Note: You'll know where I got the title of this story once you read this
chapter.
I didn't visit Akito for a while afterwards and tried to drown myself in other parts of my life. I didn't tell anyone what Hatori had told me. They didn't know just yet, that Akito really would die, very, very soon. They had the right to know, a lot more than I sure did, but I couldn't bring myelf to tell them, to bring them that grief of knowing. Shigure, Yuki, Kyo, they are my family, I could never bring this down upon them. But instead, my world was crashing down before me with this knowledge.
Though one day, while in the midst of cleaning the kitchen, Shigure called to me to answer the phone. I answered calmly, not sure who would speak.
"Hello?" I said.
"Tohru, this is Hatori. Could you come over, please? As soon as possible," Hatori asked.
"Um...yeah, sure. Why? Did something happen?" I questioned, wondering if something bad had happened.
"Well, no. No, nothing bad happened," he replied with a slight jump in his voice.
"Okay then, I'll be right over," I said and hung up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I arrived at Sohma House later and was greeted by Hatori who was trying to remain polite throughout, despite the dark circles under his eyes and exhausted demeanor, and led me to Akito's room. Akito was sleeping peacefully, but deeply and was not awakened when we entered. Everything seemed normal, and I was about to ask Hatori why he brought me here, but I had the feeling he was about to tell me. He leaned against the wall and stared at Akito for a moment.
"Last night, he was up all night, coughing. But, he's stopped now," Hatori said. I waited for the point. "In all my years in the medical practice, this is truly extraordinary. He only coughs rarely now and it's so clear and crisp...." Hatori drifted off dreamily.
I really was surprised at how Hatori was acting. But I knew in my heart that Hatori loved Akito just as much as we all did, so I guess I couldn't blame him. Even if it was only a thousandth of an improvement in Akito's condition, for us, it was everything.
We must have watched him for at least 30 minutes in the doorway, listening to his clear, slow, healthy breathes. I could see the affection and happiness in Hatori's eyes watching Akito. And I pondered the reasons of why we had been shown even the slightest amount of mercy for Akito, but I was more than thankful.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Again, I found myself lost in other parts of my life, though by this time, Akito had become a large and vital part of my life. Little did I know though, that we had been shown mercy through Akito. Little did I know of his improving condition. One month later, Hatori called once again. This time he sounded much more awake.
"Tohru, Akito, he can-" Hatori seemed to be choking on the words erupting from him with such excitement. "He's walking again, he's walking totally on his own! He can stay awake, he can listen, he cares now! Oh God Tohru, I'm so happy!" Hatori gasped ecstatically.
At first I wondered whether it was really Hatori I was talking to; this was totally uncharacteristic of him.
"Tohru, I mean, how did this happen?" Hatori suddenly said, abruptly calm again. "I was in the medical practice for several years before I retired, but this just doesn't happen. In simple terms, it's a miracle. I can't explain it." Over the line, I heard Hatori sigh in disbelief. I fell against the wall and smiled.
I was so totally stunned and relieved at the same time, it felt quite strange. Akito was improving; it seemed so surreal and unbelieveable. Just a few months ago, we were sure he was going to die, and now, Akito was alive and slowly improving. It really must be a miracle. I witnessed a miracle of life being returned. Akito's condition had gone from hopeless to hopeful.
With this new hopeful omen, I started doing my almost daily routine thing again, constantly checking up on Akito and Hatori. Some days, Akito's condition would improve fantastically, and then be a bit poor the next, and some days he simply stayed the same. But thankfully, he never got extremely worse and still did appear to be making something of a recovery.
Each day I could see Akito's pride and dignity build back up and his defenses were being built again. Soon the old Akito would be back again and possibly never speak of that one day when we talked together again. But I didn't mind, that was Akito and I loved him just the way he was.
And I won't deny that I said "love". Nor will I deny, how my feelings have grown for Akito over the period he has been ill. He has grown to be a great part of my life. I loved Akito, it came as no shock.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I know, I made everybody wait so long for this chapter, and it turns out to be really short, but I had to churn out three other chapters as well! So, gomen about that. But hey, Tohru told her feelings this chapter, so that's a bonus. I can't guarantee when the next chapter will be out, but I'll try for soon. Bye!
