Chapter 20

AN: Tohur's mistress (Tohru's Master's mother) suddenly comes back! What's going to happen now? Whelps, you'll see. Hehe. Please review! Thanks a lot!

Mistress looked at me and I couldn't help but look back. She hasn't aged a bit. She looked exactly the way I remembered her from three years ago. As we gazed at each other, Mistress suddenly stood up. She gestured for me to go over to her. I did as told. Then she moved down and told me to sit down at the spot on the couch where she was originally. I did as told. She sat down beside me. Akito stood where she was when we first enter the room by the door.

"Tohru Honda," she began as she took a few strands of my hair into her hand. "How have you been?"

"I've been good," I answered nervously.

"Oh? Is that so?" she asked.

"Yes, Mistress," I assured her.

Suddenly, I felt Mistress's powerful strike. She had slapped me and I fell off the couch. The rings on her fingers had left three deep scratches on my face. However, I didn't know what I did to upset her.

"Good, you say, you're not supposed to be doing 'good' at all. I see that useless child didn't do his job as promised," Mistress said.

I looked up at Mistress who was still sitting on the couch in front of me with a confused expression on my face.

"I see you're still as stupid as ever," Mistress said, "Has the past three years taught you nothing?"

"I don't understand Mistress," I told her.

She looked down at me and smirked. "I thought that I've showed you what'll happen when you disobey me, but I guess I thought wrong. It just wasn't enough," she said, "You've learned nothing because of that useless fool!"

She grabbed my chin and pulled my face to her face.

"It was a brilliant plan, making you sleep with those dirty rich perverts. It was the perfect plan, but you---- your pathetic existence kept haunting him. He just couldn't forget you and as a result…he chose you over me. YOU OVER ME!" she yelled angrily and slapped me again. This time, she stroked even harder.

My entire upper body flew to the right and it landed on the ground. I was now on the ground on my side.

"Do you think that you, a worthless slave, can beat me?" she asked.

I began to become teary eyed and although Mistress couldn't see my face she could tell through my shaky voice. "I don't know what I did to upset you Mistress, but I'm sorry," I said.

"Sorry? You think that a mere 'sorry' can fix this? I don't think so, Miss Tohru Honda," she said as she stood up, "You still don't get what this is all about do you?"

"No," I said softly, "I don't understand any of this, Mistress."

Suddenly, Mistress pulled her right leg back and kicked me directly in the stomach. My injury from the incident between Kyo and Yuki still hasn't fully recovered yet. Because of this, the kick felt ten times more painful than it would have originally. I rolled backward and stopped with my back facing the ceiling. I stuck my left hand under my body and felt moisture. I pulled it back out into the light and saw that it was covered in blood. Then, with my two arms, I pushed myself up. I was now on my knees in front of Mistress. Most of the front portion of my dress was covered in blood now. Mistress looked down at me.

"I took him with me to Europe and I wanted to start a new life there. I thought that he had ridden you from his mind, but everyday, he kept wondering how you were. EVERY SINGLE DAY! But I ignored it until that day…that day, both my son and my daughter walked out of my life. They both walked right out of my life two years ago and IT WAS ALL YOUR FAULT!" she yelled and slapped me once more.

"But…that's impossible, Master was here all these years," I said weakly.

"Ha! You think that I'll leave my son here to risk him seeing you again? You're so naïve. I left that useless nephew of mine, Yuki, instead, to torture you," she explained.

What! I looked up at her. I refused to believe it. Maybe she's talking about a different Yuki. It is a very common name after all. She smirked at me.

"And from what I've heard, you're in love with this useless fool. And to think, my son chose you over me," she said as she circled around me.

"It can't be," I said softly in disbelief.

"But it can be. You're in love with the same guy that is responsible for your torture, isn't that ironic?" Mistress said half laughing.

Mistress walked over to a bar area in one corner of the room. She poured herself a drink and then looked over at me. She then set down her drink and started over to me after a few minutes. She looked at my dress that was stained red by my blood.

"You are not worth my valuable time. I've summoned you here today for one reason, Miss Tohru. And it is to let you know that in a week, I will be reunited with my beloved children and you…you will be locked away for the rest of your worthless life!" Mistress said, "Do you remember that horrible dark room. Guess where you're going to be in a week?"

Mistress began to laugh evilly and headed toward the door.

"Akito, clean up this mess," she said to Akito right before she left.

I looked at Akito. She walked over and kneeled down beside me.

