A kyoru oneshot with some angst.

Two years now; that's how long it'd been since Tohru's mother passed away. She didn't want to worry anybody with her lingering feelings of sadness, so with her bag over her shoulder she walks out of the house to get some fresh air.

It was quite early in the morning for a Saturday stroll. The sun has only been up a couple of hours now; so the smell of dew drops and the chirps of early rising birds flitted through the air. Refreshing as it was, a heavy weight held Tohru down from the joys all the little things around her usually brought her.

She sighed deeply as a quiet cry passes through her lips. Quickly she reaches up to wipe her newly fallen tears. As long as it had already been, she thought it would be easier. The lonely she feels as she hugs herself, knowing it was nothing compared to the loving hold of her moms warm embrace.

*She's in a better place*, she keeps telling herself that, but the need to see her face to face and not being able to, left a gaping hole in the pit of her heart. Her mom was her best friend, aside from uo and Hana. She was just taken to soon and it's not the same as it used to be.

She falters a bit, stumbling forward to a squatting position. Her body lightly shakes as she takes a seat at the steps to Shigure's house behind her. A pain in her chest causes her frustration as another sob leaves her body. With a angered huff because of her emotions, she begins smacking her hands roughly against her own cheeks in a failed attempt to stop the tears.

That was when a large warm hand grabs hers. Shocked, Tohru's head flies upward, her eyes meeting the scarlet hues of her boyfriend, Kyo. He looked as if he was just jogging towards the steps to home. His eyes were worried but also understanding. "Kyo..." she quietly says, slightly shocked to see him standing there.

It was as if he knew she was there hiding from everyone at the house while she released her emotions. He releases her hand, placing it on the back of her head. He pulls her into an embrace, locking her in place with his other hand at the small of her back. "How long have you been out here?"

His question was simple but sounded so worried. A sob leaves Tohru before she even had time to stop it, but kyo only held her tighter. He let her stand there as she quietly sobbed into his shirt, until there were no tears left for her to cry. He couldn't be her mother's kind of affection, but he knew how to love her, and that was enough.

It was quiet for at least five minutes while he just stood there, embracing her, sharing his love and energy with her. Tohru sniffles one more time before she pulls back, giving kyo a halfway smile. "Thank you Kyo, it's like you always know when I'm sad wherever I'm at. I haven't been out here long though."

"Were you heading somewhere?" His question was quiet, afraid that if he spoke too loud, she would shatter like silence in a dark cave. His eyes said let me come with you as his hand held hers, tracing loving circles over the knuckles. Tohru lightly sighs as she looks down, nodding. "Do you want me to come with you?" His question was a simple one, but his eyes asked so many more.

"You don't have to..." her statement was stopped by Kyo's gentle thumb placed on her bottom lip. He traced it once before looking into her eyes. "But I want to. Do you want me to come with you or do you want me to go to the house?"

A single tear runs down her cheek as she nods. Kyo knows where she was heading, and he sure as hell didn't want her to face this day by herself. Not now or ever again. Keeping their fingers laced, kyo wipes her tear stained eyes and then pulls her along gently.

The walk was quiet for a few moments until Tohru's small voice broke it. "Thank you, Kyo. I love you." He hums in reply giving her hand three little squeezes, the gesture being his way of saying "I love you" without even saying it. For the first time that day, Tohru feels less heavy and more warmth flows in her heart.

Her mother can't be here for her anymore, but this amazing man will always love her and be there for her when she misses that big part of her life. With that thought, she falls in stride with him, a look that wasn't as lonely as before on her face. That's when she noticed they were almost to the train station. "Kyo, do you know were I was going?"

His eyes spare a glance at her, then face forward again. Squeezing her hand lightly he nods, his half frown confirming her thoughts. This was kind of a hard day for him too, considering the fact he somehow blames himself for the death of Tohru's mother. The fact he was willing to set that aside to accompany her to her mom's grave made her heart feel even warmer.

They boarded the train and took a seat side by side, never disconnecting their hands. The train ride was quiet, save for the few people going to town for simple shopping trips or other types of outings. Their stop came up quickly as well, and they were quickly out of the bus station to walk the rest of the way to their destination.

