Chapter 26
Disclaimer: Fruits Basket and its characters are property of Natsuki Takaya
"He's coming around. Hey mister, are you ok?"
Akito slowly opened his eyes and found himself looking at two strange men. One was fat while the other sported a mustache.
A third man, a skinny one, was trying to rouse Kureno who was slumped over the wheel.
"Your car went up the curb when your driver collapsed. Luckily, it didn't hit anyone,'' said the fat man.
Akito tried to clear his still fuzzy mind and focus on what the man was saying. Kureno collapsed? What was going on? How long had he been asleep?
He glanced at the seat beside him, expecting to see an unconscious Tohru. She was gone. Panic seized Akito and he looked wildly around him. He grabbed the shirt of the closest man and demanded to know what happened to his fiancée.
"Calm down mister. There was no woman in the car when we found you,'' the fat man said.
"That's right," the man with the mustache chimed in. "And we saw the car hit the curb too."
Something twinkled on his hand which drew the clan leader's attention. The mere presence of Tohru's engagement ring on his finger answered some of his questions. Akito slowly released his grip on the fat man's shirt. He plastered a smile on his face then explained the collision as a minor mishap courtesy of a drunken cousin. With a few words, Akito managed to convey an image of Kureno as an alcoholic.
The man was family, Akito told the bystanders. What could he do but hire him? Now look what that led to. As for the missing fiancée, he shrugged and muttered that he just remembered she left him last night. He'd been so upset he went on a drinking spree with his fool of a cousin. The three Good Samaritans nodded in sympathy. Women.
Inside, Akito seethed. He didn't need a note to tell him who took Tohru away. Shigure would pay dearly for defying him again. All those animals would pay. But first things first, he thought.
He grinned sheepishly at the three bystanders, thanked them for their help and somehow got rid of them without involving the police.
A still groggy Kureno gingerly felt his head for any bumps and bruises. Taking the car back onto the main road while he was drugged was a risky move. They were lucky they didn't injure anyone else and that the car just hit a curb. He briefly wondered if Shigure meant for him to be hurt. The dog wasn't that vindictive. Or was he? He risked a glance at Akito who seemed lost in thought.
Akito, for his part, wasn't at all concerned about the well-being of the rooster. He stared at the diamond ring on his finger as if the answers he sought could be gleaned from the stone's depths. Where had they taken her? Did she leave willingly? He felt abandoned and suddenly very alone.
"Shall we report her missing?'', Kureno asked.
"You fool!" Akito lashed out at the closest Jyuunishi. "I know who took her. There is no need to involve outsiders in the Sohmas' affairs. Now take me back to the main house, useless animal."
Kureno silently took the abuse. It didn't matter what Akito said or did to him. She was free now and that was all that mattered to him.
Akito continued to rage at the rooster until his anger was spent. He slumped back in his seat, closed his eyes and reached for the girl who was no longer there.
"Where are you?'', he whispered. "Where has he taken you? You said you belonged to me."
Hatsuharu came home to find a letter from Shigure awaiting him. All the remaining Jyuunishi received such a letter.
The ox read the missive then stared unseeing in front of him. So they finally did it, he thought. They've taken her and fled.
The dog was careful not to say anything more about their escape. He warned Hatsuharu to prepare for Akito's wrath by either openly defying their God or making himself scarce. He re-read the letter's final lines. It was a call to arms.
"If you must flee, take Rin with you. I left you money at this bank. Use it to free yourself from Akito-san. We are not his pets to play with as he sees fit. We are cursed human beings paying the sins of our fathers. But we still have free will."
The letter dropped from Hatsuharu's suddenly numb fingers. Was it that easy to break away from Akito? Could he just leave with Rin? Where would they go?
In her immaculate house, Kagura put down her letter and took out a suitcase from the closet.
"I think I'm going on a relaxing trip. I must be doubly beautiful for Kyo-kun when he returns,'' she murmured.
Humming happily, she started going through her wardrobe.
Momiji plunked down a bulging backpack and handed over Shigure's letter to his father. The older Sohma shot his son a puzzled look then turned his attention to the letter. He quickly read it, gasped and re-read it again to make sure. He looked at his son who stared back unflinchingly.
"I cannot go against Akito-san. Think of what he may do to me, your Mama and Momo."
"I know,'' the rabbit said softly.
"What Shigure-san wants you to do is just madness."
Momiji expected his father would react this way. It hurt to be proven right. The rabbit loved his family but he knew he must take sides now.
"Akito is hurting the Jyuunishi, Papa. I can't live like this anymore so I'm leaving."
"Momiji, what are you saying? Are you out of your senses? He'll punish all of us if you do this. Think of me, Mama and Momo!"
"I am, Papa. That's why you can tell him I ran away and you disowned me."