"Akito, what's going on? I didn't understand a single thing that Mistress was talking about… And Yuki…he can't be…right? He can't be," I said.

"Miss Honda, like I've mentioned before, this world is filled with secrets and you just happened to be surrounded by a lot. Remember when I told you that I was a woman?" Akito asked.

I nodded.

"I'm sorry, but I didn't tell you the rest of it. I am Kyo's fiancé," Akito said, "We're both part of an arranged marriage that was decided before we were born."

"What?" I said surprised.

"Kyo doesn't know about this marriage yet. I wasn't supposed to know either, but my parent died early, so I found out about it a little earlier. Once Kyo graduates from high school, his mother will tell him about it and as soon as he graduates from college, we will be wedded," Akito continued.

"But what does this has to do with any of this?" I asked.

"Everything, Miss Honda, everything…Kyo is your Master, the original one. He is the one that you fell in love with three years ago. Do you remember what happened right before you were brought to the dark room for the second time?" Akito asked.

"Mistress was angry at me. She was angry because I said that I loved Master…She beat me. Then, I was in Master's room with him…then…then I fell asleep," I said as I began to remember what happened.

"Yes, after you were unconscious, Kyo went to his mother and told her that he wanted to give everything up for you. His mother, your mistress, wouldn't hear any of it. She decided to lock you up and away from Kyo forever, but it didn't work. Kyo would try to sneak out to go see you, so she decided to move the whole family away," Akito explained.

"But why?" I asked.

"Because, Miss Honda, when Kyo's father died, Kyo's mother suffered severe emotional disorders and depression. Afterward, she became overprotective and always tried to keep her children by her side 24/7. When Kyo told her that he loved you, she went ballistic. She thought that you would take Kyo away from her one day, so she decided to get rid of you," Akito answered.

"So I was in love with Kyo all along?" I asked.

"You can put it that way," Akito said.

"What about Yuki?" I asked.

"Yuki, like your mistress had mentioned earlier, is the person that she left behind to help her do her dirty work while she was gone. Yuki is Kyo's father's brother's son, who became an orphan after his parent's death that same year three years ago. His parents' deaths changed him completely, because he felt that they shouldn't have died, he became bitter and angry. His rage got the best of him. Kyo' mother took advantage of this rage and made him your new master, who would torture you as a way to let out his anger," Akito explained.

"No, it can't be. That doesn't sound like the Yuki that I know and love at all," I argued.

"You're right. It isn't. Haven't you noticed a change in your master recently?" Akito asked.

I thought for a moment. "Yes, Master has changed recently. He became…he became almost…kind," I replied.

"Yes, Yuki has changed because of you. Once he met you, he became happier and life was once again filled with light," Akito said.

"So he knew it was me all along?" I asked.

"It was actually an accident. Yuki never meant to meet you. He knew that you went to the same school, but he had no idea who you were exactly until he saw you and Kyo that day," Akito explained.

"What day?" I asked.

"The day when he exposed your bandages on your arms under that tree, Yuki and I were both there, but when I went up to greet Kyo, he left," Akito answered, "From that moment on, he realized that you were the slave that he had been torturing for the pass three years."

I was silent. I was still a bit shocked by the whole thing. I looked downward depressingly.

"Miss Honda, meeting you was an accident and so was falling in love you. Yuki really loves you Miss Honda," Akito said.

I looked up at Akito with my watery eyes. He smiled.

"Why did he lie to me?" I asked sadly.

"Because he didn't want to hurt you," Akito answered.

"But it hurts even more this way," I replied.

Akito had a sad expression on her face now. "Miss Honda, there's something else that you should know," she said suddenly.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Mr. and Mrs. Hamasaki both work for your mistress as spies. They're both left here in Japan with Yuki and you to watch over things. And---" Akito suddenly paused.

"Even them too?" I asked.

"Yes, but there's more," Akito said.

"You can tell me, Akito. At this point, nothing will surprise me anymore," I said exhaustedly.

"When Kyo left his mother, I went to Europe hoping to find this fiancé of mine, but all I found was your mistress. She trusted me very much and I soon became the closest person to her. Eventually, I was asked to watch over Kyo, so I disguised as a man to be by Kyo. Kyo still thinks that I'm someone that his mother sent here to watch over him and nothing more. However, a lot has happened to me since then, Miss Honda, and in a way, this is my fault," Akito explained.

"What?" I asked.

"I fell in love, Miss Honda," Akito said.

