Sorry it's taken so long to update...again. I've had a bit of writer's block on this story. Anyway here it is:
Chapter 11: Forgiveness
I slid open the door and stepped inside. In the corner Akito sat with a man, Akito was crying. They both looked up as I walked in.
"Rika?" Akito's voice was small and scared, I stopped for a second. Then I moved forward, tightening my grip on the knife. The man stood up and moved in front of Akito.
"Rika, calm down."
"No." I hissed back at him. "Move."
He stepped forward and again, slowly walking towards me. I held up the knife in front of me, trying to stop it shaking, but I couldn't. He walked right up to me, until the knife point was pressing lightly into his stomach. I was shaking so badly now and tears were streaming down my face, I knew this man had once carried me out of this room.
"Please, move."
"Why? What will you do?"
"I don't ...just move."
"Kureno." Akito's voice was even smaller now.
"You don't remember your life here before do you?" I shook my head in answer to Kureno's question. "I was just a kid too, I loved playing with you."
"I...I don't remember...it hurts...I can't take it anymore, make it stop." I dropped the knife and fell forwards feeling my stomach roll I opened my mouth and emptied my stomach. Kureno held my long hair back and rubbed my back soothingly.
When I looked up I saw Akito had crept forward.
"Are you ok?" he asked.
"What do you care?" I hissed back. "You don't want me because I won't play along with your little game."
"Please, I know you must hate me but forgive me, I'm truly sorry for what I've done." As I looked into Akito's eyes I almost believed him. He reached a hand out gently brushing my cheek. It was agony, pain shot through me, like fireworks going off inside my veins. I screamed, then I was falling, falling then nothing.
******
"Stop it idiot." Kyo had been running full pelt, Yuki by his side, but Yuki had just come out of hospital. Kyo had grabbed his arm and halted them both.
"Give up, this isn't going to help anyone, ok." Kyo hated the rat but having him collapse on him now was only going to be an annoyance. Yuki coughed then nodded.
"Go." He said shoving Kyo, it was all the encouragement he need and Kyo turned and resumed his sprint to Sohma house.
After discovering Rika had gone, they'd panicked, wondering why she would have left without her things. They didn't know for certain where she was but Shigure had come up with the only half decent suggestion so now, the four of them, Kyo, Yuki, Tohru and Shigure (Hatori had returned the night before) Were running to the Sohma house. Yuki walked until Tohru and Shigure caught up with him.
When Kyo arrived the sight that greeted him made his blood run cold. Kureno exited the main house with Rika in his arms, she was unconscious. Akito clung to Kureno crying, he was actually crying, Kyo had no idea what that meant, but Hatori was there, pressing a hand to her forehead.
"Rika!" Kyo yelled closing the last of the distance between himself and the group. His yell made them aware of his presence.
By the time Yuki and the other arrived, they found a solemn Haru waiting for them, he quietly lead them to Hatori's house. Hatori greeted them.
"Is she ok?" Yuki asked.
"It doesn't look good."
"Can you feel it?" Shigure asked.
"The curse breaking? Yes I can." Hatori answered, Yuki suddenly understood the strange feeling he had. The dread welled up in him,
"She's going to die?" he barely made the sentence into a question. Tohru gasped his words, tears spilling over.
******
I knew I was dreaming because my Mom was there.
"Never fall in love with a Sohma." She said to me
"I'm sorry, I didn't know, I didn't understand. Help me." I reached out to her but my arms were heavy.
"Was it worth it?"
"Yes." I answered suddenly sure. She smiled, as if to say 'well done'
"I can't help you."
"What no, wait don't go." Too late she faded into nothing. Another figure appeared, although I had no memory off him, I knew it was Akito's father, my Uncle.
"Rika, do you understand what you have to with the curse?"
"Yes, Shigure and Hatori say I'm the lock."
"Yes, do you know what the key is?"
"No."
"The key is forgiveness." He too faded, then I did, fading back into the real world.
I opened my eyes a crack, then a bit more. Everyone looked like they were sitting round a death bed. I gulped, not a good thought. Forgiveness, the word echoed in my head. Forgiveness.
"Akito?" I searched for him. Slowly he crept forward. I saw Kyo open his mouth to say something indignant but Hatori clapped his hand over Kyo's mouth.
Weakly I reached a hand out for Akito, he hesitated, he'd been crying again I could tell, for me or the wrong-doings I couldn't tell. Slowly gently he placed his hand on mine. The whole room seemed to hold its breath. No pain and no memories, just cool skin, I curled my fingers round his.
"Akito, for what it's worth for all the wrong-doings to me, I forgive you, I hope the others will too." I knew then looking at him that I spoke the truth. Maybe that's just what near death experiences do to you.
What happened next is hard to explain, there was no pain but it felt like something that had been wrapped round me for so long was loosened and taken away, like taking off a tight pair of shoes. Other people in the room gasped, they felt it too. Even Tohru could feel a certain amount of tension lift from the room.
My ever present headache was finally gone I no longer felt pain, of any kind. Just relief. Everyone looked from one to another, trying to confirm what had just happened. Then Haru grabbed Torhu and pulled her into a tight hug...and nothing, no pop, no smoke, no transformation.
"It's gone, it's really gone, the curse, we're free." Yuki was looking at his hand then he took his turn to hug Tohru, taking her by surprise. I sat up then stood up.
"Wait, are you ok to be standing up." Kyo asked
"I feel fine, better than I have in a long time." Then I threw my arms around his neck and for the first time hugged my boyfriend.
There will be an epilogue to this story. So it's not quite finished yet. I hope you liked, review please.