Thanks for reading the final chapter of Locked up But Not Locked Away, hope you enjoy.

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Kyo's Pov

I wake with my eyes popping open but stay still. For a moment, I think I'm still in the Cat's Room, but one rub of my hand across the sheets of my futon tells me otherwise. Last night's events come back to me in a rush and I remember everything. I let out a sigh, my mouth feeling dry.

So it wasn't a dream, I am out

Sitting up, I realize Tohru's no longer beside me. I look towards the window, the golden light hurting my eyes slightly as it streams through. It must be dawn, she's most likely downstairs fixing breakfast. From downstairs, I can hear talking and conversation. I throw off my covers and stand up

For someone who's only been asleep for a few hours, I feel more well-rested and refreshed than I had my last night here. I notice my walking's easier as well.

I open the door and walk up the hallway, only stopping at the hall bathroom to empty my bladder

It's official, there are some things I'll never take for granted again.

Getting to the top of the stairs, I slowly make my way down, careful not to fall.

Entering the dining slash sitting room I find Shigure, Yuki, and most surprisingly of all Hatori sitting around the table. I look around the corner. Sure enough, Tohru's busying herself in the kitchen. The dog's the first one to notice me out from the corner of his eye, his face lighting up somewhat.

"Well, he lives." He turns to look at me, the others, following his gaze. "So Kyo, you've finally decided to join us." I hear Tohro drop whatever she's doing, she turns her head to look at me. Blood rushes through my face slightly

"Finally?" There's a bit of confusion in my tone. "I've only been asleep for a couple of hours, isn't it just after dawn?"

"Not quite Stupid Cat." The voice sounds like nails scraping against a chalkboard. I turn slightly, even though Yuki's facing me and the voice was his, he's avoiding my gaze. He gets up from the table. "We've already eaten, but Tohru wanted to let you sleep...seventeen hours." That wakes me up, a chill running through me.

"I've been asleep for seventeen hours?" I retort a bit in shock. "But...but."

"It's true. What you were seeing out there is a sunset, not a sunrise."

Well damn.

I turn towards the doctor. I bite down on my lip and lower my gaze a bit, feeling my chest tighten.

"How long have you been here doc?"

"Only a few minutes, " he replies, "the only reason I'm here at all was to make sure you weren't dead if you didn't come down soon."

"Even so, sorry I overslept." Hatori puts his fingertips to his temple.

"Not a problem, your body needed sleep," he responds, the thin line spreading across his face, "and by the looks of it, it's already done you good." My brow cocks.

"Why didn't someone wake me?"

"Like Yuki said," Shigure states, "Tohru wanted to let you sleep."

On cue, Tohru comes from behind the corner and walks over to me. The blush returns, as she throws her arms around my neck, her eyes bright. Without hesitation, I lean into her, partly resting my head into her neck. She puts her mouth up to my ear.

"Good morning," she whispers, her words sending butterflies through my stomach.

I pull away, taking my fist and give her a gentle knock against the side of her skull. I smile.

"Good morning," I say, using my other hand to stifle a yawn.

She smiles back at me and walks over to the other side of the kitchen where the fridge is located. I see Yuki get up from the table. He walks past as he heads towards the staircase, leaning in slightly when he gets close.

"And like always, she's left your breakfast in the fridge to keep it fresh."

I watch as the rat then trudges up the steps without another word. I hear the fridge open. Looking I see Tohru reach in and pull out a bowl. I take a whiff. Judging by my nose, it's rice soup. My mouth begins to water, my eyes looking on.

"Not so fast Kyo," Hatori brings his fingers down. "Before you eat breakfast, I need to draw some blood."

My stomach rolls and drops but I nod. I walk over to my spot at the table and sit, hearing Tohru place my bowl in the microwave and rolling up my sleeve., The doctor comes over, producing a needle, tube, and vile from his coat pocket. From the other, he pulls out the sanitizing prep. I hold out my arm, pointing to the spot where my easiest vane is. He smirks slightly.

"Yes, I know," he answers, "just hold still."

"Hey Tohru," Shigure calls from over his shoulder. "After Kyo's finished eating, do you want to take him walking in the backyard to get him some fresh air and sun?"

"I'd be happy to," replies Tohru, looking over her shoulder.

The needle goes in with a sharp sting. I grimace but don't jump, watching instead as Tohru sets the bowl of warm soup down in front of me.

