Notes: This short chapter was extremely difficult to write. It almost gave me a headache, but I do want a happy ending for everyone. After all this is not supposed to be an angst fic. Hehehehehe! One more chappy to go and thank you for reading and for your reviews!
FB belongs to Takaya Natsuki. English IS NOT my first language.
7. Resolutions
Cow Haru was beside Yuki staring at him. He mumbled in a lazy voice: "You look like Hatori." Yuki stared at the ox a little confused about what was going on and answered: "That's because I'm wearing some of Hatori's clothes, although it's just plain black dress pants and a white shirt..." Tohru then came out with Aimi in her arms and the Hanajimas right behind her. Saki immediately took a place in front of Tohru protectively.
No one had even noticed Akito watching the family disaster. He had gotten speechless the minute he saw Kureno running around and flapping his wings. Akito was expressionless standing a few feet from the clinic, but he started to approach the 'show'. He truly looked shocked. Suddenly there was silence all over the place and Arisa noticed the weak and frail young man approaching and frightened faces in everyone, Jyuunishi and servants. "Hey! You must be the 'Head'!" Arisa said this ridiculously making a head form with her hands. Akito opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but nothing came out plus Arisa wouldn't stop. "What is it that's so scary about you? You really look like you need a hospital bed! I'm not trying to be cruel or anything, but really! Come on you people!" She looked at all the frightened faces. "What's so intimidating about this little guy! When Tohru told me about the Head of the Sohma Clan I thought that he had to be a tough and tall looking man in his 60's or something!" Akito couldn't stand it any longer. "SILENCE YOU WHORE!" He looked at Arisa menacingly, but she was now pissed. "Who are you calling a whore you little creep!" Saki's voice was now heard making everyone look at her. "ARISA! STOP IT!" Saki spoke then more softly and with her eyes watering. "He has a terrible burden on him that has been eating and poisoning his soul. He doesn't know any better. The curse, it makes all of them respect him deeply, but this respect has turned into deep fear. He caused this fear because it is what makes him strong. It makes him feel powerful before his death. He doesn't enjoy it. He just wishes to be released of his death sentence. He didn't choose it. He feels it is unfair and he blames everyone to mask his own sense of guilt." Saki then looked at Akito and walked towards him.
Akito was suddenly very scared. He didn't want that woman to get closer to him. "STAY BACK! DON'T COME NEAR ME WITCH! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!!!" Saki stopped walking when she was about two feet from him. She had a sad smile. Megumi had followed her and was behind her. The boy was the first one to speak to Akito. "You cannot get rid of it if you don't set them free. You will surely die a miserable death if they don't get their freedom from you, especially the one called Kyou. If you release them then the cat spirit will no longer envy them and he will be free also. The cat cannot enter the circle. There will never be a year of the cat. But at least if you free the rest of them, the cat will be pleased that he is no longer the only one outside. The circle... it must be broken. It has already started to break with the rat's disobedience, but you are the only one who can complete the breaking. If you don't, they will eventually defy you. That will mean that they will be free, but the curse will only be broken partially and you and the ones that will come next as 'Heads' will keep dying. Also, a new circle and a new cat will be born again even if this circle finds its false freedom. Do you want that? Do you seriously want that Sohma Akito-san?"
Akito's expression had somehow softened slightly and he stared curiously at the Hanajimas. "Are you two... also cursed?" Saki and Megumi looked at each other and the oldest spoke: "Not cursed. Although some people might consider our gifts as such and as if it were a curse it has alienated many from us. Mother couldn't accept at first. It was truly hard for her, but in the end she decided that we were special. Even though Many won't accept me or my brother I still has friends like Honda Tohru and Uotani Arisa. They accepted me with my virtues and flaws. Tohru, she has also accepted the curse that lingers in you Sohmas even though many would have rejected you. Inconditionally. Even to the extent of professing her love to Sohma Yuki. How would you feel Sohma Akito-san, if someone loved you inconditionally?"
