Next...Well I hope that you are enjoying the story so far! Sorry If this chapter isn't as good as it should be. I'm half asleep, and not thinking right..........sways

Chapter 5: Torn in Two

Phillia entered Akito's room with a solemn look on her face. She was hoping that Hatori would be alright. Akito saw her face. "Why are you sad? Do you not want to go with me?" Akito said. Phillia smiled and briskly walked over to him and sat beside him.

"Of I course I want to go. I've been wanting to meet you, and get to know you for longest time now." She said as she drew imaginary pictures with her finger.

"Same for me. I've heard a lot things about you. The fact that we don't transform when you run into us really caught my interest. And now that I've seen your wings, I really am interested in you. You remind me of a bird. Like a solitary canary wishing to fly freely." Phillia smiled while drawing a duck.

"You remind me of lonely black crow. A beautiful bird that is often misunderstood." A smile drifted across Akito's face.

"Well, I'm going to change so please just wait here." Akito stood and left the room. Phillia looked up from her drawing and watched him as he left. His mention of crows and transformation reminded her of her situation. If she stayed in one place for too long Beeru would surely find her. Either that or he would send more Kaidens to kill her. She really despised those creatures. But this was the only family she had; at least if she had any other family she didn't know of them. Never before had anyone loved her like this. She felt that she belonged there, and she didn't want to run away. If he did come, she would protect them.

Phillia had finished drawing an imaginary unicorn, when Akito returned. He was wearing a black turtleneck and a pair of black pants. Phillia stared in awe. He looked even more handsome in regular clothes. She wanted to jump up and hug him but she closed her eyes and remembered Hatori. "Are you ready Phillia?" Phillia took a deep breath and walked to Akito.

"Let's go!" With that, she grabbed his hand and ran outside. Most of the servants watched them, and smiled when they passed by. Together they ran until they reached a garden of trees behind all the houses. "Ok Phillia, I'm out of breath. Let's take a breather."

"M'kay." Phillia laughed. Akito loved her laughter. Wether it reminded him of his younger days or of something he hadn't discovered yet, he didn't know.

The morning was cool and the songs of birds could be heard all throughout the garden. For a long time they walked and talked. Mostly about Akito. Phillia avoided any questions concerning herself, except for the ones she didn't mind sharing. Their day, so far, was filled with laughter. They reached a pond and Phillia pushed Akito in. He became angry at first, but when he saw her smile, his anger quickly disappeared. Phillia reached out a hand to help him out, but he pulled her in instead. "I'm wet!"

"Obviously." Akito laughed. Phillia was very glad that she didn't wear a white shirt. Though her jeans would be uncomfortable to walk in while wet. She didn't mind too much. Akito jumped on her and pushed her underwater. Her arms were flailing, and she grabbed Akito's head and pulled him under with her. When they reached shore, they were laughing.

"That wasn't very nice Akito!"

"You pushed me in first." Akito gently punched her on her arm. Phillia, on the other hand, tackled Akito to the ground. He rolled over on top of her. For the first time in his life, he felt free. Free from his curse, and the Sohmas. For another hour after that they walked through a forest, and Akito started questioning Phillia again.

"Why don't you ever tell us where your home is, or about that ability you have. I'd like to know."

"I told you Akito, my home is very far away, in the middle of nowhere, and that ability is just something that happens." Akito took hold of her hand and stopped in front of huge tree.

"I don't believe you. Who are you running from? What did they do?" Phillia was astonished that Akito figured out she was running from someone. Still, she wouldn't admit to it.

"No one. Why would I be running from anyone?" She pretended to laugh. Phillia pulled on his hand to start walking again, but Akito wouldn't move.

"Let's sit." Akito pulled her down.

"You have nothing to hide from me. I know of your power, and anyone with that kind of power would definitely be hunted by someone else."

"Who would want to hunt me. I'm useless." She lied. Phillia wanted to tell him and Hatori everything, but she feared of what they might do to her. She had great powers, but of how she used them in the past, and about the man that did want her, the Sohmas might come to fear her. "The air is crisp and clean today."

"Don't try to change the subject." Akito snapped. Phillia jerked from him and said, "Sheesh! Bite my head off why don't ya!" Akito's eyes saddened and he looked away from her. Phillia now felt guilty. She looked up at the sky searching for someway to help him. As two birds flew by an idea popped up in her head.

"Akito! I have a question for you." Startled by her sudden excitement, he jumped a little, but didn't look at her. "What?"

"Have you ever wished that you could fly?" Akito's eyes widened and he looked at Phillia who was now staring into the sky.