The rest of the day was a do-nothing evening. After I ate, Tohru and I did go for a walk around outside. It honestly felt good to stretch my legs, and not be limited by four corners. When I eventually became fatigued, we came back inside, and I laid down for another nap.

By the time I woke again, it was early evening and Hatori had come back to the house to confirm I did have the gene for phase two in my blood. That night, Tohru and I were too restless to sleep. We ended up going to our spot on the roof, looking up at the stars and making small talk. At some point, I found myself staring up at the moon.

After I ran away from Tohru, I was out living in the forest for a few weeks. The night before I returned to the Sohma Estate, before going to bed, I looked at the moon for what I thought would be the last time, knowing full well I wouldn't see it from where I was headed. I remember how my throat burned as I reconsidered my actions for a moment, thinking they were a mistake.

As I continued to gaze up, something new came over me. In the last twenty-four hours, I've regained my freedom and I'm with the girl of my dreams. I felt a single tear run down my cheek.

Something caught me out from the corner of my eye. I looked.

Across from me, Tohru looked to be doing the same, her face bathed in moonlight and her mind lost in thought. She looked breathtaking sitting there. She was practically glowing, like an angel or a flower in the darkness. It was then I made a decision.

"I want to be with you forever." I thought to myself. "If not as your boyfriend, then as a friend. or as a brother even. I don't care what I have to do, I'll always stay by your side. Wherever you go, I'm going to be right there with you."

My eyes open when I think I hear someone call out my name, I blink letting my eyes adjust. It looks as though I've only been napping for half an hour or so.

"What!?" I call back down.

"Kyo," Shigure answers. There's a certain edge to his tone that causes my stomach to get upset. "Come down for a moment, there are some things we need to discuss."

"Alright, I'm coming."

Something's wrong, I can feel it.

Before I came up here for my afternoon nap Tohru told me she would be studying downstairs in the sitting room if I needed anything.

I get up and walk out of my room, heart throbbing in my chest. Walking up the hallway, I begin to get a little lightheaded.

Carefully going down the stairs, I look around for Shigure. My heart stops. I see his, her black hair before entering the room. Akito's sitting at the table, her fiancé slightly sitting behind her.

If I wasn't feeling lightheaded before, my head's all but spinning now. Shigure looks, shifting his head and notices me.

"Take a seat," he invites, gesturing with his hand. "Akito has come by."

I swallow hard but disguise it as a cough. Within a few seconds, I wish I hadn't done it cause my mouth's now dry. Slowly, I walk over and sit at the spot opposite them. I look over my shoulder and see Tohru at the kitchen sink, I turn back. Before I get the chance to speak, Akito beats me to it.

"I'm not here to take you back to your room Kyo," she says, "so you can untuck your tail from between your legs." Her tone sounds more subdued and gentle then what I'm used to, I can actually tell she's a girl.

"Why are you here then?"

"To grant your wish of course," she replies. My eyes go flat, and I go still. "It can be almost anything you know. Have you given it some thought?" Tohru walks over, placing a glass of water on the table. I nod.

"Does that..." I'm cut off by Akito raising her hand, the ring catching my eye as it shines.

"Before you ask me, I'll answer," she puts her hand back down. "Becoming a zodiac and being freed from the Cat's Room has already been assured." I blink slowly.

"How can this be so?" I ask. "All phase two allows me to do is control when I change into a cat."

I hear and see the rat coming up one of the adjacent hallways. Shigure squeezes Akito's shoulder slightly. She looks up and sees him. He stops. She then smirks, nodding to him firmly. He returns her nod, a silent conversion between the two of them. She turns her attention back.

"The reason why you were released Kyo," her smirk spreads into a slight smile, "Yuki used his wish to set you free." At her words, Yuki's face changes to one of a deer caught in the headlights

Tohru turns her face to look at him, her mouth opening and closing without saying anything. I have to pick my jaw up before I can say anything more. The rat turns around, heading back up the hallway having not said a word. I shake my head.

"That can't be right."

"Oh but it is," Akito says matter of factly. "When Yuki realized he wouldn't be able to get you out on his own, he started digging through the family archive to figure something out. There, he found the document relating to phase two."

That was what Shigure must've been referring to during the conversation we had when I got back.

