Your Attention Please:
This is the final chapter to this fiction, but please read the already available sequels to this piece, "A Solitary Freedom" (Part II) and "A New Day" (Part III) for the complete story.
Yue's Lady: Thanks for your review, hope you like the rest!
Disclaimer: Fruits Basket and its characters are the property of their respective owners. This piece is not for profitable purposes.
Chapter 6: The Beginning of the NightmareI stop and Akito turns around and looks at me angrily and says, "What are you doing?"
Realizing I was supposed to continue walking with him, I follow him and he stops in the front of the room, Hatori on one side and I on the other. I scan the room, and notice the fear, disbelief, anger, and despondence across the face of the Juunishi.
I look to Akito once more and see the satisfied grin on his face.
"As I had commanded, the promised day is at last here."
Silence reigns and many of the Juunishi look at the floor, averting Akito's triumphant glare.
Surprising me, he turns towards me and glances at me before returning his stare to the others.
"As he is the blessed member of the Juunishi, you are to respect Yuki as the under-leader in this household."
Undesired by me, I receive stares of surprise and anger.
The quiet returns as they wait to hear what he will say to shock them next.
When he looks as if he is about to say something, I notice Momiji's head turning in each direction.
"Toh-ru, Toh-ru, why isn't she here?"
Glaring at him, Akito returns, "That is none of your concern."
Momiji looks at him surprised, but then his expression turns frantic.
"Akito, please don't do anything to Toh-ru!" Momiji shouts.
"You insolent, disgusting ingrate, how dare you defy me AGAIN!" Akito screams as he approaches Momiji and uses all his force to push him over violently, causing him to hit his head and lose consciousness. I stand aside, but how can I do this? Momiji is the only one, the only one who has had the courage to protect Tohru-san, I have been a coward. I don't want to be one anymore, I want to be strong for her.
I am about to speak at last when Akito says, "You've all been lured in by that worthless woman. Have you forgotten who the head of this family is?! You will all do as I say, not follow around some brainless bitch."
"Tohru is not a brainless bitch."
Kyo!
"What did you say, you MONSTER?"
"You heard me."
Akito snickers and answers, "As if a loser like you deserves an opinion."
I watch as Kyo's face changes to a pained expression.
"What he says is true, Akito, Tohru-san is a truly amazing person," I say with a firm and confident tone.
He walks towards me and slaps me across the cheek, "When did YOU get a backbone?" he answers sarcastically.
"I don't care what becomes of me, and I'm sure everyone else feels the same way, but leave Tohru-san alone."
Enraged, he starts attacking me, battling Shigure and Hatori as they try to restrain him.
"You bastard, how dare you order ME around!"
"Akito, that's enough!" Shigure shouts.
"You shut up, too!"
Akito continues and I feel myself blacking out, but, before I fully lose consciousness, I hear him say, "What will be done about that bitch will be my decision, and if any of you EVER try to make contact with her again, it will not go unpunished."
I awaken, and am startled to realize that it is already dark – I'll be late, I'm sure she's waiting for me.
I sit up quickly but am confused, this isn't my room, what am I…
"Yuki."
I look to the side and say, "Haru."
I glance around the room as reality surfaces; of course, I am in the main house. I look to the doorway and see Rin there, leaning up against it, her expression defiant and her eyes closed.
"I'm glad that you've regained consciousness, you've been out for hours," Haru says.
Anxious I say, "Haru, is she all right?"
Haru turns his head slightly away and says, "There are only rumors."
My voice firm, I say, "I want to know."
He looks back at me, appearing somewhat surprised.
"I carried you back to your room and Hatori checked on your condition – before he left."
Hatori left?
"He didn't say what he was going to do?"
"No."
Knowing what most likely had been done, I turn my face away from Haru and glance out the window.
After a few moments of silence, I look back at him and say, "And Kyo?"
"As soon as Akito finished his speech, he walked away in the direction of the cell – I don't know what has happened to him since then."
What courage, Kyo is being strong to protect her, I want – no – I will be that way, too. There is a small hope that we may be reunited if I become the leader, I shouldn't forget about the possibility of such a day. But, even so, as I watch the faces of those in this room, and imagine those of Kyo and the other Juunishi, expressing their anxiety and dread, I cannot help but be overcome by the despair that is our inescapable destiny.