Mini-glossary of Japanese words/phrases used in this chapter and roughly
translated English equivalent:
ne - hey / right
eh? - huh?
hai - yes
iie - no
baka - idiot
maa - well
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CHAPTER 2: Fruitless Conversations
In the kitchen, Kyou and Yuki talked in low voices, alone and away from Shigure who had kept up an innocent and teasing façade till the very end until his questioners had given up, seeing the fruitlessness in continuing such an endeavor. Whether the author truly had something up his sleeve or was playing along as if he did merely to keep himself amused, as he often had on other occasions, it had been difficult to discern either way. But, have some knowledge of Shigure's wiliness, his ability to say one thing while doing another as he lied to perfection, by unspoken consent Yuki and Kyou had left in a rare moment of concert thought to consult about what should be done about the situation.
"Do you really think he planned this somehow?" Kyou asked lowly, disheartened, fight temporarily gone out of him as concern for Tohru weighed him down, making him unusually solemn and serious.
"With Shigure, it's hard to say." Equally as sober, Yuki crossed his arms as he leaned against the kitchen counter, face troubled and thoughtful. "He always acts as if he didn't have a care in the world but you'd think that he would show at least a little bit more concern for Honda-san given the present circumstances. It bothers me that he's so calm about it. He visits the Honke regularly and, perceptive as he is despite his appearance at times, I'm sure Shigure has picked up on what Akito's really like. Knowing that, and acting so carefree when Honda-san is with him, it's strange, don't you think?"
"Damnit," Kyou hissed angrily, fists clenching. "We should just go beat it out of him!" He whirled towards the next room, anxiety and temper getting the best of him. "I'll just and-"
"Stop it," Yuki cut in sharply. "Think for a second. Do you really think you'd get anything out of him that easily? Much as I hate to compliment him on anything, Shigure's too smart to give anything away unless he wants to. Besides, there's nothing concrete you can confront him with so arguing with him about it would just be pointless. Especially if there really is nothing going on," he said finally, though the expression on his face proclaimed how much he doubted that.
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Kyou snapped, glaring at Yuki.
But Yuki had no answers.
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Tap. Tap.
"Come in," came a husky voice.
Hatori did as he was bid and slid open the door to enter, an icy shiver of foreboding cascading its way down his spine at the oppressive aura that spilled forth from the darkened room. He concentrated on sliding the door closed behind him as he steeled himself to remain impassive at whatever he was about to witness within the darkened confines. He knew from experience how showing emotions only agitated Akito and made things worse. But no matter how emotionless he believed he had become, not even he could remain unmoved at the sight before him.
Huddled on the floor next to Akito was a completely different person from the smiling face that had been so eager to reassure him when he first brought her in the afternoon. Now, she was a heart wrenching sight with her arms wrapped around drawn-up knees as she shivered in the shadows of the room, the only source of brightness in the room being the moonlight streaming through the open panels leading to the outer gardens. Her head was bent forward so that her long unbound hair concealed her features and he could only imagine the expression they might have held.
He imagined the worst.
He pushed away the terrible images that sprang into his mind, inspiring a new level of guilt upon his already burdened conscience, knowing they would do no good as he took in the oppressive air that hung within the room and the deceptively gentle expression on Akito's face. Distantly, Hatori wondered how her hair had come untied from the two neat braids they'd been done up in earlier, a tidy style it had been. But when a flash of yellow caught his eye as Akito raised a hand to brush loose strands of hair from his face, Hatori wondered no more.
"Hatori?"
Akito's low voice drew Hatori's attention from the dangling bits of yellow that twisted and jerked with every languid movement of wrist. And as he gazed into Akito's face, drawn in an innocently questioning expression, Hatori could discern that the small action had been decidedly deliberate.
He couldn't help it.
His eyes narrowed slightly, indicating his disapproval with what he saw, causing the tiny smile that flirted on the edges of Akito's lips to widen.
