Warning : rape attempt

Several days have passed since the last time she saw Shigure. She didn't have any calendar around her, the time was melting and she didn't know which day was today. Just that she was alone and bored. All her love-marks had the time to disappear, all was left was the bite that her lover had left on her shoulder. She found herself caressing it lovingly when she was thinking about him, which was something that happened a lot, she was so lonely. Other times, her fingers wandered around her neck where Ren had strangled her. It had left mark too, but the bruise was also starting to disappear.

She saw Tohru twice since the day Ren had assaulted her. She had paled when she had saw the fingers marks around her neck and she tried to run at Hatori's but Akito caught her by the arm and forced her to calm down. She explained her that it was useless, probably because they wouldn't allow him to enter in her quarters anymore. Tohru had cried and then held held Akito in her arms like a mother would do. It was strange, she was older than her yet…Akito felt her throat being dry and she denied the fact that she has been crying too.

Akito was…Tired. She didn't even remember being that low in her life. When Kureno's bond broke away, the man became a constant presence in her life, like her shadow, always trying to cheer her up. He made her pass the time, by talking with her, bringing her snack between lunches and then making her going out outside. It was thanks to him she met Shigure…And she never thanked him. She had so many regrets about him. Of course, Akito whole life was about regret of things she didn't or couldn't have done. It was only when Kureno disappeared of her life that she realized how much she owed him and that she never ever thanked him for that. Yuki have been her childhood best friend, but Kureno have been her adolescence and adulthood best friend. The one who was with her during her teenage rebellion, when her body nature manifested and she had her first period. When she was bed-sick. He had listened her rant and sometime scold her when she was going too far. He watched her diet and her health. He probably has done more without her knowing or realizing it.

She bit her lip remembering his absence in her cold room. She was alone and it feel. The good thing was that sometime, Tohru was coming. Sure, she was a student and she had to go to school and do her homework. She also needs to cook for the men she was living with. It was funny, through Tohru, she had the impression to see another image of Yuki, and she was curious about Kyo. The girl was always talking about the cat with stars in the eyes.

"Could it be…" had asked Akito once "That you love him? That Kyo." Tohru usually so kind and cute face had suddenly paled and her mouth parted. She had placed her hands on it and she gasped, as realizing it. "I…" she tried to say, but she had decided against and she kept silent until Akito changed the conversation. Strangely, Tohru saw it like an opening and started to ask many questions about her relationship between her and Shigure. But Akito stood evasive, she wasn't good with telling her feelings. People around her simply understood without her needing to word it. However, Akito had to admit it, she was really a gently and adorable girl, she understood why the cursed loved her that much. From what Yuki told her.

Actually, at first, she hated the name of Tohru Honda, she hated that somebody outside of the family was closer to the zodiacs than she was. Now she understood and she couldn't blame any of them, she was feeling the same with this Tohru girl. This gentleness that she had brushed with Mine was now hugging her whole with Tohru. Never a woman had been this kind and well-behaved with her. It inspired Akito to be that kind of girl in the future, if she was allowed to.

She also talked about the curse and the zodiacs with Tohru. The girl was more understanding than Shigure about the subject. Just remembering what the man had told her made her hairs standing on end. She felt betrayed by him, haven't he realized that? And, he forced her to notice something she didn't want to see, the bond was becoming weaker with time.

She always started to bite her nail mindlessly when the thought was in her head. Was it her being anxious of losing the ties she grew up with and reassured her when she used to recomfort her emotionally, or was it the god in anguish of losing his friends without even having the chance to bid them a goodbye? The god couldn't have said his farewell to the rooster and he simply grieved to his ex-owner body. What if more zodiacs bond went to be broken as was Kureno's, what if everyone's curse lift, what will she become? What will she do?

Akito given up a long time ago the idea of having her right place as the family chief. She didn't care, since that day in the gathering room where she had met the assembly of the family. They gave her such a bad impression, she felt like she was the representation of something in a middle of the family war and she did not want to be a part of. She saw in their eyes that they didn't care about her, if they did, they would have tried more to make her free. No…She did not care about them at all.