The Master gave his back to them all. He couldn't accept. Free them? That was plain crazy. But suddenly he heard Saki's voice yet again and this time saying something ridiculous: "I like you." The words were so few and still so difficult to register. With his back to her he answered: "That's nonsense. You barely know me." But the mysterious woman spoke yet again and this time her voice sounded a little bit too close for him to handle: "You are a very beautiful man, dark, full of pain and non-endurable anger, lost in shadows, and very attractive for that matter."
Everyone was expecting Akito to go berserk and kill that woman and maybe her brother as a bonus. What they never expected was Akito to grab that girl's hand and take her towards a room. He locked himself with her and everyone stared at their faces. Some thought Akito was going to kill her for sure.
***
"Why do you bring me here? Why can't you face them?" "I cannot let them go and leave me. If I cannot be happy they won't be happy either." "Are you happy Akito-san?" "OF COURSE I AM NOT HAPPY! I'M DYING!" "Please don't yell. They'll hear you. I can give you what you want." "And what would that be?" "A child of course." Akito looked at her incredulously. "And why would I want a child?" Saki smiled at him: "And why did you want THEIR child?" "You're confusing me!" "You're confusing yourself Akito-san." "Why do you want to help me? It's not like you know anything. You don't know suffering, or do you?" Akito was now somehow curious. He realized that he had never worried about other people's suffering, only his. "I have suffered Akito-san, since I was a child I've always been rejected. I even became a bad person and wanted the police to get me because I almost killed a boy. I was in Elementary school when that happened. I really wished for him to die and he almost died." "You have THAT MUCH power?" Saki fell silent and her gaze was now on the floor. Akito grabbed her by the hand again and this time he went outside. He was going to face them. He was going to face them all.
***
By the time Akito returned to face the people outside all of the animals had already transformed back and had their clothes on. Hatori came to Akito's side when he saw the tired expression on his Master. "Akito, are you alright? Do you want to see the baby now again? Tohru's here with Aimi." Akito looked at Tohru with the baby in her arms and Yuki by her side. They had pity reflecting in their eyes. Akito lowered his gaze and spoke to Hatori: "I don't want it anymore. I don't want that baby anymore. I had wanted a heir Hatori. I am dying. The rat's offspring was the perfect heir, but it's a girl and it's not cursed. I... I also don't want to pass the curse anymore. But even if I die without leaving a son another Sohma will bear a new 'Head'. I... don't want to die Hatori. I'm afraid of death as I am afraid of being alone." Akito was crying and Saki took his head and put it on her shoulder and whispered to his ear: "Crying is good. You can get everything out and it might mean your purification."
Akito called the Jyuunishi, Kyou, Tohru, Arisa, Saki, and Megumi to form a circle around him. He then addressed the Jyuunishi and Kyou: "You can all choose your own paths. I won't interfere anymore with your lives, but there is a condition." He was smiling a little and the eyes on him were expectant. "You will have to visit me from time to time." Everyone sighed relieved, but then Akito added something else making everyone go rigid: "Also..." He now looked at Saki. "You will have to go on a date with me." Now everyone had sweatdrops on their heads. Saki smiled. "I was going to ask for the same thing to you." Akito was surprised with Saki's answer, but for the first time in his life he was feeling happy. Suddenly a light enveloped all of them and all of the cursed ones fainted including Akito.
Megumi was smiling: "It has been broken." One by one they started to get up feeling as if some weight had been lifted from them. They seemed shocked, but after a few minutes they started hugging each other. Kyou even hugged Arisa getting then a punch from Kagura. Kureno had taken Arisa for himself after Kyou hugged her not allowing anyone else to hug her.
Akito started to run around the compound like a small child full of energy. He had never felt so healthy. He felt the wind on his face and the fragrance of the nature that was in the compound surrounding him. He let himself fall on the grass making Hatori run to him thinking something had happened, but when the doctor got there he saw Akito laughing hard. Akito then looked at him smiling. "Hatori, you don't have to worry that much about me anymore. You are free, remember?" Hatori grinned at Akito. "Akito, I am still the doctor, remember?" Akito giggled at that making Hatori feel happy for him. Akito stood up and ran towards Kyou and Kagura. Kyou was alarmed at Akito's proximity to him. After all Akito couldn't stand Kyou and if he touched him he would wash his hands like mad afterwards. Surprising Kyou Akito hugged him. Kyou had tears in his eyes. Even if the curse had already been broken he had always wanted Akito to accept him.
