes drifted closed.

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"Akito!" A dark voice came into his mind.

"What do you want?" He was so weak, and his head hurt so badly. He knew he was dieing.

"It appears I cannot take you with my right now." A cloaked figure appeared before him. "It seems that someone is fighting me from above… I will come for you again though, that's a promise!" Death faded into the darkness once more and pain went with him.

"I…I… I LOVE HIM! I LOVE AKITO!" The loud voice woke him from his sleep. Tohru was next to him in bed, holding onto him for dear life. "Please don't take him away from me!"

"Tohru?" Akito smiled down at her. She was dreaming. "How could you be sleeping at a time like this?"

She slowly opened her eyes to the sound of his voice. "Akito?" She blushed realizing that she might have said… that thing… out loud. "OMG! Are you alright?" She sat up immediately feeling his forehead.

"I'm fine, I'm fine, but…" He turned away from her.

"What is it?" Tohru leaned closer, to hear his whisper.

"Will you say it again? Will you tell me that you love me again?" His eyes met hers, and they were so close.

"I love you…" She breathed, and then his lips locked with hers.

Shigure burst through the door, followed immediately after Kyou and Yuki. "AKITO!" In shock the two lovers broke their lip lock. Shigure chuckled, while Kyou and Yuki's jaws hit the floor. "Well, I was just about to ask if you were alright, but it appears your better than the rest of us."

"WAIT! Let me explain!" Tohru face turned candy apple red.

Akito's arms wrapped around her from behind. "It's okay… Thanks to you, the curse has been broken without my sacrifice." He leaned in to graze her ear with his lips. "I love you, Tohru."