Sighing, she moved her hand to her temple and massaged it. She moved out of her futon and walked to the bathroom to wash herself. Today, for the first time of her life, she will have assist to a private reunion with Ren. Akito did not know what the woman has in mind, but she couldn't refuse. So, she had to get ready before Ren's favorite would come to fetch her. Apparently, she will eat with Ren and the chief of the Murashima's clan and his son. She had read document that Kureno had taken from Ren office. The Sohma family have been trying to form an alliance with the Murashima family, only to have it each time canceled. Maybe Ren decided to take Akito with her in a reunion so she could blame her later when that try to form the alliance will be turned down.

She dried her short hair will vivid movement of the towel and then moved the towel down on her skin to dry the water and then she walked out, wearing a bathrobe around her body. Ren's favorite was already waiting for her in the bedroom and she frowned. Inviting themselves in somebody bedroom, they did not give a fuck about people privacy, didn't they? "Madam Ren has chosen the clothes you will wear for today's meal with the Murashima family." She said before pulling out a red cloth. Akito turned her eyes away and removed her robe. She was glad that the had the good idea of taking an underwear with her, at least, she wasn't all naked in front of the woman.

Akito sat in the middle of the room and waited for the maid to her work. When the woman prepared the kimono, Akito blinked in confused. "And the bandages?" she said before regretting it. Why did she remind the woman to wrap her chest? If she had forgot it, it was good then, wasn't it? The woman stood silent before nodding. "Yes, indeed, allow me a few moments to get them." She said and if Akito wasn't frustrated about herself, she would have noticed the maid was more polite and kinder to her than usual.

However, the force she put in tightening the bandages around her body did not changed and as ever, Akito found herself being breathless. She wondered how she did to not faint from the lack of oxygen. She could still breath, if she were to compare with how Ren strangled her, but it was hard. After that, the maid brushed her hair and tied her obi carefully before taking a step back and looking at Akito's appearance. Something was strange with the clothes, they looked…more feminine than habit "Look like you're ready, so if you please follow me."

Akito did not answer, but when the maid walked out of the room, she followed her. As they both exited her quarter, she looked around with curiosity. It was only during rare event that she had the chance to come out of her cave. Now, they were entering in a part of the estate she had never been in. From far, she saw path and stylized garden. It was different from where she was living, fancier. Akito's frown deepened. Ren had really let her out of this world for years.

If she wanted right now, she could run and take that path to leave that place. Maybe if she asked, she could go back to Shigure's side and together, they could take a boat and flee the country. Being with him was appealing, but abandoning this world for another was something scary and she feared that it rejected her, that she was unable to integrate it.

The maid interrupted her in her thoughts "Please, be quicker, madam Ren won't allow any tardiness." Pressed the woman and Akito threw her a deathly glare. A part of her wanted to walk even slower but she remembered Ren's hands squeezing her throat and she changed her pace for a faster.

The maid stopped in front of well adorned fusuma doors and slid them open. "Madam, Akito-san is here."

"Oh please, enter! Enter!" sang an old and masculine voice, stranger to Akito's ears. The maid nodded and made a sign of the chin to Akito, ordering her to enter. They were all already sat at the chabudai, each one with a cup of sake in the end. The men were both wearing westerner suit while Ren was wearing a crimson tomesode. Bowing slightly, she took place on the only vacant seat, the one next to Ren. She hoped she succeeded to hide how scared she was.

"My, my! What a beautiful sight, isn't its son?" said the oldest man, bumping his elbow against the youngest man. The son simply nodded and stared at Akito, studying her body. His eyes were showing something that Akito already saw in Shigure's, however, the context was different. When her boyfriend was looking at her that way, it was when they were both naked and making love ruthlessly, she liked when her man had that expression…However, a complete stranger looking at her like that, especially when they were meeting for the first time in a traditional way was…Unsettling. Akito felt very uneasy. The worst was knowing that nobody in this room will help her if something happens. She gulped discreetly and avoided his eyes. God, she wanted to run away.