Her mother's grave was already cleaned and new flowers placed in each of the two vases. A burning incent stick placed carefully on a decorative plate filled the air with a sweet aroma that brought Tohru nostalgia. "Mom loved the smell of fresh cut strawberries. She always bought fresh picked batches of them from the market when she made shortcake or even milkshakes."

Tohru's reminiscent smile brought Kyo down to squat beside her. She pulls a book and a strawberry tart from her bag, placing the tart neatly on her mom's grave with her other assortments of offerings." What's this book? " Kyo asked cautiously, Tohru smiled at him lovingly before she turned the book and opened it.

"This is a photo album that has pictures of mom and I dating from as early as my fifth birthday to my middle school graduation." Her face blushes a little as Kyo's face became eager to take a peak. "Oh? Lemme see." opening up the book, Kyo comes face to face with a five year old little Tohru with a goofy grin plastered across her food covered face with a orange haired woman smiling affectionately at Tohru, instead of the camera.

"Mom took me to a new restaurant that day. She says I was the best behaved child ever when she took me out to eat, even if I got a messy face."
They both paused to giggle at the picture before turning their attention to the other photo. "Then we went to grandpa's where we played hide and seek." She points at a picture of little tohru peaking from behind her grandfathers legs; who seemed busy with something in the kitchen. Kyo chuckles lightly, gently running his hand through his girlfriend's hair.

She turned the page to reveal four smaller photos that look to be taken by a jitterbug camera. Outside an apartment complex with a sold sign standing beside them; must have been when Kyoko found a place for the two of them to live, Tohru smiled widely at the camera, holding onto her mom's shoulders who pressed her cheek against Tohru's smaller one. Kyo was fond of this picture.

"Thank you for showing me these. They're beautiful." Kyo says lovingly to Tohru, who looks up right as Kyo leans down to kiss her head. Their lips touch in an awkward accidental kiss, causing both to jump away as if they were caught in the act; Although technically they were the only two at the graveyard at that moment. Tohru stutters for what to say as she stands up, holding her lips, that still tingle.

"Should we head back to the house? I can make an early lunch since I didn't make a hot breakfast this morning." Kyo stood up but also shook his head. "We can head back but it's alright if you don't cook, I've been needing to get some practice in on some of my cooking anyway. I don't want to start burning things like shishou does."

Finally, as if breaking a barrier that wasn't there between them, Tohru laughs. It was small but warmed Kyo from inside out. He takes her hand, bowing lightly at Kyoko's headstone, giving tohru a chance to tell her mom she'd see her later.

The walk to the train station was relatively quiet, but tohru would occasionally be caught sneaking glances at Kyo, who would then in return squeeze her hand gently or brush her knuckles with his thumb again. The little acts letting her know he's still there for her even if she's not crying.

"Are you okay?" He asks as they take a seat on the train. There was only a lady sleeping so they pretty much had the whole cart to themselves. "I'm doing much better now, thank you. For letting me pull out pictures of her and I, letting me reminisce on the good times, laughing and crying with me." Kyo takes her hand, kissing the knuckles gently. "She was taken too soon, but I'll be here for you as you always have for me, my precious gem."

A feminine chuckle is heard from across the cart and the couple blush as they realize that they were being overheard on accident. The middle aged lady smiles warmly at them,
"He's a keeper, better hold on to him young lady." She winks at Tohru as the train stops, stepping onto the platform out of the train. The doors close leaving the blushing couple alone.

"I'm definitely going to listen to her!" Tohru whispers with a shy smile. Kyo's blush only deepens as Tohru's light airy laugh bubbles up and out of her chest. His embarrassment washes away and he finds himself laughing too.

It seems like she's back to her chipper self, but he still has this overwhelming feeling to watch how she's feeling for the rest of the day just to make sure she stays comfortable. He's definitely going to make dinner, the damn rat and dog aren't going to freeload off her today of all days.

The train stopped and Kyo led Tohru onto the platform and through the small crowds of teens and middle-aged people going about their Saturday errands. The smells from town snack stalls make Kyo's stomach growl and he's now not so set on getting back home at the moment. "Hey Tohru do you want to grab a snack while we're in town?"

Tohru looks to where Kyo is pointing and sees that he is already ordering ice cream. She giggles and nods her head. With that Kyo hands her an ice cream that is surprisingly her favorite flavor. She looks up at him with wide doe eyes and Kyo fights a blush, turning away. "Kami, don't look at me like that, I'm your boyfriend and... And you're always saying how strawberry is your favorite treat. Just like your mom."

