Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Fruits Basket characters. Chaos is my character though.
Note: Ne, well for a while I thought this was going to be the next-to-the-last chapter…but…I'm not sure if it's going to work out that way…it's almost done at any rate. Hope you enjoy this chapter and sorry if there are any grammatical mistakes.
Chapter 22: Akito's Death
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The group of vampires solemnly headed for the surface. When they got to where the entrance was, the vines were no longer blocking the way. When they stepped out of the cave, they saw the truth. The land around them, that had once appeared green, was a barren wasteland filled with proof that some unspeakable horrors had taken place here. None of them spoke. They just quickly, and quietly, shimmered away from the site of Kana's grave.
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They appeared within the Sohma complex…to find it as empty and uninviting as ever. They could sense Akito's wrath at the entrance gate that was overflowing from his chambers across the entire property. Mysteriously, it didn't go past the complex walls…One more reason for humans not to have discovered the truth about the Sohma family. Before they went any further, Shigure turned and asked,
"Haru, which room is he in?"
Hatsuharu closed his eyes for a while and was silent…After a few minutes, he opened his eyes and reported,
"It's…difficult….I can't pinpoint him easily without giving away my position…I'm pretty sure he's within the basement underneath the room with our 'closets'."
"Right. We don't have any other option than to look there. If we're lucky, we might be able to go through with our plan. There's no hope of us catching him off guard though. Not with him putting out this much energy just because he's ticked. Let's try to move as quickly and smoothly as possible. "
Everyone nodded that they understood before they all shimmered out of view.
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"…They're coming. After all I've done for them…they dare to try to kill me…me!? They will regret ever attempting to remove me from the head of this family," his eyes began to glow red as he murmured a chant and moved his arms in a pattern, "If they take me out, I'll make it so that they won't be able to live even a week after my death! They'll be burned on stakes, hanged, or whatever means those foolish mortals try to do to get rid of them!" As he finished up the ritual he was performing, he chuckled to himself as twisted thoughts ran through his mind.
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The small group appeared inside the chamber room just above their destination. Haru and Hatori swiftly began to carry out their part of the deal. When Kyo jumped down the hole leading to the basement, silver flames covered the walls and blocked the exit. No one would get in or out unless Hatori's life were to end. Four Harus suddenly appeared around a sneering Akito and each one latched on to one of his limbs. Hatori's golden flames then appeared on certain weak points on Akito's body. Shigure began a chant that seemed to put Akito in some type of pain. Kyo then took a deep breath before getting closer to Akito and looking into his glaring eyes. He was suddenly transported into a world of complete darkness.
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No matter how hard he tried, his eyes couldn't see through this darkness. He slowly began to wander around, though it seemed like he might as well be walking on a treadmill.
"Just what do you think you're looking for, Kyo?"
Kyo ignored the voice and kept on walking, searching for anything, anything at all that might help destroy Akito.
"What makes you think you can finish exploring my soul before I manage to get the upper hand of your friends out here? You know they can't keep up their pace forever…and without you, their little plan will fall all to pieces. Such a shame…"
Kyo sped up into a run. What Akito was saying was…all too true. They wouldn't be able to hold out forever.
'Damn, just how big is his soul anyways!? …At least it's not like that damn Chaos' soul…'
He continued to run and he sped up even more when Akito spoke once again,
"You'd better hurry! At your pace, they don't have a prayer!"
Akito's mocking laugh only fueled Kyo's anger further, which seemed to give him even more energy.
Though, he was soon out of breath, suddenly very fatigued...and collapsed onto the ground. A laugh that sent chills down the spine filled Kyo's ears, but try as he might, he couldn't bring himself to get up.
'I'm just going to kill myself at this rate…maybe…there truly is no way for me to do this…'
Idiot! Get up and truly look around you! A soul always has puzzles, traps, and codes to try to prevent exploration of it! With your power, you have the ability to break through!
'What…? Chaos? No…that was a different voice…'
Kyo slowly lifted his head up to see if he could see through this never-ending darkness. As he slowly scanned the area, his strength began to return slightly. He then spotted a small crack of light in the walls of darkness that surrounded him. He really had been going nowhere. It was all an illusion. When he finally had the strength to stand, he unleashed a hard side-kick unto the tiny crack. The crack began to spread. Soon it was a patchwork of white lines and black patches…Suddenly, everything shattered, leaving behind a bright white light that made Kyo's eyes seek shelter behind his arm.
