A/N: Ok, I don't even remember the last time I updated, but…here's Chapter 14!
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Akito regained his composure and smiled regally and condescendingly at the upturned girlish face. Then, without a word, he swept past Tohru and seated himself next to Yuki at the breakfast table.
Immediately, Tohru felt foolish. He...ignored me, dismissed me. The coldness she was left with seemed all too familiar.
Yuki's newfound hope was rapidly shrinking in Akito's proximity. Without even saying a word, he's caught me again. I was just fooling myself. I'll always be a bird in his grasp; no matter how much I struggle, I can never escape. A bird without wings…how can a bird without wings ever hope to fly?
Any uncertainty that had lingered in Akito's mind about his control over Yuki disappeared as he watched Yuki's face with intent concentration. He had noticed the look on Yuki's face when that stupid girl had tried to stand up to him. It was…an awe, an admiration, that was only to be reserved for him alone. Not that simple, ignorant creature. What did she know? And even worse, something else had crept into Yuki's face. He couldn't exactly pin down what it was and it had unsettled him. For once, he could not read the mouse's mind. But now, it was completely gone…and replaced by that familiar fear and uncertainty. It left Yuki's face looking boyish and vulnerable.
As it always will be…
Hatori was not watching the scene between Yuki and Akito. It would end as it always did. Akito would murmur something that would break Yuki and he would drop his head and his silvery hair would swing forward to hide the fear and pain. Akito knew the Zodiacs. He knew what would break them. He tormented them and then allowed a moment of respite, even joy, before stripping it away, leaving them even more empty than before.
But these thoughts simply floated through Hatori's mind. He had long accepted it. That was how it had always been. He now studied the girl who had lost much of her former confidence and was watching Yuki with an expression of concern. Something about the tilt of her head…the luminosity of her eyes…they seemed so familiar. He remembered eyes like those…staring at him beseechingly, reproachfully. Cries filled his head.
FLASH!
"No…please don't! He's my friend, my FRIEND!"
"I'll never forget, even if you take my memories away, I'll find them. I'll never forget."
"Please, Hatori…"
"Hatori, don't…"
"Hatori…"
"HATORI!"
FLASH!
Akito was staring at Hatori impatiently.
"What's wrong with you?" he demanded imperiously. Hatori had clutched the countertop with fingers white with tension. The other hand cradled his head.
"Nothing…I'm fine."
Akito sighed. "Well, clearly, you are not fit to accompany me anymore today. I wouldn't want to get sick from whatever it is that's ailing you. You're supposed to be my doctor, Hatori, not my patient. What a pity…when we were having such fun, isn't that right Yuki?"
Without waiting for an answer, he pushed himself up from the table with noticeable effort but waved away Shigure's offered hand.
"I'm fine. Just help that useless person out and then get out of my sight."
Shigure obediently took Hatori's arm and helped him out the door.
"Are you sure you're alright?"
Hatori grimaced and mumbled something that made Shigure chuckle.
"That hurts, 'Tori. That really hurts. Well, I'll be seeing you, I guess. Toodles!"
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The rest of the day passed in a blur for Tohru. She went through the test without even thinking about the answer choices. Luckily, her studying had paid off and she simply chose the letter that seemed the most familiar.
She tried looking for Yuki after her class was over but could not find him anywhere. He seemed so unhappy after Akito's visit. I wonder if he even went to class…
Troubled by these thoughts, she trudged back to the apartment, only to find it darkened and no one home. A note from Shigure read, "I'm off on a few errands, will be back in time for dinner!"
Kyo too had scribbled something that took Tohru a few minutes to decipher. It read, "Out with that damn Kagura. She's dragging me to buy leeks or something…"
But try as she might, Tohru could not find any note from Yuki. She began to worry as the sky outside continued to darken and there was still no sign of him. Where could he be? It's not like him to just run off without leaving a note…he must have been really upset.
At 6 o'clock, Tohru began to cook some miso soup and when she finished, she left a note saying, "I'll be back soon. Don't worry. There's miso soup already cooked and you can heat up some bread from the night before."
Then she headed out to find Yuki.