"The written document was so old; it was written on parchment." She sounded slightly astounded by this fact, "It was documented but it never actually occurred since the document didn't indicate how to achieve. I knew about it, but I thought it was a legend until..." she lets out a sigh, "until Yuki figured it out. The next morning after I felt his connection change, he came to me and made his request. " Akito's handballs slightly. "We came to blows, he threatened to reveal our secret to the entire world if I didn't comply. I made a deal with him. If you went through the second phase before midnight, I would grant his wish and give you your freedom. "

I recall the morning before I got out of the cage and how Yuki looked when he left, recalling how his stride looked strong and confident, like he had a pep in his step, and that look he gave me, was that his way of wishing me luck?

"That alone would've been enough for your release. After Yuki left, however, Kureno did something unexpected."

"What?"

"He left the zodiac." My eyes widen slightly.

"I didn't think a zodiac could leave."

"They can't, but Kureno's..." she trails off. Akito then grimaces and bites her lip. "Kureno's curse broke some time ago, around the time he was sixteen. Because I was worried that he and the others might try to leave me, I started keeping a tight leash on him."

"Why did he leave?" I ask her. She turns back to look at Shigure unsure.

"Partly because of our engagement," she turns back to face me. "but it's also because he met someone, Arisa Uotani."

There's a crash, we all turn to see Tohru hovering over shattered glass, a bit of water pooling on the floor. Her eyes are blinking but she doesn't say anything, though from here I can see her legs shaking slightly. Steadying herself, Tohru lowers herself down, picking up the shrouds one at a time, being careful not to cut herself. She looks towards the table.

"I'm sorry Akito, "I'll get you another one."

"No worries Tohru, it's alright take your time." Tohru walks back to the sink and fills another glass

"Yea, Arisa is a good friend of Tohru's from school," I state, "that's why the news was such a shock to her." Akito perks up at this information.

"Is she. Well if that's the case, tell Tohru she can reveal the secret to her if she keeps her mouth shut." Akito then shakes her head. "We're getting off-topic, the point is with the rooster temporarily removed from the zodiac Shigure and Kagura moved up a slot, but it also leaves an empty spot on the end," she looks me in the eye, "So I've decided to include the cat," she nods towards me when she says the last part. I feel more lightheaded and press my hand to my head, not having the words. "And I promise I will make room for the cat at the start of the next cycle."

"Th...Thank you Akito, I don't know what to say" My eyebrows raise. "What about the room?"

"The Cats Room is to be destroyed," she cocks her head, "can you guess whose job it is to destroy it?" A chill runs up my spine as I get an image of him in my mind.

"My biological father," I reply. She nods.

"It's an order directly from me, and the room will stay destroyed until the end of time. No cat will ever have to go through what you went through, you were the last Kyo Sohma."

Tohru comes back from the table and sets Akito's glass down for her while all the while my body's numb, and from the look of it, so's hers. Akito' clears her throat.

"Now that you know all that's happened up to this point, my original question still stands. What is your wish Kyo?"

I think about it, the first two things I've wanted for so long have already been taken care of and for a moment I don't know what to wish for. It only takes me looking towards Tohru to figure it out.

It's the one thing I've truly wanted all along.

"Akito," I answer, looking back at her. I get up from the table with Tohru watching me. "With everything that's gone on the past few days, I honestly can't think of anything more than being allowed to spend the rest of my life with Tohru." Tohru's eyes gleam and glisten with tears. "If she'll have me," I add.

"Kyo," she crosses the short space between us, her arms wide. I embrace her, legs going weak, but I continue to stand and pull her close to me. "Of course I'll have you. Like I told you during our reunion, no matter what happens in the future, we'll face it together. Alright?

"Alright."

I am never letting go of her again. Ever.

An empty pit forms in my stomach as I prepare myself for what I'm about to do. I pull away from her slightly, our bodies missing the contact. Tilting my head slightly, I go for it and make my move.

"Tohru, before anything else happens. Would you, um...." My words falter as my nerves start to get the best of me. Freeing one hand I tug at my shirt collar, feeling suddenly as though I can't breathe. "Would you... like to go out with me sometime?

"Oh Kyo," her smile gets bigger, "of course I will. How does tomorrow evening sound?" There's a glimmer in her eyes.

"Why, what were you thinking?"

"A picnic at sunset," she replies, "I know a great little spot not too far away from here."

"Perfect. Sounds good," I reply. I pull her in for a quick kiss, our lips touching softly

"Well done Kyo," I hear Shigure say. Pulling apart, we both turn to look at Akito. She nods her head in approval.

