Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Prince ❯ Chapter 5

Dark Prince

 

 

 

Chapter Five

 

 

 

As he walked through the courtyard, he noticed how quiet it was. It was only late evening, a time when most of the younger Sohma's would gather before being called inside for the night. There were no signs of the children, most of the houses dark. There was one, however, with a single light shining like some bizarre beacon. He waked slowly toward the house, anxiety fluttering in his stomach like tiny butterflies.

 

He stopped suddenly, dropping his bags and suitcase. His hands balled into fists, his knuckles turning white. He was supposed to be in control now, not feeling like some weak-kneed coward. He was finished with feeling like a victim.

 

Regaining his composure, he retrieved his bags and continued on, his gray eyes narrowed.

 

`I'm not your victim anymore, Akito.'

 

//

 

As Akito lounged on the floor, idly tracing circles on the hardwood floor with his finger, his thoughts once again turned to his family's disobedience. His earlier conversation with Hatori and Shigure came to him once again.

 

“I came to you to inform you that I'll be throwing a party for Tohru tonight,” Shigure said, hands folded in his lap. His face held a small smile that Akito vehemently wanted to wipe off. The dog was toying with him, knowing how angry it would make him. Akito turned his gaze away from the novelist to the doctor sitting beside him.

 

“And you, Hatori? Why are you here?”

 

Hatori's blank expression remained intact, giving nothing away. “I'm merely here to keep the peace,” he responded quietly. Akito couldn't help smirking, wondering if he was recalling the time he'd come here with his bitch, begging him to let them marry. He'd taken so much pleasure in causing the two so much pain, watching in delight as Hatori kneeled before him, blood pouring from his eye while the girl sat by, disgusted.

 

“And what harm can I possibly do?” Akito asked, his tone mocking. Only the slight tensing of the doctor's jaw displayed his underlying anger. He remained silent, however. Akito shrugged and looked out the window.

 

“What's the occasion, Shigure?”

 

“She's graduating today, along with Kyo.”

 

Akito grimaced. So they wanted to honor the girl and the cat. He gripped the window ledge, his nails digging into the painted wood. He turned sharply, his eyes flashing. Shigure and Hatori were instantly on guard, their expressions wary.

 

“And why should I allow this?” Akito spat out. “Why should I allow you to give tribute to that outsider and the disgrace of the Sohma family?”

 

Shigure looked away from Akito's heated gaze while Hatori shifted uncomfortably. After a few tense minutes, Akito sighed. He really hadn't meant to get so upset, but that girl…

 

“Why don't you have the party here?” He suggested calmly, trying to keep his tone agreeable. Shigure and Hatori exchanged uncertain glances before Shigure spoke up.

 

“Well, I really don't want to inconvenience you, Akito. Hatori tells me that your health has taken a dive lately and I don't think a party would do you any good.”

 

Akito glanced at Hatori sharply. “Is that so?” He murmured with a small smile. “Well, it seems you two have it all figured out so why even come to me?”

 

“Because you are the head of the family,” Hatori responded quietly. Despite his composed expression, Hatori's tone was filled with contempt. “We owe you that much.”

 

Akito laughed softly. “So considerate of you two, thinking of me like this.” He gestured for them to stand. “Of course you can have your little party. And remember,” he told them as he turned his back on them. “Give Tohru my deepest congratulations.”

 

“Stupid bitch,” he muttered, pounding his fist against the floor. How dare she make a fool of him yet again, turning all his little animals against him. He imagined at this very moment they were all gathered around the twit, fawning over her.

 

Akito turned over on his back, staring up at the ceiling. He was tired of her…he was losing control over all of them because of her. He felt his blood rushing, heating to a boil as his vision blurred. He realized that he was gasping for breath, his hands clutching his chest.

 

`Damn this feeble body!'

 

He crawled to his knees and inhaled deeply, trying to ride out the attack. This was the third time it had happened to him today, something that gave him cause for concern. He'd kept it secret from Hatori, knowing the doctor probably would have ordered him to stay in bed for the day. Akito was already adverse to the fact that he was confined to his house for much of the time. The idea of being limited to his room for hours on end bothered him more than he cared to admit. And that was something he wouldn't let Hatori find out.

 

“You should be in bed.”

 

Akito was surprised to hear the voice, a voice he'd only heard in his dreams for the past two years. But it was changed, the timbre deeper, the tone…commanding.

 

“Yuki,” he whispered, not looking up. He hated that he was seeing him in such a weakened state. Taking deep breaths, he slowly stood to his feet, grasping the edge of the table.

 

“What are you doing here…” the question died in his throat as he gazed at the young man standing before him. Gone was the pale, slender boy he'd known. His skin now held a sun-kissed glow, enhancing the silvery-black sheen of the younger man's hair which, Akito noticed with a pleased eye, was noticeably longer, curling at the nape of his neck. As a boy, Yuki had always looked beautiful in a feminine sort of way, but now his beauty was more masculine, his features strong and sharp.

 

“My, my, my,” Akito murmured, eyeing the young man. “You've changed, my little mouse.”