At first, she had no idea where to look and simply wandered block after block, hoping to catch a glimpse of silvery hair.
Finally, after two hours of futile searching, she thought, Of course, I've been so stupid. Where would I go when I'm most upset? Somewhere I can be alone…somewhere no one knows about…
She headed toward the path that led to the woods.
As she plodded on, her own impulsiveness began to trouble her. I don't even know the way…what if I get lost? These woods could be miles deep…I'd never be found. Shigure and Kyo and Yuki…they'd have nothing to eat for breakfast. Although there is some fish left in the refrigerator and some stew…FOCUS TOHRU! Oh, what was I THINKING? There could be wild animals…bears! Snakes…spiders…FROGS!
By this time, Tohru was clutching her arms tightly around herself in an effort to stop shivering in cold and fear. Her heart nearly stopped when she heard footsteps approaching from the other way.
She found herself rooted to the spot, petrified in panic. What should I do, what should I DO? Desperately, Tohru struggled to work her mind…instead, she only managed to utter a high squeak.
A dark figure emerged. This is it, Mom. I can't believe that I'm really just going to be a nameless corpse on the side of the road…Poor Daddy…he'll always wonder what happened to me.
The figure approached, closer and closer.
It reached in its pocket for…
A FLASHLIGHT?
Tohru was bewildered. This was not how it was supposed to go. In the movies, the killer always liked to whack the poor innocent victim over the head with a bat or a cane or at least a cucumber. But a flashlight?
Perhaps this was an extra vicious killer…
Tohru squeezed her eyes shut in anticipation for the blow.
An arc of light swung over her face.
Wow, that was it? That didn't hurt at all. And here I am, in Heaven already. Maybe I can see Mom now.
"Miss Honda?"
Hmmm…that's funny, that voice sounds a lot like Yuki's. Oh no! Maybe the extra vicious killer got him too! That's HORRIBLE!
"Miss Honda, open your eyes. It's me."
"Huh? Oh, YUKI! It's you. I can't believe it! Did that horrible killer whack you on the head with his flashlight too? You know, it's strange. I can't believe it didn't hurt at all. I mean, one minute, I can see him coming at me, and then the next minute, I feel light all around me. I didn't feel the blow at all."
Yuki looked perplexed for a second and then quickly turned around and walked behind a tree.
Hmmm…Heaven isn't what I expected. It actually looks an awful like the woods I was just in. Maybe this is just the lobby though…
Tohru walked around the tree to discover Yuki bent over double, nearly choking on his laughter.
He saw Tohru hovering worriedly over him and swallowed the last gasps of laughter with an effort.
"I'm…hahaha…sorry Miss Honda. But you see, hahaha, we're not really in Heaven. These are the woods."
Tohru stared at him in confusion.
"There was no killer, Miss Honda. That was just me, with a flashlight. I was at my cabin, and I heard some noise outside so I came out to see what was happening. And then I saw you."
"Oh."
"But Miss Honda, I do have to ask, what are you doing all alone out in the woods at this time? You shouldn't be by yourself when it's so dark. There are all sorts of wild animals around here."
"I…well…you didn't come home Yuki. And so I got worried. So I left Shigure and Kyo a note and then I came out to find you."
Yuki smiled warmly, "You shouldn't have troubled yourself, Miss Honda. But I'm glad you did. I think I'm done for the day anyways. Would you like to walk home together?"
Tohru nodded happily, "Yes, let's go home."
He clasped her cold hand in his warm one and together they walked out of the darkness, led by the soft glow of the flashlight.
As Yuki felt her hand slowly warming up, he felt the icy walls that Akito's visit had built up around his heart slowly melting. He had spent the whole day dancing but no matter how he worked himself into a sweat, he felt his insides remain the same: numb, cold, empty. But now, with her simple presence, even the woods seemed aglow with life and spirit and hope.
Maybe she was right…and this is Heaven after all.
A/N: I liked how the end of this turned out but I really was disappointed that Akito's visit ended the way it did. I was hoping to get more stuff in. But at least Hatori's part got in. Ok, so I don't really know when the next update will be and I'm very thankful that all of you are still reading...hopefully. Please review!