"Yes, I have. Why?" When she looked at him she had a smile on her face that indicated joy and mischief. She stood up and pulled Akito to his feet.

"Get on my back!"

"What!?" Akito didn't understand what she wanted to do.

"Hurry! Get on!" She forced Akito arms around her neck, with his body against her back. "Hang on!" Akito tensed his muscles, but relaxed when he saw that they were slowly rising off the ground.

"Get comfortable!" Akito really didn't know how to do that since she was so small. So he stratled her like a horse. His knees were in front of her wings, so that he wouldn't slide backwards. Phillia ran a few feet then took flight. She flew till they were high enough to see most of the city. Then she went forward slowly at first, till Akito and the altitude agreed better.

"You ok up there?" Akito looked down at the city. As he was a group of bird flew by under them. "Phillia, follow the birds!" Akito yelled, sounding like a little kid. Phillia leaned over, to get even with the birds, then she flew faster catch up with them. It was a nice group of about twenty colorful mandarins. When Phillia was approaching the last bird, it quacked and all the other mandarins scattered. Akito looked disappointed, but Phillia told him to watch and see what happens. Sure enough the birds returned and flew directly behind Phillia, following her.

"We are their leaders Akito! Where should we take them?" Akito looked back at the small birds trailing behind. They were ducks so he thought they should be in water. He looked around the city and in a park spotted a lake. A beautiful lake surrounded by tiny bushes and dotted with trees.

"Over there Phillia, to Mirror Lake." Phillia began to descend and the birds followed. She scanned the area for people, and luckily no one was around the lake.

"Akito duck!" She yelled as she flew into the cover of some trees. She came out on one of the entrances to the water. She circled the lake, which was at least fifty feet long and twenty feet wide. Akito leaned over as she circled the lake and skimmed his pale fingers through the cool lake water. Phillia landed amidst some dense bushes while the birds splashed into the water.

"Good choice of a lake, it is a pretty place. Maybe these mandarins will be fed by the people." Phillia said walking out into the shallow end of the lake. Akito walked up beside her and grabbed her hand.

"Thanks you, for the ride." Akito smiled.

"Do you think that's it? I don't think you want to walk back to Sohma house do you?" Phillia winked. Already it was close to lunch time and Phillia was getting hungry. Her stomach growled so loud the birds were startled by it. "But before we leave, can I get some food?" Akito chuckled a little.

"Sure there should be a small place not far from here." Akito said. They made it out of the park ok and right across the street was a small fast food place. There they grabbed some noodles and walked back to the park. There they found a bench to sit on while they ate. Phillia ate her food in less than 2 minutes. Akito watched her for a while then quietly ate his noodles. Phillia devoured her two eggrolls in no time then looked at Akito who was rubbing his stomach after finishing his noodles.

"Are you going to eat your eggroll?" Phillia asked. Akito shook his head.

"You can have it."

"Thank you!" Phillia grabbed his eggroll and gobbled in one bite. Akito laughed at the way she seemed so desperate for food.

"Do you always eat like you haven't been fed in days?" Phillia swallowed the last bit of the eggroll and wrapped up her trash.

"Yes, it's a bad habit, but for some reason this food doesn't fill me up like......my food does." "And what kind of food do you eat?"

"My food, you can't find it anywhere except my home place, which..." Phillia caught her tongue.

Darn why don't I think before I say something! Now I have to finish it.

"Go on." Akito demanded. Phillia sighed and put her trash in the wire basket beside her.

"Which.....was destroyed a long time ago." Akito didn't expect this.

"How? When?"

"It was burned down a long time ago. It was a small village in the middle of nowhere, so no one really knew about us." Akito didn't know what to say to her. He had been through some very sad times, but he hadn't been through anything like that. Akito opened his mouth to say something, but Phillia stopped him. "Please, don't say anything about it. Its all in the past and no one else really needs to know."

"Well I'll just say that I have been through tough times too. Like when I found out the day I was born that I was going to die." Phillia looked up at him in shock.

"What?" Akito was emotionless, his face couldn't be read.

"I carry the full weight of the curse. I will die soon, that's why I asked if you knew how to lift the curse." Phillia's eyes wandered to the ground as she took hold of Akito's hand.

"Well," She said with a smile on her face. "I'll do everything I can, and if what I do fails, I'll be with you to the very end. I really do hope I can lift your curse." Suddenly Akito squeezed her hand so tight he was hurting her.

"Akito...what are you doing? That hurts." He squeezed even tighter.

"You will break this curse you promised!" Akito screamed.

"I said I'd try, and I will! I'll do anything I can!" Akito stood up and jerked her off the bench.

"You will! I'll make you regret it if you don't!" Akito twisted her arm and she fell to her knees.

