Welcome back to my wonderful world of me.

Anyway.

Uh… in response to all the questions, my tattoo is REALLY hot. It's a sun and moon; you know all in one… it's really pretty. Right now it kind of really hurts and is all red, but yeah.

It's on the right side of my chest, kind of on the top of my right breasticle.

My mother is not amused :)

Um, yeah. Now we have a new section called Review Responses!

White Alchemist Taya: You are so cool. You've been there since Chapter 1 (yeah, cause I'm too sad to name my chapters, hee hee) and you've always supported me. Thank you!

slightlyxmarionette-esque: Isn't cheese great! Thanks for the review. BTW I like your user name…

KooriKitsune: Sorry about your Dad's choice of profession! Honestly I'm completely terrified of needles, and now my mom's going after my friend who owns the tattoo parlor that did it for me:( I don't think a petition's going to change her mind, but thanks for the idea. I'm using it to get the principal of my school fired :) he's an asswipe.

Coffeeluver: ISN'T COFFEE AMAZING! Sorry, just had to :)

Kichou: Hey! Thank you for removing a bunch of the pressure. Your review was very deep –ponders-- :)

NoCareChakara: Thank you X3 did anyone ever tell you that you're really good for the ego?

Amara Corbin: Yay!

Nozomuloverilovecrescentmoom: Crescent Moon still rocks. Thanks, you're really cool :)

Mystrivin: Thank you! I'll take any compliment I can get from you ;) hopefully your good mood will last during the rest of your reviews of my story!

Pinkfloweree: Um… thanks. So's your username.

Z-AKA-Andrea: Thank you! I like chocolate. Just for the record, I guess…

Stacey: Just discovered the story, did'ja? ;)

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Mahiru stuck her head into Akito's room, and then walked in quietly. His eyes were closed; Pear Bear was stuck haphazardly under one pillow. She sat softly on the edge of the God's bed, reaching out and pushing the hair away from his eyes, which opened slowly at her touch.

"Hey," She murmured, running her hand awkwardly over his cheek, trying to avoid the oxygen tube still taped to his nose "how are you feeling?"

He opened his mouth to say something, but no sound came out. Mahiru stood and poured a glass of water from the pitcher kept constantly by his bed, sitting back down and propping his head in her lap, slowly helping him take a sip. "I want to go outside." He was able to rasp.

Mahiru frowned at him "but Aki-" she cut off, unsure of what to call him.

"Mahiru," his voice said throatily from her lap again "I want to go outside."

She smiled involuntarily "Akito, I don't think that's a good…"

"Mahiru." He interrupted her "I want to go outside."

She noticed his hands had made weak fists in the blankets. "Alright. For a little bit. But you have to promise to do something I want to do later." She would make him eat. She smiled.

He glared at her. She worked at freeing him from the oxygen tube, pulling the tape off carefully and affectionately, kissing his cheek where there were red marks when she was done. She watched him warily, his breathing only become a little bit more strained when disconnected from the oxygen.

Akito grabbed her arm and heaved himself into a sitting position. Once at her eyelevel, he leaned forward and kissed her again, unable to manage the force he had used the first time, but Mahiru still felt his authority in the kiss. She smiled slightly and deepened the kiss.

They lost a good five minutes before Akito had to stop for air and a cough. Mahiru stood and offered Akito a hand. He ignored it, instead leaning heavily on the nightstand, taking his time. He stepped slowly away from the table, walking deliberately towards the shoji doors. He didn't indicate that he needed any help, and Mahiru didn't offer any, but she walked a pace behind him, ready to catch him if he fell.

She stepped in front of him when they reached the doors, opening them for him. Akito walked on as though he didn't notice her, then turning onto his porch. He leaned against a wall and slid down it, exhausted and grimacing, until he was sitting. Mahiru plopped down next to him, looking out at his personal garden, which was separated from hers by a wall of hedges. She felt Akito leaning on her slightly, his shoulders heaving with his labored breathing. She took his frail hand in hers.

"I love you." She whispered.

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Akito was having a hard time getting his breath back. He leaned his neck back against the wall, closing his eyes, and feeling the girl take his hand. He didn't fight her. And then he heard her say it. No one had said that to him, and meant it, since his father, a man Akito hardly remembered. Shigure said it jokingly while trying to flatter him, but Akito knew better than to believe everything the Dog said. He had never heard it from his mother.

