Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Sleepless in Sohma House ❯ His Darkest Places ( Chapter 17 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Yuki_The_Rat 
Anime/Manga: Fruits Basket Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Comedy | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 11.29.2003 | Pages: 4 | Words: 4.3K | Visits: 854 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Fruits Basket Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Comedy | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 11.29.2003 | Pages: 4 | Words: 4.3K | Visits: 854 | Status: Completed
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or it's characters. It belongs to Takaya Nasuki. Yuki too. That’s just the way it is. I am learning to accept it.
Well, a few of you have commented that a couple of my characters are a little OOC… My hell, you are so picky. I re-watched a few episodes, and I will try to do better. ; ) For the rest of you, make that all of you, even the picky picks, I love you! Your reviews make me so very happy… I think you will enjoy this chapter. I stayed up half of last night writing it, cause I couldn’t get Akito the heck out of my head. He’s so difficult to work with sometimes.
And I want to send out a special hello to WannabeHobbit, you are too too funny, I really like you. You remind me, of me. Thanks for your many reviews.
Okay, this chapter has a 16+ rating. I do not think that I have hit R yet, and I hope not to do so, but please respect my rating if you are a younger reader. Thank you.
Sleepless in Sohma House
PART SEVENTEEN - HIS DARKEST PLACES
KYO *
Smiling big, Kyo the cat whispered softly. “Arisa Uotani.”
And then added, “When in the hell is the damn Yankee getting back from vacation, anyway?”
YUKI/TOHRU * (a.n. hee hee hee, I love teasing you guys)
“Yuki,” Tohru stammered, leaning past him to flip on the bedside light. “Yuki, what are you doing here?”
“I’m sorry, Miss Honda. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I really just wanted to see you.” Yuki peered up at her, affectionately, but then quickly averted his tiny eyes. She wasn’t dressed for company. She wore only a scanty sleep set. It hardly covered her properly. Reading his mind, Tohru grabbed the robe from the nearby chair, and wrapped it around herself. Yuki recognized the robe, at once. It was Akito’s, Yuki felt certain. Anger flared inside his tiny body. Was Akito dressing her now? That bastard!
“But Yuki, you shouldn’t be… Akito. If he catches you here?”
“I don’t care about Akito. I’m not letting him control me anymore.” The little rat proclaimed arrogantly, and crawled inside her hand so that she could lift him up, closer to her face. His small violet eyes and pounding heartbeat told her another story. Yuki was still scared to death of Akito, yet he was here, putting on a brave face. Just for her. Tohru’s heart softened. She nuzzled her cheek against Yuki’s small body. “I am not worried about Akito, Miss Honda. I was worried about you.”
As if on queue, there was soft knock at Tohru’s door. “Tohru? Are you okay? I’m coming in.”
“Akito!” Yuki and Tohru whispered together. Yuki barreled out of Tohru’s hand and dove beneath her covers, just as Akito slid the door open and stepped into the room.
“Akito, umm… It’s so late… did you need something?” Tohru asked innocently, trying to position herself on the bed in order to cover the tiny bump that was Yuki.
Akito glanced around the room suspiciously. “I thought that I heard you scream. I was concerned?”
“Oh, yeah… oh… I… just had a bad dream, that’s all and… I shouldn’t have screamed like that, but I did… and.”
Underneath her blankets, Yuki held his breath, trying to keep himself from shaking in fear. ‘She is such a terrible liar.’ he noticed, ‘I’m as good as dead.’
“So, you’re alright then?” Akito asked her, the icy tone in his voice sending a shiver down Yuki’s spine. ‘He knows!’ Yuki closed his tiny eyes, and sent out a unspoken prayer.
“Oh yes, I’m fine. Thank you for checking on me, Akito.” Tohru lied nervously. She didn’t like the tone of Akito’s voice. She didn’t like it at all.
“Well, then.” Akito purred, and graced her with his best phony smile. “Would you like me to stay with you for a bit then, until you get back to sleep?”
“No!” Tohru said, too eagerly, and Akito’s eyes widened. “I mean, don’t be silly. We had a long day. You must be exhausted.”
Yuki’s body began to tingle. ‘Oh shit, I can’t transform, not now, please.’ Curling himself into the smallest ball possible, Yuki willed himself to disappear.
“I see.” Akito said, closing the distance between them in one quick stride. “I will leave you then, but first… If you don’t mind, I’d really like a goodnight kiss.”
“Akito.” Yuki whispered, his tiny paws gripping Tohru’s sheet in rage.
“Akito, I…” Tohru stuttered, and then Akito’s arms were wrapped around her, and he was kissing her, aggressively, driving her down onto her bed in a heated furor. “Akito!” Tohru whispered, and tears formed inside her eyes. This was not her knight, not her Akito, this was the other one, and this one was dangerous. Tohru flung her head to the side, hating the bitterness she tasted upon his lips. Akito‘s hand flew to her hair, dragging her face back to his. His tongue drove down, forcefully, pushing deep into her mouth, while his other hand ripped her robe aside and found what it wanted.
“NO!!!” Tohru screamed, and beneath the covers Yuki cringed.
“AKITO, PLEASE YOU‘RE HURTING ME!” She cried out, trying, with ever ounce of her being, to push him away.
