Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Akito's Bloody Knife ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Yuki_The_Rat 
Anime/Manga: Fruits Basket Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Thriller / Romance / Hentai | Type: Revenge Fic | Uploaded On: 12.13.2003 | Updated On: 12.14.2003 | Pages: 5 | Words: 7.2K | Visits: 593 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Fruits Basket Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Thriller / Romance / Hentai | Type: Revenge Fic | Uploaded On: 12.13.2003 | Updated On: 12.14.2003 | Pages: 5 | Words: 7.2K | Visits: 593 | Status: Completed
Of course, the obvious: I do not own, did not create Fruits Basket or it’s characters.
First of all, I wanted to let you know that I wrote two versions of this chapter. One is an R version that I am posting on MediaMiner.org. It is a serious lemon version. The other is a PG-13 which is on FanFiction.net., and I cut out only the really sexy stuff. Only you can decide which is more suitable for you. Either way. I hope you enjoy. I was a little embarrassed about writing my first lemon, but since it felt right, and since this challenge called for it… well… I hope none of my workmates read the R version.
Lastly, thanks again for reading, for reviewing, and for being so supportive. Special thanks to Chibi-Nightmare Chan - you should read the R version okay!
Okay, as promised, the final chapter…
YUKI/HATORI CHALLENGE - PART THREE
ABSENCE
YUKI *
Akito was feeling better, and as such, he had decided it would be nice to throw a small dinner party. Although, he generally kept a traditional house, this year he felt that it might be fun to have a little celebration on Christmas Eve. I thought it was a really dumb idea. The very cursed, very proper, Sohma family celebrating such a materialistic Christian holiday. It was ridicules, could Akito even get any stupider?
As punishment for going against him, for sneaking off with out his permission, even the porch was now off limits to me. I was forced to stay in Akito’s chambers all day, every day. I was rarely allowed a moment to myself. I couldn’t stand it, him and his damn birds, everything that he did was annoying. Since the gods were obviously plotting against me, Akito had started drinking green tea. Apparently, his usual tea had begun to bother his stomach. As petty as it was, I hated him for it, the simple green tea was my and Hatori’s tea, but now Hatori no longer came for dinner, and Akito was drinking it instead. I was in hell!
At least the Christmas party would give me a chance to see Hatori again. Since the day in the forest, he had stopped coming to the main house. I didn’t know what had made him stop, and I was worried that he was upset with me upset about the kiss. I missed Hatori. It was awful how much I missed him. My stomach hurt constantly, and I couldn’t eat. My chest ached painfully, and I sometimes cried for no reason. I didn’t understand any of it. It was unbearable how unhappy I was. Since I couldn’t be with him, I wore Hatori’s chain, always hidden under shirts with high collars. I knew it was dangerous, that I was taking a risk, but I didn’t really care. I loved Hatori, of that I had no doubt. I needed him. I was certain that my heart would die if I didn’t talk to him soon. Moreover, I was afraid, what if Hatori didn’t feel the same? What if he thought I was only a child? What if the kiss, that perfect kiss, was only charity for a poor lonely boy. What if Hatori didn’t love me back?
HATORI *
It was probable that Akito was on to me, or at least he was deeply suspicious. Having given up his favorite tea, his health had miraculously improved.
“Why do you think that is, Hatori?” He asked me, as he sat on the examination table in my office fiddling with the blood pressure machine.
“Perhaps you are allergic to it?” I deducted, and watched as his eyes widened, and his lips twisted into a bitter smirk.
“Perhaps I am, Hatori. I suppose that I will have to avoid it from now on.” He decided, sliding off of the examination table and pulling his robes on over his emaciated body. “So, did you get my dinner invitation?”
“Oh, yes. Your Christmas party. If you don’t mind me asking, whatever made you decide to celebrate Christmas?” I questioned, removing the stethoscope from around my neck, and following him towards the door.
“Well, it’s not really about the holiday. I just thought that Yuki might like it. Yuki seems very sad these days. I thought it might be nice for him to see his cousins.” Akito told me, but the icy tone in his voice, coupled with the warning in his eyes, assured me that he was lying. Oh yes, it was certain, Akito knew. Perhaps, he had seen us, or perhaps he had figured it out on his own, but Akito knew everything, and he wanted me to know that he knew.
“In that case, I will most certainly attend.” I replied coldly, as I slid the door open for him. I, of all people, understood how Akito’s mind worked. Akito was planning something. Something special just for me. The Christmas dinner was simply a diversion, an excuse to bring the family together, he wanted to make an example of me. He wanted to teach the other zodiac children what happened to those who dared to go against the master.
“Bring it on, Akito.” I whispered, as I watched him slither back to the main house. “Just leave Yuki out of it, you bastard.”
It had been over a week, since I had last talked to Yuki, and I missed him. It was indecent how much I missed him. As Akito was feeling better, he had returned to driving Yuki to his lessons. On Monday afternoon, I had received a note from Akito, delivered by his servant. Akito was not in the mood for company, as such, our weekly dinner had been cancelled. I should refrain from visiting the main house until I was told otherwise. For the first time in my life I was unwelcome. The very next day, I received a second note, this one an invitation to a Christmas Eve dinner party. This was Akito’s unspoken declaration of war.
My life, over the course of the next week, passed slowly, and sorrowfully. I found that I was endlessly worried about Yuki, about how Akito might be treating him, I wondered if Yuki was lonely, as I myself, certainly was. I wanted to see him, desperately. I spent my days, mindlessly, stalking the main house from my office window. I cancelled all appointments, so that I wouldn’t be disturbed. It was pitiful, really, how much I desired the boy. Pitiful and wrong. It will be better, I promised myself, when this is all over. I will be doing Yuki a favor by killing him. I will be saving him from that sick bastard Akito. I would be saving him from myself.
SHAME
YUKI *
“Yuki!” Haru smiled, and rushed to my side. “I’ve missed you Yuki.”
“Hello, Haru.” I greeted him, without really seeing him. Hatori had followed Momiji and Haru through the door, and for the moment he was the only person that I had eyes for.
“YUKI! YUKI!.” Momiji yelled, and hopped up onto my back. “It’s so exciting that Akito decided to celebrate Christmas. I brought him a Christmas cake, do you think that he’ll like it?”
“I’m sure that Akito will be delighted.” I assured him, and was relieved when he jumped off of my back and went running towards the front door to greet Kazuma and Kyo. Turning, I searched the room for Hatori, and found him talking to my brother and Shigure. Disappointed, I turned my attention back to Haru. I would wait to greet Hatori, I certainly didn’t need any of my brother’s nonsense tonight.
“So, Yuki.” Haru said in a whisper. “Did you have a chance to read my letter?”
Glancing at Haru uncomfortably, I tried to think of what to say. Seeing Akito enter the room, I took a deep breath and nodded that way. “Can we talk about this later, Haru?”
“Oh,” Haru said, believing, as I had intended him to, that Akito was the cause behind my distraction. “Of course, but promise that you will manage to find a little time for me tonight, okay?”
A disturbance at the front door, allowed me to avoid an answer. Ritsu and Kagura had just arrived, and as always was the case, they were causing a commotion. Kagura was noisily fawning over that stupid cat, while Ritsu was on his knees bowing out an earsplitting apology to Akito for being the last to arrive.
“Oh, Yuki. My little brother, It’s so nice to see you.” My brother and Shigure had discovered me, and they were heading my way. I noticed that Hatori had been cornered by Kazuma, but when he caught me staring at him, he gave me an encouraging smile. I closed my eyes, and wished that everyone else would just disappear, that I could be alone with Hatori. When I opened my eyes again, my brother was holding a leaf of mistletoe over Shigure’s head and kissing him directly on the mouth.
“You’re such an idiot.” I told him, and after giving Shigure a polite nod walked away.
