Chapter 27

Isuzu,

I was so happy when I received your letter I danced! My neighbors in the flat below mine were very upset. Perhaps I interrupted something very important.

I am very, very glad that you and Hatsuharu-san are finally together. To think you have been released! I can only imagine how relieved you must be. Do you also feel a little sad? Your letter sounded sad when you told me about how you've been freed of your curse. I can only assume Hatsuharu-san has also been freed, or you would probably sound angry. smiles Please tell Tohru-san that I am glad her heart has returned to her.

To answer your question: yes. I do. I think I felt that way even when we were friends—I just didn't want to admit it to myself. When I come back, I'm going to have many things I have to take care of. Will you help me? I hope so.

With love,

Mikage Tamae

Rin stared in sullen amazement at Tamae's letter. She had felt that way towards him even when they had been friends? Of course Tamae, being as naïve as she had back then, wouldn't have recognize that feeling for what it really was. Rin wondered if Shigure had played on that later. But seeing him now, she didn't have the heart to interrogate him about it. He was obviously suffering. Scowling, she stuffed the letter back into the pocket of her long overcoat and walked towards Hatori's small office.

A small crowd had gathered in front of the building. Rin stopped just short of it, curious but unwilling to throw herself into it. Some habits died hard. When one of the bystanders turned and saw her, she raised an eyebrow and jerked her chin towards the office in question.

"I am not sure, Rin-san," the woman replied. "I only know that Akito-sama is upset. He went in to see Hatori-san about a cold he is developing and suddenly began to scream and shout." There was a large crash inside the office. Rin immediately turned and shot around the building, trying for the back entrance. She still retained some of her former speed, enough that she nearly lost her footing as she turned the corner. When she managed to regain her balance, she stopped to regain her breath.

"I won't have it! I WON'T HAVE IT!!" Akito screamed dimly through the door. Hatori's reply was unintelligible, and the nurse's cries of "Sohma-sensei!" were shrill. Something big had happened.

"Where did it go? How could it have left me?" Akito's screams became wails, plaintive and pathetic. Rin carefully made her way to the door. Why hadn't the crowd gathered back here? She shook her head and tried the handle. The door opened easily.

She crept inside, only to find she was not the only one there. Yuki stood to one side, his expression aloof. He gazed at her until she broke eye contact, flushing. He did not stop her from continuing down the short hallway to the two examination rooms in Hatori's small clinic. One door was closed. The other was cracked just wide enough for her to see Hatori and Akito inside. Hatori was standing before Akito, his posture stiff. The smaller man had his shirt gripped in his bony fists, reed-thin arms exposed by the drooping sleeves of his yukata. Akito's face was distorted with panic and anger.

"How dare it! How dare it leave its master! Call it back! CALL IT BACK!" He screamed into Hatori's face. Hatori looked like his greatest wish and his worst nightmare were happening at once. Akito shook him but the man's feet never left him. Akito's rage-fueled strength was not enough to move him.

Instantly, Rin knew what had happened. She felt happy, and sad. Soon Akito, the man who had nearly killed her, the man who had been their curse and their reason for living, would be completely alone. The dragon had abandoned its God. She backed away from the door but did not leave. She stood near Yuki and listened to the god-figure's cries of denial until his voice was nothing more than a croak as he continued to rage.

When Hatori finally emerged, carrying a senseless Akito, both Rin and Yuki stood. The man who had been the dragon looked at them somberly before passing the slighter man to a waiting servant. When the two were gone, Hatori fell to his knees, head in his hands. His shoulders shook.

Rin and Yuki looked at each other, both unsure of what to do. A sound from behind them made her turn and she saw Shigure leaning casually against the wall. He looked meaningfully at Rin and at Hatori. Rin glared at him before turning again to the man before her. She knelt beside him reluctantly and put her hand on his arm.

"Hatori?" The man's shoulders shook even harder at her soft question. She knelt there for several minutes, unsure of what to do. She glanced at Yuki, but he wasn't looking at her or the emotional heap beside her. His face was turned towards Shigure. When she looked at the other man, his eyes were so dark with emotion they looked black. Her heart skipped in her chest. Was that fear? She shivered.

Shigure's face twisted into a caricature of his usual smile as he turned and left his best friend to be comforted by others who better knew the reason for his pain and newfound joy. Akito would need his comfort now, if only because he was the only jyuunishi left.