These words did the trick. They touched deeply within him, violating Akito's darkest places. They searched for his soul, and finding it, they yanked it to the surface. Akito allowed himself to be pushed off of her and onto the floor. He sat, his body shaking, looking up at her in shame. Then he stood, and with sorrow shining in his eyes, he begged. “I’m so sorry, Tohru, I didn’t mean to… I didn’t want to…”
“Akito…don’t… you didn’t…” She faltered, but then found her way. “Akito, I’m alright, it’s okay.” Her words absolved him, but her eyes didn’t. Her eyes were afraid.
“No,” Akito insisted, “It’s not, nothing‘s okay.” With one last regretful look, he dashed out of the room.
“Akito, wait.” Tohru called after him, and leapt from the bed intending to follow him.
In a loud burst of violet, Yuki transformed. In a flash he was off of the bed, and had grabbed a hold of Tohru’s wrist.
“Wait, Miss Honda. Let him go.” Yuki told her, “You can’t talk to him when he’s like this. You shouldn‘t even try.”
“I can’t. Yuki, I have to go to him. He needs me.” Tohru sobbed, wrenching her arm out of Yuki’s tight grasp and running towards the door.
“Tohru!” Yuki screamed, and the use of her given name, coming from Yuki’s mouth, made her hesitate. “Tohru,” Yuki repeated softly, “Please, don’t go.”
The anguish in his voice distracted her. She stood in the doorway, half in, half out, her eyes seeing Yuki as if for the first time. He was magnificent, naked and vulnerable. ‘He is so astonishingly beautiful.’
Forcing her eyes, upwards, to his face. She smiled compassionately.
“Yuki, thank you for coming here tonight. I know that it couldn’t have been an easy thing for you to do… I… I’m sorry, if I hurt you…but,” Her eyes glanced, pensively, down the hall, once again she was torn between Yuki and another.
“Miss Honda, It was my fault. All of this, I…” reaching out his hands he placed one upon each of her shoulders, desiring to keep her from leaving.
“Yuki… no… it wasn’t.” Tohru told him, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. “It was a misunderstanding, that’s all it was. Kyo and I… we never.”
“I know, Miss Honda, I know.” Letting go of her shoulders, Yuki took Tohru’s face in his hands…
“Yuki?”
And the prince kissed her.
The kiss was soft, so sweet and tender. Exactly as she always expected it would be. The kiss was beautiful, just as Yuki was beautiful. It was different from Akito’s kiss, so completely different… and yet.
Tohru backed away.
“Yuki…” She whispered. “I have to go…”
“Miss Honda?”
“I have to go to him. I made a promise.” Taking off her robe she handed it to Yuki. “You should put this on. I don’t want you to catch a cold on your walk home. Goodnight Yuki.”
She hurried away, running down the hallway, running to Akito.
AKITO *
The room was musty and oppressive, the tightly drawn shades allowed, neither fresh air, nor light to seep inside. There was no furniture here. No pretty tapestries. This room was not meant for pleasure. It was an ugly room, full of brutal memories, and cloistered screams. It was Akito’s special room, the one he kept for his one special guest, and it hadn’t been used in a very long time. He had hoped to never need to use it again, but now he slid the door shut behind him, and dropped to his knees inside its darkness. His only desire was to escape her. Escape Tohru Honda, and the agony that the girl was causing him. Laying down on the stone cold floor, Akito closed his eyes. “Stop it. Stop it. Stop it!“ he cried out, loudly, to empty walls, and bashed his head, violently, against the hard ground. He couldn’t work the memory out of his mind. Her betrayal was tormenting him, like a giant movie projector it rewound and replayed each humiliating moment. Her disloyalty, his disgrace.
Akito had been rushing down the hallway, in fear for Tohru’s safety, when he arrived at her doorway and heard voices coming from inside. ‘Yuki!’ The little rat was in his house and uninvited. Worse, he was in Tohru’s bedroom, at night.
Akito’s jealousy had bubbled hotly inside of him. He had stood in the hallway, breathing deeply, trying his hardest to stay calm. ‘Believe in her, Akito.’ he told himself. ‘Tohru would never deceive you.’ Ignoring his impulse to rip the door from it’s hinges, he softly knocked, and called in to her, before entering.
‘She’s hidden him,’ Akito discovered, as he glanced around, searching for his cousin. Then he found the hiding place. He knew that he was there. The trembling rodent, cowered beneath the thin summer blanket. ‘Did they think that he was blind? Isn’t he even man enough to face me?’
She looked up at him sweetly, and placed herself between them. She was sheltering him, protecting Yuki. She smiled deceivingly, looking every bit the charming picture of purity. She was a lie. He had tested her. She had failed.
’Does she really believe that she can go against me?’ Inside of him, a small lock had clicked open. In a white hot flash, Akito’s darkness had consumed him.
TOHRU *
Standing at the entrance to Akito’s chambers Tohru hesitated for only a moment. Knocking on the door, she called out to him.
“Akito, it’s me. It’s Tohru. Can I came in?” When no answer came, she started to turn away, but then changed her mind. “He needs me.” She convinced herself. She slid open the door and walked inside. “Akito? I’m sorry if you don’t want to see me, but I’m so worried about you.”
