Lianu sighed as she sat down at the lunch table, her friends looking at her full of questions.

"Well? What happened to Tohru?" Jain demanded, leaning forward.

"She went home, I thought I told you that," Lianu shrugged. After she had met Tohru, the kind hearted girl had invited her to sit with Tohru's group of friends. Lianu was really happy she did, because she had made a great group of friends.

Well, except for Hojo.

He just had to go.

"What do you mean, 'home'?" Hiromi questioned, her brown eyes curious.

"You know she isn't from around here," Lianu began. "She's from a different city and only moved here because she had too."

"Her mom died, we know that," Atsushi shrugged bored, ever the sensitive one.

"Yeah, but her friends from that city missed her, so they came to get her."

"Wait, you mean she was kidnapped?" Moriko gasped in alarm.

"No, no," Lianu shook her head quickly. "Well actually, kinda, now that you mention it...Anyway, her friends came to take her back home because that was where she was needed. She's been transferred out of Tottori High and back to her old one."

"So, Tohru won't be coming back?" Hojo asked tentatively.

"No, she won't."

Hojo breathed a small sigh of relief. He won't have to worry about that freaky one eyed guy!

"But guess what Hojo did..." Lianu trailed off, her eyes narrowing at the boy.

~(0)~

Hey Mama, it's me. I really wish you were here, maybe you could've talked me out of doing something incredibly dumb and foolish. I-I guess I did jump to conclusions...

Tohru sighed, looking up at the starry world above her. She was up on the roof, after a very good day had passed. Everyone had been mad at her in the beginning, but now they were just glad she was home. She felt ashamed having worried them, especially Uo and Hana, her best friends. But they forgave her, and Tohru was so happy. She turned her eyes to starry world above, a smile on her face. Somewhere up there was her mom, watching over her.

I know I should've asked the Sohmas for help, but they've already helped me so much! I just wanted to return the favor...They would've been fine, they're the mighty Zodiac family! They were supposed to be fine if I went away...I don't think it worked out that way, Mama...I feel so badly about all this! I hurt all of my best friends by leaving, trying to protect them...I really wish you were here, Mama, you would know what to do...

But, I liked going. Is that wrong? I mean, of course it's wrong, right? The Sohmas are my family, this is where I'm supposed to be, so of course it was wrong...But, I actually liked getting to leave the Sohma house, meet new people, I made the greatest friends, Mama! And don't worry, I kept my promise to you. I went to school every day, and after that I even had a job! I worked at a yogurt stand. The man who owned it was also the man who I was staying with. Well, him, his wife, and his daughter. They were the nicest people, and letting me stay with them was such a nice thing!

Tohru blushed as she thought about what else she wanted to say.

I even had a boyfriend...But I don't think long distance relationships work out...

It was so nice getting away, it gave me another perspective on life. Even when everyone showed up at the Jing's house, I didn't really want to come back home. I liked being someplace new, where I could stand on my own two feet. It was a new adventure, I guess. Maybe I thought I was independent?

Mama, you would've loved it! There was always something to do, I even got to be a teacher's assistant! The children were so adorable! I just wanted to give each and every one of them a hug! They reminded me of Kisa, so sweet and innocent and absolutely cute!

I think I liked being there because...I found myself. It's not like I never knew who I was, you raised me right, I could never forget what you taught me! But I'm growing up, and a person can never stop learning. Maybe what I did was kind of like going off to college...

I love my friends and family, they are the best thing that has ever happened to me. But, the world's a big place, a place filled with friends to be met, places to still go, experiences to be had. Everyone has to leave home at some point, even if it breaks your heart into a million pieces. I think maybe because no one was there to make sure I kept standing strong, I had to learn to stand on my own two feet. I don't think I wanted to leave, but at the same time I did. This is home, whether I make new friends in different places or not...

I had such a good time Mama, besides the whole getting black mailed into deserting my friends and moving to a whole other town, but really fun. You would've loved my new friends just as much as the old! It was absolutely amazing! Well, I am glad to be home, though. I really missed my bed!

Tohru sighed, looking up at the starry world above, knowing her Mama was up there, somewhere, probably just shaking her head ruefully at Tohru's antics.

"Just be yourself, Tohru."

The voice was so familiar, almost whispering in the girl's ear. It was the one sentence Tohru could remember as clear as day from her mother, the one that gave her the most strength and encouragement. Tohru looked up at the stars, a smile on her face.

"I will Mama, I will."

~(0)~

A/N: Well, it's been fun! I really hoped you enjoyed this story, because I loved writing it. I'm sorry the characters went a little out of character by the end, but I guess everyone can go a bit out of character themselves sometimes. Thanks for reading, and have fun discovering the most amazing stories in the fandom!

~White Fairy Writer~