Prompt four: teaching Kyo to cast a patronus (with curse)

Trigger warning: This chapter has family abuse/violence.

Like most Sohma love stories, it started with God. Or in this special case - Akito.

Just like every other God before him, Akito was born a squib. And just like every other God before him, he took his anger out on his younger cousins.

Kyo always got the worst of it. He was made to come in to the Sohma house mid-August and serve for Akito until it was time to go to Hogwarts. But as hard as he tried to be a loyal slave, Akito always had a problem with him.

Kyo was cursed at everyday. He was made to feel as if his existence was worthless.

In the beginning, if his hands shook while bringing Akito his tea, Akito would throw it on him. They were lucky Hatori was an expert healer.

But despite all visible markings being healed, not even Hatori could heal Kyo's wounded heart. At ten years old all Kyo knew was martial arts and that he was the outcast of the curse. He didn't want to go to Hogwarts after those first two weeks with Akito. He didn't want to be around anyone ever again. Akito said if Kyo stayed with him in the mansion instead of going to Hogwarts, he would stop being so mean to him. Kyo desperately wanted to stay. He just wanted to be alone and for Akito to stop yelling at him.

Rin came to him the afternoon before they were supposed to leave for Hogwarts. He begged and pleaded to be left alone but Rin was having none of it. "I've been through this, Kyo." She had said. "Trust me." This was the first time Kyo realized that he wasn't the only one Akito abused.

Rin was the year of the horse and a year older than Kyo. She was also the only one who didn't look at Kyo like he was a monster. She saved that for Akito; it gave Kyo the tiniest bit of hope that she didn't hate him as much as the world did.

She led him through a weird town and then behind a shopping complex, and they finally stopped at a brick wall. He watched carefully as she tapped a circle of bricks with her wand.

And then - to Kyo's amazement, the bricks shook. At first he thought the wall was going to come down on them. But suddenly, the middle brick fell backward. And Kyo saw from the tiny new hole in the wall that there was a town behind it. The bricks then rearranged themselves so that Rin and Kyo could enter.

That was the first time Kyo was surrounded with people who could also do magic. He saw people who didn't have to hold anything because their belongings floated along after them. He saw a book that waved at him. He saw kids flying around on brooms- actually flying. Initially, it had freaked Kyo out. But then Rin led him to get a wand.

Hatori and his Sensei from the dojo were waiting for them there. Kyo hesitated because Akito said that if he ever saw Sensei to ignore him or Akito would beat him. But then Sensei opened his arms and ten year old Kyo knew nothing except that he longed for a hug from the one person that was almost a parent to him. Sensei was a muggle so Hatori told him that this meeting would be erased from his memory after leaving, but Sensei simply hugged Kyo tighter. "I want to be here for you." He said.

That was the last time Kyo hugged anyone.

When Kyo finished his first year at Hogwarts, he didn't want to go home - to the inevitable punishment Akito was going to serve him.

And like every other Sohma love story, Kyo's also involved a spell. It was the end of fourth year when Kyo had been reading "Harry Potter - a True Wizard Till the End" by Aberforth Dumbledore.

He was currently on the chapter discussing how Harry and his friends had formed the DA in order to teach themselves about Defense Against the Dark Arts, and he was particularly interested in the Patronus charm. It was used to fight off a monster called a Dementor. When Kyo looked them up, he was shocked by how similar their description was to Akito. Soul-sucking. Caused the world to turn cold. Brought out your worst memories.

Maybe if he learned to cast a Patronus, he could fight off Akito.

He wasn't allowed to practice magic back in the muggle world, so when he went back home to Akito he had no defense. The only thing that gave him hope was that he was a wizard and he would teach himself to cast a Patronus.

He was practically bursting with excitement on September 1st of his fifth year when he boarded the Hogwarts Express with his cousins. During his second week, he'd finally found an empty classroom he could use during lunch time to practice.

He spent his first day there practicing the wrist motions. Everyone knew that no spell could be cast if one's movement of the wand was incorrect.