The room was empty. Where was he? Rushing across the room, she pushed open the door to Akito’s sitting area, the moonlight illuminated the room, allowing her a clear view. He wasn’t here. Walking back to hallway, she gazed at the long line of closed doors.
Taking a deep breath she headed down the hall. Stopping at the first closed door, she knocked. No answer, she opened the door and looked inside. Through the darkness she made out the outline of a piano. “This must be some kind of music room.” She realized. “I didn’t know that Akito liked music.”
Continuing down the hall, she pulled open the next door, not even bothering to knock. This room was dark, so she walked inside searching for a light switch along the wall. Finding one, she flipped it on, and looked around in awe. She was in the library. It was almost as large as the library at her school. Looking up, along the bookshelves she noticed that these were mostly Hatori’s medical books. “I don’t have time for this.” she reminded herself. Turning slowly, she was about to flip off the light switch when she noticed a small door, which was partially open, on the far end of the library. Heading that way she peered down another long dark hallway. It lead to one single, solitary, door.
“Akito,” she called out, “are you in here.” No reply.
“This could take me all night.” Sighing softly to herself. She headed down the hallway.
AKITO *
Hearing Tohru calling out his name, Akito lifted his face from the floor in curiosity. She wouldn’t dare come to this room. She wouldn’t have the nerve. No one was allowed near this room without his permission, the Sohmas all knew better, they were all appropriately terrified of this room.
Akito was forgetting that Tohru wasn’t a Sohma, yet.
TOHRU *
The hallway was much longer then it had first appeared, and it was very dark. The light from the library allowed her to find her way, but as she found no other light source, she soon found herself in complete darkness.
“Akito?” She knocked upon the door. She didn’t really expect and answer, and was not surprised when she didn’t receive one.
‘Another empty room,’ she thought resignedly, and slid two heavy doors apart.
This room was pitch black, and smelt of dust and decay. Just standing in the doorway sent a cold spike of fear through Tohru’s heart. ‘What was this place?’ Deciding it was somewhere that she didn’t belong, and didn’t really want to be, Tohru took a step back.
“You shouldn’t be here. Tohru Honda.” Akito’s voice came, subtle and forbidding, out of the darkness. Tohru sucked in her breath, fighting off the impulse to run away. “but since you are, why don’t you come inside.”
“Akito.” Tohru murmured, taking a small cautious step into the room. “It’s so dark in here. I can’t see you.”
“Shut the door behind you,” Akito requested.
“But Akito, it’s… so dark in here, and it’s stuffy. I can‘t breath.”
“Do it!” Akito commanded loudly, and Tohru immediately obeyed.
“Now, come sit by me.” He whispered.
“But really, Akito, I can’t see where you are, can’t we talk in my..”
“Tohru, do you trust me?”
“Um… it’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s just this room is so creepy, and…”
“Get over here, Tohru! Now!”
Following his voice, Tohru moved quickly across the room, but she misjudged the distance and walked right into him. Losing her balance she tripped and fell forward.
“Akito!” Tohru called to him, flaying her arms about, trying to find balance. She landed heavily on top of his chest.
“Oh, no, Akito! Did I hurt you? I’m so sorry.. I couldn’t see you in the dark, and.” Tohru moved off of him, struggling to see in the impossible dark. “isn’t there a light switch somewhere? Is it…”
“Tohru, be quiet.” Tohru stopped in mid-sentence, swallowing nervously. Akito’s arms were suddenly around her waist, dragging her gently down so that she was laying beside him face to face. Tohru felt his warm breath against her brow.
“Why did you lie to me tonight?” Akito questioned her, moving an icy cold hand up the back of her neck.
“I… I… was afraid. Akito. I was afraid of what you would do to Yuki.”
“And tell me Tohru, what was Yuki doing in your room?”
“Nothing,” Tohru cried, “he came to talk to me. That’s all, Akito.”
“You’re still lying,” Akito informed her in icy cold whisper, his lips brushing softly against her ear. “Why do you lie to me, Tohru Honda?”
“Because, Akito, you scare me sometimes. You scare me when you act this way.”
“You don’t trust me, because you know, don’t you? You understand the true nature of my curse.” Akito released her, sitting up, Akito took a deep breath.
Finding his hand in the darkness, Tohru held it tight. “Yes, Akito. I know. But…”
“You should leave this house.” Akito said bitterly.
“No,” Tohru refused, squeezing his hand tighter. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“I want you to go!” Akito yelled her, wrenching his hand from hers. “Go to Yuki! I don’t want you here, get out. Leave now. Right now!”
“NO!” Tohru refused, throwing herself into his arms, and hiding her face in his chest. “We made a promise, Akito. Two weeks! Remember? I’m not going anywhere. If you still want me to leave in two weeks, ask me again and I’ll go.”
“Tohru,” Akito broke down, crushing her to him and burying his face in her hair. “I want you to stay with me, so bad. I don’t ever want you to go. I don’t want to be without you, but I’m afraid. Tonight, I was so angry. I might have hurt you. Sometimes, I don’t know. I can‘t always control it. I don’t want it to be like this. I want to change, but this damn curse, it makes it so hard sometimes.”
