Part 20

I had a sinking feeling of what was going through Akito's head as he saw us all gathered there in the snow. He was glaring at all of us with an extreme amount of hate. I didn't know how he had the strength to be up and about. Wasn't he suppose to be out cold from those cold drugs?

I tightened my hold on Kyo, fearing for him. Akito hated us all enough, but Kyo was up there at the top of his list.

But Kyo didn't show any fear. He glared back at Akito with an equal amount of hate. Then again, we were a good ten feet away from Akito.

Yuki and Tohru were right in front of him.

"So," said Akito, regaining some of his calm. He took a step forward, prompting Yuki to take a step in front of Tohru protectively. This helped Akito to return to his previous state of rage.

"Who's idea was this?!" he roared, his gaze darting over all of us. I took that time to look at everyone. Everyone looked so angry...especially Haru and Isuzu. It was like it was taking all his self-control from jumping on Akito and beating him to death.

I didn't think it was wise of Akito to challenge all the people he had wronged, especially since he was outnumbered greatly.

"Who's idea was this?!?!" he shrieked again. He stared straight at Isuzu. "Was this your idea, Rin?!"

Isuzu glared back and didn't hesitate taking a step towards Akito. "What would you do if it was?"

I didn't know why Isuzu was provoking Akito. She hadn't planned any of this out; it all just seemed to happen.

But the answer seemed to satisfy Akito. Before anyone could react he threw something at Isuzu. I recognized it to be a hand sized block of wood before it hit her right in the head. Akito obviously came into this situation prepared.

"Isuzu!!!!" I screamed, leaving Kyo's side and rushing to hers. The blow had knocked her off her feet, but not unconscious. She held a hand to her head, and I gasped loudly at the blood that seeped from between her fingers. "Someone call Hatori!!!"

"I'm sorry, but I'm breaking our promise," said Haru calmly. I looked up and saw that he had become Black Haru. I'd seen Black Haru tons of times in my life, but never have I seen such rage on Haru's face before.

Akito wasn't even fazed by Black Haru. "You think you can kill me? Try if you must!!"

I knew Akito was crazy, but this really topped everything. He was deliberately provoking Haru in a state where he could snap a man's neck if he wanted to. Haru obliged him and flew at him, fists raised.

I turned back to Isuzu, already knowing the results of the fight. "Are you all right?"

Isuzu looked up. The wood block had missed her eye, and the blood was coming from her temple. But that didn't make me any less worried for her.

"It's just a scratch," she said calmly despite the blood spilling down her face. "I'll be all–Haru!!!!"

I quickly turned back to the fight to see that it had already ended. But not in the way I had expected or wanted. I don't know how, but Akito somehow managed to overpower Black Haru, who now sat on the snow covered ground holding his side as White Haru.

Ignoring her injury and Akito's wrath, Isuzu rushed to Haru's side. Akito's fury grew as he saw her cradle Haru and return his glare.

"Anyone else?" he hissed, ignoring Isuzu and Haru for the moment.

I took that opportunity to return to Kyo, who now stood poised and ready. "What should we do?"

"I don't know what Akito has in mind, but I want a piece of him," growled Kyo. "And Yuki's fear of Akito has chosen the wrong time to rear its head."

I looked back to Yuki. He was still shielding Tohru and glaring at Akito, but the obvious overtones of fear were evident.

Akito of course chose that time to turn his attention to Yuki and Tohru. He had calmed down again, but still had an edge of rage to him. "Yuki, why are you outside? And with that girl of all people?"

He was using a calm, dark tone but it was obvious that tone intimidated Yuki. This showed as Yuki shrank back away from Akito as he came closer, but still shielded Tohru.

And Tohru, being the helpful person she is, knew she couldn't just remain silent in this situation.

"Um...Akito-san?" she asked tentatively. Akito turned his glare over to her. "I don't mean the Sohmas any harm. All I know is that I don't have all my memories. But...the Sohmas are my family. I love each and every one of them very much." she gripped the blanket around Yuki's shoulders. "If I did anything to harm anyone, then I'm sorry. But...I want to be happy with everyone. And I want everyone to be happy."

I knew Akito would not take Tohru's sincere words to heart. From the look on his face, they only worked to offend him.