"You're really your mother twin! Haha, so beautiful!" laughed the man before taking another sip of sake. "Koeda-san, you're too kind with us." Answered Ren with a polite smile and a kind tone. "Haha, Akito-san don't talk much? Are you shy? Well, quieter the better as they said!" he laughed louder and she wanted to spit on his face to make him stop. She felt a headache coming with it. "Here, make yourself at ease Akito-san, take a cup of sake." Said the younger man, smiling. She accepted it but did not drink. She won't let her guard down as long as she was alone in a room with Ren and strangers.

"Today is a big day! If our deal goes to term, our family will without a doubt finally find a common ground, won't we?" sneered the man and Ren patiently nodded. "Indeed, today is a big day, but we need to talk more about it, don't we?" she said gently, drinking her cup of sake with delicacy.

"Haha, sure, you have documents about it, don't you Ren-san?" said the man, tapping on the chabudai while Ren sorted out papers. "Here…" she said, giving him a paper. The man started to read but his smile slowly disappeared. "…I'm sorry but I fear I don't understand." He said, his joyful tone now far away. The woman cleared her throat. "Koeda-san, I understand that the matter is…not something light to talk about."

"Ren-san, you never told me about adopting Jyuto in the Sohma clan." He said, grave, and his son snapped his head toward his father, eyes wide as planets. "Wh-what?!" he almost screamed before taking from his father's hand the paper and reading it, his eyes moving quickly. "Well, I think you can understand that the Sohma family is quite…traditional, and without a doubt, a marriage with a member that isn't a Sohma won't be allowed." Ren simply explained, like a teacher in front of dissipated children.

Akito on her own, wondered what marriage they were talking about. It was probably a girl from the elite of the family, she didn't really care. She wanted to go out of this room where the tension was starting to get high. "What's the point of this if Jyuto became a Sohma! Don't make fun of the Murashima clan!" slammed the father on the table, the son vividly nodding. "Please, nothing could be further in my mind." Gently said Ren "I know how your son must attach importance to his clan, that's why I'm sure that even adopted as a part of the Sohma family, he will do anything for the family that he grew in." she said in a smile.

"Wh-what would be the point! I'm one of the sons of the chief, I can't allow myself to be adopted in another family!" he roared and Ren shook her head. "But, you should know that she is high placed, the Sohma won't accept her becoming a Murashima, won't they? Don't you agree Koeda-san?" The man frowned, caressing his chin in thought. "Well…Jyuto, it's true that you are the last son of the family…And you brother already made an heir and assured the family continuity…" Jyuto mouth went agape, not believing what his father was saying. "That's true that you would be more useful that way…" slowly his eyes drifted toward Akito.

"And…Your future wife…is a real beauty…" said Koeda, looking right into Akito's eyes. "I wish my own wife would look like that…" he smiled and she wanted to run, a cold sweat running all along her back. She was scared of what he was implying. No, it was just her imagination, wasn't it? Yes, Ren always wanted to make Akito a boy, and that's how Akito always have to appear in front of people. Yes, Akito had nothing to fear, it was alright. The son made a face "But…Father, I…"

"Come on Jyuto, you're starting to get old and you need a wife. This is the best occasion to settle that family alliance that we wanted to do for years." Scolded the father, frowning, the son simply bowed his head "Yes…I understand." He said, resigned and he too, looked at Akito. She was feeling her colors draining from her face.

"Then, if the matter is settled, please, sign here." Said Ren, taking the control of the situation and giving a paper to the youngest man, however, the father interfered and took the paper. "Ren-san, we want to be sure there won't be any underhand trick." He said. "I propose that Jyuto sign that paper when the date of the marriage will be fixed. It will leave time for all of us to think about it." He said and Ren's smiling wavered. "Yes…Of course, I understand." She said in a gentle and forced voice. Akito knew that Ren don't like when things weren't going as how she planned it to be. Akito wish she could grin, satisfied to see the woman frustrated, but the tension and the men eyes on her were making her too anxious.

