Chapter 5 Innocent Information
It was night. A lantern stood at the corner of Sohma Akito's room, casting it's drowned light onto the floor. Shadows danced as Akito walked in front of the few Jyunishis, who were visibly nervous to be summoned by Akito the first time. All were quiet in the room.
Rin was nevous; but it was lighter compared to the others. She could hear Yuri's encouragement when the summon first came that morning: It's okay! You'll be okay! I won't let him hurt you! a confident smile on her face as she said that. Rin remember smiling in gratitude at her twin sister.
Akito continue to pace in front them, doing so deliberately. It worked; out of the corner of her eye a few of the younger Jyunishi were already fidgeting and looking at the floor. Others pretended not to be affected by it by sitting motionless. Yuri's comforting voice stayed in her head, offering an anchor against the raging waves that threatened to swept her away.
Akito stopped; he turned to face the few Jyunishis on the floor. Although not much taller than them, he loomed menacingly above them. Seemingly satisfied, he addressed each of them.
"...do you know who I am?" Though soft, his voice carried across the room, sending a shiver up Rin's spine. She gulped and a bead of sweat trickled down her cheek.
"Hai," the Jyunishi answered, not at once, but each of them answered.
Akito smiled.
"Na, this is the first time we have meet. I'm pleased to meet you all," he smiled even wider.
"...I hope we'll get along well. I expect you all to follow my instructions. You know why, don't you?" he paused. A murmur of agreement rose from the Jyunishi.
Rin grimaced. Her heart felt as if something was sqeezing it, and she felt goosebumps all over her body. Her throat suddenly felt dry. Swallowing, she wiped her sweaty hands on her clothes.
Fear. She hadn't felt so afraid since that time when Okasan had screamed at her. She was afraid.
She was afraid of Akito.
Yuri's voice didn't come to her mind anymore. Yuri wasn't here. This was Akito.
"..Neh, let's talk about other things then. Since this is our first meeting, let's introduce ourselves." He surveyed the heads before him. A particular raven black head caught his attention. Nothing changed in his expression, but it seemed as if his eyes shone even maliciously.
"Sohma Isuzu, darou?" he quietly said.
Rin's head raised a fraction; Akito was calling her! "Hai," she answered.
"...ie," Akito tipped his head slightly, observing the girl with raven-black hair, so black it shone with the weak light given by the lantern in the corner. So similar... "..Rin? The nickname given by Shigure..." His eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "...What a nice name.."
Rin slowly nodded her head in acknowledgment.
As the rest of the Jyunishi watched in bated breaths, Akito padded towards Rin, who was paralysed by fear. He crouched down in front of her.
"Look at me," he quietly commanded.
Rin lifted her eyes to Akito's cold one.
"You hair is very soft, Rin...very soft and silky..." Akito's right hand was caressing her hair, slowly and softly.
Akito was praising her?? Relieved, she started to relax in his rythmatic caressing.
"Neh, Rin...are you happy living with your family?" he asked, not stopping in his ministration.
"Ee, I'm very happy." Sensing no reaction from him, she decided to be bolder. After all, Akito seem to like her.
"I'm very happy at home. All the other Jyunishi seem very sad," she glanced at the others beside her.
"...Go on," he encouraged.
Rin's opinion of Akito was changing. He wasn't as fierce as they say, she thought.
"We're a big, happy family at home. Although Okasan and Otosan are sometimes quite fierce and scold people, but Yuri is always there for me." She beamed.
If he was taken back, Akito didn't show it. Instead, he asked : "Who's Yuri?"
"She's my twin sister. She is a very kind person and cares a lot for me." She answered innocently.
Akito suddenly stopped and stood up. All the heads that were raised in curiousity lowered hastily again. Fear gripped Rin; did she say anything wrong?
But before she could say anything, Akito's voice droned.
"I'm very happy today. Meeting you all had been a pleasure. I think this is an end for tonight. I will summon you next time." His eyes closed up into half-moons in his smile.
"I love you all the most," his voice sounded in the silent room, echoing.
"How did it go, Akito?"
That night, snuggled in the warmth of the blankets and Shigure's arms, Akito grinned.
"Sohma Rin...she resembles somebody, doesn't she?" he asked.
"Eh?..." Shigure sounded surprised at first. Then he grunted.
"What are you going to do then?"
Akito paused a while before continuing.
"...It's a secret, Shigure-san..." Akito silently smiled into the blankets.
Minutes later the sound of soft snoring told Shigure that Akito was asleep.
Thank you all for reviewing my story, especially Haru and Kisa Lover!! ;)
I like Akito actually; he has that kind of soft voice that somehow calms me and makes me wanna go to sleep. Though I don't think I'll feel that way if I was one of the Jyunishi. ;) In episode 13, there's a scene where young Akito (a few years older than Yuki) beats Yuki-kun in a room. The reason Akito was so interested was because Rin resembles Akito's mother (appears in the manga) Ren. i think Akito hates her(Ren).