This was just like Akito, ever the cat toying with the proverbial mouse. And, glancing at the trembling feminine form on the floor, Hatori was well aware of just who the new mouse was that Akito had found to toy with. And he couldn't help but curse himself for bringing her here despite his better judgment that had urged him to keep her as far away from the head of the Souma family as much as possible. But it was too late for that now and the results of it were clearly before him as the path life had just taken offered no way back to the way things used to be.
It was his fault. His fault for going to Shigure's house with the request that Akito wanted to see Tohru. Just for a day.
And, despite vocal protests from Yuki and Kyou, Tohru had agreed to come. She'd said that it was the right thing since she didn't seem to be able to do anything else for Akito as thanks for his permission to let her stay with the Soumas. In the end, he had driven her back to the Honke. It was the only thing he could do no matter how much he wished otherwise. It was the only thing any of them could do. The Soumas had to obey the clan head. Akito.
"Hatori? Hatori? What are you doing? Daydreaming in front of me?"
Akito's voice brought him out of his regretful reverie with a start. Hatori tensed for Akito spoke very calmly with that deceptively smiling face of his, a sure sign that something unpleasant was about to happen.
After all, Akito didn't like to be ignored.
Akito rose, still smiling in that charming manner that he sometimes had, as he slowly approached Hatori, graceful and languid in his motions as if he had all the time in the world at his disposal. When he stopped a few inches away, goose bumps rippled across Hatori's skin at the ominous aura Akito radiated, completely at odds with the cheerful expression he wore. An elegant hand was raised to tenderly caress the skin next to Hatori's left eye, causing it to twitch in an unpleasant manner as memories flashed across his mind of exactly how it had come to be so bad. In a blink of an eye, Akito's expression changed from sweet gentleness to razor sharp as he gave a twisted grin, a devil's smile if there ever was one.
"Don't you think it's impolite to ignore the one you came to visit?" Akito asked silkily as he shook his head in a chiding manner. "Perhaps you should be punished, ne?"
His hand brushed the cheek near Hatori's good eye, making him flinch involuntarily. Akito laughed at that, a cold mocking sound that filled the dark confines of the room. He took a tiny bit of the skin on Hatori's right cheek and pinched.
Hard.
It was such a small action, but the most painful things sometimes came in tiny packages and this was no exception. It had Hatori wincing and realizing he'd have a bruise the coming day from the intensity of the pressure. He couldn't help but steal a glance at Tohru's still figure as he wondered if she had endured similar treatment. In Akito's case, it was all too likely. A soft, satisfied sight brought his regard back to Akito who was smiling gently once more, pleased with what he saw as recognition of his power.
"Ne?" asked Akito as he turned around, leaving Hatori staring at the back of his head as he made his way across the wooden floor back towards Tohru. "What was it you wanted?"
Hatori recalled his mission which, in light of the events that had just happened, was now of the utmost importance. "It's almost midnight. I'm here to take Honda-kun back to Shigure's."
"Eh?" Akito paused, half-turning, his lips pursed in a petulant pout. "But I don't want her to go. She'll stay here."
Hatori frowned, not liking where this was going. "But you said it was just for a day."
"Oh? Did I say something like that?" Akito tilted his head as if trying to remember.
"Hai. It's what I told Shigure, Kyou, and Yu-"
Akito whirled in an abrupt dervish of motion, the vibrantly colored folds of his kimono flaring angrily as Hatori was suddenly faced with an enraged devil with dark fire burning in his furious gaze. Akito's eyes narrowed into slits as he glared at Hatori. "Are you questioning me?" he hissed, the tension level in the room skyrocketing.
Hatori swallowed hard as he sought to placate the demon before him. "Iie. Not at all."
Like magic, Akito was suddenly all smiles again. "Good."
Hatori breathed an inaudible sigh of relief at what he felt was a temporary escape from having the full wrath of Akito's temper unleashed upon them but he still cast an uneasy glance at Tohru. Although he felt that this was the best option for the time being, he was still loath to do it as it went against every grain of his better nature which clamored at him to take her and leave without a backwards glance.
But he was a Jyunnishi and had to obey.
