Disclaimer: I still don't own the Fruits Basket. Why do you keep asking me? I'm not gonna be able to buy it off or nothin!
Chapter 8: Meet Akito
Eiko paced her room over and over. She was so nervous about meeting the head of the Sohma family she could barely sleep the night before. She was tired, but had to do something. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't even notice Yuki walk into the room.
"What has you so worried?" Yuki asked. Eiko jumped and turned around.
"Aah! When did you get here?" Eiko demanded.
"About a second ago."
"Oh, I knew that." She walked over an sat on the bed. (just to let you know, Tohru and Eiko share the bed. Shigure bought them a really big bed.) She sighed. Yuki came over and sat next to her.
"What's wrong?" He asked again.
"I'm just nervous. I have to meet Akito today and-"
"What?" Yuki's eyes were wide, and his face showed both shock and fear.
"Hmm? Is something wrong?"
"Why do you have to meet him?" Yuki asked, trying to stay calm. Eiko didn't even notice that he wasn't calm to begin with.
"Hatori said that Akito wanted to meet me."
"Hatori agreed with this?"
"Yes. Yuki, is something wrong?"
"I'm going with you." Yuki said in a voice so faint that Eiko couldn't hear him.
"What?"
"I said, I'm going with you!" Yuki yelled. Eiko was taken aback.
"What do you mean? You can't-"
"Akito isn't someone you meet everyday. Trust me, you don't want to be caught alone with him."
"Yuki..." Eiko stood up. "I have to go alone. Hatori will be there, so don't worry about it." Before Yuki could say anything, a car could be heard pulling up to the house. "That must be Hatori." Eiko walked out of the room, and downstairs.
'What is going on?' Yuki thought as he followed her.
"Ha'ri! What brings you to our humble abode?" Shigure asked, as Hatori stepped out of his car.
"You know perfectly why I'm here," Hatori said.
"You told Shigure?" Eiko asked as she walked out of the house.
"Only parts of it."
"Oh, good." Eiko walked up to Hatori.
"Are you ready to go?" Hatori asked. Eiko nodded and they both got into the car. Shigure, Kyo, Yuki, and Tohru stood in front of the house as the car turned around and left.
"What was that all about?" Kyo asked.
"..." Yuki watched as the car rode off into the distance.
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"So we finally meet." Akito stood in his robe, facing the wall. Eiko kneeled behind him on a mat, and Hatori behind her. "Eiko, tell me, how does it feel to know that you will fail?" Eiko looked up. She didn't know what to say, so she didn't say anything. "I asked you a question."
"I-I don't know," Eiko managed to say.
"That's a lie," Akito said.
"A lie?"
"You do know what it feels like. So many have failed before you, and you're only a student. Even your mother failed. I'm sure the head before be had fun torturing her before her death." Akito turned around, a malicious smile plastered on his face. "Come here." Eiko hesitantly stood up. "Now, show me these 'heavenly wings' I've heard so much of." Eiko didn't move. Akito grabbed her by the neck, and lifted her off the ground. Hatori watched in fear as the life slowly left her body. Eiko's wings shot out, and Akito dropped her to the floor.
"You see? That wasn't so hard, now was it?" Eiko coughed from the lack of air. "Aww... poor thing." Akito knelt down next to her. He put out his hand as if to pat her shoulder, but he reached out further and ripped off a feather from Eiko's wing. "I guess we'll have to put this next the the other's now, won't I?" Akito walked over to a table. There were some glass cases on it, and all of them were covered by a silk sheet. Akito pulled off the sheet, and underneath were glass cases with a single feather in each one. The last one, however was empty. Akito opened it and put Eiko's feather in it.
"Do you like my collection?" Akito asked. A single tear fell down Eiko's pale face. "Do you realize how little chance you have of 'saving' us?" He lifted her up by her shirt. "Did you really think you could save us? Did you?"
"No." More tears fell as she was shaken by Akito. He dropped her, and took something out of his pocket. It was a large dog collar.
"I look forward to your failure." He said as he shook the collar in front of her.
"Don't you want to be saved?" Eiko asked.
"Saved?" Akito kicked her in the stomach. She doubled over in pain. "Saved from what? How would you know if I wanted to be saved? Nothing can save me!" He grabbed her up be the shirt again, and threw her against the wall. There was silence. "Hatori, get her out of my sight." Hatori stood up, and lifted Eiko gently. He slowly walked out of the room. A tear ran down his cheek.
Over at Shigure's Torhu's teacup cracked.
Author's Notes: Yes. I know. Very short chapter, but live with it! I'm not made of time! I was actually happy to do this scene. I've been wanting to do it for a while now. Just in case people don't understand the whole teacup thing, it is a superstition that a teacup cracks if something bad happened is happening or will happen. Please read and review! -Pagechan