The next day he began to say the incantation. "Expecto Patronum." He said it a second time, with a flourish of his wand. Nothing. Not even a feeling. "Expecto Patronum." He hoped saying it louder would improve his case. No change. "Expecto Patronum. Expecto Patronum. Expecto Patronum. Argh!"

He stood there in the empty room, feeling despair creeping up on him. How could it not work? He pounced onto the book, checking to make sure he was pronouncing it properly. Expecto Patronum - nope nothing wrong with his incantation. Was it how he was moving his wand?

Kyo spent the rest of the hour practicing.

He checked out a different book during lunch the next day. The first one had said he just needed a good memory to help him produce a Patronus. This new book said that it had to be a particularly amazing memory. Kyo almost threw the book out the window in anger.

A good memory was his first step into the Hufflepuff common room. That was his only good memory! It might not be such an amazing memory to everyone else but it was to him. If that didn't work, did that mean there was no hope for him? He went to lunch with a solemn look which Yuki immediately picked up on.

Now, Kyo didn't like Yuki very much. Yuki was the Sohma everyone adored - even more than Akito. And Kyo hated how easy it was for him. How easily he had been accepted by everyone when Kyo wasn't. However, Yuki had saved him this summer. He had asked Akito to allow Kyo to accompany him, Shigure, Momiji, Haru, Rin, and a group of people from Hogwarts to go camping. The whole trip was supposed to be for three weeks, but Akito only allowed Kyo one. Nonetheless, it was still something. It was odd being around a dozen, happy people - but Kyo would never forget it.

Kyo wondered if he was indebted to Yuki now.

"What?" he asked gruffly, noticing Yuki staring at him.

"You've been skipping lunch for the past few days." Yuki said slowly to his orange-haired cousin. It wasn't like him to butt into other people's business, but him and Kyo were the only cousins to be sorted into Hufflepuff. And he knew the burden the curse was on Kyo. He felt responsible for it - afterall he was born in the year of the rat and it was the rat's fault the cat had lost. Or so he'd been told by Akito. "I was wondering why you had come today."

"I got hungry." Was all Kyo said. He usually ate his lunch in silence. Most Hufflepuffs knew Kyo wasn't much for conversation and could sense that he was especially broody.

Haru came to see them before the end of lunch. He was born with naturally two toned hair, but he had put some green streaks in random places to support Slytherin in their Quidditch match this weekend. Kyo thought it was more of a darker tone than the color on the Slytherin flags, but he kept his mouth shut. Haru and Rin were dating and Haru already didn't like how much attention his girlfriend gave Kyo.

But surprisingly he brought up Kyo's name in conversation. "You should bring Kyo." He was saying to Yuki. Kyo looked up for an explanation, but Haru had already left.

"Bring me where?" He asked Yuki.

Yuki looked just as confused as him. "Haru and some of his friends were planning to go to Hogsmeade this weekend to relax and get some drinks."

"What friends?"

"Well his Slytherin buddies and Momiji. He was supposed to go with Rin, but she's busy with a special project. So he thought it would be us cousins and his friends."

Kyo made a face and stood up. "This weekend?" he asked.

Yuki nodded. "I - uh - I'd like it if you came." He said suddenly. "I could use some help choosing a gift for Rin's birthday present and you're good friends with her. You probably know what she'd like, right?"

He held his breath waiting for a response. Yuki knew his cousin hated him; he knew it long before Akito had told him. And it was for good reason afterall. So Yuki constantly felt guilty as a child. And he felt guiltier still when Akito asked Kyo to come live at the mansion instead of him. Everyone knew how Akito was. But they'd let Kyo go anyway. At least it wasn't them. He'd managed to look past it once at Hogwarts, where he was surrounded with friends, vast information, and magic. But he felt as if no matter how big his smile, no matter how kind his words, nothing would make up for the fact that it was his fault that Kyo was the outcast.

He hoped Kyo would join them. He wanted to at least try to bridge something between his cousin. Maybe one day Kyo could forgive him.

