Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Tainted Choices ❯ Surprises for All ( Chapter 7 )

Tainted Choices

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or its characters. They belong to Takaya Natsuki.

This chapter contains one major SPOILER from Ch. 98...just about everyone knows it already...but if you don't want to read a SPOILER beware!


Chapter 7
Surprises for All

Akito lounged in front of the doorway to his garden. His head propped on his delicate hand. As he lay there, he thought about his plan to get a child of his own. Of course, he could've had one of his own, but he didn't think he would survive the birth. Plus, then he wouldn't to be able to keep his deepest secret…he had been born a girl. The Unmentionable One (Akito's mother, Ren) had raised him as a boy. He had no say in the matter, just like in every other facet of the curse.

“The God has to be a man to be respected!” she said.

So, ever since, Akito couldn't be himself, or rather, herself. She started to even think of herself as male. She hated the world for her fate in life. So, she struck out at those closest to her. Not allowing anyone to be happy. If she couldn't be happy…why should anyone else? But, she would have one thing for herself, one thing that Tohru could give her. She would have a child that had no chance of being cursed. That is why it had to be born soon…before any of the Zodiac died. “I will treat my baby like the highest royalty. And everyone will have to admit my kindness when they see the child and how well it grows in my care.” He thought to himself. “I hate to admit it…but I hope the child has Tohru's ability to open up people and say what they need to hear.” Akito thought coolly.

Akito grimaced at the thought but knew it to be true. She had always envied Tohru.

“That is why I have to destroy her. But, I will do it slowly and carefully. Making her think I am changing for the better and then, when she least expects it, I will pounce. ” Akito said out loud with malice in his voice.

He pushed himself up off the tatami mat and padded over to the telephone.

“Hatori? Bring me Miss Honda. Now!” he said and slammed the phone back into its cradle, not waiting for a response.

Tohru trembled when she saw the car she knew to be Hatori's slow down next to her as she walked home from school. Yuki had to stay after school to do some student council business and Kyou had gone straight to the dojo to train. There was only one reason Hatori wouldn't have just waited at Shigure's for her to get home. Akito had called for her. Hatori stopped the car and opened his window.

“Miss Honda? Akito wants to see you right away. Please, get in.” he said politely in his usual quiet tone.

“Sure!” she said as cheerfully as she could with a big fake smile plastered on her face.

She opened the door and got in.

“How have you been Miss Honda?” Hatori asked with concern.

“Oh, I have been kinda tired but otherwise I have been fine.”

“Well, fatigue is to be expected. You have been taking the folic acid and vitamins I prescribed to you, haven't you? It is very important for the growth of the fetus. Just make sure you get plenty of sleep.”

Tohru shifted around uncomfortably and said, “Umm, Hatori-san? Is Akito mad at me?”

“If you mean will he hit you, I don't know. But, if he lets me I will stay in the room and protect you. I think he just wants to see an ultrasound of the baby though…” Tohru's eyes lit up.

“Oh, Hatori-san! An ultrasound? Is it big enough to see yet?” she said visibly excited.

“Well, we will see it. But it will be small…like the size of a peanut. You won't be able to tell whether it is male or female for a couple of months. But we will be able to see its little heart beating and find out if whether or not you are carrying twins.”

“Twins! I never even thought about that…Hatori-san…if I am carrying twins…I don't want Akito to know. Can you promise me that?”

Hatori cleared his throat and said, “If it is possible to hide it, I promise you, I will.”

Hatori was getting concerned. Akito seemed way too interested in Tohru's child. It was almost like he had ownership of it. He had told Hatori that the child would be living at the Main House after its birth. Hatori knew better than to question Akito to his face. But, he had to find out what was going on…

”Miss Honda? May I ask you a question?”

“Sure…what is it, Hatori-san?”

Hatori stopped the car in front of the Main House's gate.

“Miss Honda? Why is the child going to live at the Main House after it is born?”

Tohru gulped and looked down at her feet. Not wanting to meet Hatori's gaze.

“Well, Akito said that if I let him raise the child. He would tell me how to break the curse. If I chose not to do as he wished, he would have my memories erased. All of them…including the ones of my friends and my Mother and I couldn't let that happen. He also said he would have Kyou locked up and Yuki would have to go back and live with him at the Honke. I have to try…I have to try and do everything I can to save them!” Tohru said as she slumped down in front of Hatori and clung to his legs, burying her face in his trousers weeping.

“I understand, Miss Honda. Here let me help you up…” Hatori said as he reached a hand down to help her stand.

“I'm sorry…thank you…” Tohru said as she grabbed onto his hand and pulled herself up.

She dusted off her knees and straightened her coat.

“Okay, I think I am ready to see Akito now.” She said and she put on a brave face as usual and walked towards to main door to the Honke.

Hatori put his hand on her shoulder, “Miss Honda?”

She turned and said, “Yes?”

“Miss Honda I just wanted to tell you how grateful I am to you. Not many are as brave in the face of adversity. Thank you.” He said quietly and cleared his throat.

“Now hurry along, Akito doesn't like to be kept waiting.”


Akito lounged on his futon in front of the door to his garden. A single white finch perched on his outstretched finger.