“I know, Akito, but you are changing. You just can’t expect it to happen overnight. If you really want it, you will change. I believe in you, Akito. I know that you can do it. I want to stay here, with you. I want to help you.”
“Tohru,” Akito whispered, raining soft kisses upon her face, “Sweet Tohru, I love you. God, how I love you.”
“I know, Akito, I love you too.” Tohru whispered back, stopping his lips with her own gentle kiss.
“You love me?” Akito questioned, he knew he could not have heard her right.
“Yes.” Tohru assured him, with a soft embarrassed giggle, “I’ve fallen in love with you, Akito Sohma. Now can we please, please, get out of this room.” She begged.
“What?” Akito laughed, suddenly back to his sweet charming self. “why is it that nobody likes it in here?”
“I can’t imagine.” Tohru humored, finding her feet and immediately tripping over them. “Ouch.” She landed hard, twisting her ankle.
“You’re very clumsy, aren’t you.” Akito asked her, and gathered her off of the ground, to carry her to the exit.
As Akito slid apart the doors, he felt something small and quick skitter past his feet, and race away up the long hallway.
“Yuki,” Akito said, under his breath.
“Akito?” Tohru questioned.
“Nothing,” Akito told her, holding her closer, as he carried her, possessively, away from the room.
KYO *
As the morning sun worked it’s way into the sky. The tiny rat scampered past the lawn and into the open door. Passing Kyo, who was standing on the dining table, his head sunk into a bowl of milk. Yuki rushed towards the stairs.
“Hey, you, ratboy. Wait up. I wanna ask you something.” Kyo called out and jumped down from the table to chase after him.
“What do you want.” Yuki asked coldly, stopping for just a moment before continuing his way up the staircase. Halfway up he transformed. Losing his balance he tumbled, naked, back down the stairs to land at Kyo’s feet.
“WHAT THE HELLS WRONG WITH YOU? ARE YOU RETARDED OR SOMETHING?” Kyo yelled at him.
“FUCK OFF!” Yuki yelled at him, and the cat stepped back in shock. Yuki didn’t yell, and if he did he would never use language like that. ‘Something must have really pissed him off.’ Kyo decided.
“What do you want, anyway?” Yuki asked him, as he pulled himself up off of the floor.
“You don’t have to act like such an asshole, Yuki. I don’t exactly want to talk to you either, but I think we need to do something about Tohru.”
“We’re not doing anything.” Yuki told him, and started up the stairs again.
“WHAT!” Kyo yelled, trailing after him. “WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WE CAN’T JUST LEAVE HER WITH AKITO!”
“Miss Honda isn’t coming back, Kyo.” Yuki said, too calmly. “I saw her last night. She wants to stay with Akito. She’s in love with him. So drop it, okay.”
Walking into his room, Yuki slid the door closed, ignoring Kyo’s shocked face.
YUKI *
Haru remained exactly as Yuki had left him, except he had pulled a blanket up over his head, probably trying to hide from the morning sunlight, which was now filling the room with it’s warmth.
Walking to the window, Yuki pulled the curtains closed. He then headed back to his futon. Once there, he sat down, pulling the blanket away from Haru’s face and shaking it out. Haru opened his eyes, tiredly.
“Yuki?” He asked sleepily.
“Haru,” Yuki whimpered, tears brimming in his eyes. “I’m sorry, I…”
“Yuki.“ Haru whispered, “Come to bed.” reaching for him, Haru pulled Yuki down into his arms, and kissed him softly while Yuki cried himself to sleep.
HANA *
“…. Uo…,” Hana repeated, and jabbed her friend in the shoulder. “Uo, what are you thinking about? You are sending out the most delicious electric signals.”
“Huh…” Uo came out of her daydream, a soft smile quickly hidden by her trademark scowl as she sat up in her beach chair, and grabbed a soda from the mini ice chest. “Nothing, I wasn’t really thinking about anyone.”
“Why do you lie?” Hana wondered, and marveled at the color change in her friend’s cheeks. “You’re thinking about the Sohma boy again. The orange one.”
“Orange top?!! NO WAY! What would I be thinking about him for?” Uo sidestepped, but the look in her eyes blew her cover.
“Why indeed?” Hana teased, assured of her assumption. “You should just tell Tohru how you feel. She’s Tohru, I am sure she will understand.”
“Tell Tohru? I couldn‘t do that.” Uo said, and turned on her stomach to hide her face in her beach towel. “I don’t know how she feels about him. What if…” The prospect was too awful to consider.
“You’re not being a good friend if you continue to lie to her this way. Not to Tohru, not to Kyo, and not to yourself. Besides the orange one, he is not meant for Tohru.”
“What are you saying?” Uo asked, peeking out of her hiding place in curiosity.
“Tohru’s electric signals. At the end of the school year, they were pretty mixed up. She loves both of them, Kyo and the Prince, but she isn‘t truly in love with either of them. Uo, we‘ve been away all summer, and Tohru’s much smarter then she pretends. I‘m sure she‘s figured it out by now.”
“You scare me.” Uo said, “How can you know such things.”
“I just feel them. I just know. Similar to the way that you know what you feel about Kyo, even when you deny it to everyone else.”
“Leave me alone. Please.” Uo pleaded and pushed her face back into the towel.