I didn't visit Akito for a while afterwards and tried to drown myself in other parts of my life. I didn't tell anyone what Hatori had told me. They didn't know just yet, that Akito really would die, very, very soon. They had the right to know, a lot more than I sure did, but I couldn't bring myelf to tell them, to bring them that grief of knowing. Shigure, Yuki, Kyo, they are my family, I could never bring this down upon them. But instead, my world was crashing down before me with this knowledge.
Though one day, while in the midst of cleaning the kitchen, Shigure called to me to answer the phone. I answered calmly, not sure who would speak.
"Hello?" I said.
"Tohru, this is Hatori. Could you come over, please? As soon as possible," Hatori asked.
"Um...yeah, sure. Why? Did something happen?" I questioned, wondering if something bad had happened.
"Well, no. No, nothing bad happened," he replied with a slight jump in his voice.
"Okay then, I'll be right over," I said and hung up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I arrived at Sohma House later and was greeted by Hatori who was trying to remain polite throughout, despite the dark circles under his eyes and exhausted demeanor, and led me to Akito's room. Akito was sleeping peacefully, but deeply and was not awakened when we entered. Everything seemed normal, and I was about to ask Hatori why he brought me here, but I had the feeling he was about to tell me. He leaned against the wall and stared at Akito for a moment.
"Last night, he was up all night, coughing. But, he's stopped now," Hatori said. I waited for the point. "In all my years in the medical practice, this is truly extraordinary. He only coughs rarely now and it's so clear and crisp...." Hatori drifted off dreamily.
I really was surprised at how Hatori was acting. But I knew in my heart that Hatori loved Akito just as much as we all did, so I guess I couldn't blame him. Even if it was only a thousandth of an improvement in Akito's condition, for us, it was everything.
We must have watched him for at least 30 minutes in the doorway, listening to his clear, slow, healthy breathes. I could see the affection and happiness in Hatori's eyes watching Akito. And I pondered the reasons of why we had been shown even the slightest amount of mercy for Akito, but I was more than thankful.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Again, I found myself lost in other parts of my life, though by this time, Akito had become a large and vital part of my life. Little did I know though, that we had been shown mercy through Akito. Little did I know of his improving condition. One month later, Hatori called once again. This time he sounded much more awake.
"Tohru, Akito, he can-" Hatori seemed to be choking on the words erupting from him with such excitement. "He's walking again, he's walking totally on his own! He can stay awake, he can listen, he cares now! Oh God Tohru, I'm so happy!" Hatori gasped ecstatically.
At first I wondered whether it was really Hatori I was talking to; this was totally uncharacteristic of him.
"Tohru, I mean, how did this happen?" Hatori suddenly said, abruptly calm again. "I was in the medical practice for several years before I retired, but this just doesn't happen. In simple terms, it's a miracle. I can't explain it." Over the line, I heard Hatori sigh in disbelief. I fell against the wall and smiled.
I was so totally stunned and relieved at the same time, it felt quite strange. Akito was improving; it seemed so surreal and unbelieveable. Just a few months ago, we were sure he was going to die, and now, Akito was alive and slowly improving. It really must be a miracle. I witnessed a miracle of life being returned. Akito's condition had gone from hopeless to hopeful.
With this new hopeful omen, I started doing my almost daily routine thing again, constantly checking up on Akito and Hatori. Some days, Akito's condition would improve fantastically, and then be a bit poor the next, and some days he simply stayed the same. But thankfully, he never got extremely worse and still did appear to be making something of a recovery.
Each day I could see Akito's pride and dignity build back up and his defenses were being built again. Soon the old Akito would be back again and possibly never speak of that one day when we talked together again. But I didn't mind, that was Akito and I loved him just the way he was.
And I won't deny that I said "love". Nor will I deny, how my feelings have grown for Akito over the period he has been ill. He has grown to be a great part of my life. I loved Akito, it came as no shock.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I know, I made everybody wait so long for this chapter, and it turns out to be really short, but I had to churn out three other chapters as well! So, gomen about that. But hey, Tohru told her feelings this chapter, so that's a bonus. I can't guarantee when the next chapter will be out, but I'll try for soon. Bye!