HATORI *
I was paying absolutely no attention to what Kazuma was telling me. It was as if I was inside a long dark tunnel, which only lead to one place, only to Yuki. Momiji popped over to give me a hug, and wished me Merry Christmas. I took the glass of wine offered to me by Akito’s servant. Taking a sip, I determined that I didn’t like its taste. I smiled at the antics of my cousins. All this was accomplished without my actually feeling any of it. As hard as I tried, I found I couldn’t tear my eyes off of Yuki. He was dressed in formal lavender robes that perfectly matched his eyes, and though I thought he looked quiet stunning in them, it was obvious that Akito had picked them out. He must be miserable, I thought to myself, as I watched him unsuccessfully attempt to carry on a conversation with his manic cousin Ritsu.
“Hatori. I’m so pleased that you could make it.” Akito purred into my ear, from behind, causing me to nearly jump out of my skin in surprise. “Doesn’t Yuki look handsome tonight? I picked those robes out for him personally. I’m thinking of, perhaps, making him wear them for me on New Years Eve, in my bedroom. What do you think, Hatori? Too conservative?”
Turning to face him, I fought to keep my voice under control. “You don’t really want to know what I think, Akito.” I informed him coldly.
“Oh… Hatori, of course I do. Actually, I’m dying to know.” He whispered.
“Well, then, in that case.” Taking a deep breath, I let it spill. “I think that what you are planning for Yuki is appalling. It’s perverted. He’s just a child after all.” I waited for Akito to detonate. Amazingly, he didn’t. Akito didn’t explode. Instead he just smiled, that biting frozen smile of his, and then he quietly put me in my place.
“Do you really think that Yuki is a child, Hatori? So, you think that I’m the pervert? Is that what you think? How about this, Hatori? I’m fifteen, but maybe you’ve forgotten that. I’m only two years older than Yuki, but you Hatori, how old are you again? Twenty two, isn’t it? Nine years, Hatori. Think about that, and then tell me who’s the real pervert here, and while you are thinking about things, Hatori, consider this. That glass of wine in your hand isn‘t poisoned, but it very easily could have been. If you weren‘t my favorite. If I didn‘t love you so very much. I think that we both know that I would have killed you for your betrayal. You wouldn’t be standing here. You‘d already be dead.” His softly spoken words bit into my brain, tormenting me with their truth. The wine glass dropped from my fingers and shattered upon the hardwood floor. My world spun, momentarily I drowned. I surfaced to find all eyes upon me.
“Hatori, are you alright.” Momiji came to my rescue. Handing me a napkin and bending down to pick up the glass.
“Leave it.” Akito commanded, “the servant will get it. It’s time for Dinner. Come along Hatori.
Then ignoring me, Akito placed his hand affectionately upon Momiji‘s shoulder. “Momiji, my dear little cousin. I wanted to thank you for bringing me that wonderful cake, you‘re such a thoughtful obedient child. I think that as of today, you are officially, my favorite.” Throwing me a meaningful glance, Akito led the way into the dining room.
As soon as he was down the hall, and out of my sight, I breathed a sigh of relief and dropped down to my knees, fighting back my tears. Immediately, Yuki was at my side.
“Hatori! What happened? What did Akito do? Tell me, what did he say to you?” He begged me, with eyes as big as the moon. Looking at him, he suddenly seemed so young to me. A child. No, a baby. Dropping my head into my hands, I wished, for a moment, that I could die from my shame.
“Ha’ri? Are you alright?” Haru asked, wrapping his arm through Yuki’s, and looking down at me in alarm.
“I’m fine, really. I’m just feeling a little tired, that’s all. I haven’t slept well this week.” It wasn’t a complete lie. I‘d been too obsessed about Yuki to sleep? “You two go ahead, I’ll be along shortly.”
“But, Hatori…” Yuki started, and I knew that he wanted to stay with me. At the moment it was the only thing that I wanted, but the last thing that I needed. I needed him to go.
“Go with your cousin, Yuki. I would like a moment to myself.” I said forcefully, and I looked away from Yuki’s face, hating look of pain that my harshness had earned me.
Giving me a slight bow, Yuki allowed Haru to escort him to the dining room, leaving me alone in my disgrace.
HEARTBREAK
YUKI *
Akito wanted me. I had known it all along. What I hadn’t figured out for myself, I learned from Haru at the Christmas party. As I had expected it would be, the Christmas dinner was a total disaster. Something happened between Hatori and Akito, and it must have been pretty bad, because Hatori refused to even look at me for the rest of the night. To make matters worse, Akito was being way too nice to everyone, which was never a good sign. When Akito is pretending to be nice it generally means he’s planning on hurting someone.
Since Akito was feeling so generous, he suggested that Momiji, Haru, Kyo, Kagura, Ritsu and myself might enjoy taking a walk. He had business to discuss with the others, as planning was still in progress for the New Years Eve celebration. I didn’t want to go. As amazing as that sounds, me not jumping on a chance to escape Akito, and his little prison, I wanted to stay. I just wanted to be in the same room with Hatori. Even if he refused to look my way, even if I had to pretend that I didn’t care for him, I just liked knowing that he was nearby. So, of course, it would only make sense that Akito would send me away.
We walked along the small river that runs through the Sohma compound. As we came to the park, Haru grabbed me by the arm, and pulled me away from the others. There was a small set of swings, and I took a seat in one. Haru stood behind me, and gently pushed me for awhile until he got up the nerve to speak.
“Yuki, the letter. Did you read it?” At last, the question that I had been dreading the whole evening.
“Um… Yes, I read it.” I whispered.
“Oh…” Haru responded, “So, uh.. Do you hate me now?” He wondered.
I dug my feet into the sand to stop the swing, and jumped off so that I could look Haru in the eyes when I told him.
“I could never hate you Haru.” I said honestly, “You’ve been my best friend, my only friend, practically forever, but…”
“But you don’t feel the same.” Haru finished for me, and with tears in his eyes, looked down at his feet in shame. “Cause your not gay.”
“Well,” I said, and allowed a rare giggle to escape from my mouth. “I wouldn’t exactly say that.”
“Yuki?” Haru asked, looking up in confusion.
“I’m sorry, Haru. The truth is, I’m in love with someone else.” I admitted, and felt my cheeks burning with awkwardness.
“What? With who? How can you be? Oh, please, tell me it’s not Akito?” Haru begged, grabbing me by the shoulders to shake me, just in case I had actually lost my mind.
“Akito? Yuck! Are you crazy? How could you even think something like that?” I said, and I honestly felt that I might puke at the thought.
“Well, it’s just that… well, to be honest, Yuki, I’ve heard stuff, about Akito and you.” Haru admitted, staring down at his feet. This was hurting him so much. I didn’t have to see his face to know that, and it was making me feel really bad. Still, I needed to know exactly what Haru had heard.
“What kind of Stuff?” I asked him, and pushed his chin up so that he would look me in the eye.
“Akito’s going to… he’s going to make you…” Haru whispered. He couldn’t say it, but that was alright, because I realized that I already knew.
“He’s going to rape me!” I finished for him bitterly, and watched as Haru had a complete break down. “It’s okay, Haru. I already suspected as much. He’s such a perverted freak.”
Wrapping my arms around Haru, I held him closely, and allowed him to cry until the others came looking for us. Neither of us spoke again, for the rest of the walk home.
I wasn’t the most experienced kid in the world, but I knew some things. I knew that there were things that Akito could do to me, things that would be much worse than his dark room and the beatings from his whip. I also knew that I wouldn’t allow him to do it. I just wasn’t sure yet, how I was going to stop him.
NEW YEARS EVE - FOUR
HATORI *
As usual, the door to Shigure’s house was left wide open. “It’s no wonder that Yuki has taken ill.” I told myself as I removed my shoes and slid the door shut behind me.
“Yuki.” I called, and walked up the stairs. Sliding open the door to his darkened room, I moved silently to his bedside. The beautiful eighteen year old boy was sleeping peacefully. I placed a cold hand to his forehead to check that he was not running a fever. He wasn’t. I decided it was best that I let him sleep for a while.
