Chapter Five: One Last Time

After Kandis departed Tohru hurried home as fast as she could, calling Kyo on her cell phone. He agreed to meet her there. When she arrived both he and Yuki were waiting in the hall. She placed her purse and umbrella down and walked over to them.

"So is it true Miss Honda?" Yuki asked with a concerned look, "Is Miss Ward on her way to the main house right now?"

"Yes Yuki" she nodded slowly, "I told her everything. We just have to wait and see now."

"Man" Kyo sighed wrapping an arm around her, "What a mess huh? This all happening on such a rainy day."

"Mhm" Tohru nodded again as Shigure also came into the hallway with Aoko.

"Tohru" he replied, "As suggested I called the main house, and Rii, Kagura, Haru, and everyone else. They should be meeting us all there" he said grabbing his umbrella.

"I just don't understand what we are needed for?" Kyo replied crossing his arms.

"I guess we'll all know" Yuki began, "In the final outcome. Right Miss Honda?" he looked at her directly.

"Right."

(Next Scene)

Kandis came to a slow halt as she reached the gate, the rain dripping off her bangs in many droplets. She paused to take a breath since she had been running very hard. As she lifted her hand to knock, she hesitated slightly but then shook her head for her foolishness and knocked anyway. To her surprise it was answered by none other then Kureno Sohma, whose eyes became wide immediately at the sight of her.

"Miss Ward" he replied gently.

"Is he?" she began, "I came to see Akito," she said breathlessly.

"Bless you" he cried out taking her hand, "Bless you Miss Ward" he knelt before her holding onto her hand tightly and then rising, "I shall lead you to him" he pulled her hand slightly.

"Thank you" she nodded not fully understanding his reaction to her.

Kureno led her up the small staircase and into the main house. Down the halls it was very quiet and from what Kandis could see there was no one to be seen. Finally they arrived at Akito's door. Kureno let go of her hand, as from down the hall Ren Sohma eyed the young girl suspiciously.

"He's inside?" Kandis asked.

"Yes" Kureno nodded, "Miss Kandis. Please do all you can for him" he looked at her imploringly.

"Okay" she said softly patting his shoulder as he opened the door and allowed her in.

Ren marched down the halls and stood in front of Kureno as he stood I front of the door.

"Kureno" she snapped at him.

"Yes Ren?" he replied back sarcastically.

"I demand to know, who was that girl?"

"Someone who can do something that none of us can" he said simply crossing his arms and with a distinct frown on his face.

(Next Scene)

Inside of Akito's room it was dark and very gloomy except for one patch of floor. Kandis leaned against the door not sure what to make of the dark place. In the corner she heard shifting, which she was quite certain that it was where Akito's bed was located. She heard him sigh heavily and then speak in a low, sickly voice.

"I told you Kureno" he replied, "I don't want to see anyone right now. Please go away."

"Akito" she said softly but loud enough to hear.

"Huh?" he raised his head slightly at the sound of the girl's voice, "Who's there? Who are you? Come into the light I can't see you" he indicated to the one spot in the room that had a little bit of light on the floor.

Kandis moved slowly forward as he rolled onto his side to get a better look. As her face came into the light, he saw her stare back at him and his eyes became wide.

"Hello Akito" she replied, "It's good to see you again."

"Ka" he started to say, "Kandis?" then he leaned his head back on his pillow a bit angrily, "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you."

"Oh? So Kureno let you in? What do you want?"

"I don't want anything."

"You sure about that. I thought I told you I didn't want to see you anymore."

"You did" she nodded sadly, "But I couldn't not see you."

"Why? Because I'm sick or dying."

"You're not really are you?" she said moving forward a little.

"What does it look like?" he replied sarcastically coughing a little, "Does it look like I'm healthy?"

"No" she shook her head, "But you were the last time I saw you. Of course that was a year ago and now I know why?"

"Miss Honda told you?" he eyed the girl as he asked the question.

"Yes. But why didn't you tell me?"

"You know why?" he replied angrily.

"No I don't" she shook her head again, "Why don't you tell me now."

"It's simple" he said raising himself up a little, "If you had found out that I was going to die young, you wouldn't have even been interested the slightest in taking me out or even spending time with me."

"That's quite the assumption. Do you really think that I am that shallow?"