Kyo thought the last part of Yuki's reasoning seemed rather rushed. "Why don't you ask Hatsaharu what she wants as a gift? Rin is his girlfriend after all."

Yuki chuckled. "You know how Haru is about Rin. I know it's just a small gift but I don't want him to get the wrong idea."

Kyo nodded. Everyone thought Haru was crazily overprotective of Rin - but Kyo supposed one had to be when Akito threatened to tear them apart every time he saw them together.

So the weekend found Yuki and Kyo walking quietly behind a group of Slytherins and Gryffindors. The Slytherins were Haru's friends, and the Gryffindors were Momijis. Even though he was only in his first year, almost everyone in the school had taken a liking to him and he had a large group of friends.

A few people - Kyo noticed - had been with them during the camping session. One girl in particular stuck out. Her name was Tohru something, he recalled vaguely. She had been surprised by the color of his hair and commented how closely it resembled her mother's. Kyo had asked if her mother was in the Weasely family because he often got mistaken for having similar ginger hair like them. She had laughed. "No." She twirled her hair in her hand. "I don't have many pictures of my mom but it's nice to see you- I mean that you - that someone has hair like her. You remind me of her." Tohru smiled. Kyo noticed that although she sounded very sad, her smile didn't waver. He didn't know what to say to that and had only had a fleeting moment to realize that her eyes were an amazing blue color when she was called away by Momiji. Even though he hadn't attended Hogwarts until this year, Momiji had become instant friends with Tohru and Kyo hadn't had a chance to have another proper conversation with her.

She made eye contact with Kyo and waved at him from ahead. He waved back, his heart jumping from being reminded that her eyes were indeed an amazing shade of blue.

The group split up once reaching Hogsmeade and Yuki followed Kyo to a Quidditch supply shop. "She already has a great riding broom." Kyo said, walking past those. "Maybe you could buy her some armour? Or a good book on Quidditch strategies."

Yuki nodded and began to inspect the bookshelf. He knew more about Quidditch than Kyo, but he still engaged in conversation. Kyo thought felt awkward the entire time - he was so used to hating his cousin. But maybe (like everything else) he should ignore what Akito said. Okay, yes Yuki was born in the year of the rat but that wasn't his fault. No one had asked for the curse.

Yuki finally decided to buy her a fake quaffle that one could hide bottles of butterbeer in.

After a couple of hours of just small talk, they decided to go eat. Momiji and Tohru came in right after them and their cousin broke out in a smile and reached to hug them both. "Kyo! Yuki! I've been wondering where everyone went."

Kyo stepped back to avoid his hug and Yuki gave him a look.

Rin had done Kyo a favor and made sure that no child born after Yuki would know about Kyo's other form. Momiji, Kisa, and Hiro had no idea how the curse truly affected Kyo, and while their hugs wouldn't turn him into a monster Kyo still avoided their affections.

Kyo requested they head to the book shop across the street next. He wanted to see if there was anything there about Patronus charms.

They found the rest of the group also in the book shop. Yuki left to talk to them while Kyo started toward the back. He found Tohru there, reaching for a book three feet above her. Using the magical lever on the side, it came down easily and when she turned to leave she noticed she had company.

"Oh, hello." she said brightly. The book she was holding was about Godric Gryffindor.

"Hey." he said.

Tohru simply watched him for a moment as he assessed her. She didn't know much about this orange-haired hufflepuff. She'd seen him become pretty popular their first year, but after that he seemed to distance himself off. All the kids he used to talk to said they hadn't caught up with him in a very long time. She wondered what had caused such a change. Tohru recalled that during the camping trip he'd participated in a lot of activities but he was always reserved, only speaking to those he knew. She wondered why he was so closed off. She wondered if he was lonely.

"Momiji said you guys are cousins. Is that true?" she asked, feeling a sudden need to know more about this boy.

