Chapter 22: In the Darkness

Akito drew towards the shaking Tohru, enjoying how the she shivered with fright as she looked at his face, which was made more menacing by the twisted flames from the candles giving poor light to his face and to the dark room.

"You did very well in the play, Tohru-chan," said the clan head, kneeling right before her. "Ah, you are a captivating Princess Snow White."

"I-It was Kyo-kun who really played the part, and I-"

"You took his place at the end of the play, didn't you?" asked Akito slowly. "Yuki…he kissed you."

She gasped when she felt his finger trace her lips lightly.

"Tell me, how did it feel? Who kisses better, him or me? Or perhaps, Kyo?" asked Akito, continuing to run his finger down her lips to her jaw.

She said nothing.

"Aw, don't be shy. Tell me," coaxed Akito.

"Why did you bring me here?" she asked quietly, determined not to let him intimidate her.

His fingers suddenly roughly grabbed her jaw and pulled her close to him. "Well, I'm so glad you asked. There is no big reason, really. At first, I just want to get rid of you. I was tempted to erase your memory and have you thrown far away to a place where you couldn't pest me and Yuki anymore."

She tried to free herself from his grasp, but he tightened his grip on her jaw more. She let out a stifled cry of pain.

"But knowing how you estranged Yuki to me, he might just leave me to find you. So…" He drew closer to her. "I decided to keep you as my pet. You're not Yuki, but you can take his place adequately."

Her eyes widened when she felt the clan head's breath just inches away from her lips. She resisted fiercely, and he threw her hard against the wall. She cried out audibly.

He cackled. "Ah, your cries! I love them! More, Tohru-chan, MORE!!!"

She fought back her tears.

Okaasan, another nightmare! Another nightmare!

She felt hot liquid stream down her cheeks.

But I won't call on Yuki-kun. I know how much he fears him.

She looked at Akito squarely. "Akito-san, you can keep me as long as you want, but I ask you only one thing."

"You are not in the place to do bargains with me, but I would like to hear it," he said.

"Please leave Yuki-kun alone already," she begged. "He's already happy now, because you set him free. Don't come back to his life again, please!"

Akito laughed diabolically. "Why should I? His life is mine. I can barge into his existence anytime I want to."

"He does not want to remember anymore, Akito-san. Have mercy!"

"Yuki is mine. And so are you now, Tohru-chan, dear girl." He stood up and approached her. "Both of you will be my toys. Both of you will make me happy to the very last day of my life."

Hatori had just put the phone down when he heard a scream from Kyo.

"Hatori, we know you're in there! Let us in, or I'll break this damn door!!!"

The doctor calmly opened the door. "What can I do for you?"

"Where is Tohru?" bellowed the neko furiously.

He looked out at the window. "She's with Akito right now, and I have strict orders that nobody can disturb the clan head unless he says so."

"Orders, my ass! Tohru's in danger!" said Kyo urgently.

"Where is Yuki?" asked the doctor.

"Huh?" Kyo turned around. "He's with me just a minute ago." He looked at the doctor again, but it was only the door facing him again. He started to pound on the door again. "Hatori, damn it! Hatori!!!"

"Try to understand, Kyo," said a voice softly. He turned around and found Kagura, looking at him tearfully. "Hatori can not defy Akito because he swore on his duty as the safe keeper of Akito, not only in health terms."

"But Tohru's in danger!" snapped the neko. "He does not care about her because she's not a Sohma!"

"You're wrong!" shouted Kagura. "He already did a big sacrifice by trying to warn Tohru awhile ago and giving her a chance to escape, which Tohru didn't take since she didn't like to cut her ties with you guys. He also called up Shigure and Ayame, and they're coming here to help save Tohru."

"Hatori did that?" said Kyo cynically.

"He cares for Tohru too," said the boar. "But try to understand his position, Kyo. In one way or another, he loves Akito too, even a little. We may never know why, especially because he caused Hatori's partial blindness, but…he just like to protect both of them."

The neko was silenced.

Walking the familiar hallways again.

Walking the familiar floor.

Yuki approached the corridor leading to the room where Akito used to imprison him back when he was a child. Alone in the darkness that drove him insane slowly, it was where he contemplated that life was about blinding darkness and deafening silence. About being alone with no one who could ever help him.

Alone.

He felt his whole body begin to tremble.

He would have asked Kyo to accompany him, but then, he didn't want him to see him in his moment of weakness.

I'm not strong enough for Tohru. Kyo can protect her better. He's not afraid of anything and anyone.

As for me…

But then, upon remembering how Tohru overcame her fear of mice just to accept him whole-heartedly, he found renewed courage.

It's my turn to be strong. For the one person I love the most.

To the very last day of my life?

Tohru watched as Akito sat down in front of her, as if in slow motion. He crouched towards her menacingly, but she couldn't move.

He suddenly lost his balance and fell on the ground, clutching his chest.

"A-Akito!" She tried to touch him, but he wildly slapped her hands away.

"Don't touch me, you witch!!!" he yelled. He gasped wildly for his breath, rolling on the floor.

"Akito!" She knelt by him. "Please let me help you! Please!" She cried in pain when he suddenly took hold of her hair.

"You…cannot help me! No..one…can ever do!!!" He yelled as he pulled on her tresses. "I'm dying! I'm a dead man walking!"

The door opened, and in came Yuki. "Tohru!" He quickly pulled her away from the clan head, but she still held on Akito.

"Akito-san, we're going to call Hatori. Calm down, please! You'll be alright!" she cried tearfully.

"Tohru!" said Yuki, shocked.

"I do not need your mock concern, you witch! You stole everything away from me! You stole my happiness!" yelled the clan head. "I don't need to live anymore!" He struck her blindly, but before his fist landed on her, Yuki shielded her with his back. He gasped with the impact of the punch.

"Yuki!" cried Tohru and Akito.

"T-Tohru…"

Akito's eyes were stricken with disbelief and shock. Holding on to his chest, he retreated away from the two.

Tohru was crying then. "Yuki-kun…"

"I told you, I'll always protect you. I did…right?" he asked.

She nodded dumbly. "And you got hurt…at my expense. Why, Yuki-kun?"

But he already crossed the distance between them. His lips touched hers lightly before fainting in her arms.

"Yuki-kun…" She hugged him tightly. "I love you so much, Yuki-kun."

Hatori, Kyo and the other Sohmas arrived, just in time to witness Akito trudge out of the room.

"Tohru!" Kisa, Kyo, Kagura, Momiji and Hiro ran towards her. "Yuki!"

"I'm ok." She handed Yuki to Kagura, then stood up. "Akito-san."

He froze. "What is it, Honda Tohru-san?" But he didn't look at her.

"Happiness is not something that can be stolen. It is something that can be shared," she said gently. "Yuki makes both of us happy, so there is nothing wrong with that. Love is infinite. We don't have to fight over it. Yuki has a lot of love in his heart for all of us."

The clan head didn't reply. He left the room quietly as Hatori watched him.

"Hey, Yuki didn't change into a rat!" remarked Momiji.

"That's weird," commented Kagura. "I swear, Tohru was hugging him, right?"

Tohru smiled back at the Sohmas. "Let's go home."

Hatori smiled. "I'll check on Yuki first. I'll drop by the house later."

Ayame smiled lovingly at his unconscious brother.

He didn't transform.

He looked at the weary but happy Tohru.

Thanks to her.

Epilogue coming soon!