"What?" he said wearily.

"Akito. You think that the reason I left was because of your illness don't you?"

"What else could it be? One day you're here. One day you don't want to see me anymore. What else could I possibly think?"

"But I" she started to say as the door burst open and in strode Ren with Kureno on her heels trying to stop her.

"What do you think you're doing?" Ren hissed at her as she stood in front of Akito, "Who do you think you are?"

"I'm sorry" Kandis shook her head confused, "Who are you?"

"Mother" Akito said slowly.

"Mother?" Kandis repeated.

"That's right little girl" Ren snarled walking around her, "And I don't want you to fill my boy's head with silly fantasies of getting better or ever being better than he is."

"I beg your pardon?" Kandis said with a slight frown as Kureno growled at her.

"Ren!"

Kandis held up her hand to stop him and he backed out the door. Ren looked at the girl once more and continued.

"That's right. He doesn't need you. He doesn't need anyone. You know why?"

"No" Kandis shook her head seriously.

"Because, he doesn't deserve them" she replied distinctly, "Him a worthless child who will never amount to anything" Akito lowered his head a Kandis watched, "Look at him" Ren watched her son's reaction, "He's pathetic. It would be better for him to just die and get it over with. Right darling" she patted her son's head.

"Don't touch him," Kandis ordered her.

"Excuse me."

"I said don't you dare touch him" Kandis replied angrily as Kureno and Akito watched her in surprise, "You don't have the right. So take your grimy hand off of him" she pulled the hand from his head.

"How dare you touch me in such a manner you little nobody. Who do you think you are?" she asked as Kandis threw her hand to the side and started angling her to the door.

"I'll tell you I am. I am someone who will not allow the likes of you or anyone to ever look down on him again!" she shouted her cheeks turning red and the tears flowing from her eyes, "You don't have the right to be in this room and call yourself his parent."

"And who are you to make that judgment?" Ren placed her hands on her hips.

"Get out!"

"What?" Ren's eyebrows rose as Kureno in the background smiled slightly.

"Get out!" Kandis repeated pushing her forward and out the door, "Get out!" she shouted again as Ren landed on the floor, "And if you ever come near him again I will make you sorry. Very. Very sorry" Kandis said finally slamming the door behind her.

Ren stood up and started banging on the door, which was now locked. Kureno leaned against the wall as Hatori came down the hall. Ren turned to Hatori.

"Hatori unlock this door" she insisted.

"No Ren" Hatori shook his head.

"What?" she looked at him confused.

"I am not unlocking that door. I think it best that you leave now and consider not returning."

Ren frowned angrily and then stomped down the hall as Kureno came over and looked at his brother quizzically.

"Why did you do that Hatori?" he asked.

"Because. We made a promise" Hatori placed his hand on Kureno's shoulder, "That we would never let her hurt him again."

Kureno nodded and then the two of them walked to the outdoors where in the courtyard every one of the Zodiac members were waiting with their potential someone's. Even Uo was waiting for Kureno to join her.

"Is everything okay?" she asked when she saw him sigh and Hatori joined Mayuko at her side.

"Yes" Kureno nodded, "Everything is fine."

(Next Scene)

Meanwhile in Akito's room Kandis wiped the remaining tears from her cheeks as Akito stared at her stunned. He raised himself to a sitting position as she sighed heavily.

"Why did you?" he began, "Why did you do that?"

"Forgive me Akito" she replied her back still to him, "I know that was your mother and I probably shouldn't have done that, but I understand now."

"Understand what?" he asked.

"Understand why you feel the way you do" she said as she turned around, "I didn't understand before. And I also know why you would think or feel that I would abandon you. But Akito you have to believe me. I didn't want to go. I really didn't. The truth is" she continued as she walked closer, "I had every intention on coming back a lot sooner than I did, but you said you didn't want to see me anymore and after everything that happened in L.A. I didn't know what to do."

"What happened in L.A.?" he looked at her confused.

"I wanted to tell you that day, everything but you were so angry. And I don't blame you. But if you'd allow me I will tell you now?"

Akito nodded slowly as she sighed again.

"Do you remember I told you that most of my life that I lived with my Aunt?"

"Yes" he nodded again.