"Who are you to make any demands of MY family?!?!" he shrieked. Then he did something unexpected; he reached around Yuki and grabbed a fistful of Tohru's hair at her scalp. He gave a hard yank and Tohru cried out in pain.

Something snapped in Yuki. He grabbed Akito violently. "Take your filthy hands off her now!!!!!!!"

His outburst stunned Akito enough to let go. Yuki then took the offensive and fully attacked Akito with stiff punches and a hatred that had built up for so long.

Somehow, I didn't know how, Akito was holding his own against Yuki. Both ignored Tohru's cries to stop it. Yuki was one of the best fighters in the family and Akito was supposedly sick all the time, yet successfully fending him off. Who would win?

After a few minutes, Akito pulled a cheap move. He dodged another of Yuki's punches, and threw a surprising strong punch at Yuki, striking him in the chest.

Yuki let out a loud gasp and fell to his knees. Tohru cried out and rushed to his side. Akito readied his foot, ready to kick her.

Kyo allowed my blanket to slide off his bare shoulders and handed it to her. "I'll be back." he readied his fists and rushed at Akito, preventing him from kicking Tohru.

I wasn't enjoying any of these fights; it was absolutely frightening. Everyone that took Akito on would never have raised a hand to him under normal circumstances. All of us were going to face Akito's full wrath when this was all over.

"You think you're better than me, Kyo?!" shrieked Akito, somehow managing to avoid Kyo's punches. "Let me remind you that you're the Cat!!! The fucking black sheep of the family!!! Fighting me won't change anything!!! All I have to do is fix that house and throw your worthless ass back into it!!! Easy as that!!!"

I was getting angrier as the minutes passed by. Kyo was hanging in there as long as Yuki did, but it was too much. Akito was angry, but enjoying causing Kyo emotional pain with each insult and crude statement.

I felt the rage build up and spread over my body. I was so angry, it was getting harder for me to control. As I watched the fight, flashes of everything horrible Akito did was going through my head.

Injuring Hatori's eye in a blind rage...

Manipulating Hatori into thinking erasing Kana's memories was the best thing to do...

Continuously harming Isuzu, causing her pain...

Hurting Kisa for some reason or another...

Keeping Yuki isolated from everyone and manipulating him every step of the way...

Harassing me when I had cancer, nearly killing me because I dare defy him...

Breaking one of Momiji's ribs because he tried to save my life...

Making Kyo out to seem like an abomination, turning the entire family against him with a superstitious fear and hate...

Each thought of the pain he'd caused us made my hate and anger grow stronger and stronger. I clenched the blanket tightly in my fists, my feelings becoming violent urges to cause Akito as much pain as he's caused us...

Kyo missed a punch and Akito grabbed his arm and twisted it. It was the arm with the bracelet, but I knew Akito wouldn't take it off. But he did take advantage of Kyo keeling over in pain from the arm hold by kicking him full in the face.

I don't know what happened after that. That single action set something off in me and the anger swelled in my brain, clouding normal and rational thoughts. The only thing I was aware of was the yelling in my ears and my arms swinging wildly.

I felt someone grab me from behind, but I continue to swung. My anger and hate had overcome me and all I wanted to do was cause Akito pain.

"Kagura!! Control yourself!!"

That brought me back to my senses. I was staring up at the sky, which was still sprinkling snow down. I looked at the person who held me to see Hatori. His expression, usually neutral, frightened me.

He looked worriedly down at me. But along with that worry there was an underlying fear. I'd never seen Hatori fearful, not even when he discovered I had cancer.

"What..." I said weakly, realizing my stitches and my hands were hurting me. I lifted up my hands to see my knuckles covered in blood. Yelping, I wiped away the blood to see that my knuckles were turning black and blue.

It was then that I noticed something in front of me. It was Akito, and he was laying on the ground. Despite my hatred for him, seeing him covered in those dark bruises and blood frightened me. I knew from the blood on my deeply bruised knuckles that I had done that to him in one of my rages. Much like the obsessive rages I'd use to go into around Kyo, but I don't think I ever caused him damage like this.

"Akito?" I asked softly. I slowly reached for his limp hand and took it. I gasped loudly and dropped his hand.

