NB: This is based on the ANIME, not on the manga, as I have not read the manga. Please keep this in mind, especially for Akito. I will not reveal any spoilers, so just take my word for it; this Akito is based solely on the ANIME. If any of the ideas or concepts expressed in this story clash with the manga, I apologise in advance. Now please enjoy…
Beyond the Darkness
Chapter One: Darkening Skies
Akito's dark eyes were cast over the garden, the birds dancing about the flowers were oblivious to his racking cough and pained body. Or perhaps they weren't oblivious; perhaps they were purposely ignoring him. A crimson rose drooped slightly as a bee landed on it, stealing its pollen and quickly flying off in search of more flowers to pillage. It reminded him of a time distant in his mind, a woman placing roses in a crystal vase beside his bed. The rancid smell still made him sick. That house, so cold and foreboding, as though trying to keep him away. Horrid memories were rife in that house, memories he quickly smothered as the door slid open behind him.
"Hatori," He paused, listening to the intruders breathing, slow and steady. "What ever became of that old house?" His voice emotionless.
"It has been empty ever since…" the voice trailed off, the words did not need to be spoken.
"It is about time it was put into good use, don't you think so, Hatori?" Calmly he turned to face the man, to study his deep chocolate eyes and raven hair. His sharp features only heightened by the white coat he wore.
"You are ill." He stated, his gaze appraising the paling skin and glazed sapphire eyes of the man before him.
"I am always ill. Go to Shigure's, fix the house if it needs repairs and rent it out." It was an order that should not have been disobeyed.
"Akito let me see to you first." Hatori beseeched, stepping towards him.
"No." Akito snarled, not caring for his own health when he knew he was doomed regardless.
"At least rest." Hatori urged, waving a hand towards the futon. Akito did not reply, his hair falling over his eyes, blocking them from view. With a sigh, Hatori bowed, tucking his stethoscope into his pocket as he gently slid the door shut behind him.
Hatori ran his fingers through his hair as he slid his coat off and hung it on the clothes rack. His brow furrowed as he grabbed his keys and wallet and made for his car.
'Why the house? Why now?' He mused, concerned over Akito's behaviour, lately his cough had worsened, and his eyes were glazed and even bloodshot at times. Furthermore, it was clear Akito was not sleeping well these past few nights, and he was more irritable than usual. As Hatori started the engine, his gaze found Akito, still standing at his window, twirling a feather in his fingers. His expression was unreadable as Hatori drove out of sight.
The sun was high in the sky as Hatori pulled up near Shigure's house. He was one of the few Sohma's who were permitted to live out of the main household, even then; he was still living on Sohma land. Hatori made his way up the porch and easily removed his shoes. He stepped into Shigure's study and eyed the man with dark hair leaning back against the wall, his eyes closed and a pen perched between his lips and nose. Hatori sighed, slightly irritated and slammed the door. Shigure's mocha eyes popped open in surprise, the pen tumbling into his lap as he fell sideways.
"Hatori, how nice to see you!" Shigure smiled warmly, quickly sitting up and brushing himself off.
"Asleep on the job again, what would your editor say?" Hatori remarked dryly as he seated himself opposite Shigure. He laughed merrily, waving the remark off. Both were members of the Sohma family, and had been friends since they were very young.
"Akito has a request of you and I." He paused as he studied his old friend across the table. Still trying to make sense of it himself, Hatori continued.
"He wants us to rent out the old house over the hill." Shigure blinked, not sure what to think of this.
"Why?"
"He said it is about time the house was put into good use." Hatori repeated the words spoken to him earlier.
"Well, I suppose we better go see what condition it's in then."
- - - - -
The summer roses quickly melted away to be replaced with a crisp winter breeze that chilled the bones and brought tears to the eyes. Shigure and Hatori had worked on the house over the hill every day since Akito's orders, and finally they could stand back to study their work. Much the same as Shigure's, the new coat of paint and freshly repaired sliding doors gave the house a warm, loved feeling, neglecting the memories of the events that had taken place within its walls.
"Do we have anyone to rent this place yet?" Hatori turned an enquiring gaze on Shigure.
