The Curse Of The Cat Ears

Chapter Three

Year Three

Kyo was sitting in the living room, scrolling aimlessly through his phone, but his mind wasn't really on what he was reading. Tonight was special. It was Halloween, and for the first time in his life, he found himself actually excited about it. They were headed to the Sohma estate, where a huge party was being thrown by Akito, and even though things between him and the family were still a little strange, Kyo couldn't help but look forward to it.

This was the first Halloween since the curse had been broken, and for nearly 18 years, Kyo had been the outcast of the family, shackled by the anger, hurt, and emotional turmoil that came with being the cat. But now, with the curse gone and his family welcoming him with open arms, he was starting to feel a sense of belonging he had never experienced before. It was hard to wrap his head around sometimes—it felt almost unreal. It was everything he had ever wanted.

But even that wasn't the best part.

The best part was her. Tohru. The woman who had brought all this change into his life, who had stood by him when he was at his lowest, who had loved him through it all. Now that she was his—officially, undeniably—Kyo finally knew what it felt like to be completely happy. It wasn't a fleeting happiness either; it was deep, grounding, and it made his whole world feel brighter.

Everyone else was already on their way to the party, but Kyo was waiting. Tohru was still getting ready upstairs, and he didn't mind waiting for her at all. In fact, it gave him a few quiet moments to reflect on just how much his life had changed since she'd entered it.

The sound of soft footsteps coming down the stairs pulled him from his thoughts. He looked up, and the instant he saw her, a smile spread across his face.

Tohru was dressed in the cutest little black dress, paired with spiderweb tights that led into tall black boots. Her nails were painted a soft pink, and she wore a delicate choker necklace with a little heart in the center. Her makeup was more daring than usual—a smokey eye with rosy cheeks and glitter that shimmered gently in the light. Her hair was half up, half down, tied into two playful pigtails. And on her head were the familiar cat ears—the same ones he had bought her on their very first Halloween together.

She was a cat, and Kyo couldn't stop the laugh that bubbled up from his chest. She looked adorable—so effortlessly cute—and he still couldn't believe that this incredible, beautiful woman was his.

Tohru giggled softly, a light blush dusting her cheeks. "How do I look?" she asked, her voice shy but playful.

Kyo moved closer to her, his heart swelling with affection. "You look amazing," he said, his voice sincere. He watched as she blushed a little more, her eyes trailing over him. He knew she was just admiring his costume, but the way her gaze made his heart race—how could someone so pure and kind make him feel so out of control, in the best way?

For a moment, he was content just to stand there, soaking in her presence, but then he caught something strange in her eyes—something that looked like discomfort. His eyes trailed down to see her hand resting on her abdomen, a gesture so subtle that most people wouldn't have noticed. But Kyo did. He wasn't sure if Tohru was getting more comfortable showing her discomfort around him, or if he was just getting better at reading her, but either way, he knew something was wrong.

He frowned, concern etching into his features. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked gently.

Tohru looked up at him, startled for a second, before she smiled, though her hand remained on her stomach. "I'm okay," she said softly, but Kyo wasn't convinced.

"Does your stomach hurt?" he asked, his tone more careful now.

Tohru hesitated, clearly trying to decide if she wanted to admit the truth. After a moment, she nodded slightly. "A little... but I'm okay," she repeated.