The rabbit smiled at his father but couldn't stop the tears. Once again, he would sacrifice himself for this family. He only hoped that his father would think of him from time to time.
"Goodbye, Papa. Please kiss Mama and Momo for me even if they don't know me."
Sniffling, the blonde teen turned his back on his parent, shouldered his backpack and walked out the door. He ignored the older man's pleas.
"Momiji! Momiji!"
In another Sohma household, a petite dark-haired woman solemnly folded a letter and put it on the kitchen table. She walked into her daughter's bedroom and watched her child tossing and turning in her sleep. The girl uttered "Onee-chan" and started sobbing.
The woman quickly made her way to the bed and tried to soothe her daughter. She sang a lullaby and held her hand. She only stopped singing when the girl calmed down and fell deeper in slumber.
"I won't let him hurt you again, Kisa. I promise, even if he takes everything away from us."
At a shop that looks more like a craft store inside, a lone figure with silver hair sat in the dark and sighed dramatically every few minutes.
To give up his vocation right now when business was booming! Ayame sighed again and struck a pose reminiscent of a heroine in a melodrama he saw last month. Ayame was born to be a drama queen and the current state of his affairs gave him more than enough fodder.
He wasn't brave enough to stand up to Akito so he chose to hide –ahem, go into exile – instead. He told Mine he needed time off and was closing the shop temporarily. She was in tears until the snake mentioned he'd continue to pay her. Thanks to his Gure-san's scheming, he could well afford to do so and more.
Ayame could have let Mine run the shop in his absence but he didn't want her subjected to Akito's inevitable visit.
"The world will be deprived of my artistic creations," he told the empty store. "Thank Kami it will only be temporary."
He sighed again.
The night passed thus for the Jyuunishi. And their bond with their God began to unravel.
The fugitives sought shelter among the monks who Norika asked help from centuries ago. Shigure thought it apt in their situation. He knew the head monk felt responsible for this turn of events and used the man's guilt to his advantage. So he called the man prior to the engagement party and pled their case.
The head monk knew their presence on temple grounds would raise questions so he placed them in a cottage on property recently donated by a grateful believer.
Shigure and Hatori knew their lodgings were temporary and looked for a house to rent or buy. A smirking dog told his cousin that their new house would be on Akito and produced documents that showed just how much he and Kureno drained from several Sohma accounts. Hatori wryly noted that they embezzled the funds.
"Haa-san, the ends justify the means."
"No it doesn't. You're a thief."
"Now that's harsh. I needed money for the plan and where else would I get it from but the main house? Besides, it all went to the Jyuunishi. If we put a price on every insult and bruise, he owes us so much more. Don't you think so?"
The dragon ignored the dog and focused his attention instead on the three teens toiling away at a small plot. The rat wanted a garden and Tohru happily volunteered to help him. Surprisingly enough, the cat tagged along too. But he only did so because he didn't want the rat to hog all Tohru's attention.
If he wasn't here, things would be perfect; Yuki thought and directed a sharp glance at the orange-haired teen pulling weeds.
A week had lapsed since they took her back from Akito and Yuki had never been happier. In his opinion, things would be better if the cat had been left behind.
Kyo entertained the same thoughts about Yuki. Always acting like a prince around her, always saying the right things. Always so perfect. I hate him, the cat thought. I wish he'd go away.
They locked gazes and a challenge was issued. Oblivious to the dark thoughts swirling in her companions' heads, Tohru continued to weed her section of the new garden. She wondered how the rest of the Jyuunishi were faring and how Hana-chan and Uo-chan were taking her sudden disappearance.
Yuki brushed dirt from his hands and took a fighting stance. Kyo did likewise. In a minute, fists and feet were flying. Shock rendered Tohru speechless for a few moments.
What happened? She was dumbfounded. Why are Yuki-kun and Kyo-kun fighting now? Did she do something wrong?
The fight was different this time. Even she sensed it. There was a deadly earnestness to it, as if the outcome would settle everything once and for all. Unmindful of her safety, Tohru ran toward the combatants.
"Please stop this. Please," she begged them.
But the boys were deaf to her entreaties. She was the prize in this battle neither one was willing to lose.
Kyo aimed a kick at Yuki's head. The rat ducked and swung a fist toward his opponent. The cat also tried to land a punch. Tohru put herself between the two and got hit in the chest and back for her efforts. She gasped from the pain and fell to her knees.
Yuki and Kyo froze.
"Honda-kun!"
Hatori ran to Tohru and helped her to her feet. He barely glanced at his younger cousins but they could feel the dragon's disapproval.
"I'm taking her inside. Think of what you've done," Hatori said curtly as he escorted Tohru.
"Honda-san, I didn't mean to …," Yuki stammered out.
