Hidden From the World

By: .Cami.B.

Chapter 7: "That Woman."

AN: I've received quite a few questions from many different readers lately. This is definitely a good thing because (to me) it means that you (as the reader) are curious about the story. That and the fact that you're actually reading it. Anyways, point is, normally I would just reply to the reader who asked the questions, but if I come across certain ones that I think everyone should (or would want to) know about, I would answer it in my 'AN' sections. However, I usually won't, so if you have a question that you would like me to answer for you personally, please do ask. I would love to answer any questions you might have. Also, I would love to clarify anything you're confused about. So feel free to ask all you want. Hehe. Whelps, here's chapter 7!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Fruits Baskets or any of its lovable characters!

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Flashback.

It's New Year's Eve. Everyone in the estate was rushing to prepare for the incoming New Year, even Tomoe. I was left alone in my room. The sun was setting and its dissolving light blended to dye the sky an orange- pink color. I watched the sun disappear behind the wall that separated the garden from the outside world. I was sitting on my patio overlooking the garden.

"It's been almost a year and a half now since I came here," I thought to myself.

I had just turned seven not that long ago and Akito-san was nine at this time.

I sat on the edge of the patio with my legs hanging off the side. I heard my room door open. I didn't bother to look. I was too distracted by the scenery. I felt the person's footsteps. They stepped gently onto the patio. I turned my head. It was Akito-san. He smirked of disgust. I quickly got up, straightened my kimono, and smiled at him.

"Good evening, Akito-san," I greeted him cheerfully.

"I---" Akito-san began hesitantly.

Concerned, I bit my lip nervously. "Is something wrong?" I asked worried.

He looked at me, but nothing came out of his mouth.

I knew what he wanted to say. I smiled. "Does Akito-san want to tell Tohru that he'll be spending New Year with the Juunishi?" I asked cheerfully.

Akito-san grunted a little and smirked. "Don't think that you're smart just because you guessed correctly," he said.

I smiled and shook my head lightly. "I would never think that I am smarter than Akito-san if that's what you mean. You are the wisest, Akito-san. I admire you, Akito-san," I said cheerfully. (And I really did.)

"Shut up! Stop doing that!" he said annoyed.

"Stop what, Akito-san?" I asked confusedly.

"Stop, that…Stop saying my name so much. You make it sound stupid!" he answered still annoyed.

I giggled a bit. "Oh, sorry, Aki—I mean, I'm sorry. I just really like the way Aki---your name sounds. Its cute," I giggled.

"YOU IDIOT, A NAME IS NOT CUTE!" Akito-san burst angrily.

Tears came to my eyes. "I'm…I'm sorry," I apologized sadly.

Akito-san sighed and headed back into the room. "I don't want anyone to know about you. You'll be spending New Years alone again," he said as he headed for the door.

"Ok, I understand," I said cheerful now knowing that Akito-san cared after all.

Akito-san turned his head slightly to see my smiling face and then exited.

End of Flashback.

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Since before I can remember, I've spent every New Year alone. Tomoe would have to go help out with the preparations and Akito-san spent it with his Juunishi, so I was always alone. I told them that I didn't mind, but in a way, I really did. I remember after Akito-san left that evening, I cried and the next day, I cried to myself silently in my room all New Year's day. I didn't cry because I felt left out; I cried because I started to remember the New Years that I spent with my parents. I missed them. I really miss them…

"Are you awake yet?" Akito-san asked.

"Oh!" I snapped suddenly, "Yes."

I sat up on Akito-san's bed. He was already changed into his usual red and white yukata. He stared at me in disgust. He closed his eyes and lightly shook his head.

"Disgusting," he said as his eyes opened again.

"Huh?" I asked confusedly.

"You're hideous, you know that. You're so ugly, it hurts to look at you," Akito-san said.