My clothes were completely soaked, from my earlier ice ballet, and I was freezing. I needed to borrow a robe from Shigure’s room while my suit dried, and then perhaps I’d make us some tea.
LOVE
YUKI *
“Yuki! Yuki!” Momiji giggled, and tackled me as I walked out of the dance studio. “Tomorrow’s New year's Eve. I so excited, I can hardly wait for the party to start. How about you?”
“I can wait.” I told him honestly. The truth was that I was scared out of my mind. I’d never dreaded anything so much in my life. It wasn’t that I was afraid of having sex. What I was afraid of was Akito’s brand of sex. I didn’t want to lose my virginity to such a repulsive pervert. I couldn’t allow it. I wouldn’t allow it. I could think of one way, only one single way, that I could stop him. I didn’t want to do it, but I felt I had no other option, before I went through with it though, there was one last thing that I needed to do.
HATORI *
I wept, laying on my futon, staring up at my ceiling. I couldn’t seem to stop the tears from falling. When Akito had taken Kana from me, it had broken my heart. This time it wasn’t just my heart, this time he cut much deeper. I felt as if my very soul had been broken by Akito. It was agonizing.
Tomorrow was New Year’s Eve. The time had come for Akito to pay for his sins, but could I still do it? I was no longer so sure. Was punishing Akito worth hurting Yuki? Was it really justice for me to take Yuki’s young life? I’d taking his heart, of that I was certain, that should more then suffice. I could walk away. I told myself, just pack my bags and leave this place. It was rarely done, hardly even considered, but it wasn’t impossible. And if I did, what would happen to Yuki? Wouldn’t it be better for the boy, if I simply went through with my plan? What kind of life would he live if I simply left him to live it? A life as Akito’s sex slave? His whipping boy? Wouldn’t that actually be worse then death itself?
The faint sound of knocking penetrated my misery. It was followed by a soft whisper. “Ha‘ri…” Jumping up from my bed, I rushed to my front door, and quickly slid it open. What stood before me was a vision. Dressed in his New Year’s Eve costume, Yuki looked up at me with a shy smile. The light from my porch lit up his eyes, and surrounded the boy with a gentle aura. He was heaven, he was peace, he was my salvation.
“Yuki,” I whispered, taking his hand and leading him inside. “Why are you here? Dressed like this, whatever are you thinking?”
“Hatori, I needed to see you.” He admitted, and taking my hands in his, he graced me with that perfect smile. “I thought that I might dance for you tonight.”
I stood in front of him, my eyes so full of tears, I could hardly see. My carefully calculated plan was dissolving away. I could never kill Yuki. I could never harm this one who I held so dear. Death was not what he needed from me, neither was my love, what he needed was protection. He needed me to be his knife.
“Hatori?” He whispered, squeezing my hands, and looking up at me with eyes so full of love and purity. “What’s wrong Hatori? Are you mad that I came?”
“No.” I answered, choking on my tears.
“Is it the costume? You don’t like it? It’s okay, Hatori, I don’t like it much myself.” Yuki started to remove it. “Hatori, I’ve decided that I’m not ever going to dance for Akito. I’ve decide that I only want to dance for you.”
I stood there in stunned silence. Not able to move, not even to breath, and I watched him as he slowly undressed, taking his time. All the while his eyes were glued to mine. They begged me not to speak, not to stop him. They swore his love to me. Finally, he stood naked before me, a perfect silver angel.
“There’s something I need you to do for me, Ha‘ri.” Yuki whispered, reaching up to take my face in his warm hands. “I need you to make love to me. I need you to make me yours. I want to know love before I die.”
“Yuki.” I breathed, stepping away from him. “You don‘t know what you‘re saying.” Though it was me who believed that I could not have heard him right. Had he read my mind all along, had he always known what I had planned?
“I’m going to kill myself tonight, Hatori, before that bastard can get his hands upon me.” Yuki confessed, and wrapped his arms around my waist. “I’d rather die before I let Akito have me.”
I pushed him away, hard. The anguish in his words tearing through my very being.
“NO! It will not happen. I will not allow it.” I informed him, unable to control the anger in my voice. It wasn’t meant for him, it was anger at Akito, but he couldn’t know that. He didn’t understand what I was saying.
“Hatori,” Yuki cried, his face twisting with sorrow. “You don’t want me? You don’t want to make love to me?”
“Yuki, it isn‘t that. I can’t do it. I can’t make love to you, you’re just a child. It’s wrong.”
“I’m not a child, and it’s not wrong if I ask for it, Is it? Please, Hatori. I need you.” He dropped to his knees, wrapping his arms around my legs, and looked up begging me for my love.
“Yuki, I can’t. If I go through with this it will make me like him. It will make me like Akito. I won’t. I can’t be like him.” I kneeled down beside him. I was the one who should be on my knees. I was the one who should be begging him for forgiveness.
“You’re not like him. You could never be. Hatori, I love you. I want to be with you. I want you to be my first, my only. If you don’t do it, Akito will. I swear I will kill myself, before I let that happen.”
“Yuki,” I cried, unable to hold it back, “It‘s not that I don‘t want you. You have no idea how much I want you.”
In a flash, he was in my arms, his tearstained lips to mine. “Please, Hatori, please… Please love me. I’ll die if you don’t love me.”
“I do, Yuki. I do love you.” I said it, I needed to, needed him to know. Closing my eyes, drowning in his tears, for a moment I allowed it. Allowing him to sink his sweet tongue into my hungry mouth, allowing him to move his hand beneath my robe. Allowing my hands to caress his velvet skin. I wanted him, more then I had ever wanted anything in my entire life, more then I’d wanted Kana, more then I’d wanted revenge. But I did love him. What I wanted didn’t matter. Yuki was what mattered. I opened my eyes, pulling my lips from his, and taking his face in my hands, so he would look at me, so he would listen.
“I’m sorry, Yuki. I cannot. I love you, but I cannot do this for you.”
“Hatori.” His eyes still begged, “please.”
“No! Yuki, I will not.” I stood, pulling him to his feet. “Now get dressed, you need to go home, before Akito discovers that you are gone.”
“But Hatori, tomorrow night, I know that you know. You know what he wants from me. Akito will…”
Placing a finger to his mouth, I shook my head slowly, keeping his eyes locked to mine.
“No. Yuki, I promise you. He will not. I will not allow Akito to harm you. Not anymore.”
“You can’t stop him!” Yuki yelled, and pushed me away. “You’ve never stopped him before. He will do what he wants, take what he wants, and you’ll let him?”
“He won’t” I swore, “I’ll kill him before I allow it. I’ll stop him, I promise you. Akito will never hurt you again.
“You can’t kill him, Hatori. You know that it’s not possible, but I can kill myself. That’s the only way to stop him.”
I pulled him into my arms, one final time. Hugging him to me tightly. I needed him to believe me, needed him to know.
“Do you trust me, Yuki?”
“Yes.” He whispered.
“Then trust that I will protect you. That he will never hurt you again.”
“How?” He asked, hopefully, wanting to believe.
“I will find a way. I will stop him. I promise.” I kissed him on the top of his head, and released him. I turned my back, to give him privacy while he dressed, and didn’t turn back when I heard him slid my door open. If I looked back, I knew that I would stop him from leaving, that I would never let him go.
YUKI *
Hatori was good to his promise. Akito did not come to me that night. I do not know what Hatori said to him, what kind of deal he must have made with the devil, but true to his word he saved me.
Shortly after, I was allowed to move into Shigure’s house.
HATORI *
New Years Eve came, and in the eyes of the family, Yuki became a man. As was expected, Yuki danced at the Zodiac Banquet. His performance was transcendent. It would be praised, within the family, for years to come. He did not dance for Akito. The entire time his eyes were upon me, they glistened with unshed tears, they shimmered with our unrequited love. Yuki danced for me.