I screwed up again and she got hurt, Kyo thought in agony.
Shigure strode over to the teens and cuffed their heads. They were aghast since the dog had never hit any of his cousins before and they've never seen him this furious.
"What are you two doing? We didn't save her from Akito-san so you could use her as a punching bag. Why don't you both grow up?"
The dog walked back to the cottage, still glowering.
Yuki looked at the hand that hit the girl he loved and felt ashamed. He abandoned his rival and went in search of a secluded spot to wallow in misery. The cat, who felt just as terrible, slinked away.
"Are you OK, Honda-kun," Hatori asked a still-wincing Tohru. She had the bruises to show for the incident.
Before she could reply, Shigure appeared at Hatori's side, grabbed one of her hands and asked how his little flower was doing. The dog was careful not to show her how angry he really felt. So he pretended to be the clown for her. Only Hatori knew he was faking.
"They didn't mean to hurt me. It was my fault. I got in the way,'' she said.
"Honda-kun, you wouldn't have been hurt if they weren't fighting. What was it this time?"
"I don't know, Hatori-san. We were weeding the garden then all of a sudden they started hitting each other. But it was different this time."
"It looked like their usual tussling to me."
"Oh no, Shigure-san. They seemed really serious this time. Not that they were joking the other times, I mean. But it was as if this fight would settle something between them."
"Well, I don't suppose they were squabbling over who would clean the cottage today. Perhaps they were fighting over who gets to live happily ever after with Tohru-kun? Don't you agree, Haa-san?"
Tohru blushed at the suggestion.
"Hand me the aspirin bottle," was the dragon's only reply.
Shigure rolled his eyes in mock exasperation but did as he was told. Hatori handed two pills to Tohru along with a glass of water.
"You're just changing the subject since you fancy our little flower as well. Now don't hide it. Shame on you, Haa-san. You're too old for Tohru-kun."
"Stop saying stupid things."
"Really now, Haa-san. If you're just going to insult me then you better find another assistant," the dog said and pouted.
"Ayame is rubbing off on you."
"That's not the only thing he's doing to me."
"Enough. You're making Honda-kun uncomfortable."
"Just joking, Haa-san. You need to lighten up. Maybe a kiss or two from Tohru-kun will loosen you up."
Tohru became a deeper shade of pink. Hatori clenched his teeth, counted silently to ten then faced the grinning dog.
"Are you done? We need to start looking at another house today."
"Duty calls, Tohru-kun. I guess we must leave you for now in the care of Yuki-kun and Kyo-kun. You better be in one piece when we return or they'll regret it."
Hatori glanced at Shigure but said nothing. The dog kissed Tohru's hand and sauntered out of the cottage followed by the dragon. He then tracked down where the rat and cat hid themselves and read them the riot act.
"We are doing our best to stay under the radar so do not jeopardize my plan by acting like fools. I know what you two were trying to do. Even she sensed it."
Yuki couldn't look Shigure in the eye but Kyo glared defiantly at his cousins.
"We're going to check out another house. I suggest you two keep Honda-kun company and make sure she is safe. If you must argue, try not to hit her again. She already tried to blame herself for the last fight," Hatori said.
"That's stupid. She had nothing to do with that. Women have nothing to do with men's fights."
"Kyo-kun, we're not idiots. We know what you and Yuki-kun were fighting over. All I'm asking is that you two take a breather from your 'death matches' and help us keep Tohru-kun safe. Can you do that?"
"You don't have to ask us, Shigure," Yuki replied softly.
"I trust there wouldn't be a repeat of today's fight?'' Hatori asked the rat.
Yuki nodded and quickly headed for the cottage to make amends to Tohru. Besides, if he left now, he'd be there before the stupid cat. But it wasn't long before said feline caught on. Kyo chased after Yuki.
"Hey! Not so fast, you damn rat."
Hatori shook his head and made a beeline for their car. Shigure grabbed his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks.
"Haa-san, you don't need to hide it from me. I know how you feel about her. The only difference between us and those two is that we hide behind a veneer of civility."
The dragon slowly turned toward his cousin who wore a somber expression.
"How long have you known?"
"The day you saw me coming out of her room. I later wondered why you asked me if I love her."
"I see. Now is not the time for this, Shigure."
"I agree. We need to first ensure her safety then our freedom from Akito-san. But remember this Haa-san. I won't lose, not even to you."
"You said you won't stand in the way of Yuki and Kyo and that you had no chance with her."
A mischievous smile lit up Shigure's face.
"Did I say that? Maybe that was before I realized those two were so wrong for my little flower."
"And you're right for her?"
"Look at my competition – a bad-tempered cat, a rat with low self-esteem, a psychotic head of the family and a repressed dragon. I'm way ahead of all of you,'' Shigure said, chuckling.
