Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or the characters within (Natsuki Takaya-sama does). I do, however, own the child of God, Akiten.

Kami no Kodomo

Child of God

- Prologue -

The delicate scent of cherry blossoms filled the air as a whisper of a breeze blew over Shigure's face. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply as the wind gently titillated a set of tiny silver chimes nearby. He looked up at the budding tree above his head. His eyes grazed over the branches until he found what he was looking for—a cherry blossom on the cusp of blossoming. Mesmerized by the simplicity of the bud's blossom, he picked it carefully off the tree. It reminded him of Akito's fragile youth blooming into a young woman.

He walked up to the house behind the tree and spotted her sitting on the edge of the porch, just looking around at the winter disappearing and the spring reappearing. She smiled when she saw him approaching. She was in a good mood today, and that thought made Shigure all the happier to see her.

"Spring's coming early this year," he said when he reached her and stood in front of her. "See?" He took her hand and gently placed the tiny flower in her palm.

She blushed, somewhat shy with him. "Thank you Shigure."

She stood up and told him that she would go put it in some water. Shigure followed her into the house, admiring the way she walked in her comfortable yukata. He noticed the shape of her tiny waist under her obi and the curves of her maturing hips. He swallowed, and tried to shoo the perverted messages that coursed through his body.

"But she's… so beautiful…"

His eyes widened when he realized he had been thinking out loud and that she had heard him. His eyes met her surprised ones and they stared in silence at each other. Their cheeks glowed pink in the sunlit room before she looked away in embarrassment.

"I… I'm not beautiful…"

"Don't say that!" he found himself saying. He stepped toward her and took her smooth, pale chin in his fingertips, tilting it up so that her eyes would look into his. "You are the most beautiful girl I have ever met."

Her rosy cheeks heightened a shade and he found the cherry redness of her lush lips so captivating he just had to touch them. Aching with desire, he briefly pressed his lips gently against hers before pulling her into a tight embrace in his arms. She stiffened in shock, breathing hard, but slowly relaxed against his chest. He inhaled her sweet, youthful fragrance, feeling all the more aroused by the rising and falling of her breasts against his chest as she breathed.

"I still stand by what I told you," Shigure whispered into Akito's ear. "My feelings will never change, my dear Akito; I will always love you."

"How… How can you be so sure?" she asked. The fluttering of her heart and the sudden ache she felt within confused her. The sensations were new and frightening all the same because she could not control them. She liked to be in control.

But the heat that was rising off him was undeniable and out of her control.

"Because I feel it," he took her hand and pressed it to his chest, "here."

The faint throbbing of his heart drummed against her palm. She suddenly became aware of the quickened pace of her own heart beating in her chest. His hot breath against her forehead drew her eyes back up to meet his. Her breath caught in her throat.

Was it possible? Could he actually love her?

He tilted her head up and brushed his lips upon hers.

All she wanted was to be loved.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This (short) story begins three years prior to the anime taking place. If you found this to be too short, rest assured that the following chapters are much longer.