One night, he thought, should be tolerable although Yuki and Kyou might not think so. He'd hear an earful from them when he returned without her, he was sure. But it was better this way in the long run, or so he told himself.
It was the only thing he could do.
"Then I'll take her back tomorrow morning," Hatori said, giving his consent for an extended stay.
"What are you talking about?" Akito gave him a surprised look. "She's staying here."
"You want her here for another day?" Dread was creeping through him.
Akito laughed lightly. "Iie. Don't be such a baka. She's staying here for good."
"What?" Hatori's eyes widened as his face paled. He hadn't been expecting this at all. "Are you serious?"
"Hai. Of course I am. Hatori, you're so funny." Akito smiled happily. Then he frowned. "You wouldn't be thinking of going against me, would you?" He shot a dark look over his shoulder at Tohru before turning back to Hatori with a tight smile. "I don't think you'd like the consequences if you answer wrong."
Helplessly, Hatori looked back, utterly trapped with no way out. He couldn't go against the head of the Honke, the pillar of power around which the Souma world revolved. He'd been raised to obey that rule and he couldn't change that, no matter how much he wished otherwise. However, there was still one thing left, one line that he wouldn't allow to be crossed and it gave him the strength to straighten as he stared down at Akito with his most forbidding expression.
"Of course I won't." His gaze wandered to Tohru. "As long as she agrees, I have no problem with it."
Akito clapped his hands in delight. "Maa, that works out perfectly then. You go and bring back part of her things tonight and get the rest tomorrow." He turned back towards Tohru, dismissing Hatori.
"Wait!" Hatori gestured to Tohru who had never once looked up since he had entered the room. "I haven't heard her assent yet."
"Really, Hatori! You can be so bothersome." Akito sighed in exasperation. "Ne, ne," said Akito. "Tell Hatori you agree. You'll stay won't you? Ne, won't you?"
"Honda-kun," Hatori interjected. "You can answer truthfully. Do you want to go or stay?" he asked, silently urging her say she'll leave. He waited for her answer.
"Hai," came a voice so soft Hatori had to strain to make out her words. "I'll stay."
Akito smirked in triumph while Hatori closed his eyes in defeat, despair and guilty relief mingling within him, much to his shame. There was no helping it now. He might have taken action and intervened if she, an outsider who had no right to suffer the pain connected to the Souma clan, had protested. But falling into Akito's request to stay at the Honke placed her at the same level as the rest of the family, leaving Hatori incapable of interfering. Weathering through it, and helping others do the same along peripheral lines, was the best he could do.
"What room should I take her things to?" Hatori asked as he slid open the door to go.
"Mine."
Hatori froze, disbelieving his ears but believing at the same time since he knew full well the cruelty of the speaker, before whirling around with seldom vented temper to confront Akito. But whatever words he might have spoken died unsaid as he took in the malicious expression on Akito's face, clear indication that the head of the Souma family was obviously deriving the utmost amount of enjoyment in relishing the emotional turmoil he brought about to others.
Suddenly, Akito's features were swept with a boyish cheer, creating a wholesome appearance that seemed to make a lie of every dark event that had gone on before.
"A joke, a joke." Akito waved a hand airily. "It was just a joke." He smirked. "Didn't you think it was funny?"
Hatori was silent as he tried to keep his features blank, knowing he failed.
"Really, Hatori!" Akito smiled in delight, voice playfully teasing, malicious incarnate considering the situation. "You're too serious!" He laughed in joyous merriment. "You need a better sense of humor. As if I'd do something so crass." He looked completely amused. "She most certainly will not be staying in my room. I do need my privacy after all and I can't have that by sharing a room with a girl."
Relieved, Hatori decided to go before he was put through any more torment, feeling as strung out as a wet dishrag pulled through the wringer as it was. The idea of a sweet girl like Tohru sharing the same room as the dangerous and unpredictable Akito was too much to contemplate, sparking horrible images in his head that he would just as soon live without.
But, just as he was sliding the door closed, prepared to carry out his next mission with little relish, Akito's voice floated back to him, the joyous sounding words causing him to freeze in his tracks.