“I will, but you should tell Tohru. As soon as we get back home,” she then added, under her breath. “Because if you don’t tell her, someone else will.”
******
Wow, I could almost end the story here, couldn’t I? Hee hee hee…. Just kidding, I wouldn’t do that to you… We still have a little ways to go…
Chapter 18 still to come…
Well, a few of you have commented that a couple of my characters are a little OOC… My hell, you are so picky. I re-watched a few episodes, and I will try to do better. ; ) For the rest of you, make that all of you, even the picky picks, I love you! Your reviews make me so very happy… I think you will enjoy this chapter. I stayed up half of last night writing it, cause I couldn’t get Akito the heck out of my head. He’s so difficult to work with sometimes.
And I want to send out a special hello to WannabeHobbit, you are too too funny, I really like you. You remind me, of me. Thanks for your many reviews.
Okay, this chapter has a 16+ rating. I do not think that I have hit R yet, and I hope not to do so, but please respect my rating if you are a younger reader. Thank you.
Sleepless in Sohma House
PART SEVENTEEN - HIS DARKEST PLACES
KYO *
Smiling big, Kyo the cat whispered softly. “Arisa Uotani.”
And then added, “When in the hell is the damn Yankee getting back from vacation, anyway?”
YUKI/TOHRU * (a.n. hee hee hee, I love teasing you guys)
“Yuki,” Tohru stammered, leaning past him to flip on the bedside light. “Yuki, what are you doing here?”
“I’m sorry, Miss Honda. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I really just wanted to see you.” Yuki peered up at her, affectionately, but then quickly averted his tiny eyes. She wasn’t dressed for company. She wore only a scanty sleep set. It hardly covered her properly. Reading his mind, Tohru grabbed the robe from the nearby chair, and wrapped it around herself. Yuki recognized the robe, at once. It was Akito’s, Yuki felt certain. Anger flared inside his tiny body. Was Akito dressing her now? That bastard!
“But Yuki, you shouldn’t be… Akito. If he catches you here?”
“I don’t care about Akito. I’m not letting him control me anymore.” The little rat proclaimed arrogantly, and crawled inside her hand so that she could lift him up, closer to her face. His small violet eyes and pounding heartbeat told her another story. Yuki was still scared to death of Akito, yet he was here, putting on a brave face. Just for her. Tohru’s heart softened. She nuzzled her cheek against Yuki’s small body. “I am not worried about Akito, Miss Honda. I was worried about you.”
As if on queue, there was soft knock at Tohru’s door. “Tohru? Are you okay? I’m coming in.”
“Akito!” Yuki and Tohru whispered together. Yuki barreled out of Tohru’s hand and dove beneath her covers, just as Akito slid the door open and stepped into the room.
“Akito, umm… It’s so late… did you need something?” Tohru asked innocently, trying to position herself on the bed in order to cover the tiny bump that was Yuki.
Akito glanced around the room suspiciously. “I thought that I heard you scream. I was concerned?”
“Oh, yeah… oh… I… just had a bad dream, that’s all and… I shouldn’t have screamed like that, but I did… and.”
Underneath her blankets, Yuki held his breath, trying to keep himself from shaking in fear. ‘She is such a terrible liar.’ he noticed, ‘I’m as good as dead.’
“So, you’re alright then?” Akito asked her, the icy tone in his voice sending a shiver down Yuki’s spine. ‘He knows!’ Yuki closed his tiny eyes, and sent out a unspoken prayer.
“Oh yes, I’m fine. Thank you for checking on me, Akito.” Tohru lied nervously. She didn’t like the tone of Akito’s voice. She didn’t like it at all.
“Well, then.” Akito purred, and graced her with his best phony smile. “Would you like me to stay with you for a bit then, until you get back to sleep?”
“No!” Tohru said, too eagerly, and Akito’s eyes widened. “I mean, don’t be silly. We had a long day. You must be exhausted.”
Yuki’s body began to tingle. ‘Oh shit, I can’t transform, not now, please.’ Curling himself into the smallest ball possible, Yuki willed himself to disappear.
“I see.” Akito said, closing the distance between them in one quick stride. “I will leave you then, but first… If you don’t mind, I’d really like a goodnight kiss.”
“Akito.” Yuki whispered, his tiny paws gripping Tohru’s sheet in rage.
“Akito, I…” Tohru stuttered, and then Akito’s arms were wrapped around her, and he was kissing her, aggressively, driving her down onto her bed in a heated furor. “Akito!” Tohru whispered, and tears formed inside her eyes. This was not her knight, not her Akito, this was the other one, and this one was dangerous. Tohru flung her head to the side, hating the bitterness she tasted upon his lips. Akito‘s hand flew to her hair, dragging her face back to his. His tongue drove down, forcefully, pushing deep into her mouth, while his other hand ripped her robe aside and found what it wanted.
“NO!!!” Tohru screamed, and beneath the covers Yuki cringed.
“AKITO, PLEASE YOU‘RE HURTING ME!” She cried out, trying, with ever ounce of her being, to push him away.