Unfortunately, the night was marred by tragedy. There was death in the Sohma family. Early New Year’s morning, on his walk home from the celebration, Daichi Sohma was accosted. He was stabbed several times in the back. Neither the weapon or his killer was ever found.
This made Akito, the official head of the Sohma family. He would never be challenged again.
Shortly after, Yuki was allowed to move into Shigure’s house.
NEW YEARS EVE - FIVE
YUKI *
I awoke to the subtle scent of fresh green tea. Hatori sat in a chair next to my bed, a cup of tea in his hand and a faint smile on his lips. How long had he been watching me sleep?
“How do you feel?” He asked me, laying his hand on my forehead.
“I’m fine, better now that you’re here.” I smiled back. Sitting up in bed and taking a cup of tea from him.
“I brought you something.” Hatori grinned at me, and opening his medical bag retrieved a bag of cherry candies. “I had a horrible time tracking these down, since the sweet shop closed. I was able to find them online.”
“Hatori,” I laughed for the first time in ages. “I love these things.”
“I remember.” He told me, reaching his finger between the folds of my robe to touch the silver charm, which I wore around my neck. “You still wear this? I didn’t think that you did.”
“I wear it when I sleep.” I informed him “I always have.”
“Well,” he said pulling his stethoscope on and leaning over to push the cold steel to my chest. “Breath in.”
I don’t think so, I decided.
HATORI *
Yuki surprised my by pulling my stethoscope from my neck and tossing it across the room.”
“Yuki!” I automatically scolded, forgetting as I often did, that he was no longer just a child.
“I don’t need it Hatori. My back aches a little, but I’m really okay. I’m sorry you had to come all the way out here. You’re missing the party, because of me.”
“I don’t mind.” I told him, retrieving the stethoscope and placing it back in the bag. “Here turn over, let me see your back.” I sat down beside him on his bed.
YUKI *
Doing as he asked, I flipped onto my stomach, and felt his cold hands massaging my sore shoulders.
“That feels nice.” I informed him. “I had a fight with Kyo yesterday, when we were up on the roof. I fell off.”
“Yuki!” He reprimanded me, taking a hold of my robe and tugging it aside so that it was easier for him to work. “You and Kyo are too old for that constant fighting. You should know better.” His hands returned to my back, cool and soft.
“I should know better? Should I?” I sighed. “Does that mean that you admit that I’m not a kid anymore?”
HATORI *
His body was warm, beneath my cold hands. I worked his tense muscles, willing away his soreness. My mind was still dwelling on our past together. I had never gotten over my love for the boy, but I had learned long ago not to show it.
“Of course, I know that you’re not a kid anymore.” I told him.
“Good,” he said happily, and flipped over so that he could face me. “Then will you do something for me?”
“What,” I wondered, finding myself fading into his eyes. “What do you need?”
“You.” He whispered softly, “I need you, Ha‘ri.”
YUKI *
There, I had said it, what I had been holding in for all of these years. I needed him, I still needed him.
Five years ago tonight, he turned me down, telling me that I was a child. I thought it was because he didn’t love me, but as I got older I understood. Hatori turned me down because he did love me. He was trying to save me. Now I wanted to thank him.
“Yuki.” He whispered, as I worked at the knot in his robe. “Why are you doing this?”
“Why are you asking?” I answered, pushing the robe from his shoulders, so I could touch and kiss his chest.
HATORI *
I felt his hands upon my chest and then his mouth. Silently, I sunk down into the bed beside him, capturing his lips with mine.
“Yuki.” I whispered. “I love you.”
Pulling back from the kiss, he looked up and he smiled.
YUKI *
“Show me.” I answered, and fell back into his kiss.
The taste of his lips were as I remembered, a taste I could never forget. I sunk my tongue into his mouth and felt his fingers pushing aside my robe, so that he could touch me, everywhere. I felt his hands caressing my waist, my stomach, my chest. His lips pulled away from mine, and I missed them for a moment, until they moved across my face to my ear. He stopped there, licking the tender skin and whispering his promise to always love me, always protect me. Then he was kissing my neck, and my mouth again, his tongue driving down into me, devouring me in his hunger. I pushed his robe the remainder of the way off of him, kicking it off the bed to the floor, and then worked mine off as well. He pushed me down, so that he was laying on top of me. Skin to skin, I rubbed against him, wanting everything, but unsure how to get it. Unsure where to begin.
HATORI *
His skin was so soft, I wanted to touch all of him at once. He made me so ravenous in my thirst for him. I had been wanting for so very long. Plunging my tongue into his mouth, and feeling him rubbing against me with childlike need. This was new to him, I reminded myself. I had to take it slow. I grabbed both of his hands. Locking them over his head, and moved my kissing lower. To his chest, where I sucked and bit at his nipples, loving the way it made him softly sigh and moan so sweetly.
I released his hands, so I could move lower down his body. Kissing along his waist, to his firm stomach. Stopping to tease his tiny belly button. So close, but not yet. Now Yuki, was delirious with need. “Please, Hatori.” He begged me. Looking up into his passion filled violet eyes, I ran my tongue across his tip, tasting and teasing, he bit his bottom lip, and moaned loudly. I smiled evilly, and took him in my mouth.
“Hatori.” His whispered, “My, Ha’ri.”
Hearing him, like that drove me crazy with need, but I wouldn’t hurry. This wouldn’t be rushed. I sucked on him softly, taking him fully inside my mouth, but stopped just short of giving him what he needed. I kissed my way back up to his lips, and nearly lost it when he licked my bottom lip and whispered sweetly. “I need you. Ha’ri. I love you. I want you.”
“It might hurt you, are you sure you are ready for this?” I asked him. Though I wasn’t really sure that I was even ready.
“I’ve been ready for this for five year, Hatori.” He said, with a tiny laugh.
“Okay.” I agreed, and stood to head for the door.
“Where are you going?” He asked me, and looked scared, as if I’d ever desert him.
“I’ll be right back. I promise. There’s something we need.”
I headed down to Shigure’s bathroom. As suspected, I found what I needed. “I’ll have to thank you, Later.”
YUKI *
He left, and I thought I would cry, but he returned. Holding something behind his back.
“Wait,” I told him, before he could jump back into bed.
“What?” He asked, but waited while I looked at him. Ha’ri was so beautiful naked, tall, and thin, but muscular. He was exactly what I had dreamed about for the last five years.
“Nothing,” I smiled, and welcomed him back to bed by a kissing his stomach, and then before he could stop me, I had him in my mouth, and it was my turn to tease him. I did as he did, tenderly sucking and licking. I felt him grow larger in my mouth, and then he grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled me up so that he could kiss my lips, and lay me on my back.
HATORI *
Yuki’s lips felt amazing, but that wasn’t what I had planned for us. Kissing slowly back down, I took him in my mouth again.
I was so afraid that I would hurt him. While I teased him with my tongue, I opened the oil I had borrowed from Shigure’s room. I lavished in upon my hands, and used it to ready myself. I sucked him softly, working him with my tongue, my mouth, my hands, and when he came, in a cute little whimper, I swallowed it down, and moved back up to his lips. Kissing him gently, and staring into his adoring eyes, I held my breath and slowly slipped partially inside of him, and waited.
“Um…” he mumbled, and sucked at my tongue, I took that as a sign he was okay with everything and pushed myself deeper inside, fully into bliss.
YUKI/HATORI *
As we melted together, I could here them outside. The fireworks at the Main House. I blocked them from my mind. They no longer mattered. He was all that mattered.
YUKI *
I woke on New Year's Day alone. Sitting up in my empty bed, I felt sadness overwhelm me. He was gone. Upon my pillow, I found a folded note.
HATORI *
I placed my suitcases in the trunk of my car. Akito watched from his window. He was angry, but this time he couldn’t stop me. Yuki was eighteen now, he was an adult in the eyes of the world. Akito was no longer his guardian. It had been decided. Driving through the gates, I turned to take one last look back. He was no longer watching.