His skin was very cold, even for the weather. And he wasn't moving or getting up. He didn't even look like he was breathing.

I realized my rampage probably killed Akito.

"Gods," I said, starting to shake. "I...I killed him!! I can't...oh Gods I killed him!!!"

I started sobbing hysterically. Hatori called Kyo over before rushing to Akito's side. I watched Hatori check for a pulse and breathing as Kyo came to me. He wrapped the blanket around me and held me closely.

"Kyo-kun, I didn't mean to kill him!!! Please believe me, I just wanted him to stop hurting us!!! I didn't want to kill him!!!"

"Everything's going to be all right," soothed Kyo. "Don't worry..."

"How is everything going to be all right?!?! I killed the head of our family!!! Oh Gods, what have I done?! I killed somebody!!"

I sobbed into his chest, hardly hearing Hatori come over to us.

"He has a pulse, but he's not breathing," he told Kyo. I heard a rattling of keys. "Kagura's hysterical, but at the moment I have to get Akito conscious. Take the traveling van and get her the hell away from this place. The farther the better; she'll be able to calm down. Better yet, get all the young Juunishi and Tohru out of here. After this you all need to relax."

Kyo lifted me up into his arms as he stood. "I understand. Hey everyone, let's go!!"

I didn't have much awareness after that. All I knew was that if Akito died I was the one who killed him.

When I woke up, I was a little surprised because I didn't realize when I had fallen asleep. But when I woke up I felt a lot calmer than I did earlier. Then again, I also felt exhausted and my hands and stitches hurt like nothing else.

"Awake?" came a calm voice. I looked up, following the voice. Though it was a little dark, the one light that was on in the traveling van showed me Kyo's face.

"When did I fall asleep?" I asked, my voice full of exhaustion. I looked around the silent van, using the one light to see. At the front Haru was driving; I wondered how he knew, considering all he had was that bicycle of his. Then I realized Isuzu must've taught him while they were in Akita.

I looked to one side of the van to see Isuzu laid out across the seats, asleep. Her head was in Hiro's lap, who was nodding off. Kisa was curled up where here feet ended, asleep.

I looked to the other side to see Momiji curled up asleep in a similar fashion to Kisa. Tohru was also asleep, but her head was resting on Yuki's shoulders. Yuki was still awake, though Tohru had his attention.

"Not long after we started driving," said Kyo, getting my attention again. I realized we were at the back of the van. I turned a little red as I further realized that Kyo was holding me in his lap. "How are you feeling?"

I closed my eyes and leaned my head against his chest. "I don't know. When I saw Akito lying there motionless..."

"Don't think about it. Remember, you're still recovering and you need your strength."

"I know." I wanted to hug him, but my arms were pinned by the blanket wrapped around me. I struggled a little to get them loose. Kyo seemed a little confused until I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and hugged him tightly.

"I didn't think I'd ever be able to hug you again," I said softly. Tears were sliding down my face. "I missed you so much, Kyo-kun!!"

Kyo's arms slid up and gently hugged me back. "I know, Kagura. I missed you too. But I'm out and that's what counts, right?"

I leaned back from the embrace and kissed him. He easily yielded to my kiss and returned. Even if it was a bad situation, the feeling of love passed through me much like the rage had earlier that day. But the loving feeling felt so much better. Loving Kyo, and having him love me...after everything we went through, nothing seemed more important to me than this.

After a few moments, Kyo broke the kiss. "All right, you should get back to sleep. The more sleep you get, the better you'll feel."

I smiled, wrapping the blanket back around myself and snuggling close to him. Being this close to him felt so good for me; I'd follow any commands he'd give me.

"Aren't you going to sleep, Kyo-kun?" I asked softly, feeling sleep claim me again.

"In a little while," said Kyo. "I slept all morning before the confrontation. I'm not too tired."

"Well, be sure to get some sleep anyway. I may be the recovering one, but you deserve sleep too."

Kyo laughed a little. "Okay, I will."

My eyes slid closed and I allowed myself to sleep into a deep sleep. There were still problems ahead of me. I didn't know where we were going; all I knew it was somewhere where we were all going to relax. And I didn't know what was going to happen to Akito; if he was going to live and if he did live what he was going to do to me.

Whatever happened, I'm sure everyone will help me.