"You don't know what its like living with this curse! Everyday you think that you've lived your last! No one cares about you or even wants you alive! I might as well be better off dead!" Phillia looked up Akito who had anger burning in his eyes.

"You're wrong." Akito stared down into her eyes.

"What I have is a curse too. Its just a little different from yours. Just cause I have wings, doesn't mean I'm free. Just because I have these abilities doesn't mean I always get my way. I had to pay a price, and it eats me up inside." Akito pushed her away.

"Yes, but yours don't kill you. You can run away from anything you want. You don't live with the fact that you can die anytime."

"How do you know that Akito? I never asked for these abilities. You're right mine doesn't kill me, it does exactly the opposite." Akito looked at her and fell to his knees. "Akito, every day I know I have to live with my pain, my guilt. All I do is run away. Away from every problem I have. Those problems and the painful memories, I will have to live with forever."

"You mean you're immortal?" Akito thought no one could ever live forever.

"Almost, I won't die of old age. I can die of other things. So you see living for a short time is better than forever. In the time you have, try to make the best of it. Play, laugh, cry. Pretend like there is no end. Make friends be happy with your family." Tears were now falling down Phillia's face. "Every day is a new beginning. The sun greets you with a smile and you greet it with one." Akito crawled to her and rested his hands on her knees. "You're not alone as you think Akito. I know for sure that I will always be with you. So please, don't be so sad all the time." Phillia lifted his head up to meet her gaze. She could tell she had gotten through to him by the look in his eyes. She wiped a tear from her face and quickly pulled Akito into her arms. He laid his head on her shoulder and wrapped his arms around her waist. For a long time they sat there just like that. Phillia cried into his shoulder as Akito held her. He stroked her hair and rocked her back and forth. When Phillia was done crying, Akito smiled and whispered into her ear, "Let's go home." Phillia let go of him and nodded her head. Crying had made her feel better so she felt she could handle flying. In no time they found the Sohma house, and landed safely. They went back into Akito's house, and Akito went to go sit while Phillia washed her face. It took her thirty minutes to get all the red off her face. When she returned to Akito he had fallen asleep on the floor. She ran to his room and grabbed a pillow and blanket. Gently she picked up his head and placed the pillow under him and covered him up.

"Back in a little bit." She whispered. Phillia tip toed away. "Watch over him." She told one of the servants before running back to Hatori's house.

She snuck up behind Hatori who was doing some paperwork. When she saw him stop writing she jumped up and yelled "Pumpkin Pie!" Hatori jumped out of his seat and Phillia laughed.

"Phillia don't ever do that again." He scolded.

"I'm sorry....." She looked at the ground then jerked her head up and replied, "You could be in the high jump!" Hatori gently hit her on the back of the head. "Aw...you know your glad to see me." She laughed. He smiled at her and rubbed her head.

"So how was your day with Akito?" Phillia watched him put some things away.

"It was eventful. We talked, and ate."

"He didn't do anything to you?" He sat back in his chair and turned to Phillia.

"No...not really." She hated to lie to Hatori, but she didn't want him to worry about her being alone with Akito.

"I'm glad to hear that. Where is he?"

"He's asleep."

"Well you should be getting back to him, I'm glad you stopped by." Hatori said turning back around. Phillia was really hoping he would ask her to stay for awhile, but then she figured Akito would get mad so she decided to return.

"Ok....I'll see you around Hatori." She hugged his neck then ran back to Akito. When she got in he was still asleep. One of the servants had made some sweet tea and gave a cup to Phillia.

"Dinner is on the way. Could you please wake Master Akito?" One of the female servant asked Phillia. She sipped on her tea and nodded her head.

She was trying to figure out how to wake Akito without getting killed in the process. She figured if she shook him he might get angry, if she made a loud noise he might give her the evil eye and cold shoulder, and if she ripped away his blanket and pulled his pillow out from under him, she might be attacked. Then an idea came to mind. Phillia reached down her back and pulled out one of her black feathers. She laid down beside him and gently ran the feather up and down his face. It took awhile but he finally started to stir. When he was at least half awake she poked him and told him dinner was ready. He moaned, but got up and followed Phillia to his room where their dinners were waiting. Akito, still being half asleep, didn't say anything over dinner. Phillia figuring he was in a grouchy mood didn't say anything either. After dinner they changed and went to bed. Akito slept in his room while Phillia found some random room and slept there.