YUKI *
Standing in front of Shigure’s, my bags in hand, I smiled at him as he drove towards me through the snow. Getting into his car, I cuddled close to him. Turning on his radio, as we drove away. I was free.
*********
The end…
First of all, I wanted to let you know that I wrote two versions of this chapter. One is an R version that I am posting on MediaMiner.org. It is a serious lemon version. The other is a PG-13 which is on FanFiction.net., and I cut out only the really sexy stuff. Only you can decide which is more suitable for you. Either way. I hope you enjoy. I was a little embarrassed about writing my first lemon, but since it felt right, and since this challenge called for it… well… I hope none of my workmates read the R version.
Lastly, thanks again for reading, for reviewing, and for being so supportive. Special thanks to Chibi-Nightmare Chan - you should read the R version okay!
Okay, as promised, the final chapter…
YUKI/HATORI CHALLENGE - PART THREE
ABSENCE
YUKI *
Akito was feeling better, and as such, he had decided it would be nice to throw a small dinner party. Although, he generally kept a traditional house, this year he felt that it might be fun to have a little celebration on Christmas Eve. I thought it was a really dumb idea. The very cursed, very proper, Sohma family celebrating such a materialistic Christian holiday. It was ridicules, could Akito even get any stupider?
As punishment for going against him, for sneaking off with out his permission, even the porch was now off limits to me. I was forced to stay in Akito’s chambers all day, every day. I was rarely allowed a moment to myself. I couldn’t stand it, him and his damn birds, everything that he did was annoying. Since the gods were obviously plotting against me, Akito had started drinking green tea. Apparently, his usual tea had begun to bother his stomach. As petty as it was, I hated him for it, the simple green tea was my and Hatori’s tea, but now Hatori no longer came for dinner, and Akito was drinking it instead. I was in hell!
At least the Christmas party would give me a chance to see Hatori again. Since the day in the forest, he had stopped coming to the main house. I didn’t know what had made him stop, and I was worried that he was upset with me upset about the kiss. I missed Hatori. It was awful how much I missed him. My stomach hurt constantly, and I couldn’t eat. My chest ached painfully, and I sometimes cried for no reason. I didn’t understand any of it. It was unbearable how unhappy I was. Since I couldn’t be with him, I wore Hatori’s chain, always hidden under shirts with high collars. I knew it was dangerous, that I was taking a risk, but I didn’t really care. I loved Hatori, of that I had no doubt. I needed him. I was certain that my heart would die if I didn’t talk to him soon. Moreover, I was afraid, what if Hatori didn’t feel the same? What if he thought I was only a child? What if the kiss, that perfect kiss, was only charity for a poor lonely boy. What if Hatori didn’t love me back?
HATORI *
It was probable that Akito was on to me, or at least he was deeply suspicious. Having given up his favorite tea, his health had miraculously improved.
“Why do you think that is, Hatori?” He asked me, as he sat on the examination table in my office fiddling with the blood pressure machine.
“Perhaps you are allergic to it?” I deducted, and watched as his eyes widened, and his lips twisted into a bitter smirk.
“Perhaps I am, Hatori. I suppose that I will have to avoid it from now on.” He decided, sliding off of the examination table and pulling his robes on over his emaciated body. “So, did you get my dinner invitation?”
“Oh, yes. Your Christmas party. If you don’t mind me asking, whatever made you decide to celebrate Christmas?” I questioned, removing the stethoscope from around my neck, and following him towards the door.
“Well, it’s not really about the holiday. I just thought that Yuki might like it. Yuki seems very sad these days. I thought it might be nice for him to see his cousins.” Akito told me, but the icy tone in his voice, coupled with the warning in his eyes, assured me that he was lying. Oh yes, it was certain, Akito knew. Perhaps, he had seen us, or perhaps he had figured it out on his own, but Akito knew everything, and he wanted me to know that he knew.
“In that case, I will most certainly attend.” I replied coldly, as I slid the door open for him. I, of all people, understood how Akito’s mind worked. Akito was planning something. Something special just for me. The Christmas dinner was simply a diversion, an excuse to bring the family together, he wanted to make an example of me. He wanted to teach the other zodiac children what happened to those who dared to go against the master.
“Bring it on, Akito.” I whispered, as I watched him slither back to the main house. “Just leave Yuki out of it, you bastard.”
It had been over a week, since I had last talked to Yuki, and I missed him. It was indecent how much I missed him. As Akito was feeling better, he had returned to driving Yuki to his lessons. On Monday afternoon, I had received a note from Akito, delivered by his servant. Akito was not in the mood for company, as such, our weekly dinner had been cancelled. I should refrain from visiting the main house until I was told otherwise. For the first time in my life I was unwelcome. The very next day, I received a second note, this one an invitation to a Christmas Eve dinner party. This was Akito’s unspoken declaration of war.
My life, over the course of the next week, passed slowly, and sorrowfully. I found that I was endlessly worried about Yuki, about how Akito might be treating him, I wondered if Yuki was lonely, as I myself, certainly was. I wanted to see him, desperately. I spent my days, mindlessly, stalking the main house from my office window. I cancelled all appointments, so that I wouldn’t be disturbed. It was pitiful, really, how much I desired the boy. Pitiful and wrong. It will be better, I promised myself, when this is all over. I will be doing Yuki a favor by killing him. I will be saving him from that sick bastard Akito. I would be saving him from myself.
SHAME
YUKI *
“Yuki!” Haru smiled, and rushed to my side. “I’ve missed you Yuki.”
“Hello, Haru.” I greeted him, without really seeing him. Hatori had followed Momiji and Haru through the door, and for the moment he was the only person that I had eyes for.
“YUKI! YUKI!.” Momiji yelled, and hopped up onto my back. “It’s so exciting that Akito decided to celebrate Christmas. I brought him a Christmas cake, do you think that he’ll like it?”
“I’m sure that Akito will be delighted.” I assured him, and was relieved when he jumped off of my back and went running towards the front door to greet Kazuma and Kyo. Turning, I searched the room for Hatori, and found him talking to my brother and Shigure. Disappointed, I turned my attention back to Haru. I would wait to greet Hatori, I certainly didn’t need any of my brother’s nonsense tonight.
“So, Yuki.” Haru said in a whisper. “Did you have a chance to read my letter?”
Glancing at Haru uncomfortably, I tried to think of what to say. Seeing Akito enter the room, I took a deep breath and nodded that way. “Can we talk about this later, Haru?”
“Oh,” Haru said, believing, as I had intended him to, that Akito was the cause behind my distraction. “Of course, but promise that you will manage to find a little time for me tonight, okay?”
A disturbance at the front door, allowed me to avoid an answer. Ritsu and Kagura had just arrived, and as always was the case, they were causing a commotion. Kagura was noisily fawning over that stupid cat, while Ritsu was on his knees bowing out an earsplitting apology to Akito for being the last to arrive.
“Oh, Yuki. My little brother, It’s so nice to see you.” My brother and Shigure had discovered me, and they were heading my way. I noticed that Hatori had been cornered by Kazuma, but when he caught me staring at him, he gave me an encouraging smile. I closed my eyes, and wished that everyone else would just disappear, that I could be alone with Hatori. When I opened my eyes again, my brother was holding a leaf of mistletoe over Shigure’s head and kissing him directly on the mouth.
“You’re such an idiot.” I told him, and after giving Shigure a polite nod walked away.
HATORI *
I was paying absolutely no attention to what Kazuma was telling me. It was as if I was inside a long dark tunnel, which only lead to one place, only to Yuki. Momiji popped over to give me a hug, and wished me Merry Christmas. I took the glass of wine offered to me by Akito’s servant. Taking a sip, I determined that I didn’t like its taste. I smiled at the antics of my cousins. All this was accomplished without my actually feeling any of it. As hard as I tried, I found I couldn’t tear my eyes off of Yuki. He was dressed in formal lavender robes that perfectly matched his eyes, and though I thought he looked quiet stunning in them, it was obvious that Akito had picked them out. He must be miserable, I thought to myself, as I watched him unsuccessfully attempt to carry on a conversation with his manic cousin Ritsu.