He took his hand off Hatori's shoulder and lit a cigarette.
"Modesty has never been one of your virtues, Shigure. By the way, I don't plan to lose to you too."
"Fair enough," the dog said and blew smoke in his cousin's face.
The dragon just raised an eyebrow and proceeded to walk toward the car.
Akito felt his hold on the Jyuunishi was slipping. The snake, ox, horse, rabbit and boar fled to parts unknown and he hired detectives to find them. When he tried to pump information out of Kisa and Hiro with his fists, Kisa's mother threatened to call the police.
"And how would you explain these two turning into animals on the way to the station?" Akito said with a sneer.
"Wouldn't that be your responsibility Akito-san since you are the head of the family?"
She had him and he knew it. Every Sohma clan head was taught at a young age to keep the family's curse a secret at any cost. Someone certainly did their homework.
He wanted so much to see them cower before him. He fell back on his old standby – money.
"I'm cutting you off. And until you change your tune, neither one of you are welcome at the main house as of this day."
Shaking with rage, he stalked off. Hiro and Kisa looked with frightened eyes at the only adult left in the room. She smiled reassuringly at them.
"Don't worry. Shigure-san already knew this was going to happen. We'll be fine."
Akito had even less success with the monkey who did nothing but apologize or cry. It wasn't even worth it to browbeat Ritsu who could never fight back. A disgusted Akito soon left the hot springs.
While he didn't have proof, he knew all these problems with the Jyuunishi could be traced to one man. He would enjoy making Shigure suffer once he found him.
As exhausted Akito drove back to the Sohma estate. He strode past the servants and ignored their greetings and offer of dinner. On the way to his chamber, he stopped by Tohru's bedroom. Even her scent was fading from the room which boasted furnishings he especially selected.
After a week of wearing the diamond ring, he finally took it off and locked it away in a drawer. She clearly did not want the ring, so neither did Akito.
He'd taken to spending time in her room in a vain attempt to seek comfort. He'd been ill countless times but he had never felt this bad before. It was as if a hole had opened inside him and sadness was pouring out, threatening to engulf him.
In his more rational moments, Akito berated himself for being weak and wasting time thinking about a slip of a girl. He told himself he valued her only because she could break the curse. He didn't love the stupid, ugly girl. Tohru Honda was a means to an end.
He'd never been in love; did not know what that entailed. Power, obedience, pain, fate – those were concepts Akito knew well. He needed her. That much he was willing to admit.
But Akito was never alone. His musings were interrupted by the sly voice of Koji Sohma.
"How could you not control those animals? You are pathetic," his ancestor said.
Akito ignored the taunt and looked around the room, secretly hoping for a glimpse of a slight brown-haired girl. He wondered if he was going mad. Koji wasn't done with him yet.
"The blood of Maya runs true in her veins. She never wanted you but stayed only for the sake of those animals."
True enough, Akito silently agreed. And yet, she shielded him from the ghost several times. Perhaps she cared?
Koji snorted in disbelief.
"She left with someone else. At least Maya did not stoop to running away with my kin."
Akito tried to shut out Koji but couldn't. So he did the next best thing and sought peace in sleep. He padded over to his bedroom, changed clothes and slid between the sheets. He was asleep in minutes, but there would be no peace for him tonight.
Frost appeared on the window and the temperature in the room plunged. With Tohru gone, Maya haunted him anew. His old nightmare was back. She chased him then pitched him into the pit.
As his dream self fell, Akito expected the Sohmas to catch him. But they didn't.
When he finally landed, shades of Sohmas scattered. Several flitted in and out of his sight. Their groans and weeping increased. Akito put his hands over his ears to shut out the noise but it was to no avail. He could still hear them and feel their anguish.
"Do you wish to spend eternity here?" Koji whispered in his head. "This is the fate of all the clan leaders; to have no peace and to be stuck in this limbo."
"I never asked to be born to this family!" Akito raged. "I didn't choose my fate. It was chosen for me!"
Koji laughed in derision.
"Yet you live the part of the clan leader. Did you not treat the Jyuunishi like your personal possessions? Did you not rule the family like you wanted to? This is the price for all that power and money."
"You're the reason why we're all here. Maya cursed the Sohmas because of you!"
"You think you can escape your fate without the girl? Then you are a fool."
"This is just a dream. I can still wake up."
"Can you? Go ahead and try."
Akito screwed his eyes shut and willed himself to wake up. Nothing happened. He tried climbing out of the pit but Maya would swoop down and push him back.
In his darkened bedroom, Akito lay pale and unmoving. A maid who came in the morning to wake him up ran screaming for Kureno.
Hatori's replacement as family doctor ordered that Akito be taken to the hospital. The Sohmas' leader lay in a coma.