Chapter 23
They watch as his casket is lowered into the grave and sadly their eyes trail to the lone figure near the tombstone. The only one that dared to be that close to the Head. The murmuring stops as the red eyes look up expectantly and suddenly each one of them are dropping their roses onto the brown, wooden tomb. They walk away leaving the boy to mourn leaving only two others to mingle near the foot of the grave. One by one they enter the Main House in order to sit down for the supper Kisa and Tohru had prepared. They pay no attention to the sound of relieved sighs that escape all of them and pass the shared looks of happiness off as just the joy of being together again. Only the author glances at the door occasionally waiting patiently for the safe return of an unrequited love.
Broken, defeated whimpers escape him, but he doesn't cry. He had seen Domenic again and it had crushed his heart all over again. The man was as beautiful as ever and his eyes held a special light they had lost long ago. Domenic hugged him almost possessively and he smiled shyly before they parted. The man's reason for the contact had been simple, just an urge that had to be fulfilled. In the end they had both been satisfied. He had known then that Domenic had truly loved him but the abuse had altered his judgment. He gazes at Yuki and Haru knowing without a doubt he's the luckiest man in the world. Kneeling one last time next to the grave, he whispers, "I can't help but still love you. If you ever see me on the grounds while in your ghost form know that it's me crying for what we lost. You wanted to be forgiven and I wanted acceptance. You gave me everything, and I forgive you. I love you, Akito"
They know that Kyo will never stop loving his two former lovers despite what they had put him through, but they understand that their neko would never let them go. They're satisfied with knowing that the majority of his heart belongs to them. They smile sadly as they hear a lone dog bark knowing that the canine is responding to Shigure's distress. They don't bother with trying to figure out who loves each other more or who loved the neko longer knowing only a headache will result. If they did try to figure it out, they know they wont like the answer. Only one person had ever loved their kitten more than them and longer than them; that was the former Head.
Aya ushers Hatori and Shigure outside with a loud laugh and squeals, "We need a picture of all of us now that we're together again." Ritsu stands happily with a camera in his hands ready to click the button as he smiles at Ayame. Kyo rolls his eyes with a sneer as Haru tugs him onto the bench in between himself and Yuki. Shigure stands behind Haru with one hand resting on the teen's shoulder and the other around Hatori's shoulders. With a slight smile, the doctor crosses his arms then adoringly ruffles Kyo's hair before deciding to place his hand on the neko's should and the other on the back of the bench. Giggling Ayame kneels next to Yuki hugging him and he grins as the light flashes in their eyes. Proudly Ritsu surveys his work on the Polaroid and shows it to Aya for his approval. They press the photo into the album and Shigure sings, "One big happy family!" With a quick kiss to Kyo's cheeks, Yuki and Haru flash V signs for the next photo.
He lies in bed with Yuki cuddled up against him and Haru contently wrapping him in his arms. He sighs happily as he spots a shooting star and wishes for contentment. I never want to lose this. Thank you, Domenic. If it hadn't been for you then I'd never have seen what was right in front of me. I hope that you find your own happiness. He squints in the darkness, his eyes finding the figure he'd been waiting for. Akito's money is his now, all his luxury cars belonged to him, and the title of the Head rested on his shoulders until the new one was capable. He smiles at the dark eyed beauty that floats through the wall and ghostly lips gently press a final farewell kiss against his own. "I pray you know that I'll love you forever. In time I hope that you'll forgive me completely. It's my wish that on this plane of undead you can love me as purely as you once did. I can't express how sorry I am nor could I ever alter the past enough to give the cat a decent chance. Raise her well; the new Head is yours to care for," the spirit of Akito whispers and mutely he nods grasping for the man only to feel his fingers slip through cold air.
You can't help whom you love or how their love will affect you. All you can do is hope for the best and pray that the love you feel is shared. Love isn't about control, but equality. The ability to say I'll lave my life down for that man or woman and mean it. To love is to feel the greatest emotion on earth. Love has no standards or boundaries. I know that I love both Yuki and Haru and always will. I would die for either of them and their happiness means the world to me. However, I love Akito and Domenic, too. That doesn't make me a bad person, only someone who has the heart to love everyone equally. Love is found and lost, but always cherish it.