AUTHOR'S NOTE: See A/N at the end of the chapter for kanji details. (I don't want to spoil anything here or distract you from reading the story, so I'll shut up now, lol) Enjoy!

Kami no Kodomo
Child of God

- Epilogue -

It was hardly fair. It had been decided against her will that greater things would come from the child.

Akito was just another cog in the machine.

She was never meant to be "the one loved by all". Just like her mother said: they would all leave her.

And she lashed out in anger and despair at her beloved Juunishi, for they had all turned their backs on her. One by one, as the years progressed, they all sought solace in someone else. Someone outside of their bond. Someone named Honda Tohru.

She made sure that that little wrench paid dearly as well. The cat was put in his place and the outsider was made an example of. Although the details of her disappearance was never spoken about, everyone knew that her memory had been wiped and she was thrust out of the Sohma lives forever.

And she carried on in this manner for years; her rage grew more spiteful, her words more hurtful, her actions more painful. They would all suffer along with her; suffer in their hearts, because they all would leave her if they knew.

She hated them all.

The child was forced into seclusion so that the Juunishi would never know of her existence, and never love her above their God.

Because that's what Akito feared most. And she couldn't have it, couldn't bear it, couldn't risk it.

The child had to disappear. She couldn't exist because if she did…

Akito's soul cried out in agony into the darkness that surrounded and sustained her; There would be no need for me!


AUTHOR'S NOTE: END! Well, the end of the prequel anyway. Follow Akiten's story in "ShugoTenshi" (found on my page) and how the Sohma family will react when they discover that not only was God a woman, but that she had a daughter with the dog (how scandalous!). How will Shigure take on his role as "father" to this "child that wasn't supposed to exist"? And how will this girl with unmistakable gifts handle her role as the New God?

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Okay, brace yourselves… The kanji for 'Akitenshi". When I first started writing about Akiten (in "ShugoTenshi" in 2005) I had no idea what kanji was used in Akito's name, but I wanted to use 'aki' from 'Akito' plus 'tenshi' for 'angel' (Akiten for short), thus the title "ShugoTenshi" (Guardian Angel). At the time, I thought 'aki' meant "autumn" and then when I returned to writing "ShugoTenshi" in May 2013, I did my research, found the kanji for Akito's name, and gasped (literally).

Aki = from the verb "akitaru' means "to be satisfied"

To = means "person".

Therefore, Akito = "person to satisfy" or "person to be satisfied" (Holy sh!t right?)

So then Akiten = "aki" (to be satisfied) + "ten" (heaven) = "heaven to satisfy"

Shi could be read using the character for "child" or "messenger"

Thus "ten" (heaven) + "shi" (child) = "child of heaven" (aka the Emperor/Empress aka GOD!)

Or "ten" (heaven) + "shi "(messenger) = "messenger of heaven" (aka angel, short for "tenheishi" or sky soldier)

Therefore, Akitenshi = "child of heaven to satisfy" (Emperor/Empress to satisfy) or "messenger of heaven to satisfy" (angel to satisfy) – depending on which kanji is used for "shi"

Ultimately, Akiten's purpose was to strengthen and renew the Juunishi bond. Therefore, her purpose was to serve God. To find out eight years later that the name I had chosen (aka created) for my original character literally spelled out what her purpose/destiny was … was jaw dropping. Seriously.

THAT'S why the name "Akitenshi" was such a shock to Hatori and Kureno (as it was for me) because they knew she was special.