Disclaimer: Furuba does not belong to me
Sorry about the mix up and the reposting of this chapter. I accidently replaced it with the wrong story and then had to delete it so many apologies. What's wrong with me?
"Wha...what?"
The words came out as a shocked squeak. Surely she must have heard wrong; normal people didn't say things like that and if they did, then they probably weren't normal.
"You heard what I said."
Tohru stared, horrified, at the pale young man in front of her. He must have been the same age as her and the boys, meaning he was, at most, 19 or 20 years old. Yet his eyes were hard, as empty and cold as the room they were in.
"No."
The man didn't move, apparently neither surprised nor interested in her response. He merely stared back at her, his gaze taking in her tense posture and clenched fists. Suddenly, he moved towards her and, before she could avoid it, slapped her across the face. Hard.
Tohru staggered sideways, the sting burning as she raised a trembling hand to her cheek.
"Don't make me repeat myself."
"No."
He backhanded her across the other cheek. Tears sprang into her eyes and she could taste the blood where her teeth had cut the inside of her mouth but Tohru stared resolutely back at him. She would not back down. Her mother would be ashamed of her if she did such a disgraceful thing.
Akito looked at the girl kneeling before him. Both of her cheeks now bore a red handprint where he had hit her yet she refused to obey. He snorted inwardly. Everyone had their weaknesses and this silly girl was no exception.
"If you don't, I will have Yuki brought back here and locked up. I will personally...visit...him daily."
He registered the horror in her face with satisfaction and enjoyed watching her struggle to decide before the resignation in her face signaled her defeat, as he had expected. Weak.
"Stand up."
She rose slowly to her feet and, trembling, raised her hands to the top button of her blouse.
"Akito-san, please...please don't..."
He slapped her again.
"Don't tell me what to do."
He ignored the slight throbbing in his hand, just as he ignored the tear that escaped the corner of her eyes.
"Hurry up."
She sucked in a breath and proceeded to remove her shirt in a frenzy, her fingers fumbling at the buttons.
Probably wants to get it over with.
Her hands paused at the top of her skirt and she glanced beseechingly at him with wide brown eyes. He didn't move. Tohru pushed her skirt to the floor and, stepping out of it, reached behind her for the clasp of her bra.
"Stop."
Akito stepped back and examined her, his gaze clinical. He circled her as she stood half-naked in the middle of the room, her head lowered in shame and distress.
"I don't see anything special."
He watched as the girl bit her lip, her eyes fixed on her stockinged feet. Her skin was smooth and her hair dark against the creamy white, but then again, so was Akito's. He perused her body as she stood still, her flesh goosebumped in the cold. Yes, her figure was slim and attractive, he supposed, but so were many other females. Why were the Jyunnishi so drawn to her?
He reached out a hand. She flinched away, then winced as he yanked her head up by her hair. His eyes narrowed as he peered into her face, taking in the long, tear-wet lashes and the blush mingling with the red imprints on her face. He snapped her head back painfully before pushing her unceremoniously to the floor.
"Get dressed."
He sneered as she bent down to clutch the discarded clothes, trying to shield herself. This girl was beyond stupid; hadn't he just looked over her body? What was the point of hiding it now?
"Leave those. No one in the Souma house wears rags like yours."
"But...but what should I wear?"
The question came out as a whisper as she crouched on the floor. Akito clapped his hands and a maid entered, head lowered respectfully.
"Dress her and take her out of my room."
The servant nodded and Akito walked back into the room he had entered from, slamming shut the screen behind him.