Thank you for reading this story. Also I am sorry about how short that
last chapter was, hopefully this one will make it up to you. = )
Also I know that all caps is considered to be bad form, but the spastic nature that is Ritsu-chan just can't be appreciated properly without it, so for her / his speaking I made a few exceptions to the all caps rule, also the misspelling for Ritsu's words were intentional stresses. 'Giggle' I love monkeys!
Chapter 9: Complicated
Akito had seen it.
That single tear rolling down her cheek before she had looked away from him. He watched as she tried to hide the fact that something had made her cry. Adrian had been looking right at him. Had he done something to upset her? Thinking back over the last week, other than that one burst of temper, he couldn't think of anything that might have upset her so badly. She had forgiven him, he was sure of that so it couldn't be that.
Still nothing else even came to mind. Was she lonely? Did she miss her family maybe?
Damn it! Why was he even thinking of these stupid things! Adrian's roll was to break the curse. Still he couldn't help thinking that she at least deserved happiness in exchange for her help. Seeing her cry like that, it felt almost as bad as when he had first learned of his curse. He didn't want to see it, not even a single tear.
Akito found himself crossing the room, watching her motions. Adrian's hands moved efficiently as she ground the contents of her bowl into a fine powder. Her face though was downcast so he couldn't see her eyes. Though the tears falling on her knee was all the proof Akito needed.
Something inside of Akito just snapped. He wasn't sure what it was, all he knew was that it was something he had never felt before. He wasn't even aware that he had grabbed her and pulled her into his arms, the only thing running through his mind was that he wouldn't allow it.
Her tears were just not allowed!
Not under any circumstances!
The fact that Adrian had stiffened and tried to pull away was irrelevant. His grip was tight and wasn't about to break. He wasn't going to let go until she had stopped her crying.
"I... can't.... breathe!" Adrian's face was buried in Akito's shoulder, and she was having trouble even making her words coherent. To make things even worse, this was exactly what she was afraid of. She knew she needed to break free from his hold, but she couldn't find the strength to do it. His arms were surprisingly strong, for someone who had been sick all of his life, but more than that... he was so warm. She just wanted to stay like that for just a little while longer.
What was she thinking! She couldn't take this risk, it was far too dangerous!
"I'm so SORRY! How can you ever forgive, such a.... "
Adrian found the strength to break from Akito's arms, and approached the rather... hmmm... interesting young lady. Adrian noticed the monkey spirit running around her ankles. It was very adorable.
"What a horrible visitor I am! I never meant to..."
"It's alright." Adrian tried to reassure her, when something strange caught her attention.
This was a woman right? She was dressed in a woman's kimono, but something seemed a little out of place about her.
"Ritsu-chan, why are you here?" Akito asked.
"I'm in the WAY, aren't I?! I'm so SORRY! I'M SOOO SORRRRRRY! "
Adrian watched as she ran around the room apologizing, and couldn't keep from giggling. This set off a brand new set of apologies from the monkey, in which Adrian tried to assure him that it was alright.
Akito watched silently, as she cheered up. A part of him was happy that she wasn't crying any more, but another part was angry... but at what? He could still feel the tears on his clothing, and the warmth and fragility he had felt in his arms.
What exactly had happened? What did he do? There were just too many questions in his mind about what had just happened, and he desperately needed to think things through. He left Ritsu and Adrian alone to their chatter and left the room without even a see you later.
Adrian watched him as he left the room, her heart was still pounding like a drum from before, and she was sure her ears must still be red. Things were becoming dangerous, not just for her but for everyone. She was going to have to hurry, and break the curses. Staying here around Akito was definitely bringing her closer and closer to disaster. To make matters even worse a part of her that had always refused to love anyone was longing for that disaster to strike.
Adrian couldn't let it. Her curse wasn't something as kind as being transformed into another animal, it was far worse. Gifted with such extra ordinary talents, she was prevented from using her skills in any manner that wasn't unselfish. If she gained anything her skills failed her and she received such a terrible magical whiplash that her weakness from before was incomparable. If she wanted anything or longed for anything her powers turned against her. A stupid curse brought on her by her stupid parents. They had broken so many laws held dear by the magical community, but no one could do anything. The curse was above even their combined efforts.
Her parents had forced her to live among normal people. At first she had made friends but when they learned of what she was, she found herself being followed by large groups. She became accustomed to being waylaid on the way home from school by 7 or 8 people every day. Black eyes, and bruised ribs had become a normal occurrence for her, and she came to realize how unforgiving people could be.
That was when something good finally happened. Her parents had started sending her around the world working for them. They didn't care so much that their only child was away from home, because she was making their lives easier. Her skills where surprisingly in high demand by wealthy families all across the world, it meant they could live their lives doing what they wished, because their daughter was taking care of them.
Adrian couldn't turn against them because of how the curse had been formed. She was well and truly trapped.
Adrian watched Ritsu run across the room still begging forgiveness, and she couldn't help but think how lucky this family was. She'd truly like to stay here with everyone, even though she knew it was impossible. To make matters worse she had been thinking about how to break Akito's curse, and no matter how she thought about it, there was only one way that came to mind.
Life for life.
Akito's curse was too strong to be broken. The only thing that could be done was for the curse to be redirected. Adrian knew she could do that.
Something living was going to have to die for Akito to live. She didn't want to hurt anyone or anything, but she knew that she truly wanted Akito to be happy. After all, even though she couldn't help herself, she at least wanted him to be free. As free as the birds he loved.
Still things had to be done one thing at a time. Everything was ready for the next freeing, and since Ritsu was right here.
