Tohru's heart leaped into her throat as the car pulled up to the main gate of the Sohma estate. Opposing emotions collided inside her; that of the excitement and anticipation of seeing Yuki after two weeks of no contact, and the overwhelming fear of confronting Akito in her own lair. The head of the family obviously hadn't approved of their marriage, so what did she want? Hatori opened the car door for her. Tohru pulled her coat a little tighter around her neck to ward off the chilly fall air, and they walked towards the main house together.
Yuki was reading his architecture book by a sunny window that overlooked the front of the house. The slam of car doors roused him from his concentration. He gazed passively out into the yard, and saw Hatori approaching, and then he took a double take, and realized it was Tohru who was walking with him. Yuki threw down his book and hurried to meet them at the front door. "Yuki!", Tohru exclaimed when she caught sight of him, and ran to meet him. Yuki was shocked to see her there. Hatori brushed past them both unnoticed. "What are you doing here?" Yuki said in a panic. Tohru threw her arms around his neck, "I came to help you", she said, her eyes huge with concern. She gazed up at Yuki and thought he looked pale. He had dark circles under his eyes. "You have to get out of here!", Yuki exclaimed. He grabbed her hand to lead her back out the door, but Tohru resisted. "Hatori says Akito wants to talk to me", she said innocently. "She doesn't want to talk to you, she wants to kill you!", Yuki pulled her towards the door again.
"Don't exaggerate Yuki", a silky voice interrupted. The two turned to see Akito standing in the hallway. Her eyes were practically glowing with delight at the sight of Tohru, her long sought quarry, right there on her own threshold. She smiled at them, "you know very well I have no intention of killing Miss Honda", she scolded. "Oh, forgive me, I mean Mrs. Sohma", she corrected herself with an edge of sarcasm. Yuki moved between Akito and Tohru, shielding her with his body. "Sorry, but Tohru can't stay", he snapped. He turned to usher her out, and found himself nose to nose with the barrel of a revolver. Tohru gasped as the guard twisted Yuki's arms behind his back and shoved the gun under his jaw line. Yuki could possibly have disarmed him with a single kick, but he feared the gun might go off and injure Tohru, so he didn't struggle. The other guard stepped forward and grabbed Tohru by the arm, and the two of them were led into the main hall.
Hatori was already seated in the great hall. He made no attempt to intervene for Yuki or Toru, but sat complacently looking on.. "So, I understand the two of you are married now", Akito began cordially, as if she had invited Tohru for tea. "Tohru nodded as she twisted her hands together nervously. "Congratulations", Akito offered with a warmth that Yuki knew was feigned. "And I've heard you are with child now, is that correct?", she queried with a little too much interest for Yuki's comfort. "That's right", Tohru offered quietly. "Well, congratulations again", Akito smiled as she approached Tohru. Yuki knew too well this routine of Akito's; of offering such nicety before totally exploding on a person. He tried to break free, but the guard only twisted his arms tighter. Tohru glanced nervously over at him.
Akito was very close to Tohru now. She looked Tohru up and down for a few moments, wondering what Yuki saw in this girl- she seemed completely ordinary to Akito in every respect. "Of course, you must understand as a family we are not pleased with this union", Akito turned dramatically. Tohru's eyes widened and she became more nervous as she listened to Akito spin her web. "Yuki has married far beneath his station", Akito continued, "and that won't be tolerated", she growled. In a flash Akito had Tohru by the hair and was shrieking at her. "It was a scheme all along wasn't it, She screeched, "playing all helpless so Shigure would take you in, and then you could slowly, carefully seduce one of them!" Akito pounced on Tohru and shoved her to the ground. "Ahh!", Yuki gasped and tried to go to her, but was held back by the guard. Akito continued, "Any one of them would have suited your purposes wouldn't they", Akito accused, "but of course, Yuki would be the most vulnerable to your advances. He's been sheltered and alone so much of his life". Akito reached for Tohru again. "So naturally he would believe you truly cared about him. But all you wanted was a life of luxury didn't you?" Akito's eyes held a crazed expression. "DIDN'T YOU!", she screamed and yanked Tohru up off the floor by her hair. "I….I….", Tohru's eyes were brimming. She was confused and afraid to say what was in her heart. "I love him!", she finally blurted out. "And I'm sure his money and looks have nothing to do with it", Akito said cynically.
"Tohru don't listen to her", Yuki shouted. He knew how skilled Akito was at manipulation; at making a person second-guess themselves. "I know you love me…and I love you", he pleaded. Akito shot a murderous look at Yuki. "Keep him quiet", she hissed at the guard, who used the gun to strike Yuki over the head again. Yuki crumpled to his knees, and was close to blacking out, while Tohru let out a frightened gasp. "Please, please don't hurt Yuki", she dropped to the floor, and pleaded before Akito. Akito paused, and her lips curled into a wicked smile. "Do you really want to help Yuki?", she asked with a sudden change to dulcet tones. Tears ran down Tohru's face now. "Yes, just tell me what you want", Tohru pleaded. "NO!", Yuki shouted, and the guard was on him again. "Don't listen to her!" A blow to the stomach silenced him. Tohru's hand shot to her mouth to keep from crying out. Akito looked at Yuki angrily, and then turned her attention back to Tohru, "What I require is very simple", she continued. "I want you to go with Hatori and he will explain everything". Akito offered Tohru a hand up and raised her gently to her feet, her smile never fading. Tohru, looking very frightened, nodded in agreement, and turned to look at Yuki, her brow furrowed with worry. His eyes pleaded with her, "No", he said weakly. Tohru felt a hand on her arm. It was Hatori. He silently beckoned her to come with him, and she followed. Yuki's head dropped in defeat. Akito was instantly at his side. She pulled his face up and forced him to watch Tohru's exit. "Say goodbye", she said sweetly into his ear.