"She'll have the room next to mine."
ne - hey / right
eh? - huh?
hai - yes
iie - no
baka - idiot
maa - well
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CHAPTER 2: Fruitless Conversations
In the kitchen, Kyou and Yuki talked in low voices, alone and away from Shigure who had kept up an innocent and teasing façade till the very end until his questioners had given up, seeing the fruitlessness in continuing such an endeavor. Whether the author truly had something up his sleeve or was playing along as if he did merely to keep himself amused, as he often had on other occasions, it had been difficult to discern either way. But, have some knowledge of Shigure's wiliness, his ability to say one thing while doing another as he lied to perfection, by unspoken consent Yuki and Kyou had left in a rare moment of concert thought to consult about what should be done about the situation.
"Do you really think he planned this somehow?" Kyou asked lowly, disheartened, fight temporarily gone out of him as concern for Tohru weighed him down, making him unusually solemn and serious.
"With Shigure, it's hard to say." Equally as sober, Yuki crossed his arms as he leaned against the kitchen counter, face troubled and thoughtful. "He always acts as if he didn't have a care in the world but you'd think that he would show at least a little bit more concern for Honda-san given the present circumstances. It bothers me that he's so calm about it. He visits the Honke regularly and, perceptive as he is despite his appearance at times, I'm sure Shigure has picked up on what Akito's really like. Knowing that, and acting so carefree when Honda-san is with him, it's strange, don't you think?"
"Damnit," Kyou hissed angrily, fists clenching. "We should just go beat it out of him!" He whirled towards the next room, anxiety and temper getting the best of him. "I'll just and-"
"Stop it," Yuki cut in sharply. "Think for a second. Do you really think you'd get anything out of him that easily? Much as I hate to compliment him on anything, Shigure's too smart to give anything away unless he wants to. Besides, there's nothing concrete you can confront him with so arguing with him about it would just be pointless. Especially if there really is nothing going on," he said finally, though the expression on his face proclaimed how much he doubted that.
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Kyou snapped, glaring at Yuki.
But Yuki had no answers.
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Tap. Tap.
"Come in," came a husky voice.
Hatori did as he was bid and slid open the door to enter, an icy shiver of foreboding cascading its way down his spine at the oppressive aura that spilled forth from the darkened room. He concentrated on sliding the door closed behind him as he steeled himself to remain impassive at whatever he was about to witness within the darkened confines. He knew from experience how showing emotions only agitated Akito and made things worse. But no matter how emotionless he believed he had become, not even he could remain unmoved at the sight before him.
Huddled on the floor next to Akito was a completely different person from the smiling face that had been so eager to reassure him when he first brought her in the afternoon. Now, she was a heart wrenching sight with her arms wrapped around drawn-up knees as she shivered in the shadows of the room, the only source of brightness in the room being the moonlight streaming through the open panels leading to the outer gardens. Her head was bent forward so that her long unbound hair concealed her features and he could only imagine the expression they might have held.
He imagined the worst.
He pushed away the terrible images that sprang into his mind, inspiring a new level of guilt upon his already burdened conscience, knowing they would do no good as he took in the oppressive air that hung within the room and the deceptively gentle expression on Akito's face. Distantly, Hatori wondered how her hair had come untied from the two neat braids they'd been done up in earlier, a tidy style it had been. But when a flash of yellow caught his eye as Akito raised a hand to brush loose strands of hair from his face, Hatori wondered no more.
"Hatori?"
Akito's low voice drew Hatori's attention from the dangling bits of yellow that twisted and jerked with every languid movement of wrist. And as he gazed into Akito's face, drawn in an innocently questioning expression, Hatori could discern that the small action had been decidedly deliberate.
He couldn't help it.
His eyes narrowed slightly, indicating his disapproval with what he saw, causing the tiny smile that flirted on the edges of Akito's lips to widen.
