Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket. Now repeat it. Go on, say "S.B. Kisses does not own Fruits Basket." Okay, got that in your head? Good.
elena- OOOH! I'm sorry! I couldn't update soon. I came down with the flu, had tests left and right, plus a research paper. I know, excuses, excuses! So let's get on with the show!
HelloKat- Yay! I got a review from my favorite writer! YAY! Thanks for the input, it's always highly appreciated! I loved your latest chapters from Seasons of Sorrow fic! Yeah, the Akito scene(s) will not be pretty... so brace yourself.
catgirlversion3.0otakufan- Thank you for reviewing twice! Reviews are always welcome. About the lemon thing, well I'm not exactly comfortable about writing lemon, but I'll keep your request in mind because viewer input is always very important to me.
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yi wen1776- You're welcome! Feel free to ask me questions and I'll try to answer them to the best of my knowledge. Yay! I'm glad to find another Yukiru fan out there! Welcome to the circle! LOL.
RJunkie- Thank you! I was wondering if you coul point out my honorifics mistakes so I can fix them. My Japanese is extremely limited and somewhat naive. I kind of am clueless when it comes to honorifics.(sweatdrop)
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Sarah's Love of Furuba- I'm trying to update faster. I'm so sorry for the wait!
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WARNING: Flashback contains violence and somewhat graphic attempted suicide scene. Please skip if this will make you uncomfortable.
Within the Hidden Soul
Chapter 7: The Devil's Fool
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A cold darkness. A hysteric laughter. A broken boy. That was all Yuki could comprehend through the fog of his dream. Slowly, the laughter grew louder and the fog began to clear, revealing a black room and a huddled teenage boy in the corner and a towering, taunting figure.
"You're so pathetic." The figure said to the huddled boy. "And they all said you were 'special'." The figure laughed again. The teenager stayed huddled, only responding by burying his face deeper into his folded arms and pulling his knees closer to his chest.
"I don't know if it's even worth punishing you today. I think those silly little ideals that fool of a teacher stuck in your mind are just about gone. Right, my dear little mouse?" The figure smirked. "That what the others call you right? A little mouse?" The figure came closer. "Well, answer me!"
The teenager only whimpered in fear. Yuki wanted to reach out and help the boy but his legs felt oddly heavy. The figure began screaming incoherently about disrespect and harshly kicked the boy, causing him to fall over on the floor prostrate.
The figure let out a sound of disgust. "I think this will be enough for now, but I think you need some time to think about how completely worthless you are without me. Remember," the figure's voice steadily rising, "I made you what you are! I instructed the others to treat you with respect and gave you the finest education!" The figure was now screaming. "You are MINE and I will use you how I see fit!"
The figure stormed out, opening the door, allowing a small amount of light to filter through the room and making Yuki squint, and then slamming it, returning the room to its original darkness. The sound of the lock turning was heard.
As Yuki's vision focused back, he returned to watching the oddly familiar boy. He watched as the teenager took a shiny piece of metal from one of his back pockets, his eyes gleaming with fear and frustration, an almost desperate look filling his composure.
Yuki gasped and watched in slow motion as the boy took the object and slid it across his wrists. The boy's breathing became ragged and an asthma attack came. The boy, who began to process what he had done, began to yell. Yuki wanted to look away but was unable because every which way he looked, he found the exact same scene.
The door began to shake and rattle as frantic voices filtered through.
"AKITO! OPEN THIS DAMN DOOR RIGHT NOW!"
"I will not take orders from a subordinate!" Returned the voice of the figure who was in the room.
"He could be dying in there. I think he's having an asthma attack." Yuki ran for the door, trying to unlock it, but his hand went through the knob. Yuki was yelling for them to save the boy, that the boy was bleeding and dying.
Yuki ran to the boy, finding he could do nothing.
BAM! The door broke down, revealing the silhouette of a tall, strong man.
"Oh my god!" The man yelled frantically, seeing the lying figure of the now bloody, unconscious boy. "Someone call an ambulance and get me my medical supplies NOW! Ayame get the phone and dial, Shigure grab my stuff!" He took in Yuki's bluish appearance and realized Yuki had had a severe asthmatic attack.
The man began to tear off strips of his shirt in an attempt to slow the bleeding as hurried footsteps were heard shuffling though the hall. He reached into his pocket and pulled out an inhaler. Holding the limp boy in his arms, he carefully placed the inhaler between the boy's lips. The man then immediately began administering the inhaler. The little puffing sounds coming from the device were vaguely heard through the man's taught breathing.
"YUKI! YUKI! Hold on, hold on just a little longer!" The man said frantically, suddenly looking up at the Yuki pressed against the wall in horror, revealing the panicked face of Hatori.
"Hold on," Hatori repeated more calmly this time, looking straight into Yuki's eyes.
As Yuki fell back in absolute horror, Hatori's face was replaced by Tohru looking gently at him. Her words echoed through the fading scene. "No matter how important this person visiting you may be, you are also important. My Okaasan once said that each person is important because they were chosen to come to this earth and do something. Whether it be solving world hunger or as simple as loving another. So Yuki-kun should take good care of himself because there might be a problem that needs you to fix it or a person out there that needs you to love them." The room disappeared and Yuki woke up.
Yuki sat up straight in a cold sweat, panting and his heart racing. The dream was so vivid. The dream from his past. Yuki briefly looked down at his wrists, finding two perfectly straight pale lines running across his wrists. He traced the lines delicately with his finger. He let out a heavy sigh. Yuki was deeply disturbed. He hadn't thought of that night in about 4 years.
Was he really as worthless as Akito had said he was? Yuki remembered Tohru's words, and he felt calmer. He settled back down into his sheets and fell back into a fitful, dreamless sleep.