These words did the trick. They touched deeply within him, violating Akito's darkest places. They searched for his soul, and finding it, they yanked it to the surface. Akito allowed himself to be pushed off of her and onto the floor. He sat, his body shaking, looking up at her in shame. Then he stood, and with sorrow shining in his eyes, he begged. “I’m so sorry, Tohru, I didn’t mean to… I didn’t want to…”
“Akito…don’t… you didn’t…” She faltered, but then found her way. “Akito, I’m alright, it’s okay.” Her words absolved him, but her eyes didn’t. Her eyes were afraid.
“No,” Akito insisted, “It’s not, nothing‘s okay.” With one last regretful look, he dashed out of the room.
“Akito, wait.” Tohru called after him, and leapt from the bed intending to follow him.
In a loud burst of violet, Yuki transformed. In a flash he was off of the bed, and had grabbed a hold of Tohru’s wrist.
“Wait, Miss Honda. Let him go.” Yuki told her, “You can’t talk to him when he’s like this. You shouldn‘t even try.”
“I can’t. Yuki, I have to go to him. He needs me.” Tohru sobbed, wrenching her arm out of Yuki’s tight grasp and running towards the door.
“Tohru!” Yuki screamed, and the use of her given name, coming from Yuki’s mouth, made her hesitate. “Tohru,” Yuki repeated softly, “Please, don’t go.”
The anguish in his voice distracted her. She stood in the doorway, half in, half out, her eyes seeing Yuki as if for the first time. He was magnificent, naked and vulnerable. ‘He is so astonishingly beautiful.’
Forcing her eyes, upwards, to his face. She smiled compassionately.
“Yuki, thank you for coming here tonight. I know that it couldn’t have been an easy thing for you to do… I… I’m sorry, if I hurt you…but,” Her eyes glanced, pensively, down the hall, once again she was torn between Yuki and another.
“Miss Honda, It was my fault. All of this, I…” reaching out his hands he placed one upon each of her shoulders, desiring to keep her from leaving.
“Yuki… no… it wasn’t.” Tohru told him, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. “It was a misunderstanding, that’s all it was. Kyo and I… we never.”
“I know, Miss Honda, I know.” Letting go of her shoulders, Yuki took Tohru’s face in his hands…
“Yuki?”
And the prince kissed her.
The kiss was soft, so sweet and tender. Exactly as she always expected it would be. The kiss was beautiful, just as Yuki was beautiful. It was different from Akito’s kiss, so completely different… and yet.
Tohru backed away.
“Yuki…” She whispered. “I have to go…”
“Miss Honda?”
“I have to go to him. I made a promise.” Taking off her robe she handed it to Yuki. “You should put this on. I don’t want you to catch a cold on your walk home. Goodnight Yuki.”
She hurried away, running down the hallway, running to Akito.
AKITO *
The room was musty and oppressive, the tightly drawn shades allowed, neither fresh air, nor light to seep inside. There was no furniture here. No pretty tapestries. This room was not meant for pleasure. It was an ugly room, full of brutal memories, and cloistered screams. It was Akito’s special room, the one he kept for his one special guest, and it hadn’t been used in a very long time. He had hoped to never need to use it again, but now he slid the door shut behind him, and dropped to his knees inside its darkness. His only desire was to escape her. Escape Tohru Honda, and the agony that the girl was causing him. Laying down on the stone cold floor, Akito closed his eyes. “Stop it. Stop it. Stop it!“ he cried out, loudly, to empty walls, and bashed his head, violently, against the hard ground. He couldn’t work the memory out of his mind. Her betrayal was tormenting him, like a giant movie projector it rewound and replayed each humiliating moment. Her disloyalty, his disgrace.
Akito had been rushing down the hallway, in fear for Tohru’s safety, when he arrived at her doorway and heard voices coming from inside. ‘Yuki!’ The little rat was in his house and uninvited. Worse, he was in Tohru’s bedroom, at night.
Akito’s jealousy had bubbled hotly inside of him. He had stood in the hallway, breathing deeply, trying his hardest to stay calm. ‘Believe in her, Akito.’ he told himself. ‘Tohru would never deceive you.’ Ignoring his impulse to rip the door from it’s hinges, he softly knocked, and called in to her, before entering.
‘She’s hidden him,’ Akito discovered, as he glanced around, searching for his cousin. Then he found the hiding place. He knew that he was there. The trembling rodent, cowered beneath the thin summer blanket. ‘Did they think that he was blind? Isn’t he even man enough to face me?’
She looked up at him sweetly, and placed herself between them. She was sheltering him, protecting Yuki. She smiled deceivingly, looking every bit the charming picture of purity. She was a lie. He had tested her. She had failed.
’Does she really believe that she can go against me?’ Inside of him, a small lock had clicked open. In a white hot flash, Akito’s darkness had consumed him.
TOHRU *
Standing at the entrance to Akito’s chambers Tohru hesitated for only a moment. Knocking on the door, she called out to him.
“Akito, it’s me. It’s Tohru. Can I came in?” When no answer came, she started to turn away, but then changed her mind. “He needs me.” She convinced herself. She slid open the door and walked inside. “Akito? I’m sorry if you don’t want to see me, but I’m so worried about you.”
The room was empty. Where was he? Rushing across the room, she pushed open the door to Akito’s sitting area, the moonlight illuminated the room, allowing her a clear view. He wasn’t here. Walking back to hallway, she gazed at the long line of closed doors.