Akito didn't know what to say. Hell, he didn't know what to do.

He took a chance and pressed his lips against her forehead. Apparently that was right, because she turned to him, and a smile lit her face. She was beautiful when she smiled. He pulled his hand from hers and felt her cheek, trailing his hand over her mouth, and finished tracing her other cheek before he felt his arm shaking from exertion, unable to hold his hand up any longer. He dropped it back into her lap.

Akito heard steps from inside his room. Immediately he grew angry. Who was intruding! Whoever it was directly disobeying him. No one was allowed in his room without his express permission. He saw the girl- Mahiru, stiffen, feeling his sudden tension, but she still held on to his hand.

What came out of his room was the last thing Akito expected.

His annoyance dissipated, leaving room for the terror and full fledged rage that the sight of his mother always instilled upon him.

Ren looked them both up and down, her distaste showing immediately on her already frown-lined face. Akito gave Mahiru's hand a slight squeeze before dropping it, sitting up straight, fighting to keep his expression indifferent.

"Get out." He ordered, not really expecting her to leave. He wasn't disappointed.

Ren's intrusive gaze probed both of them, Akito dealing with it out of experience, but he felt Mahiru squirming next to him.

"What do you want?" he challenged. She turned her pointed stare solely on him, her beady eyes trying to stare him down.

"Do not speak to me that way." his mother spat at him, forcing Mahiru to flinch. Akito didn't bat an eyelid.

"I am the Head of the Family. Not you. No matter what you've convinced yourself." This…woman… was the cause of years of misery on his part. He hated the Jyuunishi, with their happy little understanding families. All except the Rat. His mother disliked him almost as much as Ren disliked Akito. Poor little Yuki, abandoned by his mother. Akito hadn't felt so alone when the Rat's mother gave him up. He felt the Rat would understand him. Sadly, that had not been the case, Yuki still believing there was someone besides Akito who wanted him. Anger flared up in Akito again.

"Get out, bitch." He leaned back "You're not worth my time."

"I'm not worth your time." Ren slowly repeated, rolling each syllable off of her forked tongue. "You're not worth my time. Nothing is worth my time. I am exceptional. I have known true love, and no one besides me knows what that feels like since Akira left." Ren spit on the ground inches from her son "You killed him. You, you little feeble piece of shit."

Akito surged to his feet. He loved these moments. Moments when his anger overtook him and the curse allowed him to be strong. There would be repercussions, but he would get over it. He grabbed Ren by her hair "Get. Out." He ordered her again, flinging her to the ground "I banned you from the Main House. Who let you in?" He smirked at his mother's loss for words "You snuck in didn't you. Like a little worm. A worm covered with dirt that nobody wants in the house."

"I'm not one of your animals. You don't scare me." Somehow Ren's words had less of an affect on him when they were said from a good five feet below him.

"My animals. And you say I'm cruel to them." Akito drawled. It was good to be God.

"Akira didn't treat them the way you do. He was kind. They loved him. Everybody loved him. THEY HATE YOU FOR KILLING HIM!" Ren screamed, her eyes bulging out of her head "THEY ALL HATE YOU-"

Akito kicked his mother in the stomach to silence her "I would beg to differ." He kicked her again, liking the solid feel of power. He allowed himself a glance at Mahiru, sitting terrified by the wall, looking unsure whether to be concerned about his health or his mother's ribs. She would understand later.

"Akira did it perfectly. He was perfect-" Akito kicked her again, but she plunged on, her voice tense "He loved them. His way is best. Your way is wrong."

Akito sighed. "Yet they still come back. Why is that?" He bent down and grabbed his mother by her hair again, and heaved her to her feet. Idly he wondered where he got the strength for this. Most healthy people couldn't do it. He forced her face up so she was looking at him. "Now get out before I kill you." He let go and took a step back, Ren taking a breath to say something else, but changing her mind when she saw the gleam in Akito's eyes that said he was completely serious. She turned and ran away.

Akito heard another knock on his door. While the curse still allowed him his strength he strode to the door, yanking it open to reveal the Rabbit, quaking when he saw the God standing and looking well. Akito smirked. This was going to be fun.

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