This was just like Akito, ever the cat toying with the proverbial mouse. And, glancing at the trembling feminine form on the floor, Hatori was well aware of just who the new mouse was that Akito had found to toy with. And he couldn't help but curse himself for bringing her here despite his better judgment that had urged him to keep her as far away from the head of the Souma family as much as possible. But it was too late for that now and the results of it were clearly before him as the path life had just taken offered no way back to the way things used to be.
It was his fault. His fault for going to Shigure's house with the request that Akito wanted to see Tohru. Just for a day.
And, despite vocal protests from Yuki and Kyou, Tohru had agreed to come. She'd said that it was the right thing since she didn't seem to be able to do anything else for Akito as thanks for his permission to let her stay with the Soumas. In the end, he had driven her back to the Honke. It was the only thing he could do no matter how much he wished otherwise. It was the only thing any of them could do. The Soumas had to obey the clan head. Akito.
"Hatori? Hatori? What are you doing? Daydreaming in front of me?"
Akito's voice brought him out of his regretful reverie with a start. Hatori tensed for Akito spoke very calmly with that deceptively smiling face of his, a sure sign that something unpleasant was about to happen.
After all, Akito didn't like to be ignored.
Akito rose, still smiling in that charming manner that he sometimes had, as he slowly approached Hatori, graceful and languid in his motions as if he had all the time in the world at his disposal. When he stopped a few inches away, goose bumps rippled across Hatori's skin at the ominous aura Akito radiated, completely at odds with the cheerful expression he wore. An elegant hand was raised to tenderly caress the skin next to Hatori's left eye, causing it to twitch in an unpleasant manner as memories flashed across his mind of exactly how it had come to be so bad. In a blink of an eye, Akito's expression changed from sweet gentleness to razor sharp as he gave a twisted grin, a devil's smile if there ever was one.
"Don't you think it's impolite to ignore the one you came to visit?" Akito asked silkily as he shook his head in a chiding manner. "Perhaps you should be punished, ne?"
His hand brushed the cheek near Hatori's good eye, making him flinch involuntarily. Akito laughed at that, a cold mocking sound that filled the dark confines of the room. He took a tiny bit of the skin on Hatori's right cheek and pinched.
Hard.
It was such a small action, but the most painful things sometimes came in tiny packages and this was no exception. It had Hatori wincing and realizing he'd have a bruise the coming day from the intensity of the pressure. He couldn't help but steal a glance at Tohru's still figure as he wondered if she had endured similar treatment. In Akito's case, it was all too likely. A soft, satisfied sight brought his regard back to Akito who was smiling gently once more, pleased with what he saw as recognition of his power.
"Ne?" asked Akito as he turned around, leaving Hatori staring at the back of his head as he made his way across the wooden floor back towards Tohru. "What was it you wanted?"
Hatori recalled his mission which, in light of the events that had just happened, was now of the utmost importance. "It's almost midnight. I'm here to take Honda-kun back to Shigure's."
"Eh?" Akito paused, half-turning, his lips pursed in a petulant pout. "But I don't want her to go. She'll stay here."
Hatori frowned, not liking where this was going. "But you said it was just for a day."
"Oh? Did I say something like that?" Akito tilted his head as if trying to remember.
"Hai. It's what I told Shigure, Kyou, and Yu-"
Akito whirled in an abrupt dervish of motion, the vibrantly colored folds of his kimono flaring angrily as Hatori was suddenly faced with an enraged devil with dark fire burning in his furious gaze. Akito's eyes narrowed into slits as he glared at Hatori. "Are you questioning me?" he hissed, the tension level in the room skyrocketing.
Hatori swallowed hard as he sought to placate the demon before him. "Iie. Not at all."
Like magic, Akito was suddenly all smiles again. "Good."
Hatori breathed an inaudible sigh of relief at what he felt was a temporary escape from having the full wrath of Akito's temper unleashed upon them but he still cast an uneasy glance at Tohru. Although he felt that this was the best option for the time being, he was still loath to do it as it went against every grain of his better nature which clamored at him to take her and leave without a backwards glance.
But he was a Jyunnishi and had to obey.
One night, he thought, should be tolerable although Yuki and Kyou might not think so. He'd hear an earful from them when he returned without her, he was sure. But it was better this way in the long run, or so he told himself.
