It's a Secret

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By: Ryoko

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Track 00:06:00

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"Hmm? Ashura?" Hatsuharu asked groggily, looking over toward the overhang where the girl was staring up at the night sky. He sighed, pushing aside the blanket and crawling over to her. "What's wrong? Couldn't sleep?"

"They're coming to get me."

"What? Who?" he yawned quietly.

"Mommy and Daddy. They are coming to get me tomorrow."

"No they aren't little one, Hatori hasn't even STARTED making the calls yet."

"He's going to tomorrow. And the first people he calls, it's going to be my parents."

'How the hell does she know this? Is she . . . no . . . she couldn't be . . . ?' he thought, staring blankly at the child. "Did you dream this?"

"No. I can see it."

"See it?"

"I can see things before they happen. I always kept it a secret from my mommy and daddy, but I can't keep it a secret from you for some reason."

"Because you trust me. Is that it?"

"Uh huh." She looked down at the ground. "I don't want to see them again. I want YOU to be my daddy."

The juunishi blinked dumbly, letting the words, he'd just heard, sink in. 'Father? Me? Does she have any IDEA who she's asking the impossible of?!'

"I've been thinking . . . about how my life would be with YOU as my father . . . and I like the way I see it."

***

"Hello? Hello, this is Hatori Sohma. I'm calling about the ad you have in the paper regarding a missing child."

"Have you found her?!"

"I've found *A* child. But I'll need to meet with you personally to determine if we're talking about the same child. When are you available?"

***

"Well, a description wasn't exactly what I had in mind. But umm . . . do you have a photo?"

"Just this. It was taken three years ago, though."

"It looks close enough. I just need one more piece of information to verify that you are her parents. Her name?"

"Ashura Minamoto."

"Well, Mr. And Mrs. Minamoto, I believe that I have YOUR daughter. However, she isn't HERE at this present time. I have sent her to stay with a relative of mine for the time being. If you wouldn't mind as much as to follow me in your car, I will b more than happy to show you the way."

***

"They're coming!" Ashura leapt up from her seat on the floor, her eyes clearly written with fear. Panic coursed through her body, making her tremble vaguely.

"Ashura?" Yuki looked up; freezing as he saw the child in the state she was in. "Ashura? What's wrong?!"

"They're coming . . . "

"Who's coming?"

"Mommy and Daddy."

"What?"

"It's a long story. But I guess they ARE coming." Hatsuharu interrupted standing and letting the girl cling to his belt. "It's okay Ashura. It's okay. Calm down, little one." He whispered.

She shook her head violently.

"I don't want to go back! NO! Don't let them take me! Daddy!"

"Daddy?" Yuki's eyes met with the younger juunishi's. "What does she mean by that Hatsuharu?" his voice grew stern, though still flooded with worry.

"She wants ME to be her father. That's what she means by that. Listen, Yuki, can I take her upstairs?"

"Take her to my room. I'll be coming with you." He announced.

The teenager sighed, scooping the girl into his arms and moving down the hallway.

Inside Yuki's bedroom, they locked the door.

"Start explaining." The nezumi demanded.

"Ashura . . . " he sighed heavily. "Ashura can see the future. She's psychic, from what I've gathered. So when she says something is happening or going to happen, it does. I guess this gift is the reason why we can touch her and not transform, I dunno."

"So her parents ARE coming?"

"If she said they were, they ARE." He looked toward the girl leaning her head on his shoulder and grasping his shirt tightly, fighting to keep calm. "I don't think I'm going to turn her over, Yuki."

"WHAT?! Hatsuharu! You can't do that!"

"Watch me." He stated emotionlessly. "They hurt her enough. And look how much fear and pain they are causing her! With parents like the ones she has . . . it makes the kidnappers look like savior angels. Have you even considered the world through HER point of view? Whatever they did to her, she's never gonna get over. They scarred her for LIFE! Look at this little thing. She's terrified of even the THOUGHT of them. I'm not turning her over."

"I never thought of it that way. Even so . . . you can't keep her, Haru. You can get arrested for such a thing."

"Then LET them arrest me! I'm not going to let her suffer any MORE than she already-" he cut himself off, walking to the window, "They're here. With Hatori."

"Alright Hatsuharu. This is the moment that you decide the future. Both for YOU and that little girl. Are you going to let her parents have her back?"

He paused; looking down at the girl, then back up at Yuki. Suddenly, the gentle eyes of Sohma Hatsuharu were gone. The over-possessive eyes of the machine he'd become- it had engulfed him.

Black Haru.

Without a word, he walked emotionlessly past Yuki, kicking down the door as he went threw it.

'He'd BETTER replace that.' Yuki mentally growled, following him at a safe distance.

***

"Ah, so YOU'RE her parents? Pleased to meet you. Shigure Sohma."

"Could you go and retrieve Ashura for us?" Hatori asked.

"Sure thing! I'll be-" Just as he turned, he froze, seeing the dark spirit inside Hatsuharu, glaring emotionlessly back at him. "They're right there." He whimpered, half cowering behind Hatori.

"Hatsuharu. Ashura's parents are here to pick her up."

"Are THEY her parents?"

"Yes."

The shorter one- the woman- was darker than the man. Short and dark hair tied in a sloppy ponytail, and the ends draping over her shoulders. She was presentable-looking, with tightly fitting jeans and a sweatshirt.

The man had an eerie aura to him. He was, for the most part, bald. Glasses covering dark green eyes, red colored skin, dressed all in black like an FBI agent or something.

"Neither of you look anything like her."

How these two could possibly come up with a product, such as Ashura, was beyond even HATORI. Ashura had icy blue eyes, very pale skin and platinum silver hair that fell down to her waist; nothing like her parents.

"You don't deserve to have her back."

***

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