Chapter 3

'Usagi-sama, your presence is requested by the family lawyer and Hatori- sama.'

'Hai, arigato. Where are they?'

'They're in Akito-samas study, milady.'

Sighing Usagi turned gave a small nod to the female servant and left for the study. Closing her eyes while she walked Usagi saw images of her past with Akito.

Flashback

'Ne Aki-kun, mite!' A chibi-Usagi held a pure white rose in her hands. Chibi-Usagi looked adorable in a small silver and black kimono. Though she was ignored by the others of the family she was still a very happy 6 year old girl. Most of the time you could find her in the presence of Akito but there were times when she would just be on her own walking through the gardens.

'It's a white rose, so?'

'Mou, Aki-kun you're no fun. I'm giving it to you. It's my present to you, it's a thank you for letting me be with you.'

'Listen up Usa-chan. I don't need any present for keeping you with me. We are family and we're alike. Besides I like you and your presence.' Though Akito was known for his temper and impatience with others with Usagi he was always calm and patient. Not ones did he lose his temper in the presence of Usagi though if Usagi was hurt by anyone that would change.

'Ne Aki-kun lets dance.' Taking Akitos hands in her own Usagi started spinning and twirling dragging Akito with her.

end flashback

Opening her eyes Usagi noticed she was standing in front the door to the study. Lifting her right hand she grabbed the doorknob, hesitating at first she pulled herself up and opened the door. Walking inside she saw the lawyer and all 13 of the Juunishi where there and one onigiri. To Usagis pleasure Tohru was now sporting a red bruise on the cheek where she slapped her.

'Serves that bitch right, she is all that I hate and despise. I'll make her life a living hell ones we're done here.'

Usagi wasn't a bad girl but years of being ignored by those she calls family was showing its effects. And the fact that an outsider managed to make them smitten with her didn't sit well with her. You could say that jealousy was showing its ugly green head. But hey can you really blame the poor girl?

'Ah, there you are Usagi-sama. I was wondering when you would show up. You do know how I miss your presence every single moment I'm not with you.' The man was not smiling while he said that but his eyes were twinkling with an inner source.

Smirking a little Usagi looked at the middle aged lawyer. He was a good and kind man and he loved giving a show to confuse others. Usagi met him when she was placed in the custody of Akito. He wasn't serious all the time and sometimes even came by just to spend some time with her.

'Hmm, well I do have that effect on people, don't I? Let us stop the chitchat Hatake-san and get down to business, shall we?'

'Of course, Usagi-sama.'

Looking around Usagi looked for a place to sit. Not wanting to sit with Tohru and the others she chose a chair in a corner at the back of the room. Walking towards the chair she could feel the heated glares Yuki and Kyo gave her. Sitting down she looked at the pair and smirked at them. 'I could care less what they think of me, they chose to ignore my existence ever since I was born so why should give them the time of day.' Closing her eyes she started massaging her temples in the hopes of stopping an oncoming headache. Feeling as though SHE was the outsider in the room her already broken heart was smashed into even smaller pieces. Grasping the locket on her neck she tried to find some comfort in the ever lasting darkness. Smiling bitterly she wondered how long she could keep up the façade that was her life without completely breaking, already the small cracks where beginning to grow larger with every hour that passes. Snapping out of her thoughts she could hear Hatake reading the will of Akito for everyone.

'As for the temporary clan head, Sohma Usagi will fill that place till a new clan head is born. And it seems that Akito recently added something else. Lets see; from this moment on Sohma Kyo and Honda Tohru are allowed to be present at the New Years banquet.'

It was like dropping a bucket of ice cold water on everyone besides the lawyer in the room. The Juunishi members, Tohru and especially Usagi were surprised.

'Are we really allowed to be at the New Years banquet?' Tohru asked smiling brightly.

'Nani, Aki-kun allows her to be part of the banquet, why? I don't understand... it isn't right. Only those of the inner circle are allowed to be present. Aki-kun knew...he knew how much I despise that Honda girl yet he's doing this.'

'Sagi.. Usagi.'

'WHAT!" Snapping out of her misery she glared at the lawyer.

'Usagi, I was ordered to give you this key. It's of a safety deposit box at the bank. There are a couple of items that Akito-sama left for you. I think the wedding rings from both his father and mother are in there. Nodding her head in thanks Usagi stood up and walked towards the door. Closing her hands around the doorknob Usagi hesitated before she turned around to look at Tohru. 'Honda-san listen carefully for I will only say this ones. Though it seems that Aki-kun had softened towards you and your antics I will never accept you. You outsider will never be part of the Sohma family and especially not of the inner cycle. If I can't be part of them then you sure as hell can't either.'

Everybody in the room looked taken aback when Usagi finally left the room.

'What does that girl think! She can't just say things like that, the next time I see her I'm gonna wring her neck.'

'She does have a right to say such thing, Kyo. Neither you nor most of the people here know what she has gone through. Her life wasn't a happy one just like all of us but unlike us she didn't find anyone who she could trust or love besides Akito.' Sighing Shigure told the lawyer to leave the room. When he left, Shigure turned towards the people in the room. 'Not many of us have actually talked to her and we don't really know her but she is and always will be a member of this family. You see, Tohru, she did tell you that she was the younger sister of Yuki-kun and Aya-kun after she slapped you, didn't she?' When Tohru nodded he continued.

'Even though she is of the inner circle it is rare for any of us to associate with her. After she was born her curse was revealed after her father took her in his arms. You see with already two sons who had the curse they hoped that with her they would be able to start a normal family but fate decided otherwise. After they found out her parents wanted nothing to do with her and we all steered clear from her. Her curse is different from ours and we all had our own life. One day we got word that Akito had decided to take her in and we let it be. I think that it was mostly the age difference that separated us from her. Yuki was 10 when she was born and Ayame was already 21. After Akito took her in I saw her a couple of times, always in the company of Akito. I think she was even there when Akito blinded Toris one eye, though he believed her to be asleep. Over the years she grew up isolated and alone and I think she truly loved Akito and hates you, Tohru.'

'Nani, why would she hate me, I don't even know her.'

'Well I guess it's more our fault then yours. Usagi was always a curious child when she was younger than and still as happy as any child should be. She would always come up to us when all of us where still at the Honke and she would always ask us to play with her but we would always ignore her. Over the years she tried she started to become more withdrawn till she could only tolerate Akitos presence and shy away from ours. And then you came along and you got what she never got, our attention and our affection. You see it's mostly our fault that Usagi acts the way she does.' When Shigure said that he was mostly looking at younger Juunishi, especially Kyo and Yuki. 'Well lets call it a day and go back home shall we?'

'Maybe one day we'll be able to atone for what we did to you Usagi.'

TBC

What do you think? I'm sorry that it took so long but I had no inspiration anymore for this story and I was completely in to Naruto so I kinda forgot about this fic. " But thanks to Dark Moon Lady I was reminded of my duties towards this fic. (Thank you so much for you review Dark Moon Lady ) And thanx to all the other people who have r/r. I promise to have the next chapter within one week posted.

Moonangel3