My Akigure Week contribution for the prompt : Book.

I'm sorry for the mistakes, English is not my mother tongue. I hope you like it.

Disclaimer : Fruits Basket belongs to Natsuki Takaya.

Book

Shigure had always loved books. As far back as he could remember. Even when he could not read yet, books fascinated him. He turned the pages, looking at the pictures that seemed to come from another world.

'Someday I'll write my own stories,' he told Hatori and Ayame on the way home from school.

He knew his parents would disapprove, so all the more reason to do it.

The first time Shigure had met Akito, she was only a few days old. Everybody was only talking about her long-awaited birth and Shigure could feel more strongly the bond between him and his God. He entered the bedroom, where his parents had taken him, and approached the cradle where Akito slept peacefully. A governess kept an eye on the two children, while Shigure introduced himself to his new God. He held a book against him that he had insisted on bringing.

'I'm going to read you a story,' he said, sitting down on the floor.

It was a storybook, his favorite. And he hoped Akito would like it too. He read a first tale, then a second. He smiled when he saw Akito gently move her hand. Apparently she liked books too.

~00~

Shigure was sitting in the garden, leaning against a tree. He held a book in his hands that his teacher had asked the class to read for the following week. He heard footsteps approaching and saw Akito appear in front of him. She smiled at him.

'Shigure, come play with me.'

'I'm sorry, I have to finish this book for school.'

Akito lost her smile, annoyed that he refused to play with her. Despite her young age, Akito was used to being given everything. Shigure was about to give in when shesaid :

'So read me a story.'

'You want me to read you a story ?' He asked surprised.

Akito nodded. She sat down next to him, picked up his book and opened it to the first page. She handed it to Shigure, waiting for him to read it to her. He almost laughed at her bossy manner but caught himself. But he knew he could not read this book to her. It was too complicated for her age. He put his finger on the page and ran it along the line so that Akito, who could not read yet, felt like she was reading with him. He told her a whole different story. He felt like the words were running through his head. It was the first time that Shigure had invented his own story.

~00~

It had become like a game for Akito. Over the years, whenever she found a book that she liked, she would see Shigure to read it to her. It did not matter that she could read, she loved to hear the sound of his voice, the tone he took. And above all, she loved spending time spent with him.

~00~

Shigure was only twenty years old the first time his book was published. Unfortunately, it had not had the success hope for, much to the distress of his publisher, but he did not care. It was just the start and he knew it was difficult to make a name for himself in the world of publishing. But if he had managed to get himself published at twenty years old, at twenty-five years old, he would make his next books into bestsellers.

He was heading for Akito's bedroom. She had asked him to read a new book to her. He slid the door and entered the room. He saw Akito quickly hiding something under her pillow. He smiled when he recognized the cover of his book. He sat down next to her and she handed him a book that had nothing to do with his. He pretended he had not seen what she had been hiding. It was the first time Akito had been so shy around him.

~00~

It had been a year since Shigure left the Soma residence. He should say it had been a year since Akito banished him. He still went to visit her whenever he went to visit Hatori or when she asked for him. Even after everything that had happened between them, she was his God and he still loved her. It was impossible for him to leave her.

Akito watched thoughtfully through the window as the sun set.

'Do you remember when you used to read to me ?'

Why was she talking about this all of a sudden? It had been over a year since he had read any books to her.

'I don't.'

He had answered her with indifference. He saw a glimmer of sadness in Akito's eyes. It had only lasted a second, but he had seen it. He smiled slyly. He had hurt her. This was what he had been trying to do ever since she had chosen Kureno over him. She had made him suffer more than anyone and like a capricious child, he wanted to hurt her in return. Even if he had to destroy the memories she loved so much.

~00~

Shigure entered the room and saw Akito reading. She was sitting by the window. It had been two weeks since the curse had been broken. He had never felt so happy. He was free to be with the woman he loved without all the tragedy that went with the curse. Akito had also changed. She could now be the woman she wanted to be.

She looked up at him and smiled. She held out her hand to him. He walked over, took her hand, and kissed it. Akito laughed. It had been years since she laughed like that. Her laugh was music to his ears. He sat down next to her and hugged her. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and picked up the book she was holding. He looked at the cover and saw that it was the latest book by his favorite author.

'Very good choice,' he said.

He looked at the page where she left off and began to read aloud. Akito looked at him in surprise before closing her eyes and resting her head on his shoulder. How long since he had read to her ? Far too long for his liking.

~00~

Shigure headed for his bedroom. He had just delivered his final chapter to Mit-chan, who was far too happy to have the precious pages in her hands, to blame him for being late. Despite the years, he still liked annoying her.

He entered his room and saw Akito and Shiki sitting under the blanket. Shiki was snuggled in his mother's arms who was reading to him. He was completely absorbed in what she was reading that he was not paying attention to what was going on around him. Shigure approached. Shiki looked at him with his big black eyes and a huge smile lit his face.

'Read me a story, daddy.'

Shigure sat under the blanket. He took the book Akito handed him. He opened his eyes wide when he saw his old storybook. The very first book he had read to Akito. Shiki snuggled against him, looking at the pages with great intensity, as Shigure began to read.

The end