Chapter One
"You're sick again." Saylor Sotoh whispered, frowning slightly. She brushed Akito Sohma's raven black hair back with her fingertips, feeling his warm and moist skin. He coughed slightly, grabbing Saylor's hand, gently setting it back in her lap. He mumbled something that was inaudible just before Hatori Sohma, the Sohma family doctor, stepped carefully in the room.
Hatori's visits were quite often since Akito's illness was more than just a passing-by cold. In fact, as the Sohma grew older, the more he got sick. It was all just a burden of being the head of the Sohma family's Zodiac curse.
You see, thirteen members of the Sohma family are cursed with the twelve members of the Chinese zodiac and the cat. So, whenever they are under a great deal of stress or hugged by a member of the opposite sex, they transform into their animal. Akito has to suffer with the weight of the curse, so he gets sick often and is expected to die earlier than normal. Hatori finished checking up on Akito and gave the medication to Saylor, strictly instructing her to give him the pills three times a day.
"Come talk to me out in the hallway, Miss Sotoh." Hatori ordered, already walking to the exit. Saylor raised an eyebrow before following quickly behind Hatori. After they closed the door, Saylor spoke up, closing her eyes with a sigh, "It's worse than normal this time, right?"
"I'm afraid so. He hasn't got much time. I'd give him about one to two years, then he's gone." Hatori explained with an even voice. Saylor flashed an uneven frown, she felt a bit sad, despite having known about this since she was four.
"So what will happen? Who will take his place?" Saylor asked, her voice cracking sadly as she felt that she was going to cry. Hatori shifted from one foot to another uncomfortably, oddly. He'd never do that usually.
"I want you to bear Akito's child." he answered straightforwardly. Saylor almost choked on her own saliva as she felt her heart sink into her stomach. She loved Akito, but she wasn't ready for that. She was only twenty, after all. She couldn't take that commitment. She wanted to live her life.
"I... I don't know... No, I can't! I can't!" Saylor said, collapsing into tears with her head in her hands. Hatori sighed angrily and placed a hand on her bony shoulders.
"You are the only woman Akito cares about. You are the Sohma family's only hope," Hatori said, "Consider it." And then he was off.
Saylor's heart beat loudly as she walked back into Akito's room. Akito's half-lidded eyes met hers as she entered, begging for her presence.
"Wh-what did that dragon want?" Akito stuttered coldly, no doubt jealous that they were together alone for that long. Saylor padded over to Akito's side quickly, sitting down on the chair that was offered. She carefully grabbed his hand, bringing it up to her face. Lightly pressing her lips against it; her eyes closed.
"Just giving me instructions on how to make you feel better, the usual." she lied evenly. Akito replied with a groan, sliding out of her grip. She stared at his sleeping body, pondering what Hatori suggested. Would he even want to have a child with her? Sure, he was nicer to her than everyone else, but he didn't seem interested in her love. The way he rejected her loving touches.
She stayed like that for what seemed like hours, just staring at his limp sleeping body, thinking. Until a servant slipped into the room, bowing onto the floor. Usually Akito would yell at her or beat her, but that wasn't the case today.
"Yes?" Saylor asked softly, careful not to awake the sleeping Sohma. The servant walked over silently, whispering into Saylor's ear, "Dinner's ready and I cleaned your sleeping quarters."
Saylor smiled, thanking her with a nod, "Thank you for cleaning, but I think I'm going to stay with Akito, to keep an eye on him. Sorry for making you go through all of that trouble. I'll be down for dinner soon."
"It's okay, Miss Sotoh. Will Master Akito be joining us as well?" the servant whispered again.
"I'm afraid not, but I will be sure to bring him food for when he wakes up. You are dismissed." Saylor said, watching the servant wobble out of the room. Before she left Akito unattended, she kissed his warm cheeks and ran a cool hand through his silky hair.
She was sure Akito didn't hear, but she whispered to him, "I'll be back in a little bit, sweet Akito... Mamoru Sohma...that will be his name..."
Yes, she would be happy to have Akito's child.
