Battered But Not Broken
Visiting the Main House
Chapter Four
-Shigure's House-
Tohru had waited three days since Uo and Hana had come to visit, but no one had returned. Every morning and every night she called Hatori and left him a voice mail, but he never returned her calls.
There was no school today and Tohru couldn't sit around and wait anymore, she dressed in a nice pink blouse matched with a coco colored skirt. She learned early on that you must dress up if you ever went to visit the Main House. Shigure even wore a suit to visit, but Kyo and Yuki dressed less formally, much how she was know.
As she left her room and headed down stairs, she glanced at the phone, a habit she had started since everyone had disappeared. With nothing left for her, she put on her shoes and locked the door behind her and started her walk to the main house. She only hoped that Akito would see her and that he was in a good mood.
-Main House Gate-
The Main House always scared Tohru a little. She stared at the large gate for a moment before pressing the buzzer.
An old woman's voice came through. "Sohma residence."
She jumped at the immediate answer and clenched her trembling hands. "Um, my name is Tohru Honda. I was wondering if I may see Akito today."
She waited a moment, not hearing anything for a few too many heartbeats.
What will I do if he won't see me? I don't know where else to go. I don't know where Kyo-kun's Sensei lives. What c-
Her thoughts were disrupted by the old woman's voice. "You may enter."
The gate opened, revealing a young woman who bowed formally. "Follow me please."
Tohru nodded and stepped through the gate, closing it behind her. The young woman led her to the room Akito intended to use for afternoon.
She was trembling as knelt on in the center of the room, her hands clenched even tighter in her lap and waited.
After what felt like eternity, the shoji door behind her opened and Tohru swallowed thickly and took a deep breath. Akito walked slowly to the window to her left and sat.
The blinds on the windows were down, masking the room in darkness, except for the single candle lit on the table ahead of her. She stared into the small flame as a drop of melted wax tumbled down the length of the candle.
"Tohru."
The coldness in Akito's tone made her jump. It was not a good day for him it seemed.
"Y-yes?" She heard him chuckle softly.
"You look pale. How have you been in that house I allow you to stay in?" He asked cooly.
She swallowed hard again. "I am living well. Everyone takes very good care of me." She let her eyes drift towards the shadow that was Akito. "How have you been, Akito-san?"
She saw his smirk grow wider. "I have been very well for the past few days, but to me it looks you have not. Making me think you have lied to me, and why would you lie to me, Tohru?"
She ripped her gaze away from the older man as she felt her stomach twist into knots. "I did not lie, Akito-san. I am always well in Shigure-san's house. But I came to see you today beca-"
"A lie is a lie, Tohru." He snapped, his voice raising softly.
She flinched away instinctively. "Y-yes, Akito-san."
A distant scream tore through the air, making Tohru stiffen.
"Who wa-"
"No one that concerns you." His icy tones sent shivers down her spine.
"But it sounded like Y-"
"Continue." He snapped.
She lowered her gaze to the floor instead, struggling to find her words. "I-I came t-to see you today because everyone has gone missing without a word."
He stood, circling her slowly once before stopping in front of her. "What do you want me to do about it?"
Tohru kept her eyes on the floor. "I just wanted to know where they were and when everyone would return."
"And what if they didn't want to see you again? What if they didn't want to return to such an ugly girl?" Akito sneered.
"I- I-"
He leaned over, speaking into her ear. "What if they finally decided to be done with you, but no one could even face you once more to tell you? Ha! Such an ugly and plain girl you are. They couldn't bare to look at you anymore!" Akito broke into laughter, taking a step back.
"T-that can't be true. Yuki-kun and Kyo-kun would never leave without telling me why." She retorted, raising her voice slightly over his laughter.
Akito was cut short as he smacked her across the face, sending her to the floor. "What would you know of my Yuki!" He yelled. "You know nothing! Nothing at all! And you never will! You do not belong here but I allow it! I allow it!"
Tohru pushed herself off the floor, looking up at Akito and speaking softly. "Maybe there is another side to him, one he can't show you."
A scream ripped itself from Akito's throat and he struck her again. "I know everything! Everything you see is what I allow you to see and nothing more! One word from me and your memories are erased and you are forgotten by everyone you hold dear! I could even have those two friends of yours memories erased!"
Tears burned behind Tohru's eyes and her cheek stung, but she pushed herself up again and back into her kneeling position, only to have Akito grab her by the hair and smash her face back onto the floor. She whimpered in pain and he smiled, satisfied by the tears that fell onto the floor.
"You are not needed here or anywhere else." He dragged her face back and forth across the floor as he spoke. "Even your mother wouldn't need you if she were still on this earth. She'd leave you behind just like everyone else."
"T-that's not true. Mom would never do that." She hiccuped into the floor.
"She left you already hasn't she? She obviously didn't need you enough to stay alive, Tohru."
"No! She would ne-" He smashed her face against the floor again.
Tohru blinked through the tears, trying to clear her blurry vision, but it wasn't working. She tried to shake her head clear but Akito smashed her face into the floor again.
Spots were beginning to form in her vision. Her eyelids became heavy as her vision grew darker.
No, I have to get answers. Everyone could be in trouble.
"Where are Kyo-kun and Yuki-kun?" She asked, her words coming out soft and slurred.
"Shut up!" Akito screamed as he slammed her head against the floor again.
Darkness fell over Tohru as she went unconscious.
-Unknown-
There was a soft click and a dim light shone in the darkness as Tohru felt a hand on her forehead.