"Very well then,"

I watch from my perch on the roof as they carry a few bags into the house. A while after Akito granted my wish, she left and Tohru went to the store to have things for tonight's dinner. In the meantime, I decided to climb up here. When she returned, Shigure offered to help carry a few of the heavier bags inside for her.

Even though he's engaged to Akito. Knowing him, I still don't want to take chances.

There's a commotion from behind me, I turn and see the rat about to come through my window.

"Hey, stupid cat," he says, sticking one leg through and then the other with some effort. "I don't understand how you can do this every day." The calling me stupid part gets me annoyed but I ignore it. He walks onto the roof, his eyes wide and gaze ping-ponging around at the surrounding landscape. Yuki comes to a stop. "Wow. You can see everything from here, I can see why you like it up here so much." He gestures to the spot beside me. "May I sit?" I nod.

"Yes." He sits down and I go back to watching Shigure with Tohru, the rat leans forwards as well.

"If he tries anything with her, I'll have your back." I chuckle slightly. His tone turns serious. "Seriously though, Miss Honda sure is something isn't she?"

"Yes, she's quite a woman, " I answer watching as Tohru brings the last of the bags in. Once she's walked inside and has shut the door, the rat turns to face me, his brow raised.

"Quite a woman? She's changed Akito's point of view of the world and she has saved all of us in some way, you and I included. So no, Miss Honda's more than quite a woman. She's one in a billion, you should count yourself lucky to have her."

"I do," I answer, "and I will every morning and night I get to wake up and fall asleep next to her." He nods.

"Good," he pulls me in slightly, "because if you break her heart again, I will destroy you and make it so you'll never be able to walk again." All the blood drains from my face.

"I won't," I work quickly to change the subject. "Speaking of, how are things going with you and Machi?"

"Good," the rat replies, his face blushing slightly. "Things are going better than good actually."

The next few moments pass in silence and with them a tingling sensation begins to nag me from the base of my neck, Not being able to take it anymore, I turn to face him.

"Why did you use your wish to set me free?" I ask, breaking the silence. "After all said between us, why did you fight so hard to get me out?" He takes in a breath, pausing to think it over, lowering his chin and head. "Don't act like you don't know, you heard Akito tell me when she came by earlier." Yuki lets out a long, low sigh as he looks back up towards the sky,

"For Miss Honda," he responds, turning to face me. "If you think you've had it rough the past few months, how do you think she has felt?" A rock settles in my stomach. "After you rejected her, she came home crying. Even though she didn't tell me herself, I figured what might've happened. When you didn't come home that night, she got worried."

"I went into the woods and hid."

"I figured," he states. "When you didn't come home after a few days, we called Master Kazuma. When he informed us he hadn't heard anything from you either, we all got worried and I started looking all over for you. After your eighteenth birthday, I finally broke down and went to the Sohma Estate, There Akito, told me where you were and the true fate of the cat." My brow raises.

"Wait, you didn't know?" he shakes his head.

"No, none of us did. We were always told the cat was moved somewhere far away from the main estate to live out their lives in peace."

"That's only when they're buried after they die," I confirm. He grimaces.

"Akito also told me about the bet you made with her, " his face softens. "Every time we'd fight, you'd do it as if it were a matter of life and death, little did I know it actually was." Yuki then turns back and clears his throat. "Anyway, once I told Miss Honda what had happened, she felt like she had failed you '' The rat's face pales, his eyes shallow. "She became a shell of her former self, sure she appeared happy, but it was like she was lost. She started to have these breakdowns and would cry herself to sleep every night." Hearing this makes my insides ache.

"I can't imagine."

"Hearing her every night before she fell asleep, I decided to try to get you out of the cage. First, I tried just asking Akito for your release, which didn't work."

"Obviously."

"Finally about the one week mark, the thought crossed my mind, if I could get her to see you were okay, she'd feel better, and I also figured you were also getting a bit homesick as well, so I concocted a plan to make you both happy. "

"The hot food Tohru snuck me, " I say, "that was your doing?" He nods.

"Yes. I pulled Shigure aside and told him what to do. In return, I provided the ring he proposed to Akito with."

"How in the world did you get a ring?" The rat looks at me like the answer should be clear.

"My brother hooked me up," he replies. "Regardless, shortly after, I heard word that it had gotten a lot worse for you and Tohru got worse as well. I comforted her and told Miss Honda to focus on her studies, I also knew, however, if I couldn't get you out one way, I would get you out another."

"I'd take it this is where the others found out as well?"

