Disclaimer: I don't own Furuba or "Because of You" by Kelly Clarkson.
Japanese to Know:
Nani - What
Oyasumi - Night
Oyasumi nasai - Good night
Nande - Why
-nii - Brother/brotherly figure
Sou ka - I see
Yokatta - I'm glad
Chapter 15
Because of You
Hokage curled up in the far corner of Akito's room. He tried to forget the feeling of their eyes on him. Their whispers haunted his thoughts. Her touch threatened to sear his skin. His eyes captured the Wolf's heart.
"Did you enjoy the night, Kiniiri?" Akito questioned from the dark.
"I've experienced better," he answered dully. His frightened eyes stared at the moonlight cascading from the window. The dark terrified him.
Akito knew this and shut the curtain. "Maybe now we can sleep," she hissed slyly.
Hokage's heart raced and he tensed. It was just like that room. Everything smelled the same, felt the same, held the same secrets. Fear imprisoned his body and soul once more.
I will not make the same mistakes that you did
I will not let myself
Cause my heart so much misery
Hatori sat in his lonely, dark office, staring at files but not reading them. He was tired, but something held him awake. Regret, perhaps.
Sighing, he focused again on the words. It was Hokage's file. Something, a feeling, told him something was in there. A clue of sorts. But he didn't know where to find it. Like a map or puzzle missing some of the pieces. Like a—
"Like a broken heart," the Dragon murmured, straightening suddenly.
I will not break the way you did,
You fell so hard
I've learned the hard way
To never let it get that far
"He said all those things?" Ayame said after hearing about the fight Shigure and Hokage had.
The Dog nodded. "I fear he'll never trust us again. Not like he used to, at least."
"I wonder what he'd say if he knew the truth."
"Nothing. He'd just walk away like always."
Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
"Kyo-kun."
The Cat sat up and looked over the edge of the roof. "Nani?"
Tohru smiled. "Shishou-san said you should come in and get some sleep."
Sighing, he jumped off the roof. "Whatever." He walked in after the girl, his heart fluttering for unknown reasons. "Oyasumi," he mumbled, going to his room.
"Oyasumi nasai, Kyo-kun," Tohru smiled.
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt
"Yuki, you could try to be a little happy," Haru suggested, staring at the moon.
The Rat frowned. "Nande?"
"Because," the Ox said, "Hokage gave up his freedom so you could be." He rested his head on Yuki's shoulder. "Or will you continue to soil his good intentions?"
"I suppose I can try to smile a bit."
Because of you
I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me
"Kiniiri, why don't you love me?" Akito purred.
Hokage shifted a bit. "You made my mother forget me." He started to forget his fears as he became angry. "You thrust me into darkness."
"If you loved me, I wouldn't have to punish you."
"What punishment did my mother deserve?" the Wolf snarled, bristling. "All she did was love me!"
"Only I can love you!" Akito shouted, kicking Hokage's face.
Because of you
I am afraid
She knelt beside Hokage and touched his face softly. "Only I can love you, Kiniiri."
He pushed her away. "I hate you."
Akito distorted her face with rage. "I hope you miss that room of yours because it's waiting for you. Maybe then you'll reconsider."
I lose my way
And it's not too long before you point it out
I cannot cry
Because I know that's weakness in your eyes
"Hatori-nii."
The doctor turned to the open door. "Kureno. What're you doing here?"
"I have to talk to you about Hokage."
I'm forced to fake
A smile, a laugh everyday of my life
My heart can't possibly break
When it wasn't even whole to start with
"Do you think he's going to fall in love?" the Snake asked.
Shigure stared at his long-haired friend.
"With Akito-san."
"Only if it benefited us. Only if it broke the Curse."
Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt
"Yuki."
"Now what, Haru?"
"Perhaps you could try again with your brother."
"Perhaps."
Because of you
I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me
Because of you
I am afraid
"Arisa, did you meet someone on your way here?" Hanajima inquired.
Uotani looked up from her bag. "What do you mean?"
"You send waves of love and longing."
"Oh, that. Well, I did run into Kureno. But he seemed distracted by something. The meeting was short-lived."
"Sou ka. Should we go greet the sunrise, then?"
I watched you die
I heard you cry every night in your sleep
I was so young
You should have known better than to lean on me
"For you, Yuki, I suffer. For my blind thievery. I hope you can forgive me one day," Hokage thought, shivering. Blood ran down his face, but he didn't care. Tears of fear and sadness spilled from his tired eyes. "Please save me."
You never thought of anyone else
You just saw your pain
And now I cry in the middle of the night
For the same damn thing
"Please tell me you're mistaken," Hatori whispered, standing weakly. "Tell me you misunderstood."
Kureno hung his head. "I wish I could say such comforting things."
The Dragon fell to his hands and knees. He remembered the angry words the boy had said in the hall that day. "Hokage always knew. Now we see, and we can't do anything about it."
"You know better than anyone you couldn't have changed his mind no matter when you saw it. Once he's made up his mind, he'll go through with it one way or the other."
Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt
"He's so young; it isn't fair," gasped Hatori.
Kureno sat beside the trembling Dragon and placed a hand on his back. "Such are the woes of the Curse. Such is his burden."
Because of you
I try my hardest just to forget everything
Because of you
I don't know how to let anyone else in
Because of you
I'm ashamed of my life because it's empty
Because of you
I am afraid
"Gure-san."
"Hm?"
"Will you save Kage-kun this time?"
Because of you
"Without fail."
"Yokatta."
Because of you