“Hatori. I’m so pleased that you could make it.” Akito purred into my ear, from behind, causing me to nearly jump out of my skin in surprise. “Doesn’t Yuki look handsome tonight? I picked those robes out for him personally. I’m thinking of, perhaps, making him wear them for me on New Years Eve, in my bedroom. What do you think, Hatori? Too conservative?”
Turning to face him, I fought to keep my voice under control. “You don’t really want to know what I think, Akito.” I informed him coldly.
“Oh… Hatori, of course I do. Actually, I’m dying to know.” He whispered.
“Well, then, in that case.” Taking a deep breath, I let it spill. “I think that what you are planning for Yuki is appalling. It’s perverted. He’s just a child after all.” I waited for Akito to detonate. Amazingly, he didn’t. Akito didn’t explode. Instead he just smiled, that biting frozen smile of his, and then he quietly put me in my place.
“Do you really think that Yuki is a child, Hatori? So, you think that I’m the pervert? Is that what you think? How about this, Hatori? I’m fifteen, but maybe you’ve forgotten that. I’m only two years older than Yuki, but you Hatori, how old are you again? Twenty two, isn’t it? Nine years, Hatori. Think about that, and then tell me who’s the real pervert here, and while you are thinking about things, Hatori, consider this. That glass of wine in your hand isn‘t poisoned, but it very easily could have been. If you weren‘t my favorite. If I didn‘t love you so very much. I think that we both know that I would have killed you for your betrayal. You wouldn’t be standing here. You‘d already be dead.” His softly spoken words bit into my brain, tormenting me with their truth. The wine glass dropped from my fingers and shattered upon the hardwood floor. My world spun, momentarily I drowned. I surfaced to find all eyes upon me.
“Hatori, are you alright.” Momiji came to my rescue. Handing me a napkin and bending down to pick up the glass.
“Leave it.” Akito commanded, “the servant will get it. It’s time for Dinner. Come along Hatori.
Then ignoring me, Akito placed his hand affectionately upon Momiji‘s shoulder. “Momiji, my dear little cousin. I wanted to thank you for bringing me that wonderful cake, you‘re such a thoughtful obedient child. I think that as of today, you are officially, my favorite.” Throwing me a meaningful glance, Akito led the way into the dining room.
As soon as he was down the hall, and out of my sight, I breathed a sigh of relief and dropped down to my knees, fighting back my tears. Immediately, Yuki was at my side.
“Hatori! What happened? What did Akito do? Tell me, what did he say to you?” He begged me, with eyes as big as the moon. Looking at him, he suddenly seemed so young to me. A child. No, a baby. Dropping my head into my hands, I wished, for a moment, that I could die from my shame.
“Ha’ri? Are you alright?” Haru asked, wrapping his arm through Yuki’s, and looking down at me in alarm.
“I’m fine, really. I’m just feeling a little tired, that’s all. I haven’t slept well this week.” It wasn’t a complete lie. I‘d been too obsessed about Yuki to sleep? “You two go ahead, I’ll be along shortly.”
“But, Hatori…” Yuki started, and I knew that he wanted to stay with me. At the moment it was the only thing that I wanted, but the last thing that I needed. I needed him to go.
“Go with your cousin, Yuki. I would like a moment to myself.” I said forcefully, and I looked away from Yuki’s face, hating look of pain that my harshness had earned me.
Giving me a slight bow, Yuki allowed Haru to escort him to the dining room, leaving me alone in my disgrace.
HEARTBREAK
YUKI *
Akito wanted me. I had known it all along. What I hadn’t figured out for myself, I learned from Haru at the Christmas party. As I had expected it would be, the Christmas dinner was a total disaster. Something happened between Hatori and Akito, and it must have been pretty bad, because Hatori refused to even look at me for the rest of the night. To make matters worse, Akito was being way too nice to everyone, which was never a good sign. When Akito is pretending to be nice it generally means he’s planning on hurting someone.
Since Akito was feeling so generous, he suggested that Momiji, Haru, Kyo, Kagura, Ritsu and myself might enjoy taking a walk. He had business to discuss with the others, as planning was still in progress for the New Years Eve celebration. I didn’t want to go. As amazing as that sounds, me not jumping on a chance to escape Akito, and his little prison, I wanted to stay. I just wanted to be in the same room with Hatori. Even if he refused to look my way, even if I had to pretend that I didn’t care for him, I just liked knowing that he was nearby. So, of course, it would only make sense that Akito would send me away.
We walked along the small river that runs through the Sohma compound. As we came to the park, Haru grabbed me by the arm, and pulled me away from the others. There was a small set of swings, and I took a seat in one. Haru stood behind me, and gently pushed me for awhile until he got up the nerve to speak.
“Yuki, the letter. Did you read it?” At last, the question that I had been dreading the whole evening.
“Um… Yes, I read it.” I whispered.
“Oh…” Haru responded, “So, uh.. Do you hate me now?” He wondered.
I dug my feet into the sand to stop the swing, and jumped off so that I could look Haru in the eyes when I told him.
“I could never hate you Haru.” I said honestly, “You’ve been my best friend, my only friend, practically forever, but…”
“But you don’t feel the same.” Haru finished for me, and with tears in his eyes, looked down at his feet in shame. “Cause your not gay.”
“Well,” I said, and allowed a rare giggle to escape from my mouth. “I wouldn’t exactly say that.”
“Yuki?” Haru asked, looking up in confusion.
“I’m sorry, Haru. The truth is, I’m in love with someone else.” I admitted, and felt my cheeks burning with awkwardness.
“What? With who? How can you be? Oh, please, tell me it’s not Akito?” Haru begged, grabbing me by the shoulders to shake me, just in case I had actually lost my mind.
“Akito? Yuck! Are you crazy? How could you even think something like that?” I said, and I honestly felt that I might puke at the thought.
“Well, it’s just that… well, to be honest, Yuki, I’ve heard stuff, about Akito and you.” Haru admitted, staring down at his feet. This was hurting him so much. I didn’t have to see his face to know that, and it was making me feel really bad. Still, I needed to know exactly what Haru had heard.
“What kind of Stuff?” I asked him, and pushed his chin up so that he would look me in the eye.
“Akito’s going to… he’s going to make you…” Haru whispered. He couldn’t say it, but that was alright, because I realized that I already knew.
“He’s going to rape me!” I finished for him bitterly, and watched as Haru had a complete break down. “It’s okay, Haru. I already suspected as much. He’s such a perverted freak.”
Wrapping my arms around Haru, I held him closely, and allowed him to cry until the others came looking for us. Neither of us spoke again, for the rest of the walk home.
I wasn’t the most experienced kid in the world, but I knew some things. I knew that there were things that Akito could do to me, things that would be much worse than his dark room and the beatings from his whip. I also knew that I wouldn’t allow him to do it. I just wasn’t sure yet, how I was going to stop him.
NEW YEARS EVE - FOUR
HATORI *
As usual, the door to Shigure’s house was left wide open. “It’s no wonder that Yuki has taken ill.” I told myself as I removed my shoes and slid the door shut behind me.
“Yuki.” I called, and walked up the stairs. Sliding open the door to his darkened room, I moved silently to his bedside. The beautiful eighteen year old boy was sleeping peacefully. I placed a cold hand to his forehead to check that he was not running a fever. He wasn’t. I decided it was best that I let him sleep for a while.
My clothes were completely soaked, from my earlier ice ballet, and I was freezing. I needed to borrow a robe from Shigure’s room while my suit dried, and then perhaps I’d make us some tea.