It was the only thing he could do.
"Then I'll take her back tomorrow morning," Hatori said, giving his consent for an extended stay.
"What are you talking about?" Akito gave him a surprised look. "She's staying here."
"You want her here for another day?" Dread was creeping through him.
Akito laughed lightly. "Iie. Don't be such a baka. She's staying here for good."
"What?" Hatori's eyes widened as his face paled. He hadn't been expecting this at all. "Are you serious?"
"Hai. Of course I am. Hatori, you're so funny." Akito smiled happily. Then he frowned. "You wouldn't be thinking of going against me, would you?" He shot a dark look over his shoulder at Tohru before turning back to Hatori with a tight smile. "I don't think you'd like the consequences if you answer wrong."
Helplessly, Hatori looked back, utterly trapped with no way out. He couldn't go against the head of the Honke, the pillar of power around which the Souma world revolved. He'd been raised to obey that rule and he couldn't change that, no matter how much he wished otherwise. However, there was still one thing left, one line that he wouldn't allow to be crossed and it gave him the strength to straighten as he stared down at Akito with his most forbidding expression.
"Of course I won't." His gaze wandered to Tohru. "As long as she agrees, I have no problem with it."
Akito clapped his hands in delight. "Maa, that works out perfectly then. You go and bring back part of her things tonight and get the rest tomorrow." He turned back towards Tohru, dismissing Hatori.
"Wait!" Hatori gestured to Tohru who had never once looked up since he had entered the room. "I haven't heard her assent yet."
"Really, Hatori! You can be so bothersome." Akito sighed in exasperation. "Ne, ne," said Akito. "Tell Hatori you agree. You'll stay won't you? Ne, won't you?"
"Honda-kun," Hatori interjected. "You can answer truthfully. Do you want to go or stay?" he asked, silently urging her say she'll leave. He waited for her answer.
"Hai," came a voice so soft Hatori had to strain to make out her words. "I'll stay."
Akito smirked in triumph while Hatori closed his eyes in defeat, despair and guilty relief mingling within him, much to his shame. There was no helping it now. He might have taken action and intervened if she, an outsider who had no right to suffer the pain connected to the Souma clan, had protested. But falling into Akito's request to stay at the Honke placed her at the same level as the rest of the family, leaving Hatori incapable of interfering. Weathering through it, and helping others do the same along peripheral lines, was the best he could do.
"What room should I take her things to?" Hatori asked as he slid open the door to go.
"Mine."
Hatori froze, disbelieving his ears but believing at the same time since he knew full well the cruelty of the speaker, before whirling around with seldom vented temper to confront Akito. But whatever words he might have spoken died unsaid as he took in the malicious expression on Akito's face, clear indication that the head of the Souma family was obviously deriving the utmost amount of enjoyment in relishing the emotional turmoil he brought about to others.
Suddenly, Akito's features were swept with a boyish cheer, creating a wholesome appearance that seemed to make a lie of every dark event that had gone on before.
"A joke, a joke." Akito waved a hand airily. "It was just a joke." He smirked. "Didn't you think it was funny?"
Hatori was silent as he tried to keep his features blank, knowing he failed.
"Really, Hatori!" Akito smiled in delight, voice playfully teasing, malicious incarnate considering the situation. "You're too serious!" He laughed in joyous merriment. "You need a better sense of humor. As if I'd do something so crass." He looked completely amused. "She most certainly will not be staying in my room. I do need my privacy after all and I can't have that by sharing a room with a girl."
Relieved, Hatori decided to go before he was put through any more torment, feeling as strung out as a wet dishrag pulled through the wringer as it was. The idea of a sweet girl like Tohru sharing the same room as the dangerous and unpredictable Akito was too much to contemplate, sparking horrible images in his head that he would just as soon live without.
But, just as he was sliding the door closed, prepared to carry out his next mission with little relish, Akito's voice floated back to him, the joyous sounding words causing him to freeze in his tracks.
"She'll have the room next to mine."