Kyo nodded. "Yes, Momiji, Yuki, Haru, Rin, and I are all cousins."
Tohru's eyes widened each time he said a new name. "But you guys look nothing alike! Well - maybe Yuki a little bit. Yuki looks like he could be your brother."

Kyo made a face. "I've always thought Yuki and Haru looked alike because they both have a hairstyle that has the color white. Well, Yuki's hair is more silver but you know what I mean."

"No," Tohru laughed. "You and Yuki both have that same quiet nature and brooding demeanor. Of course your's is more closed off - ah - no offense." She was beginning to go pink in the cheeks and Kyo shook his head.

"Yuki and I are on different sides of the spectrum." Kyo said, and began his book search.

"Are you looking for anything specific?"

Kyo thought about talking to Tohru, but he could see from around the bookshelf that Momiji was looking for someone - undoubtedly Tohru. "Nothing that I need help finding." he said bluntly.

Tohru took the hint and left.

Unfortunately, there was nothing there that Kyo hadn't already seen in the Hogwarts library. He felt at a loss. He couldn't let his life continue like this. He was tired of the way he was treated and because of the curse, he couldn't say no to Aktio.

Before he could allow himself a moment to despair further, Yuki found him and told him that they were all going to eat now. Kyo wasn't in the mood for eating anything, but he obliged.

They pushed two tables together at the cafe so they could all eat together. Kyo was seated in between Momiji and a Slytherin - meaning he would be conversing with no one during this meal. The atmosphere was surrounded with laughter and warmth but Tohru couldn't help but notice that Kyo didn't participate. She didn't know why, but her eyes seemed to naturally gravitate toward him. Was it his brightly colored hair that she wanted to run her fingers through or was it the way he looked at his cousins for acceptance every two minutes that interested her?

She met him in the library later that evening when he was looking for more books about a Patronus.

"Are you trying to learn how to do that?" she asked suddenly.

Kyo's eyes jerked up - he hadn't heard anyone approach. I must be really tired, he thought. "Yes," he sighed. "But they aren't teaching this to students until sixth year so I'm having difficulty with it."

"Why do you want to learn how to conjure a Patronus?" Kyo shifted in his seat - he didn't have a lie prepared but he couldn't just say that he was learning so he could fight off Akito. "Do you have dementors in your area or something? We had that problem for a while too." Kyo's eyes seemed to take interest in this so Tohru continued. "There were a bunch of criminals that were known to hide in the woods behind our house and the Ministry sent Dementors to find them. But unfortunately, they kept running into my mom and I." Tohru pursed her lips at the memories and Kyo wondered if real dementors were as awful as Akito. "She taught me how to fight them off."

"I - yeah you could say I have a problem like that." Kyo said and thankfully, Tohru didn't ask for more information. "And I've been trying for two weeks now but I just can't seem to get it right."

"During lunch?" Tohru asked. Kyo gave her a look and saw her cheeks shift into a pink color. "I- um I noticed you leaving early a couple of times."

"There's an empty classroom I go to on the fourth floor near the portrait of the one eyed man. It's usually empty around lunch time." He flips through the book for a couple more minutes before Tohru finally works up the courage to ask him if he would like her to teach him. He keeps turning pages for a moment, but his eyes aren't reading the words. Tohru wonders what is going on in that head of his. "Yes." he says, finally meeting her eyes. "Yes, I would like that."

There are many Sohma love stories. And all of them involve God and magic. The curse has always hung heavy over the Sohma members - they've managed to keep it a secret for the 4 generations now that have been attending Hogwarts. But like everything else, this curse has a breaking point. And that is what this love brought out.

Tohru is running ten minutes late and Kyo half expects her not to show up. He is pacing the room and trying to think of a happy memory when the door opens and the room fills with a scent of flowers and chocolate.

Tohru mumbles out an apology as she puts her bags down. She smiles at Kyo and asks him to show her how he conjures a Patronus. He waves his wand, focusing his concentration on the wall opposite him. "Expecto Patronum!" His shout echoes throughout the room and Tohru can tell he hates that it doesn't work. She can tell he takes it as a representation of his life.

