Autumn Anguish
By KiKi
Fandom: Fruits Basket (Furuba)
Summary: Akito thinks about the seasons, and Kureno. Akito x Kureno.
Warnings: SPOILERS through ch. 97 of the manga.
Disclaimer: I do not own Furuba, I do not write with an intent towards profit.
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Akito had always enjoyed autumn. Until the year when the curse began to break, that is, and then the last season she liked was taken and turned into a constant reminder of pain. Spring was full of things in the air that made her sneeze and cough, summer was always too hot and sticky, and winter too cold and wet. Fall had always been, and still was by comparison, her favorite season.
But every year now, the changing of the leaves reminded her of the changes in the curse that pained her, and the colors reminded her of Kureno's hair and eyes.
This was the time she wanted him at her side the most.
Not just wanted; this was when she insisted upon his company, even if it was just to have him sit silently in her room in case she wanted to speak with him, or reach out and touch him to reassure herself he was there. Heaven help him if he needed to do any work, those days she was demanding of his company.
Sometimes, though, she would be unable to find him when she felt he should be there, and it would spark one of her fits, and things would be a total wreck by the time he came back. Usually she was more of a wreck than anything else; though the clean-up of broken glass and torn bedding was often tedious, cleaning up the wreck that Akito had become in the short span of time her Rooster was missing was always a trial, she was sure.
She knew it wasn't always his fault, but that didn't keep her rage from spilling out, angry words falling from her lips until he finally broke down, and then she would turn to crying and begging him not to ever leave her.
Always the same, over and over the scene played out, but every fit earned her another week of his undivided attention. Another week of him sitting there at her side unfailingly, of her fingers finding his soft skin or hair whenever she needed reassurance that he belonged solely to her.
But it was never enough. It never would be, because their bond was broken, and it couldn't be repaired. Not ever. Just like a leaf cannot be put back onto the tree it fell from, her Rooster cannot be put back into the man at her side.
She knows this, as she watches the leaves fall outside her window with him, her fingers wrapped around his wrist where she can feel his pulse.
She knows it, but she doesn't care.
// Fin //