"Ritsu, would you like to be free?"
Chapter 10: Decisions
Also I know that all caps is considered to be bad form, but the spastic nature that is Ritsu-chan just can't be appreciated properly without it, so for her / his speaking I made a few exceptions to the all caps rule, also the misspelling for Ritsu's words were intentional stresses. 'Giggle' I love monkeys!
Chapter 9: Complicated
Akito had seen it.
That single tear rolling down her cheek before she had looked away from him. He watched as she tried to hide the fact that something had made her cry. Adrian had been looking right at him. Had he done something to upset her? Thinking back over the last week, other than that one burst of temper, he couldn't think of anything that might have upset her so badly. She had forgiven him, he was sure of that so it couldn't be that.
Still nothing else even came to mind. Was she lonely? Did she miss her family maybe?
Damn it! Why was he even thinking of these stupid things! Adrian's roll was to break the curse. Still he couldn't help thinking that she at least deserved happiness in exchange for her help. Seeing her cry like that, it felt almost as bad as when he had first learned of his curse. He didn't want to see it, not even a single tear.
Akito found himself crossing the room, watching her motions. Adrian's hands moved efficiently as she ground the contents of her bowl into a fine powder. Her face though was downcast so he couldn't see her eyes. Though the tears falling on her knee was all the proof Akito needed.
Something inside of Akito just snapped. He wasn't sure what it was, all he knew was that it was something he had never felt before. He wasn't even aware that he had grabbed her and pulled her into his arms, the only thing running through his mind was that he wouldn't allow it.
Her tears were just not allowed!
Not under any circumstances!
The fact that Adrian had stiffened and tried to pull away was irrelevant. His grip was tight and wasn't about to break. He wasn't going to let go until she had stopped her crying.
"I... can't.... breathe!" Adrian's face was buried in Akito's shoulder, and she was having trouble even making her words coherent. To make things even worse, this was exactly what she was afraid of. She knew she needed to break free from his hold, but she couldn't find the strength to do it. His arms were surprisingly strong, for someone who had been sick all of his life, but more than that... he was so warm. She just wanted to stay like that for just a little while longer.
What was she thinking! She couldn't take this risk, it was far too dangerous!
"I'm so SORRY! How can you ever forgive, such a.... "
Adrian found the strength to break from Akito's arms, and approached the rather... hmmm... interesting young lady. Adrian noticed the monkey spirit running around her ankles. It was very adorable.
"What a horrible visitor I am! I never meant to..."
"It's alright." Adrian tried to reassure her, when something strange caught her attention.
This was a woman right? She was dressed in a woman's kimono, but something seemed a little out of place about her.
"Ritsu-chan, why are you here?" Akito asked.
"I'm in the WAY, aren't I?! I'm so SORRY! I'M SOOO SORRRRRRY! "
Adrian watched as she ran around the room apologizing, and couldn't keep from giggling. This set off a brand new set of apologies from the monkey, in which Adrian tried to assure him that it was alright.
Akito watched silently, as she cheered up. A part of him was happy that she wasn't crying any more, but another part was angry... but at what? He could still feel the tears on his clothing, and the warmth and fragility he had felt in his arms.
What exactly had happened? What did he do? There were just too many questions in his mind about what had just happened, and he desperately needed to think things through. He left Ritsu and Adrian alone to their chatter and left the room without even a see you later.
Adrian watched him as he left the room, her heart was still pounding like a drum from before, and she was sure her ears must still be red. Things were becoming dangerous, not just for her but for everyone. She was going to have to hurry, and break the curses. Staying here around Akito was definitely bringing her closer and closer to disaster. To make matters even worse a part of her that had always refused to love anyone was longing for that disaster to strike.
Adrian couldn't let it. Her curse wasn't something as kind as being transformed into another animal, it was far worse. Gifted with such extra ordinary talents, she was prevented from using her skills in any manner that wasn't unselfish. If she gained anything her skills failed her and she received such a terrible magical whiplash that her weakness from before was incomparable. If she wanted anything or longed for anything her powers turned against her. A stupid curse brought on her by her stupid parents. They had broken so many laws held dear by the magical community, but no one could do anything. The curse was above even their combined efforts.
Her parents had forced her to live among normal people. At first she had made friends but when they learned of what she was, she found herself being followed by large groups. She became accustomed to being waylaid on the way home from school by 7 or 8 people every day. Black eyes, and bruised ribs had become a normal occurrence for her, and she came to realize how unforgiving people could be.
That was when something good finally happened. Her parents had started sending her around the world working for them. They didn't care so much that their only child was away from home, because she was making their lives easier. Her skills where surprisingly in high demand by wealthy families all across the world, it meant they could live their lives doing what they wished, because their daughter was taking care of them.
Adrian couldn't turn against them because of how the curse had been formed. She was well and truly trapped.
Adrian watched Ritsu run across the room still begging forgiveness, and she couldn't help but think how lucky this family was. She'd truly like to stay here with everyone, even though she knew it was impossible. To make matters worse she had been thinking about how to break Akito's curse, and no matter how she thought about it, there was only one way that came to mind.
Life for life.
Akito's curse was too strong to be broken. The only thing that could be done was for the curse to be redirected. Adrian knew she could do that.
Something living was going to have to die for Akito to live. She didn't want to hurt anyone or anything, but she knew that she truly wanted Akito to be happy. After all, even though she couldn't help herself, she at least wanted him to be free. As free as the birds he loved.
Still things had to be done one thing at a time. Everything was ready for the next freeing, and since Ritsu was right here.
"Ritsu, would you like to be free?"
Chapter 10: Decisions