When the light faded off, a gray world was left behind. It looked like an old battlefield where a terrible war had taken place. As Kyo walked, he began to see many, many different Akito's…within bubbles of unusual sizes. They were all of his memories…from the time he was born…until what was happening at the present. Kyo did his best to ignore all of these…images, but one actually appeared outside it's bubble and came up to him. It was Akito at a very young age--minus the shadows that normally surrounded him.
"Will you help me find Yuki? He's hiding…"
"Look, I don't have time to help you find that damn Yuki, ok!?"
The little boy's eyes got bigger and began to fill to the brim with tears,
"But…but if you don't help me…I-I'll never…I'll never--"
"Shut up! Who cares if you can't find him!? He's scared to death of you! Now, leave me alone!"
The little boy's face suddenly changed dramatically--from the brink of tears, to a menacing, evil sneer.
"No! You will help me find him! I won't wait any longer!" his eyes began to glow red as he bared his fangs while he sneered, "I won't wait any longer…Help me find him, or I'll kill you from the inside out!"
He had no choice, he'd have to do as the little vampire-child told him.
"Fine…do you have any clue which direction he's in…anything I can look for?"
"Yes. You should be able to see him clearly underneath a large tree…when we are close enough. Look for the only green item within my soul. Then we shall get what we both want."
Kyo stared at the child, looking innocent once more, before scanning the horizon. He soon spotted a very, very small green dot off towards the horizon on his left.
"This way."
The boy silently followed him, though Kyo could tell that his every movement was being judged harshly.
"We'll never make it in time if we don't run."
"I can't run though…I'm--"
"You're getting your butt carried then!"
With that, Kyo scooped up the little Akito and took off like a bullet. Within two minutes, Kyo was within range to teleport to the increasingly large tree. They appeared on top of one of the humungous roots of the giant tree. Kyo set the boy down and he said,
"Find Yuki first…then I we'll both get what we want."
Kyo had to suppress a growl, the kid's words sounded all too fishy for his liking. With a sigh, he began to circle the tree…looking underneath roots and in the branches for the gray headed vampire he despised…
"Ah! There he is!"
When he said that, a little Yuki jumped out of his hiding place and tried to run…but Kyo easily caught him, though as soon as he did, Yuki bit down hard on his arm.
"YOW! You little brat!"
Despite the pain, Kyo held on--and so did Yuki's teeth--and Akito soon walked up. Yuki's jaw slacked off enough for Kyo to get his arm back.
"Yuki…Come…give me what I desire…"
'Should I be listing to this? They're just frigging kids! Ok, get your mind out of the gutter, Kyo…'
The little Yuki shimmered out of Kyo's grasp and embraced Akito.
"Gack!" Kyo suddenly developed an eye twitch, and his stomach felt like it was in his throat.
Akito looked over Yuki's embrace towards Kyo and whispered,
"Thank you…thank you so much."
Then Yuki suddenly disappeared and Akito walked over to place a small black marble in Kyo's hand before disappearing as well. He was merely left with one last haunting whisper,
"Smash it…and our desires will be fulfilled…but…beware…you'll have to deal with a curse…beware…"
The chills that shot up his spine sent a chain reaction to his arm and foot…and the next thing he knew, the marble was shattered. He was then slung back into his body, and he fell onto his back from the shock.
"Kyo!"
"You're alive!"
"Thank goodness…"
Kyo quickly looked around to see everyone fatigued near the point of collapse…and before he could say anything, his attention was turned to Akito. His body began to crumble away, but instead of anger or pain…he had a smile on his face…a true smile…and for the first time, he wasn't covered in shadows. The true Akito was finally free…but that freedom only came in death.
"Thank you…Kyo."
The four vampires watched in a state of disbelief as the last of Akito disappeared, but their disbelief turned into horror as they sensed the curse he had placed start to go into effect. No Sohma would be safe unless the curse was lifted…and no one knew exactly how to do that except the one person that wasn't with them anymore…Akito Sohma.
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((AN: Ha! So…Good? Bad? Please let me know in your reviews what you think! ^^))