But he says nothing.

Tohru tactfully tells Kyo that he's missing something. A Patronus requires a happy memory, she says even though he already knows that. "Usually your form and the way you recite a spell is all it takes. But not for a Patronus."

It takes a moment of her staring at him for Kyo to realize she is waiting for a response. He feels suffocated suddenly. By her hopeful eyes that mirror his aching soul and by his brain which can't seem to conjure up a happy memory.

"I have to go," he says, brushing past her suddenly.

She calls out behind him, but he's already gone.

He returns to the room three days later. He's noticed that Tohru has left lunch early this week and he knows exactly where she's going. The first day he thought nothing of it and even though he wanted to follow her and accept her help, he stayed behind and quietly forced food into himself. The second day was unexpected. He'd thought she'd quit when he hadn't shown up the day before. She still wanted to help him. The third day she got up Kyo felt a smile forming on his face. He takes a big bite of his lasagna before anyone can notice the change in his facial expression. Two sips of pumpkin juice later, he gets up and heads to the fourth floor and into a room next to the portrait of the one eyed man.

Tohru is inspecting a portrait in the far end of the room when the door squeaks - signaling Kyo's entrance. He joins her.

Instead of practicing that day, they make polite conversation. Kyo can tell Tohru wants to ask why he left so suddenly before and why he came back, but they avoid the topic. Somethings are better left unsaid.

They meet again on Monday and Tohru decides to give him ideas. A Patronus, she says, is running through the house without a care in the world. It is the fresh smell of homemade cookies and the excitement that comes from knowing that they will taste better than the last burnt batch.

Kyo tries, but the results are the same as they were last week.

Tohru tries again.

A Patronus, she smiles, is the feeling of opening your Hogwarts letter. It is the feeling of acceptance and adventure. It is the thrill of knowing there is a new chapter of your life. It is the wide, proud smile of your father, and the comforting touch of your mother.

This time, Kyo doesn't even try. He avoids her eyes and Tohru can feel her heart breaking for him. Kyo changes the conversation to Tohru's life. She doesn't push him to continue practicing - she won't forget the haunting look in his eyes when he submits to the fact that he has no memory of love from his parents.

They depart the room laughing about the time Tohru got paint in her hair and ended up looking like the character from Yu-gi-oh. Tohru ingrains his laughter into her memory.

The next day a letter from Akito arrives during breakfast and Kyo loses his appetite. He comes to the room early, avoiding lunch altogether.

His mood doesn't change with Tohru's arrival. He talks to her about martial arts and explains to her that it's all he had. Tohru doesn't ask why he uses past tense.

She uses his own words to fuel him. Think of the first time you performed a kick correctly, she says. A Patronus is the first time you take in that lung full of air and launch yourself at your opponent. A Patronus is seeing that smile on Sensei's face as he hugs you.

Kyo remembers that day vividly and tries to focus on it. A silver wisp comes out of his wand.

Tohru feels hope build in her heart before Kyo suddenly crumples to the ground. She is next to him in a flash as he presses his hand to his chest - unable to breathe. She holds him and squeezes his hand as he tries to regain himself.

Kyo had forgotten until just now that that after that day he won his first sparring match Akito had invited him to show him. Kyo had obliged - everyone had to respect Akito's wishes. Kyo had raised his foot up to do his kick when suddenly Akito pushes him down.

Kyo tries to get back up but there is a foot on his throat. He can hear Sensei yelling from the background and he hears Akito command Shigure and Hatori to hold Sensei back.

"How dare you?" Akito spits at him. "How dare you raise your foot at God? How dare you - a monster - disrespect me?"

Kyo struggles, "I just did what you told me." he yells. "I'm not a monster!" But his words fall on deaf ears. Breathing is becoming a difficult task and even though Akito is only two years older than Kyo and has no muscle in his body, Akito has all the power. Kyo knows how to fight back - knows that's secretly why Sensei has been teaching him martial arts - but he's malnurished from love. He accepts Akito's violence no matter how much he physically fights it.