The young man sitting in front of Akito was going to say something when somebody knocked and slid the fusuma doors open. "Today's meal is served." Said Ren favorite, bowing down. Behind her, more servants holding tray full of plates. They served and put down all the meals that have been prepared, and even if Akito loved Tohru's food, she had to acknowledge that the sushi on the table were high quality. During the lunch, the men tried to talk with her, but she simply answered with quick answers, making sure to stop the conversation. Strangely, doing it made the oldest man even more joyful, and the previous outburst was like a dream.

Akito agreed that the sushi she eaten here were had the best taste, but the taste wasn't as good as the sashimi she had with Shigure at the Izakaya. She desperately wanted to see him and go back eating there. "Ah! It was good haha, I guess I could take a little walk around the estate, what do you think Ren-san?" he said with a warm and joyful laugh. Ren nodded. "Indeed we should, Akito, please, take Jyuto-san to your quarters, you two should need to get acquainted." She ordered and Akito frowned, she did not want to bring that man at her place, but she knew she didn't have the choice and she quietly nodded before standing up and walking out of the room, Ren favorite was waiting for her and lead her back to her quarter. The man was following her, his eyes wandering around, watching the place they were passing by.

She was back already too soon and she hated that he was still behind her. He entered in the living room before her, as if he owned the place and sat at the table before exhaling as tired when they were alone. "My! It was a long day." He ranted and Akito merely rolled her eyes before taking a seat at the other side of the table. The young man didn't see it that way and glided along the floor until he was next to her, way too close in her taste.

"But finally, it's just the two of us now." He said, placing his hand on her waist. She nudged the arm off and tried to move away, but suddenly with unrestrained strength, he pulled her against him by the arm. "Le-let me go!" she screamed, struggling. He held her forcefully, so hard that she was sure it will leave mark on her arm. And without any warning, he kissed her, sneaking his unwanted tongue in her mouth. She bit his lips and he yelled in pain and pushed her away. She could taste his blood in her mouth and she spit in disgust. "You little-" he roared in anger, wiping the blood with the back of his hand.

She stared at him like a cat ready to attack and he chuckled. "I prefer my future wife to be quieter, but it's alright, by the time we will be married, you will be already trained to obey." Akito glided farer but once again, he rushed on her and pinned her on the floor. She tried to break free, scratching his face with her nails. "Get out! You piece of shit!"

Then, he moved his hand on her throat, ready to choke her and she paled, remembering the violence that Ren used on her. She stopped moving, her body and her brain freezing, traumatized. "You little slut, I'm already sacrifice my place in my family because of this marriage, I don't want a whore that wasn't able to keep her legs closed to piss me off." Akito eyes widened in fear. Ren was really going to force her to marry this man, and he was ready to take her on the floor.

She didn't want this, she wanted Shigure and Shigure only. She was scared, she wanted to run away, she wanted to see him. "It's alright, I will be a kind husband" he said, licking her cheek, she retched. "I will let you have your sweet time with your lover, as long as you produce me an heir." He said, rubbing his crotch over her waist. She turned her head away; she didn't want to see it. She tried to think it was Shigure that was holding her right now, but never her lover has acted that way with her. Shigure was a man that she loved, he was the only man she wanted to be with. She refused to let herself ending that way.

As the man was sliding his hand along her thigh, before entering it in her kimono, removing his hand from her throat, her body moved by itself and she grabbed a vase and crashed it on his head. He screamed in pain and he shifted away out of instinct, his hands on his eye. She probably blinded it forever. "You fucking whore!" he yelled and Akito took the chance to escape. She kicked him in the crotch and then ran to the garden when she heard footstep running in direction of the living room.

Panicking, she searched for a way to escape the house and then she remembered the ladder that Shigure used to get out of the garden at night. She ran toward the wall and noticed the rope ladder on the top of the it, she jumped, trying to pull the rope down. When she succeeded, there were already servants helping the man screaming that she had ran in the garden. Gulping she started to climb and she felt hand grabbing her foot. Freaking out, she started to kick, her naked foot crashing on their face with the heel and she using the head of the maid as a springboard and she got on the top of the wall. Here she broke the ladder and jumped at the other side of the wall.