I looked down at my robe; it was still tied and neat. I then reached for my hair. To my surprise, it was tangled together and puffy. I quickly began to brush through it with my fingers. Embarrassed, I blushed. Akito-san then slightly turned his body. His loose yukata moved with his motion exposing a part of his chest that was bleeding from some sort of scratching. I immediately ran over to him and examined the scratches.

"Oh! Akito-san, you're hurt. What happened? Are you ok?" I asked frantically.

Akito-san didn't answer me. He merely watched me in amusement.

"AH! You're bleeding even more now!" I yelled frantically, "TOMOE-SAN!"

Tomoe ran into the room frightened. "Yes!" she answered.

"Akito-san is bleeding! Quick, get some bandages," I told her.

She nodded and ran out of the room. I returned my attention to Akito-san. He ignored me and sat down beside the table with the tips of my fingers against his chest. As a result, my body followed his to the ground. In a few minutes, Tomoe returned with a first aid kit. I assisted Akito-san's wound while Tomoe went to prepare our breakfasts. I reached for Akito-san's chest, but half way, I stopped hesitantly. I blushed. Akito-san noticed and slipped the top portion of his yukata off exposing his bare and built chest. I was even redder now. I froze.

"Are you done being retarded yet?" he ask impatiently.

"Oh! I'm sorry, it's just…" I hesitated.

There was long silence. It felt really weird. Akito-san is half naked in front of me and…well…it's just so weird. I can't touch him. That would be…I just can't. I just sat there with the roll of bandage in my hands on my lap. I was lost in thought as my mind debated on what to do.

"Did you have a bad dream last night?" Akito-san asked suddenly.

"Huh? Why?" I replied snapping back into reality.

He looked down at his scratches and then back at me. "You're such an idiot, you pulled me close to you and grabbed me so tightly that your nails dug into my skin last night," Akito-san explained.

Shocked, I suddenly began to bandage his wounds frantically and bandages flew out of control. "I DID THIS! I'M SORRY! I'M SO SORRY, AKITO-SAN! I DIDN'T MEAN IT! I REALLY---" I yelled frantically.

Akito-san stopped me by grabbing both of my arms. He guided them back into my lap and removed the bandages from my hands. I broke out into tears uncontrollably. Akito-san just watched me as he untangled his upper body parts from the bandages.

"I saw Mom…and Dad. They came and left me again…I hate it when they leave. I don't want them to leave…I…I miss them," I said in between breaths as I continued to sob.

Akito-san returned the top portion of his yukata to how it originally was.

"I…I felt so alone when they left. They're all I have…but they're gone," I continued to sob.

Akito-san reached for my forehead. Without saying a word, he stood up and then kneeled down beside me. Suddenly, he reached under me and lifted me off of the ground. He set me down on his bed and headed for the door.

"Akito-san," I called after him.

"What?" he answered.

"Where are you---" I managed to say before Akito-san interrupted me.

"I'm going to get Hatori," he said coldly.

"Why?" I asked.

"BECAUSE YOU'RE SICK, YOU IDIOT!" he yelled annoyed by my idiotic question.

"Oh," I replied feeling stupid because I didn't know that I was sick.

Akito-san sighed and replied softly, "Stay here."

He left. I sat alone on his bed in tears. I heard the birds chirping outside. The room was quiet and peaceful. At least until a loud cracking noise sounded the room.

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Flashback.

I was heading to the kitchen to find Tomoe one year when I was around six or seven. I was walking down a foreign hall when suddenly… BANG! A loud noise that sounded like scattered dishware came from a room that I had just pasted by. Curious, I went back to the doors. I peeked into the room through a little opening between the pair of doors.

To my surprise, I found Akito-san and an unfamiliar boy with grey hair. Akito-san had either of his hands on his ears. He was angry at that boy, but I didn't know why. There were a lot of food and broken dishes on the ground beside the grey haired boy. The boy coughed twice lightly. Akito-san immediately stood up.

"STOP IT! STOP THAT! STOP COUGHING! IT'S ANNOYING! YOU'RE ANNOYING!" Akito-san began to yell angrily.

