Disclaimer: Me no touchy Furuba! You no touchy either!

Japanese to Know:

Honto ni - Really?
Juunishi - Zodiac
Kaachan - Cute form of Mother
Doushite - Why?
Kaasan - Mom/Mother

Chapter 11

Loving the Unloved

"Well, his temperature's back to normal," Hatori sighed.

Tohru stared at the sleeping boy. "How's that possible? He should have a high fever and terrible cold, shouldn't he?"

Shigure chuckled. "You see, that's the strange thing about Kage-kun. Normally, yes, you'd be right. But, Kage-kun has never been sick a day in his life."

"Honto ni?" Yuki questioned, curious.

Ayame nodded. "Mm. Even though he spent hours with Akito-san while he was sick, Kage-kun never fell ill. I suppose that's also why Akito-san feels ill-tempered towards Kage-kun."

"Jealousy?" Kyo huffed, lying down. "How stupid."

"Hokage spent hours with Akito?" Yuki repeated. "Why did I never see him?"

Hatori closed his eyes. "He never wanted anyone to see Hokage. He wanted Hokage to be his and his alone. Much like Kureno, the Rooster."

Tohru's eyes widened. She remembered the day Kureno had told her the truth. The truth about him, about Akito, about Arisa. She looked at Hatori. "Hatori-san, does Kureno-san know Hokage-kun?"

The Dragon narrowed his eyes slightly. "Yes. But, how do you know Kureno?"

"I-I-I-I don't! I was just curious!" Tohru stuttered, her face flushing.

Hatori glanced at Shigure, who held a devious look in his eyes.

"Be careful about being curious in the Sohma family. You never know what you'll uncover," Hokage murmured, staring at the ceiling.

"You're awake!" Tohru gasped.

"Of course I am." His gaze turned into a sharp glare. "And don't mistake Akito's actions or words as coming from jealousy. He isn't jealous of me. He hates me for my refusal. He despises my disobedience."

"Do you hate Akito-san?"

Hokage turned a cold, malicious grin to Tohru. And with a voice as harsh as the weather outside he said, "I hate him with every bit of my cursed soul."

The girl looked as though she was about to come to tears as Hatori, Shigure, and Ayame all closed their eyes and looked away. Yuki eyed Kyo, who huffed and rolled over. Haru stared at the Rat with sad eyes. The Wolf turned his hard features back to the ceiling.

"But…Akito-san is so lonely," the outsider whispered after a moment. "Akito-san has only himself and Kureno-san. You all love him only because of the curse, but can you not love him for him? Can you not see that he is still a child?" A fierce look came into her eyes as she stared at everyone's shocked faces. Then she gasped and humbled herself. "Please, I did not mean to speak so boldly."

Hokage laughed heartily, pushing himself into a sitting position. "Don't be sorry! Speak as you wish! It gives one relief to hear you spout bold words!" He smiled at her. "But do not be fooled by such a child. Akito is far from unloved. Simply to hear you speak of him is proof enough that he is loved."

"Love?" Kyo, Yuki, and Tohru gasped.

The Wolf nodded. "As only a mother can love a child. Akito is simply jealous of you because he fears you will steal the hearts of his beloved Juunishi. Plus the fact that you are a woman."

"What does—" Yuki started, only to be cut off by Hatori:

"That's quite enough. Though you will not become ill, you still may die." He pulled the boy up and marched him upstairs. Once he was certain they were out of earshot, he pinned Hokage to the wall and stared hard at the boy. "You are the one who speaks too boldly," he hissed quietly.

"They have a right to know, Haa-san. They have every right to know why they are treated with such cruelty," Hokage returned, eyes narrowed. "They deserve to know."

"All they need to know is that if they obey Akito, life will be easier for them."

"What the Hell's that supposed to mean?" the Wolf snarled, pushing Hatori away. "Should I simply roll over? Should I die? I'll never stop fighting, and neither should they! The Curse can be broken! It will be broken!" He gripped the man's shirt. "Can't you feel it? Can't you hear it? Haa-san, something's coming."

Hatori's eyes widened. Shigure had said something similar not long ago.

"None of you believe she can do it. You've put everything into her hands for safe-keeping, but the thought of her getting hurt makes you pull away. Let her be hurt! Let her be strong! I know with all my heart that she's the one! Why can't you trust her?"

"She's too precious," the man whispered, sliding to the floor.

Hokage clenched his fist. "You just don't want her to end up like her. Well, here's some news for you: Tohru isn't her. You should know that better than anyone, Haa-san. Let Tohru be Tohru. Let her melt all of their icy hearts. Please, Haa-san, let spring come once more to us." Tears slid down the boy's face. "She won't abandon you, or anyone, like she did. Tohru doesn't want to forget. Can't you see that yet?"

Hatori looked at the boy once more, this time with warm eyes. "Yes, I can see it now. Forgive my blindness."

The boy hid his face in his hands as he fell to his knees. "It isn't fair, Nii-chan!" he cried, latching onto the Dragon. "It isn't fair!"

"Nii-chan, Nii-chan!" Hokage called, running after his brother.

Shigure stopped and turned to the young boy. "Nani?"

"Where's Kaachan? Aaya and Haa-san have mommies. Where's ours?"

The Dog picked up his little brother and held the boy tightly to hide his sad face. "She died when you were born," he lied. But he couldn't hold the lie. "She's dead to you. She doesn't know who you are, or that you even exist."

"Does she hate me?"

"She loved you before you were even born. But she had to forget you. She had to let you go."

"Doushite?"

"Because Akito-san was jealous of Kaasan's love. Akito-san wanted you for himself. If you must hate someone, hate Akito-san." Silent tears slipped from the boy's eyes. He hated sullying Akito's name, but the seed of hatred had to be planted if Hokage was to live. Akito was destined to love Hokage, but Hokage could never love Akito back. Hokage's life depended on his hatred of god.

Hatori held the boy tenderly. Though he would never say it, Hokage was still much like a child as Akito was. And he didn't want to lose the love of this one. He didn't want this one to feel lonely ever again.

"Why does Nii-san love Akito?" Hokage whispered, opening his eyes slightly. "How can he love someone like her?"

"Shigure would tell you that it's because he's the worst kind of person. And that may very well be the truth. But I think that no matter how much he desires to see Akito cry, he can't stand her tears."

"Why do you love her, then? You should hate her for what she's done to you. For what she's made you do. For my mother."

The Dragon closed his sad eyes. "Because I am an obedient fool."

Hokage shook his head. "No fool would place all their hopes in the hands of a silly girl. No obedient one would love their master's enemy."

Hatori rested his cheek on the boy's head and sighed.

"Haa-san."

"Hm?"

"My feet hurt."

And a little comedy to relieve the sadness. Now you have a little more insight as to why Hokage's hates Akito. But why he must still remains a mystry.