LOVE
YUKI *
“Yuki! Yuki!” Momiji giggled, and tackled me as I walked out of the dance studio. “Tomorrow’s New year's Eve. I so excited, I can hardly wait for the party to start. How about you?”
“I can wait.” I told him honestly. The truth was that I was scared out of my mind. I’d never dreaded anything so much in my life. It wasn’t that I was afraid of having sex. What I was afraid of was Akito’s brand of sex. I didn’t want to lose my virginity to such a repulsive pervert. I couldn’t allow it. I wouldn’t allow it. I could think of one way, only one single way, that I could stop him. I didn’t want to do it, but I felt I had no other option, before I went through with it though, there was one last thing that I needed to do.
HATORI *
I wept, laying on my futon, staring up at my ceiling. I couldn’t seem to stop the tears from falling. When Akito had taken Kana from me, it had broken my heart. This time it wasn’t just my heart, this time he cut much deeper. I felt as if my very soul had been broken by Akito. It was agonizing.
Tomorrow was New Year’s Eve. The time had come for Akito to pay for his sins, but could I still do it? I was no longer so sure. Was punishing Akito worth hurting Yuki? Was it really justice for me to take Yuki’s young life? I’d taking his heart, of that I was certain, that should more then suffice. I could walk away. I told myself, just pack my bags and leave this place. It was rarely done, hardly even considered, but it wasn’t impossible. And if I did, what would happen to Yuki? Wouldn’t it be better for the boy, if I simply went through with my plan? What kind of life would he live if I simply left him to live it? A life as Akito’s sex slave? His whipping boy? Wouldn’t that actually be worse then death itself?
The faint sound of knocking penetrated my misery. It was followed by a soft whisper. “Ha‘ri…” Jumping up from my bed, I rushed to my front door, and quickly slid it open. What stood before me was a vision. Dressed in his New Year’s Eve costume, Yuki looked up at me with a shy smile. The light from my porch lit up his eyes, and surrounded the boy with a gentle aura. He was heaven, he was peace, he was my salvation.
“Yuki,” I whispered, taking his hand and leading him inside. “Why are you here? Dressed like this, whatever are you thinking?”
“Hatori, I needed to see you.” He admitted, and taking my hands in his, he graced me with that perfect smile. “I thought that I might dance for you tonight.”
I stood in front of him, my eyes so full of tears, I could hardly see. My carefully calculated plan was dissolving away. I could never kill Yuki. I could never harm this one who I held so dear. Death was not what he needed from me, neither was my love, what he needed was protection. He needed me to be his knife.
“Hatori?” He whispered, squeezing my hands, and looking up at me with eyes so full of love and purity. “What’s wrong Hatori? Are you mad that I came?”
“No.” I answered, choking on my tears.
“Is it the costume? You don’t like it? It’s okay, Hatori, I don’t like it much myself.” Yuki started to remove it. “Hatori, I’ve decided that I’m not ever going to dance for Akito. I’ve decide that I only want to dance for you.”
I stood there in stunned silence. Not able to move, not even to breath, and I watched him as he slowly undressed, taking his time. All the while his eyes were glued to mine. They begged me not to speak, not to stop him. They swore his love to me. Finally, he stood naked before me, a perfect silver angel.
“There’s something I need you to do for me, Ha‘ri.” Yuki whispered, reaching up to take my face in his warm hands. “I need you to make love to me. I need you to make me yours. I want to know love before I die.”
“Yuki.” I breathed, stepping away from him. “You don‘t know what you‘re saying.” Though it was me who believed that I could not have heard him right. Had he read my mind all along, had he always known what I had planned?
“I’m going to kill myself tonight, Hatori, before that bastard can get his hands upon me.” Yuki confessed, and wrapped his arms around my waist. “I’d rather die before I let Akito have me.”
I pushed him away, hard. The anguish in his words tearing through my very being.
“NO! It will not happen. I will not allow it.” I informed him, unable to control the anger in my voice. It wasn’t meant for him, it was anger at Akito, but he couldn’t know that. He didn’t understand what I was saying.
“Hatori,” Yuki cried, his face twisting with sorrow. “You don’t want me? You don’t want to make love to me?”
“Yuki, it isn‘t that. I can’t do it. I can’t make love to you, you’re just a child. It’s wrong.”
“I’m not a child, and it’s not wrong if I ask for it, Is it? Please, Hatori. I need you.” He dropped to his knees, wrapping his arms around my legs, and looked up begging me for my love.
“Yuki, I can’t. If I go through with this it will make me like him. It will make me like Akito. I won’t. I can’t be like him.” I kneeled down beside him. I was the one who should be on my knees. I was the one who should be begging him for forgiveness.
“You’re not like him. You could never be. Hatori, I love you. I want to be with you. I want you to be my first, my only. If you don’t do it, Akito will. I swear I will kill myself, before I let that happen.”
“Yuki,” I cried, unable to hold it back, “It‘s not that I don‘t want you. You have no idea how much I want you.”
In a flash, he was in my arms, his tearstained lips to mine. “Please, Hatori, please… Please love me. I’ll die if you don’t love me.”
“I do, Yuki. I do love you.” I said it, I needed to, needed him to know. Closing my eyes, drowning in his tears, for a moment I allowed it. Allowing him to sink his sweet tongue into my hungry mouth, allowing him to move his hand beneath my robe. Allowing my hands to caress his velvet skin. I wanted him, more then I had ever wanted anything in my entire life, more then I’d wanted Kana, more then I’d wanted revenge. But I did love him. What I wanted didn’t matter. Yuki was what mattered. I opened my eyes, pulling my lips from his, and taking his face in my hands, so he would look at me, so he would listen.
“I’m sorry, Yuki. I cannot. I love you, but I cannot do this for you.”
“Hatori.” His eyes still begged, “please.”
“No! Yuki, I will not.” I stood, pulling him to his feet. “Now get dressed, you need to go home, before Akito discovers that you are gone.”
“But Hatori, tomorrow night, I know that you know. You know what he wants from me. Akito will…”
Placing a finger to his mouth, I shook my head slowly, keeping his eyes locked to mine.
“No. Yuki, I promise you. He will not. I will not allow Akito to harm you. Not anymore.”
“You can’t stop him!” Yuki yelled, and pushed me away. “You’ve never stopped him before. He will do what he wants, take what he wants, and you’ll let him?”
“He won’t” I swore, “I’ll kill him before I allow it. I’ll stop him, I promise you. Akito will never hurt you again.
“You can’t kill him, Hatori. You know that it’s not possible, but I can kill myself. That’s the only way to stop him.”
I pulled him into my arms, one final time. Hugging him to me tightly. I needed him to believe me, needed him to know.
“Do you trust me, Yuki?”
“Yes.” He whispered.
“Then trust that I will protect you. That he will never hurt you again.”
“How?” He asked, hopefully, wanting to believe.
“I will find a way. I will stop him. I promise.” I kissed him on the top of his head, and released him. I turned my back, to give him privacy while he dressed, and didn’t turn back when I heard him slid my door open. If I looked back, I knew that I would stop him from leaving, that I would never let him go.
YUKI *
Hatori was good to his promise. Akito did not come to me that night. I do not know what Hatori said to him, what kind of deal he must have made with the devil, but true to his word he saved me.
Shortly after, I was allowed to move into Shigure’s house.
HATORI *
New Years Eve came, and in the eyes of the family, Yuki became a man. As was expected, Yuki danced at the Zodiac Banquet. His performance was transcendent. It would be praised, within the family, for years to come. He did not dance for Akito. The entire time his eyes were upon me, they glistened with unshed tears, they shimmered with our unrequited love. Yuki danced for me.
Unfortunately, the night was marred by tragedy. There was death in the Sohma family. Early New Year’s morning, on his walk home from the celebration, Daichi Sohma was accosted. He was stabbed several times in the back. Neither the weapon or his killer was ever found.
This made Akito, the official head of the Sohma family. He would never be challenged again.