Akito's foot doesn't rise until Sensei finally breaks free of Shigure and Hatori. Sensei doesn't bother doing anything to Akito. He lifts up fragile Kyo and makes sure he's still breathing. Kyo's still breathing, but the bruise on his neck doesn't fade for two days. He can't help but wonder why Akito treats him like this.

"I'm not a monster," he breathes suddenly and Tohru nods next to him.

"Kyo? What did you say?" Her voice is vivid and clear in his ear, and pulls him back to reality.

He closes his eyes and leans away from her touch. He'd been so focused on the memory he'd forgotten where he was. Any closer and Tohru would have hugged him. Tohru would have found his true form.

She keeps questioning him, even after his breathing is controlled and he is able to stand up again. Kyo avoids her questions and says, "I haven't eaten all day."

She yells at him not even noticing that this is the first time in her life she's ever raised her voice. She yells at him, hysterical from the idea that he's so weak from this. His eyes are exhausted. She should have seen that. She shouldn't have pushed him to try today.

At first Kyo is annoyed. Tohru has no idea what he's been through - she has no right to yell at him. And then he meets her eyes. She's not yelling at him because she's angry at him. She's yelling because she cares about him. Kyo can see in her eyes she's blaming herself and he feels bad. Kyo wants to comfort Tohru for worrying about him. He wants to hold her so bad it aches.

But he doesn't. With her help, he slowly picks himself up and reassures her that he is going to eat right now.

The rest of the week, Tohru sits with him during lunch. She just sits there making small talk and offering up jokes and avoiding talking about Patronuses. For that, Kyo is grateful. He doesn't know if he has the courage to do this anymore. All he wants is to sit with this new friend he has made and pretend that he doesn't have to go see Akito during the winter holiday.

Next week finds Kyo and Tohru back in the room on the fourth floor. This time they try a new tactic. Kyo observes Tohru while she speaks. While she raises her wand and casts the spell. And he sees it - erupting from a single bright spark of her wand as she smiles and her eyes twinkle.

"What is a Patronus to you?" he asks her as the lion runs around their legs.

A Patronus, Tohru answers, is seeing your mom finally noticing you. It is watching her realize that while she has loved and lost, she still has you. It is seeing your mom notice that you too, are broken from loss and that you need her.

It is having hope that life goes on even after you've lost your family. It is the first breath of fresh air in the morning when you realize you have another day to get it right. It is finally getting a chance to run your hands through your friend's brightly colored hair. It is your first friendship when you start a new school.

It is coming home to portraits of memories and a neighborhood full of smiling faces.

The lion begins to fade away as Tohru's story dwindles down. Kyo is left staring at the spot where it was when he asks quietly, "What if I don't have that?"

Tohru steps up next to him. She doesn't hug him because she has a feeling he doesn't do that with anyone. She smiles at him and runs her fingers through his hair. He closes his eyes in a brief moment of bliss as Tohru tells him, "We will find it."

And so they try. Kyo has forgotten how many times he's collapsed, but every time he does, he tells Tohru a bit more about his life. A bit more about the thoughts that surround him and of the dysfunctional family awaiting him back home. She doesn't know about the curse and she doesn't totally understand why his family allowed this to happen to him. All she knows is that he could never be a monster and she would spend her entire life convincing him if she had to.

So they continue. It is all the hope Kyo has.

And it is not taking a plunge in the water on the hottest day of summer. It is not having a picnic on the anniversary of a funeral. It is not the first time you hug someone who is falling apart and feel them accept your hug. Because Kyo has known none of these events.

A Patronus, Kyo realizes, is in everyday occurrences. It is having someone sit with you during a meal and talking to you not because they see that you're lonely - but because they want to. Because they want to hear what you have to say. It is knowing that happiness is not something that you have to chase, but that follows you if you let it. It can come and go but it is never lost. It is knowing that you don't have to force yourself to hold on to happiness.