The boy immediately covered his mouth with both of his hands. However, it was useless. Another soft cough escaped from him. This little cough cracked Akito-san. Akito-san grabbed the boy and pushed him onto the broken glass angrily. My eyes widened as I watch the boy bleed through many cuts. Tears came to the boy's eyes. Akito-san glared at him. Before I knew it, Akito-san was storming around the room with a brush covered with black paint. He drew on the wall, stroke after stroke. The walls were covered in black ink.

"EVERYONE IN THIS WORLD IS EVIL! EVERYONE IS DARK! THE WORLD IS AN EVIL AND DARK PLACE!" Akito-san yelled seeming to have gone berserk.

The boy was frightened and so was I. I've never seen Akito-san like this before. He seemed so…depressed. Akito-san went over to the boy and grabbed his bleeding body off of the ground. Akito-san pushed him against a wall.

"DON'T YOU THINK SO? DON'T YOU THINK THE WORLD IS A DARK AND EVIL PLACE?" Akito-san asked the boy.

The boy didn't answer him. He only cried.

"DON'T YOU THINK SO YUKI?" Akito-san asked again forcing the boy to agree with him.

The boy once again didn't answer. This angered Akito-san. Akito-san made him hold the brush and pushed the boy's body hard against the wall.

"HELP ME MAKE THIS ROOM MORE LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD, YUKI! WE HAVE TO PAINT IT BLACK SO IT WILL FIT IN WITH THE REST OF THIS EVIL WORLD!" Akito-san exclaimed.

Frightened, I began to run. I ran as fast as I can and ended up in the kitchen, where I intended to go. There I found Tomoe; she greeted me with a warm smile. I decided not to tell her what I saw and kept it all to myself.

End of Flashback.

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Yuki-kun was that same boy from that day. He was the one that Akito-san tortured physically and mentally. Yuki-kun must have been very sad then. After that day, I never saw Yuki-kun again until just the other day. He seems a lot happier now. However, there's something about Yuki-kun's expression that makes me feel…well, depressed. There's something, but I just don't know what exactly yet. Maybe just maybe Yuki-kun is hiding something…or at least, he was trying to hide something until now…I think I've accidentally seen something in him that was never meant to be seen…or was it?

Suddenly, Tomoe opened the room door and stepped in with a tray of broken glass and mush up food. She forced a smile.

"I'm sorry, Miss Tohru, I accidentally slipped just outside and ruined Master Akito-san's and your breakfast," she explained.

I smiled. "It's ok. Akito-san went to get Hatori-san, so he probably won't be back for awhile. You have enough time to go prepare something else," I told her.

A sigh of relief escaped through he lips. "Thank goodness. Master Akito-san hates clumsy people. I was so afraid that he had heard all of the noise. Well, I'll go get you two some new breakfasts then. Be right back," Tomoe said cheerfully as she headed back outside with the tray of broken glass and mush up food.

Shortly after Tomoe left, Akito-san stepped in with Hatori-san close behind. I smiled at the both of them.

"Good morning Hatori-san," I greeted Hatori-san.

"Good morning Honda-san," he replied coolly.

I smiled. Hatori-san set his briefcase on the table and came over to me. He reached for my forehead. He examined me thoroughly. Then, he went over to his briefcase and took out some sort of medicine.

"Akito told me that you had a fever, so I brought this to save the trip back," Hatori-san said, "Get some rest after you take it."

I nodded. Hatori-san was packing up his things when suddenly Akito-san started to cough.

"Akito-san, are you ill?" I asked worriedly.

He ignored me. Hatori-san stopped and looked over at him.

"Are you alright Akito?" he asked.

"I'm fine. Your work is done here. Leave," Akito-san replied coldly.

Hatori-san looked at me and then sighed. He finished packing his things and exited the room leaving Akito-san and me. Akito-san coughed again.

"Akito-san," I said softly.

