Chapter One~ Awakening
Voices, distant and weak, filled my mind. Mumbling…a grunt... a sniffle. Suddenly, a booming "OUT." rattled my soul. I felt a distant prickle of pins and needles. "You… over… take… away…not….again…girl….mine." My ears betrayed me, sounding static. The prickle lengthened, making its way up. The static of my ears dulled, and I was suddenly aware that the feeling of pins and needles was my body.
"You could not protect her," a soft voice said, harsh as winter winds. A louder, pained voice, answered, sounding muffled.
"I tried my best," it said, tears in its voice. "She was right there, and I couldn't see it coming." The other voice chuckled slightly.
"That is your own fault, Kyo, and now Tohru paid the consequences, and now you will, also." I heard my name. I struggled to get up, to open my eyes or scream out. But my body would not move. My sight was black, and I could hear no longer.
My body was no longer prickly. My ears heard silence. I could feel the soft sheets surrounding my body. I opened my eyes. It was dim, with faint sunshine coming in from a half open door. I found I was in a big, white, bed. Hurriedly, I propped myself on my elbows, but a sharp and excruciating pain leapt wildly at my rib cage, causing me to gasp and collapse into the feather pillow under my head. The pain burned horridly, jerking tears from my eyes. Suddenly, a cool towel was placed on my head. I opened my eyes to see a man with dark hair standing at the side of the bed. His hair was pushed over his left eye, but the right showed concern.
He smiled a light smile with no teeth.
"I would not move if I were you, Tohru. Several of your ribs are broken, you cannot move. Though, I am glad to see you are awake." He squeezed my arm gently and left the room. I did not know who he was. Where was I, anyway? I looked around. In the room there was simply a wooden dresser and a small table with a bowl of water on it. I turned back to the door. A smaller man was leaning in the doorway.
"Tohru," he breathed. He slowly walked to the bed, sitting at my side.
"How are you feeling, love?" He smiled with affection. I noticed his pale skin, and his frail arms. His head was covered with long, thin, black hair. His dark eyes twinkled.
"I am okay," I said, hearing my unfamiliar voice for the first time in what seemed like forever. "But do I know you?" The man chuckled. He stroked his hand across my cheek bone.
"I am Akito," He said. His voice was soft, yet had a harsh undertone that he was trying to keep down. "You were in an accident, Tohru," He said, frowning slightly. I felt my eyes widen.
"An accident?!" I felt antsy. "What happened to me?" Akito lay down next to me, taking my hand in his.
"You were out walking, doing an errand for the house. As you were waiting to cross the street, a guy with orange hair stood next to you. He followed you around secretly, waiting to hurt you. He waited until you stood at a fruit stand, where he then pushed you in front of an oncoming car. You are lucky you are here with me, alive." My eyes we watering. How could someone do such a horrible thing to me? Did I deserve it?
I turned to Akito, who looked at me with a smile across his thin face.
"How do I know you?" Akito chuckled and smiled at me, almost deviously.
"Tohru, I was hoping that you'd remember, but I'll tell you." He closed his eyes dreamily and then opened them again. Looking me full in the eyes, he smiled lovingly, his blue eyes filled with life. "We are in love, Tohru. You are my love."