Chapter 24: The Return

I haven't posted a chapter in a while so I thought it'd be helpful to place a look back at the end of the last chapter. So… here you are!

Last time:

Just as Akito stomped towards Kyo, more glass dropped to the floor. "Give me back Rin!" Haru shouted loudly, watching more glass drop to the floor like ice. The larger pieces shattered and the smaller ones merely vanished as they cracked against the floor. All Akito had left in her hand was a black object that could pass as a ping-pong paddle; it was just a tad smaller though. Akito stumbled back in shock and tripped backwards over the small table, the mirror-paddle slipping out from between her fingers and dropping to the ground. A mesmerizing flash of light fills the room and it was quite an obvious that everyone could see it in the Sohma Estate because everyone started peering out their windows and pointing and shouting.

Two people dropped to the floor, then a couple others. Kyo stared at the figures on the floor and then he looked at Haru. A couple pieces of wood were in his hands that he chipped off the wall. So… that's what he threw… Kyo as well as Yuki and Tohru thought to themselves. His eyes closed after seeing the people and soon, a calm, relaxed expression replaced the one that was full of agony.

Everyone's eyes went directly to the two figures that looked most familiar. They gradually pulled themselves to their feet and look around, completely dumbfounded. It was clear that they were hardly able to figure out how they got back to the place they were plucked out from. The world they were capable of remembering with ease was almost impossible to recall completely.

Now

Rin and Kazuma inhale deeply, exhale simultaneously, and take several glances around the room they were in. It truly was the same house they last remembered being in. Isuzu instantly locks her eyes on Haru's –now- motionless body. Blood was still gently dripping from his wounds that were obviously not going to heal by Haru just lying around with his injured self against a dusty wall. Without a doubt, there was already an infection, but Rin was vowing on the inside to save him one way or another. She hurries over to him, ignoring Akito entirely, almost as if she weren't even there. Rin, though it was out of her nature to show her care this much, kneels down at Haru's side and takes a closer look at the wounds. She covers her mouth in shock, praying that he'll be okay until she at least reaches a hospital.

Merely seconds after Rin ran off to Haru across the room, Kazuma takes a deep breath as he carefully takes his steps towards Kyo. Nearly everyone in the room, as far as he could tell, had at least one scrap on their body, with the exception of Kyo and Haru who were pretty badly wounded. Shishou was sure to take a look back after every couple of steps to make sure Akito was coming at him. Kyo's face was soft, the pain he was feeling being forced into a cage for now. He was too happy to see the one who had been by his side all this time, through the years to make him stronger and stronger both mentally and physically. "It's so good to see you again Kyo… but, apparently the conditions aren't too well right now, are they?" A gentle smile pierced the seriousness on his face. Tohru giggles after covering her mouth with her hands to conceal any facial expressions that may embarrass Kyo. Kazuma grins a little and then turns towards Akito, and then peers at the other people who had followed them from the light. It was only a few other Sohmas, no one in the room knew any of them, and so the other figures were merely lower-class Sohmas' who didn't even mean enough to know about the Sohma curse.

Tohru stares at the ground for a moment and glances upward gradually at Akito, her words were soft and obviously not meant to do harm (as if they ever were), "Akito-san… please… don't fit anymore. Haru-kun needs to get to a hospital and your mirror…-." Before she could even finish her sentence, Kyo butts in strongly.

"Is fricken broken so give up!" it was unambiguous that Kyo couldn't wait to exit the house after rubbing a victory in Akito's face.

The anxiety was slowly swelling up. Akito couldn't hold it in any longer. How much she hated all of them right now. They were supposed to be the people that worship her as their god. But… what were they doing now? Destroying her! My own family, the ones that should be feasting with me and staying by my side are all falling in love with the wrong people. It should be I that is loved by them, not that wretched Honda girl. Not even other members of the Juunishi! For some reason or another, Akito stops her thinking and glares ruthlessly in Tohru's direction. "It really is your fault! You pathetic excuse for life! You're the one that has caused everything to go awry. You should have never been born at all! I hate you! Die!" Akito was yelling without even thinking, though she was falling in love with her words as each one spat out of her mouth and slapped Tohru across the cheek.