"I was speaking to a young lady on the phone the other day." Hatori raised an exasperated eyebrow. "Don't look at me like that! She and her friend are looking for a place to rent around this area. I've had some other people request the price, but so far I like the two young ladies."
"You would."
"Well I will have to live beside these people, after all, so it is only fair that they be to my tastes." Hatori turned away, rolling his eyes in disgust.
"Well if you insist, inform them that the house is ready."
"Will you tell Akito?"
"I'll see what he says about it." Shigure paused before speaking,
"Don't you think it strange? After so long…"
"I know, I don't understand it myself. He has not been very well at all lately, worse than usual. And with winter coming, I'm worried," Shigure's brow furrowed in concern. "He won't let me treat him, and I don't think he's sleeping well these nights." A rumble overhead made them both jump slightly.
"Looks like it's going to be a very cold winter." Shigure observed as a snowflake landed on the tip of his nose.
"Odd that it would start snowing so early." Hatori stated before turning back to his car, "Do you want a lift?"
"No, I should make it home before the snow really sets in. Drive carefully." Hatori nodded and jumped in his car.
During the drive back he carefully planned his conversation with Akito. He wanted to know what was bothering him so; he needed to know, for Akito's own sake. His eyes had been so glazed that morning, and his breathing was becoming more ragged with every passing day. Yet every time he tried to treat him, Akito would order him to leave. He threw a vase at him last week, which had shattered on the wall right beside his head. At least Akito's illness had thrown his aim off, Hatori thought wryly. For such an ill man, Hatori had always been amazed by Akito's strength. Such as the time it had taken two people to hold him back from attacking Tohru. Maybe it was that incident which had upset him so. Hatori had never seen Akito despise someone as much as he did Tohru Honda. Why he did exactly, no one could really say.
Hatori cut the engine and pulled himself out of the car just as the snow started to come down heavily. Blinking away the snowflakes on his eyelashes, Hatori quickly pulled open the door to his house and shook the snow from his cloths before hanging his coat on the nearby rack. He lit a fire in the nearby hearth, pausing to warm his hands before pulling on his white coat and heading for Akito's rooms.
Almost as though he had been waiting, Akito called Hatori to enter before he had even knocked on the door. Hatori quietly slid the door shut behind him as he bowed to Akito, whose back was to him. He was sitting near the heater, his gaze on the falling snowflakes as they landed on the trees outside his window.
"Akito, how are you feeling?" He received no reply. "Shigure and I have finished working on the house."
"Good."
"Shigure says he may have found a tenant, two young ladies."
"Very well."
"How much would you like the rent to be?"
"I will leave that decision to you, Hatori." Akito replied, turning his glazed eyes to Hatori at last.
"You are not well, let me see to you." Akito seemed as though he was about to protest, yet merely looked away and said nothing. Thankful for this opportunity, Hatori dropped to his knees beside Akito, pulling his stethoscope from his pocket. He gently placed the tips in his ears and warmed it by rubbing it against his palm. Akito did not move as Hatori placed the end on his chest and paused, listening to the beating of his heart. Confused, Hatori pulled away and placed the stethoscope around his neck before turning to Akito.
"I do not understand? Your heartbeat is perfectly normal." Again, Akito did not comment but merely sat back, his expression emotionless as Hatori took his small, fragile wrist and began checking his pulse.
"There is no physical reason for your illness right now." Hatori stated, sitting back on his heels. Glancing to the nearby futon he asked,
"How have you been sleeping?" The sheets were jumbled, as though their previous occupant had done nothing but toss and turn.
"I haven't." Akito stated calmly, his dark eyes regarding Hatori for a moment before he continued. "I have been plagued with the same nightmare for months now…that house." He spat the word. "Always the same memory." He added, almost at a whisper.
"Is this why you asked to have the house repaired and rented?" He received no reply as Akito looked to the window again, hugging his knees to his chest. Together they sat in silence, Hatori listening to Akito's ragged breathing. His heartbeat was all right, but Hatori was sure that in due time, his lack of sleep would seriously affect his health. In fact he was surprised Akito had not already come down with a cold at the very least. Yet with winter rapidly approaching, it would only be a matter of time.
