Author's note: Holy crap—I'm practically done with this fic, and yet, it's only been six chapters so far! I didn't intend for it to be this short, but that's just how it turned out. And this chapter's pretty short, itself sigh. Man, I hate it when this happens...

chapter 6: fate

The next day after school was over, Tohru came out of the building and started to head toward the Main House. She had been dreading this moment all day. She didn't know what was to happen to her, nor was she even sure of why she was called there in the first place.

Maybe someone saw me and Sohma-kun together, Tohru suggested to herself. It was very well possible. Well, actually, it was really the only explanation that seemed reasonable. She didn't want to have the same fate as Kana, who had to have her memories erased after Akito attacked Hatori. Is Akito that head-bent on keeping the Sohma family secret from being found out by someone? Did he really see Tohru that much as a threat?

Tohru sucked in a breath. She found it to be useless to be worrying about it this late in the game. Everything she was asking herself would be answered soon enough.

When she reached the Main House, Tohru hesitated about opening the front gate. Her heart pounded, and slowly reached over to the door, but as she touched the handle, the gate creaked open, startling her.

Tohru looked up, and saw Hatori standing there. He looked down at her.

"H-Hatori-san..." she gasped.

"Tohru-kun," he responded. His eyes looked cold, but Tohru could see a twinge of hurt in them.

Hatori turned and began to walk to the house, and Tohru followed. They were in the hallway when Hatori stopped in front of a bedroom door. "I'm very sorry you had to come here," he said. Tohru nodded understandingly. She didn't blame neither Shigure nor Hatori for this.

Hatori then opened the door. She looked up at him, unsure of whether she was supposed to go in, and he nodded.

Tohru stepped into the dark room. The only light she saw was from a window. The sunlight was peeking in from the curtains, and she could see someone sitting in front of it.

Without turning around to face her, the figure, said, "So, we meet at last, Honda Tohru."

Tohru's heart leapt in her chest, and her eyes widened. It's...it's him! her voice screamed in her head. It's Akito!!

She then found herself sitting on the floor. "A...kito..." she whispered. She then became scared. This was it.

Akito stood up, and came towards her. She saw that he was surprisingly young; not even older than Shigure. But his eyes were cold; so much so that Tohru was afraid to look into them. She jerked her head down. Sweat began to form on her brow.

Akito knelt down in front of her, and said, "I thought I trusted you, Honda Tohru. The one thing I thought I would allow myself to accept..." He then saw that she was tremblilng. Akito tilted his head to one side, and leaned his head toward her ear.

"And now look what you've done," he said, his breath blowing into her ear. "You've gone off and fell in love with Yuki. Now, how can I trust you when you've betrayed my trust."

Tohru clenched onto her uniform skirt so that her hands would stop shaking. "I'm...sorry..." she whispered in between sobs. Akito leaned back. "Yes, well, it's too late for apologies. You are too much of a threat to our family secret, Tohru. And, as the head of the family, it's my duty to take action." He looked up to Hatori, who had been standing by the door the whole time. He nodded slowly, and approached Tohru. Akito stood up and stepped back, and Hatori knelt down in front of Tohru. He brought his hand to her. When his hand was on her face, he said to her, "I'm sorry, Tohru-kun." Tohru began to cry. She put her hands on his arms, and said, "I...don't regret ever knowing you, or the others. Just...please...don't punish Sohma-kun, I'm begging you. He doesn't deserve it. And tell him..." Tohru's voice dropped. "Tell him...that I'm sorry..."

Hatori nodded, and closed his eyes.

"STOP IT!!" A voice yelled out from behind Akito. "Don't do this, Hatori!!" Startled, Hatori's hand went down. Tohru blinked. Her...her memories weren't gone! She looked up to see who had said that, and gasped.

Akito didn't say anything at first. He finally just smirked. "Well," he said. "Looks like the Cat has finally returned."