Fruits Basket
Darkness No More
Chapter Eight: Tohru Honda
As the day went on, the last bell rang at Kaibara Municipal High school. Sitting on the bench outside, Akito smiled. She watched the teens skip and run with smiles on their faces as they left school for the day.
Happiness is something that Akito wanted but didn't deserve. Sighing, Akito shook her head before looking back up at the gray sky.
"No sun for me, huh?" Akito said aloud.
"Only a storm," a voice replied.
Looking down and to her right sat a woman with long black hair with matching eyes wearing the blue and white dress school uniform.
"Miss Hanajima, I presume?"
"You know my name, but I do not know yours," Hana said.
"I am Akito Sohma," she said, introducing herself.
Hana nodded, blinking a few times as she looked Akito up and down. Leaning in closer, Akito scooted away, which only made Hana scoot closer. After a few moments, Hana nodded, which confused Akito. She was told very little of Tohru's friends, but that one that would pop up in conversation was Miss Hanajima. Shigure would say she is odd, but perhaps there was more to it than that.
"Why do you hide what you are?" Hana asked.
Akito's eyes widen. Only Shigure, Hatori, and Ayame knew of her secret. She found it interesting that Hana knew.
"Where I live, only males can lead the family," Akito explained.
"Then a change is in order," Hana replied.
Akito never thought about that before. Perhaps Hana was right, if she were to come out as a woman and it would be a relief. But it would only make things harder on her.
"I need to think about this some more," Akito said.
"Good, for the change would help both sides."
Akito tilted her head. As she wanted to ask more about what she meant by that, a familiar voice interrupted them.
"There you are Hana,"
Both Akito and Hana turned to see Tohru Honda smiling back at them with a taller blond woman by her side. Hana jumped up and stood beside Tohru.
"Sorry about that. Hana does that often," Tohru said.
"It's okay. Miss Hanajima has given me much to think about," Akito replied.
"That's our Hana. By the way, I'm Arista Uotani," the blond woman said before bowing slightly.
"My full name is Saki Hanajima," the raven haired woman said.
"I am Akito Sohma, head of Sohma house,"
Arista tilted her head that name why did it sound so familiar.
"You're the one Kureno talks about," Uotani said.
"which means you're the one he can't stop thinking about," Akito said.
Uotani's cheeks redden, causing Tohru to smile this was a side of Akito she never saw before. She was hesitant to sit with him, but she sat down next to Akito, which caused a smile to spread across his lips.
"You came to visit the Sohmas?" Tohru asked.
"Yes, I visited Momiji, Yuki and Kyo I was going to talk with Hatsuharu but he is not here." Akito replied.
"I think he skipped school today. Um… is everything okay?" Tohru asked.
Akito was going to ask why, but from the way Tohru's cheeks were red and she shuffled her hands nervously, she had an idea about why she was asking.
"Kyo confessed?" Akito asked.
"Yeah, I accepted…. I love him too," Tohru replied.
"Good, it warms my heart to hear such a thing he will still be a hand full."
"I know, but I can't handle it."
"Also, if he acts up too much, he will have to answer to us." Uotani added.
Akito laughed. Tohru truly had good friends. Tohru smiled. Then a thought crossed her mind as she looked at Akito, who merely nodded.
"And its all thanks to you, Tohru," Akito said.
"Huh?" Toru asked.
"Your light and warmth dissolved the darkness now the others can finally move on and enjoy the life they should have had."
"What about you?"
"I don't deserve your light, not with what I have done."
Taking a hold of Akito's hand, Tohru gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Then I will visit you every day until you can enjoy the light as well."
Akito smiled at Tohru Honda, a simple woman with such a big heart no wonder everyone gravitate towards her. Just spending this little time with her warmed her stony heart. But this is something she did not deserve. But it felt nice to feel a little of its warmth.
"I can not wait for your visits," Akito said before standing up. "I wanted to apologize for my actions toward you my dark side hurts everything it touches."
"Apology accepted," Tohru said.
Looking to Miss Honda, then up at Hanajima and Uotani, she bowed to them.
"I must go I have others to see," Akito said as she looked to Tohru. "I look forward to your visits,"
Tohru nodded. Akito turned around and walked away when Hana took a step forward.
"Akito… the storm that is coming is for you," Hana said.
Stopping short, Akito glanced behind her.
"Come again?"
"The darkness is not happy with what you are doing."
"Hence a battle is brewing."
"More like a war. When the times come... Hana said gravely. "A question will be asked. Will you be ready?"
"I hope so... for if I'm not, who knows what will happen," Akito said, followed by a sigh. s
Akito continued walking until she was no longer in sight. Tohru and Uotani looked to Hana, who sighed, yet her eyes held a worried within them. Uotani placed a hand on Hana's shoulder as she looked at her, then back at Tohru.
"What is it?" Arista asked.
" It's her electrical waves, while they are strong now. Why do I see it dwindling?"
Uotani looked at Tohru, who pulled out her cell phone. Dialing a number, she held the cell up to her ear.
"Who are you calling?" Uotani asked.
"Someone who can help?" Tohru said.
As her phone kept ringing, Tohru hoped they would answer. While she and Uotani rarely take Hana's gift seriously, the words she spoke scared her.
Akito… please be careful