FB belongs to Takaya Natsuki. English IS NOT my first language.
7. Resolutions
Cow Haru was beside Yuki staring at him. He mumbled in a lazy voice: "You look like Hatori." Yuki stared at the ox a little confused about what was going on and answered: "That's because I'm wearing some of Hatori's clothes, although it's just plain black dress pants and a white shirt..." Tohru then came out with Aimi in her arms and the Hanajimas right behind her. Saki immediately took a place in front of Tohru protectively.
No one had even noticed Akito watching the family disaster. He had gotten speechless the minute he saw Kureno running around and flapping his wings. Akito was expressionless standing a few feet from the clinic, but he started to approach the 'show'. He truly looked shocked. Suddenly there was silence all over the place and Arisa noticed the weak and frail young man approaching and frightened faces in everyone, Jyuunishi and servants. "Hey! You must be the 'Head'!" Arisa said this ridiculously making a head form with her hands. Akito opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but nothing came out plus Arisa wouldn't stop. "What is it that's so scary about you? You really look like you need a hospital bed! I'm not trying to be cruel or anything, but really! Come on you people!" She looked at all the frightened faces. "What's so intimidating about this little guy! When Tohru told me about the Head of the Sohma Clan I thought that he had to be a tough and tall looking man in his 60's or something!" Akito couldn't stand it any longer. "SILENCE YOU WHORE!" He looked at Arisa menacingly, but she was now pissed. "Who are you calling a whore you little creep!" Saki's voice was now heard making everyone look at her. "ARISA! STOP IT!" Saki spoke then more softly and with her eyes watering. "He has a terrible burden on him that has been eating and poisoning his soul. He doesn't know any better. The curse, it makes all of them respect him deeply, but this respect has turned into deep fear. He caused this fear because it is what makes him strong. It makes him feel powerful before his death. He doesn't enjoy it. He just wishes to be released of his death sentence. He didn't choose it. He feels it is unfair and he blames everyone to mask his own sense of guilt." Saki then looked at Akito and walked towards him.
Akito was suddenly very scared. He didn't want that woman to get closer to him. "STAY BACK! DON'T COME NEAR ME WITCH! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!!!" Saki stopped walking when she was about two feet from him. She had a sad smile. Megumi had followed her and was behind her. The boy was the first one to speak to Akito. "You cannot get rid of it if you don't set them free. You will surely die a miserable death if they don't get their freedom from you, especially the one called Kyou. If you release them then the cat spirit will no longer envy them and he will be free also. The cat cannot enter the circle. There will never be a year of the cat. But at least if you free the rest of them, the cat will be pleased that he is no longer the only one outside. The circle... it must be broken. It has already started to break with the rat's disobedience, but you are the only one who can complete the breaking. If you don't, they will eventually defy you. That will mean that they will be free, but the curse will only be broken partially and you and the ones that will come next as 'Heads' will keep dying. Also, a new circle and a new cat will be born again even if this circle finds its false freedom. Do you want that? Do you seriously want that Sohma Akito-san?"
Akito's expression had somehow softened slightly and he stared curiously at the Hanajimas. "Are you two... also cursed?" Saki and Megumi looked at each other and the oldest spoke: "Not cursed. Although some people might consider our gifts as such and as if it were a curse it has alienated many from us. Mother couldn't accept at first. It was truly hard for her, but in the end she decided that we were special. Even though Many won't accept me or my brother I still has friends like Honda Tohru and Uotani Arisa. They accepted me with my virtues and flaws. Tohru, she has also accepted the curse that lingers in you Sohmas even though many would have rejected you. Inconditionally. Even to the extent of professing her love to Sohma Yuki. How would you feel Sohma Akito-san, if someone loved you inconditionally?"
The Master gave his back to them all. He couldn't accept. Free them? That was plain crazy. But suddenly he heard Saki's voice yet again and this time saying something ridiculous: "I like you." The words were so few and still so difficult to register. With his back to her he answered: "That's nonsense. You barely know me." But the mysterious woman spoke yet again and this time her voice sounded a little bit too close for him to handle: "You are a very beautiful man, dark, full of pain and non-endurable anger, lost in shadows, and very attractive for that matter."