Kyo takes a step forward but Tohru grabs his arm, looking down at the ground. "Please… Kyo… don't do it. I'm…" she tries to stifle back a little sniffle but fails, "I'm fine… you don't have to get hurt for me. Akito's words… they may pierce my heart… but they don't tear it apart completely. So… I'll be fine…" she looks to the side, towards the direction of the front door and whispers, "Right mom…? I'll be fine… right?" Tohru blinks and looks at Kyo helplessly, shaking her head numerously times without even saying a word. Kyo was only able to stare at her, nothing more and nothing less. The cat wanted to help, but once again, he felt he was unable to even say something to cheer her up. Finally, she allows one single tear to drip from her eye. "I … would rather be harmed then to see you get hurt on my behalf, Kyo-kun…" she whispers, a soft smile on her face.

I don't think… Tohru knows that… she's pierced our hearts as well. She's made us realize that you could love someone and not have any fear about it. She's given us the ability to feel as if we were completely normal. Tohru's… brightened my day and I bet everyone else in the Zodiac has had his or her day lit upon by Tohru. Just … seeing her smile can make everything in the world… feel right. I don't think… there's many others like her… no… there is no one else like her, she's one of a kind, Yuki finally forces himself to stop his thoughts. His mind was racing to an extreme level.

Tohru looks around slowly and then glances at Rin who was trying to attend to Haru's severe wounds. It was such a sad thing to see. To come back after being taken away from the world you knew you remembered, but didn't see. She was only gone for a few days, five at the most, and she was having a hard time recalling where she really was. Her surroundings were extremely familiar but she didn't care at the moment, she was praying for Haru to be okay even though she's told him a million times about how she could careless about him. But of course, that was a fairly long time ago.

Slowly, Isuzu leans over Haru and whispers into his ear quietly, "Kan yume, my love…" her voice was almost inaudible, but Tohru was pretty sure she was able to read her lips. Rin runs her hand over Haru's forehead and through his hair, "You're so stupid… letting yourself get hurt like this. What kind of idiot gets hit by one dagger and then another." She sighs and pulls him up to his feet gradually. Akito's eyes some how manage to lock on to all of them at once, though it never has been actually possible.

At a slower then slow pace, Tohru walks to Akito. As the God –with a superiority complex- of the Zodiac, Akito felt that Tohru was trying to intimidate her… or threaten her. Anger was never a feeling that left her body; she has always had the feeling of hatred toward at least one person or more. On the other hand, however, Tohru is the complete, and total opposite. Continuing now, Tohru places her hand upon Akito's gently, and speaks with a delicate voice, " Akito-san… I don't dislike you… and I feel as if you resent me for just being around Kyo, Yuki, and the others… I have no intention of…" she pauses and decides to use the word that Akito utilizes most often, "stealing any of them from you. I swear to you that I wouldn't intentionally take any of them from you," how sweet Miss. Tohru was sounding as she spoke, it was almost as if she had been best friends with Akito all this time. But, that was all too false.

It was unclear, though, when Akito began to smile pleasantly at Tohru. Her face was depicting almost, a nurturing and calm expression. Suddenly –almost like a form of schizophrenia took control- Akito whips her hand and snaps it across Tohru's face. Tohru falls to her knees at Akito's feet, holding her hand over her cheek that was burning as badly as if she had her skin torn off. Her face was as red as a ripe tomato, except for the fact that her skin was slightly scraped now that her face was visible for the fact that she was now standing.

After seeing that happen, Kyo becomes enraged. Akito's recent actions weren't going to be left alone. Oh no, Kyo wasn't even close to allowing this to slide by as if nothing happened. Now she's made a bad fricken mistake. Akito will regret that she even laid a finger on her. She'll be sorry that she even had Tohru give her some sort of sympathy. The sound of Tohru being slapped roughly across the cheek echoed in Kyo's ears and gave him the fuel he needed to fight back in any way he possibly could. He cracks his knuckle, each finger individual, and then walks towards both Tohru and Akito with a stern, yet angry appearance to his face. The darkness that was consuming the house shrouds Kyo's entire body as he gets closer and closer.

