Pity, Loyalty, Love

"I'm fine. Akito is more important."

One of the things left unclear about the end of Fruits Basket is why Kureno stayed with Akito all those years. Some translations seem to imply that the only reason that Kureno stayed was because he pitied young Akito when she cried in his arms and begged him to stay. I would present a different argument.

When Kureno's curse was broken he was set adrift. Growing up his companions were the zodiac members and the small birds that surrounded him and flew beside him. Once his curse was broken he was suddenly alone. He could no longer count himself among the zodiac who tended to isolate themselves due to their curse and birds were no longer attracted to his presence. Without his curse he was alone and although Akito was begging for her own sake, for Kureno it was an offer of companionship at a time when he had none.

Kureno's decision was a spur of the moment. He needed someone and Akito wanted him and so I don't believe his initially decision to stay was one made out of pity for Akito. That being said, his choice to remain by her side is more questionable. As Akito's personal aide he was by her side at almost all times. He was there to witness the way she hurt other zodiac members and failed to stop it. He engaged in a sexual relationship with her without considering his own desires and remained by her side no matter how cruel she was to him.

Did he do this out of pity? I don't think that he stayed beside her out of pity but that doesn't mean that he didn't feel pity for the young girl who thought tearing others down would bring her happiness. Kureno stayed because keeping his word mattered to him. If it hadn't he would have had the opportunity to leave long ago. He was aware of what she was doing and how wrong it was but he had chosen his path and he refused to change it.

As for love, I think it's hard to remain by the side of an individual for several years without feeling some connection. Kureno dedicated himself to Akito and I think a part of him had to feel love for her in some way. When Akito hurts him Kureno is only concerned for Akito and even his decision to leave was for her betterment rather than his own. Kureno would have to be very cold to completely sacrifice himself for another without feeling anything for that person.