Note: Rin is the horse of the Juunishi, but is only seen in the manga. Rin
lives with Kagura and her mother. And no, I've never read the manga; I
can't read Japanese, well, not fluently.
I reported the news that Akito was healing remarkably to Shigure, Yuki, and Kyo who were all quite happy. I was still overcoming the shock myself, Akito, healthy; only a few months ago we never would have put those two words together.
Now that I counted how long it had been, Akito had been laid up for almost an entire year. In two months, it would be time for the New Year's Celebration again. Hatori said Akito would most likely be able to come. I didn't know if I would be allowed to attend again or not. I suppose we'd just have to wait to see what Akito says, if anything about it.
The first month went by fairly quickly. Momiji stopped by for a visit today with Hatsuharu and Kisa. Hatori also called one evening while I was getting ready for bed.
"Tohru-kun, I'm sorry for calling so late; I had a lot of business. Cleaning, everything. Anyway, Akito would like you to be present at the New Years' Celebration as last year. Can you come?" Hatori asked. I nodded.
"Yeah, I can come. I was hoping I could," I replied. And so the evening of the New Years' Celebration came.
I checked my hair to make sure it was laying flat and went downstairs. I couldn't wait to see Akito again, healthy. This year, Kyo wanted to try out some of his "techniques", so we drove this time. We were greeted at the door by Hatori.
"Ahh, Shigure, Yuki, Kyo, Tohru, nice to see you again," Hatori greeted politely. We entered the large hall filled with various people of the Sohma clan, many of whom I had never met before. My eyes searched frantically for Akito across the sea of people. He was nowhere to be seen. I walked over to Hatori.
"Hatori, where is Akito?" I asked him.
"Akito should be here any moment now," he said, looking around the hall. "He probably just doesn't want to socialize with everyone. He'll be out soon." I nodded and went back over to where Shigure and Yuki were talking with Rin; Kyo was being dragged away with Kagura.
From a side door, slid out a pale and thin form, covered in white. Long, black hair, uncut, hung to the side of his face. His magnificience and power eminated from his foreboding image throughout the room. I immediately identified him as Akito. No one had noticed him yet as he entered the large hall. I kept my distance for now.
Shigure, Yuki, and I went to take our seats next to Hatsuharu's immediate family and himself; Kyo was tied to a chair by Kagura and her mother.
Rin entered the room as the ceremony began. The dance of the Horse, unlike that of the Snake which was quite distinct with Ayame's own particular jazz mixed in, was a bit faster and rythmic. Her hair flew behind her as she ran across the floor. I could see her eyes were closed as she ran through the movements in her head precisely and flawlessly.
I didn't take notice of how long the dance had been, but the music eventually died and Rin ended. As Rin made her way from the large open hall to the hallway, my eyes switched to Akito far at the other end of the hall.
The feast began finally and I got some time to socialize with everyone. I met some people I hadn't know, thinking it was quite extraordinary that I helped through Akito's sickness. I also got some time to talk with Momiji too and he told me about the first time he ever did the dance of the Rabbit when he was very young; he said the dress was huge on him.
And so the hours passed and soon it was time for the New Year to come in. I remember we all stood and counted down the seconds and then it was the new year all too soon.
A few people left after that but Shigure, Yuki, Kyo, and I decided to stay a little longer. While Shigure and Yuki were mingling with some of the other family members, and Kyo was being beaten by Kagura, I stood alone in the hall, watching Akito. He turned, saw me, and approached. I tensed up. Nearing me, his face remained indifferent.
"Miss Tohru Honda." He paused. "Follow me," he commanded and began to walk towards the side door he took me through exactly one year ago. He led me down the same hall and to the same room. I shut the fusuma behind me as I entered and sat, bowing formally.
"Do you know why you are here?" he asked. I remembered the same words from a year ago. I shook my head, this time just slightly more comfortable around him. This time though, he did not smirk or laugh; he simply remained quiet for a moment. He knelt down to my level and came closer. Gently, without warning, he kissed me. Losing my balance, I fell back in pure shock.
"Akito?" was all I could manage to say. He said nothing and drew closer again. Touching my hair, he leaned into me and kissed me again. Releasing my lips, he gently ran his fingers down my hair. "A- Akito?" I choked out. I couldn't seem to find any words to express my utter shock. "Akito, w- what was that for?" I suddenly managed to ask. He made no reply at first and I found myself drawn into his dark eyes. They held that same emotionless gaze to them, but for some reason, it felt softer now, less cold and dreary.
"Tohru, what's the matter? Am I making you uncomfortable?" he asked me. I detected a very, very slight hint of concern in his voice. In truth, I was more than happy he had kissed me, but I couldn't say that.
"Uh, um, n- no. No, I'm okay. I just need to relax and need some time to absorb this," I told him gently. He gave a dreaded sigh and let his head hang for a moment. He lifted his head again.
"Miss Honda, realize, I'm not in this just to play around." I nodded understandingly and stood, bowing. He too, lifted himself from the floor. I stood by the door, watching him for a moment.
"Akito, when you were sick, I prayed you'd live. Thank you for living, Akito, thank you," I told him and bowed one last time before leaving the room.