Akito glares at Kyo as he approaches them even though she couldn't see his face. She wasn't even the least bit frightened, at least, that's the impression she gave off. Her eyes lock on the shadow that was getting nearer and nearer. The aura around that shadow was a raging, almost fiery red that was deeply angered. Akito was sure Kyo was infuriated by her actions, and still, she was almost eager, to mock him until he shatters into small little pieces just like her precious mirror.

Kyo closes his fists that were hanging at his side. He finally came out from the shade and his expression depicted an even angrier person then before. Tohru stares at Kyo, hopefully. She didn't want him to get hurt, nor cause a confrontation between him and Akito. Her prayers were merely that everyone would remain safe and not be harmed any further. Then, with the blink of an eye, Kyo unleashes his right fist and slings it at Akito's head as quick as he possibly can. The air broke around them and just as Kyo was about to hit his 'God' in the face, Tohru screams, "Please stop Kyo-kun!" her hands were clasped together, almost like she was praying and her eyes were closed as if it was just painful to talk, let alone scream. Kyo stops instantly and looks at Tohru, blinking once or twice. His eyes were saying, "But she hit you… and… she deserves it right back," but Tohru shakes her head. It was clear that she didn't even want Akito to be hurt either. His fist was hardly an inch from feeble-bodied Akito's face and finally, he drops it down, back to his side and stands still.

A weak smile appears on Tohru's face and she breathes a sigh of relief. I'm so happy I was able to stop Kyo from harming Akito… because, that also prevented Akito from further harming Kyo. Mom… I did do the correct thing, right? I know Kyo had some sort of good-hearted reasoning for trying to hit Akito, it's because she had hit me. But, I couldn't stand to see any more hitting each other. It hurts me and I'm not even the one a part of the fight… kind of funny, right mom?

XxX

Yuki exits the house, entering the downpour without a fear of being swept off his feet by a projectile. He was running down the road, slipping and sliding every so often. I have… to get to Hatori. He'll be able to help get Haru out of the building and to the hospital and help everyone else's wounds even Tohru's less severe one. Yuki trips on a large limb from a tree and almost falls but catches himself in time and keeps running to his destination. Come on! I gotta keep going! He was trying to give himself reason to continue on, but his condition was catching up with him very gradually.

Finally, he reaches the front door of Hatori's house. Why did he move this far from Akito's house? He's supposed to be a doctor for god's sake. Yuki drops himself against the door and falls through it since it was the paper material. Hatori looks at him and rubs the back of his head. "Isn't it raining outside, Yuki?" He nods and sees that he's drenched and covered with mud. "Ah… its even a little murky." Hatori smiles pleasantly and then recognizes a sense of urgency on Yuki's face.

XxX

Akito tauntingly raises her hand to hit Tohru and whenever Kyo gets primed for attacking, Tohru tells him not to and ends up getting hit may it be being punched or kicked. Kyo was eager to hit Akito just as many times as she had hit the one he loved. "Stop that Akito! Next time you hit her I wont care if she tells me to stop! I'll hit you so hard you'll be that snotty nosed brat that was disgusted by my true form. Or maybe I'll harm you even worse then you're harming Tohru. Possibly… I'll take my bracelet off and you'll have to relieve those memories with me. Smell and all. So… I dare you to lay a finger on even a strand of her hair," Kyo was full of seriousness as he says this. He was practically positive that Akito was threatened by that remark he made and wouldn't even try to mock him by pretending to hit her.

Quickly, Akito slices her hand across Tohru's cheek, in the same spot that she smacked earlier. Tohru lets out a weak cry, and falls to the side, but the pain was nothing compared to when she first saw the true form of the vengeful spirit. Oh-no, the way Kyo had whipped her around like a rag doll had severely injured her for more then two weeks. But she forgave him because of the love she felt for him on the inside. She crawls to her feet somehow and holds her cheek gently, looking from Kyo to Akito and back to Kyo.

He was full of fury and nothing was going to stop him. Kyo places his hand over his bracelet and slips his fingers under it. "You'll regret touching her Akito. Mark my words," he growls, tugging the Juzu beads up toward the tips of his fingers.

There's chapter 24! I finally finished it. This chapter took forever and it isn't even that long, lol. I hope everyone enjoyed the second to last chapter. I've decided that Chapter Twenty-Five will be the final chapter. Be prepared for ANYTHING. Hahaha.