"Akito, I think you've given her a concussion." A deep yet calm voice spoke as the light disappeared, as did the hand.
"What do I care? The ugly wench wouldn't shut up." Akito's annoyed tone answered.
Tohru whimpered softly and heard him chuckle.
"Serves her right."
There was no reply.
"Hurry up. I'm getting sick just looking at her. Just leave her outside the gate and let her find her own way back home." Akito said.
"Akito, please allow me to drive her back home."
"Why would I allow that? She can die for all I care."
"Please Akito." She heard a strange sound of something hitting the floor.
Akito growled in frustration. "I don't care! Just get her out of here. Now!"
"Thank you." The voice answered.
Tohru felt warm hands lift her and she flinched. A door closed and the voice spoke softly to her.
"It's okay now. I'll take you home." She felt herself relax, the hands held her tightly as she fell farther into the darkness.
-Tohru's Room-
There was something cold on Tohru's forehead and her cheek felt tight and sore, she couldn't remember why though. She opened her eyes slowly. Everything was a little fuzzy so she blinked again.
Her room? She sat up and something fell into her lap. She picked up the wet cloth and found there was a bowl of water and ice on her desk.
"So you're awake."
She jumped at the sudden voice and looked to the door and found Hatori crossing the room to her side.
"You need to lie back down." He stated calmly as he took the cloth and gently pushed her shoulder down, making her lie back.
"Why-"
"You have a minor concussion. Can you tell me the last thing you remember?" He dipped the cloth in the bowl and wrung most of the water out of it.
"Um." She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to think. "Akito-san. He was angry. I think I said something, something about someone, but I can't remember." Tohru pressed the palm of her hands against her eyes in frustration.
"Don't push too much. You'll remember eventually and even if you don't it isn't likely you'll have forgot more than a few minutes."
"But I have to remember!" She said a bit too loudly, making her head ache worse. "I have to find everyo-" She stared at Hatori as he placed the cloth on her forehead again.
"You're here." She said slowly.
He looked at her questioningly. "Yes, I believe you noticed this already?"
"No, no I mean you're here!" She grasped his hand. "Has everyone else come back too?" She asked excitedly, her heart pounding in her chest.
Hatori's expression fell slightly. "I'm afraid not, Honda-kun."
Tohru's smile fell and she released his hand. "Do you know where they are?" She asked softly and Hatori nodded. "Then please, tell me where they are! I need to speak with them!"
"I can't tell you that. I'm sorry. Akito has strictly forbidden it. We aren't supposed to see you. My seeing you this time was only because of your injuries, and I was supposed to be gone before you woke."
Tears fell from her eyes. "Why is everyone gone? Why is Akito-san doing this?"
"He won't say the reason. I'm not entirely sure he has one either."
"When can I see them again?" She hiccuped, wiping her tears with the handkerchief Hatori handed to her.
"I don't know if we will ever be set free, from Akito or the curse."
This brought more tears to Tohru's eyes, and Hatori placed his hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently.
"Is everyone at least alright?"
Hatori paused. "Most everyone. Yes."
She looked into his green eyes questioningly. "Most?"
He looked to the bowl of melting ice, unable to watch her reaction. "Kyo and Yuki are not fairing as well as the others."
"What do you mean? What's happened to them?" Panic shook her and she sat up.
He sighed and looked back into Tohru's worried eyes. "Akito visits them frequently, and it most always ends with my treating their injuries. He had me erase pieces of their memories, so they remember nothing of how they got where they are or what happened."
Tohru sobbed into Hatori's handkerchief uncontrollably. How could Akito do this? What have Yuki or Kyo ever done to deserve it?
Hatori cleared his throat. "Honda-kun, I'm sorry, but I must be on my way before Akito suspects that we've spoken."
Tohru shakes her head an wipes her tears again. "Thank you for taking care of me an telling me this. I won't keep leaving you voice mails and clutter your phone anymore."
"No. You should continue. For one thing it allows me to watch out for you and tell the others when I have the chance, and second, if you stopped Akito would suspect we had spoken."
"Oh, well then I will continue and I will wash and return your handkerchief whenever we are able to meet again."
"Don't worry about returning it. Now, be sure to rest your body for the rest of the day. I put some medicine on the desk for your headaches if you need them."
"Thank you, Hatori-san. Please...stay safe and continue to care for Yuki-kun and Kyo-kun."
He smiled sadly. "I'll do my best. Goodbye, Honda-kun."
Her door closed with a soft click. She listened to Hatori's footsteps leave the house and sighed as she picked up the a few pills and glass of water, drinking them down. She laid back down and pulled the covers up over her shoulders and sent up a quiet prayer.
"Mom? Please, keep everyone safe, especially Yuki-kun and Kyo-kun until I can find a way to save everyone. They are my friends and they haven't done anything to deserve what is happening to them."
Tears stung her eyes again and she brushed them away, drowsiness coming over her. She closed her eyes against the falling sun's rays and fell into a dark sleep.
To be continued...
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I'm sorry for the wait! I was working tirelessly the past few days on a Dynasty Warriors collab drawing. It turned out really well considering it was my first drawing in Paint Tool SAI!
I have a question for everyone. Are my chapters too long? I feel like they might be sometimes when they get up into 2k+ words... Anyway! Please tell me! I can space the chapters out or something if they are.
Thank you everyone who's followed and reviewed! It really means a lot! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and will continue to support me!
(Edited, fixed, whatnot on 8/8/13)