~~~~~~~ I know, another short chapter, but it was posted pretty quickly. Yes, well, everybody's been waitin' for this. The next chapter will be out reasonably soon! Arigato for reading!
I reported the news that Akito was healing remarkably to Shigure, Yuki, and Kyo who were all quite happy. I was still overcoming the shock myself, Akito, healthy; only a few months ago we never would have put those two words together.
Now that I counted how long it had been, Akito had been laid up for almost an entire year. In two months, it would be time for the New Year's Celebration again. Hatori said Akito would most likely be able to come. I didn't know if I would be allowed to attend again or not. I suppose we'd just have to wait to see what Akito says, if anything about it.
The first month went by fairly quickly. Momiji stopped by for a visit today with Hatsuharu and Kisa. Hatori also called one evening while I was getting ready for bed.
"Tohru-kun, I'm sorry for calling so late; I had a lot of business. Cleaning, everything. Anyway, Akito would like you to be present at the New Years' Celebration as last year. Can you come?" Hatori asked. I nodded.
"Yeah, I can come. I was hoping I could," I replied. And so the evening of the New Years' Celebration came.
I checked my hair to make sure it was laying flat and went downstairs. I couldn't wait to see Akito again, healthy. This year, Kyo wanted to try out some of his "techniques", so we drove this time. We were greeted at the door by Hatori.
"Ahh, Shigure, Yuki, Kyo, Tohru, nice to see you again," Hatori greeted politely. We entered the large hall filled with various people of the Sohma clan, many of whom I had never met before. My eyes searched frantically for Akito across the sea of people. He was nowhere to be seen. I walked over to Hatori.
"Hatori, where is Akito?" I asked him.
"Akito should be here any moment now," he said, looking around the hall. "He probably just doesn't want to socialize with everyone. He'll be out soon." I nodded and went back over to where Shigure and Yuki were talking with Rin; Kyo was being dragged away with Kagura.
From a side door, slid out a pale and thin form, covered in white. Long, black hair, uncut, hung to the side of his face. His magnificience and power eminated from his foreboding image throughout the room. I immediately identified him as Akito. No one had noticed him yet as he entered the large hall. I kept my distance for now.
Shigure, Yuki, and I went to take our seats next to Hatsuharu's immediate family and himself; Kyo was tied to a chair by Kagura and her mother.
Rin entered the room as the ceremony began. The dance of the Horse, unlike that of the Snake which was quite distinct with Ayame's own particular jazz mixed in, was a bit faster and rythmic. Her hair flew behind her as she ran across the floor. I could see her eyes were closed as she ran through the movements in her head precisely and flawlessly.
I didn't take notice of how long the dance had been, but the music eventually died and Rin ended. As Rin made her way from the large open hall to the hallway, my eyes switched to Akito far at the other end of the hall.
The feast began finally and I got some time to socialize with everyone. I met some people I hadn't know, thinking it was quite extraordinary that I helped through Akito's sickness. I also got some time to talk with Momiji too and he told me about the first time he ever did the dance of the Rabbit when he was very young; he said the dress was huge on him.
And so the hours passed and soon it was time for the New Year to come in. I remember we all stood and counted down the seconds and then it was the new year all too soon.
A few people left after that but Shigure, Yuki, Kyo, and I decided to stay a little longer. While Shigure and Yuki were mingling with some of the other family members, and Kyo was being beaten by Kagura, I stood alone in the hall, watching Akito. He turned, saw me, and approached. I tensed up. Nearing me, his face remained indifferent.
"Miss Tohru Honda." He paused. "Follow me," he commanded and began to walk towards the side door he took me through exactly one year ago. He led me down the same hall and to the same room. I shut the fusuma behind me as I entered and sat, bowing formally.
"Do you know why you are here?" he asked. I remembered the same words from a year ago. I shook my head, this time just slightly more comfortable around him. This time though, he did not smirk or laugh; he simply remained quiet for a moment. He knelt down to my level and came closer. Gently, without warning, he kissed me. Losing my balance, I fell back in pure shock.
"Akito?" was all I could manage to say. He said nothing and drew closer again. Touching my hair, he leaned into me and kissed me again. Releasing my lips, he gently ran his fingers down my hair. "A- Akito?" I choked out. I couldn't seem to find any words to express my utter shock. "Akito, w- what was that for?" I suddenly managed to ask. He made no reply at first and I found myself drawn into his dark eyes. They held that same emotionless gaze to them, but for some reason, it felt softer now, less cold and dreary.
"Tohru, what's the matter? Am I making you uncomfortable?" he asked me. I detected a very, very slight hint of concern in his voice. In truth, I was more than happy he had kissed me, but I couldn't say that.
"Uh, um, n- no. No, I'm okay. I just need to relax and need some time to absorb this," I told him gently. He gave a dreaded sigh and let his head hang for a moment. He lifted his head again.
"Miss Honda, realize, I'm not in this just to play around." I nodded understandingly and stood, bowing. He too, lifted himself from the floor. I stood by the door, watching him for a moment.
"Akito, when you were sick, I prayed you'd live. Thank you for living, Akito, thank you," I told him and bowed one last time before leaving the room.
~~~~~~~ I know, another short chapter, but it was posted pretty quickly. Yes, well, everybody's been waitin' for this. The next chapter will be out reasonably soon! Arigato for reading!