Disclaimer: Nope, I still don't own Fruits Basket. What a bummer. Mehh. Please R&R.
"A-Akito," stuttered Yuki, "wh-wh-why are you here?"
"I know you are suffering, Yuki," Akito said, "I can sense it."
"I'm not suffering," Yuki said, making an attempt to believe himself, and maybe make Akito believe him, although his voice shook. Akito walked slowly out of the darkness. Yes...it was definitely Akito.
"Do you know why you are suffering?" Akito's voice brought back so many memories: memories that Yuki had so often tried to forget.
"I'm not...suffering..." Yuki managed to stammer as he pressed his bare back against the freezing wooden headboard of his bed. "Why are you here?"
"I know why you are suffering." Akito was almost within reaching distance of Yuki, who was cornered. Yuki's heart beat so hard against his chest, he was afraid Akito would hear. "It's your parents, isn't it? You've been dreaming again..."
"Leave me alone." Yuki was almost in tears. Why was he there? What was he going to do? "What did you come for?"
"You need to come back," Akito hissed, "you know you need to come back." Even in the dim light, Yuki could see Akito grinning. Sweat crawled down Yuki's back as he trembled fiercely. He couldn't move, no matter how hard he tried.
"I won't go back..." Yuki growled as his chest heaved. "Not this time."
"Oh really?" Akito pulled out a knife blade. "Does this look familiar?" Akito took a few more steps toward Yuki.
"No, please...don't..." Yuki breathed. Just scream! Call for help! Do something!
"You know, I remember the day this very blade was used. Do you remember?" The blade shone eerily in the shadow of Yuki's room. "And, do you remember anything that happened after that?"
Yuki's side began to ache again at the sight of the knife. Even though it was years ago, the memory of that knife was still fresh in his mind.
"What do you want from me?" Yuki's eyes darted between Akito's figure and the knife that shone barely a foot from his face.
"You're torturing yourself here, Yuki. It's time to come back."
"Why? Why must I go back? You never did anything for me!" Yuki's voice volume was gradually growing louder.
"You don't belong here!" Akito said in a loud whisper. "You don't belong in the normal world!" The knife shook dangerously in Akito's hand. His eyes traced the long, deep scar that ran up Yuki's side. "I can make it all go away…you need to come back!" Heavy footsteps echoed down the hall, and Shigure threw open the door.
"Akito! No!" Shigure screamed. He launched at Akito, causing the knife to fall with a slam and Akito toppled over clumsily. Akito began to scream wildly as if he was in pain. Yuki didn't know what to do. He just sat against the wall, praying it would melt away while Shigure tried to wrestle Akito out of the room.
"You'll be sorry!" Akito screamed. "You'll be sorry you ever left in the first place!" His screams were still audible downstairs and outside. Yuki sat for a short time in an attempt to collect his thoughts. Pain wrenched at this lungs with every breath.
All of a sudden, Tohru and Kyo ran into Yuki's room. He hadn't moved an inch; his whole body was trembling, and his wide eyes were focused on the knife that had fallen on the floor. Akito's screams still echoed in his mind.
"Yuki, what happened?" Tohru cried. Both her eyes and Kyo's were wide and confused. Yuki didn't say a word. Tears rolled down his face, then all went black.
When Yuki opened his eyes, the bright, mid-afternoon sun blinded him momentarily. He rolled over on his right side and noticed two figures sitting right next to him. After blinking a few times, Tohru and Hatori came into focus.
"W...what happened?" Yuki asked, his voice weak and raspy.
Hatori smiled slightly. "You had a relatively serious asthma attack, but you're slowly recovering." He paused for a moment, apparently deep in thought.
Yuki sat up quickly. "Where's Akito?" he cried.
Hatori gently pushed him back down. "I'll explain that in due time. Right now you need to rest." Yuki lay back down. His body felt extremely weak, as if he'd run a long distance marathon. His breathing came in short, shallow gasps, and he was still trembling slightly. What is going on?
As the day progressed, Tohru and Hatori took turns sitting with Yuki. Sometimes he found himself sleeping lightly under their gazes. Other times he made simple conversations with them. A few times he questioned the night's events, but neither of them said anything.
"Now isn't the time," Hatori said the first time Yuki asked him. "We'll cover that when you're feeling better." Tohru on the other hand, didn't give him an answer at all. She just sat there, looking at him with fear, sadness, and concern in her eyes. Did she know something he didn't?
Yuki was frustrated, and to say the least, scared for his life. What would have happened if Shigure hadn't rushed in? Would Akito have hurt him? He forced the thoughts out of his mind. He was still alive at the moment, which was the most important thing.