He turned his head and looked at me.

"Are you alright?" I asked nervously.

"I'm fine," he answered simply.

Tomoe entered the room a few moments later with our breakfasts. I got dressed in today's kimono in my room and met Akito-san in his room for breakfast. Akito-san's coughing grew worst as we ate together. I didn't ask him about it because I knew that he wasn't going to tell me anything. I only watched in concern. After breakfast, I went for a walk with Akito-san. We walked around the garden (like we normally would) and to my surprise, Akito-san decided to take me around the rest of the estate (the parts where I've never been before).

"Akito-san, is something wrong? Is something bothering you?" I asked softly as we made our way down a hall.

He looked at me but didn't answer me.

"Did I do something that upset you?" I asked concernedly.

Realizing that if he didn't answer me, I would probably have an emotion break down. Akito-san decided to answer me. "No, I'm fine," he said simply.

"But---" I began.

"I said I'm fine," he repeated seeming to be getting annoyed.

I was quiet as I followed Akito-san around the foreign parts of the estate. He led me to places in the estate that I've never seen before. It was as if we were in a whole other estate. I was examining our surroundings in amazement when an old servant saw us. She came up to us with a tray of white cloths that were dyed red by some sort of paint or ink. She bowed. I wanted to return a bow of my own, but Akito-san placed his arm in front of me and forced my body back upward. This confused me.

"Why, good morning there little Master Akito," she greeted Akito-san politely.

Akito-san glared at her in disgust. He doesn't seem to like this woman, but I have no idea why. The lady seemed to have foreseen Akito-san's reaction because she didn't seem the least bit surprised. She turned her attention to me. She smiled and I smiled back.

"Oh, I see our little Master Akito has made a new friend," she said, "Are you from the outside dear?"

"Hm?" I replied not understanding what she meant.

"Are you a Sohma that lives outside of the estate?" she asked.

"Oh, no, I'm Tohru Honda! Nice to meet you Ma'am," I said and bowed.

The lady smiled. "So you're not a Sohma?" she replied.

I shook my head. Her gentle smile dissolved in a grin. She turned her attention back to Akito-san.

"I see you have allowed a stranger into the estate. I know for a fact that Madame will not be please with this," she said.

"I'll do whatever pleases me. I don't care what that woman thinks," Akito-san said annoyed.

"I see," the lady replied, "Who is she?"

Akito-san ignored her. She was looking at me now.

"Then she is not important. If she is not important, then she must be escorted out of the estate immediately," the lady said coldly.

I jumped from the suddenness of her statement. I looked at Akito-san, who didn't seem the least bit fazed.

"I will escort her myself," she added, "If you're ready Miss Honda, is it?"

I nodded nervously.

"I'm sorry Miss Honda, but you have to go…now," she said as she came up to me.

She gently gripped my elbow and pulled me with her.

This woman was just a servant, but there was something about her that makes her seem so…powerful. For one, she speaks to Akito-san in a way that's a lot different from the way Tomoe does. I wonder if she's some sort of special servant.

She pulled me a long with her, but after just a few small steps, Akito-san grabbed my other arm. He jerked my body to his. I fell backward. My body landed against Akito-san's. His right arm was now around my waist. He looked at the old woman in front of us with bitter hatred in his eyes. I was frightened.

"Don't touch her," Akito-san said coldly.

The old lady didn't seem to be frightened by Akito-san.

"She is an outsider, she can not stay," she said firmly.

"Who are you to tell me who can or can not stay in my estate?" Akito-san asked.

"I am nothing more than a servant, but Madame…will never allow her to stay if she knew," the woman said looking toward me.

"I don't care what that woman thinks," Akito-san replied.

"But you should, she is after all---" the woman managed to say before Akito-san interrupted.

"Shut up," Akito-san said coldly.

The woman sighed. "It doesn't matter if you deny her, this outsider still can't stay," she said.

"She's staying," Akito-san said simply.