Everyone was expecting Akito to go berserk and kill that woman and maybe her brother as a bonus. What they never expected was Akito to grab that girl's hand and take her towards a room. He locked himself with her and everyone stared at their faces. Some thought Akito was going to kill her for sure.
***
"Why do you bring me here? Why can't you face them?" "I cannot let them go and leave me. If I cannot be happy they won't be happy either." "Are you happy Akito-san?" "OF COURSE I AM NOT HAPPY! I'M DYING!" "Please don't yell. They'll hear you. I can give you what you want." "And what would that be?" "A child of course." Akito looked at her incredulously. "And why would I want a child?" Saki smiled at him: "And why did you want THEIR child?" "You're confusing me!" "You're confusing yourself Akito-san." "Why do you want to help me? It's not like you know anything. You don't know suffering, or do you?" Akito was now somehow curious. He realized that he had never worried about other people's suffering, only his. "I have suffered Akito-san, since I was a child I've always been rejected. I even became a bad person and wanted the police to get me because I almost killed a boy. I was in Elementary school when that happened. I really wished for him to die and he almost died." "You have THAT MUCH power?" Saki fell silent and her gaze was now on the floor. Akito grabbed her by the hand again and this time he went outside. He was going to face them. He was going to face them all.
***
By the time Akito returned to face the people outside all of the animals had already transformed back and had their clothes on. Hatori came to Akito's side when he saw the tired expression on his Master. "Akito, are you alright? Do you want to see the baby now again? Tohru's here with Aimi." Akito looked at Tohru with the baby in her arms and Yuki by her side. They had pity reflecting in their eyes. Akito lowered his gaze and spoke to Hatori: "I don't want it anymore. I don't want that baby anymore. I had wanted a heir Hatori. I am dying. The rat's offspring was the perfect heir, but it's a girl and it's not cursed. I... I also don't want to pass the curse anymore. But even if I die without leaving a son another Sohma will bear a new 'Head'. I... don't want to die Hatori. I'm afraid of death as I am afraid of being alone." Akito was crying and Saki took his head and put it on her shoulder and whispered to his ear: "Crying is good. You can get everything out and it might mean your purification."
Akito called the Jyuunishi, Kyou, Tohru, Arisa, Saki, and Megumi to form a circle around him. He then addressed the Jyuunishi and Kyou: "You can all choose your own paths. I won't interfere anymore with your lives, but there is a condition." He was smiling a little and the eyes on him were expectant. "You will have to visit me from time to time." Everyone sighed relieved, but then Akito added something else making everyone go rigid: "Also..." He now looked at Saki. "You will have to go on a date with me." Now everyone had sweatdrops on their heads. Saki smiled. "I was going to ask for the same thing to you." Akito was surprised with Saki's answer, but for the first time in his life he was feeling happy. Suddenly a light enveloped all of them and all of the cursed ones fainted including Akito.
Megumi was smiling: "It has been broken." One by one they started to get up feeling as if some weight had been lifted from them. They seemed shocked, but after a few minutes they started hugging each other. Kyou even hugged Arisa getting then a punch from Kagura. Kureno had taken Arisa for himself after Kyou hugged her not allowing anyone else to hug her.
Akito started to run around the compound like a small child full of energy. He had never felt so healthy. He felt the wind on his face and the fragrance of the nature that was in the compound surrounding him. He let himself fall on the grass making Hatori run to him thinking something had happened, but when the doctor got there he saw Akito laughing hard. Akito then looked at him smiling. "Hatori, you don't have to worry that much about me anymore. You are free, remember?" Hatori grinned at Akito. "Akito, I am still the doctor, remember?" Akito giggled at that making Hatori feel happy for him. Akito stood up and ran towards Kyou and Kagura. Kyou was alarmed at Akito's proximity to him. After all Akito couldn't stand Kyou and if he touched him he would wash his hands like mad afterwards. Surprising Kyou Akito hugged him. Kyou had tears in his eyes. Even if the curse had already been broken he had always wanted Akito to accept him.