Author:
Yukari
Rin
Series:
Fruits
Basket
Character(s)/Pairing(s):
Sohma Shigure x Sohma Akito
Rating:
K
Word
Count:
377
Notes:
Written for Sapphirehime
for the "first kiss" meme, spoilers for chapter 97 through the
end of the series.
Disclaimer:
Fruits
Basket
and related properties belong to Natsuki Takaya and related parties.
Title and end quote taken from the song "Wreck of the Day"
written by Anna Nalick.
"Coffin of Hope"
The five of them had been ushered into a separate room. They were all on edge, but Ritsu was too young to understand why, resulting in him crying incessantly. Hatori was holding him, trying to calm him while Ayame babbled to a wide-eyed Kureno. Shigure sat completely still and silent, staring at the door as his heart pounded in his chest.
Their god was there, just beyond the door. They - he wasn't along any more. He had always felt loosely shackled, but the past ten months he had felt the invisible metal leash around his neck tighten, and now that Akito was here... there was a fear he couldn't understand, but a love and obedience that overwhelmed his senses.
The door slid open quietly and Hatori's father came in, head bowed as he pushed the nursery cart with his family's god nestled inside. Shigure nearly jumped out of his seat and hurried to the infant's side. Dark eyes looked up at him, not registering him entirely (too young), lids heavy with sleep.
She was perfect.
Shigure's heart tightened as he lifted a hand to touch her. The spirit within him was rejoicing as he rubbed his pointer finger over the back of her hand before sliding it under. She gripped his slender digit fiercely, as if claiming him.
The tears he didn't realize he was holding back fell down his cheeks. She blinked at him and wiggled in her blankets. Shigure rose onto the balls of his feet and leaned over to kiss her soft, bald head.
"I will never leave your side," he swore to her as his cousins quietly joined him, awed by the newborn.
Akito never let go of his finger, and Shigure didn't know if he was simply imagining it, but he felt as if rather than tightening, the collar binding him had loosened an impossibly small fraction. He looked at the other boys nervously, but none of them noticed his glances since they could not see past their own tears.
Shigure curled his hand around hers and repeated his vow. Even if his curse was broken, even if she was no longer his god, he would never desert her.
I'd cheat destiny just to be near you.