Taking a deep breath she headed down the hall. Stopping at the first closed door, she knocked. No answer, she opened the door and looked inside. Through the darkness she made out the outline of a piano. “This must be some kind of music room.” She realized. “I didn’t know that Akito liked music.”
Continuing down the hall, she pulled open the next door, not even bothering to knock. This room was dark, so she walked inside searching for a light switch along the wall. Finding one, she flipped it on, and looked around in awe. She was in the library. It was almost as large as the library at her school. Looking up, along the bookshelves she noticed that these were mostly Hatori’s medical books. “I don’t have time for this.” she reminded herself. Turning slowly, she was about to flip off the light switch when she noticed a small door, which was partially open, on the far end of the library. Heading that way she peered down another long dark hallway. It lead to one single, solitary, door.
“Akito,” she called out, “are you in here.” No reply.
“This could take me all night.” Sighing softly to herself. She headed down the hallway.
AKITO *
Hearing Tohru calling out his name, Akito lifted his face from the floor in curiosity. She wouldn’t dare come to this room. She wouldn’t have the nerve. No one was allowed near this room without his permission, the Sohmas all knew better, they were all appropriately terrified of this room.
Akito was forgetting that Tohru wasn’t a Sohma, yet.
TOHRU *
The hallway was much longer then it had first appeared, and it was very dark. The light from the library allowed her to find her way, but as she found no other light source, she soon found herself in complete darkness.
“Akito?” She knocked upon the door. She didn’t really expect and answer, and was not surprised when she didn’t receive one.
‘Another empty room,’ she thought resignedly, and slid two heavy doors apart.
This room was pitch black, and smelt of dust and decay. Just standing in the doorway sent a cold spike of fear through Tohru’s heart. ‘What was this place?’ Deciding it was somewhere that she didn’t belong, and didn’t really want to be, Tohru took a step back.
“You shouldn’t be here. Tohru Honda.” Akito’s voice came, subtle and forbidding, out of the darkness. Tohru sucked in her breath, fighting off the impulse to run away. “but since you are, why don’t you come inside.”
“Akito.” Tohru murmured, taking a small cautious step into the room. “It’s so dark in here. I can’t see you.”
“Shut the door behind you,” Akito requested.
“But Akito, it’s… so dark in here, and it’s stuffy. I can‘t breath.”
“Do it!” Akito commanded loudly, and Tohru immediately obeyed.
“Now, come sit by me.” He whispered.
“But really, Akito, I can’t see where you are, can’t we talk in my..”
“Tohru, do you trust me?”
“Um… it’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s just this room is so creepy, and…”
“Get over here, Tohru! Now!”
Following his voice, Tohru moved quickly across the room, but she misjudged the distance and walked right into him. Losing her balance she tripped and fell forward.
“Akito!” Tohru called to him, flaying her arms about, trying to find balance. She landed heavily on top of his chest.
“Oh, no, Akito! Did I hurt you? I’m so sorry.. I couldn’t see you in the dark, and.” Tohru moved off of him, struggling to see in the impossible dark. “isn’t there a light switch somewhere? Is it…”
“Tohru, be quiet.” Tohru stopped in mid-sentence, swallowing nervously. Akito’s arms were suddenly around her waist, dragging her gently down so that she was laying beside him face to face. Tohru felt his warm breath against her brow.
“Why did you lie to me tonight?” Akito questioned her, moving an icy cold hand up the back of her neck.
“I… I… was afraid. Akito. I was afraid of what you would do to Yuki.”
“And tell me Tohru, what was Yuki doing in your room?”
“Nothing,” Tohru cried, “he came to talk to me. That’s all, Akito.”
“You’re still lying,” Akito informed her in icy cold whisper, his lips brushing softly against her ear. “Why do you lie to me, Tohru Honda?”
“Because, Akito, you scare me sometimes. You scare me when you act this way.”
“You don’t trust me, because you know, don’t you? You understand the true nature of my curse.” Akito released her, sitting up, Akito took a deep breath.
Finding his hand in the darkness, Tohru held it tight. “Yes, Akito. I know. But…”
“You should leave this house.” Akito said bitterly.
“No,” Tohru refused, squeezing his hand tighter. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“I want you to go!” Akito yelled her, wrenching his hand from hers. “Go to Yuki! I don’t want you here, get out. Leave now. Right now!”
“NO!” Tohru refused, throwing herself into his arms, and hiding her face in his chest. “We made a promise, Akito. Two weeks! Remember? I’m not going anywhere. If you still want me to leave in two weeks, ask me again and I’ll go.”
“Tohru,” Akito broke down, crushing her to him and burying his face in her hair. “I want you to stay with me, so bad. I don’t ever want you to go. I don’t want to be without you, but I’m afraid. Tonight, I was so angry. I might have hurt you. Sometimes, I don’t know. I can‘t always control it. I don’t want it to be like this. I want to change, but this damn curse, it makes it so hard sometimes.”
“I know, Akito, but you are changing. You just can’t expect it to happen overnight. If you really want it, you will change. I believe in you, Akito. I know that you can do it. I want to stay here, with you. I want to help you.”
“Tohru,” Akito whispered, raining soft kisses upon her face, “Sweet Tohru, I love you. God, how I love you.”