His statement caught her by surprise, now it's her turn to try and fight a blush as her ice cream suddenly becomes very interesting to stare at. Kyo chuckles deeply and takes Tohru by her free hand as they continue to walk down town towards their road leading to Shigure's place. "I love you, Tohru. I'm always right down the hall, just knock on my door if you even just want to sit with me while I work. If you need company, I'll keep you. Always."

His large smile after saying that was genuine and so beautiful to Tohru, that she couldn't stop herself as she yanked on his hand intertwined with hers; pulling him down to her level, she kisses him. It's gentle and shy but to say it surprises both of them is an understatement. "Come on, let's get home, you didn't even get to change out of your jogging suit!" she says in a flustered hurry.

They pick up their pace and Tohru watches the trail in a bashful attempt to not look at Kyo, who is most definitely stealing glances at her. He might as well be staring at her, but his face is so cute with how surprised he still looks. "Well, we're almost home." Kyo suddenly says.

They made it to the stair way to hell and continued onward until they made it to the porch, only to be stopped in their tracks as Yuki opens the door to stare at the duo with a smile. "Welcome home miss Honda, how are you doing today? And you, cat?" He greets more Tohru than Kyo but he still acknowledges his existence, I guess that's a start.

Tohru bows at Yuki, apologizing for breakfast and lunch not being made, only for Yuki to place his hand on her head." There's absolutely no need to worry about that, Miss Honda. We ordered takeout and survived, all that matters to us is that you are doing okay."

The statement brought unshed tears to her eyes but she willed herself not to cry. She bows her head to him in thanks with a gentle smile. "Thank you all so much. I'm doing much better because I have you all with me. As much as it hurts without her; she's watching over me."

Yuki ruffles her hair affectionately again, nodding to the two as he made his way down the path Kyo just brought Tohru from. "I'll be back later, I just have a few things to deal with at the student council." With that, he was gone. Tohru looks from the path to Kyo, who had been watching her the whole time. His eyes widen and he turns a shade of red that would rival beats.

"Let's get inside and clean ourselves up for the evening." He says as he grabs her hand, pulling her into the house, only for Kyo to almost instantly slam right into Shigure. "AAAAAH!!! (:D) KYO and TOHRU!!! How good to see you! I was just about to take a walk somewhere to avoid my editor, would you like to join me in my antics?" His childlike demeanor betrayed his slightly evil intentions, making it difficult to take him seriously.

"Dammit old man your going to put her in her grave you know that?" Kyo shouts to the used to be dog zodiac, but it sadly falls on deft ears as Shigure had went into the kitchen and disappeared out the back door. "Good grief that old man's gonna kill or be killed one day. Which ever one comes first." Kyo's face froze as he turns to find no Tohru next to him. "I'm going to change my clothes Kyo, you go ahead and do that too before we start supper."

He finds her already halfway down the hall, but catches up to her before she enters through her bedroom door. Wrapping his warm arms around Tohru from behind, he kisses the top of her head, inhaling her flower scented shampoo.

"I'm going to take a shower, don't even think about cooking because I've already got something in mind to cook for you...and for Shigure and Yuki but mostly for you." The added comment makes the flustered girl laugh lightly as she looks straight up to Kyo. "Thank you for always finding me. You make this easier to go through."

"I'm very happy to hear that my gem." He takes her hand and kisses the knuckles one more time before letting go of her. "You read a lot of English Fiction, don't you Kyo?" The red head sputters at her statement as she goes inside her bedroom. "It's for English! I picked up the reference, but hey it works doesn't it?"

The door to her bedroom opens suddenly and tohru reaches up to kiss his cheek. "Yes, Kyo. Very much so, my darling." She says this slowly but in near perfect English, causing the used to be cat zodiac to stand flustered at her bedroom door for a good fifteen seconds before turning towards his room to get changed.

*I wonder what Kyoko would think of what just happened?* He thinks to himself.

End

AN: Yeah this became longer than I thought it would. It's just been a rough year and I have barely written anything so I decided to just go with the flow. I thought this was a good way to end an angst story. I threw in some touches of romance and slight humor but this was mainly aiming towards grieving the loss of a close and dearly loved one. I hope you all have a safe Halloween. Happy holidays my loves.