Without another word, Akito-san turned around and started walking the way. He held my hand in his so I was forced to follow him.

"Why do you intend to keep her here?" the woman asked suddenly.

Akito-san stopped. He turned his head slightly and looked at me. I blushed. Before I knew it, Akito-san forced my body onto a near by wall and trapped me there with an arm on either side. Scared, I closed my eyes. Suddenly, I felt Akito-san's gentle kiss. I felt his fingers brush through my long brown hair. This was not right, I knew, but I went a long with it. I placed both of my palms against Akito-san's chest as we shared a long and passionate kiss. Then, he pulled his lips away from mine. Our eyes met for a second or two. I blushed. Akito-san turned his head and looked at the woman who seemed surprised.

"In two weeks, this outsider will be my wife, your new Mistress. Go tell that to your Madame. That should kill her," Akito-san said amused.

"But--- you can't marry an outsider! Your wife can't be some nobody!" the woman yelled angrily.

Akito-san started walking again. "I'll marry whom ever I wish to marry. I don't need consent from a worthless old servant," Akito-san said without looking back.

"Madame is already in severe condition, you can't anger her at this time. It will kill her if she found out!" the woman yelled.

"Let that woman die…for all I care," Akito-san replied emotionlessly.

The old servant was dumbfounded as she watched us disappear before her. We headed back to Akito-san's room. On the way back, Akito-san began to cough again. Worried, I insisted Akito-san see Hatori-san.

"Akito-san, go see Hatori-san. You don't look so well," I pleaded concernedly.

"Don't tell me what to do," he said coldly. He coughed twice.

"Akito-san, please," I begged.

He coughed again once. "Shut up, you're annoying," he replied annoyed.

"Akito-san---" I began.

"I said shut up. Don't make me say it again or you'll regret it," Akito-san said and entered his room.

I followed him. He coughed again twice. I bit my lip and decided to try again.

"If you won't go see Hatori-san then I will go bring him here," I declared suddenly.

Akito-san didn't reply. He only coughed once more. Impatient, I decided to go get Hatori-san. I ran out of the room and down the hall. Then, I stopped in the middle of the hall and realized something… I didn't know where Hatori-san's room was.

After wandering for an hour or two, I never found Hatori-san. I returned to Akito-san's room to find him asleep. Then, I returned to my room. I sat out on my patio and thought for a while. I was angry…I was angry because I couldn't help Akito-san. He was ill, but I can't do anything. A long with my thoughts, images of our first kiss kept replaying in my mind. I blushed.

"Miss Tohru, you're blushing!" Tomoe's voice suddenly rang in my head.

I turned my head and saw Tomoe's smiling face.

"You're blushing. Is something wrong?" she asked concernedly.

"No, I was just thinking," I told her, "But thank you for caring."

She smiled. "Its time to take your medication," she told me and headed back into the room.

I followed her to the table where two white pills were in a small cup beside a glass of water. I took the pills. Tomoe handed me a sleeping robe.

"Master Hatori-san said that you are to rest well after you take your medication," she explained.

I smiled. "Ok," I replied.

I changed into the sleeping robe while Tomoe was folding my kimono. Tomoe was ready to leave when she was done. She grabbed the tray with the empty cup and half full glass. She exited. I settled into my bed as the medication began to kick in. I became drozy and eventually, I started to fall asleep.

"I wonder who that old servant is and who is that 'Madame' that she constantly refers to? They must both be very important…But Akito-san…he doesn't seem to like either of them that much. I wonder why. As I spend more and more time here, I'm discovering more and more about the Sohmas. I wonder what's awaiting me when I wake up again…Who knows…" I thought to myself as I fell asleep.

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AN: For those of you who think that Tomoe is some mid-age (or older) woman. She's not. She's only 8 years older than Akito, making her (at the moment) 27. So no, she's not a forty year old servant that acts very young. Just wanted to explain this to those who might find Tomoe's behavior "weird" for a person who they thought to be older.