Yuki woke again to a particularly wet and dreary morning. The clouds were once again heavy with rain. He sighed, even the weather was against him.
He slowly dragged himself around his room, getting ready and doing his usual morning routine. School was a blur. Yuki went from class to class looking normal to most people but was in turmoil internally.
Tohru fidgeted in her classes as well. She was worried about Yuki, plain and simple. She wanted to go talk to him but was hesitant. He looked fine and he was smiling but she sensed that something wasn't quite right. He seemed weary and tense.
Well, if someone as important as the head of the Sohma family came to visit me, I know I'd be worried. Hopefully Kama will be with Yuki during this difficult time. Tohru thought sincerely, reassuring herself Yuki would be fine. She had no idea that Yuki would dearly need her prayers.
School went by too fast for Yuki's taste. He was trying to delay the inevitable as much as possible, but even delaying could not keep 'god' from his favorite toy.
Before he knew it, Yuki stood before his own room. Feelings of panic and sheer terror were keenly felt, especially after his dream.
With a deep breath, Yuki opened the door, revealing the source Yuki's dread sitting on the bed, dressed neatly in a western suit and tie.
"Hello, Yuki." Came the deceivingly melodic voice of Akito. He motioned for the boy to sit next to him. "How have you been?" Akito said conversationally.
Yuki nervously took his place next to him and answered that he was quite well, trying and failing to sound nonchalant. He fidgeted with his uniform, smoothing nonexistent wrinkles and gazing interestedly at his lap.
"Did you miss me?" asked the rolling voice of Akito.
"Of course." Akito smirked, and reached out to touch Yuki's cheek, then abruptly grabbing his chin to force him to look at him.
"Really? I haven't had any calls or letters from you as of late." He said, his voice now cold. He leaned in closer and smiled hauntingly. "You know how much I hate it when people don't keep in touch."
"I'm sorry Akito-sama, I was busy with my mission." Yuki said, terror clear in his eyes.
"Ahhh, your mission. I was thinking about that. How is it going? I trust everything is going well." Akito held Yuki's chin firmly before letting go.
"Yes, all is quite well with Miss Honda."
"That's good because I've decided this whole process is being dragged on much longer than necessary. So, I fully expect this mission to be done in three weeks, which is a bit generous of me but I felt I should give my favorite relative some leisure time."
"B-but Akito, I planned it out so that the full two months could be utilized! This would ruin everyth-"
SLAP!
"Are you arguing with me boy?" Akito said, cold fury evident in his eyes.
"No." Yuki said resignedly.
"Or are you just trying to find an excuse to stay away from home?" Akito's voice was getting louder.
"Of course no-"
"I am not finished! Don't you dare speak unless told to, you ungrateful, dirty little bastard! You're into such a disgrace, such a disappointment" Akito said the last three words in an eerie sing-song voice.
"You do not like our Miss Honda, am I correct?" He said, his voice again harsh, and once again forcing Yuki to look him in the eye.
"No."
"DO NOT LIE TO ME! You may be a good actor, but you must remember that Iam the best." Akito spat, roughly shoving Yuki to the ground. "You are such filth."
Akito saw Tohru's shirt on the floor next to the bed. Akito's eyes flashed, his already hot anger burst into flames. He grabbed the shirt and shook it in Yuki's unresponding face.
"Do you enjoy this mission Yuki? Do you like seducing women? How was it? Sleeping with her?" Akito threw the rumpled shirt to the floor. "Remember, even if you DO share yourself with another, you are still MINE, no matter how unworthy you are!" Yuki clenched his jaw.
He couldn't spit the words out of his mouth. He had never slept with Tohru. Never! "If she's special enough to screw, maybe I should go meet her personally sometime," Akito's voice shrieked. Before Yuki could protest, Akito turned quickly on his heel and left, leaving Yuki still sitting on the floor lifelessly.
In a split second Yuki grabbed his umbrella and ran outside into the rain after Aktio, only to be greeted by the taillights of a retreating black limo. Yuki's fingers loosely gripped his umbrella as he slowly trudged away, in search of a place to be peacefully alone with his thoughts.
Tohru stood before Yuki's dorm. She had waited long enough, and now, here she was, checking up on him to see if he was alright. The meeting with Akito had supposedly ended a few hours ago, yet no one had seen Yuki anywhere.
She knocked twice and waited. No response. She knocked again, and was answered by silence. She hesitantly turned the knob and was surprised to find that it was unlocked. Tentatively, Tohru opened the door.
"Yuki? Are you in here," Tohru called through his dorm. She gathered up her courage and walked in only to find the room empty. She hit a dead end. Where could he possibly be? She checked the nurse's office, the library, the garden...
Wait, she hadn't checked the garden. Didn't he mention something about liking gardens?
Going at full sprint, Tohru ran towards the garden.
She called his name through the various pathways. She had difficulty seeing through the heavy rain and stumbled a few times. She found Yuki finally, sitting forlornly on a bench drenched to the bone, a glazed look in his eyes.
He didn't notice her until she sat down next to him and they sat there for a few minutes in silence until finally Yuki reached over and pulled Tohru into a bone crushing hug, holding her to his chest.
"Tohru..." Yuki uttered before collapsing.
A/N:
First off I want to address some things from my last chapter to clarify certain aspects. The reason I had Yuki notice Tohru's physical characteristics is because he's been generally locked up and hidden from much of the world, even when he studied abroad. I'm trying to awaken his feelings as a hormonal teenager first before he experiences anything deeper than simple infatuation or physical attraction.
I can't apologize enough for the long wait! Sorry! I know you might want to kill me for this, but I have no choice but to go onto temporary hiatus until summer. School is killing me right now, so please bear with me!
Once again REVIEW!
S.B. Kisses