One Chance Left

Okaasan, Akito-san had me abducted into the main Sohma compound, and I do not know why.

And after I talked with Hatori-san, I felt more worried. Is the clan head really that diabolical that he can break true love?

I do not want to believe so, because I know that real love can overpower anything in this world, but if it happened to Hatori-san and Kana…

Besides, I do not even know how Yuki feels for me.

So…

So…

But…

God help me, but I love Yuki-kun too much.

I can't stay away.

"You want to see her already," said Hatori. He was summoned once again by the clan head after an hour.

"Yes. I am fully rested. I'm already excited to talk to her again."

"Akito, do not exhaust yourself. Maybe you should rest for a few more hours…"

"Stalling time, Hatori?" asked Akito perceptively.

Instead of answering, the doctor looked away.

"Tell me, where does your loyalty lie?" asked the clan head, gazing at him testily.

"I am yours, Akito," said the physician quietly. "As always."

"I will believe you then. I'm sure you will not throw away our harmonious blood relationship for a female outsider," said Akito, satisfied.

Hatori shut his eyes.

Guilt was eating his heart, but he must now pretend he had no heart.

He had no choice.

I still have a choice. I can still help her.

Yuki, Shigure, and Kyo sat on the steps of the school, waiting for news on Tohru. The two boys, however, were getting impatient.

"If I see that dumbass again, I'll cream her!" yelled Kyo.

"Are you sure Hatori doesn't have anything to do with this?" pressed Yuki.

Shigure shook his head. "Hatori denied it, and he will never lie to me and Aya. Never." But the writer's voice lacked conviction. He thought he knew Hatori so well, but after his beloved died…he changed into a totally different person…a total stranger.

Yuki looked down. Awhile ago, Shigure and his brother called up the main house, and Hatori answered the phone. The doctor flatly denied Yuki's accusations.

"I do not care about Honda Tohru. Stop wasting my time, I'm still busy," said Hatori shortly before he slammed the receiver.

Yuki clenched his fists. But I feel…that she's in danger.

He stood up. "I'm going to see Hatori myself," he decided.

Kyo's eyes widened. "But Akito…"

Yuki inhaled shakily.

The orange-haired Sohma stood up too. "Look, I'll go with you. There is more strength in numbers, and you're going to need all the strength that you can get."

Yuki was stunned. The neko was going to cooperate?

But he smiled gratefully.

Tohru looked up when the door opened, revealing Hatori, looking very grim.

"Hatori-san, what's wrong?" she asked, concerned.

"Akito…Akito wants to see you now."

Her heart froze. "Oh God!"

Hatori sat down beside her and looked at her with intense urgency. "You have to get out of here."

"H-Huh?"

He gripped her shoulders so tightly that she thought her frail bones were going to break. "Tohru-san, I will take you out of this place through a secret exit, but promise me that you'll cut all ties with the Sohmas right after you leave this compound, understood?"

"I-I don't understand!"

"It's for your own good. Akito is a very possessive person, and Yuki is his possession, or at least he likes to think so. You are a threat to him, and he wants you out of the picture," explained the doctor. "So if you love your life, forget us. Forget that you met the Sohmas."

Tohru's eyes widened.

As Kyo and his cousin walked to the main house, he couldn't help notice how uneasy the usually passive mouse was.

"Are you nervous for yourself or for her?" he couldn't resist asking.

"Both," admitted the nezumi. "I know Akito's mind. It's pure evil."

Kyo pocketed his hand. "But you'll have to face your fear sooner or later." He sounded so thoughtful, as if he was telling this more to himself.

Yuki looked at the neko. He knew he was referring to a topic the Sohma family refused to touch.

The cat's third form.

Kyo touched his beads. "My greatest fear then was that people would know about my form that even my own mother couldn't accept, and then eventually, I forgot about it. It was buried underneath my obsession to beat you on something."

Yuki remained silent.

"But when I met Tohru, my fear resurrected. I couldn't dare tell her about this form…I simply couldn't. And if she sees me in that form…" He clenched his fists.

"She would understand."

Kyo paused.

"Tohru-san's kindness knows no boundary." He smiled to himself. "He accepted each of us, weakness, strengths and all, and loved us more for it. I don't see why she would be bothered by that."

"You sound like you know what you're saying," remarked Kyo, continuing the small talk just so he could get Yuki'' mind off the tension of facing Akito.

"I once had the same fear, since Tohru-san has a morbid fear of animals that are from my sign, but when she discovered my Juunishi form, she didn't move away from me. She even overcame her fear of mice just to understand me," narrated Yuki. "She's that kind."

Kyo fell silent. They were in front of the main house already.

Tohru, smiling, shook her head. "I'm sorry, Hatori-san. I cannot do what you are asking. That is impossible. I cannot erase the memories I shared with the people I love, at least in my own will."

The doctor paused speechlessly.

She smiled sadly. "I know that my decision is stupid, but my heart decided this for me, and okaasan told me that if I follow the whisper of my heart, then Kami-sama will guide me."

"Your life is at stake," he reminded her quietly.

"Ah, but my life has been all about the happy Sohma family who have been so kind to me. I love them very, very…" her voice broke. "…v-very much." She bit her lip. "Oh Hatori-san, I just remembered that I wasn't able to tell them that." She looked up at him pleadingly. "Will you call them later in the house and tell them that? If something happens to me…if Akito-san decides that my memories should be erased…then will you please tell them that even if I forget their faces, I'll never ever forget their love that showered me so?"

"Tohru-san…"

She's so brave…why didn't I have the same kind of guts she has back when I needed to protect the one I love the most?

Tohru blinked her tears back. "And tell Yuki-kun that…that I care so much about him."

Yuki-kun's smiles. Yuki-kun's gentle touch. Yuki-kun's eyes. Yuki-kun. Yuki-kun.

Hatori stood up. "We mustn't keep Akito-san waiting."

"Right."

Hatori opened the door, and Tohru entered the room. It was mostly dark, lit eerily some twisted candles. By the window was Akito, waiting for her expectantly.

"It took her some time to wake up," explained Hatori. "The tranquilizer was too strong."

Tohru sat down in front of Akito, head bowed. She heard the door close behind her.

Deafening silence.

"It's nice to see you again, Honda Tohru-san," said Akito, smiling menacingly.

Hatori picked the phone up quickly and dialed Ayame's number.

Please forgive me for lying to you and Shigure and everyone else.

tsuzuku