“I know, Akito, I love you too.” Tohru whispered back, stopping his lips with her own gentle kiss.
“You love me?” Akito questioned, he knew he could not have heard her right.
“Yes.” Tohru assured him, with a soft embarrassed giggle, “I’ve fallen in love with you, Akito Sohma. Now can we please, please, get out of this room.” She begged.
“What?” Akito laughed, suddenly back to his sweet charming self. “why is it that nobody likes it in here?”
“I can’t imagine.” Tohru humored, finding her feet and immediately tripping over them. “Ouch.” She landed hard, twisting her ankle.
“You’re very clumsy, aren’t you.” Akito asked her, and gathered her off of the ground, to carry her to the exit.
As Akito slid apart the doors, he felt something small and quick skitter past his feet, and race away up the long hallway.
“Yuki,” Akito said, under his breath.
“Akito?” Tohru questioned.
“Nothing,” Akito told her, holding her closer, as he carried her, possessively, away from the room.
KYO *
As the morning sun worked it’s way into the sky. The tiny rat scampered past the lawn and into the open door. Passing Kyo, who was standing on the dining table, his head sunk into a bowl of milk. Yuki rushed towards the stairs.
“Hey, you, ratboy. Wait up. I wanna ask you something.” Kyo called out and jumped down from the table to chase after him.
“What do you want.” Yuki asked coldly, stopping for just a moment before continuing his way up the staircase. Halfway up he transformed. Losing his balance he tumbled, naked, back down the stairs to land at Kyo’s feet.
“WHAT THE HELLS WRONG WITH YOU? ARE YOU RETARDED OR SOMETHING?” Kyo yelled at him.
“FUCK OFF!” Yuki yelled at him, and the cat stepped back in shock. Yuki didn’t yell, and if he did he would never use language like that. ‘Something must have really pissed him off.’ Kyo decided.
“What do you want, anyway?” Yuki asked him, as he pulled himself up off of the floor.
“You don’t have to act like such an asshole, Yuki. I don’t exactly want to talk to you either, but I think we need to do something about Tohru.”
“We’re not doing anything.” Yuki told him, and started up the stairs again.
“WHAT!” Kyo yelled, trailing after him. “WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WE CAN’T JUST LEAVE HER WITH AKITO!”
“Miss Honda isn’t coming back, Kyo.” Yuki said, too calmly. “I saw her last night. She wants to stay with Akito. She’s in love with him. So drop it, okay.”
Walking into his room, Yuki slid the door closed, ignoring Kyo’s shocked face.
YUKI *
Haru remained exactly as Yuki had left him, except he had pulled a blanket up over his head, probably trying to hide from the morning sunlight, which was now filling the room with it’s warmth.
Walking to the window, Yuki pulled the curtains closed. He then headed back to his futon. Once there, he sat down, pulling the blanket away from Haru’s face and shaking it out. Haru opened his eyes, tiredly.
“Yuki?” He asked sleepily.
“Haru,” Yuki whimpered, tears brimming in his eyes. “I’m sorry, I…”
“Yuki.“ Haru whispered, “Come to bed.” reaching for him, Haru pulled Yuki down into his arms, and kissed him softly while Yuki cried himself to sleep.
HANA *
“…. Uo…,” Hana repeated, and jabbed her friend in the shoulder. “Uo, what are you thinking about? You are sending out the most delicious electric signals.”
“Huh…” Uo came out of her daydream, a soft smile quickly hidden by her trademark scowl as she sat up in her beach chair, and grabbed a soda from the mini ice chest. “Nothing, I wasn’t really thinking about anyone.”
“Why do you lie?” Hana wondered, and marveled at the color change in her friend’s cheeks. “You’re thinking about the Sohma boy again. The orange one.”
“Orange top?!! NO WAY! What would I be thinking about him for?” Uo sidestepped, but the look in her eyes blew her cover.
“Why indeed?” Hana teased, assured of her assumption. “You should just tell Tohru how you feel. She’s Tohru, I am sure she will understand.”
“Tell Tohru? I couldn‘t do that.” Uo said, and turned on her stomach to hide her face in her beach towel. “I don’t know how she feels about him. What if…” The prospect was too awful to consider.
“You’re not being a good friend if you continue to lie to her this way. Not to Tohru, not to Kyo, and not to yourself. Besides the orange one, he is not meant for Tohru.”
“What are you saying?” Uo asked, peeking out of her hiding place in curiosity.
“Tohru’s electric signals. At the end of the school year, they were pretty mixed up. She loves both of them, Kyo and the Prince, but she isn‘t truly in love with either of them. Uo, we‘ve been away all summer, and Tohru’s much smarter then she pretends. I‘m sure she‘s figured it out by now.”
“You scare me.” Uo said, “How can you know such things.”
“I just feel them. I just know. Similar to the way that you know what you feel about Kyo, even when you deny it to everyone else.”
“Leave me alone. Please.” Uo pleaded and pushed her face back into the towel.
“I will, but you should tell Tohru. As soon as we get back home,” she then added, under her breath. “Because if you don’t tell her, someone else will.”
******
Wow, I could almost end the story here, couldn’t I? Hee hee hee…. Just kidding, I wouldn’t do that to you… We still have a little ways to go…
Chapter 18 still to come…