A silver wisp of light appears, and then disappears. But Tohru doesn't miss the spark in Kyo's eyes. Something about that spark sends her heart into overdrive.

A Patronus, Kyo learns, is allowing people into your life even though they know your true form. It is allowing someone to know your weaknesses and still trusting them to see beyond that. Because every moment is precious, and there is no time to pretend otherwise. It can be allowing the family that you've always pushed away to share your burdens and it is seeing that a stranger is willing to try even when you have given up on yourself.

As the silver wisp turns into a spark and begins to shine and take form, Kyo realizes that a Patronus is believing in yourself. It is letting go of the image of the monster in your head and seeing yourself as a person. It is finding out that you didn't need a spell to fight off the darkness - all you needed was yourself.

Kyo feels something lift from his very soul as a small cat bursts out of his wand and runs toward the silver wisp of a lion waiting at the other side of the room.

He hears Tohru's wonderful glee of excitement and suddenly he is at her side. He his pulling her close to him and resting his body against hers. Her hands wind around his neck and she is hugging him back, all too eager to make Kyo feel the emotion tugging at her heart.

Because she knows it is there. She knows he has found his happiness, and he has found it with her by his side. She doesn't even mind when he pulls away a bit and his gaze drops to her lips. She is angling her face already and his lips meet hers.

He is cautious and slow. He's never done this before. He's never felt like this before and Tohru is responding back. He feels like the world could end but that this moment will last forever.

And then he realizes something. He's kissing her, and he's holding her against him. How is this possible?

She doesn't understand how much she loves him until he pulls away, shocked.

"What?" she asks him. Her lips are buzzing with the feeling of him, and she doesn't understand his facial expression. Why has he got tears in his eyes?

"I'm hugging you." He barely manages to get out.

Tohru pulls her hands away, but Kyo doesn't let go and she wonders what is going on. "Yes," she nods slowly. "Kyo what-"

"I shouldn't be able to-" he says quickly before pulling her against him again. There is no space between them and Tohru wouldn't have it any other way but she doesn't understand why he's crying.

Kyo can't believe this. Is it possible that-

Suddenly there is a knock on the door and Kyo pulls away, still crying. He opens it to find Yuki, Momiji, and Haru. All of them with tears running down their faces.

There is a patter of footsteps to their left and they turn to see Rin running toward them, crying as well. Haru opens his arms and she launches herself at him, holding him as close as Kyo had been holding Tohru. They let go and suddenly all five Sohmas are hugging each other. They are huddled together, just a body of tears and smiles.

Momiji is the first to say it. "The curse." He whispers as they pull away. "I - I think it's broken." he says with wide eyes.

"How?" Rin asks.

All eyes turn to Kyo because they already know the answer. He smiles. "It's because of you," he says, turning toward Tohru.

She has no idea what is going on, but after seeing their display of affection, she knows it's something amazing and she has got tears in her eyes as well.

She steps up to Kyo and he pulls her into a hug again. It is less fierce this time and he drops a kiss on the top of her head. Tohru has no idea what she has done, but he will explain it to her. He never knew he could be anything other than a monster to the world. And then she found him.

She taught him love and she taught him to love himself. She taught him what happiness feels like. She taught him that he doesn't have to go through anything alone.

And as Kyo holds her against him and smiles, he vows to never let a day go by without Tohru knowing how much she means to him.

A/N: Sorry it took so long to update, my dear readers. This chapter specifically has been an emotional ride for me bc it hits very close to home. I just finished writing it but I haven't proof read it yet bc I can't get in my feels right now.

I can honestly say that I love this chapter - I'm sorry if it seems like I'm boasting. But I really am proud of myself for writing this. I could've gave Tohru some more personality honestly but this was more about Kyo and his struggle to find happiness. I have also always loved how happy Tohru was in the anime/manga. So I put in some insight into what could cause her patronus. I hope this made you feel good or at least something after reading this. Please leave me a review! I would love feedback and any critiques you might have.