“So, little one? I wonder if the baby will like birds as much as I do?” He said absentmindedly to the little creature as he lifted his hand slightly and the finch flew off into the garden.

He heard a scratch on the door and straightened his kimono.

“Come!” he said with authority.

The door slid open and Tohru came in followed by Hatori. They slid the door close behind them and knelt with heads bowed in front of him. He smiled.

“I do love submissiveness…” he thought to himself.

“So, Hatori…have you set up the ultrasound?”

“I have Akito. It is waiting in the hallway. Do you wish me to wheel it in?” Hatori asked with reverence.

“Of course! I can't wait to see my baby! How about you Tohru? Are you excited to see the child? I am sure the night it was conceived brings you many memories…I planned it, you know…”

Tohru was shocked…what did he mean he planned it? I thought it was just random. Just in the wrong place at the right time. Akito could see thoughts, terrible thoughts, racing through Tohru's mind.

He chuckled evilly and said, “What? You thought you just happened to fall asleep on the wrong bench? I had you followed by someone I specifically hand-picked. I couldn't have my child fathered by a common criminal…of course I had to drug the man I chose. He would have never done it otherwise…right Hatori?”

Hatori's eyes widened and he back away from Akito.

“Y-you didn't! How could you have!? No! it can't be true!” Akito smiled and said coolly, “Oh, but you know it is…remember that tea you received in the mail? The one marked “To a kind doctor” and postmarked from Kana's address? That was actually from me. A special gift to you…I know you thought the wretch was cute…”

Tohru was at a loss for words. She couldn't believe the scene unfolding before her. Hatori, one of her close friends had raped her. She knew it wasn't his fault. He would have never done it if Akito hadn't drugged him. She had to do something because as she sat there she could see all of the color draining out of his face and a look of disbelief and shame filling his eyes. Hatori covered his face with his hands and sobbed…his body rocking back and forth. Akito just laughed.

“What's wrong Hatori? I thought you were the calm and collected doctor? And here you are sobbing like a baby…”

Tohru was afraid to move but she had to comfort Hatori and let him know she forgave him and that she didn't blame him. She clasped her armed around him as close as possible with transforming him.

“It's okay. Everything will be okay…I don't blame you...” she said softly with tears streaming down her cheeks and pattering on the tatami mat below. “Well, well…isn't this touching? A slut and her rapist hugging…” Akito said as he slapped Tohru on the side of the head causing her fall on her side.

“Get up Hatori! Go get the ultrasound so we can see my baby!”

Hatori rose up slowly and wiped his tears on his sleeve.

“As you wish.” He said and then walked silently out of the room to get the machine.

Tohru raised her head from the floor and sat up stiffly.

“So, I trust you have been taking care of yourself, Miss Honda? I wouldn't want to see anyone get hurt…” Akito said as he walked slowly over to the window to look out at the falling rain.

Tohru watched him, pity filling her heart.

“Akito, I wish that someday you find happiness. I know it must be hard to know that you are going to die so young.” She said quietly.

Akito whipped around, “What! You think you know what it is like? You can't even begin to know what I am feeling, so don't even try to comfort me you bitch! I should lock you up like I am going to lock up that filthy Cat someday!” he screamed with rage.

“Akito! You said you wouldn't lock up Kyou if I agreed to do as you wished! And you told me I had to get pregnant by someone I didn't know!”

Akito sneered, “Plans change, Miss Honda! It is my decision as the head of the Sohma family! Don't you presume to tell me otherwise!”

Tohru bowed her head, knowing that it was true that Akito could do anything he wanted as the head and there was nothing she could do about it.

“I am sorry, Akito-san.”

Akito stalked over to her and grabbed a handful of her brown locks in his hand, “Don't you ever question me again or you will never see your baby or the others again!”

“Yes, Akito.” She said meekly.

Hatori opened the door and wheeled the ultrasound machine over to the side of Akito's bed.

“Okay, Tohru…get up on the bed and lay down.”

Hatori said obviously trying to look Tohru in the eye. Tohru climbed up on the bed and lay down. She could see that Hatori was horrified at himself. She hoped he would be able to heal again. She knew his heart was still fragile from what happened with Kana. She was afraid that he would never be able to love again. She wondered if it were true what Akito had said. Did Hatori really have feelings for her? Hatori lifted her shirt to expose her tummy and she involuntarily flinched.

“Sorry, Hatori…” she said meekly.

But, she could see in his eyes that he was hurt that she felt scared around him. He squeezed the cold ultrasound gel on her and pressed the wand to her belly.

“You may feel some pressure but let me know if it is painful.” Hatori said clinically.

He moved wand around and Tohru and Akito watched the screen. All Tohru could make out were some blurs. Hatori found the heart and pointed to it on the screen.

“That is the heart. It looks like it is pumping correctly…and that there is the head. And there…see right there…that little paddle shaped thing? That is a hand.”

Tohru would take his word for it since she didn't really see much of anything like a baby. Akito leaned closer and with almost a genuine smile turned towards Tohru.

“Isn't it cute?”

Tohru looked into Akito's eyes and actually saw a flicker of humanity in them, “Yes, Akito-san. It is very cute.” She replied gently.

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