From his bag, Hatori produced a small glass vial containing a clear liquid and a syringe. Effortlessly he filled the syringe and put the vial away. He turned to Akito, who seemed to be ignorant of Hatori's actions.
"Akito, you need to rest, otherwise your health will only deteriorate further. Your heart may be strong, but the rest of you is not. It will only take a cold to wipe you out completely." Akito turned to him at last, anger in his eyes as they fell on the syringe in Hatori's hand.
"What do you think you're doing?" He snarled, pushing Hatori away from him and swiftly rising. Hatori also jumped to his feet,
"Please Akito, this is just to help you sleep."
"I do not want to sleep, I do not wish to be haunted by that house anymore!" He snapped, eyes narrowed dangerously.
"This will put you into a very deep sleep."
"Will I dream?" Hatori hesitated,
"Well… it's a possibility, but you shouldn't." He added quickly, but Akito had already leapt away from him.
"Get out!" Akito snarled, hurling a cup at Hatori's head. Hatori managed to duck just in time as he grasped a handful of Akito's robe.
"Please! This is for your own good!" Akito's cold fingers wrapped around Hatori's wrist, pushing the syringe away. With his free hand, Akito slapped him hard across the face, sending him stumbling backwards slightly. Hatori's eyes widened slightly as he felt a slight prick in his arm. He looked down mutely to find that he had accidentally driven the syringe into his own arm. Quickly he pulled it out, dropping the half empty syringe back into his bag as he rapidly felt the affects of the liquid hitting him. Akito's cold glare stayed with him until his heavy eyelids finally dropped.
- - - - -
Hours passed before Hatori's eyes flittered open at last. He groggily found himself lying on a futon, the blankets pulled up to cover him. His white coat lay folded on the floor beside him, sitting next to a tray of tea and rice balls. He sat up quickly, studying the room until his eyes alighted on Akito's back. He was lying on his side, the door open so he could stare out into the garden as snow flakes gently landed on the bare tree branches.
"You will never understand, Hatori. Whether I die tomorrow, or die in a few years' time, I shall still die. I alone carry the full curse of the Sohma's, and for that I must suffer." He stated calmly, turning his head so he could see Hatori with the corner of his eyes. "But tell me, are you glad to have known me?" He added hesitantly, as though it were part of what had been eating away at his mind for the past few months. With a small sigh, Hatori rose, still very groggy from the affects of the drug and sat beside Akito, his legs crossed.
"You are a most remarkable person, and few see you suffer the way that I do. We may not always agree with your decisions, but we all respect you. I seem to spend most of my day worrying after your health, but I am still glad to have known you, Akito."
The two watched the sun sink from sight, casting crimson shadows over the clouds. Hatori eventually stood to leave once the sun had completely set, satisfied that Akito had calmed down enough to try and get some sleep, even if it were only a little. As he picked up his bag, he turned to find Akito standing before him, his sleeve pulled up as he held out his arm to Hatori.
"If it makes you stop worrying." He explained quietly, his head turned to the side. Hatori blinked in surprise, and taking the opportunity, pulled out a fresh syringe and filled it with the drug. Using rubbing alcohol, he cleaned the spot on Akito's arm and gently inserted the needle. Akito didn't even flinch as it was removed and Hatori dabbed a cotton swab on the spot. Without a word, Akito drifted over to his futon, where Hatori had been only an hour ago, and lay down. With a small smile, Hatori bowed and went to leave.
"Hatori?" He paused, his hand on the door. "Inform me when our tenants arrive and have settled in. It would be…nice… to see that house in…good use." He finished hazily as his eyes closed and the drug quickly took affect.
Hatori watched Akito's sleeping form for a moment, before quietly closing his outside door so the cold evening breeze wouldn't make him sick. He seemed so gentle, so fragile in sleep, it amazed him that a man such as Akito was capable of suffering so much pain and hurt and causing it in equal measure to those around him. He shook his head sadly as he gently pulled the blankets tightly around Akito's gaunt form, pausing to listen to his gentle breathing.
'No one deserves such a fate, not even you, Akito.'