Wednesday and Thursday came and went, and aside from small arguments Akito and Phillia seemed to be getting along really well. Phillia had shown him more about life, about the good things. She told him stories about trees and nature. Using old folk tales she had heard from other people. If ever he became angry or sad she would smile and give him words of inspiration, and he always went back to a happier mood. Akito thoughts about love had changed....now that he was starting to feel this for Phillia. He'd watch her every move, and listened to her every word. She always found a way to make Akito happy. It was now Friday and Phillia and Akito were walking in the Garden of Trees.

"Phillia, you still haven't told me anything about your childhood or parents or anything except about your town burning." They had made themselves comfortable in front of the biggest tree in the garden. Phillia sat indian style while Akito had his legs stretched out.

"Do I have to tell you? I don't feel like sharing it right now." Phillia became very weary of him as he was scooting closer to her.

"Since we started spending time together all we've talked about is me. I want to learn more about you Phillia. I want to know your strengths and weaknesses." Phillia turned her head away from him.

"Maybe someday I'll tell you my whole life story, but today I'm not. It's just that.......I'm not comfortable enough to tell anyone." Akito grabbed her wrist.

"Then maybe I should help you to become more comfortable." Phillia was scooting backwards as his face came closer to hers.

What do I do? I love him too. He's shown me he can change in the past few days. I want to make him happy. But....Hatori. I have to heal Akito. To let him know he's loved, but I don't know.

Phillia was getting nervous. "Why are you shaking?" He said softly placing one of his hands on her cheek. Phillia kept scooting till she backed up into a tree. Akito had her pinned.

"Tell me." Akito pleaded. Phillia didn't utter a word, only stared into his eyes. His eyes hardened, and his hand took hold of Phillia's head. He kissed her. Unlike Hatori, Akito was much more aggressive. He pushed her against the tree and moved closer to her. His left arm grabbed around her waist, and pulled her against his chest. His right hands was entangled with her silky silver hair. He moaned and gently parting her lips, shoved his tongue inside her mouth. Phillia sat quietly letting him kiss her. She loved the feel of Akito, but she couldn't help but feel guilty. Her heart was being torn in two places at once. A single tear rolled down her cheek, but Akito didn't notice. Phillia broke off the kiss to catch her breath and wipe away her solitary tear. "No...I don't want to stop." Akito was getting his emotions out of order. He'd never felt like this and didn't know what to think.

This must be love. She must love me too...unless she just toying with my mind. No...I won't let her!

Akito grabbed her in his arms and held like that for a minute. He could feel her heartbeat against him. "You're staying here on the Sohma estate." He whispered. Phillia locked her arms around his thin body and embraced him. She was thankful she had found a place to welcome her, and decided she would do what she could to protect her new family as the thought of Beeru crept up.

Akito laid her down beside the tree and kissed her again. His kiss was more passionate this time. He moved himself on top of her tiny body. Taking her hands in his, he kissed her neck and gently nibbled her collarbone. Phillia struggled, feeling lust in his touch, but Akito was strong and held her still. He kissed his way up her jawbone and licked her bottom lip. Akito stopped, only for a moment, to look at her face. He wanted her now more than anything. Akito sat up and took off his shirt. As nervous as she was before, Phillia was now shivering under Akito.

"You'll catch a cold!" Akito ignored her remark, and took her mouth in his. His hands took her hands again, as he laid back down. Phillia could feel his body heat through her clothes, and remembered when she first touched Akito, how cold he was. Phillia wrapped her arms around him, as if protecting him from the cold weather while his hands held on to her waist.

"Master Akito!" Someone yelled, "Master Akito you have visitors!" Akito looked upon the source of the voice who was calling him. It was that same old man who had served them breakfast. Akito grimaced as if disgusted by the very sight of him. He searched for his shirt that was laying next to the trunk, and quickly brushed it off and put it back on. "Coming...Tell the visitors I'll be there in a moment.

"Yes Sir!" The little man hurried away.

"Sorry about that Phillia. Shall we?" Akito pointed to the main house. Phillia didn't realize that they were so close. She thought they were a good distance away from any people. She could only hope no one saw her. Luckily no one seemed to be around as they walked to the main house. Hatori was waiting by the door, and a smile came across his face when he saw Phillia with her ususal smile trotting up to the house. They entered the house and took their shoes off.

"Akito, the visitors are in the living area." Akito didn't make any statement.

"They wish to speak to you alone. I told them about our doctor Hatori, and your illness, and they said it was fine if he went with you." Akito looked at Hatori.

"Very well, come Hatori. Phillia please just wait outside the door."

"Ok I will." All three of them walked in silence to the living area. As Hatori and Akito entered, she caught a glimpse of the man with his six companions. She wasn't prepared for the fear that began tearing at her heart. He was here.

OoOoOoOo Suspense.................... Its him...... cringe