"With Kyo?" I guessed.

"No, I fell in love with Yuki," Akito said sadly.

I only looked at her.

"I fell in love with Yuki, but I was already engaged to Kyo. I told your mistress and she promised to release me from the marriage if I did one thing for her," Akito said.

"What is it?" I asked fearing the answer that I'll soon hear.

"She asked me to get rid of you from Kyo's life and my plan is finally coming together now that your mistress is back. She is the last step in my plan," Akito said guiltily.

"Akito, you…" I began.

Suddenly, I felt a sting coming from my stomach. I placed my hand on it. It was very painful. Akito tried to help me up.

"Get away from me!" I pushed her away angrily.

"Miss Honda---" Akito tried to explain, but she paused when she noticed that I was sobbing on the ground on my side.

"Everybody lied to me. Mrs. Hamasaki, Mr. Hamasaki, Yuki, you, and Kyo! My life is a lie! Everything is a lie!" I sobbed on the ground, "Everything…"

"Not everything, Miss Honda, not everything," Akito said suddenly.

"Stop lying to me Akito! Everyone around me is a liar!" I yelled uncontrollably.

"Kyo's love for you wasn't a lie. He really cares about you," Akito said.

"No he doesn't!" I yelled.

"If he didn't, he wouldn't have spent so much money and time on you," Akito said.

I got up and looked at Akito with my wet eyes and smeared makeup. "What are you talking about?" I asked.

"Kyo was the one that has been bidding and winning you for the past two years. Once he found out what was going on, he figured the only way that he can save you is by buying you himself. But of course, he did this secretly. Not even your mistress knows. I just happened to come across his bank account record papers, so I knew," Akito said.

"Kyo is Mister Kyo? Wait, why didn't he change his name?" I asked suspiciously.

"Yuki would know if one of his buyers used a fake name, so Kyo decided to use his real name. Smart move, since Yuki would never expect Kyo to use his real name to buy you," Akito said.

"Oh," I said stupidly.

"Miss Honda, you never put the two together?" she asked.

I looked down feeling like a complete idiot. I really have never put the two together, I'm such an idiot. Suddenly, everything around me started turning. Everything started to become blurry. I looked at Akito, her face slowly dissolved into complete darkness. I fainted…

At Tohru's House, in her room…

I squinted at the brightness of the room. I saw a blurry figure moving around the room, but I couldn't quite see who it was exactly. I pushed the blanket that was on me off and sat up examining my surroundings. Eventually, my eyes began to focus and everything around me took shape. I was in my room and the figure that was walking around was Mrs. Hamasaki. She came over to me immediately.

"How are you feeling dear?" she asked.

I looked at her remembering what Akito had said to me. "I'm fine," I answered.

"Good. You just have some minor cuts/tears, nothing too serious, so don't worry dear. You should be all better in a couple of days," she said with a smile.

"Thank you Mrs. Hamasaki," I replied, "Who brought me home?"

"That handsome date of yours of course, he came in with you and you were unconscious. You scared me for a moment there, Tohru, you and your bleeding self," Mrs. Hamasaki said in a joking way.

I smiled at her.

"Very well then, I've just finished cleaning up the room. I'll be going now," she said as she got up.

"Mrs. Hamasaki," I stopped her.

She sat back down on my bed. "Yes dear?" she replied.

"Where is Yuki?" I asked simply.

"Whose Yuki dear?" she asked.

"My master," I reminded her.

"So you've figured everything out. But unfortunately he's not here right now," she answered as she got up again.

"Why, of all people, why do you have to be a part of it?" I asked stopping her again.

Mrs. Hamasaki turned around and smiled. "Just know that that old husband of mine and I will always be there for you dear, no matter how it may seem," she said and exited the room before I could stop her.

I thought about what she had said for a second. I was lost in my thoughts when something licked the entire left side of my face. I looked. It was Popcorn. I smiled and petted him.

"Hello there Popcorn, I missed you boy," I said.

Popcorn barked once while wagging his tail. I smiled.

"Let's go to sleep," I said as I tucked myself in.

Popcorn curled up beside me. We both went to sleep…

After tonight, I officially had only a week to live life the way I knew it. In a week, Tohru Honda will no longer exist in this cruel world. And in a week, I will be back in that horrifying and lonely place. In one week, everything will be over…However, I will not live my last week sadly. I have to live it as happily as possible…for me…for the people around me…and for everything that I've lived through since my hell of life began. I will be happy…until…until then…