"Well last year my father called me the night before I was leaving with some bad news. She had suffered a heart attack and had passed away but the real kicker of it all and the main reason why I didn't come back sooner is I found something out."

"What?"

"I found out" she swallowed, "That all that time she wasn't who I thought she was."

"What do you mean?"

"My parents explained it when I arrived back in Canada. They didn't want to hurt me but they kept a secret. The woman in California who I thought was my aunt was in fact my mother."

"Your mother?"

"Mhm" Kandis nodded, "My parents are actually my aunt and uncle. My father is the older brother to my real mother. You see she got pregnant with me when she was sixteen years old and was scared and not sure what she was going to do. For a while she considered not having me. But in the end my father, her brother convinced her to not get rid of me, you know have an abortion and allow him to raise me. Him and his wife. When I was ten I guess she wanted to know what her daughter turned out like. Little did I know who she really was. I did often wonder why I look so different then my family. I am dark haired and they're all pretty fair haired."

"She never told you?" Akito said in surprise.

"No" she shook her head, "No she didn't. I wondered why sometimes she looked at me the way she did. I thought she just wanted a child of her own. So anyway it took a lot of time to go through all the paper work and deal with everything. I got everything she owned. All her estate was given to me. But still it hasn't filled the emptiness I feel. I still love my parents but it's been really hard."

"I imagine" he nodded sympathetically, "I suppose I owe you an apology for the way things turned out. I didn't understand."

"No I didn't understand and I was a coward for not telling you before hand."

"Telling me what? About this?"

"No" she shook her head, "Not really. And now it's too late isn't it? I've come to late" she began to cry again.

"Why did you?" he started to say, "No one else has ever done anything like that for me before."

"Done what?"

"Protected me from my mother in that manner. What made you do it for me?"

"Well" she replied looking at him directly, "There's only one answer to that. And it's simply this. I love you Akito," she said, as his eyes became wide, "I love you so much I wanted to tell you that day. But you didn't want to see me anymore. I didn't know if you ever wanted to see me again."

"You. Mean that?"

"Yes. To tell you the truth you were one of the most important people on my mind while I was away. In fact I couldn't stop thinking about you and it wasn't until I was leaving till I realized why."

"Kandis. I" he slowly raised up and tried to climb out of the bed.

"Akito. What are you doing?" she asked in concern as he stood up slightly and then fell back down.

"I'm okay" he held up a hand raising himself up again, "I haven't lost all my strength yet" he began to hobble toward her.

"Akito" she cried out as fell into her embrace, "Are you okay?"

"No" he said softly, "I am not okay. But it is not the illness that makes me feel that way. It's my treatment of you."

"Akito" the tears formed even more in her eyes.

"All you ever tried to do was make me happy. You wanted me to smile it was all you ever thought about. And I refused time after time. I must have been such a pain."

"No" she shook her head, "Don't talk now."

"I have to say this. Kandis you did make me happy. You succeeded."

"Huh?" she looked down at him as he raised his eyes slowly and she saw the tears in his blue eyes.

"You came to see me and allowed me to see you one last time. I am happier than I have ever been in my whole life" he sighed contently leaning into her chest, "You gave me my hope back. Now I know that itis possible."

"What is?" she cried even more as he placed his hand on top of hers.

"Love" he responded, "Love does exist. Do you know how I know?"

"How?"

"Because. I. I." he said and then became silent.

"Akito" she replied, "Akito" she became panicked, "I'm listening. Akito" she said as his hand fell from hers, "Akito" she said slowly, "No" she shook her head as she cradled his, "No! AKITO!"

(Next Scene)

Outside the rain continued and Kyo looked up into the sky and noticed the dark clouds.

"Those don't look like a good sign" he replied holding onto Tohru.

"No they don't" Shigure shook his head, "I think. I think maybe" he looked straight at Hatori, "Akito is gone."

Hatori nodded and all around him the Sohmas began to cry. Kureno leaned his face onto Uo's shoulder and sobbed while Momiji and Haru shed their tears quietly. Even Yuki could feel the tears stinging his eyes. Tohru remained silent her eyes shut andin complete deep thought.

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Okay! Two more chapters to go! You are getting them all today so no cliffhangers! See you later!

Next Chapter: You shall see! Keep reading!