 

Yuki's gaze narrowed. “Don't call me that.” His voice was hard, holding no room for argument. Akito was slightly taken aback, not expecting such a retort. Was his timid little mouse talking back?

 

Akito let his eyes wander over Yuki's lean form, a small smile on his lips. He felt a stirring in his groin at the thought of that taut, youthful body beneath him. It had been a long time…

 

“Come help me out to the porch,” he said, gesturing. Those enticing gray eyes regarded him warily before Yuki moved toward the slightly older man. When he was within reach, he held out his arm, staring straight ahead. Akito took the offered arm and gripped it tightly, taking note of the wiry muscles beneath the layers of clothing.

 

`He certainly has grown up.'

 

Yuki led him over to the porch, noticing Akito's careful steps. His health had taken a noticeable decline in his absence, his skin even paler than he'd remembered. His trademark blue silk kimono hung on his frame limply, slipping from his thin shoulders. Akito caught him staring and gave a dry laugh.

 

“Time hasn't been as kind to me as it obviously has to you.” He reached over to brush away the long bangs hiding Yuki's face, but he stopped when Yuki jerked away, glaring at him.

 

“Hands off,” he muttered, shoving his hands in the pocket of his black khaki pants. Akito cocked his head. “Who do you think you're talking to?” He asked, his silky voice thrumming with fury.

 

Yuki glanced out at the courtyard, watching the moon cast shadows over the landscape. He felt a fleeting sense of fear before brushing it aside. He chose to ignore the question rather than answer it.

 

Akito was not pleased with Yuki's behavior. This was not the timid young boy that he could manipulate at his will…no, this was not his little mouse.

 

“Why did you come back here?” He asked, studying the young man's profile. “I didn't send for you.” He saw his jaw clench before Yuki turned to look at him.

 

“Why do you think?” He challenged. Akito's brow rose at Yuki's tone. He wouldn't take much more of the boy's insolence…

 

“Why don't you indulge me?” Akito responded softly, keeping his tone even. Yuki knew that Akito was fighting the urge to strike him. His pride was bruised by Yuki's altered attitude, his natural reaction to punish him. He glanced at the fragile man standing beside him, wondering why he didn't exact some sort of physical abuse. Yuki decided to test him.

 

“Do you think I came back for…Tohru?” He asked, leaning back against the wall. He saw the telltale flicker in Akito's eyes before it was replaced with disinterest. Akito shrugged, pulling the kimono tighter around him.

 

Yuki chuckled, the sound somehow sounding sultry to Akito's ears. “I have thought about her these past two years…wondering how much she's grown.”

 

Akito looked away from Yuki's intense gaze, looking up at the sky. He didn't care for the direction the conversation had taken. Yuki pushed away from the wall and approached Akito, standing behind him.

 

Leaning in close, he whispered, “I especially thought about her at night, wondering what it would have been like to kiss her…to hold her…to fuck her.”

 

Akito's eyes widened, his rage building. Yuki smirked and kept on; enjoying the game he was playing. “I'd touch myself thinking about her, imagining it was her hand stroking me, just like you used to do.”

 

Yuki stepped back as Akito spun around, his eyes wild. The younger Sohma wondered briefly if he'd gone too far, but stood his ground, eyeing the enraged family head with defiant eyes.

 

“Don't for one minute think that you've escaped me, my dear little mouse,” he hissed pressing forward until Yuki was backed up against the wall. “You may have gone off on your own, but it was because I allowed it.” He brought one hand up swiftly to lock around the youth's slender neck, his fingers squeezing mercilessly.

 

“I control you, not the other way around, Yuki.” To emphasize his point, he pressed his hips against Yuki's, grinding his growing erection against the younger man's groin. Yuki glared daggers at the older man as he struggled for breath, his vision swimming.

 

`I won't lose!'

 

Yuki held onto the pain he'd harbored all these years; pain at the hands of Akito, pain at the hands of his family…and Tohru. He held onto it tightly, letting it grow, letting it feed his anger. He wouldn't be a victim anymore. With a surge of strength, he pushed Akito away from him, his chest heaving as he breathed deeply.

 

Akito was too stunned to do anything, staring at the boy as if he'd never seen him before. Yuki lunged at him, grabbing a fistful of the kimono and yanking the startled man forward until they were face to face.

 

“Do you know what a rat does when it's trapped?” He asked softly, his eyes flashing. Akito gripped Yuki's arms, trying to pry them loose, but to no avail. He realized he was feeling something he'd never felt before…fear.

 

“It tries to gnaw its way free, whether through solid wood or…human flesh.” Akito's breathing became labored as he saw the cerulean hue in Yuki's eyes. He heard a commotion behind him in the courtyard, realizing what it was. He knew that if he turned around, he'd see a swarm of restless rodents.

 

“Or so I've heard,” Yuki said with a small laugh as he released his grip and placed his hands on the railing behind Akito, bringing his face close so his lips were close to the man's ear.

 

“Any time you want to test that theory, let me know.”

 

Akito watched as Yuki turned and walked away, the chattering behind him dying down until silence reigned once again. He stared after him, fear slowly giving way to anger.

 

He wasn't done with Yuki…not by a long shot.

 

*end*