Shortly after, Yuki was allowed to move into Shigure’s house.
NEW YEARS EVE - FIVE
YUKI *
I awoke to the subtle scent of fresh green tea. Hatori sat in a chair next to my bed, a cup of tea in his hand and a faint smile on his lips. How long had he been watching me sleep?
“How do you feel?” He asked me, laying his hand on my forehead.
“I’m fine, better now that you’re here.” I smiled back. Sitting up in bed and taking a cup of tea from him.
“I brought you something.” Hatori grinned at me, and opening his medical bag retrieved a bag of cherry candies. “I had a horrible time tracking these down, since the sweet shop closed. I was able to find them online.”
“Hatori,” I laughed for the first time in ages. “I love these things.”
“I remember.” He told me, reaching his finger between the folds of my robe to touch the silver charm, which I wore around my neck. “You still wear this? I didn’t think that you did.”
“I wear it when I sleep.” I informed him “I always have.”
“Well,” he said pulling his stethoscope on and leaning over to push the cold steel to my chest. “Breath in.”
I don’t think so, I decided.
HATORI *
Yuki surprised my by pulling my stethoscope from my neck and tossing it across the room.”
“Yuki!” I automatically scolded, forgetting as I often did, that he was no longer just a child.
“I don’t need it Hatori. My back aches a little, but I’m really okay. I’m sorry you had to come all the way out here. You’re missing the party, because of me.”
“I don’t mind.” I told him, retrieving the stethoscope and placing it back in the bag. “Here turn over, let me see your back.” I sat down beside him on his bed.
YUKI *
Doing as he asked, I flipped onto my stomach, and felt his cold hands massaging my sore shoulders.
“That feels nice.” I informed him. “I had a fight with Kyo yesterday, when we were up on the roof. I fell off.”
“Yuki!” He reprimanded me, taking a hold of my robe and tugging it aside so that it was easier for him to work. “You and Kyo are too old for that constant fighting. You should know better.” His hands returned to my back, cool and soft.
“I should know better? Should I?” I sighed. “Does that mean that you admit that I’m not a kid anymore?”
HATORI *
His body was warm, beneath my cold hands. I worked his tense muscles, willing away his soreness. My mind was still dwelling on our past together. I had never gotten over my love for the boy, but I had learned long ago not to show it.
“Of course, I know that you’re not a kid anymore.” I told him.
“Good,” he said happily, and flipped over so that he could face me. “Then will you do something for me?”
“What,” I wondered, finding myself fading into his eyes. “What do you need?”
“You.” He whispered softly, “I need you, Ha‘ri.”
YUKI *
There, I had said it, what I had been holding in for all of these years. I needed him, I still needed him.
Five years ago tonight, he turned me down, telling me that I was a child. I thought it was because he didn’t love me, but as I got older I understood. Hatori turned me down because he did love me. He was trying to save me. Now I wanted to thank him.
“Yuki.” He whispered, as I worked at the knot in his robe. “Why are you doing this?”
“Why are you asking?” I answered, pushing the robe from his shoulders, so I could touch and kiss his chest.
HATORI *
I felt his hands upon my chest and then his mouth. Silently, I sunk down into the bed beside him, capturing his lips with mine.
“Yuki.” I whispered. “I love you.”
Pulling back from the kiss, he looked up and he smiled.
YUKI *
“Show me.” I answered, and fell back into his kiss.
The taste of his lips were as I remembered, a taste I could never forget. I sunk my tongue into his mouth and felt his fingers pushing aside my robe, so that he could touch me, everywhere. I felt his hands caressing my waist, my stomach, my chest. His lips pulled away from mine, and I missed them for a moment, until they moved across my face to my ear. He stopped there, licking the tender skin and whispering his promise to always love me, always protect me. Then he was kissing my neck, and my mouth again, his tongue driving down into me, devouring me in his hunger. I pushed his robe the remainder of the way off of him, kicking it off the bed to the floor, and then worked mine off as well. He pushed me down, so that he was laying on top of me. Skin to skin, I rubbed against him, wanting everything, but unsure how to get it. Unsure where to begin.
HATORI *
His skin was so soft, I wanted to touch all of him at once. He made me so ravenous in my thirst for him. I had been wanting for so very long. Plunging my tongue into his mouth, and feeling him rubbing against me with childlike need. This was new to him, I reminded myself. I had to take it slow. I grabbed both of his hands. Locking them over his head, and moved my kissing lower. To his chest, where I sucked and bit at his nipples, loving the way it made him softly sigh and moan so sweetly.
I released his hands, so I could move lower down his body. Kissing along his waist, to his firm stomach. Stopping to tease his tiny belly button. So close, but not yet. Now Yuki, was delirious with need. “Please, Hatori.” He begged me. Looking up into his passion filled violet eyes, I ran my tongue across his tip, tasting and teasing, he bit his bottom lip, and moaned loudly. I smiled evilly, and took him in my mouth.
“Hatori.” His whispered, “My, Ha’ri.”
Hearing him, like that drove me crazy with need, but I wouldn’t hurry. This wouldn’t be rushed. I sucked on him softly, taking him fully inside my mouth, but stopped just short of giving him what he needed. I kissed my way back up to his lips, and nearly lost it when he licked my bottom lip and whispered sweetly. “I need you. Ha’ri. I love you. I want you.”
“It might hurt you, are you sure you are ready for this?” I asked him. Though I wasn’t really sure that I was even ready.
“I’ve been ready for this for five year, Hatori.” He said, with a tiny laugh.
“Okay.” I agreed, and stood to head for the door.
“Where are you going?” He asked me, and looked scared, as if I’d ever desert him.
“I’ll be right back. I promise. There’s something we need.”
I headed down to Shigure’s bathroom. As suspected, I found what I needed. “I’ll have to thank you, Later.”
YUKI *
He left, and I thought I would cry, but he returned. Holding something behind his back.
“Wait,” I told him, before he could jump back into bed.
“What?” He asked, but waited while I looked at him. Ha’ri was so beautiful naked, tall, and thin, but muscular. He was exactly what I had dreamed about for the last five years.
“Nothing,” I smiled, and welcomed him back to bed by a kissing his stomach, and then before he could stop me, I had him in my mouth, and it was my turn to tease him. I did as he did, tenderly sucking and licking. I felt him grow larger in my mouth, and then he grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled me up so that he could kiss my lips, and lay me on my back.
HATORI *
Yuki’s lips felt amazing, but that wasn’t what I had planned for us. Kissing slowly back down, I took him in my mouth again.
I was so afraid that I would hurt him. While I teased him with my tongue, I opened the oil I had borrowed from Shigure’s room. I lavished in upon my hands, and used it to ready myself. I sucked him softly, working him with my tongue, my mouth, my hands, and when he came, in a cute little whimper, I swallowed it down, and moved back up to his lips. Kissing him gently, and staring into his adoring eyes, I held my breath and slowly slipped partially inside of him, and waited.
“Um…” he mumbled, and sucked at my tongue, I took that as a sign he was okay with everything and pushed myself deeper inside, fully into bliss.
YUKI/HATORI *
As we melted together, I could here them outside. The fireworks at the Main House. I blocked them from my mind. They no longer mattered. He was all that mattered.
YUKI *
I woke on New Year's Day alone. Sitting up in my empty bed, I felt sadness overwhelm me. He was gone. Upon my pillow, I found a folded note.
HATORI *
I placed my suitcases in the trunk of my car. Akito watched from his window. He was angry, but this time he couldn’t stop me. Yuki was eighteen now, he was an adult in the eyes of the world. Akito was no longer his guardian. It had been decided. Driving through the gates, I turned to take one last look back. He was no longer watching.
YUKI *
Standing in front of Shigure’s, my bags in hand, I smiled at him as he drove towards me through the snow. Getting into his car, I cuddled close to him. Turning on his radio, as we drove away. I was free.
*********
The end…