"Yes, they were worried about her and asked what was wrong," he answers. "With this in mind, I started going through the family archive. Once I found phase two, it took me about a week to figure it out. I was checking up on her and she had cried herself to sleep. Looking at her, I made a vow that I would figure this out. Within a second later, I blacked out and had the dream. When I woke the next morning, I knew everything would be okay."

"That was the day you visited the estate," I say. "I woke up when you arrived."

"Uh-huh. I went to Akito and told her I wanted your freedom to be my wish, and that's the part you heard. When I left, I felt like I won a prize. That look I gave you was to try to clue you in that something was coming."

"How did my Master find out?"

"Where did you think I went after leaving the main house?" he asks sarcastically, "I went straight to the dojo and told him myself. Once I got back home and saw that Shigure had gone through it, I told him and Miss Honda what I had done minus the wish part. I only told Shigure when we were alone. Once Hatori had word that it came around to Kagura, he and master Kazuma went to go get you."

"What was Tohru's reaction?"

"Well at first, she was in shock, then once she got over it, it was as if she was back to her old self, she asked Shigure's permission and drew you that bath and then she came back into the kitchen to prepare dinner," he responds, "however, just before Hatori pulled up, it became too much for her and she had another breakdown. She excused herself and went upstairs to her room, I followed her soon after, I stayed in order to make sure she was alright. Once you were in your bath, she went back to cooking, and I..." He trails off like he's said too much, " I make the connection.

"You put the bathrobe on the bathroom counter."

"Yes," he admits, "it was me. I put it there and left as quickly as I could before you saw me."

"Why?"

"Because contrary to what you might think," he turns to face me, "Miss Honda's not the only one who's missed having you around." I gesture towards him.

"Really? You've missed."

"Yeah, it's been pretty weird not having you to brawl with a few times a day. Plus, the house has become too quiet for my taste." I chuckle at that slightly and turn back to face the sky.

"Whatever the case, thank you for looking after her for me." He smiles at me.

"You're welcome. I love her like a sister." Yuki looks out over the yard, letting out a slight sigh. "Miss Honda really loves you Kyo, more than you will ever know," he turns back to look at me. "Did you know she continued to set four plates at the table just in case you were to come back." A blush creeps across my face, I turn away. The rat smirks and looks at me. "You know, according to the old zodiac folktale, the cat and the rat were once friends." I perk up at his tone.

"Why are you telling me this?" I ask. "Even if we did start to mend things, it would take a lifetime of good deeds to wash away the bad blood between us." He gives me a sneaky smile. I go on alert.

"Are you sure about that?" His eyebrows slowly raise, the gears slowly turning inside his head. "Because even though the bet between you and Akito is off, I believe I can still kick your butt. Stupid Cat," Heat spreads through my limbs and my heart begins to pound. Hearing his last comment, my nostrils flare. I clench my fists.

"Oh yeah!" I shout, turning to face my rival, "well if you think you can go ahead and try i..."

I see it coming before I feel it. The rat rears back and hits me, his punch connecting right on my jaw. The sharp pain spreads out, causing my face to go numb for a few moments. The rat stands up, his smirk spreading into a small smile. I rub the spot for a second, even though it did hurt, the impact didn't do any damage.

"I'm going to make you pay for that, you Damn Rat."

"You'll have to catch me first." Preparing himself, he jumps off the roof.

Hearing him land safely with a thud, I quickly follow. With the help of my cat-like grace, I land on my feet. I come at him with a kick. He sees it coming and blocks it with his wrists, holding them up to his face. I try a few punches with my own fists, only to have them blocked by his own. I try a left leg kick to his face, but he ducks out of the way and moves to the side, my strike catching nothing but air. There's a pop. I turn and see Yuki's turned into his rat.

"Hey idiot," he taunts, his whiskers twitching at me. "Do you want to make this a bit more interesting?"

With little hesitation, I change into my cat, the sounds and smells of the yard becoming more vivid. I crouch like a spring preparing to pounce after him. Something occurs to me.

Against all the odds, I got out of the Cat's Room. Not only that, but I'm also alive, and in some way I am free.

Free from the curse.

***

A/N Thank you all for reading the Epilogue of Locked up But Not Locked Away, hoped you've liked it, and thanks for following this throughout. Writing this story was a labor of love for me. Fruits Basket got me through a tough time in my life, and I will hopefully be writing many more tales, but for now, I have to say goodbye, but my story will never end.

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